Mack's Mock Pick - 1.22 - RHP - Gunnar Hoglund

 Gunnar Hoglund

Mack's spin - 

37 strikeouts in 23.1 innings pitched and he's doing all this with limited velocity.

Simply put, Hoglund is a strike thrower. And he has some projection left so we may see some additional ticks on the ole fastball this year.

Either way, he is a solid back end starter projection.

 

RHP      6-5     210     Ole Miss 

 

2020 Ole Miss stat line - 4-starts, 3-0, 1.16, 23.1-IP, 37-K

 

 2-15-21 - CBS - Top 50 -

 

20. Gunnar Hoglund, RHP, Ole Miss

 

Hoglund is the counterculturist's pitcher of choice in this class. He's a 6-foot-4 command-and-control artist whose collegiate walk rate (4.6 percent) is more descriptive than Turgenev. Although Hoglund's fastball often sits in the low-90s, the pitch has boring action that allows it to hop over bats up in the zone. It's possible that some crafty coach or instructor will find a way to milk extra oomph from his fastball. Should that happen, his strike-throwing ability and secondaries are good enough to give him a mid-rotation future. Otherwise, he's probably a No. 4.

 

 1-28-21 - BA -

 

Player to know: Gunnar Hoglund, RHP.

 

Hoglund came to college with a lot of hype after he was drafted 36th overall by the Pirates in 2018 but chose to attend Ole Miss instead of signing. He’s been in the Rebels’ rotation ever since and was off to a hot start in 2020. While classmate Doug Nikhazy was Ole Miss’ Opening Day starter in 2020, Hoglund is every bit as important to the team’s 2021 College World Series hopes and is likely to be the first of the pair drafted in June. If the Rebels are to reach their ceiling, they’ll need a strong spring out of Hoglund

 

 1-26-21 - BA -

 

23. Gunnar Hoglund, RHP, Mississippi

 

Areas To Improve: Fastball velocity, improve changeup, start full season

 

Hoglund possesses some of the best pure starter traits in the 2021 class, and that’s true going back to his high school days when he walked just two batters during his senior season. Hoglund arguably has the best command in the country (he’s walked just 1.8 batters per nine) but scouts would like to see him come out this spring with more typical swing & miss stuff. Hoglund has been up to 96 mph and his fastball plays up, but he’s more typically in the 88-92 mph range. Adding more firepower to that pitch, as well as improving a changeup for lefthanded hitters, would give teams more confidence in his bat-missing ability at the next level.

 

 1-20-21 - D1 Baseball's top 100 College Prospects -

 

22 Gunnar Hoglund RHP P Ole Miss SEC

 

 1-14-21  -  Baseball America

 

Gunnar Hoglund

 

Mississippi RHP

 

Ht: 6-4 | Wt: 220 | B-T: L-R

Commit/Drafted: Pirates 2018 (36)

Age At Draft: 21.6

 

One of the best strike throwers in the country, Hoglund arrived on campus at Mississippi even after the Pirates selected him with the 36th pick of the 2018 draft. A talented high school prospect who ranked No. 84 on the BA 500, Hoglund screamed starter with a projectable frame, easy delivery, solid fastball and command that evaluators at the time thought could be plus. In two seasons with Ole Miss, that’s continued to be the case. Now listed at a strong, 6-foot-4, 220-pounds, Hoglund is one of the better command arms in the class and has walked just 18 batters in 91.1 innings (1.8 per nine) as a full-time starter, while compared to 90 strikeouts (8.9 per nine). Hoglund’s fastball typically sits in the 88-92 mph range, though he has been up to 95-96 at his best and he throws a sharp slider off of his heater, which comes out of his hand with a similar look in the low 80s. The pitch has good bite and the look of an above-average offering. He also throws a low-80s changeup that is his third pitch, but it’s his fastball that he primarily uses to generate whiffs. While the pitch doesn’t have elite velocity just yet, it has some riding life and his overall command allows it to play up. He’s solidly a day one arm who could take a massive jump up boards with an appreciable jump in velocity given his likely-starter profile.

 

 1-2-21 - halo hangout -

 

Gunnar Hoglund, RHP

 

If the Angels liked Detmers, they should like a similarly built arm in Gunnar Hoglund. Hoglund’s best pitch is either a plus changeup or slider. Like Detmers he works around a fastball that sits 89-91 w/ 18 inches of VB, a high release height and short extension. He’s likely a sinker-guy at the next level even with the above average vertical movement because his approach angles are so steep, but his two secondary pitches give him some upside. He’s a low ceiling, high floor type of pick that makes sense for what the Angels have taken in the past, but it’s probably best for the current state of their pro team to look elsewhere.

 

Hoglund was drafted in the First Round out of High School, but opted to not sign and head to Mississippi. Hoglund’s still growing, and his profile still is largely unfinished, but he currently flashes three above average or better (55+) pitches. His FB being the best offering, a plus pitch, even with only high-80’s stuff. It’s a high spin (2,410 rpm) with average extension (6.1) and decent vertical movement (18.3 IVB).

 

He commands the FB well to both sides, and gets fantastic results at the top half of zone where he gets most of his 14.0 SwStr%. His SL/CH are his two secondaries, both flashing plus with ideal spin rates (2,490 rpm on SL, 1,825 rpm on CH), the SL’s got fantastic movement profiles (minimal vMov, some hMov), ranging from 80-82, touching 84, though with average extension (5.9). Elite swing-and-miss data clouds his profile as well (27.1% on SL, 28.0% on CH).

 

Hoglund’s in a weird spot as the velocity doesn’t profile at the top of a draft (similar to Detmers) but the pitch data is interesting. With improved velocity and continued swing-and-miss stuff, he’s a top 10 pick. Has fantastic makeup by all accounts, and is an incredibly smart person who graduated early (this is important because the team drafting him doesn’t have to pay for school).

 

 12-25-20 - https://medium.com/minor-league-madhouse/2021-mlb-mock-draft-3

 

Atlanta Braves

 

Since the Carter Stewart fiasco in 2018, the Braves and GM Alex Anthopolous have erred on the side of caution, drafting easier sign college players. This year is no exception as the college crop is strong enough while the prep crop is weaker. The Braves could once again grab a high floor college arm, and possibly the best bet for them is former competitive balance pick Gunnar Hoglund. Part of a strong Mississippi rotation, Hoglund quietly put together an impressive SEC resume in his first two seasons, and probably would have been seen his stock rise more if COVID hadn't shut down the season. Hoglund throws at a low to mid 90’s tick and complements with a mid 80’s slider with bite and a changeup. Hoglund would be a nice complement to 2020 first rounder Jared Shuster, and considering he’s average to above average across the board with potential for growth, he could at least be a midrotation option.

 

 12-18-20 - Future Sox Mock Draft -

 

29. Los Angeles Dodgers: Gunnar Hoglund, RHP, Ole Miss

 

Hoglund turned down the Pirates after going 36th overall in 2018. The right-hander’s stuff didn’t really improve in his two years at Mississippi, but the fastball and slider have both been better this summer. The 6-foot-4, right-hander has an easy delivery.

 

 12-18-20 -

 

college baseball info - top player from each school -

 

5. Ole Miss

 

Gunnar Hoglund, RHP (2021): A 1st round pick out of high school, Hoglund’s a model darling with exceptional command and still has plenty of room to fill out his 6-05/205 frame.

 

 12-3-20  -  Perfect Game combined their picks for the first two rounds in this mock draft  -

 

4. Boston Red Sox | Jaden Hill, RHP, Louisiana State | (2/33) Gunnar Hoglund, RHP, Mississippi

 

Hill possesses as much upside as any in the class with a three pitch arsenal that have all flashed plus at times. He relies mostly on a mid-90s fastball and wipeout slider but has a feel for his changeup as well with the ability to get it to both sides of the plate, Hoglund has been a name steadily rising up boards ever since his prep days. The Ole Miss junior comes with a starter’s arsenal of four pitches that he commands as well as anyone in the class. The fastball will sit in the low-90s and the addition of a slider in his sophomore year proved to be a true swing and miss offering bumping his strikeout per inning to 1.56. -Colt Olinger

 

Cervino’s Take: College pitching has been a staple of day one of the draft in recent years and the Red Sox in this situation grab two of the best available in Jaden Hill out of LSU and Gunnar Hoglund out of Ole Miss. Hill has the most upside of any available college arm with electric stuff while Hoglund profiled better as a back end rotation arm with polished command. Two SEC proven arms would bode well for the Red Sox and would be a jump start in rejuvenating their pitching crop.

 

 Click here for the full list of Mack's Scouting Reports.