The Rockies took a step toward fixing their ailing bullpen with the selection of six pitchers on the second day of the 2021 MLB Draft on Monday.
“We felt (pitching) was one of the strengths of the draft,” interim GM Bill Schmidt said. “We were happy with the arms we acquired. We’re just looking to add talent to what we have already.”
The headliner on Monday was second-round pick Jaden Hill (LSU) with the No. 44 overall selection. His fastball hits the mid-to-upper 90s with a changeup in the mid-80s. In 2020, Hill limited opponents to a .028 average (1-of-36).
Former LSU coach Paul Mainieri told The Daily Advertiser: “(Hill) is one of the best athletes I ever recruited.” The right-hander entered this college season considered a top-five pick by MLB.com.
Hill fell down draft boards due to his health history. He missed the majority of his freshman season with a shoulder injury sustained playing high school football. He shined in shortened COVID season in 2020 and was primed for a big junior year.
But Hill suffered a UCL tear in early April that required Tommy John Surgery. He returned to finish the year 2-3 with a 6.67 ERA.
“Jade is a pretty talented kid,” Schmidt said. “He had a tough year with the Tommy John surgery. We feel like he has the opportunity to bounce back in time. He has all the ability to be really an impact pitcher hopefully here at the major league level. He’s a very athletic kid. He was a high school quarterback.”
The Rockies are accepting some level of risk considering Hill’s injury history and inexperience. He pitched only 51 1/3 innings over his entire college career.
“With all pitchers, there is a risk,” Schmidt said. “But we think the upside is here with this kid — his competitiveness and his athleticism. I saw him last year down in Houston at a college tournament and he was throwing 98 and he went three innings out of the bullpen because they were trying to gear him up to being a starter. That night, he could have pitched right then and there in the big leagues.”
On Monday, the Rockies drafted five additional pitchers: LHP Joe Rock (Ohio University), RHP McCade Brown (Indiana), LHP Evan Justice (NC State), LHP Evan Shawver (Cincinnati) and RHP Cullen Kafka (Oregon). They also selected four position players: C Hunter Goodman (Memphis), C Braxton Fulford (Texas Tech), OF Robby Martin (Florida State) and OF Zach Kokoska (Kansas State).
The MLB Draft continues on Tuesday with rounds 11-20.
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July 13, 2021 at 08:46AM
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Rockies load up on pitching in second day of MLB draft, take chance on LSU’s Jaden Hill - The Denver Post
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