Because I’m just chomping at the bit to update my Braves Top 30 prospect list, I’m going to go ahead and wrap up this month’s check-in series. Over the last few days I’ve covered nos. 30-11, so now it’s time to examine how the organization’s top 10 prospects performed during the month of July. But just know… this list may be very different in the coming days as I put out my updated rankings.
*All stats mentioned below cover only games played in July
10. Bryce Elder, RHP↑
AA – Mississippi
Elder’s start on Tuesday was his fifthÂ-straight outing in which he lasted exactly seven innings, which is pretty damn impressive if nothing else because of how hard it has to be to hit that same mark that many times in a row. Obviously having made it so far into his starts means the kid is pitching well. Elder posted a solid 2.73 ERA for the month of July, his first full month at the Double-A level. He did have one rough outing in which he allowed five runs during that seven-inning streak, BUT overall, there’s absolutely nothing to critique here. The 22-year-old is progressing nicely and should definitely be a prospect to watch during the 2022 season, when he’s most likely facing Triple-A batters.
9. Jasseel De La Cruz, RHP ↓
AAA – Gwinnett
While Elder has mostly dominated in Double-A, Cruz has mostly struggled in Triple-A. The 24-year-old Cruz just had a start on Tuesday, and like many of his outings this season, he didn’t pitch very well. He ended July with one of his worst performances of the year when he allowed five runs in five innings, a start I saw in-person in Memphis. I of course didn’t get to watch all of Cruz’s starts last month, however, in that July 28 game against the Redbirds, the righty spent way too much time inside the strike zone (plus the heat index was nearly 110 degrees at first pitch). Regardless, I’ve been disappointed with Cruz in 2021. The more he pitches, the more I’m beginning to believe he’ll have to move to the bullpen. There just hasn’t been enough there to 1) generate enough swing and miss… and… 2) consistently allow him to go deep into his outings.
8. Braden Shewmake, SS ↑
AA – Mississippi
What a month it was for Shewmake, who has done a complete 180-degree turnaround lately. The star shortstop finished July with a .357 AVG and 1.022 OPS to go with eight XBH (four HR) in 14 games – by far his best month of the 2021 season. In fact, of the 14 games Shewmake played in, he finished with at least one hit in all but two of them (that’s a good way to dig yourself out of an early-season slump). It looks like the former first-round pick dramatically simplified his approach at the plate, which has allowed him to really improve his quality of contact altogether. And all of this improvement really started in late-June, not too long before I watched him live during the M-Braves series versus Tennessee (June 22-26). In the final few games of that series, Shewmake was seemingly squaring up everything, and evidently, he never slowed down even on into July. Hopefully he can keep it up, because this time next season he needs to be showing that advanced bat against Triple-A pitchers.
7. Kyle Muller, LHP↑
MLB – Atlanta
Muller spent all of July with the big league team so that right there should tell you he at least had a decent month. Although, the lefty had more than just a decent month. In four starts with the Braves, Muller compiled a 2.29 ERA to go with 20 strikeouts in 19.2 innings. And it appears he’s only getting better the more he pitches, shown by the combined 0.90 ERA in his last two outings, both of which came versus contending teams (Mets and Brewers). I have to say, as good as Muller has been as a prospect in Atlanta’s system, I didn’t see this coming from him. I’ll gladly take it, though!
6. Michael Harris II, OF↔
A+ — Rome
July was Harris’ worst month this season, but his bad isn’t really all that bad to be honest. The kid still owns a 109 wRC+ overall in 2021, and sure we know he’s capable of even better production with the bat, but a .250 AVG during a 23-game stretch is nothing to worry about. In fact, Harris actually tallied more walks than he has in any other month so far this year, and he still ranks within the top 10 in the East League in both doubles and triples. Also, his 27.4% line-drive rate is the fifth-highest rate in the league, another indication that he’s doing just fine.
5. Shea Langeliers, C ↑
AA – Mississippi
Langeliers peaked in June with nine home runs, but his performance didn’t drop very much in July. In a span of 22 games, the former top pick by the Braves hit .247 with seven XBH (four HR) and ended the month with six multi-hit finishes. By now, I think it’s evident that Langeliers is the real deal as a hitter. But what’s been even more impressive is just how incredible he is behind the plate as well. The 23-year-old has thrown out 45% of would-be base stealers this season, and it wasn’t too long ago that that rate was upwards of 50%. I tell ya, this kid has it all and there’s no doubt that he has a great shot at becoming the Braves future homegrown starting catcher.
4. Tucker Davidson, LHP ↔
MLB – Atlanta (60-day IL)
Davidson has been on the shelf since mid-June and was transferred to the 60-day IL on June 24 (forearm). This has to be super frustrating for him given how well he was pitching in the majors this season. Davidson had tallied a 3.60 ERA in 20 innings for Atlanta in 2021, and just imagine if the Braves still had him in the rotation for the complete second-half of the regular season. Maybe he returns in a few weeks, but there hasn’t been much news regarding his ailment. The team definitely needs him.
3. William Contreras, C ↑
AAA – Gwinnett
Ever since getting optioned to Triple-A back in early July, Contreras has gone absolutely nuts at the plate. The kid has played 20 games with the Stripers and already has eight homers, five doubles and 25 RBI, with all but one of those games coming last month. He’s slashing .351/.400/.743 and has shown no signs of slowing down. Travis d’Arnaud is back in the mix and in the process of rehabbing so we certainly look forward to him being back in the lineup. But damn, Contreras sure looks like a viable backup.
2. Drew Waters, OF ↑
AAA – Gwinnett
Waters had his best month yet in July, slashing .301/.351/.573 with 17 XBH (five HR) in 24 games with the Stripers. His 11 doubles in that span were more than he managed to hit in both May and June combined. Waters’ impressive performance, coupled with the Braves outfield issues prior to the deadline, made many feel that he should’ve gotten a big league call-up. However, it’s important to understand that the 22-year-old is still striking out at a 30% clip, and though his walk-rate has increased dramatically this year, his overall plate discipline isn’t quite there yet. Still, with a 108 wRC+ at the Triple-A level in 2021, it’s definitely accurate to say Waters is getting better. I think FanGraphs’ ETA of 2022 is still very accurate.
1.. Cristian Pache, OF ↓
AAA – Gwinnett
Man 2021 has been a disaster for Pache, who currently owns a 41 wRC+ combined in 70 games between the majors and Triple-A Gwinnett. And it’s not just that… the star prospect has struck out in roughly 33% of his PA at both levels, which is by far his worst K rate as a pro hitter. Pache spent all of last month with the Stripers, and though his numbers weren’t ideal, they also weren’t horrible. In 26 games he hit .232 with six XBH to go with a 29.9% K rate. Maybe he figures it out again. Hopefully he does. But it’s most likely going to have to happen in the minor leagues this year. Maybe a fresh start in 2022 is what Pache needs.
Ian Anderson Update
Checking in on the New Guys
The Braves made 5 additions to the roster at the trade deadline in Joc Pederson, Adam Duvall, Jorge Soler, Eddie Rosario, and Richard Rodriguez. 4 of the 5 have played in Atlanta and here are their stats:
- Duvall: .583 OPS
- Soler: 1.162 OPS
- Pederson: .864 OPS
- Rodriguez: 3 G, 3 IP, 0.00 ERA
Touki Toussaint Discusses Grips
Braves Lineup
Braves are entering tonight’s game only 2 games behind the New York Mets for first in the division. A win tonight knocks that deficit down to 1.5 and get the Braves above .500 for the first time in the 2021 season.
Good job, Clint.
A shout out to Alex R. (No longer merely”another”) . Great metaphysical take on IWOTM in the previous thread.
When did the Cards become so bad at the basics?
Kevan Smith…my hopes are low
UnF-ing believable. Again, I don’t give two craps about his pitcher era when he catches. He costs us so many runs offensively we wouldn’t need a great era if he could hit a lick. He is as bad as the Hamster was
Joc’s BABIP luck since coming over to us has been bonkers.
Turns out that Kevan Smith is Pittsburghese for “Corky Miller.”
How much longer is that rally killer gonna be on team .. please .. Contreras or D Arnaud .. please .. he is killing us .. he has hit into I don’t know how many DP .. I was saying please strike out .. please
@6 Agreed… dude has killed more rallies than I can count
We are going to regret the Kevan Smith at bat I am afraid
I continue to believe that Touki doesn’t have the command to be a starter long term.
@5 – Kevan Smith makes Henry Blanco look like Joe Torre.
Touki will make for an excellent 7th- or 8th-inning arm.
Has there ever been a runner thrown out trying to take an extra base who has not immediately called for a replay?
Ian Anderson was a little rusty in his first rehab start giving up 2 runs in 2.1 IP, 3 BB, 2 K. Then Nolan Kingham continued to get lit up by Triple A hitters giving up 7 runs.
Pederson hits a HR off a lefty, thus proving once again that I shouldn’t fill out the lineup card.
d’Arnaud has caught 2 full games and half of another. Let’s get him up here.
TDA is 0fer on his rehab stint, but Kevan Smith is so bad.
Time to get the bullpen up. Touki has fallen in love with his curveball too.
It doesn’t look like Touki trusts his stuff at all. Way too much nibbling with non-competitive pitches
@5 Corky could put on a show in BP, allegedly. I dunno if Kevan could hit a ball hard enough to leave a bruise.
18 — I think it’s more of he doesn’t know where it’s going than nibbling.
@20 good point
Francoeur says nobody is up in the bullpen, so Touki gets to see the top of the order for the 3rd time next inning. Why Snit?
Ozzie continues to produce in the lead off spot 2-15 since last week.
A six pitch inning for a guy you need to make throw strikes
@22 it’s not like he has been cruising either
Good inning there…
He got them 1-2-3, so what do I know.
I wonder if Lucroy is just an ornery guy. He didn’t last long in Atlanta.
Maybe Smith gets along great with the pitchers?
26 — Yeah, that’s really the only explanation. The pitchers have been good when he is the catcher.
Another annoying thing about Chip: he always butchers the pronunciation of Latin players’ names. He said “Genesis” Cabrera like the pronunciation of the Bible book. I remember he called Anibal Sanchez “Anna Belle.”
And we play Russian Roulette by sending Touki out for a 6th inning against Arenado.
@29 And of course, he gets Arenado but not O’Neill.
Chavez is a weird looking human with those glasses.
Francoeur points out the Braves caught a break by O’Neill not taking an extra base on Carpenter’s single to right, and it costs the Cardinals when Bader flies out on a would-be sac fly.
But then Smith whiffs on a pitch and the run scores anyway.
Smith sucks
Kevan Smith- defensive wiz…
Enough of Kevan Smith. Get him gone.
@35 tomorrow is “by Tuesday” so we can only hope
But we will probably dfa Vogt and keep Smith though…lol
TDA just got his first rehab hit. It’s time!
Dammit Joc.
Never getting above .500 with garbage like that.
Smith would have bunted into a double play anyway.
Exit velo on the grounder was 14 mph
Now all Smith has to do is step into the batter’s box and we get people out.
Eh. You miss 100% of the shots that you take.
Can we start calling Smith Hamster, II?
@43
Don’t insult The Hamster like that.
Smith has had a terrible offensive and defensive game. His pitcher era thankfully won’t be harmed due to his passed ball, so I can see why pitchers like him since he is such a team guy like that
Say hey, Austin!!!
@9 I recall the same comments made about that Sandy fellow. We loved him four and three games ago. Maybe we should wait to get more examples, than decide if it’s love or not.
How about THAT for high leverage!
Riley!!!
Now that’s coming through in a high-leverage situation.
WOOHOO!
Now that’s the kind of magic you can get when you take Kevan Smith out of the game.
There you go. This team is much more fun to follow now.
Oh my goodness gracious. I almost had a thought where I felt sympathetic for the Cardinals.
But on second thought, the hell with ’em! This is a blast.
It’s fun to see the Cardinals bullpen imploding. Couldn’t happen to a nicer team.
Reyes is not going to sleep tonight.
WoW
Noooooo…not a strike
Wow.
I must repeat: when did the Cardinals get so bad at the basics?
@55 That’s well put. UnBBelievable.
I love hearing “the best fans in baseball” booing their team.
I am so used to watching the Braves bullpen pull this kind of stunt. It sure is nice to be on the winning side of it for once. This reminds me of the early 2018 Braves bullpen (but not Braves, ya’ know) – the Sam Freeman experience.
I found this link for the apparent record for bases loaded walks in a game: https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/KC1/KC1195904220.shtml
Something tells me that the Cardinals deadline acquisitions are not going to propel them to make up a 10 game deficit and win the pennant. In all seriousness, I can’t believe they are so close to. 500. They are either playing in much weaker competition than Atlanta or they’ve regressed a whole lot since the all star break. They actually don’t look much different than when we played them in June.
I gotta say, Giovanny Gallegos sure has lost a lot of points for my fantasy team this week. I can live with that.
I’m pretty sure I’ve never seen four consecutive bases loaded walks.
I quit watching when they went down 4-2 so imagine my surprise when I just checked the score.
#62 – Given all those walks and all that scoring, did you notice the game was only 3 hours and 12 minutes? Let’s see if we can learn from what used to be done instead of game changes like 7 inning doubleheaders and 3 batter minimums.
67 — Widening the strike zone would help pitchers get outs quicker if you want a faster game. But chicks dig the long ball.
@67 It might be difficult convincing teams/networks to ditch the commercial breaks.
@68 – Funny thing is, this ump has had a really wide strike zone tonight.
It looks like the last time there were four consecutive bases loaded walks in a game was Red Sox at White Sox, May 7, 1992: https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHA/CHA199205070.shtml
Over .500!!
Recapped…
Oh my, all that anxiety for nothing. I will concede there is a void at catching.
And why did Smith pitch the ninth?
Hopefully the Nationals will continue to stink.