Top 20 Prospects: Atlanta Braves
1. J.R. Graham, RHP, B+
Graham's calling card is his excellent control and he profiles as a
solid mid-rotation guy down the line.
2. Lucas Sims, RHP, B
Sims’ combination of athleticism, stuff and projectability give
him the highest ceiling of any arm in the system. He's a pretty long way away,
but he shows the potential to be a frontline guy going
forward.
3. Sean Gilmartin, LHP, B
Gilmartin looks to be another mid-rotation kind of guy. He's put
up consistent numbers in the minors and was recently promoted to AAA
Gwinett.
4. Nick Ahmed, SS, B
A 2011 Draft selection out of UConn, Ahmed has a solid-average
bat, especially for a middle infielder. Sticking at short will greatly improve
his value.
5. Evan Gattis, C/OF, B
Gattis has had a very interesting career so far. When healthy,
he absolutely rakes to the tune of a career line in the minors of .316/.379/.559
at the time of writing. The downside? He's rarely healthy and is 25 in AA. He
will probably end up as a left fielder, but despite the red flags, the bat has
to be watched.
6. Matt Lipka, OF, B
Lipka has some speed and will hit for a good average to go along
with solid defense in centerfield.
7. Edward Salcedo, 3B, B
Salcedo has the tools to do it all at the plate, but he has a
very raw approach and is nowhere close to refined with the
glove.
8. Zeke Spruill, RHP, B
Spruill is another mid-rotation arm that provides some depth to the system.
There's nothing extraordinary here, but he gets the job done.
9. Tommy La Stella, 2B, B-
La Stella is old for his level, but he has shown a good bat and
a patient approach at the plate.
10. Kyle Kubitza, 3B, B-
Kubitza does a little bit of everything. Nothing here is
particularly notable here and his numbers are down this year, but he's worth a
look.
11. Cody Martin, RHP, C+/B-
He's old for his level this year, but his numbers, especially the strikeouts,
are worth noting. A name to follow.
12. Aaron Northcraft, RHP, C+/B-
Northcraft is yet another mid-rotation type who has come along
nicely this year.
13. Alex Wood, LHP, C+
Wood has been used as a starter since signing, but due to his
often scary mechanics, he looks like a reliever going forward. He could be very
nasty from the left side and definitely pitch in high leverage situations at the
big league level.
14. Christian Bethancourt, C, C+
Bethancourt is a great all around defensive catcher who
struggles with the bat. If he figures it out at the plate, he's a name to
follow.
15. Fernelys Sanchez, OF, C+
Sanchez has all the tools, but is very raw at the plate at this
stage. His speed is elite and his defense and arm will play very well in
centerfield.
16. Todd Cunningham, OF, C+
Cunningham is solid, but not spectacular. He has some speed and
some pure hitting skills.
17. Billy Bullock, RHP, C+
Bullock has major control problems, but could be groomed into a
reliever.
18. Joe Leonard, 3B, C+
Could be an interesting sleeper name to follow. A 3rd round pick
out of Pitt, Leonard is a little old for his level, but he can hit a little
bit.
19. Josh Elander, C, C+
Elander is a very solid hitter and if he can be improve
defensively, he should be a good backstop going
forward.
20. Navery Moore, RHP, C+/C
Mid-to-back end type.
21. Blake Brown, OF, C+/C
Power/speed combo is intriguing, has some swing and miss to his
game.
22. Joe Terdoslavich, 1B, C+/C
Power depleted and average mostly depleted, needs the bat to
play which is doubtful at this stage.
23. Carlos Perez, LHP, C+/C
Perez has strikeout stuff, but walks are a big problem and he
was recently sent down to rookie ball to become a
reliever.
24. Justin Black, OF, C+/C
Black is extremely fast, but very raw. He's from Montana and had
not played much competitive baseball before signing, so he has a long way to
go.
25. Adam Milligan, OF, C+/C
Milligan has some power but he's old for level and may never but
the ball in play often enough.
26. Bryan de la Rosa, C, C+/C
Defense first catcher with some potential with the bat,
interesting follow. Could be ranked much higher next year if he puts it together
at the plate.
Graham's calling card is his excellent control and he profiles as a
solid mid-rotation guy down the line.
2. Lucas Sims, RHP, B
Sims’ combination of athleticism, stuff and projectability give
him the highest ceiling of any arm in the system. He's a pretty long way away,
but he shows the potential to be a frontline guy going
forward.
3. Sean Gilmartin, LHP, B
Gilmartin looks to be another mid-rotation kind of guy. He's put
up consistent numbers in the minors and was recently promoted to AAA
Gwinett.
4. Nick Ahmed, SS, B
A 2011 Draft selection out of UConn, Ahmed has a solid-average
bat, especially for a middle infielder. Sticking at short will greatly improve
his value.
5. Evan Gattis, C/OF, B
Gattis has had a very interesting career so far. When healthy,
he absolutely rakes to the tune of a career line in the minors of .316/.379/.559
at the time of writing. The downside? He's rarely healthy and is 25 in AA. He
will probably end up as a left fielder, but despite the red flags, the bat has
to be watched.
6. Matt Lipka, OF, B
Lipka has some speed and will hit for a good average to go along
with solid defense in centerfield.
7. Edward Salcedo, 3B, B
Salcedo has the tools to do it all at the plate, but he has a
very raw approach and is nowhere close to refined with the
glove.
8. Zeke Spruill, RHP, B
Spruill is another mid-rotation arm that provides some depth to the system.
There's nothing extraordinary here, but he gets the job done.
9. Tommy La Stella, 2B, B-
La Stella is old for his level, but he has shown a good bat and
a patient approach at the plate.
10. Kyle Kubitza, 3B, B-
Kubitza does a little bit of everything. Nothing here is
particularly notable here and his numbers are down this year, but he's worth a
look.
11. Cody Martin, RHP, C+/B-
He's old for his level this year, but his numbers, especially the strikeouts,
are worth noting. A name to follow.
12. Aaron Northcraft, RHP, C+/B-
Northcraft is yet another mid-rotation type who has come along
nicely this year.
13. Alex Wood, LHP, C+
Wood has been used as a starter since signing, but due to his
often scary mechanics, he looks like a reliever going forward. He could be very
nasty from the left side and definitely pitch in high leverage situations at the
big league level.
14. Christian Bethancourt, C, C+
Bethancourt is a great all around defensive catcher who
struggles with the bat. If he figures it out at the plate, he's a name to
follow.
15. Fernelys Sanchez, OF, C+
Sanchez has all the tools, but is very raw at the plate at this
stage. His speed is elite and his defense and arm will play very well in
centerfield.
16. Todd Cunningham, OF, C+
Cunningham is solid, but not spectacular. He has some speed and
some pure hitting skills.
17. Billy Bullock, RHP, C+
Bullock has major control problems, but could be groomed into a
reliever.
18. Joe Leonard, 3B, C+
Could be an interesting sleeper name to follow. A 3rd round pick
out of Pitt, Leonard is a little old for his level, but he can hit a little
bit.
19. Josh Elander, C, C+
Elander is a very solid hitter and if he can be improve
defensively, he should be a good backstop going
forward.
20. Navery Moore, RHP, C+/C
Mid-to-back end type.
21. Blake Brown, OF, C+/C
Power/speed combo is intriguing, has some swing and miss to his
game.
22. Joe Terdoslavich, 1B, C+/C
Power depleted and average mostly depleted, needs the bat to
play which is doubtful at this stage.
23. Carlos Perez, LHP, C+/C
Perez has strikeout stuff, but walks are a big problem and he
was recently sent down to rookie ball to become a
reliever.
24. Justin Black, OF, C+/C
Black is extremely fast, but very raw. He's from Montana and had
not played much competitive baseball before signing, so he has a long way to
go.
25. Adam Milligan, OF, C+/C
Milligan has some power but he's old for level and may never but
the ball in play often enough.
26. Bryan de la Rosa, C, C+/C
Defense first catcher with some potential with the bat,
interesting follow. Could be ranked much higher next year if he puts it together
at the plate.
2012 Draft Review: Atlanta Braves
Overall Draft Grade: C+
The Braves went for local arms at the top and found a nice balance with Sims and Wood. Both of them have above-average stuff and need some refinement, but they project good value down the road. There's not too much to be excited about after those two, but Atlanta did a good job of adding some solid catching depth with De La Rosa and Elander. Overall, there's nothing particularly exciting here, but the Braves did alright with the limited money and picks that they had,
1st Round (21): Lucas Sims, RHP, Brookwood HS (GA), 6'1", 200
The Braves stayed in their backyard for their first two selections and Sims is an athletic righty with some good present stuff and projection. He's mainly a two-pitch guy at the moment, but both his fastball and curve show the potential to be above-average at the next level. His eventual role and success will be largely determined by the development of a change-up, but Sims has the arm strength and athleticism that make him an interesting first round selection here.
The Braves went for local arms at the top and found a nice balance with Sims and Wood. Both of them have above-average stuff and need some refinement, but they project good value down the road. There's not too much to be excited about after those two, but Atlanta did a good job of adding some solid catching depth with De La Rosa and Elander. Overall, there's nothing particularly exciting here, but the Braves did alright with the limited money and picks that they had,
1st Round (21): Lucas Sims, RHP, Brookwood HS (GA), 6'1", 200
The Braves stayed in their backyard for their first two selections and Sims is an athletic righty with some good present stuff and projection. He's mainly a two-pitch guy at the moment, but both his fastball and curve show the potential to be above-average at the next level. His eventual role and success will be largely determined by the development of a change-up, but Sims has the arm strength and athleticism that make him an interesting first round selection here.
2nd Round (85): Alex Wood, LHP, Georgia University (LHP), 6'4", 215
Wood shows surprising velocity from the left side and two secondary offferings that have flashed potential in the past. His fastball will run up into the mid-90s at times, and both his curve and his change-up could project to be at least Major League average at the next level. He has some unorthodox mechanics that the Braves will likely try to smooth out sooner rather than later, but Wood has the frame and present stuff to profile as a solid starter at the next level.
Wood shows surprising velocity from the left side and two secondary offferings that have flashed potential in the past. His fastball will run up into the mid-90s at times, and both his curve and his change-up could project to be at least Major League average at the next level. He has some unorthodox mechanics that the Braves will likely try to smooth out sooner rather than later, but Wood has the frame and present stuff to profile as a solid starter at the next level.
3rd Round (116): Bryan De La Rosa, C, Olympic Heights HS, 5'8", 190, R/R
Reports on De La Rosa indicate that he has all of the tools necessary to be a good catcher at the next level. Scouts love his defensive skillset and he should easily stick behind the plate moving forward. Perfect Game argues that, "if he has 6'2"/200, he'd be a first round pick," and his bat also shows some potential. De La Rosa is an interesting follow here and has already signed for slot value.
4th Round (149): Justin Black, OF, Billings West HS (MO), 6'0", 190, R/R
Black is an anomaly being from Montana, one of three states that does not have high school baseball. In a recent interview, the Braves scouting director claimed that Black has 80 speed, and while that may not be entirely true, he certainly profiles as an athletic, toolsy outfielder. He's already signed with Atlanta and is an intriguing follow given his relative anonymity before the draft.
5th Round (179): Blake Brown, OF, Missouri (JR), 6'0", 185, R/R
Brown led the Tigers in home runs in 2012 and showed some speed as well, swiping 17 bases in 22 attempts last year. He had big strikeout numbers, however, and it looks like they will always be a part of his game. He profiles as a potential power/speed guy from the college ranks with a little bit of upside.
6th Round (209): Josh Elander, C, Texas Christian University (JR), 6'0", 205, R/R
Elander is a bat-first catcher from TCU who complements De La Rosa well in this class. The Braves definitely added some depth behind the plate here.
Reports on De La Rosa indicate that he has all of the tools necessary to be a good catcher at the next level. Scouts love his defensive skillset and he should easily stick behind the plate moving forward. Perfect Game argues that, "if he has 6'2"/200, he'd be a first round pick," and his bat also shows some potential. De La Rosa is an interesting follow here and has already signed for slot value.
4th Round (149): Justin Black, OF, Billings West HS (MO), 6'0", 190, R/R
Black is an anomaly being from Montana, one of three states that does not have high school baseball. In a recent interview, the Braves scouting director claimed that Black has 80 speed, and while that may not be entirely true, he certainly profiles as an athletic, toolsy outfielder. He's already signed with Atlanta and is an intriguing follow given his relative anonymity before the draft.
5th Round (179): Blake Brown, OF, Missouri (JR), 6'0", 185, R/R
Brown led the Tigers in home runs in 2012 and showed some speed as well, swiping 17 bases in 22 attempts last year. He had big strikeout numbers, however, and it looks like they will always be a part of his game. He profiles as a potential power/speed guy from the college ranks with a little bit of upside.
6th Round (209): Josh Elander, C, Texas Christian University (JR), 6'0", 205, R/R
Elander is a bat-first catcher from TCU who complements De La Rosa well in this class. The Braves definitely added some depth behind the plate here.
7th Round (239): David Starn, LHP, Kent State University (SR), 6'0", 190
8th Round (269): David Peterson, RHP, College of Charleston (SR), 6'4", 215
9th Round (299): Steven Schills, RHP, Florida Tech (JR), 6'2", 220
10th Round (329): Mike Dodig, 3B, Columbia Green CC, 6'4", 210, L/R
Notable Later Round Selections
16th Round: Fernelys Sanchez, OF, George Washington HS (NY)
Sanchez was expected to go much higher heading into the spring, but a broken leg limited his value heading into the draft and he could be a steal here.
31st Round: Matt Kimbrel, RHP, Southern Polytechnic State (GA)
The younger brother of Craig, the dominant Braves closer, Matt does not seem to have the power arsenal of his brother, but is an interesting selection here nonetheless.
8th Round (269): David Peterson, RHP, College of Charleston (SR), 6'4", 215
9th Round (299): Steven Schills, RHP, Florida Tech (JR), 6'2", 220
10th Round (329): Mike Dodig, 3B, Columbia Green CC, 6'4", 210, L/R
Notable Later Round Selections
16th Round: Fernelys Sanchez, OF, George Washington HS (NY)
Sanchez was expected to go much higher heading into the spring, but a broken leg limited his value heading into the draft and he could be a steal here.
31st Round: Matt Kimbrel, RHP, Southern Polytechnic State (GA)
The younger brother of Craig, the dominant Braves closer, Matt does not seem to have the power arsenal of his brother, but is an interesting selection here nonetheless.
Braves Draft Strategy: An Overview
The Braves used to love taking local high school products in the first round, especially those out of the highly touted East Cobb program. More recently, however, the Braves have targeted more collegiate players throughout their entire draft. This is evidenced by the fact that they only selected one high schooler in their first 19 picks in 2011. In our mock draft we have the Braves taking Georgia Southern product Victor Roache with their pick at 21 and he seems to be the epitome of a recent Braves pick. They would be staying in state and going for a college player, one who could make an impact pretty quickly. The Braves only have their initial 10 picks with no supplemental selections this year and have $4.03 million to spend.
Besides going for a player like Roache, we could also see the Braves trying a new strategy with their first pick and going for an overdraft of a college senior, someone like James Ramsey or Peter O’Brien, who both should sign for well under-slot. They could then use some of the money they saved to target a high school product with a higher price tag. Regardless, the Braves will most likely stick to the collegiate ranks for the most part, and we see the value in their approach, especially given the new CBA rules.
Mock Draft Selection: Victor Roache, OF, Georgia Southern University
Besides going for a player like Roache, we could also see the Braves trying a new strategy with their first pick and going for an overdraft of a college senior, someone like James Ramsey or Peter O’Brien, who both should sign for well under-slot. They could then use some of the money they saved to target a high school product with a higher price tag. Regardless, the Braves will most likely stick to the collegiate ranks for the most part, and we see the value in their approach, especially given the new CBA rules.
Mock Draft Selection: Victor Roache, OF, Georgia Southern University
HTML Comment Box is loading comments...
