Is Scottsdale’s Kopp 1st-round pick?
Scottsdale Christian left-hander Ronan Kopp's fastball was hitting 96 mph last fall, but he needed a high-school season to harness his control and show MLB scouts that he's worthy of being a first-round draft pick.
Droves of those scouts came out to see Kopp's first start. He impressed in a win over Phoenix Shadow Mountain. But after the sports world came to a screeching halt, the sample size for Kopp's senior season was just four innings pitched, eight strikeouts, two walks, and no earned runs.
Will that be enough for Kopp to be a first-round pick, let alone taken at all in a a now-abbreviated five-round MLB Draft on June 10?
If he's not picked at all, he's got a baseball scholarship waiting for him at Arizona State. Or he could sign with any team as a free agent for the maximum $20,000.
"I think people were waiting to see how this (season) plays out to be a firstround pick," said Scottsdale Christian coach Tim Salmon, a former outfielder for the Angels. "It only takes one team to draft you. He's a special kid with a high ceiling. They could take as it is and develop him."
Even though Kopp never pitched above the 2A level in high school baseball, there is much upside that scouts couldn't help but notice:
He stands at nearly 6 feet, 7 inches, weighs 220 pounds, and throws gas from the left side. And he's still only 17.
Kopp was so dominant as a junior, leading the Eagles to the 2A state championship, that he was named the Gatorade Arizona High School Baseball Player of the Year.
"I've been talking to my advisor," Kopp said. "It's been an interesting year. No matter how many rounds, I know what I need to do."
Since the season ended so early, Kopp has been back in training mode. He said somebody built a pitcher's mound in his yard, allowing Kopp to work on his pitches from a mound.
He still works with a trainer and hits the weights to get stronger.
When he found out the draft was going to be reduced to five rounds, Kopp said he was surprised. But he's not too bothered by it.
"My goal was to be in the rounds," he said.
The draft normally comprised of 40 rounds. But this is a cost-cutting measure, because of the pandemic.
ESPN reported that any player who goes undrafted can sign with any team for a maximum of $20,000.
Kopp said even during a quarantine spring, he was able to pitch off a mound and get video that he plans to put on social media that might help his value.
"The scouts can make it an educated decision," Kopp said.
As far as going first round, that might be tough, but who knows?
first five
"I think a lot of teams (that) spend money on a first-round player have to be convinced on some things," Salmon said. "He’s set up to go to ASU. In the long run, that's probably a good place for him. He's still pretty young. As young as he is, how will he handle being away? In A ball, you have to ready for that. Is he ready for that? I don't know. My sentiment is that I think he's a first-rounder.
"My sense (is) from the scouts, I was around for a few weeks to talk to some of them, but he garners the attention. He's physically impressive. It only takes one. It might be that team will take him, train and develop him. He might not be there later."