Scouting Report

Scouting grades: Fastball: 50 | Curveball: 60 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 50 | Overall: 50

McKenzie was a Top 100 prospect as the 2025 Draft approached, one who reminded some of fellow North Carolina high school product MacKenzie Gore, especially in terms of his ability to spin a breaking ball. He didn’t have the same velocity jump as Gore did in his senior year, but some scouts did think McKenzie flashed first-round potential as the Draft approached. His commitment to LSU stood in the way, but the Braves took him in the fourth round, giving him a first-round caliber bonus of $3 million to walk away from the Tigers.

The Braves have never shied away from a high school pitching prospect, and McKenzie is very much a ball of clay ready to be molded. His feel for spin is unquestionable, with a hammer 75-78 mph curveball that is already a plus pitch; it will only get better as he adds strength and power. He showed glimpses of excellent velocity (90-95 mph) out of the gate last spring, but isn’t yet able to maintain it deep into his starts. There’s some fade and sink in his low-80s changeup, something he’ll have to commit to throwing more as a pro to allow it to develop.

McKenzie has shown an ability to throw strikes overall, but that also can improve if he can tighten up his delivery and long arm action. There’s room to add to his 6-foot-2 frame, though he has a narrow build. There’s a great variance in what he can become, but there are those who thought had he gone on to LSU, he might have emerged as the next Kade Anderson, who went No. 3 overall in the 2025 Draft.

Scouting grades: Fastball: 50 | Curveball: 60 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 50 | Overall: 50

McKenzie is reminiscent of fellow North Carolina prep left-hander MacKenzie Gore, with similar size, athleticism and aptitude for spinning a curveball. The biggest difference is that McKenzie didn't make the same velocity jump as a senior that Gore did en route to becoming the third overall pick in the 2017 Draft. Some teams thought McKenzie flashed first-round potential when they saw him early this spring and while he landed in the fourth round, the Braves gave him late first-round money ($3 million) to sign as a projection play.

McKenzie's hammer curveball is already a plus pitch at 75-78 mph and will get even better once he adds more power. He excited scouts by working with a 90-95 mph fastball with armside run carry in his first start of the season, but he doesn't hold velocity deep into games and has multiple contests where he operated more at 87-91. He has the makings of an average low-80s changeup with some fade and sink but will need to use it more often to gain more consistency.

Though he has a loose arm and moves down the mound well, McKenzie could stand to tighten up a delivery that features a long arm action. He throws a decent amount of strikes but needs to refine his control and command. He has room to put more strength on his 6-foot-2, 190-pound build, but he also has a narrow frame that leads to differing opinions of how much muscle he can add.

Video scouting report »

Scouting grades: Fastball: 50 | Curveball: 60 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 50 | Overall: 50

McKenzie is reminiscent of fellow North Carolina prep left-hander MacKenzie Gore, with similar size, athleticism and aptitude for spinning a curveball. The biggest difference is that McKenzie didn't make the same velocity jump as a senior that Gore did en route to becoming the third overall pick in the 2017 Draft. Some teams thought McKenzie flashed first-round potential when they saw him early this spring but he's more likely to fit in the second round as a projection play.

McKenzie's hammer curveball is already a plus pitch at 75-78 mph and will get even better once he adds more power. He excited scouts by working with a 90-95 mph fastball with armside run carry in his first start of the season, but he doesn't hold velocity deep into games and has multiple contests where he operated more at 87-91. He has the makings of an average low-80s changeup with some fade and sink but will need to use it more often to gain more consistency.

Though he has a loose arm and moves down the mound well, McKenzie could stand to tighten up a delivery that features a long arm action. The Louisiana State recruit throws a decent amount of strikes but needs to refine his control and command. He has room to put more strength on his 6-foot-2, 190-pound build, but he also has a narrow frame that leads to differing opinions of how much muscle he can add.

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	03/05/2026	LHP Briggs McKenzie assigned to Atlanta Braves Prospects.
	08/04/2025	FCL Braves activated LHP Briggs McKenzie.
	07/31/2025	LHP Briggs McKenzie assigned to FCL Braves.
	07/15/2025	Atlanta Braves signed LHP Briggs McKenzie.
	07/15/2025	LHP Briggs McKenzie assigned to Atlanta Braves.
	05/26/2025	College Workout activated LHP Briggs McKenzie.
	09/10/2024	LHP Briggs McKenzie assigned to High School Workout.