This is the 3rd installment in this series. If you are behind and would like to study up, here are the first 2 pieces:
In today’s piece, we go down a tier to the Rome Braves. Rome was previously the Low- A affiliate for the Braves, but has since been promoted to High-A. While the depth in the farm isn’t what it’s been, there are definitely some interesting names in the Braves High-A affiliate.
Rome Braves Top Performers: Hitters
- Kadon Morton: .972 OPS, 1 HR, 1 2B, 3BB, 1 SB
- Kevin Kilpatrick Jr : .800 OPS, 3H, 4BB, 2SB and 1 CS
- Ignacio Alvarez: .749 OPS, 3H, 2BB, 2K, 5 RBI, 1 SB, .385 OBP
Breakdown: Morton was drafted in the 19th round of the 2019 draft, way overslot. He has always oozed potential, but like so many that were drafted then, his growth was stunted due to COVID ball. The athleticism and body frame is still there, but the caveat is that he’s now 22 and is playing at High-A. I hope we see him rake and finally get the promotion to the real test, Pearl, MS.
Kilpatrick was picked in the 17th round in last year’s draft as a versatile OFer capable of doing a lot of things well. His keen eye and his high baseball IQ are his biggest strengths. Like Morton, he’s also old for High-A and I hope he also gets a chance to prove himself in Pearl. There are several scouts that I’ve seen discussing Kilpatrick, and they think he’ll make it to the show due to his strong work ethic.
Alvarez is the real prize here and could shoot up the prospect rankings fairly quickly. Like the aforementioned Kilpatrick , “Nacho” was selected in last year’s draft as the Braves 5th round pick. Last year, he carried an .844 OPS in 122 PAs between the FCL and Low-A, with the numbers heavily skewed by a .451 OBP. It’s been rumored that Alvarez worked hard to build strength this offseason to add power to his arsenal. Even as a 15 HR/year guy, he could be a very valuable asset to the MLB club with his keen eye.
Rome Braves Top Performers: Pitchers
- Ian Mejia: 5 IP, 1.80 ERA, 3H, 2BB, 3K
- Miguel Pena: 1.1 IP, 0.00 ERA, 0BB, 2K
- Tyler Owens: 1 IP, 0.00 ERA, 1BB, 1K, 1H
As you can see, we are dealing with a ridiculously small sample, and if I were a betting man, only Pena and Owens have MLB potential, as both have power arms. However, they are also way too old for the leagues they’re in and any real test will have to come when they’re facing people their own age.
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