Stock Up, Stock Down for Atlanta Braves' Top 10 Prospects for Week 2

It may only be two weeks into the season, but top prospects are always relevant. 

The top prospects in the Atlanta Braves' system are no exception.

Some are facing make-or-break years, where significant growth is absolutely essential to maintaining status as a top prospect. 

Some are newcomers to the system and are just trying to make a good impression with the club.

Regardless though, it's important to not overreact over the first two weeks of the year.

Here's the status on the stocks of the Braves' top 10 prospects.

1. Julio Teheran

Level: MLB

Position: Starting Pitcher

Throws: Right-handed

Season Stats

0-0, 7.36 ERA, 11.0 innings pitched, 14 hits, three home runs, four walks, eight strikeouts

Analysis

Teheran will likely experience some growing pains as he attempts to pitch at the big league level for an entire season.

His stock will wildly fluctuate from start to start, but that is to be expected from the young starter. Inconsistency and home runs allowed will plague Teheran all season. 

However, after a very rough first start, Teheran was able to ring up six Nationals over six innings pitched—a sign of Teheran's strikeout potential. 

Teheran has had a rocky first two starts, but it is much too soon to be drawing conclusions regarding his ability to stick it in the big leagues.

Stock: Steady

2. Christian Bethancourt

Level: Double-A (Mississippi)

Position: Catcher

Throws/Bats: R/R

Season Stats

27 at-bats, eight hits, .296 AVG, two runs, one home run, three RBI, 1:3 BB/K ratio, one steal, .321 OPS, .481 SLG

Analysis

While it may be too early to start singing Bethancourt's praises, he has certainly had a pleasant start to the year, hitting for average and a little power. 

His patience at the plate is yet to be determined, but if he can provide a solid average to pair with his incredible defense, he will have a place for him in the major leagues soon enough.

Stock: Up

3. Lucas Sims

Level: Low-A (Rome)

Position: Starting Pitcher

Throws: Right-handed

Season Stats

0-1, 7.94 ERA, 5.2 innings pitched, four hits, five walks, four strikeouts

Analysis

Sims' stat line may look ugly, but he has been coming out of the bullpen to start the year and his first performance of the year did not treat him well. 

Since then, Sims has settled down and pitched just fine. Once he gets into the rotation, the real test will come.

Stock: Steady

4. J.R. Graham

Level: Double-A (Mississippi)

Position: Starting Pitcher

Throws: Right-handed

Season Stats

0-1, 4.09 ERA, 11.0 innings pitched, 11 hits, four walks, 12 strikeouts

Analysis

After turning in a terrific spring training, Graham is looking to carry his success into his season at Double-A, where he looks to polish his approach and pitch deeper into games.

His first couple of outings were of two and three innings respectively, and he was hit very hard in his second outing. However, he was dominant in his latest outing in which he struck out seven in six innings pitched, allowing one earned run. 

This is a crucial season for Graham, as he will try to prove to the Braves organization that he belongs in the rotation. If his six-inning outing is any indication of what to expect, Graham is in for a big year.

Stock: Steady

5. Sean Gilmartin

Level: Triple-A (Gwinnett)

Position: Starting Pitcher

Throws: Left-handed

Season Stats

1-0, 1.69 ERA, 16.0 innings pitched, 16 hits, 10 walks, seven strikeouts

Analysis

What to make of Gilmartin's start to the year is tricky.

He has had a lot of surface success in his three starts, but at the same time he has a very unhealthy walk rate and isn't striking out enough hitters to offset that. 

His latest start saw him throw seven innings with three walks allowed, which isn't great, but certainly a better ratio than the five free passes he issued in the four innings he threw in his start before. 

Until Brandon Beachy returns, Gilmartin is the go-to guy at Triple-A should an injury hit the Braves pitching staff, so he'll need to iron out his command issues early.

Stock: Steady

6. Alex Wood

Level: Double-A (Mississippi)

Position: Starting Pitcher

Throws: Left-handed

Season Stats

0-1, 2.00 ERA, 9.0 innings pitched, six hits, two walks, 13 strikeouts

Analysis

In his first two starts of the year, Wood has been very, very good.

His first start saw him go five innings of one-hit, one-walk ball with six strikeouts to boot. He followed that up with four innings of two-run ball, but rung up seven batters on strikes.

A southpaw with an advanced approach and an apparent penchant for the strikeout, expect Wood to hit Triple-A in a matter of months and begin battling Sean Gilmartin for the position of injury replacement.

Stock: Up

7. Mauricio Cabrera

Level: Low-A (Rome)

Position: Starting Pitcher

Throws: Right-handed

Season Stats

1-1, 2.63 ERA, 13.2 innings pitched, nine hits, 11 walks, eight strikeouts

Analysis

Much like Sean Gilmartin's start to the year, Cabrera has had excellent surface success thus far, walk rate notwithstanding. 

However, five of Cabrera's 11 walks were issued in his first start, and if he were to be given a mulligan for that, his walk rate would be a lot healthier.

His pure stuff is a lot better than Gilmartin's as well, so as the season progresses and he learns how to pitch, he should be able to start climbing the ladder. 

Stock: Up

8. Matt Lipka

Level: High-A (Lynchburg)

Position: Outfield

Throws/Bats: R/R

Season Stats

46 at-bats, nine hits, .196 AVG, three runs, two doubles, one triple, six RBI, five walks, 10 strikeouts, four steals, .269 OBP, .283 SLG

Analysis

The second of Atlanta's three positional prospects in the top 10, Lipka has had a very rough start to the year offensively. 

He has shown some signs of breaking out of his season-starting slump though, collecting a hit in three of his last four games. 

Also, when put alongside his batting average, Lipka has a pretty healthy OBP; if he's seeing pitches well, it's just a matter of time until the balls in play start finding holes.

Stock: Down

9. Todd Cunningham

Level: Triple-A (Gwinnett)

Position: Outfield

Throws/Bats: R/S

Season Stats

49 at-bats, 13 hits, .265 AVG, six runs, one double, four RBI, three walks, 11 strikeouts, three steals, .308 OBP

Analysis

Cunningham had a rough start to the year, but in his latest 10 games he has hit .325 with a .357 OBP.

He doesn't take a lot of walks, so his OBP is pretty dependent on his batting average, but he puts a lot of balls in play and with his speed, he can get on a good amount.

His power is lacking, but his advanced approach at the plate and great speed will allow him to battle for a roster spot on Atlanta's 2014 roster.

Stock: Steady

10. Juan Jaime

Level: High-A (Lynchburg)

Position: Reliever

Throws: Right-handed

Season Stats

Disabled List; no action seen in 2013.

Analysis

Already 25 years of age, 2013 is an important year for the flame-throwing Jaime, who can hit 100 mph on the radar gun.

He struggles with his command, but more than makes up for it with his brilliant strikeout rate. 

While his most recent minor league level was High-A, he could be pitching in the upper levels of the minors soon after returning from injury, as he is on Atlanta's 40-man roster.

Stock: Steady