The MLB draft changes rules at round 11. Anyone drafted in this range can get a $150,000 signing bonus without pulling from the team’s draft pool allowance. Any bonus over $150,000 will count against the pool, dollar-for-dollar over the standard $150,000. Most of the picks after the 11th are college players who will likely sign before they lose the last of their negotiation leverage as a senior.
With Days One and Two devoted to increasing both the top-end talent and depth of the system’s pitching corps, on Day Three the Braves turned their attention to position players, looking to increase the depth of a relatively shallow farm.
Previous Entries In This Series:
Day One (Round 1-2)
Day Two (Rounds 3-10)
11. Pat Clohisy, OF, St. Louis University
Braves scouting director Ronit Shah indicated that the Clohisy selection was a scout pick, one that area scout JD French was “pounding the table” for. He also called Clohisy an “absolute burner”.
Clohisy hit 15 doubles and 5 triples in 206 plate appearances in his senior year at St. Louis, also contributing 27 stolen bases, so that checks out. He’s also demonstrated good strike zone awareness and should be successful in the lower minors at a minimum.
12. Cayman Goode, RHP, Douglas S. Freeman HS (VA)
A 6’1″, 190 lbs Richmond-area two-way prep star, the Braves see Goode as sticking to the mound. Just turning 19 years old this week (happy birthday, Cayman), Goode overpowered with a low-90s fastball paired with an advanced curveball and a solid slider. Goode is a Virginia Commonwealth commit and I would say is a tricky signing, but its unlikely the Braves would have spent this high a pick on someone they didn’t have a reasonable chance of getting into the organization.
13. Colby Jones, SS, Northwest Florida State College
A Florida native, Jones hit .358/.442/.521 in two seasons with NW Florida State. Jones is described by various sources as “high intensity”, “a real baseball player”, and “a winner”.
14. Mason Guerra, 1B, Oregon State
A former prep star who chose to honor his college commitment, Guerra has seen his draft stock fall as he’s had to move from the middle infield to the corners and his hit tool hasn’t developed. That said, he can mash the ball when he gets ahold of one, and any improvement in his contact rate could make this a steal of a pick.
15. Owen Carey, OF, Londonderry HS (NH)
A two-sport prep star (made All-State in hockey), Carey has impressed this season for Nashua in the Futures Collegiate League, hitting .308/.390/.458 despite being one of the youngest players there. They lefty-hitting shows quick hands, but it very raw. He has reportedly already signed with the organization.
16. Titus Dumitru, OF, New Mexico State
Dumitru showcased strong hit and power skills in his first year with New Mexico State after transferring from Linn-Benton Community College in Oregon. At 6’2″ and 220 lbs he would probably be a corner outfield-only candidate.
17. Jacob Shafer, RHP, University of North Carolina – Wilmington
Whenever the Braves have a doubt on who to pick in the draft, they seem to think they can’t go wrong with big-bodied righthanders. The 6’8″, 240 lbs Shafer was the second-largest pitcher taken in the draft, only behind Atlanta third-round pick Luke Sinnard.
Shafer also ticks off two other boxes the Braves like: 1) he throws strikes and 2) he performed well in the Cape Cod league. Shafer is primarily a fastball (low ’90s, touching 96) and slider pitcher who has also been spotted throwing a change-up and a cutter.
18. Jake Steels, OF, California Polytech
The son of former major leaguer James Steels, Jake was a multi-tool star for Cal Poly after two seasons at Hancock College in Santa Maria, CA. Steels should have the defensive chops to play centerfield and enough hit to help in the lower minors.
19. Dalton McIntyre, OF, Southern Mississippi
A twitchy, slappy hitter who puts pressure on the defense whenever he makes contact (he had 30 infield singles last year), McIntyre hit .388/.447/.473 for Southern Miss in his junior season after transferring from Meridian Community College. McIntyre also plays a good centerfield and gets top marks for toughness, coming back from a dislocated shoulder after only a week to the surprise of teammates and coaches.
20. Eric Hartman, OF, Holy Trinity Academy, Alberta CN
A travel-circuit favorite, Hartman shows the makings of a five-tool talent. He’s also a two-sport athlete, using volleyball to keep his legs in shape during the Canadian winter. Hartman has a University of Michigan commitment and a family tie there, so this would seem to be a difficult signing.
Undrafted Free Agents
The Braves have also collected several undrafted amateur free agents since the end of the draft.
Derek Vartanian, RHP, Campbell
Vartanian entered his junior year at Campbell with expectations after he his 98 mph with his fastball the previous fall at Gaston Junior College, but he was hurt in his third start and didn’t get back to the mound, taking him from a likely Day 2 selection to an undrafted free agent. In addition to the heater the 6’4″, 200 pound righty also throws a slider and a curve.
Jacob Gomez, LHP, Old Dominion
Gomez is a wide fellow, coming in at 198 pounds but only 5’10”, but he also has four pitches (fastball, cutter, slider, change-up) and had an excellent senior year as a reliever for ODU (1.86 ERA, 7 saves, 5.75 K/BB).
Mac Guscette, C, University of Alabama
After an unremarkable first three years (two at Florida before transferring) at the plate in his college career, Guscette exploded at the plate in 2024 for the Tide, hitting .321/.418/.442. Guscette makes a a lot of contact, which will serve him well for awhile in the low minors. Guscette also led the SEC in caught stealing by a catcher with 16 thwarts.
Austin Machado, C, Hawaii
A hitter who also works behind the plate, Machado led the Rainbow Warriors in hitting and RBI while also swatting 4 homers for a nice .351/.473/.516 slash his junior season.
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