Braves vs Tigers Spring Breakout Open Thread

The Spring Breakout game is back for its second season, and the Atlanta Braves will be sending out some of their top prospects to face off against the Detroit Tigers top prospects in Northport on Sunday. Leading the way for the Braves will be starting pitcher JR Ritchie, whose return from Tommy John surgery has re-invigorated excitement as he heads into 2025. He will face off against a terrific lineup of Tigers prospects, with Max Clark, Kevin McGonigle, Bryce Ranier, Josue Briceno, and Thayron Liriziano all ranking as top 100 prospects.

Taking the mound for the Tigers is left-handed pitcher Jake Miller. Miller, ranked as Detroit’s 18th-best prospect by MLB Pipeline, is coming off a career-best campaign across three levels. Starting in Single-A Miller posted a 1.85 ERA and 2.50 FIP across all three levels, striking out 30.4% of hitters while walking only 5%. For Bryce Rainer, last season’s #11 overall pick, this will be the first time we will get to see professional action from what figures to be one of Detroit’s highest-ceiling prospects. In addition to the five top 100 prospects in the lineup, Hao-Yu Lee rounds out a group that includes six of Detroit’s top 10 prospects. Lee had a 141 wRC+ in Double-A last season, putting up career-best numbers in both home runs and strikeout rate.

Atlanta Braves Prospects

Carlos Rodriguez – RF2. John Gil – SS3. Luke Waddell – 2B4. Adam Zebrowski – C5. David McCabe – 3B6. Drew Compton – 1B7. Nick Montgomery – DH8. Owen Carey – LF9. Luis Guanipa – CF

JR Ritchie – SP

The Braves lineup will be led off by offseason signee Carlos Rodriguez, who posted a .772 OPS in 84 games with Double-A Biloxi in the Brewers system, before struggling in Triple-A to finish the season. He is followed by John Gil, one of our most-anticipated prospects headed into 2025, before the veteran bats of Luke Waddell, Adam Zebrowski, David McCabe, and Drew Compton in the middle of the order take over. We won’t see him behind the plate, but catching prospect Nick Montgomery will be getting his first televised minor league action, taking the designated hitter spot in the 7th hole. Owen Carey, last year’s 15th round pick, bats eighth. Carey was a pop up prospect later in the draft process, a solid athlete with an impressive hit tool that the Braves were able to pick up after a good showing in the Futures League. This will be our first look at him as well. Finally, rounding out the lineup is Luis Guanipa, Atlanta’s top international signee from 2023 and one of the most exciting athletic talents to come through the system in recent seasons.

Gameday

Where: CoolToday Park – North Port, FL