<img alt="Cincinnati Reds v Atlanta Braves - Game One" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/SnNpX6R5O8ilMipYF2-EQIOkOeo=/0x0:8032x5355/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73481687/2162690666.0.jpg">
Photo by Matthew Grimes Jr./Atlanta Braves/Getty Images
The Braves system takes a pretty significant step forward at the top, where they are starting to build out a host of guys with impact potential Perhaps the biggest change for the Atlanta Braves system over the past three years has been the slow trickle of international free agents into the top ranks of the system. Now no longer locked out of the top end of the market, the Braves have targeted a few high-end hitters over the past couple of seasons that we are high on here at Battery Power. Now the system has a handful of players who we feel provide more impact potential than in years past, and they really start to roll in at this part of the list. There is a fairly distinct prospect tier at the top 10 of the system, and we have reached that portion of the list.
ICYMI: 13-18 | 19-24 | 25-30 | Honorable Mentions
- Carter Holton - LHP
How he got to the Braves: 2024 MLB draft, 2nd round pick
A potential Day 1 pick in the 2021 MLB Draft out of Savannah’s Benedictine HS, Carter Holton passed on going pro in order to keep his commitment to Vanderbilt. The 5’11”, 191-pound lefty stepped immediately into a starting role as a freshman for Vandy, and held that role through his career. Overall in 41 games (39 starts), he posted a 4.10 ERA and 1.195 WHIP with an impressive 11.3 K/9 for his career. Unfortunately injuries did cause him to miss time last year and slowed him a bit later in this season, so in addition to being undersized there are some health questions.
When he’s healthy he has a strong four-pitch mix led by a fastball he can run up to 98 MPH and a plus slider, to go with more average changeup and curveballs. While he does throw a good amount of strikes, his mechanics can lead to issues with command at times - which when added to the size and health questions in his background lead to real relief risk with him.
Provided he is healthy Holton has the upside to be a No. 3/4 starter, or a possible late-inning reliever. It should be assumed that Holton will be given the opportunity to start in pro ball, though if he was only going to come out of the bullpen his potential ETA for the big leagues could be as soon as sometime next season. As a starter that would probably be sometime in 2026 instead.
11.) Didier Fuentes - RHP
How he got to the Braves: 2022 International Free Agent signing
Since being signed out of Colombia in 2022 for $75,000, all Fuentes has done is continuously improve his stock as a prospect. Fuentes made his debut with the Dominican Summer League upon signing and across 11 starts tossed 44 innings to the tune of a 2.25 ERA. Those numbers were good enough to give the teen a bump up to Augusta for the 2023 season. While his numbers on the surface weren’t great — a 7.27 ERA in 26 innings — Fuentes was almost four years younger than the competition and still held his own in some starts.
In 2024, Fuentes again started out his campaign in Low-A and has found his stride with the GreenJackets. In 14 games, the 19-year-old has posted a 2.23 ERA to go along with a ridiculous 75 to 17 strikeout to walk ratio. To add to his dominant season thus far, Fuentes also sports an 11.13 K/9 for Augusta. With a mid-90’s fastball, Fuentes has shown the ability to ramp it up to 96 or 97 and has also shown better secondary offerings, namely a sharp slider. Above all else, he has shown that he can control those pitches as referenced by only issuing 15 free passes this year.
Fuentes is one of the more exciting prospects the Braves have. Given his track record and his capability to command the strike zone with at least solid to plus offerings, there’s a lot to like in the right-hander. He’s still young and Fuentes’ workload will be carefully managed, but I wouldn’t expect the Braves to hesitate testing him at Rome to close out this year if he continues to dominate Low-A like he has for the first half of the season.
10.) Jhancarlos Lara - RHP
How he got to the Braves: 2021 International Free Agent signing
Coming into this season, Lara just missed out on our top-10 prospect rankings. But thanks to Spencer Schwellenbach graduating, the 21-year-old is now officially in the top-10, despite a rocky stint at High-A this season.
Lara gained a lot of helium as a prospect following his debut in the Dominican Summer League. As an 18-year-old, Lara spun a 1.78 ERA, albeit with 26 walks in 30 ⅓ innings. Lara was promoted to Augusta to start the 2023 season and in 18 games, the 20-year-old posted a 4.00 ERA while striking out 96. However, walks continued to nag his overall performance as he issued 38 across 72 innings. Regardless, the Braves saw enough to give Lara the bump to High-A Rome to close out the season where he made a pair of less-than-stellar starts and posted a 4.82 ERA.
Lara opened the season injured, and it has taken him awhile to find his footing again. Through 12 games this season with the Emperors, Lara’s has taken a step back. Across 44.1 innings, the righty sports a 5.28 ERA while only striking out 45 batters. To make matters worse, Lara’s lack of command has continued to plague him, as he’s walked 30 batters in those 44.1 innings. Still, Lara has put up high whiff rates in most of his outings.
Despite his underwhelming numbers and performance, Lara still has plus stuff that could make him a top-of-the-rotation arm or dominant bullpen weapon. His fastball tops out at 102 mph with a low 90’s biting slider that gets swing-and-miss. Lara has toyed around with curveballs and splitters in the past, though right now the fastball and slider are his main weapons. He still has significant progress to make if he wants to truly realize his full potential and unless he shows that he can turn a big corner over the final few months, it’s not out of the realm of possibility for Lara to restart the year to begin the 2025 season at High-A with a fast-track to Mississippi possible.
- Luis Guanipa - CF
How he got to the Braves: 2023 international Free Agent signing
Luis Guanipa was the start of the 2023 class for the Atlanta Braves - commanding $2,500,000 which by far the most they had used that year, in what is quickly becoming a really good signing period for the Braves. Guanipa was considered the #34 international prospect at the time of his signing, though some in the industry believed in his bat potential more and ranking him within the top 20 prospects of the period. Regardless of his evaluation, it was clear everyone in the industry saw the talent that Luis had.
Upon signing, Luis started his professional career in the Dominican Summer League where he appeared in 46 games and hit .238/.361/.384 - showing good discipline for such a young player in a league where everyone is a bit wild as they learn to pitch in a professional settings. Moving to this year, Luis played in 20 games for the FCL Braves where he hit .282/.346/.451 with two homers, two doubles, and two triples before earning himself a promotion to the Augusta GreenJackets. While he hasn’t had much success in Low-A, hitting .100/.143/.100 in 5 games, struggling with spinning pitches - a very common thing to see in players his age, there is a lot to like about what he can do both at bat, and on in the field.
Luis has a ton of bat speed, and is able to whip his bat through the zone, though right now it can be a little flat which isn’t conducive to hitting it in the air as much as he can. Guanipa is a plus athlete with a projectable above average hit tool, good raw power which can play higher with his bat speed, a good arm that should help him stay in center, and outstanding speed which will also allow him to stay up the middle in center field. The upside with Luis is massive, he can be a top flight defensive center fielder with a good approach, hit tool, hit for good power, and wreak havoc on the bases - a lot of attributes for someone that you can project as a multi-time all-star that commands respect at the plate and in the field.
- Jose Perdomo - SS
How he got to the Braves: 2024 international Free Agent signing
Jose Perdomo had been regarded as a Top 1-3 prospect in this international class and had long been linked to the Braves, so when he signed for $5M in January it felt more like a formality than anything. The 5’11”, 180-pound right-handed shortstop was considered an advanced bat with a potential plus hit tool, average or better power, above-average speed, as well as being an average defender who should stick at short.
The Venezuelan shortstop began the season on the injured list, and only made his debut in the DSL within the last week. So far in his first three games he has started by going 2-for-7 and is being brought along slowly. His upside is massive, as you might expect for such a highly touted international prospect, though he is also at least four or five years away. He won’t turn 18 until late September and has exactly seven pro plate appearances in the DSL to his resume. Expect his name to be a fixture on all Braves prospect lists for a long time.
- Nacho Alvarez Jr. - SS/3B
How he got to the Braves: 2022 MLB Draft, 5th round pick
The newest member of the Atlanta Braves, Nacho Alvarez came into the system as a fairly unknown fifth round pick in 2022 and since then has done nothing but hit at every level he has played at. He quickly made his presence felt with his performances in his draft year, but really put himself on the map and into borderline top 100 territory with a dominant showing at Rome in 2023. In the second half, Alvarez increased excitement when he started to show some home run power, but quickly some of that was tempered as he struggled to start the 2024 season in Mississippi. Alvarez still got on base at a high rate, the hallmark of his profile as his lowest on base percentage at any level was .381 in Mississippi. However he hit no home runs and wasn’t coming up with many doubles heightening Mississippi’s reputation as a tough place to hit. Alvarez got the call to Triple-A regardless, and it took two games for him to leave the yard. He kept on hitting the ball over the fence, and in 28 Triple-A games totalled seven home runs and a 1.007 OPS.
There is plenty of confidence that Alvarez is a guy that can stick in the major leagues for a long time. He has translatable on-base skill, with better-than-average zone recognition and plus contact ability both in and out of the zone. The question is just where his ceiling lands. Offensively, Alvarez doesn’t hit the ball particularly hard despite the jump in his power production in Gwinnett, and moreover just doesn’t pull pitches in the air (especially fastballs) very often. So his power ceiling is limited by his swing and approach, however it’s not to say he doesn’t hit the ball hard. Alvarez’s hard hits are mostly to the opposite field, where he has had a lot of success throughout his career, and when he does pull fly balls he tends to get into them and hit home runs. There are definitely adjustments that can be made to unlock more raw power, maybe even 15 home run a year raw power which would be fantastic in combination with his on base skill. Still, he’s likely still looking at below-average raw power.
Then the question circles to his defensive home. Alvarez has many plus defensive traits. Alvarez has a great arm, is well-known for his intelligence and poise in the field, and has a steady and smooth glove that makes every play he gets to. However he can get a bit awkward in his footwork at times, especially going to his right, and he lacks the typical mobility from a shortstop. His plus traits have allowed him to have a glimmer of hope to stick at shortstop, but it seems more likely he’ll fit better as a second or third baseman where he could be a plus defender in the latter role. If Alvarez can both stick at shortstop and unlock power he could be a impressive offensive addition to the Braves, but it seems more likely than not he’ll move off the position which would leave both without an obvious home in Atlanta and with more stress on his bat to unlock power.
<img alt="Cincinnati Reds v Atlanta Braves - Game One" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/SnNpX6R5O8ilMipYF2-EQIOkOeo=/0x0:8032x5355/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73481687/2162690666.0.jpg">
Photo by Matthew Grimes Jr./Atlanta Braves/Getty Images
The Braves system takes a pretty significant step forward at the top, where they are starting to build out a host of guys with impact potential Perhaps the biggest change for the Atlanta Braves system over the past three years has been the slow trickle of international free agents into the top ranks of the system. Now no longer locked out of the top end of the market, the Braves have targeted a few high-end hitters over the past couple of seasons that we are high on here at Battery Power. Now the system has a handful of players who we feel provide more impact potential than in years past, and they really start to roll in at this part of the list. There is a fairly distinct prospect tier at the top 10 of the system, and we have reached that portion of the list.
ICYMI: 13-18 | 19-24 | 25-30 | Honorable Mentions
- Carter Holton - LHP
How he got to the Braves: 2024 MLB draft, 2nd round pick
A potential Day 1 pick in the 2021 MLB Draft out of Savannah’s Benedictine HS, Carter Holton passed on going pro in order to keep his commitment to Vanderbilt. The 5’11”, 191-pound lefty stepped immediately into a starting role as a freshman for Vandy, and held that role through his career. Overall in 41 games (39 starts), he posted a 4.10 ERA and 1.195 WHIP with an impressive 11.3 K/9 for his career. Unfortunately injuries did cause him to miss time last year and slowed him a bit later in this season, so in addition to being undersized there are some health questions.
When he’s healthy he has a strong four-pitch mix led by a fastball he can run up to 98 MPH and a plus slider, to go with more average changeup and curveballs. While he does throw a good amount of strikes, his mechanics can lead to issues with command at times - which when added to the size and health questions in his background lead to real relief risk with him.
Provided he is healthy Holton has the upside to be a No. 3/4 starter, or a possible late-inning reliever. It should be assumed that Holton will be given the opportunity to start in pro ball, though if he was only going to come out of the bullpen his potential ETA for the big leagues could be as soon as sometime next season. As a starter that would probably be sometime in 2026 instead.
11.) Didier Fuentes - RHP
How he got to the Braves: 2022 International Free Agent signing
Since being signed out of Colombia in 2022 for $75,000, all Fuentes has done is continuously improve his stock as a prospect. Fuentes made his debut with the Dominican Summer League upon signing and across 11 starts tossed 44 innings to the tune of a 2.25 ERA. Those numbers were good enough to give the teen a bump up to Augusta for the 2023 season. While his numbers on the surface weren’t great — a 7.27 ERA in 26 innings — Fuentes was almost four years younger than the competition and still held his own in some starts.
In 2024, Fuentes again started out his campaign in Low-A and has found his stride with the GreenJackets. In 14 games, the 19-year-old has posted a 2.23 ERA to go along with a ridiculous 75 to 17 strikeout to walk ratio. To add to his dominant season thus far, Fuentes also sports an 11.13 K/9 for Augusta. With a mid-90’s fastball, Fuentes has shown the ability to ramp it up to 96 or 97 and has also shown better secondary offerings, namely a sharp slider. Above all else, he has shown that he can control those pitches as referenced by only issuing 15 free passes this year.
Fuentes is one of the more exciting prospects the Braves have. Given his track record and his capability to command the strike zone with at least solid to plus offerings, there’s a lot to like in the right-hander. He’s still young and Fuentes’ workload will be carefully managed, but I wouldn’t expect the Braves to hesitate testing him at Rome to close out this year if he continues to dominate Low-A like he has for the first half of the season.
10.) Jhancarlos Lara - RHP
How he got to the Braves: 2021 International Free Agent signing
Coming into this season, Lara just missed out on our top-10 prospect rankings. But thanks to Spencer Schwellenbach graduating, the 21-year-old is now officially in the top-10, despite a rocky stint at High-A this season.
Lara gained a lot of helium as a prospect following his debut in the Dominican Summer League. As an 18-year-old, Lara spun a 1.78 ERA, albeit with 26 walks in 30 ⅓ innings. Lara was promoted to Augusta to start the 2023 season and in 18 games, the 20-year-old posted a 4.00 ERA while striking out 96. However, walks continued to nag his overall performance as he issued 38 across 72 innings. Regardless, the Braves saw enough to give Lara the bump to High-A Rome to close out the season where he made a pair of less-than-stellar starts and posted a 4.82 ERA.
Lara opened the season injured, and it has taken him awhile to find his footing again. Through 12 games this season with the Emperors, Lara’s has taken a step back. Across 44.1 innings, the righty sports a 5.28 ERA while only striking out 45 batters. To make matters worse, Lara’s lack of command has continued to plague him, as he’s walked 30 batters in those 44.1 innings. Still, Lara has put up high whiff rates in most of his outings.
Despite his underwhelming numbers and performance, Lara still has plus stuff that could make him a top-of-the-rotation arm or dominant bullpen weapon. His fastball tops out at 102 mph with a low 90’s biting slider that gets swing-and-miss. Lara has toyed around with curveballs and splitters in the past, though right now the fastball and slider are his main weapons. He still has significant progress to make if he wants to truly realize his full potential and unless he shows that he can turn a big corner over the final few months, it’s not out of the realm of possibility for Lara to restart the year to begin the 2025 season at High-A with a fast-track to Mississippi possible.
- Luis Guanipa - CF
How he got to the Braves: 2023 international Free Agent signing
Luis Guanipa was the start of the 2023 class for the Atlanta Braves - commanding $2,500,000 which by far the most they had used that year, in what is quickly becoming a really good signing period for the Braves. Guanipa was considered the #34 international prospect at the time of his signing, though some in the industry believed in his bat potential more and ranking him within the top 20 prospects of the period. Regardless of his evaluation, it was clear everyone in the industry saw the talent that Luis had.
Upon signing, Luis started his professional career in the Dominican Summer League where he appeared in 46 games and hit .238/.361/.384 - showing good discipline for such a young player in a league where everyone is a bit wild as they learn to pitch in a professional settings. Moving to this year, Luis played in 20 games for the FCL Braves where he hit .282/.346/.451 with two homers, two doubles, and two triples before earning himself a promotion to the Augusta GreenJackets. While he hasn’t had much success in Low-A, hitting .100/.143/.100 in 5 games, struggling with spinning pitches - a very common thing to see in players his age, there is a lot to like about what he can do both at bat, and on in the field.
Luis has a ton of bat speed, and is able to whip his bat through the zone, though right now it can be a little flat which isn’t conducive to hitting it in the air as much as he can. Guanipa is a plus athlete with a projectable above average hit tool, good raw power which can play higher with his bat speed, a good arm that should help him stay in center, and outstanding speed which will also allow him to stay up the middle in center field. The upside with Luis is massive, he can be a top flight defensive center fielder with a good approach, hit tool, hit for good power, and wreak havoc on the bases - a lot of attributes for someone that you can project as a multi-time all-star that commands respect at the plate and in the field.
- Jose Perdomo - SS
How he got to the Braves: 2024 international Free Agent signing
Jose Perdomo had been regarded as a Top 1-3 prospect in this international class and had long been linked to the Braves, so when he signed for $5M in January it felt more like a formality than anything. The 5’11”, 180-pound right-handed shortstop was considered an advanced bat with a potential plus hit tool, average or better power, above-average speed, as well as being an average defender who should stick at short.
The Venezuelan shortstop began the season on the injured list, and only made his debut in the DSL within the last week. So far in his first three games he has started by going 2-for-7 and is being brought along slowly. His upside is massive, as you might expect for such a highly touted international prospect, though he is also at least four or five years away. He won’t turn 18 until late September and has exactly seven pro plate appearances in the DSL to his resume. Expect his name to be a fixture on all Braves prospect lists for a long time.
- Nacho Alvarez Jr. - SS/3B
How he got to the Braves: 2022 MLB Draft, 5th round pick
The newest member of the Atlanta Braves, Nacho Alvarez came into the system as a fairly unknown fifth round pick in 2022 and since then has done nothing but hit at every level he has played at. He quickly made his presence felt with his performances in his draft year, but really put himself on the map and into borderline top 100 territory with a dominant showing at Rome in 2023. In the second half, Alvarez increased excitement when he started to show some home run power, but quickly some of that was tempered as he struggled to start the 2024 season in Mississippi. Alvarez still got on base at a high rate, the hallmark of his profile as his lowest on base percentage at any level was .381 in Mississippi. However he hit no home runs and wasn’t coming up with many doubles heightening Mississippi’s reputation as a tough place to hit. Alvarez got the call to Triple-A regardless, and it took two games for him to leave the yard. He kept on hitting the ball over the fence, and in 28 Triple-A games totalled seven home runs and a 1.007 OPS.
There is plenty of confidence that Alvarez is a guy that can stick in the major leagues for a long time. He has translatable on-base skill, with better-than-average zone recognition and plus contact ability both in and out of the zone. The question is just where his ceiling lands. Offensively, Alvarez doesn’t hit the ball particularly hard despite the jump in his power production in Gwinnett, and moreover just doesn’t pull pitches in the air (especially fastballs) very often. So his power ceiling is limited by his swing and approach, however it’s not to say he doesn’t hit the ball hard. Alvarez’s hard hits are mostly to the opposite field, where he has had a lot of success throughout his career, and when he does pull fly balls he tends to get into them and hit home runs. There are definitely adjustments that can be made to unlock more raw power, maybe even 15 home run a year raw power which would be fantastic in combination with his on base skill. Still, he’s likely still looking at below-average raw power.
Then the question circles to his defensive home. Alvarez has many plus defensive traits. Alvarez has a great arm, is well-known for his intelligence and poise in the field, and has a steady and smooth glove that makes every play he gets to. However he can get a bit awkward in his footwork at times, especially going to his right, and he lacks the typical mobility from a shortstop. His plus traits have allowed him to have a glimmer of hope to stick at shortstop, but it seems more likely he’ll fit better as a second or third baseman where he could be a plus defender in the latter role. If Alvarez can both stick at shortstop and unlock power he could be a impressive offensive addition to the Braves, but it seems more likely than not he’ll move off the position which would leave both without an obvious home in Atlanta and with more stress on his bat to unlock power.
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