Atlanta Braves Mock Draft Review: ESPN’s Prediction

(RHP/OF) Brennan Malone

6’5″, 210 lbs. — Porter Ridge H.S. (North Carolina)

Now we’re talking about some size. Malone is a high-velocity righty that sits in the mid-90s, but has been a bit overlooked since he’s jumbled in a group of four different right-handed pitchers in this year’s class.

Ranked at #22 on THE BOARD, Malone is projected as a 45 FV pitcher (future value), just behind similar ranked righties: George Kirby (#15), Mathew Allan (#16) and Quinn Priester (#17).

At his current value projection, he’s expected to become a mid-rotation arm on a big league staff, but as we’ve seen before — things can change fast.

The take on Malone by Fangraphs is pretty simple, as Eric Longenhagen and Kiley McDaniel write:

"Physical prep righty with mid-90s fastball and sound breaking ball."

You can see him throw several breaking balls in the video above, and they look pretty nasty at times, featuring the more slower 12-6 version of the curveball offering. Malone also throws a low to mid-90s sinker, along with a slider and changeup.

Currently, the fastball and curveball are the two above-average pitches in his arsenal, with the other three still needing some work, understandably.

What’s a little scary is that it seems Malone is very interested in throwing even harder, though, as an 18-year-old kid you sort of have to expect that: Here’s a comment from Malone:

"“The biggest goal I’ve set for myself is to hit 100 mph with my fastball,” Malone said. “I think that would be really awesome. That’s not really as important as command, but it would be a really cool thing to do. I also want my secondary pitches to be out pitches for me and to be able to work those in consistently.”"

Major league pitching coaches will probably assist in creating more productive goals for the righty, but pitching 100 mph does have its perks.

The fact that Malone relocated from his hometown of North Carolina to play baseball at IMG Academy in Bradenton, FL may not seem like a very big deal. Lots of kids do that these days, as these IMG Academies are notorious for manufacturing super star athletes (especially in football).

But what’s impressive is what Malone says about his relocation to Florida, and why he moved there. He says the Academy is “an athletes heaven” and that his old school didn’t allow him anymore room to further his mental and physical approach.

Being so conscious of his development as a player, at such a young age, gives me reason to think that this is a very hard working kid.

Writer A.E. Schafer, from Vivaelbirdos.com (an SB Nation site), wrote extensively about Malone this past February. Here’s an excerpt from his piece:

"Hey, remember Roy Oswalt? He was fun, right? Well, here’s another one of those. Only a little taller, actually, which is maybe a good thing. Brennan Malone is, at this moment, my number one pitching prospect in this draft. It’s a close race between he and Carter Stewart, but even as much as I like Stewart, Malone has, to my eye, the more repeatable delivery, a better fastball, and a curve that, while not historic in terms of potential as Stewart’s is, could grade out at 60-65 when it’s all said and done."

Schafer goes on to note that Malone’s fastball is so successful because his heater is one that gives that “rising optical illusion thing”. That’s a simpler way of saying that Malone appears to make his fastballs rise.

Yes, it’s impossible for pitches to rise, but when a pitcher puts enough spin rate on a high-velocity pitch, the ball will drop much less; and from the hitter’s perspective, at the plate the ball looks like it’s rising up as it gets closer.

Malone’s curveball, when he’s got it under control, flashes as a plus pitch. Obviously the velocity change from a mid to high-90s fastball to a mid-70s 12-6 curveball can give hitters fits, and that’s exactly what Malone will be able to do once he completely hones his breaking ball.

In his article, Schafer says that Malone’s changeup has some potential and that he’ll “throw one out of every three that is really good”. Arm action is key and Malone is said to have excellent natural arm speed. If the changeup turns into a pitch for him to feature, that’s yet another secondary to keep hitters guessing.

Like Corbin Carroll, Malone played for the 18U National Team in 2018. Malone pitched exceptional in his 3 appearances for Team USA, going 2-0 and leading the team with 8.1 innings of work.

He helped Team USA clinch a spot in the gold medal game by striking out four in 4.1 innings in his first start, then striking out three in his final start. Overall, in those 8.1 innings-pitched, Malone surrendered 6 hits and struck out nine, allowing only one earned run. He did walk 9 batters, though.

Regardless of What Happens

Whether or not the Braves decide to select these two players, I hope they do use one of their 1st-round picks on a position-player. I like Keith Law’s take that the Braves may want to take a position-player first, than a pitcher next at #21.

This is an excellent draft class to retool the farm with some hitters. As of right now the talent is rather thin in the lower minors in terms of offense, and that will only hurt the Braves in the future.

Corbin Carroll may not be a player the Braves go with, as the organization may be more interested in going with a proven bat; a college player. Either way, if there was ever a year for the Braves to break the yearly routine of taking a pitcher — it’s definitely this year.