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We’ll Be Back: The Most Intriguing Prospects You Didn’t Notice in the MLB Draft

Don't blink or you might miss; these breakout athletes deserve a second chance at the big leagues.

By John EdwardsPublished 7 years ago 3 min read
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You’ve probably heard a few names tossed around in relation to the MLB Draft, which wrapped up earlier this week — Hunter Greene, the pitcher/batter extraordinaire, Brendan McKay, Louisville baseball standout, and Darren Baker, son of Dusty Baker and the second biggest example of nepotism in Washington.

But in a draft of several thousand athletes, there are a few big stories that might be missed. Here are a few athletes who could be making a big impact in the big leagues a few years down the road, but missed out on the fame and fortune of the first round. You might see them again later on, if they don’t sign and decide to go to college — except this time, they’ll be sitting pretty in the first round.

Bryce Hutchinson, Round 12, Pick 367

Hutchinson is a hulk of a man, standing 6'6" and weighing in at 255 lbs (for comparison, Aaron Judge is 6'7" and weighs 285). The are two big difference between Hutchinson and Judge though: 1. Hutchinson is only 18 years old. 2. Hutchinson can pitch.

Hutchinson can light up the radar gun at 94 MPH, and he’ll only improve further as he continues to develop — his tall frame and eye-popping velocity inspired comparisons to Noah Syndergaard from Mets scouts, prompting the Mets to take a chance on the Mississippi State commit.

Hutchinson, like McKay and Greene, also poses a threat at the plate — in his sophomore year of high school, Hutchinson batted .373 and lead the state of Florida with 22 doubles. Despite the impressive repertoire, Hutchinson’s commitment, coupled with a recent injury, meant that he ended up getting drafted fairly late. If he opts to not forgo his commitment, he’s looking at a round one pick leaving college, barring tragedy.

Tanner Burns, Round 37, Pick 1112

It’s no wonder that Burns was drafted so late by the Yankees — he’s already made it clear that he intends to go to college instead of joining an MLB organization first. But it’s hard not to see him getting a first round slot in 2021. His numbers from high school look like a video game on easy mode — in addition to a 10–1 record with a 0.88 ERA, Burns hit .467 with 16 HR and 45 RBIs. He averaged 16 K/9 IP. AVERAGED!

Burns’ fastball has touched 97 before, and scouts assess him as an elite prospect. He might have easily come in as a first rounder this year had he not made it clear that he was going to college — but one can hardly fault him for betting on himself to get a million dollar payday. He already looks like he’s worth it.

John Swanda, Round 4, Pick 115

Swanda was drafted by the Angels, so his fate appears to be “fodder to trade away for further aging mediocre MLB talent to supplement Mike Trout”. In whatever organization that he’ll eventually end up, Swanda looks to be yet another two-way player — Swanda ranked in the 99th percentile of both fastball velocity and exit velocity.

Swanda relies mostly on his fastball to get batters out but has already begun developing solid breaking stuff — not a bad move for a high school player. The bat, however, is what excites scouts — Swanda displays incredible bat speed, and knows how to use it effectively, batting .486 with 7 HR and 61 RBIs his senior season.

Angels fans should get excited if the Angels FO decides to hold onto this one — Swanda has the tools to succeed on either side of the plate. The future looks bright for this Iowan.

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About the Creator

John Edwards

Staff Writer for The Unbalanced, Contributor at Sporting News.

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