Top MLB draft prospect Hunter Greene is ridiculously athletic
Every few years a prospect will come along that makes scouts jump out of their seats.
In 2017, that prospect’s name is Hunter Greene.
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Greene is entering his senior season at Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks, Calif. Once that wraps up, he’s expected to be a high pick in the 2017 MLB amateur draft, perhaps going No. 1 overall to the Minnesota Twins.
Yes, the hype is strong with Greene, and so far he’s backed it up with ridiculous numbers. During his junior season, he batted .419 with five homers and 18 extra base hits overall. After the season, he cemented his power by winning the home run derby at the Perfect Game All-American Classic.
Oh, and we should probably mention he’s actually a better pitcher than he is a hitter. His fastball usually sits in the high 90s, but he’s already hit 100 mph during an outing this season.
Heard RHP/SS Hunter Greene of Sherman Oaks Notre Dame hit 100 mph tonight #MLBDraft
— keithlaw (@keithlaw) February 4, 2017
Pretty amazing for a 17-year-old.
That powerful arm helped him post a 1.63 ERA to go along with 68 strikeouts over 55.2 innings last year, and will no doubt boost his prospects whether he elects pitching or playing shortstop at the next level.
Beyond his undeniable baseball talent though, Greene is simply a ridiculous athlete. We mentioned scouts jumping out of their seats. Here’s how Greene jumps out of his:
Working out should be fun! I love @TheFactory818 they've been my home for the last 3 years. This drill helps with my velocity. Explosion! pic.twitter.com/7YEpPlrJYj
— Hunter Greene (@HunterGreene17) February 1, 2017
Beat that, Bryce Harper.
Of course, such feats of machine-like explosiveness do not always translate to baseball success. We’re guessing it won’t hurt Greene though. In fact, being able to combine this level of athleticism with his baseball skills should only help his already sky-high stock.
Here’s a look at him in action last season:
Whew.
It’s one thing to hear and read about it, it’s another to see it.
Though Greene is committed to UCLA, it’s difficult to imagine him making a stop in college. Not only is he a top prospect, but he appears to be on the fast track to stardom.
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Mark Townsend is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at bigleaguestew@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!
