There is that guy every year, the unheralded prospect who comes up big in a tight spot for the big club. For the Braves in recent years guys like Johnny Venters, Kris Medlin and Brandon Beachy have come out of nowhere to contribute in a big way. A couple months before their call up you might not even have heard there names. The Braves minor league teams are full of potential MLB quality players; you know about Tehran, Delgado, Pastornicky, and Bethancourt. Most of you know about Terdoslavich, Salcedo, and Hoover. So who are the coming out of nowhere candidates for 2012?
Lets take a look.
First up is Navery Moore, he's a 6"2 215 lb. 21 year old out of Vanderbilt. He was selected in the 14th round of the 2011 draft, by all accounts low for a player of his quality and the thing you need to know about him is this; he throws hard. Topping out in the mid 90's with good command and a breaking pitch with plus potential. He was the Commodores closer this past season and will join former teammate Mark Lamm in the Braves minor League system in 2012. He hasn't played a pro game yet and will likely debut at Rome or Danville, and projecting him to debut in the MLB before 2014 is downright optimistic. That's part of the reason he make this list, he has some real potential and has begun to tap into it and though he only has the longest shot to contribute in 2012 he is a near lock to be a contributing member of the Braves pen at some point.
Speaking of Lamm, Moore's setup man at Vandy, he also has a shot to contribute at some point. He pitched 27.2 pro innings last season, primarily at Lynchburg and threw well striking out 23 and walking 12 while posting a 2.98 ERA. He's a big guy at 6"4 215 lb. and throws in the low to mid 90's, but his command and polish could help him move quickly. The fact that he immediately became a key member of the Hillcats pen after being drafted speaks well of his ability to adjust to a challenge.
Ernesto Mejia is a guy that isn't pegged to do much to affect his MLB candidacy, and rightfully so he's 26 and has been on a minor league roster since 2005 without ever being in danger of running into the fast lane to the MLB. He's a monster of a man at 6"5 245 and the dude can rake, at AA Mississippi in 2011 he posted a .906 OPS and hit 26 dingers. He reminds me a little bit of former Braves farmhand Kala Ka'aihue, in that he's a big guy with power and a little patience who might have some value if he were mobile enough to play anywhere but 1B. He was tried in the OF in Rookie league, but the Braves quickly thought better of it. He might get a shot as a DH during inter-league play or as an emergency call up if Hinske or Freeman(or both) are down due to injury.
One more guy that could make a surprise impact is Mycal Jones, Jones is a little different in that he has been on the mouths of Braves fans for three or four years now, but in the right circumstances 2012 could be his big chance. Either was it will be a make or break year for the versatile Jones, he has some pop, speed, patience at the plate and is an above average defender in CF and 2B. Originally a shortstop Jones was moved to second and later center field because he had some issues with mental errors and with the addition of Tyler Pastornicky and Matt Lipka(now also a CF) he was no longer as high on the SS depth cart has he had been. He has a chance to come up big due to his versatility and combination of speed and patience if he can put the total package together a little more in 2012.
Those are just a few of the long shot guys that could contribute to the big club at some point, and even if they don't in 2012 I feel sure that you will continue to hear about them in the future.
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