As we inch closer to the start of the 2024 season, there are many Atlanta Braves' prospects that have a significant amount of hype surrounding them entering the year. A few examples of this are the likes of Hurston Waldrep, Spencer Schwellenbach, Ignacio Alvarez, and Luis Guanipa, among others.
However, there are also a few additional prospects who are coming off strong seasons, and are likely players to know entering 2024, and as you can tell by the title, one of those is Lucas Braun.
Lucas Braun is an Atlanta Braves prospect to know entering 2024
If you are unfamiliar with Braun's name at the moment, that is certainly understandable as he is a new face to the Atlanta Braves organization. However, that is likely about to change in 2024.
Braun, a 22-year-old right-handed pitcher, was selected by the Braves in the sixth round of the 2023 MLB Draft out of Cal State Northridge, where he pitched for two seasons. Across those two years in 2022-23, Braun was one of the top pitchers in the Big West, holding a combined 3.97 ERA and 177:47 K:BB ratio across 165.2 IP.
After being drafted last summer, Braun would go on to see a limited amount of action in the lower levels of the Braves minor league system with the Low-A Augusta Greenjackets and High-A Rome Braves. Across six games, Braun owned a combined 0-2 record with a 2.67 ERA and 32:5 K:BB ratio across 17.1 IP, while also limiting opponents to a .218 AVG against.
Of those season stats, four of Braun's six starts would come in Augusta, with the right-hander owning a combined 1.04 ERA and 19:2 K:BB ratio across 17.1 IP, as well as not allowing an earned run until his third start.
Looking ahead to 2024, Braun, the Braves No. 27 prospect according to MLB Pipeline, is now likely to begin the season where he ended last year in High-A Rome, with it also possible that the right-hander sees Double-A Mississippi at some point during the summer.
Keep an eye on Braun going forward, as the right-hander could potentially be set for a breakout 2024 season.