Major League Baseball just dropped updated prospect rankings for all 30 teams, so let’s talk about Atlanta Braves prospects because there’s been some movement.
While Atlanta’s farm system isn’t exactly getting glowing reviews, there’s still plenty to be excited about.
Now, let’s address the elephant in the room—Baseball America ranks the Braves farm system 28th in MLB. Yeah, not great, but let’s not forget why that’s the case.
Atlanta has been rapidly graduating talent to the big leagues and was also locked out of the international market for a few years.
That’s going to affect depth. But here’s the good news: the team has been working hard to rebuild its pipeline, and there are some serious names to watch.
The Braves’ Top Five Prospects in 2025
- Drake Baldwin, C
- Cam Caminiti, LHP
- AJ Smith-Shawver, RHP
- Hurston Waldrep, RHP
- Nacho Alvarez Jr., INF
If these names look familiar, it’s because they were in the top five last year, too—just in a different order. The biggest shakeup? Drake Baldwin. The man had a breakout season, jumping from No. 5 to the top of the list.
He’s Atlanta’s best overall prospect now, pushing everyone else down a peg. Caminiti, meanwhile, remains the team’s top pitching prospect, and he and Baldwin are the only two Braves cracking MLB’s Top 100 list.
Baldwin and Smith-Shawver are the guys to watch if you’re looking for names most likely to make an impact in 2025.
6-10: A Big Jump for Baumann
- Drue Hackenberg, RHP
- Owen Murphy, RHP
- JR Ritchie, RHP
- Garrett Baumann, RHP
- Jose Perdomo, SS
Here’s where things start to get spicy. Drue Hackenberg put together a solid 2024 season, finishing with a 3.07 ERA, 144 strikeouts, and a .200 BAA across three levels. That earned him a nice jump from No. 9 to No. 6.
Then there’s Garrett Baumann, who skyrocketed from No. 18 to No. 9.
The 6’8″ righty is intimidating on the mound, and people notice when you throw 98 mph with a developing slider and changeup. The only knock? He needs to generate more swings and misses.
11-15: Surprise Entries and Braves Breakouts
- Lucas Braun, RHP
- Didier Fuentes, RHP
- Jhancarlos Laura, RHP
- John Gil, SS
- Luis Guanipa, OF
The biggest surprise here? Didier Fuentes. He wasn’t even ranked last year, but after posting a 2.74 ERA with 11.7 K/9 in Low-A, he’s now sitting at No. 12.
Fuentes was signed for just $75,000 in 2022, so if he keeps trending up, that could be a serious steal.
Notable Braves Names Further Down the List
- Diego Tornes (No. 17) – The 16-year-old international signee is already generating buzz thanks to his bat speed and power potential.
- Raudy Reyes (No. 27) – Signed for $1.8 million, Reyes is a 6’4″ flamethrower who already touches 102 mph. That’s no typo.
- Carlos D. Rodriguez (No. 30) – The only free agent signing to crack the top 30. His elite baserunning and high-contact approach make him a fascinating depth piece.
Final Takeaway: Pitching Still Rules in Atlanta
Here’s the theme of this year’s rankings—pitching, pitching, and more pitching. Out of the top 30 prospects, 21 are pitchers.
That’s a heavy lean toward arms, and while that’s great for long-term rotation depth, the Braves will need to keep developing some bats if they want a more balanced system.
For now, though, the pipeline is showing signs of life, and with some smart development, Atlanta could soon start climbing the rankings again.
