Here are the Braves' 2023 Top 30 prospects
Jonathan Mayo
@JonathanMayoWinning does not come without a cost.
The Braves have won five straight National League East titles and of course were World Series champions in 2021. That’s a run that’s hard to pull off in any fashion. Keeping that going while maintaining a deep farm system? That’s close to impossible.
This year’s Braves’ Top 30 does not have a single player on MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 list, the only time other than 2008 (when it was a Top 50) that the organization was shut out. To keep the good times rolling, the Braves have used some of that talent in Atlanta, like Rookie of the Year Michael Harris II, and they’ve traded a lot away to bring in big league help, so this is not one of the Braves’ deeper lists.
That said, the system seems to have a way of producing help when needed. Even Harris made a faster and bigger impact than anticipated. Vaughn Grissom made a huge leap forward in 2022 as well, filled a big hole at second base in Atlanta and is now being counted on to fill another one long-term at shortstop.
There are some arms on this year’s list who could provide that kind of contribution when called upon, starting with No. 1 Jared Shuster. But between the Braves being aggressive in taking three high school arms at the top of last year’s Draft and much of this year’s Top 30 coming from their full return to the international market, it might not be known who the next true impact players will be for a few years.
Here's a look at the Braves' top prospects:
1. Jared Shuster, LHP
2. Owen Murphy, RHP
3. JR Ritchie, RHP
4. AJ Smith-Shawver, RHP
5. Cole Phillips, RHP
Complete Top 30 list »
Biggest jump/fall
Here are the players whose ranks changed the most from the 2022 preseason list to the 2023 preseason list.
Jump: AJ Smith-Shawver, RHP (2022: 17 | 2023: 4)
Dylan Dodd moved up the same amount, but we’ll give Smith-Shawver the nod for the leap into the top five. The size, the projectability and the stuff (a fastball up to 98 and a slider that flashes plus) all bode well for a former two-sport star still getting used to focusing only on pitching.
Fall: Brooks Wilson, RHP (2022: 19 | 2023: NR)
Things were looking up for Wilson when he pitched his way to Triple-A in 2021, striking out 15.1 per nine and getting added to the 40-man roster after the season. But then Tommy John surgery ruined his 2022, and he was non-tendered during the offseason before re-signing a Minor League deal with the Braves.
Best tools
Players are graded on a 20-80 scouting scale for future tools -- 20-30 is well below average, 40 is below average, 50 is average, 60 is above average and 70-80 is well above average. Players in parentheses have the same grade.
Hit: 55 -- Ignacio Alvarez (Luis Guanipa)
Power: 55 -- Jesse Franklin (David McCabe)
Run: 65 -- Luis Guanipa (Geraldo Quintero)
Arm: 60 -- Ambioris Tavarez (David McCabe)
Defense: 60 -- Braden Shewmake
Fastball: 65 -- Victor Vodnik
Curveball: 50 -- Luis De Avila (Owen Murphy, JR Ritchie)
Slider: 60 -- JR Ritchie (Spencer Schwellenbach, Adam Maier)
Changeup: 60 -- Jared Shuster (Darius Vines, Victor Vodnik)
Control: 60 -- Dylan Dodd
How they were built
Draft: 21 | International: 8 | Rule 5: 1
Breakdown by ETA
2023: 7 | 2024: 5 | 2025: 8 | 2026: 8 | 2027: 2
Breakdown by position
C: 2 | 3B: 3 | SS: 4 | OF: 4 | RHP: 14 | LHP: 3