Stock Up, Stock Down for Atlanta Braves' Top 10 Prospects for Week 3

Just to preface this slideshow, let's remind ourselves that there have been just three weeks of baseball played, and that early season statistics aren't everything.

Even the poorest starts can be flukes, and overreacting doesn't help anything.

However, here's the stock watch for the top 10 Atlanta Braves prospects, as ranked by MLB.com. 

1. Julio Teheran

Level: MLB

Position: Starting Pitcher

Throws: Right-handed

Season Stats: 0-0, 7.31 ERA, 1.75 WHIP, 16.0 IP, 21 H, 5 HR, 7 BB, 12 SO

Analysis

Three starts into his 2013 campaign, Teheran is already putting a damper on his incredible spring training performance. 

Simply put, everything he's putting over the plate is getting hammered. Well, he's walking hitters first, then putting the ball over the plate and paying dearly for it.

It's much too soon to declare Teheran a bust. But after three bad starts, his stock is most definitely down for the moment.

Stock: Down

2. Christian Bethancourt

Level: Double-A (Mississippi)

Position: Catcher

Throws/Bats: R/R

Season Stats: 44 AB, 15 H, .341 AVG, 6 R, 4 2B, 1 HR, 5 RBI, 1-6 BB/K, 3 SB, .356 OBP, .500 SLG

Analysis

Another week of the 2013 season in the books and Bethancourt's stock continues to climb. 

He's not taken but one walk this season, but his incredible hand-eye coordination is coming through as he has hit everything in site.

Bethancourt has even added a puzzling three steals to his name. Could he be the second coming of Jason Kendall?

Stock: Up

3. Lucas Sims

Level: Low-A (Rome)

Position: Starting Pitcher

Throws: Right-handed

Season Stats: 0-1, 7.71 ERA, 9.1 IP, 6 H, 9 BB, 7 SO

Analysis

Sims is still having trouble finding the plate. He is not getting shelled, but because he is walking nearly a batter an inning, the hits he does give up tend to go for runs.

Control hasn't been an issue for him in the past, though, so once he irons out his early-season inconsistency, he'll be just fine.

Stock: Steady

4. J.R. Graham

Level: Double-A (Mississippi)

Position: Starting Pitcher

Throws: Right-handed

Season Stats: 1-1, 2.50 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 18.0 IP, 15 H, 4 BB, 14 SO

Analysis

After a poor outing in his second start, Graham followed up with two great starts, turning in a seven-inning, four-hit performance with no walks issued last week.

He only struck out two hitters, but he has shown strikeout potential with the quality of his arsenal and can get the K when he needs it.

For Graham, pitch efficiency and duration of outings are the keys to his stock. This week, it climbed.

Stock: Up

5. Sean Gilmartin

Level: Triple-A (Gwinnett)

Position: Starting Pitcher

Throws: Left-handed

Season Stats: 1-0, 2.86 ERA, 1.64 WHIP, 22.0 IP, 25 H, 11 BB, 11 SO 

Analysis

In Gilmartin's first few starts of the year, command was the issue.

Last week, he simply got hammered.

With Teheran struggling in the big leagues, Atlanta will be watching Gilmartin closely in the coming months, as he is probably next in line for the No. 5 starter's job in Atlanta.

Stock: Steady

6. Alex Wood

Level: Double-A (Mississippi)

Position: Starting Pitcher

Throws: Left-handed

Season Stats: 0-1, 1.13 ERA, 0.75 WHIP, 16.0 IP, 10 H, 2 BB, 17 SO

Analysis

Actually, if Wood keeps impressing the way he is currently, he could leapfrog Gilmartin as Atlanta's top Triple-A pitching prospect. 

Last week, Wood turned in a seven-inning, four-hit, four-strikeout performance with no walks issued, continuing to put together a solid first full season in the minors.

Stock: Up

7. Mauricio Cabrera

Level: Low-A (Rome)

Position: Starting Pitcher

Throws: Right-handed

Season Stats: 1-2, 3.20 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, 19.2 IP, 14 H, 14 BB, 11 SO

Analysis

A power righty with a great arsenal and serious control issues, Cabrera's foil is himself. 

When he can command his stuff, Cabrera's going to retire a lot of hitters. When he can't, he gets himself in trouble. It's as simple as that.

His start last week wasn't as dominating as his two most recent starts, as he issued eight baserunners in six innings.

At 19 years of age, Cabrera will undoubtedly have some growing pains in the lower minors. If he can get a handle on his offerings, Atlanta could have a pretty great prospect on its hands.

Stock: Steady

8. Matt Lipka

Level: High-A (Lynchburg)

Position: Outfield

Throws/Bats: R/R

Season Stats: 62 AB, 12 H, .194 AVG, 6 R, 3 2B, 2 3B, 8 RBI, 6 BB, 15 SO, 4 SB, .261 OBP, .306 SLG

Analysis

Lipka's 2013 campaign has not gone well, to say the least.

Looking at the positives,though, Lipka has walked a fair amount, and he's shown surprising gap power—five of his 12 hits have gone for extra bases.

Once again, though, it's too early to call the former first-round pick a bust. Give him some time.

Stock: Down

9. Todd Cunningham

Level: Triple-A (Gwinnett)

Position: Outfield

Throws/Bats: R/S

Season Stats: 64 AB, 14 H, .219 AVG, 7 R, 1 2B, 4 RBI, 3 BB, 12 SO, 3 SB, .265 OBP, .234 SLG

Analysis

While there aren't a lot of positives to take away from Lipka's start to 2013, there are even less positives to take away from Cunningham's.

He is still putting the ball in play, though he may not be walking much.

With time, his advanced approach at the plate should help him break out of his funk.

Stock: Down

10. Juan Jaime

Level: High-A (Lynchburg)

Position: Reliever

Throws: Right-handed

Season Stats: Disabled List. No action seen in 2013.

Analysis

Jaime throws gas. Jaime is hurt. 

Nothing new here.

Stock: Steady