Lehigh University, located in eastern Pennsylvania, has quickly earned a “sneaky” reputation in the MLB draft scene. Despite a small undergraduate population of under 6,000 and rigorous academic standards, six Mountain Hawks have been drafted since 2021, with alumni Levi Stoudt and Mason Black making it to the majors. After attending Coach Sean Leary’s Scout Day, it’s clear that draft followers can expect a steady pipeline of pro-level talent.
The team's strength begins on the mound. Lehigh has seen a pitcher selected in the draft every year since 2021 (except for 2023), with Alex Bouchard being the most recent, going to the Red Sox in the 14th round this July. In addition to Stoudt and Black, Matt Svanson (2021; 13th round) has emerged as a potential bullpen asset in the Cardinals organization and will compete in the Arizona Fall League this summer. Looking ahead, JR RHP Cole Leaman seems poised to be the next Mountain Hawk to join the pro ranks, but several other arms stood out during Scout Day, promising a bright future for Lehigh's pitching staff. All six pitchers who threw that day eclipsed 90 MPH, each bringing a unique look to the mound.
Pitchers Lead the way
The first pitcher to take the mound was JR RHP David Andolina, who struggled last season with a 7.71 ERA across 16.1 IP but seems to have turned a corner. Andolina sat 92-93 MPH on Scout Day with his fastball with good carry and tail, and he hit 95 MPH this summer—a significant uptick from last year’s 88-90 MPH range. He also showcased a slurvy breaking ball in the mid-70s and a mid-80s cutter. Andolina's ability to effectively mix three pitches positions him as a potential weekend starter.
JR Brandon Coughlin, a smaller 5’9 righty, delivered another intriguing performance. Coughlin was up to 92 MPH last year and sat in the 90-91 range during my look. He gets good extension in his delivery considering his stature, allowing his fastball to play up, while his mid-70s slider featured heavy sweeping action. Coughlin’s funky mechanics and two-pitch mix make him a strong candidate for a late-inning role in 2025. Standing in stark contrast to Coughlin is SR Jack Hamilton, a towering 6’11 pitcher who was once a high school basketball star. Hamilton has been hampered by injuries, limiting him to 46.2 IP over three years, but Coach Leary expressed excitement about his potential. As you’d expect, Hamilton makes for an uncomfortable at-bat. He has a longer arm swing and a near 6.50 release height from a tough angle. He gets over 6.6 feet of extension with a steep plane on his heavy fastball. Hamilton was mostly 88-91 MPH in this look but did pop 93 MPH. He also showed a slider at 78 MPH and a cutter at 84 MPH. His future role will depend on his continued growth and his ability to remain healthy. Hamilton is a little rough around the edges but the outlier traits make him a must-follow for the 2025 season.
Another draft-eligible arm that stood out was SO RHP Liam O’Hearen. O’Hearen only made one appearance in 2024 but showed plenty to like during his pen. He has an uber projectable frame at 6’3-192 with a quick, loose arm. His fastball ranged between 91-93 MPH with plenty of life. O’Hearen can really spin a breaking ball and his low-80s slider flashed above average with the potential to grade higher as he matures. O’Hearen also tossed some changeups in the mid-80s that had some decent fading action. Like Hamilton, O’Hearen lacks game experience at the D1 level and will need to earn an expanded role this spring. The potential is certainly there and he’ll only be 21.01 years old on draft day. A good year could turn O’Hearen into a sleeper draft target for July.
Other arms, including SR Marcus Danchision, SO Julio Ermigiotti, and SO Grady Golier, will also be key contributors after strong 2024 seasons.
THE MAIN ATTRACTION
COLE LEAMAN
Year: Junior
Draft Age: 21.09
H: 6’0 W: 190
*Photo Credit: Holly Fasching*
The biggest draw was JR RHP Cole Leaman, Lehigh’s projected Friday starter. Leaman is coming off a successful 2024 campaign where he pitched to a 2.31 ERA in 46.2 IP (11 starts) with 49 K and 25 BB. Leaman is only six feet tall, but he has a pro body and works extremely hard off the field to stay in peak physical shape. While he isn’t the same pitcher, the arm talent is reminiscent of Giants’ pitcher Mason Black. Leaman was clearly hyped up and ready to perform on scout day with an up-tempo delivery and a lot of moving parts. He was up to 96-97 MPH multiple times and maintained 94+ throughout his pen. There’s good hop on the pitch with some late cutting as well. Leaman gets down the mound extremely well allowing him to release from a low height with above-average extension. The velocity he showed on Scout Day was a significant jump from last year when he sat in the 90-92 MPH range with a top velocity of 95 MPH. Complimenting the fastball was a slider around 80 MPH, a cutter in the mid-80s, and a changeup that was 89-90 MPH. He appears to have ditched his curveball and is working on developing a distinct slider and cutter. The cutter is a work in progress as the shape was inconsistent, sometimes looking like a slower fastball while also blending into his slider at some points. The slider had some good bite at best but there were some hangers as well. The changeup operated almost like a two-seamer with a little bit of drop and late arm side run. There’s a path for each pitch to become solid weapons. Strikes were scattered in this look as they were on the Cape this summer. There’s reliever risk here but Leaman will have a long leash this spring to prove himself as Lehigh’s ace. Teams will be watching Leaman closely all spring and he should draw attention on day 2 of the MLB Draft.
A Promising Freshman
The scouts in attendance had to wait a bit for the final arm to take the mound, but Coach Leary said he’d be worth it. He was right. FR RHP Noah Gyauch-Quirk just finished an exam before making it to the field, getting loose and taking the bump. He’s built similarly to O’Hearen with a long, projectable frame and a loose arm. He showed solid athleticism and his polished, easy delivery was impressive for a freshman arm. Gyauch-Quirk showed good feel and command of a three-pitch mix: a 90-91 MPH fastball, 77-79 MPH slider, and an 80-81 MPH changeup. There’s plenty more in the tank and the present elements should allow him to carve out a role in his first year on campus. Gyauch-Quirk will be a strong draft follow over the next few years and could be the next big arm to come out of Lehigh.
Position Players to Watch
On the position player side, SR Jake Whitlinger stood out with a blazing 6.51 60-yard dash, giving him 70-grade speed. At 5’9-175, Whitlinger is a wiry, athletic center fielder with plus range but a below-average arm. He’s a classic leadoff hitter, boasting a .319/.454/.373 line in 2024 with 21 stolen bases and more walks (31) than strikeouts (16). He doesn’t have a whole lot of pop but he did perform well with wood bats in the COPL this summer, recording a .385/.448/.385 line.
Lehigh’s leading power threat SR 1B Justin Butler returns after hitting 11 home runs in 2024. He has plenty of juice from the right side with a swing geared for pulling fly balls. SR OF Andrew Kohl also has above-average raw power, having recorded a max exit velocity of 110 MPH in 2024. Overall, Kohl had a down year in 2024 but he’s capable of turning in a double-digit home run season. JR Owen Walewander looks like the favorite to start at catcher. He hasn’t performed much as a hitter to date, but his defense, especially his arm, stood out on Scout Day.
Infield Changes / Newcomers
On the left side of the infield, Lehigh will see fresh faces with the departures of 3B Rafe Perich and SS Tyler Young. SR Sam Holtz could slot in at third, showing off a strong arm during Scout Day, while JR Dom Patrizi may take over at shortstop. Although Patrizi struggled last season, his freshman campaign in 2023 was promising, and he flashed solid defensive actions and a steady glove at short. Other players who might see expanded roles in 2025 include sophomores Raffaele Rogers, Robbie Carvelli, and Jasper Adelman.
Newcomers Reid Uccello and Edwin Betances have also drawn praise from Coach Leary. The two infielders could force themselves into the starting lineup with strong performances this fall. Betances wasn’t available on Scout Day, but Uccello was featured at second base. Uccello showcased his versatility at second base during Scout Day and could play third or even left field. He has a hitterish look and pro bloodlines, with his father, Jeff, having spent time in the Red Sox organization.