Each sport presents a variety of team-building options when GM’s look to improve their squad through the draft. In baseball, pitching has and always will dominate the draft. It makes sense when you realize 50% of the 26-man roster is made up of guys who strictly throw the ball for a living.
The Atlanta Braves have stuck to this draft philosophy for many years now. Pitching is part of the organizational foundation in Atlanta. The Braves love to attack the draft by acquiring as many arms as possible. It’s a sound strategy given the unpredictable nature of young arms, and potential injury risk that comes with every hard-throwing youngster. In last year’s draft the Braves used nine of their first 10 picks on pitching. However, when we step back and look at baseball as a whole, is a pitching-heavy draft a flawed strategy?
The #Braves today announced the club has signed each of its 20 picks from the 2024 First-Year Player Draft. In total, Atlanta has under contract 11 pitchers (seven right-handers and four left-handers), six outfielders, two infielders and one catcher. The complete list of Braves… pic.twitter.com/NE27C1J0r4
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) July 23, 2024
Cost of impact position player free agents suggests Braves may need to tweak their draft strategy
Taking a quick glance at the Braves top prospects list will quickly show you where the team has focused in recent draft years. Yes, high upside prospects like Hurston Waldrep and Cam Caminiti are hard to pass up when they “fall” in the draft. Taking the best available player regardless of position should be how Atlanta approaches the draft.
Unfortunately, the cost to bring in impact position players has skyrocketed in recent free agent cycles. The impact free agents always draw a crowd of bidders, normally containing a big market team that will throw way more money than Atlanta wants to offer.
This means the Braves often find themselves shopping in the next tier of available free agents. Although the team has locked up numerous position players long-term, Atlanta has seen subpar production from left field and shortstop in recent years. Perhaps targeting a college bat in the earlier rounds of the draft could be the solution to these roster weak spots.
Atlanta has really made a push to sign bats during the last few International signing periods, but each of these players are many many years away from sniffing the big league level. The Braves could really boost the position player depth in the minor leagues if they choose to find a college bat they like and take them in the early rounds of the draft.
Again, the Braves current pitching-heavy strategy is logical, but a rising cost in free agent markets could mean a strategic pivot is an intelligent way to stay a step ahead of the game. For now, we’ll have to wait until the June draft to see if the Braves front office is ready to adopt this philosophy.
