The Braves have to be eyeing the top of the board a little differently this time around. After a strong 2025 draft class that’s already paying off with prospects like Briggs McKenzie and Tate Southisene making noise in their first full professional seasons, Atlanta heads into the 2026 MLB Draft with the ninth pick and another chance to land a difference-maker.
The big question is whether the Braves stay on the path they took last year or drift back toward what they’ve long done best. Atlanta leaned heavily toward position players in the previous draft, a noticeable change from its usual pitching-first approach. But with the recent problems in the starting rotation, it wouldn’t be a shock to see the Braves go back to their roots and target arms instead.
That’s why the first-round decision feels wide open. There are plenty of talented bats in the class, but one name stands out near the top: Georgia Tech outfielder Drew Burress.
Burress looks like the kind of player Atlanta should be dreaming about, even if there’s a real chance he’s gone before the Braves get to make their pick. He was a major reason Georgia Tech had the season it did, even with the Yellow Jackets coming up short in the regionals, and he’s built himself into a likely first-round selection.
The swing is clean, fast and powerful, and he pairs that with strong strike-zone control. Burress can drive the ball to all fields, and he showed he can make adjustments when the season demands it. In his junior year, he hit .358/.473/.657 with 91 hits, 22 doubles, three triples, 16 home runs, 60 RBI and a 1.130 OPS across 61 games.
Even more eye-catching, he walked more than he struck out. Burress finished with 49 walks and 43 strikeouts, which is the kind of discipline that jumps off the page.
He also brings speed, smart baserunning and enough range to handle center field, where he projects as a potential everyday option. On top of that, he has a plus arm that adds another layer to his defensive value.
For a Braves team trying to add impact talent, Burress would be a clean fit anywhere in the outfield, even if he winds up in a corner spot. If he’s still on the board at No.
9, Atlanta shouldn’t think twice. The Braves would have to take him.
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The outing still fits into the larger picture of patience, because this was about building back arm strength and rhythm rather than rushing toward a return. Atlanta can use every encouraging checkpoint it gets from a pitcher who was part of its future plans, especially with the rotation already thinned by elbow issues and the club watching every healthy arm closely. [Read more 🡒]