Atlanta Braves select outfielder AJ Gracia with ninth overall pick in 2026 MLB Draft

The 2026 Major League Baseball Draft started at 1:00 p.m. Eastern time in Philadelphia. The Atlanta Braves entered the first round with the ninth overall pick, their highest selection since 2019, and also received a supplemental first-round pick at 26th overall after a player from their organization won the Rookie of the Year award.

With the ninth pick, the Braves chose outfielder AJ Gracia, a right-handed hitter from Virginia who is expected to add depth to the club’s outfield and potentially develop into a middle-of-the-order bat. The team’s second first-round selection, at 26th overall, was outfielder Carter Beck from Indiana State, a player who impressed scouts during the combine and rose on draft boards late in the process.

In the second round, Atlanta added right-handed pitcher Kaiden McCarthy, a high-velocity arm from Vermont Academy. The club continued to target pitching depth in later rounds, selecting right-handed pitchers Jensen Hirschkorn and Cole Dennis in the third and fourth rounds, respectively.

The draft featured 30 first-round selections overall, followed by competitive-balance and compensation rounds that extended the event into its fourth round. Teams across the league filled a mix of positions, with notable picks including shortstops, outfielders, and pitchers from a range of high schools and colleges.

"The Braves are looking to spread out money this draft and go a bit down the consensus boards to select a top-tier hitter with the potential to play up the middle at the next level," said Matt Powers, a draft analyst for Battery Power.

"The Braves get a high-octane arm out of the high school ranks," Powers added regarding the selection of Kaiden McCarthy.

"The Braves dip into the prep pipeline again with another righty that’s going to take an overslot bonus to sign," Powers noted about Jensen Hirschkorn.

"Three straight prep pitchers for the Braves as they go for another hard-throwing righty in Cole Dennis," Powers said about the fourth-round pick.

Battery Power will continue to update its coverage as the draft proceeds over the next two days.