The Braves selected Wake Forest left-handed pitcher Jared Shuster with their first-round pick, No. 25 overall, in the Major League Baseball draft Wednesday night.
Shuster is lauded for his change-up, which produced over a 60% whiff rate and was considered one of the best in this class.
The pick began the second draft under Braves vice president of scouting Dana Brown, who was armed with two first-round choices last year. The team selected two college players in 2019, catcher Shea Langeliers (No. 9) and infielder Braden Shewmake (No. 21).
Entering spring, Baseball America ranked the Braves' system the fourth best in baseball. It warned, though: "The fall is coming. Two years from now, the Braves will likely rank among the bottom third in terms of farm system talent. By then, Atlanta will have graduated a steady stream of productive big leaguers, however, stretching back to Ozzie Albies' 2017 arrival."
The Braves have three more picks through the shortened five-round draft: No. 97, No. 126, No. 156. The team forfeited its second rounder in signing reliever Will Smith but gained an additional pick when slugger Josh Donaldson rejected their qualifying offer and signed with Minnesota.
Brown will use those picks, in addition to the unique undrafted free agency that will follow, to replenish the organization's lower levels. Like most teams, the Braves recently trimmed their system of 30 players, with most of those likely to have been released in March or around the draft regardless of the pandemic. The team also lost over a dozen prospects in 2017 as punishment for international market violations, though those losses were felt more in quantity than quality.
After the five rounds conclude, players are free to sign with any team for no more than a $20,000 bonus. That reality will send many higher-regarded prospects back to school, but for those entertaining the offer, the Braves would be a desirable landing spot given the franchise's reputation for player development (and winning).
