Mitchell Kilkenny hasn’t had a charmed start to his professional career. The 6’3” pitcher was Colorado’s second rounder (76th overall) in 2018 and had worked his way up from a walk-on to the number one starter for Texas A&M. Though he lacked overwhelming stuff, the right-hander possessed good command/polish and seemed like a potential quick mover into the back end of a big league rotation. Then came the post-draft physical.
Pre-season 2020 Rank: 21
High Ballot: 15
Mode Ballot: 25, 26, 28
Contract Status: 2018 2nd Round, not Rule 5 eligible, three options remaining
Kilkenny was found to need Tommy John surgery immediately, which led to an under-slot signing bonus ($550k, roughly 70% of slot) and a full year of rehab.