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The future remains bright for the Atlanta Braves, despite being bounced in the inaugural Wild Card round of the 2012 MLB Postseason. The future remains bright for the Braves, despite losing franchise icon Chipper Jones to retirement -- unless, of course, Chipper changes his mind.
John Sickels over at Minor League Ball, SB Nation's prospect community, reviewed his top 50 pitching prospects headed into the season. The Braves, of course, placed three prospects on that list.
4) Julio Teheran, RHP, Atlanta Braves, Grade A: Frustrating season, 5.08 ERA with 97/43 K/BB in 131 innings in Triple-A, allowed four runs in 6.1 major league innings. Velocity down a tick and secondary stuff didn't compensate. Age 22 entering 2013, so not a lost cause but stock is down.
21) Randall Delgado, RHP, Atlanta Braves, Grade B+: 4.06 ERA with 51/21 K/BB in 44 innings in Triple-A, went 4-9, 4.37 in 17 major league starts with a 76/42 K/BB in 93 innings, 89 hits. I expect improvement assuming good health, etc.
Atlanta also had the No. 16 prospect on the list, Arodys Vizcaino. Vizcaino underwent Tommy John surgery early in the year, and was later traded to the Chicago Cubs for Reed Johnson and Paul Maholm.
When Sickels releases his new list, look for Teheran to fall a bit in his rankings, and Delgado to remain in the same vicinity.