Cleveland Guardians 2024 MLB Draft 3rd Round Pick: RHP Joey Oakie

The Cleveland Guardians selected Joey Oakie- RHP in the third round (84th overall).

Joey Oakie- RHP Ankeny Centennial HS, IA
Age: 18.2
Ht: 6’3 
Wt: 205

Rankings:
• BA- 49
• MLB- 46
• WH- 30-50 (CBA to mid-2)

Analysis:
Joey Oakie was the Gatorade Iowa Player of the Year. The right-hander possesses a strong, lean, projectable athletic frame. There is room for added strength and better command. Oakie utilizes a short, quick low three-quarters, he's a near-side armer. Stuff-wise there's a high spin 92-94 mph fastball that touches 97. With potential physical strength gains and natural maturation, there could be a tick more velocity to unlock His best pitch is a filthy two-plane breaking slider with the potential to become a double plus pitch. His slider, currently a plus pitch, posts spin rates over 2,800 rpm coming in at 83-86 mph. Oakie rounds out his four-pitch mix with an underdeveloped firm changeup and little-used cutter. However, the natural movement and spin on his pitches do not come without cost, his command waivers as a result. Overall, the (young for the draft class) right-hander projects as a mid-rotation type of arm with a back-of-the-bullpen floor.

Pre-draft writeup: A right handed arm on the shorter side (6’3) than you’d like from a high school arm. His body might not have a ton of projection left, but he’s well built and can get his fastball into the mid-90 already. The slider is the carrying pitch, with big sweeping movement. It’s possibly a double plus pitch and he’s shown good control with both pitches. The changeup is said to be behind a bit but the delivery seems repeatable with his athleticism. It’s a side arm looking operation that aids the slider. Iowa high school baseball doesn’t start until May, so he might be a late riser but he should be on team’s radar as a day one pick already. Iowa commit.

Future Projection:
Fastball- 55
Slider- 60
Change- 45
Cutter- 45
Command- 45