Tate Southisene is giving the Braves plenty to like this fall, and he’s doing it on both sides of the ball.
The Atlanta infielder, ranked No. 3 in the organization by MLB Pipeline, turned in a highlight-reel defensive play in a recent Arizona Fall League game when a line drive came screaming right at him at shortstop. The ball first popped off his glove and into the air, but the 20-year-old recovered in a hurry, diving to secure the catch.
He’s been just as productive at the plate. Through 13 Arizona Fall League games, the 2025 first-round pick is hitting .341 (15-for-44) with no home runs, four RBIs and five stolen bases. He’s also drawn 11 walks and scored 14 runs, a strong showing that has him looking like one of the more intriguing minor leaguers in the system heading toward 2027.
Atlanta took Southisene 22nd overall in the 2025 MLB Draft out of high school, and his rise has moved quickly. He played only 15 Single-A games last year, then spent 2026 racing through three minor league levels. In 90 games this season, the 5-foot-11 infielder hit .278 with 12 home runs, 46 RBIs and 45 stolen bases.
His year began with the Single-A Augusta GreenJackets, where he hit .297 with eight homers, 30 RBIs and 36 stolen bases in 51 games. That performance earned him his first promotion to High-A in June, and he followed with a .255 average, four home runs, 16 RBIs and nine stolen bases in 38 games with the High-A Rome Emperors.
Southisene then moved up to Double-A at the end of July, but his first game with the Double-A Columbus Clingstones ended badly when he fractured his right wrist after being hit by a pitch. That injury shut down his minor league season.
Because of that setback, the most likely path is a return to Double-A to begin 2027. Still, if he keeps building on what he’s showing in Arizona, a Triple-A debut next season is in play.
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Braves Are Betting On The Same Coaches To Fix A Lingering Problem
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For a club that has leaned on recent success while trying to smooth out lingering issues, the decision suggests Atlanta sees the answers as internal rather than structural. The front office is betting the same voices in the dugout and on the field can keep pushing the team forward, even as the pressure remains to turn that stability into something more lasting. [Read more 🡒]
Braves Double Down On A Formula Fans Still Arent Sold On
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The decision also keeps attention on the broader direction of the club, especially the offense and the way it is being taught. Tim Hyers has drawn scrutiny in some corners for how the lineup has looked under his watch, and the Braves are still leaning into a philosophy that asks for a lot of damage when contact is made. For a fan base that has not fully embraced that approach, the next stretch will be about whether the results can keep matching the confidence behind the plan. [Read more 🡒]
Braves Are Suddenly Tied To A Blockbuster Shortstop Swing
The offseason market around Baltimore is already getting loud, and the Braves have found themselves mentioned in one of the more eye-catching possibilities. The Orioles are said to be open to moving just about anyone while they look to upgrade their rotation and outfield, and Atlantas need at shortstop has naturally put them in the conversation as clubs start gauging what might be available.
For the Braves, the appeal is obvious, but so is the cost. Any serious pursuit would almost certainly mean paying a steep prospect price, the kind that would force Atlanta to weigh present-day certainty against the long-term value of its farm system. For now, it remains only a speculative link, but it is the sort of rumor that can quickly reshape how a winter is viewed if the market keeps moving in this direction. [Read more 🡒]