2010 Farm Awards
September 2, 2010 at 5:31 pm by Capitol Avenue Club under Atlanta Braves
Hitter of the Year: Freddie Freeman — Became the second hitter this year to crack the MLB active roster before his 21st birthday yesterday. He’s been by far the best hitter in the system this year. I don’t suspect he’ll play in the minor leagues any more unless he’s on a rehab assignment, so his parting gift from me is the hitter of the year award.
Honorable Mention: Matt Lipka — The 35th overall selection in this year’s draft signed quickly and got started in the GCL, hitting .302/.357/.401 in 210 PA’s with 20 SB in 23 attempts. He’s scuffled a bit since his promotion to Danville, but he’s only 18 years old and an excellent prospect. With 80 speed, he’s looking at being the first real leadoff hitter the Braves have developed since Rafael Furcal.
Pitcher of the Year: Julio Teheran — Teheran’s much anticipated full-season debut surpassed even the most lofty of expectations. Teheran made it all the way to AA as a 19-year old and hasn’t slowed down yet. One of the top pitching prospects in the game, he’ll almost certainly be on top of my Braves top-40 list in December.
Honorable Mention: Randall Delgado — Fantastic command, excellent 3-pitch mix, smooth delivery. He’d be the top pitching prospect in more systems than not, Teheran keeps him from achieving that label in Atlanta. Like Teheran, he’s made a successful transition to AA, though he’s a year older. He has an outside shot at making it to the big leagues before his 22nd birthday.
Most Improved Hitter: Mycal Jones — After hitting .125/.157/188 with a 29/3 K/BB ratio in 81 April AB’s, Jones has excelled with the bat, recently earning a promotion to AA. He’s a bit older, and like Lipka isn’t a smooth defender, but his bat has shown lots of promise and rates as one of the top two middle infield prospects in the system.
Honorable Mention: Jesus Sucre — Sucre has improved both on and off the field, going from an organizational scrub that can’t speak English to a legit back-up catcher prospect with plus makeup. He’s shown more power this year and hasn’t been trying to pull everything–something that has plagued him in the past. He still has a ways to go before he’ll be ready to back up Brian McCann, but by the time David Ross’s new contract is up, we may see The Sugar Jesus in Atlanta.
Most Improved Pitcher: Mike Minor — He added a few ticks onto his fastball and has improved his breaking pitches which has some scouts calling his ceiling that of a #2 starter. He’s probably more of a #3, but his improvement and ascension to the majors during his first full season should not be ignored.
Honorable Mention: Brandon Beachy — The out-of-nowhere, reliever convert has shocked the prospect-following world with his dominant campaign. His pitchability is off the charts and he has major league stuff. He’s dominated AAA as a starter after dominating AA as both a starter and reliever, and if he’s pitching this well next year he’ll make the big league team out of Spring Training.
Rolaids Relief Award: Craig Kimbrel — This was pretty much the easiest one to pick. By far the best relief prospect in the system, the only thing that’s keeping him from being an elite closer in MLB is the inability to throw strikes. Two plus-plus pitches and excellent mound presence, he could end up being very, very good.
Best Tools Awards
Hit: Freddie Freeman
Power: Cody Johnson
Run: Matt Lipka
OF Arm: Ramon Flores
INF Arm: Andrelton Simmons
C Arm: Christian Bethancourt
OF Fielder: Hector Garcia
INF Fielder: Andrelton Simmons
C Fielder: Christian Bethancourt
Fastball: Julio Teheran
Curveball: David Filak
Slider: Craig Kimbrel
Changeup: Tie–Mike Minor and Chris Masters (palmball)
Command: Randall Delgado
Control: Brett Oberholtzer
Mound Presence: Craig Kimbrel
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Is it common for a pitcher to “get over” wildness such as Kimbrell’s? Did Wagner or Lidge or anyone like that struggle with that in their younger years and improve or is this something that could hold him back long term?
“Became the second hitter this year to crack the MLB active roster before his 21st birthday yesterday.”
FTFY
I look forward to seeing some of these guys in the future!
Imagine how good the Braves pitching staff could be next year with Huddy, Hanson, Jurrjens, Minor and Medlen. Top-down, that would be an amazing rotation. We just have to make sure we baby Medlen so he can have a long, healthy career.
Michael,
We can only hope.
Thanks Underdog.
Palmball? I don’t think I’ve seen one of those since Boever. Remember him? I think I’m looking forward to seeing Chris Masters.
They don’t let him throw it in games, probably won’t until he gets to AA.
What do you think of Phil Gosslien and his long term projection for the Braves?
Wrote about Gosselin here. Org guy or utility player.
I see you’ve given different awards for command and control as tools. I have my own thoughts on the difference and the definition of each, but I’m curious to hear yours.
The best way I’ve heard it explained is control = making it go where you want it to and command = making it do what you want it to.
How could you put Lipka over Barbaro? Are you projecting or do you really think he was a better hitter this year?
Lipka faster than Richardson?
I’d flip the improved pitchers, cause it’s hard to trump Beachy’s rise through the ranks from nobody to possible top prospect, while Minor was a #1 pick who could have been expected to flourish.
Also, I’d think Marek deserves a nod over Kimbrel for best reliever. Kimbrel may be the better prospect, but for the year Marek has been damn near untouchable and has spent the full season on the farm. Their numbers are pretty close too.
Also a bit surprised to see a Domincan League guy get the nod as our best OF fielder. Good stuff CAC, those are just my thoughts on it.
It’s more indicative of the lack of quality OF’ers in the system than anything else. But Garcia is a really good OF’er. He can fly and his arm is a plus tool.
I should’ve done a rolaids honorable mention for Marek, he’s had a great year. I only saw him once (I usually leave the G-Braves games after the starters are done) but he was throwing 96 with movement and a filthy breaking ball.
Zac, the first crop of awards is basically reserved for legit prospects. I love Barbaro but he’s nothing more than a role-player for ATL.
Great stuff as always. Thanks
Did Arodys Vizcaino get hurt again the other night in Rome?
Peter,
Colby Rasmus. Still one year away from arbitration (2012).
Center fielder.
Could the braves actually get him?
Penny, Suppan, Westbrook are FA. Lohse is still draining 12M till 2012.
They have an excellent top 3 (Wainwright, Carpenter, Garcia) but their 4th and 5th starters SUCK!
They could use young pitching, the braves have some of that,
Guillermo,
That topic will be covered at length very soon.