Atlanta Braves 2026 Top 20 Prospects

Team Outlook

The Atlanta Braves did not have the 2025 season that they would have wanted at the big league level. The Braves missed the playoffs, largely due to a shocking lack of depth in the major league and upper minors, especially when it comes to hitters. The Braves have always targeted pitchers early in the draft, but in 2025 they made a switch, going with Tate Southisene to afford them the ability to sign Conor Essenburg and Briggs McKenzie. This was a departure from them taking pitchers early in the draft, like when they drafted their two best prospects in Owen Murphy and JR Ritchie. The Braves have also been aggressive with their acquired college pitchers, as they have moved pitchers like Spencer Strider and Spencer Schwellenbach through the minors quickly. The Atlanta Braves have a middling farm system, that lacks the star power that some of their rivals might have. The good thing for Braves fans is they have graduated and developed well in the past, so the current crop of minor leaguers are in good hands.

About Our Top 20 Lists

Prospects Live, led by its evaluating team & Director of Scouting Rhys White, is proud to begin rolling out its annual offseason system reports. The team combines industry feedback, our live looks, film, and available data to compile each org. We believe this effort has enabled us to present you, the reader, with our best possible view of the prospects in the organization.

We have constructed this list using the Overall Future Potential (OFP) scale. There is no perfect equation for ranking prospects or assigning value to them, but we believe this method is the best possible approach. Every prospect on this list has been graded based on the tried and true 20-80 scouting scale. An 80 is the highest tool and OFP grade on the scale, reserved for MVP-caliber players or tools. Conversely, a 20 is reserved for non-prospects (NPs). A 50 OFP falls in the middle, indicating our evaluators deem this player a future average major league player. Below the 50 OFP tier are the 45s and 40s, comprising a large majority of players on each list. These are specific-role players, such as platoon hitters, utility players, or low-leverage relievers. Above the 50 OFP tier are the 55s and 60s. A 55 represents a future above-average player, and a 60 OFP designation is reserved for future All-Star caliber players.

In addition to the tool grades and OFP, we will also include a 'Risk' associated with each prospect. We use this to better communicate to you, the reader, whether a grade is more aggressive or conservative in nature. The evaluation team has worked hard to apply both the grades and risk components to better illustrate how each individual prospect stacks up in their respective system and in the baseball ecosystem.

Evaluators: Brandon Tew, Grant Carver, Matt Seese, Nate Jones, Rhys White, Trevor Hooth, Tyler Paddor

Find all the 2026 Top Top 20 Prospects lists here:

2026 Team Prospect Lists - Prospects Live

Prospects LiveProspects Live Staff

Top 20 Prospects at a Glance

1. Owen Murphy, RHP - 50 OFP
2. JR Ritchie, RHP - 50 OFP
3. Cam Caminiti, LHP - 50 OFP
4. John Gil, SS - 50 OFP
5. Hurston Waldrep, RHP - 50 OFP
6. Didier Fuentes, RHP - 50 OFP
7. Diego Tornes, OF - 50 OFP
8. Ethan Bagwell, RHP - 50 OFP
9. Owen Carey, OF - 45 OFP
10. Tate Southisene, SS - 45 OFP
11. Blake Burkhalter, RHP - 45 OFP
12. Briggs McKenzie, LHP - 45 OFP
13. Herick Hernandez, LHP - 45 OFP
14. Alex Lodise, SS - 45 OFP
15. Conor Essenburg, OF - 45 OFP
16. Garrett Baumann, RHP - 45 OFP
17. Jhancarlos Lara, RHP - 45 OFP
18. Lucas Braun, RHP - 45 OFP
19. Drue Hackenberg, RHP - 45 OFP
20. Luke Sinnard, RHP - 45 OFP

Scouting Reports

Find Scouting Reports, Tool Grades and Dynasty Outlooks in each toggle section

1. Owen Murphy, RHP - 50 OFP

2. JR Ritchie, RHP - 50 OFP