Road to The Show: A conversation with Eric Hartman

No prospect in the Atlanta Braves organization has generated more buzz this season than Rome Emperors outfielder Eric Hartman. The 20-year-old possesses a combination of power and speed that sent him rocketing up hot sheets in the midst of a breakout season.

Hartman, Atlanta’s 20th round selection (611th overall) in the 2024 draft, bypassed a potential college career at Michigan to sign with the Braves for a well-over-slot value of $337,500 as the result of a rigorous scouting effort.

That investment is paying major dividends for Hartman and the Braves. Hartman is slashing .302/.362/.569 with 18 home runs, 29 stolen bases, 47 RBIs and 51 runs scored in 65 games for Rome, where he is nearly two years younger than the average High-A player.

With roughly half the minor league season in the books, Hartman is closing in on a 20-homer, 20-steal season. No Braves prospect has combined the elements of power and speed like Hartman since Ronald Acuña Jr. blitzed his way through the Atlanta system nearly a decade ago. It can be difficult to avoid those kinds of comparisons as the numbers pile up, but Hartman is keeping his focus on each and every day rather than getting too far ahead of even his own expectations.

I caught up with the impressive Braves prospect this week to get his take on what has been one of the most exciting minor league seasons in all of baseball. I hope you enjoy our conversation.

Grant McAuley: Eric, I’d say that 2026 has been quite a year for you thus far. So, I’ll open up with the most general question I can ask you – what has 2026 been like, because it seems like some big things have been happening for you on the field?

Eric Hartman: I would say just a lot of fun. I think just having fun every day really just allows everything else to work. [I’m] just enjoying the process, enjoying the ups and enjoying the downs, knowing that this is a sport and anything can happen. So, I’m just being excited when things go good and being level when things don’t go as planned.

GM: Sounds like you’ve had an opportunity to really find out what the professional baseball life is all about. There’s another game tomorrow until there’s not, basically. So, a lot to be learned, good, bad and everything in between.

Before we dive into your story, I want to ask you about the guys that you’re playing with. There’s a lot of talent, a lot of excitement on a daily basis to come out to the ballpark with these guys. What has made the Rome Emperors such an exciting team this year?

EH: I’d say just that we can really win any ball game and we’re never out of it on any given day. I think everyone’s really excited based on how we’re stacking at-bats. Every at-bat something cool could happen, so all the guys are really good and really positive. I think that just translates into every day.

GM: As far as what you’re doing every day, it would seem like leveling up your game this year has been the overall theme. Walk me through the difference between, say, the 2025 season, and the things that you learned and the adjustments you wanted to make over the winter. How did you parlay that into a very successful first half this year?

EH: I’m just hammering the basics, really. I wouldn’t say it’s anything crazy, but just really learning, fixing and really focusing on the things I do really well and mastering those. Then it’s just being able to repeat that on a day-to-day basis and trusting myself when a bad game happens. That’s what brought me success before. Then I’m just kind of repeating the things that brought me success, and keeping a steady head on my shoulders.

GM: One of the things I love about the minor leagues is that it is the story of development and of everybody coming into their own at different times and learning more about themselves through the successes and through the failures as well.

A lot of folks look at the draft, the international signings, or maybe how someone is traded over from another organization – a lot of different things can bring a team together. For you, as the final pick the Braves made in the 2024 draft class, what was that process like?

EH: Yeah, it wasn’t really that crazy. They kind of told me in the final rounds, like 15-19 [I’d be selected]. I definitely was getting a little worried as I saw rounds going by, but I was really pumped to see my name pop-up with that last pick.

GM: I would say that it’s worked out pretty well thus far. I want to talk about your style of play. We’ve seen some of the speed that you’re flashing early in your career, but you’ve really grown into the power this year. I know you said it was kind of hammering the basics over the winter and sticking with those things. Was there anybody you were working with in particular, whether it’s this year in spring training or over the winter, that helped you maximize that part of your game?

EH: All my coaches have really helped me hone in on better misses in terms of flyball percentage, hard-hit percentage, and really just hammering down my bat path and my approach, too. So, all my coaches throughout spring training and here in Rome, too.

GM: The spring training experience for minor leaguers is a different one than over in the major league camp. Did you have an opportunity to get around the major league side and observe some things, or maybe talk with some coaches or players who gave you a little bit of feedback to get the year going or just help you out in little ways that can help a baseball player take that next step?

EH: Yeah, I backed up a few big league games and I think just being around the guys and just realizing that for them it’s just a game, too. That and just watching them handle their business is a really important aspect of it. Learning from that and learning that they don’t put too much pressure on themselves, even when everyone’s looking at them, I think learning that really helped me.

GM: Now, success on the field individually is obviously important. As somebody who’s going out there, going to battle every single day, winning obviously beats losing. But how critical is that to this step as you go along in the minor leagues to have competitive teams – teams that can win a championship at whatever level you’re at?

EH: I think just wanting to win, and like knowing you can win, that’s when everyone succeeds individually. But when you lose focus of that, then that’s when stuff hits the fan and you start losing some of your individual talents. But when you’re all just worried about winning and doing whatever you can to help the team win, then that’s when you really shine.

GM: I talked to your teammate, [Braves 2025 first-round pick] Tate Southisene. He was just promoted to Rome, but he told me that you were one of the first guys that he got to know last year as he was just coming into pro ball. You guys are reunited here in Rome now, so could you describe what his game looks like and the difference a year in pro ball can make? It seems like he’s leveled up quite a bit, too.

EH: Yeah, when he first came in, he was just so talented and he still is. He’s just cleaned up a few things with his swing and in his approach, and it just really shows. It’s totally impressive how far even just confidence-wise a year under your belt can give you and I’m looking forward to watching him here, too.

GM: I know not every player is going to come into a year and say, “I need to get certain statistics or pile up this particular stat line.” Are there certain goals or levels that you set out to achieve in a year? Anything you say that you would like to do this thing or that thing? I know being healthy is a big part of doing those things, but anything in particular?

EH: Not really. I would say, just showing up every day, and yeah, like you said staying on the ball field and giving it my best. But I think as soon as you put a number on anything it slows you down. So, I just like to keep pushing and keeping it going.

GM: I really like that. I think that’s a great way to look at it, because you don’t want to get too focused on the here and now, because it might keep you from where you’re going to be tomorrow.

That brings me to my final question – which is the fact that we don’t know what tomorrow will bring. But if you play really well in the minor leagues, oftentimes you’ll change addresses a couple of times. Does any of that kind of stuff creep into the back of your mind, or are you really trying to be solely focused on what you’re doing today and getting ready to do it all over again tomorrow?

EH: Yeah, you hit it on the head. Like, I’m just really focused on controlling the controllables and doing whatever I can to stay here. Yeah, taking it a day at a time, because stuff can change really quickly and I’m just enjoying the process here.

GM: Well, I think folks are enjoying you enjoying that process here in Rome. It’s been a great season thus far with a lot of baseball left to be played. Thanks so much for the time and good luck the rest of the way.

EH: Awesome. Thanks for having me.