Atlanta Braves: Top 5 First-Round Draft Picks Since 1980

5. Atlanta Braves 1st Round Draft Pick – Steve Avery

Steve Avery was drafted third overall in the 1988 MLB Draft by the Braves. He accumulated the fifth-most rWAR of any player drafted in the first round by the Braves since 1980. In his second season (1991) with the big club, he went 18-8 in 35 starts with a 3.38 ERA. The 21-year-old finished sixth in the NL Cy Young Award voting.

The magical worst-to-first 1991 season ended with a trip to the World Series for the Atlanta Braves. On the way there, Steve Avery compiled the highest rWAR total of his career with a 5.2. How in the world he pitched 233.2 innings and lowered his ERA to 3.20 the following season only earned him 2.3 rWAR is a conversation for another time…or even in 1993 when he posted a 2.94 ERA in 223.1 starts – another time.

That 1991 season was magical and Steve Avery was like Gandalf on a team of magically-inclined heroes in the starting rotation. Glavine led the way with 246.2 innings and a 2.55 ERA. 34-year-old Charlie Leibrandt started 36 games and finished with a 3.49 ERA. Young John Smoltz rebounded from a rough first half (2-11, 5.16) with a spectacular second half (12-2, 2.63) to finish with 3.80 ERA in 36 starts.

Then, of course, we have the youngest member of the rotation that season, our guy Steve Avery and his 3.38 ERA in 35 starts. What an incredible rotation.

All four guys exceeded 210 innings pitched and the highest ERA was 3.80. Avery continued his high-level of play into the postseason. In the NLCS he started two games against the Pirates. In Game 2 in Pittsburgh he went 8.1 strong innings, striking out nine and allowing nary a run. Of the six hits he allowed, three were infield hits with only one out being made in the outfield.

His next start came in Game 6, with the Pirates up three games to two. It was win or go home for the Braves. They needed Avery to deliver one more time to keep their season alive. After hit 8.1 inning shutout in Game 2, the Braves liked their chances.

The Pirates knew what they were up against. In the top of the first inning, Lonnie Smith was on third with one out and Terry Pendleton up to bat. Pittsburgh already had the infield playing in to prevent a run. They weren’t expecting many opportunities to touch home plate in this game. They were right.

Avery put his superhero cape on as the second-youngest pitcher to ever win a Championship game to that point. Eight punchouts, 8.1 innings, and zero runs later: mission accomplished.

Avery cranked up the Ks in the 1991 postseason, striking out 17 hitters in 16.1 NLCS innings. Avery would be awarded the NLCS MVP, allowing absolutely zero runs in 16.1 innings.