Three Atlanta Braves featured on Keith Law’s top 100 list
By Fred Owens
Three Atlanta Braves prospects appear on the latest top 100 list, but rankings are in the eye of the beholder.
Keith Law published his 2022 top-100 list in The Athletic (subscription required) this morning, not in the order some might expect, but the order is probably meaningless anyway. However, 3 Atlanta Braves farmhands are named.
Law has Cristian Pache at number 38, down from his third-place start to 2021… so what happened? Pache quickly found out the difference between AAA pitching and the arms in the majors, and that’s not his fault.
The Braves gave him 105 AAA PA in 2019 and four Major League PA in 2020, then threw him into the pond without a life preserver. Before anyone screams Andruw Jones, stop and take a breath; you’re comparing prodigy to prospect, and they aren’t the same thing.
Andruw destroyed pitching at every level on his rocket ship ride through the minors while Pache progressed at a more human pace. Pache’s defense remains elite, and I believe he will hit well enough to hold down an everyday spot on a Major League team. However, he’s not a 25-homer, .500 slug bat; also, he’s still only 23 years old, so relax.
Michael and Shea
Michael Harris slots in at number 61 for Law, he believes Harris is a 70-grade centerfielder, which would make for a heck of an outfield down the road if everyone stays on board, but they won’t.
Michael’s progress resembles Andruw’s, but it’s still early for him. He’ll start in AA and play at 21 this year. If his progress continues as it has so far, he’ll play at Gwinnett as well.
Shea Langeliers rounds out the Braves on Law’s list, coming in at number 80, I believe Langeliers is the Braves catcher of the future, and as Law pointed out, the Braves were confident enough in his defense to add him to the travel team for the playoffs.
At least one notable name from the 2021 list is missing here, but never fear; he’s still hanging around.