The Atlanta Braves have developed a reputation in recent years of being particularly aggressive in promoting their top prospects.
Among others, Ozzie Albies, Freddie Freeman, Jason Heyward, Dansby Swanson, Ronald Acuña, Austin Riley and Mike Soroka all reached the big leagues at age 22 or younger. But all of them got at least a year of minor-league seasoning before making their Atlanta debuts.
Riley in particular has excelled almost immediately, bashing 16 home runs and posting a 117 OPS+ in his first 49 major-league games. The young left fielder’s early power display brings to mind another Braves slugging phenom who took the National League by storm 41 years ago, one who skipped the minor leagues entirely after being drafted No.