As the calendar turned to the year 2021 and we focused our eyes on July’s MLB Draft, the University of North Carolina wasn’t expected to be all that well-represented at the top. Shortstop Danny Serretti figured to anchor the Tar Heel name, but he’s off to a slow start hitting just .091 on the year.
In fact, three different players have shouldered the load for the baby blue and white early on this season, and they’ve captured scouts attention.
Sophomore outfielders Justice Thompson and Caleb Roberts have provided the thump, while third-year right-handed pitcher Austin Love has been nearly untouchable on the bump.
The lack of an entire 2020 campaign really made it difficult for guys to make a name for themselves last season. Roberts played in just three games in 2020. Love made eight appearances for the Tar Heels, but didn’t start a game, and struggled. Thompson was still at Northwest Florida State College.
Thompson has been a bit of a revelation. He garnered some interest from pro scouts after turning in a .337 average and five homers in 2020. But with a truncated draft, Thompson failed to hear his name called. He arrived to Chapel Hill where the team was searching for a true centerfielder. He’s taken the reins and run.
Through five games, Thompson is hitting .526 with three doubles, two homers, five RBIs and two stolen bases. Maybe more impressive, Thompson has played a premier, elite brand of defense.
Frankly, Thompson may be playing the best baseball of anyone in the country right now.
There’s a ton to like about Thompson’s pro potential. At 6-foot-4, 200 pounds, he’s got a long, lean body with long levers and impressive athleticism in his actions. Most of his weight is in his core. There’s plenty of room to add strength in his shoulders and extremities. Thompson generates easy bat speed at the plate and can absolutely fly. It’s 70-grade wheels that he makes very clear in his play on the base paths and in the field. He’s shown strong route-running ability and really glides in open space tracking down fly balls. Thompson has turned several highlight reel plays already. There’s some swing-and-miss currently present, but the ceiling here is substantial. As far as the raw power goes, one scout I spoke to said he believes there’s “certainly above average” raw power, “maybe more”. Thompson is still maturing physically. He’s generating a lot of his usable power through upper body strength. When he really starts engaging his core and lower body into his swing, there may be another level to his game.
Long story short, if Thompson can continue to show development in the hit tool throughout the course of 60 games this season, his name could really ascend headed toward July.
Roberts has also really burst onto the scene this season too, cleaning up the Tar Heel lineup on most night. Through five contests, Roberts is hitting .333 with a double, a triple and two homers. He’s driven in eight runs and has added a stolen bag as well. He usually mans right field in Chapel Hill, where he too has played an impressive brand of defense for the Tar Heels.
Roberts isn’t the athlete or body that Thompson is, but he’s certainly no slouch. At 6-foot-1, 195 pounds, Roberts doesn’t have the same projection in his frame, but he packs a punch at the dish. He receives high marks for his approach and discipline, doing well to extend at-bats until he gets the pitch he wants. It’s led to a ton of barrels early on.
Roberts is more physically developed. He’s got a strong, sturdy body with impressive bat speed made possible by fantastic rotational strength at the plate. He’s got a really strong core and leverages it to drive the ball with authority. In the field, he’s a fringe-average runner with a slightly above average arm. He’s caught a little behind the dish as well.
Pro teams will certainly give bonus points for the versatility, but if he continues to hit like he has early on in 2021, he may turn into this years version of Zach DeLoach.
Love has really taken his game to another level this season. A reliever his entire career, he grabbed hold of a weekend rotation role this spring and has certainly made the most of it. In his first start of the season, the Salisbury, N.C. native went six innings against James Madison, surrendering zero hits, punching out nine. He’d follow that up this week with a dominant 7.1 innings against an impressive Virginia lineup, allowing just three hits, walking two batters and punching out six more.
For the season, Love has 13.1 innings under his belt with a 1.74 ERA. He’s punched out 15 batters and walked four.
As for the stuff, Love generally works 91-93 with the fastball, but has been up to 95 on a number of occasions this year. He’s got a low-80s slider with sweeping action that’s generally an average offering. His best pitch is probably the changeup, also working in the mid-80s, touching 88 that he commands well with fading action and some tumble away from righties.
Love has an absolute workhorse body. At 6-foot-3, 235 pounds and having pitched out of the bullpen for so long prior to this season, it’s a frame built for durability moving forward. Most of Love’s power comes from a bulldog-built lower half that he uses well when riding down the bump. He’s barrel-chested with rounded shoulders. Love’s got a quick arm that comes at hitters from a vertical slot. The fastball really sneaks up on hitters and has some hop at the plate.
Serretti was arguably the best player on the Tar Heel roster heading into 2021, but if he slots into a “top four” of this quality, North Carolina could be a team to reckon with in June and into the College World Series.
… not to mention in July when draft rolls around.