Braves lose 13 prospects

One of the top prospects in baseball is suddenly a free agent, the biggest hammer to drop from sweeping punishments against the Braves for improper behavior while signing amateur talent.

Kevin Maitan, a 17-yearold prospect who received a $4.25 million signing bonus from the Braves in July 2016, is one of 13 Braves players who will be declared free agents, MLB announced Tuesday in a statement from commissioner Rob Manfred. Maitan, a Venezuelan shortstop who drew comparisons to Miguel Cabrera and Miguel Sano when he was the top international amateur available, is the No. 38 prospect in baseball, according to MLB Pipeline, and he was the Braves’ No. 5 prospect.

An investigation into the Braves’ dealings has already led to a house-cleaning in the Atlanta front office. General manager John Coppolella, top scout Gordon Blakeley and president of baseball operations John Hart are all gone, either via firing or resignation.

Coppolella will be banned from baseball for life, USA Today reported. Blakeley will be banned for one year.

The investigation revealed multiple offenses, including illegally packaging signing bonuses, trying to sign a 14-year-old player and offering extra benefits beyond a signing bonus to a player, Drew Waters, the 41st pick in the 2017 draft.

Waters will remain with the Braves, but 13 prospects are going to be free agents and able to sign with any of the other 29 teams.

The Braves will also lose a third-round pick in the 2018 draft (penalty for the Waters infraction), and their international signing bonus money will be drastically reduced through July 2021.