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Let’s take a look at where the MLB Draft Class of 2016 is now

By Joshua Sadlock

TAMPA, FL - JUNE 03: Mickey Moniak (2) of the Threshers hits his first home run of the season during the Florida State League game between the Florida Fire Frogs and the Clearwater Threshers on June 03, 2018, at Spectrum Field in Clearwater, FL. (Photo by Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL - JUNE 03: Mickey Moniak (2) of the Threshers hits his first home run of the season during the Florida State League game between the Florida Fire Frogs and the Clearwater Threshers on June 03, 2018, at Spectrum Field in Clearwater, FL. (Photo by Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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DENVER, COLORADO – JUNE 15: The Colorado Rockies play the San Diego Padres at Coors Field on June 15, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
DENVER, COLORADO – JUNE 15: The Colorado Rockies play the San Diego Padres at Coors Field on June 15, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /

4. Colorado Rockies: Riley Pint, RHP, St. Thomas Aquinas HS (KS)

Kansas high schooler Riley Pint was one of the most intriguing names in the 2016 draft. The teenager had a fastball that was already topping 100 mph and had a higher ceiling than any other pitcher in the draft. There were command and delivery issues, but that did not scare off the Rockies from taking Pint with the fourth pick.

Pint signed for nearly $5 million, and expectations were extremely high. With those facts to consider, the 21-year-old righty has obviously failed to deliver for the Rockies. He has not pitched above Single-A and has been converted to a reliever. Pint made only four starts in 2018 due to forearm stiffness and a strained oblique.

In 2017, his only full season in the minor leagues to date, Pint was 2-11 with a 5.42 ERA in 93 innings with 59 walks and 79 strikeouts. In 15.1 innings as a reliever so far this year, he has walked 25 and struck out 19. The Rockies just have not been able to harness Pint’s overwhelming raw fastball and curveball to get any sort of strike-throwing consistency. In parts of four seasons, spanning just over 150 innings, he has walked 118 hitters while also allowing over a hit an inning.

All of the raw talent that made Pint an exciting draft pick is still there, but he has to find a way to consistently throw strikes. If he can do that, he has a very high ceiling as a closer. The Rockies drafted him to lead their rotation, but he can still end up being a very valuable asset as a reliever.

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