Atlanta Braves Breakout MLB Prospects For 2025

Entering 2025, we’re projecting a number of Braves prospects to have the potential for a breakout season.

To qualify, a player must rank outside the organization’s Top 10 prospects entering the year. All scouting reports are from Baseball America’s 2025 Prospect handbook, which you can purchase here.

You can find Top 10 prospect rankings for all teams here and all breakout candidates here.

Didier Fuentes, RHP

Preseason Rank: 11
BA Grade/Risk: 45/High

Track Record: Fuentes signed as a lower-profile international prospect out of Columbia in 2022. That same year he excelled in the Dominican Summer League as a 17-year-old, posting a 2.25 ERA over 11 starts and 44 innings with a 28.9% strikeout rate and 5.8% walk rate. He struggled at Low-A Rome in 2023 but repeated the level in 2024 and excelled, with a 2.74 ERA in 17 starts and 75.2 innings with a 32.1% strikeout rate and 6.9% walk rate.

Scouting Report: Fuentes is a sturdy righthander with a 6-foot, 170-pound frame who pitches from a low three-quarters slot and features a slight plunge in the back of his arm stroke. He primarily pitched off a fastball/slider combination in 2024 and sits in the 92-95 mph range and has touched 97. Fuentes’ fastball has swing-and-miss traits thanks to a low release point, extremely-flat approach angle (-3.94 VAA) and healthy armside movement. His mid-80s slider has solid spin, two-plane break and average potential against righties. Fuentes worked to develop feel for a mid-80s splitter that could provide a useful secondary against lefthanded hitters. Fuentes has been an above-average strike-thrower going back to the DSL, and he establishes his fastball in the zone consistently.

The Future: Fuentes has a starter’s look and a fastball that could carry him. Continuing to improve his secondaries will be among his goals in 2025, when he should be ready to tackle High-A competition.

Scouting Grades: FB: 60. SL: 50. SPLT: 45. CTL: 55.

John Gil, SS

Preseason Rank: 12
BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme

Track Record: Gil signed out of the Dominican Republic in a Braves 2023 class that was headlined by Luis Guanipa. Two years later, he ranks as the top international hitter in Atlanta’s system. He played in the Dominican Summer League in 2023, then in 2024 moved stateside, where he played shortstop everyday, hit well in the Florida Complex League and drew near-universal positive reviews from scouts.

Scouting Report: Gil is a lean righthander with a 6-foot-1, 175-pound frame that still has room to fill out and employs an easy, low-maintenance swing. He has a solid understanding of the zone and will take a walk. He’s currently a contact hitter who won’t miss a fastball, but he has been exploited by spin and off-speed offerings and will need to grow into more impact. His strikeout rate jumped from 16.1% to 23.3% with Low-A Augusta. Despite that, he has earned above-average hit tool projections. Gil is a double-plus runner who gets out of the box quickly, went 40-for-48 (83.3%) on the bases and has great range at shortstop. He’s an instinctual defender with above-average hands and average arm strength, but could provide utility value in the future, as well, at second base, third base or in the outfield.

The Future: Gil has a better reputation from scouts than his .688 OPS in 2024 might indicate. He should return to Low-A Augusta in 2025 where he’ll need to make adjustments vs. non-fastballs and show he has more than just utility value.

Scouting Grades: HIT: 50. POW: 40. RUN: 70. FLD: 50. ARM: 50.

Davis Polo, RHP

Preseason Rank: 19
BA Grade/Risk: 45/Extreme

Track Record: Polo signed with the Braves out of Colombia in 2022 and has been a reliable strike-thrower in three seasons. While pitching in the Dominican Summer League, Florida Coast League and Carolina League from 2022-2024, Polo never had a walk rate worse than 7.6%. In 2024, he posted a 5.16 ERA over 12 starts and 59.1 innings with Low-A Augusta while showing strong peripherals, including a 20.5% strikeout rate and 5.4% walk rate.

Scouting Report: Polo is more physical than his listed 6-foot-1, 150 pounds and works from the third base side of the rubber with a loose arm action and three-quarters slot. He has great feel for a three-pitch mix that starts with a 90-94 mph fastball that has touched 95. While it’s not a swing-and-miss heater, Polo threw it for strikes at a 71% clip and is confident attacking the top of the zone and using it to get ahead in counts. His mid-80s gyro slider and mid-80s changeup were both solid secondaries. They generated swinging strike rates north of 22% and should allow him to find success vs. both lefties and righties. Polo has above-average control and threw strikes at a 68% rate in his age-19 season.

The Future: Polo’s advanced command gives him starter upside. Building strength and adding more power to his fastball will be among his goals for 2025, and he’s a breakout candidate for both the Braves and external scouts.

Scouting Grades: FB: 45. SL: 55. CH: 50. CTL: 55.