After investing in three position players on the first night, the Braves returned to their roots Tuesday, taking four pitchers on the second day of the MLB draft.
Of course, they also selected four hitters, including a few that surprised even the keenest prospect evaluators in the media.
The Braves started the day with Michael Harris, an outfielder and pitcher from Stockbridge High School, in the third round. The team announced him as an outfielder, though most outlets pegged him a pitcher. Vice president of scouting Dana Brown spoke exclusively of him as a hitter, praising his power potential.
Texas A&M right-hander Kasey Kalich joined the Braves in the fourth round. Kalich, hailing from A.J. Minter’s alma mater, registered 14.3 strikeouts per nine innings as a reliever. He tops out at 97 mph and possesses a slider that could accelerate his path to the majors.
Outfielder Stephen Paolini, the team’s fifth-round choice, is a Connecticut native committed to Elon. He was relatively unknown, even in the scouting community, but the Braves were pleasantly surprised he fell to them.
“He’s a good-looking young hitter with some upside,” Brown said, while acknowledging his game has parallels with reigning National League MVP Christian Yelich. “He has the foot speed to play center field.”
Indiana University right-hander Tanner Gordon was the Braves’ sixth-round pick. Listed 6-foot-5 and 215 pounds, Gordon had a 3.81 ERA with 90 strikeouts in 87-1/3 innings this season.
The Braves drafted righties Darius Vines and Ricky DeVito in the seventh and eighth rounds, respectively. Vines is the highest selection in California State University-Bakersfield history. Vines has four pitches, including an intriguing curveball, and sits 93-94 mph.
Vines’ spin rate was attractive, leading credence to the hope that his curvel could be a dominant pitch, Brown said. Kalich also was helped by spin rate, an increasingly common trait-of-appeal in evaluating pitchers.
DeVito, from Brown’s alma mater of Seton Hall, is a switch-hitting pitcher. He was a two-time All-Big East selection and ranks seventh in school history with a 2.60 ERA. He struck out 68 hitters in 64-1/3 frames this season as a starter. He throws up to 97 mph.
“We like the fact he’s younger and athletic,” Brown said. “We feel like he’s going to grow into some strength.”
The Braves selected infielder Cody Milligan from Cowley County Community College (Kansas) in the ninth round. A catcher, he stole 30 bases this season and has room to grow at the plate. Brown commended his versatility.
“With the way the game’s going today, guys like this are going to become more valuable,” Brown said. “It gives the manager some flexibility. The fact he’s a left-handed hitter with foot speed is very valuable.”
Outfielder Brandon Parker rounded out Day 2. From Mississippi Gulf Coast Junior College, Parker is a corner outfielder with some pop. He was the fifth position player the team has taken with its 10 picks.
