The Atlanta Braves began a full-blown rebuild of their organization following the 2014 season. Since that time, the majority of trades and draft picks have been used to accumulate young pitchers. Of the Braves top thirty prospects, nineteen are pitchers. That number may even continue to grow before the rebuild is complete.
Patrick Weigel Prospect Spotlight
Patrick Charles Weigel is a right-handed pitching prospect for the Braves. Weigel was born on July 8, 1994 to David and Colby Weigel. Weigel was born in Thousand Oaks, California and grew up in Ventura, California. Patrick was drafted 21oth overall by Atlanta in the 7th round of the 2015 MLB First Year Player Draft. He was ranked the 72nd prospect in the Braves system by Tomahawk Take.
Amateur Career
Weigel played the last two years of his high school career at Saint Bonaventure. He was voted to the Second Team All-Tri Valley League for his performance. Upon graduation from St. Bonaventure, Weigel attended the University of the Pacific. Patrick then transferred to Oxnard College for his sophomore year before playing ball his junior year at the University of Houston.
It was at Houston that Weigel’s fastball impressed scouts, despite occasional command issues. Weigel was one of twenty-four pitchers selected by the Braves in the 2015 First Year Player Draft. Other pitchers from this group include Kolby Allard (14th overall pick), Mike Soroka (28th overall), and A.J. Minter (75th overall).
Professional Career
Danville Braves (Rookie-Level)
Weigel spent all of 2015 at the advanced rookie level with the Danville Braves. He went 0-3 in fourteen starts with a 4.53 ERA in 51.2 innings pitched. Despite a high ERA, Weigel showed plenty signs of promise. He allowed just two home runs while also posting forty-nine strikeouts. Weigel surrendered twenty-six walks for a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 1.88.
Rome Braves (Single A)
Weigel earned a promotion to the Rome Braves, Atlanta’s Single-A affiliate in the South Atlantic League, for the start of the 2016 season. Weigel has shown flashes of promises while being one of the most consistent contributors for the Rome Braves. He has made nineteen starts and his 110.1 innings pitched is tops on the team.
Weigel continues to strikeout a lot of batters, with 114 punchouts on the season. It also appears that his control may be rounding into form, as he’s issued just forty walks on the season, good for a 2.85 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Patrick has lowered his season ERA to 2.77 by allowing two or fewer earned runs in seven of his last nine outings.
Projection
With a month left in Rome’s season, it is unlikely that Weigel will be promoted to Double-A or beyond in 2016. That being said, Patrick Weigel has put himself in an enviable spot with a strong 2016 season. Weigel will likely open the 2017 season with the Double-A club. It is possible, however, that a strong spring could vault Weigel to Triple-A Gwinnett or beyond.
The Atlanta Braves are expected to have another young pitching staff in 2017. Weigel will certainly force management to consider giving him a look in the Majors if he continues to pitch well.
Main Photo:
ATLANTA, GA – MAY 30: A general view of TurnerField as the Atlanta Braves honor Memorial Day against the San Francisco Giants at Turner Field on May 30, 2016 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images)
