The 2008 the Baseball America top 100 prospect list was released this week. Baseball America is the most trusted prospect site in baseball. There were a total of 5 Braves to make the list. There were also a couple of former Braves to make the cut. Just because a prospect is rated low or high doesn’t mean that they’re going to be a failure or a success. We will just have to cross our fingers that our current and former Braves prospects continue to have success and make big splash in the majors when they come up.
Current Brave prospects
25. Jordan Schafer OF, Braves
Opening Day Age: 21 ETA: 2009
28.Jason Heyward OF, Braves
Opening Day Age: 18 ETA: 2010
49.Jair Jurrjens RHSP, Braves
Opening Day Age: 22 ETA: 2008
70.Brandon Jones OF, Braves
Opening Day Age: 24 ETA: 2008
92. Gorkys Hernandez OF, Braves
Opening Day Age: 20 ETA: 2010
Former Braves Prospects
19. Elvis Andrus SS, Rangers
Opening Day Age: 19 ETA: 2010
93. Nefatli Feliz RHP, Rangers
Opening Day Age: 19 ETA: 2011
The first thing I notice when I saw the list is that the Braves had four outfielders to make the list. That really shows are strength in the minor leagues right now is in the outfield. The Braves showed their total organizational depth by being tied for 3rd with a total of 5 prospects on the list. The Tampa Bay Rays and Boston Redsox were first with 7 prospects on the list. After trading Elvis Andrus, Nefatli Feliz, Matt Harrison, Beau Jones, and Jarrod Saltalamacchia the Braves still have some of the best prospects in baseball.
Baseball America also wrote a little something on each prospect. They were impressed with Jordan’s Schafer minor league leading 176 hits last season. Schafer has the potential to be a star starting center fielder in the future. He has been compared to Grady Sizemore and Steve Finley.
Baseball America couldn’t believe that Jason Heyward lasted so long in the draft. The Braves getting Jason Heyward at number 14 in the 2007 draft was one of the major steals in the draft. Heyward has the potential next season to rank in the top 5 prospect list.
Baseball America stated that Jair Jurrjens was the first Curacao native to pitch in the majors. The young righty has great control to go along with a great moving fastball, good slurve, and an average changeup. Jurrjens is going into spring training as the front runner to win the #5 starting job for the Braves.
BA pointed out Brandon Joneses Braves minor league leading 104 RBI’s. Jones is a very well rounded and talented you out fielder. If Brandon Jones performs well in Grapefruit League play, he should have a great shot at making the team in a platoon with Matt Diaz.
Last but not least was speedster Gorkys Hernandez. BA thought the Detroit Tigers traded away 2 potential center fielders this off-season (Gorkys Hernandez and Cameron Maybin). That is pretty high praise for a prospect that is still pretty raw. If Hernandez continues to develop he should be the Bravos leadoff man for the future. If all goes well he could make an appearance in Atlanta a year after Jordan Schafer.
Filed under: Minor Leagues
