4 things to know about Red Sox draft pick Tyler McDonough

Red Sox

Boy Scouts like Tyler McDonough “the more they look at him”.

After recovering potential star shortstop Marcelo Mayer in the first round and potential steal Jud Fabian in the second, the Red Sox took North Carolina State center Tyler McDonough to the third round of the draft. MLB 2021 Monday.

McDonough was ranked 112th in its category by MLB.com. Here are four things to know.

McDonough changed his approach this year

At 5-foot-10 and 180 pounds, McDonough isn’t a physically imposing presence. By Baseball America, however, he hit over .300 over three seasons at NC State and he hit a career high of 15 home runs last season – likely in an attempt to show he has some power potential as well. . Boy Scouts told BA McDonough lengthened his swing and swung harder, which led to a career high of 17 strikeouts.

“McDonough doesn’t pounce on you with loud tools, but he’s become a player that scouts appreciate more than they watch him,” BA wrote. “He does everything on the pitch at a high level and is the kind of skilled player who draws scouts.”

The MLB.com scout report added that while McDonough has hit more often, he “still has good hitting zone control and could become a .270 hitter with 15 home runs per season. He’s slowed down a bit as he gained muscle, but he still has solid speed and a good sense of the basics. “

McDonough’s final season ended early due to COVID outbreak

McDonough was one of 14 players excluded from the NC State series against Vanderbilt on June 25, ahead of their second game against Vanderbilt. The Wolfpack fielded just 13 players and lost 3-1 before the NCAA declared their third game “without competition” on the recommendation of the Douglas County Health Department of Nebraska.

Eight players were ultimately tested positive by State NC, although they did not disclose the names of these players. McDonough retweeted several accounts who opposed the NCAA decision, including Barstool president Dave Portnoy, who felt the decision ruined “the entire College World Series” and that the game was “stolen” from NC State .