Swanson Makes Clear Why He Was No. 1

BEST PLAYER: Shortstop Dansby Swanson has shown why the Diamondbacks made him the first overall pick in the 2015 draft.

Limited to 22 games in his pro debut in the Arizona system in 2015, he joined the Braves in December as part of the return for Shelby Miller. Swanson then made a seamless shift to high Class A Carolina this season, where he recorded a .967 OPS through 21 games before a promotion to Double-A Mississippi.

Through 65 total games at both stops, he hit .270/.364/.426 with 27 extra-base hits, including five home runs, 33 walks and 49 strikeouts. Swanson endured a 1-for-27 slide during the second week of June, but he has the tools on both offense and defense to be an impact player in the major leagues.

BIGGEST LEAP FORWARD: Righthander Patrick Weigel has made great strides in 2016 after being drafted by the Braves in the seventh round last year.

Listed at 6-foot-6 and 220 pounds, he pitched at three colleges and spent his final season at Houston. Considered to have the best fastball in Atlanta’s 2015 draft class, Weigel has reworked his delivery since signing and has developed a more consistent arm slot.

Through his first 13 starts at low Class A Rome, he went 4-3, 2.66 while allowing 56 hits and 30 walks in 74 innings. His improvement was apparent in his first three starts in June, when he went 2-0, 0.47 with just three walks and 19 strikeouts in 19 innings.

“The big thing with Weigel has been improved fastball command,” general manager John Coppolella said. “It’s heavy, and he’s done a good job throwing strikes and getting into good counts. He’s a confident kid who has shown good aptitude and the ability to adjust.”

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT: Acquired with Hector Olivera from the Dodgers at the trade deadline last year, righthander Zack Bird made three starts at Mississippi—near his hometown of Jackson—last August and showed a raw, but powerful, arm. He struggled with his mechanics, which led to issues with his control and command.

The Braves moved the 21-year-old Bird to the bullpen this season while also demoting him to Carolina, but it hasn’t helped. The 2009 ninth-round pick recorded an 8.20 ERA through 17 appearances. He issued 22 walks, allowed 36 hits and struck out 18 in 26 innings. Atlanta officials like Bird’s tools but have yet to see any consistency.