Braves Minor League Rosters Announced
Three of the four Braves minor league rosters were announced a day earlier than first indicated, so Monday marked a day of excitement in prospect circles to see who was going where.
There were no huge surprises for the most part. On occasion, a player was assigned one level up or down from what I guessed, but there were no major challenge assignments or super conservative moves. The assignments were mostly in line with what I was anticipating, which is a good sign.
Triple-A Gwinnett’s roster was not released Monday. I’m guessing this has to do with last-minute shuffling between the major league team and Triple-A. It will be announced before the game today.
Double-A Mississippi
Graded Prospects: Victor Vodnik, Shea Langeliers, C.J. Alexander, Greyson Jenista, Braden Shewmake, Justin Dean, Trey Harris
System Depth: Troy Bacon, Josh Graham, Jake Higginbotham, Kurt Hoekstra, Nolan Kingham, Luis Mora, Mitch Stallings, Jefrey Ramos
Others to Note: Matt Hartman, Matt Withrow, Jalen Miller, Jacob Pearson
Langeliers and Vodnik received challenge assignments here, but they’re not that aggressive or unexpected. Vodnik looked really good this spring and has developed an explosive two-pitch mix, so it’s worth seeing if he can make the jump early. Langeliers has the glove for the majors now and the Braves like the hit, but there’s going to be a spotlight on his bat as he tries to adjust to the upper levels. Shewmake was expected here. He could get pushed to Gwinnett if he performs early, but he needs to gain comfort at Double-A first and prove he can hit upper-level pitching. This is a big challenge for Dean’s bat, but his spring invite was a sign that the Braves like him. Don’t sleep on Higginbotham and Stallings coming out of the pen with good lefty stuff. Mora has hit triple digits in the past but with little success, so we’ll see what he can offer at an advanced level.
High-A Rome
Graded Prospects: Ricky DeVito, Bryce Elder, Jared Shuster, Bryce Ball, Jesse Franklin, Michael Harris
System Depth: Kasey Kalich, Trey Riley, Lisandro Santos, Logan Brown, Riley Delgado, Beau Philip
Others to Note: Indigo Diaz, Coleman Huntley, A.J. Puckett, Cody Milligan
This roster has top-end talent with Harris and Ball in the lineup. Both could track similarly as guys who could move fairly early if they perform out of the gate. I recommend getting to Rome soon if you want to see them. Shuster is the obvious first-round draw, but it will be interesting to see what DeVito, Elder and Kalich offer. Santos is a lefty relief sleeper. Diaz has generated a little buzz as an arm-strength guy. Huntley was signed out of summer league ball and jumped Low-A, so he may be worth seeing. Puckett is a former second-rounder with stuff who has been through a lot and is trying to get his career back on track. This is a strong roster for its high-end talent and good mix of intriguing sleepers.
Low-A Augusta
Graded Prospects: Tyler Owens, Vaughn Grissom, Stephen Paolini
System Depth: Alec Barger, Joey Estes, Roddery Munoz, Justin Yeager, Cam Shepherd
Others to Note: Darius Vines, Drew Campbell, Brandon Parker, Landon Stephens, Willie Carter
This roster won’t produce the same kind of fanfare as others higher up, because not as much is known about many of these players. The lack of a 2020 season means I’m being introduced to most of them myself. But there are plenty of sleepers to watch. Owens is the draw on the pitching staff as an arm-strength guy who could be a fireballing reliever down the road. Grissom is the intriguing power/athleticism guy currently playing shortstop but likely moving to third. Paolini is the highest pick on the team as a raw, toolsy, up-the-middle athlete. Estes and Munoz are intriguing sleepers with stuff. Barger and Yeager are arm-strength guys. Shepherd has a strong shortstop glove. Parker has generated some buzz as a JUCO performer with offensive tools. Carter has present power and big bat speed. Vines has gotten some love for stuff that plays up.
Notable Omissions
There are several names missing from rosters and apparently being held back in extended for various reasons, anything from injury to simply being raw and getting more work on the spring complex before an assignment. Some should get their assignments in the next few weeks. I don’t have a reason for any of these omissions; those things tend to stay in-house.
Freddy Tarnok and Daysbel Hernandez seemed destined for Mississippi. William Woods was likely to go to Mississippi or Rome. Mahki Backstrom will probably get a call to Augusta soon. Jared Johnson and Kadon Morton will go to Augusta whenever they’re assigned. Spencer Strider will go to Rome or Augusta when he leaves the complex.
There is an outside chance someone like Hernandez is pushed to Gwinnett. We’ll see when that roster is released.