Atlanta Braves Mock Draft Monday!
Atlanta Braves Mock Draft Monday: Remaining Options
So the Braves have a high school pitcher and a college power-hitting outfielder. What would they pursue at pick #44 in the second round?
The top 10 guys per MLB.com’s top 100 on the board would be:
Kevin Gowdy, RHP, California HS
Cody Sedlock, RHP, Illinois
Corbin Burnes, RHP, St. Mary’s
Joe Rizzo, 3B, Virginia HS
Jon Duplantier, RHP, Rice
Carter Kieboom, IF, Georgia HS
Daulton Jefferies, RHP, California
Zack Brown, RHP, Kentucky
Zach Jackson, RHP, Arkansas
Ryan Boldt, OF, Nebraska
Sean Murphy, C, Wright State
The top 10 guys per BA’s top 100 on the board would be:
Joe Rizzo, 3B, Virginia HS
Brandon Marsh, OF, Georgia HS
Kevin Gowdy, RHP, California HS
Cody Sedlock, RHP, Illinois
Jesus Luzardo, LHP, Florida HS
Daulton Jefferies, RHP, California
Austin Hays, OF, Jacksonville
Carter Kieboom, IF, Georgia HS
Jeff Belge, LHP, New York HS
Chris Okey, C, Clemson
Best Bats Available?
If the Braves were to pursue a high school, high-upside bat, regardless of position, they could pursue Kieboom, Marsh, Rizzo, Gavin Lux, or Akil Baddoo. Kieboom is a shortstop for his school currently, but he projects more as a third baseman in the major leagues. He also has the Georgia connection, which has been something the Braves have worked well in the past.
Marsh is another Georgia guy who, like Tyler Stephenson last season, is a “pop-up” prospect this year. Marsh is an outfielder with high variance in his hit tool grades, but universal high praise for his power. He’d be a fit as a corner outfielder. Rizzo is more of a contact-driven hitter, one who is more likely to be a doubles power guy with a very good batting average and high-end defense from the hot corner.
Lux is a high school shortstop from Wisconsin that has the skills and instincts to stay at short, but the arm and frame to put on some strength and move to third. He’s a baseball “brat” with a family that coaches college baseball, so he gets high marks for his natural baseball instincts.
Baddoo is another Georgia high school outfielder that has a tremendous balance of athleticism, but his skills are very raw. He has the ability to be a guy with good contact and a nice power/speed combo. Baddoo’s biggest negative is a poor arm, which likely projects him to left field, but scouts believe he’ll provide enough offense to handle that move.
Best Arms Available?
The other idea would be to take a college arm, especially one with some volatility that could end up a major coup at the second round slot due to a first-round arm that had a rough 2016 season or perhaps had some injury in the season.
The guy that obviously catches my eye in this manner is Oklahoma righty Alec Hansen, who was projected as a possible 1-1 pick before command issues around his high-velocity stuff this summer at Oklahoma has caused his value to tumble. Jefferies is also very intriguing as a guy who would likely be a top half of the first round guy if he’d have stayed healthy all season.
Kyle Funkhouser, a righty from Louisville, was drafted by the Dodgers in the compensation round last season, but did not sign. He’s struggled some this season, but he could be a good gamble here as he’s begun to get things back in line as of late, but if he continues to pitch well up to the draft, he may work his way into the top 41.
Lastly, my second choice behind Hansen for this type of a pick in the second round would be Matt Krook, a lefty from Oregon, who is a redshirt sophomore that has a low-90s sinking fastball with a monster curve ball but missed all of the 2015 season with Tommy John surgery.
He’s had much of the typical inconsistency of a first year returnee from the surgery this season, but he’s shown the same velocity and action on his pitches and could be a good gamble either at 44 or 80.
So what would you think about that result if that was how the first two picks went?
Who would you draft at #44 without worrying about who the Phillies and Reds pick ahead of you in the round?