<img alt="MLB: New York Mets at Atlanta Braves" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/CWTygQElpBwsYnRFqenWofANhnc=/0x0:4996x3331/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73799372/usa_today_22993572.0.jpg">
Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
The toolsy shortstop showed he can stay at short, while also oozing potential at the plate. How Acquired
John Gil was signed by the Atlanta Braves during the 2023 international signing period for $110,000.
Preseason Report Card
There were a lot of intriguing stories about John Gil heading into 2024. The smaller bonus signee put together a solid line in 2023 when he appeared in 48 games in the Dominican Summer League. Keep in mind stats in the DSL are incredibly strange and don’t really have any bearing on future projections but at 17 years of age, John walked 16.6% of the time while striking out just 17%, something you don’t see much. His slash line of .285/.409/.386 showed he was too good for the DSL and gave fans something to look forward to when he would make his stateside debut.
What We Saw in 2024
That debut happened in 2024 when John began the year in complex ball where he hit .286/.403/.389 in 51 games. The strikeout rate remained very solid, as it sat at just 16%, while his walk rate sat at 13%. Again, these types of numbers you don’t see too often out of a player that is entering their age 18 season, combine that with reports of his superb speed, great bat speed, developing approach, and raw power and you got yourself a player that will work his way up a top 30 list.
After those 51 games, John was promoted to Low-A Augusta where you did see some struggles as he hit .204/.297/.255 in 39 games. The walk rate continued to shine, as it sat at 12%, and while his strikeout rate rose to 23% it is still perfectly okay for that age. The main difference between complex ball and Low-A is that pitchers begin to showcase breaking balls and that was the main differentiator for John Gil in 2024. As pitchers began to throw curveballs, sliders, and changeups you could see John begin to chase around the zone which would ultimately lead to that lower contact rate, and higher strikeout rate.
Perhaps most importantly, John showed the ability to stay at shortstop while also being able play second. That positional versatility, along with his loud tools make John a very intriguing prospect to watch heading into 2025 and beyond.
2025 Outlook
After answering a ton of questions in 2024, the outlook for John is quite positive entering 2025. While you definitely want to see his approach against breaking balls improve, John will be just 19 years of age and entering a full season likely in Low-A with a possibility to end the season at High-A Rome. If he continues to play well defensively, steal 20+ bases, while allowing his game power to meet up with his raw power you are looking at a top 100 player that plays a premium position. There is a lot to like about John, and 2025 could be a huge breakout year in his development. Even if not, as long as he continues to show what he did in 2024, and show an improved approach against breaking pitches John is without a doubt a top 30 player in the organization and one of the better positional prospects.
<img alt="MLB: New York Mets at Atlanta Braves" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/CWTygQElpBwsYnRFqenWofANhnc=/0x0:4996x3331/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73799372/usa_today_22993572.0.jpg">
Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
The toolsy shortstop showed he can stay at short, while also oozing potential at the plate. How Acquired
John Gil was signed by the Atlanta Braves during the 2023 international signing period for $110,000.
Preseason Report Card
There were a lot of intriguing stories about John Gil heading into 2024. The smaller bonus signee put together a solid line in 2023 when he appeared in 48 games in the Dominican Summer League. Keep in mind stats in the DSL are incredibly strange and don’t really have any bearing on future projections but at 17 years of age, John walked 16.6% of the time while striking out just 17%, something you don’t see much. His slash line of .285/.409/.386 showed he was too good for the DSL and gave fans something to look forward to when he would make his stateside debut.
What We Saw in 2024
That debut happened in 2024 when John began the year in complex ball where he hit .286/.403/.389 in 51 games. The strikeout rate remained very solid, as it sat at just 16%, while his walk rate sat at 13%. Again, these types of numbers you don’t see too often out of a player that is entering their age 18 season, combine that with reports of his superb speed, great bat speed, developing approach, and raw power and you got yourself a player that will work his way up a top 30 list.
After those 51 games, John was promoted to Low-A Augusta where you did see some struggles as he hit .204/.297/.255 in 39 games. The walk rate continued to shine, as it sat at 12%, and while his strikeout rate rose to 23% it is still perfectly okay for that age. The main difference between complex ball and Low-A is that pitchers begin to showcase breaking balls and that was the main differentiator for John Gil in 2024. As pitchers began to throw curveballs, sliders, and changeups you could see John begin to chase around the zone which would ultimately lead to that lower contact rate, and higher strikeout rate.
Perhaps most importantly, John showed the ability to stay at shortstop while also being able play second. That positional versatility, along with his loud tools make John a very intriguing prospect to watch heading into 2025 and beyond.
2025 Outlook
After answering a ton of questions in 2024, the outlook for John is quite positive entering 2025. While you definitely want to see his approach against breaking balls improve, John will be just 19 years of age and entering a full season likely in Low-A with a possibility to end the season at High-A Rome. If he continues to play well defensively, steal 20+ bases, while allowing his game power to meet up with his raw power you are looking at a top 100 player that plays a premium position. There is a lot to like about John, and 2025 could be a huge breakout year in his development. Even if not, as long as he continues to show what he did in 2024, and show an improved approach against breaking pitches John is without a doubt a top 30 player in the organization and one of the better positional prospects.
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