We recently touched on one of the first MLB mock drafts and it had the Atlanta Braves taking a shortstop in the first round in 2025. However, an updated mock draft list was revealed recently and it has the Braves going in a curious direction.
MLB.com’s Jonathan Mayo believes Atlanta would be a fit for North Carolina catcher Luke Stevenson with the 22nd pick. It’s certainly an interesting choice since the Braves already have Drake Baldwin and Sean Murphy for the foreseeable future.
Braves projected to take North Carolina catcher Luke Stevenson in latest MLB Pipeline mock draft
However, when drafting players especially in baseball, it’s important to take extremely talented players and worry about being overloaded at a position later. Stevenson fits that bill perfectly and is considered one of the best in the country. He is very impressive and has only gotten better after his sophomore season with the Tar Heels.
— Carolina Baseball (@DiamondHeels) June 6, 2025
Stevenson batted .251 with 56 hits, including 10 doubles, 19 homers, 58 RBI, 59 walks, and 70 strikeouts. He has a very powerful lefty swing and according to his MLB prospect profile, “His power plays from left-center to the right-field foul pole and could translate into 25 homers per season.”
Stevenson has shown some discipline at the plate, but has shown some trouble hitting offspeed and breaking pitches. That is something that will likely improve with time and coaching, but something for Atlanta to consider before pulling the trigger here. Stevenson is also a pretty good defender with a 55 grade for his fielding and 60 grade for his arm.
He’s shown some good pop time behind the plate and improved his ability to receive the ball. The most impressive detail of his defense is the arm strength and accuracy. That is an extremely valuable trait for an aspiring MLB catcher to have.
It would be an interesting choice for the Braves to not take a shortstop. It is the thinnest position in the organization and there’s some talented college options like Marek Houston and Wehiwa Aloy this year. They would both be great solutions for Atlanta. However, the team could also look to fill that role via trade or free agency.
There’s also the likelihood Atlanta follows their trend of drafting high school or college pitchers in the first round. Mayo mentioned high school pitcher Kruz Schoolcraft as an option for Atlanta in the first round which, again, makes loads of sense. He also mentioned college arms such as JB Middleton (Southern Miss), Riley Quick (Alabama), Zach Root (Arkansas), and Gage Wood (Arkansas) as options.
The Braves have the chance to choose their first position player in the draft since 2019. Whether it is a middle infielder or a catcher, they have great options to choose from. Let’s hope they make the right decision.
