Experts’ Guesses on the Braves Draft

Jun 1, 2014; Miami, FL, USA; Atlanta Braves relief pitcher

(left) shakes hands with catcher

(right) after defeating the Miami Marlins 4-2 at Marlins Ballpark. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

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I admit it:  the MLB Draft first-year player draft is not nearly as sexy an event as the NFL or NBA drafts.

In those leagues, if you’re a first round pick, fans expect you to make the roster and then play in meaningful games within 3-4

months

.

With baseball, the draft is more like planting a tree in your backyard.  It’s a decent-looking sapling at the time you plant it, maybe with a few leaves and signs of possible future growth.  Every now and then you peek out the window to make sure your tree hasn’t died on you.  In about five years, you’re hoping that it might have ‘taken’ well enough to trim up a bit.  Some – like Shae Simmons – grow faster.  If all goes well, then in ten years, you have a strong tree that’s providing meaningful shade to your yard.

As we project out the next 4-6 years, the Atlanta Braves have a few holes in its orchard that need filling:  primarily those holes are Pitchers (always, but especially left-handed ones) and Catchers.  The draft is deep… at least on the pitching side, and that’s good, given the spate of pitching injuries that tend to cull the crop.

The Braves’ first 3 rounds have picks at selection slots 32, 66, and 102.  Let’s check around with some of the mock drafts the are out there and see who they think Atlanta is after for that first selection.