Atlanta’s farm system is decimated, but that’s what happens when you graduate pretty much an entire team to the majors over a five-year span, and then trade the rest of the spare parts for two All-Stars in Matt Olson and Sean Murphy. It is slim pickings down on the farm; with that being said, the Braves have been fantastic at drafting and developing talent, and one of their 2021 selections is starting to look like a star in the making.
AJ Smith-Shawver was taken in the seventh-round out of Colleyville Heritage High School. He’s still just 20-years-old, but he’s one track to have a Spencer Strider-esque rise through the Braves minor league system.
A couple of weeks ago, Smith-Shawver was promoted to AA. That’s quite a bump for a player so young, but he’s proving the Braves smart for their decision. Through his first seven innings in Mississippi, he’s yet to allow a run, striking out nine batters with a 1.14 WHIP. In his last outing on Saturday, Smith-Shawver tossed five scoreless innings with seven strikeouts.
Not a bad home debut for @aj_smithshawver! pic.twitter.com/7qv3ZA3QRr
— Mississippi Braves (@mbraves) May 13, 2023
I’ve been on the Smith-Shawver train for a bit now. I had him as the Braves top prospect coming into the season, and I don’t think there’s any doubt about it now. He’s the one guy in Atlanta’s farm system I think has star potential, featuring heat in the high-90s with loads of swing-and-miss stuff.
.@Braves' No. 4 prospect AJ Smith-Shawver struck out 7 for the @mbraves and has yet to give up a run in 21 innings this season: pic.twitter.com/hkRQAJ5VSw
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) May 14, 2023
There’s some Spencer Strider in Smith-Shawver’s game, and that should excited Braves fans everywhere, especially given their need for starting pitching. Unfortunately, it’s foolish to think he will contribute anytime soon.
Smith-Shawver is only 20 and just arrived in Mississippi. He’s going to stay there for a while; however, the Braves have been very aggressive with their prospects in the past. It’s not unrealistic to think he could earn a promotion to Gwinnett by the end of the season, and it’s very possible we see him in Atlanta at some point next year. Smith-Shawver won’t be the answer to the Braves rotation woes in 2023, but he’s a bright spot in an otherwise dreadful farm system, and the hype train is just getting started.
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Photographer: Larry Radloff/Icon Sportswire
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