Atlanta Braves Morning Chop/Box: Draft, Deaf Deftness

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Jun 10, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; The sun sets as the Atlanta Braves play the San Diego Padres in the sixth inning of their game at Turner Field. The Braves won 4-1. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports

MLB Draft 2015: National League East draft analysis

JOHN SICKELS / MINORLEAGUEBALL.COM

ATLANTA BRAVES
1-14) Kolby Allard, LHP, California HS
2-28) Mike Soroka, RHP, Canada HS
CA-41) Austin Riley, 3B, Mississippi HS
2-54) Lucas Herbert, C, California HS
CB-75) A.J. Minter, LHP, Texas A&M
3-89) Anthony Guardado, RHP, California HS
4-120) Josh Graham, RHP, Oregon
5-150) Ryan Clark, RHP, UNC-Greensboro

More from Tomahawk Take

COMMENT: With multiple early picks the Braves could make a real splash and they did with this group. Allard might be the best high school pitcher in the draft and could have gone 10 spots higher if not for a back problem. He’s a coup at 14 provided health doesn’t interfere. Soroka is Canadian but was shooting up draft boards late due to his low-90s heat and projectable body. Riley is a two-way player, a prospect as both a hitter and pitcher due to his athleticism and arm strength. Plenty of upside either way. Herbert is an excellent gloveman and made good strides with the bat this spring. Minter is a budget choice; he’s polished but down for Tommy John currently. Guardado was a popup arm getting buzz as high as the second round at one point. College picks predominated from that point, with RHP Grayson Jones (11^th round) and LHP Chase Johnson-Mullins (13h) standing out for junior college upside. Overall, this looks great on paper but we’ll see how the preps look in five years.

[ Ed. note: check the link above for his take on the rest of the NL East ]

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