Where Are They Now? Braves' Lost International Class

As previously detailed in Wednesday’s post, the Braves were severely punished in the 2017 offseason for brazen actions related to international spending.

The organization is still feeling the effects of its near-zero spending ability on the international market the past couple years. The limit was no more than $10,000 for any player during the 2019-20 period and is half its bonus pool for 2020-21.

On top of that, Major League Baseball took away the enormous 2016-17 signing class that led to the punishment, and a total of 13 prospects.

The Braves are feeling the effects of losing that class and subsequent international spending, as I detailed Wednesday. The lower levels of the system are considerably thinner and, even with the potential for overslot fliers to develop into prospects, the system is set to drop quite a bit very soon.

Normally, an organization with a middle-of-the-road payroll might see that as terrifying. The Braves are in a position to contend for years to come thanks to a locked-in young core and the potential for even more in the top two levels of the system.

But how drastic has the loss of those prospects actually been for the Braves? Would any of those 13 actually boost the talent of the lower levels a significant amount?

The biggest name lost was Kevin Maitan, who signed with the Braves for $4.25 million at 16 years old and eventually signed with the Angels for $2.2 million. Now 20 and several years removed from being a consensus top international prospect, Maitan appears nowhere close to getting out of the lower levels, developing a bad body and showing no signs of improvement in plate discipline. For all the troubles the Braves have dealt with, missing out on Maitan doesn’t seem to be one.

Another big bonus went to catcher Abrahan Gutierrez, who eventually signed with the Phillies for $550,000 after getting Atlanta’s $3.53 million, and he isn’t gaining much traction in prospect circles. He struggled at the plate in his first A-ball season last year, didn’t fare much better behind the plate, and is now 20.

Atlanta also gave a big bonus to second baseman Yunior Severino, who eventually went to the Twins for $2.5 million, actually an upgrade on the Braves offer of $1.9 million. He fractured his thumb in April 2019 and experienced a lost development season in Low-A. He’s tracking as a bench or depth infielder because of hit concerns and the lack of a standout tool.

In addition to Maitan, the Angels inked right-hander Juan Contreras, but he didn’t receive a second bonus (original one was $1.2 million) because he signed after an MLB-imposed deadline. Contreras didn’t pitch in 2018 and only threw seven innings for their complex team last year, allowing 14 runs and 12 walks. He’s falling behind even more quickly than Maitan.

Livan Soto also went to the Angels for $850,000 after getting $1 million from the Braves. The shortstop is a solid defender projected to stick at the position. He could move through the system based on his glove alone, but he has to add strength and prove he can hit to be that potential utility guy.

Yefri Del Rosario got $1 million from the Braves and an additional $650,000 from the Royals. The right-hander was looking like the best possibility as an impact prospect from the group until he missed all of 2019 with a nerve issue in his elbow, but the missed season doesn’t keep him from potentially being the best of the lost class. He can hit upper-90s with a hard slurve and developing changeup, coming from a solid frame. He bounced back to throw sim games in instructs and is still on track as a potential major leaguer.

Yenci Pena signed for $1.05 million and eventually with the Rangers for $675,000. The shortstop hasn’t gotten off the complex. He suffered a serious injury and missed most of 2018, and he hasn’t hit much when he’s been on the field.

Ji-Hwan Bae was set to sign with the Braves for $300,000, but the contract was voided when MLB’s punishment was handed down. He inked with the Pirates for $1.2 million and broke out as a legitimate second base prospect with leadoff tendencies, making a lot of contact, using his plus-plus speed on the basepaths and playing steady defense. However, Bae was handed a 30-game suspension early in 2019 after a conviction for assaulting his former girlfriend.

Guillermo Zuniga got $350,000 from the Braves and $205,000 from the Dodgers. He’s a big kid now moved full-time to relief, which seems to be helping. He reached Class-A Advanced in 2019 and is trying to avoid becoming depth.

Juan Carlos Negret got $1 million from the Braves and the same amount from the Royals. He’s a physical outfielder with power and other tools, but he’s super aggressive at the plate to the point of hindering his chances. The power/speed combo is tantalizing and he’s only 20, so the Royals have hope, but his current type of plate discipline doesn’t last long.

Antonio Sucre signed for $300,000, played 57 games at the Dominican Braves complex in 2017, and never signed with another team after leaving the organization.

Brandol Mezquita actually re-signed with the Braves within a week of being declared a free agent by MLB, for $300,000. The outfielder is still on the team’s complex and isn’t any closer to playing his way off it, but he’s only 18.

Angel Rojas signed with the Yankees for $350,000 after getting $300,000 from the Braves. The infielder also hasn’t made it off the team’s complex.

The Braves perhaps won’t miss a thing by losing their top four bonuses from the class. Maitan isn’t living up to the hype and huge bonus, Gutierrez isn’t doing much to gain attention, Severino still projects as a potential major leaguer but doubtful in an everyday role, and Contreras’s career has yet to get on track.

Soto, Del Rosario and Bae are potential major leaguers in various forms, although none project as impact guys, and the top performer, Bae, has significant makeup concerns. Negret’s tools would be exciting to have in the system, but his hit issues could come back to haunt him. Zuniga has a chance as a reliever but could also be depth.

To summarize, the Braves probably aren’t missing much from losing their top four bonuses, but missing out on guys like Soto and Del Rosario is worth mentioning. Soto still needs to hit, but that’s a legitimate shortstop glove in the system, and Del Rosario has major league stuff and would provide another noteworthy prospect arm. Even Zuniga and Negret at least provide depth. It’s also worth mentioning that these players are far from finished products. Development isn’t always linear and major steps forward can be taken by any of them.

If anything, looking back at the class shows how much of a crapshoot this business remains. Giving huge bonuses to 16-year-olds and hoping for the best developmentally isn’t exactly an efficient strategy. That’s the international market, though, and teams continue to shell out millions for the chance at that one Ronald Acuña Jr. or Ozzie Albies.