With no surprise to anyone the Braves select a pitcher - this time LHP Drew Harrington out of Louisville.
#Braves take LHP Drew Harrington. 88-92, good FB life. Sharp CB, needs to use CH more but it's in there. Hits 93. Fast moving, polished
— Frankie Piliere (@FPiliereD1) June 10, 2016
Harrington pitched for 3 years at Louisville where he compiled a 2.37 ERA and 1.18 WHIP. In a stacked rotation for Louisville he shined more than his counterpart Kyle Funkhouser. In a really good ACC Harrington went 12-2 with 2.08 ERA and 1.06 WHIP his junior year of college and is the fifth player out of Louisville to be drafted already - he was also the ACC pitcher of the year.
In terms of strategy this could be another under slot deal for the Braves as there are rumblings that he is better suited as a reliever. Much like A.J. Minter he boasts an advanced feel for his pitches and could be on the fast track to Atlanta should he be converted to reliever.
Harrington boasts two average pitches, fastball and slider, and a changeup that could be scrapped entirely. He has late movement on his fastball which is why he was so successful despite throwing in the low 90s.
Here is some video of Harrington.
Drew Harrington, the ACC's pitcher of the year, is the fifth @UofLBaseball player drafted. https://t.co/AXo5KkKZEd
— Michael Lananna (@mlananna) June 10, 2016
Looks like the Braves had other plans in mind but went with best available after it fell apart.
The Braves had some bats in mind. But when guys like Trammell fell off the board, they focused on best-available, which happened to be arms
— Mark Bowman (@mlbbowman) June 10, 2016