2021 MLB Draft: Dates, Times, Braves Picks, Resources
In a normal year, I would have devoted more time to draft prep ahead of the big event this coming week and provided my own board and possibilities for the Braves. Alas, things have not been normal.
Because of no 2020 minor league season, I came into this year without the usual knowledge of lower-level players in the Braves system. So, I spent all of my time in May and June introducing myself to those prospects to get back on track. That took away from my amateur coverage.
As a result, I will let the experts handle the draft prep, and I will offer what I feel are the best resources to have on hand as the event begins Sunday evening. I will still provide basic observations of Atlanta’s picks using video as the draft unfolds.
And don’t forget the Futures Game will be held Sunday at 3 p.m. on MLB Network and MLB.com. The Braves will be represented by Drew Waters and Michael Harris.
Last year’s draft was limited to five rounds. The Braves took Jared Shuster, Jesse Franklin, Spencer Strider and Bryce Elder with their four picks.
Shuster, a lefty from Wake Forest, has a 3.38 ERA with eight walks to 31 strikeouts in 24 innings at High-A Rome. Franklin, an outfielder from Michigan, is hitting .275/.337/.550 with 12 doubles, 11 home runs and 13 stolen bases in 190 plate appearances at Rome.
Strider, a right-hander from Clemson, has amassed a 2.27 ERA with 80 strikeouts to 18 walks in 43.2 innings spanning three levels. He’s currently at Double-A Mississippi with a 3.95 ERA and 24 strikeouts to seven walks in 13.2 innings.
Elder, a right-hander from Texas, was recently promoted to Mississippi and has allowed five runs in nine innings, but he held a 2.60 ERA with 55 strikeouts to 20 walks in 45 innings at Rome.
2021 MLB Draft
Sunday-Tuesday
Day 1 at 7:07 p.m. ET, Day 2 at 1 p.m., Day 3 at noon
Day 1 on MLB Network, ESPN and MLB.com, days 2-3 streamed on MLB.com
Round 1, Comp Round and Competitive Balance Round A on Day 1, rounds 2-10 and Competitive Balance Round B on Day 2, rounds 11-20 on Day 3.
Atlanta Braves Picks (overall)
1st round: 24
2nd round: 59
3rd round: 96
4th round: 126
Pick 25th every round thereafter
MLB.com Draft Tracker
MLB Pipeline Draft Board: Top 250 players. Jim Callis is one of the best at draft coverage.
Baseball America Draft Board ($): Top 500 players. The best in the business at this.
ESPN Draft Board ($): Top 200 players. Kiley McDaniel is also one of the best.
Prospects Live Draft Board: Top 600 players. A very underrated resource for the draft.
Perfect Game Draft Board: Top 500 players. Always a reliable resource.
Baseball Prospectus Draft Board ($): Top 50 players.
FanGraphs Draft Board: Currently at 71 players. FG also has good posts on draft context.
Talking Chop: Matt Powers does a great job writing about the draft at the Braves site.