Where the Braves' Top 30 prospects are starting season

Where the Braves' Top 30 prospects are starting season

April 6th, 2023

With the Minor League season opening this week, here's where the Braves’ Top 30 Prospects are projected to start:

  1. Jared Shuster, LHP -- Atlanta (MLB)*
  2. Owen Murphy, RHP -- Augusta (Single-A)
  3. JR Ritchie, RHP -- Augusta (Single-A)
  4. AJ Smith-Shawver, RHP -- Rome (High-A)
  5. Cole Phillips, RHP -- Injured (Tommy John rehab)
  6. Braden Shewmake, SS -- Gwinnett (Triple-A)
  7. Spencer Schwellenbach, RHP -- Augusta (Single-A)
  8. Darius Vines, RHP -- Gwinnett (Triple-A)
  9. Ambioris Tavarez, SS -- Augusta (Single-A)
  10. Dylan Dodd, LHP -- Atlanta (MLB)
  11. Victor Vodnik, RHP -- Mississippi (Double-A)
  12. Adam Maier, RHP -- Injured (elbow rehab)
  13. Cal Conley, SS -- Mississippi (Double-A)
  14. Jesse Franklin V, OF -- Mississippi (Double-A)
  15. Ignacio Alvarez, 3B -- Rome (High-A)
  16. Luis Guanipa, OF -- Dominican Summer League
  17. Brandol Mezquita, OF -- Rome (High-A)
  18. Diego Benitez, SS -- Extended spring training
  19. Geraldo Quintero, 3B -- Rome (High-A)
  20. Seth Keller, RHP -- Augusta (Single-A)
  21. Roddery Muñoz, RHP -- Mississippi (Double-A)
  22. Blake Burkhalter, RHP -- Rome (High-A)
  23. Drake Baldwin, C -- Rome (High-A)
  24. David McCabe, 3B -- Augusta (Single-A)
  25. Douglas Glod, OF -- Extended spring training
  26. Alan Rangel, RHP -- Mississippi (Double-A)
  27. Adam Shoemaker, LHP -- Augusta (Single-A)
  28. Tanner Gordon, RHP -- Mississippi (Double-A)
  29. Tyler Tolve, C -- Mississippi (Double-A)
  30. Luis De Avila, LHP -- Mississippi (Double-A)

* -- Shuster made one big league start before being sent down to Triple-A Gwinnett

Team to watch
The Braves went after high school pitching aggressively in the 2022 Draft and much of it will be in the Augusta rotation. It’s a group led by Nos. 2 and 3 prospects Owen Murphy and JR Ritchie, both taken in the top 35 picks, and it includes over-slot signee Seth Keller (sixth round). Braves fans can also check out Spencer Schwellenbach, the former two-way standout at Nebraska taken in the second round of the 2021 Draft who had Tommy John surgery, for the first time.

Teams on MLB.TV and MiLB.TV
Atlanta Braves
Gwinnett Stripers (Triple-A)
Mississippi Braves (Double-A)
Rome Braves (High-A)
Augusta GreenJackets (Single-A)

Players we could see in MLB in 2023
Jared Shuster already made his big league debut, and he should be back at some point. Some of his Gwinnett teammates could also be called upon to help out, like infielder Braden Shewmake or fellow hurler Darius Vines.

New faces
Cole Phillips was another prep arm the Braves took in the 2022 Draft, but he’s yet to pitch after having Tommy John surgery in April of his senior year of high school. Look for him to make his organizational debut at some point later this season. College arm and 2022 draftee Adam Maier also tore his UCL at Oregon, but had an internal brace put in instead of having TJ, with an eye towards pitching this year as well. Luis Guanipa got $2.5 million to sign at the start of the international signing period. Thought to be one of the top outfielders on the market, the Venezuelan teen has a lot of tools he'll bring to the Dominican Summer League.

On the shelf
Phillips and Maier are rehabbing their elbows and both hope to pitch this season.