10-8, 3.37 ERA, 133 H, 128/37 K/BB in 149 2/3 IP for Double-A Greenville

Wainwright’s stock began to dip after a slow start at Greenville, but he
turned things around in the second half and remains one of baseball’s top
pitching prospects.  The 2000 first-round pick has a low-90s fastball and a
plus curve and change.  Of some concern is that, with a career ERA of 3.37,
he's never really displayed the ability to dominate minor league hitters.
Still, he is making steady progress and his strikeout rate remains strong.
He should make his major league debut in 2004 and eventually settle in as a
No. 2 starter.


2. Andy Marte - 3B - Age 20 - ETA: 2006
.285/.372/.469, 16 HR, 63 RBI, 109/67 K/BB, 5 SB in 463 AB
for Single-A Myrtle Beach

Marte’s 2003 numbers aren’t especially impressive until one recognizes that
they were amassed in one of the toughest places for hitters in the minors.
Once that’s taken into account, it’s easy to see why Marte, who turned 20 in
October, is considered perhaps the game’s best third base prospect.  The
native of the Domincan Republic has Eric Chavez-like offensive ability and
should be average defensively once he matures.  It’s not outside the realm of
possibility that he’ll be the Braves’ third baseman on Opening Day 2005.


3. Wilson Betemit - 3B - Age 22 - ETA: April 2005
.262/.315/.414, 8 HR, 65 RBI, 115/38 K/BB, 8 SB in 478 AB
for Triple-A Richmond

Betemit had his second straight rough season in 2003, but it has to be remember
ed that he was a 21-year-old playing in Triple-A.  If he was playing with the
rest of the 21-year-olds in high A ball, it’s safe to assume his numbers would
have been much better and he’d still be regarded as a top prospect because of
his physical gifts.  And it’s not like he was completely overmatched in
Triple-A.  Betemit, a converted shortstop, will continue to improve at third
base and is very likely to develop into a quality regular someday.  It’s just
 looking more likely that it won’t happen in Atlanta.


4. Jeff Francoeur - OF - Age 20 - ETA: 2007
.281/.325/.445, 14 HR, 68 RBI, 68/30 K/BB, 14 SB in 524 AB for
Low Single-A Rome

Francoeur is a tools prospect with a very good idea of how to play baseball,
giving him an excellent chance of becoming a major league right fielder.  The
2002 first-round pick does need to work on his tendency to chase bad pitches,
but he’s hardly clueless at the plate and he shows excellent power potential.
Although Francoeur currently plays center, it’s expected that he’ll be
shifted to right as he continues to trade speed for power.  He’s not going
to move quickly, but when he arrives in three years, he’s going to make a
big impact.


5. Macay McBride - LHP - Age 21 - ETA: June 2005
9-8, 2.95 ERA, 164 H, 139/49 K/BB in 164 2/3 IP for Single-A Myrtle Beach

McBride may lack Wainwright’s long-term upside, but he’s not all that far
behind him in terms of being ready for the majors.  Using a low-90s fastball,
an outstanding slider and an improving changeup, he’s put up some excellent
numbers since being drafted in the first round in 2001.  He’s a future No. 3
starter who might be capable of jumping all the way to the majors next season
if he were pitching for a weaker team.


6. Kelly Johnson - SS - Age 22 - ETA: 2006
.275/.340/.425, 6 HR, 45 RBI, 81/35 K/BB, 10 SB in 334 AB
for Double-A Greenville
.303/.364/.573, 5 HR, 15 RBI, 13/6 K/BB, 1 SB in 89 AB
for Mesa Solar Sox (AFL)

As with Betemit, Johnson has had his stock drop over the last two years.  Also
as with Betemit, it’s not entirely deserved.  The 2000 supplemental
first-rounder wasn’t bad at all as a 21-year-old in the Southern League and
he played very well in the Arizona Fall League.  Johnson’s defense at
shortstop has improved quite a bit over the last couple of seasons, but it's
still expected that he'll end up at third base or in the outfield.  Look for
an offensive breakthrough in 2004 or 2005.


7. Bubba Nelson - RHP - Age 22 - ETA: June 2004
8-10, 3.18 ERA, 106 H, 77/45 K/BB in 119 IP for Double-A Greenville
0-1, 1.88 ERA, 10 H, 7/5 K/BB in 14 1/3 IP for Triple-A Richmond

A quality prospect as a starter, Nelson was shifted to the pen for the final
month of last season so the Braves could see whether he might help them or not.
Since he was never called up, he’ll probably go back to starting games at
Triple-A Richmond next season.  A sinker-slider-curveball combination makes
Nelson a potential third or fourth starter.  The Braves could still use him as
a reliever initially, calling him up in June or July.


8. Dan Meyer - LHP - Age 22 - ETA: 2006
7-10, 2.87 ERA, 145 H, 158/32 K/BB in 160 IP between low Single-A Rome and
Single-A Myrtle Beach, posting identical ERAs at each level.  The supplemental
first-round pick in 2002 draft has very good stuff for a left-hander, throwing
in the low-90s and featuring a hard slider and an effective change.  He's two
years away.

9. Adam LaRoche - 1B - Age 24 - ETA: Now
.290, 20 HR, 72 RBI, 111/61 K/BB, 2 SB in 483 AB between Double- and Triple-A.
Dave's son is a terrific defensive first baseman who is steadily improving of
fensively.  He has a chance to be more than the next Rico Brogna.

10. Andy Pratt - LHP - Age 24 - ETA: May 2004
The 2003 International League strikeout leader, going 7-10 with a 3.40 ERA,
146 H, 161/77 K/BB in 156 IP for Triple-A Richmond.  Pratt has demonstrated
better control in the past.  He could be a terrific reliever.

Last year’s top 10:
Wilson Betemit, Adam Wainwright, Kelly Johnson, Macay McBride, Andy Marte,
Matt Belisle, Jeff Francoeur, Bubba Nelson, Jung Bong, Brett Evert