Braves MLB Draft: College Arms to Target at 35 and 57
Cade Horton — RHP — Oklahoma
A two-way player at Oklahoma who was also a two-sport star in high school where he played quarterback.
Horton’s future in the big leagues is as a starting pitcher where he features a mid-90s fastball and a plus-plus slider.
A lot of scouts have him ranked higher than 35, so there is a chance he doesn’t make it here. He has the ceiling as a number two or three starter — most likely a three.
Coopoer Hjerpe — LHP — Oregon State
A finesse pitcher with a funky delivery from the left side, Hjerpe would be a safe pick at 35 as someone you feel confident will make a big league rotation one day.
He doesn’t have a very high ceiling, but he has great command even with that delivery and knows how to get hitters out.
Carson Whisenhunt — LHP — East Carolina
He missed all of 2022 because of failed drug test adding to the list of top college arms that didn’t pitch this season.
The 6-foot-3 lefty has average offerings across the board making him a safe bet as a mid-rotation starter.
Parker Messick — LHP — Florida State
You can say the same about Messick as Hjerpe, a lefty with a funky delivery that knows how to get batters out.
Messick was also a master at getting the strikeout with 270 of them in his last two seasons with the Seminoles.