Sports

Matt Smoral Watch: MLB Draft Begins Today

Solon baseball standout could be selected in the first round of next week's Major League Baseball Draft.

Where will Solon High's Matt Smoral be selected in the Major League Baseball draft?

We could find out today. The draft begins today at 7 p.m. You can watch it live on MLB.com.

Smoral, a 6-feet, 8-inch-tall left-handed pitcher, is a top prospect expected to be a first-round pick in the draft.

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MLB.com lists Smoral at No. 27 on its Top 100 Prospects rankings. He would probably be ranked higher if a foot injury hadn't derailed his senior season with the Comets.

That website says:

Find out what's happening in Solonfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

When healthy, Smoral uses an easy arm action to deliver an above-average fastball that sits in the 91-92 mph range. He'll occasionally show a plus heater. He has a very good feel for a sinking changeup and can throw both for strikes.

Being drafted by a pro club doesn't mean he'll be playing in the pros next year. Smoral has already committed to playing at the University of North Carolina, and he can still decide to go to college and play if he's drafted.

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