Braves Today's 2024 Atlanta Braves prospect rankings, numbers 25-21

Between the promotions of young players and the frequent trades to upgrade the major league roster, the farm system of the Atlanta Braves is widely considered to have fallen into the bottom third in baseball as far as quality and quantity.

But here at Braves Today, we're bullish on both Atlanta's talent in the minor leagues and the organization's reputation and track record of developing that talent.

We just updated our farm system rankings for the 2024 season; here's our scouting profiles for numbers 25 through 21 on the list, headlined by a lot of arms and an international free agent that put up one impressive debut in the Dominican Summer League

(Criteria used for prospect eligibility is: less than 130 at-bats, 50 innings pitched, or 45 days on the MLB roster)

#25: LHP Luis De Avila

Entry to the organization: Selected in the 2021 Rule 5 draft, minor league portion (originally an international free agent in 2017 by the Colorado Rockies)
2023 Production: 26 AA/AAA GS: 6-10, 3.26 ERA in 127 IP w/ 128 Ks (9.1 K/9) to 65 BBs (4.6 BB/9), 8 HRs (0.6 HR) 

Scouting report: The pitching equivalent of a Short King (5'9, 215), De Avila's a groundball specialist thanks to his low-90s two-seamer and mid-80s changeup. He has a breaking ball, but the shape's inconsistent and it's a distant third option. What isn't inconsistent is his ability to get plenty of groundballs, with a 62% GB mark in High-A in 2022 and a 52% mark in AA last season. Decent floor, and the ceiling could rise with some more velocity and/or command improvements (only a 61% strike rate last season). 

#24: RHP Seth Keller

Entry to the organization: 2022 MLB Draft, Round 6 (prep)
2023 Production: 16 G (7 GS) A: 2-4, 6.26 ERA in 46.0 IP w/ 32 Ks (6.3 K/9) to 27 BBs (53 BB/9), 1 HR (0.2)

Scouting report: Tough year for Keller, who hit the IL with the dreaded "forearm soreness" in late May and didn't have the same command or velocity when he returned. His six starts preceding the injury were phenomenal, though (1-0, 1.17 ERA in 23 innings with 22 strikeouts to three walks), and he's made the list as a "mulligan" of sorts on the post-injury stretch. It's an interesting fastball/slider/splitter trio from the undersized righty (5'10, 180), with mid-90s velocity on his heater and wicked spin on the slider. He's been working with Richmond, VA-based Adams Performance over the break and reportedly is up to 190 pounds and setting new PRs on the fastball, so big things could be in store with that extra velo and some better health from the righty.   

#23: SS Diego Benitez

Entry to the organization: 2022 international free agent 
2023 Production: 46 Rk G: .261/.332/.392 w/ 2 HRs, 16 XBH, 17 BBs to 44 Ks, 3/6 SBs

Scouting report: Benitez was the crown jewel of Atlanta's 2022 IFA crop, signing for $2.5M out of the Dominican. After a rough debut in the DSL, he fared better in the complex, especially as the season progressed and he understood how professional pitchers would attack him. Optimists can point to the continually dropping strikeout rate as the season progressed and the glimpses of raw power in the swing, but approach changes will be needed to fully get that power into games, as Benitez tends to chase a bit and settles for suboptimal contact at times, preventing him from elevating the ball. 

Defensively, he makes flashy plays at times but also misses routine ones; internal evaluators we've spoken to think it's more mental errors than fundamental skill gaps, however, and there's belief he can be an average defensive shortstop with an above-average arm capable of sticking on the left side of the infield.       

#22: OF Cody Milligan

Entry to the organization: 2019 MLB Draft, Round 9 (Cowley Community College)
2023 Production: 69 AA G: .280/.377/.414 w/ 3 HRs, 24 XBH, 38 BB to 67 Ks, 23/27 SBs 

Scouting report: Milligan's a sparkplug up the middle, bringing defensive versatility and great contact ability (87% zone-contact last season). Capable of playing all three outfield positions plus a capable second base, his blazing speed allows him to cover ground defensively as well as put pressure on opposing teams, both to extend base hits and in stolen base opportunities. One of the better contact hitters in the organization, it's a high floor as an utility defender, but the lack of power probably holds him back from becoming a first division regular.     

#21: LHP Hayden Harris

Entry to the organization: Undrafted free agent, 2022 (Georgia Southern)
2023 Production: 40 games (A/A+/AA), 5-4, 4.10 ERA in 59.1 IP w/ 91 Ks (13.8 K/9) to 24 BBs (3.6 BB/9), 5 HRs (0.8 HR/9) 

Scouting report: Harris is a great story, having spent time with the Savannah Bananas and using LinkedIn to get his MLB shot, but it's not a charity case: The dude can shove. Despite the fastball velocity only hitting 93 last season, the combination of a low release point, a flat approach angle, and above-average induced vertical break makes the heater outperform its velocity when thrown up in the zone. Harris backs it with a late, hard slider that could play well in a relief role as soon as this season with a little more consistency.   

BONUS: Managing Editor Lindsay Crosby interviewed Hayden for Locked On MLB Prospects back in October, as he was helping Atlanta prepare for the NLDS.