2024 Minor League Thread

[Deester11]

Development. Who needs that crap. Besides, it's trade season...time to revamp the minors anyway.

[bravesfanMatt]

Eh. AA just looking for the next young catcher that the team controls for many years so he can trade him for an older much more expensive catcher that doesn’t like playing baseball in the heat and is way worse.

[seanyates]

I don't have any idea what Nacho's defense is like at shortstop, but he at least gets on base at a high clip. No power to speak of.

[msstate7]

I don't have any idea what Nacho's defense is like at shortstop, but he at least gets on base at a high clip. No power to speak of.

I would venture to say he isn't Arcia defensively. I've "scouted" box scores, and nacho has been hugely disappointing.

[bravesfanMatt]

I would venture to say he isn't Arcia defensively. I've "scouted" box scores, and nacho has been hugely disappointing.

He has one good attribute (good eye).. personally, that is a guy I would keep around. If you have an idea of what a strike is, then there is a chance that something else clicks and you can become something of value.

[msstate7]

He has one good attribute (good eye).. personally, that is a guy I would keep around. If you have an idea of what a strike is, then there is a chance that something else clicks and you can become something of value.

My concern is mlb pitchers can throw strikes for the most part, so what then?

[bravesfanMatt]

My concern is mlb pitchers can throw strikes for the most part, so what then?

The best zone % in baseball is 51%... most pitchers don't throw strikes but that is on purpose because you have teams like the Braves with a 30+% chase rate. making a pitcher throw strikes is not a bad thing. Now can he hit strikes, that will be the ultimate question... but at least he seems to have an idea of what a strike is, so I like keeping that around to see if any other tools develop.

[cajunrevenge]

Probably asking a lot of Nacho if you expect him to be a full time starter. I see him as a .260 average .320-.330 OBP guy with 10-12 HR power who can play quality defense at several positions. Maybe not the most range but quality defense in that he doesnt **** up. The kind of guy your cool with filling in when a starter gets injured but not the kind of guy you want to be starting the season with as a starting position player. Some might take that as bad but that kind of player still has value. Would be nice to have right now as a matter of fact.

[50PoundHead]

Eh. AA just looking for the next young catcher that the team controls for many years so he can trade him for an older much more expensive catcher that doesn’t like playing baseball in the heat and is way worse.

I think the plan in drafting Baldwin (although baseball teams don't draft for need like they do in football) was that they would have someone ready to team with Murphy once they were ready to move on from d'Arnaud. Maybe that plays into the decision to move him up now.

Not sure on Alvarez. They have moved him aggressively having him basically skip Low-A and now pushing him up to AAA with less than a half season of experience in AA. I don't know what they had him working on in Mississippi,but the lack of XBHs has taken me by surprise. Arcia has at least one year left on his team-friendly deal (2026 is a team option at $2 MM) and while he's having a similar offensive downturn that is being experienced by the rest of the team save Ozuna, I find it difficult to imagine that they are that anxious to replace him.

We'll have to see how it turns out for both of them.

[msstate7]

Tromp at DH today, and Baldwin catching. Did they cut Leon?

[50PoundHead]

The best zone % in baseball is 51%... most pitchers don't throw strikes but that is on purpose because you have teams like the Braves with a 30+% chase rate. making a pitcher throw strikes is not a bad thing. Now can he hit strikes, that will be the ultimate question... but at least he seems to have an idea of what a strike is, so I like keeping that around to see if any other tools develop.

Like Don Sutton used to say (and I paraphrase) "Not every strike is a good pitch and not every ball is a bad pitch."

I think the hitting development chain is: (1) pitch recognition, (2) consistent contact, (3) consistent contact with more authority, and (4) finishing touches like launch angle, ability to hit with authority to opposite field, etc., depending on a players' attributes and developing existing strengths. Alvarez clearly has (1) down and looks pretty solid with (2). Thought he would need more time at AA to clearly master (3), but then again, I don't scout these guys in person.

[msstate7]

Alvarez hit a 2-run hr

[Garmel]

Alvarez hit a 2-run hr

Getting Nacho out of that crazy pitcher's park in Mississippi might help him.

[seanyates]

Call him up.

[CyYoung31]

Call him up.

You joke, but they just might after tonight. Seems to be their MO.

[Slippyjms]

You joke, but they just might after tonight. Seems to be their MO.

The idea may just be if another IF gets hurt he's coming up. Can't afford another Riley situation.

[msstate7]

Lucas Braun at Rome...
7.0 ip 4 h 0 er 0 bb 12 k

[cajunrevenge]

https://blogs.fangraphs.com/atlanta-...rospects-2024/


Fangraphs came out with their Braves prospect list. They seem pretty optimistic about AJSS and Schwellenbach. They said Nacho is too stocky to play SS but that he has 80 grade plate discipline and compared him to Yandy Diaz. A lot of other good info about lower tier guys. The problem I see with the farm is its so barren you dont want to trade anyone beyond the fringe prospects because then we just make the problem worse.

[zbhargrove]

The Fangraphs article explains where Perdomo has been. They still expect him on the FCL team but he’s on the 60-day DL with a hamstring injury. Sounds like they still expect him to play this year.

[CyYoung31]

https://blogs.fangraphs.com/atlanta-...rospects-2024/


Fangraphs came out with their Braves prospect list. They seem pretty optimistic about AJSS and Schwellenbach. They said Nacho is too stocky to play SS but that he has 80 grade plate discipline and compared him to Yandy Diaz. A lot of other good info about lower tier guys. The problem I see with the farm is its so barren you dont want to trade anyone beyond the fringe prospects because then we just make the problem worse.

Yeah, we’re going to have to trade from our pitching surplus to get anyone.