We kick off our Braves prospects list with the outcasts, the minor leaguers that are likely on their last chance of making it to the bigs (or even staying in professional ball). Snowshine, as always, has the scoop on the Braves farm and was gracious enough to provide the following piece for the blog. In today’s piece, you’ll likely see some familiar names that came out of high school or college with real potential, but just cannot break through to the next level. Ladies and gents, our Tier 5 prospects.

Tier 5 Braves prospects

Kevin Kilpatrick, CF, 24, A+, 2027

This guy has the ugliest swing I have ever seen, starting with his elbow moving upward to initiate his swing, an action that makes the bat head move down and slows the swing inside – he’s a pretty good slap hitter on stuff away but the better pitchers only give him heat inside. He hoped to catch on as a walks-and-great-defense guy but he is right handed and “only” walked at a 9.5% clip this year. If he can get the left elbow under control he might have a chance.

Stephen Paolini, RF, 24, A+, 2027

Still has intriguing power and great range in the field. Still swings through hangers. We don’t really have any outfielders in AA so I’m guessing he gets one final shot. For what it’s worth a scout told me he was just a couple of adjustments away from unlocking his abilities and with that and $8 I could get another beer.

Ambioris Tavarez, SS, 21, A+, 2027

Defensively he is a major leaguer and would have found a job in the 1970’s (probably backing up Pat Rockett.) Unfortunately the swing and miss fairy visited him again last season and unless he can get that under control it won’t matter how beautiful the plays in the field are.

Diego Benitez, 3B/SS, 20, A-, 2028 

It’s rare to play yourself out of baseball at age 19 after you get a $2.5M signing bonus AND you have every tool but the one that matters, but let’s give him a hand. He started the year so poorly at Augusta that he was demoted back to the complex, where he was, if anything, worse (the defense fell apart too!) Still… the bat was league average his first 2 years and his batting practice power is still surreal.

Kadon Morton, RHP, 24, A-, 2027

After four seasons of watching his bat wilt amidst a rain of sliders and changeups, Morton decided to go to work for the other team. On the mound he flashed plus on both his 4-seamer and change, as well as having a show-me slurve (Fangraphs says slider but I watched the man). He makes this part of the list because so far the stuff has not matched the results and at 24 the clock is ticking.

Tier 5B Braves Prosepects

Keyshawn Ogans, IF, 23, AA

Our first 2 essentially have the same profile: slightly plus hit tool, no power, glove decent but not enough arm for short. They deployed Ogans at 3B in Mississippi and he looked to be rushing everything to make up for the lack of arm. Quintero barely has the arm for second but has good all round on-base skills. Both hope for a ride on the 26th man express some day.

E J Exposito, “SS”, 24, A+, 2027

He got off to a monster start this season hitting everything square for a month and a half, then went back to slap hitting and his stats regressed. He truly has no defensive position so I recommend he resurrect the big leg kick from April if he wants future employment.

Drew Compton, 1B, 24, A+, 2027

If Joe Simpson could describe Kasey Kotchman as, “A poor man’s Mark Grace,” back in the day, then Compton would be, “A guy on the chain gang’s Casey Kotchman”. In his favor he has the strikeouts under control and takes his walks, but the lack of barrels will cost him eventually and time is not on his side.

Joe Olsavsky, IF, 23, A+, 2028

He saw the most time at 3B but played everywhere. Olsavski has a combination of good plate discipline and stellar nick-name potential so I’m rooting for a future utility guy. At 23 he is already running out of time.

Colby Jones, 2B, 21, AA, 2028

While he is a 2Bman, Jones has a plus arm and can handle short in a pinch. As he is slightly below mlb average in every other respect, he needs to change something to stand out. At his size I would bulk up a bit and try an uppercut.

Noah Williams, OF, 21, A-, 2029

Health has been the bugaboo in this case. When healthy he looks decent in center (no arm) and a standout in left. He hasn’t been healthy since 2022. *Noah is no longer in the Braves org.

Adam Shoemaker, LHP, 24, A+, 2027

Six foot six with monster extension, the team finally moved him to relief this season with mixed results: 11.8 k/9 great! 7.9bb/9 the opposite of great! He did not add any velocity moving to the pen so he either finds the missing 2-3 mph or is gone by late summer.