Atlanta Braves draft options and short Q and A with Kiley McDaniel

The Atlanta Braves selected catcher Shea Langeliers with their first pick in the 2019 Rule 4 draft. (Photo by Brace Hemmelgarn/Minnesota Twins/Getty Images)
The Atlanta Braves selected catcher Shea Langeliers with their first pick in the 2019 Rule 4 draft. (Photo by Brace Hemmelgarn/Minnesota Twins/Getty Images)
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The Atlanta Braves would love to select Mississippi State Bulldogs pitcher Will Bednar. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Thorson-USA TODAY Sports

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Jake wrote about the mock drafts two weeks ago, indicating that RHP/SS Bubba Chandler (HS Bogart, Ga.) was Jonathan Mayo’s prediction, while CBS suggested another two-way player Spencer Schwellenbach (SS/closer), and at McDaniel’s mock at that time had the Braves taking Will Bednar.

(Note: I’ve edited the questions and replies for grammar, clarity, and length. I added everything in parenthesis you’ll see in my questions and McDaniel’s reply. Any bold-faced type is also my emphasis.)

OWENS: I’ve heard that the Braves sort of want Will Bednar. I doubt he makes it to us at 24. If that’s the case if we don’t get Bednar or Gavin Williams, would they go for a lefty like Mikulkis? Or a bat, like shortstops Trey Sweeney or Carson Williams?

Kiley McDaniel: I agree that I think Bednar is, if not the top of their list, definitely a guy they’re hoping gets there (and) that he’s probably not going to get there. I think the Braves are . . . his floor .

If he gets there, they’re definitely taking him. They may even try to entice him to get down there. Although it’s tough to move college guys around the board, especially ones that as well-known as he is. (Moving around the board means convincing them to sign for by offering an overpay.)

I would say Michael McGreevy  RHP (ESPN 36, MLB 28, BA 16) out of UC Santa Barbara is of interest to them. I went to see him this spring. (The Braves) had three high-level scouts there, which is maybe too many for one game. Maybe (someone) got rained out somewhere (and the extra scouts had nowhere else to go) you never know.

If (McGreevy drops to 24) the Braves will grab him, even over Bednar in the unlikely event both are still undrafted.  Ky Bush (ESPN 55, MLB 67, BA 46), a lefty out of Saint Mary’s, is another guy that probably doesn’t get to their second pick. So they may go way under slot with him at the first pick and then hopefully set something up later.

(In Kiley’s final Mock posted the Friday after the chat (subscription required), he has the Braves selecting McGreevy at 24 and Ky Bush at 59.)

Spencer Schwellenbach (ESPN 46, MLB 54, BA 52, SS/RHP out of Nebraska, is another two-way guy who is open to pitching or hitting. I think (the Braves) prefer him as a pitcher.

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