Atlanta Braves Mock Draft Monday, Version 2.0

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Aug 15, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; National pitcher Riley Pint (27) pitches during the first inning in the Under Armour All America Baseball game against the American team at Wrigley field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports /

Atlanta Braves Mock Draft Monday: “Big” News!

After getting back a number of responses from our FanSided network team site editors, I took their team needs into consideration for this version, and we’re going to look at options for both the #44 pick in the second round and the #80 pick in the third round.

Also, we’re not typically in the business of directing to traffic to other sites, but I have a unique opportunity to run the Braves mock draft on John Sickels site over at minorleagueball.com. The mock draft will be going on Saturday, June 4th at 1pm Eastern, noon central. I’ll be the Braves GM for the draft. I’ve got a FanPost on that site up to discuss draft options, and we’ll go through up to 5 rounds. Check it out!

We’ll start off with the picks!

Next: The Draft

Jun 13, 2015; Omaha, NE, USA; Florida Gators outfielder Buddy Reed (23) drives in a run in the fourth inning against the Miami Hurricanes in the 2015 College World Series at TD Ameritrade Park. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports /

Atlanta Braves Mock Draft Monday: The Draft

More from Tomahawk Take

Once again, Braves selections will be discussed further on the next slide.

1. Philadelphia Phillies – Kyle Lewis, OF, Mercer University
2. Cincinnati Reds – A.J. Puk, LHP, University of Florida
3. Atlanta Braves – Jason Groome, LHP, New Jersey HS
4. Colorado Rockies – Mickey Moniak, OF, California HS
5. Milwaukee Brewers – Corey Ray, OF, University of Louisville
6. Oakland Athletics – Nick Senzel, IF, University of Tennessee
7. Florida Marlins – Delvin Perez, SS, Puerto Rico
8. San Diego Padres – Riley Pint, RHP, Kansas HS
9. Detroit Tigers – Braxton Garrett, LHP, Alabama HS
10. Chicago White Sox – Matt Manning, RHP, California HS
11. Seattle Mariners – Blake Rutherford, OF, California HS
12. Boston Red Sox – Josh Lowe, 3B, Georgia HS
13. Tampa Bay Rays – Taylor Trammell, OF, Georgia HS
14. Cleveland Indians – Jordan Sheffield, RHP, Vanderbilt University
15. Minnesota Twins – Zack Collins, C, University of Miami
16. Los Angeles Angels – Dakota Hudson, RHP, Mississippi State University
17. Houston Astros – Ian Anderson, RHP, New York HS
18. New York Yankees – Joey Wentz, LHP, Kansas HS
19. New York Mets – Alex Kirilloff, OF, Pennsylvania HS
20. Los Angeles Dodgers – Forrest Whitley, RHP, Texas HS
21. Toronto Blue Jays – Robert Tyler, RHP, University of Georgia
22. Pittsburgh Pirates – T.J. Zeuch, RHP, University of Pittsburgh
23. St. Louis Cardinals – Will Craig, IF, Wake Forest University
24. San Diego Padres – Zack Burdi, RHP, University of Louisville
25. San Diego Padres – Will Benson, OF, Georgia HS
26. Chicago White Sox – Eric Lauer, LHP, Kent State University
27. Baltimore Orioles – Buddy Reed, OF, University of Florida
28. Washington Nationals – Matt Thaiss, C, Virginia Univeristy
29. Washington Nationals – Drew Mendoza, IF, Florida HS
30. Texas Rangers – Jared Horn, RHP, California HS
31. New York Mets – Justin Dunn, RHP, Boston College
32. Los Angeles Dodgers – Cal Quantrill, RHP, Stanford University
33. St. Louis Cardinals – Connor Jones, RHP, University of Virginia
34. St. Louis Cardinals – Nolan Jones, IF, Pennsylvania HS
35. Cincinnati Reds – Bryan Reynolds, OF, Vanderbilt University
36. Los Angeles Dodgers – Kyle Muller, LHP, Texas HS
37. Oakland Athletics – Alex Speas, RHP, Georgia HS
38. Colorado Rockies – Logan Shore, RHP, University of Florida
39. Arizona Diamondbacks – Jesus Luzardo, LHP, Florida HS
40. Atlanta Braves – Heath Quinn, OF, Samford University
41. Pittsburgh Pirates – Carter Kieboom, IF, Georgia HS

Next: Discussing the Braves' Choices

Aug 15, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; American pitcher Alex Speas (16) throws a pitch against the National team during the first inning in the Under Armour All America Baseball game at Wrigley field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports /

Atlanta Braves Mock Draft Monday: The Braves’ Picks

3. Jason Groome, LHP, Florida HS

A little behind the curtain here…while this is version 2.0 of the mock draft, this is version 2.0 of mock draft 2.0. I had the entire article written up with information I’ve been gathering up that shows that Atlanta has their eyes on a big time surprise at #3, but in the end, there wasn’t enough to go with the selection at this time, but let’s just say that the Braves are VERY intrigued by a high school outfielder for #3, and they aren’t just interested in him for an “under slot” purpose either, though that would reportedly bring the OTHER California high school outfielder into the mix as well, if they chose to go the signability route and load money into 40/44. It sounds like Atlanta is fairly certain Puk/Lewis is 1-2 in some order, and they’re making their moves to prepare for this now.

In this mock, I went with the best available player currently. I really think the Braves are higher on Pint right now based on everything I’ve heard and read, but Groome could be too tempting to pass up, barring something incredibly red flag in his next few weeks on the personal side. Groome’s a very polished lefty that can work with four above-average to plus grade pitches. That said, reading reports that he’s not near the prospect that Brady Aiken was in 2014 or Max Fried in 2012, both HS lefties taken in the top 10. He compares favorably to Trey Ball, but I’m not sure if that’s high praise or not, especially with the reported bonus demands of Groome.

40. Heath Quinn, OF, Samford University

In my version 1.0 of this second mock, I had the Braves pursuing pitching in this spot, and try as I may, I couldn’t find a spot for Quinn to fit in. He has been gaining some momentum as a signability guy as early as the Padres at 24/25 or to the Nationals or Cardinals for the same reason, but in each scenario, there was another player at a position that they were more desiring that would also likely be a guy who will take less than slot to sign.

As I mentioned in my previous mock, Quinn brings a quality that the Braves thought they may have in Braxton Davidson last year, a power bat that doesn’t make a ton of contact and does strike out plenty, but also walks quite a bit. The big difference is that he does it from the right side of the plate, and with the modern game changing with the emphasis on the shift with left handed hitters, right handed power has become more and more a premium.

Next: Who Is Left?

Jun 23, 2015; Omaha, NE, USA; Vanderbilt Commodores pitcher Ben Bowden (35) throws during the game against the Virginia Cavaliers in game two of the College World Series Finals at TD Ameritrade Park. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports /

Atlanta Braves Mock Draft Monday: Remaining Options

Pick #44
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?

My top options still on the board in this scenario at #44 would be an injured college pitcher again like Daulton Jefferies, Alec Hansen, or Matt Krook. The high school hitters I’d have highest on my personal list still on the board would be infielder Gavin Lux from Wisconsin, outfielder Akil Baddoo from Georgia, or infielder Joe Rizzo from Virginia.

To afford Groome at the top of the draft, I’m assuming a fairly heavy over slot payment to get him to sign. In order to get that done, I’m thinking Quinn will help, but I’m also seeing a guy like Rizzo, Lux, Jefferies, or Hansen likely costing either right on slot or even over slot at #44. Baddoo is my choice here to get the big time upside of his athleticism and bat.

Pick #80
In the third round, I took a look at a number of top 100 lists and looked at the players rated 65-100. In the lists I reviewed, only one high school hitter appeared in all the lists in that range, Florida high school utility player Carlos Cortes, known for his exceptional bat skills, but also for being 5’8 without a defined position on the field (and also for having the ability to throw with either hand!). In the scenario I’ve laid out here, however, I’ve already selected two outfielders and a pitcher.

The arms that showed up in every list in that range were Vanderbilt lefty Ben Bowden and a trio of high school lefties, Braeden Ogle from Florida, Nick Lodolo from California, and Adam Laskey from New Jersey. Throwing from the right side were the top JuCo guy from this year’s class, Matthias Dietz from John A. Logan and Nolan Martinez out of high school in California.

One other player made all the lists in the range, and he fits a position that makes sense in the first three rounds – catcher. Brett Cumberland of California certainly isn’t the highest rated catcher on anyone’s board, but he’s consistently rated well by the consensus, whereas nearly every other catcher beyond the ones I’ve drafted in my top 41 above don’t even make some top 100 lists!

In considering all these options, while Cumberland may be a “smart” choice in the draft, the catching pool is actually quite deep this season, and like last year’s grabs of guys like Josh Graham, Ryan Clark, Matt Withrow, Patrick Weigel, and Ryan Lawlor as guys with solid raw stuff coming out of college that could be molded beyond their “reliever or bust” projections that many had tagged them with, the Braves like to build guys with stuff into pitchers instead of just throwers. So far they’re getting solid production from those picks as well.

Next: Draft Manipulation 101

Based on all that, I’m going to take Matthias Diaz if he’s sitting there in the 3rd round, though I’m by no means closed off to grabbing a guy like I mentioned in the second round discussion of injured college arms if somehow one of those guys were to fall to #80. Diaz brings extremely good stuff, and an adjustment to his mechanics this season has allowed his velocity to not only play up, but to also produce more movement. He’s got three viable pitches in his fastball, slider, and curve, and his change up is reportedly a work in progress with a very high ceiling based on seeing it when it’s really good in flashes.

So what say you?! Comment below to let us know what you think about the choices made here!

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