Taken from talkingchop because i don't have time to write my own reviews/opinions, but i tend to agree with what Gondee says
on #1 Pick:Lucas Sims (RHP Brookwood High)
With the 21st overall pick in the first round of the Major League Baseball First Year Player Draft, the Atlanta Braves select right-handed pitcher Lucas Sims from Brookwood High School in Snellville, Georgia. The Braves get back to drafting players from their home state, and they got a good one, a true power arm who can touch 97, and routinely sits around 91-93.
Sims is a Braves fan, whose favorite player growing up was John Smoltz. Atlanta scouts its own backyard better than anyone, and Sims is one of the top prep players in the state, and one of the best high school pitchers in the draft.
Here is what Baseball America said about Sims when they ranked him the 29th-best prospect in the draft:
Sims has been a factor in this draft class since being invited to USA Baseball's 16U trials in 2010, and he pitched last summer in the Prospect Classic for the 18U team, tossing a scoreless inning against the Collegiate National Team. Sims has been the most consistent high school pitcher in Georgia this spring, pushing him up toward the back of the first round. He has a fairly clean arm action and no obvious or significant mechanical issues. Sims consistently flashed three plus pitches this spring, including a fastball that has touched 97 mph at times and generally sits in the 90-93 mph range. He struggles at times to finish his pitches out front, causing him to leave his stuff up in the zone. Sims throws his slider with power in the low 80s, and at times it has good depth as well. He has the ability to spin a breaking ball, and he's shown a solid curveball as well that's about 10 mph slower than his slider. A Clemson recruit, Sims figures to squeeze into the back of the first round thanks to his present stuff and track record.
This is a great pick for the Braves, who get back to drafting local talent, and high-upside high school arms. As they keep saying on the draft show, you can't teach 97mph. I was hoping the Braves would select a power arm like this, and they cooperated.
on #2 Pick: Alex Wood (LHP Georgia)
Scouts can't recall a delivery quite like Wood's. When he lands on his right (lead) leg, he hops backward. It's odd to watch and will be difficult for pro pitching coaches to avoid changing. Still, he does a lot of good things, starting with his fastball. He has excellent velocity for a lefthander, touching 95-96 mph regularly and sitting in the 89-94 range. He throws a lot of strikes with his heater, showing the ability to locate it to both sides of the plate. When he's filling up the zone with his fastball, he's able to set up his changeup, his favorite pitch and a solid-average offering. His slider is a below-average pitch, and he has never shown much of a feel for spinning a breaking ball. A redshirt sophomore, Wood has had Tommy John surgery already, and between that and his delivery, he creates a wide diversity of opinion. But power lefthanders who throw strikes and perform in the Southeastern Conference (6-1, 2.64, 82 IP, 81-19 SO-BB) usually don't last long on draft day.
Obviously the funky delivery scared some teams away, which is why the Braves were able to nab him with the 85th pick. This continues the high risk, high reward draft for the Braves. I like this approach so far in a draft that is reportedly thin at the top.
Keith Law ranked Wood the 61st best prospect on his top-100 draft prospects, so whichever way you slice it this looks like excellent value for the Braves.
On 3-7 Pick:
Bryan de la Rosa, Catcher
3rd Round, 116 Overall
This short high school catcher has some of the best catch-and-throw tools in the draft. A native of Puerto Rico, he attended the Bucky Dent Baseball Academy in Florida, and is a Florida State recruit (though apparently did not sign with FSU). Depending on which review you believe, he is between 5'9" and 5'11" tall, but he's still young and could continue to grow. Atlanta continues a trend in this draft of picking high-risk, high-reward players, and de la Rosa is no exception. He will take time to develop, but should benefit from a system like the Braves, which has produced excellent catchers in recent years.
His bat may only play as average down the line, but if he continues his development, his catching skills should make him an above average backstop behind the plate. While that is likely his development floor, his ceiling could be much higher depending on how his bat comes around. Great pick by the Braves to take a high school catcher this year, they've gotten into a habit of taking college catchers without much projection the last few years.
You can view videos from his Perfect Game skills showcase here. These videos show his impressive release times on his throws to second.
Justin Black, Center Field
4th Round, 149 Overall
The Braves take another high school player, this time a center fielder from ... wait for it ... Billings, Montana. Being from a place that doesn't really have baseball, Black is a very raw player who will need a lot of development time. This pick reminds me of the Braves 2007 2nd-round pick Jon Gilmore, who didn't play that much baseball growing up in Iowa.
Black's main tool is his speed, but he has other tools lurking under the surface that only need reps to come to the forefront. He has a short, compact, and quick swing that should generate a lot of contact and pull power. Black is naturally right-handed, but has recently become a switch-hitter.
He has a strong commitment to Nebraska, but this is a higher than expected selection for Black, and that should be enough to convince him to sign with the Braves. He was ranked as the 474th-best prospect by Baseball America, so going at 149 is quite a compliment by Atlanta. He was rated as the 100th best high school player by ESPN.
Black had a private workout for the Braves in Atlanta last week. The Braves spent last year's draft selecting speedy players, and this looks like a continuation of that.
Here is a link to his college recruiting video, and here is a link to a nice local pre-draft article on Black.
You can follow him on Twitter @DatDudeJBJ.
Blake Brown, Outfield
5th Round, 179 Overall
The Braves nab a raw and toolsy college Junior with their fifth pick. This kid is the definition of high-risk, high-reward. He has terrific overall tools, but apparently doesn't play up to their full potential, holding back at times. Brown possesses good speed and has lots of power potential, but strikes out far too much, revealing a hesitant and unrefined approach to the plate. But teams can't always draft finished products, and it will be up to the Braves system to mold Brown into the player his tools say he can be. That ceiling could be very high.
Here is a link to video of Brown as a Junior at Missouri.
You can follow him on Twitter @BSQUARED39.
Josh Elander, Catcher
6th Round, 209 Overall
While listed and drafted as a catcher, Elander only converted to catching full time last year. While he has a tremendous work ethic and off-the-charts makeup, he will likely move from catcher at some point, as his receiving skills and arm only grade as average. He looks destined for right field, and his bat should produce enough power to play well there.
Elander played well for the USA Collegiate team in the summer of 2011, but struggled in the wood bat Cape Cod League the year before. Some folks thought he might jump up to the first round this year, and Baseball America ranked him as the 112th best pre-draft prospect, but concerns about his inability to stick behind the plate may have seen him fall. The Braves get a good value pick here, but they may have to go over slot to sign him away from his senior year at Texas Christian University.
Here is a great scouting video of Elander.
David Starn, Left-Handed Pitcher
7th Round, 239 Overall
The Braves reach into Ohio to select a senior pitcher from Kent State. The former walk-on, Starn was the Golden Flashes' ace this year, posting a 2.03 ERA, a .213 average against, and helping them to win the Mid-American Conference Tournament and earn an NCAA Regional Title. He will be a big part of the team as they take on Oregon this weekend in the Super Regionals.
Starn is not going to blow anyone away, though he does hold the career strikeout record for Kent State. He's a command pitcher similar to Jamie Moyer, with a high-80s fastball, but he can command all of his pitches and throw every one of them for strikes. That kind of pitcher has never scared the Braves off. He should be someone who can flourish in the Atlanta system.