ajc
The Atlanta Braves' minor league pipeline remains in the bottom third of Major League Baseball, but it has been steadily ascending in recent years. MLB.com currently places the Braves' farm system at No. 21, a notable improvement from its No. 28 ranking at the midpoint of the 2025 campaign. This marks the organization's highest standing since it was ranked No. 23 on the 2021 midseason list.
Below is a breakdown of 11 minor leaguers who stood out across the Braves' affiliates during the 2026 season, presented in no particular order. Players who appeared for Atlanta in 2026 are excluded from this list.
Key Analysis
Eric Hartman, a 20-year-old Canadian outfielder, earned MLB.com's breakout player of the year honors and became the organization's top prospect. Selected in the 20th round of the 2024 draft, Hartman played 94 games at High-A Rome, hitting 24 home runs, stealing 38 bases, walking 47 times, and driving in 68 runs. He posted an .889 OPS there before a promotion to Double-A Columbus, where he struggled to a .182 average in 34 games. Hartman became the first minor leaguer to finish a season with at least 25 homers and 50 steals since Hall of Famer Andruw Jones in 1995.
Patrick Clohisy, a 24-year-old outfielder not found on top prospect lists, impressed at Triple-A Gwinnett. After 70 games with Columbus, he hit .340 in 42 games with the Stripers, adding 25 stolen bases and a .903 OPS. The 2026 season was Clohisy's third in the Braves organization.
Tate Southisene, a 20-year-old infielder and the No. 3 overall prospect in the system, made stops at Columbus (one game), Rome, and Single-A Augusta. Across 90 games, he hit .278 with an .875 OPS and 45 stolen bases. He excelled in Augusta, where he posted a .929 OPS and a .429 on-base percentage.
Cam Caminiti, the organization's No. 2 prospect, is a 20-year-old left-hander who went 4-4 with a 3.38 ERA in 24 games (23 starts) between Columbus and Rome. He struck out 125 batters in 114 innings. An Arizona native, Caminiti was the Braves' first-round pick in 2024.
Alex Lodise, a 22-year-old shortstop and former Florida State star, was selected in the second round of the 2025 MLB Draft and has played only 159 minor league games. In 2026, across Augusta, Rome, and Columbus, he hit 28 homers and 25 doubles, drove in 84 runs, and drew 56 walks. He posted an .841 OPS despite striking out 140 times in 620 plate appearances (22.6%).
John Gil, a highly touted shortstop and the No. 9 overall prospect in the system, hit .262 with 14 homers and 60 RBIs over 130 games. In 35 games with Columbus, he registered an .812 OPS, and in 95 games with Rome, he stole 43 bases. Gil, from the Dominican Republic, has been in the organization since 2023.
Brett Sears, a 26-year-old right-hander, made 21 starts and 23 appearances for the Florida Complex League Braves, Columbus, and Gwinnett. He had a 2.90 ERA across those outings, pitching 124 innings. In five starts with Gwinnett, Sears posted a 1.73 ERA and struck out 34 batters in 26 innings.
Conor Essenburg, an outfielder and fifth-round pick from the 2025 draft, played 93 games in the Braves system, posting an .909 OPS. He hit 14 home runs and 13 doubles for Augusta.
Luis Guanipa, a 20-year-old outfielder from Venezuela, spent the majority of his 2026 season with Augusta, where he hit .303, stole 37 bases, drove in 70 runs, and had a .365 on-base percentage. He has been in the organization since 2023.
Dixon Williams, a 22-year-old infielder and fourth-round pick by the Braves in 2025, hit just .238 at Rome but smacked 22 home runs and drove in 83 runs in 104 games.
Jordan Groshans, a former first-round pick by the Blue Jays in 2018, split time between Gwinnett and Columbus in 2026. The 26-year-old shortstop finished the season with 33 homers, 88 RBIs, and a .915 OPS. He signed with the Braves in January after being released by the Royals.
Originally reported by ajc.