The Atlanta Braves aren’t bashful when it comes to adding players, ranked or unranked, that aren’t on everyone’s radar. Since the Rule 4 Draft was cut to 20 rounds, players who may have signed in the late rounds became undrafted drafted free agents (UDFA).
After the Rule 4 Draft ended, the Braves inked four intriguing undrafted free agent options including two catchers and two pitchers, so discussing them as a battery seems appropriate. Let's check out these players below.
Derek Vartanian - RHP - Campbell
The only ranked UDFA signed by the Braves is Derek Dewey Vartanian, a 20-year-old, 6ft 4in, 200-pound righthander from Monroe, North Carolina, at number 500 on Baseball America’s pre-draft list. Vartanian spent two seasons pitching for Gaston (N.C.) JC appeared in 19 games, posted a 9-1 record in 12 starts, and notched a pair of saves while pitching to a 3.08 ERA in 76 innings.
He transferred to Campbell in 2024 and made three starts for the Camels, posting a 2-1 record over 11 IP before an injury sidelined him. Baseball America’s scouting report notes that he touched 98 last fall, and struck out 11 against Ohio this spring but lacks consistency. Vartanian featured a low to mid-90s fastball, mid-80s slide, and a low-80s downer hook, when healthy.
Derek Vartanian spun six scoreless innings in which he struck out 11 for @GoCamelsBSB on Friday
— Baseball America (@BaseballAmerica) February 26, 2024
The Camels swept the weekend and landed on our College Top 25pic.twitter.com/YaNonB5ygo
I hope he makes it because baseball needs more traditional baseball names like Dewey Vartanian.
Mac Guscette - C - Alabama
Mac Lyle Guscette (goo-set- y) is a 6-foot, 190-pound catcher from the University of Alabama. The Venice, Florida native spent two years with the Florida Gators before transferring to Alabama in 2003.
He hit well at Florida but wasn’t getting consistent playing time with 57 total games played, including 46 starts. 30 of those came as a sophomore when he batted .238 with four doubles and five home runs. He transferred to Alabama after old friend Garrett McMillan told him he’d get more playing time there.
Guscette became the Tide’s starting catcher, and his bat caught fire. In 320 AB in 98 games for Alabama, Guscette batted .291/.384/.460/.844 including 12 doubles and 13 homers. He has a good eye for the zone – 9.7% K-rate in 2024 – and makes a lot of contact. He’s only 22, so he has time to add more power as he focuses on baseball full-time.
Jacob Gomez - LHP - Old Dominion
Jacob Mattew Gomez is a 5ft 10in, 190-pound lefty from Englewood New Jersey. Gomez appeared in 74 games over four seasons for Old Dominion, pitching to a 4.30 ERA and 1.30 WHIP, striking out 197 and walking 77 in 180 innings. But those stats skew heavily toward his first three seasons.
Gomez hit his stride this season, pitching to a 2.88 ERA and 1.047 WHIP over 56+ innings in 17 games, striking out 64 and walking 13. According to Old Dominion Sports, his seven saves were good for third in the Sun Belt Conference which earned him a spot on the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association’s (NCBWA) Stopper of the Year Award Midseason Watch List.
College baseball is right around the corner and here is the first of our 2024 Draft Eligible Players. First up is LHP Jacob Gomez out of Old Dominion. At 5’10 & 198 lbs., Jacob has been a consistent arm for ODU since his freshman year. @d1baseball @winthegrind #pitcher #mlb… pic.twitter.com/HCovZSHm6w
— PrimeAgency (@primeagency__) January 14, 2024
The Outfield Fly Rule’s Andy King reports that Gomez’s repertoire features a four-pitch mix (fastball, cutter, slider, change-up).
Austin Machado - C - Hawaii
Austin James Machado is a 6 ft 1 in, 205-pound left-handed hitter out of the University of Hawaii.
After red-shirting for two years for St. Johns, where he batted .303/.495/.455/.949 as a sophomore, he transferred to Hawaii for 2024. His bat didn’t seem to care where he used it as he batted .303/.495/.455/.949 with for homers for the Rainbow Warriors,
The Atlanta Braves listed the San Diego native as a catcher, but he acted as DH as often as he caught, and the scouting video suggests he could play some outfield.
UDFAs are indeed a long shot, but everyone starts somewhere. I root for under-tall players like Gomez, and every team can use a pitcher who has three pitches and has touched 98 mph.
Machado’s bat sounds interesting, and the same is true of Guscette, whose character is already an example for others. Good catchers are always an asset, and those that can hit are rare. Here’s hoping the Braves found a gem or two.