Atlanta Braves: 5 players to consider signing after the draft

More Atlanta Braves post-draft options

3.  ELIJAH CABELL, OF, FLORIDA STATE

• 6’2″ / 200 (Bats/Throws Right)
• 21.0 years old
• Drafted:  Milwaukee 2018
• BA ranking 172

“Massive raw power”, though with the usual caveats – strikeouts aplenty.  That will be the trick here:  whether additional reps will be sufficient for him to recognize pitches better to lay off the junk and swing only at the strikes.

While Cabell (see the featured picture of this post) is a gifted athlete, he isn’t a particularly gifted defender, though a corner OF position should work well enough… if his bat carries him to the majors.

2. KALE EMSHOFF, C, ARKANSAS-LITTLE ROCK

• 6’2″ / 228 (Bats/Throws Right)
• 22.1 years old
• Not previously drafted
• BA ranking 174

Another “plus/plus raw power” guy, but this comes from the catching position.  His glove is good – good enough to at least be a possible backup at the position (we’ve seen how valuable even older catchers can be in that role).

Emshoff actually has a Tommy John surgery in his recent past (2019), so he was still coming back from that loss of playing time, but his arm should be good enough once he gets a chance to play — somewhere — again.

Catchers who can field a bit and hit a lot are still highly valuable, and there’s a good chance Emshoff will have a pro job someplace next season.  The Braves could use another one in their ranks.

UPDATE: SIGNED BY THE ROYALS ON FIRST DAY OF UNDRAFTED FREE AGENT SIGNING PERIOD.

1.  KYLE RUSSELL, SS, CURTIS HS / UNIVERSITY PLACE, WASHINGTON

• 6’1″ / 180 (Bats/Throws Right)
• 18.8 years old
• Committed to Washington State
• BA Ranking 195

Let’s dream a little bit on this last name… you may have noticed that the prior names are all college kids from the South.  That wasn’t an accident.  The Atlanta Braves might have better odds of signing players of that age group from their own geographical area.

So… why this shortstop from 2,500 miles away?  Because he’s been overlooked a bit, perhaps, due to a hammate injury… and because the description of his skills at the position suggest both that (a) he will stick at short, and (b) he could be another budding Andrelton Simmons.

Frankly, this kid will likely be extremely difficult to sign – especially for a paltry $20K.  But anybody described in this manner (subscription required for full report) ought to be on a pro team:

"He has smooth actions in the infield and does a nice job cutting down ground on the ball and creating good throwing angles on his approach. He showed reliable hands going to his forehand and backhand side and seemed to have an advanced internal clock and above-average body control. His arm was solid and accurate as well, giving him all the tools necessary to continue handling a premium infield position at the next level."

Will he hit?  That’s more difficult to judge.  But if he can field like this… teams may not care that much.

The fun part of this MLB draft may end up being the ‘after party’ this year:  the signees that the Atlanta Braves end up with.

$20,000 is a fairly cheap bet to make to find a diamond in the rough.  These are 5 guys who have a chance to be that kind of a find.