Atlanta Braves Draft Day 3–Part 1
By Fred Owens
Atlanta Braves Draft Day 3–Part 1
The final day of the Rule 4 draft saw the Atlanta Braves make selections in all 30 remaining rounds. This is part one of a quick review of those picks with all the scouting data I can round-up on them.
Scouting Data for rounds after five or six can be hard to find, after round 10 it’s rare indeed so if these reports are a little thin that’s why.
Signing Rules for the Rule 4 Draft
The players selected in the Rule 4 Draft are technically placed on something called a Negotiation List. Most draftees stay on that list until they sign or until 5:00 PM (EDT) on the Friday that falls during the week July 12-18 – the 15th this year. If the player doesn’t sign he becomes eligible for selection again next year if still eligible.
College seniors who have no baseball eligibility left stay on the club’s Negotiation List until signed or one week prior to the next Rule 4 Draft. Players who aren’t drafted become non-drafted free Agents (NDFA) and may sign with any club after the draft ends until one week before the next draft unless/until the NDFA enrolls in a junior college or four-year college.
A player selected in the MLB Rule 4 Draft or a Rule 4 eligible NDFA:
- Cannot be signed to a Major League contract.
- Can after July 1 signs a contract for the following season; “Signed for Future Service”
With the administrivia out of the way here are the scouting reports – such as they are.
Round 11 : Matt Rowland, RHP, R/R, Pope HS Marietta, Ga., HS, 6’5″ 175lbs, 02/07/98
Rowland throws an “extremely heavy fastball with serious late action”; a breaking ball with “very deep bite” and “has a very good feel for his change” according to 6-4-3 DP Athletics and the Video below seems to confirm that.
His teammate BA’s #17 prospect ($) Josh Lowe was heavily scouted so Rowland – #496 on BA’s list – was seen by a lot of scouts. often this spring. Their report says he’s a projectable righty with a fastball that can nudge 95 mph but routinely sits at 91-92. The slider mentioned by 6-4-3 above is an upper 70s – low 80s pitch and BA confirms it has “powerful bite and projects as a solid-average offering.”
The video above shows a classic low three-quarters arm slot and the kind of delivery my dad would have called a lot of arms and legs coming at you at once. His arm looks long and that along with his mechanics will need to be tightened up if he’s to be a starter. Both reports say he committed to Kennesaw State but being taken by the hometown team could persuade him to sign.
Because I could find one here’s another look at him on the bump,
A training program that helps him develop his body will add velocity and help him improve the slider and further polish his change. He could easily become a nice middle of the rotation arm
Next: Which White is Which