The Atlanta Braves have made their first selection for the 2025 MLB Draft. Atlanta drifted from their usual script and selected a position player with the 22nd overall pick. However, it wasn't the player many Braves fans expected the team to draft.
With their first round pick in 2025, Atlanta drafted SS/OF Tate Southisene out of Basic High School in Henderson, Nevada. Southisene is a talented player who can handle the bat with above-average power from the right side thanks to great bat speed. He is also extremely athletic in the field and looks like he could remain at shortstop for a long time.
Some fans were not happy with this, as SEC Player of the Year and Golden Spikes Award winner Wehiwa Aloy was still available. Aloy had been mentioned as a fit for the Braves in a few mock drafts. However, that didn't happen, and some think this is enough reason to fire Alex Anthopoulos.
There is no way AA survives after the Braves season is over at the end of the regular season, right? Pretty weak pick when Aloy was sitting right there.
— HTTc (@HTTCJD5fan) July 14, 2025
Braves passing on Wehiwa Aloy feels like it could have something to do with Scott Boras
There may be a reason the Braves skipped out on a shortstop who is basically MLB-ready. Aloy is represented by Scott Boras, and Atlanta has a history of not working with him. The last player to sign with the Braves under Boras was LHP Dallas Keuchel in 2019.
However, the complaints about not taking Aloy when the team is in desperate need of a better shortstop are valid. Aloy has a lot of raw power to all fields, but mostly on the pull side. He also moves well at short with good hands and decent arm strength.
There are questions about his susceptibility to chasing breaking balls and if he will remain at shortstop long term. Regardless, he will reach the majors sooner than Southisene, and that felt important for the Braves. But there is plenty of upside with Atlanta's first pick.
It takes time to know if a draft pick was a mistake or not. So, the disappointment makes sense to fans. However, the Braves have a great scouting department, and we will see the quality of this decision in a few years.