Evan McKendry

McKendry has been a solid, three-year starter for the Hurricanes, and he was named third-team all-ACC in 2018 after posting a 3.52 ERA over 14 starts and 87 innings with 114 strikeouts and 33 walks as a sophomore. That year, McKendry’s fastball sat in the low 90s, but this spring—after undergoing hip surgery and sitting out last fall—his fastball velocity has been more in the 88-89 mph range. McKendry complements his fastball with a swing-and-miss changeup that’s among the best in the country. In contrast, scouts wonder about the quality of his ability to generate spin, as his slider grades out as a below-average pitch. The 6-foot-3, 200-pound righthander is more of a high-floor prospect rather than one filled with upside. Teams will need to have conviction that his fastball velocity will return to form after recovering from his hip injury and also missing time in April and May this spring. His long track record against ACC competition should ease some concerns, but there are real questions that could scare teams as well.