Unfortunately, not every path to the major leagues in a straight line up. Most of the time guys just never quite figure it out, and sometimes players with huge bonuses fall into the category of what-could-have-been. The Braves have had a phenomenal developmental season, but there are still some straggling guys who have not been able to meet expectation in 2026. We always hope for a rebound and to be proven wrong, but our opinions can’t be rosy for every player.
Rayven Antonio -17
Out of sight and out of mind. Rayven Antonio was solid as a 19 year old last season, but he’s missing the entire 2026 season with injury which has given other prospects and new draftees a chance to pass him. Antonio’s fall is entirely attributable to this, though it doesn’t help that Antonio has a bit of a disjointed delivery that looks like it could be a precursor to continued injury issues. Maybe that’s unfair to pin on Antonio with only one injury’s worth of proof, but he has yet to cross 100 innings in a season and doesn’t have the strikeout stuff to be a middle of the rotation arm.
Dixon Williams -15
After a hot start to the season Dixon Williams looked like he might streak to a breakout season, but the exact opposite has happened for him. His contact has taken a nose-dive since early May and he has been one of Rome’s worst hitters. Over the last 60 games Williams has posted a 34% strikeout rate and 71 wRC+, numbers that are a death sentence for a 22 year old at High-A. Williams doesn’t have the defensive potential to play a premium position, and while his power has been fine he isn’t an elite power guy. If he can hit he can definitely play his way back into top prospect consideration, but his whiff rates are terrifying.
Lucas Braun -9
Lucas Braun is a guy who just hasn’t been able to get over the hump. He is good enough to be seen as a shuttle guy to fill innings when needed, but he just doesn’t have enough pitches that miss bats to fit as a long-term option at the big league level. Braun is a relatively valuable piece to have in the system and is having a decent enough season at Triple-A, but his strikeouts drying up at the upper levels is a red flag. Braun’s command has regressed a bit over his peak a couple of seasons ago and he doesn’t have the pure stuff to make mistakes.
Juan Mateo -8
Mateo is still young, but his carrying tool has not been carrying him. He hasn’t made as much contact as expected and that contact has been weak. He has added some strength to his frame, but the fear he may always stay too skinny to make an impact has been unfortunately true so far. He is overly aggressive at the plate which limits his on base skill, but there is still potential to work his way back up the list. A small bump in power would go a long way in his profile, and I won’t be too critical about slightly elevated whiff rates for a 19 year old at Single-A. He’s just never put up an above average offensive season, and for a guy who can’t play shortstop that is not a good sign at all.
Luke Sinnard -5
Sinnard is another injury case, because he has been fantastic when he has been on the field. Sinnard has been electric with a 35% whiff rate and 2.88 FIP in High-A this season, but he has only managed 15 1/3 innings. His injury issues are a detriment to a guy who would likely be a top 10 guy if he was able to stay healthy, and has the potential to be a middle-of-the-rotation guys next year. I’m not out on Sinnard and if he stays healthy he should fly back up this list, but if he can’t pitch he can’t improve. He needs to shore up his command and his changeup, and as a player who is already 23 years old he is losing a lot of imperative development time.
Alex Lodise -5
You just can’t strike out the way Alex Lodise has when you’re 22 years old and in Single-A. Ever other marker is there. He plays plus defense and has 21 home runs. He’s hitting the ball hard. He just chases a lot, misses when he does, and when he attacks pitches in the zone he misses there as well. He is aggressive out of the strike zone but somehow takes a lot of pitches in the zone, and he misses in the strike zone with his swings far too often. No one was expecting his hit tool to run into this much trouble this early, and if his power production and defense weren’t insane he would be struggling to maintain top 25 status. There’s real potential here but Lodise has to hit next season or this ranking is going to keep dropping like a rock.
Jose Perdomo -5
Reputation has kept Perdomo alive to this point, but he’s not progressing and he is not playing. Perdomo got hurt after just six plate appearances and won’t be returning this season, a crushing blow to a guy who already effectively lost his age 17 season. Perdomo will be 20 next season with 64 career games played. You don’t ever want to write off a guy who has never really gotten a chance to prove himself, but Perdomo through no real fault of his own just has never played good professional baseball. It’s a shame for a guy the Braves have invested so heavily in, but sometimes sport is cruel.
