Prospect analyst identifies potential breakouts in Atlanta's farm system

Prospects1500 took a deep dive into Atlanta's system to identify players that may shoot up the prospect rankings after 2024

When looking at Atlanta Braves prospects, the easy thing to do is to focus on the top two, pitchers AJ Smith-Shawver and Hurston Waldrep. They're both insanely talented pitchers that project to help Atlanta at the major league level in 2024. 

But there's some surprising depth and talent in a farm system that's currently considered to be one of the worst in baseball, considering the prospect capital that's either graduated or been traded for MLB upgrades in recent years. 

Adam Greene, writing for Prospects1500, recently dropped his list of five Braves prospects to watch for in 2024. 

The depth of the system is obviously in pitching, and there's two mentioned in the piece. But of note is the three position players, including slugger David McCabe, infielder Keyshawn Ogans, and outfielder Isaiah Drake.

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McCabe and Ogans both appeared in the Arizona Fall League in 2023, and hopefully that additional development time can allow them to get into the upper minors in 2024, with AA Mississippi. 

Isaiah Drake's the most interesting one on the list, given how young he is - just having turned 18 in mid-July, he's younger than the usual first-year prep draftee. 

Greene talks about how Drake absolutely tore up the MLB Draft League prior to getting taken by Atlanta in the 5th round, and how he flashed the skillset to be a star during the intrasquad games between the regular season and postseason:

Drake participated in the MLB Draft League, where he impressed many with a .333/.486/.593/1.078 slash line, ultimately resulting in his selection in the 5th round. He combines a quick, short swing with plus baserunning, creating a dangerous combination of power and speed. Physical development will play a crucial role in determining the type of player he becomes.
Drake had the opportunity to compete with many of the Braves’ major leaguers during an intrasquad at Truist Park before their playoffs began. He drove a ball deep to right off Collin McHugh, resulting in a triple. The skillset to be a top 100 prospect is there; the organization believes it’s attainable with improved route running in centerfield. With his speed, that’s certainly within reach. In his 18 Draft League games, Drake stole nine bases; unsurprisingly, he runs a 6.15 second 60 yard. Drake is nowhere close to a finished product, and refining his tools and giving him enough time to develop will go a long way for him. 2024 could serve as a breakout year for the young outfielder.

The full piece is available on Prospects1500.com. 

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