Diamondbacks linked to electric strikeout machine in latest mock
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The Arizona Diamondbacks will look to make the most of their first-round draft pick later this summer. They are coming off a year where they took prep shortstop Kayson Cunningham with the 18th overall pick.
This year, they won't be far off from last year's spot, drafting 15th overall. And in this spot, the front office is going to have to do its due diligence on many players, making sure they have plenty of options in case the ones they want get taken ahead of them.
And for a team that doesn't mind taking a gamble on prep talent, the possibilities about who they could land in the first round are endless.
MORE: Diamondbacks cut ties with former Nationals World Series champion pitcher
Diamondbacks linked to electric strikeout machine in latest mock
There have been some cases of college arms not playing up to potential this season. University of Florida pitcher Liam Peterson has had his fair share of struggles this season, but he is not the only one.
University of Tennessee pitcher Tegan Kuhns struggled so much early into the season that he was demoted to the bullpen before finding his stride and returning to the starting staff.
And with this resurgence, Bleacher Report's Joel Reuter believes he could be an excellent pick for the Diamondbacks at 15.
"After a shaky start in March that led to a brief demotion to the bullpen, Kuhns is back in a starting role and trending up thanks in part to a 15-strikeout performance against Texas on May 8. Despite the inconsistent results this spring, his arm talent is undeniable, and he now sports a 3.39 ERA with a 100-to-15 strikeouts-to-walk ratio over 77 innings."
Kuhns has an excellent fastball and a great curveball that plays well off the heater. Those are two pitches he can generate whiffs on, but he is still searching for a solid third pitch.
He has scrapped his cutter, focusing more on a changeup and slider mix, but both pitches still need work. If he can figure them out and get more consistent around the strike zone, there's no telling how far he could go.