Grading the Atlanta Braves 2019 draft: Picks 30-21

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LAKE BUENA VISTA, FL – MARCH 18: An overhead view of Champion Stadium just before the start of the Grapefruit League Spring Training Game between the Atlanta Braves and the Baltimore Orioles at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex on March 18, 2012 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by J. Meric/Getty Images) /

Braves’ 2019 Picks: 25-21

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No. 25, Bryce Ball, 1B

6’6″, 235 lbs.

Grade: A

2019 stats: 62 games, .329 AVG, 17 home runs, 18 doubles, 52 RBI

Perhaps the best performer of the 2019 draft class, Ball hit the ground running once in Rookie-Advanced Danville, slugging .676 (13 homers / 12 doubles) in his first 41 games with the D-Braves before being promoted to Single-A Rome. The 6-foot-6, 225-pound Ball looks to be a late-round steal for the Braves (24th round), costing the organization just under $200,000. This will be a fun player to watch in 2020. Ball will turn 22-years-old around midseason this coming year.

No. 24, Drew Campbell, OF

5’11”, 170 lbs.

Grade: C

2019 stats: 28 games, .224 AVG, 1 home run, 4 doubles, 7 RBI

Campbell came out of the University of Louisville as a high-contact player with decent speed and strong defense, slashing .304/ .377/.424 in two seasons with the Cardinals. There’s not a lot of power to speak of (yet), as Campbell hit just 4 home runs in 117 collegiate games, but at just 170 pounds he certainly has some room to grow. At 21-years-old when he signed, the lefty swingy Campbell started out in Rome in 2019, but struggled to the tune of a 66 wRC+. Fortunately, despite struggling to draw walks (only 4.4 BB%), he kept the strikeouts down (12.3 K%), meaning he wasn’t completely overmatched.

No. 23, Alex Segal, LHP

6’4″, 190 lbs.

Grade: A

2019 stats: 16 app., 1 start, 28.1 innings, 4.13 ERA, 11.1 K/9, 4.8 BB/9, 1 HR

Segal is a big lefty, standing at 6’4″ and 185 pounds with mid-90s velocity. Drafted out of Wichita State, the tall southpaw was sharp with the Danville Braves in 2019, striking out 35 batters in 28.1 innings of work and surrendering just one home run. Considering how much he struggled in his last collegiate season (5.50 ERA, 7.3 BB/9), Segal’s respectable numbers in his first pro stint deserves a strong grade.

No. 22, Javier Valdés, C

5’10”, 195 lbs.

Grade: C

2019 stats: 23 games, .088 AVG, 2 doubles, 3 RBI, 1 stolen base

Valdes’ calling card is that he’s an ultra athletic player behind the plate, stemming from his days as an infielder. Reports indicate he could still use more work on his actual catching skills, though a mini-power breakout (8 HR) in his final collegiate season at FIU earned himself some attention at draft time. Sadly, Valdes was simply overmatched in the GCL this past season, finishing with a pathetic 37 wRC+. Although, a .114 BABIP coupled with strong BB/K rates may indicate he suffered from some misfortune during his first 23-game stint in the minors.

No. 21, Peyton Williams, RHP

6’1″, 180 lbs.

Grade: B

2019 stats: 11 app., 4 starts, 26 innings, 6.23 ERA, 8.3 K/9, 3.5 BB/9, 4 HR

Reports indicate that Williams is relatively new to pitching, though despite his rawness on the mound the 6-foot-1 righty has an above-average fastball (tops out at 97 mph) and a recently added curveball. Williams got just one start in the GCL before being deployed with Danville, where he struck out 21 batters in 24 innings. As a 21-year-old D2 product with very little pitching experience, I’d say he held his own for the most part.

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Next up we will take a look at picks 11-20 from the Atlanta Braves 2019 MLB Draft class.

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