<img alt="Oregon State University v University of Arkansas" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/5F3aQ5IcHYhsxT8-QUooYznYsfU=/0x0:3030x2020/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73440121/2087313302.0.jpg">
Hagen Smith | Photo by Kate Woolson/Texas Rangers/Getty Images
Taking a closer look at how the Braves could approach LHP’s in the 2024 MLB Draft. We all know the Braves love to draft pitchers early and often when we get into the MLB Draft, so it only makes sense that the team will be looking at left-handed pitchers on the board in the first few rounds. They may not end up selecting a lefty, but they will most definitely be considering their options here.
Why the Braves could draft a lefty early
The Atlanta Braves prefer to use their international top dollars on bats and their top draft choices on pitchers, and with lefties being half of the categories that makes up pitching, it’s a safe bet that the team will be looking at their options early and often. The strength of the Braves group of arms already in the system is heavily in favor of right-handers at this point, with Dylan Dodd being the team’s top lefty prospect at the moment who has a chance to start and looking more like a backend starter to potential reliever. Luis De Avila is probably the second most notable lefty, but due to a variety of factors such as command and being better against lefties, his future likely is in the pen. After that things thin out in a real hurry until you get into the lower levels of the farm with the still years away Adam Shoemaker and a group with longer shots to start in Mitch Farris and Riley Frey. Among the pure relievers Hayden Harris is looking very promising and was just promoted to Triple-A, but after him it would probably be one of the guys who still has some chance to start as the best lefty reliever prospect in the system.
This isn’t setting up to be a very good lefty class, at least where the Braves are picking. Arkansas star Hagen Smith is a lock to go in the Top 10, and top prep lefty Cam Caminiti (Ken’s cousin) is likely to go in the Top 20. After those two guys it may take a slight reach for there to be a lefty worthy of taking with the Braves top pick - note Mississippi State switch-pitcher Jurrangelo Cijntje is considered a significantly better right-hander.
With that in mind there are three other guys that are lefties who could go in the first, though all three make a little more sense as picks later in the first unless they were to take slightly under the slot value. Duke’s Jonathan Santucci might be the most interesting, especially as there is some thought that he might have a little more gains remaining than most college pitchers due to lost time from injury and some time shared as a two-way guy. Santucci has a plus fastball and plus slider with a change that has potential if he was able to improve the consistency of it. Santucci would need to work on his command a bit, but as an athletic two-way guy, he is the type of guy the Braves could have some interest in. After Santucci it’s a pair of prep arms. The higher rated one by many is Oklahoma prep Kash Mayfield, who saw a velocity spike this spring up to 97 MPH to go with a plus change and a history of throwing strikes. That gives Mayfield some upside, but the fact he’s an older high school player at nearly 19.5 years-old and his breaking ball is more of a potential average pitch since it isn’t going to be a swing and miss offering, could make some teams pause. The other prep arm is Pennsylvania high schooler David Shields. Shields is a young for the class two-sport star with plenty of athleticism. Shields’ biggest drawback is probably the fact he doesn’t have a true plus offering, but the fastball, change, slider, and command are all looking like average or above-average tools. A team taking Shields would be hoping the fact he doesn’t hit 18 until September, the two sport background, strong athletic ability, and being a projectable body from a cold weather state could have him make gains as he develops.
Why the Braves won’t draft a lefty on day one
The Braves will almost certainly draft a pitcher on the first day of the draft as it’s hard to see them taking hitters with both of their top two selections based on how they prefer to draft. That means if the Braves don’t draft a lefty on the first day it would be because they liked the options at right-hander more than the options from the left side, as the projected pool from the right looks a little better where the Braves are picking.
Day Two/Three targets
Blake Larson - Blake Larson moved to IMG this season from his native Iowa and continued to improve as a pitcher. He’s a prep lefty with considerable upside as all three of his pitches have flashed plus at times. The only reason he isn’t a sure thing first day pick is because the command is a work in progress. It did improve the command this year at IMG, and there is hope that the former cold weather state prep arm could see further gains with pro coaching.
William Kirk - William Kirk is an intriguing New Jersey prep arm with plenty of projection and outstanding pitchability - the biggest asset he has. Kirk has a swing and miss change and average fastball and curve, but could see gains as he gets stronger. He is an above-average to plus command type with a real feel for pitching, knowing how to take something off or change the shape of his pitch, making him a higher floor guy than many prep arms in this range. The ultimate upside is going to come down to just how much velocity he is able to gain on his 92 MPH fastball. It is also worth noting that he is committed to Virginia, so he may not come cheap if a team falls in love with his pitchability.
Jackson Kent - Jackson Kent is an interesting profile. A former two-sport star in high school, redshirted as a freshman, pitched well as a reliever last year, went to the Cape and had a strong summer as a starter, then followed it up with a breakout as a starter this spring. He’s still new to being a full time pitcher that is starting, and after a velocity jump this spring to touch 95 MPH there is a lot to like about his future after spending time in a pro system. That fastball is one of five average or above pitches with likely average command, so there is plenty to like right now too. He doesn’t have plus stuff, but with the progress in his first year starting with both the velocity and command there is some belief that he’s just getting started.
Charlie Foster - Charlie Foster is one third of the trio of potential draftees in the rotation for Snellville’s Brookwood HS. A former Georgia commit, Foster is a projectable 6’3” lefty that has had the best results over the past couple of years among the Brookwood trio. Foster’s stuff is more average at present, with a fastball up to 93 MPH, curve and change. He’s got an athletic frame and should have average command as well. A team taking him would be buying in on the projection as well as the best results of the Brookwood trio.
<img alt="Oregon State University v University of Arkansas" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/5F3aQ5IcHYhsxT8-QUooYznYsfU=/0x0:3030x2020/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73440121/2087313302.0.jpg">
Hagen Smith | Photo by Kate Woolson/Texas Rangers/Getty Images
Taking a closer look at how the Braves could approach LHP’s in the 2024 MLB Draft. We all know the Braves love to draft pitchers early and often when we get into the MLB Draft, so it only makes sense that the team will be looking at left-handed pitchers on the board in the first few rounds. They may not end up selecting a lefty, but they will most definitely be considering their options here.
Why the Braves could draft a lefty early
The Atlanta Braves prefer to use their international top dollars on bats and their top draft choices on pitchers, and with lefties being half of the categories that makes up pitching, it’s a safe bet that the team will be looking at their options early and often. The strength of the Braves group of arms already in the system is heavily in favor of right-handers at this point, with Dylan Dodd being the team’s top lefty prospect at the moment who has a chance to start and looking more like a backend starter to potential reliever. Luis De Avila is probably the second most notable lefty, but due to a variety of factors such as command and being better against lefties, his future likely is in the pen. After that things thin out in a real hurry until you get into the lower levels of the farm with the still years away Adam Shoemaker and a group with longer shots to start in Mitch Farris and Riley Frey. Among the pure relievers Hayden Harris is looking very promising and was just promoted to Triple-A, but after him it would probably be one of the guys who still has some chance to start as the best lefty reliever prospect in the system.
This isn’t setting up to be a very good lefty class, at least where the Braves are picking. Arkansas star Hagen Smith is a lock to go in the Top 10, and top prep lefty Cam Caminiti (Ken’s cousin) is likely to go in the Top 20. After those two guys it may take a slight reach for there to be a lefty worthy of taking with the Braves top pick - note Mississippi State switch-pitcher Jurrangelo Cijntje is considered a significantly better right-hander.
With that in mind there are three other guys that are lefties who could go in the first, though all three make a little more sense as picks later in the first unless they were to take slightly under the slot value. Duke’s Jonathan Santucci might be the most interesting, especially as there is some thought that he might have a little more gains remaining than most college pitchers due to lost time from injury and some time shared as a two-way guy. Santucci has a plus fastball and plus slider with a change that has potential if he was able to improve the consistency of it. Santucci would need to work on his command a bit, but as an athletic two-way guy, he is the type of guy the Braves could have some interest in. After Santucci it’s a pair of prep arms. The higher rated one by many is Oklahoma prep Kash Mayfield, who saw a velocity spike this spring up to 97 MPH to go with a plus change and a history of throwing strikes. That gives Mayfield some upside, but the fact he’s an older high school player at nearly 19.5 years-old and his breaking ball is more of a potential average pitch since it isn’t going to be a swing and miss offering, could make some teams pause. The other prep arm is Pennsylvania high schooler David Shields. Shields is a young for the class two-sport star with plenty of athleticism. Shields’ biggest drawback is probably the fact he doesn’t have a true plus offering, but the fastball, change, slider, and command are all looking like average or above-average tools. A team taking Shields would be hoping the fact he doesn’t hit 18 until September, the two sport background, strong athletic ability, and being a projectable body from a cold weather state could have him make gains as he develops.
Why the Braves won’t draft a lefty on day one
The Braves will almost certainly draft a pitcher on the first day of the draft as it’s hard to see them taking hitters with both of their top two selections based on how they prefer to draft. That means if the Braves don’t draft a lefty on the first day it would be because they liked the options at right-hander more than the options from the left side, as the projected pool from the right looks a little better where the Braves are picking.
Day Two/Three targets
Blake Larson - Blake Larson moved to IMG this season from his native Iowa and continued to improve as a pitcher. He’s a prep lefty with considerable upside as all three of his pitches have flashed plus at times. The only reason he isn’t a sure thing first day pick is because the command is a work in progress. It did improve the command this year at IMG, and there is hope that the former cold weather state prep arm could see further gains with pro coaching.
William Kirk - William Kirk is an intriguing New Jersey prep arm with plenty of projection and outstanding pitchability - the biggest asset he has. Kirk has a swing and miss change and average fastball and curve, but could see gains as he gets stronger. He is an above-average to plus command type with a real feel for pitching, knowing how to take something off or change the shape of his pitch, making him a higher floor guy than many prep arms in this range. The ultimate upside is going to come down to just how much velocity he is able to gain on his 92 MPH fastball. It is also worth noting that he is committed to Virginia, so he may not come cheap if a team falls in love with his pitchability.
Jackson Kent - Jackson Kent is an interesting profile. A former two-sport star in high school, redshirted as a freshman, pitched well as a reliever last year, went to the Cape and had a strong summer as a starter, then followed it up with a breakout as a starter this spring. He’s still new to being a full time pitcher that is starting, and after a velocity jump this spring to touch 95 MPH there is a lot to like about his future after spending time in a pro system. That fastball is one of five average or above pitches with likely average command, so there is plenty to like right now too. He doesn’t have plus stuff, but with the progress in his first year starting with both the velocity and command there is some belief that he’s just getting started.
Charlie Foster - Charlie Foster is one third of the trio of potential draftees in the rotation for Snellville’s Brookwood HS. A former Georgia commit, Foster is a projectable 6’3” lefty that has had the best results over the past couple of years among the Brookwood trio. Foster’s stuff is more average at present, with a fastball up to 93 MPH, curve and change. He’s got an athletic frame and should have average command as well. A team taking him would be buying in on the projection as well as the best results of the Brookwood trio.
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