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Matthew Grimes Jr./Atlanta Braves/Getty Images
Braylon Doughty is a very intriguing prep pitcher that has been linked to the Braves for the 2024 MLB Draft. With the MLB Draft just days away we’re going to continue coverage to preview the draft, looking at some names connected to the Atlanta Braves. Today’s look will be at Braylon Doughty, a prep arm considered as a likely under-slot option.
Background
Braylon Doughty is a 6’1, 196-pound right-handed pitcher from Chaparral High School in California that is committed to Oklahoma State. He spent the spring rising up draft boards with real helium as he came out of no where later in the summer at a big event, then didn’t pitch again until this spring in front of scouts. It was this spring where he cemented his status as a potential first round pick after being no where on the draft radar a year ago and considered more of an untested popup guy after the Area Code Games showing last summer.
Profile
Doughty’s best attribute is his stuff. He’s got some of the best stuff in the class with a fastball up to 97 MPH, a high spin curve, and a nasty slider that could give him potentially three legitimate plus pitches in time. He does have a fourth pitch in the changeup, but hasn’t needed to use it much at the high school level - though based on the limited looks and his feel for pitching the thought is that it could be a solid fourth offering with some work.
Doughty is also a strike thrower and projects to have average command to go with that arsenal. He brings more to the package with great athleticism, pitchability, some projectability, and is considered to be a high character player as well - obviously something the Braves put real value in.
Doughty doesn't have a long resume, nor is he very big at just 6’1. Those are the reasons why he could be available for the Braves at #24 instead of being seen as the clear top prep arm in this draft. However the way he mixes excellent stuff, strike throwing ability, and an athletic body helps offset the concerns with size and lack of a long resume.
Projections
Doughty is a guy who could very well be there for the Braves at #24, but with the lack of first round talent on the pitching side this year beyond the top tier of college arms, that is no guarantee. There are some teams who either put him as the top prep arm in the draft or right in the top tier of prep arms with Cam Caminiti, William Schmidt, and Ryan Sloan, while other are a bit lower on him due to the above concerns.
It is rumored that he could be an under-slot pick, but he would be an under-slot similar to recent Braves draftee Owen Murphy in that he does actually belong at #24 regardless of price. He would probably give the Braves a slightly smaller amount of savings towards the bonus pool than Murphy did back in 2022 ($850k).
If I had to go based off of gut feeling today, I would predict that Doughty is on the board when the Braves pick. That same gut feeling says that if he is on the board the Braves would be very likely to take him - unless one of the college players they want happens to fall to them and makes the decision a bit tougher.
<img alt="Arizona Diamondbacks v Atlanta Braves" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/KITe8Xgae8_Yx9A33ZO5-cNKklE=/0x0:7894x5263/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73455210/2136580770.0.jpg">
Matthew Grimes Jr./Atlanta Braves/Getty Images
Braylon Doughty is a very intriguing prep pitcher that has been linked to the Braves for the 2024 MLB Draft. With the MLB Draft just days away we’re going to continue coverage to preview the draft, looking at some names connected to the Atlanta Braves. Today’s look will be at Braylon Doughty, a prep arm considered as a likely under-slot option.
Background
Braylon Doughty is a 6’1, 196-pound right-handed pitcher from Chaparral High School in California that is committed to Oklahoma State. He spent the spring rising up draft boards with real helium as he came out of no where later in the summer at a big event, then didn’t pitch again until this spring in front of scouts. It was this spring where he cemented his status as a potential first round pick after being no where on the draft radar a year ago and considered more of an untested popup guy after the Area Code Games showing last summer.
Profile
Doughty’s best attribute is his stuff. He’s got some of the best stuff in the class with a fastball up to 97 MPH, a high spin curve, and a nasty slider that could give him potentially three legitimate plus pitches in time. He does have a fourth pitch in the changeup, but hasn’t needed to use it much at the high school level - though based on the limited looks and his feel for pitching the thought is that it could be a solid fourth offering with some work.
Doughty is also a strike thrower and projects to have average command to go with that arsenal. He brings more to the package with great athleticism, pitchability, some projectability, and is considered to be a high character player as well - obviously something the Braves put real value in.
Doughty doesn't have a long resume, nor is he very big at just 6’1. Those are the reasons why he could be available for the Braves at #24 instead of being seen as the clear top prep arm in this draft. However the way he mixes excellent stuff, strike throwing ability, and an athletic body helps offset the concerns with size and lack of a long resume.
Projections
Doughty is a guy who could very well be there for the Braves at #24, but with the lack of first round talent on the pitching side this year beyond the top tier of college arms, that is no guarantee. There are some teams who either put him as the top prep arm in the draft or right in the top tier of prep arms with Cam Caminiti, William Schmidt, and Ryan Sloan, while other are a bit lower on him due to the above concerns.
It is rumored that he could be an under-slot pick, but he would be an under-slot similar to recent Braves draftee Owen Murphy in that he does actually belong at #24 regardless of price. He would probably give the Braves a slightly smaller amount of savings towards the bonus pool than Murphy did back in 2022 ($850k).
If I had to go based off of gut feeling today, I would predict that Doughty is on the board when the Braves pick. That same gut feeling says that if he is on the board the Braves would be very likely to take him - unless one of the college players they want happens to fall to them and makes the decision a bit tougher.
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