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Atlanta Braves MLB Draft: Top 5 college pitchers to target

By Jake Mastroianni

ATLANTA, GA - JULY 31: Atlanta Braves mascot Blooper and left fielder Ronald Acuna, Jr. #13 play around in the dugout during a rain delay before the game against the Miami Marlins at SunTrust Park on July 31, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Mike Zarrilli/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - JULY 31: Atlanta Braves mascot Blooper and left fielder Ronald Acuna, Jr. #13 play around in the dugout during a rain delay before the game against the Miami Marlins at SunTrust Park on July 31, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Mike Zarrilli/Getty Images) /
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PISCATAWAY, NJ – APRIL 14: Matt Frazar #47 of the West Virginia Mountaineers congratulates teammate Billy Flemming after he scored in the top of the fourth inning against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights during their Big East Conference Game at Bainton Field on on April 14, 2012 in Piscataway, New Jersey. (Photo by Chris Chambers/Getty Images)
PISCATAWAY, NJ – APRIL 14: Matt Frazar #47 of the West Virginia Mountaineers congratulates teammate Billy Flemming after he scored in the top of the fourth inning against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights during their Big East Conference Game at Bainton Field on on April 14, 2012 in Piscataway, New Jersey. (Photo by Chris Chambers/Getty Images) /

RHP – Alek Manoah – West Virginia

West Virginia right-handed pitcher Alek Manoah is a pitcher that started the college baseball season with a lot of hype, and has increased that hype for the MLB Draft as the season has progressed.

In 2017 he posted a 3.07 ERA with West Virginia in 55.2 innings pitched with 45 strikeouts and 2 saves. As a sophomore, he posted a 4.00 ERA in 54 innings with 60 strikeouts and 2 saves.

The reason Manoah had a lot of hype coming into the season is because he went to the Cape last summer and put up impressive numbers with a 2.70 ERA in 33.1 innings with 48 strikeouts and a WHIP of 0.79.

This year he’s worked exclusively as a starter and has posted a 1.91 ERA in 94 innings pitched with 125 strikeouts and a WHIP of 0.90.

Manoah has an even bigger frame than Lodolo standing at 6-foot-6 but weighing 270 pounds. He has the frame of a future workhorse in the middle of a rotation.

The righty has a fastball that tops out at 98 MPH but sits in the mid-90s, and the plus offering has some sink.

He also features an above-average slider that he throws in the mid-80s to complement his plus-plus fastball.

The pitch he’ll need to develop before he becomes considered a lock at the top of a Major League rotation is his change-up, which is considered below-average at this point.

In the latest MLB Draft mock from the Athletic (subscription required), David O’Brien has the Braves taking Manoah at nine with Bleday and Bishop off the board.

He mentions that Manoah could profile more as a reliever with that two-pitch mix. And while you hate to draft a reliever ninth overall, he could help the big league team sooner rather than later.

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