June 4, 2019 at 3:09 PM
Red Sox select Jaxx Groshans with fifth-round pick
Groshans is coming off of a breakout season with the Jayhawks. He blasted 12 homers in 54 games after compiling just five during his first two seasons, on his way to a 2019 slash line of .333/.469/.602. Per Baseball America, he flashes average power that is "more of the gap-to-gap" variety that plays up due to his excellent plate discipline and control of the strike zone. That approach manifested itself with 49 walks during his junior year while striking out just 39 times.
A solid athlete for a catcher, Groshans exhibits an average arm, that "could tick up with a quicker release and better accuracy" per MLB Pipeline. He played more catcher in 2019 after seeing more time at third base as well as some at first as a Sophomore.
The six-foot, 209-pound Groshans went undrafted out of high school, but saw his stock increase at Kansas and with two strong seasons with the Orleans Firebirds of the Cape Cod League. He received an All-Big 12 Honorable Mention this season.
He is the older brother of Jordan Groshans, selected 12th overall in 2018 by the Toronto Blue Jays out of Magnolia (TX) High School.
Photo Credit: Jaxx Groshans by University of Kansas Athletics