he is very comparable to chris young. WIth a little work he could shoot through the system in a couple of years. Next up, Michael Pallazone. He will be a near impossible sign but I say we throw a barrel of money at him. He could come back to haunt us in three years when he ends up in the first round if we dont sign him now.

If it is Thompson, then I am happy-but less thrilled than I would have been a month ago. Jake Thompson got hit pretty hard in the Cape Cod League, so the Braves will have to work with him. At the worst, it is a great risk-and unlike their 2007 draft well worth a 5th round pick.

Yes, Pallazone should be given just about every incentive to sign—but I would be just about as agressive with Pope and BIlly Burns. Zac Fuesser deserves a close look as well. The addition of any one of these players would make the draft a success for the Braves.

Even though they were draft low I would be happy also with Anthony Rendon, Lucas Hileman and Berry Tanner.

People didn’t think he would sign b/c he had two superb years and one down one last year. I think he was just overworked, especially with his stint on team usa before last season.

I’m very high on him, but most scouts say he has great command over average stuff. Still, I like his attitude and he has always been a braves fan. So that has to be good.

Couldn’t have heard better news. The greatest value in the draft is guys who dominated as Freshman and Sophomores, but struggled as Juniors. Great to see we signed him.

For those in the know where do the Braves typically start off college players? What level in the minors?

Miclat’s Cavaliers teammate and fellow fifth-rounder, righthander Jacob Thompson, signed with the Braves for $195,000 on Aug. 2. Thompson projected as a first-rounder entering the spring, but his command and stuff slipped. When he’s going well, he uses his 6-foot-6 frame to pitch on a steep downhill angle and mixes four solid pitches.