2022 MLB Draft Thread

[CJ9]

We're about three months from the draft. By letting Freddie walk and assuming we don't sign any of the remaining qualifying offer free agents, we'll have all of our picks plus an extra pick after the end of the second round and after competitive balance picks. Just as important as the pick itself is the $900,000-ish of pool money that comes with the pick. It's definitely different to win the World Series and still have a pick as high as 20, but that's where we are.

I'm working off the 2021 draft pools here to estimate what we'll have to spend and see where that will likely rank. Last year, the Yankees picked 20th in the first round and had only one pick per round. That gave them the 22nd biggest pool. There were no free agent compensation picks given after round two last season, but if there were, it looks like it would've had a pick value of about $900k. Add that to the Yankees' pool, and it jumps them to the 20th biggest pool in the draft. So nothing massive and certainly nothing finalized until this year's pick values are released, but that gives you a good idea of where our pool will sit among all teams. Our picks in last year's format would've been worth $7.9 million. We'll see if or how much that is increased this year.

As far this draft class, it seems like the general consensus is college pitching sucks but college hitting is pretty good. The top of the draft is mostly prep hitters right now - led by Druw Jones, who will sadly not make it even close to our pick.

One reason the college pitching group sucks right now is a ton of Tommy John guys. There's four stud college arms who were probably first rounders and still could be -- Alabama LHP Connor Prielipp, Mississippi State RHP Landon Sims, Arkansas RHP Peyton Pallette, and Connecticut LHP Reggie Crawford. Prielipp/Sims/Pallette could be an interesting route to go at 20. I like Prielipp a lot more because his Tommy John was longer ago, whereas Sims' was in the last week and Pallette's was in February.

Baseball America is the only credible source out there with a mock draft out this early, very much acknowledging that they're pointless this early. But hey, they're fun. They actually had us taking Prielipp at 20 in their first mock. Still a ways to go and a ton will change, but excited for draft season to get cranked up over the next couple months.

[Russ2dollas]

We're about three months from the draft. By letting Freddie walk and assuming we don't sign any of the remaining qualifying offer free agents, we'll have all of our picks plus an extra pick after the end of the second round and after competitive balance picks. Just as important as the pick itself is the $900,000-ish of pool money that comes with the pick. It's definitely different to win the World Series and still have a pick as high as 20, but that's where we are.

I'm working off the 2021 draft pools here to estimate what we'll have to spend and see where that will likely rank. Last year, the Yankees picked 20th in the first round and had only one pick per round. That gave them the 22nd biggest pool. There were no free agent compensation picks given after round two last season, but if there were, it looks like it would've had a pick value of about $900k. Add that to the Yankees' pool, and it jumps them to the 20th biggest pool in the draft. So nothing massive and certainly nothing finalized until this year's pick values are released, but that gives you a good idea of where our pool will sit among all teams. Our picks in last year's format would've been worth $7.9 million. We'll see if or how much that is increased this year.

As far this draft class, it seems like the general consensus is college pitching sucks but college hitting is pretty good. The top of the draft is mostly prep hitters right now - led by Druw Jones, who will sadly not make it even close to our pick.

One reason the college pitching group sucks right now is a ton of Tommy John guys. There's four stud college arms who were probably first rounders and still could be -- Alabama LHP Connor Prielipp, Mississippi State RHP Landon Sims, Arkansas RHP Peyton Pallette, and Connecticut LHP Reggie Crawford. Prielipp/Sims/Pallette could be an interesting route to go at 20. I like Prielipp a lot more because his Tommy John was longer ago, whereas Sims' was in the last week and Pallette's was in February.

Baseball America is the only credible source out there with a mock draft out this early, very much acknowledging that they're pointless this early. But hey, they're fun. They actually had us taking Prielipp at 20 in their first mock. Still a ways to go and a ton will change, but excited for draft season to get cranked up over the next couple months.

Until show otherwise I'm going to say we draft a college pitcher with our first pick. New scouting staff always does.

I'd like to see us load up on high upside preps.

[jpx7]

One reason the college pitching group sucks right now is a ton of Tommy John guys. There's four stud college arms who were probably first rounders and still could be -- Alabama LHP Connor Prielipp, Mississippi State RHP Landon Sims, Arkansas RHP Peyton Pallette, and Connecticut LHP Reggie Crawford. Prielipp/Sims/Pallette could be an interesting route to go at 20. I like Prielipp a lot more because his Tommy John was longer ago, whereas Sims' was in the last week and Pallette's was in February.

They're definitely picking their favorite of the TJ guys.

[Carp]

Here's to hoping Druw Jones tells everyone else that the only team he'll sign with is the Braves or else he's going to college.

[Carp]

I'm gonna guess we go the same strategy as previous drafts where we go with a slot or below slot player with our 1st rounder. Then take someone over slot with our next pick. Then maybe 1 more big over slot guy before taking several college seniors and loading up on some tough signs after round 10.

[cajunrevenge]

Always look forward to the annual disappointment that is the Braves draft class. I hope whoever we draft wins lots of minor league championships for us before they settle into their role as a backup in the majors.

[clvclv]

Now that Dylan Lesko had his Tommy John Surgery, we can officially say that TJSs are more contagious in this draft class than COVID. Guys that were SOLIDLY in the Top 50 (or higher) discussion that have gone down so far...

1.) Lesko
2.) Connor Prielipp
3.) Peyton Pallette
4.) Reggie Crawford
5.) Landon Sims
6.) Henry Williams
7.) Hunter Barco
8.) Cole Phillips

I'd almost guarantee Lesko is a Brave if he's still there at #20.

[Russ2dollas]

We will pick a college arm until I am proved wrong. The new group has done it every year.

Most likely it will be a college arm with a recent velocity spike based on previous years. The model they use seems to be very high on college kids w/ a velocity spike.

This particular year, maybe a college arm w/ TJ falls to them and they see that as value.

[CJ9]

New mocks in the last 24 hours - Baseball America has us taking Mississippi State RHP Landon Sims at 20, Pipeline has us taking Tennessee RHP Blade Tidwell at 20.

Both have injury question marks. Sims had Tommy John in March, Tidwell had shoulder issues that kept him out the first half of the season but is back now.

[Hudson2]

Sims could be a good lottery ticket. The Pads were more willing to part with Fried bc he just had TJ. That worked out well.

[bravesfanMatt]

no thank you on shoulder injury pick.. TJ picks are great if other teams are scared off by them.

[Tapate50]

Sims would be a fantastic get at 20.

[msstate7]

Sims would be a fantastic get at 20.

Love sims. Still not sure he's a starter though

[clvclv]

Latest Pipeline mock...

https://www.mlb.com/braves/news/mlb-...eline-coverage

[Tapate50]

Seems like this draft is fairly loaded.

[Hudson2]

We have 4 picks in the top 100 so we should get some pretty good talent.

[msstate7]

We have 4 picks in the top 100 so we should get some pretty good talent.

4 college pitchers coming up

[CJ9]

Latest Pipeline mock...

https://www.mlb.com/braves/news/mlb-...eline-coverage

They have us taking RHP Gabriel Hughes from Gonzaga. Pipeline has him ranked #19 overall, Keith Law has him #29, Baseball America has him #42. Law noted that he just turned 21, so he's a younger college guy that model teams (like the Braves) tend to like.

Hughes' scouting report on Pipeline is pretty impressive:

It’s been a little while since Gonzaga University has produced any early-round Draft talent, with Wyatt Mills a third-rounder in 2017 and lefty Marco Gonzales a first-round selection back in 2013. Hughes, who like Gonzales, has been a two-way player for the Zags, threw well in the weekend rotation in 2021 before pitching for USA Baseball over the summer, and has taken a nice step forward as Gonzaga’s Friday night starter, while focusing only on pitching, this spring.

Hughes has an exciting combination of size, repertoire and feel for pitching. The 6-foot-4 right-hander has electric stuff, starting with a fastball that’s regularly in the 94-97 mph range with ease, leading some scouts to wonder if he might touch triple digits someday. His slider can be a wipeout pitch, up to 89-90 mph, and he even shows very good feel for his changeup.

The big right-hander can fill up the strike zone with all three pitches, throwing them to both sides of the plate and commanding his breaking stuff well. He gets high grades for his makeup, a tremendous student-athlete who is on pace to graduate in three years. Some evaluators see him as the best arm on the West Coast, one who is shooting up Draft boards with his strong spring in Washington.

[clvclv]

They have us taking RHP Gabriel Hughes from Gonzaga. Pipeline has him ranked #19 overall, Keith Law has him #29, Baseball America has him #42. Law noted that he just turned 21, so he's a younger college guy that model teams (like the Braves) tend to like.

Hughes' scouting report on Pipeline is pretty impressive:

It’s been a little while since Gonzaga University has produced any early-round Draft talent, with Wyatt Mills a third-rounder in 2017 and lefty Marco Gonzales a first-round selection back in 2013. Hughes, who like Gonzales, has been a two-way player for the Zags, threw well in the weekend rotation in 2021 before pitching for USA Baseball over the summer, and has taken a nice step forward as Gonzaga’s Friday night starter, while focusing only on pitching, this spring.

Hughes has an exciting combination of size, repertoire and feel for pitching. The 6-foot-4 right-hander has electric stuff, starting with a fastball that’s regularly in the 94-97 mph range with ease, leading some scouts to wonder if he might touch triple digits someday. His slider can be a wipeout pitch, up to 89-90 mph, and he even shows very good feel for his changeup.

The big right-hander can fill up the strike zone with all three pitches, throwing them to both sides of the plate and commanding his breaking stuff well. He gets high grades for his makeup, a tremendous student-athlete who is on pace to graduate in three years. Some evaluators see him as the best arm on the West Coast, one who is shooting up Draft boards with his strong spring in Washington.

Strider-lite maybe?

[drewdat]

Washingtonian deGrom