2023 MLB Draft: Hunter Owen, LHP, Vanderbilt

Player: Hunter Owen
School: Vanderbilt                                                         Position(s): LHP
Height: 6’6″                      Weight: 260 lbs.                       Bats: Right                        Throws: Left
Pitches:
Fastball: Sits 90-94, up to 97. Heavy. Some run, but the size allows it to have good downhill action although when he works up it has a rising feel to it. Average to better potential.
Slider: Mid 80s, Falls off table with plenty of horizontal break. Power pitch. Ton of swing and miss. Easy plus potential.
Curveball: Mid-to-upper 70s, Looping 11-5. Good shape, mostly a pitch to keep hitters off balance. Arm speed on it makes it play up. Can use in any count. Average potential.
Change: Mid 80s. Some sink, really good arm action tunnelling with fastball helping give it average potential.
Delivery/Mechanics: Short arm back before 3/4 delivery with mild arm bend. Very little leg drive, lots of stiffness in delivery and pulls through his upper body. Plenty of recoil in arm and drive leg. Primarily a multi-inning reliever before this season. Despite the stiffness and effort in delivery, there is limited reliever risk as he repeats well and has the body to handle the workload.
Other: Maine native. K/BB rate this season over four. https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
Summary: Baseball America recently pointed out there has been a college left-handed arm drafted in the first round of the MLB draft every year since 1979, and Owen is likely the best chance to keep that streak alive. Being a big bodied college lefty with a successful season in the SEC and a solid four pitch mix could land him in the first round, but really he is a second or third round talent. The delivery leaves some concern as the stiffness isn’t ideal for a future starter, but the repeatability and four real offerings put his most likely future in a rotation. There is the upside of a solid number three starter, but there is a good amount of risk in the arm as well.

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