If you’ve heard this before, stop me: Hurston Waldrep and AJ Smith-Shawver have received greater national attention from the top 100. Both Braves prospects made the top 100 list of Fangraphs’ prospect week, which is being followed by Eric Longenhagen and Tess Tarukin. Regarding the top of the Atlanta Braves talent pool, there has been remarkably consistent national performance. Although opinions have differed over who should be ranked first, both players have established themselves as the best in the business.
Smith-Shawver, who ranks 63rd overall and is a 50 FV prospect, tops this particular ranking. Smith-Shawver was 54th in the previous season’s midseason rankings, so this is a minor decline from that position, but he still made significant progress in his first professional season of breakthrough. National evaluators’ trust in Smith-Shawver has been damaged by his lackluster play at the top levels, but Fangraphs highlights the significance of this achievement—a 20-year-old with little professional or amateur experience making it to the major leagues and holding his own.
Hurston Waldrep, the 13th-highest-rated athlete from this most recent draft, is a well-known favorite of Longenhagen’s who thought he was the best bargain selection in the 2023 draft. In his professional debut, Waldrep had a fantastic partial season, making it to Triple-A and winning over both critics and fans with his sheer ability. Fangraphs has Waldrep ranked 85th overall as a 50 FV prospect. Despite his command concerns, which pose a significant risk to the bullpen, he maintains a middle-of-the-rotation projection. Fangraphs doesn’t like Waldrep’s approach and its effectiveness in a starting role, so time and growth will be crucial. Nevertheless, there is a great deal of hope that Waldrep’s skill can blossom in Atlanta.
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