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If you didn't get a chance to read my primer on the series, click here to get the recipe to my "secret sauce" and how I go about ranking prospects. Here is a quick review on how the grading system works.
The Grading System
My grading system will be familiar to those who keep up with college football recruiting or played the MLB2K video game series as I use a star rating system from one to five stars with half grades in between. An outline of what each level would represent looks like this, but remember these are examples and not definite.
Anything below 2.5 stars is someone who doesn't project to be a major league player, therefore they are not mentioned.
Now for the Top 20 Prospects in the Atlanta Braves organization, sorted by star rating. All ages are for the upcoming 2015 season and affiliates mentioned are where I expect them to begin the year.
Atlanta Braves
1. 2B Jose Peraza, 21 years old - AAA Gwinnett
Photo courtesy of Getty Images
2014 Stats -
AB | H | R | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB/SBA | BB/K |
469 | 159 | 79 | 20 | 11 | 2 | 44 | 60/75 | 17/47 |
BA/OBP/SLG | OPS | wOBA | wRC+ | BABIP | BB% | K% |
339/364/441 | 806 | 365 | 126 | 0.370 | 3.4 | 9.4 |
The lithe 6'0 165 pound Venezuelan had a break out year splitting time between High A Lynchburg and AA Mississippi. Peraza stole at least 60 bases for the second straight year, showing off his plus speed and potential to be a lightning rod at the top of the batting order, something Atlanta hasn't seen since Michael Bourn. He made the move across the second base bag from short stop to the keystone this past season, where he should be a plus defender. The low walk rate will leave his batting average dependent on his BABIP, but he has the profile to be a guy who can consistently post high averages on balls in play.
2015 Outlook -
Peraza has an open shot at the second base position with the November trade of 2B Tommy La Stella to the Cubs. A strong spring could make the decision between him and Alberto Callaspo a tough one. If he opens the season as Atlanta's Opening Day second baseman, Callaspo can move to a utility role. If he struggles though, he's likely to debut in 2015 at AAA Gwinnett to delay the old service clock and add a bit of seasoning, but Peraza will be playing in the major leagues next year at some point.
2. RHSP Lucas Sims - 21 years old, AA Mississippi
3. LHSP Max Fried - 21 years old - Unknown (TJS)
4. LF Braxton Davidson - 19 years old, R+ Danville
5. SS Ozhaino Albies - 18 years old, Low A Rome
6. RHSP Tyrell Jenkins - 22 years old, AA Mississippi
7. C Christian Bethancourt - 23 years old, MLB
8. RHSP Jason Hursh - 23 years old, AAA Gwinnett
9. RHSP Alec Grosser - 20 years old, Low A Rome
10. IF Jace Peterson - 25 years old, MLB
11. RHP Shae Simmons - 24 years old, MLB
12. RHSP Cody Martin - 25 years old, AAA Gwinnett
13. 3B Kyle Kubitza - 24 years old, AAA Gwinnett
14. CF Mallex Smith - 23 years old, AA Mississippi
15. RHP Mauricio Cabrera - 21 years old, A+ Carolina
16. RHSP Wes Parsons - 22 years old, AA Mississippi
17. 3B Dustin Peterson - 21 years old, Low A Rome
18. RHSP Garrett Fulenchek - 19 years old, R+ Danville
19. C Tanner Murphy - 20 years old, Low A Rome
20. RHSP Dan Winkler - 25 years old, MLB
Honorable Mentions (Other 3 star players) - SS Elmer Reyes, RHSP Max Povse, RF Edward Salcedo, LHP Chasen Shreve, 3B Jordan Edgerton, and RHSP Williams Perez.
Atlanta Braves | Age | Pos | Team | Stars | |
1 | Jose Peraza | 21 | 2B | AA | 4.5 |
2 | Lucas Sims | 21 | RHSP | A+ | 4 |
3 | Max Fried | 21 | LHSP | A | 4 |
4 | Braxton Davidson | 19 | LF | R+ | 4 |
5 | Ozhaino Albies | 18 | SS | R+ | 4 |
6 | Tyrell Jenkins | 22 | RHSP | A+ | 4 |
7 | Christian Bethancourt | 23 | C | MLB | 4 |
8 | Jason Hursh | 23 | RHSP | AA | 4 |
9 | Alec Grosser | 20 | RHSP | R+ | 4 |
10 | Jace Peterson | 25 | IF | MLB | 3.5 |
11 | Shae Simmons | 24 | RHP | MLB | 3.5 |
12 | Cody Martin | 25 | RHSP | AAA | 3.5 |
13 | Kyle Kubitza | 24 | 3B | AA | 3.5 |
14 | Mallex Smith | 22 | CF | A+ | 3.5 |
15 | Mauricio Cabrera | 21 | RHP | A+ | 3.5 |
16 | Wes Parsons | 22 | RHSP | A+ | 3.5 |
17 | Dustin Peterson | 20 | 3B | A | 3.5 |
18 | Garrett Fulenchek | 19 | RHSP | R | 3.5 |
19 | Tanner Murphy | 20 | C | R+ | 3 |
20 | Dan Winkler | 25 | RHSP | AA | 3 |
Level code: AAA - Gwinnett Braves, AA - Mississippi Braves, A+ - Carolina Mudcats, A - Rome Braves, R+ - Danville Braves, R - Gulf Coast League Braves, DSL - Dominican Summer League Braves
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