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Atlanta Braves Scouting Report on OF Connor Lien

By Benjamin Chase

Feb 15, 2017; Lake Buena Vista, FL, USA; A wide view of the field from the press box during Atlanta Braves MLB spring training workouts at Champion Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 15, 2017; Lake Buena Vista, FL, USA; A wide view of the field from the press box during Atlanta Braves MLB spring training workouts at Champion Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 15, 2017; Lake Buena Vista, FL, USA; A wide view of the field from the press box during Atlanta Braves MLB spring training workouts at Champion Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 15, 2017; Lake Buena Vista, FL, USA; A wide view of the field from the press box during Atlanta Braves MLB spring training workouts at Champion Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /

Connor Lien has established an elite defensive reputation in the Atlanta Braves system. Will he break through offensively?

Player Profile

The Atlanta Braves drafted Connor Lien out of high school in Florida in 2012 in the 12th round.

Connor McClain Lien was drafted from Orlando high school and the Braves assigned him to the Gulf Coast League in 2012. He hit .228/.352/.282 with no home runs but 15 steals (in 18 attempts!) with a 10.56% walk rate and 27.22% strikeout rate.

He moved up to Danville in the Appalachian League for the 2013 season. Lien played primarily center field for Danville, hitting .226/.298/.401 with 6 home runs, 10 stolen bases, a 5.93% walk rate, and a 29.66% strikeout rate.

Lien spent time in extended spring to open 2014, and there were rumors of injury, but I’ve got it on good authority that his time there was spent to work on contact issues within his swing, and the results were very positive.

He came out of extended spring to spend the rest of 2014 with low-A Rome in the South Atlantic League. He hit .275/.337/.398 with 5 home runs and 16 stolen bases, posting a 6.09% walk rate and 24.35% strikeout rate (a full 5%+ drop in his K rate after the work in extended spring).

Carolina saw Lien’s first full season in 2015, as he continued his one-step-at-a-time progression up the minor league system. He hit .285/.347/.415 with 9 home runs and 34 stolen bases, posting a 6.55% walk rate and 25.6% strikeout rate.

The Braves sent Lien to the Arizona Fall League in 2015, and Lien went through a tremendous cold streak at the plate, though he impressed thoroughly in the outfield. He hit .169/.220/.221 with a home run and 4 stolen bases. His walk rate was 4.88%, but his strikeout rate was a crazy 42.68%.

Lien opened 2016 with Mississippi, but unfortunately opened the season with a broken hamate bone on his first plate appearance of the season. This kept him out, and he did struggle when he returned, which is quite common with hamate injuries.

On the season, Lien played in 64 games, with a .233/.320/.408 slash line along with 6 home runs and 12 stolen bases. He also raced out for 7 triples. His swing had some issues post-injury, which led to a 8.91% walk rate and 32.95% strikeout rate.

Next: Lien's scouting report

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