Could The Atlanta Braves Get The 1st Pick in the 2016 Draft?
By Jeff Schafer
The Atlanta Braves haven’t had the #1 draft choice since the 1990 MLB draft where they selected future Hall of Famer, Chipper Jones. Could the Braves be in contention to pick #1 in 2016? Let’s take a look.
Major League Baseball instituted the First-Year-Player Draft (Rule 4 Draft) back in 1965 as the Kansas City Athletics had the #1 selection and picked Rick Monday…a center fielder from Arizona State University. In the 49 drafts, 22 of the 30 MLB teams have been granted the #1 pick…the Blue Jays, Giants, Indians, Reds, Dodgers, Red Sox, Rockies and Cardinals have never picked #1. The Atlanta Braves have drafted #1 twice – 1978 and 1990.
The MLB draft order is based off of the previous season’s standings. The worst team gets the first pick next year. If two teams have identical records at the end of the season, the team with the worse record in the prior year will receive the better pick.
With the Braves struggled in 2015 and everyone talking about the future, I began to wonder about the chances of improving through the draft.
Currently, after being swept by the Padres, the Braves sit with the seventh worst record.
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Philadelphia: 47-73
Colorado: 48-70
Miami: 49-71
Milwaukee: 52-70
Cincinnati: 51-67
Oakland: 53-69
Atlanta: 53-67
All the talk right now is the playoff hunt and the Wild Race race…but what about the #1 draft pick battle? Atlanta is only six games back from being the worst team in the league and being granted the #1 pick in the 2016 draft!!
As of August 20th, the Braves have 42 games left in the 2015 season. Of those 42 games, 27 are against teams with an above .500 record and are in playoff push mode.
Atlanta does have 25 home games left and only 17 games on the road. We all know how bad the Braves are on the road…21-43 and 32-24 at Turner Field.
Here’s a list of the remaining teams the Braves have to play…
Aug 19, 2015; San Diego, CA, USA; A general view of the Atlanta Braves dugout during the ninth inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
Cubs (4 games)
Rockies (3 games)
Yankees (3 games)
Marlins (3 games)
Nationals (4 games)
Phillies (3 games)
Mets (4 games)
Blue Jays (3 games)
Phillies (3 games)
Mets (3 games)
Marlins (3 games)
Nationals (3 games)
Cardinals (3 games)
The 2016 draft class is expected to be stacked with power arms and one stud outfielder. Blake Rutherford is projected right now to be a top 5 pick in 2016. He’s a 6’3″, 190 outfielder from Chaminade College Preparatory (CA). Many college pitching arms are available at the top of the draft as well….including 6’7″ 235 RHP from Oklahoma, Alec Hansen.
It’s extremely too tough to predict who will be at the top of draft boards come 2016, but top talent will surely be there…and the Braves may be there as well.
Do I think the Braves will get the #1 pick? No, just because the teams ahead of them are so bad. I do think they will get a top five pick.