Former South Portland High standout Hunter Owen has become a starting pitcher at Vanderbilt and a possible high-round draft pick in this year’s Major League Baseball draft. Karlee Sell/Vanderbilt Athletics

Hunter Owen has taken a significant step forward as a college baseball pitcher this season – and it seems likely to translate into a major payday this summer.

The 6-foot-6 South Portland High grad is now a starter for Vanderbilt University, which is ranked No. 5 among the nation’s Division I baseball teams. In his first two seasons in Nashville, Tennessee, Owen worked almost exclusively out of the bullpen. This season in eight starts, the powerful left-hander – he’s listed at 261 pounds – is 3-0 with a 3.33 ERA and 52 strikeouts in 46 innings.

“I think the last couple years, what was kind of keeping me off the field was my strike-throwing,” Owen said in telephone interview. “We fixed a couple of things mechanically in the fall, which made my (pitching) mechanics more efficient.”

As a junior, the 21-year-old Owen is eligible for the 20-round Major League Baseball draft, which will take place July 9-11. Multiple draft analysts peg Owen as likely to be drafted in the first three rounds, and some predict he will be a first-round choice.

Owen is listed at No. 16 among all eligible college players by D1baseball.com. The website noted that based on recent drafts, 20-23 college players will be selected in either the first round (28 picks this year) or among the 11 supplemental picks before the second round.

Former South Portland High standout Hunter Owen has 52 strikeouts in 46 innings this season for Vanderbilt. Vanderbilt Athletics

The Athletic’s Keith Law put Owen at No. 27 in his mock draft. And that was before Owen shut out defending national champion Mississippi in a two-hit, 11-strikeout complete game.

“If I told you there was a 6-6 lefty starter, who’s up to 97 (miles an hour) with a plus (curveball) and has a history of throwing strikes, and who pitches for Vanderbilt, you’re interested, right?” Law wrote. “That guy does often go in the first round or the supplemental.”

Prospects Live has Owen listed as No. 65 overall, which would be a late second-round pick. Baseball America calls Owen being drafted in the “top three rounds likely.”

Since 2013, 35 Vanderbilt pitchers have been selected in the Major League draft, 12 in the first three rounds.

In 2022, 43 players chosen in the first or second rounds inked signing bonuses of at least $2 million. Another 13 second-round picks signed for at least $1.5 million. Overall, 82 players had signing bonuses of $1 million or more.

The last player from Maine to be selected as high as the second round was Deering High’s Trejyn Fletcher, an outfielder who got a $1.5 million bonus after he was selected No. 58 overall by the St. Louis Cardinals in 2019.

Owen was surprised by the draft prognostications.

“I really haven’t heard anything so far. I focus on the season, being with my teammates and enjoying the season and trying to win a national championship, which at the end of day, that’s our goal here every single year,” he said.

He’s also looking to get back on the mound this weekend after a two-week break because of arm fatigue. Vanderbilt (29-11) hosts No. 15 Kentucky (30-10).

“I’m ready to go this weekend,” Owen said. “I was available last weekend (in relief) and just didn’t have the opportunity to pitch. It was just some arm fatigue. I’m not worried about it at all. I just rested it a little bit and then it went away.”

Through the first two months of the season, Owen made one start each weekend. He’s already thrown more innings this season (46) than in his first two years combined.

“I’m trying to be a workhorse for our team,” Owen said.

He was at his best in consecutive starts in March. In a nonconference win against Loyola Marymount, Owen threw six shutout innings, allowing five hits, no walks and striking out four. Six days later, he threw the two-hit shutout against Mississippi, striking out 11 hitters, walking one, and retiring the final 23 batters after giving up a single in the second inning.

South Portland High Coach Mike Owens was in Nashville to see Owen pitch against Loyola Marymount.

“Now if you see him, he’s a completely different person. He’s now 260 pounds of all muscle, and he was about 225 in high school with not much muscle,” Owens said.

The added strength, combined with refined pitching mechanics, translate into more repeatable arm motion and better velocity.

“He looks similar to me, but obviously he’s made great changes and strides. To me, he looks like a big leaguer,” said Owens, who has been contacted by several major league teams doing their homework on Owen.

“I’m probably their last call to make sure there are no red flags. He’s on their radar. That’s for sure,” Owens said.

Owen played club baseball for Mike D’Andrea’s Maine Lightning program. A former minor league pitcher and successful high school coach, D’Andrea said he thinks Owen is first-round material because of his size, velocity, and that he’s a left-handed pitcher performing for a top program in arguably the strongest conference in college baseball.

“And, he’s going to pitch in the majors. He’s a competitor and a worker and there’s nothing in my mind to think he won’t be in the big leagues,” D’Andrea said. “He’s also a fantastic human being. He’s a no-miss guy.”