3 Braves Prospects Screwed by Minor League Season Officially Being Canceled

The 2020 minor league season has officially been axed due to the coronavirus pandemic. While the impact on local economies and a potential wave of contraction stand out as the two biggest issues stemming from this unfortunate closure, teams like the Atlanta Braves had to make major alterations to their player development plans.

These three Braves prospects were primed for big 2020 seasons both in the minor leagues and, potentially, with the big league club, but their path to MLB stardom just got a whole lot trickier.

3. SP Bryse Wilson

Atlanta Braves starter Bryse Wilson / Mark Cunningham/Getty Images

Wilson is just 22 years old, but he is already starting to lose a bit of his luster after brief struggles with the MLB club over the last two seasons. Wilson struggled with locating his pitches, and his 7.00 ERA shows that he was brought to the major leagues way too quickly. Wilson was supposed to go to Triple-A Gwinnett and work out the kinks, but this early end to the minor league season prevents Wilson from fine-tuning his game ahead of the shortened 2020 season.

2. SP Ian Anderson

Atlanta Braves starter Ian Anderson / Michael Reaves/Getty Images

Anderson was blazing through the minor leagues in 2019, but he hit a roadblock when he went to Triple-A, as he developed a nasty habit of letting the ball fly out of the ballpark. A former No. 3 overall pick, Anderson figured to be a potential candidate for the No. 5 starter job or a sneaky candidate to contribute out of the bullpen in 2020. With minimal Triple-A success, Atlanta could feel hesitant about promoting him to the major leagues. His debut might need to be put on hold.

1. OF Cristian Pache

Atlanta Braves outfielder Cristian Pache / Joe Robbins/Getty Images

Just when you thought the Braves were running out of über-talented prospects, Pache is here to follow in the footsteps of Ronald Acuña and Ozzie Albies. The plan for Pache was to keep dominating in Triple-A before finally joining the big-league team as extra firepower in September and October. Without the benefit of a few hundred extra at-bats in Triple-A, Atlanta will need to decide if they will promote their top prospect to the majors straight away or leave him at home twiddling his thumbs.