As we dive deeper into the college baseball season, some common names are beginning to buoy their way to the surface as prime performers. It’s only been two weeks. The road is long and winding ahead. Much can change. And it will. But week two provided a few familiar names, and a few less-so to keep an eye on moving forward…
Stock Rising…
PITCHERS
Ty Madden, RHP, Texas
7 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 11 K, 1 BB
After a solid, albeit unspectacular debut in week one against Mississippi State, Madden came back with vengeance this week and completely annihilated the Brigham Young lineup top-to-bottom. His eleven punch outs were a new career high. On the season, Madden now owns a 2.76 ERA over 11 innings. He’s got 16 strikeouts and 4 walks on the year.
Madden had it all cookin’ Friday night for the Longhorns and took a no-hitter into the 7th. The Cypress, Tex. native was up into the upper-90s all night, touching 97 on a few occasions. The heater was stiff with late hop from his signature high-release. The slider had more bite and depth on it than we’d seen from Madden to this point. He mixed in a few changeups for good measure.
Madden has long been a favorite to go very early in the 2021 draft. He’s got the prototypical starter body with the clean mechanics and a full arsenal at his disposal. The stuff looks leaps and bounds ahead of where it was last year. If he brings the bullets he had in the chamber this week into Big 12 play, watch out.
Mason Black, RHP, LeHigh
5 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 0 BB, 11 K
Lehigh kicked off their 2021 campaign a week later than most programs, but it was worth the wait. Black took the opening day bump for the Mountain Hawks and dismantled a hapless Coppin State lineup. Black went five innings and 73 pitches. He punched out eleven batters and didn’t allow a hit or walk along the way.
Anyone that’s seen Black pitch knows how good his stuff can be. The fastball has been clocked up to 97 and the slider is a tightly-spun two-plan breaker with fantastic tunneling characteristics off the fastball. He mixes in a fringy curveball and a changeup as well.
As far as Black’s draft-stock goes, some scouts have him a first round arm already. The arm action is pretty long and cocked in the back, and that’s something he’ll need to fight off by performing consistently. The stuff is there. Model teams love the huge extension and low release point. Now he needs to go prove it over extended innings.
Joe Rock, LHP, Ohio University
7 IP, 0 ER, 2 BB, 6 K
Rock was a bit of a sleeper headed into the 2021 season, but that secret has since long-dissipated. Rock fired the first no-hitter of the season Friday night, shutting down Morehead State entirely with the exception of two walks.
Rock is off to a fantastic start on the season. In the season opener he went five innings allowing two earned runs on four hits and three walks. He struck out twelve hitters.
Rock will certainly open scouts eyes each time he takes the mound. He looks like a big league starter. At 6-foot-6, 220-pounds, Rock has the prototype high-waist with long levers. The arms and legs do a good job of creating exceptional deception, especially coming from the low three-quarter arm slot Rock possesses. The fastball is heavy, generally sitting at an easy 91-94 mph. He’s been up to 97 in fall practices.
Given the ease of which Rock goes about his business on the mound, most scouts think there’s more velocity coming. He’s received James Paxton comparisons in the past, and I don’t think that’s too far off. You don’t find guys with this frame and ease of motion on the mound every day. Rock certainly has helium on his name and with an impressive spring could find himself in first round conversations in July.
Other Notables: Sam Bachman (Miami of Ohio), Gunnar Hoglund (Ole Miss), Tommy Mace (Florida), Will Dion (McNeese State), Jaden Hill (Louisiana State), Patrick Monteverde (Texas Tech), Zane Mills (Washington State), Rodney Boone (UC-Santa Barbara), Landon Marceaux (Louisiana State), Brooks Gosswein (Bradley), Ian Murphy (St. Johns), Evan Shawver (Cincinnati), Jackson Wolf (West Virginia), Bryce McGowan (Charlotte), Brandon White (Washington State)
HITTERS
Jud Fabian, OF, Florida
10 for 22 (.455/.538/1.000) 4 HR, 12 RBI, 4 BB, 6 K
Oh what a difference a week can make. After stumbling out of the blocks, Fabian made up for lost time this week blistering pitches over the fence. Fabian was selling out for the fastball, and when he got one, he was swinging through it. Chalk it up as first day of school jitters.
Fabians’s four homers in five games came against Samford and North Florida, certainly less imposing programs than the Miami Hurricanes he opened with. Still a healthy amount of strikeouts in there for the Ocala, Fla. star, but his easy power is back and it certainly put on a show this week. Fabian nearly hit five homers this week had it not been for a spectacular play made by the Samford centerfielder.
Given the loud tools across the board and performances on the field, there’s no reason to sway on Fabian near the top of the first round, but the swing-and-miss will be something to monitor.
Kyle Manzardo, 1B/OF, Washington State
9 for 18 (.500/.667/1.111) -- 3 HR, 2 2B, 11 RBI, 3 BB, 2 K
Manzardo should be no secret to those on the west coast, but to the casual college baseball fan, he’s a name you’ll want to remember. Hidden in the rolling hills of the Palouse, Manzardo was named to the Preseason All-America Third Team by Collegiate Baseball and he’s certainly earning the praise. Through eight games, the Coug slugger is batting .457/.524/.886 with 4 homers, 3 doubles and 16 RBI.
Manzardo is a really talented hitter and there’s more usable power bubbling to the surface. Some scouts believe there’s above average raw power in the tank, maybe plus.
Manzardo is one of the best hitters on the west coast this season and will get plenty of draft attention in July. The question remains where does he play. He’s a fringe-defender at first base, and likely a half-tick below that in left field. Still, it might not matter if the bat is as-advertised, especially with the universal DH on the way.
Luca Tresh, C, NC State
8 for 18 (.444/.474/1.167) 4 HR, 1 2B, 7 RBI, 1 BB, 3 K
When your program loses a program-great like Patrick Bailey, it’s fair to be skeptical how you’re going to replace such offensive production. After all, getting loud box scores from the catcher position isn’t typical. That said, those within and familiar with the Wolfpack program knew they’d be just fine handing the reins over to Tresh.
In 2020 primarily as a designated hitter, Tresh led the team with a .405 batting average. He had three home runs and three doubles in just eleven games. That trend has certainly made its way into 2021. Through six games, Tresh is slashing .458/.519/1.125 with five homers and a double.
As far as the draft goes, Tresh should hear his name called early. It’s plus raw power with a plus throwing arm behind the plate. His footwork and actions behind the plate are at least average and he figures to stick behind the plate long-term.
Other Notables: Kamren James (Mississippi State), Tristian Peterson (Washington State), Kodie Kolden (Washington State), Trey Sweeney (Eastern Illinois), Joshua Day (Missouri), Sal Frelick (Boston College), Cal Conley (Texas Tech), Drew Bianco (Louisiana State), John Rhodes (Kentucky), Christian Franklin (Arkansas), Justice Thompson (North Carolina), Marcos Castanon (UC-Santa Barbara)