The Atlanta Braves have been a force over the last six years. Atlanta’s won the division title in each season from 2018-24 and their homegrown core has had a lot to do with that. But while international signings like Ozzie Albies and Ronald Acuna Jr. have played massive roles, how much has the MLB Draft affected the current Braves? Here’s a breakdown of the Braves’ best and worst MLB Draft picks over the last decade.
Best Braves MLB Draft Picks Over Last 10 Seasons
| Name | Position | Year Drafted | Round | Career bWAR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michael Soroka | SP | 2015 | 1 | 5.4 |
| Austin Riley | 3B/OF | 2015 | 1 | 19.1 |
| A.J. Minter | RP | 2015 | 2 | 5.3 |
| Evan Phillips | RP | 2015 | 17 | 4.2 |
| Ian Anderson | SP | 2016 | 1 | 3.7 |
| Kyle Wright | SP | 2017 | 1 | 2.6 |
| Shea Langeliers | C | 2019 | 1 | 2.6 |
| Michael Harris II | OF | 2019 | 3 | 9.4 |
| Spencer Strider | SP | 2020 | 4 | 7.0 |
| Bryce Elder | SP | 2020 | 5 | 3.4 |
This is a stacked list, as the 10 players listed above have five combined All-Star appearances, a Rookie of the Year won by Michael Harris II, a two-time Silver Slugger in Austin Riley, and an elite starter in Spencer Strider.
Arguably the most impactful player on this list, though, is Riley, who has a higher bWAR than any other signed Braves draft pick over the last decade.
Riley hit 18 home runs in his rookie campaign five years ago but took a major step forward in 2021 when he belted 35 home runs and helped catapult Atlanta to their first World Series title in 26 years.
Riley was one of several players on this list who helped the Braves win it all in 2021, as A.J. Minter and Kyle Wright both supplied relief help. Ian Anderson, who’s struggled with command since that 2021 season, hasn’t exactly lived up to the hype since he was selected third overall as a upstate New York prepster in 2016. Still, he did log quality innings for that team alongside Max Fried and Charlie Morton.
Atlanta received further help a year later, when Michael Harris II and Spencer Strider emerged as not just regulars but elite players at the MLB level. Strider struck out over 200 batters in each of his first two seasons, while Harris, a former Georgia prep star, played elite defense and nearly became a 20-20 player in both 2022 and 2023.
The one notable player on this list who didn’t supply much to the Braves, though, was Evan Phillips. Phillips was drafted out of UNC Wilmington in 2015 but struggled with command. Phillips developed a good slider in the O’s system and that helped play a key role in his emergence as one of the game’s best relievers years after he was drafted by Atlanta.
Now, let’s move on the Braves draft picks that didn’t work out.
Worst Braves MLB Draft Picks Over Last 10 Seasons
| Name | Position | Year Drafted | Round | Career bWAR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Braxton Davidson | OF/P | 2014 | 1 | Never played in MLB |
| Garrett Fulenchek | P | 2014 | 2 | Never played in MLB |
| Lucas Herbert | C | 2015 | 2 | Never played in MLB |
| Anthony Guardado | P | 2015 | 3 | Never played in MLB |
| Joey Wentz | P | 2016 | 1 | -1.6 |
| Brett Cumberland | C | 2016 | 2 | Never played in MLB |
| Drew Harrington | P | 2016 | 3 | Never played in MLB |
| Greyson Jenista | 1B | 2018 | 2 | Never played in MLB |
| Braden Shewmake | SS | 2019 | 1 | -0.6 |
| Beau Phillip | SS | 2019 | 2 | Never played in MLB |
Due to the criteria of this list, we didn’t include Carter Stewart, selected eighth overall in the 2018 MLB Draft. It wasn’t a good draft in general for Atlanta, as just one player from the top ten rounds (Tristan Beck) made it to the Majors and Beck was the most successful player from that draft.
Stewart didn’t sign with Atlanta and opted to take a different route, as the tall righty opted to go to Japan rather than re-enter the draft.
Stewart’s had his walk problems and troubles in Japan but 2023 was his most productive season in Japan. The 24-year-old struck out 96 over 100.1 IP and owned a sub-3.00 ERA.
Atlanta did receive compensation for Stewart not signing, in the ninth overall pick in 2019. That pick turned into catcher Shea Langeliers, who the Braves flipped for Matt Olson.
This list does, however, include several seven-figure bonus babies who didn’t exactly work out. 2014 first-round pick Braxton Davidson did not move past High-A, while Fulencheck capped out at short-season ball. The team also didn’t hit on a few picks on what was a strong overall draft in 2015.
There aren’t many players on this list drafted in recent memory, aside from 2019 picks Braden Shewmake and Beau Phillip. Neither players’ bats developed as expected.
Shewmake did play in the Majors, as he made his MLB debut last year. However, the 26-year-old posted a career OPS of .337 at the MLB level as of June 5, 2024.
These lists do not include players selected but did not sign. bWAR figures as of May 2024.