Picking eighth in the first round of the 2018 MLB Draft, the Atlanta Braves went with prep right-handed pitcher Carter Stewart out of Florida.
Atlanta Braves draft Carter Stewart with 8th overall pick
Source: Baseball Factory
Stewart has a mid-90s fastball but draws raves for his curveball, specifically for his high spin rates, all the rage in modern baseball. That pitch has been called anything from “freaky” to “legendary,” depending on the source.
From Baseball America, who ranked Stewart as the ninth-best prospect heading into the draft:
“Stewart’s curveball was so impressive, in fact, that TrackMan honored the righthander at the Perfect Game All-America Classic in San Diego and said his breaking ball was among the most impressive pitches the company has ever tracked, at any level.”
The 6’6 right-hander posted an 0.91 ERA as a senior for Eau Gallie High School in Melbourne, Florida in 2018, and more than twice as many strikeouts (128) as innings pitched (61⅔).
“In high school, I was more of a fastball-curveball guy,” Stewart told MLB.com. “Then people kind of raved about my curveball. Apparently, I guess, it’s impressive to some people. I’ve been trying to work really hard on a third pitch, which would be a changeup. It’s kind of been better over the last year or so.”
Stewart has a college commitment to Mississippi State should he decide not to sign a professional contract.
The eighth overall pick comes with an allotted bonus slot value of $4,980,700.
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