When the Braves traded for Joe Jimenez a couple of offseasons ago, it wasn’t a deal I was particularly fond of because of who went back to Detroit in return, outfielder Justyn-Henry Malloy.
At the time, I had Malloy as my top ranked prospect, far and away the best offensive prospect in the system. He also filled an apparent position of need with his ability to potentially play left field. Fast forward to today, and the deal is much more palatable, considering Jimenez signed a three-year extension with the team and has blossomed into an ultra-reliable set-up man. The Braves also acquired Jarred Kelenic for basically nothing, who could very well fill the void in left field for years to come.
Anthopoulos has to be pleased with how Jimenez has panned out in Atlanta, and it could end up being one of those trades that ends up working out perfectly for both sides. Malloy has done nothing but rake on the farm for the Tigers since the trade, recording an .892 OPS last season and an .884 OPS so far this year. The 24-year-old could be a problem at the next level, and the day of his dreams has finally arrived.
Yesterday, the Tigers announced they are calling up Justyn-Henry Malloy to the majors.
Justyn-Henry Malloy is reportedly getting called up for his Major League debut.
The #Tigers' No. 6 prospect leads the farm system with 39 BBs and 15 2Bs: https://t.co/nJygz6bRls pic.twitter.com/pnx4KEBK2Q
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) June 2, 2024
Malloy is a toolsy prospect that can hit for average and power, but perhaps his most attractive trait is the plate discipline. This is a young man that isn’t afraid to take his walks, recording an on-base percentage of .410 over his four minor league seasons.
I’m just as high on Malloy now, perhaps even higher, than I was at the time of the trade a couple of years ago. He has the chance to be a high quality major-league outfielder for a long-time, which is a steep price to pay for a reliever that was a rental at the time. Still, I don’t think the Braves are too concerned about that, given how good Jimenez has been for the team since the trade.
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Photographer: John Adams/Icon Sportswire
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