Bryce Ball

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Atlanta Braves #18 prospect in 2021
  TRACK RECORD: The Braves may have found a late-round gem in Ball. The 24th-round pick hit .329/.395/.628 in his pro debut across the Rookie-level Appalachian and low Class A South Atlantic leagues in 2019. The Braves brought Ball to the alternate training site in 2020, where he asserted himself as one of the top power hitters in the system.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: With a hulking, 6-foot-6, 240-pound frame, Ball has plus-plus raw power and pairs it with solid plate discipline and a clean lefthanded swing. He needs to prove he can hit upper-level pitching and keep his strikeout rate in check, but in a system light on true power hitters, Ball tops the list in terms of home run potential. Ball worked to improve his defense at first base at the alternate site. He played the position sparingly in college and remains raw around the bag.
  
  THE FUTURE: Ball's upside is all in his bat. He'll try to show his debut wasn't a mirage in 2021.
• 
  Ranked Atlanta Braves #18 prospect in 2020
  TRACK RECORD: A 24th-round pick out of Dallas Baptist who signed for $197,500, Ball had one of the best debuts of any 2019 draftee, hitting .329/.395/.628 in the Appalachian and South Atlantic leagues, ranking as the No. 15 prospect in the Appy League.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Ball is the best power hitter in the system, with 70-grade raw power, and has a solid understanding of the strike zone and a clean swing to go along with it. Ball stood out to Appy League managers for his ability to square up both fastballs and breaking balls, and he posted the best isolated slugging (.352) in the league among batters with at least 50 plate appearances. Ball doesn't chase much out of the zone now, but that will be worth monitoring as he progresses to higher levels. For now he has solid control of his long limbs, both at the plate and in the field. Defensively, Ball will be limited to first base where he's got a chance to be average with continued improvements. He's still figuring out the nuances and the footwork of the position but has the frame and power you'd like to see there.
  
  THE FUTURE: There will be plenty of pressure on his bat as he progresses, but Ball's pro debut showed he could be a special hitter—and a late-round steal.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked National League #15 prospect in 2019
  The 2019 Appy League player of the year, Ball was one of the most dangerous hitters in the league thanks to impressive plate discipline and big-time power out of his physical, 6-foot-6, 235-pound frame. In his first pro season after getting drafted out of Dallas Baptist in the 24th round, Ball hit .324/.410/.676 with 13 home runs and 12 doubles before earning a promotion to the South Atlantic League in August. Ball’s 1.086 OPS was good for second in the league behind only Burlington first baseman Logan Porter, who’s three years older. Ball will need to improve his defense at first base, but he’s shown that his power—and his ability to get to it consistently in games—can be a real carrying tool. "He has a gift,” one Appy League manager said. "He’s a good hitter. . . . He doesn’t chase a lot, he knows what he’s doing at the plate. Obviously he’s young and will need to make adjustments, but he’s really good.”

• April, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade: 40/High
  
  Midseason Update: Ball has bounced back from a poor season last year and is showing why the Cubs acquired him for Joc Pederson at last year&#39s deadline. He has a demonstrated a patient approach and the ability to use the whole field at Double-A Tennessee, although his underwhelming raw power creates profile questions at first base.
• March, 2021 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: The Braves may have found a late-round gem in Ball. The 24th-round pick hit .329/.395/.628 in his pro debut across the Rookie-level Appalachian and low Class A South Atlantic leagues in 2019. The Braves brought Ball to the alternate training site in 2020, where he asserted himself as one of the top power hitters in the system.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: With a hulking, 6-foot-6, 240-pound frame, Ball has plus-plus raw power and pairs it with solid plate discipline and a clean lefthanded swing. He needs to prove he can hit upper-level pitching and keep his strikeout rate in check, but in a system light on true power hitters, Ball tops the list in terms of home run potential. Ball worked to improve his defense at first base at the alternate site. He played the position sparingly in college and remains raw around the bag.
  
  THE FUTURE: Ball's upside is all in his bat. He'll try to show his debut wasn't a mirage in 2021.
• December, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: The Braves may have found a late-round gem in Ball. The 24th-round pick hit .329/.395/.628 in his pro debut across the Rookie-level Appalachian and low Class A South Atlantic leagues in 2019. The Braves brought Ball to the alternate training site in 2020, where he asserted himself as one of the top power hitters in the system.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: With a hulking, 6-foot-6, 240-pound frame, Ball has plus-plus raw power and pairs it with solid plate discipline and a clean lefthanded swing. He needs to prove he can hit upper-level pitching and keep his strikeout rate in check, but in a system light on true power hitters, Ball tops the list in terms of home run potential. Ball worked to improve his defense at first base at the alternate site. He played the position sparingly in college and remains raw around the bag.
  
  THE FUTURE: Ball's upside is all in his bat. He'll try to show his debut wasn't a mirage in 2021.
• July, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: A 24th-round pick out of Dallas Baptist who signed for $197,500, Ball had one of the best debuts of any 2019 draftee, hitting .329/.395/.628 in the Appalachian and South Atlantic leagues, ranking as the No. 15 prospect in the Appy League.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Ball is the best power hitter in the system, with 70-grade raw power, and has a solid understanding of the strike zone and a clean swing to go along with it. Ball stood out to Appy League managers for his ability to square up both fastballs and breaking balls, and he posted the best isolated slugging (.352) in the league among batters with at least 50 plate appearances. Ball doesn’t chase much out of the zone now, but that will be worth monitoring as he progresses to higher levels. For now he has solid control of his long limbs, both at the plate and in the field. Defensively, Ball will be limited to first base where he’s got a chance to be average with continued improvements. He’s still figuring out the nuances and the footwork of the position but has the frame and power you’d like to see there.
  
  THE FUTURE: There will be plenty of pressure on his bat as he progresses, but Ball’s pro debut showed he could be a special hitter—and a late-round steal.
• February, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: A 24th-round pick out of Dallas Baptist who signed for $197,500, Ball had one of the best debuts of any 2019 draftee, hitting .329/.395/.628 in the Appalachian and South Atlantic leagues, ranking as the No. 15 prospect in the Appy League.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Ball is the best power hitter in the system, with 70-grade raw power, and has a solid understanding of the strike zone and a clean swing to go along with it. Ball stood out to Appy League managers for his ability to square up both fastballs and breaking balls, and he posted the best isolated slugging (.352) in the league among batters with at least 50 plate appearances. Ball doesn't chase much out of the zone now, but that will be worth monitoring as he progresses to higher levels. For now he has solid control of his long limbs, both at the plate and in the field. Defensively, Ball will be limited to first base where he's got a chance to be average with continued improvements. He's still figuring out the nuances and the footwork of the position but has the frame and power you'd like to see there.
  
  THE FUTURE: There will be plenty of pressure on his bat as he progresses, but Ball's pro debut showed he could be a special hitter—and a late-round steal.
• December, 2018 Scouting Report
  The 2019 Appy League player of the year, Ball was one of the most dangerous hitters in the league thanks to impressive plate discipline and big-time power out of his physical, 6-foot-6, 235-pound frame. In his first pro season after getting drafted out of Dallas Baptist in the 24th round, Ball hit .324/.410/.676 with 13 home runs and 12 doubles before earning a promotion to the South Atlantic League in August. Ball’s 1.086 OPS was good for second in the league behind only Burlington first baseman Logan Porter, who’s three years older. Ball will need to improve his defense at first base, but he’s shown that his power—and his ability to get to it consistently in games—can be a real carrying tool. "He has a gift,” one Appy League manager said. "He’s a good hitter. . . . He doesn’t chase a lot, he knows what he’s doing at the plate. Obviously he’s young and will need to make adjustments, but he’s really good.”