Atlanta Braves Top 100 Prospects: 21-40

Sep 19, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Dan Haren (50) delivers a pitch against the St. Louis Cardinals at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

Atlanta Braves Top 100: 36-40

40.Rob Whalen, 21 (1/31/94), RHP, Carolina
Stats: 5-7, 96 ⅔ IP, 3.35 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 9.3% BB, 16.6% K
Whalen was known as the throw in to the Braves deal with the Mets this summer. He’s not exactly an intimidating presence on the mound at 6’2 and 205 pounds, but he hangs around the plate constantly, knowing hitters will begin looking for certain pitches, knowing they’ll be close to the plate, but Whalen also has some solid swing-and-miss stuff as well. Whalen only had three starts for Carolina before being shut down for the season, so hopefully he’s ready to go in 2016.
Professional comparison: Like Edinson Volquez, Whalen lives on his low-zone stuff and he’s been missing it at times, also similar to Volquez.
Likely 2016 starting destination: AA Mississippi
Expected time of arrival: 2017

39.Carlos Franco, 23 (12/20/91), 3B, Carolina
Stats: .254/.347/.403, 11 HR, 12.5% BB, 20.4% K
I’ve been watching Franco for a couple of years now, wondering when he’d take the next big step and jump up levels. He finally showed the offensive skills that he flashed at Danville in 2012. He provided Carolina with power in the middle of their lineup with a solid walk rate as well. Franco will likely never hit .300, but he has worked to better his batting eye, and this year was a big step forward. Franco is a 6’3 lefty-hitting third baseman, which means that pretty much all of our third baseman from the major leagues through about high-A are all lefty batters.
Professional comparison: Trevor Plouffe has had a solid run in the last few years, and he was also a late bloomer. Franco certainly has similar skills, but Plouffe’s took years before they were major league ready, like Franco’s extended path to the majors.
Likely 2016 starting destination: AA Mississippi
Expected time of arrival: 2017

38.Seth Webster, 26 (6/27/89), RHP, Carolina
Stats: 8-8, 135 ⅔ IP, 3.12 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 1.8% BB, 18.9% K
Webster was signed out of independent ball in 2015, and from the moment he arrived in Carolina, he was nothing short of dominant. The biggest thing is that the man simply never let someone get on via a walk. He had very solid control and induced a ton of ground balls. Webster does not have dominant stuff, but he keeps it around the zone and makes the hitter end up swinging on a pitch that he can’t square up. Webster doesn’t have a huge fastball, so he lives on location, location, location like any good realtor would sell you on.
Professional comparison: As he’s matured, Dan Haren has turned into the type of pitcher that Webster is now, throwing a bunch of innings, albeit nothing remarkable.
Likely 2016 starting destination: AA Mississippi Braves
Expected time of arrival: 2017

37.Luis Valenzuela, 22 (8/25/93), SS, Rome
Stats: .365/.387/.506, 3.6% BB, 13.4% K
Valenzuela was signed in 2011 out of the Dominican Republic by the Royals and then acquired by the Braves in the Jonny Gomes deal. While listed at 5’10 and 150 pounds, Valenzuela is more filled out than that, likely more like 180ish. That does not slow him down at all, though, as he showed in limited experience at short for Rome, especially after Ozzy Albies was lost for the season. Valenzuela struggled with the bat in his first two years in the Royals system, but it broke out a touch in 2014 and in a big way in 2015. His time with the Braves yielded a .429/.455/.619 slash line. Valenzuela is a bit stiff at short, but he can make all the plays needed to stay at the position. His future role, however, may end up being a super-sub as he has the hands to play second and the arm to play third as well.
Professional comparison: Valenzuela makes high contact without a lot of walking like Starlin Castro, and his defensive play is very reminiscent of Castro as well.
Likely 2016 starting destination: Carolina
Expected time of arrival: 2018

36.Steve Janas, 23 (4/21/92), RHP, AA
Stats: 7-8, 105 ⅓ IP, 3.33 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 5.6% BB, 13.2% K
Janas was drafted in the 6th round in 2013 out of Kennesaw State University. He moved up quickly to high-A. This year his time at high-A included a 0.49 ERA and a 0.60 WHIP over 37 innings. He did struggle upon his promotion to AA, but he still showed the ability to attack hitters. The big difference for Janas was his command seemed to slip significantly at Mississippi. Janas has a big frame, listed at 6’5 and 200 pounds on B-Ref, but other listing him even taller. He uses that height to generate sink on his low-90s fastball and curveball. His changeup is also an average pitch, and when he locates them all, he’s really difficult to pick up and square up.
Professional comparison: Janas has more than physical similarities to Mike Pelfrey. He also relies on his control to have success like Pelfrey does. Pelfrey’s fastball is a few ticks faster, but he also works low in the zone to create weak contact.
Likely 2016 starting destination: Mississippi
Expected time of arrival: 2017

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