Juan Jaime

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Atlanta Braves #20 prospect in 2015
  Jaime originally signed with the Expos but didn't make his major league debut until 10 years later. He required Tommy John surgery in 2010 and missed two full seasons. The Braves signed him in August 2011 following his release from the Diamondbacks, then moved him to the bullpen full time. He has struck out 13.8 batters per nine innings since then. Jaime can dominate with an upper-90s fastball. He just doesn't throw enough strikes with it, having walked 6.5 per nine as a Brave. His effortful delivery features recoil and his fastball lacks life. He mixes in an average changeup that can be effective, and he offers a slurvy curveball. Jaime is yet another middle relief option for Atlanta's 2015 bullpen.
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  Ranked Atlanta Braves #27 prospect in 2014
  While staying healthy has been an issue for Jaime since he signed with the Expos as a 17-year-old, his power arm earned him a spot on the Braves' 40-man roster and a potential role in the big league bullpen. The righthander missed nearly two years after having Tommy John surgery, passing through the Diamondbacks organization on his way to signing with the Braves in August 2011. He blossomed at high Class A Lynchburg in 2012, ranking second in the Carolina League with 18 saves. He made the jump to Double-A Mississippi in 2013 after spending the first six weeks on the disabled list with right forearm tightness. Jaime has a classic power arm and challenges hitters with his upper-90s fastball that touches triple digits. While his average changeup has potential, his slurvy curveball is little more than a show-me pitch. Overall, Jaime's control is below-average, and he struggled to close games in Double-A. He has the potential to be an overpowering set-up man if everything falls into place, but with a career walk rate of 5.8 per nine innings, he has always struggled to throw strikes consistently. Jaime should move to Triple-A Gwinnett in 2014.
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  Ranked Atlanta Braves #20 prospect in 2013
  Jaime spent five seasons in the lower levels of the Nationals system before missing the entire 2010 and 2011 campaigns after Tommy John surgery in April 2010. Washington tried to slip him through waivers in late 2010 but the Diamondbacks claimed him, only to lose him in similar fashion to the Braves in August 2011. He finally returned to action last season and emerged as the closer at Lynchburg, ranking first in the system and second in the Carolina League with 18 saves. Though raw in many respects, Jaime has a classic power arm and a closer's mentality. He's not afraid to challenge hitters with his fastball, which flirts with 100 mph and sits in the upper 90s. He can be overpowering at times, though throwing strikes always has been an issue for him. His secondary pitches need work, with his slurvy curveball showing more promise than his below-average changeup. Atlanta placed Jaime on the 40-man roster in November, and he could be a factor in the majors by the end of 2013. He'll open the slate in Double-A.
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  Ranked Washington Nationals #17 prospect in 2010
  In his second season in the United States, Jaime had a breakout year at Vermont and Hagerstown. He always had explosive arm strength, but he was extremely raw when he arrived in the United States in 2008. He had too much baby fat, poor feel for his secondary stuff and a delivery that needed tightening. Now Jaime is stronger and more athletic. He's learning to throw strikes and repeat his delivery more consistently, though he still rushes it at times and it still has a bit of violence. Jaime's best pitch is a 92-96 mph fastball that routinely touches 98. He generally can throw it for strikes but still is working on commanding it within the strike zone. He flashes an above-average downer curveball, but most of the time it remains a below-average slurve. The Nationals used him as a starter in 2009 and forced him to throw his breaking ball and nascent changeup, but he still has very little feel for the change and his future is undoubtedly as a power arm in the bullpen. Jaime has the best pure arm in the system outside of Stephen Strasburg, and he eventually could become a major league closer if everything clicks. He remains quite a ways off from that ceiling, however, and could return to low Class A to start 2010.