Arizona Marvelous Ideas: 2017 MLB Draft results: Arizona signee RHP Matt Sauer drafted 54th overall by New York Yankees

The highly ranked recruit probably won’t make his way to Tucson

In Jay Johnson’s short time with the Arizona Wildcats, the most high-profile recruit he’s been able to land is Matt Sauer, a right-handed pitcher from Ernest Righetti HS in Santa Maria, CA.

“Matt may be the most impactful recruit we have had in our time here at Arizona,” Johnson said when the 2017 recruiting class was officially unveiled. “I believe he is one of the best pitchers in the country and blends his great stuff with elite make up and competitiveness. He has all the tools to become as good as he wants here at Arizona, and I could not be more excited to have him as a Wildcat.”

However, Sauer’s draft stock skyrocketed throughout his senior season, and the New York Yankees took him 54th overall in the 2017 MLB Draft.

This high selection likely means that Sauer won’t make his way to Tucson. It is something the coaches have anticipated for a few months now.

Standing at 6-foot-4, Sauer is a highly projectable right-handed arm that already sits in the low 90s with his fastball combined with a nasty, high-velocity slider.

Sauer was ranked as the 26th overall prospect by Baseball America in this year’s draft. A big part of the reason he’s moved up in the rankings and on the draft board was his ability to make his mechanics more consistent.

It will take a pretty big upset to see Sauer in a Wildcat uniform at this point.