The 2021 college baseball season has already seen a slew of prospects raise their draft stock in recent weeks, but some have endured through a tough stretch thus far.
As teams continue their non-conference schedule, key matchups against conference opponents are right around the corner. It’s the perfect opportunity for several talented players to shake off the noticeably rusty starts to their seasons.
There’s plenty of season left in the tank, and here are five 2021 draft-eligible prospects with the most to prove heading into conference play.
Alex Binelas, Louisville
Named a 2021 Preseason All-American by most outlets, Binelas was viewed as a potential preseason Top-15 selection for the draft heading into the spring, but his struggles at the plate and defensive concerns have raised some questions to this point.
Binelas is slashing .173/.264/.320 with two home runs and seven extra base-hits on the year. He’s tinkered with parts of his swing, but has yet to find much of a rhythm at the plate. Even more concerning, Binelas has bounced between third and first base and hasn’t shown much improvement at the hot corner defensively. His actions can be stiff at times.
Plenty of season remains for Binelas to find that same high-profile bat he showcased during his monstrous freshman campaign. He’s done a better job of keeping it simple and he’s pulling the ball with more authority of late, but he’ll need to get back to using the whole field.
Levi Usher, Louisville
Binelas isn’t the only first-round talent experiencing some hiccups at the plate for Louisville. Usher is off to a .230/.338/.311 start to the year with one homer and two extra base-hits. He’s struggled to make much hard contact and get on base consistently. Questions remain over how much Usher can hit and tap into in-game power, and that’s shown at the plate this season.
It hasn’t all been bad for Usher though. The athletic tools shine when he gets on base. He leads the ACC with 18 stolen bases in as many attempts with his 70-grade speed that projects well into any outfield position. The athleticism is as-advertised packed into a promising, physical frame. Usher has plenty of time to polish his raw tools at the plate.
Ethan Wilson, South Alabama
A nagging ankle injury has hindered Wilson at points this season, but he’s yet to display that same eye-popping power and natural hitting ability. The tools are there, but it hasn’t fully come together over a consistent stretch yet.
Wilson struggled mightily out of the gate, but he’s starting to heat up at the plate. Six of the junior outfielder’s nine extra-base hits this season have come in his last five games. He clubbed two homers to right field against Jacksonville State on March 14.
If Wilson stays healthy and showcases more consistent pop and feel at the plate, there’s plenty of room at the top of the draft for his potent lefty bat in what many consider an extremely down year for college hitters.
Christian Franklin, Arkansas
Franklin is a well-known commodity thanks to his electric bat speed and raw power, and much hasn’t changed in that regard. He’s blasted four homers to different parts of the field this season, but his swing-and-miss struggles are seen as a viable concern.
Franklin has logged 22 strikeouts to just 11 walks in 64 at-bats, and questions remain as to how much his bat can translate to the next level. The tools are loud, and when Franklin’s swing connects, the results are loud to say the very least. If his hit tool and approach sharpens over the year, he’s in for quite a big finish. It’s not too dissimilar a profile to fellow Razorback Casey Martin from a year ago. There’s a ton of athleticism and ability in the field, but if Franklin can’t be a hitter at the next level, his future role obviously takes a huge hit.
Eric Cerantola, Mississippi State
Cerantola is equipped with arguably some of the best stuff in the class with three potential plus-grade pitches. His fastball touches 97-98 with great movement, complimented by impressive, hard breaking ball and changeup.
The stuff has been on display through Cerantola’s three starts, but consistent command issues have held back his true potential this season. He’s issued nine walks and logged 10 earned runs over 11.2 innings. Tempo on the mound has been an issue for Cerantola. His rhythm on the mound has changed week-over-week.
Cerantola has strikeout-caliber stuff, but if he’s going to ward off reliever concerns, he’s going to have to start working deeper into games and avoid self-immolation.
Max Ferguson, Tennessee
Ferguson is off to a decent start to the season, sporting a .270 batting average with 20 hits and 16 walks in 20 games. That said, many think Ferguson is being out-hit by fellow Volunteer infielders Jake Rucker and Liam Spence. He’s hitting 7th in the lineup as the bat has lacked much thump.
There’s a lot to like with Ferguson’s frame. It looks like the type of body that will add good weight and strength as he matures, but as it stands, he lacks physicality on the mound and softens his front-side far too often, electing to filet the ball into the opposite field more times than not.
Ferguson still has a bevy of above-average tools at his disposal thanks to his defensive versatility. He’ll need to show more power at the plate over the final 40 games and conference play if he’s to realize his first round pedigree some threw on him before the season.