Harris Yudin has been on the trail for much of the last two months. Here are some of his notes from some games he’s attended in April.
Gavin Cross, OF, Virginia Tech
In the midst of a spectacular season, Cross put his power potential on display Friday night in Chapel Hill. He exploded right out of the gate, driving a 1-1 breaking ball off the scoreboard in left-center field to open the scoring in the top of the first. In his third plate appearance, he put the first pitch – another breaking ball – over the right-center field fence, just past the outstretched arms of North Carolina right fielder Joe Jaconski. Following Friday’s 12-1 win, Cross’ slash line sat at .310/.375/.609 with four homers. He has shown tons of extra base prowess, but continued over-the-fence power could push him into the top 10 this July.
Tanner Schobel, SS, Virginia Tech
Each time Cross homered, Schobel followed suit. The pair went back-to-back twice on Friday night, both times off of Carolina right-hander Connor Bovair. Schobel’s two lasers over the left field wall helped bump his OPS over 1.150 on the season– as of Friday night. The draft-eligible sophomore showed off an impressive glove and an accurate arm at shortstop, including a leaping grab to rob Carolina catcher Tomas Frick of a base hit. Schobel’s offensive breakout could catapult him up draft boards.
Cade Hunter, C, Virginia Tech
Hunter is most notably hitting over .400 this season, but he also possesses good power and speed– he swiped his eighth bag on Friday to go along with seven homers. The 21-year-old backstop showed good plate discipline, working the count in each plate appearance, including a first inning walk. While he is a bat-first prospect, his arm strength was on display as he gunned down Carolina outfielder Angel Zarate at second base to end the seventh inning. Lack of a track record makes Hunter a bit risky on draft day, but he has the upside to climb throughout the rest of the season.
Eduardo Malinowski, 2B, Virginia Tech
After doubling in each of his first two plate appearances, Malinowski capped off Friday night’s victory with a three-run homer in the eighth inning. The 22-year-old grad transfer is one of many Virginia Tech position players enjoying a massive 2022 season, boasting an OPS north of 1.250 (as of Friday night) and leading the Hokies with 10 homers. Malinowski’s draft stock is limited by his age, but he’s worth keeping an eye on going forward.
Kevin Parada, C, Georgia Tech
After becoming the Division 1 home run leader with a pair of long balls on Friday, Kevin Parada extended his lead over the rest of the country with a grand slam in the second inning on Sunday afternoon. The Yellow Jackets’ backstop took a first-pitch breaking ball from North Carolina RHP Kyle Mott and drove it over the scoreboard in left-center field. This came just an inning after he smoked a 3-0 fastball into right-center for a base hit. Parada has a unique pre-swing stance, but his plate discipline, bat speed and barrel control make him one of the most dangerous hitters in college baseball.
Behind the dish, he showed modest athleticism with average receiving, blocking and framing skills. He certainly won’t be drafted for his glove, but there is nothing to indicate that he can’t stick at the position at the next level.
Chandler Simpson, 2B, Georgia Tech
Simpson was one of the hottest hitters in the ACC heading into the weekend series vs North Carolina, with 13 hits in his previous 23 at-bats. But despite an explosive offensive weekend by the Yellow Jackets, Simpson was kept in check, including an 0-for-4 showing on Sunday. He did, however, hustle down the line to turn a potential double play into a fielder’s choice in the fourth inning, and steal his 14th base of the season following a walk in the sixth. The UAB transfer has contact skills and difference-making speed that could entice teams on Day 2.
Andrew Jenkins, 1B, Georgia Tech
In an ACC loaded with offensive firepower, Jenkins sits among the leaders in every major category. After a four-hit showing in Chapel Hill on Friday, the right-handed slugger had a quiet rest of the weekend – 1-for-4 with an opposite-field single on Sunday – but still managed to make an impact. He impressed with the glove all afternoon, bailing out shortstop Jadyn Jackson multiple times and making two inning-ending plays on sharp ground balls hit his way. Jenkins isn’t considered a top draft prospect, but continued success at the plate will help him hear his name called at some point in July.
Tim Borden II, DH, Georgia Tech
Borden enjoyed a career day on Sunday against the Tar Heels, with a solo homer in the seventh and a game-sealing grand slam in the top of the ninth– going opposite field both times. The 22-year-old Louisville transfer isn’t high on any draft boards given his age, minimal track record and lack of clear defensive home, but he is in the midst of a monster 2022 season. Following the weekend series in Chapel Hill, he owns a 1.154 OPS with 11 HR, including four homers and 13 RBI over his last five games played.
Tres Gonzalez, LF, Georgia Tech
Gonzalez got a hold of a Kyle Mott fastball in the third inning and took it over the center field fence, extending Georgia Tech’s early lead to 5-0. It was just his third long ball of the season (already tied a career high), but the 21-year-old boasts elite plate discipline, with 32 walks and just 17 strikeouts– the best ratio in the ACC. Gonzales will likely be drafted on Day 2 for his on-base skills, but a power surge down the stretch would only help his stock.
Danny Serretti, SS, North Carolina
Serretti reached base four times in the loss to Georgia Tech on Sunday, including an RBI triple in the third inning to get the Heels on the board and a shift-beating single to bring the potential tying run to the plate in the sixth. Now in his fourth year in Chapel Hill, Serretti has turned into Carolina’s most reliable offensive contributor. He currently boasts a ten-game hitting streak, raising his average from .305 to .345 in that span. The switch-hitting shortstop doesn’t have much in the way of over-the-fence power, but his on-base skills and defensive prowess will carry weight on draft day.
Alberto Osuna, DH, North Carolina
After nearly missing out on an opposite-field homer in the third, Osuna pulled a hanging breaking ball over the left-field fence to cut into Georgia Tech’s lead in the eighth. Osuna’s power is obvious – he leads the Tar Heels with 12 homers – but his 49-to-14 strikeout-to-walk ratio is concerning, and his stiff swing/lack of lower half mobility is currently keeping the community college transfer from reaching his potential.