MLB draft 2017 player profile: Shane Baz, RHP

Baz is another name whose stock has increased as the season has progressed. His fastball has touched 98 mph and oh yeah, he won’t even be eighteen at the time of of the draft.

Shane Baz, 17 y/o | 6’3” | 190 | RHP | HS Senior

Concordia Lutheran HS, Tomball, TX

2015-16* Season Stats (SP): 3-1, 26 innings, 1.07 ERA, 46 K

Baz, an athletic high schooler, finds himself a future pitcher after a significantly stronger performance on the mound as compared to the hot corner. At six-foot three he has an excellent frame and his orthodox delivery doesn’t indicate any more risk than usual. Scouts dig his competitive makeup and raw stuff.

Baz easily has one of the deepest arsenals of any pitcher. Let MLB Pipeline do the explaining here.

His fastball has kicked up a notch to 92-96 mph with a peak of 98 this spring, and he has shown the ability to run and sink it while maintaining its velocity throughout a game. His 84-88 mph cutter generates a lot of swings and misses, and he also can turn the cutter into more of a true slider, spin a curveball that's a distinctly different pitch and unveil a changeup that could develop into a solid offering.

Though his fastball has one of the highest spin rates of any potential draftee, he sometimes has issues with command/control, but that should correct itself as he concentrates on pitching full-time as a professional.

Baz projects as a middle of the rotation pitcher with frontline upside, depending on how he develops.

*Data was not available for the most recent season

Scouting grades, per MLB Pipeline

Fastball: 65 | Cutter: 60 | Curveball: 55 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 50 | Overall: 55

Chance of being there at 10th overall?

High. Chances are very good that Baz will be on the board when the Angels are on the clock. For what it’s worth, the Angels have scouted him heavily.