Cristian Pache

Cristian Rafael Pache (pronounced Potch-ay; born November 19, 1998) is a Dominican professional baseball outfielder in the Atlanta Braves organization. He signed with the Braves in 2015. He was named a 2017 South Atlantic League mid-season All-Star, a 2018 Florida State League All-Star, a 2018 Arizona Fall League All-Star, a 2019 Southern League post-season All-Star, and to the 2019 All-Star Futures Game.

Biography

Pache, the second of three children, was born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, to a factory worker, and a homemaker.

Pache signed with the Atlanta Braves in July 2015 for $1.4 million. At the time of his signing, Baseball America ranked Pache the 21st-best international free agent. MLB.com ranked him tenth. Pache was assigned to the Gulf Coast League Braves in June 2016, and after batting .283 with 11 RBIs in 27 games, was promoted to the Danville Braves, where he finished the season with a .333 batting average with 10 RBIs and a .775 OPS in 30 games.

Pache spent the 2017 season with the Rome Braves where he batted .281 with 8 triples (leading the South Atlantic League), 42 RBIs, and 32 stolen bases (tied for 3rd), while on defense playing center field he led the league with 17 outfield assists and 8 double plays, in 119 games. He was named a South Atlantic League All-Star at midseason, and an MiLB.com Organization All Star. Jim Callis wrote: "Braves überprospect Ronald Acuna can do almost anything on the diamond, including play quality defense in center field, but he’ll eventually have to cede the position. That’s because Pache’s blazing speed and fine instincts allow him to cover more ground in the outfield than perhaps any other prospect. He also has plus arm strength, unusual for his position, and used it to top the low Class A South Atlantic League with 17 assists last summer."

Pache was named to MLB Pipeline’s All-Defensive team for 2018, and was invited to spring training at the start of the 2018 season. He was subsequently assigned to the Florida Fire Frogs. In June, Pache received a Florida State League All-Star selection. At the A-Advanced level, Pache played in 93 games, driving in 40 runs, hitting five triples (tied for 5th in the Florida State League) and eight home runs, and recording a .285 batting average. On August 1, Pache was promoted to the Mississippi Braves. In 29 games for Mississippi, he hit .260 with one home run and seven RBIs in 29 games. He was named an MiLB.com organization All Star. In August, it was announced that Pache was placed on the preliminary Arizona Fall League roster. He hit .290/.318/.387 through 14 games, and was named to the AFL All-Star Game. As a prospect, Pache drew attention for his defensive skills. Throughout 2018, he began displaying an increased ability to hit for power.

Pache started 2019 by being named the 2019 MLB Pipeline Best Outfield Defender in the minor leagues, and spent time in major league camp prior to the start of the 2019 season, and was subsequently reassigned to Mississippi. At midseason, Pache was named to the All-Star Futures Game. While playing in the Southern League, Pache hit for a .278 batting average, with 28 doubles (4th in the league), eight triples (tied for 2nd), 11 home runs, 50 runs, 53 runs batted in, and eight stolen bases. On August 6, Pache made his International League debut with the Gwinnett Stripers. Over 130 games between both clubs, Pache batted .277/.340/.462 with 12 home runs and 61 RBIs. He was named a Southern League post-season All Star, and an MiLB.com organization All Star.

Pache was added to the Braves 40 man roster following the 2019 season. As of January 2020 he was ranked the # 11 prospect in baseball by mlb.com.