This in a nutshell! It would be a darn shame it the draft went Wright, Greene, Lewis, Gore or any variation in the top 4!
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Ehhh, I think people overstate stuff like this, I most want Gore to fall and totally get the love for Lewis.
But if the Braves scout well they are going to get a very good prospect at #5 even if Gore and Lewis are off the board.
Beck, Adell, Hasley, McKay and Baz are all very intriguing.
Me: Lewis
I just think he'll be a future all-star. I love what he brings to the table and honestly, I want another bat in the system.
New pipeline mock has us taking Lewis but they definitely dont sound certain of it http://m.mlb.com/news/article/235304...icid=151437456.
"Atlanta would love a shot at either Wright or McKay, with the idea of turning the latter into a corner outfielder. If the first four picks play out like we project, Lewis would be the obvious choice as the lone consensus top-five talent remaining. However, multiple teams behind the Braves don't think Lewis is a lock for them. They could employ a similar strategy to last year, when they paid their top selection (Ian Anderson at No. 3) an under-slot bonus to spend more money on later choices. North Carolina high school outfielder Austin Beck and California first baseman Nick Pratto would be candidates if that happens. They also could go the college-performer route and pop Virginia center fielder Adam Haseley."
So they just tried to cover their own butts and say a bunch of different names just in case. If Lewis or Gore are there then they shouldn't be after the #5 pick.
Baseball America mock: http://www.baseballamerica.com/draft...HiAWHM6D7lp.97
Same top five as the Pipeline one, we get Lewis and they aren't overly convinced about it either:
"Atlanta remains difficult to read, but industry sources expect president of baseball operations Jon Hart to lean in the direction of the player with the most 7s on the scouting card (on the 2-to-8 scouting scale). That likely means a prep hitter here, choosing from among Royce Lewis and Austin Beck. Atlanta may have to cut a deal here to sign a tougher sign, such as injured Stanford righty Tristan Beck, later at pick No. 41. Beck will not throw a bullpen prior to the draft, raising the probability that a deal with someone already is in place."
If it's Beck or Lewis, I'll be fine. I'd prefer Lewis but can see how we could prefer Beck. I just don't want us getting into the Pratto group of players for signability.
It's my hope we don't get too creative this year. Just draft guys who will sign for around slot and not try to manipulate things too much. And if we want to move money around, just draft a set of college seniors in Rounds 6 through 10 and push all the banked bonus money forward instead of saving money at the front of the draft and going above slot later.
Seems like a lot of people believe we have a deal in place with Tristan Beck at 41
Yeah that's a good point. Longenhagen had Beck at 25 on his board. Pipeline has him 53. Baseball America has him at 41.
Scouting report consensus seems like 90-94 mph, plus changeup and average curveball. But the obvious risk of him missing the entire season with a back injury.