Weekly Preview (July 13-18): Braves Draft Cusick In First Round
The Braves went back to the well in multiple ways Sunday night when they drafted Ryan Cusick in the first round.
His draft spot – 24th overall – is one spot higher than former Wake Forest teammate Jared Shuster’s from a year ago. The Braves have now picked a Demon Deacon pitcher in the first round two drafts in a row.
Aside from obvious talent, there is a draw to picking from the Wake Forest stable of pitchers. Their baseball program has one of the most, if not the most advanced pitching lab in college baseball, one that rivals major league organizations (among orgs that even have a lab). Shuster’s stuff popped up before the draft. Cusick’s velocity popped up as he got stronger, and his curveball has started to show signs of rounding into form.
Cusick also fits Atlanta’s developmental eye at the moment. He fits the trendy profile of high spin and vertical approach, working an upper-90s fastball up in the zone and attempting to drop a hammer curve with downward tilt from a similar slot. Think Spencer Strider but with a 6-foot-6 frame and high slot.
Of course, Cusick has command to work on, as he’s currently a control-over-command arm that can somewhat keep it around the zone but mostly sprays in-zone. Harnessing upper-90s heat that has touched 102 will be the challenge as he develops, along with spinning a more consistently tight curveball that replicates arm speed and slot.
Based on video, the fastball looks like a plus-plus-potential pitch when he’s in the upper part of the zone. He gets good angle and plane from the high slot. The curve flashes plus when it shows hammer tendencies, but inconsistent feel holds back the grade at present. He also throws a harder breaker but with little feel, coming out sideways or slurvy at times. I think a key will be getting the changeup to the point where he can mix it 10% of the time with confidence and not just tossing it noncompetitively. Strider is in a similar boat there.
But the big key for Cusick is living around the zone enough to be effective. He may not develop strong enough command to spot up on corners with regularity, but if he can live in the upper part of the zone and show enough feel to utilize a vertical approach, as well as maintain the explosive stuff, there’s a dynamic two-pitch punch here. We’re seeing more and more of this profile in the Braves system.
There is obvious reliever risk in Cusick; that goes without saying. But Strider is an example of a current Braves prospect utilizing that two-pitch punch well enough to at least project starter possibility. Cusick has that in him if he can harness it enough. I’m guessing he will go to Low-A Augusta first, but either A-ball affiliate is a possibility. I look forward to seeing him in person soon.
The draft resumes Monday at 1 p.m., streamed on MLB.com, for rounds 2-10 and Competitive Balance Round B. Day 3 on Tuesday starts at noon and spans rounds 11-20 on MLB.com.
Schedule
Triple-A Gwinnett
July 13-18: at Charlotte (White Sox)
July 13-17 at 7:04 p.m., July 18 at 5:05
Double-A Mississippi
July 13-18: at Tennessee (Cubs)
July 13-17 at 7 p.m. ET, July 18 at 2
High-A Rome
July 13-18: vs. Greensboro (Pirates)
July 13-16 at 7 p.m., July 17 at 6, July 18 at 2
Low-A Augusta
July 13-18: at Charleston (Rays)
July 13-16 at 7:05 p.m., July 17 at 6:05, July 18 at 5:05
Prospects to Watch This Week
At Triple-A Gwinnett, Drew Waters picked up eight hits in his past five games before participating in the Futures Game on Sunday. He had two great at-bats against high-level competition, hitting a rocket that found grass and walking once. At Double-A Mississippi, Victor Vodnik returned from the injured list Friday after missing all of June, and he allowed one run while striking out two in three innings. At High-A Rome, Bryce Ball still only had four hits over the past week, but he recorded two doubles, a triple and a homer along with six walks. Getting Ball’s power numbers going is crucial to his value. At Low-A Augusta, Joey Estes has dominated lately, allowing just one run on five hits in 13 innings spanning his last two starts, walking three and striking out 12.
Recent Prospect Performances
Triple-A Gwinnett
7/10: Cristian Pache 2-5
7/10: William Contreras 2-4, 2 2B, RBI, BB
7/9: Drew Waters 4-4, 2B, RBI
7/9: Cristian Pache 2-4, SB
7/9: Kyle Muller 6 IP, 6 H, 2 R/ER, 11 K
7/8: Drew Waters 3-8, 2B, 3B, HR, 3 RBI (DH)
7/8: Cristian Pache 4-6, HR, 3 RBI, BB (DH)
Double-A Mississippi
7/10: Justin Dean 1-4, HR, 2 RBI
7/10: Trey Harris 2-4, 2B, 3 RBI, BB
7/10: Bryce Elder 7 IP, 4 BB, 6 K
7/10: Daysbel Hernandez 2 IP, BB, 4 K
7/9: Justin Dean 2-3, 2 BB, SB
7/9: Victor Vodnik 3 IP, H, R/ER, 2 K
7/8: Justin Dean 1-4, 2 RBI
7/8: Trey Harris 2-4, HR, 2 RBI
7/8: Shea Langeliers 1-3, HR, BB
7/7: Trey Harris 2-3, BB
7/7: Braden Shewmake 2-3, HR, 2 RBI
7/6: Justin Dean 2-4, 2 RBI, BB, SB
7/6: Braden Shewmake 2-4, RBI
7/6: Spencer Strider 5.1 IP, 3 H, R/ER, 3 BB, 11 K
High-A Rome
7/11: Jesse Franklin 1-4, HR
7/11: Logan Brown 3-4, HR
7/10: Jesse Franklin 1-2, HR, BB
7/10: Bryce Ball 3-4, 2 2B, 3B, 2 BB (DH)
7/9: Logan Brown 2-4, 2B, RBI
7/8: Indigo Diaz 1 IP, 2 K
7/8: Jesse Franklin 1-3, HR, 2 RBI
7/7: Darius Vines 5.1 IP, 5 H, R/ER, BB, 5 K
7/6: Michael Harris 1-4, RBI, SB
7/6: Bryce Ball 1-4, HR
7/6: Trey Riley 2 IP, 2 K
7/6: Kasey Kalich 1 IP, H, 3 K
Low-A Augusta
7/11: Lisandro Santos 2 IP, H, 2 K
7/9: Joey Estes 7 IP, 2 H, BB, 7 K
7/8: Stephen Paolini 2-2, SB
7/8: Alec Barger 2.2 IP, 4 K
7/8: Justin Yeager 1.1 IP, K
7/7: Lisandro Santos 2.1 IP, H, 2 K
7/6: Willie Carter 2-3, HR, 2 RBI, BB
7/6: Stephen Paolini 1-3, HR
Transactions
7/11: UTL Johan Camargo recalled to Atlanta
7/10: LHP Jake McSteen assigned to High-A from Low-A
7/10: LHP Chris Nunn released
7/9: RHP Victor Vodnik activated from IL at Double-A
7/9: LHP Mitch Horacek assigned to High-A from Triple-A
7/9: RHP A.J. Puckett assigned to High-A from Double-A
7/9: RHP Peyton Williams activated from IL at Low-A
7/9: RHP Brent Burgess transferred from 7-day IL to 60-day IL at Low-A
7/9: UTL Travis Demeritte sent to FCL for rehab assignment
7/8: RHP Jacob Webb optioned to Triple-A
7/7: C William Contreras optioned to Triple-A
7/7: C Jonathan Lucroy’s contract selected by Atlanta
7/7: RHP Trevor Kelley activated from 7-day IL at Triple-A
7/6: RHP Jacob Webb recalled to Atlanta