Despite being drafted by the Braves in the second round of the 2010 draft as a pitcher, Andrelton Simmons had a nice debut season with Rookie level Danville as a shortstop, hitting .276 with a .695 OPS, 11 doubles, 26 RBI, and 18 stolen bases. He followed that up with an excellent 2011 with High A Lynchburg,, winning the Carolina League batting title by hitting .311, and adding a .759 OPS, 35 doubles, 52 RBI, and 26 stolen bases. That season opened some eyes around baseball, as he was named the 65th best prospect in the game by MLB.com.

Simmons' calling card is his phenomenal defense. Wiry and quick, makes good reads and is athletic enough to make plays most other shortstops couldn't dream of attempting. His arm is capable of producing 95mph fastballs off the mound, and he uses it to make lightning fast, accurate throws over to first. He could play defense in the Major Leagues right now and already be one of the best defenders in the game.

He showed himself more than capable with the bat with Lynchburg, though there are concerns for him offensively. He's a pure contact hitter, and while that leads to a low strikeout rate, fanning in 7.5% of his plate appearances, it also leads to a poor walk rate, as he earned a free pass in just 5% of his trips to the plate. He also doesn't offer much in the way of slugging, with just 26% of his hits going for extra bases. Jack Wilson, similar glove-first player, has hit 26% of his career at bats for extra bases, and the epitome of glove first players, Omar Vizquel, has only seen 21% of his hits go for extra bases, while striking out in 9% of his plate appearances and walking in 8.6%. It's easy to envision Simmons being the kind of player Vizquel has been over his career, and if he could come close to providing the .272/.337/.353/.690 slash line the 11 time Gold Glove winner has in his career, Simmons would be an excellent Major Leaguer.

Still relatively new to the game at 22 years old, Simmons' big goal in Spring Training is just to gain experience by spending time with veterans such as Wilson, absorbing all the information and knowledge he possibly can. He'll go to Mississippi to start 2012, looking to refine his game and prove he deserves a shot at the Majors in 2013.

After the Braves selected him in the 6th round of the 2010 draft out of Long Beach State University, Joe Terdoslavich had a nice debut, hitting .302 with a .766 OPS, 19 doubles, and 34 RBI in 70 games between Rookie level Danville and Low Rome, splitting time between first and third base. He shifted over to first base full time in 2011, and had a great season for High A Lynchburg, hitting .286 with a .867 OPS, 20 homers, 82 RBI, and he broke a 65 year old Carolina League record by clubbing out 52 doubles.

As excited as the Braves are about Terdoslavich's future, there are some real question marks surrounding him, mostly on the defensive side of things. He was a third baseman in college, but struggled there with Danville and Rome, committing 10 errors in just 36 games. He struggled at first for those squads as well, committing 11 errors in 33 games, though it was his first time playing the position. He was more steady with Lynchburg in 2011, committing 10 errors in 106 games, though that's still a high total for a first baseman. Terdoslavich has hard hands and has trouble with fluidity and flexibility when it comes to fielding. Despite his troubles, the Braves are going to move him back to third base in 2012, mainly because they feel his bat will allow him to move quickly through the organization and Freddie Freeman has already established himself as Atlanta's first baseman.

While he doesn't have any chance of leaving Spring Training with a Major League roster spot, it should still be a fruitful experience for Terdoslavich, who will work closely with infield coach Terry Pendleton, who played 1785 games at the hot corner in the Majors after moving there from second base. He'll also benefit from playing alongside Chipper Jones, who has played 1889 game at third base after converting from shortstop. Even veteran Jack Wilson, who only has 4 games of third base to his credit, should be able to help with his vast knowledge of the best ways to field a baseball.

How important a part of Atlanta's 2013 Terdoslavich is will be determined by how well he can handle third base with Mississippi in 2012, because while there are some things he can work on with his offensive game, striking out less and taking more walks, there's a good chance his powerful bat will translate well at the higher levels.

A couple of weeks into the 2011 season, the Braves plucked Stefan Gartrell off waivers from the White Sox and he rewarded them by providing Gwinnett with a consistent, powerful cleanup hitter, putting up a .260 average and .834 OPS while clubbing out 28 doubles, and setting single season Gwinnett records with 25 homers and 91 RBI. He was originally drafted by the White Sox out of San Fransisco University in the 31st round of the 2006 draft and showed consistent pop at every level before busting out in AA in 2009 by hitting .285 with a .892 OPS, 20 doubles, 19 homers and 70 RBI for Birmingham.

In the last two plus years at AAA, Gartrell has posted a slash line of .259/.325/.475/.800, walking in 7.5% of his plate appearances, and striking out in 24.5% of his plate appearances. He just turned 28 years old, so he's essentially the hitter he's going to be, a slugger who's going to strike out a lot if given a chance in the Majors. He has a strong, powerful frame, standing 6'3" and weighing in at 230. Like most sluggers, Gartrell can succumb to getting fooled and taking huge whiffs, but he's shown himself capable of hitting enough at AAA to remain productive. In the outfield, he plays almost exclusively in right field, though is just as capable of playing left, but is at best an average defender. His bulk makes him slow to the ball, but he makes up for it by positioning himself well and reading the ball off the bat quickly. He does have an above average, accurate arm.

If Gartrell is going to get a chance in Atlanta, it's likely to come off the bench, and for the moment Matt Diaz is the team's right handed hitting corner outfielder off the pine. It's likely the team's last bench spot will go to a speedy outfielder who can play center field, like Jose Constanza or Luis Durango, so there's little chance Gartell is going to break camp on Atlanta's roster. Still, after a year in the organization they know his value, and he can further showcase his skills during Spring Training, so that if an injury or two arises during the year, he could provide a nice power bat off Atlanta's bench.

The Braves have always thought highly of Zeke Spruill's talent. They selected him in the second round of the 2008 out of high school, and he quickly showed his potential with an All-Star season for Rome in 2009. Unfortunately, he also showed his youth and immaturity, as he earned a month-long demotion to the Gulf Coast League that season for repeatedly breaking team rules. Things got worse in 2010, as he not only pitched poorly, but missed half of the season after breaking his hand punching a wall in frustration. Fortunately, Spruill turned himself around and contributed a fine 2011 season, that saw him post a 3.19 ERA and a 1.01 WHIP in 129.2 innings for High A Lynchburg, then follow that with a 3.20 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP in 45 innings with AA Mississippi. He also showed off his durability, tossing 6 complete games during the season and averaging over 6 innings per start.

Spruill's stuff is only average, a low 90s fastball paired with a changeup and a slider, but he makes the most of it with a bulldog mentality, attacking the hitters, forcing them to put the ball in play, allowing his defense to work behind him. With his immaturity issues seemingly, hopefully, behind him, Spruill was able to re-establish himself as one of Atlanta's most solid prospects, as he is easy to project either as an innings eating back of the rotation starter or a more than solid bullpen contributor.

This is his first invitation to Major League Spring Training, and while he'll begin 2012 back in Mississippi's rotation with a number of talented young pitchers ahead of him on the depth chart, Spruill can do a lot for his career by making a good impression during camp. He's likely to end up with AAA Gwinnett before the season is over, and under the right set of circumstances, he could see time on Atlanta's roster.

Few players get an invitation to Major League Spring Training knowing they have absolutely no chance to break camp with the Big League team, but 21 year old lefty Sean Gilmartin fits that bill. After the team selected him 28th overall in last June's amateur draft, the invitation was a formality of his contract, often extended to college players selected in the first round. Still, it will be a great learning experience for the young pitcher, who can listen and learn from much more experienced players until Minor League camp starts in the middle of March.

After his college season at Florida State, where he had a 12-2 record, a 2.09 ERA, and a 130 strikeouts in 120.1 innings, Gilmartin took a bit of time off before signing, then began his pro career with a one game tuneup in the GCL, where he allowed 2 runs in 2 innings. He moved up to Low A Rome where he made 5 starts, earning a 2-1 record, while posting a 2.53 ERA, a 0.94 WHIP, and 30 strikeouts in 21.1 innings. After the season he pitched for Surprise in the Arizona Fall League, where he put up a 2-1 record, a 4.34 ERA, and a 1.21 WHIP in 29 innings over 8 games (7 starts).

Gilmartin's best pitch is his outstanding changeup, which he utilizes with above average command. His fastball is only average, sitting around 90 mph with solid, if unspectacular, movement, and his slider needs work, though both pitches are effective due to his control. He stands at a solid, powerful, 6'2", 195 pounds, allowing him to be durable, though there isn't much of any room in his body for projection. Overall, Gilmartin is highly reminiscent of Mike Minor, another college lefty the team plucked in the first round, and there's a good chance that, like Minor, Gilmartin's stuff will improve a bit with professional coaching and training. The Braves will likely push Gilmartin like they pushed Minor, so expect to see him start 2012 in AA Mississippi's rotation.

Dusty Hughes was originally drafted in the 11th round out of Delta State University by the Royals in 2003. He pitched well in his first few years as a starter in A ball before undergoing Tommy John surgery midway through the 2005 season and missing all of 2006. He returned in 2007, working as a swingman for AA Wichita, earning a 3.08 ERA and a 1.32 WHIP in 108 innings, then built on that success in 2008 with a 2.91 ERA and a 1.20 ERA in 52 innings for AA Northwest Arkansas, before struggling in AAA with a 5.04 ERA and a 1.63 WHIP for Omaha. He was much better in a return to Omaha in 2009, posting a 3.50 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP in 87.1 innings, numbers good enough to earn him a September call up. He pitched in 8 games, including his lone Major League start, putting up a 5.14 ERA, a 1.50 WHIP, and 15 strikeouts in 14 innings.

He earned a job in Kansas City's bullpen in 2010, and spent the entire season in the Majors, appearing in 57 games, finishing 19, and putting up a 3.83 ERA and a 1.47 WHIP. Despite that solid rookie season, the Royals put him on waivers and the Twins claimed him prior to the 2011 season. He earned a job in Minnesota's bullpen to start the 2011 season, but after putting up a 9.95 ERA and a 2.13 WHIP in 12.2 innings over 15 appearances, he was optioned to AAA Rochester, where he spent the rest of the season, earning a 4.29 ERA, a 1.39 WHIP, and 10.8 K/9 in 56.2 innings over 43 appearances. After the season he became a Minor League free agent and signed with the Braves in late November.

Hughes is a bit of an undersized lefty, listed at a generous 5'10", 185 pounds, and he has only an average fastball, sitting between 88 and 91, though he pairs it with a well above average changeup that comes in between 80 and 83, a difference in speed and movement that baffles hitters when he's on. His diving slider is a solid pitch when it's on, and he's better when it is, and his curveball is a loopy show-me pitch.

There are a few open spots in the Braves bullpen, so with an outstanding Spring Training Hughes could find himself on an opening day roster for the third straight year. Atlanta already has the best pair of lefty relievers in the game in Jonny Venters and Eric O'Flaherty, so in addition to competing with pitchers like Anthony Varvaro, Arodys Vizcaino, Cory Gearrin, Jairo Asencio, JJ Hoover, Adam Russell, Todd Redmond, Jaye Chapman, and fellow lefty Robert Fish for one of the final bullpen spots, Hughes may have to contend with the team being content with only having two lefties in the pen. At worst, Hughes will provide a veteran presence in AAA Gwinnett's bullpen while waiting for an opportunity to open up in Atlanta.

Jose Yepez has had a long, slow climb through the Minor Leagues. He was originally signed out of his native Venezuela by the Blue Jays, and made his professional debut in 2001. After hitting just .192 with a .562 OPS for High A Dunedin in 2004, he was released, and spent the next 3 seasons in independent ball, playing for the Gary Southshore Railcats of the Northern League and the Pensacola Pelicans of the American Association. He returned to affiliated ball with the Mariners in 2008, splitting time between High A and AA, and worked his way up the organizational ladder the next few seasons, spending all of 2011 with AAA Tacoma, hitting .307 with a .846 OPS in 181 plate appearances. The Braves signed him as a Minor League free agent back in November.

Yepez has never been a full time starter, never topping 300 plate appearances in a season in affiliated ball, though he's been effective at the plate, hitting .270 with a .357 OBP and a .743 OPS over 2428 career plate appearances in 11 seasons. Behind the plate, he's an above average defensive catcher, good at calling a game and blocking balls, with a strong, accurate arm to boot. For his career, he's thrown out 29% of baserunners attempting to steal, and he had seasons in A ball, where the baserunners rely more on pure speed than guile or intelligence, where he came close to throwing out 50% of would-be thieves.

Yepez's invitation to Major League Spring Training is more indicative of the need for extra catchers during training camp than his chances of making Atlanta's roster, which are almost non-existent. Brian McCann and David Ross are firmly entrenched in Atlanta, and JC Boscan, who has seen time with the Braves each of the last two seasons, would be the first to be called up in case of emergency. Yepez will end up playing for either AA Mississippi or AAA Gwinnett, depending not only on his own performance in Spring Training, but also on how younger catchers like Matt Kennelly, Braeden Schlehuber, and Shawn McGill perform. Wherever he ends up, Yepez will provide a solid, steady, veteran presence off the bench.

Jordan Parraz was originally at 3rd round pick out of Junior College by the Astros in 2004, and after a solid 2008 that saw him hit .289 with a .818 OPS, 31 doubles, and 21 stolen bases for High A Salem, he was traded to the Royals for left handed pitcher Tyler Lumsden. Lumsden never made it to the Majors with the Astros, but neither did Parraz for the Royals, playing well in his first year in the organization, hitting .348 with a .973 OPS, though injuries limited him to 81 games between AA and AAA, then following with an average season with AAA Omaha in 2010, hitting .266 with a .760 OPS, 27 doubles, and 11 homers. After that season he became a Minor League free agent, signing with the Yankees, spending all of 2011 with AAA Scranton-Wilkes Barre, hitting .289 with a .802 OPS, 28 doubles, 9 homers, and 52 RBI in 495 plate appearances. After the season, he again became a Minor League free agent, signing a Minor League contract with the Braves in November.

As a hitter, Parraz is a bit of a tweener. He's consistently hit for a solid average, with a career .289 to is credit, but he's never shown much pop. He can be counted on to hit about 25 to 30 doubles each year, but has never hit more than 14 homers, with just 20 combined the last two years at AAA, and at 27 years old it's unreasonable to expect he'll suddenly develop over-the-fence power. He doesn't make up for the modest power with speed either, as he's combined to steal 17 bases over the last three seasons, after putting up 20 to 30 stolen base seasons while he was in A ball. Defensively, Parraz plays almost exclusively right field, where he's a solid defender with a strong arm.

Despite the invitation to Major League Spring Training, Parraz has little chance of making Atlanta's roster out of training camp, since Atlanta's bench is relatively set, with David Ross, Erik Hinske, Matt Diaz, and Jack Wilson all assured of spots, leaving only one open place on the roster for a bench player. If the Braves choose to fill that final spot with an outfielder, Jose Constanza would seem to have the inside track, and even if he falters, a player like Luis Durango, who provides speed and more versatile defense would seem to have an edge over Parraz. And there's always the possibility the last spot could go to an infielder like Brandon, Hicks, Drew Sutton or Josh Wilson, in which case Parraz wouldn't even be in the competition. Parraz will likely begin 2012 at AAA Gwinnett's everyday right fielder, where he'll provide a steady, if unspectacular, veteran presence to the lineup. A great season combined with injuries in Atlanta could lead to him making his Major League debut as a Brave, but with the aforementioned competition, and younger players like Myke Jones and Cory Harrilchak possibly pushing for callups later in the season, a number of things would have to go perfectly for Parraz for that to happen.

Josh Wilson has had a long, interesting career. Originally a 3rd round pick of the Marlins out of high school in 1999, he made his Major League debut with the Fish in 2005, going 1-10 in a September cup of coffee. After that, his journey as a Four-A player began. He was traded to the Rockies in the offseason, spending all of 2006 with AAA Colorado Springs, before becoming a Minor League free agent. In 2007, he signed with the Nationals and made the team out of Spring Training, playing in 15 games before being claimed off waivers by the Devil Rays. The Rays actually gave him a chance to play, as he started 73 of the 90 games he played with the team, seeing time mostly at second base, but also playing some shortstop, hitting .251 with a .644 OPS.

Despite his work with the Rays, Wilson found himself on the waiver wire again, with the Pirates selecting him and sending him to AAA Indianapolis to start 2008. Later in the season, he was traded to the Pawtucket, Boston's AAA affiliate, and again he became a free agent at the end of the season. The Diamondbacks signed him prior to the 2009 season and he managed to play 15 games with AAA Reno and 11 with Arizona before he was claimed off waivers by the Padres. After 16 games with San Diego, he went on waivers again, this time claimed by the Mariners, and he spent time with both Seattle and AAA Tacoma before the year was over.

The Mariners actually kept him over the offseason, and in 2010 he spent most of the season with Seattle, hitting .227 with a .572 OPS, starting 95 of his 108 games at shortstop, though he still managed to spend 20 games with AAA Tacoma. Again, being a starter wasn't enough to keep his job, as the Mariners released him at the end of Spring Training in 2011. He was almost immediately signed by the Diamondbacks, appearing in 16 games with AAA Reno and 6 games with Arizona before the Brewers claimed him off waivers. He finished the year in Milwaukee, hitting .227 with a .626 OPS in 54 games. He became a Minor League free agent at the end of the year, and signed a Minor League contract with the Braves in November.

Over the course of his 13 year playing career, Wilson, who will turn 31 right at the end of Spring Training, has played with 7 different Major League teams, and in 9 different Major League organizations, compiling a slash line of .227/.279/.318/.597 in 1012 plate appearances over 356 games in 5 seasons. He has appeared in 227 games at shortstop, 47 at second base, 31 games at third base, 4 at first base, 3 in left field, and has even pitched in 3 games.

Wilson will enter Spring Training this year with an outside chance to win a job on Atlanta's bench, with fellow Minor League signee Drew Sutton and Brandon Hicks as his main competitors. Wilson's main advantage in that competition is his experience, as he has more than double the at bats in the Majors than Sutton and Hicks combined. Wilson is a solid, if unspectacular defender, with a strong, accurate arm, capable of handling himself all around the infield. He has little upside with the bat, and his chances as a starter have shown he's not capable of handling that role for an extended period. He never showed much more than average pop or speed at any point in his career, so he's more or less the epitome of an average baseball player all around. That's not a bad thing though, particularly when looking at a player who might fill the final spot on the roster. Still, if the Braves decide that the combination of Jack Wilson and a roving Martin Prado is enough to fill their backup infield needs, and choose to go with an outfielder like Jose Constanza for the final roster spot, Wilson will have to take his experience to AAA Gwinnett and wait for an opportunity to open for him. Of course, given his history, there's a high likelihood one will.

Ernesto Mejia had the best season of his career in 2011, setting single season records for AA Mississippi in hits (148), homers (26), and RBI (99), while hitting .297 with a .906 OPS and 37 doubles in 573 plate appearances. He kept on hitting for Aguilas de Zulia in the Venezuelan Winter League, with a .282 average, .887 OPS, 20 doubles, 10 homers, and 49 RBI in 227 at bats.

The Braves originally signed Mejia out of his native Venezuela and he began his career as an outfielder before his massive size and bulk, listed at 6'5", 245 pounds, forced the team to move him to first base. He had a great year as a 22 year old for High A Myrtle Beach in 2008, hitting .274 with a .829 OPS, 47 doubles, 21 homers, and 93 RBI, but a severe knee injury limited him to just 36 games in 2009. After that season he left the organization, signing a Minor League contract with the Kansas City Royals, splitting 2010 between High A and AA, hitting .276 with a .805 OPS, 31 doubles, 16 homers, and 69 RBI in 481 plate appearances. The Braves brought him back on a Minor League contract prior to the 2011 season, and have now done the same for the 2012 season, this time with a Non Roster invitation to Spring Training to boot.

Now 26 years old, Mejia is a formidable, experienced slugger, though he's never played above AA. That should change this year, as he's penciled in to be AAA Gwinnett's first baseman. His invitation to Major League Spring Training is more of a reward for his 2011 season than an indication that he has any chance to make Atlanta's roster, though a strong showing could put him in line for a call up should injuries strike. Defensively, he's limited to first base, and on his best days he's only an average defender. At the plate, he's something of a boom or bust hitter, prone to the extra base hit or the strikeout, and for all his skill, he' not that adept at talking walks, walking in just 10% of his plate appearances last year and just 7% for his career. If given a chance, Mejia could be a useful power bat off Atlanta's bench, and occasional starter at first base against tough lefties, though his defensive limitations make it unlikely he'll be given that chance.

For the second year in a row, the Braves signed left handed pitcher Yohan Flande to a Minor League Contract with an invitation to Spring Training. He worked last season as a swingman for AAA Gwinnett, appearing in 33 games, starting 19 of them, compiling a 8-8 record, a 4.01 ERA, and a 1.41 WHIP in 137 innings, with 6.8 K/9 and 2.5 K/9. It was not only the 26 year old's first season with the Braves, it was also his first in AAA, after never making it past AA in his five season in the Phillies organization.

Flande had a little bit of buzz behind him going into the 2010 season, after he went from stagnating for three years in Rookie ball to putting up a 3.48 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP in 152.2 innings between High A and AA and added a few miles per hour to his fastball in the process. But, he failed to impress, leading the Phillies to allow him to walk as a Minor League free agent. The Braves were pleased with his performance, though the team is realistic about his abilities. His fastball has fallen back into the average range, sitting in the 89-91 mph range, though he does have an above average changeup. Those are his only two reliable pitches, as he's toyed with both a cutter and a curveball with limited success.

Long-term, Flande doesn't profile as much more than an average middle reliever, though he could make a spot start or two in a pinch. Given the wealth of Atlanta's pitching depth, it's hard to envision a scenario where Flande would actually appear in a game in the Majors with the Braves, at least not one where the entire season had gone horribly, irrevocably wrong.

Today we finish up Talking Chop's countdown of the top 25 prospects in the Braves organization. The top 25 are selected by yondaime14, gondeee, and myself each putting together our own lists, then averaging the three lists together.

1. Julio Teheran, RHP
The Skinny: Arguably the top prospect in baseball. Dominated in AAA in 2011, earning International League Pitcher of the Year and Rookie of the Year honors. Made a pair of spot starts for Atlanta during the year before joining the team in September for the stretch run.
The Good: Above average stuff, including mid to upper 90s fastball with sharp movement and above average changeup and curveball. Deceptive delivery. Has been durable over the last few seasons. Intelligent pitcher with an advanced game plan who gets the most out of his stuff. Allows the defense to work behind him. Hard worker with strong drive to be the best. Only 21 years old.
The Bad: Has a tendency to lose feel for his curveball which makes him very hittable. Has added muscle but is still very skinny. Smallish frame.
...in a perfect world...Teheran becomes an ace and one of the best pitchers in all of baseball.
ETA: 2012. He has nothing left to prove in the Minors and there's a good chance he earns a job in Atlanta's rotation out of Spring Training.

2. Randall Delgado, RHP
The Skinny:  Began 2011 as an All-Star with Mississippi and finished as Atlanta's best starter in September.
The Good:  All of his pitches are above average, including a moving, low 90s fastball. Big and durable with the potential to be a workhorse. Advanced feel for pitching.
The Bad:  Sometimes gets too fine with his pitches, which leads to walks. Needs to become more aggressive at attacking hitters.
...in a perfect world...Delgado becomes a top of the rotation starter.
ETA: 2012. Despite his great work in September, he may still be behind Julio Teheran and Mike Minor on the depth chart. Even if he starts the year in Gwinnett, he'll finish it in Atlanta.

3. Arodys Vizcaino, RHP
The Skinny:  After missing the second half of 2010 with arm injuries, began 2011 by dominating for Lynchburg, then pitched well in Mississippi where he moved to the bullpen. After a quick stop in Gwinnett he moved up to Atlanta in mid-August where he was a solid member of the relief corp.
The Good:  Blazing, upper 90s fastball with serious movement that he couples with a devastating hammer curveball. Strong, muscular frame. Versatile enough to start or relieve. Eager to learn and takes quickly to coaching. Only 21 years old.
The Bad:  Has been injury prone throughout his career, with shoulder, elbow, and back ailments. Will need a solid third pitch if he goes back to the rotation, meaning his changeup needs work. Coaches have questioned his confidence and aggressiveness.
...in a perfect world...Vizcaino either becomes a top of the rotation starter or an elite closer.
ETA: 2012. He could make Atlanta's roster out of Spring Training as a reliever, though the team may decide to send him to Gwinnett to return to the rotation. Either way, he'll be in the Major Leagues at the end of the year.

4. Sean Gilmartin, LHP
The Skinny:  Braves first round selection in the 2011 draft out of Florida State. Pitched well in his pro debut at Rome and put on a good showing in the Arizona Fall League after the season.
The Good:  Superb changeup and above average command. Average fastball that sits around 90 with reliable movement. Solid slider that needs work. Big, strong, durable body. Advanced feel for pitching.
The Bad:  Only average stuff. Could stand to add some velocity. Not much room for projection.
...in a perfect world...becomes an above average middle of the rotation starter.
ETA: Late 2013. He'll likely start the year in Lynchburg or Mississippi as the Braves will be aggressive with his development.

5. Christian Bethancourt, C
The Skinny:  After struggling with Rome in 2010, he returned there to start 2011 and played well, earning a promotion to Lynchburg where he had mixed results. Performed surprisingly well in the Arizona Fall League after the season playing against much older competition.
The Good: Absolute cannon for an arm that shuts down opposing teams' running games. Has the potential to be a Gold Glove catcher. High contact hitter. Big, strong body with room to add muscle. Smart baserunner. Only 20 years old.
The Bad:  Has trouble blocking balls in the dirt. Very poor at drawing walks. Needs to learn how to drive the ball for power. Struggles to adjust when he moves up a level. Has been accused of being lazy and unmotivated.
...in a perfect world...Bethancourt becomes a perennial Gold Glove winner with above average offensive production.
ETA: 2014. He's very young with a lot of rough edges on his game. The Braves already have the best catcher in baseball, so they have no reason to rush Bethancourt.

Today we continue Talking Chop's countdown of the top 25 prospects in the Braves organization. The top 25 are selected by yondaime14, gondeee, and myself each putting together our own lists, then averaging the three lists together.

6. Edward Salcedo, 3B
The Skinny:  Top international signee struggled in his pro debut in 2010, then started strong with Rome in 2011 before fading down the stretch. Originally a shortstop but struggled with errors, forcing a move to third base, which hasn't helped keep his errors down.
The Good:  Huge, strong frame with plenty of room to fill out and add power. Athletic and quick. Great baseball instincts. Soft hands and strong throwing arm. Has the physical skills to play any position on the field. Hard worker and natural leader. Good, opportunistic baserunner. Only 20 years old.
The Bad:  Inconsistent at the plate. Swing gets long and occasionally struggles to make contact. Often too aggressive, leading to strikeouts and lack of walks. Less experienced than most 20 year olds. Consistently makes mental errors in the field.
...in a perfect world... Salcedo harnesses his potential, finds a defensive home, and develops into an All-Star caliber middle of the order hitter.
ETA:  2014. The Braves will be patient with Salcedo, and he'll move up the ladder one rung at a time.

7. Zeke Spruill, RHP
The Skinny:  After a disappointing 2010 that saw him miss half the season after breaking his hand punching a wall in frustration, Spruill had a fantastic rebound in 2011, with a strong showing at Lynchburg followed by an equally impressive run at Mississippi.
The Good:  Big bodied, strong and durable. Has all the potential to be a workhorse. Tossed 6 complete games in 2011. Classic pitcher's body. Overcame immaturity and thrived this season. Smart pitcher who uses his fastball to set up his secondary pitches. Allows his defense to work behind him. Pitches better than his stuff.
The Bad: History of immaturity, including a disciplinary demotion in 2009 and wasted his 2010 season by breaking his own hand. Stuff is only average.
...in a perfect world... Spruill becomes a middle of the rotation innings eater and a solid Major League starter.
ETA: 2013. He'll return to Mississippi to start 2012, and there's a good chance he could make his Major League debut later in the year.

Continue reading this post »

Today the Atlanta Braves announce they have declined to offer Alex Gonzalez arbitration. Gonzalez, the team's starting shortstop for the last year and a half, was a Type B free agent and could have netted the Braves a supplemental draft pick as compensation had they offered him arbitration and he signed with a new team. The decision was financially driven however, as Gonzalez likely would have received a substantial raise over his 2.5 million dollar 2011 salary through the arbitration process. The team is still able to negotiate with him and his chances of returning for 2012 have neither improved nor diminished with this transaction. 2011 was Gonzalez's 13th season in the Major Leagues, and one of his worst offensively, as he hit just .241 with a .642 OPS, 27 doubles, 15 homers, and 56 RBI, though he was outstanding in the field.

Today we continue Talking Chops countdown of the top 25 prospects in the Braves organization. The top 25 are selected by yondaime14, gondeee, and myself each putting together our own lists, then averaging the three lists together.

11. JJ Hoover, RHP
The Skinny: A league All-Star in 2009 and 2010, he earned similar honors at AA in 2011, doing all his work as a starter. The Braves moved him to the bullpen midway through the year and he dominated, including a promotion to AAA that saw him strike out 26 over 13.2 scoreless relief innings.
The Good: Big, strong, and durable. An innings eater as a starter. Smooth, easy arm action allows him to easily repeat his delivery and stay free of injury. Gains velocity and movement when he works in relief. Consistent secondary pitches. Smart, hard working pitcher.
The Bad: Average stuff as a starter. No room for projection in his body, in fact will have to work hard to stay in playing shape throughout his career.
...in a perfect world...Hoover becomes a reliable member of the Braves bullpen, shutting down hitters at the end of games.
ETA: 2012. He'll likely start the year back in AAA, but by the end of the season he'll be pitching important innings for Atlanta.

12. Brandon Drury, 3B
The Skinny: Was the Co-MVP of the Appalachian League, spending most of the season as an 18 year old. Drafted in the 13th round in 2010. Didn't have a chance to play much as an amateur growing up in Oregon.
The Good: Showed the ability to hit for average and power as he dominated Rookie ball. Big strong body with tons of room for projection. Will only be 19 heading into next season. Considered a baseball rat. Likely to stick at third base, but has shown ability to play second base and shortstop.
The Bad: Will need to become a smoother defender at third base. Has to get better on base skills. Took only 6 walks in 2011 and several of them were intentional.
...in a perfect world...Drury develops at a steady pace and becomes the long-term answer at third base in a post-Chipper Jones world.
ETA: 2015. Drury is young and relatively inexperienced and will likely move deliberately through the organization.

Continue reading this post »

The Atlanta Braves have re-signed first baseman Ernesto Mejia and left handed pitcher Yohan Flande to Minor League contracts with invitations to Major League Spring Training. The team has also signed right handed pitchers Adam Russell and Jason Rice and infielder Drew Sutton to Minor League contracts with invitations to Major League Spring Training.

Mejia returned to the Braves organization in 2011 after spending 2011 with the Royals, and had a record breaking year for AA Mississppi, setting single season records for hits (148), homers (26), and RBI (99), while hitting .297 with a .906 OPS. Flande appeared in 33 games for AAA Gwinnett, throwing 137 innings and making 19 starts, collecting a 8-8 record, a 4.01 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP. it was the 25 year old's first season with the Braves organization.

Russell spent the majority of 2011 with Tampa Bay, pitching 32.2 innings over 36 relief appearances, posting a 3.03 ERA and a 1.56 WHIP. Between 2008 and 2011 he has a 3.95 ERA and a 1.55 WHIP in 86.2 Major League innings while pitching for the White Sox, Padres, and Rays. The 6'8" righty, who will turn 29 in April, has been traded for both Jake Peavy and Jason Bartlett. Rice spent 2011 with the AAA Pawtucket Red Sox, posting a 3.69 ERA and a 1.40 WHIP in 85.1 innings over 44 games. It was the 25 year old's 7th professional season and his first in AAA.

Sutton was Rice's teammate in 2011, spending 45 games with Pawtucket, where he hit .295 with a .858 OPS. The 28 year old also appeared in 31 games for the Boston Red Sox, hitting .315 with a .807 OPS in 60 plate appearances. Between 2009 and 2011, he has a ..258 average and a .724 OPS in 178 Major League plate appearances for the Reds, Indians, and Red Sox. Sutton is primarily a second baseman and a third baseman, but he also has experience at shortstop, first base, and in left field.

Of the players the Braves have signed to Minor League contracts this offseason, catchers JC Boscan and Jose Yepez, infielders Ernesto Mejia, Drew Sutton, and Josh Wilson, outfielders Luis Durango and Jordan Parraz, and pitchers Adam Russell, Jason Rice, Yohan Flande, and Dusty Hughes have received invitations to Major League Spring Training. Their remaining signees, infielder Ian Gac, outfielder, Brhiam Maldonado, and pitcher Jose Lugo, will be invited to Minor League camp only.

JC Boscan will be playing his 16th professional season in 2012, and it will be his 14th with the Atlanta Braves, as the team re-signed him to a Minor League contract. The Braves originally signed Boscan as a 16 year old in 1996 and he stayed in the organization until leaving to play in the Milwaukee organization in 2006 and the Red organization in 2007. Since 2008 he's been back with the Braves and he made his Major League debut in the final game of 2010. He was 3-9 in the Majors in 2011, spending most of the year with AAA Gwinnett, his 9th season in AAA, hitting just .182 with a .457 OPS in 218 plate appearances. Boscan will turn 32 in December.

The team has also signed infielders Ian Gac and Josh Wilson, outfielders Luis Durango and Brahiam Maldonado, and pitcher Dusty Hughes to Minor League deals.  Josh Wilson saw time with both the Brewers and Diamondbacks this season, combining to hit .224 with a .611 OPS in 92 Major League plate appearances. Between 2005 and 2011, the 30 year old has appeared in 356 Major League games, playing for the Brewers, Diamondbacks, Marlins, Nationals, Rays, Padres, and Mariners, hitting .227 with a .597 OPS in 1012 plate appearances. He is primarily a shortstop, though he has seen time at second base and third base, with a handful of games at first base and left field, and he's even pitched in 3 Major League games. First baseman Ian Gac was named the 2011 Carolina League MVP, hitting .279 with a .893 OPS, 31 doubles, 33 homers, and 96 RBI in 587 plate appearances while playing for the Winston-Salem Dash, a White Sox affiliate. The 25 year old was originally a 26th round selection by the Texas Rangers, and signed with the White Sox prior to the 2010 season. He has yet to play above High A.

Luis Durango was 1-6 for the Astros in 2011, and before that he had hit .305 with a .674 OPS in 67 plate appearances in 2009 and 2010 with the Padres. The 25 year old center fielder hit .273 with a .660 OPS and 18 stolen bases in 180 plate appearances with AAA Oklahoma City this season. Left fielder Brahiam Maldonado spent all of 2011 with the AA Binghamton Mets, hitting .222 with a .737 OPS, 16 doubles, 28 homers, and 74 RBI in 530 plate appearances. The 26 year old Puerto Rican was originally a 10th round selection by the Mets in the 2004 draft.

Lefty Dusty Hughes made 15 appearances for the Twins in 2011, posting a 9.95 ERA and a 2.13 WHIP in 12.2 innings. He made his Major League debut with the Royals in 2009, then spent all of 2010 in Kansas City's bullpen, posting a 3.83 ERA and a 1.47 WHIP in 56.1 innings over 57 games. The 29 year old was originally drafted by the Royals in the 11th round in 2003.

The last couple of spots on a Major League roster are the most volatile, with injuries and poor performances leading to a rotating cast of players moving on and off the active roster over the course of the season. That was certainly the case for the Braves this season, and unfortunately none of their fringe players were able to establish themselves as indispensable members of the team. 

The Braves began the year with outfielder Matt Young and infielder Brandon Hicks at the end of the bench. It was Young's first chance in the Majors, and he struggled, going 2-19 before being sent to AAA late in April. He fared better when he returned in June, going 8-29, but was still sent back to AAA, where he had a so-so season, hitting .273 with a .719 OPS. He filled in at all three outfield spots, but was 0-7 as a pinch hitter. After the season, Young became a Minor League free agent and signed with the Detroit Tigers. Hicks struggled as well, as his first Major League hit on May 1st was his lone hit for the year. He was sent down several days later, having gone 1-10, and returned for short periods in June and July, where he combined to go 0-11. He was 0-9 as a pinch hitter and filled played handful of games at shortstop and third base. Hicks had a solid year in AAA, hitting .252 with a .779 OPS, 18 homers and 50 RBI in 407 plate appearances. He is still on the team's 40 man roster and has a chance to return to the Majors in 2012 as a backup again.

The rest of the 25th men after the jump:

Continue reading this post »

The Braves are already blessed with having the best catcher in baseball, Brian McCann, who will only be 28 years old next season, so catcher isn't a real spot of need for the team. Thus, it's a luxury that one of the team's top prospects is a catcher with the potential to develop into an All-Star. They have several other solid prospects at the position, including a player who would be much more highly regarded if he was a little younger.

1. Christian Bethancourt - B/T: R/R, Born: 09/02/1991, Ht: 6'2", Wt: 190 - Bethancourt was considered a premium prospect from the moment he was signed out of his native Panama, but after nice seasons as a 16 year old in the Dominican Summer League and as a 17 year old in the Gulf Coast league, he struggled in 2010 with Low A Rome, hitting just .251 with a .607 OPS. He returned to Rome this season as a 19 year old and fared much better, hitting .303 with a .753 OPS, 10 doubles, 4 homers, and 33 RBI in 235 at bats. He was promoted to High A Lynchburg at the end of June, and while he hit for average well, batting .271, he struggled to get on base, with a .277 OBP, and didn't hit for much pop, with a .325 slugging percentage. As disappointing as that showing was, it was to be expected considering his youth, and he's followed it up by crushing the Arizona Fall League, hitting .319 with a .918 OPS, 3 doubles, 5 homers, 13 RBI, and 3 stolen bases in 69 at bats.

Bethancourt is a big, strong player, which makes him the kind of target behind the plate that pitchers love to throw to, and he has an absolute cannon for an arm, throwing out 38% of attempted base stealers for his career, and 47% of them in 35 games with Lynchburg. He has had some trouble blocking balls and even occasionally just catching them, and those problems highlight recurring questions about his drive and work ethic. The doubts about his attitude are growing more infrequent as he grows and matures, and his showing in the AFL is a clear sign of his commitment to the game. At the plate, Bethancourt has shown the ability to hit for average, though he hasn't yet learned how to drive the ball, with a lowly .373 slugging percentage for his career. Hopefully his newfound slugging prowess in Arizona, he's hit as many homers in 69 AFL at bats as he did in 387 regular season at bats, is a sign of his development and not just a pleasant side effect of the thin air. Still, he has a strong frame and it's easy to imagine one day he'll have plenty of pop in his bat. Of more concern is his utter inability to take a walk. He's walked in just 4% of his his career plate appearances and that number dropped to just 3% this season. Plate discipline is one of the last thing young hitters learn, so there's a chance he could dramatically improve in this area, but there's an even higher likelihood that he'll always struggle with getting on base.

Bethancourt is one of the Braves' most promising prospects, and he has a chance to become a Gold Glover and a perennial All-Star in the mold of Yadier Molina. The Braves are set for years at catcher with the best in the Majors at the position, Brian McCann, which is perfect because it will take several years for Bethancourt to develop. He'll return to Lynchburg in 2012 as a 20 year old, and the Braves will allow him to set his own pace. There will be ups and downs with him over the next few years, but once he puts it all together he'll be another fantastic testament to the Braves' scouting department.

The rest of the list after the jump:

Continue reading this post »

You would expect any group of top middle infield prospects to be full of shortstops, and this list is no exception, as four of the Braves top five middle infield prospects are shortstops. What makes the group impressive is that every player on the list has a chance to become a Major League regular, and that's after the team's top two middle infield prospects from last season, Matt Lipka and Edward Salcedo, were moved to centerfield and third base respectively.

1. Tyler Pastornicky, SS - B/T: R/R, Born: 12/13/1989, Ht: 5'11", Wt: 170 - When the Braves traded Yunel Escobar to the Blue Jays in July of 2010, everyone focused on the Major Leaguer they were getting in return, Alex Gonzalez, and very little attention was paid to Pastornicky, who was aggressively promoted to AA Mississippi as a 20 year old after the trade, where he held his own. Pastornicky returned to AA in 2011 and earned an All-Star appearance, hitting .299 with a .345 OBP, .759 OPS, 6 triples, and 20 stolen bases in 295 plate appearances. He was promoted to AAA Gwinnett in the middle of July and got off to a hot start, hitting for the cycle in the midst of a 12 game hitting streak as part of a 117 plate appearances that saw him hit .365 with a .407 OBP, a .821 OPS, and 7 stolen bases. An ankle injury near the end of August abruptly ended his AAA season, though he did heal enough to join Atlanta for the very last game of the Major League season.

Pastornicky is an outstanding athlete with above average speed, which allows him quickness both on the basepaths and in the field, where his range is superb. He's a slick fielder with soft hands, but his arm is at best average, and probably a little below average, leading to some trouble when he has to make plays from deep in the hole at shortstop. He'll likely be able to hold his own defensively as a Major League shortstop, though he would profile best defensively at second base, where he could develop into a Gold Glover. A the plate, Pastornicky is a high contact hitter who helps himself by knowing his limits and staying inside his game. He doesn't have much power, but he's adept at putting the ball in play and is a fine situational hitter, which could make him an ideal two hole hitter. He does need to work on getting on base more, as he walked in just 6% of his at bats this season, an unfortunate side effect of his aggressive approach.

While Pastornicky may not have as high a ceiling as some of the other players on this list, he'll only be 22 years old next season and is on the cusp of being a productive Major Leaguer. At worst, he'll have a nice career as a backup infielder, though if he reaches his peak he could be a league average regular at shortstop with solid defense, or a slightly above average second baseman. The Braves don't currently have a shortstop, so there's a chance Pastornicky  could be given a shot to earn Atlanta's shortstop job out of Spring Training in 2012. It's more likely the team bring in a veteran on a short term deal and he'll head back to Gwinnett to start the year. Either way, he should join Atlanta at some point in the year and is likely to be a starter by 2013.

2. Andrelton Simmons, SS - B/T: R/R, Born: 09/04/1989, Ht: 6'2", Wt" 170 - When the Braves drafted Simmons in the 2nd round in 2010, they were excited about getting another high octane pitching arm, as the Curacao native can thrown 95mph off the mound, but Simmons wouldn't sign with the team unless they allowed him to try playing shortstop first. So far, Simmons is putting his bat where his mouth is, following up a solid debut year with Rookie level Danville by winning a batting title for High A Lynchburg, hitting .311 with a .759 OPS, 35 doubles, 52 RBI, and 26 stolen bases.

The Braves wanted Simmons as a pitcher because they weren't convinced he could hit, but so far he's shown himself to be fantastic at making contact, with a .300 batting average over 839 professional plate appearances, while only striking out in 8% of his at bats. The down side of this high contact approach is that he doesn't walk much, walking in just 5% of his plate appearances. He doesn't have much pop, hitting just 1 home run this season, though he did smack out 35 doubles, an incredibly encouraging sign for his future. Still, Simmons is very skinny, and doesn't have a ton of body strength, which leads to doubts about his ability to drive the ball at the higher levels. He's a quick baserunner, though he needs to get better at knowing when to swipe a bag, getting caught in 18 of his 44 attempts. Defensively, he is one of the best shortstops in the game, with phenomenal range, unreal reflexes, and an absolute cannon for an arm. He did make 28 errors this season, but many of those were made on balls that other shortstops couldn't even get to.

Simmons will move up to AA Mississippi as a 22 year old in 2012, and it will be his biggest challenge yet. As encouraging as his work to this point has been, the doubts about his bat won't be fully quelled until he proves himself against experience, upper level pitching. At worst, Simmons can develop into a Rey Ordonez like player, who wins Gold Glove after Gold Glove but looks atrocious at the plate. His defense will always make him valuable asset, and if his bat can be remotely league average he'll be an every day Major League shortstop for 15 seasons. And, if worst comes to worst, he could always take that big arm to the mound and become a dominating reliever. 2012 will be a big year for Simmons, if he can have another offensive season like 2011 he could become Atlanta's top prospect.

The rest of the list after the jump:

Continue reading this post »

Joey Terdoslavich had another solid week for the Surprise Saguaros in the Arizona Fall League, going 4-14 with a homer, 4 RBI, and 6 walks. Overall, he's hitting .348 with a 1.061 OPS, 6 doubles, 2 triples, 3 homers, 12 RBI, and 11 walks in 69 at bats. Christian Bethancourt cooled off considerably, going just 2-13 with an RBI this week, to drop his numbers to a .323 average and a .898 OPS, along with 3 doubles, 4 homers, 12 RBI, and 3 stolen bases in 62 at bats. Todd Cunningham also struggled, going 2-10 with a double and 2 walks. Overall, he's hitting .288 with a .760 OPS, 4 doubles, 11 RBI, and 2 stolen bases in 52 at bats. Sean Gilmartin had his worst AFL start last Thursday, allowing 7 runs, 6 earned, in just 3 innings. He struck out 2 in 2 scoreless innings today, and overall he has a 4.85 ERA, a 1.27 WHIP, and 22 strikeouts in 26 innings. In his lone appearance this week, JJ Hoover struck out 4 over 2 scoreless innings. In 9.1 innings in the AFL, he has a 8.68 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP. Billy Bullock continues to struggle, allowing 5 earned runs and 4 walks over 2.1 innings in 2 appearances this week. In 9 AFL innings he has allowed a 15.00 ERA, a 2.67 WHIP, 9 walks and 11 strikeouts. Navery Moore allowed 2 runs in 2 innings over 2 appearances, giving him a 6.00 ERA and a 1.67 WHIP in 3 innings.

We'll update you on the rest of the winter action after the break:

Continue reading this post »

1. Julio Teheran - B/T: R/R, Born: 01/27/1991, Ht: 6'2", Wt:175  - What is there to say about Julio Teheran that hasn't already been said? After an injury plagued, ineffective pro debut as a 17 year old in 2007, he's steadily dominated, rapidly and efficiently climbing the organizational ladder, spending the bulk of this season at AAA as a 20 year old, posting a 15-3 record, a 2.55 ERA, a 1.18 WHIP, and 7.6 K/9 in 144.2 innings, a performance that earned him both the International League Rookie of the Year and Pitcher of the Year awards. He is widely considered the top right handed pitching prospect in all of baseball, and only Rays lefty Matt Moore stands as competition for the top overall pitching prospect. Some prefer Moore's strikeout ability and left handedness, but Teheran is just as skilled, and dominated at a higher level, playing a full year and a half younger than Moore.

Accolades and debates aside, Teheran is an outstanding pitcher, with a fastball that can reach the upper 90s, but stays mostly in the mid 90s where the sacrificed speed is replaced with sharp movement. He pairs it with an above average changeup and a looping curveball, the only pitch he struggles with. When the curve is working he's nearly unhittable, but when he can't find the feel for it he struggles. Teheran has filled out some since joining the organization, and he's only 20 so there's reason to believe he can add a bit more weight, but he's still slight of frame, which will always lead to some questions about his durability, though that hasn't been an issue since his first pro season. He uses his lankiness effectively to add deception to his delivery, which resembles a coiled spring uncoiling. Even with the obvious physical skills, what really makes him so lethal on the mound is his mind, which is sharp and receptive. He's a hard worker and a good listener, and has a strong desire to be the best.

Teheran made his Major League debut this season, making spot starts on May 7th and 18th, finishing the year with a 5.03 ERA and a 1.48 WHIP in 19.2 innings over 5 appearances, including 3 starts. At the moment he's poised to enter Spring Training in a competition with Mike Minor for the 5th spot Atlanta's rotation, but there's the distinct possibility a trade of one of the team's veteran starters could assure him a spot on the team. There's little left for him to prove in AAA, so it's unlikely the team would send him back even if there isn't a spot in the Major League rotation. He could be an immensely effective reliever, even if it's only temporary. Regardless of how things play out at the start of the 2012 season, Teheran is a true gem and will likely be a stalwart in the Atlanta Braves rotation for years to come.

2. Randall Delgado - B/T: R/R, Born: 02/09/1990, Ht: 6'3", Wt: 200 - In any other organization, Delgado would be a rare and special gem that fans would have been drooling over for years, but in the Braves organization he's been constantly overshadowed by Julio Teheran. Well dear Braves fans, start drooling. Delgado had an All-Star year for AA Mississippi, posting a 5-5 record, a 3.84 ERA, a 1.38 WHIP, and 8.4 K/9 in 117.1 innings, then followed it up with a respectable stint in AAA, with a 4.15 ERA, a 1.39 WHIP, and 10.4 K/9 in 21.2 innings with Gwinnett. He made spot starts for Atlanta on June 17th and August 16th, then spent all of September in the rotation, posting a 2.52 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP in 25 innings, one of the few bright performances in the midst of the team's historic late season collapse.

Delgado works his fastball in the low to mid 90s, pairing it with a changeup and a curveball, both of which are above average offerings. Despite his stuff, he rarely dominates, working through his starts with meticulous care, attacking hitters but allowing them to put the ball in play. When he struggles it's because he attempts to be too fine with his repertoire, falling behind hitters, leading to too many walks. It's a rare problem with a young pitcher, but the Braves may actually have to work on making him more aggressive with his superior stuff. Delgado is big and durable, and it's easy to envision him being a workhorse in Atlanta's rotation for years to come.

Ideally, Delgado's fine September would be enough to earn him a spot in Atlanta's rotation to start the 2012 season, but it's more likely that Mike Minor and Julio Teheran will be given a chance ahead of him. He only made 4 starts at AAA, so he could certainly use more time at that level to refine his game. He's likely to begin the season in Gwinnett's rotation, waiting until the logjam of top tier young pitching unclogs enough to give him an opportunity. Like Teheran, he has a real shot at becoming a perennial member of Atlanta's rotation for years to come.

The rest of the list after the jump:

Continue reading this post »

Christian Bethancourt went on a tear this week for the Surprise Saguaros in the Arizona Fall League, homering in 3 straight contests. The 20 year old catcher went 6-11 with a double, 3 homers, and 6 RBI, good for a .545/.545/1.455/2.000 slash line. Despite being the second youngest player in the league, the Panama native is crushing the competition, hitting .367 overall, with a 1.053 OPS, 3 doubles, 4 homers, 11 RBI, and 3 stolen bases in 49 at bats. Joey Terdoslavich finally cooled off, going just 2-16 with a double and an RBI this week, dropping his overall numbers to a .364 average and a 1.035 OPS, with 4 doubles, 2 triples, 2 homers, and 8 RBI in 55 at bats. Terdo also struck out 7 times this week, and he's striking out in 29% of his AFL at bats, compared to fanning only 22% of the time during the regular season. Some of that can be attributed to facing more advanced pitching, but some can also be attributed to just being worn out at this point in the calendar year. Todd Cunningham was 3-12 with a double and a RBI this week, with all 3 of his hits coming in Saturday's game. Overall he's hitting .304 with a .766 OPS, 3 doubles, a triple, 11 RBI, and 2 stolen bases.

On the pitching side, Navery Moore, the Braves' 14th round pick in the draft this year out of Vanderbilt, made his professional debut, replacing an injured Erik Cordier and allowing 1 run over 2 innings in 2 appearances, striking out 2. Sean Gilmartin, this year's 1st round pick, had another solid start, allowing 2 runs over 5 innings while striking out 4. In 21 innings over 5 starts, he's 2-0 with a 3.43 ERA, a 1.10 WHIP, 7.7 K/9, 2.1 BB/9, and 3.6 K/BB. Billy Bullock's lone appearance was another poor one, as he allowed 3 runs in just 1 inning of work, walking 1 and striking out 2. In 6.2 innings he's allowed 5 walks while striking out 8, and given up a 13.50 ERA and a 2.25 WHIP. JJ Hoover also struggled this week, allowing 3 runs over 2 innings in 2 appearances. In 7.1 innings with surprise he's truck out 3 and walked 3, posting a 11.05 ERA and a 1.91 WHIP. Despite his struggles, Hoover was selected for the AFL Rising Stars game, along with Terdoslavich and Bethancourt. The game will take place Saturday November 5th and will be televised on the MLB Network.

We'll update you on the Latin leagues after the jump:

Continue reading this post »

Todd Redmond earned himself some more hardware with Team USA, Joey Terdoslavich stayed hot in the AFL, and Diory Hernandez went on a hot streak in the Dominican Winter League this week in Atlanta Braves Winter League action.

After picking up a bronze medal in the 2011 Baseball World Cup, Todd Redmond picked up a silver medal in the Pan-Am Games, as USA lost 2-1 to Canada in the gold medal game on Tuesday. Redmond the game that put the USA in the gold medal game, in which they beat Cuba 12-10, pitching 4 innings, allowing 4 earned runs, 8 hits, 1 walk, and striking out 3. That was his only start in the Pan-Am games, bringing his total stats with Team USA this year to a 5.23 ERA, a 1.40 WHIP, 24 hits, 5 walks, 13 strikeouts, and 2 medals over 20.2 innings in 4 starts.

In the Arizona Fall League, Joey Terdoslavich stayed hot for the Surprise Saguaros, going 5-11 with a triple, a homer, and 3 RBI in 3 games played, upping his total stats to a .462 average, a 1.230 OPS, 3 doubles, 2 triples, a homer, and 7 RBI in 39 at bats. Christian Bethancourt cooled off, going 2-11 with a double, dropping his stats to a still impressive .333 average, .824 OPS, 2 doubles, 1 homer, 5 RBI, and 3 stolen bases in 36 at bats. Todd Cunningham was 3-11 with 3 RBI this week, putting him at a .324 average, .810 OPS, 2 doubles, 10 RBI, and 2 stolen bases in 34 at bats. Sean Gilmartin made 1 start this week, allowing 1 earned run over 5 innings, walking 1 and striking out 4. In 16 innings over 4 starts the 21 year old left has a 3.38 ERA, a 1.00 WHIP, and 14 strikeouts. JJ Hoover only made 1 relief appearance this week and it did not go well, as he allowed 3 earned runs while only recording 2 outs. His total stats in the AFL aren't pretty either, with a 10.13 ERA and a 1.88 WHIP in 5.1 innings over 6 appearances. Billy Bullock allowed 1 earned run in 1.2 innings in his lone appearance, giving him a 11.12 ERA, a 2.12 WHIP and 6 strikeouts in 5.2 innings over 5 games. Erik Cordier did not appear in a game this week.

We'll update you on the Latin leagues after the break:

Continue reading this post »

Relievers are often an eclectic group, and the Atlanta Braves Top 10 Relief Pitching Prospects are no different. Two of the pitchers on the list were converted to relievers mid-season, four of them joined the organization in 2011, and one of them hasn't even played as a professional yet. Still, it's a list full of talent, and the top three pitchers all have a chance to be important parts of Atlanta's 2012 bullpen.

1. Arodys Vizcaino - B/T: R/R, Born: 11/13/1990, Ht: 6'0", Wt: 190 - The 20 year old Dominican Vizcaino began his season as a starting pitcher in High A for the Lynchburg Hillcats, and finished it as a reliever in Atlanta. In 9 starts for the Hillcats he had a 2-2 record, 2.45 ERA, and a 1.02 WHIP in 40.1 innings. He moved up to AA Mississippi at the end of May and had a 2-3 record, a 3.81 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP in 49.2 innings over 8 starts and 3 relief appearances. He stayed in the pen when he moved up to AAA Gwinnett in July, with a 1-0 record, 1.29 ERA, and a 1.00 WHIP in 7 innings over 6 relief appearances. When the Braves couldn't take another day of Scott Proctor, they called up Vizcaino, and he made his Major League debut on August 10th, finishing the year with a 4.67 ERA and a 1.44 WHIP in 17.1 innings over 17 appearances.

The Braves could still decide to move Vizcaino back to the starting rotation, but his stuff plays much better in the bullpen, where the shorter appearances allow him to let loose and push his fastball into the high 90s. That fastball, which couples heat and movement, is paired with a devastating hammer curve ball and an effective, if sometimes seldom used, changeup. The biggest knock on Vizzy in his first few years was that he was injury prone, missing time in his first pro season with a back injury, and time in 2010 with elbow problems, and the move to the pen should put less of a strain on his arm and his growing body.

Vizcaino seems like a virtual lock to make Atlanta's bullpen out of Spring Training in 2012. He pitched well enough in his Major League stint to prove he belonged, and if his September 2nd appearance, where he allowed 5 earned runs while only recording 1 out, was taken out of his stats, he would have had a 2.08 ERA and a 1.09 WHIP. It's easy to envision that it won't take long before the three-headed monster of Craig Kimbrel, Jonny Venters, and Eric O'Flaherty becomes a four-headed monster.

2. JJ Hoover - B/T: R/R, Born: 08/13/1987, Ht: 6'3", Wt: 215 - Hoover was one of the most rock steady performers in the Atlanta organization, with a 21-13 record, a 3.87 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP in 290.1 innings between 2009 and 2010. He began 2011 just as solidly, earning a Southern League All-Star appearance as a starting pitcher, but the Braves saw more potential out of him as a reliever and moved him to the bullpen. He finished with a 2.48 ERA and a 1.07 WHIP in 87 innings over 12 starts and 19 relief appearances for Mississippi, and then finished his season with 13.2 scoreless relief innings for AAA Gwinnett, striking out 26 in the process.

As a starter, Hoover might not have had an attribute that set him apart from any other pitcher, aside from durability, but as a reliever he should be able to get the absolute most out of his ability. The shorter appearances allow him to push his fastball near the mid 90s, and that extra speed creates a ton of deceptive movement. He also has something most relievers don't, two polished secondary pitches, with a curve and a changeup that are both slightly above average pitches. Midway through this season, Hoover made a commitment to getting in better shape, and the results were obvious as he shed 20 pounds in season. Combining improved conditioning with his durable arm should make for a reliable reliever. He's working in the Arizona Fall League this offseason in an effort to work in as many different relief situations as possible. He'll come into Spring Training in 2012 with an outside chance at earning a spot in Atlanta's bullpen, but, even if he doesn't, he should make his Major League debut at some point in the season, and could end up being an important part of the pen by season's end.

3. Cory Gearrin - B/T: R/R, Born: 04/13/1986, Ht: 6'3", Wt: 200 - After a 2010 that saw him post a 3.36 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP in a team high 52 appearances for AAA Gwinnett, Gearrin felt good about his chances at getting to the Majors in 2011. He got that chance, spending most of May and the middle of July with Atlanta, though the results weren't pretty, a 7.85 ERA and a 1.58 WHIP in 18.1 innings over 18 appearances, though most of that damage came in his final 3 appearances, where he allowed 10 runs over 2.1 innings. Despite the rough times in the Majors, Gearrin was dominant for Gwinnett, with a 1.80 ERA, a 1.24 WHIP, and 60 strikeouts in 50 innings over 35 appearances, and after the All-Star break he had a 1.09 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP in 24.2 innings while striking out 35.

Gearrin's sidearm delivery makes him hell on right handed hitters, as he held them to a .191 average in AAA and a .143 average in the Majors. His fastball just touches 90, but the delivery creates a ton of break, which also makes his frisbee slider incredibly effective. He's also a groundball specialist, and that combined with his effectiveness against righties makes him the perfect pitcher to replace Peter Moylan in the Braves bullpen as the right handed specialist. He'll likely never be a premier back of the bullpen type pitcher, but his specialty delivery will likely keep him in high demand for years to come.

We'll look at relief prospects 4-10 after the jump:

Continue reading this post »