Took RP Matt Cronin 123rd overall in the 4th. Ranked 73rd on mlb.com.
Cronin has been a bullpen mainstay for Arkansas since his freshman year in 2017 and set a school record with 14 saves last year, when the Razorbacks finished runner-up at the College World Series. He'll likely be the first reliever drafted in 2019, perhaps as high as the second round by a team that places a lot of emphasis on analytics. There's nothing subtle about Cronin, who attacks hitters with two plus pitches that feature outstanding spin rates. His 92-96 mph fastball gets great carry in the strike zone, appearing to rise as it reaches the plate. His over-the-top arm slot helps him get nice depth on his curveball, which can be a true hammer in the mid 70s. Cronin has a lot of effort and some recoil in his delivery, so there's no thought of trying to deploy him as a starter. He battled the strike zone as a freshman before pounding it as a sophomore, but his control has regressed this spring. He projects as a setup man with perhaps a chance to close if he provides more strikes.
