Undrafted right-hander Daniel Brooks turned a rough professional debut into one of the Braves’ most intriguing pitching breakouts of 2026. His strong fastball-slider mix and late-season success as a starter put him on the radar, though he still needs more innings and experience before he’s ready for a major-league role.

By the Numbers
  • Across 49⅔ innings in 2026, Brooks recorded a 1.81 ERA, 73 strikeouts and a 0.87 WHIP.
  • With Low-A Augusta, he posted a 0.65 ERA and struck out 46 in 27⅔ innings.
  • In three August starts, he threw 20⅔ scoreless innings, allowing six hits and one walk while striking out 32.
Yes, But

Brooks has limited professional experience, and his early-season struggles show there’s still development ahead. Atlanta also needs to find out whether he can handle a starter’s workload over a full season.

What’s Next

A full season at High-A or Double-A could test Brooks’ durability and show whether his late-season starting success holds. A major-league opportunity in 2027 may be premature, but another strong year could raise his profile within the organization.

Bottom Line

Brooks is a promising organizational find, not a finished product. His next step is proving that his bat-missing stuff and starter potential can endure over a longer stretch.