Kyle Molnar

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #232 prospect in 2018 draft
  Molnar was a potential second-round pick out of high school who dropped because of his strong commitment to UCLA, and he delivered on the hype by leading all Bruins starters in wins and ERA as a freshman. But Molnar has thrown only one inning in the two years since, halting his expected rise to the top of his class. He had Tommy John surgery after his freshman year and missed all of 2017, and a setback with his elbow delayed his return to mid-April of this year, 22 months after surgery. Molnar pitched one inning in his return, left the game and didn't pitch the rest of the season. Despite his alarming health record, Molnar's promise as a physical righthander who can hold mid-90s velocity has teams interested in the top 10 rounds. How comfortable team doctors feel with Molnar's medicals will have as much impact on his draft placement as anything. He has the option to return to school as a redshirt junior.
• Ranked #53 prospect in 2015 draft
  Molnar starred as a junior for both Aliso Niguel in the NHSI tournament in Cary, N.C., and for USA Baseball's 18U team last summer, throwing back-to-back one-hitters against Panama and Mexico. He has a long track record of success as an amateur, and while he may have plateaued a bit physically, he's got has present strength and physicality and compares favorably to many of this year's top college arms. He had an inconsistent summer showcase circuit and has done the same this spring, throwing well but not separating himself. Some of that may be attributable to his basketball season, which gave him a bit of a late start in baseball. At his best, the 6-foot-3, 205-pound Molnar pitches off a 55 fastball in the 87-93 mph range that plays up due to its late, heavy life down in the strike zone. His slider, which had a high spin rate during an otherwise pedestrian Area Code Games performance, flashes plus, and he has an above-average changeup, particularly for a prep pitcher, that he's not afraid to use. Molnar has the strength and athleticism to repeat his delivery, helping him earn a reputation of a strike-thrower. His total package resembles that of James Kaprielian, whom he may follow to UCLA.

• December, 2017 Scouting Report
  Molnar was a potential second-round pick out of high school who dropped because of his strong commitment to UCLA, and he delivered on the hype by leading all Bruins starters in wins and ERA as a freshman. But Molnar has thrown only one inning in the two years since, halting his expected rise to the top of his class. He had Tommy John surgery after his freshman year and missed all of 2017, and a setback with his elbow delayed his return to mid-April of this year, 22 months after surgery. Molnar pitched one inning in his return, left the game and didn't pitch the rest of the season. Despite his alarming health record, Molnar's promise as a physical righthander who can hold mid-90s velocity has teams interested in the top 10 rounds. How comfortable team doctors feel with Molnar's medicals will have as much impact on his draft placement as anything. He has the option to return to school as a redshirt junior.