Top Braves prospect Briggs McKenzie is getting Chris Sale comps, but there’s one big difference

Atlanta Braves pitching prospect Briggs McKenzie is drawing comparisons to ace Chris Sale during his stint in the Arizona Fall League. Both left-handed pitchers utilize a lower arm slot, achieve above-average extension, and rely heavily on sharp breaking pitches. However, writer Eric Cole notes that a key difference lies in fastball velocity, as Sale consistently reaches the mid-to-upper 90s while McKenzie currently pitches in the low-to-mid 90s.

McKenzie signed with Atlanta out of high school after securing a $3 million over-slot bonus in the 2025 MLB Draft. After missing time in 2026 due to elbow nerve irritation, McKenzie is working through the Arizona Fall League and actively embraces studying traits from legendary pitchers like Sale and Nolan Ryan.