Atlanta Braves MLB Draft grades: Everything to know about Alex Anthopoulos decisions [Updating for Day 2]

The MLB Draft is officially here, and the Atlanta Braves hold the No. 24 pick overall. While it's impossible to predict exactly what Atlanta will do, it's fair to assume that Atlanta will be looking at the college ranks when they make their pick.

The Braves have selected a college player in four of the last five years, including Hurston Waldrep in last year's draft. While Waldrep struggled in his brief MLB stint this season, the fact that he has already made his MLB debut and is considered one of the best pitching prospects in the sport shows how good of a pick that was.

Waldrep is one of the best prospects in Atlanta's system, but the Braves farm overall is one of the worst in the majors. This draft gives them an opportunity to flip the script.

Everything to know about the Braves draft

Again, predicting the No. 24 pick in the MLB Draft is insanely difficult. Unlike other sports, the MLB Draft is often about selecting the best player available, not just organizational fit. Organizations and analysts have different opinions about who the best players are in every draft, and this one is no exception.

FanSided's Rogelio Castillo predicts that the Braves will select outfielder Ryan Waldschmidt from the University of Kentucky.

"Waldschmidt is an above-average defender who could play any position in the outfield, can hit the ball to all fields with many reports stating his batted ball data has some loud numbers when it comes to exit velocity."

Adding a potential five-tool outfielder in Waldschmidt who might not need too long to develop considering he is being selected out of college would make a lot of sense for a Braves team competing right now.

ESPN's Kiley McDaniel (subscription required) went in a whole other direction, predicting that the Braves snag switch-pitcher Jurrangelo Cijntje out of Mississippi State with their selection. The Braves are already fun to watch offensively when they're right, can you imagine how fun they'd be if they added a talent like Cijntje?

Braves MLB Draft grades: Who did the Braves select in the 2024 MLB Draft?

Round 1, Pick 24: Braves select LHP Cam Caminiti, Saguaro HS (AZ)

Well, would you look at that? The Braves did not go to the college ranks for their picks, instead selecting Cam Caminiti, a high schooler who happens to be a cousin of former MVP winner Ken Caminiti.

Caminiti was a player expected to go in the teens in several drafts, with Castillo pegging him as his No. 13 pick. The Braves got him 11 picks later. That's scary, and could end up being something many teams regret.

He's just 17 years old yet he can reach the upper 90's consistently with his fastball, paired with three different off-speed pitches. As he matures and continues to develop, he should only gain velocity and see his off-speed pitches improve.

While it's probably unlikely that Caminiti is a two-way guy in professional baseball, his potential as a pitcher is off the charts. He might take longer to get to the show considering his age and the fact that he'll be foregoing college, but the Braves are a team that can afford to wait. Imagining him in a rotation with Spencer Strider is pretty frightening.

Grade: A

Round 2, pick 62: Braves select LHP Carter Holton, Vanderbilt University

The Braves took another left-handed pitcher with their second-round selection, but this time, it was one from the college ranks. Carter Holton is a Brave, and the pick makes sense.

Holton played for three seasons at Vanderbilt University, posting a 4.10 ERA overall in exactly 200 innings of work. This past season was a bit of a struggle as Holton's ERA was at 5.19 in 15 appearances (13 starts), but his walks were down (3.5 BB/9) and his strikeouts were up (12.7 K/9) from last season's marks. His 3.63 K/BB ratio was the best mark of his three seasons at Vanderbilt.

The 21-year-old Georgia native has a solid three-pitch mix headlined by a fastball that can reach the mid-90s and two solid off-speed offerings. His 5'11" height would be more of a concern if the Braves weren't a team that has thrived with shorter pitchers (Strider is one inch taller).

He won't be an ace, but Holton has the tools to be a legitimate starting pitcher in the majors, which is always very valuable.

Grade: B

Round 3, pick 99: Braves select RHP Luke Sinnard, Indiana University Bloomington

The Braves took their first right-handed pitcher of the draft in the third round in Luke Sinnard, a pitcher who is currently recovering from Tommy John Surgery. Sure, that might set him back a little, but the upside is there. There's a good chance that if he was healthy, Sinnard would've been picked in one of the first two rounds, yet Atlanta got him at the end of the third. Setbacks exist, but there's a chance Atlanta got a real steal here.

Grade: A-

Round 4, pick 129: Braves select LHP Herick Hernandez, Miami Dade College

The Braves took yet another pitcher in the fourth round, snagging left-hander Herick Hernandez. While his 6.14 ERA in his lone season at Miami left a lot to be desired, he did strike out 95 batters in 70.1 innings of work showing some potential.

Grade: B-

Round 5, pick 161: Braves select C Nick Montgomery, Cypress HS (CA)

The Braves finally select their first position player in the fifth round of the draft, selecting Nick Montgomery, a catcher coming out of high school. Whether Montgomery remains behind the plate is a real question, but his bat should play.

Grade: B

Round 6, pick 191: Braves select RHP Ethan Bagwell, Collinsville HS (IL)

The Braves went back to pitching in Round 6, selecting Ethan Bagwell, a right-handed pitcher. Him being so young makes it difficult to project how he'll develop, but Bagwell is armed with a high-velocity fastball that can help make him an intriguing prospect if his off-speed stuff develop. For a sixth-round pick, there isn't much to complain about here.

Grade: B-

Round 7, pick 221: Braves select RHP Brett Sears, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

The Braves took an older prospect in Round 7 as Brett Sears is already 24 years old. Despite the age he pitched pretty well this past season at Nebraska, posting a 2.16 ERA in 17 appearances (16 starts) and 104 innings of work. He doesn't have a ton of upside but limits walks (1.6 BB/9) and keeps the ball in the yard (0.8 HR/9). As an organizational depth arm in the seventh round, this is solid.

Grade: B+

Round 8, pick 251: Braves select RHP Logan Samuels, University of Montevallo (AL)

Similarly to Hernandez, Samuels had a high ERA (5.88) this past season, but had 69 strikeouts in 59.2 innings of work. What's good about Samuels is he improved a ton from last season at limiting walks and home runs. He allowed too many hits, perhaps throwing too many hittable strikes, but there could be something there with this pitcher.

Grade: B