This year the Atlanta Braves went with the more quality-over-quantity strategy compared to last year (even though the Braves 2016 picks are doing quite well). They started the draft at #5 and was able to nab Vanderbilt RHP Kyle Wright and then got Georgia-native Drew Waters at #41. It can be argued that the picks the Braves took after were due to the first 2 strong picks and their bonuses, therefore these weren’t the best players available. However, some have potential and in that group was a special pick in it’s own way.
For the Braves’ 10th pick -at #290 overall-, they took Jacob Belinda, a 22-year-old right-handed pitcher out of Lock Haven University (Pa.