Atlanta Braves MLB Draft: Best Picks at 25th Overall

As we continue our coverage of the upcoming MLB Draft we look at some of the best 25th overall picks, which is where the Atlanta Braves will pick in the first round.

The Atlanta Braves have a lot riding on the line with the 25th overall pick in the 2020 MLB Draft as they only have two picks in the top 100 with their second one not coming until 97.

So I thought we’d take a look back at some of the best players who were recently taken 25th overall.

Obviously every draft is different, but I think this will give us a good idea of the type of player we can expect the Braves to grab at the end of the first round.

2019 – Kody Hoese

The bit-time hitter from Tulane hasn’t had much experience yet, but he was a very polished college hitter and someone who could be a solid everyday third baseman in the big leagues one day.

2018 – Matt McLain

A shortstop in high school, McLain turned down first-round money to play college baseball at UCLA where he struggled as a freshman.

Nico Hoerner was taken one pick earlier in this draft and has already made his presence felt with the Chicago Cubs.

2017 – Seth Romero

Romero was a really good pitcher for the University of Houston, but his pro career has gotten off to a slow start and he missed all of 2019 after having Tommy John surgery.

2016 – Eric Lauer 

This is the kind of talent I think the Braves likely get at 25. A really good college pitcher who has the potential to be a top of the rotation starter with the floor of being a back-of-the-rotation guy.

That’s exactly what Lauer — who was lights at in college at Kent State — has been for the San Diego Padres (he’s now with the Milwaukee Brewers).

2015- DJ Stewart 

Again, that 24th spot seems to be where the value is at as that’s where Walker Buehler was taken in this draft.

Stewart was a hitting machine in college with Florida State but that’s yet to translate to the big leagues.

2014 – Matt Chapman

Maybe one of the best 25th overall picks on this list, Chapman has become one of the best third baseman in the game and is one of the best defensive players in all of baseball.

Chapman was a college guy from Cal State Fullerton where he didn’t put up eye-popping numbers. But the A’s saw something special in him and took a chance.

2013 – Christian Arroyo 

I used to cover the San Francisco Giants at Around the Foghorn and many thought Christian Arroyo was the next big thing. He was later traded to the Rays in the Evan Longoria trade.

He hasn’t had much success at the big league level and is most likely a utility guy going forward.

2012 – Richie Shaffer 

This is one name on this list I have no memory of. Shaffer did get a cup of coffee with the Rays, but it appears 2018 was his last year in professional baseball.

2011 – Joe Ross

This is a name Braves fans should be very familiar with as we’ve seen him numerous times with the Washington Nationals.

Ross was a high school pitcher, but again, this is the type of player I’m expecting the Braves to get at 25. And don’t forget, Ross had a couple of good years when he was first called up and has pitched over 330 innings in the big leagues.

2010 – Zack Cox

Here is another one I don’t remember as Cox never made it to the big leagues after making it as high as Triple-A.

After playing Indy ball in 2016 he tried to make a comeback in 2017 with the Tigers but flamed out in Double-A.

That’s the last 10 years of 25th overall picks, and as you can see, there isn’t a lot of hits on that list.

At 25th overall you’re just hoping you find a guy that will eventually be a role player on your team — someone like Ross or Lauer.

Of course, if you go back one more year to 2009, the Angels took Mike Trout at 25th overall, so there is always the hope you’ll get that superstar in the back-half of the first rounds.

But the odds of that happening are not great.

Looking at the list of Braves first-round picks on The Baseball Cube, it appears they’ve never picked at 25 before, so maybe they’ll start some good luck with that spot in 2020.