Draft recap...

Well, the Braves didn't get either of the local high school players I had hoped they would get, but getting a college pitcher with a lot of upside isn't too bad of a consolation prize. Mike Minor is a 6'4 lefty with pretty nasty stuff and projects as a top of the line starter in the major leagues in 3-5 years. I would have preferred Mike Leake from ASU or Alex White from UNC, but these guys are more polished and teams usually feel the need to get a player that "projects" rather than someone that has maybe peaked.

UGA had the most players drafted from any school with 11. I think Poythress, Joey Lewis, and Matt Cerione are likely gone for the minors, but the other underclassmen will probably stay. Zach Dodson from Effingham County HS is the most likely recruit to sign, and he is dang good - saw him last year and he is a good looking LHP. Joey Lewis got somewhat of a raw deal going in the 41st round. Way too good of a player to be passed on that many times.

The Braves overall had a pretty good draft, selecting a lot of local players as usual. Second round pick David Hale from Princeton and the Walker School in Marietta was a curious pick. He was far from dominant in the Ivy league but must have some qualities not seen by statistics. Some other local guys that I like that the Braves took were Chris Masters (Kennesaw Mtn HS) and Western Carolina and Robert Hefflinger from Georgia Perimeter. Hefflinger is a former UGA player that has a real live arm and is very signable.

I also like what the Rangers did in the draft. They took the consensus top prep lefty pitcher in the 1st and then Tanner Scheppers in the 2nd. Scheppers is a top 10 talent that has had some injury issues and has signability issues. If they sign him, that is a big steal - the guy hit 99 in his final start for his independent league team last month. Also, Texas took last years CWS MVP Tommy Mendonca from Fresno and local prep star Braxton Lane from Sandy Creek. Throw in the likely Georgia high school class AAAA pitcher of the year Catlan Kendrick late on, and it appears Texas is quite familiar with the southside of Atlanta.

Now it's time to track the bonuses and who signs and doesn't before the August 15th deadline. The Strasburg negotiations will certainly be interesting with Boras reportedly looking for up to 50 million guaranteed. But if anyone can get it, it would be him...