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Atlanta Braves Top MLB Prospects for 2016 Dynasty Leagues

More than any other team in baseball, the Atlanta Braves have committed to an absolute complete rebuild. The Braves have dealt both Justin Upton and Melvin Upton, Shelby Miller, Andrelton Simmons, Craig Kimbrel, and many more in exchange for young talent. Since taking over the general manager position, John Hart has done an excellent job stockpiling young talent.

This team has one of the top five best farm systems and it starts with their young pitching. Almost every pitcher that they have in their system has a high ceiling and most look to have an impact in the next few years. The Braves also have now added Dansby Swanson to a list of bats that already included top prospects Ozzie Albies and Rio Ruiz. Just about every player on this list can be owned in dynasty leagues and contribute substantial value.

Make sure to also check out our awesome 2016 fantasy baseball rankings dashboard, where you will find more of my team prospect rankings. You'll also find RotoBaller staff rankings for all positions, tiered rankings starting to ramp up, dynasty rankings for 2016, and much more. Okay, let's get to it.

 

Atlanta Braves Top 10 Dynasty Prospects

These are the top ten prospects for the Atlanta Braves in terms of fantasy production for fantasy owners in the next few seasons.

1. Dansby Swanson (SS, A-)
Stats: 99 PA, .289/.394/.482, 1 HR, 0 SB, 14.1% BB rate, 14.1% K rate
ETA: 2017
Arguably the most talented of the three shortstops taken at the front of the 2015 draft, Dansby Swanson has the potential to be a real franchise shortstop. Though the Arizona Diamondbacks traded him rather quickly to the Atlanta Braves for Shelby Miller, dynasty owners need to understand that a shortstop this talented should be held onto for a while. Though he doesn’t have the same power as some of the other shortstops, Swanson possesses an advanced approach at the plate and should be able to consistently hit over .300 in the majors with 10 home runs and steal 25+ bases. Dynasty owners need to be ready for him to be a big time contributor as early as this season because Swanson is about as Major League ready as any hitter in the minors. Swanson is a must-own in all dynasty league formats.

2. Ozhaino Albies (SS, A)
Stats: 439 PA, .310/.368/.404, 0 HR, 29 SB, 8.2% BB rate, 12.8% K rate
ETA: 2018
The acquisition of Dansby Swanson put Ozzie Albies’ future at shortstop in doubt, but there is no doubt that Albies will have a big impact at some point in the majors. Though he possesses no power whatsoever and is not quite the on-base machine that Swanson is, Albies has some of the best speed in the minors and is talented enough with the bat to reach base enough to really help dynasty owners. He has a balanced combination of speed and bat-handling ability which should allow him to hit for a solid .290+ batting average and steal 40+ bases per season. In spite of being blocked by Swanson at his primary position, Albies must be owned in all leagues as he will force his way to the majors and have a huge impact when he arrives.

3. Sean Newcomb (SP, AA)
Stats: 36.0 IP, 2.75 ERA, 3.94 FIP, 9.75 K/9, 6.00 BB/9, 0.50 HR/9
ETA: 2017
Often compared to Jon Lester because of his size and diverse repertoire, Sean Newcomb has the talent to be an ace in the majors. He was recently acquired by the Atlanta Braves in the Andrelton Simmons deal and it could possibly be quite the steal for them. Newcomb’s repertoire is one of the most lethal of any left-handed pitching prospect in the minors as he has a fastball that can reach triple-digits, a wipeout curveball that serves as his primary outpitch, and a changeup that has continued to improve every year and could potentially be a plus pitch for him. The only concern on Newcomb is his command which does tend to waver at times, but he has made great strides in improving his control over the past few seasons. All in all, dynasty owners should not worry too much about Newcomb and count on him to be an All-Star in the majors.

4. Kolby Allard (SP, A)
Stats: 6.0 IP, 0.00 ERA, -0.19 FIP, 18.0 K/9, 0.00 BB/9, 0.00 HR/9
ETA: 2019
Kolby Allard has all the makings of a future ace if he can prove that he is durable. After being drafted 14th overall by the Braves in 2015, Allard saw his season cut short by back surgery. Allard features a mid-90s fastball that could continue to improve as he matures, a lethal curveball that may be the best of any lefty prospect in the minors, and a changeup that has the potential to be a third elite pitch. Allard’s command is praised by scouts as well for being well above his years. Allard is a few seasons away from the majors, but his potential makes him worthy of being owned in all dynasty leagues

5. Aaron Blair (SP, AAA)
Stats: 77.0 IP, 3.16 ERA, 4.08 FIP, 6.55 K/9, 3.16 BB/9, 0.58 HR/9
ETA: 2016
The other prospect acquired by the Braves in the Shelby Miller deal, Aaron Blair could have an impact as early as this season. More than likely, Blair will begin the year in Triple-A, but odds are he will see time in the majors sooner rather than later. Blair’s repertoire is not lights out, but it is dependable with a low-90s fastball with sinking action, an above-average curveball, and a changeup that serves as his go-to strikeout pitch. Blair’s stuff will not rack up gaudy strikeout totals, but he should be counted on to induce groundball outs and eat up a lot of innings. Though he doesn’t have the potential of Allard or Newcomb, Blair’s high floor and medium ceiling should be enough for him to be owned in all leagues.

6. Lucas Sims (SP, AA)
Stats: 47.2 IP, 3.21 ERA, 3.30 FIP, 10.57 K/9, 5.48 BB/9, 0.19 HR/9
ETA: 2017
Taken with the 21st overall pick in the 2012 draft, there is no doubt that Lucas Sims, like just about every other pitcher on this list, has the potential to be a front of the rotation starter. Like most, his repertoire is not the problem, his command of those pitches is. His mid-90s fastball and hard breaking curveball are his bread and butter combo for strikeouts. He also has a changeup that has made great improvements since he was first drafted. As I mentioned earlier, his command is the only thing holding him back from the majors right now. He is much closer to the majors than some of the other starters on this list, however, and should be owned in all dynasty leagues for his potential.

7. Touki Toussaint (SP, A)
Stats: (with ATL) 48.2 IP, 5.73 ERA, 5.74 FIP, 7.03 K/9, 6.10 BB/9, 1.11 HR/9
ETA: 2019
Acquired from the Diamondbacks in the Bronson Arroyo deal, Touki Toussaint has about as much potential as any pitcher in the Braves’ farm system. Toussaint has a lethal repertoire with a mid-90s fastball, one of the best right-handed curveballs in the minors, and a changeup that is quickly becoming a third above-average pitch for him. The biggest issue with Toussaint is his well below-average command. Toussaint walks far too many batters and has a tendency to miss in the zone which leads to a lot of home runs being knocked off.

He has many years of development ahead of him before he can reach his full potential, but if he can ever improve on his command, he has the potential to be a future top of the rotation starter. Dynasty owners could stash Toussaint if they have the utmost confidence in him reigning everything in, but for now dynasty owners could pass on him until he shows some progress.

8. Tyrell Jenkins (SP, AAA)
Stats: 45.1 IP, 3.57 ERA, 4.48 FIP, 5.76 K/9, 3.97 BB/9, 0.79 HR/9
ETA: 2017
Much like Aaron Blair, Tyrell Jenkins does not possess ace potential, but he could be counted on to be a groundball machine in the majors. Jenkins’ fastball, much like Blair, makes up in movement where it lacks in velocity. He typically sits in the low-90s, but his fastball has a lot of downward action on it which causes hitters to roll over on it. His secondary stuff (curveball and changeup) both need some improvements, but they have the potential to at least be above-average.

The two biggest concerns with Jenkins are his durability and command. Jenkins has thrown over 100 innings only once in the minors and has typically walked more than three batters per nine which could be an issue since he lacks the strikeout stuff to make up for that. He could be ownable if he can improve his control, but right now dynasty owners would be best off looking elsewhere.

9. Max Fried (SP, A)
Stats: NA
ETA: 2019
Another potential front of the rotation starter in the Braves’ system, Max Fried has shown, when healthy, that he should pay off for the Braves after they acquired him in the Justin Upton deal with the Padres. Fried has a low-90s fastball, a lethal power curveball, and an above-average changeup. The biggest issue with Fried is his health. Fried missed all of 2015 with Tommy John surgery and that will drastically delay his promotion. Fried could be stashed by dynasty owners for his potential, just so long as the owners keep in mind that it could be a few years until their investment pays off.

10. Manny Banuelos (SP, MLB)
Stats: (from AAA) 84.2 IP, 2.23 ERA, 3.46 FIP, 7.33 K/9, 4.25 BB/9, 0.21 HR/9
ETA: 2016
The starter on this list with the chance to open up the season in the Braves’ rotation, Manny Banuelos does not have the upside that the other pitchers on this list have, but he will have the most immediate impact. Banuelos has seen his strikeout totals continue to decline as he reaches the higher levels of the minors, but that should not deter owners too much. He more than any other pitcher on this list could be passed up as he neither possesses elite stuff nor dependable command.

 

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