Royals grab two left-handed pitchers in first round of MLB Draft
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The Royals haven't taken a left-handed pitcher with their first pick since the 2000 MLB Draft, when they selected the long-since forgotten Mike Stodolka, who wound up being converted to a hitter.
The Royals more than made up for it Thursday in the June first-year player draft by selecting two left-handers in the first round -- TCU's 5-foot-11, 195-pound Brandon Finnegan, and Foster Griffin, a 6-3, 200-pound right-hander from The First Academy High School in Florida.
Finnegan, picked No. 17 overall, said he wept when he heard he had been drafted by the Royals.
"It is such a thrill," he said by phone.
Kansas City senior director Lonnie Goldberg said the Royals will be getting a pitcher with a plus fastball and advanced knowledge of pitching. He recently missed a start for TCU because of shoulder inflammation, but he had a cortisone shot and then came back to strike out 12 hitters in his next outing over 7 2/3 innings.
"He's not an overly big guy," Goldberg said, "but he's extremely competitive. He's put together very well. Very pleased to get him. He has topped out around 98-99 (mph)."
Griffin, taken at No. 28, also projects as an advanced pitcher with an above-average change and curve.
"He not only knows pitching, he talks pitching," Goldberg said. "You don't often talk to high school pitchers who can talk pitching the way he can.
"He's a big guy and a very athletic guy."
In the competitive balance round between the first and second round, the Royals took catcher Chase Vallot, who is 6 feet, 215 pounds and from St. Thomas More High School in Louisiana.
This pick might end up being a steal, according to some draft experts. Vallot is known for his offense.
"Big-time bat," Goldberg said. "And he's only 17."
The Royals had a workout with Vallot, the 40th overall pick, at Kauffman Stadium (and yes, they turned the fountains on as they did for Bubba Starling) on Sunday.
Vallot wowed the Royals with his home-run power, hitting the longest homer of all the players working out. Goldberg said the home run went near the Royals Hall of Fame building, which is well over 430 feet from home plate. (That certainly would be longer than any home run hit by a Royal this season.)
"Just a very unique bat," Goldberg said. "Big power."
In the second round, the Royals took right-hander Scott Blewett (6-6, 220) from Baker High School in New York with the 56th overall pick.
You can follow Jeffrey Flanagan on Twitter at @jflanagankc or email him at jeffreyflanagan6@gmail.com.
