Q&A with Braves prospect Tate Southisene on return from injury, more

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Under the bright Arizona sun, Atlanta Braves prospect Tate Southisene is looking to make up for lost time.

In 2026, the 20-year-old's season came to a quick end on July 28 in his first-ever Double-A game as a pitch fractured his wrist. While he registered 90 games between Low-A and Double-A, it's clear he needs to make up some time with Arizona Fall League at-bats to be ready for the next step in his progression in 2027.

In an exclusive interview, I caught up with Southisene, ranked as Atlanta's third-best prospect, after batting practice at Camelback Ranch on Tuesday before his Glendale Desert Dogs took on the Salt River Rafters.

Q&A with Atlanta Braves prospect Tate Southisene

Yardbarker: Let's talk about the wrist. At the time of the injury, mental or physical, which was the hardest for you to kind of overcome?

Southisene: They were both hard, but I would say more mentally than anything. I feel like baseball is very mental. It was good to get out there and play in Double-A. I wanted to see the better competition and get my feet wet over there so I could prepare for the next season. 

Yardbarker: How long does it take to get your swing back and feel comfortable after something like that?

Southisene: It definitely takes some time to get the range of motion and the strength back before you actually start swinging. And honestly, I felt pretty good once I got my range of motion back in my wrist. I felt pretty good at the plate.

Yardbarker: Is the goal for AFL is just getting the at-bats, or what's your main goal here?

Southisene: Yeah, I'm going to get more at-bats on my belt. I know I missed some time, but honestly, just working on the all-around game. You can impact the game in a lot of different ways, so it's working on the defensive side, base running, and then hitting as well.

Yardbarker: I know shortstop is home, but second base and even outfield has been discussed for you. Any preference for you, or any thought about what what future might hold there?

Southisene: No. Honestly, it's just wherever they put me, I'll play.

Yardbarker: You're one of four brothers and every one of you has a baseball tie. Do you all have a group chat to keep up with each other and share tips or how do you all communicate during the season?

Southisene: Yeah, we have a family message. We do a lot of group FaceTimes and we check in on each other all the time after games. We play video games with each other and talk about that. We're always checking in with each other.

Yardbarker: What part of professional baseball was the hardest for you to adapt to, or maybe the most surprising for you?

Southisene: Just better competition. Coming out of high school, I didn't see a lot of great competition, so being able to adapt to better competition and change up my swing a little bit and make swing adjustments that are able to help me play against better competition.

Yardbarker: You and Alex Lodise (top two picks for Atlanta in the 2025 MLB draft) are progressing together on that path toward MLB time. Being those high draft picks in the same year, is that a bond you all have?

Southisene: Alex is great. I roomed with him in (Low-A) Augusta for two-ish months. He's a great guy. I root for him.

Yardbarker: What are you seeing in the AFL with pitching?

Southisene: A lot of these pitchers, they're good. I mean, all the best guys from the orgs come down here and play and make up some time. The pitching is good this year. It's just good to see some other competition.

All quotations obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.