Atlanta Braves Mock Draft Monday: Final Edition
The Atlanta Braves went on a winning streak to finish the 2016 season and close out Turner Field, and while for many fans that was fun, it meant that the club will be selecting #5 overall in the upcoming June draft.
This will be a different format than previously, as I will be selecting for each team as if I were the GM of each individual team. I did this entire draft for Call To The Pen for two full rounds, so if you’d like to check that out, feel free to do so, but we’re going to focus on the Braves portion here.
As we prepare for draft day, I encourage you to look to the coverage that Fred will have here at Tomahawk Take covering the draft. I will be spearheading a live draft thread at Call To The Pen that you are welcome to come participate in as well. It should be as much fun as can happen on a Monday night!
Now, to the draft. Things are beginning to firm up for all clubs as the college tournament takes off.
I hope you enjoy, and please feel free to comment below!
Next: The First Round
Atlanta Braves Mock Draft Monday: The Draft
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- Atlanta Braves 2023 Preseason Top 30 Prospects List: 1-5
- Braves News: Braves acquire Diaz, moves around the division, more
- Atlanta Braves 2012 Top Prospects Review: J.R. Graham
The Braves selection will be discussed further on the next slide.
1. Minnesota Twins – Hunter Greene, RHP/SS, California HS
2. Cincinnati Reds – Kyle Wright, RHP, Vanderbilt
3. San Diego Padres – MacKenzie Gore, LHP, North Carolina HS
4. Tampa Bay Rays – Royce Lewis, IF/OF, California HS
5. Atlanta Braves – Jordon Adell, OF, Kentucky HS
6. Oakland Athletics – Brendan McKay, LHP/1B, Louisville
7. Arizona Diamondbacks – Keston Hiura, 2B/OF, UC-Irvine
8. Philadelphia Phillies – J.B. Bukauskas, RHP, North Carolina
9. Milwaukee Brewers – Austin Beck, OF, North Carolina HS
10. Los Angeles Angels – Adam Haseley, OF, Virginia
11. Chicago White Sox – Nick Pratto, 1B, California HS
12. Pittsburgh Pirates – Shane Baz, RHP, Texas HS
13. Miami Marlins – Nate Pearson, JC of Central Florida
14. Kansas City Royals – Alex Faedo, RHP, Florida
15. Houston Astros – Jeren Kendall, OF, Vanderbilt
16. New York Yankees – Pavin Smith, 1B, Virginia
17. Seattle Mariners – Evan White, 1B, Kentucky
18. Detroit Tigers – DL Hall, LHP, Georgia HS
19. San Francisco Giants – Tanner Houck, RHP, Missouri
20. New York Mets – Sam Carlson, RHP, Minnesota HS
21. Baltimore Orioles – Logan Warmoth, SS, North Carolina
22. Toronto Blue Jays – David Peterson, LHP, Oregon
23. Los Angeles Dodgers – Heliot Ramos, OF, Puerto Rico HS
24. Boston Red Sox – Bubba Thompson, OF, Alabama HS
25. Washington Nationals – Griffin Canning, RHP, UCLA
26. Texas Rangers – Drew Waters, OF, Georgia HS
27. Chicago Cubs – Clarke Schmidt, RHP, South Carolina
28. Toronto Blue Jays – Jake Burger, 3B, Missouri State
29. Texas Rangers – Blayne Enlow, RHP, Louisiana HS
30. Chicago Cubs – Nick Allen, SS, California HS
31. Tampa Bay Rays – Tristen Lutz, OF, Texas HS
32. Cincinnati Reds – Mark Vientos, IF, Florida HS
33. Oakland Athletics – Matt Sauer, RHP, California HS
34. Milwaukee Brewers – Trevor Rogers, LHP, New Mexico HS
35. Minnesota Twins – Alex Lange, RHP, LSU
36. Miami Marlins – Brendon Little, LHP, State JC of Florida
Next: Discussing the Braves' Choices
Atlanta Braves Mock Draft Monday: The Braves’ Picks
5. Jordon Adell, OF, Kentucky HS
I’m a sucker for athleticism, but if you mix in athleticism with a big time work ethic and huge positive grades for make up, you definitely have my attention.
I’ve seen so many videos that are both publicly and privately available on Adell that just blow me away that it is hard to get my mind wrapped around any other hitter as the top player in the draft, and I’m seriously including Hunter Greene.
This exercise was to set up if I were the GM in the Braves organization, and I understand the Braves have a depth of outfield prospects, but that also allows for Adell not to need to advance quickly in order to be successful within the system. Let him take his time building up to be the superstar that his natural athleticism will allow him to be.
Round 2, Pick 41 overall: Tristan Beck, RHP, Stanford
Beck is a guy who has long been rumored to be a Brave this season. He had a back issue early in the season that was rumored to be something that would require surgery, but was something that he could pitch through with pain this season. When he did not return to Stanford this season, it was very widely rumored that he had a deal in place to not pitch the rest of the season to protect himself.
Beck very likely could be a guy whose deal pushed him up to be the #5 overall pick as well, so don’t be surprised if that is the case, much like Cal Quantrill did last season with the Padres.
If that were the case, it’d likely be because the Braves have some significant deal(s) for 41 (and 80) with players to push them down from where they would otherwise go.
Rest of Draft
I mentioned in the first mock that the Braves do have pretty loaded rookie league teams, so it’s possible that they go in heavy in their first few picks, then go for signability picks soon in the draft rather than waiting until the 5th-6th rounds to start that process.
If the team goes Adell and Beck, it would likely mean two guys very near slot, and the Braves would very probably go hard after one guy in the 3rd round and it’d be a lot of senior signs after that (Matt Powers at Talking Chop has a great article on senior sign candidates today – check it out!), simply due to the funds required to pull off that strategy.
If Beck were the #5 overall selection or the team went for a cheap option at #5 and Beck 1-2, there could be more money for the #3 and #4 picks and the team would maneuver at that point.
The Braves have kept things close to the vest, and it should be fun to watch what happens today!
Next: Braves Minor League Database
What would be your thoughts on this situation? Leave a comment below!!