The draft update is on time this week. As we enter May, it’s starting to get to crunch time. There are only five weeks remaining until the draft is actually here. Over that time I will have scouting reports on the top 10-15 players in the country to break down what’s to like, where there are concerns and the likelihood that the Cincinnati Reds take them at #2 in the draft.
The Pitchers
J.B. Bukauskas | RHP | North Carolina
In a match up of Top 5 teams in the country, North Carolina took on Clemson on Thursday night. J.B. Bukauskas allowed just one run over 7.0 innings against #3 team in the country. He walked three batters and struck out seven, throwing 112 pitches along the way. For the season he’s posted a 1.51 ERA in 71.2 innings pitched. That’s come along with 22 walks and 96 strikeouts.
Alex Faedo | RHP | Florida
It was another solid, but unspectacular week for Alex Faedo. Taking on Georgia he allowed three runs over 6.1 innings with two walks and seven strikeouts. He was cruising along until the 7th when he allowed a 1-out double, followed by a walk and then another double. That led to one run scoring and him exiting the game. Two more runs came around to score after he left the game. For the year he’s posted a 2.62 ERA in 72.0 innings. He’s walked 22 batters and struck out 84 on the season.
Hunter Greene | RHP | Notre Dame HS (CA)
MLB.com released their latest mock draft this past week and have the Reds taking Hunter Greene. Hunter Greene may not pitch in games again this year. He’s throwing bullpen sessions for teams, but it’s up in the air if he’ll throw in a game again before he’s drafted.
MacKenzie Gore | LHP | Whiteville HS (NC)
It was a big week for the left handed MacKenzie Gore. He allowed two hits in 7.0 innings with a walk and 14 strikeouts. Baseball America has up a nice article detailing the game.
Brendan McKay | LHP | Louisville
After a tough start against Duke, Brendan McKay had a better start this week against Toledo. On the good side, he struck out 12 batters with a walk in 8.0 innings. On the flip side, all four base runners he allowed scored – giving up two homers in the game. For the year he’s posted a 2.15 ERA in 67.0 innings. He’s walked 16 batters and struck out 95.
Kyle Wright | RHP | Vanderbilt
After having some struggles earlier this spring, Kyle Wright has turned things around lately. On Saturday he took on Tennessee and allowed four runs in 7.1 innings. He was throwing a shutout through the 7th inning, but the Volunteers rallied for score five runs in the 8th. Wright left the bases loaded with 1-out and the bullpen allowed all three runs to come around to score. He finished with two walks, three hits allowed and six strikeouts.
The Hitters
Jord0n Adell | OF | Ballard HS (KY)
It was a solid week for Jordon Adell. He played in five games, going 5-14 with five walks, a double and two home runs. He only struck out once on the week. For the season he’s now hitting .514 with 16 home runs, 24 walks and 7 strikeouts.
Adam Haseley | OF | Virginia
One of the fastest risers in the 2017 draft, Adam Hasseley went 6-14 last week with two doubles and two strikeouts. Jonathan Mayo has him going at #7 in the latest MLB.com mock draft (link above). He’s hitting .399/.491/.680 on the season with 12 doubles and 12 home runs. He’s walked 32 times with 17 strikeouts.
Jeren Kendall | OF | Vanderbilt
Vanderbilt had a short schedule this past week. They only played two games. Jeren Kendall went 1-3 with a walk, solo home run and a strikeout on the 28th against Tennessee. He went 0-4 against Tennessee on the 29th. For the year he’s hitting .296/.379/.581 with 13 home runs, 22 walks and 52 strikeouts.
Royce Lewis | SS | JSerra HS (CA)
In three games last week, Royce Lewis went 4-9 with four walks. He added a triple in the game. Defensively he struggled, making four errors in the three games played. He’s hitting .385 on the year with five doubles, two triples and four home runs to go with 18 walks and seven strikeouts.
Brendan McKay | 1B | Louisville
At the plate Brendan McKay had an interesting week of beating up on lower level competition. On April 25th he hit four home runs and drove in nine runs against Eastern Kentucky. Over the next four days he went 3-11 against Northern Kentucky and Toledo. Then on April 30th, against Toledo, he went off again, going 3-5 with two home home runs. Six homers on the week and 12-21 overall. He’s now hitting .394/.514/.739 on the season with eight doubles, a triple, 13 home runs, 35 walks and 21 strikeouts.