According to several sources, the Atlanta Braves have apparently signed 10 more draft picks from this year's MLB draft. They are as follows:
Thomas Berryhill (5), RHP
Matt Weaver (9), SS
Jordan Kreke (13), 3B
Cory Harrilchak (14), CF
Riann Spanjer-Furstenburg (16), 1B
Matt Crim (21), LHP
Lucas LaPoint (23), RHP
Derek Wiley (31), 1B
Andrew Wilson (36), RHP
Jamie Hayes (48), RHP
The Braves have signed a lot of lower picks -- it's surprising to see our 48th-pick actually get signed. Also surprising to see a high-school kid sign as a 23rd-round pick. This brings to the total number of picks reportedly signed to 17. Here is the last group that signed:
Mycal Jones (4), SS
Robby Hefflinger (7), OF
Aaron Northcraft (10), RHP
Casey Masters (11), LHP
Chris Lovett (12), SS
Jakob Dalfonso (18), 3B
Jeff Lorrick (20), LHP
Still no word on the top two draft picks... who were supposed to be easy signings.
Braves draft Icard
This is a nice story about our 25th-round draft pick, Ethan Icard.
John Sickels gave us his thoughts on the Braves haul in the draft:
Atlanta: Mike Minor in the first round isn't a typical Braves young upside draft pick, but his pitchability and experience should get him to the majors quickly as a mid-rotation starter. Third round pick David Hale out of Princeton has command issues and hasn't always performed well, but he can also hit 97 MPH and has considerable upside. Fourth round Miami Dade CC infielder Mycal Jones is toolsy and fast, though it's a bit unclear exactly how he is going to develop and there is mixed opinion about what kind of player he'll become. The Braves like to mine the junior college ranks and did so again this year, selecting three toolsy position players in the seventh, eighth, and ninth rounds (Robert Hefflinger OF, Kyle Rose OF, Matt Weaver, SS) who didn't get a lot of pre-draft hype but fit the mold Atlanta looks for. An interesting late-round sleeper is Tyrelle Harris, 19th round RHP from the University of Tennessee, who didn't pitch that well in college for a disappointing team but has enough stuff to succeed in pro ball.
We drafted a lot of unknown talent, so I think we're going to see some surprising reports come out of the early days of rookie-ball and the instructional league as MLB scouts take serious looks at these unknowns.