FanPost

Future Top 25 Braves Prospects

This is my first of four fan posts to talk about some young players in the minor leagues who we should keep an eye out for because they could be top 25 Braves prospects in the near future. This post will cover C, 1B and 3B. I will have additional posts for middle infielders, outfielders, and pitchers.

Catcher

Tanner Murphy 2013 Round 4 Pick

Murphy was drafted out of Malden High School in Missouri. Scouting report courtesy of Dan Simpson after Tanner was drafted.

Scouting reports on Murphy are few and far between, as he really didn't garner too much national attention before this year. The Braves expect Murphy to stick behind the dish moving forward. Scouts say he seems comfortable behind the plate calling games, and his experience as a pitcher benefits him in this area. At 6-1 and 210 pounds, Murphy has the big, atheletic frame needed to excel as a catcher. In exhibitions, he's been clocked with a pop time between 1.82 and 1.87 seconds. For comparison, Christian Bethancourt is 6-2, 220 pounds, with a pop time is around 1.78 - one of the best in the minors. With the bat, Murphy can spray the ball to all fields with good line-drive power and considerable backspin. This results in a ton of doubles, but his frame suggests he could add bulk and possibly push some of those doubles over the fence. It's unclear how his bat will profile at the next level, as he's been scouted almost exclusively against lesser competition and using aluminum bats.If catching doesn't work out (it should) then there's always a chance Murphy could move to the mound, where he sat in the low 90s in high school.

And there is this from EJ Purser when recapping last year's draft this May.

In spring training and at the Braves vs. Futures Game, Murphy displayed a thick catcher's frame with some mass in his midsection, leading me to note that he and the Braves will need to monitor further weight gain down the road. He displayed a fairly short, compact stroke at the plate that looked decent in theory, keeping his hands connected to his body during his load and showing a good swing plane. His approach left a bit to be desired in these looks, though this is to be expected from a 19-year-old who hasn't sniffed full-season ball to this point. Additionally, he ripped a line-drive single vs. Jordan Walden in the Braves vs. Futures game, showing off good raw bat speed in the process. We will learn more about Murphy as Danville opens its season at the end of next month.

Tanner's first year of pro ball did not go so well but this year as a 19 year old in Danville there have been some noticeable improvements. While his batting average still leaves much to be desired his walks have increased while his strikeouts have decreased. And the potential power noted by Dan is starting to present itself in games. Factor in he has plus skills behind the plate and you have a prospect that may start appearing on top 20 Braves prospect lists very soon. There have been catchers drafted higher by the Braves in the last couple years but they appear to be bigger question marks than Tanner. De La Rosa has shown very little ability to hit and Caratini does not appear to have the tools to stick at catcher.

Year

Team

League

AVG

G

AB

R

H

2B

3B

HR

RBI

TB

BB

SO

SB

CS

OBP

SLG

OPS

2013

BRA

GCL

.227

32

97

7

22

3

0

0

8

25

12

34

5

0

.313

.258

.570

2013

Minors

.227

32

97

7

22

3

0

0

8

25

12

34

5

0

.313

.258

.570

2014

DAN

APP

.222

26

81

10

18

7

0

3

12

34

18

17

0

1

.363

.420

.782

2014

Minors

.222

26

81

10

18

7

0

3

12

34

18

17

0

1

.363

.420

.782

First Base

Joey Meneses Non-Drafted Free Agent signed May 2011

There really is no awesome 1B prospect coming through the system and really there is no need with Freeman signed long term. The best young guy I can find and have hope in is Joey, who was signed out of Culiacan, Mexico in 2011. Only scouting report I can find by Mark Smith from June of last year.

Meneses' swing isn't too bad, but he's a corner outfielder that doesn't seem to have much power despite being a physical presence. He has a little speed now, but you can definitely see him filling out and slowing down. Meneses is likely a corner outfielder with decent defensive value at the position, but I'm not sure he'll really hit enough to make the majors there.

Meneses is repeating a level this year and has undergone a position switch to first base. This makes him a little old for the league this year. The good news for Meneses is his power has come this season gaining over .200 points to his slugging over last year. Hopefully he can keep producing like this as he moves up the ladder.

Year

Team

League

AVG

G

AB

R

H

2B

3B

HR

RBI

TB

BB

SO

SB

CS

OBP

SLG

OPS

2011

DSL BRA

DSL

.206

19

63

5

13

0

0

0

4

13

7

14

0

0

.286

.206

.492

2011

Minors

.206

19

63

5

13

0

0

0

4

13

7

14

0

0

.286

.206

.492

2012

BRA

GCL

.303

41

145

13

44

5

5

0

14

59

9

29

2

4

.352

.407

.759

2012

Minors

.303

41

145

13

44

5

5

0

14

59

9

29

2

4

.352

.407

.759

2013

ROM

SAL

.257

108

381

36

98

21

4

2

40

133

28

97

1

5

.308

.349

.657

2013

Minors

.257

108

381

36

98

21

4

2

40

133

28

97

1

5

.308

.349

.657

2014

ROM

SAL

.301

45

163

23

49

13

3

8

28

92

18

41

1

1

.374

.564

.938

2014

Minors

.301

45

163

23

49

13

3

8

28

92

18

41

1

1

.374

.564

.938

Third Base

Jordan Edgerton 2014 Round 9 Pick

Edgerton was drafted this summer out of UNC-Pembroke. Below is a scouting report by Martin Gondee.

While he has big power, the scouting reports on him also say that he has a good eye at the plate and doesn't strike out a ton. He will probably end up at an outfield corner eventually. He was ranked 437 on the BA draft board, but clearly the Braves believe there is a lot more there.

And by Dan Simpson after Edge was drafted.

Edgerton is coming off a monster season in which he hit .369/.429/.608 with 11 HR and 13 SB. Additionally, he also showed phenomenal command of the strike zone, notching 22 walks and only 9 strikeouts. Of course, most of this was against inferior competition, but it goes to show that the Braves got a guy that they believe can do a little bit of everything.

Jordan has shown the ability to hit as advertised since joining Danville. Good walk and strikeout rates with power and a good hit tool makes for a nice stat line across the board. However, his defense may keep him from sticking at 3B. He had four errors in his first month of pro ball and the Braves have started to try Codey McElroy at 3B while Edge is seeing time at DH.

Year

Team

League

AVG

G

AB

R

H

2B

3B

HR

RBI

TB

BB

SO

SB

CS

OBP

SLG

OPS

2014

DAN

APP

.281

32

121

21

34

8

1

3

30

53

14

17

1

0

.340

.438

.778

2014

Minors

.281

32

121

21

34

8

1

3

30

53

14

17

1

0

.340

.438

.778

This FanPost does not express the views or opinions of Battery Power.