You don't win 14 straight division titles without a productive farm system, and while the Braves have come back down to earth in recent years, they still continue to rely heavily on their scouting and player development. They are still searching for that perfect blend to get them back on top of the division, but Atlanta fans can at least be certain that GM Frank Wren, pictured, and the rest of the organization will continue to infuse young talent. With the emergence of Tommy Hanson as a potential star in 2009, we were reminded once again just how powerful that Braves player development machine can be. The frightening part for the rest of the National League East is that there is plenty more talent coming behind Hanson. So, who are some of the names next in line?
Zeke Spruill, RHP: This 20-year-old right-hander might not be a household name for prospect followers just yet, but it's about time people got to know him. Although he appeared to hit a bit of a wall late in the season, Spruill was superb for much of the year with low Single-A Rome. Armed with a 91-93 mph fastball, touching 94, Spruill's best trait may be his command and feel for this pitch. Also intriguing is his lanky 6-foot-4 frame and the projection he may have.
With a little more velocity possibly on the way and already some good late jump to his fastball out of his easy delivery, Spruill is an interesting case before even considering his secondary attack. He can also throw a quality changeup and curveball for strikes with regularity. His curveball looked inconsistent from time to time, but flashed above-average. The changeup looked to be his most consistent weapon and made him especially tough on left-handed hitters. This is a guy who is still learning, but already has a good presence and a real idea of how to pitch at a young age. He has the command, stuff, and feel for the game to develop into No. 2-type starter.
Robinson Lopez, RHP: The Braves have powerful arms up and down the minor-league ladder, but Lopez is one of their youngest and most interesting. He was dominant in the Gulf Coast League in 2009, posting a 1.29 ERA. It was the impressive stuff he showed, however, that has the Braves giddy about the young right-hander.
Armed with a fastball that sits at 92-95 mph, the raw arm alone is exciting for the Braves organization. Lopez also has a chance to have an above-average curveball. The feel for pitching and projection will make his continued development interesting. This type of high-upside arm is the trademark of a strong Atlanta system.
Dimaster Delgado, LHP: Delgado has been a personal favorite since his impressive showing at the Fall Instructional League in 2008. He does not have the electrifying fastball of some others in the Braves' farm system, but the total package is impressive. Delgado proved again in 2009 with Rome that he could consistently miss bats and had the command of a pitcher many years older. The term pitchability was made for guys like Delgado, who aggressively attacks hitters -- a rare trait for a 20-year-old pitcher with limited pro experience.
The 6-foot-2 Panamanian has a solid frame, especially his lower half. The velocity numbers do not jump out as he lives at 87-92 mph, but his fastball appears to really get on top of hitters with good two-seam action. Delgado also locates a changeup and a big slow curveball. The curveball gets up there at 72-76 mph and the changeup at 79-82 mph. The feel for pitching is often very impressive. The one complaint about Delgado is inconsistency. There are games where his stuff and feel just do not seem to show up. He has a sneaky fastball, command of two strong secondary pitches and good feel for pitching, but all of those aspects of his game are going to need to be more consistent as he advances.
Christian Bethancourt, C: Sometimes you see a player with a totally unique skill-set, and Bethancourt is one of those guys. A supremely athletic, wiry and strong catcher who can swipe a base, Bethancourt is a fascinating talent even before you consider his throwing arm. Another player out of the Braves' impressive Panama pipeline, the 18-year-old had a strong offensive season in 2009 and seems to be learning at a rapid pace. The power has come along nicely, and he still has a lot of room to grow physically.
You'd be hard-pressed to find a better arm behind the dish. There aren't many that grade out as an 8 on the scouting scale but he may have one of them. His overall actions and hands could help him develop into an elite defensive catcher. He's got a long way to go in terms of physical maturity and development as a hitter, but the Braves have reason to be thrilled with the tools and performance thus far from this uniquely talented backstop.
Craig Kimbrel, RHP: As erratic as he can be with his control, Kimbrel is a pitcher who is truly deserving of the description electric. After a rough stretch near the beginning of 2009 where his control was a major issue, Kimbrel was close to unhittable at four different levels, finishing the year at Triple-A. The strikeout numbers were off the charts, as he struck out 103 in 60 innings of work. In that span, he also allowed only 30 hits. His 45 walks are a concern but most of them came early on in the season.
Looking at Kimbrel's raw stuff, most scouts would agree that he has the arsenal to close at the big-league level. Sitting at 93-97 mph, and reaching as high as 98 with the fastball, he jumps at hitters with a max-effort, over-the-top delivery that features a great deal of deception. How such a delivery bodes for his long-term durability remains to be seen. He also throws a plus slider at 81-84 mph. It's safe to say that the only thing that can hold him back from a career at the back of a big-league bullpen is that inconsistent delivery, which leads to his erratic control. He could be a factor in the majors for the Braves in 2010.
Frankie Piliere spent the last three seasons working as a scout, most recently in the professional scouting department for the Texas Rangers in 2009. He now serves as the National Baseball Analyst here at FanHouse.
