Bruce Kern

Kern, a righthander, has decent stuff and feel for pitching but has posted ERAs above 6.00 in back-to-back years in the Johnnies' weekend rotation. His four-pitch mix includes an 88-91 mph fastball, a changeup with good depth and arm speed that he uses as an out-pitch, a slider and a 12-to-6 curveball. His curveball has good break, but he does not command it as well as the fringy slider. Because of his changeup, Kern has more success against lefthanded hitters. Kern is undersized at 6-foot-1, 175 pounds and is likely to wind up in the bullpen, where his fastball could play up. As a senior sign, he could be drafted as high as the 10th- to 15th-round range but is more likely to go around the 20th. He helped himself against Louisville in the Big East tournament, working at 89-92 with good life.