After taking a couple of 17-year-0ld pitchers — a lefty from California and a righty from Canada — the Braves kept things interesting with the next two of their five picks on the first night of the major league draft Monday.
They their third pick, No. 41 overall, on third baseman Austin Riley, a massive two-way player who also pitched at DeSoto Central High School in Southaven, Mississippi, and with the 54th overall pick the Braves took catcher Lucas Herbert, a slugger who was the batterymate of the Braves’ first pick, lefty Kolby Allard, at San Clemente High School.
Listed at 6 feet 3 and 230 pounds, Riley hit .423 with a state-best 11 homers in 104 at-bats as a senior, and went 25-7 with a 1.53 ERA in his career. He features a low-90s fastball that’s topped out at 95 mph, and Riley drew plenty of draft interest as a pitcher.
Riley, who verbally committed to Mississippi State University, played shortstop in high school but will move to third base in pro ball. He was also a standout punter on his high school football team.
Herbert hit .417 with 25 extra-base hits (eight homers) and 28 RBIs in 33 games as a senior at San Clemente High. Like Allard, Herbert committed to UCLA. Both are expected to finalize contracts soon with the Braves, who are confident they will sign all five of their first-day picks.
