By Bill Ballew
November 5, 2007

Baseball America's Top 10 Prospects lists are based on projections of a player's long-term worth after discussions with scouting and player-development personnel. All players who haven't exceeded the major league rookie standards of 130 at-bats or 50 innings pitched (without regard to service time) are eligible. Ages are as of April 1, 2008.

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TOP TEN PROSPECTS

1. Jordan Schafer, of 2. Jason Heyward, of 3. Jair Jurrjens, rhp 4. Brandon Jones, of 5. Gorkys Hernandez, of 6. Brent Lillibridge, ss 7. Cole Rohrbough, lhp 8. Jeff Locke, lhp 9. Tommy Hanson, rhp 10. Julio Teheran, rhp

BEST TOOLS

Best Hitter for Average Jordan Schafer Best Power Hitter Jason Heyward Best Strike-Zone Discipline Jason Heyward Fastest Baserunner Gorkys Hernandez Best Athlete Brandon Jones Best Fastball Julio Teheran Best Curveball Cole Rohrbough Best Slider Joey Devine Best Changeup Steve Evarts Best Control Cole Rohrbough Best Defensive Catcher Clint Sammons Best Defensive Infielder Van Pope Best Infield Arm Van Pope Best Defensive Outfielder Jordan Schafer Best Outfield Arm Jordan Schafer

PROJECTED 2011 LINEUP

Catcher Brian McCann First Base Mark Teixeira Second Base Kelly Johnson Third Base Jon Gilmore Shortstop Yunel Escobar Left Field Jason Heyward Center Field Jordan Schafer Right Field Jeff Francouer No. 1 Starter Tim Hudson No. 2 Starter Jair Jurrjens No. 3 Starter Cole Rohrbough No. 4 Starter Jeff Locke No. 5 Starter Jo-Jo Reyes Closer Rafael Soriano

TOP PROSPECTS OF THE DECADE

Year Player, Position 2007 1998 Bruce Chen, lhp Rangers 1999 Bruce Chen, lhp Rangers 2000 Rafael Furcal, ss Dodgers 2001 Wilson Betemit, ss Yankees 2002 Wilson Betemit, ss Yankees 2003 Adam Wainwright, rhp Cardinals 2004 Andy Marte, 3b Indians 2005 Jeff Francouer, of Braves 2006 Jarrod Saltalamacchia, c Rangers 2007 Jarrod Saltalamacchia, c Rangers

TOP DRAFT PICKS OF THE DECADE

Year Player, Position 2007 1998 ^Matt Beslisle, rhp Reds 1999 ^Matt Butler, rhp Out of baseball 2000 Adam Wainwright, rhp Cardinals 2001 Macay McBride, lhp Tigers 2002 Jeff Francouer, of Braves 2003 Lus Atilano, rhp Nationals 2004 Eric Campbell, 3b Braves 2005 Joey Devine, rhp Braves 2006 Cody Johnson, of Braves 2007 Jason Heyward, of Braves ^ Second round

LARGEST BONUSES IN CLUB HISTORY

Jeff Francouer, 2002 $2,200,000 Matt Belisle, 1998 $1,750,000 Jung Bong, 1997 $1,700,000 Jason Heyward, 2007 $1,700,000 Cody Johnson, 2007 $1,375,000

BRAVES LINKS

Braves' Team Page Braves Top 10 Scouting Reports  Last Year's Braves Top 10 Prospects 2007 Draft: Braves (Basic Database) 2007 Draft: Braves  (Advanced Database) 2007 Draft Report Cards: National League  Complete Index of Top 10 Prospects Pre-Order the 2008 Prospect Handbook

One of the most successful general managerial runs in baseball history runs came to an end after the 2007 season, when John Schuerholz moved up to team president with the Braves. In 17 years at the helm of the baseball operation, Schuerholz presided over teams that won 14 division titles, five National League pennants and one World Series championship. Frank Wren, who had been Schuerholz' right-hand man and earlier served a one-year stint as Orioles GM, was promoted to replace him.

Change has become commonplace recently in Atlanta, beginning in May 2007 when assistant GM Dayton Moore left to become GM of the Royals. Liberty Media acquired the franchise from Time Warner in a corporate trade in February 2007. Longtime scouting and player development guru Paul Snyder, who was named director of baseball operations after Moore's departure, plans on retiring this winter. Bobby Cox, who has managed the club for the last 17 1/2 seasons, has hinted that he too may step down soon.

Moves under the new ownership suggest the Braves will continue their commitment to player development. In the last year when draft-and-follows were in play, Atlanta signed seven, most notably lefthander Cole Rohrbough for $675,000. They dropped another $4.9 million on the draft and made a significant splash on the international market in July by signing Colombian righthander Julio Tehran for $850,000.

Wren also acted quickly to keep continuity in the player development and scouting departments, giving two-year contract extensions to scouting director Roy Clark, farm director Kurt Kemp and director of Latin American operations Johnny Almaraz. Clark, the game's longest-tenured scouting director, enters his 10th season in that position and his 19th overall with Atlanta.

As with the front office, the farm system also has gone through upheaval. The Braves used 18 rookies when they won the NL East in 2005, and they've continued to incorporate young talent the last two seasons. They also shipped five prospects to the Rangers for Mark Teixeira at the trading deadline, including the top three prospects on this list a year ago—catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia, shortstop Elvis Andrus, lefthander Matt Harrison—and one of their most electric arms, righty Neftali Feliz.

Yet Atlanta hasn't gutted its system. They may not have as many big names, but the Braves still have plenty of promising lefthanded starters and sluggers with all-around games. The best of the young southpaws (Rohrbough, Jeff Locke, Steve Evarts and Chad Rodgers) were all products of the 2007 draft. The first three players the Braves signed out of the 2007 draft (outfielder Jason Heyward, third baseman Jon Gilmore and first baseman Freddie Freeman) added to their collection of athletes with power bats, which already included outfielders Jordan Schafer and Brandon Jones.

Wren added to the system with his first major move, which sent Edgar Renteria to the Tigers for two prospects the day after the World Series ended. Righthander Jair Jurrjens should provide much-needed help for the back of the rotation, while Gorkys Hernandez will compete with Schafer to be Andruw Jones' long-term replacement in center field.

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