<img alt="Atlanta Braves v Baltimore Orioles minor leaguers" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/wAT92Cy8XIJdD1m7Sw6G2u9rsjo=/0x0:2400x1600/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73730891/2157825884.0.jpg">
Cal Conley | Photo by Diamond Images via Getty Images
Cal Conley came into 2024 hoping to put a tough 2023 behind him. One of the few Atlanta Braves prospects that was a highly drafted hitter, Cal Conley came into the 2024 season hoping to rebound from a poor performance in 2023.
How acquired
Conley was the Braves 4th round pick in the 2021 MLB Draft out of Texas Tech. Conley started his college career at Miami but transferred to Tech before playing in a game. He played in his first 18 games in 2020 before the season shut down, making the 2021 season his breakout college season.
Preseason Report Card
Conley was not apart of our Preseason Top 30 Prospect list after having previously been on there. That would be because he struggled mightily in Double-A in 2023, posting a .584 OPS over 135 games in his first taste of the upper minors.
Still the scouting report on him was the same, a speedy left-handed hitting infielder with defensive versatility who was more hit over power at the plate. He had previously been compared to a Tommy Edman type of player, as a player with a fairly similar skill set - though that type of comp would require him to max out in his development.
What we saw in 2024
Conley went back to Mississippi and spent the entire season there, posting slightly better - though still similar - numbers than what he did in 2023. His 2023 slash line was .219/.298/.286 over 599 plate appearances with 32 steals in 45 tries. In 2024 he slashed .252/.305/.312 with 42 steals in 52 tries. He made 92 starts at short with 33 coming at second, which was a fairly similar split to what he did in 2023.
2025 Outlook
It’s tough to say what 2025 will look like for Conley going into the spring. He was a fairly high draft choice, though didn’t require a huge bonus, and after two consecutive disappointing seasons with the hit tool - which is supposed to be where he brings the most value - his future is up in the air. Returning to Double-A is a possibility, as is being pushed up to Triple-A, but so is the possibility of being let go after the spring if he isn’t able to have a solid showing there. Conley still has some potential, and won’t turn 26 until mid-July, but his chances could be running out unless he starts producing with the bat.
<img alt="Atlanta Braves v Baltimore Orioles minor leaguers" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/wAT92Cy8XIJdD1m7Sw6G2u9rsjo=/0x0:2400x1600/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73730891/2157825884.0.jpg">
Cal Conley | Photo by Diamond Images via Getty Images
Cal Conley came into 2024 hoping to put a tough 2023 behind him. One of the few Atlanta Braves prospects that was a highly drafted hitter, Cal Conley came into the 2024 season hoping to rebound from a poor performance in 2023.
How acquired
Conley was the Braves 4th round pick in the 2021 MLB Draft out of Texas Tech. Conley started his college career at Miami but transferred to Tech before playing in a game. He played in his first 18 games in 2020 before the season shut down, making the 2021 season his breakout college season.
Preseason Report Card
Conley was not apart of our Preseason Top 30 Prospect list after having previously been on there. That would be because he struggled mightily in Double-A in 2023, posting a .584 OPS over 135 games in his first taste of the upper minors.
Still the scouting report on him was the same, a speedy left-handed hitting infielder with defensive versatility who was more hit over power at the plate. He had previously been compared to a Tommy Edman type of player, as a player with a fairly similar skill set - though that type of comp would require him to max out in his development.
What we saw in 2024
Conley went back to Mississippi and spent the entire season there, posting slightly better - though still similar - numbers than what he did in 2023. His 2023 slash line was .219/.298/.286 over 599 plate appearances with 32 steals in 45 tries. In 2024 he slashed .252/.305/.312 with 42 steals in 52 tries. He made 92 starts at short with 33 coming at second, which was a fairly similar split to what he did in 2023.
2025 Outlook
It’s tough to say what 2025 will look like for Conley going into the spring. He was a fairly high draft choice, though didn’t require a huge bonus, and after two consecutive disappointing seasons with the hit tool - which is supposed to be where he brings the most value - his future is up in the air. Returning to Double-A is a possibility, as is being pushed up to Triple-A, but so is the possibility of being let go after the spring if he isn’t able to have a solid showing there. Conley still has some potential, and won’t turn 26 until mid-July, but his chances could be running out unless he starts producing with the bat.
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