As the Atlanta Braves have worked to return their farm system to its prior glory in recent years, the 2025 draft class could prove to be one of the most important steps in that rebuilding process.
In a departure from its typical draft strategy of loading up on pitchers with their top picks, the Braves instead selected a trio of shortstops, led by high school standout Tate Southisene with the 22nd overall pick.
At just 18 years old, Southisene was one of the youngest players in the Carolina League upon
making his debut for the Low-A Augusta GreenJackets in late August. Though he batted just .215 and produced a mere .539 OPS in 66 plate appearances last season, Southisene returned as a much more polished player in 2026.
Southisene scorched his way to a .297/.429/.500 slash line with eight home runs, 30 RBIs, 46 runs scored, and 36 stolen bases in just 51 games for Augusta before earning a June promotion to High-A Rome.
Hailing from a family that includes four brothers either playing pro ball or with aspirations of doing so, baseball is in the blood for Southisene. I caught up with Tate to discuss his first full season in the professional ranks, his hot start, the adjustments he’s made, and the future.
Grant McAuley: What has the last year been like in your life, because it was about this time a year ago that you were preparing for the draft and deciding your route to professional baseball?
Tate Southisene: Yeah, for sure. The past year has definitely been cool. It’s a different experience just being out on my own, playing professional baseball and just kind of getting my feet wet, but I’ve been enjoying every part of it.
GM: Tell me a little about your experience in the Braves organization thus far. Obviously, there’s the draft process: They select you, you sign, and then you head out somewhere to begin your career. What were those first few steps like, and how long did it take you to look around and realize that you’re a professional baseball player?
TS: The Braves have been great. [As an] organization, I appreciate them just giving me a chance out of high school. Those first couple of months of pro ball, getting down to Florida and getting my feet wet, I was able to enjoy that and then also the process. They made it very easy just being able to get out of there and play my game.
GM: Talking to guys over the years, whether it was Spencer Strider, or Michael Harris II, or Austin Riley, the one thing all talked about is that the Braves do such a great job of preparing you for every step you take along the way up the ladder, then ultimately to the big-league level. It just makes it easier because you do feel like, to your point, that you belong, You’re familiar with everything. You know what those expectations are and you’re just going out there and doing a good day’s work.
TS: Yes, for sure. I mean the Braves, like I said, they kind of set out the format for me and their expectations, so I was just able to go out there and play.
GM: Well, tell me a little bit about your own expectations. You got a taste of the of the minor league life last year. You went back to Augusta this year and were off to a very good start, then you get a promotion to Rome. What has the 2026 season been like for you?
TS: It’s been good. Being able to be out there in 2025, just for that short, little month of professional baseball, affiliate ball, I thought it was great for me. To be able to almost go out there and struggle a little bit as a high schooler, I was able to experience the failures and different stuff like that. So, in 2026 and this past off-season, I was able to prepare a lot more and know what’s to come and not just step into the 2026, just brand-new, but having an idea, a good idea, of what it’s like.
GM: That was going to be my next question. You got a little bit of that experience. And as you mentioned, many if not most know that baseball is a game of failure and you can learn a lot from those failures and use that to propel yourself into the off-season. What was your focus on as you were getting ready for your first spring training?
TS: Yeah, put on some weight on, good weight that is. Get bigger, stronger and faster and that stuff. But really with the swing, just make my adjustments. I had a lot of things going on (swing-wise) and I had to be able to slow the game down, really. So, I was able to touch on some things and I felt good going into Spring Training.
GM: Something else that you have on your side that not everybody does is that you come from a baseball family. How much were you able to lean on your brother, Ty, as you were getting ready for this year and talk over what is really kind of the family business?
TS: Having my brother, Ty [to lean on], was great. He’s already gone through it before. This is his second full year now, so last year it was his first full year. Being able to kind of go through the offseason with him and just kind of know what to work on as we were working out together, running together, hitting together, fielding together. We were doing everything together to prepare for the season.
GM: For those who watch Spring Training and may see some games on TV or listen to on the radio, the minor league side of things is a little bit different experience than big league camp, but did you get to be around some of that? What were your impressions of that first full spring training?
TS: That was great. Just being able to make my adjustments during Spring Training and being around everybody. There’s a lot going on, too, but kind of do your own thing, work on your own stuff. Everything’s kind of on your own for the first couple of weeks. Then be able to get into a group setting last couple of weeks of spring training, I thought it was really good.
GM: Yeah, that camaraderie starts in spring training and extends into the season. Walk me through Augusta and how much different it was the second time around with some adjustments you were able to make. Obviously, the bat has been speaking for itself this year, but you’ve also been doing a lot of running. How would you describe the Tate Southisene game?
TS: I think, for me, I can do a little bit of everything, very versatile. I can hit, hit for power, can steal, can field, can throw. I feel like I can impact the game in a lot of ways, even if I’m not hitting the best. Let’s say I take a walk, then I could steal a bag, too. So, I can kind of impact the game in different ways.
GM: Has there been a coaching focus to elevate your running game? Obviously, you’ve got the speed, but what you do with it is a different story. Has that been a focus there for you and also for the organization to just see how much you can get out of running?
TS: For sure, it was definitely the organization [that] brought it up. We worked on my running form, my stealing form and picking good counts to run on. Yeah, it’s definitely been a focus of mine to just be able to take advantage of my speed.
GM: Talk to me a little bit about your teammates. One of them in particular, Eric Hartman, who you joined up here in Rome, you guys have created a lot of buzz for this team. You were a first-round pick, and then you’ve got somebody who was the very last pick that the Braves made in the 2024 draft class. That’s a unique partnership if you will. What has it been like getting to know Eric and playing with him a little bit more on an everyday basis?
TS: It’s been great. Going up to Augusta last year, Eric was actually the first person I met there. He was to the left of my locker. He walked in and was the first person I met. So, we’ve had a good relationship ever since then. Playing with him in that one month was great and then [to] be able to go down during weight camp, we were working out together. Now, I get to see him in Rome, so that’s been great. He’s a good guy, a good player, great player, really great player.
GM: Now we’ll get to see where your paths take you both as you continue this year. You already know, those in-season promotions can come along. What was your reaction to finding out that you’d be moving up to another level this year and now being able to play with a Rome team alongside Hartman and all these guys on a very exciting squad?
TS: I was very excited about the promotion. I was kind of a little shocked with a change of scenery, for sure. But I’m glad that I’m one step closer to the end goal and just being able to play my game every single day. It’s the same game.
GM: Let me wrap up with this. As we talked about, you’re from a baseball family, what’s the best advice or best support that you’ve gotten from the family?
TS: Just for me, it’s really just [support] mentally. It’s a very mental game, so just stay with your support system and just stick with it every single day.
GM: It is an everyday game and it’s an everyday grind, but you’ve done some pretty good stuff thus far in 2026. Good luck the rest away and thanks for the time.
TS: Thank you. I appreciate it.
In case you missed it, here’s my conversation with rapidly-rising prospect Eric Hartman.
