Prospects for the Braves Who May Still Have an Impact in MLB in 2024.
Top prospects Spencer Schwellenbach and Hurston Waldrep are both presently a member of the Atlanta Braves’ six-man starting staff, and the team has called upon a lot of young arms to try to stop a revolving door at the end of the starting rotation this year.
Nevertheless, before the season ends, they might still benefit from the efforts of a few other noteworthy prospects, whether it’s by filling in for an injured player or by playing a supporting role.
Here are three prospects that can yet have an MLB impact in 2024; we have only included guys who haven’t played in the majors yet this season.
LHP Dylan Dodd
After Max Fried, Chris Sale, Charlie Morton, and Reynaldo López in the rotation already this season, the Braves have employed nine different starting pitchers, thus it seemed inevitable that Dylan Dodd will get another chance in the major leagues.
The 26-year-old struggled to a 7.60 ERA in 34.1 innings during his seven spot starts in the majors the previous season. Although his numbers in Triple-A this year don’t look particularly impressive, he is still a part of the 40-man roster and can log some innings if necessary.
He might also be used as a trade asset come deadline day, since the Braves have a history of dealing from their armload of upper-minors in order to fill roster gaps.
RHP Grant Holmes
Grant Holmes used to be one of baseball’s best pitching prospects.
Prior to the 2015 (No. 74) and 2016 (No. 72) seasons, he was listed on Baseball America’s Top 100 prospect list. He was selected by the Los Angeles Dodgers with the 22nd overall choice in the 2014 draft.
In exchange for Josh Reddick and Rich Hill, he was traded to the Oakland Athletics at the 2016 trade deadline, along with Jharel Cotton and a young Frankie Montas. He went on to show promise in the upper minor league levels until the 2020 minor league season was postponed.
After making a comeback to the field in 2021, he finished with an 8.01 ERA over 66.1 innings. He struggled again the following year and was dismissed on July 28, 2022. A few weeks later, the Braves selected him on a minor league contract, and since then, he has moved to the bullpen, revitalizing his career.
Currently 28 years old and still in the hunt for his Major League Baseball debut, he is at Triple-A Gwinnett with a 2.63 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, and 51 strikeouts in 41 innings.
RHP Parker Dunshee
Another former top pitching prospect who is still trying to make his MLB debut as he pushes closer to his age-30 season, Parker Dunshee was actually teammates with Grant Holmes in the Oakland farm system.
The Wake Forest product went 13-6 with a 2.33 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 163 strikeouts in 150.2 innings between High-A and Double-A in 2018, but failed to match that level of success in the years that followed.
The Braves signed him to a minor league deal during the offseason, and in 15 appearances between Double-A and Triple-A he has a 2.55 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 41 strikeouts over 24.2 innings.
