<img alt="LSU v Arkansas" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/DZFWW5ra_cRgxxNUTt1Gva2NpRk=/0x0:5469x3646/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73444226/2135952203.0.jpg">
Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images
LSU’s Tommy White is the best among those players that could be an option for the Braves The Atlanta Braves don’t need a third baseman, so they may not look to take one early in the draft. Still there are a couple of players that could be intriguing at 24 with their power/hit combinations, and the power potential from the position as a whole could boost a system that hasn’t hit for much of it this season.
Why the Braves could draft a third baseman early
Despite the presence of Austin Riley as an all star level talent throughout most of his tenure, Alex Anthopoulos has commonly spent money to draft third basemen or at least guys he thinks can stick at third base. Just in the past two seasons he’s taken Nacho Alvarez Jr., David McCabe, and Sabin Ceballos high in the draft, and it’s clear that Anthopoulos places a high value on some of the high on base guys that often man the hot corner. Moreover there is a specific player that could be around at 24th overall, that while he hasn’t drawn any connection to the Braves so far could be an interesting addition to the system.
Tommy White out of LSU is a relatively strong college hitter to be available at 24th overall, though he does of course come with notable weaknesses. White hits for power to all fields with a high contact rate, though he has approach questions and may ultimately not stick at third base. He also doesn’t have the speed to move to the outfield, so a push off of third base would put him in a position with a high offensive bar to clear. That said if we’re talking pure contact/power mix out of the 24th pick there isn’t going to be a better option available for the Braves. Most believe even with his approach White can be an impact bat at the major league level, something the Braves lack in the system, and approach can be a relatively easy fix that the Braves in recent years have had some success with in the lower minor leagues.
You could also look to Tennessee’s Billy Amick, who is a more likely candidate to stick at third base but hasn’t displayed White’s level of contact ability at the college level. Amick has handled a move to third base in a full time role with relative ease, and though he is not a guarantee to stick there his range is drastically better than White’s. In addition Amick does show above average raw power, though like White will need to work on his approach at the professional level. White the Braves do tend to simplify the lower body action of players they haven’t tended to take these guys with super spread stances and keep them that way, so I would be curious if they could adjust his swing to maintain his contact rates while unlocking more drive from him lower body.
Why the Braves won’t draft a third baseman on day one
The one notable commonality between the top third basemen the Braves have taken is that they are not day one picks. The Braves have targeted guys who they feel have been overlooked for one reason or another, and at least at the top of the draft those players tend to not be third basemen. With Austin Riley young and locked up for the near future these college third basemen that can only play third base may not be as enticing an option for Atlanta at the cost they would come at. It’s not like these guys can just move over to first base either, so fit is a concern here with especially a player like Tommy White who is expected to move fairly quickly. Day one in the draft the Braves focus tends to be on players they can easily project to major league spots (which is why pitchers are so easy to take) and players that represent some excess value to the Braves, and I don’t really think third base is the place to do that.
Day Two/Three targets
Aiden Harris - Just 17 on draft day, Harris is one of the youngest players in the class but that fact belies the raw power in his bat. Harris can get to plus or better power from the right side, with a big frame that may struggle to handle third base. Harris’s biggest question mark is his hit tool, but I foresee him as a player who a team will do quite a lot of work with on his approach and swing path. It’s a very risky option for whoever takes him and he may end up on campus next spring, but Harris has among the best ceilings in this draft especially among day two options.
Matt Halbach - Halbach fits into the defensive questions mold that has intrigued the Braves in the past, as he may ultimately not stick at third and be forced over to first base. There are really questions in every facet of his game — will he hit for enough power, will his approach work —but he’s just good enough at everything that an optimistic evaluator could project him as a real steal. He’s never hit for much power, part of that due to his swing not being geared for that, but the Braves trust their ability to make swing adjustments haven’t been afraid to target guys late that are projects even among college options. Halbach’s best trait is his bat speed, and he wouldn’t be a particularly expensive pickup though he does have a year of eligibility remaining.
Akhil Nimmala - Nimmala fits into a profile the Braves have also targeted recently, as raw, fringy prospects who a lot of evaluators think should hold onto their college commitments. Nimmala is the younger brother of 2023 first round pick Arjun, and looks to be physically stronger and capable of potentially getting to plus power at maturity. There are a lot more questions about Nimmala’s hit tool and defensive profile to answer, and the Braves may not want to go for a player with such a limited defensive upside, but the offensive upside for a guy in this range of the draft would be intriguing. Nimmala has the athleticism and the arm strength to stick at third in my opinion, but will need some work to clean up his actions and throwing motion.
Sean Keys - Keys had a fantastic performance in the Cape Cod League last summer, although he has struggled there in 2024, and is a player who has dominated lower level college competition in his career. Keys is a somewhat similar profile to David McCabe, though a bit more likely to stick at third base, with a power/contact profile that would be impressive in the middle rounds. Keys’s big question mark is his competition, as he hasn’t faced much premium velocity and has now struggled in his second taste of the Cape. A team that believes in his hit tool could see him being a steal on day two of the draft.
<img alt="LSU v Arkansas" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/DZFWW5ra_cRgxxNUTt1Gva2NpRk=/0x0:5469x3646/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73444226/2135952203.0.jpg">
Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images
LSU’s Tommy White is the best among those players that could be an option for the Braves The Atlanta Braves don’t need a third baseman, so they may not look to take one early in the draft. Still there are a couple of players that could be intriguing at 24 with their power/hit combinations, and the power potential from the position as a whole could boost a system that hasn’t hit for much of it this season.
Why the Braves could draft a third baseman early
Despite the presence of Austin Riley as an all star level talent throughout most of his tenure, Alex Anthopoulos has commonly spent money to draft third basemen or at least guys he thinks can stick at third base. Just in the past two seasons he’s taken Nacho Alvarez Jr., David McCabe, and Sabin Ceballos high in the draft, and it’s clear that Anthopoulos places a high value on some of the high on base guys that often man the hot corner. Moreover there is a specific player that could be around at 24th overall, that while he hasn’t drawn any connection to the Braves so far could be an interesting addition to the system.
Tommy White out of LSU is a relatively strong college hitter to be available at 24th overall, though he does of course come with notable weaknesses. White hits for power to all fields with a high contact rate, though he has approach questions and may ultimately not stick at third base. He also doesn’t have the speed to move to the outfield, so a push off of third base would put him in a position with a high offensive bar to clear. That said if we’re talking pure contact/power mix out of the 24th pick there isn’t going to be a better option available for the Braves. Most believe even with his approach White can be an impact bat at the major league level, something the Braves lack in the system, and approach can be a relatively easy fix that the Braves in recent years have had some success with in the lower minor leagues.
You could also look to Tennessee’s Billy Amick, who is a more likely candidate to stick at third base but hasn’t displayed White’s level of contact ability at the college level. Amick has handled a move to third base in a full time role with relative ease, and though he is not a guarantee to stick there his range is drastically better than White’s. In addition Amick does show above average raw power, though like White will need to work on his approach at the professional level. White the Braves do tend to simplify the lower body action of players they haven’t tended to take these guys with super spread stances and keep them that way, so I would be curious if they could adjust his swing to maintain his contact rates while unlocking more drive from him lower body.
Why the Braves won’t draft a third baseman on day one
The one notable commonality between the top third basemen the Braves have taken is that they are not day one picks. The Braves have targeted guys who they feel have been overlooked for one reason or another, and at least at the top of the draft those players tend to not be third basemen. With Austin Riley young and locked up for the near future these college third basemen that can only play third base may not be as enticing an option for Atlanta at the cost they would come at. It’s not like these guys can just move over to first base either, so fit is a concern here with especially a player like Tommy White who is expected to move fairly quickly. Day one in the draft the Braves focus tends to be on players they can easily project to major league spots (which is why pitchers are so easy to take) and players that represent some excess value to the Braves, and I don’t really think third base is the place to do that.
Day Two/Three targets
Aiden Harris - Just 17 on draft day, Harris is one of the youngest players in the class but that fact belies the raw power in his bat. Harris can get to plus or better power from the right side, with a big frame that may struggle to handle third base. Harris’s biggest question mark is his hit tool, but I foresee him as a player who a team will do quite a lot of work with on his approach and swing path. It’s a very risky option for whoever takes him and he may end up on campus next spring, but Harris has among the best ceilings in this draft especially among day two options.
Matt Halbach - Halbach fits into the defensive questions mold that has intrigued the Braves in the past, as he may ultimately not stick at third and be forced over to first base. There are really questions in every facet of his game — will he hit for enough power, will his approach work —but he’s just good enough at everything that an optimistic evaluator could project him as a real steal. He’s never hit for much power, part of that due to his swing not being geared for that, but the Braves trust their ability to make swing adjustments haven’t been afraid to target guys late that are projects even among college options. Halbach’s best trait is his bat speed, and he wouldn’t be a particularly expensive pickup though he does have a year of eligibility remaining.
Akhil Nimmala - Nimmala fits into a profile the Braves have also targeted recently, as raw, fringy prospects who a lot of evaluators think should hold onto their college commitments. Nimmala is the younger brother of 2023 first round pick Arjun, and looks to be physically stronger and capable of potentially getting to plus power at maturity. There are a lot more questions about Nimmala’s hit tool and defensive profile to answer, and the Braves may not want to go for a player with such a limited defensive upside, but the offensive upside for a guy in this range of the draft would be intriguing. Nimmala has the athleticism and the arm strength to stick at third in my opinion, but will need some work to clean up his actions and throwing motion.
Sean Keys - Keys had a fantastic performance in the Cape Cod League last summer, although he has struggled there in 2024, and is a player who has dominated lower level college competition in his career. Keys is a somewhat similar profile to David McCabe, though a bit more likely to stick at third base, with a power/contact profile that would be impressive in the middle rounds. Keys’s big question mark is his competition, as he hasn’t faced much premium velocity and has now struggled in his second taste of the Cape. A team that believes in his hit tool could see him being a steal on day two of the draft.
Link to original article
