Everyone knows about the top prospects in the Braves minor league system, the Eric Hartmans, Tate Southisenes, and Cam Caminitis of the prospect world. I’m here to talk about the other guys. The ones who aren’t ranked on everyone’s top 30 list but still have the talent and potential to make an impact next year in the minor leagues. These are six players I believe could make waves in the 2027 season.
Coming in as the first player is Martires Polanco. He started 10 games this past season in the DSL, totaling 37.1 innings, and in that span, he did an incredible job limiting contact. Opponents hit just .138 against him, and his 13.98 K/9 showed that he could miss plenty of bats. He’s 19 years old, which is a little older for the DSL, so it will be interesting to see what he can do against players in the FCL next season.
The next player on the list is Elias Reyno. His numbers in the DSL in 2025 and 2026 were underwhelming, but when he made the jump to the FCL, the bat got going a little better. His OBP was the same at both levels at .406, but his batting average went from .208 in the DSL to .321 in the FCL. It was a small sample this year, with only 19 games and 52 total at-bats, but it was enough to give me a reason to pay attention. He’ll be 19 when the season starts next year, and with a potential full season in the FCL, he could show more of what he’s capable of.
Caleb Klein was the Braves’ 15th-round pick in the 2026 draft out of Southeast Missouri State. He was assigned to Augusta at the beginning of August and immediately started producing. Over 24 games with the GreenJackets, he batted .310, which is impressive, but what stood out to me was his .425 OBP, the 18 walks he drew, and what he did once he got on base. He managed to steal 18 bags and score 13 runs, showing that getting on base was only part of what he brought to the lineup. With the outfield depth in the minor leagues, Klein is going to have to keep producing and add some pop to his bat if he wants to move up in the organization, but so far, he’s shown he belongs.
Lewis Sifontes is another interesting pitcher on this list with tons of potential. His 5.06 ERA is concerning, and his command needs work, but his ability to limit contact stood out. He held opponents to a .182 batting average while posting a 25.8% strikeout rate and a 30.2% whiff rate. Lewis still has a lot to work on, and getting his command under control is going to be a big part of that, but his ability to continue missing bats as he’s moved up in levels is a sign that he’s going in the right direction.
Jose Nelo had an incredible year in the DSL, batting .296 with an .820 OPS over 47 games. His swing-and-miss tendencies and strikeout rate could use some work, but at just 17 years old, he still has plenty of time to make those adjustments. His ability to produce at the plate and find his way on base is what stood out to me, and putting up those numbers at his age gives him something to build on heading into next season. I’m interested to see how that production holds up as he develops and faces tougher pitching. If he can cut down on the swing and miss while keeping that production, he could start getting a little more attention in this system. There’s still a long way to go, but he’s one I’ll be keeping an eye on in 2027.
The last one on the list, but certainly not least, is Sherrintly Da Costa Gomez, an 18-year-old from Curaçao who played in the DSL this season. Noticing a trend in this article? There’s just something about a kid from Curaçao wearing a Braves uniform that feels right. SDG signed in January of this year and wasted no time this summer putting himself on the map. His swing has some holes in it, which is concerning, but he still managed to hit .248 with an .849 OPS, an insane 20% walk rate, five home runs, and 30 RBI. Like everyone on this list, his developmental journey is still in its early stages, but the power is there, and his 6-foot-3, 209-pound frame makes it easy to be interested in what could come next. I want to see what he can do if he improves his chase rate and contact and starts tapping into more of that power.
These guys all have things to work on, and a lot can change over the course of a season, especially with how young some of them are. But that’s part of what makes following the minor leagues fun, getting to watch a player put things together before everyone else starts talking about him. These are six names I’ll be watching in 2027, and hopefully, a few of them give us plenty to talk about
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