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The Braves officially announced they have signed all 21 players from their 2026 draft class.
AJ Gracia and Carter Beck were both taken in the first round. The Braves received the extra pick as compensation from the Prospect Promotion Incentive, earned when Drake Baldwin took home the NL Rookie of the Year award last year.
Atlanta’s draft strategy closely mirrored the one they used in 2025, focusing on athletic prospects willing to take signing bonuses under slot value early. They then turned around and used the money they saved on high school arms who needed some convincing to forgo college baseball.
Kaiden McCarthy and Jensen Hirschkorn — the Braves’ second- and third-round selections — each received signing bonuses above slot value, with Hirschkorn’s near-$4 million bonus standing as the highest ever for a player selected outside the first round. That was enough to convince the 6-foot-7 hurler to choose professional baseball over his commitment to LSU.
The Tigers probably aren’t too happy with the Braves right now. That’s now the second consecutive year Atlanta has swooped in with a massive signing bonus to steal one of LSU’s highest-rated commits, with Briggs McKenzie being the other example.
Atlanta has done a fantastic job under Alex Anthopoulos drafting, signing, and developing young talent. The signing part is an often forgotten piece of the puzzle, but it’s the sign of a front office that doesn’t overlook any details.
Of the members of the 2026 draft class, three were featured among the Braves’ top 10 prospects — AJ Gracia (#5), Kaiden McCarthy (#7), and Jensen Hirschkorn (#8) — according to Kiley McDaniel of ESPN.
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