Scouting Report

Scouting grades: Hit: 40 | Power: 45 | Run: 70 | Arm: 55 | Field: 55 | Overall: 40

An alumnus of MLB Develops programs like the Hank Aaron Invitational and Breakthrough Series, Drake was a toolsy outfielder from Atlanta who went to the MLB Draft League to test his mettle ahead of the 2023 Draft. He performed well over a small sample there ahead of the Braves taking him in the fifth round of that July’s Draft and going over slot -- close to $750,000 -- to sign him away from his commitment to Georgia Tech. The younger brother of former NFL running back Kenyan Drake, Isaiah really struggled in his first full season of pro ball, but made some great adjustments in 2025 to perform his way from Single-A Augusta to High-A Rome in his age-19 season.

The Braves knew it might take a while for things to click for Drake, and when they sent him to Augusta in 2024 to sink or swim, he sunk, hitting .163 with a 35.5 percent strikeout rate in 69 games in the Carolina League. He slashed that last year with just a 21.3 percent K rate across two levels, and his overall miss and chase rates also went down. Strong and physical, the next step in his development with his improved ability to make contact might be tapping into his considerable raw power more consistently.

Drake loves to run, swiping 46 bags last year, with some scouts putting an 80 run grade on him. That helps him go get the ball in center field and he’s improved in that facet of the game as well. There’s work to be done still, but he could be a plus defender when all is said and done. This was a bit of a lottery ticket for the Braves, but if his aptitude keeps trending in this direction, they could cash in.

Scouting grades: Hit: 40 | Power: 50 | Run: 70 | Arm: 50 | Field: 50 | Overall: 40

Drake’s older brother Kenyan has had a fairly lengthy NFL career, but Isaiah chose the baseball route. Playing his high school ball in the Braves’ backyard, it looked like he might be heading to Georgia Tech for college, but after performing well in the Draft League and the Combine, the Braves decided to go way over slot and give him close to $750,000 in the fifth round to sign him away from campus. He had a brief, and uneventful, debut in the Florida Complex League after signing. 

Young for his Draft class, Drake is a left-handed hitter who could develop an exciting power-speed combination. He might be the fastest player in the system now and that should help him on both sides of the ball. He has raw power aplenty to tap into and will have to work on his approach and his ability to barrel up the baseball to get to it as he advances.

Drake’s speed allows him to cover a ton of ground in center field and he should be able to stick there, especially as he improves his reads and routes and doesn’t simply outrun the ball. Patience is going to be key here, as he’s a bit of a project, but the payoff could be considerable considering the raw tools.

Scouting grades: Hit: 40 | Power: 50 | Run: 70 | Arm: 50 | Field: 50 | Overall: 40

For years, and regardless of who is running the ship, the Braves have prided themselves on not missing Draft prospects in their own backyard. The younger brother of NFL running back Kenyan Drake, Isaiah Drake is a toolsy but raw outfielder most may have thought needed to head to Georgia Tech for more seasoning. The Braves thought otherwise and took the Georgia prepster, who had raised his profile in the Draft League and at the Combine, in the fifth round of the 2023 Draft and went more than double over slot value to sign him away from that college commitment before sending him to the Florida Complex League for his pro debut.

There’s a lot to dream on with Young, a left-handed hitter who turned 18 just days after being drafted. He has the potential to develop an intriguing power-speed combination, with close to top-of-the-scale wheels that should help him be a threat on the basepaths as well as cover a lot of ground in the outfield. There’s plenty of developing raw power there, with the 6-foot outfielder showing some now strength and the ability to use it at times. He will need to refine his approach as he progresses so he can make enough contact against good pitching to get to that pop.

Drake’s speed should enable him to play center field for a long time. Right now, he can outrun mistakes on reads and routes, something that should improve with more reps and instruction. He might seem like a bit of a project, but it would not be the first time the Braves have bought high on a local kid and helped him develop into a solid big leaguer.

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	03/05/2026	OF Isaiah Drake assigned to Atlanta Braves Prospects.
	08/01/2025	OF Isaiah Drake assigned to Rome Emperors from Augusta GreenJackets.
	09/25/2024	Augusta GreenJackets activated OF Isaiah Drake from the 7-day injured list.
	09/25/2024	Augusta GreenJackets activated OF Isaiah Drake from the 7-day injured list.
	09/25/2024	Augusta GreenJackets activated OF Isaiah Drake from the 7-day injured list.
	08/27/2024	Augusta GreenJackets placed OF Isaiah Drake on the 7-day injured list.
	08/08/2024	Augusta GreenJackets activated OF Isaiah Drake from the 7-day injured list.
	08/08/2024	Augusta GreenJackets activated OF Isaiah Drake from the 7-day injured list.
	05/18/2024	Augusta GreenJackets placed OF Isaiah Drake on the 7-day injured list.
	05/18/2024	Augusta GreenJackets activated OF Isaiah Drake from the 7-day injured list.
	05/09/2024	Augusta GreenJackets sent OF Isaiah Drake on a rehab assignment to FCL Braves.
	04/05/2024	Augusta GreenJackets placed OF Isaiah Drake on the 7-day injured list.
	04/05/2024	OF Isaiah Drake assigned to Augusta GreenJackets.
	03/07/2024	Atlanta Braves Prospects activated OF Isaiah Drake.
	02/29/2024	OF Isaiah Drake assigned to Atlanta Braves.
	09/19/2023	Rome Braves activated OF Isaiah Drake.
	08/29/2023	OF Isaiah Drake assigned to Rome Braves from FCL Braves.
	07/24/2023	OF Isaiah Drake assigned to FCL Braves.
	07/13/2023	Atlanta Braves signed OF Isaiah Drake.
	06/15/2023	OF Isaiah Drake assigned to College Workout.
	06/01/2023	OF Isaiah Drake assigned to Trenton Thunder.
	07/14/2022	High School Workout activated OF Isaiah Drake.
	07/14/2022	OF Isaiah Drake and assigned to High School Workout.