Braves get prep righty Stiffler in seventh round

The Braves continued their grab for right-handed pitching prospects in the seventh round, selecting a high-school arm in Ian Stiffler with the 223rd overall pick in the 2013 First-Year Player Draft on Friday.

Yet another power right-handed pitcher, Stiffler boasts three pitches he can throw with above-average command: a fastball, curveball and changeup.

"Gene Kerns, our area scout who signed [Brandon] Beachy, really likes this kid, and when Gene likes a guy, you take him," Braves scouting director Tony DeMacio said.

Stiffler, the first Pennsylvania high schooler taken in the 2013 Draft, led his high school to the district championship this spring after signing with Virginia Commonwealth in November. His older brother, Shawn, is the head baseball coach at VCU.