Atlanta Braves draft day primer: Staff writers reveal their picks
By Fred Owens
The Atlanta Braves go into the 2019 Rule 4 Amateur draft with two picks in the first 21. With few exceptions, history shows it’s a good bet that the Braves select a pitcher or pitchers in the first round, but that’s not a certainty this year.
Last year the Atlanta Braves selected Carter Stewart with the ninth pick in the first round. After reviewing his medicals, they lowered their offer, and he chose not to sign.
After Stewart’s challenge failed, the Braves earned a compensation pick in the ninth slot this year. They also get a pick at #21.
The Atlanta Braves third and final pick of day one comes at #60 and the second round ends at #69. Eight teams then make a selection during competitive balance round B. The Dodgers compensation for losing Yasmani Grandal is the last pick of day one.
The Braves next selections come at #98, #127, and at 30 team intervals after that unless a team passes. If that happens, it’s usually in the late rounds. Once a team passes, they are through for the year.
In total, the draft lasts for 40 rounds over a period of 3 days. The 3rd day becomes a frenzy of picks that are made out of the sight of cameras via team conference calls. By and large, once we get beyond Round 20, just as many players decline the opportunity to sign as those who do.
Rules, slots, and bucks
The Atlanta Braves enter the draft with a total pool of $11,532,200, That amounts is theoretically divided like this:
- #9 – $4,949,100
- #21 – $3,132,300
- #60 – $1,157,400
- #98 – $593,100
- #127 – $447,400
- #157 – $333,300
- #187 – $257,400
- #217 – $201,600
- #247 – $166,100
- #277 – $151,300
Signings after round ten where a player receives more than $100,000 count against the pool. Failure to sign a selection in rounds one through ten reduces the pool by that pick’s slot value.
Teams that outspend their allotment:
- By 0-5% – 75 percent tax
- By 5-10% – lose a first-rounder next year and a 75% tax
- By 10-15% – Lose a first and a second-round pick next year and a 100% tax
- Greater than 15% – Next two first-round picks and a 100% tax
These rules came into effect in 2012. Since then, teams exceeded their pool 118 times, but never more than 5%. Last year 27 teams exceeded their pool, including the Braves.