3 Players Braves Can Target With Their First-Round Picks

The 2019 MLB Draft is just a few short weeks away, and slowly but surely mock drafts have been rolling in from all over, projecting where these youngsters will live out their baseball dreams. The Atlanta Braves are lucky enough to have two first round picks in this draft, as they sit at the 9th and the 21st picks overall. Let's break down three prospects that could member of the Braves on June 3.

3. Brennan Malone

The Braves have gone very starting pitcher heavy in the past couple of drafts, and this draft will likely be no different. A high schooler out of IMG Academy, Brennan Malone's fastball touches an insane 99 mph, and the rest of his four-pitch repertoire is electric as he features a slider, curveball and changeup. One could argue that he even has some of the best raw stuff in the class. The downside to him is that he is not a polished pitcher, and is more of a thrower, so he'll need to work on that. Luckily, the Braves have had a lot of success with their pitching prospects, including recent darlings Mike Soroka and Max Fried, so the Braves should be able to handle Malone. If he's still at the #21 pick, then the Braves should not hesitate to take a pitcher with as much upside as this kid has.

2. Corbin Carroll

Corbin Carroll lacks physicality, but is among the most advanced hitters in the class, and he's only in high school. What makes him one of the best hitters in the class is the fact that he hits a ton of line drives all over the field, and is always quick out of the box, making him a tough out. He plays all three outfield positions, and has outstanding speed and solid arm strength. Overall, he's drawn comparisons to Boston Red Sox outfielder Andrew Benintendi, which should be very enticing for the Braves, and he would be an excellent pick at No. 9.

1. Hunter Bishop

While the Braves could elect to draft a high school outfielder, considering that their outfield is almost completely set at the big league level, Hunter Bishop would be an excellent value pick at this spot if he's still available. What makes the Arizona State prospect so attractive is his insane power, as he homered 17 times through his first 38 games. In his junior year, he managed to become patient at the plate, as he drew 42 walks on the year, which is a big step up from the 18 he had the previous season. He has also shown great speed, grabbing 11 stolen bases in 2019. Ultimately, the more contact he makes, the more his power will shine, and in a hitters ball park like SunTrust Park, it's almost like a dream come true on both sides. We've already seen what Austin Riley can do with his incredible power, so fans can only imagine what Bishop could do with his. Bishop should be the Braves 9th pick if he is available, and will likely rise through the ranks of the minors rather quickly.