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Braves' Draft Review

Hey guys, I've posted a review of the Braves' draft over at MLB Bonus Baby. There's comments on all 49 picks. I thought you might be interested in the read.

Here's an excerpt for you, this being the size of each year in my draft previews before the draft:

1. Mike Minor, LHP, Vanderbilt, #7 overall, 6’3’’/200: I was slightly surprised by this pick, but not because I thought the Braves were locked into a prep arm. Minor really projects as a #4 starter to me, and I’m surprised the Braves didn’t shoot for a higher-upside arm like Alex White. However, it’s probably a signability issue, as the Braves generally don’t go over slot for their first pick, and even though Minor’s holding out at the moment (likely for last year’s slot), I don’t see him rejecting an offer somewhere in the neighborhood of $2.175 million, which is what the slot is supposedly this year. Don’t like this pick at all. DOB: 12/26/87.

3. David Hale, RHP, Princeton, #87 overall, 6’2’’/200: I really like this pick, as I’ve been high on Hale all spring. He’s got a plus arm, and while he lacks the polish that comes with most college juniors, he’s got the upside to make up for it. I’d say his potential is even higher than Mike Minor’s, though with considerably more risk. He can reach the mid-90s with his fastball, and he’s got repeatable mechanics, though his offspeed pitches are still a work in progress. He’s got a fresh arm, having thrown only 40 innings this spring, but that also means he’ll need more time in the minors. However, this is a great pick for talent and draft value, as this was a little below where I thought he might go. He also signed quickly for slot, and while he’s on the roster for Danville in the Appy League, he hasn’t appeared in a game yet. DOB: 9/27/87. Signing bonus: $405,000.

4. Mycal Jones, SS, Miami Dade CC (FL), #118 overall, 5’10’’/165: While I was high on Hale, I jumped back a bit with Jones, as I’m normally very wary of 22 year old JUCO players. Jones had a huge spring at Miami Dade, where he landed after a year at North Florida, then a year of academic ineligibility there. Jones is very, very fast, but that doesn’t always translate to the field, where he shows flashes of good defense, but only has what most have said is an average arm. I still think he’s better suited for second base or center field, but the Braves want to try him at short. This was an average pick for draft position, probably about average for talent, too, and he signed quickly for slot. He’s hitting .238/.330/.356 in 101 ABs with Danville so far. DOB: 5/30/87. Signing bonus: $252,000.

5. Thomas Berryhill, RHP, Newberry (SC), #148 overall, 5’10’’/185: This pick intrigues me, as Berryhill was a late riser in his college career. He was also a position player at Newberry, further obscuring his talent on the mound. A late-inning reliever, Berryhill flashes a plus fastball, and I think he might have the stuff and makeup to maintain a late-inning role in the Majors if he can avoid arm troubles. I didn’t expect him to go this high, but I had a sneaking suspicion late in the year that he was a name that might pop up earlier than expected anyway. He signed quickly, making this a solid pick, maybe even underrated by most observers. He’s thrown 12 solid innings for Danville so far. DOB: 12/9/87. Signing bonus: $160,000.

6. Ryan Woolley, RHP, UAB, #178 overall, 6’1’’/190: I have to admit that I had almost completely forgotten about Woolley before his name popped up this early on draft day. I had written his name down as a transfer to keep an eye on, but I didn’t really have a handle on how much helium Woolley had in side sessions. With the new transfer rules prohibiting Woolley from playing this spring, he was just a name on a piece of paper, and it wasn’t until the week before the draft that I wondered how he was doing. I had heard he would get drafted, but not this early. He’s got decent talent on the mound, but his signability is in question, and I’m not sure the Braves were competing against any other team for him this high. He hasn’t signed yet, and he’s busy pitching in the Alaska Baseball League as of now. Questionable pick. DOB: 2/11/88.

The cutoff point in the Giants' draft in terms of transitioning to unsignable or organizational players is after the Cory Harrilchak pick in the 14th round.

Direct link here.

What do you guys think?

5 recs  |  Comment 23 comments

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Thanks Andy!!

Great Job and dedication (thats alot of picks)…

A man walks into a meat shoppe and goes to the counter. The cashier asks, "Thinking about buying some meat?". The man replied, "No, I'm going to buy meat, I was thinking about punanny."

by bwellnjonesco on Jul 22, 2009 2:11 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Thats was quite a bit of good info. I like being able to read the most I can about my favourite picks, Riaan, Kreke, and Mycal.

by bbxxj on Jul 22, 2009 2:22 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Not a fan of the Minor pick

I was hoping we’d take a flyer on Matzek or Miller or someone of the sort. The rest of the draft is pretty solid too. Packed with high-upside, toolsy HS and Juco SS’s.

http://www.capitolavenueclub.com/

by PWHjort on Jul 22, 2009 2:38 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

after the interview i saw of Matzek on MLB NEtwork… i was soooo stoked we didnt take him…he seems like a giant dousche

White on the other hand seemed pretty cool…and I would have liked to see him

Heyward,Hanson,and Shaffer r ready now!! Why do you think they havent signed the "right handed bat"?

by fatazfoot on Jan 7, 2009 8:59 PM EST

by Swo12bv on Jul 22, 2009 3:18 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Are you talking about the one on Draft day?

I didn’t get that impression. Just thought he was trying to say the right things. A lot of pressure for an 18 year old. I don’t consider White to be a high-upside arm. I see him as a MLB reliever. Miller, Matzek, Purke, Turner, and Gibson are the ones I wanted the Braves to take a good, hard look at. To a lesser degree, Scheppers, Crow, Wheeler, and White. And the only position player that interested me available at 7 was Grant Green.

http://www.capitolavenueclub.com/

by PWHjort on Jul 22, 2009 7:04 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Yeah, I’m going to have to agree with you on this draft. It was rather uninspiring, as most of the pick ups look like organizational filler.

by soup du jour on Jul 22, 2009 2:43 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

It sure seems that way doesn’t it? Maybe we can cross our fingers and hope one of the guys in the draft turns out to be another Tommy Hanson. That seems like a lot to ask for…

by bengoodfella on Jul 22, 2009 4:32 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Better than what other low round picks are doing

by blitzerlover on Jul 22, 2009 5:09 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

It’s really hard to call anyone a steal yet. We could say that Shelby Miller to the Cardinals at #19 was a steal, but if he flames out, he’s not really a steal is he? I think the point that bigjoe might be trying to make is that there is a reason these guys went so low, and they are going to have to sustain their success before they can realistically be called Prospects, let alone a steal.

"…aren’t worthy enough to hold his (Pujols) ass cheeks apart while Playboy models wipe him with thousand dollar bills after he craps out the cure to whatever previously-incurable disease." by royhobbs 1/7/09

by buzzdeadwax on Jul 22, 2009 6:08 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

I find myself hoping Minor doesn’t sign and we get the 6th pick next year.

Color me unimpressed.

by coldriver10 on Jul 22, 2009 9:48 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

We'd get the 8th pick in the draft if he doesn't sign

But I agree with you nonetheless.

http://www.capitolavenueclub.com/

by PWHjort on Jul 22, 2009 10:20 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

I’ve tempered my bile towards the draft pick somewhat in thinking that I wouldn’t mind signing him, but only for slot. If we go above slot then its a failure by our FO and scouting office.

(big flashing letter note: I’ve always liked him as a pitcher, but not as a #7 overall.)

by soup du jour on Jul 22, 2009 11:21 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Gondeee's post from a few days back

hinted that he’s probably already signed overslot. fml.

Pete Rose was actually banned from baseball for teaching Jeff Francoeur how to play. He made up the gambling stuff to hide his shame.

by VivaLosBravos on Jul 22, 2009 11:35 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

1st round pick

I hate the 1st pick. I would rather have taken a chance on grant green and groomed him to take over at 3rd in 3 seasons when chippers deal is done. And considering how we have no real 3b prospect in the minor league system I don’t understand not taking green.

by mauck98 on Jul 23, 2009 2:38 AM EDT via mobile reply actions   0 recs

Because his talent level didn’t warrent it. Everyone says we reached with Minor, but Green would have been even more of a stretch. His bat is a huge question, so thinking that he’ll be able to produce like a 3B as a pro just doesn’t make sense. His defense is going to have to be phenomenal to keep him from moving to 2B, where his offense makes more sense.

"At least he didn’t nail the bitchy fat girl from Hell's Kitchen."
www.dropoutproductions.com

by cbwilk on Jul 23, 2009 9:38 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

but

odds are we will have 4 picks in the first round/supplemental round (we’ll let Gonzo walk and I think Soriano will take the $…both of whom will be type-As), I think we’ll need to replenish the farm with POSITIONAL players…

Bryce Brentz, OF, Middle Tennessee State
Christian Colon, SS, Cal State Fullerton
Justin O’Connor, SS/RHP, Cowan High School, Indiana
Trey Griffin, OF Martin Luther King High School, Stockbridge Georgia (who i would LOVEEEEE)
Austin Wilson, OF Harvard-Westlake High School, Los Angeles, California
Justin Grimm, P, UGA
Yasmani Grandal, C, U. Miami

there are ALOT of positional talent next year. Actually, i’m for the Braves to NOT sign Minor (who reminds me of Mark Mulder…which could be a good thing…)

by apoxonbothyourhouses on Jul 23, 2009 11:32 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

You say that like Mark Mulder was an absolute bum before his arm exploded. Seriously?

by bigjoe on Jul 23, 2009 9:13 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

could be

is an interesting phrase…

if he turned into Mulder, would I be happy? sure I would, b/c we could turn around and trade him for a bounty of prospects from a team looking for an innings eating left-handed pitcher.

is that, however, worthy of the #7 pick in the MLB draft when there were more pressing needs and players available?

no.

by apoxonbothyourhouses on Jul 24, 2009 4:08 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Well, considering Mark Mulder was the second overall pick, I’d say it would be a good value for him.

by bigjoe on Jul 24, 2009 5:04 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Great link.

I can’t possibly imagine how somebody knows about prospects 50 rounds deep.

Remember, kids...don't ever let facts get in the way of your argument.

by MichaelProcton on Jul 24, 2009 12:18 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

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