The Braves drafted Isaiah Drake in the fifth round of the 2023 MLB Draft as an overslot prospect out of local North Atlanta HS following an impressive showing at the MLB Draft Combine.
What Were Expectations?
Expectations were fairly low for Drake heading into the year. He was drafted as a raw, but high upside prospect with considerable power and speed potential. He certainly lived up to that billing after signing in 2023, posting a .591 OPS over 19 games in the FCL. In 2024 he spent the majority of his season in Augusta, but also five games back in the FCL as a rehab assignment upon returning from injury. He was limited to just 74 games in 2024, where he slashed just .159/.269/.244 between the two levels.
2025 Results
Drake actually clearly surpassed any expectations this year, when he slashed .260/.341/.364 with five homers over 84 games back in Augusta. He did well enough to earn a promotion to Rome in the second half, and in 32 games there he slashed .303/.346/.336 with an additional home run. Combined in his 116 games he hit .272/.342/.356 with six homers, 46 steals, and 47 walks to his 105 strikeouts.
What Went Right?
Drake seemed to really take well to the coaching with the Augusta staff, as he started figuring out how to hit and cut down on his strikeouts. After posting .312 and .269 on base percentages in his first two seasons, he posted OBP’s above .340 in each stop in 2025. His strikeouts in his first two years were at a 37.7% and 35.5%, a rate he cut down to 21.3% this season. In addition after hitting a combined two homers in his first two seasons, he hit six this season.
Not a lot honestly. You could make the case that the strikeouts were still a little high and he had just 19 extra base hits over 494 plate appearances, but when you look at the growth he showed in 2025, that would be nitpicking a bit.
2026 Outlook
Drake is likely to begin the 2026 season back in Rome, and still doesn’t turn 21 until mid-July, so he still has plenty of time. It’s safe to say the biggest key for him will be continuing to improve as a hitter, which he already has shown some aptitude for doing. Getting to a bit more hard contact and extra base hits will be the next step for Drake to take, especially while not seeing his strikeout rate jump up. He is still a high upside prospect, just that it is going to take him some time to potentially get there – time which he can be afforded.
