Baseball America released its latest mock draft offering for the first 10 picks of the 2019 MLB Draft on Friday and they have the Atlanta Braves going with a college shortstop with the No. 9 pick.
BA projects the Braves to select North Carolina State shortstop Will Wilson with the ninth pick in the draft. Carlos Collazo notes that drafting a college infielder would be a change in philosophy for the Braves who have taken a pitcher in the first round in nine of the last 10 drafts. You have to go all the way back to 2014 and Braxton Davidson to find the last time Atlanta picked a non-pitcher with its top pick.
Wilson is one of the best hitters in the country and is off to a good start with the Wolfpack in 2019. FanGraphs ranks Wilson at No. 21 on its big board and gives him a FV of 45 due to his solid average tools and advanced feel for the game.
We are still a long way from the June Draft and plenty of things will change between now and then. With Brian Bridges no longer calling the shots in Atlanta, it will be interesting to see if they continue to target pitching in the early rounds or look to grab a hitter.