Braves Boost Farm System with Top 15 OF Signing

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Braves Land Top 15 Prospect – Future Star in the Making?
Braves Land Top 15 Prospect – Future Star in the Making?

Diego Tornes might not be a household name yet, but give it a few years—this kid has serious star potential. The Atlanta Braves landed the highly regarded outfield prospect during the 2024-25 international signing period, and he’s already turning heads.

Baseball America wasted no time ranking him among the top 15 prospects in the Braves system, which is impressive considering how loaded Atlanta is with young pitching talent.

That automatically makes him one of their best position player prospects, and the buzz is only growing.

A Five-Tool Talent with High Upside

A Five-Tool Talent with High Upside

Francys Romero, a respected baseball reporter, called Tornes “one of the most complete players” in his international class. That’s not a phrase thrown around lightly.

Tornes checks all the boxes as a five-tool switch hitter—a rare and valuable commodity in today’s game. His journey to this point has been anything but ordinary.

Originally from Cuba, he left the country at just 13 years old in 2021 and trained at the Alex Sanchez Academy in the Dominican Republic, refining his skills and preparing for his shot at professional baseball.

Scouts are already in love with his potential. On baseball’s 20-to-80 scouting scale, Tornes grades out as an overall 55, making him an above-average prospect.

But the real excitement comes from his power, which grades at a 60—a “plus” rating that suggests he could develop into a legitimate power threat.

His arm and defense? Also, “plus” means there’s real Gold Glove potential here. If he continues on this trajectory, he could be an elite two-way threat in the outfield.

The Braves’ Investment and His Future in the System

The Braves' Investment and His Future in the System

The Braves didn’t hesitate to invest in Tornes, inking him to a $2.5 million signing bonus when the international signing period opened on January 15.

Of course, at just 16 years old, he’s going to spend the next few years developing in the minors. But being ranked in the Braves’ top 15 right away is just the beginning.

If he progresses as expected, there’s a real chance he rises even higher in their rankings, possibly cracking the top five by the time he’s knocking on the big-league door.

Interestingly, MLB.com has yet to rank him for the upcoming season, and he didn’t make their top-100 prospects list.

He’s expected to land somewhere in the Braves’ top-30 prospect rankings when those lists drop in early March.

Once he gets some professional games under his belt, don’t be surprised if he starts climbing those rankings quickly.

Following in the Footsteps of Braves Legends

Following in the Footsteps of Braves Legends

Atlanta has built a strong reputation when it comes to scouting and developing international talent, and history suggests they might have struck gold again with Tornes.

Just look at their past success stories—Andruw Jones, Ronald Acuña Jr., and Ozzie Albies, to name a few.

Jones, signed out of Curaçao in 1993 for just $46,000, turned into one of the best defensive outfielders of all time, winning 10 Gold Gloves and blasting 434 career home runs.

Some even argue he should be in the Hall of Fame.

Then Acuña Jr., the 2023 National League MVP, burst onto the scene as the 2018 NL Rookie of the Year.

He’s already racked up multiple Silver Sluggers and All-Star appearances, and at just 26, he’s still in the prime of his career.

Albies, a three-time All-Star and two-time Silver Slugger winner, has also been a cornerstone of the Braves’ success in recent years.

Could Tornes be the next big international star for Atlanta? It’s too early to say for sure, but the tools are there. If he develops as expected, don’t be surprised if he’s the name Braves fans are raving about in just a few years.