2018 MLB draft: Tampa Bay Rays select LHP Shane McClanahan with the No. 31 pick

With the 31st pick of the 2018 MLB draft the Tampa Bay Rays selected LHP Shane McClanahan out of the University of South Florida.

Early in the season McClanahan was seen as a potential top five pick. He can hit near 100 mph and his fastball sits in the mid 90s deep into starts. Slider and changeup are his offspeed weapons of choice with the changeup being the more consistent pitch.

McClanahan struggled down the stretch and saw his stock fall heading into the draft. He missed the 2016 season recovering from Tommy John Surgery. There is inconsistency in his delivery that might force him to the bullpen.

Baseball America had him ranked 8th and Keith Law ranked him 9th at ESPN. MLB.com ranked him the 14th best prospect in the draft. Eric Longenhagen and Kiley McDaniel were the low guys on McClanahan ranking him 34th.

MLB.com gives a 70 on his fastball, 50 on his slider, and 60 changeup. Combine that with 45 command and they put him at a 55 FV.

Fangraphs has McClanahan as a 45 FV with a high risk profile saying, “ In his first start of the year, McClanahan dominated North Carolina and the consensus is that he would go in the top 5 picks. Things slowly unraveled from there, missing some starts with an illness or a cut on his finger from cutting a slice of bread, showing well below-average command and inconsistent off-speed pitches in other outings.”

The Rays ended up with another pick that it was unlikely would be available with their second pick.