Braves Sign First Round Pick Matt Lipka

The Braves have agreed to terms with their first round pick in the 2010 First Year Player Draft, Matt Lipka. He will receive and $800,000 bonus, which is the MLB slot recommendation for where he was drafted. He will report to the Braves complex in Orlando on Monday and be assigned to the team's Gulf Coast League team. Talking Chop was the first Braves site to report yesterday that Lipka was eager to sign quickly.

Here is a link to Lipka's TC scouting report.

It was also reported (tweeted) by Mark Bowman and David O'Brien that the Braves 7th-round pick, Matt Suschak, a Junior right-handed pitcher from Toledo, has signed. Another source says that the Braves have also signed their second-round pick (Andrelton Simmons), their fourth-round pick (David Filak), and their eighth-round pick (Kurt Fleming).

The Braves 21st selection, William Beckwith, a first-base prospect, is also eager to sign with Atlanta. Braves look to get a lot of these guys wrapped up quickly.

Kevin Goldstein of Baseball Prospectus posted a nice review of the Braves draft, including an extensive review of Lipka. He says Lipka is the top middle infield prospect in the Braves system. I asked him about Edward Salcedo, and he sees Salcedo as more of a third baseman.

Here are links to Talking Chop's reviews of all the players drafted this year by the Braves:

First Pick
Second Pick
Rounds 2 - 7
Rounds 8 - 15
Rounds 16 - 30
Rounds 31-40
Rounds 41-50