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Braves MLB Draft: College Arms To Target with First 5 Picks

By Jake Mastroianni

OMAHA, NEBRASKA - JUNE 30: Starting pitcher Kumar Rocker #80 of the Vanderbilt reacts to being pulled from the game against Mississippi St. by Head Coach Tim Corbin of the Vanderbilt in the top of the fifth inning during game three of the College World Series Championship at TD Ameritrade Park Omaha on June 30, 2021 in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
OMAHA, NEBRASKA - JUNE 30: Starting pitcher Kumar Rocker #80 of the Vanderbilt reacts to being pulled from the game against Mississippi St. by Head Coach Tim Corbin of the Vanderbilt in the top of the fifth inning during game three of the College World Series Championship at TD Ameritrade Park Omaha on June 30, 2021 in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
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Fireworks explode outside of SunTrust Park. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images)
Fireworks explode outside of SunTrust Park. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images) /

Braves MLB Draft: College Arms to Target at 76 and 96

Justin Campbell — RHP — Oklahoma State

With a big 6-foot-7 frame, Campbell profiles as a back of the rotation arm with four pitches that are slightly above average.

Landon Sims — RHP — Mississippi State

Sims, also coming off TJ, is likely destined for a bullpen role. But he’s someone you could easily see becoming a shutdown closer at some point in his career.

Jonathan Cannon — RHP — Georgia

A Georgia kid with great command — only 12 walks in 13 starts this season. He feels like a safe bet to reach his high floor as a back-of-the-rotation starter.

Hunter Barco — LHP — Florida

This could be a great value pick as he likely goes a lot higher if not injured in 2022 and requiring TJ surgery. He has great command of his low-90s fastball and features a plus-plus slider.

Carson Palmquist — LHP — Miami

Like Sims, Palmquist seems destined for a bullpen role at the big league level and is someone who could reach that potential quickly.

Ben Joyce — RHP — Tennessee 

If you’re looking for upside at pick 76 or 96 you could do worse than a guy who averages 101 MPH on his fastball. Joyce is a huge development project, but one that could turn into another Spencer Strider if he can stay healthy and put it all together.

Pete Hanson — RHP — Texas 

Polar opposite to Joyce is Pete Hanson — a safe bet to reach his ceiling as a backend starter and reach it quickly.

Those are just some of the names Atlanta might be considering. If we’ve learned anything over the last few years, this front office is highly unpredictable as to who they will take. Nobody saw them taking Ryan Cusick or Jared Shuster.

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But this is a pretty solid crop of college arms with some that have plenty of upside and others who are pretty safe picks to reach their potential.

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