McClanahan Reflects On Path to Becoming First-Round MLB Draft Pick
THIS WEEK: 2020 Major League Baseball Draft
SCHEDULE: Wednesday, 7 p.m. (MLB Network/ESPN); Thursday, 5 p.m. (MLB Network, ESPN2)
FOLLOW: Draft tracker | Twitter
@USFBaseball
USF DRAFT HISTORY
By TOM ZEBOLD
USF Senior Writer
TAMPA, JUNE 8, 2020 – Each year, baseball programs across the country are filled with pride when their own players get "the call" from a big-league club representative.
That special time for everyone involved will happen once again this week during the MLB Draft, and it will bring back incredible memories for
Shane McClanahan.
Two years ago, USF's former ace became the third-highest pick in school history when he was selected 31
st overall by the Tampa Bay Rays.
"I was finally getting to start my pro career and getting to do something I've always dreamed of doing," he said. "It was very cool to be selected by Tampa, remain local. I was very excited for the opportunity."
Now a rapid riser in the Rays' system, McClanahan will always appreciate his time with USF baseball that helped prepare the flame-throwing lefty for a very promising pro career.
Becoming a Bull initially involved the former Cape Coral (Fla.) High School star turning down a chance to join the New York Mets organization (2015 MLB Draft, 26th round).
"I still needed to do a lot of maturing, physically and mentally," he said. "I figured I had such a great staff and opportunity at USF that it was too good to turn down. I went to USF and I learned a ton about myself as a person and as a baseball player."
The college experience first started with supportive USF building McClanahan back up to being a dominant force on the mound. Instead of pitching right away as a true freshman, 2016 was all about rehabilitation following Tommy John surgery.
"I had a great group of guys around me and a training staff that had my back, motivated me," he said. "I owe so much credit to
Josh Herran, who I personally think is the best trainer in the nation. He was with me along the way, 24/7 night and day. He got me back stronger and kept me healthy."
Thriving through adversity helped McClanahan earn numerous All-America accolades in 2017, when he led The American and ranked eighth nationally with 12.32 strikeouts per nine innings.
"Watching him grow through that was good," head coach
Billy Mohl said. "The year of the draft, you saw him take another step, in terms of the maturation process."
On top of gaining a greater perspective on life, the political science major showcased his skills even more for pro organizations in 2018.
McClanahan began his final USF campaign with 11 strikeouts in a season-opening victory over No. 6 North Carolina that started his streak of 31.2 consecutive innings without an earned run. After playing a huge role in a combined no-hit effort against Army, McClanahan ended up finishing second nationally with 14.15 strikeouts per nine innings and led the AAC with 120 total punchouts.
"We were with him every step on the way," Mohl said. "Now you look at him and you listen to him give interviews, and you're like, 'Yeah, the kid is grown up,' and you're super proud of him."
Mohl definitely enjoyed watching his former pupil propel himself from rookie ball all the way up to Double-A in his first pro two seasons. Most recently, McClanahan
made a good impression on the big-league Rays, hitting 100 mph on the radar gun during a start against the Red Sox on March 11 and finishing his 2020 spring training stint with four straight scoreless outings.
Throughout his pro career, McClanahan has made sure to keep in touch with his USF family, even appearing on one of Vice President of Athletics
Michael Kelly's weekly podcasts this spring.
During that "
Kelly's Conversations" chat, McClanahan dished out some valuable keys to baseball success that could come in handy for aspiring #ProBulls, like draft hopeful
Carson Ragsdale.
"Not really trying to do too much," filling up the zone and trusting your defense were key points for pitchers. More wise words from McClanahan were for any player participating in American's pastime.
"It is just a game. You can't take it too seriously," he said. "It's good to have standards and expectations for yourself, but you gotta enjoy what you do. You gotta enjoy the guys around you and you just gotta have fun with it."
USF talent has the chance of joining McClanahan, one of the program's past 126 selections, at the next level during the 2020 MLB Draft. This year's modified, five-round event begins Wednesday at 7 p.m., with live coverage of the first 37 picks on MLB Network/ESPN. The remainder of the 160 selections will be made Thursday, starting at 5 p.m., on MLB Network/ESPN2.
About USF Baseball
The University of South Florida baseball program is one of the fastest rising programs in the country. The Bulls earned their third NCAA Regional berth in the last four seasons and had six all-conference selections in 2018. Four players were selected in the 2018 MLB Draft, including the program's fourth first rounder, pitcher Shane McClanahan. Third baseman David Villar was taken in the 11th round after being named first team all-conference and an All-American. The Bulls reached the NCAA Regionals in 2015 for the first time in 13 years and followed that success with a 42-19 record and second NCAA regional trip in three years in 2017. The Bulls continued the success in head coach Billy Mohl first season in 2018, reaching 36 wins and advancing to the semifinals of the conference tournament for the first time since 2012, while being ranked in multiple polls for the final two months of the season. The USF Baseball program has won five conference titles and the Bulls have made 13 NCAA appearances.
– #GoBulls –
