MLB mock draft: Hunter Greene draws intrigue
By John McCarty
6. Oakland Athletics
2016 Record: 69-93
Selection: JB Bukauskas, RHP, University of North Carolina
Signing Bonus Slot Value: $5,303,000
The undersized North Carolina right hander is growing into a consensus pick for the A’s at six, which begs the question of what will Billy Beane and his A’s really do at this spot. While the A’s have been linked to Tar Heels right handed pitcher extensively, they have also been linked to essentially all the names that will follow as well as some picks that could be signability options for the ever budget minded Oakland organization.
Bukauskas is smaller (6-foot even) but with a power fastball and slider. His changeup has improved greatly during his junior season and profiles as a solid option but behind his mid to upper 90s fastball and slider. A strikeout machine, Bukauskas has struck out 12.75 batters per nine innings this season, quite the staggering number.
Oakland has never been afraid of using high picks on undersized pitchers (Sonny Gray comes to mind) and Bukauskas could be a quick-moving pitcher coming out of college that Oakland is a fan of.
The concern with Bukauskas, past his size, is where he’ll end up. His delivery displays a lot of high effort and energy, which can pose a multitude of issues. First, losing mechanics can falter more often with high effort deliveries, as the effort used can cause your landing foot to miss it’s spot, or the ‘flying open’ of the glove hand to inconsistent release points. These become and issue because when mechanics become a problem, can lead to injuries.
Injury concerns could eventually push Bukauskas to the bullpen where his max effort delivery could play longer then injury concerns as a starter. This is likely his first real spot to come off the board, and could last into the middle of the first round should Oakland target a college bat such as Virginia teammates Haseley and Smith.