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Atlanta Braves 2018 minor league review: middle infielders

By Benjamin Chase

MIAMI, FL - AUGUST 25: Dansby Swanson #7 of the Atlanta Braves jumps in the air while J.T. Realmuto #11 of the Miami Marlins steals second base during the third inning of the game at Marlins Park on August 25, 2018 in Miami, Florida. All players across MLB will wear nicknames on their backs as well as colorful, non-traditional uniforms featuring alternate designs inspired by youth-league uniforms during Players Weekend. (Photo by Eric Espada/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL - AUGUST 25: Dansby Swanson #7 of the Atlanta Braves jumps in the air while J.T. Realmuto #11 of the Miami Marlins steals second base during the third inning of the game at Marlins Park on August 25, 2018 in Miami, Florida. All players across MLB will wear nicknames on their backs as well as colorful, non-traditional uniforms featuring alternate designs inspired by youth-league uniforms during Players Weekend. (Photo by Eric Espada/Getty Images) /
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Atlanta Braves
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FL – FEBRUARY 22: Ray-Patrick Diddder #88 of the Atlanta Braves poses for a photo during photo days at Champion Stadium on February 22, 2018 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /

Upper minors

Hoping to become just the sixth player to make the major leagues from Aruba, Ray-Patrick Didder has been a guy that has intrigued “prospect guys” in the Atlanta Braves system since he signed. Blessed with plus speed and a plus arm, both of which could range into the plus-plus area, he had a good base to build on, but his initial returns in the infield were not so positive, so the Braves pushed him to the outfield, where he worked on his reads and really became one of the best defensive outfielders in the farm system. After a struggling year in the Florida State League in 2017 at the plate, he was given some time in the infield, and those instincts that had guided him well in center field played for him at shortstop, and that’s where he played all of 2018.

The Florida State League continued to have its way with Didder, as he slashed just a .608 OPS at the level. He got bumped up to Mississippi on the strength of his glove, and his bat came alive, slashing .275/.373/.374 with 9 steals over 46 games. While Didder may not profile as a regular, his speed and defense along with even an average contact profile would allow him to be a tremendous asset off the bench, possibly as soon as 2019.

It seems like ages since Philip Gosselin was an Atlanta Braves farmhand, breaking through for his first taste of the big leagues. The Braves utilized Gosselin in the deal that brought in Touki Toussaint, and three years later, he’s back with the organization after the Cincinnati Reds let him go early in the year. Gosselin was a steady presence in the middle infield for Gwinnett this year, but he’ll likely look for a spot where he could have a chance at the major league bench.

Originally born in Georgia, Sean Kazmar, Jr. has made a living in the Atlanta Braves top level for the last six seasons now, playing with Gwinnett since 2013. While he’s not likely to take the majors by storm at 34 years old, he is a steady contributor and great clubhouse guy in the minors who likely has a long coaching career ahead of him when he’s ready to hang up the spikes.

Released by the Rangers this spring, the Braves brought Luis Marte in to work in their middle infield. He slashed .285/.315/.376 combined between Mississippi and Gwinnett, with 4 home runs and 9 steals. Marte is not a likely long-term starter, but he’s average across the board and that could have a solid upper minors career if he wanted it with a chance to bump into a bottom of the bench sort of guy, though likely not with the Atlanta Braves.

If you’d have asked me the top defensive infielder in 2016 that would have easily been Alejandro Salazar, and his presence in the infield for the 2016 Rome Braves team certainly helped that great Rome pitching staff. Salazar has natural contact ability, though he really doesn’t have a lot of power or speed. Interestingly, he played just two games at shortstop the entire season, working more as a utility infielder, and his defensive skills shined around the infield, along with a solid performance with the bat, all the way up to AAA for a couple of games. Overall, he hit .285/.315/.337.

Having just turned 25, Luis Valenzuela could be aging himself outside of a long-term major league future. He has struggled with injuries along the way. Spending his second season at AA, Valenzuela hit .282/.306/.369 with 22 doubles. He’ll have a chance to look elsewhere this season if there is a chance for a major league bench role, but he’s a guy that receives high marks for his clubhouse persona if he’d like to remain in the Braves organization.

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