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The 2025 Major League Baseball draft is still two months away, beginning Sunday, July 13 in Atlanta, but the buzz is building around Liam Doyle. The left-handed pitcher from Derry, New Hampshire is projected by some experts to become the highest pick ever from the Granite State.
A recent mock draft by Jim Callis of MLB.com projected Doyle, a Pinkerton Academy graduate and current University of Tennessee flame-thrower, will be chosen second overall by the Los Angeles Angels.
Another mock draft by Keith Law of The Athletic, released in March, had Doyle, whose fastball touches 100 mph, as the first overall pick by the Washington Nationals, though Law's most recent mock draft has Doyle going No. 2.
Most recently, ESPN's Kiley McDaniel reported the 6-foot-2, 220-pound Doyle is in the mix for being selected No. 1 by the Nationals, though he could go a few picks later.
Doyle, who pitched Pinkerton to the 2022 NHIAA Division I state championship, is putting up crazy numbers this season at Tennessee, earning the attention he is getting from across professional baseball.
In 14 appearances this season, including 13 starts, Doyle has a 9-2 record with a 2.17 ERA, striking out 127 batters in 74.2 innings.
In his latest start for the Volunteers last Friday — a 3-2 win over Vanderbilt — Doyle fanned 12 and allowed three hits over seven scoreless innings.
Hall of Fame catcher Carlton Fisk, who played at Charlestown High School, was selected higher in the MLB draft than any other player from New Hampshire. He was selected fourth overall by the Boston Red Sox out of the University of New Hampshire in 1967.
Doyle has a legitimate chance to set a new Granite State benchmark.
The Toronto Blue Jays selected Raymond, NH native and Trinity graduate Chris Carpenter with the 15th overall pick of the 1993 draft.
Doyle’s electric rise may be a surprise some, but not to Winnacunnet High School baseball coach Aaron Abood who played high school baseball at Manchester Memorial with Chris Lambert, who was a first-round pick, 19th overall, by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 2004 draft.
"I thought Liam Doyle was legit the first time I saw him pitch against us as a junior," Abood said. "His fastball was electric for a junior in high school. His fastball was alive and it would jump out of his hand. He's put on more size and more velo, throws a good curveball and changeup now, which are pretty nasty."
Doyle began his collegiate career at Coastal Carolina University and transferred to the University of Mississippi for his sophomore year before landing at Tennessee.
"I saw him growing the last three years, and you could tell he was getting better and better," Abood said. "I think before this season started, I thought he would be a top draft pick this year. It's great to see."
At Coastal Carolina, Doyle had a 3-1 record with a 4.15 ERA with 69 strikeouts over 56.1 innings. At Ole Miss, Doyle had 16 appearances, including 11 starts, and a team-best 84 strikeouts.
“I thought (Doyle) was going to be a MLB pitcher (in high school) because of the spin on his fastball, how it jumped out of his hand, and his overall attitude on the mound,” Abood said. “He’s a tough kid, and he pitches like he’s better than everybody, and he acts like it. You kind of need that mentality to compete at that level.”
In his senior year at Pinkerton, Doyle went 7-2 and fanned 125 batters in 61.2 innings. In the championship 2-0 win over Londonderry, Doyle allowed two hits and struck out 15, leading the Astros to their first state title since 1986.
“He was in a different class as a high school pitcher,” Exeter High School head baseball coach Bruce Joyce said. “Big, strong, hard-throwing lefty who came right at the hitters and challenged everyone in the lineup.
“I expected him to have a strong college career and get drafted as long as things fell into place for him,” Joyce continued. “Obviously, they have, and now he's potentially the No. 2 pick in the upcoming draft. I don't think I projected him that high, but it was clear he'd be a high-round guy if he stayed on a good path, and clearly, he has.”
Scott Dubben was in his first year as Dover’s head baseball coach in 2022. Doyle didn’t pitch when Pinkerton played Dover, and Dubben certainly was OK with that.
“He was a kid who threw a ton of strikes,” Dubben said. “His velocity for this area was really good, and he commanded the strike one really well, a real efficient pitcher. It was pretty easy to see back then he would have success wherever he went.”
In his penultimate start at Pinkerton in 2022, Doyle scattered seven hits over seven innings, striking out 10 without issuing a walk in a 2-1, walk-off win over Winnacunnet in a Division I quarterfinal. Doyle came back a week later to get start in the championship game.
“(Doyle), obviously, had a ton of talent when he was (at Pinkerton), you could see he had a ton of talent,” Portsmouth head coach Tim Hopley said. “He’s exuding confidence, and I get that is part of the way the college game is played right now — who can puff their chest out a little bit more. But behind that, you’re going to have back it up, and he’s backing it up pretty much every time he gets the ball.”
Doyle struck out more than 10 batters in six of his 13 starts this season, and has rebounded nicely since giving up five earned runs in consecutive starts against Alabama and South Carolina on March 20 and 28, respectively.
“It would be a great feather in New Hampshire’s baseball cap to have a player recognized at such a high level as far as the MLB draft goes,” Hopley said. “We wish him all the best.”
This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Liam Doyle may be highest MLB draft pick ever from New Hampshire
Continue reading...
A recent mock draft by Jim Callis of MLB.com projected Doyle, a Pinkerton Academy graduate and current University of Tennessee flame-thrower, will be chosen second overall by the Los Angeles Angels.
Another mock draft by Keith Law of The Athletic, released in March, had Doyle, whose fastball touches 100 mph, as the first overall pick by the Washington Nationals, though Law's most recent mock draft has Doyle going No. 2.
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Most recently, ESPN's Kiley McDaniel reported the 6-foot-2, 220-pound Doyle is in the mix for being selected No. 1 by the Nationals, though he could go a few picks later.
Liam Doyle's mind-blowing numbers at Tennessee
Doyle, who pitched Pinkerton to the 2022 NHIAA Division I state championship, is putting up crazy numbers this season at Tennessee, earning the attention he is getting from across professional baseball.
In 14 appearances this season, including 13 starts, Doyle has a 9-2 record with a 2.17 ERA, striking out 127 batters in 74.2 innings.
You must be registered for see images
In his latest start for the Volunteers last Friday — a 3-2 win over Vanderbilt — Doyle fanned 12 and allowed three hits over seven scoreless innings.
Doyle could surpass Hall of Famer Carlton Fisk as NH's highest MLB draft pick
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Hall of Fame catcher Carlton Fisk, who played at Charlestown High School, was selected higher in the MLB draft than any other player from New Hampshire. He was selected fourth overall by the Boston Red Sox out of the University of New Hampshire in 1967.
Doyle has a legitimate chance to set a new Granite State benchmark.
The Toronto Blue Jays selected Raymond, NH native and Trinity graduate Chris Carpenter with the 15th overall pick of the 1993 draft.
What Seacoast coaches who saw Doyle in high school are saying
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Doyle’s electric rise may be a surprise some, but not to Winnacunnet High School baseball coach Aaron Abood who played high school baseball at Manchester Memorial with Chris Lambert, who was a first-round pick, 19th overall, by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 2004 draft.
"I thought Liam Doyle was legit the first time I saw him pitch against us as a junior," Abood said. "His fastball was electric for a junior in high school. His fastball was alive and it would jump out of his hand. He's put on more size and more velo, throws a good curveball and changeup now, which are pretty nasty."
Doyle began his collegiate career at Coastal Carolina University and transferred to the University of Mississippi for his sophomore year before landing at Tennessee.
"I saw him growing the last three years, and you could tell he was getting better and better," Abood said. "I think before this season started, I thought he would be a top draft pick this year. It's great to see."
At Coastal Carolina, Doyle had a 3-1 record with a 4.15 ERA with 69 strikeouts over 56.1 innings. At Ole Miss, Doyle had 16 appearances, including 11 starts, and a team-best 84 strikeouts.
“I thought (Doyle) was going to be a MLB pitcher (in high school) because of the spin on his fastball, how it jumped out of his hand, and his overall attitude on the mound,” Abood said. “He’s a tough kid, and he pitches like he’s better than everybody, and he acts like it. You kind of need that mentality to compete at that level.”
In his senior year at Pinkerton, Doyle went 7-2 and fanned 125 batters in 61.2 innings. In the championship 2-0 win over Londonderry, Doyle allowed two hits and struck out 15, leading the Astros to their first state title since 1986.
“He was in a different class as a high school pitcher,” Exeter High School head baseball coach Bruce Joyce said. “Big, strong, hard-throwing lefty who came right at the hitters and challenged everyone in the lineup.
“I expected him to have a strong college career and get drafted as long as things fell into place for him,” Joyce continued. “Obviously, they have, and now he's potentially the No. 2 pick in the upcoming draft. I don't think I projected him that high, but it was clear he'd be a high-round guy if he stayed on a good path, and clearly, he has.”
Scott Dubben was in his first year as Dover’s head baseball coach in 2022. Doyle didn’t pitch when Pinkerton played Dover, and Dubben certainly was OK with that.
“He was a kid who threw a ton of strikes,” Dubben said. “His velocity for this area was really good, and he commanded the strike one really well, a real efficient pitcher. It was pretty easy to see back then he would have success wherever he went.”
In his penultimate start at Pinkerton in 2022, Doyle scattered seven hits over seven innings, striking out 10 without issuing a walk in a 2-1, walk-off win over Winnacunnet in a Division I quarterfinal. Doyle came back a week later to get start in the championship game.
“(Doyle), obviously, had a ton of talent when he was (at Pinkerton), you could see he had a ton of talent,” Portsmouth head coach Tim Hopley said. “He’s exuding confidence, and I get that is part of the way the college game is played right now — who can puff their chest out a little bit more. But behind that, you’re going to have back it up, and he’s backing it up pretty much every time he gets the ball.”
Doyle struck out more than 10 batters in six of his 13 starts this season, and has rebounded nicely since giving up five earned runs in consecutive starts against Alabama and South Carolina on March 20 and 28, respectively.
“It would be a great feather in New Hampshire’s baseball cap to have a player recognized at such a high level as far as the MLB draft goes,” Hopley said. “We wish him all the best.”
This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Liam Doyle may be highest MLB draft pick ever from New Hampshire
Continue reading...
