Future Watch: Shane McClanahan Rookie Baseball Cards, Rays – Shane McClanahan was drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 2018 MLB Amateur Draft. The Cape Coral, Florida native was 29-7 at Cape Coral High School with a 1.82 ERA and 187 strikeouts in 123 innings. The Mets drafted him in 2015, but he didn’t sign and instead attended the University of South Florida.
McClanahan didn’t play in his freshman year. He had to get Tommy John surgery. So many pitchers have it these days and many come back as strong or stronger, so teams don’t really worry about it.
In 2015, he started in 15 games. He had a 4-2 record with a 3.20 ERA. He struck out 104 batters in 76 innings! In 2018, he was 5-6, with a 3.42 ERA in 14 starts. He was ready for the next step, he was healthy and that was the most important thing.
After the draft, he pitched for the GCL Rays. He threw three innings, struck out six and gave up one hit and no runs. That got him promoted to the Princeton Rays in a higher rookie ball league. It was there he pitched four innings, gave up two hits, walked one, gave up no runs and struck out seven. A good way to end the year.
Collectors can get his 2018 Bowman Draft autographed rookie card.
Here’s a look at him in action with commentary:
Perhaps the hardest thrower among college hurlers in his class, McClanahan consistently touched triple digits with his fastball during the spring while sitting at 97-100 on a regular basis. The left-hander complements his dynamic heater with a plus changeup, a pitch he throws with good arm speed that features a ton of late drop to it. McClanahan’s slider gives him a third at least average pitch. While McClanahan’s strikeout rate has been really high, his walk rate has been as well.
That, plus a delivery that features a fairly big recoil, has led some evaluators to project him as a future reliever — albeit one who could get to the big leagues in a hurry. But with a loose and very athletic frame, McClanahan might be able to get away with those mechanics. He’s elicited some Chris Sale comps, with some scouts thinking he has better stuff now, at least with the fastball, than Sale did in his Draft year. ETA 2021
McClanahan could be special. If the comparison is correct, he should be at the top of your want list.
Follow him on Twitter @Sugar_ShaneM.
Future Watch: Shane McClanahan Rookie Baseball Cards, Rays – Stats
| Year | Age | AgeDif | Tm | Lg | Lev | Aff | W | L | W-L% | ERA | RA9 | G | GS | GF | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | R | ER | HR | BB | IBB | SO | HBP | BK | WP | BF | WHIP | H9 | HR9 | BB9 | SO9 | SO/W |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 21 | 2 Teams | 2 Lgs | Rk | TBR | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7.0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 0.571 | 3.9 | 0.0 | 1.3 | 16.7 | 13.00 | ||
| 2018 | 21 | 0.3 | Princeton | APPY | Rk | TBR | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4.0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0.750 | 4.5 | 0.0 | 2.3 | 15.8 | 7.00 | |
| 2018 | 21 | 0.6 | Rays | GULF | Rk | TBR | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0.333 | 3.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 18.0 | ||
| All Levels (1 Season) | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7.0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 0.571 | 3.9 | 0.0 | 1.3 | 16.7 | 13.00 | |||||||
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For more from Russ Cohen, follow him on Twitter @sportsology.
Russ Cohen
is the author of several top-selling sports related books.
Baseball’s Best Rookies
Numbers Don’t Lie: Mets: The Biggest Numbers in Mets History
100 Ranger Greats: Superstars, Unsung Heroes and Colorful Characters
100 Things Rangers Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die
“Strike Three!” – A Player’s Journey through the Infamous Baseball Strike of 1994
The Winter Classic: The NHL’s Savior
The Philadelphia Flyers: Images of Sports
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