Atlanta Braves Prospects: Braden Shewmake Scouting Report

NORTH PORT, FL - FEBRUARY 23: Braden Shewmake #83 of the Atlanta Braves fields during the Spring Training game against the Detroit Tigers at CoolToday Park on February 23, 2020 in North Port, Florida. The Tigers defeated the Braves 5-1. (Photo by Mark Cunningham/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
NORTH PORT, FL - FEBRUARY 23: Braden Shewmake #83 of the Atlanta Braves fields during the Spring Training game against the Detroit Tigers at CoolToday Park on February 23, 2020 in North Port, Florida. The Tigers defeated the Braves 5-1. (Photo by Mark Cunningham/MLB Photos via Getty Images) /
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Braden Shewmake #83 of the Atlanta Braves. (Photo by Mark Cunningham/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
Braden Shewmake #83 of the Atlanta Braves. (Photo by Mark Cunningham/MLB Photos via Getty Images) /

Shewmake — The Swing and Approach

At 6-foot-4 and 190 pounds, I’ve always thought it looks like he’s throwing a lot of knees and elbows at you — meaning he needs more meat on those bones.

But also, he has a tendency to twist himself up and get out on his front foot. Not to be harsh, but it’s not the prettiest of left-handed swings.

It’s always worked for him because of his great hand-eye coordination. He’s typically able to get the bat on the ball.

However, after having a K% of around 10 in college, it was all the way up to 20 percent in 2021. That’s not too out of the ordinary as the jump to Double-A is the hardest a professional has to make.

But it is a bit concerning for someone whose biggest tool is the hit tool and his strikeout rate has doubled while his batting average has plummeted.

In the games I watched from 2021, I don’t get a great sense of his approach at the plate. All of his power is to the pull side, but he’ll also slap a single the other way.