Of the 29 players the Braves have selected so far, 24 of them are college players. This is a departure from the Braves typical draft strategy of selecting a lot of high school talent. Click here for Part 1 of Day 2 coverage.
This next group of draftees (16-30) will include a lot of summer follows. These are guys who are participating in the various prep summer leagues. They will be allowed to pitch in these leagues, and then evaluated before the Braves decide whether or not to sign them. Only about half of these players, at most, will likely be signed.
Riaan Spanjer-Furstenburg (16), 1B - A big first baseman for Nova Southeastern University in Florida, RSF (as he will now be called, because typing his name is insanely difficult) hit .393 with 15 HR and 67 RBI, and was named to the All-Sunshine State Conference Baseball First Team. He is definitely a kid with good power, and an interesting pick.
Jace Whitmer (17), C -The second catcher selected in the last three picks, and a local kid out of Kennesaw State. He led the team with 13 homeruns, but as a catcher he is considered a below average receiver. He was ranked as the 42nd-best prospect in Georgia.
Jakob Dalfonso (18), 3B - Another local product from Middle Georgia College by way of Woodstock, Georgia. He's a solid defender at third with good range. His best asset is his speed, and he used that to steal 34 bases this year.
Tyrelle (Ty'relle) Harris (19), RHP - A senior pitcher for the University of Tennessee, who begins a run of 8 straight selections of pitchers for the Braves. He had a largely unimpressive career at UT, last year posting an ERA of 6.18. This is a strange pick, as Harris would have likely been available much later in the draft if he was drafted at all.
Jeffrey Lorick (20), LHP - No, not Jeffrey Locke, Jeffrey Lorick, a Duluth, Georgia native and a junior from the University of Virginia. He pitched in the Cape Cod league last summer, but struggled in and out of the Virginia rotation this year. Another strange pick, and another guy who might be a summer follow.
Matt Crim (21), LHP - A Citadel graduate, and the third straight unimpressive college pitcher taken. Crim had a 4.10 ERA and a .287 OPPBA, so he wasn't missing bats by any means. Strange picks.
James (Ryan) Weber (22), RHP - Drafted in the 12th round out of high school last year by the Phillies, but he chose to go to St. Petersburg Community College. Being drafted lower this time around there's probably little chance he will sign. He lacks a blazing fastball, but he does have plus command of both a slider and a changeup.
Lucas La Point (23), RHP -A rare high school arm for the Braves in this draft, he is rated as the 78th-best prospect in California. He was a two-way star in high school, but seems to have a plus arm and profiles more as a pitcher.
Casey Upperman (24), RHP - Another high upside high shool arm. His fastball sits in the low 90's, and he mixes in a plus curveball and a changeup.
Ethan Icard (25), RHP - Interestingly, his family runs a chain of convenience stores renowned for never selling to anyone underage (okay, bad joke). The Braves are back with another JuCo pitcher. Icard was generally unimpressive last year, but did manage to win the second most games on the Wilkes CC staff, second only to Cy Young. No, seriously, check it out.
William (Will) Scott (26), RHP - I was wondering when we were going to draft someone from Walters State. We had like 4 or 5 drafted from there last year. Scott is from Marietta, Georgia, so therefore, very familiar to the Braves. He was mostly unimpressive as a reliever last year, but again, this is a draft pick obviously based upon stuff and not results.
Joseph Leftridge (27), OF - A JuCo standout at Howard, who won the JuCo World Series and almost managed a perfect season. Leftridge has speed and a little power.
Eric Swegman (28), RHP - Another in-state guy from Young Harris, who is committed to UGA for next season. He is also another pitcher with unimpressive stats, but obvoiusly has tools the Braves desire.
Bobby Rauh (29), OF - Two-way star in Florida, a wide receiver in footbal and a speedy outfielder in baseball.
Vince Howard (30), OF - A speedy switch-hitting high school outfielder from Missouri.
The draft will finish up tomorrow with rounds 31 through 50. I'll have the recap of those picks later in the day.