Atlanta Braves Draft Update: 6th-Round Pick Lucas Braun and 10th-Rounder Pier-Olivier Boucher Sign Deals
By Fred Owens
My last post showed Pier-Olivier Boucher and Lucas Braun as the last remaining Atlanta Braves draft pick left to sign from rounds one through ten. However, tenth-round pick Pier-Olivier Boucher told the Montreal Journal (report written in French) he signed Monday Night; the amount of his signing bonus wasn’t mentioned.
Well, color my face red, I guess I need to read more Canadian sports news. Anyway, I was right about Braun who we heard Saturday had signed for $347,500, which is $54,800 more than the suggested slot value of $292,700.
In addition to the three undrafted free agents listed in my last post, Baseball America (subscription required) reports that the Atlanta Braves signed UFAs right-handed pitchers Shay Schanaman and LJ McDonough and catcher Jacob Godman bringing the total UDFAs signed to six.
Shay Schanaman
When the Atlanta Braves selected Spencer Schwellenbach in 2021, he was the number one prospect in Nebraska, and Shay Schanaman was number 8.
In 2019, freshman Schanaman appeared in 19 games in relief for Nebraska, pitching to a 3.18 ERA in 22 2/3 innings, including 13 1/3 scoreless innings, striking out 23 and earning three saves.
In 2021, he appeared in 13 games for Nebraska and was their Sunday starter. He made 12 starts for the Huskers and, including his lone relief appearance, struck out 72 batters in 67 1/3 innings while pitching to a 5.08 ERA.
Entering 2022, Schanaman made 13 starts and appeared in relief twice, pitching to a 4.44 ERA in 77 innings, striking out 76 and walking 29. He returned to the bullpen as the closer for the Cornhuskers in 2023, pitching to a 3.07 ERA over 55 1/3 innings in 26 games, striking out 66, walking 28, and earning three saves.
In Baseball America's 2021 NCAA Nebraska preview, they noted that Schanaman relied on a low 90s fastball and a slider with a 50% whiff rate. His coach added that he had a dominant fall.
"In a fall (of 2021) where the hitters may have gotten the best …of the pitching…he was maybe an exception …he walked one (batter) all fall…fastball command was there (and) He’s always had two good breaking balls..”"
- Baseball America
The Braves may give him a chance to start, but the back of the bullpen is probably his ceiling. If he can cut down on the walks, it’s not unreasonable to think he has a shot at becoming a closer.