Braves release former draft pick

The 2020 MLB Draft will go down as one of the best in Alex Anthopoulos’ tenure as Braves GM. Because of COVID, it was only five rounds, leaving the Braves with just four picks. However, Anthopoulos was still able to find three major leaguers, including one bonafide superstar.

In the fourth round, the Braves landed Spencer Strider out of Clemson. A couple of years later, he would finish second in the NL Rookie of the Year race behind Michael Harris II before making his first All-Star appearance the following season.

Drafted right behind Strider in the fifth round was Bryce Elder, who also represented the National League in the 2023 All-Star Game, and Jared Shuster ended up making his MLB debut with the club a bit later before he was traded to the White Sox in the deal that landed the Braves Aaron Bummer.

In a draft with only four picks, finding two All-Stars and another player who made it to the majors is an otherworldly hit rate. However, not every pick panned out.

In the third round, the Braves took a toolsy outfield prospect in Jesse Franklin out of Michigan. Immediately, the potential was obvious, as he hit 24 homers with the Rome Braves in his first professional season. However, injuries have plagued him ever since. He played just 15 games in 2022 and missed the entire 2024 campaign with shoulder tendinitis, which led to his release after only 210 games with the organization. 

It’s a tiny bit surprising to see the Braves cut the cord, given Franklin’s play when he’s been on the field. Despite not hitting for a very high average, he still owns a .786 OPS in the minors. But there’s a very real chance Franklin’s injury hasn’t properly recovered. Hopefully for him, that’s not the case, because he has the tools to make it to the majors, even if it’s not with the Braves.