The Atlanta Braves have never been shy about fast-tracking prospects to the biggest stage. At least one rookie has provided a huge lift to the Major League team over these past few seasons. Last year it was a surprising promotion of Spencer Schwellenbach that helped stabilize the rotation.
Before that it was Michael Harris II and Spencer Strider finishing in the top two in NL Rookie of the Year voting. But which Braves prospects are poised to make an impact in 2025?
Expect at least one arm to come up and make a difference for the Braves
Hurston Waldrep
We have to begin with one of the top arms in the Braves system. Fast rising Hurston Waldrep made it all the way to the Major League level last season before he was sidelined with elbow inflammation. Waldrep struggled with command once again when he was working his way back with Gwinnett, but he went at least five innings in each of his last five starts.
Waldrep will come to spring training with a chance to win a final rotation spot, although he’s certainly not the early favorite to do so. However, should Waldrep continue to harness his command his lethal splitter could soon enough become a regular weapon for Braves fans to enjoy.
Drake Baldwin
The top position player prospect in the Braves’ system is exciting catching prospect Drake Baldwin. He was named the organization’s minor league player of the year and flashed some really impressive tools across two levels last season.
Sean Murphy is set to get his heaviest workload in his Braves tenure, but should he struggle with injuries once again Drake Baldwin will get his chance to shine.
Blake Burkhalter
This feels like a year that the 24 year-old RHP out of Auburn is set to work his way up the minor league ladder. Burkhalter reached High-A Rome last season, pitching in 14 games with a 2.71 ERA. His advanced feel and command may catapult him over other arms in the system and generate the Schwellenbach roadmap for Burkhalter.
There is a chance with Burkhalter ends up in the bullpen as that is where he pitched in college at Auburn and he had Tommy John surgery which cost him all of 2023. However, the stuff is good enough to where even that transition wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world given Atlanta’s current bullpen situation.
Jhancarlos Lara
One of the most exciting arms in the system, Jhancarlos Lara possesses some of the most electric stuff amongst Braves pitching prospects. His upper 90s fastball and devastating breaking ball has the ability to generate a ton of swing and miss.
Lara is still working on finding the strike zone more consistently, and will probably spend the majority of this upcoming season doing so in the upper minor league levels. However, should the Braves desire a difference making arm to plug in the bullpen, Lara could be that guy if he’s made enough progress with his command.
Drue Hackenberg
We round this list out with yet another arm who piled up the strikeout numbers last season in the minors. Drue Hackenberg was the second round pick in the 2023 draft, and impressed a ton of scouts last season.
Drue Hackenberg may just be the next exciting Braves pitching prospect 👀
His 2024 #'s across 3 levels(A+,AA,AAA):
7-5
3.07 ERA
1.23 WHIP
129 IP
144 K's🔥On July 21st against the Pensacola Blue Wahoos, he went NUCLEAR with 7 IP, 3H, 1R, 16 K's🤯 pic.twitter.com/Evgy2c9a6O
— Ben Weaver (@weaver_cards) January 8, 2025
Overall he worked a 3.07 ERA across three levels, finishing the year in Triple-A Gwinnett to punctuate his ascension. Hackenberg’s heavy sinker generates a ton of groundballs, and his tight slider that gets paired with that really gives opposing hitters fits. He’ll be one of the many upper minor league arms that can pitch their way into big league plans with a good spring in 2025.
