The Braves, hosting the MLB draft at the Coca-Cola Roxy, near Truist Park, selected Basic High School (Nevada) shortstop Tate Southisene with the No. 22 overall pick on Sunday evening.
Southisene, 18, was the 2024-25 Gatorade Nevada Player of the Year. He hit .495 with nine homers, 33 RBIs and 50 runs scored for the Class 5A state champions. He was named first-team All-State three times during his high-school career.
A right-handed hitter, Southisene is known for making routine contact and his aggressive approach at the plate. He has room to grow into more power as his body develops. Southisene could also play center field thanks to his athleticism and fluidity. He’s been an asset on the bases, too, going 16-for-16 in steal attempts last season.
Braves vice president of amateur scouting Ronit Shah made it clear the team views him as a shortstop. He also lauded Southisene’s work ethic and tenacity.
“Tate is an unbelievable athlete with twitch and looseness and explosiveness to the swing, that really stood out to us,” Shah said. “A little unorthodox how he does it, but we love the freedom he plays with especially in the batter’s box.
“He has the tools to play about anywhere on the field. He has an above-average arm, he’s a plus runner. Just the athleticism, the looseness, the twitch you need to play – whether it’s shortstop, second or center – but we’re definitely going to send him out at shortstop.”
Baseball America ranked Southisene the No. 43 overall prospect in the class. In Southisene’s scouting report, Baseball America wrote: “Southisene is a bit undersized at 5-foot-11, 170 pounds (note: he says he’s now around 182 pounds) but has an enticing mix of baseball skills, a performance track record and a high-IQ style of play.”
Southisene said there were “a couple teams in play” to take him in the first round. He remembered that the Braves were his first in-home visit in the fall.
“Their player development side is great,” Southisene said. “They’re a winning organization. They’re going to continue to win and I just want to win.”
Southisene’s brother Ty, also out of Basic High School, was a fourth-round choice last summer by the Cubs (“He’s definitely made my experience a lot easier, knowing what to expect,” Tate said). Ty’s twin Tee plays for Southern California, where Tate is committed but now unlikely to sign. Their youngest sibling Troy is a prospect in next year’s draft.
“Baseball is in their blood,” Shah said.
The Braves’ newest draftee drew comparisons to Angels up-and-comer Zach Neto on the ESPN draft broadcast. Shah felt that assessment was fair.
“I think you’re seeing someone similar to him with the leg kick a little bit, a little unorthodox more than anything with the intent and violence he has in the batter’s box,” he said. “At the same time, his hands are so quick and so good, he can get to any pitch in the zone.”
Southisene shares the Braves’ enthusiasm for him remaining at shortstop, but he acknowledges, “hitting is the thing that’s going to get me to the big leagues.”
Fans inside the Roxy celebrated during the build-up to commissioner Rob Manfred announcing the selection, some doing the chop and cheering at the encouragement of the team’s drumline and mascot Blooper.
This marks the second straight year the Braves took a prep player with their first selection, after they drafted pitcher Cam Caminiti No. 24 overall in 2024. But this is the first time the franchise has invested its first pick in a prep position player since it took infielder Austin Riley out of DeSoto Central High School (Mississippi) in 2015.
While Shah wouldn’t say the team was prioritizing a position-player prospect early, the Braves’ system needs an influx of such. They have a bevy of intriguing young pitchers but their system lacks top-end position talent.
As the night continued, the board fell toward the Braves investing in more middle infielders. They selected Florida State shortstop Alex Lodise at No. 60 and East Tennessee State shortstop Cody Miller at No. 96 to complete the first night of the draft.
Lodise, a consensus All-American, won the Dick Howser Trophy for the Seminoles. He’s known for his elite bat, hitting .394/.462/.705 with 17 home runs last season. He has a high floor and could move swiftly through the season.
Baseball America ranked him No. 26 overall, suggesting he could be great value for the Braves. “I don’t think you’re ever surprised,” Shah said when asked if he didn’t expect Lodise to be available at that point.
The 21-year-old Jacksonville native is the first Seminole the Braves have drafted since 2011.
“We’ve been on him the whole year even going back to the Cape (Cod League),” Shah said. “He’s a plus shortstop in our eyes, no doubt about it. He’s making highlight plays, making the routine play look easy and also making the spectacular play look easy. We’re really excited about him.”
Miller, meanwhile, produced at a smaller program. After hitting just four homers across his first two seasons, he belted 20 in 2025. He also stole 54 bases in 164 games.
“(We selected) guys with speed and athleticism and the tools to play short,” Shah said. “You have the tools to play short, you’ll be able to fit anywhere on the diamond, especially the infield. The speed that someone like Cody Miller has, for example, he’s going to be able to play in the outfield also if he ever needs to do that.”
The draft started with a surprise, as the Nationals took 17-year-old infielder Eli Willits at No. 1 overall. He’s the third-youngest first overall pick and youngest since the Mariners selected Ken Griffey Jr. in 1987. The Angels followed with another unexpected selection, taking UC Santa Barbara right-handed pitcher Tyler Bremner.
Those selections allowed LSU standout Kade Anderson to slip to the pitching-rich Mariners at No. 3. Infielder Ethan Holliday went No. 4 to Colorado, joining the franchise that drafted his father, Matt, more than two decades ago.
About the Author
Keep Reading
The Latest
Featured
