8:54pm: Shewmake signed for full slot value, Jim Callis of MLB.com tweets.
7:48pm: The Braves have announced the signing of first-round draft pick Braden Shewmake. Bonus details aren’t yet known.
Shewmake was taken with the 21st overall selection, which came with a $3.13MM bonus pool allocation. The Texas A&M infielder becomes the second of the two Atlanta picks to put pen to paper. The Braves already tied the knot with Shea Langeliers, who was taken with the compensatory pick (ninth overall) from the club’s failure to agree to terms with last year’s first-rounder.
While he didn’t draw pre-draft grades as high as his eventual selection, Shewmake was seen as a potential first-round talent. ESPN.com’s Keith Law (#26) and Baseball America (#27) were highest on him among the pundits.
Though he’s a highly accomplished collegiate hitter, some wonder whether Shewmake will ever have much power as a pro. He’s also a candidate to move off of the shortstop position in the long run — particularly if he adds the strength necessary to increase his pop. There are several potential paths available for Shewmake; the Braves obviously feel that one of them will lead to a productive MLB career.
Is it just me or does it seem that more top picks are signing quicker this season?
He needs an “r” on the end of his last name..
In all seriousness though, I like his size/physique and swing to gradually grow and add muscle to.
His ancestors probably dropped the R so they wouldn’t get pigeonholed into one profession…..
I’ve never felt sorrier for an opposing pitcher than I feel for Archer tonight.
I feel sorry for the fleecing Pitt took to get him… plain and simple, they got took to the cleaners!
Why? It wasn’t bad defense or tough luck. He gave up 4 home runs.
Why is everything about having power? How about guys who can actually hit and get on base, instead of guys who hit an occasional HR and strike out at record levels.
I agree….its ok to hit line drives as well, they produce runs also while allowing you to score runs. If a guy is not a 20+ homer player than he’s automatically devalued these days
Chicks dig the long ball. Just ask Maddux and Glavine.
This was supposed to be a reach down underslot pick. Since it saved no pool money, why was he picked instead of better prospects? I guess the Braves team is afraid of losing a drafted player. The highest priority of Canthopoulos is to avoid risk. This is why the Braves will never beat the better teams under current management.
Bingo perfect question
They only signed a couple of high schooler players in their top dozen or so picks, and not many thereafter. It’s entirely possible they have already been given bad news on those guys and just want to get the rest of the slot value guys under wraps.
I am thinking that it was the Braves strategy to go mostly with ‘quick to contribute’ guys because they are already close. I know AA is different from the norm, but I don’t think he would have been allowed to blow up the organizational philosophy in a single draft all on his own.