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Atlanta Braves Scouting Report on OF Ronnier Mustelier

By Benjamin Chase

Jul 21, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; A baseball, baseball glove and baseballs are shown on the infield during batting practice before the game against the Atlanta Braves and the Los Angeles Dodgers at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 21, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; A baseball, baseball glove and baseballs are shown on the infield during batting practice before the game against the Atlanta Braves and the Los Angeles Dodgers at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jul 21, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; A baseball, baseball glove and baseballs are shown on the infield during batting practice before the game against the Atlanta Braves and the Los Angeles Dodgers at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 21, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; A baseball, baseball glove and baseballs are shown on the infield during batting practice before the game against the Atlanta Braves and the Los Angeles Dodgers at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports /

The Atlanta Braves brought in Ronnier Mustelier in 2016, and he was solid in 2016. Could he be the team’s next Adonis Garcia?

Player Profile

The Atlanta Braves signed Mustelier after a year away from professional baseball, playing in the Mexican League.

Mustelier was a tremendous contact hitter as a young player in Cuba, putting up a line of .295/399/455 in Serie Nacional from age 17 through age 23, primarily as a third baseman, before leaving Cuba in order to escape to the United States.

The Yankees signed Mustelier once he was cleared by Major League Baseball in 2011 for a meager signing bonus of $50,000.

The Yankees immediately began using Mustelier primarily as an outfielder with some time at third base as well. He played with the Yankees Gulf Coast League team in 2011, the high-A affiliate in the Florida State League, and finished with time in the Arizona Fall League.

Between the GCL and FSL, he hit .356/.397/.527 with 3 home runs and 9 stolen bases, putting up a BB/K ratio of 9/17 over 157 plate appearances. In the Arizona Fall League, he continued hitting well, hitting .344/.354/.516 with a pair of home runs and 3 stolen bases.

Mustelier split 2012 between the Yankees’ high minors affiliates in AA and AAA in Trenton and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Combined, he hit .314/.371/.488 with 15 home runs and 10 stolen bases. He also had a 35/68 BB/K ratio over 499 plate appearances.

Injuries slowed Mustelier in 2013, as he only played 90 games due to injury. He still hit fairly well, posting a .274/.321/.397 line with 7 home runs and 5 stolen bases, along with a 24/47 BB/K ration over 374 plate appearances.

The Yankees released Mustelier 53 plate appearances into the 2014 season, citing a need to find plate appearances for other players, after he opened the season hitting .314/.340/.373 with a 2/9 BB/K ratio.

Atlanta brought in a number of former Yankee scouts when they overhauled the scouting department after the 2014 season, and that led to the signing of Adonis Garcia. Bringing in Mustelier may also be part of that familiarity with former Yankee scouts.

The Braves placed Mustelier at AAA Gwinnett for the 2016 season. He primarily played left field, though he did play a handful of games at third base and some in right field as well.

His hitting was as good as ever as well, tallying a line of .291/.353/.394 with 5 home runs, 6 stolen bases, and a 39/49 BB/K ratio.

Next: Mustelier's scouting report

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