At 6‑foot‑7, Kaleb LaFavor towers over most of his high school peers, but it’s his arm that has turned heads across the baseball world.
Draft Night Surprise
The Boston Red Sox selected the Iowa right‑hander in the 10th round of the MLB Draft, rewarding him with a signing bonus close to $850,000 — far above the $194,000 slot value assigned to the pick.
LaFavor’s rapid ascent is underscored by a 0.79 earned run average and 40 strikeouts in his senior season, numbers that echo the early career of Milwaukee Brewers starter Jacob Misiorowski, a fellow tall right‑hander whose own rise has drawn early‑round buzz.
Beyond the mound, LaFavor also proved a potent bat, hitting .385 with four home runs and 34 RBI as a junior, while his fastball has been clocked at 96 miles per hour and his repertoire now includes a sweeping curve, a changeup and a work‑in progress cutter.
A Pitcher With a Plan
The youngster says he models his development on Misiorowski’s blend of size and command, aiming to refine his sweeper and eventually add a gyro‑spin pitch to keep hitters guessing.
Committed to the University of Iowa for the upcoming season, LaFavor will balance college play with professional aspirations, a path that could reshape how high‑school phenoms navigate the draft‑to‑college decision.