Atlanta Braves Mock Draft: Who will they take at 9 and 21
The 9th Pick
This is the pick that the Atlanta Braves got for not signing Carter Stewart in last year’s draft when they selected him 8th overall.
Of all of the mock drafts I’ve looked at, I think all of them have the Atlanta Braves taking a different player with this pick. But the one constant is that they have them taking a college player.
I think it is pretty safe to assume that the Atlanta Braves will take a college player with this pick, and here is the order I think they have on their board.
1. J.J. Bleday – OF – Vanderbilt
2. Hunter Bishop – OF – Arizona State
3. Nick Lodolo – LHP – TCU
4. Alek Manoah – RHP – West Virginia
There is a pretty good chance that one of those players will be available at nine.
I highly doubt Bleday will fall that far, and I don’t think Lodolo will either as he’s the best college arm in this draft.
But either Bishop or Manoah should be available.
I believe the Braves would prefer to take a bat with this pick as the college arms in this draft don’t have a very high ceiling.
If Bleday and Bishop are gone and they still want to take a college bat, they could look to UNLV shortstop Bryson Stott or Baylor catcher Shea Langeliers.
They’d be reaching if they took a high school player here, but if they don’t like the college players available, they could take RHP Quinn Prieser or 3B Brett Baty.
But they have to take someone they know they can sign, or else they lose this pick entirely.
The pick: Hunter Bishop – OF – Arizona State