Video: No. 1 overall prospect shows off arsenal Ethan Hankins shows why he might be the first high school player taken in the MLB Draft.
It's become somewhat of a trend among high school pitchers. Show great promise as a junior, rise to the top of the national player rankings, sit out most of senior season with an injury.
That was the case with Lucas Giolito of Harvard-Westlake in 2012. The No. 1 prospect in the country before his arm injury. Giolito slipped to the middle of the first round of that year's MLB Draft. Likewise for Jesus Luzardo at Stoneman Douglas (Parkland, Fla.) in 2016. A possible first-round pick, Luzardo slid to the third round after having elbow surgery his senior year.
Now two top right-handers, Ethan Hankins of Forsyth Central and Mason Denaburg of Merritt Island, are facing a similar predicament. Both are potential first-round talents, with Hankins considered the top prospect in the class of 2018 by Perfect Game, but both have also sat out stretches of time their senior year due to an arm injury.
How those injuries will alter the first round of 2018 Major League Baseball Draft, set for June 4-6, is anybody's guess. Past history shows that teams will take a gamble with that type of talent, just not at the top of the first round.
MaxPreps continues its draft coverage with a look at the top 5 right-handed high school pitchers heading into 2018 MLB Draft.
MLB Draft Prospects: Top 5 Right-handed pitchers
Ethan Hankins, Forsyth Central (Cumming, Ga.)At 6-foot-6, Hankins has the best fastball in high school baseball this season, topping out at 96-97 mph. He has a very projectable frame and a smooth delivery. All of those factors made him the No. 1 prospect in the country entering his senior year. However a shoulder injury in his second start of the season has dropped Hankins down in the rankings and in the mock drafts. He finished his senior year with a 1-1 record, 2.37 ERA, 37 strikeouts and 10 walks in 20.2 innings pitched.
Draft forecast: Look for Hankins to still go in the first round, but probably after some of the other pitchers on this list near the middle of the first round.
Carter Stewart, Eau Gallie (Melbourne, Fla.)One players who risen in the rankings is Stewart, who is even seen in some mock drafts as the No. 1 high school player chosen. Like Hankins, Stewart has a 6-6 projectable frame. He's also improved his fastball to 96-97 mph while also adding a strong curve. While his high school record was only 6-4 his senior year, he averaged over two strikeouts per inning (128, 61.2) and had 18 walks and a 0.91 ERA.
Draft forecast: Look for Stewart to be the first high school right-hander selected with a chance to be the first overall high school player chosen in the draft.
Kumar Rocker, North Oconee (Bogart, Ga.)Built more like a defensive lineman, which shouldn't be surprising since his father Tracy Rocker played the position in the NFL, Kumar is not quite as projectable as the top two, but he still comes hard to the plate with a fastball that has topped out around 98. He also has a breaking ball. At one time, Rocker was the No. 1 prospect in the Class of 2018. He posted a 6-2 record this year with 90 strikeouts in 46 innings with 13 walks and a 1.07 ERA.
Draft forecast: Likely chosen in the middle of the first round.
Mason Denaburg, Merritt Island (Fla.)Very athletic, Denaburg could play college ball as a punter. He also has been a solid player in the field when not on the mound at Merritt Island. Like Hankins, Denaburg was rated high at the beginning of the season thanks to a 97 mph fastball. However, an arm injury limited his time on the mound this year. Previously a catcher, Denaburg played in the outfield when not pitching this year.
Draft forecast: Could still go somewhere in the first round, but may play college football and baseball instead.
Cole Winn, Orange Lutheran (Orange, Calif.)A Gatorade State Player of the Year in Colorado as a junior, Winn could pull off the same feat in California this year after transferring to Orange Lutheran. He helped the Lancers win the National High School Invitational and has a 7-2 record with a 0.23 ERA and 101 strikeouts and nine walks in 62 innings pitched. At 6-2, he has a smaller frame than the rest of the pitchers on the list. He also is a little bit slower on his fastball at 94 mph.
Draft forecast: End of first round.
