Royals select Florida hurler Kowar with compensation pick for Cain
With the 33rd pick in the 2018 MLB amateur draft, the Kansas City Royals selected Jackson Kowar, a right-handed pitcher out of Florida.
The 21-year-old junior boasts a repeatable delivery despite his tall and thin frame, which he uses to channel a mid-to-high 90s fastball paired with a plus changeup. Kowar is the latest top-tier pitching prospect to come out of Florida after the system saw Alex Faedo get selected by the Detroit Tigers in the first round last year and Brady Singer get picked by the Royals earlier in this year's draft.
Bio
Age: 21
Position: RHP
Height/weight: 6-foot-5, 180 pounds
Bats/Throws: R/R
School: Florida
Pick value: $2,118,700
MLB prospect rank: 15
MLB.com money quote: "Kowar's size and live arm make him stand out immediately. With a clean, repeatable delivery and easy arm action, the 6-foot-5 right-hander was up to 98 mph this fall and can sit in the mid-90s with ease."
Scouting grades
| Fastball | Curveball | Changeup | Control | Overall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 65 | 50 | 60 | 50 | 55 |
2018 stats
| IP (G) | ERA | K/BB | BAVG |
|---|---|---|---|
| 92.2 (15) | 3.21 | 91/37 | .237 |
Take a look ...
(Grades courtesy: MLB Pipeline)