Atlanta Braves drafted left-handed pitcher John Curtis in the 8th round…now I see why!
By Jeff Schafer
Braves draft LHP Curtis with the 230th pick in the 2017 MLB draft
The Atlanta Braves drafted John Luke Curtis in the 8th round with the 230th pick of the 2017 MLB draft. Curtis is a left-handed pitcher out of Lenoir-Rhyne University in Hickory, North Carolina.
The 6’2″, 180-pound lefty had a great season for the Bears. This kid is a strikeout king! In 50 innings in 2017, he struck out 71 hitters and in 2016 in 35.2 innings, he struck out 50 batters.
The highlight of his 2017 season was against Anderson when he went seven strong innings, gave up one hit, no runs and had 13 strikeouts.
Lenoir-Rhyne used Curtis mostly out of the bullpen. He appeared in 19 games in 2017, 15 out of the pen. He did start four games.
On Tuesday, he received a call from Braves scout Billy Best informing him that the Braves were going to select him.
“They (the Braves) called me and told me to be ready then right before they picked me they called and told me they were gonna draft me,” Curtis told me. “(Best) told me (the Braves) were going to pick me. It was definitely surreal. I was like ‘man, is this really happening?’”
Curtis became the highest-ever MLB Draft pick for Lenoir-Rhyne.
I reached out to the Bears standout, and now Braves pitcher, to ask a few questions. He was extremely nice and polite in answering these. Really wish him the best and we’ll all be following his progress throughout the minor leagues.
Tomahawk Take: What was the feeling and emotion you had when you heard your name being called by the Atlanta Braves?
John Curtis: I was in complete shock. I was so happy and excited and didn’t know how to feel but I was extremely happy for sure!
TT: I read that you grew up idolizing Chipper Jones. Were you a fan of the Braves growing up/have you stayed up with the team recently?
JC: I am a huge Braves fan. I have been since I was 5 years old I have always had their gear and pulled for them to win.
TT: What drew you to being a Braves fan?
JC: My grandpa was a Braves fan and Chipper Jones and John Smoltz were guys I really looked up to and were my favorite players.
TT: On June 2, I saw you threw for the Braves and Chipper was there. What was that like to meet him? Did he give you any advice?
JC: It was a great feeling to meet him. I didn’t get to talk to him very much because I was nervous because it was Chipper Jones! But I threw in front of him and he told me to keep chucking the baseball.
Not everyday an LR Bear gets to throw off a big league bump, being watched by Chipper Jones (white shirt)! @RealCJ10 is the 🐐 pic.twitter.com/oqd7HAo871
— LR BEARS BASEBALL (@Baseball_LR) June 2, 2017
TT: What’s in your pitching arsenal?
JC: I am a four-pitch pitcher. I throw fastball, curveball, slider, and changeup.
TT: I saw on twitter you throw pretty hard. What’s your fastball sit around?
JC: 91-93 touch a 94
TT: Looking at your 2017 stats at Lenoir-Rhyne, you started a few games, came out of the pen for the majority of the season. Which would you prefer?
JC: I prefer to throw out of the bullpen. So I can go out and throw it as hard as I can for as long as I can.
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TT: Now that the draft is over, what are you most looking forward to?
JC: I’m looking forward to just getting started and throwing. It’s been a long wait so I’m just ready to go throw.