As if the last part of our list wasn’t fun enough, we begin to see a major influx of tools as we enter our top 18 prospects. After adding the likes of Isaiah and Guanipa back in 2023, the Braves made serious changes to what kind of players they were looking to add which is why we are beginning to see an influx of position prospects beginning to make the list. Speed, and overall approach stand out the most with this group of teenager, but there is a lot more to like about them including their untapped power potential. Owen, Cody, Isaiah, Conor, and Luis possess the tools that make you excited about watching minor league baseball. With proper development you’re looking at five position players that have the tools to be impact major leaguers whether that be with Atlanta, or via a trade with another organization. We are also entering the part of the list where things start to get REALLY fun. So pour yourself a glass of water, do some reading, and let’s hear your thoughts on the list below.
18. Blake Burkhalter – RHP
How he got to the Braves: 2022 2nd round compensation pick (76th overall)
It’s been an eventful winter for Blake Burkhalter. First he was left unprotected for the Rule 5 draft, and went unpicked by the 29 other teams. Then it seems like his Triple-A move to the pen is a move that is going to stick for him on a more permanent basis. Last year he spent the season split between Columbus and Gwinnett and starting and relieving, posting a 3.13 ERA and 1.28 WHIP as a starter in Columbus. With Gwinnett he made two starts and 16 relief appearances, posting a 3.77 ERA and 1.42 WHIP – though a 3.86 ERA and 1.33 WHIP as a reliever. After he struck out 65 in 72 innings with Columbus, he struck out 23 over 31 innings in Gwinnett – though it worth noting that he struck out 16 over 21 relief innings. Burkhalter has a fastball up to 98 MPH and cutter that can miss bats, plus a slider and change that are more average, and has above average command. In a relief role he will be able to rely more heavily on the fastball and cutter combo that are his better pitches. He is likely to start back in Gwinnett considering he isn’t on the 40-man roster, but is likely to see Atlanta at some point this season. Although he was a college closer his upside is probably more of a 7th/8th inning guy.
COLUMBUS, GA – JULY 04: Blake Burkhalter #40 of the Columbus Clingstones pitches during the game between the Montgomery Biscuits and the Columbus Clingstones at Synovus Park on Friday, July 4, 2025 in Columbus, Georgia. (Photo by Natalie Buchanan/Minor League Baseball via Getty Images)
How he got to the Braves: 2024 15th round pick (461st overall)
In terms of players in Atlanta’s system with significant helium to their status, Carey has to be near the top of anyone’s top prospects list.
While he was a late-round pick in his respective draft class, the Braves felt confident enough in Carey’s abilities by handing him a signing bonus of $150,000. So far, Carey has made good on that investment.
On the surface, Carey’s numbers weren’t exactly eye popping in his first professional season. Across 469 at-bats, Carey posted a .675 OPS for low-A Augusta, to go along with four homers and 63 RBI. However, considering he was nearly 2 and a half years younger than the competition, those numbers actually stand out as fairly solid for the young outfielder.
What is more encouraging for Carey, is that he showed tremendous plate discipline during his stint with the GreenJackets. Carey struck out in just 15% of his plate appearances for Augusta, and while he didn’t walk much – only 7.2% of the time – there’s still plenty to like with what Carey did while with the GreenJackets.
The main thing you want to see from Carey moving forward, is for him to get some lift on the ball, as he hit the ball on the ground in roughly half his at-bats for the year. If he can do that as he builds more muscle and taps into a bit more power, Carey could be a legitimate top-10 talent in the system by the time the season comes to a close.
It will be fascinating to see where Carey’s bat takes him in 2026. He’s likely slated to repeat at Augusta, at least to begin the season, as he gets back up to last year’s speed. From there, he should have a relatively quick bump to Rome where he and fellow teen outfielder Eric Hartman could suit up together at high-A before the all-star break.
Image Credit: Garrett Spain
16. Cody Miller – SS/3B/OF
How he got to the Braves: 2025 3rd round pick (96th overall)
The Braves surprised many when they drafted East Tennessee State shortstop Cody Miller in the third round in July and proceeded to sign him for an underslot bonus of $297.5k. Miller was way under the radar leading up to the draft, but his 2025 saw him rise the rankings of the Braves. After hitting just two home runs in each of his first two college seasons, Miller blasted 18 last spring with a slash of .331/.430/.623, and also added 27 steals while drawing 28 walks to his 35 strikeouts. He followed that up by heading to the Cape Cod League and slashing .261/.333/.439 with three more homers there against better competition than he faced at ETSU. Miller wasn’t just taking advantage of lesser competition, as he fared quite well against power conference teams as well last spring. He was drafted as a speed and hit tool guy, who has a little bit of pop, and also some defensive versatility. After signing he went to Augusta and hit .372/.417/.488 with a homer in 10 games before quickly being promoted to Rome. His time in Rome saw him play in 16 games and hit .297/.357/.422 with a homer. Combined he hit .327/.381/.449 with two homers, five doubles, a triple, 10 steals, and eight walks to 32 strikeouts over 118 plate appearances. He is likely to head back to Rome, but could push his way to Columbus quickly – even out of camp, and has played second, third, short, and left within the last year and has the speed to get a look in center as well. He has a Trea Turner-like skill set in that he should be able to make good contact, elite speed, and could be able to punch out 15-20 homers a year, though the first real test for him will be Double-A against upper level pitching
How he got to the Braves: 2023 5th round pick (162nd overall)
Headed into 2025, there was no prospect who needed to have an above-average year more so than Isaiah Drake. Coming off back-to-back seasons in which he posted a sub-.600 OPS, Drake needed to find an offensive switch, and it needed to happen sooner rather than later.
Needless to say, he found it.
Drake posted his best season yet at the plate, which culminated in a late season promotion to Rome, where he continued to show his offensive strides. In 84 games with Augusta before his promotion, Drake slashed .260/.341/.364 with five homers and 47 RBI. He also managed to swipe 35 bags while only getting caught 9 times.
With Rome, Drake suited up for 32 games in which he hit .303 with an OPS of .682. He also swatted one homer and drove in 12 runs. The biggest detriment to his game has been his inability to cut down on the strikeouts – in which he did so 23 times in 122 at-bats for Rome.
Drake’s skillset is well-documented; He’s a quick-twitch outfielder with exceptional speed and athleticism. The only thing lacking in his game thus far had been his offensive profile, which appears to have possibly made a turn for the better. However, it’s too small a sample size to determine that aspect for certain, so we’ll need to see Drake carry that into the 2026 season.
Drake appears slated to spend a majority, if not all, of the upcoming season with Rome as he continues to refine his approach at the plate. He doesn’t have to hit for a ton of power, as he can let the rest of his tools do a lions share of the talking. If he can tap into a little bit of power while keeping his batting consistent, Drake could be a sneaky guy to move up into the upper minors this season considering the sheer lack of depth the Braves have when it comes to outfield prospects.
How he got to the Braves: 2025 5th round pick (157th overall)
One of the biggest wildcards on the list, Braves 2025 fifth round draft pick Conor Essenburg finds himself all the way up at No. 14 overall on our list. With Essenburg comes pure projection – a surprisingly polished prep bat with strong exit velocities, and power projection that can make every Braves fan happy. He was a two way player that can touch the low-to-mid 90s on the mound, but it’s the potential with the bat that the Braves are interested in as they selected him as an outfielder during the draft. As with any prep player the question is will the hit tool translate – so that is something to keep an eye on this year as he makes his professional debut, likely in the FCL. But as is, Conor immediately becomes one of the highest upside outfield prospects in the system which is a group that is rapidly growing with power potential, a solid hit tool, average speed, and a big arm. Look for him to slot into that right fielder spot, though if the size and power continue to grow there is a tiny risk he profiles more as a first baseman. That said, there’s no reason to go down that route now because he has not shown any of that risk.
How he got to the Braves: 2023 international free agent
The Braves signed Luis Guanipa as their top international free agent three years ago for $2.5M. He was seen as a potential five-tool talent and backed that up in his pro debut. In the DSL in 2023 he hit .238/.361/.384 with four homers and 20 steals over 46 games. That was enough to shoot him up the rankings ahead of 2024, but unfortunately that ended up being a lost year for him due to injuries. He hit a combined .219/.286/.291 with two homers and 10 steals over 52 combined games between Augusta and the FCL after a late start to his season and then an additional injury layoff. The hope was that he would be healthy again and bounce back in 2025, but injuries hit again and limited him to just 35 games combined between Augusta and the FCL. He hit just .262/.345/.325 with just one homer and two steals – however he did show some growth during the season. He had monthly OPS marks of .182 and .636 in April and June, but .708 and .830 in July and August as he seemed to hit a lot better – however it needs to be noted that all of these months are small sample sizes, between 11 and 66 plate appearances. Guanipa when healthy still has shown five-tool ability, though will need to do a better job of translating his raw power into games. He is still just barely 20 years old and has the time to repeat Augusta and work with a strong coaching staff there again
VENICE, FLORIDA – MARCH 16, 2025: Luis Guanipa #72 of the Atlanta Braves bats during the fifth inning of a spring training Spring Breakout game against the Detroit Tigers at CoolToday Park on March 16, 2025 in Venice, Florida. (Photo by George Kubas/Diamond Images via Getty Images) Diamond Images/Getty Images