Following the draft for a few years and with a new GM I find this draft to perhaps be the most interesting during the Braves rebuild. This will in all likelihood be the last Top 10 pick for Atlanta for quite sometime.
With that said here are a few quality sites with MLB Draft Rankings
BA - https://www.baseballamerica.com/rankings/2018-top-500-mlb-draft-prospects/
MLB Pipeline - http://m.mlb.com/prospects/2018?list=draft
2080 - https://2080baseball.com/2018/04/2018-mlb-draft-ranking-the-top-125/
Fangraphs - https://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/updated-2018-mlb-draft-rankings/
MinorLeagueBall Draft Profiles - https://www.minorleagueball.com/2018/3/21/17149254/2018-mlb-draft-player-profiles
Braves pick in this draft
(1)8 - $4,980,700
(2)49 - $1,450,500
(4)112 - $497,800
The total bonus pool for the Braves is $8,267,300 which ranks 15th.
As for the 8th pick, my initial thought is to get the BPA left on my personal board.
1. Mize
2. Bohm
3. Madrigal
4. Bart
5. Stewart
6. LIberatore
7. Singer
8. Gorman
Others just off my list. Hankins, India, Kelenic, Turang and Scott in that order.
I doubt Mize, Bohm, Madrigal and Bart make it past the Top 5. Ideally Stewart would be the best pick that's left. If he's gone before 8 the pick is a real toss up between 4 players (Liberatore, Singer, Gorman and Hankins.)
Stewart - Right now he would be my pick if he's available at 8. Two plus plus pitches. Big pitcher that has ace potential and possibly the highest ceiling of any pitcher in the draft class. With the Braves depth in the minors, the Braves can take the riskier high ceiling guy here at 8.
LIberatore - Above average command, four above average pitches. Lefty. From the high school group he might be the safest high school pitching prospect in this class. His ceiling isn't as high as Stewart or Hankins.
Gorman - Braves have been linked with Gorman a lot lately from multiple sites. He has his flaws but he has a high ceiling. If he can hit more consistently he could become a really good 30+ HR player. Even if he moves to 1B, he won't be MLB ready until Freeman's contract is up.
Singer - Has put up a pretty good season at UF. Offers two plus pitches and is a safest pick of the five I've highlighted. Was dominant in last year's CWS and seems to step it up in the big games. The downside is I think he would require an overslot bonus to sign him.
Hankins - He's here because his ceiling is right up there with Stewart and you could argue it's higher. Best fastball in the class that has movement and he can locate it. Reading Matt Powers thoughts on Hankins has me thinking taking Hankins here at 8 might not be a bad idea at all. Right now his offspeed stuff is not very good, but if he's able to develop one offspeed pitch into a plus pitch he can be a frontline SP. Injuries are a concern. You never like to hear about shoulder injuries.
What are your thoughts with the #8 pick?
Early next week I'll have another MOD with the focus being the 49th pick.
