Another top 100 MLB prospects list has been released — or top 101 prospects in this case — from Baseball Prospectus. Recently, Bleacher Report just released their top 100 prospects list, which included Hurston Waldrep and AJ Smith-Shawver. At most outlets, that’s the consensus, but not Baseball Prospectus. They also had two Braves among their top 101 prospects; however, AJ Smith-Shawver was not one of them. It featured Hurston Waldrep and Ignacio Alvarez.
Alvarez just narrowly cracked the list, landing at #98, and I’m happy he’s getting some national recognition. As far as position players go, he’s the best the Braves have to offer, outside of Jose Perdomo, who just inked the largest bonus in franchise history for an international prospect.
Alvarez was a fifth-round selection in the 2022 MLB draft after spending two years at Riverside City College in California. He’s still just 20 years old and was very impressive for the Rome Braves in 2023, recording a .786 OPS with 31 extra-base hits, including seven homers. His advanced contact bat is his best attribute; although, he did begin to grow into a little more power last year, hitting six more homers compared to 2022, when he hit just one. This upcoming season will be a critical one in his development as he could begin the season in AA Mississippi. If he continues to excel, the Braves might have found their starting shortstop of the future in the fifth round.
Hurston Waldrep clocked in at #30 on Baseball Prospectus’ list of the top prospects in the game, which is by far the highest I’ve seen him at any outlet. The Braves 2023 first-round selection has already begun rocketing through the system, ending his first season of professional ball in AAA Gwinnett. That’s likely where he will begin this year, but the Braves have never been shy in rushing their players to the majors and have had a lot of success doing it. With a fast start to 2024, Waldrep could find himself in the majors by summertime.
However, as high as Baseball Prospectus is on Waldrep, they are very down on AJ Smith-Shawver compared to every other outlet. That’s a bit shocking given the success of Smith-Shawver in 2023 at just 20 years old. He began the year in high-A Rome, and by June, he was making his big-league debut, even experiencing some success with the Braves and making the team’s postseason roster.
Beyond that, Smith-Shawver is oozing with upside. He can hum it in the high 90s, and while his secondary offerings still need some work, there’s no question that he has the potential to be a frontline starter if he can put it all together.
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Photo: Larry Radloff/Icon Sportswire
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