Braves sixth round pick struggles in Alaska

The Atlanta Braves have signed all but two of their first 14 draft picks from the 2009 draft -- first round pick Mike Minor, and sixth round pick Ryan Woolley. The latter of the two has not pitched for a year because of a car wreck during the 2008 Cape Cod League. Woolley was charged with driving drunk and was forced to transfer from the University of Georgia to UAB, where he had to sit out last season. (Read more here and here.) Still, the Braves chose to use their sixth round pick on him.

He is pitching this summer in the Alaska Baseball League for Athletes in Action, and his line has not been too pretty, especially for a high-round pick competing against what should be lesser talent. In 30.1IP, Woolley has an 8.31 ERA, having given up 39 hits and issuing 14 walks, while only striking out 25.

This begs the questions about whether we will actually sign him, and it also asks the question of why such a high round pick seems to be a summer follow. This is just part of the curious draft that the Braves had this year.

Andy Seiler has a good review of all of the Braves draft picks this year. He shared it earlier in a FanPost, but here is the link again -- worth a read. For all 2009 draft related material on Talking Chop, use this link.