Braves' Top Prospects, Farm System Progress Report, Draft Targets
The Atlanta Braves have done an excellent job of utilizing their farm system in recent years, from developing cornerstone players such as Ronald Acuña Jr., Ozzie Albies, Austin Riley, Michael Harris II and Spencer Strider to flipping top prospects in blockbuster deals to acquire Matt Olson and Sean Murphy.
As a result, their system is on a downswing, lacking in elite-level prospect talent and overall prospect depth.
That said, there are still some intriguing arms on their top prospect list, including AJ Smith-Shawver, Jared Shuster and Dylan Dodd, who have all seen time in the majors this year.
Let's take a closer look at their top-10 prospect list, get a general overview of the farm system and glance ahead at who might be on their radar when they are on the clock in the 2023 draft.
Updated Top 10 Prospect List
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Top 10 Prospects
1. RHP AJ Smith-Shawver
2. LHP Jared Shuster
3. RHP Owen Murphy
4. LHP Dylan Dodd
5. SS Ignacio Alvarez
6. RHP JR Ritchie
7. RHP Spencer Schwellenbach
8. RHP Cole Phillips
9. SS Braden Shewmake
10. RHP Darius Vines
Farm System Progress Report
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The Braves checked in at No. 30 in our most recent farm system rankings, which were updated May 25.
With only two position players on Atlanta's updated top 10 prospect list, it's clear that pitching is the strength of a thinned-out system.
AJ Smith-Shawver is the team's No. 1 overall prospect, and after striking out 103 batters in 68.2 innings at Single-A last season, he has continued to impress against upper-level competition. The 20-year-old has a 1.09 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and 45 strikeouts in 33 innings over three minor league levels, and he made his MLB debut on June 4 with 2.1 scoreless innings in relief.
The club selected a trio of high-ceiling prep arms at the top of its 2022 draft class in Owen Murphy (No. 20 overall), JR Ritchie (No. 35 overall) and Cole Phillips (No. 57 overall), and their first full season of pro ball could go a long way toward reshaping the farm system.
Infielder Ignacio Alvarez has emerged as the team's best position-player prospect. The 20-year-old was a fifth-round pick in the 2022 draft, and he is hitting .259/.404/.323 with more walks (35) than strikeouts (34) as one of the youngest players at the High-A level.
Potential Draft Targets
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The Braves have the No. 24 pick in the 2023 draft, which gets underway on July 9 during MLB All-Star weekend.
Here's a look at some recent mock draft projections:
MLB.com Mock Draft (6/1): 2B/SS Kevin McGonigle, Monsignor Bonner High School (PA)
One of the best pure hitters in the 2023 draft class, McGonigle has a 60-grade hit tool and has shown the ability to consistently barrel up velocity and offspeed stuff. There are some questions about his power potential, and he's more instincts than athleticism at shortstop, but he can hit.
The Athletic Mock Draft (5/24): 3B Aidan Miller, JW Mitchell High School (FL)
With a strong 6'2", 205-pound frame and 60-grade power, there's a good chance Miller will already be gone when the Braves are on the clock at No. 24 overall. He missed a good chunk of his senior year of high school with a broken hamate, but he showed more than enough on the showcase circuit last summer to still be squarely in the first-round picture.
Baseball America Mock Draft (5/11): RHP Charlee Soto, Reborn Christian Academy (FL)
A breakout prospect on the showcase circuit last summer, Soto is a projectable 6'5" right-hander and one of the youngest players in the draft class as he will still be 17 years old on draft day. He has the potential for three-plus pitches, including a fastball that regularly clocks in the upper 90s, and coupled with his prototypical starter's frame, he has as much upside as any high school pitcher in the class.
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