The Atlanta Braves have been praised for their acute flair for athlete purchase, pursuing talent that others may overlook, regardless of rating. With the Rule 4 Draft reduced to just 20 rounds, many players who would have been selected in later rounds are now undrafted free agents (UDFAs).
Following the draft, the Braves quickly signed four intriguing UDFAs, including two catchers and two pitchers, forming a potential future battery to watch. Let’s look into some intriguing prospects:
Derek Vartanian, RHP – Campbell
Derek Dewey Vartanian is the only ranking UDFA the Braves have signed. The 20-year-old right-hander from Monroe, North Carolina, was ranked 500th by Baseball America before to the draft. After two seasons at Gaston (North Carolina) Junior College,
He finished 9-1 with a 3.08 ERA in 76 innings and transferred to Campbell in 2024. He made three starts and finished with a 2-1 record over 11 innings before his season was cut short due to injury. Despite some flaws, Vartanian has shown promise with a fastball that reaches 98 mph and an outstanding strikeout rate.
Mac Guscette, C – Alabama
Mac Lyle Guscette, a 6-foot-190-pound catcher, transferred left the University of Florida to Alabama, which is where he excelled. Guscette put up impressive stats, hitting.291 with an.844 OPS in 320 at-bats across 98 games. His excellent plate discipline, as evidenced by a low 9.7% strikeout percentage, makes him a promising prospect. Guscette, at 22 years old, still has room to improve and perfect his game.
Jacob Gomez – LHP, Old Dominion
Jacob Matthew Gomez, a 5-foot-10, 190-pound left-handed pitcher from Englewood, New Jersey, had a checkered but promising career at Old Dominion. He had a 4.30 ERA over four seasons, but his final year was very impressive, with a 2.88 ERA, a 1.047 WHIP, and 64 strikeouts in 56+ innings pitched. This is strong his efforts landed him on the NCBWA’s Stopper of the Year Award Midseason Watch List.
Austin Machado – C from Hawaii
Austin James Machado, a 6-foot-1, 205-pound disadvantaged batter from the University of Hawaii, came from St. John’s, where he had a solid batting record. Machado hit.303 with a.949 OPS at Hawaii, demonstrating his versatility by playing catcher as well as designated hitter. While he is labeled as a catcher by the Braves, his scouting film suggests he might also play outfield.
Though undrafted free agents frequently face uphill struggles, each of these players offers something unique to the table. Whether it’s Vartanian’s electric fastball, Guscette’s disciplined approach at the plate, Gomez’s late-career surge, or Machado’s diverse bat, the Braves may have discovered a few hidden treasures.
