The Prospect/Ex-Prospect Divide

What kind of dynamic exists in the current R-Braves’ clubhouse?

Something we won’t likely ever know, but it’s hard not to be curious about how well everyone gets along at the Triple-A level, where teams typically consist of those bound for the bigs and those fighting to get back. Is there resentment of the bright young things — Lillibridge, Brandon Jones, Reyes, Josh Anderson — from the likes of Thorman, Borchard, Reggie Taylor and Damian Moss, who not that long ago were bright young things themselves? Wouldn’t it be hard not to be somewhat resentful? The former likely get the most attention from the R-Braves coaching staff, per instructions from Atlanta, and are everywhere seen as the can’t-miss prospects. There are no limits for them yet; their futures are bright. They are the ones that everybody in the organization most wants to see succeed, because the possibilities still seem so great.

Meanwhile, the latter group has spent their time on the various prospect watch lists, spent significant time in the major leagues. Been given a full opportunity to make it. However, things did not work out as planned, they lost first their starting spots in a major league lineup and then their uniform. Now each is the person they never imagined they’d be: the Triple-A veteran, desperate to get back to the big stage, riding buses to minor-league towns. In the eyes of the organization, they’re largely afterthoughts, possible bench help or trade bait, but no longer tied to the future.

I think it’d be harder for the ex-prospects who never quite made it than it would be for the major league vets with more service time, who already have much to show for their careers. Scott Spiezio, for instance, has two World Series rings. Sal Fasano has gotten as much, or more, than one could ever expect out of his talents. They’re already success stories. It’d be easier to be gracious in that place. The others, I would think, have something gnawing at them.