The Atlanta Braves secured the ninth overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft after the draft lottery concluded in December. Although the team entered the lottery with the sixth-best odds to land the top selection, the ninth position still offers an exceptional opportunity to add a talented prospect to the organization's system.
Several standout college and high school players remain available at this spot, each representing different positional needs and upside profiles.
Cameron Flukey, Right-Handed Pitcher, Coastal Carolina University
Cameron Flukey ranks among the elite college pitching prospects heading into 2026. The 6-foot-6 right-hander impressed scouts throughout his sophomore season at Coastal Carolina, compiling an 8-2 record with a 3.19 ERA across 17 starts and 101⅔ innings.
His strikeout production stood at 118, demonstrating the dominant stuff that has scouts evaluating him as a potential frontline starter.
Flukey's calling cards are an elite fastball and an exceptional curveball. His four-seam fastball consistently sits in the mid-90s, touching 98 mph at its peak, paired with advanced command that generated a 75% strike percentage during the 2025 season.
His curveball represents one of the most intriguing pitches in the entire class, featuring an upper-70s velocity with plus shape that induced a 49% whiff rate and held opponents to just a .261 slugging percentage against it. Combined with a legitimate 70-grade changeup, Flukey's three-pitch arsenal projects as starter-quality at the professional level.
The Coastal Carolina product works from a high release point that he repeats consistently across his offerings, providing the deception necessary for an elite offspeed arsenal.
His advanced fastball command and 28.3% strikeout rate in 2025, paired with an impressive 5.8% walk rate, demonstrate both stuff and control. At the ninth overall position, Flukey represents a player who looks the part of a big league starter and could develop into an ace.
Jackson Flora, Right-Handed Pitcher, UC Santa Barbara
Jackson Flora figures as another legitimate pitching option for the Braves at number nine.
The junior right-hander from UC Santa Barbara ranked 14th overall on MLB Pipeline's prospect rankings, establishing himself as the third-highest ranked collegiate pitcher in the class behind only Coastal Carolina's Cameron Flukey and Florida's Liam Peterson.
Flora's 2025 season showcased impressive numbers despite competing at the mid-major level. In 75 innings, he compiled a 3.60 ERA while striking out 86 batters, holding opposing hitters to a remarkable .209 batting average.
His best performance came on April 19 when he pitched a complete game shutout against Cal Poly, allowing just one hit in that outing. Flora earned first-team All-Big West honors and contributed to UC Santa Barbara's conference-best 3.92 team ERA.
The right-hander possesses a triple-digit fastball and strong offspeed pitches that generate consistent swing-and-miss. His pitching repertoire and consistency at the college level position him similarly to his predecessor Tyler Bremner, who was selected second overall by the Angels in the 2025 draft.
The historical precedent of UC Santa Barbara producing early-round picks—including Dillon Tate, who went fourth overall to Texas in 2015—adds credibility to Flora's prospect status.
Jacob Lombard, Shortstop, Gulliver Prep High School
Jacob Lombard enters the 2026 draft class as the seventh-ranked overall prospect and represents a high-upside high school shortstop option available at nine.
The 6-foot-3, 190-pound right-handed hitter from Miami brings an exceptional collection of physical tools that has prompted comparisons to other elite young shortstops in the class.
Lombard's athletic profile distinguishes him from many prep prospects. He demonstrates plus-plus speed, recording a 6.11-second 60-yard dash time at Perfect Game National, and possesses excellent defensive actions at shortstop with smooth feet and hands that allow him to execute every phase of the position.
His plus raw power allows him to drive the ball with authority, although his game power likely projects to above-average as he develops at the professional level.
The prospect does carry some questions regarding his hit tool, as his pure contact rates are not elite, and he demonstrates swing-and-miss tendencies that create variance in his overall profile. His approach is sound and he gets on base at a high clip, rarely expanding the strike zone, utilizing a slightly open stance with good balance to use the whole field.
Despite these concerns, the combination of athleticism, tools, and upside—with the exception of UCLA's Roch Cholowsky—makes Lombard a potential top-10 talent. Baseball America noted that there is an easy case to be made for Lombard having the most upside in the class outside of Cholowsky, and scouts have evaluated him as a potential first-round pick despite his high school status.
Sawyer Strosnider, Outfielder, Texas Christian University
Sawyer Strosnider represents an outfield option with significant offensive potential and an intriguing collection of tools.
The 6-foot-2, 200-pound left-handed hitter made an immediate impact at Texas Christian University as a freshman, earning Big 12 Freshman of the Year honors after an exceptional spring and summer campaign.youtube
Strosnider's 2025 season featured a .350/.420/.650 slash line with 11 home runs, 10 triples, and 13 doubles, stealing 10 bases while displaying the athleticism that defines his profile.
His approach showed above-average bat-to-ball skills despite a somewhat slow offensive start to the season, with exceptional pop to both sides of the plate. At the plate, he demonstrates excellent bat speed and plus raw power, particularly to the pull side, along with a strong arm and plus running ability.
The TCU prospect brings the type of tooled-up profile that scouts covet in corner outfielders, combining physical gifts with improved hitting polish. While he could sharpen his swing decisions and become more selective in subsequent seasons, his freshman performance at a Power Five conference program demonstrates legitimate first-round potential.
A potential area of concern involves questions about his hit tool's long-term development and whether his approach will continue to show polish as he faces more advanced pitching.
Eric Becker, Shortstop, University of Virginia
Eric Becker rounds out the potential Braves targets at nine with an experienced college shortstop who has proven production at the SEC level.
The Virginia product accumulated impressive offensive numbers over two seasons with the Cavaliers, slashing .366/.459/.637 over 95 games with outstanding plate discipline.
Becker's hitting capability and disciplined approach generated a walk rate around 10 percent while maintaining a strikeout rate below 20 percent—both exceptional marks that demonstrate selective hitting and an understanding of the strike zone.
His powerful bat and two strong seasons at a competitive ACC program establish him as one of the most polished college position players heading into the draft.
However, questions about Becker's long-term viability at shortstop temper his prospect status. He lacks considerable speed and possesses a weaker arm compared to other shortstop prospects, suggesting that his defensive future may ultimately lie at a different position.
Nevertheless, his offensive potential remains difficult to ignore, and teams might consider moving him to second or third base while capitalizing on his hitting prowess. At the ninth overall spot, Becker offers lower risk than some high school prospects while still presenting legitimate offensive upside at the professional level.
