A Minor Review of 2015: Atlanta Braves
Oct 5, 2015 13:22:32 GMT -5
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Post by Braves GM (Jared) on Oct 5, 2015 13:22:32 GMT -5
I recently read a string of articles on fangraphs called A Minor Review. It details a quick synopsis of each teams minor league endeavors. I decided to do one for my team as well.
The Graduate: Lance McCullers Jr. - acquired earlier this year from the Yankees in the Jose Reyes trade, McCullers has looked great. He went 6-7 with 129k in 125.2 IP this year. He completely skipped over Triple-A and in only his 4th start, threw a complete game with only 1 ER and 11 strikeouts. He started 22 games and finished with a 3.22 ERA and a 3.26 FIP. Fangraphs pegged him as being worth 2.8 WAR this year.
The Riser: Michael Fulmer - another offseason acquisition, Fulmer was traded to the Braves by the Brewers in exchange for Jose Leclerc. Drafted by SF in the second round of the 2011 draft out of high school, Fulmer has progressed through each level of the minor leagues, and has been dominant at the AA level this year. Not ranked on any prospect lists this year, he will most definitely be next year, as he has put together a 10-3, 2.24 ERA with 125k in 124.2 IP this year across two levels. He should be primed to help the Braves in 2016.
The Tumbler: Garin Cecchini - Pre-2014, Cecchini was ranked as high as #51 on the top prospect lists by Baseball Prospectus. He also made his major league debut in 2014, playing 11 games. His star has faded significantly this year, as he just .213 in Triple-A with almost no counting stats even worth mentioning. Hopefully he will right the ship in 2016.
The '15 Pick: Jon Harris - Drafted with the 17th overall pick this year, Harris has pitched very poorly in his pro debut. In Low-A ball, he has struggled with his command and posted an ERA above 6.00. Harris is said to have the ceiling of a No. 3 starter, if he rebounds.
The Lottery Ticket: Andrew Aplin - Aplin was drafted #167 overall by the Braves in 2012 and has progressed better than they could have imagined through the system. He is an on-base machine and posted a combined OBP of .413 between AA and AAA this year. At almost every level, he has walked more than he has struck out. His hitting may hold him back, as he has almost no power to speak of. He hits very few extra-base hits and this year in AAA, 82% of his hits were singles. He does have some speed, evidenced by his 32 combined SB this year and he plays excellent defense in center field. The Braves will have to see if this light hitting CF can hold down a spot in the OF next year, or if his bat will make him to much of a liability.
The Graduate: Lance McCullers Jr. - acquired earlier this year from the Yankees in the Jose Reyes trade, McCullers has looked great. He went 6-7 with 129k in 125.2 IP this year. He completely skipped over Triple-A and in only his 4th start, threw a complete game with only 1 ER and 11 strikeouts. He started 22 games and finished with a 3.22 ERA and a 3.26 FIP. Fangraphs pegged him as being worth 2.8 WAR this year.
The Riser: Michael Fulmer - another offseason acquisition, Fulmer was traded to the Braves by the Brewers in exchange for Jose Leclerc. Drafted by SF in the second round of the 2011 draft out of high school, Fulmer has progressed through each level of the minor leagues, and has been dominant at the AA level this year. Not ranked on any prospect lists this year, he will most definitely be next year, as he has put together a 10-3, 2.24 ERA with 125k in 124.2 IP this year across two levels. He should be primed to help the Braves in 2016.
The Tumbler: Garin Cecchini - Pre-2014, Cecchini was ranked as high as #51 on the top prospect lists by Baseball Prospectus. He also made his major league debut in 2014, playing 11 games. His star has faded significantly this year, as he just .213 in Triple-A with almost no counting stats even worth mentioning. Hopefully he will right the ship in 2016.
The '15 Pick: Jon Harris - Drafted with the 17th overall pick this year, Harris has pitched very poorly in his pro debut. In Low-A ball, he has struggled with his command and posted an ERA above 6.00. Harris is said to have the ceiling of a No. 3 starter, if he rebounds.
The Lottery Ticket: Andrew Aplin - Aplin was drafted #167 overall by the Braves in 2012 and has progressed better than they could have imagined through the system. He is an on-base machine and posted a combined OBP of .413 between AA and AAA this year. At almost every level, he has walked more than he has struck out. His hitting may hold him back, as he has almost no power to speak of. He hits very few extra-base hits and this year in AAA, 82% of his hits were singles. He does have some speed, evidenced by his 32 combined SB this year and he plays excellent defense in center field. The Braves will have to see if this light hitting CF can hold down a spot in the OF next year, or if his bat will make him to much of a liability.