Which Braves prospect could make his MLB debut next?

The Atlanta Braves surprised a lot of people when they called up Didier Fuentes, who was 19-years-old just a week ago, to make his MLB debut last Friday against the Marlins.

Of course, the news was a little less shocking when it was revealed a day later that Chris Sale had been placed on the 15-day IL with a fractured rib cage. That opened the door for Fuentes, and it could open the door for others in the near future if Fuentes struggles.

Prospect Rankings from MLB.com

JR Ritchie (Prospect Rank #6)

Ritchie was the 35th overall pick in the draft out of high school in 2022, and he only has 33 starts at the professional level after undergoing Tommy John surgery not long after he was drafted. However, that kind of inexperience hasn’t deterred the Braves at all in the past. Ritchie doesn’t have as big of an arm as guys like Spencer Strider, Spencer Schwellenbach, AJ Smith-Shawver, or even Didier Fuentes. But he does have a really impressive pitch mix that features three plus offerings (fastball, changeup, slider), and his ability to limit walks is something the Braves look for when promoting these young arms through the system quickly. It’s very possible we see JR Ritchie in Atlanta at some point this season, given the situation.

Blake Burkhalter (Prospect Rank #14)

Another member of the 2022 draft class, Burkhalter was taken with the 76th pick out of Auburn, where he was utilized exclusively out of the bullpen. The Braves have since turned him into a starter, and like Ritchie, Burkhalter needed Tommy John surgery soon after he was drafted. This season, he owns a 3.43 ERA over 12 starts with AA Columbus. He’s got a big arm, capable of touching the high-90s with the heater, that he pairs with a cutter, slider, and changeup. His command has also been very impressive since returning from Tommy John, so it might not be long before we see him in Atlanta either.

Ian Mejia (Prospect Rank #23)

An older prospect at 25-years-old, Meija doesn’t have a ton of upside. He projects as a back of the rotation arm in the majors at best, but he continues to get guys out efficiently on the farm, boasting a 2.29 ERA over 63.0 innings for AA Columbus. Opponents are hitting below the Mendoza Line against him, and he’s another guy that does a good job of limiting his free passes, a trend that should be noticeable about this list by now.

Carlos Rodriguez (Prospect Rank #28)

It’s not just starting pitchers on this list, and Carlos Rodriguez could end up getting the call soon. The Braves’ outfield has been a black hole outside of Ronald Acuña Jr. One could argue that all three of Eli White, Alex Verdugo, and Michael Harris II don’t belong on major-league rosters. The Braves will probably keep rolling with Harris in center, given he’s elite defensively and they don’t have a lot of options, but Rodriguez replacing Verdugo and White in left field until Profar returns from the suspended list could be in the cards. Rodriguez doesn’t have a lot of pop in his bat, but he’s good defensively and hitting over .300 in Gwinnett. It can’t be worse than what Verdugo and White are providing right now.

Hayden Harris (Prospect Rank #29)

Relievers don’t often make top 30 prospect lists, but Hayden Harris is more than deserving. The southpaw owns a 0.66 ERA over 27.1 innings between AA and AAA this year. He’s struck out 41 batters, and opponents are hitting just .157 against him this season. There’s a very good chance Harris makes his MLB debut at some point this season.

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