MLB expert sees Mizzou shortstop Kam Durnin as ‘one of the steals of the Draft’

As the MLB Draft inched closer, Kam Durnin possessed value much higher than many assumed. The Missouri shortstop started to trend as a likely fourth-round pick in the weeks leading into the two-day event, but Over-Slot founder Joe Doyle tabbed Durnin even higher. “Durnin was one of my single favorite picks in this Draft of any team,” Doyle said on a recent episode of the Astros Future Podcast. “I had Kam Durnin as a second-round value. I thought he belonged in the second round. He’s a surefire shortstop among the likes of Carson Kerse (Georgia Tech) and Tyson LeBlanc (Kansas) that went in the second round.” Nearly two weeks ago, Durnin fell to the fourth, a round MLB Pipeline senior writer Jim Callis predicted for the senior infielder, as the Houston Astros selected the right-handed-hitting shortstop with the 121st overall pick. “Durnin hasn’t played very much college baseball because he was hurt,” Doyle said. “He was recovering from Tommy John (surgery) in 2025, but you could really see that strength and that muscle atrophy wane away when the 2026 season was into the month of April. He was really beginning to show some of that strength.” Houston Astros draft Kam Durnin Durnin played one season at Missouri after transferring from Wichita State. The Camdenton (Mo.) product slashed .329/.438/.570 with 19 extra-base hits, 25 RBIs and 11 stolen bases over 43 games with the Tigers. “My only thing with Durnin that I’m a little concerned about is it’s not the most adjustable swing,” Doyle said. “He’s a little bit stiff in the box, so when he does expand the zone, which I have to note is rare, he’s got great pitch selection and he’s got a good approach. But when he does expand the zone, there’s some stiffness in his hands and there’s some things in his lower half that don’t allow him to make contact and fight deeper into at-bat.” While Kerse and LeBlanc might move to second or third base, Durnin has the best chance of being a legitimate above-average shortstop. Doyle projected big league seasons of 12-15 homers for Durnin, who could also take walks and post a healthy batting average. “He already understands how to get to the pull side and find the barrel, which is going to work awesome at Daikin Park,” Doyle said. “I didn’t see too many holes to poke in Durnin, with the exception of having some swing and miss on pitches outside of the zone, which is the meta in Major League Baseball. “I thought it was one of the steals of the draft. He belongs in the second round. Frankly, I expect him to take over for Jeremy Peña when the control years for Peña end, and I think this is going to be your shortstop of the future.” Durnin, who attended an Astros game Tuesday at Daikin Park, intends to sign with Houston, he told Astros Future on July 13.