Comments on: Draft 2009: Will the Braves take best available Georgian?

By: Ann Bowman

Ann Bowman — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 21:09:38 +0000

Re: Kenny Henderson from Ringgold. You are correct..his teammate was Billy Stephens and he was drafted by the Dodgers in 1991.

By: The Braves' No. 1 pick: A Minor addition or a major reach? | Mark Bradley

The Braves' No. 1 pick: A Minor addition or a major reach? | Mark Bradley — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 14:19:45 +0000

[...] Here was Jim Callis, the Baseball America writer who tabbed Minor as the Braves’ No. 1 pick in his mock draft: “[He] doesn’t have as high an upside as some others.” [...]

By: Mekons

Mekons — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 18:06:52 +0000

This is such a mediocre draft, having a 7 pick is a mixed blessing. We’ll end up someone who might have gone in the second round in another year, but still have to pay top dollar for the honor.

If the Braves draft Tate, it might just be a punt, because he isn’t going to sign for anything other than record cash, which we aren’t likely to pay. There are players far lower in the draft who are just as likely to become major leaguers as the 18 year old pitchers available — the injury rate for high school pitchers is pathetic.

By: Mark Bradley

Mark Bradley — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 16:19:13 +0000

Thanks, Matt. (For those of you who don’t know, Mr. Winkeljohn is an esteemed former AJC colleague.) I believe I got Henderson’s coach’s phone number from you way back when. And I still remember what he told me: He’d be out cutting the grass, and if his cellphone blinked he’d know the call was a scout asking about Kenny.

By: Matt Winkeljohn

Matt Winkeljohn — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 15:47:23 +0000

Yeah, Kenny Henderson from Ringgold. Drafted No. 5, I believe.

Had a teammate in HS — believe the name was Billy Stephens but could be wrong — who was also a stud. I think the Dodgers drafted him in the 19th round.

Henderson was real lanky, threw from several release points. Stephens was thicker. Both were very good with the bat, too.

I hacked about them many moons ago.

Regarding Tate, I have to wonder if the Braves aren’t hesitant about him because of the George Lombard experience. Great athlete, better sport in H.S. was football. They thought he would develop in the minors. He did, sort of, but always looked like a football player playing baseball. I saw him quite a bit in H.S. and always thought FB was his ticket by far. Still think the guy could’ve been an outstanding college FB player with potential to play in the NFL. He wasn’t the best baseball player on his team at Lovett. Had an underclass teammate named Brent Abernathy. Made it to the Bigs and stuck a while. Shoot, may still be around.

Curtright would know. He’s a freak for that stuff.

By: black dude

black dude — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 14:01:14 +0000

you need to look at Brandon Jacobs…My cousin could have been at Auburn but baseball is a better career. He’s hitting the balls out the park in Kansas City, Boston and New York Yankees. SLEEPER

By: Mark Bradley

Mark Bradley — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 14:00:40 +0000

I actually saw Herschel, Dupree and Bo play in person. (They were all on Kentucky’s schedule when I worked in Lexington, which was one reason Kentucky tended not to win.) And I’d throw one other name in there as a prototype type: Adrian Peterson.

By: Jonathan

Jonathan — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 14:00:36 +0000

Braves will be looking at:

Zack Wheeler and Tyler Matzek – if they are not taking then Alex White and Shelby Miller would be the next guys on their board it seems.

Most people like Matzek over Wheeler, but there is a chance neither of them fall to the Braves at 7.

There are no power bats in this draft really – and you cannot draft on need to find Chippers replacement..this isnt the NFL draft, very different.

By: Recovering Sports Junkie

Recovering Sports Junkie — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 13:53:21 +0000

Actually, there never has been a “next Herschel” to sign with Georgia. Bo Jackson fit the prototype but had less hype. But no one, with the possible exception of Marcus Dupree, was as big AND fast as Herschel and Bo. They would dust any of the subsequent big tailbacks in the 100. They were freaks of nature.

By: ebdawg

ebdawg — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 13:51:42 +0000

When you do get out to see some High School baseball Mark, come to Cartersville. The AJC really blew their coverage of the Cartersville vs Columbus AAA Championship series. The only thing I saw was from a Columbus writer. All that coverage of the STATE High School playoffs and nothing about two of the best baseball programs in the state!!! D Tate is the real deal.. I would love to see the Braves get him. He works hard… so I’m sure he will develop into a great player.