Potential '21 Assignments For Other Braves Prospects
On Friday, I took a swing at predicting potential 2021 assignments for all Braves prospects who participated at the alternate site this season. It got good reviews and generated some discussion on Twitter, so I thought I’d try my hand at the rest of the prospects on my pref list who didn’t get a mention.
A reminder: The 2021 minor league season isn’t a guarantee, and anything beyond the present World Series is still up in the air. I’m writing the following as if a full minor league season will be played.
Bryce Elder – Elder may not be on as fast of a track as Jared Shuster, whom I wrote likely either starts at Class-A Advanced or Double-A Mississippi. But Elder shouldn’t be far behind, perhaps one level below. I say this because development of his secondaries beyond the slider is vital to his value, and he may need the extra level. Perhaps Advanced-A or Low-A Rome to begin the year.
Freddy Tarnok – Tarnok wasn’t invited to the alternate site or instructs, so he’s been working out on his own all year. I’m sure you have seen or heard of the video of him hitting 99 on an indoor mound. The raw arm strength and developing physicality are great to see, but the big question is whether he can hold his stuff over a full workload and stay healthy. If the Braves want to challenge him, an initial assignment to Mississippi seems realistic. If they want to take it more slowly, he could return to Advanced-A with the goal of reaching Mississippi. Either way, the Southern League is going to be the big test for Tarnok’s prospect value.
C.J. Alexander – The lost season hurt Alexander’s chances badly. He’s closing in on system depth status at this point. He probably returns to Mississippi.
Jeremy Walker – Walker’s shoulder knocked him out for all of 2020 and hurt his chances. He’ll be 26 next summer and needs to latch on soon to avoid becoming an up/down reliever. He’ll get big league looks in the spring and probably some major league innings during the year, so he probably continues to be an up/down guy.
Trey Harris – The lost season hurt Harris a lot as well. Like Alexander, Harris is teetering toward system depth. He’ll be at Triple-A Gwinnett.
Greyson Jenista – Another one who will be 24 and needed a 2020 season. Jenista is tracking toward system depth and will either be at Mississippi or Gwinnett.
Daysbel Hernandez – Hernandez is already 24 and hasn’t reached Double-A yet, but he has a major league arm if he gets moved more quickly. An instructs invite was nice to see and hopefully a sign that they’ll start bumping him up at a better pace. He likely starts the year at Mississippi.
Stephen Paolini – Paolini hasn’t performed as a pro yet, but the Braves may challenge him with a Rome assignment if they like what they see during instructs and 2021 spring training. He’s a big one to watch.
Tyler Owens – Owens is destined to start the year at Rome.
Ricky DeVito – DeVito is probably destined for Advanced-A. If the stuff pops and he performs, he could see Mississippi soon.
Other Notables:
Logan Brown – The realistic assignment is Mississippi, but Brown could see different levels over the course of the year.
Cam Shepherd – The advanced glove could send Shepherd straight to Advanced-A unless they want him to work on the bat at Rome first.
Trey Riley – I have no idea where Riley is in his development right now, so he could be anywhere from extended spring training to Rome. He needs to get on track.
Justin Dean – I assume Dean will be at Advanced-A unless he’s performing and they want to push him.
Jared Johnson – Johnson likely joins Owens at Rome. He’s a sleeper with a big arm to watch in 2021.
Kasey Kalich – Relief prospect so he could skip a level or two. I’ll guess Mississippi. Don’t sleep on him if his stuff is there next year.
Mahki Backstrom – Definite candidate to be Rome’s first baseman for all of 2021. This jump will be a big test for his bat.
Beau Philip – Glove-first shortstop who will probably be at Rome. His assignment helps determine Shepherd’s.
Alec Barger & Justin Yeager – Two arm-strength guys destined for Rome.
Kadon Morton – Candidate for Rome’s outfield.
Joey Estes – Overslot righty with stuff and received an instructs invite. He’ll probably be at Rome. If Estes, Johnson and Owens are together, that could be an interesting rotation.