No subcommittee inquiry will be required to de-code the Braves’ strategy, or find where they’re looking for weapons, through two days of the MLB Draft. The team tabbed seven pitchers through 10 rounds, and nine picks are from Georgia or bordering states.
The draft has been foremost about pitching for an organization that has been stock-piling arms every which way.
Some will, hopefully, make the Big League roster; others will be bartered away.
Tuesday, Atlanta tabbed righthanders Freddie Tarnok, 18, and Troy Bacon, 20, in the third and fourth rounds, and lefty Bruce Zimmerman, 22, in the fifth. They’re from the high school, junior college and college ranks, respectively, and follow Vanderbilt junior righthander Kyle Wright, drafted No. 5 overall Monday.
“The most important thing is when [general manager] John Coppolella and [president] John Hart walk into the Winter Meetings, pitching is cache … and you can turn that into what you need at the Major League level,” said Braves director of scouting Brian Bridges.
“It’s our job to provide the organization players that those two guys can … strategize and make the Braves a championship club.”
The Braves’ last six picks (there will be 30 rounds Wednesday), were college seniors or graduates, and there’s a reason.
Atlanta’s first four selections have been a college junior, two high school players and a junior college player.
All have bargaining leverage to return to college if they’re not satisfied with the Braves’ contract offers. That figures to push up their prices, and chew into the team’s rookie signing bonus pool of $9.88 million.
Wright and second-round pick Drew Waters, a switch-hitting outfielder from Etowah High in Woodstock and the AJC’s Player of the Year — alone are in slots entitling them up to $7.38 million.
College seniors don’t have much leverage..
So, in addition to Zimmerman, a senior from Mt. Olive University (N.C.), in rounds six-10 the Braves tabbed third baseman Jordan Rodgers, 22, from the University of Tennessee, right-handed reliever Landon Hughes, 22, of Georgia Southern and Marietta’s Sprayberry High, Lenoir-Rhyne (N.C) left-handed reliever John Curtis, 22, Middle Tennessee State shortstop Riley Delgado, 22 of Miami, and Lock Haven University (Pa.) pitcher Jacob Belinda.
All have completed college eligibility.
“As Wright fell to us, it kind of changed our strategy,” Bridges said. “As you have to maneuver into the senior market, it is to find guys with plusses. When you look into that market, Zimmerman is 93 with a plus changeup …
“Rodgers could be a utility player in the Big Leagues. He can play all three [infield positions], and he played in a big conference. Hughes will touch 94 [mph] with a plus changeup. Delgado, I think only made one error this season.”
Tarnok, 18, has a 92 mph fastball, and a couple off-speed pitches. The Riverview (Fla.) High School graduate, who also played shortstop, was 7-0 with an ERA of 0.66 in 53 innings over 12 games, 11 starts as a senior. He struck out 63, walked just 11, and allowed a batting average of .201.
“There have been a lot of conversations,” Bridges said, “But he convinced himself that, ‘You know what, I’ve got a chance to have a career at [pitching] so I’m going to go this route.’ … Bacon [from Santa Fe (Community] College], a high-upside guy, smart kid; 92-96 [mph], bumping 97 … Strong kid, live body, fast arm.”
Waters has been on the Braves’ radar for years, growing up in the prestigious East Cobb youth baseball organization, like Hughes before him (not to mention Dansby Swanson).
“He plays the game, not really with his hair on fire, but … has a plus arm, raw power (14 home runs), ability to hit, and he can really defend,” Bridges reported. “He’s got size 13 shoes, can really run.”
The Braves didn’t go far to find most picks, as the first nine all are from and/or played below the Mason-Dixon Line.
“We’re kind of known as the connecting-state drafting team,” Bridges explained. “[Colorado director of scouting] Billy Schmidt always picks on me. He’s like, ‘What are you doing in California? It’s not a connecting state.’ “
Belinda came upon the recommendation of recently deceased, long-time MLB scout Gene Kerns.
“Gene [didn’t] turn in [reports on] a lot of guys,” Bridges said. “If Gene likes them, turns them in, it’s good for me.”
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