Atlanta Braves: Midseason Update on Julio Teheran and Their Top Prospects

For those of us who want to look to the future of the Atlanta Braves but don't want to hear Derek Lowe's name tossed around in trade talks anymore or cringe every time we envision Carlos Beltran wearing a Braves uniform, look no further.

Now that the second half of the season is among us, we can look forward to a great run down the stretch and more competitive play from some of the team's youngest players. On September 1, the Braves' active roster expands to 40 players, meaning some of the team's top prospects will likely be asked to contribute to ensure the current players on the roster can remain healthy and fresh entering October baseball.

Here are some midseason updates on a few of the Braves' best young players not yet in the major leagues.

Tyler Pastornicky

Shortstop Tyler Pastornicky, who was recently promoted to Triple-A Gwinnett, has been a tear in the minor leagues this year. While playing with Double-A Mississippi this season, Pastornicky hit .299 and added six home runs and 36 RBI. Pastornicky showed great patience at the plate throughout his time in Mississippi as well, striking out only 34 times in his last 395 plate appearances, and he even hit for the cycle earlier this month.

With Alex Gonzalez's contract set to expire at the end of the season, expect Pastornicky to compete for the starting job at shortstop at spring training next year.

Randall Delgado

Starting pitcher Randall Delgado, who was called up earlier this season to make a start against the Texas Rangers, has been impressive at Double-A Mississippi as well. As of Tuesday, Delgado is 5-4 with a 3.54 ERA through 18 starts. He's also recorded 95 strikeouts in 101.2 innings pitched.

Although Delgado allowed three earned runs in four innings pitched in his aforementioned major league debut against the Rangers, a game in which he took the loss, the Braves' front office still expects big things out of him in the future.

Matt Lipka

Matt Lipka, currently rated as the Atlanta Braves' No. 6 top prospect by Baseball America, has spent all of the 2011 season in Class-A Rome. Currently, Lipka is batting .239 with one home run and 26 RBI while playing as Rome's shortstop.

Last season, while playing in the Gulf Coast League, Lipka gave Braves fans a glimpse of their future as he hit .302 and stole 20 bases in just 48 games. Look for Lipka to continue to impress as he moves throughout the Braves' farm system.

Mike Minor

Starting pitcher Mike Minor, who many expected to be the team's No. 5 starter exiting spring training, instead found himself starting at Triple-A Gwinnett. Currently, Minor is 3-4 with a 3.09 ERA through 13 starts with Gwinnett. He's allowed 10 home runs in 81.2 innings pitched, but has also struck out 80 batters.

The Braves have called on Minor to start six games this season, in which he has posted a 1-2 record and 4.59 ERA in 33.1 innings pitched. Look for Minor to continue improving in Gwinnett before being called up to Atlanta for a spot start once again.

Arodys Vizcaino

Starting pitcher Arodys Vizcaino, who has battled injuries ever since the Braves acquired him from the New York Yankees in the Javier Vazquez deal, is also playing with Double-A Mississippi this season.

Currently, Vizcaino is 2-3 in nine appearances, eight of which were starts, and has a 3.78 ERA. Although he's only thrown 47.2 innings this year, he's already notched 53 strikeouts while walking only 16. If Vizcaino can remain healthy, he'll be a staple in the Atlanta lineup for years to come.

Julio Teheran

Atlanta Braves top prospect Julio Teheran has been nearly unhittable while pitching with Triple-A this season, as he has gone 10-1 in 16 starts and posted a 1.70 ERA. Teheran has also struck out 87 batters in 100.2 innings pitched, which equates to roughly 7.8 strikeouts per nine innings pitched.

In the two starts Teheran has made with Atlanta this year, he's gone 0-1 and posted a 5.19 ERA through 8.2 total innings pitched.  Although his numbers at the major league level are not impressive, what he has done at Triple-A Gwinnett is Cy Young material.

Look for Teheran to excel in the majors late this season, as he will likely be called up when rosters expand in September.