Atlanta Braves All-Organization Team - March/April
With the calendar turning to May, lets take a look at some of the best performers so far in the Atlanta Braves organization.
One idea I kept coming back to this past offseason was putting together All-Organization teams across the Atlanta Braves system. It felt like a fun way to highlight not just what is happening in Atlanta, but also the guys grinding and producing across every level of the minors.
It is easy to get caught up in the Braves’ hot start at the Major League level. After a couple of frustrating seasons, this has felt like a return to what we expect from this team. Good baseball, clean execution, and a roster that actually performs as it should.
But the farm system has been just as fun in its own way. There are some names here you already know, and a few that might be popping up on your radar for the first time. That is kind of the point of these teams.
For context, I created a weighted aggregate score from 0 to 100 using each player’s metrics. Each team includes four infielders, three outfielders, one catcher, one designated hitter, and five pitchers. The minimums for the first month of the season are 30 plate appearances and 10 innings pitched, and those totals can come across multiple levels.
So with all that said, here are the Atlanta Braves All-Organization teams through the first full month of the season, according to me. (All stats through Friday morning.)
First-Team
Infield
If there is one position group that stands out above the rest, it is the infield. This is where the system really flexes.
At the top is exactly who you would expect in Matt Olson. He is leading the big league club with 9 home runs, 28 RBIs, a .987 OPS, and a 166 wRC+. It feels like every time you check a box score, he is right in the middle of it.
Then there is last year’s first round pick Tate Southisene, who looks like a completely different hitter than the one we saw last year. The production has been great, but the real story is the approach. He has cut the swinging strike rate from 20.7% to 9.2% and the strikeout rate nearly in half while boosting his walk rate from 1.5% to 17.7%. That is a real adjustment, and it is showing up in games.
David McCabe has been doing what he tends to do, which is hit. His .995 OPS is second in the entire organization and top three in home runs,. RBIs, and slugging tells you everything you need to know. Jim Jarvis is quietly turning into one of those under-the-radar moves that keep looking better. Getting him for Rafael Montero is the kind of deal that does not make noise at the time but pays off later.
Outfield
First, there is Michael Harris II. We have been waiting for that stretch where it all clicks early in the season, and this might finally be it. If he carries this version of himself forward, the idea of him sneaking into an MVP conversation is not that crazy.
High-A Rome might be the most entertaining team in the system right now, and Eric Hartman is a big reason why. He has not just been good, he has been one of the best teenage hitters in minor league baseball. At some point, he is going to force himself into a lot more ranking conversations.
Logan Braunschweig is a different kind of contributor, but just as valuable in his own way. The power is still developing, but he is getting on base and consistently putting together quality at-bats. That profile plays.
Catcher/DH
Nick Montgomery, being the top catcher here, is a bit of a surprise but a good one. After a tough season at 19, this kind of response tells you a lot about how he handled the offseason and the adjustments he made.
The DH spot goes to Archer Brookman, who is essentially benefiting from being the best hitter not already slotted somewhere else. The 27-year-old catcher has the highest batting average in the organization of hitters with at least 40 at-bats, and ranks third in wOBA.
Pitchers
Yes, Spencer Strider is here, and yes, it feels a little unfair. But if we are being honest, those rehab outings have been electric and they matter. It is hard not to include him when he looks like that.
Rolddy Muñoz looks much more comfortable in a relief role. Across 11.1 innings so far, he has allowed just four hits, zero runs, and three walks to 13 strikeouts. Owen Hackman has already forced a promotion to Double-A, which is always a good sign. When a team does not feel like you are being challenged enough, you are doing something right.
Finally, Mathieu Curtis has been dominant in a small sample. He was Atlanta’s 14th round pick last season, but did not debut until this year. Thus far in Augusta, he sports a 0.84 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, and 15 strikeouts to just 1 walk across 10.2 innings.
Second-Team
Infield
Ozzie Albies and Dominic Smith headline this group, and both have delivered at the MLB level in their own ways. Albies looks comfortable and back to his pre-2024 self, especially hitting from both sides. When he is right, the lineup feels deeper. Dom Smith has given us many big Dom Smith moments. It is not always loud production, but it feels timely, and that has value.
Aaron Schunk has been one of the better minor league signings, flat out producing in Gwinnett. Cal Conley is more of a steady presence, but sometimes that is exactly what you want from a player at that stage.
Outfield
Luis Guanipa is starting to put the full profile together. The power showing up without sacrificing speed is a big development, as shown with his .523 slugging percentage, four home runs, and 16 stolen bases. If that sticks, his trajectory changes quite a bit. Brewer Hicklen is one of those players who just keeps showing up and producing. There is value in that kind of consistency.
Last year’s 5th round pick, Conor Essenburg, has had an interesting start. While he is currently on the IL, he displayed the potential he has at the plate in his first eight games as a pro. The batting average and strikeout rates aren’t great, but he was a prep draftee so an adjustment period is expected. What is impressive is his 0.809 OPS and 23.7% walk rate. When he returns, my hope is that he continues to adjust to the pro game.
Catcher/DH
Drake Baldwin has been one of the most important players to the Atlanta Braves, and honestly, one of the best hitters in baseball to start the year. At this point, it is less about being surprised and more about adjusting expectations.
Lizandro Espinoza is quietly putting together his best stretch as a pro, which is exactly what you want to see from a developing bat.
Pitchers
Bryce Elder has been one of the best stories so far this season. The addition of the cutter has given him another dimension, and it shows in the results. He looks like a completely different pitcher, in the best possible way.
Carlos Carrasco’s time was short, but the performance in Triple-A was impressive. Herick Hernandez still feels like a future bullpen weapon. He has some of the top swing and miss stuff we have, with an organization-leading 18.4% swinging strike rate and the third-highest strikeout rate with 33.7%.
Luis Vargas is an IFA signee who started to find success last season as a reliever. With 22 strikeouts and just 1 walk, his 17.6% swinging strike rate is second in the entire organization of pitchers with at least 10 innings. David Rodriguez in High-A has recorded two saves while striking out nine and giving up zero walks, continuing the trend we are seeing of eliminating walks more and more.
Third-Team
Infield
John Gil is the kind of player who gives fans something to dream on. Still just 19, the combination of speed (15 stolen bases) and developing power (.468 SLG) at his age is exactly what you want to see from a potential long-term answer at shortstop.
Dixon Williams feels overlooked, but the production says otherwise. After being drafted in the 4th round out of East Carolina last year, he showed promise with a 0.852 OPS and 150 wRC+ in Augusta. This year he has continued to show this promise in Rome. Most importantly, he has cut his strikeout rate from 30.7% to 21.1%, despite being a level up.
Juan Mateo is a name to file away now before it becomes more mainstream. Just a $10,000 IFA signing, he is sporting a top-three slash line in Augusta. Performing like that at 18 is not something you ignore.
Rowdy Tellez is doing what he needs to do in Gwinnett. If a spot opens up, he is making a case to break back into the MLB level.
Outfield
Owen Carey was just a 15th-round prep pick back in 2024, but made a name for himself last season in Augusta. This year in Rome, the 19-year-old is building on what he started last year, showing a little more impact with the bat while maintaining his approach.
Isaiah Drake is still surprisingly incredibly young for his level, and the early signs of power development are encouraging. Kevin Kilpatrick Jr is trying to force a move up, and continued production like this will make that decision easier.
Catcher/DH
Adam Zebrowski looks like a completely different hitter than the previous five seasons. After years of limited production, he is producing at career highs.
Dalton McIntyre is another late-round name that is starting to show more impact. He had a solid season last year, but struggled to really find power or impact. This season, he already has two home runs, and is sporting a batting average over .300 and an OPS over .840.
Pitchers
The headliner of the third-team pitching staff is JR Ritchie. He wasted no time proving he was ready, taking just two starts in Triple-A to get the call-up. The Top 100 prospect should be a staple in the rotation for years to come.
Ethan Bagwell has found something this year, especially with his command. In four starts, he has recorded 21 strikeouts and just 1 walk to go along with his 3.27 ERA and 1.05 WHIP. Brett Sears continues to move steadily through the system. He pitched at all four levels of the farm system last season, and this year has just been promoted to Triple-A.
Davis Polo and Carter Lovasz round things out, and both fit the trend we keep seeing. Throw strikes, miss bats, and good things tend to happen.