Today's Baseball Prospect of the Day

One of the top Detroit prospects sent to the Braves in the trade of Edgar Renteria, outfielder Gorkys Hernandez might be the uppermost of Atlanta hitting prospects. Born in Venezuela, Hernandez was signed by the Tigers Latin American office as a free agent in 2005.

Hernandez won the league batting title in his pro debut with the Rookie League Tigers, hitting .327. He followed that up by winning the MVP award the following year when he led the Midwest League in stolen bases with 54 in 124 games. His trade to the Braves made him Atlanta's top-ranked outfield prospect immediately.

A righthanded hitter, Hernandez has great bat speed with gap to gap power. His plus speed can wreak havoc on the bases, and it also gives him superior range in center field (his natural position). In the field, his glove is solid and his arm is better than average. There's no good reason he can't be a top-tier outfielder at the major league level, and soon.

Update: toiling at high-A Myrtle Beach in early 2008, Gorkys has shown his advanced bat (.310) and great speed, stealing 6 bases in his first 27 games. While the Braves have no shortage of outfield prospects (the team might be deeper than any other MLB organization in outfielders), Hernandez remains the brightest jewel. By mid-to-late 2009, he should be in the majors to stay.

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Height: 6-0

Weight: 175

Birthdate: 9/7/1987

Bats: R

Throws: R

Team: ATL

Birthplace: Guiria, Venezuela

ABs pre-2008: 0