House That Hank Built
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Atlanta Braves sign more newly drafted prospects; Stewart still unsigned

By Fred Owens

SECAUCUS, NJ - JUNE 5: Representatives from all 30 Major League Baseball teams fill Studio 42 during the MLB First-Year Player Draft at the MLB Network Studio on June 5, 2014 in Secacucus, New Jersey. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
SECAUCUS, NJ - JUNE 5: Representatives from all 30 Major League Baseball teams fill Studio 42 during the MLB First-Year Player Draft at the MLB Network Studio on June 5, 2014 in Secacucus, New Jersey. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /
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Atlanta Braves first round selection Carter Stewart seen here during the East Coast Pro Showcase on August 03, 2017, remains unsigned. The Braves expect him to sign before July 6
Atlanta Braves first round selection Carter Stewart seen here during the East Coast Pro Showcase on August 03, 2017, remains unsigned. The Braves expect him to sign before July 6. (Photo by Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

In the last few days, MLB’s Draft Tracker confirmed 19 more Atlanta Braves prospects signed contracts. That leaves 13 unsigned, including four from the first ten rounds.

Three days ago I wrote that six players – Jake Higginbotham, Brendan Venter, Greg Cullen, Justin Dean, Zach Daniels and William Woods – joined Greyson Jenista as official members of the Atlanta Braves family,

Yesterday evening the tracker added 14 names and last night five more appeared.  The list brings to four players the number of players selected in rounds one through ten now signed.  As it stands, the Braves looked in good shape to avoid penalties.

In case anyone has trouble with my shorthand, here are abbreviations used some may not recognize:

  • RHSP – right-handed starting pitcher,
  • LHSP – left-handed starting pitcher
  • RHRP – right-handed relief pitcher.
  • LHRP – left-handed relief pitcher
  • RHP and LHP – high school pitchers without a defined role
  • RHH right-hand hitter
  • LHH left-hand hitter
  • Normal baseball positional shorthand: C, 1B. 2B. 3B. SS. LF, CF, RF

Trey Riley RHRP

Riley actually appeared on the list as I finished up Monday’s post and was a player I picked out as a potential target – lucky guess I guess.

The Braves selected Riley with their fourth selection (fifth round) and signed him with an over-slot $450K bonus. Baseball America ranked him 80 in their pre-draft top 500

"(cold be) a middle-of-the-rotation starter. . . mixes a 93-95 mph plus fastball . . . touches 97 mph . .  85-89 mph slider is consistently above-average and is a plus-plus pitch at its best. . .changeup is well below-average . . . toyed with a curveball that quickly developed into a pitch that will flash average . . . athleticism, easy velocity and improving delivery . . ."

Andrew Moritz CF

The Braves selected Moritz in the sixth round and signed him to an under-slot $242K. Pipeline liked him as the # 142 prospect in the draft.

"Pipeline Scouting grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 30 | Run: 55 | Arm: 50 | Field: 55 | Overall: 45 Moritz won Southern Conference batting titles in his first two seasons with a .400 (and is) on his way to a third. . . second in NCAA Division I at .421. . .one of the best pure hitters in college baseball,. . . pretty left-handed stroke and uncanny feel for the barrel . . . contact-oriented. . sprays line drives all over the field.. . .  solid speed and keen instincts (play) quicker on the bases and (on defense) offers value beyond his bat. He has a good chance to stay in center field (and profiles) as a regular."

Baseball America said almost the same things yet ranked him #442. I’m not sure how he slips that far with the same verbiage but I suspect he’ll be one of the best under-rated selections in the draft.

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