7 Braves prospects to watch in 2024
Don’t check your calendars, but the start of baseball season is less than a month away. On February 15th, Braves pitchers and catchers will report to Spring Training, and from there, it’s only a matter of time before Opening Day. Everyone should be thrilled at the prospect of the Braves chasing another World Series ring. The future is as bright as ever, but what’s happening on the farm is just as important to the sustained success in Atlanta. The Braves don’t have the most talented farm system in baseball — far from it — but there are several names worth paying attention to in 2024 that could soon be roaming the field at Truist Park.
AJ Smith-Shawver (Braves Prospect Rank: 1)
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/72346626/1258446904.0.jpg?w=640&ssl=1)
Smith-Shawver may not be considered a prospect for very much longer. He’ll be competing for the fifth spot in the rotation out of Spring Training, but it is a pretty crowded group, and while everyone is eager for him to make a significant impact immediately, it might be best for him to earn some more stripes in Gwinnett for the first few months of the season. As dominant as Smith-Shawver was in Rome and Mississippi, the level of competition appeared to catch up to him in Gwinnett and Atlanta. That’s not a knock on him; in fact, it was expected. He was just 20-years-old last season. The fact that he made his MLB debut is a testament to his potential.
Hurston Waldrep (Braves Prospect Rank: 2)
As far as I’m concerned Waldrep and Smith-Shawver are 1A and 1B in the Braves system. That’s how high I am on Waldrep. In his first professional season, Waldrep rocketed through the system, making a start in Gwinnett to end the year. He would finish the season with eight starts, a 1.53 ERA, and a 12.6 K/9. Waldrep was one of the best arms coming out of the draft, and I was shocked he fell to the Braves at pick 21. Like Smith-Shawver, Waldrep likely won’t be considered a prospect much longer, but if he is, he’ll be near the top of MLB prospect lists by season’s end.
Cade Kuehler (Braves Prospect Rank: 4)
Kuehler was a second-round pick by the Braves last year and features one of the best fastballs in the class, capable of touching the high-90s. He only made two starts for Augusta last season, but he only allowed one hit over seven innings with eight strikeouts. Kuehler is another high-upside arm that could move through the system quickly.
Ignacio Alvarez (Braves Prospect Rank: 7)
Ignacio Alvarez has impressed so much early in his professional career that the guys over at Baseball Prospectus ranked him as MLB’s 98th best prospect entering the season, ahead of AJ Smith-Shawver, who did not make their top 101 prospects list. He’s a shortstop that could end up moving to third base as he develops. His main strength is his contact bat, but he did experience an uptick in his power last year, hitting seven home runs.
Luis De Avila (Braves Prospect Rank: 13)
It’s not out of the realm of possibilities that we see De Avila in the majors this season. The Braves are loaded with starting pitching depth, but injuries are inevitable. Every team needs 10-11 guys to make starts each year. Last season, De Avila pitched to the tune of a 3.28 ERA in Mississippi, earning him a promotion to Gwinnett, where he made one appearance. That’s likely where he’ll begin 2023, and if he continues to roll, look for him to make a start in Atlanta.
