It is rare for a seventh round pick to carry as much hype into their first full season as what surrounds AJ Smith-Shawver, but then again it is rare for a seventh round pick to get $1 million right out of high school. When the Braves selected Smith-Shawver out of Colleyville Heritage High School in Colleyville, Texas there was immediate whispers amongst those within the organization about how much hope they had for the young flamethrower. His short taste of the Florida Complex League saw him strike out 16 batters in 8 1⁄3 innings but he struggled with 10 walks and had an 8.
First Impressions of Atlanta Braves Prospect AJ Smith-Shawver
