The Braves are staring at another Rule 5 Draft decision point, and this one comes with a long list of eligible prospects plus a few names that could draw real interest from other clubs.
Atlanta’s challenge is the same one plenty of contenders face every winter: the 40-man roster fills up fast, and there usually isn’t room to shield everyone. That leaves the Braves vulnerable to losing depth, especially when other teams come hunting for upside.
Here’s the full group of Braves prospects eligible for the Rule 5 Draft: Cal Conley, Adam Zebrowski, Archer Brookman, David McCabe, Carson Taylor, Will Verdung, Ambioris Tavarez, Luke Waddell, Cade Doughty, Kevin Kilpatrick Jr., Lizandro Espinoza, Cedric De Grandpre, Drue Hackenberg, Landon Harper, Davis Polo, Cade Kuehler, Julio Robaina, Ian Mejia, Luis Vargas, Isaac Gallegos, Samuel Strickland, David Rodriguez, Riley Frey, Elison Joseph, and Cory Wall.
Among that group, David McCabe, Davis Polo, and Drue Hackenberg are the names that jump out as the most likely to be targeted.
McCabe is the most obvious position-player candidate. The corner infielder put together a strong 2026 season, hitting 20 home runs in 78 minor league games while posting a 141 wRC+.
Polo made his case on the mound. He worked across four minor league levels in 2026 and struck out 140 batters, a season that put him firmly on the radar.
Hackenberg brings a different kind of appeal. A former second-round pick, he has what the source describes as Major League quality stuff, which is exactly the sort of profile that can tempt another organization.
Even so, the Braves have seen this movie before. Many expected them to pay for leaving Blake Burkhalter unprotected last year, but he went untouched in the Rule 5 Draft.
There’s also a wrinkle that could change everything: the draft may not happen this winter because of the presumed lockout. The last time MLB went through a lockout, the Rule 5 Draft was canceled outright.
In Other News...
Braves Rotation Search Could Lead Anthopoulos Back To A Familiar Bet
Alex Anthopoulos has never been shy about betting on a pitcher he thinks can help the Braves on a short-term deal, and this offseason could present another familiar kind of gamble. With Atlanta still looking at ways to reinforce a rotation that has been tested by injuries and inconsistency, the profile of a left-hander like Kris Bubic fits the general managers usual lane: a one-year contract, some upside, and a chance for both sides to reset the market later.
Bubics appeal is rooted in the same mix that makes him tricky to project. He is coming off injuries and a recent stretch of uneven results, but he also has the kind of rsum that can make a pitcher attractive to a club willing to trust its development staff and its own pitching infrastructure. Nothing is finalized, and no negotiations have been reported, but the Braves have shown before that they are willing to take a calculated swing on a starter who needs to rebuild value. [Read more 🡒]
Braves Bring Back A Familiar Name With Big Draft Stakes
The Braves are bringing back a familiar front-office voice as they strengthen their draft and scouting operation. Dana Brown is returning to Atlanta as a Senior Advisor in Amateur Scouting, adding a seasoned evaluator to a department that has long been central to the clubs roster-building approach. Brown previously spent time with the Braves before moving on to Houston, where he eventually became general manager.
His path back to Atlanta comes after his stint with the Astros ended in August 2026, when the two sides mutually parted ways. For the Braves, the move restores a name with deep scouting experience to a role that can matter a great deal when draft season arrives and every decision in the amateur market carries extra weight. [Read more 🡒]
Braves Bring Back A Familiar Voice As Anthopoulos Builds Again
Dana Brown is back in the Braves orbit, a familiar evaluator returning to Atlanta as a senior advisor in the amateur scouting department. Brown previously served as the clubs vice president of scouting before moving on to become the Houston Astros general manager, giving the Braves another experienced voice to fold into a front office that has long valued continuity and deep scouting ties.
Browns return also reconnects him with president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos, a relationship that stretches back years through multiple stops. Their shared history has run through Montreal, Toronto and Atlanta, and the reunion adds another layer to a Braves operation that keeps leaning on trusted relationships as it builds for what comes next. [Read more 🡒]