Braves' 1st-round pick never signed, left for Japan — and may have path back to MLB

Braves' 1st-round pick never signed, left for Japan — and may have path back to MLB originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here . The Atlanta Braves drafted Carter Stewart in 2018 with the No.

8 overall pick in the MLB Draft. He didn't sign, though, and instead he has traveled an unprecedented path. Stewart went to play professionally in Japan.

Nearly a decade later, Stewart is starting to make the case that it might be time for him to return to MLB. "The SoftBank starter is sitting 94 mph on his fastball (touching 97) and locating it effectively at the top of the zone to set up his high-70s curveball, which is averaging over 3,100 RPM and has been his calling card since high school," writes Yuri Karasawa of Just Baseball . "What stands out most, however, is his increased comfort with a mid-80s splitter as a true putaway weapon.

He’s boosted the usage on it from 22% versus righties and 25% versus lefties in 2024 to 35% against both, generating a 59% whiff rate overall. " MORE: Jazz Chisholm didn't even know rules as he messed up ending of Yankees' game Stewart would be a free agent if he eventually entered into an offseason with the intention of coming to MLB. He never actually signed a contract with the Braves, so they don't hold any kind of rights toward him.