After taking a look at every other position over the last two months, we now conclude our list of 2024 MLB Draft previews today by looking at some left-handed pitchers that the Atlanta Braves should be targeting in the upper rounds this July. Will any of these names become Atlanta Braves this July?
5 left-handed pitchers the Atlanta Braves should target in 2024 MLB Draft
Jurrangelo Cijntje (Mississippi State)
A player who has previously been mocked to Atlanta, Cijtnje is one of the more intriguing names that is expected to be selected within the first round simply due to the fact that he throws both right-and-left-handed, and has exciting stuff on both sides. The switch-pitcher is coming off two seasons in the SEC at Mississippi State that originally began with a rough freshman campaign, but concluded with a strong sophomore season where he held a 3.67 ERA and 113:30 K:BB ratio across 90.2 IP.
Kash Mayfield (Elk City, OK)
Should the Braves opt-to select a left-hander within the first round aside from Cijntje, then Mayfield is likely the other name to watch for. The Oklahoma State commit out of in-state Elk City High School in Oklahoma has above-average tools across the board, and is coming off a stellar senior campaign in which he held a 0.16 ERA and a 115:8 K:BB ratio across 44 IP.
Ryan Prager (Texas A&M)
Arguably the top left-hander for the Braves to watch for in round two is Prager, who is coming off a phenomenal 2023 season for national runner-up Texas A&M. A breakout season, Prager, who sports above-average tools across the board, held a 2.95 ERA and 124:20 K:BB ratio across 97.2 IP as one of college baseball's top arms.
Ryan Prager 🐶
— Baseball America (@BaseballAmerica) June 18, 2024
Texas A&M’s ace carried a no-hitter into the seventh.
The Aggies are now into the semis after an impressive 5-1 win tonight.
(🎥 @AggieBaseball)
pic.twitter.com/dXUMmgf7Ea
Blake Larson (IMG Academy, FL)
An intriguing prep arm to watch for in rounds three-to-four is likely Larson, who attends IMG Academy in Florida. A TCU commit, Larson has a pair of pitches that grade as above-average in his fastball and slider, and is coming off a senior season which he held a 1.80 ERA and 71:21 K:BB ratio across 42.2 IP.
Mason Molina (Arkansas)
We conclude with a third collegiate arm in Molina, who has held a combined 3.97 ERA and a 260:100 K:BB ratio across the past three seasons between Texas Tech and Arkansas, as well as a 4.47 ERA and an 81:36 K:BB ratio across 58.1 IP with the Razorbacks this past spring. Among collegiate arms, Molina has one of the best changeup's in this draft, and is certainly a name to watch for.
In addition to those five, here are some other left-handers that the Braves should have on their radar in the upper rounds this year: Dasan Hill (Grapevine, TX), Gage Jump (LSU), Carter Holton (Vanderbilt), Noah Franco (IMG Academy, FL), Jackson Kent (Arizona)