The Braves plunked down $850 K to sign the Colombian flame thrower as a 16 year old. Last season, Julio Teheran pitched at short season Low-A Danville earning a 1-2 record with a 6.60 ERA and 4 BB/17 K in 15 IP. Though he showed himself to be quite hittable in the early going (.301 BAA), Julio exhibited good control and induced groundball outs at a 1.27/FO rate. Teheran already has a fastball that sits comfortably between 93-95 MPH, though he can reach back and bump it up to 97 MPH. Complimenting his fastball is a low 80's changeup with deceptive fade and a powerful curveball that has a late bite to it. Scouts have marveled at how smooth and quick his arm action is, though he needs to clean up some of the mechanics in his delivery. His body has considerable projectibility and needs to build bulk and stamina to handle the rigors of a full season workload.
2009 Projection: Teheran should get his first taste of full season action at Low-A Rome. Compared to Seattle Mariners ace Felix Hernandez, Teheran is tabbed to move quickly through the system and, if all goes well, could reach High-A Myrtle Beach by the end of this season. It will be interesting to see if he can keep his control numbers and GO/FO ratio up with Rome. If so, the South Atlantic League tends to favor pitchers which could bode very well for Julio's numbers. The Braves are stocked with an assortment of fine young arms from both sides of the mound, but Teheran's rivals that of Tommy Hanson's as Atlanta's best.
This former 2004 2nd round pick emerged over the second half of the season at High-A Myrtle Beach batting .255 with 19 HR 67 RBI and 56 runs scored in 88 games. Campbell is a compact, power packed hitter who has a fluid but compact right handed swing that could generate 20-25 HR per season at the major league level. He makes contact with just about everything that he hits, lowering his K rates and he made strides in improving his walk totals (50 BB/57 K). Defensively, Campbell is an agile, sure handed fielder with a strong arm built for the hot corner. The big problem...and it is a big one, is a continued track record of insubordination that has led to a couple of substantial team-induced suspensions over the past two seasons. Campbell has been described as someone who marches to the beat of his own drum, defying requests by the Braves organization to adhere to a specific rehab program following his shoulder injury in '07. It has also been well documented that Campbell's effort is often inconsistent. At times, he plays with a great deal of energy and grit, while other times he appears lackadasical and unfocused. This has manifested itself in his plate discipline as well. He makes good contact with pitches in the zone, but often gets himself out trying to pull pitches out of the strike zone.
2009 Projection: Campbell has all of the physical talent to be a perennial all-star talent. However, his intangible skills severely inhibit his abililty to be a productive major league player. Will he get things straightened out? That is the million dollar question and one that will loom large in 2009. Expect him to begin the season at AA Mississippi where his strike zone judgement will be put to the test. His offensive potential is so tantalizingly potent that it is hard to ignore him as a viable prospect, but his myriad of character-compromising indiscretions make him a difficult guy to put much stock in. If he does get it figured out and decides to tow the company line, Campbell can rise up prospect charts once again, but the opportunities are decreasing for Eric and the patience of the Braves is wearing thin.
After a sterling 2007 debut, Jeff Locke's 2008 campaign left much to be desired. Pitching the entire season at full season Low-A Rome, Locke compiled a 5-12 record with a 4.06 ERA and 38 BB/113 K's in 139.2 IP. His low 90's fastball has excellent movement and late life down in the zone which helps him to force ground ball outs (1.59 GO/FO) and limit home runs. Complimenting the fastball is a power curveball and fading changeup. Both of these pitches have the potential to be plus offerings and Locke has a good feel commanding them in the strike zone. Locke has a competitive demeanor and is not afraid to challenge hitters with his stuff. There are some mechanical glitches in his delivery and some refining that must be done with some of the game's more subtle nuances, but the Braves organization remains quite optimistic that the 21 year old southpaw will be able to address these successfully in the ensuing seasons.
2009 Projection: So which version of Locke do we buy into? The 2007 model that dominated hitters at short season Danville or the 2008 Rome model that struggled at times with his consistency? Judging from his pure stuff and command numbers, it seems reasonable that he will rebound to put up solid numbers at High-A Myrtle Beach. Watch to see if his strikeout totals increase this coming year, as they were down by more than 3 per 9 innings. His ability to dominate hitters with his stuff will give an indicator of whether he fits the bill as a top of the rotation starter or mid-rotation inning eater.
Hernandez put up another solid season at High-A Myrtle Beach despite missing a month with a hamstring injury. The effects of that setback had a slightly detrimental effect on his numbers, but Gorkys still managed to hit .263 with 5 HR 42 RBI 20 SB and 75 runs in 100 games. When fully healthy, Hernandez has as much speed as anyone in the Braves' system and he uses it effectively on the bases. He seems to be discovering his decent power potential as well. Hernandez had 34 XBH in '08 and he has continued to improve his plate discipline, earning a 48 BB/79 K ratio. Defensively, the Braves are loaded with high upside outfielders, but no one in the system has as much top of the order potential as the 21 year old Venezuelan.
2009 Projection: Hernandez should be ready to return to his basestealing ways at AA Mississippi in April. Keep an eye on the stolen base totals, as his ability to wreak havoc on the basepaths is what sets him apart from other offensive talents in the Braves' system. Watch his power development as well. Hernandez has some power to the gap, and has some potential for growth left in his frame that could translate to double digit HR's down the road.
The Braves' 2006 1st round pick continued to mash the ball at full season Low-A Rome hitting .252 with 26 HR 89 RBI and 62 runs scored. Johnson has a long, projectible frame that promises to add more bulk as he ages. His big lefthanded swing generates awesome torque that lofts the ball out of any part of the ballpark. The downside of a big swing is the proclivity to have exploitable holes and Johnson's hack is no exception. Last season, Cody struck out an alarming 177 times in 127 games while drawing just 40 walks. Defensively, Johnson has made some positive strides as an outfielder, though he should be strictly limited to LF as a pro. The Braves knew when they drafted Cody that he was going to be a long-term project, but they are pleased by the early returns on their investment. In time, Johnson could develop into a prolific power hitter in the mold of Adam Dunn or a cataclysmic bust a la Rick Elder.
2009 Projection: Cody will start the '09 season at High-A Myrtle Beach, which should provide a good challenge for him. Of course, the numbers to watch are the K's. Johnson will always rack up big strikeout numbers, but the hope for him is to limit them to a level that is closer to a one per game average. If he can turn 20-30 of his K's into walks, Johnson has the potential to be a .270-.280 hitter with 30+ HR potential at the major league level. It seems a bit irrational to call 2009 a make or break season for Cody, especially since he will be just 20 years old for most of it, but the amount of outfield depth in Atlanta's farm system could rapidly pass him by if he continues to struggle.
Key Cody Johnson Baseball Cards:
2006 Bowman Originals
2006 Bowman Chrome Draft AFLAC Redemption
2006 Bowman Chrome Draft Auto
2006 Bowman Sterling Auto
2007 Bowman Prospects Auto
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The Braves used the 40th selection of the '08 draft to select this first team All-American southpaw. The Florida high schooler had a dominant season pitching to a 12-1 record with a 0.41 ERA and 140 K's in 86 IP. He continued his quality showings with the Braves' GCL affiliate allowing just one earned run in 9.2 innings. Devall has a long, projectible frame that can add more bulk as he matures. Despite his size, Brett is not overpowering, but he does have excellent command of three major league quality pitches. HIs 90-92 MPH fastball has some sink to it and he mixes it well with a straight change that has good depth. His only breaking pitch at this point is a slurvy curveball that actually should develop into more of a slider. There is a lot of promise in this pitch and many within baseball circles think that it will become an effective outpitch for him. Devall has a fluid delivery that is mechanically sound and very repeatable. This should help to keep him from having pitching-related injuries and lapses in control. There is projectibility with DeVall, but some feel that his ceiling is a bit limited due to the fact that he doesn't have ace-like stuff. Nevertheless, the Braves are adept at scouting and refining young pitching talent and the chances of Brett becoming a quality #2 or #3 starter seems to be quite bright.
2009 Projection: After a brief successful stint with the Braves' GCL affiliate, DeVall should move to full season Rome for the '09 season. The main thing to watch with DeVall is his ability to dominate hitters at this lower level. The strikeout numbers are always a prime indicator, but keep an eye on his GO/FO ratio as well. He induced 1.86 GO/FO outs in his professional debut and, if he can keep this up, it will demonstrate that he is effectively controlling other hitters. The Braves have a stable of young quality arms in their system and DeVall is assuredly one of them.
It was a tale of two seasons for the former AFLAC All-American. The Braves began Gilmore at full season Low-A Rome and he stunk up the joint hitting just .186 through 26 games. After pulling the plug on that promotion, Gilmore was sent to short season Danville where he enjoyed much more success hitting .337 with 4 HR and 31 RBI. Gilmore has the potential to be a very special power hitter with a smooth swing that generates good leverage and HR pop to all fields. He is very balanced at the plate, which allows for him to react well to fastballs and offspeed pitches alike. Defensively, Gilmore has the tools to be a top-rate 3B with soft hands, quick reactions, and a strong, accurate arm. In addition to his physical skills, Jon is a grinder who eats and breathes baseball. Gilmore proved himself to be mentally tough by taking the demotion in stride and having a successful second half to his season. Gilmore needs to progress in working himself deeper into counts and drawing more walks. As his power comes forward, pitchers will be more reluctant to give him pitches to hit in the zone. Gilmore's selectivity will be a crucial element in determining his ability to hit for a high average down the road.
2009 Projection: Gilmore will give Rome another shot, likely with better results. Look to see if he can improve his walk rate as well as his power. Gilmore has an athletic and strong physique that could build muscular bulk. If and when he does this, his HR power will progress and more people's eyes will be opened to his abilities, making his 2007 autographed cards more valuable commodities.
Flowers had a solid season at High-A Myrtle Beach hitting .288 with 17 HR 88 RBI and a league-high 98 walks. Flowers has a massive frame that should produce 25-30 HR power at the major league level. If he sticks as a catcher, this would make him an All-Star, though it is quite possible that he will have to move to a corner infield position as Brian McCann is firmly entrenched as the leader of the Braves' battery. Flowers has enough athleticism to make the move to 1B or 3B and the move may be better for him in the long run as he has already had a knee surgery. One caveat to Flowers' game is his 50 game suspension for the use of PED's that he served at the beginning of the '07 season. Flowers, for his part, admitted to the mistake saying that he used bad judgment as a member of Chipola CC's baseball team. Braves officials seem to be satisfied with the progress that Flowers has made since the suspension.
2009 Projection:Flowers has absolutely hammered Arizona Fall League pitching to the tune of a .385 BA with a league leading 10 HR 18 RBI and 20 runs scored. Expect his '09 debut to be with AAA Gwinnett and, if he can continue to replicate his promising numbers, a trip to Atlanta is imminent. Flowers' first year autographs in the 2008 Donruss Threads set are immensely popular and should continue as he blossoms into a major league slugger.
Freeman's 2008 season may have been the best of any prospect in the Braves' system. As an 18 year old, Freeman dominated the talented pitchers South Atlantic League batting .316 with 18 HR and 95 RBI. Freeman seemed to get better as the season went on, hitting .349 after the All-Star break with 10 HR. With a massive frame and long arms, Freeman produces easy power to all fields. However, he is not a one-dimensional masher, as he combined to hit 33 doubles and 7 triples while earning a .384 OBP due to a solid 48 BB/84 K ratio. Freeman has a knack for manufacturing runs i Read the full story
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You'd be hard pressed to find many pitchers that had a better season than Tommy Hanson. Over two levels, Hanson was dominant combining to go 11-5 with a 2.41 ERA and 163 K's in 138 IP. This included a 14 strikeout no-hitter against AA Birmingham on June 25th. Hanson added a couple ticks to his fastball which now sits at 92-94 MPH with good movement. His curveball and slider are also already MLB plus pitches and his changeup shows quite a bit of promise too. Additionally, Hanson has proven to be a gritty competitor with good poise on the mound. It is hard to Read the full story
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Jason Heyward's debut season earned him the distinction of being considered one of baseball's brightest young prospects. Heyward played primarily at Low-A Rome where he hit .323 with 11 HR 52 RBI and 15 SB in 18 chances. Heyward's blend of size, strength, speed and athleticism evokes comparisons to Hall of Famer Dave Winfield. Heyward displayed a very advanced sense of plate discipline (51 BB/ 78 K) and baserunning acumen and his work ethic has been widely lauded throughout the Braves system. Heyward's good range and strong arm make him the ideal candidate for RF and his power should come more to the forefront within the next few seasons. Heyward's frame could develop more bulk, which could have an adverse effect on his baserunning speed.
2009 Projection: Heyward struggled in his brief promotion to High-A Myrtle Beach, hitting just .182 in 22 AB. Expect him to begin the season there and, barring any setbacks, a promotion to AA Mississippi seems to be an inevitability. He is on the fast track to Atlanta and his stratospheric ceiling makes him one of baseballs elite prospects. The power should come into more play this season, perhaps 20-25 HR. Let's hope that the batting average and speed numbers carry forward as well.
Key Jason Heyward Baseball Cards:
* 2007 Bowman Chrome Draft Jason Heyward RC
* 2007 Bowman Sterling Jason Heyward Auto RC
* 2007 Donruss Elite Extra Edition Jason Heyward Auto RC #'ed /750
* 2008 Bowman Chrome Prospects Jason Heyward Auto
Schafer had a tumultuous beginning to his 2008 season when he was suspended 50 games for the use of PED's. Upon his return, Schafer struggled leaving many to suspect that his rapid ascension over the past year was chemically induced. Schafer caught stride, though, and finished the AA season with respectable numbers. At his best, Schafer is one of the more intriguing 5-tool athletes in baseball Read the full story
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2009 Projection: Teheran should get his first taste of full season action at Low-A Rome. Compared to Seattle Mariners ace Felix Hernandez, Teheran is tabbed to move quickly through the system and, if all goes well, could reach High-A Myrtle Beach by the end of this season. It will be interesting to see if he can keep his control numbers and GO/FO ratio up with Rome. If so, the South Atlantic League tends to favor pitchers which could bode very well for Julio's numbers. The Braves are stocked with an assortment of fine young arms from both sides of the mound, but Teheran's rivals that of Tommy Hanson's as Atlanta's best.
