Red Sox select Shane Drohan with fifth-round pick

With its fifth-round pick in the 2020 draft, Boston has selected Shane Drohan, a left-handed pitcher out of Florida State University. He is ranked 189th by Baseball America, 147th by MLB Pipeline, and 104th by Perfect Game USA.

As a sophomore, Drohan showed an ability to miss bats, striking out 71 in 51 2/3 innings across 16 appearances. His control was less consistent as he walked 48 and uncorked seven wild pitches on his way to a 3.66 ERA. The southpaw made four starts in the shortened 2020 campaign, allowing 12 runs (eight earned) in 17 2/3 innings, walking 11 and striking out 27. 

Standing 6-foot-3 and weighing 190 pounds, Drohan consistently has sat 92-93 mph with his fastball, touching 95. He complements the heater with a curve that MLB Pipeline says "has a chance to be above average" along with a changeup. Drohan has shown outstanding spin rates on the fastball (2500 rpm) and curve (2600-2800 rpm). Drohan was previously drafted in 2017 in the 23rd round by the Philadelphia Phillies out of Cardinal Newman High School in West Palm Beach, where he starred as a quarterback on the football team as well as in baseball. The Phillies were unable to lure him out of his FSU commitment.

He is the son of Bill Drohan, a former minor league pitcher who spent four years in the Kansas City Royals organization from 1987 to 1990.

Photo Credit: Shane Drohan from Seminoles.com

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