KC Royals: Seven options for second overall pick in 2019 MLB Draft

Omaha, NE - JUNE 27: Catcher Adley Rutschman #35 of the Oregon State Beavers singles in the first inning against the Arkansas Razorbacks during game two of the College World Series Championship Series on June 27, 2018 at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Peter Aiken/Getty Images) /

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Texas Christian pitcher Nick Lodolo (Max Faulkner/Fort Worth Star-Telegram/TNS via Getty Images) /

Nick Lodolo, Left-Handed Starting Pitcher

Texas Christian University

A tall, lanky southpaw, Nick Lodolo was originally drafted three years ago by the Pittsburgh Pirates 41st overall, but landed at TCU after going unsigned. His first two seasons were merely okay for such a highly-touted prospect as he went 5-1 with a 4.35 ERA and 72 strikeouts over 78.2 frames in 2017 and then 7-4 with a 4.33 ERA and 93 strikeouts over 77 innings last year.

But he’s taken a leap this year. Currently, through eight games (all starts), Lodolo is 4-2 with a 1.52 ERA over 53.1 innings. In that time, he’s struck out 68 hitters while walking only ten. Perhaps most impressively, batters are hitting only .208 against him after hitting .278 last year.

https://twitter.com/TCU_Baseball/status/1111798769895591942

According to 20-80’s Granger, Lodolo “challenges hitters on the inner half of the plate with a fastball that sits at 92-to-95 mph” while his breaking comes in at the mid-70s while he’s also got a decent change-up.

He’d fit right in on a strong Royals farm system.

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