Mack - Top 5 Right Hand Pitchers (Projected Round Pick) in 2021 Draft

 

1.        Jack Leiter                (projected 1st pick in the draft)

 

RHP     6-0      195     Vanderbilt 

 

1-22-21 - Keanan Lamb @keananlamb

 

It was a pleasure to witness a no-hitter in person, RHP Jack Leiter didn't even have his best stuff and was nearly perfect. 9.0 IP 0 H 0 ER 1 BB 16 K on 124 pitches 

 

3-7-21 - Joe Doyle @JoeDoyleMiLB

 

8 Ks in a row for Jack Leiter and this last one 98 at the top of the zone 

 

2-22-21 -  First Round Arms -

 

Jack Leiter, RHP, Vanderbilt (No. 5)

 

Line: 5 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 8 K (69 pitches)

 

Leiter had a sublime outing in the second game of a doubleheader against Wright State. His domination of the Raiders was one of the more impressive outings of college baseball’s opening weekend.

 

He generated plenty of interest on social media after Vanderbilt’s broadcast had him touching 100 mph multiple times—but it turns out the scoreboard gun was hot and multiple scouts confirmed that Leiter was only up to 98 mph in the first. Leiter pitched mostly in the 91-96 mph range during the game, hitting the upper 90s regularly in the first inning but settling into a low-to-mid-90s heater for most of the way.

2.        Kumar Rocker            (projected 2nd pick in the draft)

 

RHP      6-5      255     Vanderbilt 

 

2020 stat line:  3-Starts, 2-1, 1.80, 15-IP, 28-K  

 

2-22-21 -  First Round Arms -

 

Kumar Rocker, RHP, Vanderbilt (No. 1)

 

4 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 8 K (67 pitches)

 

Rocker’s debut start of the 2021 season got delayed repeatedly last weekend due to inclement weather. Eventually, Rocker and the Vandy Boys got their series going against Wright State on Monday afternoon, with the No. 1 prospect in the 2021 class showing all the stuff that has had scouts intrigued since his prep days.

 

Rocker showcased a mid-90s fastball and a biting slider that generated whiffs throughout his four-inning outing and the two-pitch combination is loud enough to get whiffs inside and outside of the strike zone. He got six whiffs on his fastball and five on his slider in this outing, and also added whiffs with a newly developed cutter and a changeup that dove out of his hand with solid tumbling action. 

 

2-19-21 - Top 10 SEC Prospects -

 

1. Kumar Rocker, Vanderbilt, P

 

There’s not a ton to learn about Rocker’s on-field game. We know he’s huge (6-4, 255 pounds), he throws hard (98 mph or so), he threw a no-hitter in the 2019 NCAA Tournament, he’s the son of former Auburn and NFL standout Tracy Rocker and he’s been projected as a can’t-miss star since he arrived in Nashville. But the guy ranked as the nation’s top prospect for 2021 does have an interesting back story. 

His name is Indian — but so is Rocker’s mother, Lalitha, whose parents came to America in 1965. Rocker’s mother chose the Indian first name “to honor her Indian roots and as a reminder that [Kumar] comes from two cultures.” Kumar did follow his dad’s footsteps in playing 2 years of high school football. Guess we’re lucky he didn’t choose cricket.

3.         Gunnar Hoglund            (projected top 10 pick)

4-2-21 -  Through The Fence -

 

26. Minnesota Twins: Gunnar Hoglund, RHP, Mississippi

 

Scouts are torn if Hoglund will become a mid-rotation starter or an end-rotation starter. There are even those who think he’s destined for a reliever role. Most of his pitches are still maturing, and his velocity doesn’t seem to hit the upper 90s. While that isn’t a concern, he’ll have to become more of a technical pitcher to get outs. 

 

3-30-21 - Prospects Worldwide -

 

7. RHP Gunnar Hoglund | School: Mississippi | B / T: L / R | Ht: 6’4 | Wt: 215lbs | Age: 21.6

 

Hoglund has a lot to like on the mound. What your buying into is Plus Command, good stuff, with ability to locate his entire arsenal in or out to L/R with ability to miss bats and high end projection. In his time at Mississippi, Hoglund has impressed and in the shortened 2020 season in 23.1 IP with a 37:4 K:BB and a 1.16 ERA. 

Working with a low effort delivery that should see some added velo down the line. An Above-average Fastball sitting 90-93 MPH T96 with a strong Vertical Approach Angle and ride up in the zone. 

Although he shows more tendencies working arm-side up in the zone with that heater, he shows good arm and glove-side command. His secondaries include an Above-average Slider with sharp bite and swing and miss tendencies that flashes plus often. And a Changeup to round out the arsenal. 

He ditched a Curveball for more usage on that Slider and seems to have been a smart move. Maybe that Curve makes a comeback at a later date. Hoglund has shown everything needed and then some to solidify himself in the first to start 2021. A strong floor as a mid-rotation arm with some upside to tap. 

4.        Jackson Jobe                    (projected top 10-15 pick)

4-2-21 -  Through The Fence -

 

23. Cleveland Indians: Jackson Jobe, RHP, Heritage Hall HS (OK)

 

And here is another pitcher/shortstop out of Oklahoma that could be picked in the first two rounds. What’s in the water down there? Jackson Jobe is more valuable as a pitcher, and he has attributes that are hard to ignore. His slider might be the best slider in this entire draft. 

 

3-30-21 - Prospects Worldwide -

 

38. RHP Jackson Jobe | School: Heritage Hall HS, OK | Commit: Mississippi | B / T: R / R | Ht: 6’2 | Wt: 190lbs | Age: 19

 

Solid floor as a wipeout, back of the bullpen reliever with at least a Plus 2 pitch combo (FB/SL Combo, With that SL grading as a future Double-Plus posting elite 3000-3250 RPM with 2 plane tilt. But I see a strong chance to stick as a mid-rotation Starting Pitcher with some upside to become a solid #2 as the Change Up develops into a league-average or better pitch. 

Pro coaching will only tighten this overall package up, and with the athleticism, feel to spin and locate. Will go to the Slider as a put-away pitch a majority of the time. Still developing endurance to hold plus stuff late into starts. Due to previously being a Primary INF, hasn’t focused much on starting until this summer. 

There is reason to think Jobe can add a 4th pitch to the mix, as he has used a curveball in the past and shows an advanced feel for spin at a young age. Only enhancing his ceiling of becoming that #2 starter with high strikeout totals. Similar pitch arsenal to Jacob deGrom; overall comp of Corbin Burnes.

5.        Andrew Painter                (projected top 10-15 pick)

 

RHP 6-6 220 Calvary Christian Acamedy (FL) 

 

3-12-21 - top 50 HS players  -

 

3. Andrew Painter, RHP, Calvary Christian Academy, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

 

Painter, a Florida signee, gets to his 90-95 mph velo range easily, and he spins two different breaking balls that both show plenty of promise. 

 

2-27-21 - top hs players - 

 

Andrew Painter – Painter doesn’t offer anything elite right now, but he has just about everything a team could want in a prep pitcher. He’s big and athletic with room to grow, his fastball sits in the low-to-mid 90s, he has feel for a slider, curveball, and changeup, and he has a track record of throwing strikes.