Pitching future plenty bright for Braves Organization might have most top-flight prospects in its history By Mark Bowman / MLB.com LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- When Tom Glavine, John Smoltz, Steve Avery and Kent Mercker were advancing through their farm system two decades ago, the Braves didn't know exactly how special that group of young pitchers would prove to be. But with their farm system now stocked with the live arms possessed by Tommy Hanson, Jeff Locke, Julio Teheran and Cole Rohrbough, they understand why some believe that they have more top-level pitching prospects than at any other point in the organization's long history. "This is fun to watch," said Guy Hansen, a long-time pitching coach in the Atlanta farm system. "It's exciting. I'm like a kid in a candy store when I'm watching all of these young kids pitch. This is the best depth I've ever seen in any system." Tabbed as the game's fourth-best prospect by Baseball America, Hansen heads the cast of young pitchers that have created so much optimism. The 22-year-old right-hander, who is expected to join the Atlanta rotation at some point this season, is seemingly the best power-pitching prospect to come through the Braves' organization since Smoltz. "He's a fierce competitor," Hansen said. "I saw Roy Halladay at around the same age, and I'd compare Hanson to him. They've both got great arms, and when they get on the mound, they're not going to let [opponents] beat you." Kris Medlen, a right-hander who pitched with Hansen with Double-A Mississippi last year, has caught Braves manager Bobby Cox's attention and seems to have a chance to begin this season in the Atlanta bullpen. But there's also a good chance that he'll be a part of Triple-A Gwinnett's talented starting rotation. Some Major League scouts have referred to Medlen as a poor man's Greg Maddux. The 23-year-old, who stands 5-foot-10 and weighs approximately 190 pounds, possesses a live fastball, an above-average curve and a plus changeup. "He can drop any pitch he wants on you in any count, and that's what makes him so special," Cox said of Medlen, who BA tabbed as the organization's best prospect. Medlen began fast-tracking toward the Majors when he moved into Mississippi's rotation midway through last year. Then he truly turned eyes during the Arizona Fall League, where he registered 25 strikeouts and issued just one walk in 25 innings. Another special prospect making his way through the Atlanta system is 18-year- old right-hander Julio Teheran, who received a $850,000 signing bonus when he signed with the Braves in 2007. A native of Colombia, Teheran possesses a fastball that has already touched 93 mph and advanced baseball instincts. Teheran battled some right shoulder discomfort last year and made just six appearances for Rookie level Danville. "He's got a good idea about what he has to do out on that mound," said Hansen, who will serve as Class A advanced Myrtle Beach's pitching coach this year. "Somebody taught him some advanced skills at a young age." Locke and Rohrbough are left-handers who struggled from a statistical perspective at Class A Rome last year. But both remain highly regarded prospects. Locke, who possesses a fastball that has touched 94 mph and an improving hard curveball, went 5-12 with a 4.06 ERA for Rome. Still the 21-year-old southpaw's power arm, which produced 113 strikeouts and issued 38 walks in 139 2/3 innings last year, is highly regarded by scouts. Rohrbough, who is tabbed the game's 14th-best left-handed prospect, suffered an offseason left ankle injury that led to some early struggles with Rome last year. But the 21-year-old left-hander got stronger as the year progressed and earned an August promotion to Myrtle Beach. Armed with a power fastball and one of the best power curveballs in the organization, Rohrbough has impressed the Braves during the early days of Minor League camp. He's starting to show some of the strength he possessed in 2007, when he registered 96 strikeouts and allowed just 33 hits in 61 combined innings with Danville and Rome. "He looks healthy, and the ball is really coming out of his hand right now," Braves director of player development Kurt Kemp said. "He's throwing like he was two years ago." Chipper Jones has spent the past couple of years campaigning for the Braves to start drafting more power arms. Courtesy of Hanson, Medlen, Locke, Teheran and Rohrbough it appears the veteran third baseman's wish has been granted. "These are power, championship-caliber arms," Hansen said. "It's fun to watch these guys now, and it's going to be even more exciting to watch them over the next few years." Hansen---------Roy Halladay Kris Medlen--------poor man's Greg Maddux Julio Teheran-----18岁有93MPH Locke and Rohrbough----southpaw's power arm Rohrbough------ Armed with a power fastball and one of the best power curveballs in the organization 这五个能顺利长好，投手王国再临 http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090314&content_id=3986054 &vkey=news_atl&fext=.jsp&c_id=atl --

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