With their final pick in the 2024 draft, the Atlanta Braves selected high school infielder/outfielder Eric Hartman with their 20th overall pick out of Holy Trinity Academy, in Otokoks, Alberta. It makes sense, given general manager Alex Anthopoulos' ties to the great country. Hometown: St. Albert, Alberta Organization: Atlanta Braves Draft: 20th round, 2024 (ATL) Position: Second base/outfield
2025 there were not many expectations for E.J. He has been a player that has shown flashes of brilliance, but over the course of a season pretty average numbers. E.J. possesses solid tools like his bat speed, overall in game speed, solid power, and the ability to play multiple positions in the infield - so he was a valuable prospect, but there weren't many MLB grades given to his tools so he was considered more of a depth player.
There were some solid expectations for Owen as the Braves were able to agree to terms with him and sign him for $150K following the draft. Any time you have that kind of payout to a player later in the draft it indicates the teams willingness to bank on their scouting, and it's safe to assume Owen made a lot of people happy with his 2025 performance.
As Colletti detailed, Hochevar being available in 2006 pushed back every pitching prospect by one, given that Hochevar went No. 1 overall that year. Four pitchers would be selected after Hochevar, including the Detroit Tigers taking southpaw Andrew Miller right before the Dodgers. If Hochevar had signed with LA the year prior, there would be one less pitcher available, and perhaps the Dodgers wouldn't be able to take Kershaw at No. 7.
The Sox hadn't used such a high pick on a pitcher since Tanner Houck in 2017, after years of the Chaim Bloom-led front office pursing a deliberate strategy of swerving pitchers in the early rounds of the draft. It isn't hard to see why Craig Breslow and company liked Tolle so much. Tolle was named the Big XII Pitcher of the Year in 2024, after he put up a 3.21 ERA for TCU, striking out 125 batters in 81.1 innings pitched.
Lots of positives with #WhiteSox right now but Hagen Smith's struggles are a massive disappointment. I'm getting Carson Fulmer vibes and they passed on premium hitting talent to take him as a fast moving college arm. Brian Bannister has a project on his hands.- James Fox (@JamesFox917) August 24, 2025 Fulmer was the highly regarded pitching prospect out of Vanderbilt that the team took with the No. 8 pick in the 2015 MLB Draft.
Fauske was named the Illinois Gatorade Player of the Year after dominating at the high school level with Major League Baseball scouts salivating at the potential he attains.
