Boise Hawks parent club selects flamethrowing pitcher in first round

The Colorado Rockies selected 6-foot-5 right-handed pitcher Riley Pint of Kansas’ St. Thomas Aquinas High with the fourth overall pick in the Major League Baseball Draft on Thursday.

Scouting reports have the 18-year-old’s fastball clocked as high as 102 mph this spring.

Pint is an LSU commit, but The Kansas City Star reported Thursday night that Pint and his family have reached a verbal agreement with the Rockies, according to Pint’s father, Neil. Pint plans to sign his contract in Denver when he goes for his team physical.

Once everything is official, Pint will likely start playing rookie ball in Grand Junction, Colo., Rockies area scouting director Brett Baldwin said, according to the Star.

Colorado hasn’t sent its top pick to the short-season Northwest League since 2008. The Boise Hawks, who open their season June 17 on the road and June 20 at Memorial Stadium, play in the Northwest League.

The Rockies’ next two picks are more likely to come to Boise, if they sign — Georgia junior pitcher Robert Tyler at No. 38 and Vanderbilt junior pitcher Ben Bowden at No. 45.

Tyler, a right-hander, missed most of his sophomore year with injuries. He throws 89-96 mph, but has battled command issues, according to reports.

Bowden, a left-hander, was Vanderbilt’s closer this spring after struggling in the rotation. He was the co-MVP of the Cape Cod League playoffs last summer after allowing one run and striking out 43 in 30 innings.

The 40-round draft continues Friday (rounds 3-10) and Saturday (11-40).

This story was originally published June 9, 2016 at 7:44 PM with the headline "Boise Hawks parent club selects flamethrowing pitcher in first round."