2016 Draft: Best Braves Draft Ever?

rico43

rico43

<B>Director of Minor League Reports</B>
While the Coppy era may be purged from all memory (kinds like Roy Hobbs in The Natural -- the novel), the 2016 draft under his watch is starting to look like one of the all-time best for the Braves. It was notable that the pitchers atop the list all got million-dollar bonuses. But that was only part of the story. Consider these picks, and their result:

1st: Ian Anderson (3rd overall, signed for $3 million below slot. 'nuff said)
1A: Joey Wentz (40th overall, traded to Tigers for Shane Greene along with since-reacquired Travis Demeritte)
2nd: Kyle Muller (44th overall)
3rd: Brett Cumberland (76th overall, traded in package for Gausman and O'Day)
3rd A: Drew Harrington (80th overall) Released in 2018, signed by White Sox but released again in 2019 spring
4th: Bryce Wilson
5th: Jeremy Walker (had 1.93 ERA in 6 MLB appearances in 2019, but was released after having shoulder issues. Signed by Giants for 2021)
12th: Brandon White (currently 7-7 in save chances for Mississippi. Was first of two straight Brandon Whites drafted by Braves)
19th: Tucker Davidson


The draft was notable that the Braves drafted college seniors for five straight rounds after the early pick to allow them to sign them all. On the downside was the quick release of promising pick Joey Harrington
 
rico43 said:
While the Coppy era may be purged from all memory (kinds like Roy Hobbs in The Natural -- the novel), the 2016 draft under his watch is starting to look like one of the all-time best for the Braves. It was notable that the pitchers atop the list all got million-dollar bonuses. But that was only part of the story. Consider these picks, and their result:

1st: Ian Anderson (3rd overall, signed for $3 million below slot. 'nuff said)
1A: Joey Wentz (40th overall, traded to Tigers for Shane Greene along with since-reacquired Travis Demeritte)
2nd: Kyle Muller (44th overall)
3rd: Brett Cumberland (76th overall, traded in package for Gausman and O'Day)
3rd A: Drew Harrington (80th overall) Released in 2018, signed by White Sox but released again in 2019 spring
4th: Bryce Wilson
5th: Jeremy Walker (had 1.93 ERA in 6 MLB appearances in 2019, but was released after having shoulder issues. Signed by Giants for 2021)
12th: Brandon White (currently 7-7 in save chances for Mississippi. Was first of two straight Brandon Whites drafted by Braves)
19th: Tucker Davidson


The draft was notable that the Braves drafted college seniors for five straight rounds after the early pick to allow them to sign them all. On the downside was the quick release of promising pick Joey Harrington
Click to expand...

You reference what really made me laugh about the 2016 draft, when Brandon Whites were drafted consecutively in the 12th and 13th rounds. There's always been this story that they believed they drafted the "wrong" Brandon White first and had to make sure they got the "right" one in the next round, but the fact that the Brandon White currently at Mississippi was the first one of the two drafted and he got the larger signing bonus would seem to dispute that characterization.

It's good to see Joey Wentz shaking the rust off in Low-A after his recovery from TJS.

Harrington was the odd pick, not necessarily because they drafted him, but because they went overslot to sign him.
 
1 good pitcher, 2 question marks, and a bunch of trash. I hate to see what a bad draft looks like under Coppy.
 
Again, for the sake of discussion, here are some other drafts that held up. Keep in mind that drafts seldom provide more than one regular contributor.

2002: Jeff Francoeur (1st, 23rd overall), Brian McCann (2nd, 64th), Charlie Morton (3rd), Chuck James (20th).

1990: Chipper Jones (1st, 1st ovearll), Joe Ayrault (5th), Ed Giovanola (7th), Tony Graffanino (10th).

1978: Bob Horner (1st, 1st overall), Steve Bedrosian (3rd), Rick Behenna (4th), Jose Alvarez (8th), Gerald Perry (11th).

1975: Dale Murphy (1st, 5th overall June), Larry McWilliams (1st, 6th overall Jan.), Rick Camp (7th), Mickey Mahler (10th).

1988: Steve Avery (1st, 3rd overall), Turk Wendell (5th), Mark Wohlers (8th), Tony Tarasco (15th).

1987: Derek Lilliquist (1st, 6th overall), Brian Hunter (8th), Mike Stanton (13th).

2007: Jason Heyward (1st, 14th overall), Freddie Freeman (2nd, 78th overall), Craig Kimbrel (33rd). DNS: Brandon Belt (11th).

2000: Adam Wainwright (1st, 29th overall), Kelly Johnson (1st, 38th), Blaine Boyer (3rd), Charles "Chucky T" Thomas (19th), Adam Laroche (29th).

1993: No 1st round pick. Kevin Millwood (11th), Jermiane Dye (17th), John Rocker (18th)
 
I think all of those surpass 2016, at least for now. Especially a few of them, like 2000, 2007, 1978, 2002. Each of those had multiple all star level players. I still have "what if" flashbacks of Avery. I really think he would have been better than Smoltz and Glavine if he hadn't broken down.
 
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