High school pitcher from Paso Robles drafted in MLB’s third round
A right-handed flamethrower from Paso Robles was selected 96th overall in the Major League Baseball draft.
Hunter Barnhart, who pitched for St. Joseph High School in Santa Maria, was picked in the third round by the Tampa Bay Rays.
Barnhart reportedly has a fastball that can reach up to 96 miles per hour.
He recorded a 1-0 record and a 0.64 earned run average in three games, tallying 18 strikeouts in 11 innings in a pandemic-shortened senior season.
“Prior to the abbreviated season, the righty was known for his control, but this spring, his stuff across the board improved,” the Rays’ website stated. “His velocity was up to the lower 90s, and his curveball was better.”
Only 10 high school pitchers were picked through the first two rounds of the draft. The Rays chose two high school pitchers among their first four picks.
The 96th pick was valued at $604,000 in the 2019 draft.
Barnhart previously attended Paso Robles High School, where he played quarterback.
This story was originally published June 12, 2020 at 7:58 PM.
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