Atlanta Braves Able to Sign All 4 Picks from 2020 MLB Draft

It’s now been reported that the Atlanta Braves were able to ink all four of their picks from the 2020 MLB Draft that took place in mid-June.

The Atlanta Braves didn’t have a lot to work with in the 2020 MLB Draft, which was only five rounds as opposed to the normal 40.

With only four picks they didn’t have a ton of bonus pool money to work with, but they were still able to get some solid prospects with upside.

They started out by taking left-handed pitcher Jared Shuster out of Wake Forest and they were able to sign him for $2,197,500.

That’s $542,800 under the slot value for that pick, which was $2,740,300.

Next up was outfielder Jesse Franklin from Michigan. The Braves were able to sign him for $497,500, which was $101,600 under slot.

And then they were able to sign Clemson pitcher Spencer Strider for right at slot value at $451,800.

The savings from Shuster and Franklin allowed the Braves to go over slot with their fifth-round pick, Bryce Elder, as they signed him for $850,000 when the slot value for that pick was just $336,600.

In essence, the Braves saved $644,400 with their first two picks and went over slot for Elder by $513,400.

That’s actually a little less than what I thought they’d have to spend to get Elder, so I was pleasantly surprised with that one.

However, I was a little surprised they spent slot value on Strider, but in the end, it really didn’t matter as the Braves didn’t even have to spend all of their draft pool money.

Now, you can look at that and say the Braves probably should have taken a bigger risk in the draft.

And we talk about that in our latest podcast where we interview Baseball America draft expert Carlos Collazo.

Overall this was a really solid draft for the Braves and I’m glad they were able to get all of these guys signed really quickly.

Now we just wait to see when these guys will actually make their professional debut as it likely won’t be until the 2021 season.