2019 MLB draft: Tampa Bay Rays select RHP JJ Goss with the No. 36 pick

The Tampa Bay Rays selected RHP JJ Goss out of Cypress Ranch (Cypress Ranch, Texas) High School.

Last week, Scott Grauer mentioned Goss as one of the high school pitchers that the Rays could take.

According to BA, Goss was previously viewed as a projectable strike thrower, but his stuff has improved this spring. They’re not particularly comparable, but that aspect of his report reminds me of Liberatore last year.

He now throws in the low-90s, and he can get stronger to maintain and add to that velocity. He already had a feel for an above-average slider and changeup.

With those improvements, he should be a first-round pick. He’s the kind of pitcher teams are looking for more and more in the draft now. It’s fine that he doesn’t throw a high-octane fastball. He can grow into some more velocity, and his secondary pitches are already good.

Keith Law was the high man on Goss ranking him 14th in his top 100. MLB.com ranked him 24th, FanGraphs ranked him 28th, and Baseball America ranked him 33rd.

Goss already throws his fastball 90-96 with some projection left remaining. His secondary of choice is a low 80s slider with good spin, and has feel for a mid 80s changeup. Goss has shown the ability to throw strikes.

In a draft that has been criticized for the lack of top arms the Rays got one of the best prep arms available at a good value.