Life On The Farm: Atlanta Braves (# 6)

Some say may be amongst the favorites next season, will their system help that?

Graduated To Majors: Jordan Schafer (OF, # 3), Reid Gorecki (OF, UR), Diory Hernandez (2B, UR), Barbaro Canizares (1B, UR), Clint Sammons (C, UR), Tommy Hanson (SP, # 1), Kris Medlen (SP, # 9), James Parr (SP, # 28), Anthony Lerew (SP, UR, now with Royals), Luis Valdez (RP, UR)

The Rest Of The Top 10 (with quick commentary)
Hitters: BA-OBP-SLG, AB, HR-RBI, BB-K, SB-CS
Pitchers: G-GS, W-L, ERA, IP-H-HR-BB-K

2 - Jason Heyward: RF
Hi A: .296-.369-.519, 189, 10-31, 21-30, 4-0
AA: .352-.446-.611, 324, 14-60, 56-38, 10-2
AAA: .364-.462-.364, 22, 0-4, 4-4, 2-0
Quick Take: Takes his spot as the top prospect in the game.

4 - Gorkys Hernandez: CF
AA (Braves): .316-.361-.387, 212, 0-19, 15-54, 10-8
AA (Pirates): .262-.312-.340, 344, 3-31, 24-76, 9-8
Quick Take: Showed a raw game that appeared to take a step back after going to Pittsburgh.

5 - Freddie Freeman: 1B
Hi A: .302-.394-.447, 255, 6-34, 26-41, 1-4
AA: .248-.308-.342, 298, 4-48, 22-38, 0-0
Quick Take: Experienced his 1st struggles at AA, can he bounce back?

6 - Cole Rohrbough: LHP
Hi A: 23-22, 6-8, 5.77, 117-129-12-48-100
Quick Take: Rough season, but got through it fully healthy, which is a plus for him.

7 - Jeff Locke: LHP
Hi A (Braves): 10-10, 1-4, 5.52, 45.2-47-1-26-43
Hi A (Pirates): 17-17, 4-4, 4.08, 81.2-98-4-18-56
Quick Take: Was better with Pittsburgh after going over in the McLouth trade.

8 - Julio Teheran: RHP
R: 7-7, 2-1, 2.68, 43.2-36-2-7-39
Lo A: 7-7, 1-3, 4.78, 37.2-42-2-11-28
Quick Take: The 18 year old got a midseason promotion to Low A, where he pitched as expected.

10 - Craig Kimbrel: RHP
Lo A: 16-0, 0-0, 0.90, 20-9-0-6-38
Hi A: 19-0, 0-2, 5.47, 26.1-18-2-28-45
AA: 12-0, 2-1, 0.77, 11.2-3-0-7-17
AAA: 2-0, 0-0, 0.00, 2-0-0-4-3
Quick Take: Showed unbelieveable strikeout numbers (103 in 60 IP)

AAA: Gwinnett Braves (IL)
Breakout Hitter: Barbaro Canizares (UR): .294-.366-.435, 506, 12-79, 52-67, 2-2
Disappointing Hitter: Van Pope (UR): .202-.279-.286, 322, 4-28, 33-62, 2-1
Breakout Pitcher: Tommy Hanson (# 1): 11-11, 3-3, 1.49, 66.1-40-5-17-90
Disappointing Pitcher: Jonny Venters (UR): 17-17, 4-7, 5.62, 91.1-103-7-42-58
Quick Take: Canizares got a quick promotion to Atlanta and looks to contend for a first-base job next year. Hanson has taken his place as a solid starter for Atlanta and looks on pace to have a strong career. Pope struggled with the bat and Venters struggled to do much.

AA: Mississippi Braves (SL)
Breakout Hitter: Jason Heyward (# 2): Line above.
Disappointing Hitter: Kala Ka'aihue (UR): .157-.306-.262, 191, 4-15, 36-64, 1-1
Breakout Pitcher: Scott Diamond (# 26): 23-23, 5-10, 3.50, 131-152-5-53-111
Disappointing Pitcher: Stephen Marek (# 22): 38-0, 3-3, 5.72, 39.1-40-2-29-31
Quick Take: Heyward was phenomenal and looks to debut in Atlanta at some point next season. Diamond showed a good strikeout rate and should be in AAA next year. Kala really battled offensively and may be done. Marek has been a disappointment since coming over from Los Angeles.

High A: Myrtle Beach Pelicans (CL)
Breakout Hitter: Freddie Freeman (# 5): Line above.
Disappointing Hitter: Chad Lundahl (UL): .157-.189-.225, 204, 2-12, 6-34, 1-1
Breakout Pitcher: Erik Cordier (UR): 25-25. 7-8, 3.87, 121-115-13-74-88
Disappointing Pitcher: Jeff Locke (# 7): Line above.
Quick Take: Freeman was every bit the prospect as Heyward until the promotion to AA. Cordier showed good stuff, but some bad command. Lundahl struggled offensively in every manner of measure. Locke was a disappointment until going to Pittsburgh and then turning it around.

Low A: Rome Braves (SAL)
Breakout Hitter: Adam Milligan (UR): .345-.393-.589, 394, 20-66, 24-86, 8-10
Disappointing Hitter: Braeden Schlehuber (# 18): .199-.265-.308, 351, 5-37, 18-59, 5-1
Breakout Pitcher: Dimasther Delgado (UL): 17-17, 5-7, 3.61, 99.2-89-4-26-104
Disappointing Pitcher: Paul Clemens (# 23): 26-11, 6-5, 5.91, 85.1-105-7-49-64
Quick Take: Milligan showed a very toolsy game after being a 6th round pick last year. Delgado came out of nowhere to put up some big numbers. Schlehuber struggled in his full-season debut, as did Clemens.

TK's Early 2010 Top 10 Prospects:
1) Jason Heyward: RF
Best prospect in the game.
2) Craig Kimbrel: RHP
May be the best reliever in the game.
3) Freddie Freeman: 1B
Power bat will look to bounce back after struggles at AA.
4) J.J. Hoover: RHP
Put up 148 strikeouts against 25 walks in 134 and 1/3 innings at Rome.
5) Julio Teheran: RHP
Youngster will make full season debut next year.
6) Mike Minor: LHP
Threw well in brief pro debut, likely will start next year in Myrtle.
7) Cody Johnson: 1B
Power bat hit 32 homers, but struck out 171 times in 422 at bats.
8) Cole Rohrbough: LHP
Lefty will likely start 2009 at AA.
9) Randall Delgado: RHP
25 starts at Rome resulted in 141 strikeouts against 49 walks in 124 innings.
10) Brett DeVall: LHP
Lefty put up 41 strikeouts in 53 and 2/3 innings at Rome.

Dropped From Top 10: None.

Final Overview: System has gotten a little weaker with some of the losses from trade. However, any system with Heyward and Kimbrel is a strong system, as each should debut in Atlanta as soon as April out of spring training. Minor was a criticized 1st round pick, but pitched well in his brief debut. Most of the guys are a little ways away after the top 3, but all have fairly high ceilings. Position players are even further away, as most had some struggles this past season, but still a top 10 system.