This continues our list of the Braves top 20 prospects. If you want to check out the previous editions, click the link below:
Vines fits the profile of a lot of different Braves prospects as an athletic former two-way player. He features a four-pitch mix, and although none of his offerings are outstanding, they’re each pretty solid. If he can keep up his 2.92 ERA over 111 innings in 2021 and develop a plus offering, he’ll become a real weapon for the Braves.
Tarnok was always going to be a project, but the Braves obviously saw something out of the lanky high school kid. Another former two-way player, Tarnok has a hard fastball and sweeping slider. He finally had some solid production in 2021, posting a 2.60 ERA over 45 innings in Mississippi. Tarnok needs to cut down on the walks, but he has the makeup of an MLB starter.
This might be a little low for Shuster, but it’s no fault of his own — I think there’s just that much talent in this system. Shuster is a former first-round pick for a reason; he’s a big lefty with a nasty changeup. He still needs a little more development before he hits AAA, but if he can cut down on walks, he has mid-rotation starter potential.
Grissom had a stellar 2021 season, posting a .848 OPS in Augusta before being promoted to Rome, where he promptly put up a 1.114 OPS. Over 87 total games, Grissom smashed 17 doubles, 4 triples, and 7 home runs with 16 stolen bases. He looks to be a true five-tool player, and if he keeps this up, he could easily enter the top ten or top five of this system. He’s a candidate to start 2022 in Rome.
This is a pretty high ranking for Diaz, but he deserves the credit — he was a demon in 2021. He posted an absurd 1.00 ERA over 27 innings with 54 strikeouts in Rome, which earned him a promotion to Mississippi, where he promptly posted a 1.50 ERA over 18 innings with 29 strikeouts. The former 27th-round pick is a potential closer of the future, and he’s a guy I’ll have a close eye on in 2022.
More must-reads:
Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!