With the team’s final pick in the top 100 of this year’s MLB Draft, the Braves finally picked themselves up a high school pitcher with upside. This marks the latest the team has waited to do so in the Hart/Coppy era.
Tarnok is a two-way player out of Riverview High School in Riverview, Florida. Though he held his own with the bat and wanted to play as a position player, there is no denying Tarnok has way more upside as a pitcher and his Senior year performance had his stock soaring as as such. He posted a 0.66 ERA in 12 appearances this past season with 63 K’s in just 53 innings. It’s hard to really dominate more than that, so it is easy to see why he finally made the commitment to pitching.
Tarnok’s best pitch is a low to mid 90’s fastball with a bunch of sink, but it has flirted with upper 90’s at times. He also tosses a curveball and changeup, and pitches primarily from the stretch. He was committed to go play baseball for Tampa, but it is likely the Braves get a deal done here. Hopefully this will get done, and the Braves can start developing this kid with a bunch of talent and a projectable frame.
Jacob de Grom comparisons have already hit Twitter for you optimists out there.