Hunter Greene, MLB.com's No. 1 Draft prospect, hit a grand slam and struck out seven batters
Seventeen-year-old Hunter Greene is MLBPipeline's current No. 1 prospect in this summer's Draft. Not only is Greene projected to be the first right-handed high school pitcher to be picked at the top of the Draft, but scouts are also salivating over his potential in the field and at the plate.
Though it's unlikely that he will be drafted as the next two-way player a la Brooks Kieschnick, the teenager showed off his dual threat potential on Saturday. Facing Rio Mesa, the Notre Dame (of Sherman Oaks, Calif.) star pitched five innings of three-hit baseball, allowing two runs and striking out seven.
Somehow, he topped that at the plate, going 2-for-4 with a grand slam. The shout of "Oh yeah!" as he makes contact is especially nice:
While it seems impossible for anyone, especially a high schooler, to live with the pressure of playing on both sides of the ball and preparing for the Draft, it doesn't seem difficult to Greene. "There is no pressure for me when it comes to playing baseball," Greene said in an email with MLB.com. "What I focus on is putting my best foot forward and playing as hard as I can to help my team win the game. ... This game can make you feel like a super hero in one moment then the worst guy in the game the following day."
A strike, 3 pointer & touchdown all in one..haha! @USABaseball18U @PerfectGameUSA @PGShowcases #3sportathlete😂 pic.twitter.com/RWIFcX4EVs
— Hunter Greene (@HunterGreene17) June 28, 2016
Greene, who enters to Akon's "Soul Survivor" and bats to "How We Do" by The Game, admits his main focus is on "helping my team win and staying healthy." But he's got a secondary goal that is a little more ambitious: "Trying to prove to the world I'm the best prospect in the 2017 Draft."
If Greene keeps playing like he did on Saturday, that won't be too difficult.
Of course, even the most talented baseball players need to stay balanced with some other interests. An AP arts student, Greene loves "drawing and painting, attending concerts with his best friend/catcher Justin Rorick and "hanging out with my beautiful and loving family."
(h/t USA Today)
