The 2019 MLB Draft takes place in June, the draft order for teams is in place, and MLB Pipeline has just revealed its Top 50 Draft Prospects. Clearly, there’s not a moment to lose to begin speculating on who the Houston Astros (who draft at the #32 position) might select.
While currently ranked #16 overall, TCU junior left-handed pitcher Nick Lodolo would have to drop to the bottom half of the first round to get within Houston’s reach, but the draft “elevator” lifts and drops many times prior to draft day.
Lodolo represents the Astros’ preference for draft day pitchers: He’s a Texas collegian who will be 21 by draft day, giving him a shot to make his MLB debut without the time investment of several years usually afforded a prep arm. Plus, he’s a lefty with a variety of “mature” pitches, projected by most with a mid-rotation upside.
Imagine the potential of the Astros’ 2022 “twin towers” lefty/righty rotation one-two punch of the 6’7″ Forrest Whitley and Lodolo.
At 6’6″ and 185 pounds, Lodolo delivers on a coveted downward plane and should have some room to add strength and a dozen pounds as he progresses. A workable comp might be the fellow southern Californian, 6’6″ lefty Henry Owens of the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Nick Lodolo
Raised in southern California, Lodolo attended the all-male Roman Catholic Damien High School in the Los Angeles suburb of La Verne earning three letters. He was selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates with the 41st overall pick in the 2016 MLB Draft, becoming the highest unsigned draft pick in that year.
Turning down a $1.75 million bonus with Pittsburgh, Lodolo opted to honor his commitment to attend TCU in Fort Worth.
His freshman year, he posted a 5-1 record with a 4.35 ERA in 78.2 innings pitched, striking out 72 while issuing just 28 walks. Earning the “winner” tag early, TCU was 14-3 in games Lodolo pitched, including a 13-2 mark as a starter.
In his 2018 sophomore season, he led the team with a 7-4 record, posted a 4.32 ERA and struck out 93 in 77 innings, while turning in four quality starts on the season.
The Scouts Weigh In
2080 Baseball gives their assessment and scouting report on Lodolo: “High-waisted and long limbed, Lodolo has a projectable body with room to add strength as he matures. He challenges hitters on the inner half of the plate with a fastball that sits at 92-to-95 mph.
“His best secondary offering is a mid-70s breaking ball, with moderate depth and 1-to-7 movement, and he also shows feel for a mid-80s change piece. As he prepares for 2019, Lodolo is well positioned to be a day one draftee for a second time in three years.”
Bless You Boys adds that Lodolo “has a great pitcher’s build and uses that large frame to create an uncomfortable downward angle. Lodolo comes with less risk than he did as a prep, with just as much upside.”
While Lodolo was still at Damien, ESPN noted that “Lodolo’s arm slot is low, so low that it’s rare for a pitcher with this slot to remain a starter in pro ball. If Lodolo is going to make this delivery work for him three or more times through a lineup, he’ll have to possess skills that mitigate the issues such a low arm slot can cause.
“For one, right-handed hitters pick up the ball early against low-slot lefties, and so it will be imperative for Lodolo to develop a way to deal with them. The most likely way is obviously through a changeup.”
Cue MLB.com‘s Jonathan Mayo, who raves about the commodity Lodolo possesses that’s apparently rare in this 2019 draft class: “There aren’t a ton of great changeups in this group. TCU lefty Nick Lodolo’s is the best, with a 55 grade, but he sells it well and throws it with good movement.”
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Huge swing by Val….RIP BRO