After selecting Cam Caminiti and Carter Holton on Sunday night, the Atlanta Braves opened day two of the 2024 MLB Draft on Monday afternoon by using their third round pick to select Luke Sinnard at No. 99 overall, a right-handed pitcher out of the University of Indiana.
Ranked as the No. 185 overall prospect in this draft according to MLB, just what are the Braves now getting in Sinnard as a prospect?
Atlanta Braves select Indiana right-handed pitcher Luke Sinnard in 2024 MLB Draft
After going undrafted out of Beech High School in Tennessee in the 2021 MLB Draft, Sinnard did not originally begin his collegiate career in the Big Ten at Indiana, but rather by playing in Conference USA at Western Kentucky.
As a freshman, Sinnard would appear in only 11 games with the Hilltoppers during the 2022 season, with four of those appearances having been starts. However, Sinnard would struggle at times that season by posting a 1-2 record with a 7.18 ERA and 28:11 K:BB ratio across 26.1 IP, with opponents also holding a combined .355 AVG against.
At seasons end, the right-hander would go on to enter the transfer portal, where Sinnard shortly after committed to Indiana. This is also where Sinnard would become a full-time starter, as well as set the stage for a breakout season.
In 2023, Sinnard would make 16 starts for Indiana in which he owned a 6-3 record with a 4.27 ERA and 114:25 K:BB ratio across 86.1 IP. The right-hander also limited opponents to a combined .249 AVG against as a sophomore, and set the Indiana single-season strikeout record with 114 total.
However, while the numbers were impressive, Sinnard's 2023 season would end on a down note, as the right-hander suffered an injury during the NCAA Regionals. This injury, which occurred in June, resulted in Sinnard undergoing Tommy John surgery, causing the right-hander to miss all of the 2024 campaign, meaning that he has not appeared in a game since June of 2023.
When looking at Sinnard as a pitcher, the right-hander is listed at 6-foot-8, 250 pounds, and has three pitches that grade as a 55 on MLB's scale in his fastball, curveball, and slider. Sinnard's changeup also grades as a 45, with his control sitting strong at a 55.
With that, Sinnard showcased during his 2023 sophomore season at Indiana that he has big strikeout potential, evident by his 11.9 K/9, as well as the ability to control his pitches.
Assuming he signs with Atlanta, Sinnard will now likely be eased back into in-game action whenever he does make his professional debut, which could come sooner rather than later.