The Braves’ farm system has come a long way from simply patching holes on the big league roster. With strong draft classes in 2025 and 2026 and the rise of players like Eric Hartman and John Gil, Atlanta now has its best position-player pipeline in years - the kind of group that brings back memories of Ronald Acuña Jr., Austin Riley, Ozzie Albies and Dansby Swanson working their way through the minors.
Not every one of those bats is close to a finished product, though. Some are still years away, and for plenty of them, the ceiling is still tough to pin down. Even so, there are a handful of Braves hitting prospects whose tools point toward something bigger down the road: a real shot at a Silver Slugger.
Eric Hartman is the obvious headliner. He’s already been rewarded with a promotion to Double-A this season, and his offensive profile looks tailor-made for award chatter if the production keeps coming.
As an outfielder, he gets multiple paths into Silver Slugger territory, with three chances there instead of one. There’s also at least a possibility of designated hitter consideration, and maybe even utility talk someday, though that last one is a big stretch right now.
If Hartman stays anywhere close to his current pace, he won’t be waiting long to enter the conversation.
Saturday: First Double-A HR
Sunday: Second Double-A HR (on a roof!)
MLB's No. 42 prospect Eric Hartman (@Braves) amassed 11 total bases in his past six at-bats for the Double-A @GoClingstones: pic.twitter.com/mAzb4LMVc2
- MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) August 23, 2026
Tate Southisene is another name with a path to that kind of recognition. After a rough pro debut, he bounced back and became one of Atlanta’s best bats this season.
Before an injury cut things short after he was hit by a pitch, Southisene had already climbed two levels in 2026 and put together a .278/.408/.476 line with 12 home runs and 45 steals. Speed will always be a big part of his game, but the power is real enough to matter, and his ability to handle multiple spots on the dirt - and possibly even the outfield - gives him a lot of possible Silver Slugger lanes, including utility.
AJ Gracia is a more aggressive pick, and there’s no way around that. He was just taken ninth overall and recently had shoulder surgery, so the uncertainty is obvious.
Still, he arrived with a strong reputation as one of the best college hitters in the 2026 MLB Draft class, with power production in a tough conference and the ability to cover all three outfield spots. Gracia could go sideways, sure, but the raw ingredients are there for a future award run if everything holds together.
Alex Lodise almost didn’t get included, mostly because his hit tool has been shaky at times, especially during his stint at Low-A Augusta. But it’s hard to look past the bigger picture.
The former Dick Howser Trophy winner has hit 26 home runs this season, has been promoted twice by the Braves in 2026, and has shown better approach at each stop. His defense at shortstop hasn’t been great this year, which might actually help his Silver Slugger case more than hurt it.
Lodise’s bat would fit nicely at third or second base, and he could also end up in the DH or utility mix.
Conor Essenburg is the kind of prospect whose batting average can fool you if you stop there. His numbers at High-A Rome don’t jump off the page, but he hit much better at Augusta, and his ability to get on base and draw walks has stayed strong all season.
If anything, he may be too patient. Add in some of the best raw power in the Braves’ system, and you can see the outline of a player who could become a real force and a legitimate outfield Silver Slugger candidate.
Owen Carey deserves mention too. He’s still a long way from the majors, but the bat has been loud enough to pay attention to.
Even without fully tapping into his power yet and despite dealing with an injury earlier in the season, Carey has already put up 10 homers and a .790 OPS between High-A and Double-A. He fits the outfield profile, but the bigger question is how long it takes before the rest of his game catches up to the promise.
In Other News...
Braves Fans May See Ronald Acuna Jrs Dodgers Mistake Differently Now
Ronald Acuna Jr.s recent series against the Los Angeles Dodgers was one of those stretches where every miscue seemed to get magnified, especially for a player who usually draws attention for the right reasons. The Braves right fielder also went through it at the plate, but the moment that stood out most came on defense, when a hesitation helped Shohei Ohtani move up to second base and left Atlanta searching for an explanation after the game.
Walt Weiss offered one, saying Acuna paused because first baseman Matt Olson was not covering first base, which created the kind of split-second confusion that can happen on a busy infield play. Weiss made clear the blame was not all on Acuna, a subtle but important distinction for a Braves team trying to sort out a rough sequence without turning one mistake into a bigger story than it needs to be. [Read more 🡒]
Braves May Finally Cut Ties With A Left Field Mistake
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Now the Braves are staring at a familiar offseason question in left field, and Profars name is suddenly at the center of it. The club needs more certainty in a spot that has not settled the way it hoped, and there is growing talk that Atlanta could simply move on rather than carry the baggage and uncertainty into another year. [Read more 🡒]
Braves Make A Telling Lineup Call On Ronald Acua Jr
Walt Weiss made a notable lineup shuffle Tuesday by sliding Ha-Seong Kim back into the Braves starting group for the first time since Aug. 7 and giving Ronald Acua Jr. a night out of the order. It was the kind of call that speaks to both the urgency of the stretch run and the need to reward a player who had just snapped out of a rough spell in dramatic fashion.
Acua has been trying to find his rhythm again since coming off the injured list, but the timing has not fully come back yet and the results have reflected it, with a .188 average over 28 games. Kim, meanwhile, turned a 0-for-27 slide into a walk-off moment in the previous game, and that was enough to earn another look while the Braves keep sorting out a lineup that still has to balance patience with production. [Read more 🡒]