Red Sox select Cody Scroggins with their ninth round pick

With their second-to-last selection of the second day of the 2019 draft, the Red Sox went back to the college pitcher well, taking right-handed senior out of Arkansas Cody Scroggins. I expected them to select a few more seniors this year, as seniors obviously sign for less money given their relative lack of leverage, but this is only their second after Noah Song. Scroggins was not on Baseball America’s top 500, but he was the number 75 college pitcher for Fangraphs among those with a future value of 35 or lower.

Scroggins started his collegiate career at Arkansas as a third baseman, taking over as the everyday player at the hot corner midway through his freshman year. He then converted to the mound his sophomore year and made just three appearances before needing Tommy John. He came back midway through the 2018 season before being on the mound all year in 2019. The righty has 49 strikeouts in 40 innings this year, but his control is an issue that will have to be overcome if he’s to progress as a professional reliever.