The Braves have agreed to terms with first round pick Ryan Cusick on a $2.7MM signing bonus, reports Jim Callis of MLB.com (Twitter link). That’s very slightly below the $2.8313MM slot value associated with the 24th overall pick.
Each of Baseball America, Kiley McDaniel of ESPN and Keith Law of the Athletic slotted Cusick among the top 40 talents in this year’s class. Law was most bullish of that group, placing Cusick 12th and pointing to his high-90’s fastball as the driver of a potential high-end arsenal. He also flashes a quality curveball, but there are concerns about his changeup and inconsistent strike-throwing.
Cusick spent three years at Wake Forest, pitching to a 5.01 ERA across 158 innings with the Demon Deacons. The righty struck out a lofty 28.7% of opposing hitters in his college career, but he also issued free passes at an alarming 11% clip.
So I’m still confused as to why he was picked as a first rounder. All because he throws heat?? Alarming walk rates, can’t throw strikes a 5 era. The braves kill me with some of these picks. Terrible.
You have no clue if this is a terrible pick or not and you won’t for a few years. Scouts get paid to recognize talent and project it. They obviously believe they can help him get the most out of his potential and it wasn’t a reach for the pick.
Fair enough didn’t think of it that way
He’s a bigger pitcher, and a lot of taller pitchers take longer to iron out their mechanics. As TomahawChop said, the pick is about projection. The Braves must believe they can help him iron those out. If they can remains to be seen. If not, he has the repertoire to be a high octane two pitch reliever with the big fastball and above average curve he has.
Because drafting a super accomplished college pitcher like Kyle Wright has worked out so well? All the sites said he’d be in the majors in September of the year he was drafted.
Also, it’s not like it was a top-10 pick. Everybody is essentially taking fliers after those 10 are gone.
I trust the people involved in the pick have a better idea of this dude’s strengths and weakness than us idiots on a free website where we’re all anonymous.
The worst part about being a Braves fan is how god awful the rest of the fanbase is.
Kyle Wright lacks confidence. Game is 90% mental.
Confidence is a large part, but I wouldn’t go 90%. For any player athleticism, ability and understanding of the game are also important factors.
That poor pirate facial hair screams that. Man just needs a good barber or mirror.
5.xx ERA? That’s, an interesting choice.
Hoping for the best but last thing we need is another pitcher who walks a bunch of batters.
I don’t get this pick at all. Alarming walk rate, can’t throw strikes, 5 era. What’s the catch, just because he can throw heat?? There were much better options on the table idk what was behind this pick
Like Dansby, he has nice hair.
I feel feel the same way to. With out knowing all his peripheral numbers tho its hard to say, things like FIP and spin rate also if a mechanical change can make a big difference
A 21-year-old getting paid $2.7 million? Man, I chose the wrong career path many years ago.
Put him in the bullpen, you don’t have to throw strikes.
Hopefully not another Newcomb.
Pitching, pitching and more pitching. Look T the past two years for this team. Imagine if they didn’t have arms to choose from to take the ball. I’m all for the picks. We just need to continue to develop the Outfielders and other position players to contribute.
An ERA in college over 5 is worth over 2 million dollars? I may have been misled, but somebody once told me that major league hitters are even BETTER than those in college…
Sean Newcomb v2. Gotta love the Braves.
Lol I remember when everyone said “soroka who?” Or “wtf Ian Anderson above Riley pint?????”
Those were Bridges picks…I had a lot of faith in him. The new guy…not so much.
He already has 2 pitches! Just need to help along 2 more to his arsenal and he’s a starter with heat! Like someone said above, being a bigger pitcher mechanics take longer to perfect when working on 2 more pitches. Imo I’d rather have someone who knows, and is working on his stuff, over someone who “already has it, loses, and his confidence is gone!
There are very few can’t miss arms in the draft, however there is a reason some are highly rated. Pitch variety, size, arm strength, control, confidence and past results all factor in. Even the best of these flame out.
At least he’s not pitching in Japan next year.