Braves 2024 Draft Pick Profiles

As Day 2 of the 2024 MLB Draft comes to a close, the Atlanta Braves have an interesting draft class. They stuck to their template this year and selected pitchers and more pitchers. Atlanta selected every pitcher in the first four rounds, with the No. 1 position player selected in the fifth round. In the process, they were able to land what scouts believe could be the best left-handed pitcher in the draft. Here are profiles of their draft picks.

Profiles of the Braves selected in the draft

First round pick 24

Cam Caminiti LHP Saguaro HS (Arizona)

A cousin of 1996 National League MVP and three-time All-Star Ken Caminiti, Caminiti looks set to be the family’s second MLB success story after being drafted 24th overall by the Braves on Sunday. Before the draft, ESPN ranked Caminiti as the 13th-best prospect and 15th by MLB Pipeline. “(Caminiti) has a huge arm,” Braves scouting director Ronit Shah said. “You’ll see him sit around 90, and I’ve seen him get ready to throw 96 or 97 at the end of a high school game, which is very impressive. I think what impresses me the most is how easy he does it.”

His dominance in high school was remarkable. He struck out 16 consecutive batters in a game in early March. He then led his high school, Saguaro High School in Scottsdale, Arizona, to its first state championship in 13 years. His performance this season also earned him the Arizona Gatorade Player of the Year Award. Scouts say Caminiti is arguably the best left-handed pitcher in this year’s draft — a notable recent first-round pick of Atlanta, Hurston Waldrep.

Second round pick 62

Carter Holton LHP Vanderbilt University

Carter Holton is a 5’11”, 191 lb. left-handed pitcher from Georgia High School – a highly rated recruit three years ago. Holton throws four solid pitches or better, with his fastball having reached 98 MPH and his slider being his best pitch. The curve and changeup are solid, as is his command after improving last spring. There are injury concerns attached to Holt, but the Braves have been willing to take risks on players like this to get a higher-level talent. He was a top-three talent but slipped to the Brewers in the 19th round of the 2021 draft because he was committed to Vanderbilt. A notable second-round pick for the Braves recently was Spencer Schwellenbach in the 2021 draft.

Third round pick 99

Luke Sinnard, RHP, Indiana University

Sinnard posted a 7.18 ERA at Western Kentucky as a freshman in 2022 before transferring to Indiana and having a spectacular sophomore year. He broke an 89-year-old Hoosiers record with 114 strikeouts in 86 1/3 innings. Then he injured his elbow in an NCAA regional start last June and underwent Tommy John surgery that cost him the entire 2024 season. Before his injury, Sinnard had plenty of chase and empty swings with a fastball that sat at 91-93 mph and hit 96 with high spin rates. His breaking balls were effective, with his curveball dropping to 78-82 mph and his slider and cutter in the mid-80s getting more chase. The Braves’ recent notable third-round pick is Michael Harris II in the 2019 draft. As well as Dylan Dodd in the 2021 draft.

Fourth round pick 129

Hernandez stands 5’10”, weighs 200 pounds and has a fastball that can reach 93 mph. In his lone year with the Hurricanes, his overall numbers weren’t great: a 6.14 ERA with a 1.58 WHIP. He had 95 strikeouts in 70.1 innings. The Reds drafted him out of JUCO last year in the 19th round. He’s considered a player with a good fastball and a high level of vertical break. Spencer Strider was recently selected in the fourth round of the 2020 draft.

Fifth round pick 161

Nick Montgomery Catcher Cypress High School (California)

The 6-foot-4 Montgomery is a presence on the right side of the plate. He has plenty of raw power to tap into and has done so against good competition. He may or may not catch, but he has the bat so that won’t matter going forward. Montgomery will likely be the top catcher prospect in the Braves’ system behind Drake Baldwin once he signs and has upside if he can get that offense behind the plate. A notable recent fifth-round pick for Atlanta is Bryce Elder in the 2020 draft.

Sixth round pick 191

Ethan Bagwell RHP Collinsville High School (Illinois)

At 6-foot-4 and 230 pounds, Bagwell doesn’t have much projection left. He’s showing some effort in his delivery and has trouble controlling the ball at times when working exclusively out of the straight line. Bagwell spent most of the spring throwing 89-94 mph with his fastball, which offers good range. He’s inconsistent with his secondary pitches, though he can occasionally throw a solid 78-82 mph slider. His 80-plus mph changeup has a promising dropoff.

Scouting Notes: Fastball: 55 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 40 | Control: 45 | Overall: 40

Seventh round pick 231

Brett Sears RHP University of Nebraska

Sears ranked among the national leaders throughout this season, finishing the year ranked fourth with a 0.88 WHIP, fifth in ERA (2.16), 19th in strikeout-to-walk ratio (5.32), 20th in hits allowed/9 innings (6.23) and 24th in walks allowed/9 innings (1.64). Sears is the first Huskers pitcher to have 100-plus strikeouts in a season since 2008 after tallying 101 strikeouts, which ranks ninth in program history. Sears also finished the season tied for eighth in program history with 104 innings pitched in 2024. Notable seventh-round picks for Atlanta recently include AJ Smith-Shawver and Darius Vines.

Remaining choices

Atlanta selected all pitchers with the eighth, ninth and tenth round picks. Logan Samuels right-handed pitcher, University of Montevallo. Owen Hackman right-handed pitcher, Loyola Marymount University. And Jacob Kroeger right-handed pitcher, Maryville University. Nine of Atlanta’s 10 picks so far have been pitchers.

Main photo credits: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports