We already saw Baseball America and Baseball Prospectus select Alex White for the Braves in their mock drafts, and now ESPN's Keith Law does the same:
7. Atlanta Braves
Alex White, RHP, North Carolina: Update -- Baltimore taking Zack Wheeler, San Francisco taking Tyler Matzek and Atlanta taking Alex White all seem pretty strong. Atlanta would love to take Matt Purke, but the word is the higher-ups won't pay that much over slot.
Purke is a new name we haven't heard, and remember, there are always pre-draft deals than can be worked out and allow a team to have more confidence in selecting a "tough sign." That's three votes for Alex White, but MLB's Jonathan Mayo has the Braves passing up Whte:
7. Atlanta Braves: Mike Minor, LHP, Vanderbilt University
The Braves are still hoping for one of the top high school arms to drop -- namely, Wheeler -- but in a scenario in which he's gone, they'd choose the arm they like the best. It might surprise some, but Minor might be their best guy still on the board at that point. If somehow Minor and White are both gone, don't be shocked if they take a chance at signing Matt Purke.
Everyone knows the Braves want Wheeler, but that's just like two years ago when everyone knew the Braves really wanted Jason Heyward, but no one thought he would fall that far. Somehow the Braves willed that to happen, so we'll see if other teams shy away from a guy who may have his heart set on the Braves as much as they have their heart set on him.
John Sickels also did a mock draft on his site, with the Braves taking White (as well as an intriguing second round pick).
The draft open thread posts at 5:45pm.
0 recs | 17 comments
We don’t have a second rounder…
And I still can’t picture us taking a college arm…
timmy3 - June 9, 2009
I’m hearing nothing but pitcher, pitcher, pitcher…
Are there no fielders worth taking around our spot or are we just that desperate for some young arms?
pancanbra - June 9, 2009
That’s pretty much the case. Ackley is the only for sure top ten guy that is a hitter. And he’s almost as much a lock for Seattle as Strasburg is to Washington.
timmy3 - June 9, 2009
I asked the same question in another thread
I am kindof liking Green (based on what I have read about him today) and he is pretty highly regarded. He doesn’t seem that he would be over-drafted at #7, but I guess that depends on who else (Wheeler, Matzek, etc) is available to us when we are on the clock.
justincredubil02 - June 9, 2009
NO COLLEGE PITCHERS.
bigjoe - June 9, 2009
Serious question here
Why not?
justincredubil02 - June 9, 2009
From the Braves point of view, they don’t want a college pitcher who has probably been messed up for 3 years by their coach
eaheckman10 - June 9, 2009
That, and we really don’t need one. When you think COLLEGE PITCHER, you’re not thinking seasoning in the minors, you’re thinking a year or two tops. Our rotation is set for the next couple years, we don’t need to draft a guy that can help us that quickly, and if he’s not in the majors, he’ll be rotting in AAA, retarding his growth. Look at Hochevar.
bigjoe - June 9, 2009
good points, both.
I thought there may be a track record against college pitchers in the MLB or something like that.
justincredubil02 - June 9, 2009
Not really a track record….but theres a clear pattern that they reach the majors quicker than HS pitchers. But then again, thats true for all college players. If there was a college position player aside from Ackley in the top 10, thats who I’d prefer, since thats the side of the ball we really need help on. Aside from that, just take a high school arm and be done with it.
bigjoe - June 9, 2009
Green? What’s your take on him?
justincredubil02 - June 9, 2009
I don’t like a whole lot about him. He really hurt his value this year.
I want nothing to do with Tate either, so heres hoping the Padres take him
bigjoe - June 9, 2009
They’re not much less risky than HS arms for one while offering less projection. I agree with bigjoe that we don’t need a Mike Minor in our system if it’s at the expense of getting Matzek, Purke, etc. We have such depth of future #3/4 starters that drafting another is a bit of a waste.
17843 - June 9, 2009
Is it free to watch the MLB draft on mlb.tv? I dont have MLBN
BTW, id take Mike Minor and I really like Alex White too.
esadb - June 9, 2009
I think the first round is on regular mlb.com. I may be wrong though
eaheckman10 - June 9, 2009
So if it is on mlb.com then its for free?
esadb - June 9, 2009
I think so…
eaheckman10 - June 9, 2009
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