According to Justin Toscano of the AJC, David McCabe, the Atlanta Braves’ fourth-round pick in the 2022 draft and a promising third base prospect, underwent Tommy John Surgery this winter.
At the age of 23, David McCabe was already considered a relatively older prospect as he progressed through the minor league system, having played in Low-A and High-A during the previous season. Unfortunately, with his Tommy John Surgery, it seems that he will be forced to sit out his entire age-24 season.
While David McCabe’s relatively advanced age compared to his peers does factor into the overall assessment of his talent, it’s important to note that he had an impressive performance at both the Low-A and High-A levels last year. In Low-A, he boasted a strong 145 wRC+ in 176 plate appearances, followed by a solid 128 wRC+ in 348 plate appearances in High-A. The 2024 season was anticipated to be a pivotal year for his development as he advanced to the upper minors and faced competition closer to his age. Unfortunately, due to his surgery, that crucial phase of his development will have to be postponed.
