Day Two of the 2019 draft started with the Braves in an unusual place compared to their previous few drafts: without a high-ceiling pitcher or two already selected. The Braves are clearly using a new draft valuation model, and this is what the team’s scouting and analytical braintrust came up with for the 3rd through 10th round picks.
These picks have draft pool money attached to them, and starting around the 5th round many teams will start drafting senior college players that have little bargaining power and are willing to accept low bonuses; the teams can then float the savings to their higher-priority selections. In yet another change from previous Braves methods however, Atlanta did not select any college seniors, instead spending their picks on an interesting mix of players, almost all with at least one very loud tool or pitch.
Other Entries In This Series:
Day One (Rounds 1-2)
Day Three (Rounds 11-40)
Third Round
Michael Harris II, OF/LHP
Age: 18
School: Stockbridge HS
Hometown: Ellenwood, GA
The first prep school selection for the Braves this draft is local and comes with some intrigue. Most media scouting have Harris as a pitcher in pro ball, but the Braves announced him as an outfielder. As a position player, Harris is a switch-hitter who is a natural left-hander and who’s lefty swing is much smoother right now. He shows natural power but his swing will be a project for Braves player development. Harris shows good speed and arm strength and should be an above average defender in center or right field.
If the Braves elect to keep him on the mound at all, Harris shows an easy delivery that produces a low-90s fastball without a lot of effort and a curveball that could develop into an above average offering. That said, I suspect the Braves develop him as an outfielder all the way. Harris is a Texas Tech commit and will likely require at least slot-value to get him in the fold.
Fourth Round
Kasey Kalich, RHP
Age: 21
School: Texas A&M
Hometown: Victoria, TX
Kalich is the second Texas A&M selection in five picks for Atlanta. He’s a big-bodied (6′-3″, 220 pounds) fastball/slider reliever who worked to a 2.73 ERA in 29.2 innings for the Aggies in 2019 with 12 saves and striking out 47 batters against 11 walks.
Kalich’s 4-seam fastball has rising action and sits in the high-90s. He looks for swing-and-miss with a slider that has good horizontal action with a spin rate rate that indicates he could get more depth with some arm-slot development. This is a draft pick clearly designed with the intention of providing major league value within just a couple of years, but as a draft-eligible sophomore Kalich does have some bargaining power.
Fifth Round
Stephen Paolini, CF
Age: 18
School: St. Joseph HS
Hometown: Fairfield, CT
In the fifth round the Braves went way off the pundits’ draft boards and took New England high schooler Stephen Paolini, a 6′-2″, 195 pound prep school commit to Elon.
Paolini is described as an athletic potential five-tool talent who should be able to play any of the outfield positions, and has also been a basketball star for his high school. He has a power left-handed swing, but make no mistake this is a deep pick by the Braves and one that they may have to sign at least at slot in order to pull him from his college commitment.
Sixth Round
Tanner Gordon, RHP
Age: 21
School: Indiana University
Hometown: Champaign, IL
Gordon was a JUCO transfer to Indiana for his junior year from John A. Logan College from where the Braves selected 2018 5th-rounder Trey Riley in 2018.
Gordon pitched to a 3.35 ERA in 14 starts for Indiana in 2019, only walking 17 in 80.2 innings while striking out 86 in the regular season. He was the starting pitcher for Indiana in their elimination game on Sunday.
Gordon’s best pitch is a low-90s fastball that has good movement and he gets good extension with his 6′-5″ height. He also has two potential above average secondaries, a slider and a change-up. None of the pitches are elite, but they all play up thanks to above average command and control.
Seventh Round
Darius Vines, RHP
Age: 21
School: Cal State – Bakersfield
Hometown: Ventura, CA
This is the third draft that Vines has been selected after eschewing the pro ranks after his high school and JUCO years. Instead he spent his junior year at Cal State Bakersfield where he pitched to a 4.19 ERA in 12 starts, striking out 92 batters in 68.2 innings.
Vines has a power curveball that is the main attraction in his starts, running in the high 70s and making his low-90s fastball play up. Vines also throws a change-up and a slider, but both secondaries are below average now; if they improve Vines could be a solid mid-rotation starter. If not, the fastball/curve combo could make him a solid back-end bullpen option.
Eighth Round
Ricky DeVito, RHP
Age: 21
School: Seton Hall University
Hometown: Staten Island, NY
DeVito was the Big East Pitcher of the Year his sophomore year at Seton Hall, posting a 1.88 ERA in 12 regular season starts, but his control backed up his junior year which is probably why he slipped to the 8th round for Atlanta. He still managed a 3.94 ERA in 12 starts and 68 strikeouts in 64 innings last season.
DeVito has a three-pitch repertoire of fastball, slider, and change-up. All three pitches can be above average offerings on any given night. DeVito is a relatively polished pitcher who will likely be a starter for the Braves, at least for the first couple seasons of his pro career.
Ninth Round
Cody Milligan, 2B
Age: 20
School: Cowley College
Hometown: Binger, OK
After only receiving 8 at-bats in his freshman year with Oklahama State, Milligan transferred to Cowley College in Arkansas City, Kansas where he mostly played catcher for the Tigers and helped them to a JUCO World Series appearance. Even though he was a catcher, Milligan showed off his speed and athleticism and went 30/30 in stolen base attempts. Overall he hit .426 with 5 home runs during the regular season campaign, then batted .500 in the tournament to take All-Tournament honors. Milligan set a school record with 9 triples during the season.
At 5′-10″ and 175 pounds, Milligan is probably miscast as a catcher long term, and that’s not taking into consideration the 22 passed balls he was tagged with this year. The Braves announced him as a second baseman, and he’s also had work in the outfield. Milligan’s older brother Lane is a prospect in the Boston Red Sox organization.
Tenth Round
Brandon Parker, CF
Age: 20
School: Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College
Hometown: Saucier, MS
Parker has crushed opposing pitchers since arriving at MGCCC, winning Division II NJCAA’s Player of the Year as a freshman after hitting .424/.500/.932 and setting a school record with 24 home runs while leading all college players in 2018 with 81 RBI. Parker “slumped” his sophomore year, dropping his offensive production to a measly .359/.512/.739 with 14 home runs.
Parker does have a lot of swing-and-miss in his bat, but the raw power and plate discipline is impressive for a player this young. Defensively he projects to one of the corner outfield spots or first base eventually.
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