Braves nab HS Outfielder with first round pick in MLB Draft

The 2006 MLB amateur Draft is being held today and Wednesday. There are a total of 50 rounds, 20 the first day, 30 the next.

Atlanta did something they haven't done since 2002 when they drafted some kid named Jeff Francoeur and that is take a High School Outfielder with their first overall pick. Cody Johnson, 17, is a power hitting left hander. He has played some at first base but the Braves are going to play him in the outfield, a position he is still learning. He comes in at 6-4 weighing 195. As a senior this past year he hit .525 with 15 homers, six doubles and 43 RBI's all of which led him to be named Florida's 5A State Player of the Year.

As a youth growing up his favorite player was none-other than Chipper Jones as they both come from the same area. So naturally his favorite team was the Atlanta Braves. He had this to say about being drafted by Atlanta, "It's an honor to be drafted by the Braves. I grew up watching them and it's the only team I've really ever rooted for. It's the one place I've always wanted to play. It's amazing to be drafted by the Braves."

Lets hope that he projects to be as good of a player that Chipper is and follows the same path that Francoeur on his way to the show.

Here's a look at the other Braves draft picks on the first day.

#38 RHP Cory Rasmus Russell County HS
#43 LHP Stephen Evarts Robinson HS
#51 LHP Jeffrey Locke A Crosby Kennett Sr HS
#68 RHP Dustin Evans Georgia Southern
#72 SS Robert Fountaine Daytona Beach CC
#100 LHP Chad Rogers Walsh Jesuit HS
#130 LHP Gary Hyde Georgia Tech
#160 LHP Kevin Gunderson Oregon St U
#190 RHP Steven Figueroa Edgewater HS
#220 3B Adam Coe Russell County HS
#250 RHP Casey Beck San Jacinto Col North
#280 RHP Timothy Gustafson Georgia Tech
#310 RHP Kristopher Medlen Santa Ana Col
#340 RHP Michael Mehlich Bishop Moore School
#370 1B Joshua Morris Georgia
#400 RHP Joseph Johnson Louisburg Col
#430 RHP Matthew Small Ipswich HS
#460 3B Stephen Shults Walters St CC
#490 RHP Jack Tilghman Walters St CC
#520 LHP Clayton McMillan Texarkana CC
#550 C Joseph Paxson Walters St CC

If you're not keeping count that's 16 pitchers out of 22 players, to say Atlanta is focusing on pitching would be a huge understatement but then again pitching is where Atlanta hangs its proverbial hat.