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Atlanta Braves Top 100 Prospect – #45 Robert Whalen Scouting Report

By Benjamin Chase

Aug 25, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Detailed view of Atlanta Braves hat and glove in the dugout before a game against the Colorado Rockies at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 25, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Detailed view of Atlanta Braves hat and glove in the dugout before a game against the Colorado Rockies at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports /
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Aug 23, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Fans reach for the home run ball hit by Atlanta Braves catcher Ryan Lavarnway (not pictured) during the fifth inning against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 23, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Fans reach for the home run ball hit by Atlanta Braves catcher Ryan Lavarnway (not pictured) during the fifth inning against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports /

Atlanta Braves Right Hander Robert Whalen

Who Is He?

Rob Whalen was drafted in the 12th round of the 2012 draft by the New York Mets out of high school in Florida. He only made one appearance with the Mets’ Appalachian League team in Kingsport in his draft season.

The Mets returned him to Kingsport for 2013, and his numbers sparkled. Whalen posted a 1.87 ERA over 12 starts totaling 72 1/3 innings. In that time, he put up a 1.87 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, and 17/76 BB/K ratio. Though the numbers were excellent, he didn’t get much national attention, likely due to his lack of pedigree in being a later pick.

2014 was the first instance of what would become a bit of a bugaboo for Whalen over the last couple of seasons. The Mets started him in their low-A South Atlantic League team in Savannah. Injuries forced a few rehab starts with their Gulf Coast League team. All told, Whalen totaled a 1.94 ERA on the season over 14 appearances, 12 of them starts, throwing 69 2/3 innings. He also had a 0.99 WHIP and a 21/63 BB/K ratio in that time. The Mets wanted to get him a few more starts and sent him to the Arizona Fall League. Whalen didn’t fare so well there, sporting a 6.87 ERA over 18 1/3 innings with a 1.53 WHIP and a 10/15 BB/K.

Next: Whalen's scouting report

The Mets sent Whalen to their high-A club in St. Lucie in the Florida State League to start 2015. He performed well there, and he was actually the more highly touted of the pair of pitchers the Braves acquired in their midseason deal with the Mets, though John Gant‘s finish to the season really established him as a possible premier prospect while Whalen’s injury bug bit only 3 starts into his time with Carolina. Overall in 2015, he made 18 appearances, 17 of them starts. He once again tallied under 100 innings, finishing with 96 2/3 innings, totaling a 3.35 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, and a 38/68 BB/K ratio.

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