Braves Officially Promote Several Top Prospects to Triple-A
By Parker White
It was rumored earlier in the day that the Atlanta Braves were promoting several of their top prospects to Triple-A Gwinnett after Christian Pache officially got the nod. Now there are more on the way.
According to Dave O'Brien of The Athletic, the Braves have promoted outfielders Pache and Drew Waters, as well as top pitching prospects Ian Anderson and Tucker Davidson, to Triple-A.
#Braves also promoted top pitching prospects Ian Anderson and lefty Tucker Davidson from Double A to Triple-A Gwinnett, along with OFs Pache and Waters. In Baseball America midseason Braves prospects list, Pache was No. 1, Anderson No. 2 and Waters No. 3. Davidson was No. 10.
— David O'Brien (@DOBrienATL) August 5, 2019
Pache, Waters and Anderson are Atlanta's top three prospects in the system, with Davidson labeled as No. 10 or 13 overall depending on what list you look at.
Pache is undoubtedly one of the best defensive center fielders in the minor leagues, but his bat has come around this season, as he's slashed .278/.340/.474 with 11 home runs and 53 RBI at Double-A.
The @Braves top outfield prospects are moving up. ? pic.twitter.com/dvoBMbZqZT
— FOX Sports: Braves (@FOXSportsBraves) August 5, 2019
Pache wasn't the only 20-year-old outfielder in Braves system who was tearing up Double-A, as Waters showed an all-around game on both sides of the ball while slashing .319/.366/.481 with 49 extra-base hits (35 doubles and nine triples), 41 RBI and 13 stolen bases over 108 games.
#Braves promote top-pitching prospect Ian Anderson to Triple-A Gwinnett.
— Kyle Burger (@kyle_burger) August 5, 2019
Last 10 Double-A starts:
2.09 ERA
56 IP
77 K - 15 BB#ChopOn pic.twitter.com/VMLTR6lTjU
Anderson, a former first-round pick, was also dominating the competition at Mississippi, as he posted a 2.68 ERA with a Double-A-leading 147 strikeouts over 111 innings.
Davidson, 23, may not get as much attention, but he's been sensational this season, posting a 2.03 ERA over 21 starts with 122 strikeouts over 110.2 innings at Double-A.