In recent history, there is no position that the Atlanta Braves have targeted more in the first round of the MLB Draft than pitcher, in particular right-hander's.
Across the last three MLB Draft's, Atlanta has used every first round pick on a right-handed pitcher (Ryan Cusick, Owen Murphy, JR Ritchie, Hurston Waldrep), as well as using it on a right-hander seven times dating back to 2016 when the club selected Ian Anderson. This means that of the Braves 11 total first round selections since 2016, seven have been right-handed pitchers.
So, will they make it four-straight years of selecting a right-hander in the first round this July? If so, here is a name they should consider for that pick, as well as a few others the club should have on their board elsewhere in the upper rounds.
5 right-handed pitchers the Atlanta Braves should target in 2024 MLB Draft
Braylon Doughty (Chaparral, CA)
If the Braves were to look at the high school ranks for a right-handed pitcher, then there might not be a player better on the board potentially when Atlanta picks in the first round than Doughty. Attending Chapparel High School in California, the Oklahoma State commit has three pitches that all grade as above-average, and recently concluded his high school career with a combined 1.42 ERA and 208:31 K:BB ratio across the past four seasons.
Drew Beam (Tennessee)
A collegiate right-hander to watch for in the second round might be Beam, who is coming off three impressive seasons at Tennessee, a span that originally began with winning SEC Freshman of the Year in 2022. Beam, whose pitch arsenal is headlined by an impressive changeup, as well as strong control, held a combined 3.60 ERA and 249:71 K:BB ratio across those three seasons at Tennessee.
Chris Cortez (Texas A&M)
A player who originally had a down first two years at Texas A&M, Cortez burst onto the national scene this past spring with the Aggies where he owned a combined 2.78 ERA and 102:37 K:BB ratio across 64.2 IP with the Aggies. Cortez, who has a fastball and slider that both grade in the 60's, has worked primarily as a reliever the last three seasons at Texas A&M, and could easily end up being one of the first names in this draft class to reach the major leagues.
Conrad Cason (Greater Atlanta Christian, GA)
If the Braves were to look for a player right in their backyard in Georgia, then Cason might be a name to watch for in rounds three-to-four. A Mississippi State commit, Cason attends Greater Atlanta Christian School in the state of Georgia, and has an exciting three-pitch repertoire that is headlined by a fastball that grades as a 60 on MLB's scale.
Nate Dohm (Mississippi State)
The final name on this list also comes from the SEC in Dohm, who spent the majority of his three collegiate seasons as a reliever, but is coming off an injury-shortened 2024 season at Mississippi State as a starter in which he had an impressive 1.23 ERA and 37:4 K:BB ratio across 29.1 IP. An intriguing name to watch for in rounds two-to-five, Dohm still has the potential to be drafted fairly-high due to his impressive mix of pitches, as his fastball, curveball, and slider all grade out as above-average.
In addition to those five names, here are a few other right-handed pitcher's the Atlanta Braves should have their eyes on across the first three-to-four rounds of the 2024 MLB Draft: Brody Brecht (Iowa), Luke Holman (LSU), Levi Starling (Notre Dame, CA), Owen Hall (Edmond North, OK), Connor Gatwood (Baker, AL)
With the Braves now likely to select numerous right-hander's in the 2024 MLB Draft, could any of these 10 names mentioned above make their way to Atlanta this July?