Belleville East pitcher hears his name called on first night of MLB draft
Belleville East graduate Zander Mueth was drafted in the second round of Sunday night’s Major League Baseball draft.
The Pittsburgh Pirates selected the hard-throwing right-hander with the 67th pick overall.
“I am so proud of him,” Lancers coach Ryan Wiggs said Monday morning. “It’s so cool to see this all come to fruition. I’ve known him from junior high coming to our high school camps and have gotten to know him obviously the last few years. He’s such a hard worker and really deserves it all.”
Mueth, who committed to Ole Miss University in January 2021, is 6-foot-6, 210 pounds.
According to Perfect Game, Mueth is ranked as the No. 27 overall prospect in the 2023 class and the No. 6 right-handed pitcher. He is among the centerpieces of a Rebels signing class that was ranked sixth in the country by Perfect Game last fall.
The slot value of the 67th overall pick projects a bonus of $1,128,200 for Mueth.
“Obviously, that’s one of my dreams,” Mueth said of potentially getting drafted during an interview this spring. “If the opportunity comes, I’ll definitely have to talk to my family and with the people who are closest to me and make an educated decision.”
Mueth’s pitch repertoire featured a fastball, slider and changeup. He’s throws 95-96 miles per hour consistently with the ability to hit 99 mph.
In 37 1/3 innings pitched this spring, Mueth allowed just 23 hits and struck out 62 batters while posting a 2.63 earned run average. He also posted a WHIP of 11.63.
Wiggs now looks forward to seeing Mueth’s continued development.
“He comes from an awesome family. He has great parents and just a really good support system around him. His teammates helped him, too. I’m really, honestly so proud of him. I can’t wait to see how it all plays out and how he grows and matures in pro ball,” Wiggs said.
Here is what is being said about Mueth.
Rum Bunter, an outlet devoted to Pittsburgh Pirates happenings
Suppose Mueth can regularly generate greater sink and velocity differentiation from his fastball. In that case, his mid-80s changeup has the potential to evolve into a reliable third-pitch option. While he doesn’t come with a standard delivery, he has a whippy arm action and throws without effort. The Mississippi recruit fashions difficult angle and shape to his pitches but needs to improve his control after battling the strike zone throughout his senior season. His unique pitching style and raw power make him a standout prospect. His fastball and slider combination could be a game-changer for the Pirates, who always want to add depth to their pitching roster.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
In addition to a fastball that peaks at 97 with heavy sink and run, the 6-foot-6, 205-pound Mueth with a projectable frame possesses a slider with plenty of movement and a changeup that’s regarded as one of the best in his class. For the NL scout, though, loading up the strike zone remains a question for Mueth.
“It all comes down to command and control,” an NL scout said. “That’s the big thing, as it is with most of them. But there’s ceiling here.”
The scout also said it’s 50-50 whether Mueth settles in as a starter or a reliever, a decision that will be predicated on his command and control. Still, the scout approved of the pick that he called risky, but potentially rewarding.
Pirates Prospects
Mueth gives the Pirates a projectable arm from a big frame with a deceptive delivery. He just turned 18 a month ago, and has the makings of three average or better pitches, with the chance for multiple plus offerings, and inconsistent control.
