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MLB Draft 2016: Mercer OF Kyle Lewis heating up, Florida LHP A.J. Puk racks up the Ks

The junior outfielder destroyed the ball over the weekend.

Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Florida lefty A.J. Puk pitched seven shutout innings against the Missouri Tigers on Saturday in what has been the best of his season so far. He surrendered just three hits and walked one batter while striking out 11. The innings and strikeouts are season-highs. He did need 107 pitches to complete seven frames, but his coach, Kevin O'Sullivan, wanted to see if he could pitch one more full inning (via GatorCountry.com).

After the game, Puk told reporters that he didn't change his approach in this game; rather, he just attempted to get ahead of hitters, according to the Independent Florida Gator, which he did after allowing two of the first three batters he faced to reach base.

PerfectGame.org has more on Puk's start as well as some video of it.

Final line: 7 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 11 K, 107 pitches.
Season line: 5 GS, 1-1 W-L, 1.88 ERA, 24 IP, 10/5 R/ER, 29 K, 10 BB

Related: RHP Logan Shore didn't match Puk in innings pitched, but he struck out 10 and allowed two runs in 5⅓ innings.

Kyle Lewis, OF, Mercer

Mercer's games were on ESPN3 for the first two games of this series against Kennesaw State and Lewis put on a show. He went 3-for-5 with two home runs and a double, plating six runs and scoring four times. The roundtrippers were a two-runner and a grand slam. In Game 2, Lewis picked up three more hits, scored three times, walked twice, and was 1-for-2 in stolen base attempts.

For the season, Lewis is hitting .450/.569/.875 with nine home runs, seven doubles, and 29 RBI. He has 21 walks to 10 strikeouts.

Alec Hansen, RHP, Oklahoma

Hansen pitched 4⅓ innings in a 6-3 win on Friday against Cal State-Bakersfield, yielding all three of the Roadrunners' runs. using 102 pitches, he struck out six but surrendered four hits and walked three. He also had the trifecta of a balk, a hit-by-pitch, and a wild pitch.

With a 6.05 ERA over five starts, Hansen has allowed 15 runs in 19⅓ innings. He's struck out 28 and walked 15.

Matt Krook, LHP, Oregon

Utah tagged Krook for five runs on five hits and four walks over four innings. He got through the first three innings well enough, but he allowed two in the fourth and then gave up three in the fifth inning without recording an out before his bullpen took care of things.

Others of note

Connor Jones, RHP, Virginia: Jones scattered six hits over 7⅓ innings on the way to the Cavaliers' 4-0 victory over Wake Forest. He struck out nine and walked two. Baseball America's Hudson Belinsky has video and more on Jones.

Corey Ray, OF, Louisville: Ray hit a home run to start the weekend road series against the Miami Hurricanes, but had a quiet weekend after that. He's now hitting .325/.392/.639 with six home runs and 22 steals. ESPN3 is scheduled to show Ray and the Cardinals take on Jones and the Cavaliers starting Friday. Read Adam from Atlanta's question in this Baseball America chat on the draft for more.