Atlanta Braves: 5 potential outfield targets in the 2023 MLB Draft
By Matt Melton
When it comes to potential positional targets for the Atlanta Braves in the upcoming 2023 MLB Draft, the outfield is one that could quickly come to mind.
Taking a look at the Atlanta Braves' current minor league system, only four of the organization's Top 30 prospects according to MLB Pipeline are outfielders, none of which are ranked within the Top 10 overall (Jesse Franklin IV (13), Luis Guanipa (15), Brandol Mezquita (16), and Douglas Glod (24)).
Because of this, it makes sense that Atlanta could look to draft an outfielder early in the MLB Draft, as well as potentially even in the first round. Here are five potential outfield targets that the Braves could consider early in the 2023 MLB Draft.
5 potential Atlanta Braves outfield targets in the 2023 MLB Draft
Dillon Head (Homewood-Flossmoor, IL)
With some of the top outfielders in this draft such as Dylan Crews, Wyatt Langford, Max Clark, Walker Jenkins, and Enrique Bradfield Jr. unlikely to fall to the Braves in the first round, then Head is likely the top available player at the position that Atlanta could select at pick No. 24 overall. A prep player out of Homewood-Flossmoor High School in Illinois, the 18-year-old Clemson commit is one of the fastest players in this draft and is coming off a senior season in which he slashed .486/.565/.916 with six HR, 21 RBI, and 23 SB.
Jack Hurley (Virginia Tech)
Arguably the biggest-name collegiate outfielder that could be in a spot for the Braves is Hurley, who is coming off a strong junior season at Virginia Tech. A 21-year-old with exciting tools across the board, Hurley holds a career .321 AVG across three seasons with the Hokies, and recently posted a slash line of .320/.414/.713 during the 2023 season with 17 HR, 49 RBI, and four SB.
Chase Davis (Arizona)
If the Atlanta Braves were to look for arguably the top power-hitting outfielder in the first round aside from the likes of Crews and Langford previously, then Davis might just be your guy. The 21-year-old Arizona junior is a former highly-touted prep prospect from the 2020 class and is coming off back-to-back stellar seasons with the Wildcats in which he hit a combined 39 HR with 128 RBI, along with holding an average north of .300.
Colton Ledbetter (Mississippi State)
If the Braves opt to select another position in the first round, and then look at an outfielder in the second, Ledbetter might be a name that could potentially be in play for Atlanta at that pick. A strong two-way player both offensively and defensively for the position, Ledbetter originally began his collegiate career at Samford prior to transferring to Mississippi State a year ago where he would go on to slash .320/.452/.574 with 12 HR, 52 RBI, and 17 SB.
Kemp Alderman (Ole Miss)
We conclude the list here at No. 5 with another SEC product from the state of Mississippi, this time however coming from Ole Miss' Alderman, who was a key piece toward the Rebels' 2022 national title run. The junior has power similar, if not better, to that of the aforementioned Davis, and is coming off a stellar 2023 season in which he slashed .376/.440/.709 offensively with 19 HR, 61 RBI, and five SB.