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Charlie Condon | Photo by Michael Wade/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Taking a look at how the Braves may approach outfield in the 2024 MLB Draft. The way outfield sets up in the 2024 MLB Draft, there is some possibility that the Atlanta Braves could use their top pick to select one. Despite already having two thirds of an elite outfield locked up longterm, the Braves have been linked to some of the outfielders that are potentially going to be there when they select at #24.
Why the Braves will or won’t draft an outfielder early
Ronald Acuna Jr. and Michael Harris make up two of the three positions of the Braves outfield for the foreseeable future, but since the MLB Draft is more about taking the best player available than drafting for need, the chance to draft an outfielder is very real.
Beyond the those two Jarred Kelenic is being viewed as a potential longterm piece ever since the Braves traded for the 24-year-old left fielder from Seattle. Then there are some intriguing young outfielders led by Luis Guanipa - though he is years away, not turning 19 until almost 2025. Isaiah Drake is another very intriguing outfielder, though the Braves 5th rounder from last year is in the same boat as Guanipa at 18-years-old and years away.
After that there are more question marks than sure things. Jesse Franklin suffered another injury this year, and when he returns next year will be 26 without any Triple-A experience to date. Top 30 prospect Douglas Glod has had a slightly disappointing season, and his stock has taken a bit of a hit this year. Then after that it’s all lower level prospects with a lot to prove yet, such as a trio split between the two levels of A-ball in Kevin Kilpatrick, Stephen Paolini, Robert Gonzalez, FCL’s John Estevez and Junior Garcia, and even further away DSL prospects like Carlos Monteverde.
Despite having the trio of Acuna, Harris, and Kelenic with Guanipa ranking high on the prospect list, there is certainly some need for some overall depth for the position.
The top guys
The guy most consider the top overall prospect in this class is Georgia outfielder Charlie Condon, who is a lock to come off the board in the first couple picks, with his bonus demands being the only reason he isn’t the clear odds on favorite to go #1. Braden Montgomery of Texas A&M and Florida State’s James Tibbs, plus prep infielder/outfielder Konnor Griffin will also be long gone before the Braves get on the clock.
After that group of guys there is a second tier that may or may not be available to the Braves, and they have been linked to some of them. Wake Forest’s Seaver King, Kentucky’s Ryan Waldschmidt, and Carson Benge of Oklahoma State have all been mentioned as guys linked to the Braves, though each of them is probably a bit more likely than not already gone. Also in that second tier, but not linked to the Braves, North Carolina star Vance Honeycutt, Mississippi State’s Dakota Jordan, and Arkansas prep Slade Caldwell.
King is the most interesting of the three guys linked to the Braves, a former D2 star who transferred into Wake this year. King is a guy who could play on the left side of the infield, whether short or more likely third, or end up in center with his double plus speed and plus hit tool. Benge is another interesting guy in that he could also be drafted on Day 2 as just an arm, though his upside is a bit higher as a hitter. He is a guy who will hit for average and power, and may have enough athleticism to play center, but has a chance to be a weapon in right defensively with his big arm. Waldschmidt is another former transfer, and he’s played all over defensively in his career - including catcher in the past, but is likely a left field only guy who will hit for average and power. Waldschmidt and Benge have a slightly similar offensive profile, with Benge maybe having a bit more pop and being a lefty hitter versus Waldschmidt being right-handed, with Benge bringing significantly more defensive value. King is a very different type of hitter and athlete than the other two, being a bit more hit over power - though he should still have 15 homer power in his bat.
Day two/three targets
Terrence Kiel II, Pace Academy (GA)
If the name sounds familiar, that’s because his dad is a former starting safety for the former San Diego Chargers. Kiel II is also a football star, though only set to play baseball in college despite football offers. The best attribute here is plus-plus speed as well as a chance to be a plus defender in center. His hitting is a work in progress, but that’s explained by his time being split between sports. He has shown some feel for hitting and a little bit of pop in his bat, and there is hope that he may be able to take off as a hitter once he focuses on baseball full time. Kiel is committed to Texas A&M, where his dad went, so there could be a price tag on him, but the Braves do like local kids with tools and multi-sport guys.
Nick McLain, Arizona State
A McLain from a West Coast school, yes he is the brother of Reds Matt McLain and Dodgers prospect Sean McLain. A transfer to ASU from UCLA, injuries have held him back a little the past two years, but when healthy all he does is hit. McLain had a 1.040 OPS in 23 games in 2023, followed up by a .802 OPS with four homers in 26 games in the Cape last summer, before going .342/.457/.663 with 12 homers in 48 games this spring. Like his brothers he’s not very big, listed as 5’10”, 190, and he doesn't have a true plus tool. However McLain is average across the board, except the power tool, has a great history of production and genetics, and the switch-hitter is a kid with a feel for hitting and getting the most out of his tools like his brothers.
D’Marion Terrell, Thompson HS (AL)
Terrell is an interesting power/speed combo guy. He brings plus power and at present borderline plus run times, though those will probably slow to more average as he fills in his 6’3”, 212-pound frame. There is some swing and miss to his game, but he has a feel for getting on base and making good contact when he hits the ball. Of course he is also an Auburn commit, so he may not be cheap. If the Braves were to believe in the hit tool enough, he would be a really interesting candidate for a pick.
Ivan Brethowr, UC Santa Barbara
In a draft where Day 2 is a bit weaker than normal, teams will be forced to pick more flawed players than usual. That means picking a guy with a standout tool to carry them and hoping that the rest of their game can be enough to make that carrying tool move them up the ladder. That’s exactly what Brethowr is, a potential plus-plus power bat from the left side with a strong enough arm to be a solid corner outfielder. He's a former Arizona State transfer that has some real questions with the hit tool, but he saw his strikeout rate drop from 26.7% last year to 18.3% this year - so there is a positive sign that he may have something to work with in pro ball.
Will Taylor, Clemson
If this name sounds familiar, it’s because Taylor turned down being a first round pick in 2021 to go to Clemson to play baseball and football. He eventually dropped football after a knee injury, and he’s only had one full healthy baseball season in the three years in school. Still that one year showed why he was so highly thought of out of high school. Taylor hit .362/.489/.523 in his full 2023 season, and was down at .230/.465/.480 before an injury cost him the second half of the season. He’s not the same prospect he was out of high school, as he’s lost speed after the knee injury and the power hasn’t really come - but he is a kid with a feel for hitting, some potential to tap into more power, a good athlete, and gets high marks for his makeup. As a former two-sport guy with good makeup, he feels like a player the Braves will be watching this year.
<img alt="COLLEGE BASEBALL: MAY 23 SEC Baseball Tournament - South Carolina vs Georgia" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/4zxrGF_xM7Ui-OjluS_7iCcu5dk=/0x0:4018x2679/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73457592/1258338124.0.jpg">
Charlie Condon | Photo by Michael Wade/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Taking a look at how the Braves may approach outfield in the 2024 MLB Draft. The way outfield sets up in the 2024 MLB Draft, there is some possibility that the Atlanta Braves could use their top pick to select one. Despite already having two thirds of an elite outfield locked up longterm, the Braves have been linked to some of the outfielders that are potentially going to be there when they select at #24.
Why the Braves will or won’t draft an outfielder early
Ronald Acuna Jr. and Michael Harris make up two of the three positions of the Braves outfield for the foreseeable future, but since the MLB Draft is more about taking the best player available than drafting for need, the chance to draft an outfielder is very real.
Beyond the those two Jarred Kelenic is being viewed as a potential longterm piece ever since the Braves traded for the 24-year-old left fielder from Seattle. Then there are some intriguing young outfielders led by Luis Guanipa - though he is years away, not turning 19 until almost 2025. Isaiah Drake is another very intriguing outfielder, though the Braves 5th rounder from last year is in the same boat as Guanipa at 18-years-old and years away.
After that there are more question marks than sure things. Jesse Franklin suffered another injury this year, and when he returns next year will be 26 without any Triple-A experience to date. Top 30 prospect Douglas Glod has had a slightly disappointing season, and his stock has taken a bit of a hit this year. Then after that it’s all lower level prospects with a lot to prove yet, such as a trio split between the two levels of A-ball in Kevin Kilpatrick, Stephen Paolini, Robert Gonzalez, FCL’s John Estevez and Junior Garcia, and even further away DSL prospects like Carlos Monteverde.
Despite having the trio of Acuna, Harris, and Kelenic with Guanipa ranking high on the prospect list, there is certainly some need for some overall depth for the position.
The top guys
The guy most consider the top overall prospect in this class is Georgia outfielder Charlie Condon, who is a lock to come off the board in the first couple picks, with his bonus demands being the only reason he isn’t the clear odds on favorite to go #1. Braden Montgomery of Texas A&M and Florida State’s James Tibbs, plus prep infielder/outfielder Konnor Griffin will also be long gone before the Braves get on the clock.
After that group of guys there is a second tier that may or may not be available to the Braves, and they have been linked to some of them. Wake Forest’s Seaver King, Kentucky’s Ryan Waldschmidt, and Carson Benge of Oklahoma State have all been mentioned as guys linked to the Braves, though each of them is probably a bit more likely than not already gone. Also in that second tier, but not linked to the Braves, North Carolina star Vance Honeycutt, Mississippi State’s Dakota Jordan, and Arkansas prep Slade Caldwell.
King is the most interesting of the three guys linked to the Braves, a former D2 star who transferred into Wake this year. King is a guy who could play on the left side of the infield, whether short or more likely third, or end up in center with his double plus speed and plus hit tool. Benge is another interesting guy in that he could also be drafted on Day 2 as just an arm, though his upside is a bit higher as a hitter. He is a guy who will hit for average and power, and may have enough athleticism to play center, but has a chance to be a weapon in right defensively with his big arm. Waldschmidt is another former transfer, and he’s played all over defensively in his career - including catcher in the past, but is likely a left field only guy who will hit for average and power. Waldschmidt and Benge have a slightly similar offensive profile, with Benge maybe having a bit more pop and being a lefty hitter versus Waldschmidt being right-handed, with Benge bringing significantly more defensive value. King is a very different type of hitter and athlete than the other two, being a bit more hit over power - though he should still have 15 homer power in his bat.
Day two/three targets
Terrence Kiel II, Pace Academy (GA)
If the name sounds familiar, that’s because his dad is a former starting safety for the former San Diego Chargers. Kiel II is also a football star, though only set to play baseball in college despite football offers. The best attribute here is plus-plus speed as well as a chance to be a plus defender in center. His hitting is a work in progress, but that’s explained by his time being split between sports. He has shown some feel for hitting and a little bit of pop in his bat, and there is hope that he may be able to take off as a hitter once he focuses on baseball full time. Kiel is committed to Texas A&M, where his dad went, so there could be a price tag on him, but the Braves do like local kids with tools and multi-sport guys.
Nick McLain, Arizona State
A McLain from a West Coast school, yes he is the brother of Reds Matt McLain and Dodgers prospect Sean McLain. A transfer to ASU from UCLA, injuries have held him back a little the past two years, but when healthy all he does is hit. McLain had a 1.040 OPS in 23 games in 2023, followed up by a .802 OPS with four homers in 26 games in the Cape last summer, before going .342/.457/.663 with 12 homers in 48 games this spring. Like his brothers he’s not very big, listed as 5’10”, 190, and he doesn't have a true plus tool. However McLain is average across the board, except the power tool, has a great history of production and genetics, and the switch-hitter is a kid with a feel for hitting and getting the most out of his tools like his brothers.
D’Marion Terrell, Thompson HS (AL)
Terrell is an interesting power/speed combo guy. He brings plus power and at present borderline plus run times, though those will probably slow to more average as he fills in his 6’3”, 212-pound frame. There is some swing and miss to his game, but he has a feel for getting on base and making good contact when he hits the ball. Of course he is also an Auburn commit, so he may not be cheap. If the Braves were to believe in the hit tool enough, he would be a really interesting candidate for a pick.
Ivan Brethowr, UC Santa Barbara
In a draft where Day 2 is a bit weaker than normal, teams will be forced to pick more flawed players than usual. That means picking a guy with a standout tool to carry them and hoping that the rest of their game can be enough to make that carrying tool move them up the ladder. That’s exactly what Brethowr is, a potential plus-plus power bat from the left side with a strong enough arm to be a solid corner outfielder. He's a former Arizona State transfer that has some real questions with the hit tool, but he saw his strikeout rate drop from 26.7% last year to 18.3% this year - so there is a positive sign that he may have something to work with in pro ball.
Will Taylor, Clemson
If this name sounds familiar, it’s because Taylor turned down being a first round pick in 2021 to go to Clemson to play baseball and football. He eventually dropped football after a knee injury, and he’s only had one full healthy baseball season in the three years in school. Still that one year showed why he was so highly thought of out of high school. Taylor hit .362/.489/.523 in his full 2023 season, and was down at .230/.465/.480 before an injury cost him the second half of the season. He’s not the same prospect he was out of high school, as he’s lost speed after the knee injury and the power hasn’t really come - but he is a kid with a feel for hitting, some potential to tap into more power, a good athlete, and gets high marks for his makeup. As a former two-sport guy with good makeup, he feels like a player the Braves will be watching this year.
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