2025 Atlanta Braves Top 30 Prospects June Update
While it’s quite obvious, the goal for any farm system is to graduate talent that makes a positive impact on the big league club. Mission accomplished for Braves catcher Drake Baldwin, who is no longer prospect-eligible but has been one of the better rookies in baseball so far. AJ Smith-Shawver also graduated and pitched well in Atlanta’s rotation until a torn UCL ended his season in late May.
Deeper down, the Braves have an abundance of pitching talent across their Top 30, headlined by the emergence of JR Ritchie. Finding potential impact bats is a bit more challenging, although the early returns for Owen Carey and Isaiah Drake in Low-A are quite promising.
Baseball America subscribers can see the complete updated Braves Top 30 here.
Read on below for prospect graduates, risers, fallers, new additions and injury updates below. Top 30 updates for all 30 teams can be found here.
Graduates
AJ Smith-Shawver, RHP: Smith-Shawver has been a solid member of the Braves’ rotation, but right after he graduated, he blew out his elbow and will miss the remainder of this season with Tommy John surgery.
Risers
JR Ritchie, RHP: Another year removed from Tommy John surgery has done wonders for Ritchie. His velocity spiked this spring–he touched 97 mph in Atlanta’s Spring Breakout game–and his changeup has taken a step forward in 2025. He now has a much fuller arsenal with a solid strike-throwing. He has pitched his way both into Top 100 consideration and as a potential darkhorse candidate to help the Braves late in the year.
Didier Fuentes, RHP: Fuentes’ mid-90s heater proved far too overpowering for High-A hitters. The pitch has been up to 98 mph this year with impressive carry through the strike zone. He’s also showing flashes of a tighter breaking ball. His changeup lags behind and he has fringy feel for his secondaries, raising the relief risk, but the arrow is pointing up after he reached Double-A prior to turning 20 years old.
Herick Hernandez, LHP: His ERA may be a bit unsightly, but Hernandez punched out 30.4% of High-A hitters through his first 10 outings. Both his slider and curveball have flashed above-average potential–now he needs to land them in the zone more frequently. Hernandez is also experimenting between a splitter and changeup to round out his four-pitch mix.
Luke Sinnard, RHP: Sinnard has impressed in his return from elbow surgery. He moves quite well for a 6-foot-8, 250-pounder and loves to work north to south from a high slot, mixing in a 93-95 mph fastball and a slider while showing more faith in his splitter.
Fallers
Drue Hackenberg, RHP: Hackenberg walked nearly as many batters (18) as he struck out (19) through 24.1 innings in his return to Double-A before going on the IL with a back injury.
Nick Mongomery, C: For a teenage catcher, Montgomery has impressive power potential, arm strength and a feel to drive the ball to his pull side when he connects. The problem? He’s not making enough contact so far in Low-A, where he struck out 31.7% of the time through 37 games. He still has an impressive array of tools, but it may be a slow burn.
Injuries
Cam Caminiti, LHP: Caminiti was slowed down by arm soreness this spring. He’s back on the mound pitching for the Braves’ Florida Complex League club.
Nacho Alvarez, SS: Alvarez has spent the entire season on the 60-day injured list with a wrist injury.
Carter Holton, LHP: Holton is continuing to rehab from Tommy John surgery last year.
Drue Hackenberg, RHP: Hackenburg left his May 15 start with a back injury and was placed on the seven-day IL.
Didier Fuentes, RHP: Fuentes went onto the 7-day injured list in late May with a blister.
Owen Murphy, RHP: Murphy is on the 60-day IL as he continues to rehab from 2024 Tommy John surgery.
Davis Polo, RHP: Polo has spent the entire season on the 60-day injured list. He had shoulder surgery.
Luis Guanipa, OF: Guanipa was hit by a pitch in his third game of the season. He went on the injured list two days later because of that wrist/hand injury and has not returned.
Ethan Bagwell, RHP: Bagwell got off to an excellent start to the season, but after his third start, he went on the seven-day injured list and has yet to return. He’s got an oblique injury.
New Additions
Owen Carey, OF: Carey is a contact-oriented lefthanded hitter with impressive bat-to-ball skills, a simple swing and a knack for handling all pitch types. He’s a solid athlete with defensive versatility, and he has put himself on the map after the Braves plucked him out of the New England prep ranks late in last year’s draft.
Raudy Reyes, RHP: Reyes is a physically-mature 16-year-old who’s already touched 102 mph and signed for the highest bonus of any Latin American pitcher in the 2025 class. His elite velocity gives him a high ceiling, even if his secondaries and command have a long way to go.
Isaiah Drake, OF: Drake is a plus-plus runner and raw athlete with loud tools who’s shown encouraging progress in his second crack at Low-A. His improved contact rate is promising, although whiff concerns will likely follow him as he slowly climbs the ladder.
