MLB Draft: Atlanta Braves add pitchers on a day of eclectic choices

Isaiah (Jared) Johnson RHP R/R 6-2 225 BA Rk 209

Round 14 overall pick 427  

I’m guessing that Isaiah is Jared because Jared is the only Johnson on the Smithville High School roster. Since Smithville’s population is 947, and any player causing enough noise to get drafted has to play on the baseball team, I think Jared is the guy.

Johnson didn’t travel to many showcases or play on a lot of travel teams,  if he had you’d have heard about the 6-3 high school senior throwing easy 97 mph heat. He finished the season with a 9-o record and a 0.68 ERA.slightly inflated because he plays in a division 1A school. His coach discussed Johnson and his other offerings with 247 sports.

"“He also has a slider and a curveball,” said Russell. “He doesn’t throw his curve that much. And he really has to work on his changeup.” . “They like his fastball, not so much the velo but the way he releases the ball. They say he could possibly wind up throwing (his fastball) 98 to 100 (miles per hour).”"

He’s big and strong, and on small-town teams, every player is a two-way player. Johnson pitched his team to a game one victory in the Mississippi Division 1A championships with a two-hit, one run, eight-strikeout complete game. The next day he hit a homer in the seventh inning of game two to win the game.

According to the Daily Journal, Jared’s eager to become a member of the Braves.

"“They called me this morning and told me that they really wanted to take me, and I got chills. . .“Whenever you get that call, you can’t think straight, and it’s like ‘Holy cow, it’s actually happening. . .This is Braves Country around here, and it’s so awesome to go from being a Seminole to a Brave.”"

Johnson told the Journal that one of his elementary school teachers told him he’d be a Brave one day. now he is.

Conner Blair OF R/R 6-0 215 NR

Round 15 overall pick 457  

In February this year, Blair took over the role as starting right fielder and performed well until he was hit by a pitch that broke his wrist and missed the final three games.  At that time his eight homers ranked second on the team. He’s also been a perennial base stealer and solid defender.

Statistics from The Baseball Cube

There’s nothing on his arm or his speed except that he’s stolen bases each year. He’s been a right fielder so far, so let’s call him a corner OF in the making.