The 2024 MLB draft will kick off this Sunday, July 14th, in Fort Worth, Texas. The Atlanta Braves have the number 24 overall pick in the first round of the draft. Atlanta is notorious for keeping its plans under wraps; however, the draft has some common trends. Right-handed pitching is one of those trends that Atlanta tends to stick to. In 2023, they took RHP Hurston Waldrep from the University of Florida. Although this seems likely, there is also a good chance they have their eyes on a position player in the first round. This year’s draft seems to many to be underwhelming, especially after last year’s draft, which featured this year’s National League starter Paul Skeens, Dylan Crews, and Wyatt Langford. It will be important for the Braves to make their first selection meaningful.
Braves Potential First Round Selections
Potential Choices At #24
Braylon Doughty RHP Chapparal High School
Doughty is a fairly typical pick for the Braves: an undersized righty with a lively fastball that reaches the mid-90s and a power slider. He misses bats with his hard low-80s curveball, which tops 3,000 rpm and features a tight break. An 83-85 mph slider with two-plane late movement, and some think both breaking pitches could be plus in time. He has some feel for a changeup but doesn’t throw it much.
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 55 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 50 | Overall: 50
Jurrangelo Cijntje SHP Mississippi State
A natural left-hander, Cijntje also throws from the right side as well. He gained notoriety for his switch-pitching as a member of Curacao’s team at the 2016 Little League World Series. Teams considered him a mid-round prospect in the 2022 Draft, where his sign ability dropped him to the Brewers in the 18th round. However, he chose not to sign with the Milwaukee Brewers and instead enrolled at Mississippi State. Scouts say Cijntje has a better arsenal and projects as a Marcus Stroman-type starter as a righty, profiling more as a reliever as a lefty. A fastball that averages 94-96 mph from the right side that tops out at 98 with carry. He backs it up with a mid-80s slider that tops out at 91 with good depth. He also has a slightly harder changeup with a drop. As a southpaw, he works with a sweeper in the low 80s and a low-90s fastball.
RHP Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 45 | Overall: 50
LHP Scouting Grades: Fastball: 50 | Slider: 55 | Control: 45 | Overall: 40
Ryan Waldschmidt OF University Of Kentucky
Waldschmidt would be an interesting player at 24th and certainly one who would fit with the Braves as a hitter with high-end physical traits and the ability to hit. Waldschmidt is not guaranteed to make it to 24, as there are connections with other teams higher up in the draft. During the 2024 season, Waldschmidt was a premier hitter for the Wildcats, as he posted a .333 batting average, a .469 on-base percentage, and a .610 slugging percentage. Some teams may be wary of Waldschmidt’s injury history, as he started the season recovering from an ACL injury that limited him somewhat at the beginning of the season for Kentucky.
Scouting Grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 55 | Run: 55 | Arm: 40 | Field: 45 | Overall: 50
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