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ASHBURN, Va. -- Right-hander Jake Bukauskus redefines the scouting term "pop-up guy," which normally just refers to a draft prospect who wasn't on the radar for the top few rounds until something changed the spring of his draft year -- better velocity, more power, improved conditioning, something tangible that takes him from "just a guy" to "he's a #GUY." Bukauskus does that one better: He's technically a high school junior, but is using a recent MLB rule change to enter the draft a year early because he's already 17, as Drew Ward did last year. And with Bukauskus hitting 98 mph regularly this spring, he has forced an industry scramble to get in and see him, because scouts don't have the history with him they might normally have with a first-round prospect. On Tuesday night, Bukauskus pitched at home at Stone Bridge High School in Ashburn, Va., near Leesburg, and threw a quick seven-inning shutout, with the entire game taking just 80 minutes.
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