Braves reassign Swanson, Albies, Blair

The Braves got a good look at the future, and for now, that future is moving to the backfields. 

Atlanta reassigned No. 1 prospect Dansby Swanson, No. 3 prospect Ozzie Albies, No. 4 prospect Aaron Blair and No. 12 prospect Lucas Sims to Minor League camp on Friday and optioned No. 11 prospect Mallex Smith to Triple-A Gwinnett.

Swanson and Albies, in particular, developed a relationship during their first Spring Training together after the former came over from the D-backs in an offseason deal that sent right-hander Shelby Miller the other way. The duo both led the Braves with 16 games played and were consistently paired together in the middle of the infield, switching fairly consistently between second and short. While there was some focus on defense, both players shined at the plate as well with Albies going 13-for-35 (.371) with a homer and a double and Swanson going 9-for-30 with a triple and three doubles.

Given that shortstop is the more premium position, both are expected to get as much time as they can at that spot during the 2016 season, likely meaning they'll start Opening Day on separate rosters. That could mean Double-A Mississippi for Swanson, who is more advanced as the 2015 No. 1 overall pick out of Vanderbilt, and Class A Advanced Carolina for the 19-year-old Albies. No matter where they begin the season, Braves director of player development Dave Trembley said earlier this week at the club's Spring Training complex in Orlando that the organization was looking to develop "a modern-day Alan Trammell and Lou Whitaker" in the pair.

"It's been a blast," Swanson told MiLB.com about his partnership with Albies. "We've really, really enjoyed being out there together because usually, when he's out there, I'm out there, whether it's at short or second. It doesn't really matter. We've enjoyed getting to know each other and learning each other's style of play."

Blair, who also came over from the D-backs in the Miller trade, was gunning to make the Major League club as a non-roster invitee but is instead ticketed to start the season with Gwinnett. The 23-year-old right-hander allowed eight earned runs on 11 hits (three homers) and three walks in four appearances (nine innings) this spring.

He'll be joined in the International League by Smith. Best known for his top-of-the-line speed, the 22-year-old center fielder impressed in camp on the basepaths, in the field and at the plate. He is expected to make his Major League debut at some point in 2016 as a player on the 40-man roster who hit .281/.339/.367 with 34 steals in 69 games for Gwinnett last season.

Sims is expected to return to Mississippi, where he went 4-2 with a 3.21 ERA with 56 strikeouts and 29 walks in 47 2/3 innings a season ago.

Reds, Twins, Pirates move top prospects to Minors: Cincinnati moved its top prospects to the backfields as well on Friday with outfielder/No. 34 overall prospect Jesse Winker reassigned to Minor League camp and right-handed starter/No. 35 overall prospect Robert Stephenson optioned to Triple-A Louisville. Both are expected to start the season at the Minors' highest level and could be looking at Major League debuts at some point in 2016 for the rebuilding Reds.

Over in the Twins farm system, there are some projection systems that believe Jose Berrios, MLB.com's No. 19 overall prospect, will be the club's best Major League option at some point in 2016. For now, the club moved the non-roster invitee back to Minors camp Friday. The 21-year-old right-hander will join Triple-A Rochester, where he went 6-2 with a 2.62 ERA, 83 strikeouts and 14 walks in 75 2/3 innings in 2015. Twins No. 6 prospect Jorge Polanco was optioned to Rochester as part of the Twins' Friday moves.

The Pirates continued Friday's trend of prospects going to the International League by optioning No. 49 overall prospect Josh Bell to the Triple-A circuit. The 23-year-old switch-hitter batted .347/.441/.504 with two homers in a 35-game stint for Indianapolis last season and could use some more defensive improvement in his second full season as a first baseman.

Cubs cut 11 from big league camp: Chicago sent a host of prospect to Minor League camp on Friday as well. Leading the way was MLB.com's No. 50 overall prospect Willson Contreras. The backstop put up two big performances in his nine Cactus League games. Contreras went 3-for-3 with a pair of doubles on March 12 against the Dodgers and followed with a 2-for-4 performance the next day versus Oakland. In total, Chicago's No. 2 prospect batted .357/.500/.571 for the spring and added four walks.

Contreras broke out in an impressive 2015 with Double-A Tennessee. Over 126 games, the 23-year-old batted .333/.413/.478 while capturing the Southern League batting title. He joined Episode 46 of the Minor League Baseball podcast to look back at what made him successful in 2015 and discuss what steps he still needs to take to reach the Major Leagues.

Along with Contreras, the Cubs sent their No. 7 prospect Jeimer Candelario and No. 16 Carl Edwards Jr. to Minor League camp.