Wes Parsons

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Atlanta Braves #24 prospect in 2019
  Track Record: Parsons had been ignored in back-to-back drafts before the Braves liked his work in the Northwoods League and signed him as a nondrafted free agent.
  
  Scouting Report: There is nothing sexy about Parsons' approach or stuff, but he's crafty, consistent and durable. Parsons doesn't have an above-average pitch, but his 91-93 mph fastball and 85-87 mph slider are both average offerings and his changeup is fringe-average. He gets armside run on his fastball. It doesn't lead to swings-and-misses as much as poor contact. His slider trades depth for power, and gets under the hands of lefthanded hitters.
  
  The Future: The Braves are so loaded in starting pitching prospects that Parsons will be fighting to make the Triple-A rotation out of spring training. He just may have to contribute in another organization.
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  Ranked Atlanta Braves #15 prospect in 2015
  The Braves are one of the more successful teams when it comes to signing nondrafted pitchers. The tradition dates to Kerry Ligtenberg in the mid-1990s and was solidified with recent big leaguer Brandon Beachy. Parsons could join that club after being bypassed by every major league organization coming out of high school as well as after his one year at Jackson State (Tenn.) CC, before Atlanta signed him from the Northwoods League in 2012 for $200,000. Displaying a free-and-easy delivery that he repeats well, Parsons uses his 6-foot-5 height to his advantage by pitching downhill. He has above-average movement on his low-90s fastball that touches 95 mph. His slider has mid-80s power but is more of a groundball pitch than a swing-and-miss offering. He's made strides with his inconsistent changeup. Parsons missed two weeks in July with biceps tendinitis and pitched poorly when affected by the injury (7.98 ERA in July and August). His arm has low mileage after he focused on golf during much of his high school career, and he may still offer some projection. He should remain in the rotation in 2015, moving up to Double-A Mississippi, but could move to the bullpen if his changeup doesn't improve.
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  Ranked Atlanta Braves #20 prospect in 2014
  Parsons made impressive progress in 2013, his first season in the organization. After giving up baseball early in his high school career to concentrate on golf, the tall righthander returned to the mound as a junior and later pitched at Jackson State (Tenn.) CC. He then joined Thunder Bay in the summer-collegiate Northwoods League, earning a place in the circuit's all-star game. Parsons posted a 2.61 ERA in 55 innings over 12 games, including six starts, and tossed a scoreless inning in the all-star game, where he hit 95 mph with his fastball. Signed by the Braves for $200,000 in late-July 2012, he pitched in instructional league and joined the low Class A Rome rotation in May 2013. Parsons has a free-and-easy delivery with a projectable frame. His fastball has good movement and he pitches downhill well by using his height to his advantage. He mixes the fastball well with his low-80s slider, which has a chance to be a plus offering, and an improving changeup. Parsons also has excellent command that allows him to pitch ahead in the count. While his future may be in the bullpen, Parsons will continue to start at high Class A Lynchburg in 2014.