A quick-moving reliever in the third round
After a busy Day One of the 2024 MLB draft that saw them select two first round talents, Mariners Scouting Director Scott Hunter indicated the team may need to get “creative” with their bonus pool in order to make the available money work. As expected, the Mariners opted for a senior sign in round three, selecting Hunter Cranton, a right-handed reliever out of Kansas University. Cranton was listed by Baseball America as their top senior sign; he arrived at Kentucky by way of Saddleback College and San Diego State, originally hailing from Newport Beach and attending baseball powerhouse JSerra High School.
"Here it is – the 0-2 pitch. Swung on and missed and that’s the game!" pic.twitter.com/OPIK5ojI47
— Kansas Baseball (@KUBaseball) March 9, 2024
Cranton’s primary calling card is his huge fastball. Sitting in the upper 90s and touching 100, Cranton gets big time carry out of a slightly lower slot that allows his fastball to wreak havoc on opposing hitters. When previewing the player, draft expert Jim Callis described the pitch as “unhittable”. It’s firmly a plus pitch, if not double plus. Just a two pitch guy at the moment, Cranton’s slider also grades as above average and has flashed better, though it’s streakier than his dominant fastball.
Cranton is almost certainly a full time reliever at the next level. At nearly 24 years old, he’s an older player that should be able to move quickly through the system and provide depth to a minor league relief corps that is fairly mundane at present.
Dan Fitzgerald, his coach at Kansas, says “I don’t think Hunter Cranton is that far from pitching in the big leagues”. The label of being a “fast mover” can often be a bit of a catch-all term, but Cranton truly can be a “fast mover”; It’s not unreasonable to see him out of the ‘pen next season, perhaps even later this season if he really takes to pro ball.
Hunter Cranton is one of my favorite draft-eligible RP prospects. In 25 IP for @KUBaseball this year, he sported a 2.16 ERA while striking out 38 and walking just 9.
— Kareem (@KareemSSN) June 20, 2024
Cranton has an explosive 97 mph FF (T100) w/ 17.6" IVB from a 5.6 vRel. Mid 80s SL gives him a 2nd plus pitch. pic.twitter.com/5o6SwAAc4O
It may not be the flashy prepster that grabs the headlines, but for a pick that provides them the financial flexibility they need, Cranton’s strike throwing and massive stuff makes him an intriguing option
