Braves 2021 Draft Analysis: Day One

Wake Forest’s Ryan Cusick stands with MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred after being selected by Atlanta Braves as the 24th pick in the 2021 MLB baseball draft. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

The Braves only had one pick for Day One of the 2021 draft, which isn’t unusual given that this season the first day consisted of one round. This is Vice President of Scouting Dana Brown’s third draft since joining Atlanta. His first draft in 2019 so far has been an impressive success, with the likes of catcher Shea Langeliers and shortstop Braden Shewmake likely major league players within the next 18 months or so while also picking up high-upside prep players like outfielder Michael Harris, third baseman Vaughn Grissom, and right-hander Joey Estes climbing prospect lists.

Last year Atlanta only had four draft picks as the pandemic caused the minor league season to be cancelled and college and high school season shut down early. Early reviews for that draft have been very positive especially with 4th- and 5th-round right-handers Spencer Strider and Bryce Elder already making it to AA Mississippi, 1st-rounder Jared Shuster having early success and 3rd-round outfielder Jesse Franklin currently on a power explosion with high-A Rome.

This is a critical draft again with Atlanta feeling the effects of five years of international sanctions crimping the pipeline.

First Round

Ryan Cusick, RHP
Age: 21
School: Wake Forest
Hometown: Plain City, UT

With the 24th pick, Atlanta grabbed their second consecutive Wake Forest junior in the first round after taking Shuster last season.

The word on Cusick is “fastball”. As in a low-spin, four-seamer that has hit 101 but sits around 95 that he can command up in the zone with explosive action. Combine this with a 6′-6″, 225 body and you already have the makings of an intimidating late-innings reliever.

That said, he was a starter at Wake Forest and could be that for Atlanta if he can develop his secondaries. His breaking ball is a loopy curveball that he has a tough time controlling and keeping shape with, and his change-up comes in around 90 mph, but with good sink. The pieces are there, but this will require some development. Fortunately, the Braves have some experience with this kind of profile lately, with Ian Anderson being the most accomplished success to date.

Andy’s Thoughts: My first thought was that if the Braves decided early on to track Cusick as a reliever, he could move to Atlanta within the next 12 months. Then I thought that was silly, because Atlanta hardly ever does that; the last time they tried with a first-round pick was Joey Devine, their 2005 first rounder, and that blew up in their faces. But then Dana Brown told Atlanta reporters that’s pretty much exactly what the plan is.

 

Come back tomorrow for Day Two.

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