Atlanta Braves 2018 top 125 prospects: top 25

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5. William Contreras, C

Level(s): Rome Braves, Florida Fire Frogs
Stats: .285/.347/.436, 105 G, 432 PA, 24 2B, 11 HR, 8.1% BB, 20.6% K
Many could see this very high, but based on my views and the conversations I’ve had around the league with people who’ve seen Contreras, he’s at least this high, and maybe even higher! Of course, I will gladly admit that I’ve been a huge Contreras fan since he came into the Atlanta Braves system, ranking him as the #29 prospect in the Braves system in my first top 100. Contreras has a brother who is well-known as the Cubs starter, and while his offensive upside is not that of his brother, he has the chance to be a much more well-rounded defender and definitely a more complete hitter, with excellent control of the strike zone and of his own emotions on the field. One consistent review of Contreras this season was that he was never overwhelmed on the season, which is an incredible thing in a guy’s first experience of full-season ball. He did see his number drop some in Florida, but it’s quite feasible that he could open in Mississippi in 2019.

4. Touki Toussaint, RHSP

Level(s): Mississippi Braves, Gwinnett Stripers, Atlanta Braves
Stats: Minors: 9-6, 24 GS, 136 1/3 IP, 2.38 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 9.4%, 28.9% K; Majors: 2-1, 7 G, 5 GS, 29 IP, 4.03 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, 17.1% BB, 26% K
Touki has long been known as the most-talented arm in the entire Atlanta Braves system, and while I believe that may not be entirely true, it’s not due to Touki doing anything wrong. Toussaint made impressive strides in 2018, using a modified delivery to allow him to be more direct to the plate, which allowed for better command and control. Toussaint still needs to iron out his control at the big league level, as was seen in his time with the Braves in August through October this season, but his talent can’t be denied, and he certainly has to be considered a front-runner for a rotation spot for 2019 in Atlanta.

3. Cristian Pache, OF

Level(s): Florida Fire Frogs, Mississippi Braves
Stats: .279/.307/.410, 122 G, 496 PA, 23 2B, 6 3B, 9 HR, 7 SB, 4% BB, 19.6% K
One of the big signees in 2015 by the Atlanta Braves, Pache has lived up to every bit of his hype and then some. With some concern about translating his power into games after 2017, Pache simply came out and absolutely pounded the ball. His stolen base number may not be impressive, but that’s more a learning thing on the bases as Pache is a premium baserunner, but his instincts on when to take off still need work. He did steal 32 the previous year, but it was also with plenty of caught stealing, often stealing base on his plus-plus speed. Pache has incredibly impressive contact skills, and while he does need to work on taking more pitches, his manageable strikeout rate, even as he’s expressing more power shows just how elite his contact skills are. Of course, the story with Pache is always one thing – defense. Pache is in the discussion among the best defensive outfielders in baseball, majors or minors. His arm is a definite double-plus along with his incredible instincts off the bat to complement his range. To put it into perspective, if Pache was called up to the major league club right now to open 2019, Ender Inciarte would be in left field and Ronald Acuna would be in right in deference to Pache. He will likely open 2019 at 20 years old at AA, but he very well could get time in the majors by the end of the season, and he could be a weapon off the bench for his speed and defense down the stretch.

2. Ian Anderson, RHSP

Level(s): Florida Fire Frogs, Mississippi Braves
Stats: 4-7, 24 GS, 119 1/3 IP, 2.49 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 9.9% BB, 28.7% K
The Atlanta Braves selection at #3 overall in 2016 seemed at the time to be a cost-cutting measure, but as time has worn on, it’s shown that the Braves were after more than a cheap pick with Anderson. He’s developed into arguably the top arm in the entire system. The Braves wanted to see him handle a full season of innings and handle the upper minors, and he passed both tests with flying colors. The thing with Anderson is that looking at his statline only gives a tiny piece of the puzzle. Watching him once will blow you away, twice will have you singing his praises, and beyond that, you’re convinced you’re looking at one of the best arms in all of minor league baseball, which he very well may be. The Atlanta Braves are still being intentional with Anderson’s progress in innings and workload, so he will likely open at Mississippi in 2019, and it’s doubtful he’d be allowed to work in the bullpen or as a spot starter type the way that many young arms were in 2018, but his future role for the team could be much, much more important as he has true ace-level stuff.

1. Mike Soroka, RHSP

Level(s): Rome Braves, Gwinnett Stripers, Atlanta Braves
Stats: Minors: 2-1, 6 GS, 30 2/3 IP, 1.76 ERA, 0.85 WHIP, 5.2% BB, 29.6% K; Majors: 2-1, 5 GS, 25 2/3 IP, 1.44 WHIP, 6.2% BB, 18.6% K
The second player the Atlanta Braves selected in the 2015 draft, Mike Soroka has established himself as one of the greatest pitchers in all of minor league baseball. Many originally compared Soroka’s ability to manipulate the baseball and set up hitters to that of Greg Maddux, and while that is a high comp to put on any player (and rarely one that should be used), Soroka is the rare guy that could actually live up to being in that mold at the very least.

Watching Soroka on the mound is really a thing of beauty. Even though his pitches were hit more at the big league level than the minors, he was not deterred from pitching into the zone, often seeing a ball break completely the opposite way in the second plate appearance for a batter than it had in the first appearance due to a change Mike put on the grip or pressure on his fingers or other such things that were indistinguishable to the hitter until the ball was in flight and moving.

I’ll not claim to be the level of Mike Soroka fanboy that Eric Cole of Talking Chop is, but I’ve loved Soroka since he came into the system, and it could not have thrilled me more than to watch Soroka outduel Jacob deGrom of the Mets in really what was his last healthy start of the season before shoulder injury cut short his 2018. He will be back in 2019, and from all reports from his recent throwing session, he will be stronger than ever!

Next. My week as Braves GM. dark

So that’s the top 25 prospects in the annual countdown of the Atlanta Braves top prospects. Anyone too high? Too low? Comment below!

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