Cousin Jack is dropping. Chances are the Rays take him but he might drop all the way to the 2nd round for the Jays. Amazing how that middle paragraph matched my draft profile in 1988 (if Canadians were allowed in the draft)
In 2022, Virginia Tech rode one of the better collegiate offenses in the game to a Super Regional appearance, and that lineup had five players taken in the top five rounds of last year’s Draft, led by first-rounder Gavin Cross. Hurley was one of the best performers on the team as a sophomore, finishing with a 1.116 OPS and reaching double digits in home runs and stolen bases. He played briefly in the Cape Cod League and was a member of the U.S. Collegiate National Team over the summer.
A left-handed hitting outfielder, Hurley has the chance to be a true five-tool player at the next level. He has excellent bat-to-ball skills and started tapping into his considerable raw power in 2022, with the chance to be an above-average hitter with above-average power in the future.
Hurley played left field in deference to Cross last year, but his plus speed and strong defensive instincts enabled him to play center field in 2023 and should let him stay there, with more than enough arm to slide to right field should the need arise. He plays with a ton of energy, reminding some of Tennessee product Drew Gilbert, who was taken by the Astros at the end of the first round of the 2022 Draft.