Owen Sharts

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #370 prospect in 2021 draft
  The question as to why Sharts struggled with his control in his third season at Nevada can likely now be answered by the fact that the junior righthander required Tommy John surgery after six starts. Because of how well he pitched in past years, the injury may actually boost his draft stock with the likelihood that he’ll revert to previous form after a successful rehab period. Sharts was seen as a third- to fifth-round talent coming out of high school in 2018, when he ranked as the No. 162 prospect in the 2018 class, and that may be where he fits in this draft. An athletic righthander who repeats his delivery well out of a 6-foot-2, 190-pound frame, Sharts was up to 95 mph last fall but was mostly in the 89-92 mph range this spring, with an invisible fastball that plays up and gets ride up in the zone. He can spin a solid curveball at 77-80 mph, a plus pitch that’s wicked when it’s right but he sometimes gets on the side of it. His 80-83 mph changeup has progressed since high school, but it’s still a below-average pitch. His control and command were spotty all season—with 32 walks in just 31.2 innings—and the command of his pitches caused them to all play down. Because of the injury, Sharts could be viewed as a money-saving pick.
• Ranked #162 prospect in 2018 draft
  Sharts had evaluators' interest at the beginning of the year and boosted his stock with a star turn in front of scouting directors at the Boras Classic, pitching a one-hit shutout in Simi Valley's opener. Sharts stands out as one of the most polished prep pitchers in the class with three pitches, control and durability. Sharts pitches at 89-91 mph and touches 93-94. Unlike most high schoolers who hit their top velocity early before fading, he holds his stuff and still reaches 90 mph in the late innings. His 81-83 mph changeup is ahead of his 74-76 mph curveball, but both project to average. Sharts throws all his pitches for strikes and has room to add velocity as he fills out his 6-foot-2, 185-pound frame. He draws strong reviews for his makeup and mental toughness, embracing jokes about his last name. Sharts also has baseball bloodlines. His uncle, Scott Sharts, holds Cal State Northridge's single-season home run record and played three seasons in the minors. Sharts' complete package and pedigree has him in third- to fifth-round consideration. He comes from an affluent area and will be an expensive sign. He is committed to Nevada.