When will Cristian Pache be a full-time player for the Atlanta Braves?

Cristian Pache should be the next star in the Atlanta Braves outfield.

Cristian Pache had his first cup of coffee in the big leagues, but when will he be a full-time player?

Pache made his big-league debut on Aug. 21 in the Atlanta Braves‘ 11-2 blowout victory over the NL East rival Philadelphia Phillies. He went 1-4 with a single and two strikeouts in his first career MLB game. While he came in briefly in Atlanta’s 6-5 win over the Phillies the following day, Pache was sent back to the Braves’ alternate training site with the return of Nick Markakis to the roster.

When will Cristian Pache be an everyday big league player for the Braves?

According to MLB.com’s Prospect Rankings page, the 6-foot-2, 215-pound outfielder from the Dominican Republic is the Braves’ No. 1 top prospect and the No. 14 overall prospect in baseball. Interestingly, all 13 players ahead of Pache in these rankings are on their respective big league roster. There are several contributing factors here, but why isn’t Pache up in Atlanta for good?

It’s a combination of Atlanta being one of the better teams in the National League, as well as having one of the best outfields in baseball. Though the Braves have had more than their fair share of injuries, Pache is simply trying to fight for playing time as the perceived No. 6 outfielder on the Braves’ depth chart. It’ll take an injury or a roster transaction for him to hit full-time status.

Braves general manager Alex Anthopoulos could orchestrate a blockbuster trade in the next few days to help bolster Atlanta’s largely underwhelming rotation. If he had to give up a big league player, it might come from the Braves outfield. However, we shouldn’t expect Pache to be a full-time MLB-level player until 2021, despite MLB.com saying his estimated time of arrival is 2020.

For us to get a clearer picture of how the Braves’ outfield looks on the books presently and in the next few years, let’s see what the five outfielders currently on the roster have in terms of salary and future contractual obligations. This will prove to us Pache will finally get regular playing time in Atlanta in 2021.

 Atlanta Braves outfield future salary breakdowns

• Ronald Acuña Jr. $1 million (2020), $5 million (2021), $15 million (2022), $17 million (2023), $17 million (2024), $17 million (2025), $17 million (2026), $17 million (2027 Club Option), $17 million (2028 Club Option), 2029 UFA
• Adam Duvall: $3.25 million (2020), ARB 3 (2021), 2022 UFA
• Ender Inciarte: $7.7 million (2020), $8.7 million (2021), $9 million (2022 Club Option), 2023 UFA
• Nick Markakis: $4 million (2020), 2021 UFA
• Marcell Ozuna: $18 million (2020), 2021 UFA

As you can see by the future money owed to the five Braves’ outfielders, the pathway for Pache to becoming a full-time big league player becomes increasingly clear come 2021. Though Marcell Ozuna has been a godsend at the plate, he has been a liability in the outfield. As much as it pains Braves Country, he feels like a one-year rental like Josh Donaldson was a season ago.

Overall, he may be too pricey to be back on the Braves’ roster next year. However, if the designated hitter is here to stay in the National League, Atlanta would be foolish to let a big bat like that from the right side of the plate leave for nothing. Unless Anthopoulos can find someone better than a Donaldson or Ozuna type, he may have to consider bringing him back for at least one more year.

Nick Markakis also comes off the books next year. Though he’s in his late 30’s and only make $4 million this season, Markakis has been with the Braves through the tail-end of the Fredi Gonzalez disaster and Atlanta’s rise to NL prominence the last three years under Brian Snitker. It might be a year-to-year thing with him at this point, but if he leaves, it might be Pache time for good.

Given Adam Duvall‘s clutch hitting, he is a huge asset as a fourth or fifth outfielder in Atlanta. He is entering his third offseason of arbitration eligibility, so he’ll likely be back in Braves uniform in 2021 for around the $3.25 million he’s making this year. However, should he struggle in the early part of next season, he could be a DFA candidate with a someone like Pache waiting in the wings.

While Ronald Acuña Jr. is going nowhere for foreseeable future, the big name to keep an eye on is Ender Inciarte. Though he was a huge pickup for the Braves in the lopsided Shelby Miller deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks that also brought native son Dansby Swanson back to The ATL, Inciarte has struggled mightily at the plate this season. His contract may be what’s keeping Pache down.

Inciarte may have been an All-Star in his earlier time with the Braves, but his $7.7 million for 2020, and his $8.7 million for 2021 are starting to manifest into a bit of an eyesore. He gives the Braves great defense in the outfield, but hitting below The Mendoza Line is a great way to ensure he’s not getting the Club Option for a cool $9 million in 2022. He needs to start hitting or he’ll be gone.

Ultimately, the Braves outfield could look totally different next year. Obviously, Acuña will be an ever-present piece there for the next decade. Duvall will remain with the club, as will Inciarte for contractual reasons. As for Ozuna and Markakis, it’s hard to see both of them coming back in 2021. Markakis is more likely of the two, but Ozuna’s value is massive with a universal DH.

Pache may play some more in 2020, but he won’t be an Atlanta staple until 2021 at the earliest.