Wake Forest hosted NC State for a doubleheader, and there was no shortage of talent. The Demon Deacons used five pitchers, all of whom could be selected in the first three rounds of each of the next two drafts. They also boast several intriguing position players who showcased their respective toolsets against the Wolfpack– who have a potential first-round infielder of their own.
RHP Rhett Lowder, Wake Forest (No. 12 on Top 400, 156 DiGS+)
Lowder worked himself in and out of jams in each of the first four innings against NC State before allowing his three hardest-hit balls of the afternoon on three consecutive plate appearances in the fifth.
The right-hander has a large, physical frame with a strong build and impressive durability. His delivery is more up-tempo than that of most pitchers, but it’s effortless with lightning-quick, whippy arm action and plenty of deception out of a lower arm slot.
Lowder is not afraid to pitch backwards, setting up his mid-90s tailing fastball with a mid-80s slider. The breaking ball didn’t generate many whiffs against Wolfpack hitters and its shape leaves something to be desired, but in tandem with the fastball, it’s at least an average offering.
His changeup, which disappears out of the zone, is a true out pitch against lefties. Not only is it his most dangerous pitch, but it is arguably the best changeup in the entire class. He maintains his arm speed, but he manages to take 10 mph off from his fastball.
Lowder is touted for his pitchability, as he has strong command of all three pitches and the ability to pound the zone with strikes. At the moment, he is firmly in the second tier of draft-eligible college arms and projects to come off the board within the top 15 picks.
RHP Seth Keener, Wake Forest (No. 137 on Top 400, 134 DiGS+)
Keener was the first guy out of the bullpen behind ace Rhett Lowder, and he was not any easier on NC State’s hitters. He sat down 12 of the 13 batters he faced and has now allowed just two runs in 30 innings of work.
Keener isn’t as physically imposing as some of the other Wake Forest arms, with just an average build and decent athleticism. He explodes off the mound, however, with a powerful delivery and good extension.
His fastball sat in the mid-90s on Sunday, working up in the zone, and he heavily utilized a low-80s slider with lots of spin that darts away from righties. The junior right-hander displayed strong command of both offerings, and has significantly improved his strike-throwing ability throughout his college career. He has a changeup in his arsenal, as well, but he didn’t need it against NC State’s right-handed-heavy lineup.
Keener has worked mostly out of the bullpen this season, but he’s proven that he can provide Wake Forest with length, and would likely be a quality starter on a less-loaded pitching staff. Some teams will view him as such and draft him within the first five rounds.
RHP Camden Minacci, Wake Forest (No. 98 on Top 400)
Minacci shut the door on the Wolfpack in Game 1, working around a pair of singles to record his ACC-leading eighth save of the season.
He has a high-effort – borderline violent – delivery, and the ball explodes out of his hand from a high three-quarters arm slot. He’s an excellent athlete who brings a high level of intensity to the mound.
Minacci possesses an electric fastball/slider combination, touching 96 with the fastball and dropping the breaking ball into the mid-80s with sharp bite. Both pitches moonlight as swing-and-miss offerings, but his command can be shaky.
He struggled mightily with finding the zone early in his college career, but has made considerable strides over the last two seasons– he’s only walked four batters in 14 innings of work in 2023.
Minacci’s raw stuff makes him one of the more appealing relievers in the draft class, and he should hear his name called early on Day 2.
LHP Josh Hartle, Wake Forest (No. 90 on 2024 Top 100, 169 DiGS+)
It wasn’t smooth sailing for Hartle in the second game of Sunday’s doubleheader, but he flashed dominance in his two-earned-run, five-strikeout performance against NC State, during which he lasted just 4.1 innings.
Hartle is an uber-athletic lefty with a large, projectable frame and a lanky build. He has a fluid, repeatable delivery out of a low three-quarters arm slot that provides lots of deception. The sophomore has a full arsenal of five pitches– all of which project to be at least above-average. He sits right around 90 mph with his two-seamer right now, but there is a reasonable expectation for him to add velocity as he adds strength. He lives on the arm-side edge with that pitch, which jams lefties and runs away from righties.
Hartle relied heavily on his upper-80s cutter to right-handed hitters, and it looks like a true plus pitch. He also broke out two separate breaking balls– a mid-80s slider that he buried in the dirt and a low-80s curveball with good shape that he was willing and able to land for a strike early in counts.
He boasts excellent control – his walk rate is the lowest mark in the ACC – and solid command of all five offerings, as well as the ability to field his position at a high level.
Hartle was a highly-touted recruit out of high school in 2021, and he has taken an enormous step forward as a sophomore in terms of missing bats. Continued success in that department – with hints of improved velocity – should push him into the first round come 2024.
LHP Sean Sullivan, Wake Forest (No. 70 on Top 400, 168 DiGS+)
Sullivan turned in his most dominant showing of the season on Sunday against NC State, striking out eight over 4.2 scoreless innings in relief.
The six-foot-four left-hander has a large frame with a lean build, incredibly long limbs, and a crossfire, sidearm delivery that includes a fairly large leg kick. Sullivan’s repertoire consists of three potentially plus pitches. He has a tendency to work backwards, setting up a deceptive, low-90s fastball with devastating sliders and changeups in the mid-80s. All three can act as out pitches. The Northwestern transfer comes with plus command and control, as well, indicating he could possibly be a full-time starter in pro ball.
Sullivan is the ACC’s strikeout leader – despite splitting time between the rotation and the bullpen – and has done enough in his first year at Wake Forest to put himself in the Day 1 conversation.
3B Brock Wilken, Wake Forest (No. 23 on Top 400, 178 BaGS+)
Wilken only put the ball in play once between Wake’s two games on Sunday, striking out three times while drawing three walks and getting hit by a pitch.
At 6-foot-4 and 225 pounds, Wilken has the frame and build to dream on for a corner infielder.
There is no denying Wilken’s power potential– the ACC’s leader in home runs is unimaginably strong and can send the ball a mile when he’s able to extend his arms. While there is swing and miss, it isn’t currently substantial for a player with his profile, and he draws more than enough walks, with an impressive ability to recognize spin.
There are plenty of concerns surrounding his offensive profile, however, including what might be an overly-passive approach. More significantly, he often struggles with fastballs in on his hip. He frequently was late or whiffed on heaters in the low 90s from NC State pitchers.
He is more than capable of handling third base right now, with soft hands and a plus arm, but below-average lateral mobility and range could push him across the diamond down the road.
Wilken remains a no-doubt Day 1 pick, and while he could certainly fall out of the first round given his limitations, it only takes one team to fall in love with his offensive upside.
OF Pierce Bennett, Wake Forest (No. 371 on Top 400, 142 BaGS+)
Bennett collected four of Wake Forest’s 15 hits in Sunday’s doubleheader and was also credited with four of the team’s seven RBI.
The redshirt junior boasts elite contact skills, and while he doesn’t draw many walks, he also rarely strikes out. He makes hard contact to all parts of the field, and although he is primarily a gap hitter, there is enough strength for at least average power at the next level.
Originally a second baseman, Bennett has spent all of 2023 in right field, where he’s shown average range and a fringy arm that may push him to left long-term. He best projects as an offensive-minded utility man at the next level. Bennett will be 22 on draft day and isn’t an overly exciting athlete, but his bat alone should get him consideration at some point on Day 2.
OF Tommy Hawke, Wake Forest (No. 233 on Top 400, 160 BaGS+)
Hawke didn’t do much with the bat, but he still managed to leave his stamp on Sunday’s doubleheader with his glove.
With a very small frame and a wiry build, Hawke is a prototypical table setter. He has some pre-swing movement, with a medium leg lift leading into a swing that is geared for line drives and ground balls. He plays with high-intensity and controlled aggression.
The draft-eligible sophomore is an on-base machine, with elite bat-to-ball skills and the speed to regularly take the extra base. He rarely chases balls out of the zone and is very aggressive swinging at strikes. He possesses fairly little over-the-fence power, but can hit the ball with authority to all fields.
Hawke covers lots of ground in the outfield, with efficient routes and a nose for the baseball– he made a sliding grab and a diving catch in the first game against NC State. His arm is nothing more than average, but it’s certainly passable in center field. While the upside is limited, three plus tools and two years of significant production in the ACC should make Hawke a Day 2 pick.
3B LuJames Groover III, NC State (No. 34 on Top 400, 153 BaGS+)
Groover was NC State’s best offensive performer throughout Sunday’s doubleheader, collecting five hits and churning out competitive at-bats every time up.
The UNC Charlotte transfer has a fairly large frame and a strong build, with a short, compact swing out of a crouched stance. He has a polished approach, with more walks than strikeouts and an impressive ability to foul pitches off until he gets something he likes. He’s shown that he can handle velocity, with solid spin recognition, as well.
Groover isn’t much of a home run hitter at present, but with a frame that should lend itself to power, that should change– and when it does, he could become one of the more enticing college infield bats in the class.
He’s a fringy defender at third, with solid hands but below-average speed, and may require a move back across the diamond– he played first base with Charlotte.
Regardless, there’s Day 1 upside just with the bat, and he has an outside shot at sneaking into the comp round.
