Prospects in the Braves' 2020 player pool from the Appalachian League

As part of the new rules for the 2020 Major League season, each of the 30 organizations will maintain a 60-man player pool for the duration of the campaign. Some members of the player pool will feature on the active Major League roster while others will work out at an alternate training site in the hopes of staying fresh for a potential callup or getting in much-needed development time.

The MiLB.com staff is rounding up the notable prospects in each organization’s 60-man player pool and analyzing what the new system will mean for their 2020 seasons.

Buoyed by young talent all over the diamond, the Braves have become a force at the top of the National League East the last two years. In a shortened 60-game season, they could see even more of their up-and-coming players reach the Majors and help them play for a third division title in as many years.

Cristian Pache (Danville 2016), OF: Although the Braves' starting outfield seems pretty set, MLB Pipeline's No. 13 overall prospect is on the 40-man roster and still has the chance to make his Major League debut this year. The 21-year-old spent all of last year at the Minors' two highest levels and did not disappoint with a .277/.340/.462 line that included a career-high 57 extra-base hits and 43 walks. But Pache shines most brightly in the field with a plus-plus arm that's help him accumulate 42 assists in his Minor League career. He can do a little bit of everything well and he likely would have been in the Majors at some point during a normal 2020 season.

Drew Waters (Danville2017), OF: Another 21-year-old, Waters falls into the same category as Pache in not only are they both outfielders, but they can both impact the game in multiple ways. The switch-hitter rakes from both sides, although he tends to put up better numbers left-handed with an average over. 300 in 2019. Waters has a tremendous ability to make contact and is tapping a little more into his power with a career-best 40 doubles last year and has a .461 career slugging percentage. The Atlanta native has experience at all three outfield positions and has the speed to excel in any spot. While there might not be an open spot in the Braves outfield, Waters and Pache should be the first line of defense if the team needs help.

Ian Anderson (Danville 2016), RHP: A 2016 first-round pick, Anderson solidified himself as one of the most promising arms in the system with a dominant 2019 season. He began the year with Double-A Mississippi and struck out 147 over 111 Southern League innings. A midseason All-Star and Futures Game selection, the hurler was elevated to Triple-A in August, making five starts down the stretch with a 6.57 ERA in a 24 2/3-inning sample. He got 5 2/3 innings in Spring Training and fanned six before play was stopped. The Braves don't lack pitching depth but Anderson could get a stint or two if the they try to limit innings from their other starters.

Kyle Muller (Danville 2017), LHP: Muller's first year at Double-A did not disappoint as the southpaw put up a 3.14 ERA and 120 strikeouts across 111 2/3 frames with Mississippi, ranking 10th at the level with a 25.6 percent strikeout rate. A plus fastball and an above-average curveball give him a few weapons to attack opposing hitters. There are a few pitchers ahead of him in the pecking order, but Muller is just about ready to take that next step, something that could happen this summer.

William Contreras (Danville 2017), C: Contreras split time between the Florida State and Southern leagues last year, finishing with a .669 OPS. Although he didn't hit the way he had in previous seasons, he's a .279 hitter in the Minors with a .345 on-base percentage. A contributor behind the plate, the 22-year-old is on the cusp of making it to the Majors. The Braves don't have a ton of catching depth ahead of him, so there's always the possibility he joins his brother, the Cubs' Willson Contreras, as the family's second big leaguer.

Other notables

Right-hander Huascar Ynoa (Elizabethton 2017, Danville 2017) was added to the roster pool with his high-velocity fastball. He hasn't found consistency yet and could become a reliever in the near future. Jasseel De La Cruz (Danville 2017) has a similar profile with an impressive fastball and a solid slider that could get him to Atlanta this year. Patrick Weigel (Danville 2015) split his time at Triple-A in 2019 between the rotation and bullpen and succeeded with a 2.98 ERA. He could be a swingman for Atlanta, if needed.