Whereas most top prospects invited to MLB’s Draft Combine only participate in medicals and team interviews, UCLA ace Logan Reddemann made the rare decision to throw off the mound in front of scouts at the June event.
Early in the season, Reddemann was trending towards being a top-10 pick in this year’s draft, but he was shut down with “arm fatigue” in April and missed the rest of the Bruins’ season. There had been talk that Reddemann would be available to pitch in the NCAA postseason had the Bruins advanced past Regionals, but they were upset by Saint Mary’s.
With no live games available for him to prove he was healthy, Reddemann was adamant about participating in on-field drills at the combine last month.
“I feel like it’s really important to do that,” Reddemann said. “Obviously, it’s not gonna look how it would be if it was hitters in the box and whatnot, or in a game against USC or something like that.
“Just to get out there and kind of put yourself out in front of everyone to kind of show we (have) nothing to hide. (I) think that’s kind of the main thing.”
Seeing his draft stock plummet as the season went on was frustrating, and Reddemann wanted to show that very little had changed between the beginning of the season and the end, specifically with his stuff. He finished his season with a 2.87 ERA and an 87:11 K:BB in 59 ⅔ innings in 10 starts before the arm issues popped up.
“I truly believe that I’m that guy that was throwing very well back earlier in the season in April, and it’s just kind of showing that I’m still that guy,” Reddemann said.
In a draft year light on elite college starting pitching, where Reddemann goes in the draft will be one of the most interesting storylines on Day 1.
