2021 MLB Draft: Tampa Bay Rays select RHP Logan Workman in the seventh round

The Tampa Bay Rays have selected Lee University’s ace RHP Logan Workman with the No. 221 overall pick.

A big fish in a little pond, Workman held an astounding 0.21 ERA in 2019 for his Christian university, and nearly signed with the Yankees, but opted to return to school. He’s a tall 6 foot 4 with big stuff, but some risk given the lack of strong competition.

Here’s MLB Pipeline’s lengthy write up:

Workman led the Coastal Plain League in strikeouts (67 in 43 2/3 innings) in the summer of 2019, a prelude to becoming one of the most dominant pitchers in NCAA Division II the last two years. He went 5-0 with a 0.21 ERA, .091 opponent average and 53 whiffs in 42 frames in 2020 and nearly signed with the Yankees as a nondrafted free agent before returning to Lee (Tenn.) for a fourth season. He went 8-1 this spring with a 1.81 ERA, .168 opponent average and 110 strikeouts in 79 2/3 innings while setting a school record for career ERA (2.13).

Workman’s four-seam fastball reached 98 mph early this season and usually ranges from 91-96 with riding action up in the strike zone. His best secondary pitch is a solid low-80s changeup with fade and sink. He has improved his low-80s slider but it still lacks consistency at times.

With his 6-foot-4 frame and high three-quarters arm slot, Workman creates plane on his pitches. He provides strikes but there’s some effort in his delivery and he’ll need to refine his fastball command to succeed in pro ball. He has the upside of a back-of-the-rotation starter and enough fastball to make it as a reliever if he doesn’t stick in the rotation.