When the Atlanta Braves began stripping down their roster in hopes of rebuilding a depleted minor league system, the end goal was to produce a team capable of winning a World Series. They accomplished that goal last season as they broke through with their first championship since 1995.
The transition from last place club to contender has taxed the minor league system. ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel released his 2022 farm system rankings Friday with the Braves slipping all the way to No. 27.
The Braves had a lack of lower-minors depth because of international sanctions that have since been lifted and they’ve now signed two classes headlined by seven-figure bonuses, along with having a deal in place for one of the top talents in the 2023 signing class — if they manage to avoid having that dissolved due to a draft.