The Atlanta Braves weren’t supposed to contend this year. Yet, the team finds itself right in the thick of the N.L. East playoff race.
The winning ways are likely to extend beyond this year, as the Braves are set up nicely for the future with a deep group of pitchers in their minor league system. And it’s only getting stronger.
Touki Toussaint was the Arizona Diamondbacks 14th overall selection in the 2014 MLB Amateur Draft. He was rated as the 8th best prospect by MLB.com’s Johnathan Mayo, and 13th by Baseball America’s Keith Law. Atlanta traded for Toussaint on Sunday, and have gained yet another possible front of the rotation starter.
The addition of Toussaint is assuredly a move that won’t see results for another two or three years. The 19-year-old is one of the youngest players in the Midwest League, and is likely won’t see AA ball until mid-season of 2016. Toussaint currently sits with a 3.69 ERA, and has a 6.69 K/9. He is just one of many promising pitchers the Braves have at their disposal.
Matthew Wiser is another one of those young arms.
Wisler was acquired in the blockbuster deal that sent Craig Kimbrel to the San Diego Padres. The Braves recently recalled Wiser from AAA, and the rookie didn’t disappoint in his first MLB start. He pitched eight strong innings of one run ball against the New York Mets. The performance was the first time a Braves starter went eight innings in his pro debut since John Smoltz.
With Wisler and Toussaint already making waves in the Braves organization, the team is also relying on a few other promising pitching prospects. The list includes Max Fried, Lucas Sims Mike Foltynewicz, Arodys Vizcaino, and Manny Banuelos.
All six of these pitchers have at one time been ranked on MLB’s top 100 prospect list.
The Braves might have the deepest set of pitching prospects in all the majors. Atlanta is set to move into a new stadium for the 2017 season, and the goal is to have a competitive roster on the field for opening day.
With a farm system as deep as theirs, that goal is looking to become a reality.