The Atlanta Braves’ 2025 campaign was a supreme disappointment, and the results on the farm — at least in terms of wins and losses — weren’t much better. However, several of Atlanta’s top prospects made huge strides, with a few even earning a brief cup of coffee in the big leagues.

For the sake of this article, I’m excluding players who spent most of the season in the majors. The top prospect entering 2025 was Drake Baldwin, who broke camp with the big-league club and might win NL Rookie of the Year. Regardless of whether he takes home the hardware, Baldwin was one of the brightest storylines of the Braves’ season.

Hurston Waldrep wasn’t far behind Baldwin in the preseason rankings, and though his journey to the majors was much different, he finished his rookie year with a 6-1 record and a 2.88 ERA. It’s been an incredible turnaround from where he was just a few months ago, and he now seems firmly entrenched in the Braves’ rotation plans heading into 2026.

5. Owen Murphy

Tommy John surgery derailed Murphy’s 2025 campaign after he posted a 1.54 ERA with 60 strikeouts over 41.0 innings. He didn’t get to pitch much, but the dominance he displayed was enough to earn a spot on this list. In 30.1 innings for High-A Rome, he boasted a ridiculous 1.19 ERA. The soon-to-be 22-year-old (his birthday is September 27) is poised for a huge 2026, where he’ll look to stay healthy and prove himself against the upper levels of the minors. Given the Braves’ aggressiveness with promoting their best arms, we could see Murphy in Atlanta as early as next season.

4. John Gil

The Braves don’t have many position player prospects worth getting excited about, but Gil is someone all Atlanta fans should keep an eye on. At just 19 years old, he posted a .730 OPS for Low-A Augusta, then earned a late-season promotion to Double-A Columbus after catching fire at the plate. Gil is a terrific athlete with the defensive chops to stick at shortstop, and his speed is already elite — he swiped 54 bags this season. If his offensive surge is real, the Braves might have something very special on their hands.

3. Didier Fuentes

Just after his 20th birthday, Fuentes was called up to the majors thanks to a wave of injuries in the rotation. His results in Atlanta weren’t pretty, but that shouldn’t diminish his upside. Most arms his age are still trying to figure it out in A-ball, but Fuentes finished his year strong at Triple-A Gwinnett, posting a 3.63 ERA with 24 strikeouts over 21.2 innings in his final five starts. He pounds the strike zone and misses bats. If he can refine his secondary offerings, he could develop into a legitimate major-league starter.

2. Cam Caminiti

In his first professional season, 2024 first-round pick Cam Caminiti more than lived up to the hype. The 18-year-old southpaw recorded a 2.08 ERA with 75 strikeouts across 56.1 innings for Low-A Augusta. In terms of pure upside, Caminiti might have more than anyone else in the system. He’s going to be a fun one to watch and could be knocking on the door of the upper levels of the minors as soon as next season.

1. JR Ritchie

My 2025 Braves Prospect of the Year: JR Ritchie. The right-hander was nothing short of outstanding in his first full season after Tommy John surgery. His previous career high in innings pitcher was just 49.2 — a number he shattered this season by logging 140 innings across three levels (A+ to AAA). His final 11 starts came with Gwinnett, where he looked dominant and completely in control. Ritchie pounds the zone, has sharpened his secondaries, and is now running his fastball into the high-90s. If he impresses next spring, it’s entirely possible he breaks camp with the Braves in 2026.

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