Recently's Wintertime Meetings saw the 2nd year of the MLB Draft Lottery, developed to disincentivize tanking from non-contending groups. And it worked! The groups that were all connected for the finest odds of obtaining the # 1 overall choice, the Oakland Athletics, Kansas City Royals, and Colorado Rockies, are picking fourth, sixth, and 3rd, respectively. Jumping them in https://www.guardianssportsshop.com/collections/brayan-rocchio-jersey the draft order are the Cleveland Guardians, that had the 9th worst document and just a 2% opportunity of picking at # 1, and the Cincinnati Reds, that missed out on the playoffs by a solitary game and had just a 0. 8% of picking at # 1 general. The chances of both the Guardians and Reds going up to # 1 and # 2 general come out to regarding 5000-to-1, and this is Cleveland's initial ever before # 1 overall pick. ) As a playoff group, Atlanta had not been eligible to be relocated up in the lotto, yet the 1st round's draft order being completed sealed Atlanta right into the # 24 choice, the precise very same selection they had in 2014, where they took Florida right-handed pitcher Hurston Waldrep. In a current simulated draft on his podcast Secured On MLB Prospects, host Lindsay Crosby made a selection for Atlanta, providing right-handed bottle Thatcher Hurd of LSU at the area. Here's what Crosby said concerning the option: Thatcher listened to out of LSU, a guy - you take a look at the heater, it runs up to 96 or so. Fantastic slider with wonderful spin prices. They're Atlanta) big on the spin rates. They approve the bring on the heater up in the area. He's got a plus contour round as went 8-2 last period for LSU, functioning in both relief and starting functions. He set out 84 batters in 63. 1 innings, helpful for 11. 9 K/9, yet likewise strolled 40 5. 7 BB/9). Scroll to ContinueRead MoreAustin Riley calls his shotDec 19, 2023 10:30 AM ESTBraves Pitching Predicament: Trade the Future or Develop itDec 15, 2023 5:21 PM ESTBraves eligible major economic "reset" in 2025, if they wantDec 20, 2023 10:55 AM ESTCrosby kept in mind Hurd's similarities to in 2015's very first rounder Waldrep when reviewing the choice: " However fighting that command and control reminds me of a man like a Hurston Waldrep as for it's a great fastball, it's a dominant additional pitch, however) you have actually got a little concerns regarding the walk rate. " Waldrep, for recommendation, set up a 5. 0 BB/9 in university at Florida last period and 4 https://www.guardianssportsshop.com/collections/dwight-gooden-jersey. 9 BB/9 in his 29. 1 small league innings after the draft. That hasn't slowed the interest for Waldrep among Atlanta's front workplace, nevertheless, with president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos recognizing recently that Waldrep would certainly get an invite to big league springtime training and have a legit possibility to complete for the fifth starter's duty in Grapefruit League activity. Hurd began his college occupation at UCLA, blowing up on the scene as a real fresher with a 2-0 record and 1. 06 ERA in 34 innings prior to a stress fracture in his back knocked him out for the remainder of the period in June. He transferred to LSU for 2023 and worked both in midweek begins and out of the bullpen, not able to get into a stacked weekend turning that included # 1 overall pick Paul Skenes and fellow 1st rounder very first rounder Ty Floyd.