Braves will enjoy plethora of early picks this June

MIAMI -- As the Braves have been stockpiling Draft picks over the past few weeks and months, Brian Bridges has gained even more reason to enjoy his first year as the club's director of scouting.

"There isn't any pressure when you don't have time to think between picks," Bridges said.

Bridges and his staff won't have much time to debate as the Braves will make six of the first 89 selections during the First-Year Player Draft in June. Atlanta will make its first pick with the 14th overall selection, the same spot from which the club took a young outfielder named Jason Heyward in 2007.

The Braves will have the 14th, 28th, 41st, 54th, 75th and 89th picks this year. To put that in perspective, they have had just two of the first 100 selections in each of the past four Drafts, and have not had more than three of the first 100 selections since 2008.

Atlanta gained the 28th selection in compensation for losing Ervin Santana as a free agent. The 41st selection came as part of the package received from the Padres on Sunday. The D-backs provided the 75th pick in exchange for Minor League outfielder Victor Reyes on Monday.