Hunter Greene, the 17-year-old high school pitching and hitting sensation, may not be heading to Minnesota as the top pick in next month’s MLB Draft.
According to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, the Twins are leaning towards passing on Greene in favor of University of Louisville pitcher/first baseman, Brendan McKay.
McKay is 8-3 with a 1.80 ERA as starter this season while batting .372 with 15 homers, according to Baseball America.
MLBPipeline.com’s Jim Callis says the “best indication” a month away from the June 12 draft is that the Twins are leaning towards McKay. What’s unclear is whether he’ll be a pitcher or a first baseman in the big leagues.
“Some guys think he’s the best college pitcher in the draft and will be the first player to the big leagues,” Callis explains. “Other people think he’s the best college hitter in the draft and has an All-Star ceiling.”
How good is McKay? Callis claims that scouts think he’s the best two-way prospect in four decades.
“That is a very unique situation, for a two-way talent to be considered at the level we’re talking about here, either or both ways,” Twins Vice President of Player Personnel Mike Radcliffe told 1500 ESPN recently. “So that makes it even more important for us to take it to the end and do our due diligence. He’s (McKay) a very talented player, and we are watching him both ways. He has the talent to be successful at either spot. So we’re pretty much regular customers at the University of Louisville, have been for a while.”
Another right-hander the Twins are interested in is Vanderbilt’s Kyle Wright, according to Nightengale.
The #Twins also quite high on Vanderbilt pitcher Kyle Wright if they decide to go with collegiate pitcher
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) May 15, 2017
Wright struck out 11 while allowing one hit and one walk in his last start. He throws 97 mph and two nasty breaking balls.
Hunter Greene
Perfect Game USA notes that Greene can reach triple digits with his fastball while adding a breaking ball and changeup.
“He’s made a jump from easy upper 90s last summer to reaching triple digits this spring and will still only be 17 years old on draft day. He’s also shown the breaking ball and changeup to go with it and has huge impact potential; not to mention he’s also a 1st round talent with the bat, having won the HR Derby at the PG All-American Classic last summer.”
Greene was featured on a recent cover of Sports Illustrated and labeled “Baseball’s Lebron or the new Babe?”
Unlike McKay, Greene flat out might not want to play for the Twins. Baseball America reported in April that it’s a “poorly kept secret” that Greene and his family are trying to manipulate the draft so he can go to the San Diego Padres with the third overall pick.
Our MLB Draft Breakdown of potential #1 overall draft pick Hunter Greene. Watch the full episode here: https://t.co/LXWCop8DTcpic.twitter.com/PwUK1H0qrU
— Brent Pourciau (@TopVelocity) May 10, 2017
