Braves Prospect Spotlight: Finding a Solution

Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

July 12, 2024

The Atlanta Braves‘ prospect spotlight is on a system that has ranked in the lowest tier across all organizations for several years. In 2017, the Braves’ farm system ranked No. 1. In 2024, they ranked as the 26th-best farm in the majors. With AJ Smith-Shawver, Hurston Waldrep and Spencer Schwellenbach as their three top 100 prospects, their pitching owns three very good starting options for the future. However, as a team, the position prospects are narrowed down after trading pieces to make runs at the World Series. Despite adding offense, the Braves bats are not close to 2023, and their farm is slow. They have one player that can fill a major answer for their roster.

The Problem

As stated earlier, as a team, the Braves’ bats are nowhere near the quality of 2023. Last season was historic, and impossible to replicate. With injuries to star players such as Ronald Acuna Jr., Sean Murphy, Michael Harris II, the Braves have fielded different players throughout the diamond. Even if the injuries can affect team batting, the substantial decrease in major categories are not in part due to injuries. The Braves ranked first in average, on-base percentage, OPS, and slugging in 2023. The current season, altogether, they rank 12th in slugging, 13th in OPS, 18th in average, and 20th in on-base percentage. The Braves bats seem cold, while the pitching has dealt. Star offensive players such as Austin Riley, Matt Olson, and Ozzie Albies are not having the success compared to last season. However, one position has struggled enough to need immediate addressing.

From All-Star to Skeptic

In 2023, the Braves sent eight players to the All-Star game in Seattle. One of the surprising players to add their name to the Midsummer Classic in 2023 is Orlando Arcia. He hit .264 in 139 games for the NL East champions last season. Arcia had career highs in average, slugging, OBP and OPS. 2024 is the complete opposite trend for the soon to be 30-year-old shortstop. He currently posts a .208 batting average, .248 OBP and 50 OPS+. His WPA is -2.4, by far the worst in his career, and has a 0.0 WAR this season.

Orlando Arcia has 1 RBI since June 14 and I think that 1 RBI wasn’t even a base hit.

— BravesToday (@bravestoday) July 12, 2024

Arcia’s 4.2 walk percentage is also his lowest since 2018. One metric that shows his struggle on is his RE24. RE24 is a metric that measures how much runs a batter or baserunner adds in the play. Orlando Arcia’s RE24 is -25.98, the worst in the majors by nine points.

Prospect Spotlight:

With the Braves’ struggles at shortstop and the trade deadline approaching, many fans have called for General Manager Alex Anthopoulos to make a trade. Some big names could be on the market during the deadline, but the hefty price could leave the Braves on the wrong side with a depleted farm system. However, prospect Nacho Alvarez Jr. continues to rake in Double-A and Triple-A. In MiLB this season, Alvarez posts a .286 batting average, .389 OBP and .788 OPS. In addition to the impressive stats, his Triple-A stats are much better. With Gwinnett, Nacho hits .320, an OBP of .402, and OPS of .946. His defensive side may need more work with a .957 fielding percentage, but the Braves’ offensive issues are a much bigger concern. Through all the concerns as a team, the Braves’ shortstop position could be the biggest red flag this season. With Nacho’s impressive performance in the minors and Arcia’s struggle in the majors, Alex Anthopoulos could make a call-up that could try and change the dynamic.

A Nacho supreme jack!

(we were one base runner away from a loaded Nacho tweet ?) pic.twitter.com/q1nbgTZc17

— Gwinnett Stripers (@GoStripers) July 10, 2024