Jan 23 2009
Prospects in Training Camp: Good or bad?
When the Atlanta Braves open their Spring Training Camp just outside Orlando, Florida in the spring, there will be a lot of young faces around. This will be going on in a lot of the camps as well. The thing is, does this help or hurt the team and does this help or hurt the players? Well, frankly, it can go either way. It is really based on the reason that they are doing this. So, let’s take a look at the Atlanta Braves.
The Braves will be inviting 5 non roster high prospects up this spring. While there will be more non roster invitees, these are the five that I want to talk about. They are Jason Heyward, Freddie Freeman, Tommy Hanson, Jordan Schafer, and Kris Medlen. Now, with this list, there are only 2 that really have a shot at making the team. It is truly an outside shot, but still a shot nonetheless. Those 2 players are Jordan Schafer who will be competing for the center field position that is currently void for the Braves outfield and Tommy Hanson, who by far is the best pitching prospect in the Braves farm system.
Freddie Freeman is a 6′5″ 220 lb first baseman that possesses a ton of power. Jason Heyward is a 6′4″ 230 lb right fielder that also possesses a ton of power. Another thing that these 2 have in common is the fact that they are only 19 years old. It is thought that the only reason that they are seeing spring training with the big boys is to get a taste of how things are done on the major league level. Heyward is the #3 prospect overall in the MLB and it is thought that he will have a fast track to the majors. I think that Freeman will be right the with him.
As for Kris Medlan, I think that he is there to get the taste of things to come. Personally, I think that he is 2 or 3 years out before his time comes. However, I think that Hanson will see the majors this year. Whether it is right out of camp or not remains to be seem.
