The most intriguing Atlanta Braves MLB draft pick

The Atlanta Braves went with a different strategy in this year’s MLB Draft. Instead of focusing almost exclusively on pitchers in the early rounds, they went the athletic positional player route, selecting shortstops in each of the first three rounds.

Round 1, Pick 22 — Tate Southisene, Shortstop, Basic HS (Nevada)

Round 2, Pick 60 — Alex Lodise, Shortstop, Florida State

Round 3, Pick 96 — Cody Miller, Shortstop, East Tennessee State

Southisene was a pick Keith Law of The Athletic called the biggest reach of the first round following day one of the MLB Draft. However, the Braves were able to sign him for $1.3 million under slot value, money they used to sign prep arm Briggs McKenzie in the fourth round, so there was a method to the team’s madness. Southisene and third-round pick Cody Miller likely won’t see the majors for quite some time, but Alex Lodise might follow a different path.

As a junior this past season, Lodise won the Dick Howser Trophy, given to the best all-around player in college baseball. He’s a plus defender and hit nearly .400 with 17 homers — good for a 1.167 OPS.

There are some questions about Lodise’s swing as a pro prospect, and he likely isn’t going to play shortstop at the major-league level. However, a legitimate case could be made that Lodise is already the most major-league ready positional prospect in the system, not named Nacho Alvarez, who is already on the Braves active roster.

The Braves farm system doesn’t feature many position players that are anywhere close to the majors. They are struggling at all levels offensively, and even in Atlanta, there are questions at both second base and shortstop.

Alex Lodise may never be an All-Star, but he has a really high floor and enters the organization as one of the more polished prospects in the entire farm system. It’ll be very intriguing to see how the Braves move him along the minor-league ranks.