Braves Spring Prospect Notes: Harris, Pache, Anderson, Ball, Contreras, Vodnik And More
I posted a few Braves spring prospect notes March 19 featuring William Woods, Bryse Wilson, Jasseel De La Cruz, Drew Waters and Justin Dean. Today’s post rounds out what I have left, featuring several of the top names in the system.
Michael Harris
Clearly is developing physically very quickly. Filling out a compact frame with mass. Especially shows in filled-out lower half with more mass. Strong frame.
Bat speed is well above what I saw in 2019. Showing plus when the swing is aggressive. Fluid swing with excellent hands and a feel to barrel up. Framework for strong hit tool. Still needs to find a little more consistency in aggressiveness to bat speed.
Good athlete. Not a burner but enough to steal occasional bases. Covers right field well. A definite strength in a corner spot.
Will certainly grade out higher once I see him in person and can fill out an updated report.
Bryce Ball
Has had some tough matchups against advanced pitching. Still shows some discomfort against upper-level stuff. Serves as reminder that he needs time.
Swings have been really good. Aggressive in the zone with outstanding bat speed for size. Shows good hands and ability to manipulate bat head.
Still needs to grow into ability to consistently impact ball, but swings have been more aggressive in a good way. Will come with time.
William Contreras
Receiving is looking better. Noticeable development in presenting the ball and softening his hands on pitches around the plate.
Swing looks good. More of the same carrying over from last summer. Revamped swing lends itself to more efficient bat path, impact contact to all fields. Carrying power to right-center. Is quickly utilizing his raw power in-game more consistently, especially to opposite field.
More convinced than ever that he’s a future everyday catcher.
Ian Anderson
FB and CH are ready. Velo is good. Showed his ability to elevate the fastball. CH command was inconsistent, but it’s understandable early. It will be there when it’s needed.
Obvious focus on shoring up the CB in spring outings. Remains behind FB and CH. Inconsistent depth. Can get short and hang up, can get on side of ball and miss glove side. Flashes 55 with 11/5 action and tight spin. May end up closer to 50 or 5+.
Cristian Pache
Swing has been lengthy at times this spring. Occasionally dipping back side and looping bat path. Getting under his typical swing plane.
When he barrels it, the stroke is shorter and more efficient to zone, on better path. Hands stay inside better. Needs to rein in swing and focus on contact and he will be fine.
Still tracking the ball well.
Victor Vodnik
Good FB, lively, flashes downhill plane and also elevates effectively. Great arm speed and repeated slot. Great tempo.
Power CH has developed exceptionally well. Flashed plus with plus depth to sink. Still developing feel. Slowed actions at times and cast it a few times.
CH is ahead of SL now. Didn’t show this kind of power CH in 2019 look and breaker had more CB tendencies.
Tight breaker. Solid bite and break came late. On the short side. Overthrew.
Quick-armed relief prospect with two power pitches.
Alex Jackson
Flashed 70 raw in-game with monster homer. Continues to show big swing-and-miss. Remains 40 potential hit but has to find more comfort against advanced pitching.
Glove is solid and will be his strength as backup. Receives well. Soft hands and moves well for size.
Trey Harris
Underrated explosiveness to swing this spring. Bat speed has been outstanding. Consistent contact on barrel.
Still lacks impact contact to take advantage of barrel skills. Gap power.
Bench potential remains.
Braden Shewmake
Underwhelming impact to the contact. Flat swing plane has produced a lot of pull-side ground balls lately. Does appear to look more comfortable and make more contact, but he’s not driving the ball.
From Friday’s mailbag post on Shewmake:
“I also hope the Braves don’t rush him. His camp looks last year and this year have been underwhelming. That’s not a knock on him. He just needs time and to gain comfort against pro pitching.”
It appears the Braves are more confident in Shewmake’s ability to handle upper-level challenges than I’m willing to give him. We’ll see what kind of assignments he gets over the course of the season.