Atlanta Braves: Bryce Ball could be team’s 1st All-Star DH

The Atlanta Braves have a monster lurking in the lower-levels of the minor leagues. He plays first base right now, what will the team do when he’s ready to be unleashed on the Majors?

Bryce Ball has been turning heads in Atlanta Braves’ camp this spring. Many fans were introduced to the 24th-round draft pick from last year via a clip of his smooth, powerful swing during his first BP session.

Wednesday he made his presence felt with the Braves by promptly homering in his first at-bat.

Bryce Ball’s swing is as smooth as it is powerful. Standing 6-foot-6, 235 pounds, Ball is an imposing and powerful hitter.

Last year as a junior at Dallis Baptist University he led the Missouri Valley Conference in home runs and RBI and was named a third-team All-American.

The Atlanta Braves’ scouts and front office heard the thunderous crack of the balls rocketing off of his bat halfway across the country.

He was drafted in the 24th-round due to questions about his sign-ability. It wasn’t clear if he would return for his senior season or make the jump to professional baseball.

The Braves got a steal as Ball was sent to Rookie Ball and made his way to Low-A before the end of the season.

In 2019 Ball played in 125 games between college, Rome, and Danville. Between the NCAA and pro leagues, he smashed 35 homers and 106 RBI while slashing .327/.420/.621.

If anyone was concerned his skills wouldn’t translate from the Missouri Valley Conference to professional baseball, he posted an OPS of 1.057 in the MVC last season and a 1.023 OPS in the minors.

His slugging percentage increased from a .614 in his junior year to a .628 between the two professional leagues.

Where Will He Play?

Ball is already profiling as the top power hitter in the Braves’ system and he’s been there for half a year.

Last season he handled professional breaking pitches in stride. He wasn’t a player that sold out for power in college and he didn’t do it in the lower levels of the minor leagues last year either.

His approach, combined with his natural power, could equate to a future star.

If Ball can continue to move through the system in 2020, he could enter next season as a top 10 prospect for the Braves. If his ascent continues, the question remains, where will he play?

We hope to have first base locked up for years to come. I don’t want to dive into what-ifs about Freddie Freeman’s contract extension that has yet to be, or potential injuries.

Ball could potentially have some positional flexibility, that remains to be seen.

With the NL looking more and more likely to adopt the designated hitter, Bryce Ball may very well be barreling toward becoming the Atlanta Braves’ first All-Star DH. Wednesday’s spring training home run from the DH spot maybe a glimpse into the Braves’ future.