Mets Select RHP Wyatt Hudepohl With Pick 123

With their fifth pick, 123rd overall, of the 2023 MLB draft, the Mets have selected junior Wyatt Hudepohl, a pitcher out of UNC Charlotte. The 123rd pick holds a slot value of 536.5 thousand dollars.

Hudepohl hurled 123.1 effective frames for the 49ers this past season, posting a 7-6 record, with a 4.27 ERA, 11 K/9, and a 2.3 BB/9. His performance earned him First-Team All-Conference honors. His most impressive outing consisted of a 17 K,0 BB start against Old Dominion where he set the school record for strikeouts in a game.

He pitched in the Cape in 2022, collecting two losses and a 6.11 ERA. However, his arsenal consists of a quality three-pitch mix with room for improvement. His heater’s been clocked up to 97.2 mph.

Joe Doyle of FSS writes:

After two years at Kentucky, Hudepohl made his way to Charlotte for 2023 where his strikeout prowess continued. His crowning jewel was a 17-strikeout performance in March; one of the best pitching performances of anyone in the country all season. Hudepohl is a power arm featuring a fastball that’ll rush up to 96, sitting a few ticks lower than that on most occasions. He works in a power curve with a bit of two-plane breaking, and a similar-velocity changeup that breaks the other direction. He’s got some starter traits, but ratcheted up a bit he could have a quick home in a big league bullpen.

Wyatt Hudepohl had arguably the best pitching performance of the '23 season tonight. Tossed a complete game, allowed 2 ER, struck out 17, and walked 0. + arm speed, throws from straight OTT and gets serious carry on FB up to 95. Sharp downer CB also flashed +, mixed in cutter ???? pic.twitter.com/Cz3OJMck9c

— Peter Flaherty III (@PeterGFlaherty) March 11, 2023

ProspectsLive’s report reads:

Hudepohl went from being a relief option at Kentucky to Charlotte’s top arm in 2023. The fastball is more firm in the low-90s, but the change-up and curveball are the selling points here. He’s a pitchability guy and will throw backwards on those two pitches. The curveball is thrown very hard in the low-80s with 12-6 shape and the change-up, while firm, gets plenty of whiffs thanks to deceptive movements in his delivery. – Tyler Jennings

Meanwhile, Fangraphs‘ Eric Logenhagen jotted some notes about his repertoire, noting that his fastball has some natural cut/rise, while grading it a future 45. His slider earned a future value of 50.

After selecting Brandon Sproat, Kade Morris, and two-way player Nolan McLean, Hudepohl represented the fourth pitcher selection the club has made this draft.

The post Mets Select RHP Wyatt Hudepohl With Pick 123 first appeared on Metsmerized Online.