Atlanta Braves Draft Day 3 review of selections in Rounds 24-30

James Acuna RHP R/R; 6′-5″, 180; NR

Round 29 Overall pick 877. Azusa Pacific (CA)

In 2018 Prep Baseball Report described James Acuna like this.

"Tall, slender bodied righty. 6’5/180. Loose arm action, three-quarter slot. Average arm speed. Lands closed. Fastball 88-92 mph. Near average slider 80-82 mph with sweep action. Third pitch 83 mph changeup."

The video is his summer league work in 2016.

Acuna pitched primarily as a reliever for Oregon in 2017 and 2018.

He also pitched in various summer wooden bat leagues from 2016 through 2018.

Acuna pitched this year for Azusa Pacific, throwing 32 1/3 innings as a starter, striking out 29, walking 10 and allowing two home runs while posting a 2.51 ERA with a 1.146 WHIP.

Acuna is now 22 and back in school. He’s wasn’t draft worthy in the past, and he isn’t now. I doubt he even considers signing.

Mitch Calandra C R/R; 5′-11″, 195; NR @mitchcalandra

Round 30 Overall pick 907. Eckerd College (FL)

The only video I found was his 2018 workout at the Baseball Factory. It’s worth a look.

Bio data paraphrased from Calandra’s Eckerd College Bio page

Calandra graduated from Floral Park Memorial High School, New York, where was twice a member of First Team All-State and First Team Long Island. He was also a two-time Conference MVP and twice won Nassau County Catcher of the Year.

He enrolled at Eckerd College in 2017 and was the first player in Eckerd history named SSC Freshman of the Year when hit .364, had 13 multi-hit games, including five – three-hit games and one – four-hit game and ended the year on a ten game hitting streak. His sophomore year was better

In 2017 Calandra, hit.343, led the team in RBI, tied for the team lead in hits, had a nine-game hit streak and a thirteen-game hit streak.  The 13-game streak included five multi-hit games, two of those a 3-hit games and one a 4-hit game. He also popped two homers and threw out runners in 10 of 17 stolen base attempts.

His Junior season saw him lead the team in hits for a second time, had 22 multi-hit games, swiped seven bases in seven tries and threw out 19 of 37 stolen base attempts. Just when you thought he couldn’t get better, he did.

His final campaign at Eckerd saw him produce the most hits, doubles, and homers in his college career while lowering his strikeouts and increasing his walks. Once again he threw out 19 of 37 naughty base runners. He also earned a slot on the ABCA/Rawlings First Team All-Region team and the All-SSC team.

Statistics from Eckerd College

That’s a wrap

This group takes us through Round 30 and includes a few that have a chance of making it.

• Bryce Ball is a hitter. He has a nice swing and the look of a guy who will always get his hits.
• Calandra looks a useful catcher, and without any actual throwing data, it sounds as if he’s a good catch-and-throw guy.

Thompson has the makings of a prospect, but I believe he chooses not to sign and attend Tulane instead. King and should stay another year and push his signing bonus into the seven digit range.

Diaz doesn’t appear to have the pitches to get good batters out. He and Bryant need to stay in school until they figure it out. James Acuna will have a nice career in sociology, whatever that entails.

Ten prospects remain on the list. I hope to have that post out late tomorrow.