<img alt="Atlanta Braves v. Boston Red Sox" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/vq2hZ4T2FIiRJ7i-p0fP-dAmqIo=/0x513:2499x2179/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73783040/2180726056.0.jpg">
Isaiah Drake | Photo by Kelly Gavin/MLB Photos via Getty Images
Isaiah Drake is a high upside bat in the lower levels of the Braves system. How Acquired
The Atlanta Braves drafted outfielder Isaiah Drake in the fifth round in the 2023 MLB Draft out of local North Atlanta HS, and gave him an overslot $747,500 signing bonus to keep him from attending Georgia Tech.
Preseason Report Card
Drake ranked #20 on our Preseason Top 30 Prospects list after making his professional debut for a short 19 game stint in the FCL to end the 2023 season. Drake hit just .221/.312/.279 in the short sample size, but did flash some promising tools in his speed, raw power, and glove. The less than impressive slash line was likely because Drake was considered raw and would need time for his skills to catch up to the tools. In the preseason writeup the following was included:
“While he shined at the plate prior to the draft, his offensive start to his minor league career wasn’t great, albeit in a small sample size. In 18 games with the FCL club, Drake posted a .591 OPS but did show off his running game by stealing 9 bases. However, while participating in a Braves inter squad game to prepare for the playoffs, Drake smashed a triple off the wall off of Colin McHugh, showing he does have a good bit of pop yet to be unlocked in his bat. It’ll be interesting to see where the Braves elect to start Drake out this season. He could easily start back in the FCL for a brief stint then join Augusta, or the Braves could very well send him straight to the GreenJackets to see if the bat has progressed over the offseason. Either way, Drake has enough potential to rocket up our prospect rankings if the offensive profile comes around.”
What We Saw in 2024
It was a tough year at the dish for Drake, as he went to Low-A and struggled to find consistency with the bat. In 69 games for Augusta he went on to hit .163/.259/.252 with four homers in 283 plate appearances. Drake added 32 walks and 100 strikeouts in that run, and also went 1-19 in a rehab assignment in the FCL in early-May.
Drake continued to have the same set of issues he showed in his 2023 short sample size. He was struggling to make contact or drive the ball with much authority. In addition the strikeout rate stayed very high. The biggest bright spots were that he continued to walk at a solid rate and he used his speed well enough to go 23-28 in stolen base attempts on the year.
2025 Outlook
Considering Drake will be just age-19 until mid-July and the fact he struggled there in 2024, it should be expected to see Drake back in Low-A in 2025. Like most players repeating a level, he will get the opportunity to show he belongs and get a promotion to High-A. Drake remains years away with a 2028 ETA looking like it would be optimistic.
<img alt="Atlanta Braves v. Boston Red Sox" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/vq2hZ4T2FIiRJ7i-p0fP-dAmqIo=/0x513:2499x2179/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73783040/2180726056.0.jpg">
Isaiah Drake | Photo by Kelly Gavin/MLB Photos via Getty Images
Isaiah Drake is a high upside bat in the lower levels of the Braves system. How Acquired
The Atlanta Braves drafted outfielder Isaiah Drake in the fifth round in the 2023 MLB Draft out of local North Atlanta HS, and gave him an overslot $747,500 signing bonus to keep him from attending Georgia Tech.
Preseason Report Card
Drake ranked #20 on our Preseason Top 30 Prospects list after making his professional debut for a short 19 game stint in the FCL to end the 2023 season. Drake hit just .221/.312/.279 in the short sample size, but did flash some promising tools in his speed, raw power, and glove. The less than impressive slash line was likely because Drake was considered raw and would need time for his skills to catch up to the tools. In the preseason writeup the following was included:
“While he shined at the plate prior to the draft, his offensive start to his minor league career wasn’t great, albeit in a small sample size. In 18 games with the FCL club, Drake posted a .591 OPS but did show off his running game by stealing 9 bases. However, while participating in a Braves inter squad game to prepare for the playoffs, Drake smashed a triple off the wall off of Colin McHugh, showing he does have a good bit of pop yet to be unlocked in his bat. It’ll be interesting to see where the Braves elect to start Drake out this season. He could easily start back in the FCL for a brief stint then join Augusta, or the Braves could very well send him straight to the GreenJackets to see if the bat has progressed over the offseason. Either way, Drake has enough potential to rocket up our prospect rankings if the offensive profile comes around.”
What We Saw in 2024
It was a tough year at the dish for Drake, as he went to Low-A and struggled to find consistency with the bat. In 69 games for Augusta he went on to hit .163/.259/.252 with four homers in 283 plate appearances. Drake added 32 walks and 100 strikeouts in that run, and also went 1-19 in a rehab assignment in the FCL in early-May.
Drake continued to have the same set of issues he showed in his 2023 short sample size. He was struggling to make contact or drive the ball with much authority. In addition the strikeout rate stayed very high. The biggest bright spots were that he continued to walk at a solid rate and he used his speed well enough to go 23-28 in stolen base attempts on the year.
2025 Outlook
Considering Drake will be just age-19 until mid-July and the fact he struggled there in 2024, it should be expected to see Drake back in Low-A in 2025. Like most players repeating a level, he will get the opportunity to show he belongs and get a promotion to High-A. Drake remains years away with a 2028 ETA looking like it would be optimistic.
Link to original article
