The Atlanta Braves minor league system is so loaded with prospects, both in terms of quality and quantity, that it's widely expected to have an impact on their strategy in the 2017 MLB Draft. That impact is in the form of the Braves using their top few picks on the best talent they can afford early, then using the rest of their picks on seniors in the rest of the first 10 rounds so that they can afford to pay the signing bonuses of their top prospects.
It's a strategy that they also used in the 2016 Draft to afford Ian Anderson, Joey Wentz, Kyle Muller, Brett Cumberland, Bryse Wilson, and fellow overslot signee Matt Rowland as well as Drew Harrington. That led to five senior sign picks in rounds 6-10, with Matt Gonzalez and Tyler Neslony the most notable of a group also including JB Moss, Taylor Hyssong, and Marcus Mooney.
For those not familiar, senior signs aren't necessarily bad players, though they are drafted typically higher than where they would rank on a team’s draft board in terms of pure talent. That is because unlike prep players and college players who have the option of going back to school, these players don't have any other options to continue playing baseball. Without the ability to return to school for another year, the teams have all the leverage and typically work out a deal for a small signing bonus with their senior signs before drafting them.
You won't see a team taking a senior sign without having a frame work of a signing bonus worked out ahead of time, especially when the team is running up against their limit to their bonus pool due to the penalties for losing future draft picks if they overspend. It's why you could see a better senior sign guy drop further than expected, as one of the more recent highly thought of seniors, Austin Byler (Arizona pick out of University of Nevada in 2015) dropped to the 11th round since he wasn't going to sign for a small bonus.
I’ve gone ahead and listed out scouting reports for my Top 30 senior sign guys, with the best of the group in a separate category, as well as a list of 20 more guys with potential. That's 50 guys who could be targeted by the Braves as they try to fill out their draft class and sign their top draftees. Since these guys aren’t going to be in my Top 300 outside of the top few guys, I’ve decided that instead of ranking them I will list them by position.
Best Of the Bunch
These guys are the guys that are the best of the senior signs. These guys are the most legitimate prospects and therefore may take the most money to sign as well as being guys who have the potential to be taken a little earlier. Depending on how negotiations go for the Braves as well as the cost of other top picks, these guys may be a bit more expensive than the team would like. It's not a huge coincidence that each of these guys plays in the SEC, which along with the ACC is the best conference for baseball in college.
Jason Delay, C, Vanderbilt
Delay was actually a solid prospect last year and was picked in the 11th round by the Giants, the round that teams typically try to find an overslot guy as it's the first round that the bonus pool rules change with the first $100k not counting towards the pool. Delay is what you’d expect from a senior Vanderbilt catcher- a veteran leader with sound skills, particularly defensively. He's also a capable hitter with some ability to make contact and hit for some pop. He's a very high floor guy who I fully expect to eventually reach the big leagues at least in a backup role.
Kramer Robertson, SS, LSU
LSU’s shortstop is best known as the son of Baylor women’s basketball head coach Kim Mulkey. When you watch him play you can tell that he's the son of a coach and offers the leadership and intangibles that you love to have. He got drafted in the 16th round last year and should come off the board much higher this year as he saw himself hit two homers in 2016 in his first year as a starter (was behind Alex Bregman previously), but saw his homer total increase by 400% to eight this spring. He's a quality defender with a sound all around game as a hitter, able to hit for average, draw walks with his approach, and hit for some pop. He doesn’t really do anything that stands out as much as he's a sum of all parts type of player.
Cole Freeman, 2B, LSU
Another LSU infielder makes this list as Cole Freeman is a very promising second base prospect regardless of his class designation. In a year that's not particularly strong with true second base prospects, a veteran with an advanced hit tool, plus speed, and quality defense from second base will really intrigue scouts. He's spent two years at LSU and hit .329 and .332 with a total of 43 steals and has more walks than strikeouts in both seasons. He was drafted in the 18th round a year ago and returned to school, but not until after a stop in the Cape Cod League where he hit .374/.442/.417 with 13 steals in 29 games.
Logan Salow, LHP, Kentucky
Logan Salow is the top senior pitcher this year and a guy who is a pure reliever. He may not be quite as expensive as the other three guys on this list, but as the top senior arm and a guy who did dominate this year he's on a slightly higher tier than the rest of the senior arms. Salow saved 10 games and he’s pitched 47 innings in 27 games as the Wildcats closer with a 1.72 ERA and dominant 0.87 WHIP. His 64 strikeouts to nine walks comes out to a better than 7/1 strikeout to walk ratio. His fastball goes up to 92, but plays up due to the angles he throws at, and he's got a slider that really gets swings and misses- a borderline plus pitch. He's also willing to attack hitters and throws strikes. That package equals a high floor reliever who should reach the big leagues, especially as a left hander. He may not have the stuff to close in the big leagues, but a seventh inning role isn't out of the question.
Best of the Rest
Jack Zoellner, 1B, New Mexico
New Mexico is a very good place for hitters, so Zoellner’s numbers need to be viewed in that light. But he's put up big numbers for four years and really saw his power take a step forward this year with 19 doubles and 12 homers.
Cam Warner, 2B, TCU
The Australian native has been a productive player for the two seasons he's spent in Fort Worth. He doesn’t really stand out for his hit, power, or speed, but he's capable of doing a little bit of everything.
Dallas Carroll, 3B, Utah
Carroll is an older prospect already 23 years old, but one with a pretty well rounded set of skills. He's the type of player who can hit for some average, some power, and steal some bases.
Jordan Rodgers, 3B, Tennessee
Tennessee third baseman Jordan Rodgers has some pop in his bat and runs well, though he's got some swing and miss in his game. He's a guy with some versatility on defense, adding to his value.
Elliott Barzilli, 3B, TCU
Barzilli was drafted in the 29th round after a big season last year, but went back to school and saw his numbers decline in every area. Someone will take a chance at seeing the 2016 version of Barzilli since he knows how to put the bat to the ball.
Colby Bortles, 3B, Ole Miss
Yes, he's Blake Bortles’ younger brother. The Ole Miss third baseman has some power, but also has some swing and miss. Bortles wasn't quite as impressive as he was in 2016, but there is some potential in his bat. He may be more of a first baseman longterm.
Camden Duzenack, SS, Dallas Baptist
Duzenack is 5’8 and 155 pounds. He got drafted in the 23rd round after a solid junior season, but had an even bigger year this year when he more than doubled his home run total from six to 13.
Jalen Washington, SS, Ohio State
Washington has swing and miss in his game, but he's got some power and speed. What really draws you in is his defensive versatility and willingness to do whatever his team needs him to. After barely playing in his first two years on campus, Washington made his debut at catcher last year for the very first time and held his own for the Buckeyes. Then this spring with a need at shortstop, Washington moved there. Not many guys are athletic enough to convert to arguably the two hardest positions to handle defensively, but Washington is and that will interest someone.
Ro Coleman, OF/2B, Vanderbilt
The scouting report has to start in just one place- Coleman is 5’5”. That isn't a misprint. He's played second base and outfield for Vandy, though he hasn't received consistent every day playing time since his sophomore season. He's not going to be known for his speed or power, but he's got some contact ability and is a hard nosed kid that you can't help but want in your system.
Nolan Brown, OF, TCU
Brown is a 23 year old fifth year senior without much power and definitely with more swing and miss than you'd like for a guy with his profile, but he's got impressive speed and great instincts to go 25-26 in stolen base attempts this season and 80-88 in his five college seasons including a pair at a JUCO and one shortened by injury.
Craig Dedelow, OF, Indiana
Dedelow is a power bat who can be a decent defender. His concern in the draft last year was tapping into his raw power more, and after hitting five homers last year and 12 in his career prior to this spring, he knocked out 18 homers this spring. He did so at the expense of his average dropping from at least .302 as a sophomore and junior to .255 this season, and extra strikeouts with 54 strikeouts in 235 at bats.
Brett Hanewich, RHP, Stanford
With slightly better command Hanewich would be the best pitcher among the senior signs. He was a starter for the first three years at Stanford before a move to the pen this year, his likely future role because of his command issues. His fastball can hit 96 MPH out of the bullpen and regularly sits in the low to mid-90s, and it's deceptive for hitters.
Tyler Buffet, RHP, Oklahoma State
Last year Buffet was selected in the 7th round with a scouting report which read: four pitch reliever who has the stuff to work as a starter. He returned to school and moved into the rotation, but he really struggled in his new role. He’ll likely be drafted as a reliever but it's not out of the question that a team gives him a chance to grow as a starter. Buffet works off a heavy sinking 92-94 MPH fastball as his main offering.
Trey Cobb, RHP, Oklahoma State
Cobb is a second Oklahoma Stare reliever/starter drafted last year (12th round) but returned to school. Cobb relieved his first two years on campus but moved into the rotation and had success last year. He was forced back into the pen this year as he had an elbow injury at the start of the season, but he did have success when he was on the mound. Cobb’s fastball works 90-93 and a well above average slider that gets swings and misses.
Wyatt Mills, RHP, Gonzaga
The Gonzaga closer was so good for his first three years on campus that he was a 17th round pick last year. But since the end of last year he's really turned things up a notch. He went to the Alaska League for prospects and dominated with a 0.55 ERA in 16.1 innings of work. Then this year in 40.1 innings he struck out 58 while walking just four. That's good for a 12.94 strikeout per nine rate and a 0.89 walk rate- down considerably from the 4.82 mark he posted in 2016, and also a 14.5 strikeout to walk ratio. He's a bit limited as a submarine style reliever with a fastball that touches 90, but he could move fast to help a team out of the bullpen in a middle relief role.
Parker Dunshee, RHP, Wake Forest
Dunshee was a 14th rounder last year after the former reliever moved to the rotation and had success in his first year in the role after an impressive 2015 Cape Cod League performance. His numbers slipped a little this season overall, but he was able to strike hitters out at an improved rate. He’s likely more of a reliever because he’s a two pitch guy, but the fastball and 11-5 curve is a good base.
Mitchell Traver, RHP, TCU
Traver was a candidate to go pretty high in the 2015 Draft as a draft eligible sophomore with serious upside that had major troubles staying healthy. He returned to school and was a bit of a lesser prospect than the year before in the 2016 Draft with another year of injuries. Fast forward to this year and his health and age have knocked him further down draft boards as a likely reliever only prospect due to health concerns. He's got big stuff when healthy, but can't stay healthy. Still his pure talent will have some team take a chance.
Brian Howard, RHP, TCU
A big 6’9” frame with a little projection remaining than a normal college senior considering he only has 205 pounds on his large frame. He was drafted in the 16th round last year following success in his first year as a starter, but returned to school and saw his numbers decline a little in 2017. Howard works up to 92 MPH with deception to delivery and an above average breaking ball.
Alex Cunningham, RHP, Coastal Carolina
At 6’1”, 180 pounds Cunningham is an undersized pitcher with deceptive delivery that will challenge hitters. He can hit 94 MPH with his fastball and has good life on it as well as having a 12-6 curve. He was selected in the 28th round last summer, but really broke out this spring as he saw his ERA drop from 3.64 to 2.63 and his WHIP drop from 1.30 to 0.93 as he saw his hit and walk rates fall while striking out hitters more often.
Phoenix Sanders, RHP, South Florida
Phoenix Sanders is an undersized right handed pitcher at just 5’10”. But he makes it work for him as he posted a 3.00 ERA and 102 strikeouts to 23 walks in his 90 innings of work. He's got a four pitch arsenal that he can command and has pitchability, but he's undersized and has some effort to his delivery leading to concerns that he may need to move to the bullpen.
Nick Eicholtz, RHP, Alabama
Nick Eicholtz was an early favorite to be the first senior off the board this spring as he was selected in the 13th round last year but came back to school. Everything went wrong this year as he posted a 6.27 ERA and 1.93 WHIP. As a sinker/slider based ground ball pitcher who throws strikes and pitches to contact, playing for a team with plenty of turmoil didn't help his cause. A team may take a chance that he can rebound.
Tyler Zuber, Arkansas State
Tyler Zuber broke out as a reliever this spring striking out 80 hitters in 52.1 innings and posting a 0.86 WHIP. His 13.76 strikeouts per nine innings and 5/1 strikeouts to walk ratio are helped by him having a true out pitch with his very advanced changeup.
Mike Rescigno, RHP, Maryland
A former infielder turned relief pitcher, Rescigno hasn't posted the best numbers and only has a total of 40 career innings pitched including just 16.2 this season. However that didn't stop him from being drafted in the 25th round last year. He went out to the Cal Ripken League in each of the last two summers and really dominated there the way you would have hoped to have seen for Maryland, even being selected the top prospect in the league last summer- which came after being drafted. He will likely get selected higher this year as a team tries to harness his potential and see if they can get the flashes he has shown in his summer showings.
JC Cloney, LHP, Arizona
While he may not have the best stuff, pitching in the upper 80s, Cloney knows how to pitch and has a track record of success in the PAC 12. He went undrafted last year despite a strong year and decided to improve his body and strength, leading to a slightly improved fastball this spring.
Jared Poche, LHP, LSU
Poche has quietly been among the best pitchers in the SEC for what feels like a decade. That's because he's won at least nine games each of his four years on campus and is a win away from tying the LSU career wins record. He was drafted in the 14th round last year and that's a fair value on his true talent as a lefty with more pitchability than pure stuff that is most likely a fifth starter or reliever.
Jacob DeVries, LHP, Air Force
DeVries is interesting to say the least. He's able to hit 96 MPH with his fastball and has an above average breaking ball, which led to him being drafted last year. This spring he's been down a little bit as he's battled through injuries, but that's not what will effect him most. What will hurt him is the same thing that hurt Air Force WR Jalen Robinette in the NFL Draft this spring- the Secretary of Defense getting rid of the clause that allowed service academy athletes to turn pro without fulfilling their military commitments. This hadn't stopped the Braves in 2015 with Navy’s Stephen Moore, and a healthy DeVries is a significantly better prospect than Moore.
Other Names
Adam Proctor, C, St. John's
Travis Watkins, C, East Carolina
Jackson Cramer, 1B, West Virginia
Zane Gurwitz, 2B, Texas
Aaron Hill, 2B/SS, UConn
Mason McCoy, 2B/SS, Iowa
JJ Robinson, 3B, Lewis-Clark State
Johnny Ruiz, 3B, Miami
Michael Brdar, SS, Michigan
Michael Donadio, OF, St. John’s
Ryan Sluder, OF, Oklahoma State
Johnny Piedmonte, RHP, NC State
Jimmy Murphy, RHP, Fordham
Vince Arobio, RHP, Pacific
JB Olson, RHP, Oklahoma
Vincenzo Aiello, RHP, Oklahoma
Hunter Martin, RHP, Tennessee
Cory Wilder, RHP, NC State
Derek Burkamper, RHP, Nebraska
Greg Minear, LHP, Washington