Gio

Rojas

The slot value for the 16th overall pick in the MLB Draft is $5.05, so Rojas will sign for slightly under-slot. Viewed by many to be the best left-handed pitcher in this year’s draft, Rojas has a fastball that can get near 100 mph and a plus sweeper. He’s just 19 years old, so he will take some time to rise through the Rangers’ system, but the future is bright.

This is not the best prep pitching prospect class, but Rojas is the best of the eligible arms, and he’s not a consolation prize. He’s a 6-foot-4 left-hander who still offers projection in his left arm, but already gets his fastball up to 98 mph, and there’s enough life to the offering it could be a plus-plus offering at the next level. He also shows a slider that flashes 60 grades on the 20-80 scouting scale, but that pitch and an average change still need work. There’s plenty of time for that to improve considering he just turn 19 at the end of June, and he repeats his delivery well enough to project solid command of his arsenal. He’s probably closer to mid-rotation than a frontline starter, but if the secondary pitches do make a jump, he can reach the latter.