Taking a look at the hits and misses of the Atlanta Braves drafts over the last four years, and what you can read into potential 2025 selections.
With the 2025 MLB Draft just a month away it’s time to take a look at how the Atlanta Braves past few drafts have turned out, and what exactly can be taken from them to apply to their potential strategy for the 2025 draft.
We will just be looking at the 2021 through 2024 drafts, as the draft changed formats after 2019. The 2020 draft is being excluded because it was such a unique and different one-time occurrence, both in terms of format and limited scouting, that nothing can really be applied to the future.
The four drafts in conversation have already had some big hits like Spencer Schwellenbach, Drake Baldwin, and AJ Smith-Shawver. Of course they have also come with their share of swings and misses, guys like Ryan Cusick and Cole Phillips. However the majority of players from these classes are still guys that are still too soon to make a call on.
2021 Draft
This is the year the Braves doubled down on Wake Forest pitchers in the first round, taking Ryan Cusick at 24. Cusick was traded to the A’s in the Matt Olson deal, and has made it to Triple-A – but he’s kicked around the league a lot already this year. So far since the end of May he has been designated for assignment by Oakland, Detroit, and the White Sox, only to land with the Phillies for now.
This was a tough pick at the time for many, as most expected the Braves to take Gavin Williams – who went off the board at 23. Cusick represented a good analytical profile at the time, even if there were some questions about how he would look on the eye test. Some of the players to be selected within the next 10 picks included Jackson Merrill, Max Muncy, Tyler Black, and Chase Petty who have all reached the big leagues already.
The second round pick was a big hit though, as the Braves went with Nebraska two-way star Spencer Schwellenbach. Even though it took Schwellenbach until 2023 to make his pro debut after requiring surgery, he has been nothing short of a rising star since making his big league debut last season. Schwellenbach was primarily a shortstop at Nebraska who started pitching in relief as well, representing a college pitcher who still had a lot of remaining room to grow as a pitcher due to his lack of a background in pitching.
In the third round Dylan Dodd from Southeast Missouri State was a bit of a surprise pick, coming as an early senior sign – though with a $122k bonus he was also more expensive than most senior signs. Dodd has already thrown 39.1 big league innings over parts of the last three seasons, so for a budget pick this is a win for the Braves scouting department.
In the fourth round Texas Tech infielder Cal Conley was the pick. Conley was an undersized, switch-hitting player with versatility, getting some young Tommy Edman comps. After a solid start to his career he is now in his third consecutive full season in Double-A, and has never posted an OPS above .617.
The Braves went local in the fifth round taking Georgia Tech infielder Luke Waddell. Waddell is another undersized infielder with versatility. He represented a high on base guy without much power to speak of. To date he has made it to Triple-A as of the end of 2023, though he only started to have some success there this year – but has battled injury as well. At this point it isn’t out of the question he cracks the big leagues, but it is hard to see him being anything more than an end of the bench player because of the lack of impact he has on the ball.
In the sixth round they went right back to Georgia Tech and took Waddell’s teammate infielder Justyn-Henry Malloy. Malloy had on base ability, some power, but a lot of defensive questions. Malloy started to be come an OBP machine, but got traded to the Tigers in the Joe Jimenez deal. He made his big league debut last year and in 345 plate appearances he is hitting .207/.310/.342 while now being more of a corner outfielder who has seen some time at first base.
In the seventh round the Braves went overslot to take Texas prep talent AJ Smith-Shawver. AJSS is a former multi-sport star and a former two-way player, so another pitcher who still had plenty of room to develop, along with projection remaining on his body. Despite some mixed results at the MLB level prior to this season, he seemed to finally be starting to emerge as real asset – until he went down with injury at the end of May which required Tommy John surgery. AJSS had a 3.86 ERA and 1.42 WHIP in 44.1 innings this year, though he pitched to a 3.52 ERA and 1.17 WHIP over his final six starts before going down – numbers a bit inflated by one tough outing against the Nats.
In the eighth round they went back into the Texas prep ranks to take another overslot player, outfielder Tyler Collins. Collins was a speedy centerfielder with a promising hit tool but some power concerns. He posted a .877 OPS in 23 games in the FCL after signing, but injuries limited him to just four games in 2022. He was never the same after that, playing in 91 games with Augusta in 2023 and being out of baseball since that.
The ninth and tenth round picks were more traditional senior signs, combining for just $25k in signing bonuses. Bryant catcher Liam McGill lasted just 12 games in the FCL, and despite a .754 OPS was out of baseball after the 2021 season. Tenth rounder Dylan Spain was a righty reliever find out of the University of Hawaii at Hilo, and ended up being traded to the Rockies for Sam Hilliard after the 2022 season. He topped out in Triple-A last year, but has been pitching in the independent leagues this year.
In the 11th round the Braves took a shot at raw projectable Canadian lefty Adam Shoemaker. Shoemaker moved from starting to the pen last year, and has finally reached High-A this season for the first time. Command is still a major issue for him though considering his 9.7 BB/9 through 20 IP. Still he’s just 22-years-old and was seen as a raw pitcher who would need time to fill in his large 6’6, 205-pound frame.
In the 12th round they got lucky to find Illinois right-hander Andrew Hoffmann, and getting him for just the then-slot value for after the 10th round. Hoffman seemed to be breaking out early in 2022, but then became a key piece in a trade with Drew Waters to the Royals that landed the Braves the 35th pick in the 2022 draft (more on that in the future).
Saint John Fisher catcher Adam Zebrowski was the 13th rounder, and he is still in the system in Double-A today.
In the 14th round the Braves took another small infielder with limited power but real on base ability in Washington University (St. Louis) infielder Caleb Durbin. Durbin was traded to the Yankees in 2022 for Lucas Luetge, but he made his big league debut this year. That debut came with the Brewers after being sent with Nestor Cortes for Devin Williams last winter. So far in 174 PA, he is slashing .208/.302/.315 for Milwaukee.
Stanford outfielder Christian Robinson was the next pick, and he made it as high as High-A before leaving baseball after 2022. Howard College lefty Kris Anglin was the 16th rounder, and he got to Augusta before being shipped to the Tigers in 2022 for Robbie Grossman at the deadline. Anglin hasn’t been in affiliated ball since the end of 2022, but is pitching in the independent leagues this season.
The next three picks are still in the system today. Kennesaw State catcher Tyler Tolve has reached Double-A, but is back in Augusta this year. 18th rounder Austin Smith, a righty reliever from Arizona, reached Mississippi this year and between Mississippi and Rome has a 2.60 ERA and 1.04 WHIP with a 10.4 K/9 in 17.1 innings. Then Samuel Strickland from Samford, who is with Rome for the third straight season – now as a reliever, rounds out the group.
The final pick was Florida prep outfielder Ty Evans, who did not sign and was never really expected to be more than insurance in case one of the other overslot picks fell through. Evans ended up going to Florida where he finished up his career this season with a career .846 OPS. He had a .987 OPS as a junior last year, but did not get drafted, and has followed that up with a .773 OPS this season.
Overall
This was an extremely successful draft by the Braves. They not only got Spencer Schwellenbach and AJ Smith-Shawver plus Dylan Dodd, but also drafted pieces that landed them Matt Olson, Joe Jimenez, Sam Hilliard, Robbie Grossman, Lucas Luetge, and the 35th pick in 2022 – or JR Ritchie. That’s a nice haul from one draft, and there are still a handful of guys in the system who could potentially still provide some value to the team.
It’s clear that the Braves like drafting high on base guys with some versatility, catchers, multi-sport or two-way guys who still have further room to grow as pitchers, relievers, and analytical model types.
2022 Draft
In the first round the Braves surprised some people by taking Illinois prep righty Owen Murphy at #20 for a slightly underslot bonus. Murphy is a cold weather arm who was a former two-way player who rose a bit in his senior spring. Murphy was on his way to a real breakout through seven starts last year in Rome, but ended up needing a Tommy John surgery that slowed his breakout a bit. He hasn’t returned to game action, but should in the near future, and is one of the team’s top prospects.
With supplemental first round pick #35 the Braves dipped back into the prep right-hander ranks and took JR Ritchie out of Washington with the pick received in the Hoffmann deal mentioned above. He represents another cold weather arm that the team grabbed. Ritchie is similar to Murphy in that he seemed about to break out through his first four starts of 2022, but required Tommy John surgery himself. He returned to action last year and is breaking this year. Ritchie was recently sent to Double-A and is in the discussion for the Top 100 prospects in baseball for sure.
In the second round the Braves took Cole Phillips, a Texas prep righty. Phillips was on track to be a sure first round pick, but needed Tommy John ahead of the draft, knocking him into the second round. The Braves sent Phillips to the Mariners ahead of last year in the trade that brought Jarred Kelenic to Atlanta. Unfortunately health issues have been the story of his career thus far, and he still has not pitched in a game nearly three calendar years after being drafted. Phillips is still just 22-years-old.
The second of two second rounders was Auburn reliever Blake Burkhalter, who the Braves planned to turn into a starter. Burkhalter is yet another pitcher from this class with injury issues, as he missed most of 2022 and all of 2023 with injury. However he is finding success in his transition to starting, and has spent all of this season in Double-A so far. He represents another pitcher who had more room for development than most college pitchers, as he didn’t start a game at Auburn.
With their first Day 2 pick the Braves took Missouri State catcher Drake Baldwin in the third round. Baldwin broke out last year and became a Top 100 prospect heading into this year. He obviously broke camp with the big club and has spent the entire season there, becoming one of the team’s top hitters with a slash line of .299/.350/.496 through 44 games. Baldwin is looking like a future star at the catcher position.
In the fourth round the Braves took slugging Charlotte corner infielder David McCabe. McCabe had huge raw power and numbers, but questions about his defensive home and if he could hit against top velocity. He’s been slowed a bit by needing a Tommy John surgery, but he is in Double-A now and having mixed results. Still a prospect, McCabe has shown excellent on base ability, but has rarely tapped into that plus raw power in games.
Fifth round pick Nacho Alvarez was a steal. A bit of an unknown to most leading up to the draft, the California JUCO product had some real late helium as a plus defender who was showing some promise with the bat. Alvarez has already made his big league debut, and is still a valued young piece for the Braves – even if his 2025 is just getting started now due to injury.
The Braves went overslot in the sixth round to take undersized, but athletic Virginia prep righty Seth Keller. It was an interesting pick on a prep arm with some upside, but his career has stalled a bit. He just turned 21 in late-May, but he is now in his third straight year in Augusta and is being used purely as a reliever – though health issues have helped cause those two things.
The seventh round saw the Braves go even more overslot to take Oregon righty Adam Maier. A former Canadian college player who impressed in the Cape Cod League, transferred to the Ducks, and got hurt three games into his first season at UO, Maier was seen as a Day 1 pick had health issues not occurred. Those health issues kept Maier from making his pro debut until 2024, and he is now with Rome. Maier hasn’t been bad, but he also doesn’t quite look like he has the same stuff as he did that summer in the Cape.
The next three picks were senior signs who combined to cost $7,500. Jason Franks, Cory Acton, and Andrew Keck were the picks. Franks was a reliever from Cal State Poly San Luis Obispo who topped out in Augusta in 2023 and is now pitching in the independent leagues. Acton was a UGA utility infielder who reached Rome in 2023 and was last seen in independent ball in 2024. Keck was a catcher from Southeast Missouri State who has been out of baseball after reaching Rome in 2023.
To start Day 3 the Braves went with right-hander Ian Mejia from New Mexico State. Mejia fit well in terms of analytics and showed some promise pitching in a very hitter friendly environment in college. To date he has made it to Double-A, and currently sits with a 2.05 ERA and 0.98 WHIP through 57 innings.
Justin Janas of Illinois was an unusual type of first baseman selection in the 12th round. Janas didn’t offer much power at all, but in his last two seasons with the Illini he had .506 and .493 on base percentages. Janas went to the Cape prior to being drafted in 2022 and got some extra looks that way. He’s in his third straight season with Rome, and actually has a higher OBP than slugging percentage with the Emperors for his career.
Florida JUCO righty Cedric De Grandpre was an overslot pick that looked good on the analytics models and looked good in the MLB Draft League. So far injuries have slowed him, as he missed most of 2023, all of 2024, and just returned recently for Rome. Still he’s just 23-years-old and has shown flashes of potential to be a helpful piece.
In the 14th round Southern Miss righty Landon Harper got $15k overslot as a reliever. He’s currently with Mississippi after finishing last year there. Between the two seasons he has a 1.65 ERA and 0.80 WHIP in 92.2 innings. It’s safe to say he’s ready for the bump to the ladder soon. The 15th rounder, Florida JUCO arm William Silva, is another guy with injury issues, missing all of 2023 and currently on the Rome injured list.
Long Island University infielder EJ Exposito is another MLB Draft League pick and an infielder with versatility. Exposito is a player who started to show more power last year, and it has carried forward so far this year as he has finally reached Double-A.
A trio of young toolsy outfielders were next in Florida JUCO product Kevin Kilpatrick Jr., California prep Noah Williams, and Georgia prep Christian Jackson. Kilpatrick has lasted the longest, and is currently with Rome. Wiliams reached Augusta, but was out of the minors after the 2024 season, now playing small college baseball. Jackson never made it out of the FCL, and has been out of organized ball since the end of 2023.
Finally Cal infielder Keshawn Ogans is another versatile player with MLB Draft League experience. He was another guy who showed more on base ability than power in his college career. Ogans has finally reached Double-A this year.
Overall
It’s hard to really grade this draft, but it looks like a potentially elite one. Baldwin has made it, Alvarez is on the cusp, and both Murphy and Ritchie are Top 100 prospects at the moment in some eyes. That doesn’t touch on the likes of Burkhalter, Maier, McCabe, Mejia, Harper, and De Grandpre.
In this draft the Braves went heavy on the arms, not worrying about the health statuses. It is also important to notice they heavily scouted the then-new MLB Draft League, viewed versatility, on base, and analytics as key pieces to look for while searching for upside. Once again they certainly invested in catcher through the draft as well.
In a class filled with guys who either were already injured before being taken or injured after signing, this draft has the potential to be an absolute home run for the Braves. They certainly took some risks, and are potentially getting rewarded in a big way.
2023 Draft
With their top pick the Braves went with Florida right-hander Hurston Waldrep at #24. Waldrep was expected to be gone ahead of the Braves pick despite high-end stuff due to his issues with command and lack of a third offering. Waldrep became the pick after infielders like Arjun Nimmala and Colt Emerson came off the board just ahead of the pick, and they took him over guys like Top 100 prospects Aidan Miller, George Lombard Jr., and Jonny Farmelo – all taken within the next five selections, or Astros #1 prospect Brice Matthews, who was also in that next five. Waldrep did make his big league debut last year, but was rushed to the big leagues and quickly sent back down after that became apparent. He is currently in Gwinnett, and showing very mixed results in 2025.
The second round pick was Virginia Tech righty Drue Hackenberg, who really looked good on the analytics models. The pick was a surprise as he was seen by most to be a Day 2 guy, and he got an overslot bonus. Hackenberg seemed to be proving the Braves right last year with solid numbers across multiple stops, and even made four starts in Triple-A in his first full pro season. However he has struggled with an ERA north of seven through eight starts in Double-A this year.
With their second second round the Braves took another college righty in Campbell’s Cade Kuehler. Kuehler was a little undersized, but had premium stuff with good analytics data. He posted good numbers in Augusta to open 2024, got promoted to Rome and made just one start before going down with injury. While his numbers were good, his stuff seemed to back up a bit from what we saw in college – though his command seemed like it did improve. He will be an interesting player to watch next year when he returns to action.
The Braves took their first hitter in the third round in Oregon’s Sabin Ceballos, a third baseman with the ability to hit and some pop, but also defensive questions. Ceballos was more mixed in Rome last year, before going to the Giants in the Jorge Soler deal. He finished off hot with the Giants and opened this year in Double-A, where he has really struggled.
They went back to pitching in the fourth round with Florida prep righty Garrett Baumann. Baumann was a massive 6’8 pitcher with a potentially plus fastball but would need to refine his command and secondaries as a pro. He pitched well in Augusta last year and is having a solid season with Rome this year so far.
The Braves took local prep outfielder Isaiah Drake in the fifth round. Drake represented a super toolsy, but also super raw boom or bust type of prospect. Last year was a lost year for him, as injuries caused him to never really get going with the bat, and he put up a subpar season. He opened the year repeating in Augusta and is having a much better year. His slash lines in Augusta were .169/.253/.252 last year and .267/.357/.385 this year. Drake is still just 19-years-old too.
In the sixth round the Braves popped Cal State Northridge righty Lucas Braun, a guy who broke out in 2022 but saw his numbers back up in 2023. He was a late bloomer who looked good analytically and had drawn some comps to another pitcher from the California college system in Shane Bieber. To date Braun has reached Double-A and established himself among the team’s Top 10 prospects.
The seventh round pick was Rice right-hander Justin Long. Long is a former catcher who moved into a reliever role in 2023 and showed potential as a low mileage arm. He got hurt just after signing and missed last year. This year he is in Augusta with a 1.64 ERA and 1.18 WHIP through his first 11 innings.
The senior signs were next with $47.5k each to William & Mary reliever Cory Wall as well as starter Riley Gowens of Illinois, both rightys. In the 10th round Pier-Olivier Boucher, a Canadian outfielder and former hockey player from Southern Illinois, received $1k. Wall reached Rome last year and has been dominant there this year, pitching to a 1.05 ERA and 0.74 WHIP through 25.2 innings. Gowens reached Augusta after signing, but that November was traded to the White Sox as part of a deal to bring Aaron Bummer to Atlanta. Gowens has made 23 starts in Double-A between this year and last with a 3.48 ERA and 1.26 WHIP. Boucher reached Augusta in 2023 and 2024, but struggled there and has been playing independent ball this year.
To start Day 3 the Braves went with Jace Grady from Dallas Baptist. Grady was a senior with an advanced hit tool and high end on base production who could play all over the outfield. He had success in Augusta, but has struggled in Rome – where he is playing again in 2025.
Kansas State 2B Brady Day was the pick in the 12th, but he didn’t sign after showing some success in the Cape that summer. The Braves were attracted to his .492 on base percentage that spring. Day tripled his home run total the next year from three to nine, and was drafted by the Phillies in the 10th round in 2024.
In the 13th round the Braves grabbed Mississippi JUCO infielder Will Verdung, a versatile defender who had an interesting hit tool. He struggled a bit last year with Augusta, but seems to be figuring it out a bit in Rome this year. So far in 2025 he is hitting .301/.390/.358 while playing everywhere in the infield except shortstop.
The 14th round saw D2 lefty Mitch Farris, who posted ERA’s of 1.70 and 1.21 over his final two college seasons. He had a good year last year across both A-ball levels an made one appearance with Mississippi, but was traded for Davis Daniel this winter to the Angels. With their Double-A team he has a 4.25 ERA and 1.47 WHIP over 55 innings.
A pair of future relievers were the next two picks. David Rodriguez was the 15th rounder, a righty from a California JUCO. Rodriguez is with Augusta in 2025. In the 16th round New Mexico righty Isaac Gallegos was the pick. Gallegos posted huge strikeout numbers across both A-ball levels last year and ended up in the Arizona Fall League, where his command really struggled. He’s having a solid year for Rome, albeit with less strikeouts – but also less walks than last year as well.
Toolsy Ohio State outfielder Kade Kern was the 17th round pick. Kern has struggled as a pro, posting a career .594 OPS, but has reached Double-A. In the 18th round Washington State’s Cam Magee was a versatile infielder with a track record for hitting, but limited power. He made it as far as one game in Double-A last year, but is out of baseball right now.
In the 19th round the pick was Wisconsin-Milwaukee left Riley Frey, who has split time between starting and relieving as a pro. Frey is having a solid 2025, but repeating the two A-ball levels he split time with last year.
The final pick was Eastern Kentucky catcher Will King, who hit double digit homers in each of his final two seasons in college. He appeared in 11 games in the FCL in 2023, did not play last year, and so far just four FCL games this season.
Overall
As good as the previous two drafts were, this one hasn’t looked quite as good yet. That’s because top pick Hurston Waldrep still has numerous questions and there aren’t any sure things to make it. However it is still early on for this class and if Drake, Baumann, Kuehler, or Hackenberg put it together and Braun does make it, this isn’t a bad class at all for the Braves. They went heavy here on analytical pitchers and hit tools, while also taking some relievers yet again. This class was oddly right-handed pitcher heavy when they typically do a better job of mixing righties and lefties. It is worth noting that this is the first draft class Dana Brown was not a part of, after he moved on to be the Astros GM.
2024 Draft
Note that it is too soon to judge anyone from this class, as it has been less than a year since they were drafted. For that reason the look at this class will focus more on their draft profiles.
The first round pick was a bit of a surprise when Cam Caminiti dropped down the draft boards. A young for the draft two-way star from an Arizona high school with big league bloodlines, Cam was a possible Top 10 pick who dropped to #24. Caminiti made one short appearance last year in Augusta, and just got back there this year after an injury started his season a bit late. It’s still very early, but he is among the most promising arms in the system.
In the second round the Braves took Vanderbilt lefty Carter Holton, who quickly got hurt and isn’t playing this year due to surgery. Holton was an interesting college lefty with big time experience and good stuff who the hope was that he could make it to Atlanta quickly.
In the third round injured Indiana right hander Luke Sinnard. Sinnard was injured and didn’t pitch in 2024 after being hurt late in 2023, but would have been a possible Day 1 pick had he been healthy. He only made his debut this year, and recently reached Rome.
The fourth round pick was Miami lefty Herick Hernandez, a pitcher who didn’t put up the best numbers in college but came with good metrics on his pitches. He opened some eyes in two appearances last year and is with Rome this year. Hernandez’s command hasn’t been perfect in 2025, but he has flashed the ability to rack up strikeouts.
The Braves went overslot to take large, powerful California prep catcher Nick Montgomery in the fifth round. Montgomery has spent the year in Augusta and is struggling a bit, but still has immense potential.
In the sixth the Braves went overslot on a prep again, taking Ethan Bagwell out of Illinois. Bagwell made three strong starts for Augusta before going down with injury.
From there the senior signs started with Nebraska righty Brett Sears, Montevallo righty Logan Samuels, Loyola Marymount right Owen Hackman, and Maryville University of Saint Louis righty Jacob Kroeger. Sears, who got $12.5k, has dominated both levels of A-ball this year and is already up in Mississippi. Samuels earned a quick promotion from Augusta to Rome, but has struggled early on in his tenure with the Emperors. Hackman has held his own with Augusta all year while Kroeger dominated with Augusta and recently got promoted to Rome.
To start Day 3 the Braves took St. Louis outfielder Patrick Clohisy, a hit tool guy with a track record for production. He opened the season with Rome and has been having a good year.
Their next pick was Virginia prep righty Cayman Goode, who got $11.5k overslot. Goode was a promising but raw arm, and recently opened his season in the FCL.
The next three picks have been a big part of the Augusta lineup this year in Florida JUCO infielder Colby Jones, Oregon State first baseman Mason Guerra, and New Hampshire prep outfielder Owen Carey. Jones was a gamer who didn’t have any plus tools but got the most out of his ability. He started slow with the bat, but has come on with it in June and has been a force on the bases. Guerra is a former top prospect out of high school who had a little bit of a disappointing college career, but he has emerged as one of Augusta’s more consistent producers. Carey has emerged as a potential steal in the 15th round and doesn’t turn 19 until late-July.
Four of the next five picks were outfielders. In the 16th round they took New Mexico State producer Titus Dumitru, who put up big numbers in a heavily hitter friendly park in college. He has spent the year at Rome and shown some flashes. Cal Poly San Luis Obispo’s Jake Steels was seen as a good on base guy, though he has struggled with Augusta this year. Southern Miss sophomore Dalton McIntyre was seen as a hit tool guy without a ton of power, and after a very slow start in the FCL he has started to produce a little more recently. Finally 20th rounder Eric Hartman was an overslot Canadian prep talent who was seen as an upside play. He’s currently injured but has shown some flashes with Augusta.
The non-outfielder was big UNC Wilmington righty Jacob Shafer, who looked good in five starts last year with Augusta but hasn’t pitched this year due to injury.
Overall
As mentioned it’s too early to judge, but finding a potential steal in Carey and upside with Caminiti, Hartman, Sinnard, Holton, Montgomery, Goode, Bagwell, and Hernandez gives the Braves a lot to work with. Again the Braves went with catching and arms and also focused on guys with good hit tools.
Final thoughts
It’s too soon to say who the newest Braves will be next month, but we can expect a run on pitchers who look good with their analytics, hit tool guys, and at least one catcher. It also wouldn’t surprise me to see two-way or multi-sport guys and guys who are young for the class to be in the selections.