Braves MLB Draft: A Look at Updated Top 150 Draft Prospects List
It won’t be a big year for the Atlanta Braves in the MLB Draft in 2020 with just two picks in the top 100, but we’ll look at who they could grab with those picks.
Even though we still have no idea when the 2020 MLB Draft will take place or how many rounds there will be, we do know where the Atlanta Braves will pick and who some of the top prospects will be.
Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com just expanded his list of MLB Draft prospects to 150.
The Braves will have the 25th overall pick in the draft with their first-round selection, but they won’t pick again until 98 because of the signings of Will Smith and Marcell Ozuna.
You can find the complete draft order here.
I had been doing a lot of research on college players for this year’s draft before everything was shut down.
The top four college prospects are pretty clear at this point with Spencer Torkelson, Austin Martin, Emerson Hancock, and Asa Lacy. Those four are the cream of the crop in this year’s draft.
Looking at the prospects between 20-30 where the Braves will likely pick from there are a couple of names who stand out to me.
The first being Tanner Burns from Auburn. Obviously, being an Auburn graduate and someone who has seen Tanner on several occasions, I would love for the Braves to take him.
But I also think Burns has frontline potential. Health and durability have been an issue for him, and he doesn’t have the biggest frame for a starter at 6-foot. However, he throws in the upper 90s and has plus slider.
I’ve watched both he and Casey Mize (the former number one overall pick) and I honestly think Burns has better pure stuff. Mize just has better command and durability.
At the very least I think Burns becomes an elite bullpen arm — likely a closer.
Ranked right at 25, which is where the Braves pick, is Duke right-handed pitcher Bryce Jarvis. He was off to a stellar start in 2020 with a 0.67 ERA in 27 innings with 40 strikeouts, including a no-hitter.
He throws in the low-to-mid 90s with a plus change-up and would be a fairly safe pick here, but someone who likely profiles as a mid-rotation starter.
Cade Cavalli is another college pitcher in that 20-30 range the Braves could consider, but I think his upside is even lower than Jarvis.’
Not that you ever draft based on need in the first-round, but if high school shortstop Ed Howard fell to 25 then the Braves would be wise to take a chance on him.
If the Braves are looking for an infielder in that first round, Mississippi State shortstop Jordan Westburg and Baylor shortstop Nick Loftin should both be available at 25.
J.T. Ginn is ranked 44 on Mayo’s list only because of injury issues that had already ended his 2020 season before the coronavirus did. If not for the injuries, Ginn would be a top 10 talent.
It’s possible the Braves take a chance on him at 25 and hope he recovers. Ginn was a first-round pick by the Dodgers out of high school a couple of years ago.
Next. Top 5 Busts. dark
There is a look at some of the players the Braves could be targeting whenever the 2020 MLB Draft takes a place. If I had to make a prediction, it’s safe to assume the Braves take a college arm at 25.