2017 Atlanta Braves Top 10 Insider
See Also: Braves Top 10 Prospects
Talent Infusion: Draft Report Card
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SEASON IN A SENTENCE: Atlanta wasn’t supposed to contend this year and didn’t, but after firing manager Fredi Gonzalez (9-28) and trading for Matt Kemp, the Braves became respectable, going 59-65 under longtime organizational soldier Brian Snitker.
HIGH POINT: The Braves played spoiler in their final series at Turner Field as they move out of the 20-year-old park in favor of new SunTrust Park next year. Detroit needed to win, but the Braves beat the Tigers in the last two games of the year, with Julio Teheran striking out 12 in seven innings to out-duel Justin Verlander in a 1-0 victory on the season’s final day. Freddie Freeman had the lone RBI to cap a .304/.400/.569 season that included a 30-game hit streak and 34 homers.
LOW POINT: It was a brutal April as Atlanta lost its first nine games to open the season, and heralded Cuban import Hector Olivera was arrested for assaulting a woman in the same month. He was suspended and eventually traded to the Padres in a salary-dump deal that brought Kemp to Atlanta. The Padres immediately released Olivera, 31, who still had yet to find a new home as November arrived.
NOTABLE ROOKIES: Outfielder Mallex Smith tied for the team lead with 16 stolen bases in just 72 games and looks like at least a fourth outfielder going forward. Shortstop Dansby Swanson, who’ll remain rookie-eligible in 2017, provided a glimpse into the future with a strong September. Atlanta’s rookie pitchers almost uniformly struggled, particularly righthander Aaron Blair (2-7, 7.59), with hard-throwing reliever Mauricio Cabrera the notable exception.
KEY TRANSACTIONS: Trading for Kemp helped revitalize the offense as he provided needed power and protection for Freeman. The Shelby Miller trade in the offseason brought Swanson and Ender Inciarte, two key up-the-middle pieces for the future, as well as Blair, who showed flashes despite his struggles. Swanson came up after veteran Erick Aybar was traded to the Tigers.
DOWN ON THE FARM: A system burgeoning with talent showed up most at low Class A Rome, with a loaded pitching staff leading to a South Atlantic League title. Despite a 65-78 season, Gwinnett made the Triple-A International League playoffs and lost in the finals. The Braves went old-school in the draft, taking prep pitchers with each of their three selections in the top 44 picks.
OPENING DAY PAYROLL: $69,005,791 (29th)
| BEST TOOLS | |
| Best Hitter for Average | Ozzie Albies |
| Best Power Hitter | Austin Riley |
| Best Strike Zone Discipline | Ronald Acuna |
| Fastest Baserunner | Anfernee Seymour |
| Best Athlete | Derian Cruz |
| Best Fastball | Lucas Sims |
| Best Curveball | Max Fried |
| Best Slider | A.J. Minter |
| Best Changeup | Kolby Allard |
| Best Control | Mike Soroka |
| Best Defensive Catcher | Lucas Herbert |
| Best Defensive Infielder | Dansby Swanson |
| Best Infield Arm | Ozzie Albies |
| Best Defensive Outfielder | Cristian Pache |
| Best Outfield Arm | Ray-Patrick Didder |
| PROJECTED 2020 LINEUP | |
| Catcher | Tyler Flowers |
| First Base | Freddie Freeman |
| Second Base | Ozzie Albies |
| Third Base | Austin Riley |
| Shortstop | Dansby Swanson |
| Left Field | Dustin Peterson |
| Center Field | Ender Inciarte |
| Right Field | Ronald Acuna |
| No. 1 Starter | Julio Teheran |
| No. 2 Starter | Kolby Allard |
| No. 3 Starter | Mike Soroka |
| No. 4 Starter | Ian Anderson |
| No. 5 Starter | Sean Newcomb |
| Closer | Patrick Weigel |
| TOP PROSPECTS OF THE DECADE | ||
| Year | Player, Pos. | 2016 Org |
| 2007 | Jarrod Saltalamacchia, c | Tigers |
| 2008 | Jordan Schafer, of | Dodgers |
| 2009 | Tommy Hanson, rhp | Deceased |
| 2010 | Jason Heyward, of | Cubs |
| 2011 | Julio Teheran, rhp | Braves |
| 2012 | Julio Teheran, rhp | Braves |
| 2013 | Julio Teheran, rhp | Braves |
| 2014 | Lucas Sims, rhp | Braves |
| 2015 | Jose Peraza, 2b | Reds |
| 2016 | Dansby Swanson, ss | Braves |
| TOP DRAFT PICKS OF THE DECADE | ||
| Year | Player, Pos. | 2016 Org |
| 2007 | Jason Heyward, of | Cubs |
| 2008 | Brett DeVall (1st round supp.) | Did not play |
| 2009 | Mike Minor, lhp | Royals |
| 2010 | Matt Lipka, ss (1st round supp.) | Braves |
| 2011 | Sean Gilmartin, lhp | Mets |
| 2012 | Lucas Sims, rhp | Braves |
| 2013 | Jason Hursh, rhp | Braves |
| 2014 | Braxton Davidson, of | Braves |
| 2015 | Kolby Allard, lhp | Braves |
| 2016 | Ian Anderson, rhp | Braves |
| LARGEST BONUSES IN CLUB HISTORY | |
| Ian Anderson, 2016 | $4,000,000 |
| Kevin Maitan, 2016 | $4,000,000 |
| Abrahan Gutierrez, 2016 | $3,500,000 |
| Joey Wentz, 2016 | $3,050,000 |
| Kolby Allard, 2015 | $3,042,400 |
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