Atlanta Braves Draft Day 1- The Morning After
By Fred Owens
Day Two
Looking ahead to day two there are some interesting ranked names left on the board as this list from MLB.com shows.
- 34. Jared Horn, RHP, Vintage (Calif.) HS
- 36. Drew Mendoza, 3B, Lake Minneola (Fla.) HS
- 39. Corbin Burnes, RHP, St. Mary’s
- 44. Jon Duplantier, RHP, Rice
- 47. Cole Stobbe, 3B, Millard West HS, Omaha, Neb.
- 53. Thomas Jones, OF, Laurens (S.C.) HS
- 55. Heath Quinn, OF, Samford
- 58. Kyle Funkhouser, RHP, Louisville
- 60. Nonie Williams, SS, Turner (Kan.) HS
- 64. Bryson Brigman, SS, San Diego
The Braves again get the third pick this afternoon and if they stay true to form and he’s still on the board Kyle Funkhouser could be their man.
Funkhouser’s stock dropped in last years draft and he chose to return to school. This year he returned to form finding velocity he had misplaced and now sitting 91-94 mph occasionally touching 96. He also improved his breaking ball improved with better arm speed and most expected him to go in round one.
That he didn’t could be tied to his bonus demands but now that we’re in round three reality may mitigate those demands and make him easier to sign. A senior this year, he can’t go back to school and it’s hard to see a year of independent ball raising his value.
If they go for a bat and he’s still on the board it could be Heath Quinn. Quinn is the college bat left in the draft and some suggested he’d be a top five pick. He’s been a nice power hitter in college career and increased his homer and doubles numbers each year. He has plus power with good discipline who will walk but has holes that will produce strikeouts. He’ll be a slightly above average corner outfielder.
The Braves like prep arms it could be Jared Horn. A 6’2” 190-pound RHP – a California commit, Horn throws strikes with a mid-90s fastball that has life and regularly reaches 96 but his changeup and breaking ball remain a work in progress and a curveball that has flashed good spin and power but needs a lot of work.
Drew Mendoza is a high school SS who will probably end up at third base. An impressive 6’4” 195 pound LHH whose bat should play at third and his SS creds suggest his plus arm strength would work their too though some say he needs to work on his footwork to stay at third. He’s a Florida commit so he might choose to do that growing there rather than sign.
At this point it really is all about who is left when they call your name and how you see signability and projection but with this years field you could also see some bloodline signings. Luke Dykstra was last year’s pick and Jacob Heyward could be that kind of pick for the Braves this year.
Personally I like guys with baseball names and Boomer White from Texas A&M has a classic. He’s also one of the best pure hitters around currently hitting .398.476/.533 and setting an SEC record with 54 hits in conference games. His bat is however his only plus tool.
He plays solid third base at A&M his range is limited and his arm fringy. He was once a catcher but was moved from there leaving the left field as a possible option. He probably won’t be the Braves’ selection but somebody needs to draft the guy just for the name.
Next: Wrapping it up