Braves select OF Conor Essenburg with 5th round pick in 2025 MLB Draft

Braves grab another high ceiling prep position player

With the 5th round pick in the 2025 MLB Draft, the Atlanta Braves selected OF Conor Essenburg from Lincoln-Way West High School in Lenox, Illinois. The Braves take a shot on a prep outfielder with big power and further bolster a position-player heavy draft.

Bio

DOB: 09/18/2006
Height: 6’2”
Weight: 200 lbs
Bats/Throws: R/L

Rankings

Baseball America: 183
MLB Pipeline: 221

Introducing Connor Essenburg

Connor Essenburg is a talented two-way player from an Illinois high school who is being drafted as a bat. He’s up to 94 and projectable as a pitcher, but it’s the big righty power and bat speed that drew the Braves in. He’s got good feel for contact, so he isn’t an all power bat – and more contact ability could come as he focuses in on hitting full time. One moment that will be remembered is hitting an opposite field homer off of 103 MPH prep lefty Jack Bauer this year, showing he has no problems dealing with elite velocity. The upside on this two-way cold weather player is large. He will be an overslot selection.

First Reaction

The Braves are clearly targeting their position player depth this draft, and they add a major high ceiling talent late in the draft. There was a question if Essenburg would pitch or hit, and a question if he would go pro or not, but if he was taken this high the Braves have a deal worked out. It’s going to be an expensive risk for them, but they have a big talent that should have a chance to excel now that he is focusing on one side of the ball