MLB Amateur Draft: The Top Three Pitchers in the 2019 Draft
The Top Three Pitchers in the 2019 MLB Amateur Draft
Matthew Allan, High School
The only high school pitcher on this list, Matthew Allan has been an interesting name on the radar of MLB teams.
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Committed to the Florida Gators, Allan has participated and has wowed at multiple nationwide high school events such as the National Showcase and the Perfect Game All American Classic.
There are a few things that separate Allan from the rest of the high school arms in this year’s MLB amateur draft.
The first is his fastball, which consistently sits at 94-95 MPH, which can be attributed to his mechanics and his 6’3 frame. He has been touching 97 MPH this year, which could get even higher if he continues to fill out when playing professional ball.
The next is his off-speed pitches, with his curveball being considered one of the best pitches in his repertoire. He compliments his fastball and curveball with his changeup, which has improved since the National Showcase in 2018. With a high-velocity fastball, these off-speed pitches will really make Allan a starting pitcher to keep an eye on.
Watching Matthew Allan pitch, he has the typical right-handed pitcher throw to the plate you would pick to use in MLB the Show. He has a bit of high leg raise and he drives the ball toward home, torquing his body and using his legs to get more power.
He has the exact mechanics that pitching coaches would bring up and use as an example for younger pitchers.
The only downside that has been noted with Allan is that his fastball command can waiver throughout his starts, which can lead to more hits and walks against established hitters.
Where will get drafted?
All signs are pointing for the San Francisco Giants to draft the young right-hander at the #10 slot through various mock drafts. This makes sense given the Giants are in need of some pitching prospects with Bumgarner possible leaving at the end of the year.
The Giants would have to offer Allan a significant amount of money just because he does have a verbal commitment to the University of Florida. The slot value for the Giants #10 slot is approximately $4.79 million, which could be used in its entirety to take Allan away from college ball (I personally couldn’t turn away that much money).
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No matter what Matthew Allan chooses to do, he does have the potential for quite a future in baseball with how he is developing and throwing his fastball and secondary pitches. If he does get bigger and fills out while in pro ball or college, he could throw even harder and maybe reach 100 MPH, which would make him deadlier than he already is.