As we wrap up the updated Atlanta Braves Top 30 prospect list, I thought now would be a good time to project out what the Braves might look like five years from now, which takes us to 2031. With the added prospect depth within the last year there are some arguments to be made for who takes what position and who doesn’t make the roster.
For reference everyone is aging five years from this year, which is why you won’t see a 37-year-old Matt Olson on the roster. Also contracts are coming up and those could go in any direction. I am not projecting outside free agents and trades, as there are so many variables there.
Considering Drake Baldwin will only be 30 in the 2031 season, this is a fairly easy projection. I am expecting him to be one of the best catchers in the game still.
First Base – Conor Essenburg
It was a tough call at first base, where Matt Olson will be 37. A lot can happen in the next five years, but if he is still a productive player I would expect him to be around. Since I counted him out and the Braves don’t have any strong true first base prospects, I moved Conor Essenburg here from the glut of talented outfield prospects.
Second Base – Tate Southisene
Another tough call as Ozzie Albies will be 34 in 2031. I am going with Tate Southisene though as a speedy high on base option who could end up hitting at the top of the lineup.
Austin Riley will be 34 in 2031, but the way he has seen his production decline over the last three years makes it tough to slot him in here. I went with John Gil as another speedy, hit tool oriented player. The fact he may need to move off shortstop in the big leagues and the Braves not having any strong third base prospects above the DSL makes him the pick.
Shortstop – Manuel Campos
This was a tough pick as there is no one on the Braves active roster who feels likely to have this spot locked down in five years. It became FCL’s Manuel Campos versus DSL’s Jose Manon for this spot, as I struggle to buy into Alex Lodise hitting enough to be an everyday guy.
Left Field – Eric Hartman
This outfield spot saw Eric Hartman, AJ Gracia, Luis Guanipa, Owen Carey, Carter Beck, Starlyn De La Cruz, Michael Martinez, Isaiah Drake, and Diego Tornes all among the options. Hartman was my choice because the upside and proximity give him the likely first chance to claim this job – or second to Gracia in a worst case scenario.
Center Field – Michael Harris II
Michael Harris II is pretty locked into this spot, as he will only be 30 here in 2031.
Right Field – Ronald Acuna Jr.
Ronald Acuna Jr. will be 33 in 2031 and his contract will come due, but it’s just hard to picture a scenario where the Braves don’t end up resigning him. I am projecting the Braves find a way to bring Ronald back.
Designated Hitter – AJ Gracia
AJ Gracia was a fairly obvious choice to make the projected lineup, but I picked him at DH instead of left field because I believe Hartman could be the better defender.
The projected bench need one catcher, infielder, outfielder, and one other player. I am deciding not to pick Olson, who I think will either be starting or out of the organization, while I am leaving Riley and Albies out. The backup catcher feels like Jack Brenner is the most likely option out of a group without many real options. It was always going to be one of the five catchers drafted this year for this spot. The outfielder is going to be Luis Guanipa, as he projects to have enough tools all around to make an excellent fourth outfielder. The infield backup is going to be DSL prospect Jose Manon, over guys like Edelson Cabral and Ryne Barker. The fourth and final bench spot is going to come down to Owen Carey, Starlyn De La Cruz, Isaiah Drake, Cabral, Barker, Carter Beck, and Diego Tornes. I picked Carey as a bet on his bat, though Tornes and De La Cruz will still just be in their age-22 seasons.
This group will likely have seen Chris Sale retire, and it’s tough to pencil Spencer Strider into the rotation right now. Once they get healthy Spencer Schwellenbach and AJ Smith-Shawver have the easiest claims to spots, especially with how AJSS seemed to turn the corner last year just before his injury. I am predicting Didier Fuentes will be ready for the rotation by that point, and Cam Caminiti will be ready. The last spot came down to recent draft picks Jensen Hirschkorn and Kaiden McCarthy along with Briggs McKenzie and JR Ritchie, and Hirschhorn’s massive upside along with his ability to throw strikes is what gave him the choice.
I am projecting recent draftee Kaiden McCarthy to the closer role since there wasn’t a rotation spot for him, as I think his stuff would translate well into that role. Current relievers Dylan Lee and Dylan Dodd also get spots, as Lee will be 36 and Dodd 33. Hurston Waldrep and JR Ritchie get relief roles with no open rotation spots, while Spencer Strider ends up in the pen to preserve his arm. The final two spots go to Herick Hernandez, who may be a better fit in the pen with his command being a work in progress and I am picking the final spot for Cedric De Grandpre, as he seems to be in the middle of taking a step forward this year.
This leaves some bigger names like Briggs McKenzie, Owen Murphy, Garrett Baumann, and Ethan Bagwell out. Also left out are recent draftees Wil Libbert, Cole Dennis, and Tyson Grulkowski.
