AJ Smith-Shawver leads list of Atlanta's minor league All Stars, per MLB Pipeline

The pitcher-heavy farm system has stiff competition for the pitching spots on MLB.com's Organizational All Star team

Author:
Lindsay Crosby
Dec 15, 2023 5:25 PM EST

MLB Pipeline, the prospect arm of MLB.com, has named their 2023 Atlanta Braves Organizational All Stars.

Leading the pack from a pitching perspective is an arm Braves fans are already familiar with: #1 prospect AJ Smith-Shawver, who locked down the right-handed pitching slot on the team.

Said MLB Pipeline of Smith-Shawver's inclusion:

Leaping from High-A to The Show in the span of six starts, Smith-Shawver is no joke. He relies on his fastball and slider -- which reach the high 90s and high 80s, respectively -- while peppering in a changeup and curveball. The curve, which was added to his toolbox this past season, has an above-average drop at 59.5 inches. In six appearances (five starts) with Atlanta, Smith-Shawver limited batters to a .183 average while maintaining a 1.11 WHIP.

Reportedly, AJ Smith-Shawver is preparing this offseason for a starter's workload in 2024, and both he and RHP Hurston Waldrep will be invited to major league spring training with a chance to win the 5th starter's spot in Grapefruit League action.

The rest of the team is as follows, with Braves Today prospect ranking in parentheses:

C Drake Baldwin (#9)

1B David McCabe (#12)

2B Keyshawn Ogans (#22)

3B Luke Waddell (NR)

SS Ignacio Alvarez (#6)

OF Jesse Franklin V (#23)

OF Forrest Wall (NR)

OF Ethan Workinger (NR)

LHP Luis De Avila (#24)

RP: Grant Holmes (NR)

The full article is available on MiLB.com.