Kevin’s Thursday Sports

The Cardinals are going for upside with their newest MLB Draft pick. St. Louis selected third baseman Jordan Walker of Decatur High School in Georgia with the 21st overall pick last night. Walker established himself as the top corner-infield prospect in the 2020 high school class and has some of the best power of this draft. The 18-year-old didn’t get to complete his senior season at Decatur because of the coronavirus pandemic, but in May he was named Georgia’s Gatorade Baseball Player of the Year after hitting .457 with four home runs in 16 games.

The Royals selected Texas A&M left-hander Asa Lacy with the fourth overall pick in the MLB Draft. He went 3-and-0 with a 0.75 ERA, while striking out 46 and waking eight in four starts as a junior before the coronavirus outbreak halted the season. The 21-year-old is the highest selected pitcher in Aggies history, surpassing southpaw Jeff Granger who was picked fifth overall by the Royals in 1993. Despite picking early, general manager Dayton Moore was surprised Lacy was available.

Baylor shortstop Nick Loftin was the 32nd overall selection in the MLB draft, going to the Royals in the Competitive Balance Round A. He hit .323 with a .502 slugging percentage in 53 starts, all at shortstop, as a 2019 sophomore with the Bears. He started at five positions for the U.S. collegiate national team last summer. He hit .311 with 14 homers in 122 career games with Baylor. The draft will conclude today with rounds two through five.

Martin Truex, Jr. won last night’s NASCAR race at Martinsville….It was the seventh cup race held without fans since the coronavirus pandemic began…That will end this Sunday at the Homestead-Miami speedway…The Xfinity and Gander Outdoors Truck series will run on Saturday…

GAME ONE OF THE 2006 WORLD SERIES IS SET FOR REPLAY TONIGHT ON KJEL…THE CARDINALS ARE IN DETROIT TO MEET THE TIGERS..BROADCAST TIME IS SET FOR 6:15 ON KJEL…