<img alt="MLB: MLB-Draft" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/nWfRJb2OZCVsaQ_5lqU-NSnZXsY=/0x56:4109x2795/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73965644/usa_today_18711209.0.jpg">
Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
And so begins prospect season 2025 The prospects are about to take center stage for the Atlanta Braves, as Spring Breakout comes to CoolToday Park as the Braves take on a host of Detroit Tigers prospects. Despite last season’s game not going so well for the duo, the spring breakout game set the stage for breakout campaigns from pitchers Owen Murphy and Spencer Schwellenbach, with the potential for a handful of prospects from this game to see a similar rise in the upcoming season.
Time: 4:05 PM ET
Venue: CoolToday Park, Northport, FL
How to Watch: Gray TV/CW | MLB Network | MLB.tv
Braves players to watch
Undoubtedly the star of the show for the Braves will be pitcher JR Ritchie, whose quick return from 2023 Tommy John surgery saw him return to form in the latter half of the 2024 season. Ritchie’s career has been marked by dominance at every level, with 95 strikeouts to only 25 walks so far in 77 1⁄3 career innings pitched. The 21-year old former first round pick has garnered praise for the progression of his pitches, with the hope that he will return to form with his velocity this season and see a true rise to being a top 100 prospect.
Beyond him the pitching staff is filled with a number of players looking to solidify major league projections this season, most notably the duo that dominated in Augusta of Didier Fuentes and Garrett Baumann. The two teenagers were terrific for the GreenJackets in 2024, Fuentes posting a career-high 32.1% strikeout rate and Baumann a 3.05 FIP. Both are expected to see their first extended time above Single-A this season, where either has the potential to break out and enter the top 8 of the system.
Adam Maier will go into 2025 looking to re-write the story on his career so far which has been marred by an extended injury recovery and a lack of extended success. Maier has an outlandish trio of secondaries, with two breaking balls regularly topping the 3000 rpm mark and a bugs bunny changeup, but following a two-year long absence from competitive pitching his velocity was down and his command struggled. Maier, though, seems to be healthy now, and has a chance to have a breakout season if he can shake off the rust that seemed to plague much of 2024.
The Braves are also utilizing a number of interesting relievers, the most notable being the fireballing trio of Rolddy Munoz, Luis Vargas, and Elison Joseph. All feature serious command questions, but all also have upper 90’s fastballs with sliders that have the potential to be plus offerings. Even one of these pitchers working out could provide the Braves with a lottery ticket late inning reliever, and Elison Joseph may be the most impressive of the bunch. His command has made strides in his four seasons of professional baseball, and although he is still prone to bouts of extreme wildness, he also puts up absurd whiff rates and struck out 34.1% of batters last year. Joseph can touch triple digits, with high spin and a low release that helps him miss bats in the zone. Mix in a wipeout slider, and Joseph, despite his volatility, cemented his place in the system following a 2.78 FIP in 53 innings last season.
We won’t see the Braves top two hitting prospects, nor recent international signees Jose Perdomo or Diego Tornes, but the next Braves top prospect just might be in this group. Two to watch closely are Luis Guanipa and John Gil, both of which the Battery Power crew is extremely high on. Guanipa struggled in 2024, but even in his time in Augusta and in last season’s spring breakout game was never truly overwhelmed. His electric batspeed and athleticism jump out even when he has struggled, with most of his problems as a hitter originating from suspect mechanics that the Braves have already made significant work towards. Many get caught up on how poorly the 18-year old played to end the season in High-A, but he also looked strong in the complex league and carries the best physical toolset in the system.
Gil was last year’s second-biggest breakout position player, behind only now number one prospect Drake Baldwin, as he came out of nowhere to be seen as easily one of the system’s top 20 prospects. Like Guanipa, Gil has a physical toolset ready to make him an impact player. Gil’s speed is his carrying tool right now as he consistently puts up double-plus run times, and that speed plays well at his natural shortstop position where he has the range and arm to be a big leaguer. Gil’s approach and ability to lift pitches needs work, but he makes contact at a high rate, has better pitch recognition than a vast majority of 18 year olds, and has a body that could grow into above average power.
We could also get our first look at catcher Nick Montgomery. Montgomery was an overslot signee in the 5th round last year, and has yet to make his professional debut. Still, there is plenty of buzz around Montgomery who very well may possess the best power bat in the system. Montgomery needs some work defensively, and as with most 19 year old power hitters there are hit tool questions, but he is among the highest ceiling prospects in the system. He has the athletic traits to fit behind the plate and has rare power for the position, making him one of the players we will be watching closest this season.
Tigers players to watch
The Tigers are sending out a roster featuring three top 100 prospects, most notably MLB’s number 6 prospect Max Clark. Clark was the third overall pick in 2023, carried by a hit tool that is among the best in all of minor league baseball. As a 19 year old Clark posted a .372 on base percentage across two levels last season, showcasing the talent that made him a top pick and showing improvements in his raw strength to give confidence in his power projections. Clark is one of the top players in all of spring breakout, and his matchup against the Braves pitching corps will be interesting.
Another terrific hitter will also be battling the Braves, with infield prospect Kevin McGonigle coming in off of an outlandish 2024 season. The 19 year old put up a 144 wRC+ across two levels, but even more incredible was his 14% walk rate to just an 8.5% strikeout rate. While there is some question of McGonigle’s ultimate power and defensive home, there is no question that he can flat out rake. The Tigers roster also features MLB’s #81 prospect Thayron Liranzo, a switch-hitting catcher with big power who the Tigers acquired from the Dodgers in the Jack Flaherty trade. Liranzo had 12 home runs in 100 High-A games last season, but that undersells just how terrific he was post-trade. In 26 games with Detroit hie cut his strikeout rate below 20%, walked 22.6% of the time, hit five home runs, and overall had a 195 wRC+. This ballooned his stock, and with double-plus raw power he will be a terrifying presence in the lineup for Ritchie and co.
<img alt="MLB: MLB-Draft" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/nWfRJb2OZCVsaQ_5lqU-NSnZXsY=/0x56:4109x2795/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73965644/usa_today_18711209.0.jpg">
Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
And so begins prospect season 2025 The prospects are about to take center stage for the Atlanta Braves, as Spring Breakout comes to CoolToday Park as the Braves take on a host of Detroit Tigers prospects. Despite last season’s game not going so well for the duo, the spring breakout game set the stage for breakout campaigns from pitchers Owen Murphy and Spencer Schwellenbach, with the potential for a handful of prospects from this game to see a similar rise in the upcoming season.
Time: 4:05 PM ET
Venue: CoolToday Park, Northport, FL
How to Watch: Gray TV/CW | MLB Network | MLB.tv
Braves players to watch
Undoubtedly the star of the show for the Braves will be pitcher JR Ritchie, whose quick return from 2023 Tommy John surgery saw him return to form in the latter half of the 2024 season. Ritchie’s career has been marked by dominance at every level, with 95 strikeouts to only 25 walks so far in 77 1⁄3 career innings pitched. The 21-year old former first round pick has garnered praise for the progression of his pitches, with the hope that he will return to form with his velocity this season and see a true rise to being a top 100 prospect.
Beyond him the pitching staff is filled with a number of players looking to solidify major league projections this season, most notably the duo that dominated in Augusta of Didier Fuentes and Garrett Baumann. The two teenagers were terrific for the GreenJackets in 2024, Fuentes posting a career-high 32.1% strikeout rate and Baumann a 3.05 FIP. Both are expected to see their first extended time above Single-A this season, where either has the potential to break out and enter the top 8 of the system.
Adam Maier will go into 2025 looking to re-write the story on his career so far which has been marred by an extended injury recovery and a lack of extended success. Maier has an outlandish trio of secondaries, with two breaking balls regularly topping the 3000 rpm mark and a bugs bunny changeup, but following a two-year long absence from competitive pitching his velocity was down and his command struggled. Maier, though, seems to be healthy now, and has a chance to have a breakout season if he can shake off the rust that seemed to plague much of 2024.
The Braves are also utilizing a number of interesting relievers, the most notable being the fireballing trio of Rolddy Munoz, Luis Vargas, and Elison Joseph. All feature serious command questions, but all also have upper 90’s fastballs with sliders that have the potential to be plus offerings. Even one of these pitchers working out could provide the Braves with a lottery ticket late inning reliever, and Elison Joseph may be the most impressive of the bunch. His command has made strides in his four seasons of professional baseball, and although he is still prone to bouts of extreme wildness, he also puts up absurd whiff rates and struck out 34.1% of batters last year. Joseph can touch triple digits, with high spin and a low release that helps him miss bats in the zone. Mix in a wipeout slider, and Joseph, despite his volatility, cemented his place in the system following a 2.78 FIP in 53 innings last season.
We won’t see the Braves top two hitting prospects, nor recent international signees Jose Perdomo or Diego Tornes, but the next Braves top prospect just might be in this group. Two to watch closely are Luis Guanipa and John Gil, both of which the Battery Power crew is extremely high on. Guanipa struggled in 2024, but even in his time in Augusta and in last season’s spring breakout game was never truly overwhelmed. His electric batspeed and athleticism jump out even when he has struggled, with most of his problems as a hitter originating from suspect mechanics that the Braves have already made significant work towards. Many get caught up on how poorly the 18-year old played to end the season in High-A, but he also looked strong in the complex league and carries the best physical toolset in the system.
Gil was last year’s second-biggest breakout position player, behind only now number one prospect Drake Baldwin, as he came out of nowhere to be seen as easily one of the system’s top 20 prospects. Like Guanipa, Gil has a physical toolset ready to make him an impact player. Gil’s speed is his carrying tool right now as he consistently puts up double-plus run times, and that speed plays well at his natural shortstop position where he has the range and arm to be a big leaguer. Gil’s approach and ability to lift pitches needs work, but he makes contact at a high rate, has better pitch recognition than a vast majority of 18 year olds, and has a body that could grow into above average power.
We could also get our first look at catcher Nick Montgomery. Montgomery was an overslot signee in the 5th round last year, and has yet to make his professional debut. Still, there is plenty of buzz around Montgomery who very well may possess the best power bat in the system. Montgomery needs some work defensively, and as with most 19 year old power hitters there are hit tool questions, but he is among the highest ceiling prospects in the system. He has the athletic traits to fit behind the plate and has rare power for the position, making him one of the players we will be watching closest this season.
Tigers players to watch
The Tigers are sending out a roster featuring three top 100 prospects, most notably MLB’s number 6 prospect Max Clark. Clark was the third overall pick in 2023, carried by a hit tool that is among the best in all of minor league baseball. As a 19 year old Clark posted a .372 on base percentage across two levels last season, showcasing the talent that made him a top pick and showing improvements in his raw strength to give confidence in his power projections. Clark is one of the top players in all of spring breakout, and his matchup against the Braves pitching corps will be interesting.
Another terrific hitter will also be battling the Braves, with infield prospect Kevin McGonigle coming in off of an outlandish 2024 season. The 19 year old put up a 144 wRC+ across two levels, but even more incredible was his 14% walk rate to just an 8.5% strikeout rate. While there is some question of McGonigle’s ultimate power and defensive home, there is no question that he can flat out rake. The Tigers roster also features MLB’s #81 prospect Thayron Liranzo, a switch-hitting catcher with big power who the Tigers acquired from the Dodgers in the Jack Flaherty trade. Liranzo had 12 home runs in 100 High-A games last season, but that undersells just how terrific he was post-trade. In 26 games with Detroit hie cut his strikeout rate below 20%, walked 22.6% of the time, hit five home runs, and overall had a 195 wRC+. This ballooned his stock, and with double-plus raw power he will be a terrifying presence in the lineup for Ritchie and co.
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