Braves sign most of the top draft picks

The Atlanta Braves have signed most of their draft picks from the first 13 rounds of last Tuesday's amateur draft. The Braves Show's Bill Shanks takes a look at which young players are ready to start their pro careers.

With the exception of four college players still participating in the College World Series, the Atlanta Braves have signed all of their picks from the first thirteen rounds of this year's amateur draft.

Fourth round pick Lee Hyde of Georgia Tech, fifth rounder Kevin Gunderson of Oregon State, ninth rounder Tim Gustafson from Georgia Tech, and 12th round selection Josh Morris from Georgia cannot be signed unti after their seasons are finished.

The Braves signed supplemental first round pick Steve Evarts, second rounder Jeff Locke, and third round selection Chad Rogers earlier in the week. All three are left-handed high school pitchers with excellent projection. The Braves were thrilled to sign all three prospects.

Cody Johnson, this year's first round pick, signed right after the draft for a reported $1.375, the same amound paid to Brian Bogusevic, last year's 24th overall pick in the first round by Houston.

Also signed and already participating in the Braves' mini-camp in Florida are supplemental first rounder Cory Rasmus, second round picks Dustin Evans and Chase Fontaine, sixth rounder Steve Figueroa, seventh rounder Adam Coe, 10th round pick Kris Medlen, 11th rounder Mike Mehlich, and 13th round selection Joe Johnson.

Eighth round selection Casey Beck from San Jacinto Junior College signed with the Braves. Beck is scheduled to be in the Danville Braves' bullpen when their season begins next Wednesday. Most of the high school draft picks will pitch for the Gulf Coast League Braves, who begin play next Tuesday.


Bill Shanks is the author of Scout's Honor: The Bravest Way To Build A Winning Team, a look inside the Braves‘ traditional scouting and player development philosophies. He can also be heard regularly on the Braves Radio Network. Email Bill at .