The ATL Thread 6/6: MLB Rule 4 Draft: Rounds 1 and 2; Braves @ Dodgers

MLB Rule 4 Draft
Thursday, June 6
7:00 PM ET/6:00 PM CT
TV: MLB Network
Braves Picks Tonight: 31st Overall (compensation round), 65th Overall (2nd round)

Braves lost their first round pick when they signed B.J. Upton. Their first pick tonight will be the 31st overall pick (4th in the compensation round), they received that pick as compensation for Michael Bourn signing with the Indians.

The Braves have a bonus pool of $4,522,300 to sign its first ten picks with. That pool is the fourth lowest bonus amount among Major League teams.

The slot value for their first pick at 31 is valued at $1,704,200.

Mock Drafts

Baseball America's Jim Callis, ESPN's Keith Law, MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo
Hunter Green, LHP, Bowling Green, KY (Warren East HS), 6'4", 180 pounds

Mayo on Green

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While he's had some delivery issues that impact his control and command, they seem correctable. That should help him throw his sharp, biting curve more consistently to go along with his sinking changeup.

It's all about projection for the southpaw, but a team that thinks Green can fulfill his potential will be interested in taking him early on in the Draft.

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ESPN's Chris Crawford
Chris Anderson, RHP, Jacksonville, FL (Jacksonville U.), 6'4", 225 pounds

Mayo

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Anderson's fastball will touch 97 mph and is consistently at least above average with good sink. He throws a nasty slider, and his changeup projects to be a legitimate weapon as well.

Anderson has above-average control and command and the ideal athletic frame scouts love to see in a pitcher. There's room for gaining strength, which gives him a high ceiling as well.

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Perfect Game's Patrick Ebert
Ian Clarkin, LHP, San Diego, CA (Madison HS), 6'2", 190 pounds

Mayo

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He throws his fastall up to 92-93 mph and a power curve. His breaking ball and changeup are both average, giving him the makings of a good three-pitch mix.

His results over the summer were a bit mixed, throwing well at the Area Code Games, but struggling with fastball command elsewhere. That didn't keep him from getting a ton of attention this spring, though he's dealt with some inconsistencies during his senior season as well. The raw stuff from the left side should keep many first-round teams interested on Draft day.

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SI's Dave Perkins
Hunter Harvey, RHP, Catawba, North Carolina (Bandys HS), 6'3", 175 pounds

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Harvey is a 6'3", 175-pounder from Bandys High School in Catawba, North Carolina. Harveys father Brian is a former major league reliever who used to scout for the Braves according to Jim Callis. Atlanta also drafted (but didn't sign) Hunter's brother Kris out of high school in 2002, so there are plenty of connections. Harvey throws in the low to mid-90's with a really good curveball. He has not made a college commitment, which makes him easily signable and could cause him to move up the draft tonight. He ranks 33rd among draft prospects according to Baseball America.

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Minor League Ball's John Sickels
Josh Hart, OF, Liburn, GA (Parkview HS), 6'1", 185 pounds

Mayo

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He profiles as a top-of-the-order type, a guy who will use his speed on both sides of the ball to be a basestealing threat and an excellent defender in the outfield. He's a slashing slap-and-run hitter with a short stroke that sprays line drives at times.

Hart is an outstanding athlete who reminds some of a Denard Span or Ben Revere-type player who can become a tablesetter atop a big league lineup in the future.

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Other names to watch:
Texas high school outfielder Billy McKinney, California high school left-hander Matt Krook, University of California catcher Andrew Knapp, Notre Dame third baseman Eric Jagielo and Mississippi junior college left-hander Cody Reed among others.

Talking Chop Draft Primer