<img alt="Clemson v Wake Forest" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/MwJFSBHpSTnjOEOTu62AiqvXDBY=/0x0:5364x3576/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73438323/2152671706.0.jpg">
Photo by Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images
The Braves haven’t spent money on a shortstop in awhile, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t open to the right player early Many of you make shake your head and move on. The Atlanta Braves haven’t drafted a position player in the first round in five years, and haven’t even been strongly connected to them until this year. The Braves love their pitchers right? Well, yes, but while this may not be the particular draft for a shortstop to fall to Atlanta, they are not going shy about targeting position players if they land in their laps.
Why the Braves could draft a shortstop early
As far as national projections are concerned the Braves haven’t even looked particularly interested in middle infielders in early rounds in quite a long time. However, behind the scenes there has been connections made quite frequently to a handful of position players, and especially young shortstops, that simply haven’t panned out to even be possible in the draft. Premium positions are coveted and with the Braves pick in the draft they don’t often see premium guys fall to them, but if the pick was available there is no doubt the Braves would be willing. Of all of the positions outside of pitching shortstop is really the greatest need, and while drafting for need isn’t the go-to strategy it certainly has merits. Nacho Alvarez is the Braves top prospect and currently does play shortstop, but it is still far from clear that the Braves are ready to hand him the keys defensively and beyond that the top talents like Jose Perdomo and Ambioris Tavarez are wildly inexperienced and raw prospects. Thus, it would be sensible to thing that in some way the Braves will be looking at the shortstop position soon, be it in the draft, through trades, or another free agent signing.
In most years there are quite a few first round quality shortstops available, but this is overall a weaker class in the middle and back end of the draft with Seaver King of Wake Forest as the standout. King will almost certainly not slip to 24 from what I can tell, but there is plenty of reason to believe the Braves would be interested if he were to. King’s biggest question marks - approach and ability to stick at shortstop - have never been things the Braves shy from. A player with King’s athleticism and hitting potential would be coveted for Atlanta and I believe they would take their chances on him not sticking at shortstop. The Braves trust both their development and they positioning strategy enough to not be overly concerned with finer points in defense with amateur players.
King is the clear “slide” target for Atlanta, but at 24 there are a few other options that could and/or would be available. Theo Gillen is the top prep offensive talent that could be available at 24, though the concerns that his arm strength will push him off of shortstop are legitimate. That was ultimately a key reason the Braves moved on from Vaughn Grissom at the position, and there’s honestly only so much you can do to improve fringe arm strength. Among the college ranks Kansas State’s Kaelen Culpepper is a player which intrigues me for some of the same reasons as King, though clearly a lite version. Culpepper’s concerns are his ability to stick at shortstop, though he is quicker than Alvarez, and whether he can translate his bat speed and raw power into game power. Looking into later options JD Dix from Whitefish Bay HS in Wisconsin is an interesting option. Dix has a well-rounded game for a prep shortstop, and gets high marks for his makeup and mentality. An injury last summer hurt his stock, but he is a switch-hitter with solid athleticism and bat-to-ball skills. Dix’s power potential is questionable, but could be something the Braves feel they can improve on with some swing tweaks given his frame and bat speed.
Why the Braves won’t draft a catcher on day one
Simply put, I really don’t see a player in this particular draft that’s highly appealing over the options that could be available. If King is there then 100% I’m in with that pick, but it seems to be shaping up that at least a couple of other intriguing options fall to 24. I don’t prefer any of those other guys over a player like Ryan Waldschmidt, and if the Braves go with under slot options I would be more inclined to believe they go pitcher. This isn’t a view on the strategy of the Braves, per se, it just isn’t a draft where there are players that stand out to me. I’m higher on Culpepper than most, but I’m not sure I see him as a better option than Nacho Alvarez and while I’m not of the drafting for need mentality I think the Braves would be better served to continue adding on with pitching given their history of developing pitchers.
Day Two/Three targets
Payton Green - The Braves wouldn’t have to go far to get Payton Green, who was Georgia Tech’s primary shortstop this spring. Green has struggled on the Cape Cod circuit, but had a breakout spring with a .984 OPS and 12 home runs and has some projection left even as a college bat. Green is tall and has room to fill out his frame, and while some are concerned added weight could move him off of the position the Braves have notably liked guys they feel they can help add strength to. Green has some major approach issues, but in recent seasons I’ve loved what Atlanta has done with developing guys at the lower levels with Drake Baldwin being a prime example. It’s a risky pick, but would be well worth a mid-round pick assuming Green isn’t going to go back for his senior season.
David Hogg II - I don’t think it’s particularly likely that the Braves go prep shortstop past the third round, and I think for Hogg it may be better for him to hold his commitment to LSU. He’s a player whose overall toolset has improved as he’s matured, and Baseball America notes a high baseball IQ. Hogg has a chance to thrive in college, but if the Braves pick him up in the later rounds he could be an interesting development piece with his bat speed and ability to add more strength to his frame. Hogg is also likely to stick at shortstop.
Jalin Flores - If the Braves are looking to add power potential to their shortstop crop then Flores might be the play here, as he hit 18 home runs as a Sophomore for Texas this past spring. Flores may not have the speed to stick at shortstop, but again the Braves trust they can mitigate these issues with positioning and Flores has the hands and arm to stick at shortstop. Otherwise, he has the power to move to third base if he hits. The biggest concern on the field is his approach, as he is overly aggressive and has a lot of swing-and-miss to his game. The Braves would need to make improvements there, but if Flores sticks at shortstop the offensive bar wouldn’t be that high given his power potential. Also Flores is a draft-eligible sophomore, which may make him a bit more expensive than similarly-talented players.
Woody Hadeen - Hadeen has just one career college home run, along with a summer league home run, which might well be enough to completely take him off of Atlanta’s board. However, Hadeen is a marvelous hitter, with high contact rates and a great feel for the zone that allowed him to post a .524 on base percentage this spring. Hadeen may end up a utility type, but his contact from both sides of the plate and his ability to stick at shortstop could make him a valuable late round pickup. Hadeen does have some bat speed and room to add strength, so there may be some amount of power to unlock though it likely never gets close to average.
<img alt="Clemson v Wake Forest" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/MwJFSBHpSTnjOEOTu62AiqvXDBY=/0x0:5364x3576/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73438323/2152671706.0.jpg">
Photo by Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images
The Braves haven’t spent money on a shortstop in awhile, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t open to the right player early Many of you make shake your head and move on. The Atlanta Braves haven’t drafted a position player in the first round in five years, and haven’t even been strongly connected to them until this year. The Braves love their pitchers right? Well, yes, but while this may not be the particular draft for a shortstop to fall to Atlanta, they are not going shy about targeting position players if they land in their laps.
Why the Braves could draft a shortstop early
As far as national projections are concerned the Braves haven’t even looked particularly interested in middle infielders in early rounds in quite a long time. However, behind the scenes there has been connections made quite frequently to a handful of position players, and especially young shortstops, that simply haven’t panned out to even be possible in the draft. Premium positions are coveted and with the Braves pick in the draft they don’t often see premium guys fall to them, but if the pick was available there is no doubt the Braves would be willing. Of all of the positions outside of pitching shortstop is really the greatest need, and while drafting for need isn’t the go-to strategy it certainly has merits. Nacho Alvarez is the Braves top prospect and currently does play shortstop, but it is still far from clear that the Braves are ready to hand him the keys defensively and beyond that the top talents like Jose Perdomo and Ambioris Tavarez are wildly inexperienced and raw prospects. Thus, it would be sensible to thing that in some way the Braves will be looking at the shortstop position soon, be it in the draft, through trades, or another free agent signing.
In most years there are quite a few first round quality shortstops available, but this is overall a weaker class in the middle and back end of the draft with Seaver King of Wake Forest as the standout. King will almost certainly not slip to 24 from what I can tell, but there is plenty of reason to believe the Braves would be interested if he were to. King’s biggest question marks - approach and ability to stick at shortstop - have never been things the Braves shy from. A player with King’s athleticism and hitting potential would be coveted for Atlanta and I believe they would take their chances on him not sticking at shortstop. The Braves trust both their development and they positioning strategy enough to not be overly concerned with finer points in defense with amateur players.
King is the clear “slide” target for Atlanta, but at 24 there are a few other options that could and/or would be available. Theo Gillen is the top prep offensive talent that could be available at 24, though the concerns that his arm strength will push him off of shortstop are legitimate. That was ultimately a key reason the Braves moved on from Vaughn Grissom at the position, and there’s honestly only so much you can do to improve fringe arm strength. Among the college ranks Kansas State’s Kaelen Culpepper is a player which intrigues me for some of the same reasons as King, though clearly a lite version. Culpepper’s concerns are his ability to stick at shortstop, though he is quicker than Alvarez, and whether he can translate his bat speed and raw power into game power. Looking into later options JD Dix from Whitefish Bay HS in Wisconsin is an interesting option. Dix has a well-rounded game for a prep shortstop, and gets high marks for his makeup and mentality. An injury last summer hurt his stock, but he is a switch-hitter with solid athleticism and bat-to-ball skills. Dix’s power potential is questionable, but could be something the Braves feel they can improve on with some swing tweaks given his frame and bat speed.
Why the Braves won’t draft a catcher on day one
Simply put, I really don’t see a player in this particular draft that’s highly appealing over the options that could be available. If King is there then 100% I’m in with that pick, but it seems to be shaping up that at least a couple of other intriguing options fall to 24. I don’t prefer any of those other guys over a player like Ryan Waldschmidt, and if the Braves go with under slot options I would be more inclined to believe they go pitcher. This isn’t a view on the strategy of the Braves, per se, it just isn’t a draft where there are players that stand out to me. I’m higher on Culpepper than most, but I’m not sure I see him as a better option than Nacho Alvarez and while I’m not of the drafting for need mentality I think the Braves would be better served to continue adding on with pitching given their history of developing pitchers.
Day Two/Three targets
Payton Green - The Braves wouldn’t have to go far to get Payton Green, who was Georgia Tech’s primary shortstop this spring. Green has struggled on the Cape Cod circuit, but had a breakout spring with a .984 OPS and 12 home runs and has some projection left even as a college bat. Green is tall and has room to fill out his frame, and while some are concerned added weight could move him off of the position the Braves have notably liked guys they feel they can help add strength to. Green has some major approach issues, but in recent seasons I’ve loved what Atlanta has done with developing guys at the lower levels with Drake Baldwin being a prime example. It’s a risky pick, but would be well worth a mid-round pick assuming Green isn’t going to go back for his senior season.
David Hogg II - I don’t think it’s particularly likely that the Braves go prep shortstop past the third round, and I think for Hogg it may be better for him to hold his commitment to LSU. He’s a player whose overall toolset has improved as he’s matured, and Baseball America notes a high baseball IQ. Hogg has a chance to thrive in college, but if the Braves pick him up in the later rounds he could be an interesting development piece with his bat speed and ability to add more strength to his frame. Hogg is also likely to stick at shortstop.
Jalin Flores - If the Braves are looking to add power potential to their shortstop crop then Flores might be the play here, as he hit 18 home runs as a Sophomore for Texas this past spring. Flores may not have the speed to stick at shortstop, but again the Braves trust they can mitigate these issues with positioning and Flores has the hands and arm to stick at shortstop. Otherwise, he has the power to move to third base if he hits. The biggest concern on the field is his approach, as he is overly aggressive and has a lot of swing-and-miss to his game. The Braves would need to make improvements there, but if Flores sticks at shortstop the offensive bar wouldn’t be that high given his power potential. Also Flores is a draft-eligible sophomore, which may make him a bit more expensive than similarly-talented players.
Woody Hadeen - Hadeen has just one career college home run, along with a summer league home run, which might well be enough to completely take him off of Atlanta’s board. However, Hadeen is a marvelous hitter, with high contact rates and a great feel for the zone that allowed him to post a .524 on base percentage this spring. Hadeen may end up a utility type, but his contact from both sides of the plate and his ability to stick at shortstop could make him a valuable late round pickup. Hadeen does have some bat speed and room to add strength, so there may be some amount of power to unlock though it likely never gets close to average.
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