Pitchers
RHP Paul Skenes, LSU
Performance: 6 IP, 0 R, 3 H, 1 BB, 12 K
Paul Skenes took the ball on Friday for LSU’s season opener vs. Western Michigan and delivered one of the strongest pitching performances of the weekend. A ballyhooed transfer from the Air Force Academy, Skenes sat in the mid to high 90 MPH range with his fastball all day, grabbing 99 on his first pitch and 98 on his final pitch. Off the heat, Skenes mixed a tight sweeping mid 80s slider that showed plus all afternoon, and flashed a high 80s change with above average fading life. With his stuff up a few ticks from his highs at Air Force and in USCNT and Cape action, the extra large power righty should be one of the first pitchers off the board in July.
RHP Seth Keener, Wake Forest
Performance: 5 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 BB, 2 HBP, 8 K
On a team replete with pitching options, Seth Keener got the opening day assignment for Wake Forest and did not disappoint. Keener worked quickly and effectively against an overmatched Youngstown State lineup, operating with a 90-94 MPH fastball with plenty of armside life that touched 95. Where the junior right hander really shined though was with his secondary offerings. A low 80s sweeping slider and diving mid 80s changeup each flashed plus shape and accounted for the majority of Keener’s 17 whiffs. Keener isn’t particularly large at 6-1, 195 lbs., but looks the part and possesses the physicality and athleticism that starting pitching prospects need to handle the rigors of professional baseball. Look for the Pilot Mountain native to continue to sharpen his attack plan against ACC competition, and could be in line for a seven figure payday if the stuff continues to tick up.
RHP Brandon Sproat, Florida
Performance: 5.2 IP, 3 R, 0 H, 2 BB, 2 HBP, 7 K
Power is the name of Brandon Sproat’s game, and Florida’s opening day starter brought the heat this past Friday. He got up to 100 MPH with his fastball that featured plenty of armside and carrying life, and really leaned on a nasty high 80s changeup with late slicing movement to handle hitters from both sides. Sproat also mixed in a tight high 80s cutter and two-plane low 80s slider to keep Charleston Southern hitters flummoxed, and did not give up a hit throughout his 5.2 innings of work. As with most power pitchers at this stage, the big bugaboo for Sproat has been his command, and he wasn’t exactly clean against the Bucs. However, Sproat has bat missing life on four pitches and is a good bet to sharpen things with his body and athletic ability. The 22 year old right hander turned down 3rd round money from the Mets in 2022, but is currently trending towards beating that offer in the upcoming 2023 MLB Draft.
Hitters
SS Tommy Troy, Stanford
Performance: 4-11, 1 3B, 1 HR, 6 BB, 2 K, 1.408 OPS
The name “West Coast Tommy Tanks” was bequeathed to Troy this weekend in the Prospects Live draft chat, off the strength of this 114 MPH home run he hit this weekend vs. Cal State Fullerton. The Cardinal shortstop was a streaky hitter in 2022 for Stanford due to his struggles with secondary offerings, but has mashed on the Cape in back to back summers. Body and physical tools could send him to second base long term, but if Troy shows consistency at the plate and continues to get his plus raw power into games 2023, he should be in line for first round money.
LF Kemp Alderman, Ole Miss
Performance: 5-11, 1 2B, 1 HR, 3 BB, 1 K, 1.390 OPS
Look at that tweet. Look at it again, with the knowledge that (aside from competition and bat difference) its MLB equivalent performances are an Aaron Judge game in 2022 and a Giancarlo Stanton game in 2015. This is 80 grade raw power, and it belongs to Ole Miss left fielder Kemp Alderman. Long a Prospects Live favorite due to his feats of strength detailed on the Ole Miss Baseball Analytics twitter account, Alderman is a hulking right handed slugger that is looking to do damage on every pitch. With this came good (11 HRs in 240 PAs, 113.6 max EV) and bad (68% contact rate and 31% chase rates) results in 2022 for the Rebs’ middle of the order bat. Alderman will need to improve his swing decisions as an arm first corner outfielder that could be moving into 1B/DH territory, but he will still be under 21 years of age on draft day and possess top of the scale power. With those traits, he could be a Top 100 overall selection in July.
CF Jake DeLeo, Georgia Tech
Performance: 6-12, 1 2B, 3 HR, 1 BB, 1 K, 1.750 OPS
A Georgia Tech player in the Stock Watch? What is this, a crossover episode? Jake DeLeo was a difficult, nay impossible, problem to solve for Miami (OH) pitching this weekend, hitting three home runs that were 107, 107 and 110 MPH off the bat respectively. A 2nd time draft eligible bat, DeLeo played well when healthy last Spring, but missed significant time with injury and was usurped in a crowded 2022 Yellow Jackets’ outfield mix. Tech’s starting centerfielder will be over 22 years old on draft day, but could rise very quickly if he picks up where he left off and shows his plus combination of power/speed combo in ACC play.