Braves draft picks: Experts weigh in on Atlanta's first 5 picks

The Braves went the high school route with their first four picks. Then they added a guy who just had Tommy John Surgery.

The Braves had five picks at their disposal during the first night of the 2015 MLB Draft. The club decided to go the prep route with the selections of LHP Kolby Allard, RHP Mike Soroka, 3B/P Austin Riley and C Lucas Herbert, who just happens to be Allard's high school catcher. The Braves' final pick of the day was LHP AJ Minter out of Texas A&M.;

It's always fun (and pointless) to weigh in on a baseball draft just hours after these guys got picked, and we're going to do it anyway because why not? Here was some of the expert reaction to the Braves' top five selections.

Kolby Allard

A lower-back injury held Allard out as a senior, but there's no denying the talent is absolutely there. Allard is armed with a nasty curveball and a fastball that can reach the mid-90s. This should make everyone happy, via Keith Law:

If he had been healthy and effective all season, Allard could have been in the conversation to go first in the draft. He's small, but the stuff is big, led by a low-90s fastball that will top out at 96 mph, a plus curveball and a delivery and athleticism that projects for lots of strike-throwing, as well as an above-average changeup. Allard's midseason back injury, a stress reaction, ended his season. While it's not ideal for a 17-year-old to have back issues, the silver lining for Allard is that his arm is fine. I think he's the best prep arm in the entire draft and has a chance to be a No. 2 starter.

Mike Soroka

Many viewed this pick as a bit of a reach. Despite being selected at No. 28, most had him outside of the top-50. Soroka has a full-ride scholarship to Cal-Berkeley and may be tough to sign.

Mike Soroka is the reach -- I mean pick -- here. The Braves likely have to save some cash with Allard coming into the system.
— Chris Crawford (@CrawfordChrisV) June 9, 2025

#67 on my board, lower arm slot but big dude and above average stuff with some feel
— Kiley McDaniel (@kileymcd) June 9, 2025

Mike Soroka is also an August, 1997 kid. Just under 2 weeks older than Allard.
— Dayton from Nebraska (@BravesAmerica) June 9, 2025

With Allard and Soroka, who are both just 17 years old, the Braves are clearly building for the future and are banking on the minor league coaches developing these guys into studs. It also means the front office must feel pretty confident in Julio Teheran, Alex Wood, Shelby Miller, Mike Foltynewicz and Matt Wisler moving forward.

Austin Riley

Riley, another high school kid, could end up at either third base or on the mound as a pitcher. The raw tools are there, but he's got a whole lot of a way to go before winding up at either position regularly.

Some clubs viewed Riley as a pitcher. But the Braves like his power potential at the plate.
— Mark Bowman (@mlbbowman) June 9, 2025

Austin Riley, 3B #Braves took at No. 41, is 6-3, 230 and has power at plate and on mound -- a 95 mph FB, some teams wanted him as pitcher
— David O'Brien (@DOBrienAJC) June 9, 2025

#MLBDraft: Austin Riley really swung it at NHSI; fallback on the mound. Good power; some work to do at third base (consistency).
— Nick J. Faleris (@NickJFaleris) June 9, 2025

Lucas Herbert

You get the pitcher (Allard), then you get the catcher -- or at least the Braves think that way. Here's more on Herbert:

Was very impressed by Lucas Herbert watching him at @USABaseball 's NHSI event. Calls his own game in h.s.
— JJ Cooper (@jjcoop36) June 9, 2025

Braves just drafted Kolby Allard's catcher at 54 in Lucas Herbert. Defensive-minded, Braves type of pick with high makeup.
— David Lee (@David11Lee) June 9, 2025

It would seem likely Allard and Herbert will be paired at least in the lower levels of the minors, assuming they both sign, of course.

AJ Minter

It took a while, but the Braves finally drafted a guy who's already had Tommy John Surgery. Minter hails from Texas A&M; and has a big time arm, though there are the obvious injury concerns.

Interesting, but a pick I like by the @Braves in A&M; LHP AJ Minter. Was electric before his injury ... physical guy, wonder if starter/RP.
— Kendall Rogers (@KendallRogersD1) June 9, 2025

A.J. Minter was potential 1st round pick if he kept pitching like he did early this year. But injury issues and 58 total college IP.
— JJ Cooper (@jjcoop36) June 9, 2025

Now that’s a surprise pick, @Aggie_Baseball LHP AJ Minter going in 2nd round to #Braves to close day 1 of #mlbdraft - good arm but injured
— Patrick Ebert (@PGPatrickEbert) June 9, 2025

The Braves will get back at it tomorrow afternoon as round 3 resumes.