A new year, a new board and new ranks. The Top 300 is here. With the summer showcase circuit behind us and college fall ball in the rearview mirror, we’re ready to re-rank the 2023 draft class. Our team has taken in 9 showcase tournaments and been closely monitoring fall scrimmages. We’ve collected data and pitch metrics from guys showcasing their summer gains and, boy, do things look promising. Some guys are breaking out.
This article is brought to you by Nick Johnson, one of the newest contributors at Prospects LIve
Performance: 6 IP, O R, 0 H, 0 BB, 1 HBP, 11 K
Talk about starting out with a bang! I’m not sure even Sean Sullivan could have scripted a better beginning to his Wake career. Through his first two appearances the 6’4 lefty has thrown 10 innings allowing only 2 hits, 1 walk, while striking out 21 batters!
As I wrote in January I thought Sullivan was one of the most under-the-radar transfers in all of D1. A Northwestern transfer, Sullivan had an impressive freshman season as the Wildcat’s Friday night starter throwing 64.2 innings, striking out 78 while sporting a 4.45 era. After the collegiate season he pitched an additional 28 innings in the Cape League where he struck out 29 in 28 innings while only giving up 22 hits and walking 9.
If you’ve never seen Sullivan pitch he throws from a funky low 3⁄4 slot that is super deceptive. He works quickly and pounds the zone. He has a 3 pitch mix (FB,SL,CH) but is super FB heavy. In his start Friday against Mount St. Mary’s he threw 77 pitches and a staggering 66 of them were fastballs (85%). He had a crazy 25 swing and misses on the day. The fastball had 55% miss and 41% chase. Sullivan’s FB sat 88 and topped out at 90. If he can tap into his big frame and gain velocity you could watch his stock soar. With the news that Teddy McGraw may be out for an extended amount of time it will be interesting to see if Sullivan sticks in the starting rotation. My bet would be yes.
⭐️Top Weekend Performers⭐️
— Nick Johnson (@nicholasmilo) February 28, 2023
Sean Sullivan: 6 IP, O R, 0 H, 0 BB, 1 HBP, 11 K
If you’ve never seen Sean Sullivan pitch he throws from a funky low 3⁄4 slot that is super deceptive. He works quickly and pounds the zone. He has a 3 pitch mix (FB,SL,CH) but is super FB heavy. pic.twitter.com/KjlXMxYc2n
Performance: 7.1 IP, 1R, 4H, 0BB, 8K
After missing all of 2021 due to injury Ryan Hawks became Louisville’s go to arm out of the pen in 2022. In 27 appearances (1 start) Hawks threw 49 innings allowing 54 hits, walking 16 and striking out 65.
This year Hawks becomes arguably the most important piece of a Louisville staff that is coming off an underwhelming 2022. The former Kentucky Gatorade player of the year has certainly looked the part of a Friday night starter through his first two games. In 13.2 innings he has only given up 7 hits, 1 walk, 1 ER, while striking out 17.
This Friday against Bowling Green he looked really good. He tossed 7.1 innings of 4 hit ball without allowing an earned run and striking out 8. He threw 88 pitches and was primarily FB/SL while mixing in 6 CH. Despite it being a brisk 45 degrees the fastball sat 92 and topped 93. I expect the velocity to tick up as it gets warmer and he builds back up. The slider looked really impressive with 56% whiff/31% chase. I hope he mixes the change in more because it had good fading movement and induced some funky swings.
Through two starts Louisville has to be extremely happy with what they’ve seen from Hawks as he will be a pivotal piece in their push to Omaha.
⭐️Top Weekend Performers⭐️
— Nick Johnson (@nicholasmilo) February 28, 2023
Ryan Hawks: 7.1 IP, 1R, 4H, 0BB, 8K
The former Kentucky Gatorade player of the year has certainly looked the part of a Friday night starter through his 1st 2 starts. In 13.2 innings @_RyanHawks has only given up 7 hits, 1 walk, 1 ER, w 17 K’s. pic.twitter.com/yPiV5qG29A
6 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 3BB, 13K
When Florida went and got Hurston Waldrep out of the transfer portal I imagine this was exactly what they thought they were getting. The RHP Southern Miss transfer was absolutely electric Saturday afternoon. The 6’2 Thomasville, GA native shoved against Cincinnati going 6.0 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 13 K (tied career high). He threw 100 pitches (62% strikes) and featured a FB,CB,SP/CH mix. The fastball sat 95 and topped 98. He held 96 into the 6th inning. The Split-Change was absolutely nails at 87 mph with 71% whiff/64% chase.
After facing Charleston Southern and Cincinnati, Waldrep will get his first real test of the season this weekend as he faces a talented and nationally ranked Miami offense highlighted by projected first rounder Yoyo Morales.
⭐️Top Weekend Performers⭐️
— Nick Johnson (@nicholasmilo) February 28, 2023
Hurston Waldrep: 6 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 3BB, 13K
Waldrep threw 100 pitches (62% K) w a FB,CB,SP/CH mix. The FB sat 95 and T98. He held 96 into the 6th inning. The Split-Change was absolutely gross at 87 mph with 71% whiff/64% chase.
🎥: @gabyvitalee pic.twitter.com/Lfdzz1Oi0B
5.2, 1H, 0 ER, 2BB, 8K, 81 pitches (50 strikes) at #10 TCU
8 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 12 K, 99 pitches (71 strikes) vs UPENN
7 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 9 K, 101 pitches (67 strikes) at #4 Ole Miss
Performance: 6 for 12, HR, 2 2B, 7 RBI
In what was billed to be one of the best matchups of the weekend #13 Maryland traveled down south to take on the #4 Rebels of Ole Miss. It was a great early season test for the Maryland offense to go up against some great SEC arms. While the series didn’t go the way Maryland would have hoped, Jr. catcher Luke Shliger really stood out. In the 3 game series the 5’9 LHH went 6-12 with a 2B, HR, 5 RBI’s, 2BB and 3K.
Shliger really burst onto the scene as a sophomore slashing .357/.500/.643 with a 1.143 OPS. He had 22 doubles, 2 triples, and 12 homers. He followed up his sophomore campaign with an All-Star season on Cape.
With a hit > power approach, good swing/take decisions, strong bat-to-ball skills, and limited physical projection remaining, the Maryland backstop profiles as a high-floor, low-ceiling type player. The question he will have to answer this spring is just how much impact the bat carries. The power production will dictate how high he goes but he currently projects as a Top 100 pick.
Top 5 | That's our captain!!
— Maryland Baseball (@TerpsBaseball) February 26, 2023
Luke Shliger hammers a ball over TJ McCants and into the student section for the Terps fourth home run of the game
Rebels 10, Terps 8 pic.twitter.com/oZwRJfATcO
Performance: 8-13, 7 2B, 1 HR, 11 RBI, 2 BB, 3HBP, 2 SB
I’m not sure anyone in the country had as good of a weekend as RS SO catcher Devin Burkes. Burkes went crazy against Wright St. going 8 for 13 with 7 doubles, 1 homerun, 11 RBI, 2 walks, 3 HBP, and 2 stolen bases. Including his midweek game against Indiana St. Burkes slashed .563/.667/1.188 with a 1.855 OPS. The Bradenton, Florida native is enjoying his first year as Kentucky’s everyday catcher and has a 20 game on base streak dating back to last season. He currently leads the nation in doubles. Burkes is making his case to fly up draft boards this spring.
👋, baseball@Devin_Burkes pic.twitter.com/tstNXQzA2e
— Kentucky Baseball (@UKBaseball) February 26, 2023
Performance: 5-9, 5R, 3 HR, 9 RBI, 1BB, 1K
Not even a historic Southern California deluge could cool off JR RHH Jack Costello. The third baseman only got two games in this weekend due to heavy rain but did wreak havoc in both.On Friday night against Hawaii he went 3-4 with 2 HR and 6 RBI. On Sunday against UNLV he went 2-5 with a HR and 3 RBI.
Costello is coming off an impressive sophomore campaign where he slashed .307/.369/.487 with a .856 OPS. He had 15 2B, 2 3B, and 8 HR. He spent 18 games in the Cape Cod league where he hit .270 in limited at bats.
The Terero’s are off to a hot 5-0-1 start and a lot of their future success will rest on the success of their star 3B.
It's Jack Costello versus everybody.#GoToreros pic.twitter.com/yJhOldsYgO
— San Diego Baseball (@USDbaseball) February 27, 2023
A new year, a new board and new ranks. The Top 300 is here. With the summer showcase circuit behind us and college fall ball in the rearview mirror, we’re ready to re-rank the 2023 draft class. Our team has taken in 9 showcase tournaments and been closely monitoring fall scrimmages. We’ve collected data and pitch metrics from guys showcasing their summer gains and, boy, do things look promising. Some guys are breaking out.
A new year, a new board and new ranks. With the summer showcase circuit behind us and college fall ball in full swing, we’re ready to re-rank the 2023 draft class. Our team has taken in 9 showcase tournaments and been closely monitoring fall scrimmages. Some guys are breaking out. As always, our boards are built on three pillars:
A new year, a new board and new ranks. With Prospect Development Pipeline and the Perfect Game National Showcase in the books, we’re prepared to release our Top 100 prospect. These will shift in the coming months after Area Code Games, East Coast Pro and World Wood Bat Championships, but we’re feeling pretty good about where things currently lay.
