How acquired
The Atlanta Braves top international signing in January 2023 was Luis Guanipa, but a smaller bonus prospect hitter from that same class has been making even more waves over the past couple of seasons. That would be infielder John Gil, who the Braves signed for just $110k out of the Dominican.
What were the expectations?
Gil had a strong year in the DSL in 2023 after signing, posting a .795 OPS. He followed that up in 2024 by impressing in the FCL last year and actually reaching Augusta
in his age-18 season. He put up a .791 OPS in the FCL, but predictably struggled in full season ball with a .553 OPS as he was a little overmatched in terms of strength- though he still had a .297 on base percentage there.
Coming into this year the expectation for him would be to go back to Augusta in his age-19 season, get stronger, and do a better job of impacting the baseball to go with his speed and feel for getting on base.
2025 results
Gil ended up playing 107 games, with 100 coming in Augusta. With Augusta he hit .258/.352/.378 with 25 doubles, a triple, seven homers, 50 steals, and 57 walks to 64 strikeouts over 462 plate appearances. He also got one game in the FCL after a minor injury cost him a short time, but at the end of the season he got skipped over Rome and up to Double-A Columbus to close out the year.
In his six games with Columbus he went 4-23 with two walks and seven strikeouts, though did add four steals. Not a ton can be taken from this small six game sample size at the end of the year, but he also didn’t embarrass himself as a 19-year-old in Double-A.
What went right?
A lot went right for Gil this year. He continued to show his ability to make contact, get on base, and do damage on the base paths once he reaches base.
Power isn’t a big part of his game, but he actually showed some growth there towards the end of the season. Gil’s slugging percentage was just .271 in April, .383 in May, .244 in June, and .342 in July. Then it was like a light clicked for him at the end of July. Gil got injured on July 10th, and didn’t return until July 24th in the FCL. He made his way back to Augusta on the 26th of July and over his final 30 games of the season he slugged .577 with 10 doubles, one triple, and six of his homers. Those numbers are especially promising when you consider that in his first 71 games he managed 15 doubles, no triples, and one homer.
What went wrong?
Not much went wrong for Gil this year unless you are really trying to pick him apart. If anything his on base percentage did drop a bit from the .409 he posted in the DSL and .403 from the FCL, but a .352 OBP in full season ball for a player who didn’t even turn 19 until mid-May is hardly something to complain about.
2026 outlook
It’s tough to give a good outlook on Gil’s 2026. He won’t turn 20 until May 14th, and he has already reached Double-A – however it is also a real possibility that he ends up starting the season out in Rome considering his age and the fact that the promotion was just for a small handful of games. Also the fact he is a shortstop and the fact the Braves added a group of young shortstops in the 2025 MLB Draft complicates things a bit as to where he may open the season as they need to find time for all of them.
Gil likely will open spring training with a shot to earn his way into a spot with Columbus or getting sent back to Rome. The spring will determine that in all likelihood, but it should be expected that he ends up back in Double-A at some point. He will need to keep showing his hit tool and ability to draw walks against better pitching, but the hope that his late season power gains can carry forward into 2026 could go a long way to determining his ultimate ceiling.
