Every year, a handful of players ranked outside the top 10 in their respective farm systems take meaningful steps forward to improve their stock and vault up prospect rankings. Part of the fun is trying to identify those breakouts before it happens. So today, we’re identifying Braves prospects who have the potential to make a jump in 2026.

To qualify, a player must rank outside the organization’s preseason Top 10 prospects. All scouting reports are from Baseball America’s 2026 Prospect handbook, which you can purchase here.

You can find Top 30 prospect rankings for all teams here and all breakout candidates here.

Breakout Prospects

Conor Essenburg, OF

BA Grade/Risk: 55/Extreme
Adjusted Grade: 35

Track Record: Essenburg was a high-level two-way player out of Lincoln-Way West High in New Lenox, Ill. He made waves in the scouting industry after he homered against a 99 mph fastball from lefty flamethrower Jack Bauer in a big-time prep matchup. The Braves lured him away from a Kentucky commitment when they drafted him—as an outfielder—in the fifth round for $1.2 million.

Scouting Report: At 6-foot-2, 200 pounds and with tremendous bat speed and raw power, Essenburg immediately becomes one of the more exciting sluggers in Atlanta’s system. He’s a “backwards profile” righthanded hitter and lefthanded thrower who can put a charge into the baseball with an uphill path and high-intent swing. Essenburg’s pure hitting ability is a question mark and largely unproven. His high school track record was more limited than most of his peers drafted in the first five rounds, and he didn’t play official games after signing. Still, he wowed Braves officials in a bridge league matchup with the Rays when he launched a mid-90s fastball to center. Essenburg is a below-average runner who should be limited to a corner, though he does have a plus throwing arm—he threw 94 mph on the mound—that profiles in right.

The Future: Amateur scouts were torn on whether Essenburg’s upside was greater as a hitter or pitcher, but the Braves seem to view him as a bat-only prospect now. He’ll get his first taste of pro ball at the lower levels in 2026 when Atlanta, and everyone else, will get a better feel for the sort of pure hitter he is.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 55 | Run: 40 | Field: 50 | Arm: 60

Eric Hartman, OF

BA Grade/Risk: 45/High
Adjusted Grade: 30

Track Record: Hartman is a Canadian product who signed for the largest day three bonus the Braves handed out in 2024—a $337,500 deal in the 20th round. He wasn’t a big name on pre-draft radars, but earned positive feedback from Braves officials after signing. Hartman missed a month of his first pro season with a hamstring injury but flashed tools on both sides of the ball in the low minors.

Scouting Report: Hartman is a 6-foot-1, 185-pound outfielder and lefthanded hitter with a solid blend of strength, twitch and athleticism. Among teenagers in the Braves system his blend of exit velocity, contact ability and swing decisions stood out. Hartman is an extremely pull-happy hitter. His 55.2% pull rate was the most in Atlanta’s system among hitters with at least 300 plate appearances. All five of his home runs were yanked to the pull side. While Hartman’s pull-happy tendencies might get exposed at higher levels, he showed an impressive ability to time up, impact and connect with high-end velocity. He’s still learning to recognize and make contact with pro secondaries. Hartman is an above-average runner and strong defender who can handle all three outfield positions. He also played 18 games at second base, but looks more natural in the outfield where he’s one of the best defenders in the system.

The Future: Hartman has a well-rounded toolset and could become a second-division sort of hitter, though he still has a long way to go.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 40 | Power: 40 | Run: 55 | Field: 60 | Arm: 50

Owen Carey, OF

BA Grade/Risk: 45/High
Adjusted Grade: 30

Track Record: Carey was an under-the-radar high school prospect out of a Londonderry High program in New Hampshire that’s had just two players drafted—righthander Brian Wilson in 2000, and then Carey in 2024. He signed for $150,000 in the 15th round with the Braves instead of heading to Rutgers, and in his first pro season with Low-A Augusta hit .258/.330/.345 in 117 games.

Scouting Report: Carey is a 6-foot, 185-pound lefthanded outfielder with a solid blend of bat speed, athleticism (he also played hockey in high school) and contact skills. While Carey’s offensive line is modest, he acquitted himself nicely in a tough league for hitters—particularly 18-year-old hitters with a multi-sport background from a cold weather state. Carey’s exit velocity data was some of the most impressive of any teenager in Atlanta’s system, and he also made a lot of contact with a fastball-hunting approach and just a 15.6% strikeout rate. His approach needs refinement. Carey is overly aggressive and is quite pull happy, but in general scouts were impressed with how confident he seemed in the box against older competition. He can play all three outfield positions well, but is more of a solid runner who likely profiles best in a corner because of that.

The Future: Carey needs a lot more reps and development time, but it’s not hard to envision a second-division regular outcome given his tools and athleticism.

Scouting Grades Hit: 40 | Power: 50 | Run: 50 | Field: 50 | Arm: 50