BA Braves Top 10

by abravesfan on Nov 5, 2007 2:08 PM EST

http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/features/265139.html

Jordan Schafer, of
Jason Heyward, of
Jair Jurrjens, rhp
Brandon Jones, of
Gorkys Hernandez, of
Brent Lillibridge, ss
Cole Rohrbough, lhp
Jeff Locke, lhp
Tommy Hanson, rhp
Julio Teheran, rhp

My thoughts: Teheran is too high when you could have put guys like Devine, Cody Johnson, or Evarts in the 10 spot. Brandon Jones could have been anywhere from 1-4, but BA likes upside so I guess its not that surprising. Think Gorkys is too high, but again this is BA. Love Locke getting the look at #8.

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impressive

Wasn't this system supposed to be bone-dry after the Teixera trade? They got some breakthrough performances (Schafer, Jones & Cole) coupled with a good trade, good draft & an international find. Not a bad season for the ATL scouts.

by mckeeno on Nov 5, 2007 2:17 PM EST reply actions

well

5 of these guys weren't in the system before this summer's draft (Heyward, Jurrjens, Hernandez, Rohrbough and Teheran), this was Hanson's first year and Locke's second, Schaerfer's second turn in full season ball. Really Jones and Lillibridge are the only two in this list who were in the system and had a track record longer than 1 season. Bunch of good possibilities here, and nice to see them bunched up like that, to come along in a nice wave in a year or two. But most of this list is high-A and down. Not alot knocking on the door at AAA/AA. Hoping that they give Lillibridge the chance to be a SuperUtil guy and find a 2-year rental in CF while Schaefer and Hernandez battle to be CF.

Locke's numbers look good. He's 19 and hadn't seen A ball yet, but 10.92 K/9 in 61 IP with about a 9:1 K/BB and a sub-1 WHIP looks good.

Eric Campbell seemed to struggle this year, think there was a knee injury, not just Myrtle Beach.

the skinny on Julio Teheran from chop-n-change: Teheran has a fastball that ranges from 91-94 mph along with a plus curve and plus changeup... Teheran is a right-hander out of Columbia and is considered the top arm out of this year's class. The 16-year old works in the 88-91 mph range with has fastball to go along with a pretty good curve, and his best pitch, a plus changeup. There are two opinions on Teheran's future. Some scouts believe his arm action will limit him to throwing around 91 mph and he will become a back-of-the-rotation starter while others believe he could bring his velocity up to the 93 mph range and become a middle-of-the-rotation starter.

so, conflicting reports on velocity, but either way, sounds pretty awesome for a 16 year old.

by nevin on Nov 5, 2007 5:14 PM EST up reply actions

This was Hanson's second year as well

by abravesfan on Nov 5, 2007 5:34 PM EST up reply actions

right you are

I was looking at thebaseballcube.com, normally right on target, and they have only 2007 listed. FirstInning.com shows 51.2 IP at Danville in '06.

by nevin on Nov 6, 2007 4:20 PM EST up reply actions

BA

The scouting report attached to this list says that Teheran was SITTING at 94-95 in instructs, with a plus change up and an advanced, late-biting curve.

At 16.

by aCone419 on Nov 5, 2007 5:50 PM EST up reply actions

Nice

Hopefully he becomes a RH Hamels or Santana.

by Bravesin07 on Nov 5, 2007 6:26 PM EST up reply actions

Hamels vs Santana

Im just wondering how you can put those two in the same sentence when it comes to lefties, or pitchers for that matter?

by FishHead on Nov 5, 2007 9:46 PM EST up reply actions

because they throw great changeups

I don't see too many RH's other than Pedro, Sheilds, and Buchholz throw great changeups.

by Bravesin07 on Nov 5, 2007 10:01 PM EST up reply actions

thats easy

They are both lefties with phenomenal changeups. They have the two best change-ups in baseball pretty much

by Kanst42 on Nov 6, 2007 9:17 AM EST up reply actions

Eric Campbell

at #10 would have made more sense, IMO.

by Yakker on Nov 5, 2007 4:18 PM EST reply actions

or cody johnson

Whom I'm a big fan of.

by doublestix on Nov 5, 2007 5:13 PM EST up reply actions

he's probably the most talented player

in their entire system right now, certainly the best athlete but ... you will never see a bigger headcase. I know he had a few nagging type injuries but God forbid he gets called out on strikes, or a misplays a groundball, etc. The utter disregard he has for the game and those who teach it is just sad to observe.

by dew on Nov 5, 2007 5:27 PM EST up reply actions

Yeah

Know about the mental stuff, but on talent alone I think he cracks this Top 10.

But I do see the argument for leaving him out. Personally, if he's healthy I'd push the sh*t out of him, and see how he reacts. Start him at AA or even jump him a level and send him to Richmond. Not the normal playbook, I know, but the kid needs a wake-up call. Let's see what jarring his sense of entitlement does.

by Yakker on Nov 5, 2007 7:01 PM EST up reply actions

hmmm

How does an undeserved promotion jar someone's sense of entitlement?

by cooper7d7 on Nov 6, 2007 8:41 AM EST up reply actions

Well

Fair enough. I guess my unstated assumption was that he'd get his clock cleaned in Richmond, but maybe you're right.

I guess the bottomline for me is that I think something other than the standard prospect playbook is probably necessary to deal with Campbell, if his attitude issues are as bad as everyone says they are.

by Yakker on Nov 6, 2007 1:16 PM EST up reply actions

Campbell

got suspended in HWL last year.
Got suspended at the end of this year by the Pelicans for bad attitude. His train is coming off the tracks rapidly.

by Godot on Nov 5, 2007 6:26 PM EST reply actions

Jurrjens as a #2 ???

if thats happens they're in a world of hurt ...I just don't see it. And if the new Mr. Wonderful (Schafer) takes over CF what do they do w/ Gorkys? He's no corner right? But luv that moniker. Could always flip of them I guess.

I'm sure I'm in the minority here but I think they could have done more for Renteria ...

by dew on Nov 5, 2007 6:33 PM EST reply actions

You could trade Fancouer for a frontline pitcher

Put Hernandez in left a la Carl Crawford and start Heyward in Right.

by Bravesin07 on Nov 5, 2007 8:20 PM EST up reply actions

The Braves system is better than I thought

I mean Hanson is pretty damn good and he's #9. I think they have a top 5 system...

by Dfarth on Nov 5, 2007 8:37 PM EST reply actions

In the chat

Ballew (BA's guy on the Braves' beat) says he sees them as "top half-dozen" and says they were easily top 10 before the Renteria deal.

Funny that everyone was on about the system being "gutted" after the Renteria deal.

Also, this was the first I've really heard of Teheran. Ballew says he likes him more than Feliz.

Still, not sure why a 16 yo who projects as a #3 is given such a high rating. I'd definitely take Cody Johnson (whose just got HUGE power, not to mention a little bit of baseball played in the US at the professional level) ahead of him.

by mraver on Nov 5, 2007 9:03 PM EST up reply actions

that's sick

Think they would make a run for Haren or Kazmir?

by Bravesin07 on Nov 5, 2007 9:18 PM EST up reply actions

Teheran's Scouting Report

Doesn't make him sound like a #3. He said that he was sitting in the mid-90's with a plus changeup and a hard low 80's curveball. As a 16 year old! That's crazy.

by Dfarth on Nov 5, 2007 9:21 PM EST up reply actions

That sounds like a Santana

Maybe even better than Guerra.

by Bravesin07 on Nov 5, 2007 9:23 PM EST up reply actions

Command

It will probably depend on his command and if he can throw his pitches where he wants them for strikes. Just having good stuff doesnt get hitters out in the majors.

The original scouting report on Teheran did say many viewed him as a #3 because of his delivery they didnt think he would improve on his 91 mph fastball. Obviously if he was throwing at 94-95 in the instructional league those claims were wrong and he profiles more towards the top of the rotation. The braves seemed excited when they signed him so maybe they tinkered with his delivery and it added the velocity. I am skeptical since many times when someone says he was throwing 94-95 that means they were throwing 90-91 and they reached 94-95 every now and then.

If the reports are true then he is justified on this list, at 16 he probably adds another few mph on his fastball which might turn it into a plus-plus pitch.

by cajunrevenge on Nov 5, 2007 9:50 PM EST up reply actions

That's Just It

According to the write-up he's 6'2 160. That's crazy skinny. Even if he's only at 90-91 and occasionally hitting the mid 90's, he still has a lot of room to grow. Compare that to Guerra, who is already 6'5 200+ and who doesn't throw much harder - and it seems like Tejeran is much more projectable. Of course, as you mention a lot of it does come down to his control but I think it's WAY to early to slap a #3 tag on a 16 year old who is reportedly throwing in the mid-90's and showing the potential for three plus pitches.

by Dfarth on Nov 5, 2007 9:56 PM EST up reply actions

King Felix was 6'3 170 was he signed

by Bravesin07 on Nov 5, 2007 10:06 PM EST up reply actions

Tommy Hanson

Yeah, I'd say he's damn good. 6'6", 210 lbs. 154 K's in 133 IP at age 20? If the Braves are looking for a veteran pitcher or two or else a CF, I'd be inquiring about Hanson if I was the other GM.

by DrBGiantsfan on Nov 5, 2007 11:56 PM EST up reply actions

+1...

...despite the merely decent stint in High-A, he's the best pitcher in that system IMO.

It's Business Time

by uga007 on Nov 6, 2007 1:41 AM EST up reply actions

Rohrbough is better

Hanson doesn't have much of a breaking pitch and lives off his fastball. He's like a younger John Maine.

by Bravesin07 on Nov 6, 2007 9:03 AM EST up reply actions

Locke

It seems as though Locke is every bit the prospect that Rohrbough is. In fact, one could argue that he has more upside.

I heard Tim Lincecum will win 1 Cy Young & 11 Tim Lincecums. Question is, how many Cole Hamels will he win?

by the pinstripes on Nov 6, 2007 12:08 PM EST up reply actions

Yeah, I don't get all the Rohrbaugh love...

Don't get me wrong, he's a good prospect. But he also has a limited upside because his fastball lacks great velocity.

Personally, I think Hanson is rated way, way too low. That stint in High A ball probably cost him 4 - 5 spots on this list. I'd take him over Gorkys any day.

by guru4u on Nov 6, 2007 2:45 PM EST up reply actions

where is..

Chad Rodgers, im dissapointed he didnt crack the top 10

Felix for Cy Young.

by King Felix 21 on Nov 6, 2007 11:05 AM EST reply actions

Top 3?

So if the Teixera trade wasn't made would this then be a top 3 or higher farm system?

by JFP on Nov 6, 2007 12:01 PM EST reply actions

Maybe

But Harrison was having a pretty mediocre year, Salty would almost certainly have used up his eligibility by playing in Atlanta, and Andrus wasn't having a very inspiring season with the bat before he was traded. Feliz probably wouldn't have made the top 10, Jones maybe not the top 20.

So I guess that depends on how you would rate Andrus and Harrison. Personally, I was never too high on Harrison, but I think Andrus would have been in Atlanta's top 3. I guess it would push them up a spot or two.

by mraver on Nov 6, 2007 12:12 PM EST up reply actions

In the chat

Ballew said that Andrus and Harrison would have been in the 4-6 range with Feliz coming in shortly thereafter.

by aCone419 on Nov 6, 2007 2:56 PM EST up reply actions

go to the Braves board if you want everything

They have the scouting reports and chat on the mlb.com board. Schafer's scouting report is basically a copy and paste of Rasmus from last year. Can't wait to see Rasmus scouting report.

by Bravesin07 on Nov 6, 2007 5:32 PM EST up reply actions