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Run of unfruitful Drafts led to Braves’ rebuild
- Updated: August 15, 2016
ATLANTA — If searching for the benefits of stockpiling Draft picks, the pitfalls of selecting low-ceiling college players or the cause for a rebuild, one only has to look at the MLB Draft selections the Braves made from 2011-13.
Right-handed pitchers Lucas Sims (21st overall selection in 2012) and Jason Hursh (31st overall selection in ’13) stand as the only players the Braves selected within this three-year stretch who are either on Atlanta’s active roster or rank among the club’s Top 30 Prospects per MLBPipeline.com.
But maybe this shouldn’t be surprising, given the fact that Sims and Hursh stand as just two of the six players taken within the first 10 rounds during this three-year stretch who remain in Atlanta’s organization. Four of those players (Hursh, Carlos Salazar, Tanner Murphy and Steve Janas) were selected in 2013. Before Kyle Kubitza was claimed off waivers from the Rangers and returned to the Braves’ farm system last week, Atlanta’s pipeline was void of any players selected by the Braves in 2011.
• Braves’ Draft results: 2011 | 2012 | 2013
When Braves president of baseball operations John Hart and general manager John Coppolella assumed their current roles after the 2014 season, they began a massive rebuilding process that was aimed toward restocking a farm system that was adversely affected by the many Draft misses by the club from 2011-13.
“Our focus isn’t on how bad it was two years ago or the total lack of talent in the system, but instead to be relentless in the pursuit of talent,” Coppolella said. “It’s a monomaniacal approach, but one that we feel is already showing results and will only continue to get better and better.”
Of all the players the Braves selected from 2011-13, the only ones to play in Atlanta are Alex Wood, Shae Simmons, Matt Marksberry, Cody Martin, Tommy La Stella, John Cornely (one appearance in 2015), Gus Schlosser and Hursh. Marksberry, Simmons and Hursh are the only members of this group still …
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