Latest MLB mock draft has KC Royals taking Emerson Hancock

As the 2020 MLB Draft approaches, a couple of sites are tying the KC Royals to Georgia pitching prospect Emerson Hancock.

Despite rumblings that the 2020 MLB Draft could be pushed back to July, it appears that it’ll still occur in June as previously thought. The KC Royals won’t be in Omaha to make their selections, picking players from home in a virtual draft instead.

MLB has the option to significantly shorten what is one of the longest events in sports. The draft usually has 40 rounds but this year, it can be shortened to five or 10. That puts a lot of added pressure on general manager Dayton Moore to hit on all of his picks. Luckily, he has one of the best draft slots to work from in the opening round.

The Royals hold the No. 4 overall pick in this year’s draft. Names like Spencer Torkelson, Austin Martin, Nick Gonzales, Asa Lacy and Garrett Mitchell have been floated around, but two sites project that Georgia pitcher Emerson Hancock will join the organization with that fourth pick.

MLB.com explained, “The Royals went pitching-heavy back in 2018, but someone once said you can never have too many arms.” CBS Sports noted how the organization has used the majority of its recent first-round picks on pitchers and explained why taking Hancock makes sense:

“Hancock struck out 34 and walked three in 24 innings prior to the shutdown and he takes three swing-and-miss pitches (fastball, curveball, slider) to the mound on his best days, plus a good fourth pitch (changeup) and control. Kansas City had 13 first-round picks from 2012-19 and used 10 on pitchers. The Royals emphasize arms early in the draft and Hancock would fit with the trend.”

Hancock posted a 1.99 ERA in 14 starts with the Bulldogs a season ago. He has immense potential and could be one of the league’s best pitchers one day if everything falls right. He’d be a tremendous fit with the impressive crop of young talent the KC Royals already have.

Imagine a rotation featuring Keller, Hancock, Brady Singer, Daniel Lynch and Jackson Kowar or Kris Bubic. That would be lethal. If the aforementioned mock drafts turn out to come true, that could be a reality in a few years.