Gunnar
Hoglund

2021 MLB Draft: Hoglund was playing his way into top 10 consideration before being sidelined with an injury and ultimately having Tommy John surgery. When healthy, he makes things look easy with a low-effort, repeatable delivery, three above-average pitches and spot-on command. His fastball ranges from 92-96 and he shows plus command of it to both sides of the plate. He can spot his mid-80s slider at the knees to glove side and manipulates the shape and velocity as needed. His changeup also sits in the mid 80s and plays up to above average due to his ability to throw it any count for a strike. Overall, Hoglund’s profile doesn’t scream super sexy, but it is one that should allow him to move quickly through a minor league system once he's back to 100 percent.

The former 2nd round pick of the Pirates in 2018  took the bump on Sunday for the second game of the year for the Rebels. In fear of an ambush by the Red Raiders’ leadoff hitter Dru Baker, Hoglund began the game with a pair of 86 mph sliders, then followed it up with a 96 mph heater, before going back to his sharp mid-80s slider for a groundout. He followed up the first out with a pair of punchies, one on a spotted heater of 95 mph at the knees, the other with a well-placed 86 mph slider to get a Dylan Neuse swing-through. Hoglund makes it look easy with a lower effort, repeatable delivery, three above average pitches, spot-on command and high pitchability. During his 5.1 IP, 11 strikeout outing, Hoglund showed a fastball in the 92-96 mph range, mostly working 92-93 with plus command to both sides of the plate. He consistently spotted his 84-87 mph slider at the knees to his glove side and was able to change shape and velocity as needed for the situation. The least used pitch of this outing, his mid-80s changeup, was very effective and played up to above average due to his ability to throw in any count for a strike. It was a small sample size of just one look, but Hoglund seemed to lose a little focus with pitch selection or location with two outs and no runners in scoring position. One of those moments resulted in a two-out, bases empty walk, followed by a two-run bomb off the pole of Texas Tech second-year freshman Nate Rombach. Overall, Hoglund’s profile doesn’t scream super sexy, but it is one that should allow him to move quickly through a minor league system to the Major Leagues.

Hoglund showed up in Oxford with great fanfare as an unsigned first-round pick in 2018, when his velocity sometimes spiked into the mid-90s as a high school senior. He hasn’t shown that kind of heat at Ole Miss, but he has lived up to his billing as a premier strike-thrower and fierce competitor. He stepped right into a starting job as a freshman in 2019 and took his lumps, posting a 5.29 ERA, but he raced out to a dynamite start as a sophomore this spring, going 3-0, 1.16 with a dazzling 37-4 K-BB mark in 23.1 innings. A durable 6-foot-4, 220-pound righty with a clean, compact arm action from a high slot, Hoglund has plenty of room to add velocity to a fastball that ranged from 88-92 mph in our most recent look at him this spring. His fastball has very good riding life up in the zone thanks to a spin rate that has jumped into the 2500 rpm neighborhood, and he spots up to all four quadrants of the zone effectively. He mixes in an average short slider at 81-84 mph and has good feel for his low-80s changeup, but his fastball remains his primary out pitch. At this stage, Hoglund doesn’t feature a legitimate plus pitch, but he stands out for his pitchability and projection. His best days are still to come.

04/12/18- Mississippi recruit. Tall, lean, athletic frame standing at 6-foot-4, 210 pounds. Quick arm throwing out of the high ¾ slot. Repeats well and creates some downward tilt. Featured a fastball that sat 90-93 mph early on, touching 94 before settling in at pitching at 90-91 for the rest of his time on the mound, reaching back for a 92 when he needed it. Also mixed in a 76-77 mph curveball with depth, an 81-82 mph changeup, and a 78-80 mph slider that showed sweeping action. Struck out nine in his 4.1 innings. Ball jumps on the batter. At times can fall off to the side, causing the ball to tail out of the zone. Held his velocity throughout and the arm works. Still room to add to the frame.

10/15/17- Mississippi recruit. Strong, athletic frame with a strong lower half. He is balanced and uses that lower half well throughout the swing. Shows an advanced gap-to-gap approach and pull side power potential. He created consistent hard contact and shows a feel for the barrel from the left side. This translated in the game when he drove a deep two-run home run over the right field wall. Ball jumps off the bat. The swing has continued to improve each time out and is noticeably shorter and more compact with less swing and miss.

10/08/16- Ole Miss Commit, the 6-foot-4, 200 pound two-way guy is noticeably bigger and stronger. He has really made a jump offensively, showing pull side power driving a ball over the right-center field wall. The swing has some length, but the path works and has some present bat speed and power. The big improvements in strength and power makes him very interesting offensively. On the mound sat 85-87 mph, touching 88 with his fastball. Slider was 76-77 mph.

4/9/16- Committed to Mississippi.

10/24/15- 84-87 FB, clean delivery with an easy and loose arm. Tall, large and strong frame with more strength to come. More velocity to come with maturity.