When the COVID-19 pandemic cut college baseball seasons short around the country in 2020, Evan Shawver made the most of the unexpected break. The University of Cincinnati left-hander returned to his hometown of Amherst, Ohio, and began working on his craft.

Shawver later told The Morning Journal that he added a power changeup to his arsenal while back home. The offspeed pitch brought another option to a repertoire that already included a low-90s fastball -- which has hit 96 mph at times -- and a plus slider.

Shawver was effective in 2021, posting a 2.72 ERA in 46 1/3 innings for the Bearcats. But he also had setbacks due to minor injuries that limited him to eight outings.

Despite those limited opportunities in his junior season, Shawver stood out during this summer’s Cape Cod Baseball League, giving the Rockies the affirmation needed to take him with in the seventh round of the 2021 MLB Draft.

• Rockies Draft Tracker

“[Shawver] dealt with some injuries,” Rockies interim general manager Bill Schmidt said. “Nothing serious during the spring time. But if you go and look at the Cape Cod stats ... he's pitched very well up there. He's shown us he's healthy, and we think there's real good upside.”

Shawver was named the Cape Cod Pitcher of the Week after he struck out 10 in six scoreless innings in his first start on June 21 during the opening week of games.

Shawver was one of 11 college pitchers taken among the Rockies' 21 picks in this year’s Draft. It is a class of pitchers headlined by LSU righty Jaden Hill, a second-round pick who underwent Tommy John surgery in April.

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Schmidt said the quality of arms in this year's class was deep.

“That was one of the strengths, in our opinion,” Schmidt said. “Not necessarily so much up top of the Draft, but we felt there was some [depth] as you went through the Draft."