Jason Heyward is one of many talented outfielders in this system.

Throughout all their years of dominance, the Braves had done a spectacular job of finding, developing, and maintaining talent. This century, however, that seems to have tailed off, with very few position players of quality coming through the system, and not much better in the pitching department.

That is starting to swing back around in the other direction, however. The emergence this season of Yunel Escobar made Edgar Renteria expendable, and doing so only helped further improve the quality of the system.

1. Jordan Schafer, Outfield

He hits for power, he hits for average, he runs, he slices, he dices – Schafer does it all. The 2005 third round selection out of high school opened the year back in the South Atlantic League, but he would not stay in the Sally League for long. In 30 games there, Schafer would hit .372 with 5 home runs, 20 RBI, 16 runs, and 4 stolen bases. Promoted to High-A, Schafer continued to produce, hitting .294 with 10 home runs, 34 doubles, 43 RBI, 70 runs, and 19 stolen bases in 436 at-bats over 106 games. Schafer would head out to the AFL to wrap up the year, and he continued to put up solid numbers. In 26 games, Schafer posted a .324 batting average, one home run, sixteen RBI, six doubles, and ten stolen bases. Look for Schafer to continue to move up the ranks this year, opening up with Double-A, and a major league debut in 2008 would not be out of the question.

2. Jason Heyward, Outfield

The Braves’ first round selection in the 2007 draft, there is much to be excited about here. Heyward projects out as a massive power hitter, but there is more to him than just a big bat, as he should hit for average as well, and his defense should be a solid part of his game as well. Heyward is still a ways off though, as he just barely turned 18 in August, but he is one to keep an eye on.

3. Brandon Jones, Outfield

One should not get too excited about the power numbers that Jones put up in Double-A in 2007, as he was a 24-year-old making a return to the league, but he continued to put up solid numbers in Triple-A, albeit less impressive than his Double-A ones, and he looks to be a solid outfielder for the Braves. Jones had been spending the winter in Mexico, where he was hitting .289 with 3 home runs, 16 RBI, and 31 runs scored in 41 games, but his season there ended with injury. It should not affect his Spring Training however, and he should have a chance at the left field job for the Braves in 2008.

4. Jair Jurrjens, Starting Pitcher

The prize of the Edgar Renteria trade with the Tigers, Jurrjens was 7-5 with a 3.20 ERA in 19 starts in Double-A in 2007 before his promotion to the majors. Over 112 2/3 Double-A innings, Jurrjens struck out 94 and walked just 31. His major league time was not perfect, but effective enough, as he was 3-1 with a 4.70 ERA. His control numbers suffered, as he struck out 13 and walked 11 in 30 2/3 innings, but he did also hold the opposition to a .220 batting average. Jurrjens should be the favorite in Spring Training to win the No. 5 spot in the rotation.

5. Jeff Locke, Starting Pitcher

Yes, it was only the Appalachian League, so it is hard to say right now that he is a dominating ace in the future, but one would be a fool not to be impressed by his numbers there. In 13 appearances, 11 as a starter, Locke was 7-1 with a 2.66 ERA with a .213 batting average against and a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 74:8 in 61 innings. Yes, you read that right – 74:8. Again, it was only the Appy League, though, so we need to see more of this in 2008 at higher levels, but keep a close eye on him.

6. Brent Lillibridge, Shortstop

Acquired by the Braves in the Adam LaRoche trade, Lillibridge was a fourth round selection by the Pirates in the 2005 draft. Starting the season in Double-A, Lillibridge hit .275 with 3 home runs, 17 RBI, 14 stolen bases, and 31 runs scored in 52 games. He would move up to Triple-A after that, where he would actually see a dramatic rise in his performance. In 87 games with Richmond, Lillibridge hit .287 with 10 home runs, 41 RBI, 28 stolen bases, and 47 runs scored. Not only was Lillibridge stealing more bases, but he was doing so more successfully, as he was caught seven times in 21 attempts in Double-A compared to five times in 33 attempts in Triple-A. Lillibridge will be blocked to open this season by Escobar in the majors, but he will force a move one way or another soon enough.

7. Cole Rohrbough, Starting Pitcher

Another 22nd round selection making the list, this one from the 2006 draft, Rohrbough debuted this season in the Appalachian League, where he was 3-2 with a 1.08 ERA in eight appearances, seven as a starter. Over 33 1/3 innings, Rohrbough struck out 58 and walked just eight, and the opposition was held to a .167 batting average. Rohrbough finished the season with six starts in the Sally League, and his results there continued to impress, as he was 2-0 with a 1.29 ERA, holding the opposition to a .138 batting average while striking out 38 and walking 12. Low-A was clearly not a test for Rohrbough, so the Braves should have him open in High-A in 2008.

8. Gorkys Hernandez, Outfield

Another part of the Renteria trade, Hernandez does one thing really well – run. Run a lot, run successfully, but whenever possible just run. Hernandez swiped 54 bases this year in the Low-A Midwest League, in 65 attempts, while hitting .293 with 4 homers, 50 RBI, 25 doubles, and 84 runs scored. He does not strike out much, but one might like to see a few more walks here. The power is not there yet, but it could come with time. Hernandez should move up to High-A to open 2008.

9. Tommy Hanson, Starting Pitcher

Not exactly a high draft pick, going in the 22nd round of the 2205 draft, Hanson is pitching as if he had been one. In 15 appearances for the Rome Braves in the Sally League, 14 as a starter, Hanson had a record of only 2-6 despite dominating numbers, such as a 2.59 ERA, an opposing batting average of .194, and a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 90:26. Promoted to High-A for 11 more starts, Hanson was 3-3 there with a 4.20 ERA, a .243 batting average against, and a 64:32 K/BB ratio.  The 21-year-old Hanson could return to High-A to open 2008, but he will not remain there long if so, and he should end the season in Double-A.

10. Kris Medlen, Closer

Ladies and gentlemen, here is your closer of the future. Medlen kicked things off in the Sally League, where he was 0-1 with a 0.87 ERA in seventeen appearances, with eight saves and a 33:3 K/BB. Moving to the Carolina League, he would go 2-0 with a 1.13 ERA in eighteen appearances, with a 28:7 K/BB ratio. He would get thrashed in three appearances in the Southern League, but he was back to overpowering in the Hawaii Winter League, where he was 0-1 with a 1.88 ERA in eleven appearances, with 27 strikeouts and just four walks. Look for Medlen to return to Double-A to open the year, but he will not finish there, and finishing in Atlanta’s pen would not be a stretch.