As anticipation builds for the 2016 Major League Baseball first-year player draft, the Atlanta Braves are about to embark on a critical phase in their rebuild.
Armed with five of the first 80 picks, the Braves have been angling towards this date for much of the past year. Last year’s draft was widely viewed as a success and the Braves front office must once again deliver with this year’s crop of selections. After a series of trades, all with designs towards acquiring draft picks and financial flexibility, the next wave of draft picks will continue to shape the course of the franchise.
In typical fashion, the Braves have played their cards very close to the vest as the draft has approached. First and foremost, the Braves brass must decide who they will select with the #3 overall pick. The Braves have been linked to any number of players, ranging from outfield bats such as Kyle Lewis and Mickey Moniak, to prep arms like Jason Groome, and Riley Pint. Given the Braves propensity for acquiring young, high-upside pitching, it would not be surprising to see Atlanta select yet another power arm with their top pick.
After making their first selection is where things will get mighty interesting for the Braves. Thanks to the aforementioned wheeling and dealing, they also own picks 40, 44, 76, and 80. Since stockpiling young pitching has been a priority for much of the past 18 months, it is well-known the Braves must restock their hitting prospects within the organization. The team’s two highest-ranked hitting prospects are still teenagers so many Braves fans are clamoring for an impact bat who can contribute at the big league level sooner than later.
More from Call to the Pen
- Philadelphia Phillies, ready for a stretch run, bomb St. Louis Cardinals
- Philadelphia Phillies: The 4 players on the franchise’s Mount Rushmore
- Boston Red Sox fans should be upset over Mookie Betts’ comment
- Analyzing the Boston Red Sox trade for Dave Henderson and Spike Owen
- 2023 MLB postseason likely to have a strange look without Yankees, Red Sox, Cardinals
In all likelihood the Braves first five picks will heavily focused on hitting, with one or two power arms also in the mix. General Manager John Coppolella has also hinted that he they may focus on players who can be signed below slot with designs of using the savings to sign high-upside players later in the draft who may have slipped due to signability concerns. Rest assured the Braves front office staff will be considering countless player and financial scenarios throughout the draft.
It is imperative for the Braves to have another successful draft as they continue through their slow and painful rebuild. The team can ill afford to have any missteps in this year’s draft as they continue their ground-up reformation piece by piece. While the team plans on being very active in the international market once the signing period begins at the beginning of July, the draft will provide the quickest and most impactful way to improve the organizational depth.
Next: First Picks of the Draft in the 2000's
As the Braves are floundering to their worst season in nearly three decades, the pressure is assuredly on the front office to deliver quality prospects in this draft. Additionally, the Braves will move into SunTrust Park next year so the sense of urgency to put a quality team on the field as soon as possible is magnified. Only time will tell how the team’s selections will pan out, but there is no denying there is a slim margin for error as they continue to rebuild the foundation of a once proud franchise.