Atlanta Braves 2008 draft review in hindsight

The Braves did not have an official 1st round draft pick in 2008. But there were multiple ‘what could have been’ picks along the way.

On November 18th of 2007, the Atlanta Braves reunited with Hall of Famer Tom Glavine after 5 seasons (yes – it was that long) spent with the New York Mets. The Braves only got 63 innings out of him (2-4, 5.54 ERA) in 2008 and ultimately released his in 2009.

Unfortunately, that signing had a hidden cost to it – the loss of their first round draft pick for 2008.

Atlanta did receive a compensation pick – 40th overall – for having lost free agent pitcher Ron Mahay.

Atlanta was drafting in the 18th position that year. The Mets used that selection to take 1B Isaac Davis in Round 1. Pitcher Andrew Cashner was selected by the Cubs next.

Among more familiar names, Gerrit Cole was still on the board at that point (he went 28th to the Yankees), Lonnie Chisenhall was taken 29th, Casey Kelly was 30th. In all honestly, it wasn’t a spectacular first round for anyone after the middle of this first round.

But among the high-pick notables:

Tim Beckham (1st overall, Rays)
Eric Hosmer (3rd)
Brian Matusz (4th)
Buster Posey (5th)
Yonder Alonso (7th)
Aaron Crow (9th)
Jason Castro (10th)
Justin Smoak (11th)
Aaron Hicks (14th)
Brett Lawrie (16th)

So two spectacular names; several major leaguers, but kind of a smattering from that point forward.

The Braves’ Rounds

Atlanta selected 51 players during the 50 draft rounds, having an extra 2nd round pick. However, a whopping 30 of them were not signed by the club… at least according to this official reckoning, which suggests that only 2 players signed after round 26.

That record seems to be a bit inaccurate, though as Jacob Thompson (not the current Phillies’ pitcher Jake Thompson) did indeed throw in the Braves’ minor leagues from 2008 until 2011. In any case, he represent a 5th round choice that did not pan out.

There was one of these unsigned players that clearly counts as ‘one that got away‘: the 829th overall pick in 2008, a shortstop drafted out of high school named Anthony Rendon.

3 years after this, the Washington Nationals felt strongly enough to make Rendon their 1st round (and 6th overall) selection. He has provided them with 23.0 fWAR of production since cracking the majors in 2013, including a career high of 6.8 in 2017.

Still, Atlanta didn’t exactly come away empty-handed. But like the 1990 draft that brought in Chipper Jones, there really wasn’t too much to get excited over after that headliner was taken.

In 2008, though, their best pick actually came in the draft’s 3rd round – their 4th selection, and the 96th overall.

Relief pitchers are not typically grabbed this early, but then again, Craig Kimbrel is no ordinary relief pitcher. His name is certainly the one that leaps off the page when reviewing this draft list.

More from Tomahawk Take

Other notables included these:

Brett DeVall (1st round Compensation pick)
Zeke Spruill (Round 2)
Braeden Schlehuber (Round 4)
Adam Milligan (Round 6)
Paul Clemens (Round 7)
James (J.J.) Hoover (10th – also listed as unsigned, but that’s in error)

Clemens got 169 major league innings – mostly with the Astros in 2013-14.

Hoover was traded to the Reds and broke in with the Reds in 2012, seeing over 240 total innings with them. Stints with the Diamondbacks and Brewers in 2017-18, though he was DFA’d by Milwaukee after a forgettable outing this season. Rather than accept the assignment, he chose the free agency route and went home.

Zeke Spruill made the Diamondbacks for brief stints in 2017-18, logging 34 total innings. He was a part of the deal that sent Martin Prado out west while Justin Upton came to Atlanta.

Schlehuber was a long-time – and valuable – catcher in the minors, reaching AAA. Outfielder Milligan briefly touched AA in 2012.

Pitcher Brett DeVall… he did not progress past low-A thanks to injuries, and was out of the organization by the end of 2011’s Spring Training.

But Kimbrel clearly stands out:

512 innings and still counting
322 saves
9th season
8 consecutive seasons with 30+ saves; just missed being the first reliever to ever get 40+ for 5 years in a row (39 in 2015).
1.79 lifetime ERA
18.9 fWAR
14.68 strikeouts per 9 innings.
he’s still barely 30 years old

What’s fairly remarkable about the crop of minor league prospects that the Braves still have coming up through the ranks right now is just how many of them – by percentage – seem to be on track to continue their march toward the majors.

As you can tell from this report, some drafts don’t work well. You always hope to get at least a handful of major league players each year, and then perhaps 1 really good one.

Next: Contrasting reports on Britton

This hindsight review also applies to the loss of the Braves’ 1st round pick for Glavine. He didn’t do much, but the lost pickmay not have been that significant, given what they might have otherwise had.

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