Atlanta Braves: 2022 Outlook for Top Prospect Cristian Pache

2022 figures to be an important year for the Atlanta Braves young outfielder.

Cristian Pache was always considered a glove-first player as he rose through the minor leagues. An 80-grade fielding grade had many scouts believing he was a future gold glove centerfielder for the Atlanta Braves.

The biggest question is when, if ever, would his bat come around.

While there was some promise in the minors, he has yet to figure it out at the major league level. He currently sports a batting line of .119/.157/.209 .162 wOBA, -6 wRC+, and a -5 OPS+.

A rough start at the plate for the young prospect. It has some wondering if he will ever hit in the big leagues.

He is, however, only 23-years-old, and only has 72 career plate appearances. If we add in the postseason, he still has less than 100 plate appearances.

While he has currently looked outmatched at the plate, it is far too early to give up on Pache. His bat has always been behind his glove.

After being sent back to AAA, Pache hit .265/.330/.414 with 11 HR, 50 R, 44 RBI, 9 SB, a .331 wOBA, and a 100 wRC+ — a league-average hitter in AAA.

If Pache can be a serviceable hitter, with gold glove defense, he can become a valuable major league player.

Does Pache figure it out in 2022?

Unless he is traded, Cristian Pache will, most likely, get another shot in 2022. Especially if Ronald Acuña Jr. is not ready for the start of the season.

He must start showing signs of being competent at the plate.

Steamer’s projection for Pache in 2022: .236/.287/.377 with 5 HR, 17 R, 19 RBI, 3 SB, .288 wOBA, and a 76 wRC+ across 184 plate appearances. Not the best outlook.

He does not need to become an above-average bat to be a valuable baseball player, he just needs to be serviceable offensively. If he can be playable at the plate, he should provide most of his value with his glove.

Imagine if he could provide a similar role as Ender Inciarte did from 2016-2018. Inciarte was always considered a glove first player, who became reliable at the plate as he developed.

Look at Inciarte’s best three seasons with the Braves:

• 2016- .291/.351/.381 3 HR, 85 R, 29 RBI, 16 SB, .319 wOBA, 97 wRC+, 98 OPS+, 15 DRS, 20 OAA, 3.8 bWAR 3.1 fWAR
• 2017- .304/.350/.409 11 HR, 93 R, 57 RBI, 22 SB, .328 wOBA, 97 wRC+, 98 OPS+, 4 DRS, 20 OAA, 2.7 bWAR 2.8 fWAR
• 2018- .265/.325/.380 10 HR, 83 R, 61 RBI, 28 SB, .308 wOBA, 90 wRC+, 90 OPS+, 16 DRS, 21 OAA, 3.2 bWAR, 2.9 fWAR

Inciarte is recent proof for the Braves, that a guy does not need to be a stud at the plate to be a solid contributor. Most of his value came from his elite defense.

If Pache can replicate Inciarte’s 2018 season at the plate, he would regain a lot of trust from those that thought he was the Braves centerfielder of the future.

A 90 wRC+ is below average, but Pache could provide a 2-3 WAR season with superb defense. If the rumors are true, and a universal DH is on the way, Pache would fit in nicely as an 8th/9th hitter in a lineup.

Unfortunately, not every prospect is going to work out. It is just the nature of the business. However, it is still too early to give up on Cristian Pache.

Others like Michael Harris and Shea Langeliers have made their case as the Braves’ top prospect, and have taken some of the attention away from Pache. The young outfielder still has the potential to become a reliable everyday big leaguer for the Atlanta Braves.

Hopefully, Pache takes the next steps in his development in 2022.