Right-hander Dylan Lesko, one of the top prospects in the entire 2022 draft class, underwent Tommy John surgery yesterday, reports Kiley McDaniel of ESPN (Twitter link).
Even in spite of the surgery, McDaniel suggests that Lesko could still be the first pitcher off the board in a draft class that skews heavily toward position players. The 6’3″, 195-pound righty out of Buford High School in Georgia has a commitment to Vanderbilt and is regarded by both McDaniel and Baseball America as the clear top pitcher in this year’s class.
Earlier this month, when sharing video from one of Lesko’s outings (what proved to be his final start of 2022), McDaniel tweeted that Lesko showed a mid-90s heater with a plus curveball and the “best amateur changeup I’ve ever seen.” Carlos Collazo and Tom Lipari of Baseball America feel similarly, writing that Lesko has plus-plus (i.e. 70-grade) feel for his changeup and labeling him a “special” talent that “doesn’t come around very often.”
[Related: 2022 MLB Draft Order]
Because of the inherent risk associated with any high school pitching prospect, Lesko hasn’t been listed at the very top of draft boards — and the recent surgery likely ensures that he won’t be as the July draft approaches. McDaniel now has Lesko eighth on his draft list. Baseball America ranked him sixth prior to the injury. Notably, between high school outfielder Druw Jones (son of Andruw Jones) and shortstop Jackson Holliday (son of Matt Holliday),…
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