The Atlanta Braves have a fresh new face at the top of their prospect rankings, as 17-year-old left-hander Cam Caminiti makes his debut at the No. 1 spot.
Caminiti was the Braves’ first-round pick in July’s MLB Draft, taken 24th overall, and his ascension to the top of the prospect list has already unseated AJ Smith-Shawver, a rising right-hander, from the team’s top prospect ranking. With a lot of buzz surrounding the young pitcher, he highlights an exciting class of new talent now climbing through the Braves’ farm system.
The Braves continue to boast plenty of young talent in the big leagues, but a notable change with this midseason update is that Atlanta no longer has any players featured in MLB’s Top 100 prospects list. However, the internal depth remains strong, and the current top prospects showcase a promising future.
🚨 RERANK TIME 🚨
We’ve updated the Top 100 Prospects list and all of the team Top 30s!
Dig in: https://t.co/brrhUFnhPo pic.twitter.com/mV3P5IXQcp
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) August 14, 2024
Here’s a glance at the Braves’ top prospects after the latest rankings update:
- Cam Caminiti, LHP
- AJ Smith-Shawver, RHP
- Hurston Waldrep, RHP
- Nacho Alvarez Jr., SS
- Drake Baldwin, C
Rising Star: Drake Baldwin
Catcher Drake Baldwin has seen his stock soar throughout the season, climbing from No. 12 in the preseason rankings to No. 5 midseason. Baldwin, 23, has impressed at both the Double-A and Triple-A levels, and his performance was strong enough to earn a spot in the Futures Game, where he homered in a showcase of his rising potential.
Downfall: Darius Vines
Not every prospect is trending up, though. Right-hander Darius Vines, who started the year ranked 14th, has fallen off the list entirely. His struggles in the majors (8.56 ERA in four appearances for Atlanta) and in Triple-A (5.14 ERA in 14 starts) ultimately led to him being designated for assignment at the end of July. He was later outrighted to Double-A Mississippi.
New Faces on the List
The Braves also introduced several new names to the Top 30 prospects list, headlined by none other than Caminiti himself. Here’s a rundown of the new additions:
- No. 1: Cam Caminiti, RHP (Draft, 1st round)
- No. 12: Carter Holton, LHP (Draft, 2nd round)
- No. 22: Nick Montgomery, C (Draft, 5th round)
- No. 23: Luke Sinnard, RHP (Draft, 3rd round)
- No. 24: Ethan Bagwell, RHP (Draft, 6th round)
- No. 29: Herick Hernandez, LHP (Draft, 4th round)
Best Tools in the Braves System
When it comes to tools, these players are evaluated on the 20-80 scouting scale, which measures future potential. Here’s how some of the Braves’ top prospects stack up in key areas:
- Hit: 55 — Nacho Alvarez Jr.
- Power: 55 — Nick Montgomery
- Run: 65 — Luis Guanipa
- Arm: 60 — David McCabe
- Defense: 55 — Alvarez Jr.
- Fastball: 65 — AJ Smith-Shawver
- Slider: 60 — Cade Kuehler
- Changeup: 55 — Cam Caminiti
- Splitter: 65 — Hurston Waldrep
- Control: 55 — Luke Sinnard
With young talent like Caminiti and Baldwin making their presence known, and a solid mix of both veterans and fresh faces, the Braves continue to build a strong pipeline of prospects that should ensure long-term success for the franchise. Even without a top 100 player in MLB’s rankings, this farm system is brimming with potential that could surprise in the seasons ahead.
