Video: Hunter Greene pitching highlights
Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks, Calif.) right-hander's fastball has topped out at 102 miles per hour. If all eyes are on
Hunter Greene now — scouts and fans flock to his every game — just imagine what it will be like in June.
The 6-foot-4, 210-pound
Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks, Calif.) baseball phenom is projected as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2017 Major League Baseball draft and thus far his senior season has been nothing but good.
On the mound, Greene is 3-0 with a 0.75 ERA and 43 strikeouts in 28 innings. When he's not pitching, he's the team's starting shortstop and hitting .310 (18 for 58) with three home runs and 19 RBIs.
The Knights are 14-5 and ranked No. 32 nationally according to the MaxPreps computer rankings, presented by the Army National Guard.
What makes Greene so special on the field is his rare ability to throw the ball 100 miles per hour (he's topped out at 102) and hit it 400 feet. Some believe he can both pitch and play the infield at the Major League level.
He's committed to UCLA but playing in the Pac-12 looks unlikely considering his draft projection.
"It sure appears he can do either from my stand point," said Notre Dame coach Tom Dill last month. "That will be someone else's call. Luckily I don't have to make the decision here – I can use him for both."
Los Angeles Times reporter
Eric Sondheimer reported this week that Dill is considering closing down Greene's prep pitching career to protect his arm.
Dill clarified Friday: "He is not throwing this week. We're taking it week-by-week."
He told
MLB.com Thursday: "He'll continue to throw bullpens. I'm open-minded about down the road and it could change when we get to the playoffs. We had decided long ago not to throw him in (the Boras Classic). … He's still throwing bullpens and keeping his arm in shape. He could throw if we needed him to. You can imagine the bombarding of calls I'm getting about when he's throwing next.
"I don't want to be the guy who used him and he hurt himself on a pitch. I feel I have a slightly bigger responsibility than a coach just trying to win a game. ... He's 17 and I want to make sure he has a long, healthy future. It's like playing Russian roulette: It could be one pitch where his 17-year-old body can't handle what his arm is doing. There isn't a manual on this. I'm going off my feel."
Dill has coached 50 All-CIF prospects over his 25 seasons as coach at Notre Dame, including Giancarlo Stanton of the Marlins.
Notre Dame senior Hunter Greene's fastball has been clocked at 102 mph.
Photos by Gregory Fiore
Hunter Greene has hit 10 career home runs.
