The Hardball Times has published their version of the 2010 Top-10 Braves Prospects. I believe this is the first year they've had prospect rankings, but I could be wrong. It's certainly the first year I've noticed them having any sort of prospect rankings. Here is their top-10 list, no real surprises:
It's nice to see DeVall get ranked in the top-10, as I think he deserves to be. Check out their site, despite listing us with the Phillies for some reason (?!?) they have some pretty sound and concise analysis of our prospects.
0 recs | 22 comments
I’m glad to see Cody on the list. I think a lot of Braves fan want this guy to turn into something resembling Adam Dunn. The guy is a beast when he hits the ball…but he has to be able to make better contact and walk more.
I’m hoping Cody can put together a great season next year!
Sparhawk - December 17, 2009
I didn’t really get their Bethancourt comments, about how he showed little bat-wise. I thought he had a pretty strong season with the bat, especially as a teenager.
blindsided789 - December 17, 2009
Ya
he wasn’t too bad for a 18 and 19 year old.
Scott Coleman - December 17, 2009 via mobile
17 and 18. Even more impressive.
cbwilk - December 17, 2009
16 and 17 would be even more impressive.
Bronn - December 17, 2009
Give the guy a break, it’s not like he’s from a 3rd world country.
Sparhawk - December 17, 2009
He had an awesome season
Two rookie league levels for a 17 year old, and he had like 15 doubles in 150ish at bats…thats pretty darn good in my book…
bwellnjonesco - December 17, 2009
I should of looked beforehand, but 17 YR old Bethancourt’s GULF Rookie League stats are very similiar to 17 YR old Jesus Montero’s GULF Rookie League year. When you factor in Bethancourt’s high praised defense, BOOM…
bwellnjonesco - December 17, 2009
in 5 years
whos the starting catcher for the Braves? Keep in mind BMac’s contract will be done by then. My money is still on Brian tho.
Scott Coleman - December 17, 2009
Good question, I guess it could depend on the development of Heyward and Freeman into the faces of our franchise. If those two succeed and Bethancourt continues to get nasty, we might have to get rid of our beloved Heap.
My money is on Brian too…
bwellnjonesco - December 18, 2009
We're getting ahead of ourselves...
how healthy is McCann in 5 years? How much has Bethancourt developed? And say Heap is still healthy while Bethancourt progresses as expected, can we not use 2 Cs to ease the natural wear and tear of the position?
Also, Bethancourt seems like a decent enough athlete, could he not play left?
Mr. Sanchez - December 18, 2009
Not sure
But i doubt the Braves would move him to LF. Offensively and defensively gifted catchers are just so hard to come by.
Scott Coleman - December 18, 2009 via mobile
True...
as we saw with Salty and 1B, we seem more inclined to keep those type of guys at C for trade value than putting them at a spot where we would need help.
Mr. Sanchez - December 18, 2009
If that's the case
His value probably will peak in about 3 years. Unless McCann gets seriously hurt, he probably won’t supplant him as our starting catcher, and if he remains trapped in AAA for too long he’ll lose value because it will become obvious we haven’t a place for him.
He’s probably not a hiiter on the level of a Matt Wieters, but if he’s capable of being the offensive equivalent of say, Mike Napoli, his value will go through the roof. He could end up being the key piece of a package to replace Chipper at third base.
Bronn - December 18, 2009
Saltalamacchia wouldn't have helped much at 1st.
That’s a 703 career OPS he’s rocking, and he wasn’t doing too much before he headed for Texas.
MichaelProcton - December 18, 2009
when we had Thorma/Wilson there, he was an attractive option
Mr. Sanchez - December 18, 2009
supposedly we just signed
Mitch Jones
lifer at AAA. more like a AAAA OF/1B who belted 35 HRs (.651 SLG) last year at the Albuquerque Isotopes (love the Simpsons reference).
what the $#%@ is Wren doing?
apoxonbothyourhouses - December 17, 2009
The Mitch Jones signing...
…was reported on TC last week. We need some AAA depth and it makes sense. Our problem now is that we are handcuffed until we can shed some salary. If we can’t get the right offers yet, we are stuck. We do have to do it before it gets too late, but we still have a little time left.
cavebird - December 17, 2009
We have plenty of time left to make moves. The pitching market has just started to pickup and the hitter market hasn’t done much. We have at least a month or two before we should worry.
jack dein - December 17, 2009
Wow...
Minor as a #2? Is that not a very, very high projection?
MichaelProcton - December 17, 2009
Highest I’ve ever seen of him.
Smoltz's Beard - December 17, 2009
I saw him pitch at Vanderbilt and had him pegged as a guy with a #2 ceiling even before he was drafted. In fact, I’ve found that most Braves sites give him much less credit than a lot of other sites for some reason. But THT hits it on the nose. If his slider and curve come along as advertised, he definitely has a chance to make it as a #2 guy in the majors.
ajones2522 - December 17, 2009
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