Virginia and North Carolina — two top-20 teams — kicked off ACC play with a heavyweight battle. These two programs each boast a handful of intriguing draft-eligible prospects, for 2023 as well as 2024.
3B Mac Horvath, North Carolina
Horvath spent most of the weekend struggling to get anything going at the plate, but broke out of his mini slump late on Saturday, with an RBI single in the fifth and a dagger two-run homer in the seventh inning of the weekend’s final game. The homer put him in a tie with Wake Forest’s Adam Cecero for the second-most in the ACC with eight.
The Carolina third baseman has filled out his medium frame since arriving on campus, with a strong, durable build that has translated to plenty of power. His breakout junior campaign has come largely from shortening his swing and better utilizing his lower half, all while maintaining excellent plate discipline and an all-fields approach. He can hit for both average and power, and has solidified himself as one of the more dangerous hitters in the conference.
He has displayed effortless arm strength, with good instincts and the ability to throw on the run and from different angles. While not the athletic specimen teammate Vance Honeycutt is, Horvath has decent speed and is a shrewd baserunner.
He’s one of the biggest risers in the country thus far, and has certainly played his way into top-three round consideration.
2B Jackson Van De Brake, North Carolina
A JuCo transfer, Van De Brake quickly worked his way into the starting lineup, and now looks like a centerpiece of Carolina’s offense. Hitting out of the three-hole, he had a pair of extra-base hits in the first game of Saturday’s double-header, both to the opposite field.
Brought in as a gap hitter with good speed, Van De Brake has already shown his potential for above-average over-the-fence power, with excellent barrel control and surprising strength out of his medium frame.
Despite a couple of miscues in the first game, Van De Brake showcased solid defensive skills – including a diving stop up the middle to save a run – that could translate to several different infield positions.
Van De Brake has successfully put himself on draft radars, and could even be a Day 2 pick with continued success. He’s definitely someone to keep an eye on as we move into ACC play.
RHP Ben Peterson, North Carolina
Peterson has been used in something of a fireman role in the early part of the season, but had his first blow-up in the first game of Saturday’s doubleheader, yielding three runs on five baserunners in 1.2 innings of work.
His fastball reached as high as 93, but he definitely favored his offspeed offerings. He frequently goes to a tight, low-80s slider, but his best offering is a wipeout changeup that can be an out pitch against left-handed hitters.
Peterson’s raw stuff flashes plus, but the command is inconsistent, at best. With a large, likely-maxed out frame, his clearest path to an improved fastball is refining his command. A strong showing in high leverage situations throughout the season could go a long way for his draft stock.
C Kyle Teel, Virginia
Teel tore through Carolina pitching in the first game of Saturday’s doubleheader, but ran into a couple of tough–luck outs in the second game– including having a home run taken away from him by an incredible play by right fielder Casey Cook.
The bat-first catcher has a medium frame with an incredibly athletic build and plenty of room for added strength. He offers a smooth swing from the left side with some loft – although more of it would help him reach his power potential – and while he has more raw power to the pull side, he does use the whole field well.
Teel’s defensive profile is headlined by a strong arm behind the plate, but he is just an average receiver and blocker. He has a tendency to get sloppy on balls in the dirt, swiping at the ball instead sliding over to block it. He’s a supreme athlete who could handle the outfield if necessary, but with some refinement, he is capable of being a plus defensive catcher.
Regardless, if he continues to rake, he will solidify himself as a first rounder in a class that is lacking in college catchers.
3B Jake Gelof, Virginia
Gelof couldn’t get much going at the plate in Saturday’s doubleheader, finishing with two walks, three strikeouts and three hard-hit balls to center field– two of which may have left the park had the wind not been blowing in.
Listed at 6-foot-1 and 195 pounds, Cavaliers’ slugger has plenty of strength, and his bat speed helps him generate above-average power. He sees a ton of pitches thanks to his patience, but his swing can be over-aggressive, and he will always come with some swing-and-miss until he can make the adjustment to quiet it down.
Despite not running particularly well, Gelof is a quality defender at third, with good hands, a quick transfer and a strong, accurate arm. He may have to move across the diamond – or to an outfield corner – long term, but for now he is very capable of handling the hot corner.
OF Ethan O’Donnell, Virginia
O’Donnell put the ball in play 10 times in 11 plate appearances on Saturday, collecting four hits and drawing a walk between the two games. The Northwestern transfer has done nothing but get on base since arriving in Charlottesville, using his speed, contact skills and plate discipline to set things up for Gelof and Teel.
The 6-foot-1 outfielder has a simple approach, with a medium leg kick leading into a fluid, left-handed swing. He’s very patient, laying off breaking stuff and sitting on fastballs. He comes with a groundball-heavy profile, and while he will likely never hit a ton of homers, he makes hard-enough contact that some extra loft could lead to at least average power.
O’Donnell is an above-average runner with good range in center field and a solid-average arm that should allow him to stick at the position. A full season of production in the ACC will make him an appealing option in the upcoming draft.
OF Vance Honeycutt, North Carolina
Even in off games, Honeycutt shows just how exciting and dangerous he can be on a daily basis– particularly with his legs. He beat out a bunt single and immediately stole second in the first inning of Game 1, and tagged up from first on a fly ball to left center in the second game.
Despite some continued swing-and-miss, Honeycutt has become significantly more patient at the plate this season, allowing himself to get on base and maximize his elite baserunning prowess.
There is a bit of pre-swing movement, but the swing itself is simple and smooth, with excellent bat speed and barrel control. The power is certainly still there when he needs it – he’s roughly on pace to match his freshman year total of 25 homers – but he never seems to sell out for power.
Defensively, he glides around center field, running down just about anything hit in his vicinity, and while his arm isn’t anything special, it’s more than playable in center. The tooled-up outfielder is likely to terrorize opponents for the next year and a half, and remains a potential first overall pick come next summer.
OF Casey Saucke, Virginia
Saucke was a key contributor in Virginia’s Saturday afternoon win over North Carolina, but his bat went quiet in the second game.
He hasn’t quite replicated his freshman year extra-base productivity, and the home run power has yet to show up in-game. Still, he has a large, projectable frame that points to future plus power, and he has notably cut his strikeout rate since last season.
The sophomore is inexperienced in the outfield, but should have a chance next season to slide over to his natural position of third base– where his plus arm strength will be an asset.
Saucke projects as an exciting corner bat at the next level, with first-round potential for 2024 if he can tap into his power potential.