Kansas City Royals: 2020 MLB Mock Draft 2.0
By Cody Rickman
Kansas City Royals Mock Draft 2.0
Round 3, pick 76: Ian Bedell, Starting Pitcher (RHP)
Ian Bedell is a 20-year-old, 6’2”, 203 pound, right-handed pitcher out the University of Missouri. Bedell has been used mostly as reliever at Missouri, but was absolutely dominant in transitioning into a starter during the 2019 Cape Cod league season.
- 2019 stats (NCAA): 1.56 ERA, 0.992 WHIP, 36 Ks, 12 BB with 5 saves in 40.1 innings
- 2019 stats (Cape Cod): 0.59 ERA, 0.652 WHIP, 36 Ks, 3 BB in 30.2 innings
- 2020 stats (NCAA): 3.70 ERA, 0.986 WHIP, 35 Ks, 4 BB in 24.1 innings
According to the Draft Prospect Rankings at mlb.com, Bedell has the following future tool grades:
- Overall: 45
- Fastball: 55 (low 90s mph)
- Curveball: 55 (high 70s mph)
- Cutter: 50 (mid 80s mph)
- Changeup: 55 (low 80s mph)
- Control: 55
According to the scouting report on Bedell at mlb.com;
"“Bedell’s two- and four-seam fastballs sat in the low 90s when he started on the Cape, with sink or run depending on which version he used. He worked more in the upper 80s in cold weather during the truncated 2020 season, but his heater continued to play up because of his command. There’s debate as to whether his fading low-80s changeup or his slightly slower curveball is his best secondary pitch, and he also can mix in a mid-80s cutter."
Bedell has four solid pitches and looked good in his Friday night starts for the Missouri Tigers in 2020. He was bitten by the homerun ball as he gave up five home runs in his four starts, but he showed excellent control and filled up the strike-zone, limiting his walks. His stuff as it stands, appears to be that of a back-end of the rotation type 4/5 pitcher (4.20 FIP).
Bedell has command of his offerings and the intelligence of how to use his arsenal to be effective. Bedell’s mental maturity should make him a fast mover in the Royals system and he is a high floor type prospect. Bedell is a safe pick to reach his projections. If he continues to improve with a starter’s workload, he could be a valuable addition to the Royals farm system.