Well well well…it is officially official. With the 7th overall pick of the 2021 MLB Amateur Draft, the Kansas City Royals select LHP Frank Mozzicato from East Catholic HS (CT).

Here is a quick recap of how the first 6 picks of the draft fell:

1.) Pittsburgh Pirates – Henry Davis, C, Louisville

2.) Texas Rangers – Jack Leiter, RHP, Vanderbilt

3.) Detroit Tigers – Jackson Jobe, RHP, Heritage Hall HS (OK)

4.) Boston Red Sox – Marcelo Mayer, SS, Eastlake HS (CA)

5.) Baltimore Orioles – Colton Cowser, OF, Sam Houston State

6.) Arizona Diamondbacks – Jordan Lawlar, SS, Jesuit Prep HS (TX)

Based on how the first 6 picks of the draft went, here is the short list of names that the Royals could have chose from when they made their pick at #7:

• Kumar Rocker
• Kahlil Watson
• Brady House

I have absolutely no idea what to tell you when it comes to Mozzicato. I like the prospect. He just turned 18 and he started flying up draft boards this spring after throwing 4 consecutive no-hitters in high school ball in Connecticut.

Here’s what we know about Frank Mozzicato as it stands right now:

• There is no way he signs for slot value. I would imagine the Royals get him for around $4M or even less, saving themselves over $1.5M for a pick later in the draft. Could that be to get Will Bednar down to #43? Will Taylor? Jackson Merrill? Ben Kudrna? Who knows, but they’ll have the cash to get it done.
• Mozzicato sits 90-92 with the fastball and has been as high as 94 mph at times.
• He has an outstanding array of offspeed pitches, led by a 60/70 curveball with great spin. He also commands a slider and changeup in the zone that both grade a little above average.
• He’s a command over power pitcher that should probably be able to pitch in High-A by the middle of 2022.

I really don’t have much else for you right now. I tuned into Mozzicato’s no-hitter run earlier in the season but I just don’t know what the plan is yet. Let’s try to reserve too much judgement until we see how the next 2 or 3 picks play out. They may dunk all over other teams with how much money they’ll save here. If they can get a few more big time players later on, this may not look too bad. Still, to pass on Watson, Rocker, House, etc….this better work.

I want to take an important moment to clarify this is not about the kid. I am pumped to see him develop! I think he can be really good! I just don’t know about the process. Mozzicato will probably slot into the top 20 prospects on our midseason list. He may even get into the top 15 if I can convince myself of it. This has nothing to do with the human being that Mozzicato is because he appears to be an outstanding kid. I’m excited to see what he can do for this team. I don’t want this to become about him because that’s not fair to him.

With the #7 pick in the draft, the Kansas City Royals select the high school stud who has skyrocketed up the boards this spring: Frank Mozzicato

Mozzicato threw FOUR STRAIGHT NO-HITTERS earlier in 2021 and has a ton of upside! pic.twitter.com/9eUPeedSKv

— Farm To Fame (@FarmToFame_) July 11, 2021

A look at the newest #Royals 1st Round Draft Pick … Pitcher Frank Mozzicato .. 1st HS Pitcher selected in 1st Round since 2015. pic.twitter.com/rbhWbMavm3

— Harold R. Kuntz (@HaroldRKuntz3) July 12, 2021

The Pride of CT. Congrats @FrankMozzicato on getting drafted 7th overall!!!’ @Royals got a very very good one pic.twitter.com/10tbo8QyXa

— Ryan Lee (@RLee0514) July 12, 2021