Braves replenish system with Gattis trade

Houston, we have a left fielder.

The Astros agreed to trade for the Braves' Evan Gattis on Wednesday, flipping three prospects to Atlanta -- right-handers Mike Foltynewicz and Andrew Thurman along with infielder Rio Ruiz -- according to MLB.com's Braves beat reporter Mark Bowman. Houston also picked up right-handed pitcher James Hoyt in the deal.

Foltynewicz and Ruiz are the headliners. Formerly No. 4 and 9 respectively on MLB.com's Astros Top 20 prospect list, now they're No. 2 and 6 respectively on the Braves' Top 20.

Foltynewicz was a first-round pick (19th overall) in the 2010 Draft and features one of the Minors' best fastballs. The fireballer spent most of 2014 with Triple-A Oklahoma City, where he was 7-7 with a 5.08 ERA. The 23-year-old struck out 102 batters in 102 2/3 innings, but also walked 52. MLB.com notes that the 6-foot-4 hurler is still sharpening the command of his repertoire and the consistency of his offspeed pitches.

"It's a shocking thing that's happened to me right now, but I'm excited to start fresh in my career," Foltynewicz told MLB.com's Astros beat writer Brian McTaggart.

Ruiz was a fourth-round pick in the 2012 Draft but signed for a reported $1,850,000, well over the recommended slot value. The 20-year-old was one of the youngest players in the Class A Advanced California League in 2014, where he hit .293 with 11 homers and an .823 OPS in 131 games with Lancaster. Houston sent Ruiz to the Arizona Fall League, where he hit .187 in 21 games.

Some in the Astros system, including director of pro scouting Kevin Goldstein, expected Ruiz to hit for more power in 2014. Despite that, Goldstein said he was still high on Ruiz given his age and potential.

"Rio had a good year at Lancaster," Goldstein told MiLB.com in September. "He maybe didn't get the power explosion we thought he might get, but everything else was there. He flirted with .300 all year, had some big hits in the playoffs.

"He's made improvements defensively. He's a guy with, there are still signs of power potential and he's a guy who will probably start next year as a 20-year-old in Double-A. He's ahead of the curve developmentally."

Thurman was a second-round pick in 2013 out of UC Irvine. The right-hander made 26 appearances (20 starts) with Class A Quad Cities in 2014, going 7-9 with a 5.38 ERA. The 23-year-old's advanced metrics were more impressive -- he posted a 3.74 Fielding Independent Pitching (FIP) -- and he struck out 107 over 115 1/3 innings.

The trio of prospects joins an assembly of Minor Leaguers acquired by Atlanta this offseason. In trading away veterans like Jason Heyward, Justin Upton, David Carpenter and more, Atlanta has brought in, among others, right-handers Manny Banuelos and Tyrell Jenkins and left-handers Max Fried and Ricardo Sanchez.

Gattis broke into the Majors in 2013 and spent most of his time in 2014 as Atlanta's starting catcher. Considered a subpar defender both at catcher and in the outfield, Gattis has a career .253 average with 43 home runs in 213 games. Last season, the 28-year-old clubbed 22 homers and posted an .810 OPS. The Braves acquired Gattis in the 23rd round of the 2010 Draft, the same one in which Houston selected Foltynewicz 19th overall.

Undrafted Hoyt spent last season between Triple-A Gwinnett and Double-A Mississippi. The 27-year-old, who signed with Atlanta as a free agent in 2012, went 3-3 with a 3.17 ERA and seven saves in 11 opportunities in 2014. He struck out 77 and walked 24.