We are a little over a third of the way done with the MLB season. The Braves are 32-27; which could look a lot worse if not for the emergence of their rising stars. The modern-day “Baby Braves” have Atlanta just a game back of the Phillies for first place, resembling a team that could be a force in the East for the next decade. Below I will power rank the ten best babies of 2019.
Criteria:
– All players are 25 years or under
– Rankings are based on the 2019 season alone.
– Using current statistics and likely projections.
– Feel free to leave comments, cuss words or questions about the sophisticated and scientific manner used in ranking the “Baby Braves.”
10. Johan Camargo
Johan Camargo has been bad. He’s hitting .220 with 2 HRs and 14 RBIs through 109 ABs and comes off as disinterested in his new super utility role. Over the last 30 games, he has a dreadful on-base percentage of .221. I think I speak for most of Braves Country when I say I still believe in Camargo as a long-term piece, but his porous start results in him landing at number ten.
9. Touki Toussaint
Touki Toussaint, like Sean Newcomb, has benefited from a switch to the bullpen. His ERA has dropped from 6.35 to 3.91, and as the season continues, you can bet Snitker will lean on the Diamondbacks former 1st round pick in high-leverage situations.
8. Jacob Webb
The 18th round draft pick by the Braves in 2014 belongs in the big leagues. Webb has a strikeout for every inning pitched this year; which is what he was known for in the minors. His 3-0 record and 2.04 ERA are precisely what this dumpster fire of a bullpen needed to avoid a complete implosion.
7. Ozzie Albies
In the power department, Ozzie is well behind his All-Star pace from last season. He is hitting about the same average as last year (.269 compared to .268) and remains an integral part of this team defensively with a .995 fielding percentage. Much like Acuña, his lower ranking is due to some of the other youngsters being other-worldly.
6. Sean Newcomb
Hot take: Sean Newcomb is still excellent. Despite his rough start to the season, Sean has quickly become one of the most relied pieces of our bullpen. He has lowered his ERA to 2.92 and is walking opposing batters at a much lower rate than last year (2018 BB/9: 4.45, 2019 BB/9: 3.28). Newcomb’s even shown the ability to be the closer if need be. His presence, along with Jacob Webb’s, has been vital in fixing the bullpen woes. (Sean barely cracked this list of under 25 as his 26th birthday is coming up on June 12th. This Baby Brave is growing up!)
5. Dansby Swanson
Dansby Swanson might be the biggest surprise of the year courtesy of his new swing (Thank you Chipper). The Vanderbilt product is ripping the cover off of the ball all over the field. His 41 RBIs leads the team, and his 12 homers came out of nowhere (his career high is 14). Defensively, this might be the year he is honored with his first Gold Glove. Few players man the middle of the infield better than Dansby Swanson.
4. Max Fried
Max Fried is the most exciting pitcher we have on this roster. He is fun to watch and posesses top of the line stuff (Max also brings credibility to the pitchers rake movement). Fried has a 3.19 ERA with a record of 7-3 to go along with 56 strikeouts and a WHIP of 1.21. He and Soroka have a long future together at the top of the Bravos starting rotation. Watching the two former first-round picks rack up wins has me more excited then when Jeff Francoeur and Brian McCann were dropping moonshots as rookies.
3. Ronald Acuña Jr.
The former Rookie of the Year is mired in a bit of a slump (.268, 5 HRs, 16 RBIs, and 35 strikeouts over his last 30 games). To anyone else, these numbers are suitable, but expectations for Ronald are higher than Snoop Dogg on a Saturday afternoon. At .277 with 11 long balls and 34 runs batted in on the year, the Braves are waiting for one of his torrid hot streaks. He is the best asset Atlanta has and might already be the best player. You know this because we are talking down on him when he’s on pace to hit 30+ homers with 100 RBIs.
2. Austin Riley
I wrestled with putting Riley lower on this list then glanced at his historic numbers. He has 8 HRs, 22 RBIs with a .349 batting average and an OPS of 1.150. He is on pace for 53 HRs and 144 RBIs. Those are video game statistics. Humans, let alone 22-year-olds, should not be able to do that. Even if you decide not to use these projections; his 8 HRs are already 4th on the team. Austin Riley is the best thing to happen to Braves baseball since the chop.
1. Mike Soroka
The number one spot has to go to the Ace. His numbers speak for themselves: 1.41 ERA, 51 Strikeouts and a 6-1 record through 9 games this season. Coming into the year, no one would have picked him to be the #1 guy in the rotation. (If you say you did you are either lying or should change your profession to writing fortune cookies). The 6’5” Phenom has quickly become a Rookie of the Year frontrunner and could end up in the Cy Young race if this continues.