ORGANIZATION REPORTS

National League

● Braves see similarities between Blake Burkhalter and another Atlanta rotation success story PAGE 42

● Brewers keep their focus up the middle with first-round selection Eric Brown Jr. PAGE 43

● Mets add another catcher with an impact bat to their system with first-rounder Kevin Parada PAGE 44

De Los Santos Attracts Attention With Bat

Third baseman Deyvison De Los Santos was having the kind of offensive season that tends to attract attention.

“I think he is about to get famous,” D-backs farm director Josh Barfield said. “I think he’s still kind of under the radar for a lot of people in the prospect rankings.

“What he’s doing is pretty special for a kid who is 19 years old in High-A already.”

De Los Santos hit .329/.370/.513 with 12 home runs in 78 games for Low-A Visalia, earning a July 22 promotion to High-A Hillsboro. Over his final 45 games for Visalia, he hit .390 with a .997 OPS.

“I just think when you look at the performance, the age relative to the league and you look at the quality of contact—the exit velocities—those are things that get people’s attention,” Barfield said.

De Los Santos still faces some of the same questions that he had entering the year: his swing decisions and defensive profile.

His chase rate was nearly 38%—compared with an MLB average of around 29%—though D-backs executives are not overly concerned. Some believe he will eventually adjust once he reaches a level where pitchers are able to exploit his aggressiveness.

Barfield sees some of that, but does not believe De Los Santos’ swing decisions are as concerning as the numbers might suggest.

“I don’t think all chase is created equal,” Barfield said. “I think his chase comes more from, at times, knowing he can get the barrel to pitches out of the zone. I don’t think it’s because he’s fooled all the time.”

Most evaluators believe De Los Santos eventually will move to first base. He plays there occasionally in Hillsboro, where he shares time at third with A.J. Vukovich.

Barfield points out that De Los Santos, despite his large frame, does things that point to him staying at third base.

“He moves well, his feet work well, he shows the ability to make all the plays that a third baseman can make, and he has plenty of arm.”

—NICK PIECORO

Braves Think Burkhalter Could Move Quickly

The Braves aren’t afraid to push prospects they deem ready.

Star rookies Spencer Strider and Michael Harris II are evidence of that after riding the fast track to Atlanta.

In this year’s draft class, 21-year-old righthander has a chance to be the first player to reach MLB. Atlanta drafted the.