The Smartest Pick Braves Made in 2020 MLB Draft
By Max Smith
While some Braves fans may be underwhelmed by their 2020 MLB Draft selections, nobody truly knows the potential of their draft picks. While Atlanta may not have chosen the biggest names, the front office selected the players who they believe will turn out the best in due time. There was clearly a lot of strategy behind these picks, and we believe this late-round selection will turn out to be the smartest.
The Braves selected Jesse Franklin, a power-hitting outfielder out of the University of Michigan with the 97th overall pick. Franklin has been a tad inconsistent so far in his career, but he has shown great promise.
With their 3rd-round pick (No. 97 overall) of the 2020 #MLBDraft, the #Braves select @umichbaseball OF Jesse Franklin, No. 142 on the Top 200 Draft Prospects list: https://t.co/fmJ8s7hIvy
— MLB Draft (@MLBDraft) June 12, 2020
Watch live: https://t.co/cmm19LX2BQ pic.twitter.com/Mx6liu1oww
After being a top recruit out of high school, Franklin exploded as a freshman at Michigan in 2018. In 47 games that season, he batted .327, hitting 10 home runs and 47 RBI. He hasn't seen the same heights that he reached that season, but he hasn't been a disappointment at any point, either.
He hit .262 in his sophomore season at Michigan with 13 home runs. Also, he has a combined average of .293 in two seasons in the Cape Cod Baseball League, one of the most competitive summer leagues for young players.
The #Braves have selected Jesse Franklin (OF, Michigan) in the 3rd round
— Tomahawk Talk (@ChopTalk2) June 12, 2020
-Athletic frame (raw power from the left side)
-Compact, smooth swing
-Health has been an issue
Check out this nuke from the CWS?
pic.twitter.com/GdZKJaLpxQ
Power comes at a premium in today's MLB. Franklin has the potential to be a 30 home run guy in the future. If he stays on track, the Braves will have gotten a steal at pick 97.