Braves Today's 2024 Atlanta Braves prospect rankings, numbers 30-26

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 30-26 on the list, headlined by multiple 2022 draft picks and two different outfielders. 

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

#30: OF Douglas Glod

Entry to the organization: 2022 IFA
2023 Production: 47 Rk G: .224/.387/.398 w/ 5 HRs, 16 XBH, 38 BB to 64 Ks, 6/9 SBs

Scouting report: Glod's a Short King, coming in at 5'9 per Baseball Reference. Despite the relative lack of stature, Glod showed the potential to have either above-average or plus power, with a 104.4 mph 90th percentile exit velocity (against the MLB average of 103) at the age of 18. While the overall power production wasn't great from a statistical standpoint, with only five homers, one of those came against heralded Yankees prospect Henry Lalane in the Florida Complex League finals, giving Atlanta the game one victory in a best-of-three series that they would sweep. 

From a defensive standpoint, Glod's had to move from centerfield to a corner as he's slowed down and so there's newfound concern about his overall defensive profile to accompany the worrying around his relative lack of contact (62.2% contact rate). 

#29: OF Jesse Franklin

Entry to the organization: 2020 MLB Draft, Round 3 (University of Michigan)
2023 production: 94 AA G: .232/.315/.419 w/ 15 HRs, 33 XBH, 32 BBs to 115 Ks, 21/25 SBs

Scouting report: The oft-injured Franklin has struggled to live up to the draft status, owing to Tommy John surgery that wiped out all but 15 games of his 2022 season and a hamstring strain that slowed him to open 2023.

Spending the entirety of his age 24-season in AA Mississippi, Franklin showed above-average power but also struggled to recognize spin on the outer third. A good fastball hitter, Franklin's at his best offensively when he can catch a heater inside and turn on the ball, pulling it for a homer. 

Defensively, both the speed and defense can play in center field if needed, but the still-recovering arm strength after 2022's UCL injury means he's relegated to left field if there's a stronger defender in center. 

#28: RHP Adam Maier

Entry to the organization: 2022 MLB Draft, round 7 (University of Oregon)
2023 production: N/A (Tommy John surgery)

Scouting report: Maier's an enigma as a professional, having not taken the mound in an actual game owing to his modified Tommy John surgery (internal brace) he had after only 15.2 collegiate innings. Draft reports discuss his potential for three above-average pitches, with a sinker that can conceivably reach the high-90s and both a slider and changeup that are great at inducing weak groundballs. 

Most 7th rounders wouldn't still be on a prospect list after just barely over 60 innings after high school and two full missed seasons (2020 and 2023), but the potential for two plus secondaries that generate tons of groundballs keep Maier on the list for at least one more season.   

#27: SS Mario Baez

Entry to the organization: 2023 IFA
2023 production: 47 DSL G: .311/.393/.422 w/ 3 HRs, 12 XBH, 20 BBs to 25 Ks, 24/29 SBs

Scouting report: Baez, another Short King (5'9), happened to give Atlanta's DSL team above-average production despite being one of the youngest players on the roster, not turning 16 until after the DSL season concluded. Playing mostly shortstop, Baez handled himself admirably from a defensive perspective and produced good results at the plate, for what DSL statistics are worth. 

The biggest thing to watch here is what happens in 2024 - does Atlanta slow play things and let him spend the entire summer at the complex in rookie ball, or does he quickly get pushed from North Port to Augusta? How he handles coming stateside could very well decide if he moves up the list after the season, or falls off entirely for 2025.    

#26: RHP Ian Mejia

Entry to the organization: 2022 MLB Draft, round 11 (New Mexico State)
2023 production: 23 A+ GS: 4-11, 4.69 ERA in 121 IP w/ 110 Ks (8.2 K/9), 28 BBs (2.1 BB/9), 16 HRs allowed (1.2 HR/9)

Scouting report: Mejia's a control specialist, with his 5.6% walk rate being one of the best in the entire organization last season, thanks to a >65% strike rate. He uses a tight slider in the mid-80s, thrown mostly down in the zone, to induce groundballs at a 40% clip, but he's held back by the lack of velocity (90-92 mph) on his fastball - surprising, considering his 6'3, 205-lb frame. Adding more power to the profile, combined with improvements to the changeup that allow it to go from a LH-only pitch to one that's usable in more counts and situations, can bring Mejia into starting contention.  

(Special thanks to our friends over at Locked On MLB Prospects for their help with this list - check them out on YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts.) 

Important Braves Today Offseason Stories
2023 MLB Free Agent Rankings
2024 Atlanta Braves prospect rankings
Current Atlanta Braves 40-man roster
2024 International Free Agency tracker