Braves conclude final day of the 2019 First-Year Player Draft
Braves use 30 of their 41 total picks on collegiate players
The Atlanta Braves today concluded the final 30 rounds of the 2019 First-Year Player Draft. After using each of their first three picks, and nine of 11 selections in the first 10 rounds on collegiate players, the Braves drafted 21 additional collegians today. In all, the club drafted 41 players, including two from the state of Georgia.
The Braves selected 19 pitchers (three left-handers, 16 right-handers), 11 infielders, eight outfielders and three catchers. Seventeen of their college selections were juniors and six were seniors, while two were draft-eligible sophomores and five were from the junior college ranks.
The 2019 draft marks the first time the Braves used their top three picks on college players since 2011, when the organization drafted collegiate players with its first four picks. The last time the club took two position players in the first round was 2007, when the Braves drafted OF Jason Heyward 14th overall before selecting 3B Jon Gilmore 33rd. Atlanta last spent multiple first-round picks on collegiate players was 1980, when the team took LHP Ken Dayley third overall before selecting RHP Jim Acker 21st.
The Braves took two players from Georgia, selecting OF Mike Harris from Ellenwood in the third round (98th overall) before taking Lawrenceville native and University of Georgia third baseman Riley King in the 26th round.