Kansas City Royals: Way too early 2020 MLB amateur draft predictions
By Cody Rickman
#32 draft pick overall – Ryan Hagenow, Starting Pitcher (pick value $2,257,300)
Ryan Hagenow is an 18-year-old, 6’5”, 195 pound, right-handed starting pitcher out of Farragut High School in Tennessee. Hagenow is committed to Kentucky University and the Royals may need to exceed the draft allotment value in order to be sign him.
According to the scouting report on Hagenow at perfectgame.org;
"“Change up was an outstanding pitch with hard late sinking action. Short and tight slider. Mixes his pitches, tunnels them very well and fills up the lower part of the zone, hitters don’t see the ball at all. Struck out all six hitters he faced in a dominant outing. Very good student, verbal commitment to Kentucky. Named to play in the Perfect Game All-American Classic.”"
The folks over at fangraphs.com had this to say about Hagenow,
"“Lower-slot righty is young for the class, is super projectable with a low-effort delivery and three pitches that flash above average at times. Some similarities to Brady Singer at the same stage, who didn’t sign as a 2nd rounder out of high school, then went in the first round after shoving for three years at Florida.”"
Watching the video, Hagenow has a very easy, low stress, repeatable delivery. He’s able to produce velocity and movement on his fastball without much exertion. There isn’t much head snap and his follow through transfers his momentum seamlessly to reduce the stress on his elbow.
He gets on top of the ball quite well and commands his pitches low in the zone as well as on the corners. There is a chance for his stuff (fastball, slider, curveball, change-up) to each be plus pitch offerings. The movement and velocity on his pitches will increase as he matures. His stuff can blow hitters away as well as produce weak contact.
Hagenow has lots of room to grow with his 6’5”, 195 pound frame. When he starts to physically develop, the sky could be the limit and there is a chance that Hagenow could be the best pitcher and best player selected in the 2020 draft.
If he is able to maintain his flexibility and low effort mechanics along the way in his physical maturation, he should be able to avoid injury. For a high school pitching prospect, this is as good as it gets.