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Kiley McDaniel of ESPN recently updated his updated draft rankings, and now two days before the start of the 2024 MLB Draft he has posted his third mock draft. There isn’t much surprise to me here to see where Atlanta goes, as McDaniel has them taking Iowa Hawkeyes right handed pitcher Brody Brecht with the 24th overall pick. Brecht struck out 128 batters in 78 ¹⁄₃ innings this spring. He ranks as McDaniel’s #19 overall prospect, and is his fourth-highest rated college pitcher in what is a weak class overall.

So to get things out of the way — I don’t think Brecht will be available at 24 and that’s not an uncommon opinion among people projecting this draft. There just aren’t a lot of quality pitchers to be found in this draft and it pushes guys with command questions like Brecht up. This is more of a who is left over kind of situation, with Brecht among an array of players that Atlanta is hoping would slide down to 24. Brecht has arguably a pair of double-plus pitches with his fastball and slider, and is a pretty easy guy to project the Braves liking.

One interesting note from McDaniel’s top draft prospects list is his ranking of Braylon Doughty. McDaniel was the high guy on Owen Murphy a couple of seasons ago, and is the high man on Doughty as well ranking him as the 20th best prospect in this draft. There is a strong connection between the Braves and Doughty being thrown around and he could be an option for Atlanta if one of their preferred guys don’t fall. From the names we’ve heard seriously connected to Atlanta, my personal preference would be Seaver King, Carson Benge, Theo Gillen, Brody Brecht, Braylon Doughty, Jurrangelo Cijntje, Carter Johnson in that order, though I’m not confident any of those players beyond Johnson will be available at 24.