How was he acquired?
The Braves made a run on college arms in the 2023 draft, and Braun was a part of that run as he was selected in the 6th round, with Atlanta using the 189th overall pick of the draft to
take the righty out of Cal State Northridge. Braun received a signing bonus of $347,500, which was slightly above slot for where he was selected in the draft.
What were the expectations for 2025?
Given the way Braun’s 2024 season ended — which featured a 3.26 ERA across two levels, with a 2.38 ERA with Mississippi — expectations were extremely high for Braun coming into this season. The primary focus point for Braun in 2025 was simple: keep progressing.
There was a legitimate chance for him to get the call up to Atlanta at some point in the season, and as injuries began to pile up, Braun was on the shortlist of guys who could be on the quick express to Truist Park.
It’s safe to say he lived up to those expectations and progressed just fine in 2025.
2025 results
While the call to the big leagues didn’t come in 2025, Braun still has a lot to be proud of when it comes to how he performed last season.
After appearing in 24 games — 23 starts — with Columbus, Braun got the promotion to triple-A Gwinnett, where he finished out the year. There was a bit of a concerning trend with Braun during his double-A stint, as he allowed 19 homers in those 24 outings. However, he managed to clear that up once he joined the Stripers — albeit in a smaller sample size.
With Gwinnett, Braun made three starts to close out the season, posting a stellar 1.42 ERA in 19 innings. He also managed to strike out 11 batters while issuing four walks.
All in all, there were a lot of good signs from Braun in what could have easily been a let down year after such a great performance in 2024. He has, without a doubt, solidified himself as one of Atlanta’s top prospects.
2026 outlook
If Braun doesn’t see Atlanta at some point in 2026, something has gone horribly wrong. He will ultimately begin the year with Gwinnett, with a quick trigger for the promotion to Atlanta.
It might take an injury or two to get him there, but there’s no doubt Braun is big league-bound — it just remains to be seen whether that will be in the rotation or out of the bullpen.
