The 2017 MLB Draft begins on June 12 and teams will make difficult decisions when ranking prospects as they prepare their draft boards for the three-day event. One fascinating debate will come between right-handed pitcher Hunter Greene and left-hander MacKenzie Gore.
Greene has widely been considered the top prospect in the 2017 MLB Draft class. But after an impressive senior season, some professional scouts believe Gore is a better prospect than Greene. The Minnesota Twins are considering both highly touted pitchers for the No. 1 overall pick.
A California native, Greene could become the first prep right-hander to get drafted first overall. A 6-foot-3, 195-pound hurler, Greene has a three-pitch mix, featuring a fastball, slider and changeup. His fastball sits in the mid-to-upper-90s and has reached 102 mph this spring.
While Greene has a high-octane fastball, his secondary pitches are average offerings. Evaluators expect Greene’s slider to develop into an above-average offering in the future, but he doesn’t have great feel for his changeup, as he hasn’t had to throw it much due to his over powering fastball.
Greene throws a lot of strikes, has a clean delivery and impressive athleticism.
A North Carolina native, Gore has seen his draft stock soar this spring and is now considered the top prep left-hander in the 2017 MLB Draft class.
A 6-foot-2, 180-pound lefty, Gore has a four-pitch mix, featuring a fastball, curveball, slider and changeup. His fastball sits in the mid-90s, and while he has two quality breaking pitches, his curveball is his best secondary offering and has emerged as his top outpitch.
One trait that Gore is known for is his unorthodox high leg kick, which creates deception and makes it difficult for opposing batters. He repeats his mechanics well and is a fierce competitor on the mound.
Some scouts believe Gore is the top prep arm in the 2017 MLB Draft class due to his diverse and advanced pitching repertoire and command.
Greene and Gore both have No. 1 starter potential in professional baseball and will likely hear their names called in the first five picks of the 2017 MLB Draft. While evaluators can debate who the better prospect is between Greene and Gore, it will come down to what each team is looking for in a young, high-ceiling pitcher.
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