Two of the top prospects in the Braves’ organization, outfielder Mallex Smith and right-hander Aaron Blair, are with the big-league club now. A few others are at Triple-A Gwinnett and Double-A Mississippi.
At some point the Braves hope those players will join Smith and Blair in the majors. That theoretically could happen at any time because the Braves really only have three to four everyday position players, and the pitching rotation has shuffled players in and out.
But interim manager Brian Snitker said the Braves have no timetable in mind for when more prospects will join the team.
“I don’t have like a set date for anybody, and I don’t think organizationally we do,” Snitker said. “I think we will go with the player that tells you they are ready. Players are ready when they are ready. You really can’t put a date on when guys get it and are ready to advance at any level.”
Blair and Smith are among the top 10 Braves prospects as rated by Baseball America. Another, infielder Ozzie Albies, has been at Gwinnett since April 30. Right-hander Tyrell Jenkins, rated a top-10 Braves prospect by ESPN’s Keith Law, also is at Gwinnett.
The Braves’ top-rated prospect, infielder Dansby Swanson, is playing shortstop at Mississippi as the organization decides if he or Albies will move to second base. Left-hander Sean Newcomb, another top-10 prospect, also is at Mississippi.
Those players are expected to be part of the Braves’ core in the near future. Snitker, a long-time manager in the Braves’ minor-league system, said there is no blueprint for when that will happen.
“I don’t know what the formula is,” he said. “There is no formula. Everybody develops at a different pace. Everybody is ready at a different time. But you can tell when they are (ready). There’s something that clicks and you say, OK, a guy is ready.”
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