Braves MLB Draft: College Arms To Target with First 5 Picks
The Atlanta Braves have done a great job taking college arms early in the draft in recent years and many believe that will continue in the 2022 MLB Draft.
We continue our coverage of the 2022 MLB Draft looking at some college arms the Atlanta Braves could be targetting in their first five picks.
The first six picks for the Braves last year were all college players. All four of their picks in the shortened 2020 draft were college players, and their first three picks in 2019 were from college until they selected Michael Harris in the third round of that draft — thankfully.
There is a clear trend from this version of the front office to target college players early, sign them under slot, and then try to go over slot for some high school guys later.
We’ll see if that strategy changes and they go after a high-profile prep player early with the extra bonus pool money they now have.
But more than likely, we’ll see a lot of the same.
That being the case, here are some of the top college arms Atlanta could be targeting with picks 20, 35, 57, 76, and 96.
Braves MLB Draft: College Arms to Target at 20
Connor Prielipp — LHP — Alabama
Would be a top-five pick had he not gotten injured. Like a lot of the top college arms in this draft, he’s already had Tommy John surgery.
When healthy, he features a mid-90s fastball and perhaps the best slider in the draft. Prielipp has the upside to be a frontline starter.
Kumar Rocker — RHP — Vanderbilt
The story of Kumar Rocker is well known at this point and it’s hard to tell where he’ll land in this draft.
After the Mets pulled their $6 million offer from him last year because of some red flags in his medicals, Rocker decided not to go back to Vandy.
He pitches in some showcase games in the Independent League and looked like his former dominant self.
Very intense on the mound, has great stuff, and could move very quickly through the system.
Blade Tidwell — RHP — Tennessee
Like Prielipp, Tidwell is a pitcher who likely goes much earlier in the draft if not for injury. He was able to come back in the second half of the season and looked a little rusty.
But he features an upper 90s fastball and a full array of secondary pitches including a plus slider and change-up.
Peyton Pallette — RHP — Arkansas
You guessed it, another college arm that would have gone much higher in the draft if not for injury. Pallette missed all of 2022 after needing TJ.
A plus fastball and curveball give him a ceiling of a number two starter. He might fall far enough that the Braves could take him at 35.