By Bill Ballew
December 10, 2012


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.

    

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TOP TEN PROSPECTS

1. Julio Teheran, rhp 2. J.R. Graham, rhp 3. Christian Bethancourt, c 4. Sean Gilmartin, lhp 5. Lucas Sims, rhp 6. Mauricio Cabrera, rhp 7. Alex Wood, lhp 8. Evan Gattis, of/c 9. Zeke Spruill, rhp 10. Jose Peraza, ss

BEST TOOLS

Best Hitter for Average Todd Cunningham Best Power Hitter Evan Gattis Best Strike Zone Discipline Chris Garcia Fastest Baserunner Jose Peraza Best Athlete Matt Lipka Best Fastball Juan Jaime Best Curveball Lucas Sims Best Slider Cody Martin Best Changeup Julio Teheran Best Control Gary Moran Best Defensive Catcher Christian Bethancourt Best Defensive Infielder Nick Ahmed Best Infield Arm Carlos Franco Best Defensive OF Todd Cunningham Best Outfield Arm Robby Hefflinger

PROJECTED 2016 LINEUP

Catcher Brian McCann First Base Freddie Freeman Second Base Jose Peraza Third Base Martin Prado Shortstop Andrelton Simmons Left Field Evan Gattis Center Field B.J. Upton Right Field Jason Heyward No. 1 Starter Kris Medlen No. 2 Starter Julio Teheran No. 3 Starter Mike Minor No. 4 Starter Brandon Beachy No. 5 Starter Randall Delgado Closer Craig Kimbrel

TOP PROSPECTS OF THE DECADE

Year Player, Pos 2012 Org 2003 Adam Wainwright, rhp Cardinals 2004 Andy Marte, 3b Out of baseball 2005 Jeff Francoeur, of Royals 2006 Jarrod Saltalamacchia, c Red Sox 2007 Jarrod Saltalamacchia, c Red Sox 2008 Jordan Schafer, of Astros 2009 Tommy Hanson, rhp Braves 2010 Jason Heyward, of Braves 2011 Julio Teheran, rhp Braves 2012 Julio Teheran, rhp Braves

TOP DRAFT PICKS OF THE DECADE

Year Player, Pos 2012 Org 2003 Luis Atilano, rhp Reds 2004 Eric Campbell, 3b Fargo- Moorhead (American Assoc.) 2005 Joey Devine, rhp Athletics 2006 Cody Johnson, 1b Yankees 2007 Jason Heyward, of Braves 2008 Brett DeVall, lhp Out of baseball 2009 Mike Minor, lhp Braves 2010 Matt Lipka, ss Braves 2011 Sean Gilmartin, lhp Braves 2012 Lucas Sims, rhp Braves

LARGEST BONUSES IN CLUB HISTORY

Mike Minor, 2009 $2,420,000 Jeff Francoeur, 2002 $2,200,000 Matt Belisle, 1998 $1,750,000 Jason Heyward, 2007 $1,700,000 Lucas Sims, 2012 $1,650,000

BRAVES LINKS

Braves Team Page Braves Top 10 Scouting Reports Last Year's Braves Top 10 Prospects 2012 Draft: Braves 2012 Draft Report Cards: Atlanta Braves Complete Index of Top 10 Prospects Pre-Order the 2013 Prospect Handbook

In many ways, the 2012 season was one of redemption for the Braves, who were able to erase the memory of 2011's collapse by rebounding with a 94-68 record—their best mark since winning 96 games in 2004—and earning a spot in the first-ever National League wild-card playoff. They dropped that contest 6-3 to the Cardinals in an action-packed affair that featured a controversial infield-fly call.

Atlanta's front office didn't make any major changes after the disappointment of 2011, and that proved to be the right move. Manager Fredi Gonzalez, whom many fans blamed for the team's slide the year before, did a masterful job of handling an injury-ravaged rotation and got more mileage out of his bullpen. He deployed Chipper Jones effectively as the Braves icon rode off into the sunset of his Hall of Fame career, and enjoyed a bounce-back year from Jason Heyward.

Jones' retirement severs the last tie to the team's run of 14 consecutive division titles from 1991-2005. Frank Wren took over as GM after the 2007 season, replacing current team president John Schuerholz. Atlanta also has changed managers (Gonzalez replaced Bobby Cox, who retired after 2010), scouting directors (Tony DeMacio for Roy Clark, who joined the Nationals after the 2009 season) and farm directors (Ronnie Richardson for Kurt Kemp, who resigned in September 2011).

The roster continues to evolve, with Heyward and Freddie Freeman now relied upon as cornerstones and Andrelton Simmons stepping in as the next potential homegrown star. He nearly made the jump from high Class A to win the Braves' shortstop job in spring training, then claimed it in June. He batted .289 and played strong defense as a rookie.
Freeman, Heyward and Simmons are all 23, and there's plenty of youth on the pitching staff as well. Closer Craig Kimbrel, who set a major league record for relievers by averaging 16.7 strikeouts per nine innings in 2012, is 24. Atlanta's best starter last season was Kris Medlen (27), and Brandon Beachy (26), Mike Minor (25) and Randall Delgado (22) could join him in the 2013 rotation—though Beachy is returning from Tommy John surgery.

All of those players are products of the Braves farm system, and only Heyward and Minor were first-round draft picks. Building from within has become crucial as the big league payroll has moved to the middle of baseball's pack under Liberty Media, which has owned the team since a stock swap with Time Warner in May 2007.

Wren has operated under more financial constraints than Schuerholz ever did, both in acquiring major league talent and in bringing in players through the draft and international markets. And when Wren has made big investments, in players such as Kenshin Kawakami, Derek Lowe and Dan Uggla, they haven't worked out that well.

While the Braves continue to do a fine job of developing their own talent, they've now gone seven straight seasons without finishing in first place. They haven't won a postseason series since sweeping the Astros in a NL Division Series in 2001.

Perhaps in reaction to those droughts, Atlanta made a big splash on the free agent market in November, signing B.J. Upton to a five-year, $75 million deal that represents the largest contract in franchise history. The Braves also picked up a $12 million option on Brian McCann for 2013, even though he had labrum surgery in the fall.

Scouting reports for the Top 10 Prospects (How to subscribe)

Pre-Order the 2013 Prospect Handbook 30 scouting reports on every team