Let’s talk about the Atlanta Braves and the 2020 MLB Draft—a draft that, in hindsight, produced some real gems but also a few swings and misses.
One of those swings? Outfielder Jesse Franklin, who the Braves just released after four years in the organization.
A Draft Class of Hits and Misses
The 2020 MLB Draft was unlike any other—only five rounds, thanks to COVID-19, making every pick even more crucial.
Atlanta had just four selections, and with one of them, at No. 97 overall in the third round, they grabbed Franklin.
At the time, he looked like a solid pick. A left-handed slugger from Michigan with power potential? Sounds good, right?
But here’s where things get interesting: The Braves picked Franklin before selecting two pitchers who would go on to become key members of their rotation—Spencer Strider (fourth round) and Bryce Elder (fifth round).
Those guys are now critical pieces of Atlanta’s pitching staff, while Franklin never made it past Double-A.
Injuries and Development Struggles
Franklin’s professional career never quite took off the way Atlanta had hoped.
After spending 2023 at Double-A Mississippi, where he put up a .232/.315/.419 slash line with 15 home runs and 46 RBI in 94 games, he was sidelined for all of 2024 due to injury.
In December, his roster status was moved to Columbus, but now the Braves have officially parted ways with him.
It’s a tough break for Franklin, who had once been a highly regarded prospect. The Seattle Mariners actually drafted him back in 2017 out of high school (37th round), but he chose the college route instead, starring at Michigan before entering the 2020 draft.
He showed plenty of promise at the collegiate level, hitting .327 with a .967 OPS as a freshman, but the transition to pro ball proved to be a challenge.
The Braves 2020 Draft in Perspective
Meanwhile, the Braves’ other picks from that draft—Strider, Elder, and Jared Shuster—each carved out different paths.
Strider has become a frontline starter, Elder is holding down a rotation spot, and Shuster, the team’s first-round selection at No. 25 overall, was traded to the White Sox last offseason in the deal for reliever Aaron Bummer.
As for Franklin, his time with Atlanta is now over. In three minor league seasons, he posted a .238/.319/.467 slash line with 87 extra-base hits in 210 games. Not bad numbers, but in an organization as stacked as Atlanta’s, the margin for error is razor-thin.
So, what’s next for Franklin? Could another team take a chance on him? Maybe. Power-hitting lefty bats always have some appeal, but with injuries and a stalled development track, his road to the majors just got a whole lot tougher.
