Its getting to that point before the MLB Draft that the mock drafts from some of the more respected and high profile talent evaluators are starting to come more quickly and have more behind them than just pure conjecture based on perceived need and personal preference.
Usually, this is also the time where there starts to get more and more of a general consensus as to which teams want which players, who is being targeted, etc. This is largely becoming more and more true with the first pick as Philadelphia is expected to take Florida LHP AJ Puk with the first pick after a strong showing leading up to the draft.
As for the Braves at the 3rd pick....well....
Who will your team take in the @MLBDraft on Thursday? Here's @jimcallisMLB's brand new mock: https://t.co/TNI4aymHlM pic.twitter.com/rHvyuPohi2
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) June 3, 2016
My latest mock #mlbdraft is now up for Insiders: https://t.co/0il6LuVDha
— keithlaw (@keithlaw) June 3, 2016
MLB Pipeline has the Braves picking talented outfielder Kyle Lewis out of Mercer, citing the Braves want for wanting to avoid the risk of picking a high school prep arm like Riley Pint, who Callis notes the Braves really like. Its worth noting that Pipeline seems less than confident with the picks in the top 4 despite keeping them the same for two mocks now, with multiple teams in that range waffling between multiple players.
Law, on the other hand, has maintained in his chats and elsewhere that the Braves have no interest in Pint and, in his mock, pick Jason Groome with the 3rd overall pick with Cincinnati taking Lewis at #2. Other than Groome, Law notes that one of the college bats still available are also distinct possibilities.
No specific information was mentioned in terms of the Braves trying to swing an underslot deal, so it appears at least for now that the Braves are going to try and get the best player they can with the 3rd overall pick and rely on their scouts again to nail the later picks.
There will likely be at least one more round of mock drafts before draft next week, so hopefully by then it will be more clear in terms of each team's game plans going in to the draft.