With their fifth pick, 123rd overall, of the 2023 MLB draft, the Mets have selected junior Wyatt Hudepohl, a pitcher out of UNC Charlotte. The 123rd pick holds a slot value of 536.5 thousand dollars.
Hudepohl hurled 123.1 effective frames for the 49ers this past season, posting a 7-6 record, with a 4.27 ERA, 11 K/9, and a 2.3 BB/9. His performance earned him First-Team All-Conference honors. His most impressive outing consisted of a 17 K,0 BB start against Old Dominion where he set the school record for strikeouts in a game.
Wyatt Hudepohl, Photo via Charlotte Athletics
He pitched in the Cape in 2022, collecting two losses and a 6.11 ERA. However, his arsenal consists of a quality three-pitch mix with room for improvement. His heater’s been clocked up to 97.2 mph.
Joe Doyle of FSS writes:
After two years at Kentucky, Hudepohl made his way to Charlotte for 2023 where his strikeout prowess continued. His crowning jewel was a 17-strikeout performance in March; one of the best pitching performances of anyone in the country all season. Hudepohl is a power arm featuring a fastball that’ll rush up to 96, sitting a few ticks lower than that on most occasions. He works in a power curve with a bit of two-plane breaking, and a similar-velocity changeup that breaks the other direction. He’s got some starter traits, but ratcheted up a bit he could have a quick home in a big league bullpen.
Wyatt Hudepohl had arguably the best pitching performance of the '23 season tonight. Tossed a complete game, allowed 2 ER, struck out 17, and walked 0. + arm speed, throws from straight OTT and gets serious carry on FB up to 95. Sharp downer CB also flashed +, mixed in cutter 📈 pic.twitter.com/Cz3OJMck9c
— Peter Flaherty III (@PeterGFlaherty) March 11, 2023
ProspectsLive’s report reads:
Hudepohl went from being a relief option at Kentucky to Charlotte’s top arm in 2023. The fastball is more firm in the low-90s, but the change-up and curveball are the selling points here. He’s a pitchability guy and will throw backwards on those two pitches. The curveball is thrown very hard in the low-80s with 12-6 shape and the change-up, while firm, gets plenty of whiffs thanks to deceptive movements in his delivery. – Tyler Jennings
Meanwhile, Fangraphs‘ Eric Logenhagen jotted some notes about his repertoire, noting that his fastball has some natural cut/rise, while grading it a future 45. His slider earned a future value of 50.
After selecting Brandon Sproat, Kade Morris, and two-way player Nolan McLean, Hudepohl represented the fourth pitcher selection the club has made this draft.
