The Braves select Jared Shuster with the 25th overall pick in the 2020 draft

With the 25th pick in the 2020 MLB Draft the Atlanta Braves have selected LHP Jared Shuster out of Wake Forest.

Shuster is a 6’3, 210 pound lefty originally from New Bedford, Massachusetts who has had brief, but real success at Wake Forest after a strong showing in last year’s Cape Cod League.

Stats

2018: 22 G/6 ST, 0-3, 7.41 ERA, 1.53 WHIP, 34.0 IP, 32 K, 21 BB

2019: 15 G/12 ST, 4-4, 6.49 ERA, 1.77 WHIP, 68.0 IP, 94 K, 37 BB

2020: 4 G/4 ST, 2-1, 3.76 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, 26.1 IP, 43 K, 4 BB

2018 NECBL: 9 G/9 ST, 2-4, 2.76 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 49.0 IP, 62 K, 18 BB

2019 Cape: 7 G/7 ST, 4-0, 1.41 ERA, 0.78 WHIP, 32.0 IP, 35 K, 5 BB

Ranks

Baseball America: 43

Pipeline: 77

ESPN: 31

Athletic: 26

Perfect Game: 43

Prospects Live: 57

Jared Shuster got bombed in his first two years in Winston-Salem, but followed his 2019 season with a huge showing in the Cape Cod League, as his command ticked up there. He continued the progress over the fall when there started to be some buzz on him, then saw another jump this spring. In addition to the command improvements Shuster saw his fastball go from low 90’s to touching 97 MPH, which goes well with his truly plus changeup. His breaking ball is a work in progress and while it did make progress this spring, it will need a lot of work with pro coaching. A team taking Shuster believes in his fastball/change combo, the improved command, and the ability to find a consistent breaking ball. Of course without a long track record for him holding up with these things on a starter’s workload, he will be a bit of a mystery.

Shuster hasn’t pitched very long at this level, but what he has shown is promising. He has middle of the rotation potential for the Braves, and to be selected this high he has to be coming with a discount of some level.