The ATL Thread 5/30 | vs. San Francisco | 12:10 CDT

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Alex: Where do you expect Kyle Lewis to go? I still wonder if the Mercer part of things might make some of the teams at the top hesitant as the draft gets closer.

Klaw: I still think he goes 1 or 2, but I tend to agree with your point of view. We haven’t seen him face good pitching all spring and he still swings and misses a bit. But he also hit a monster homer at the Greenville Drive’s stadium over the batter’s eye the other day, so if you want to roll the dice on big power he’s your guy.


Brian: Any new buzz on Atlanta at 3?

Klaw: Nothing new on the top 3-4 teams. About the only really new thing is that it seems like Corey Ray is without a clear landing spot right now.


Philip: Does Matt Manning have huge bonus demands? Could he slip to Padres at 24-25 for way overslot?

Klaw: Bonus demands tend to be just rumors – they’re almost impossible to verify – but I have heard his asking price will be quite high. He has the two-sport commitment to LMU, but you know what I’m going to say about any HS pitcher who is already in the mid-90s: Take the money.


Dustin: Atlanta just essentially paid $3 million for a second-round pick. I think it’s a great move for the Braves, but I’ve seen detractors play the “draft picks are lottery tickets and the players Atlanta traded had good numbers” game. I myself don’t need convincing, but what is your quick rebuttal for those naysayers?

Klaw: People who’ve said that – and I got a few of those types on twitter – don’t understand the draft system. An additional pick means more money in your pool and more flexibility to sign better players. Since the draft is already the best investment any team can make, getting more of these things is a no-brainer. There’s no better place to put your money if you’re trying to build.

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Cephus: Assuming Puk has locked up 1-1. Do you get the sense that Braves would take Senzel over Lewis, if both are available? Also, if Lewis and Pint/Groome are on the board, do you believe Braves would opt for the bat or would they prefer the upside of the prep arms?

Klaw: Puk has not locked up 1-1. Nobody has. I still think Atlanta would take Groome over anyone, and I think Ray is strongly in their mix too.

Nick: How much do you think bonus demands are going to factor into who goes at #1 and #2 overall? Given that there aren’t any consensus players at #1 and #2, do you expect that the Phillies and Reds are going to look to go more underslot than you’d typically see with the #1 and #2 overall picks in a generic draft?

Klaw: I’m almost positive that the Phillies are going to make offers to multiple players at 1 and take the player who will accept the best deal – the numbers may be different for each player, but regardless of who they sign they’d be in position to grab a top talent (Manning?) who falls to their pick at 42.


Jobu: What can we expect out of Senzel?

Klaw: I think your floor is an average player. Average or fringe-average defense at third, plus hit tool, maybe 8-10 homers a year. He shows huge raw in BP, doesn’t bring it over to games. If that translates, then you’re looking at a potential star.

Jonathan: Can Atlanta’s front office keep Swanson and Albies in minors all season (and bring them up April 14, 2017 to extend club control through 2023) or will Braves give in to mounting media noise calling for PR feel good move that brings those two up to MLB team this season?

Klaw: It’s not like the team has given in to any other media noise about PR feel good moves.


Greg: Have you heard anything or do you have any opinion on what Atlanta will do with the money from that extra pick? Pour it into 40 and 44, take a senior at 76?

Klaw: I think whatever fits. It will depend on which kids who want big bonuses slide to 40 and 44 – and that’s tougher to determine now than it was under the old system. But I happen to think they’ll get someone well over slot at 40.


John: Braves have had Teheran, Wisler, Folty, and Blair in the rotation at times this year. Of those 4 + the 4-5 guys at AAA and AA (Jenkins, Sims, Newcomb, Ellis, etc) who do you think is actually a starter long term for them?

Klaw: Blair no doubt. Folty and Wisler probably the next two most likely. Newcomb has starter stuff but not command or control. Jenkins has starter stuff but for some reason doesn’t miss bats. Ellis is a fifth starter or long guy. Sims is a reliever.


Ian: Does Senzel qualify as a “high upside” guy that the Braves say they are after? Huge Braves fan, and wouldn’t be overly excited about that pick.

Klaw: No and I don’t think they’re likely to take him.


Alan: You called Austin Riley a mediocre bat speed guy, and the numbers so far certainly look like that’s the case. I’m curious if there’s anything he can do? How often do guys get past that to reach their potential, and is there anything they can do other than simply get stronger?

Klaw: Stronger won’t speed up your bat. I don’t know of any way to improve bat speed in a player who’s already over 18.


Alex Remington: Could Blake Rutherford possibly fall to 40 due to outrageous bonus demands?

Klaw: I had a scout broach that possibility to me yesterday. It’s an interesting one, because he was seen coming into the year as a potential top 5 guy and is almost certainly not going up there. I could also see the Phils cutting a deal with him at 1, then trying to pay someone $5 million at 42. There are a lot of possibilities right now with the lack of clarity up top and all these high school kids with upside but no price tags yet.

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