VIDEO: Atlanta Braves Potential INT Prospect Kevin Maitan is Really Good at Baseball

Atlanta Braves International Top Prospect Kevin Maitan Can Rake!

The Atlanta Braves had by most standards, a very promising draft a few weeks ago. In a draft that saw the Braves draft pitcher after pitcher, a highly touted, top international offensive threat will be a welcome sight.

Many fans were shall we say, curious as to why they went so pitcher heavy. Well, for one, you can never have enough pitching. Not all of those pitchers selected will stay with Atlanta. Some already in the organization may not either.

The idea, I think, among most Braves faithful was that the team would flip some of these arms for bats.

The International Signing Period

On July 2nd, the International Signing Period is open for business. It’s been speculated for quite some time now that the Braves are targeting Venezuelan phenom Kevin Maitan.

Baseball America’s Ben Badler writes a very informative narrative on Maitan and his potential; and how he compares to what is in the league now.

Maitan, a switch-hitting shortstop, can straight up mash. He’s really good at baseball …

That first stroke for a double sounded like the ball exploded on impact. The ability to create backspin on a baseball at 16, with a wooden bat, is extremely impressive. This dude is legit.

Balder insist, based on scouts he has talked to, that Maitan is simply the best amateur prospect to come out of Venezuela since Miguel Cabrera.

"“It’s not that the 6-foot-2, 175-pound Maitan is similar to Miguel Cabrera, but it’s easy to see why there are Venezuelan scouts who consider Maitan the best 16-year-old amateur prospect the country has produced since Cabrera signed with the Marlins 17 years ago for $1.9 million.” – Ben Badler, Baseball America"

The Middle Infield Dilemma

The Braves traded Shelby Miller last season for number one draft pick Dansby Swanson and others from the Arizona Diamondbacks. Swanson, as we all know, is a shortstop. The Braves are already using Ozzie Albies and Dansby at both second base and short.

So, where does that leave Maitan. Granted, Maitan is only 16, so his development will take longer. But eventually, he will be playing with both Swanson and Albies … So where do you move him to?

You don’t keep a bat like the one Maitan has out of any potential lineup. He will need to be in there regularly.

Maitan is 6′ 2″ and weighs 175 lbs. He’ll most definitely add muscle and weight as he matures and develops, so that could only go well for Atlanta.

I see a move to the outfield as a possibility. Perhaps, the Braves attempt to move him to third, if he is dead set on playing in the infield.

Next: Musical Bullpen Chairs Continues

The bottom line though, is that he will be in the lineup – somewhere. Of course, all this hinges on the fact that Maitan does in fact sign with Atlanta. Much like the draft, as we saw, nothing is as cut and dried as it seems.

Somethings change, but every time I see Maitan, he’s sporting the Tomahawk. I’m about 90% positive he signs.