Columbia, Mizzou players give this MLB Draft a local flavor

Tyler Putnam, the Battle pitcher who blew through opposing lineups all season, continued to make a good showing at the MLB Draft Combine held in late June in Arizona.

Putnam, a Tennessee commit, turned 18 in May. His fastball topped out at 99.3 mph at the combine. He also boasts a range of slider grips that he showcased during his combine bullpen and a changeup that sits in the mid-80s.

Putnam is listed at 6-foot-5, 200 pounds on his combine profile. A basketball player in high school as well, he says his time on the court helped translate to better stamina and performance.

Putnam uses his frame to stride down the mound and get great extension. His size and ability to maximize it on release suggests a potential uptick in his velocity in the near future. He dazzled on the bump in his senior season, posting a 1.38 ERA, 0.91 WHIP and collecting 81 strikeouts in 40⅔ innings.

A four-year varsity starter with the Spartans, Putnam also batted .486 with 12 home runs this past season and is listed as a two-way player for Tennessee. He has entered the draft as a pitcher exclusively. Apart from his impressive 99-mph toss on his final pitch, Putnam clocked in at 98.3 and 97.7 with his fastball on two separate pitches, showcasing one of the most consistently high velocities at the combine.

He was graded a 45 overall by scouts on the 20-to-80 grading scale, putting him around the average grade for combine pitchers. His fastball was graded as a 60, an impressive mark for an 18-year-old. His slider has made drastic improvements over his senior year and was graded at a 50.

Putnam is ranked as the No. 139 prospect in the draft by MLB, giving him a realistic shot at being a Day 1 pick.

Josh McDevitt

The right-hander was Mizzou’s ace last year, finishing the season with 4.46 ERA and 1.26 WHIP for the Tigers. He racked up 102 strikeouts while limiting opponents to a .211 batting average in his junior season. The performance came as a breakout for McDevitt, who pitched just 22⅔ innings over his previous two seasons with the team.

The right-hander is ranked as the No. 236 prospect in the draft and was given a scouting grade of 40 overall. While not overpowering, his fastball holds a consistent speed and has nice arm-side run. He saw the pitch peak at 97 mph this season, matching well with a mid-80s changeup and upper-70s curveball.

McDevitt did not work out at the combine but did attend the event with teammate Kam Durnin. Expected to go as high as a fourth- or fifth-round pick, McDevitt was measured at 6-2 and 195 pounds. He will have two years of eligibility remaining if he chooses not to sign with the team that drafts him. He gives credit to the Mizzou staff for his quick turnaround into an elite college arm this season and hopes to continue to progress at the same rate going forward.

“You don’t get there without the help of a lot of people,” McDevitt said. “There’s a ton of people to thank for myself being in this position, and I’m super fortunate that I’ve been able to come to Mizzou for three years and meet some really cool people. I definitely wouldn’t be here without all them.”

Kam Durnin

Durnin was a huge part of Mizzou’s success this season, showcasing his defensive talent at shortstop, picking up a team-best 89 assists in 43 games. Durnin also broke out as an elite hitter, leading the team with a .329 average and 1.007 OPS.

Listed at 6-1, 200 pounds, the junior was not ranked in the top 250 by MLB and will likely be a Day 2 pickup. D1Baseball and Pencil Talk praised his combine performance on social media, saying he “put on a strong showing at the plate” during his workout.

“It’s cool just to get to experience things that I’ve dreamed about before, whether that’s the draft or going back for my fourth year or whatever it may be,” Durnin said. “Like playing Division I baseball, that was a dream that little Kam had, and then to get to play in the SEC, that’s even cooler. Then just to get to experience some of the draft stuff, it’s been super special as well.”

Durnin will also have two years of eligibility remaining if he is unsatisfied with his draft selection.

Jase Woita

Woita did not attend the combine but put up impressive numbers for the Tigers all season, ending with a .287 average and .927 OPS and 13 homers. He was a dependable bat, taking reps from the leadoff spot toward the end of the season.

Woita was also a sound first baseman defensively, ending with a .996 fielding percentage and committing only one error. He finished second on the team behind Mateo Serna in putouts, with 215.

Woita was a graduate student this past year and will not be eligible to return to college ball next year.

Codey Gauff

The little brother of Coco Gauff, Codey committed to Missouri out of Elite Squad Baseball Academy in Delray Beach, Florida. He participated in the Draft Combine and has clocked a 6.6 60-yard-dash and a 79-mph catcher velocity.

A switch-hitter who also plays outfield, Gauff brings versatility and solid fundamentals to the table. He is listed at 5-7, 185 pounds. If he does not sign with a team in the draft, Gauff will have five years of eligibility to continue developing in college ball. He will be one of a few good options to replace Serna behind the plate for the Tigers.