The lure of a 102 mph fastball was too much for the Rockies to ignore with their top pick in the Major League Baseball draft, even if that pitch comes from the tender arm of an 18-year-old high school kid.
The Rockies on Thursday selected three pitchers within the first 50 picks of the draft, including right-hander Riley Pint, an arm some scouts say is the hardest-throwing prep pick in the draft’s history. That velocity, though, is alarming. But Pint, the Rockies think, is exceptional.
“It’s part of an impressive package,” general manager Jeff Bridich said. “It’s not a common thing to see someone throw as hard has him in high school. But there will be some things we’ll work on with him.”
The rise in elbow injuries and Tommy John surgery remains a risk for any pitcher, especially teenagers. But Pint prepped himself for professional baseball differently than some. He skipped winter baseball leagues and year-round pitching and instead played basketball.
“When I first started back in the late ’80s, you had American Legion and Connie Mack ball and kids played other sports,” Rockies vice president of scouting Bill Schmidt said. “They didn’t play year-round. and now it’s evolved into an industry where you can go to a showcase every week. Kids aren’t really taking their time to rest and shut down their workload.”
Pint, the Rockies believe, is different.
“Thatap the thing I’m most asked: ‘How hard do you throw?’ But I’m not trying to light up radar guns,” Pint said.
Tulo II? Friday was the second day of the three-day draft, and the Rockies finally found some hitters. They drafted shortstop Garrett Hampson of Long Beach State — 10 years after they picked Troy Tulowitzki, a shortstop from Long Beach State. The 21-year-old Hampson went in the third round, 81st overall. He hit .302 and was 23-of-31 on stolen-base attempts as a junior. With the USA Collegiate National Team, Hampson also played third base and second base last summer.
More hitters. The Rockies drafted third baseman Colton Welker (Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida) in the fourth round, catcher Brian Serven of Arizona State in the fifth, right fielder Willie Abreu of Miami in the sixth and right-hander Reid Humprheys of Mississippi State in the seventh to round out the draft’s top-200 picks.
Colorado connection. Loveland High School graduate Alec Hansen, a 6-foot-7 right-hander who pitched at Oklahoma, was selected by the White Sox in the second round with the 49th pick — the highest-drafted Colorado product. Air Force right-hander Griffin Jax, a former Cherry Creek star, went 93rd (third round) to the Twins. Arizona junior Bobby Dalbec, a former Denver Post All-Colorado infielder from Legend, went 118th (fourth round) to the Red Sox. Gonzaga’s Brandon Bailey, a right-hander from Broomfield, went 172nd (sixth round) to the Athletics.
Cal-Poly’s Peter Bayer, a right-hander from Regis Jesuit, was drafted by the Rays in the ninth round. Metro State’s Julian Garcia, a right-hander from Fossil Ridge, went to the Phillies in the 10th round.
The draft wraps up Saturday with rounds 11 to 40.
