Time to Raise the Bar on Braves' Top Prospect for Next Season

The Atlanta Braves' top position prospect, Nacho Alvarez Jr., got a crack at the big leagues in 2024. Ranked 4th in the organization, his introduction to Major League Baseball did not go over too smoothly.

Alvarez hit just .100 in his eight-game stint in the MLB. He collected three hits in 30 at-bats with no extra-base hits, which was not his best showing. However, let's not jump to conclusions on this guy just yet. We suspect there's more to this story than just a rough debut.

First of all, it's worth noting that Alvarez's call-up wasn't exactly by design. When Ozzie Albies went down with an injury, the Braves turned to Alvarez earlier than they might've liked. Ideally, he would have spent the full season in the minors getting more experience. Let's chalk some of it up to Alvarez being thrown into the deep end a little too soon.

The adjustment period was clear once Alvarez returned to Triple-A after his brief MLB stint. In his first month back, he posted a .246 batting average with a .750 OPS, a noticeable drop from his pre-call-up performance.

Before heading to the majors, Alvarez tore it up with a .336 batting average and a 1.007 OPS across 28 Triple-A games. It seems like the promotion might've shaken his confidence a bit. But here's where things get interesting—this wasn't the first time he'd seen a drop in production after moving up a level.

Alvarez also saw an initial drop off in performance when he first made it up to Double-A in Mississippi. After batting .300 with a .731 OPS in his first month, his numbers dipped to a .246 average with a .697 OPS the next month. Clearly, there's a pattern here. Alvarez tends to start strong before opposing pitchers adjust, forcing him to make his own counter-adjustments. It's part of the natural growth process for many prospects, especially those being fast-tracked.

Atlanta Braves Top Position Player Prospect, Nacho Alvarez Jr.Photo byMLB.com

After weathering that post-MLB slump, Alvarez rebounded in September, batting .281 with a .731 OPS. Sure, his power numbers weren't great, but his contact and plate discipline improvements are encouraging signs. It shows he's learning and adapting, which is exactly what you want to see from a young prospect.

When looking ahead to 2025, it's tough to say exactly what role Alvarez will play for the Braves. With Orlando Arcia locked in for another year at shortstop and Ozzie Albies and Austin Riley entrenched at second and third base, respectively, there's not a ton of wiggle room for Alvarez in the infield—barring injuries, of course. The Braves could also explore trades or free-agent signings to bolster their infield depth, further complicating Alvarez's path to the big leagues.

Alvarez is likely to get another shot in Spring Training, and if he continues to develop and put up solid numbers in Triple-A, there's a very real chance he'll make his way back to Atlanta sometime in 2025. However, how long he stays up will depend on how well he can adjust to MLB pitching this time.

Although his debut wasn't ideal, there's no need to hit the panic button just yet. Nacho Alvarez is still writing his story, and he could very well start making a more lasting impression with the Braves in 2025.