Atlanta Braves Draft Day 1- The Morning After
By Fred Owens
The Arms
"This is just a brief look at the first round, Ben and others will chime in later – or earlier depending on when I finish this. The Braves did a stereotypical Braves thing and ignored bats like Kyle Lewis and Corey Ray in favor of a high school pitcher from upstate New York; Ian Anderson."
"Ian Anderson"
The Braves watched “nearly every pitch Ian Anderson had thrown over the past year” according to Baseball America ($) Braves scouting director told them why he was chosen
"“He’s young, he has command, and he throws three pitches for strikes. He really knows what he wants to do. He can hit the fastball glove-side, (he) pitches down. He’s very advanced (for a pitcher his age).. . . We identified (him) the week after the Perfect Game National, and we stayed on him in the tournaments here in Cobb County. . .followed him with Team USA, we followed him all the way to Petco Park. What really sealed the deal was the maturity of this young man."
While the choice of Anderson seemed like a move to save money Bridges denied that.
"“I took the best pitcher available on the board. . . we feel this guy better fits our organization moving forward.”"
That could well mean personality and maturity were as important as stuff. He had good stuff too however, good enough that Bridges compared him to Mike Mussina and Smoltz said he saw him as a young Jason deGrom. He no doubt has the stuff to be a starter in the 2020 rotation.
"Joey Wentz"
Wentz is a LHP out of Kansas that BA ranked #26 going in to the draft.
"“. . .power lefty with present stuff and the potential to add even a little more . . . A first baseman with plus raw power and swing-and-miss issues. . .more intriguing as a 89-96 mph lefthander with a potentially plus low-to-mid-70s curveball and some feel for a changeup. . ."
Bridges told David O’Brien of the AJC, ““If you are drawing them up, this child is what they look like.” I assume he mean LHP because that’s as far as his quote went
"Kyle Muller"
Muller is another in a long line of tall, lanky Texas pitchers; 6’5” 260 pounds with a fastball in the low to mid-90s. BA ranked him as the #25 player going into the draft and it’s not hard to see him getting stronger as he grows. Bridges told the AJC in the post linked above that “His breaking ball has just got to tighten up a little but he’s an animal.” BA’s scouting report ($) gives more detail.
". . . His delivery is clean and his arm works well with little effort. Muller’s improved velocity . . .with pitching on plenty of rest, and there are some concerns about how well he can maintain that velocity throwing every fifth day. Muller’s slurvy breaking ball has sharpened up and gotten harder but neither it nor his changeup have shown true plus potential . . .a legitimate prospect as a first baseman/outfielder with well-above-average right handed power. . . but his chances of turning into a future No. 3 or No. 4 starter will likely take the bat out of his hands.. . ."
"The Bat"
The next to last pick on day one fell to the Braves at #76 and they chose catcher (for now) Brett Cumberland. As noted in Ben’s notes last night he’s likely stop catching pretty quickly and could move to third base although John Manuel suggested he might fit in left field.
Bridges didn’t mention that to the AJC calling him, “ “kind of like a Todd Hundley . . .(his defense) is just probably going to be average, the arm is going to be average. You are betting on the bet with this guy.” That’s not exactly a glowing endorsement of Cumberland who led the PAC-12 in homers this year.
BA implies catching is only where they put him to get his bat in the game even though he threw out 42% of runners.
". . . (he) needs more polish, with fringy arm strength. . . His receiving and blocking skills are below-average, , , He has below-average athleticism"
I haven’t seen him and can only hope Ben and Manuel are correct, otherwise he’s a DH.
Next: Today's Outlook