Jake Yeager

Jared's Fall Jottings: Maryland, UNC-Wilmington, and Virginia (Part 2)

The fall tour is over, and I am sad! Well, I'm not sad, but I'm more ready for the college season to be back in full swing. There were plenty of fun games to go to this fall to see some incredible players and draft talent over the next few years. I covered the Rutgers vs. Georgetown scrimmage in the first part of my fall jottings. In Part 2, we dive into the two Virginia scrimmages I was able to attend.


The first scrimmage Virginia had was on October 20th vs. Maryland. We all know how talented Virginia is. They have one of the best lineups in the country and are absolutely loaded with bats that will hear their name called the 2025 MLB Draft. Maryland is always an underrated squad. Like Virginia, their lineup is constantly loaded with bats. While the pitching isn’t as strong, they were highlighted by a healthy Kyle McCoy on the bump. They also have some intriguing freshmen like Jake Yeager, who stepped onto campus and should position their pitching staff in a better place in the future. 


The second scrimmage was on October 27th vs. UNC-Wilmington. The prized prospect for the Seahawks is first baseman Tanner Thatch, who has started to draw tons of attention after a solid 2024 season and performance in the Cape Cod League this summer. The Seahawks also had plenty of intriguing arms who came in and threw in this game as well. All these teams will be fun to watch in 2025. 

 

2025 MLB DRAFT

LHP Kyle McCoy - Maryland

Last time I saw McCoy pitch was in 2023 during his freshman year. The 6’6 left-hander was an imposing presence on the mound and featuring some very intriguing stuff. Unfortunately, McCoy tore his ulnar collateral ligament in his left elbow and underwent Tommy John surgery that June. It was great to see him out there healthy in the fall scrimmage against Virginia where he threw two scoreless innings. He was consistently 90-93 MPH with his fastball and had some really good feel for his slider and changeup. Maryland has always been known for their development of bats, but McCoy could be one of the better arms they’ve had since Sean Burke. A healthy season for McCoy could have him rising up draft boards. This was a great start for what will hopefully be a good season for him. 

1B Tanner Thach - UNC-Wilmington 

Tanner Thach made a name for himself after a solid 2025 season and showed off some similar skills in the Cape Cod League this summer. Power has definitely been the name of the game for Thach thus far, although he didn’t show off much of it in the scrimmage against Virginia. He struggled to make hard contact and hit many weak ground balls. Thach’s timing was a bit off, leading to him struggling to find a barrel to play ball. Hitting the ball hard hasn’t been an issue for Thach in the past, so this could have easily been a one-off game. He sported extremely high barrel percentages and EVs last year, so this one game is likely not too concerning. The struggles for Thach usually come with his plate discipline, as he is very aggressive, which often leads to him chasing out of the zone and swinging at bad pitches. He swung through a lot of offspeed pitches during this one as he struggled to pick up spin. Thach is really going to have to hit to have an impact at the next level since he is likely landlocked at first base. Although he did show some good athleticism overall, some think he could make his way to a corner outfield spot. 

RHP Trace Baker - UNC-Wilmington

Baker showed up and was one of the most impressive arms to throw in Virginia’s scrimmage vs. UNC-Wilmington. Fastball was an easy 93-94 MPH and even topped out at 96 MPH. It has heavy, sinking-two-seam action, which helped him induce a lot of groundballs. He paired that with a low-80s slider that had some quality bite with late sweep that flashed a lot of potential. He also threw one change-up. There was a ton to like with Baker’s stuff. Ultimately, he is missing a pitch to put people away with. The slider has that potential, but he could benefit from sharpening it a bit. Either way, there was a ton to like, and I, like many others, I am sure, want to see more—a guy to watch to see if he can build on this outing. 

RHP Aubrey Smith - UNC-Wilmington

Like his teammate Trace Baker, Smith was another intriguing arm who caught my attention for UNC-Wilmington. Smith didn’t pitch last year during his Sophomore year, but I'm unsure why. He did throw 20.2 innings his freshman year, but the numbers weren’t great. Things seemed much better in this one. He went one inning and the stuff was quite impressive. His fastball was consistently 94 MPH and he paired that with a slider that was mid-to-high-80s with some decent life to it. It was definitely his go-to pitch to generate swing and miss. He also rounded out his pitch mix with a good mid-80s changeup that had some depth and even flashed a curveball once. Despite his freshman numbers, things looked to have improved for the junior, and if the stuff holds, he could be very intriguing for the 2025 MLB Draft. 

1B/OF Henry Ford - Virginia

Ford, nicknamed “Model-T”, made a name for himself as one of the best college bats in the 2025 MLB Draft after an extremely impressive 2024. He found himself in the heart of the lineup of a stacked Virginia lineup as a true freshman where he slashed .336/.409/.597 with 17 HRs and 69 RBI. Ford is a physical presence in the box and has tons of strength which he showed off in both scrimmages against Maryland and UNC-Wilmington. The ball was loud off his bats and even his outs were hit extremely hard just at defenders. His pop is backed up by the data as he had some of the best EVs in the country last year. The only knock on Ford last year was he was a tad aggressive in his approach and would expand the zone from time to time. He showed a bit of a better approach in the scrimmages and laid off a good amount of spin out of the zone. Defensively, Ford is expected to play right field for the Cavaliers which could help him shed the “first base only” narrative. He’s athletic enough to play out there. Ford only DH’d in the two scrimmages and only saw some time on the field during warmups where he took grounders at first base. 

2B Henry Godbout - Virginia

Godbout just flat-out hits. There might not be a more polished bat in the country, especially on fastballs. As Tyler mentioned in our top 75 prospects list, Godbout established himself as one of the best fastball hitters in the entire country, only whiffing 5% on heaters in 2024. He showed off these skills more in the second game than the first. Against Maryland, his timing just seemed off and he had trouble picking up spin, but it seemed more related to just having a bad game than any major issue in his skillset. He was a complete 180 in game two, as he made tons of hard contact and even hit a pullside homerun. Godbout’s bat is the real deal, but defensively, he is likely stuck at second base. He has decent range and acceptable arm strength that plays well at the position. He doesn’t have a ton a speed, but he also won’t be a clog on the base paths. Despite that, his bat will carry him on draft day, and given his elite contact rates there is a good shot he gets taken pretty high with a strong 2025. 

OF Harrison Didawick - Virginia

Harrison Didawick is a powerful left-handed outfielder known for his impressive ability to leverage his lower half and generate torque in his swing. With strong bat speed from the left side and the capability to drive the ball to all fields, Didawick showcases big pull-side power and a well-rounded offensive profile. While he can be prone to strikeouts due to susceptibility to spin, he has kept his chase rate in check and remains a consistent force in a potent lineup. Defensively, he has solid range and strong instincts, likely projecting as a left fielder due to his good first step, efficient routes, and highlight-reel catches. Didawick decided to return to Virginia after not being draft and will likely be a guy teams are in on in the 2025 MLB Draft. 

RHP Alex Markus - Virginia

Markus flashed some very intriguing stuff against Maryland. While he his a bit older being a grad transfer from William & Mary there was at least some aspects that caught my eye. His fastball was 90-94 MPH and topped out at 95 MPH. He paired that with a low-80s slider with some decent bite and a change up in the mid-80s. The biggest knock on Markus is that the command and control of all his pitches waivers quite a bit and there is a lot of effort on the mound. He could use some polishing of his delivery to get some more consistency which would help significantly with some of the command issues. Regardless, the stuff and the data behind it make him at the very least an intriguing arm for later in the draft in 2025. 

OF Aidan Teel - Virginia

If this last name sounds familiar, that’s because Aidan is the younger brother of former Cavalier and Boston Red Sox top prospect Kyle Teel. Aidan is going into his sophomore year after not playing a ton for Virginia last year since they were so stacked. He mostly pitched for them and flashed a low-90s fastball with some intriguing offspeed stuff. It seems like this year, Teel will be manning centerfield for them, which is very interesting. People started to take notice of the bat after he had a strong summer in the Northwoods League, where he slashed .387/.455/.671 with 11 2B, 11 HR, 42 RBI, and 18 SBs. Although the league is pretty hitter-friendly, that is still impressive. In the two scrimmages I saw Teel, he showcased a fairly aggressive approach where he was first pitch swinging a lot. Although, he did temper that a lot in game two. What was most impressive was that regardless of his aggressive approach, he made a ton of contact and still worked a lot walks. It’s a small, compact frame, so he is unsure how much power he will tap into, but the makeup is intriguing nonetheless. In centerfield, Teel utilized his plus speed to track down balls, and he had a cannon of an arm. He kept a lot of potential doubles into singles because of it. He misread one ball in the air but could utilize his athleticism to correct himself and make a diving catch. The bat will be the question mark for Teel going into 2025, but with what seems to be a starting role, if he catches fire, he could make some noise.

2026 MLB DRAFT 

INF Chris Hacopian - Maryland

The younger of the Hacopian brothers, Chris has really put himself on the map after an incredible freshman year where we slashed .323/.431/.579 with 10 2Bs, 15 HRs, 42 RBIs while walking more than he struck out. This game was no exception. Hacopian was finding barrel with ease and hitting the ball to all parts of the park. All the kids do is make contact as well. He can pair that with good plate discipline, as he didn’t chase out of the zone a ton and can easily draw a walk. He played third base last year for the Terrapins but was manning shortstop in this one after Maryland senior Kevin Keister graduated and is no longer with the team. He showed good range at the position and seemed comfortable. It will be interesting to see how he grows there and if he can stick there full-time. If so, that will also do wonders for his draft stock. Keep this name on your radar as he should make a ton of noise for the 2026 MLB Draft if he can have another strong season. 

RHP Bryson Moore - Virginia

Bryson Moore was your prototypical large-framed pitcher with a strong lower half. He had a fairly easy delivery but sometimes struggled to repeat it. His arm would fall a bit behind, and he wouldn’t finish. He still filled up the zone regardless, but when he lost his confidence on the mound a bit, his command waivered, and he’d catch too much of the plate, hanging his secondary pitches. His fastball was 89-92 and it had some cutterish action to it. He also threw a low-to-mid-80s changeup with some late depth to it which seemed to be his go-to secondary. He also flashed a couple of curveballs, which had some good downward action but were a work in progress. He’s athletic, and there it is a lot to dream of with his frame. If he can tap into some more velocity with his ability to throw strikes and polish up his secondaries a bit, there could reach another level. 

2027 MLB Draft 

RHP Jake Yeager - Maryland

Yeager was a guy we thought might go in the 2024 MLB Draft because of his physicialty and loud summer outings, but he ended up heading to campus. It’s a very strong frame and he is also very athletic. He faced the heart of the Virginia order (Chris Arroyo, Henry Ford, Harrison Didawick) and threw a clean inning. There was some effort to his delivery, but he threw a lot of strikes in this one. The fastball had a ton of riding action up in the zone. He paired that with a high-70s slider that had some late, sweeping life, which was his go-to secondary. He also had a mid-80s changeup that was pretty firm but played well off his heater. He will need to iron out some of his secondaries to stick as a starter, but he will have plenty of time to try and develop them at Maryland. A great get for Maryland, and some more development could increase his stock for the 2027 MLB Draft. 

OF James Nunnallee - Virginia

Nunnallee might have been the most impressive kid I saw in both scrimmages. The name might sound familiar since he was taken in the 14th round of the 2024 MLB Draft by the Milwaukee Brewers but opted to head to Virginia. I’m sure Brian O’Connor is stocked about that. He’s an extremely twitchy athlete and is likely hit over power, but boy, can he hit. It’s a barrel party for this kid. His ability to make contact and hard contact at that was quite impressive.On top of that, Nunnallee looked good in the outfield. He ran down the ball well and used his speed to do so. He also looked great on the basepaths. He led off in the second scrimmage against UNC-Wilmington and looked far from overmatched in the leadoff spot in a stacked Cavaliers lineup. He’s the definition of a table-setter and if he grows into some more pop over the years, he will definitely be having his name called much earlier in the draft. 


2024 MLB Draft: Top 100 Prep Prospects

Director’s Note: All Draft Day Ages for players are pinned to July 14, 2024, our guess as to when the MLB Draft will start. The league has not announced the dates for the 2024 MLB Draft and once revealed, we will adjust approximate ages to that date.

The 2024 Top 100 College board will be released tomorrow. Once the season is in full bloom, we will begin to integrate a single list, starting off with 200 prospects. As always, our 2024 Prospect Footage can be found here.


1. OF/RHP Konnor Griffin, jackson Prep (MS)

Height: 6’4

Weight: 210

B/T: R/R

Commitment: Louisiana state

Draft Day age: 18 yr 2 mo

There may not be a more famous name in this class than Konnor Griffin, who reclassified from the 2025 ranks and has a chance to be the first prep player off the board next July. Given the reclassification, he projects to be one of the younger guys in this class, though you wouldn't know that with mix of physicality and projection. He's got two-way abilities, though most project him as a center fielder, where his athleticism, plus speed, and excellent range are on full display. He's got a very good arm and plenty of twitchiness, too. At the dish, it's a polished approach with a ton of bat speed and over-the-fence power, which projects as plus once he's fully developed. His overall contact has shown some inconsistencies this summer, though it's gotten better as the summer has progressed. All in all, Griffin has the potential to be rather special offensively. There's upside on the bump, as well, as he's already gotten into the mid-90s with his fastball and shows a promising breaking ball with swing-and-miss traits, too.


2. 1B/OF PJ Morlando, Summerville HS (SC)

Height: 6’3

Weight: 200

b/t: L/R

commitment: South Carolina

draft day age: 19 yr 1 mo

There's no mincing words here, Morlando projects as the biggest offensive threat in this year's prep class thanks to a loud combination of high contact rates, robust power, and mature plate discipline. Morlando has a quiet setup with a wide lower half, but he really explodes through the zone with quick hands and high-end bat speed. He's a patient hitter who knows the strike zone and isn't afraid to rack up the free passes, plus he'll utilize the whole field and keeps the whiffs to a minimum. The power potential with Morlando is sky high with the bat speed and leverage/loft he generates and he's already put on shows during batting practices in big league stadiums. It's easily plus right now. Defensively, he projects as a potential corner outfielder thanks to his athleticism and average speed/arm, which have improved over the years. There's still a chance that he moves to a first base role as he grows, though that's not set in stone just yet. The South Carolina commit will be a fun one to follow for years.


3. 3B Caleb Bonemer, Okemos HS (MI)

height: 6’1

weight: 195

B/T: R/R

COMMITMENT: Virginia

DRAFT DAY AGE: 18 yr 9 mo

Bonemer profiles as one of the biggest, if not the biggest, riser from the summer circuit, propelling himself to the top of the class with a loud toolset. It's a legitimate power/speed threat with a chance to be a solid defender on the left side of the dirt. There's not a ton of wasted energy with Bonemer's swing, as he stays very quiet through his load and short to the ball, displaying explosive bat speed from the right side and punishing baseballs in the process. Most of his power plays up the middle and to his pullside and he's already produced multiple exit velocities over 105 MPH. If there's anything to work on with Bonemer, it's polishing up his plate discipline, as he does run into some issues with whiffs and the chase rate is a bit higher than you'd want to see. Despite the physical nature of his frame, he's very athletic and produces plus or better run times. He's got a very good glove and could stay at shortstop, though given his size, a move to third base seems likely, where he'd be a potentially above-average or better defender.


4. RHP Levi Sterling, Notre Dame HS (CA)

Height: 6’4

Weight: 190

B/T: R/R

Commitment: Texas

Draft Day Age: 17 yr 10 mo

Sterling turned in a loud summer and has vaulted himself to the top of the class with a mix of loud stuff, pitchability, and projection. For starters, Sterling will be one of the youngest players in the entire class, as he won't turn 18 until September, which certainly helps him in team model runs. He projects as a starter with a buttery-smooth delivery on the mound and a legitimate four-pitch mix that is led by a fastball that's already in the low-90s with life and can easily get into the mid-90s with added strength to his long and lanky frame. His best secondary comes in the form of a low-mid 80s change-up, which has splitter-esque movement and dives hard away from lefties. He mixes in an upper-70s curveball that classifies more as a sweeper and a mid-80s cutter with tight spin to righties. He's got plenty of athleticism and he throws a large quantity of strikes as a result, showcasing potentially above-average command at best.


5. SS Carter Johnson, oxford HS (AL)

Height: 6’2

Weight: 180

B/T: L/R

Commitment: Alabama

Draft Day Age: 18 yr 4 mo


As a hitter, Johnson possesses almost everything you want to see in a swing from a prep prospect. His hands work quick, his hips fire, and there's plenty of bat speed. He has performed at every summer event that he has attended, and shows an ability to barrel up stuff, as well as taking what the pitcher gives him. Defensively, Johnson has the instincts and hands to stick on the dirt, but there are concerns about his foot speed at shortstop. A move to 2nd base or 3rd base could be made down the line, but Johnson has the prototypical long shortstop body to add strength and should be given every opportunity to prove that he can handle the speed and physicality of the position. Even if there is a future move to 2nd or 3rd base, Johnson has enough power and hitting ability to stick at those positions. He's a high follow for the Deep South region, and is the top prep prospect in the state of Alabama.


6. 1B/LHP Noah Franco, IMG Academy (FL)

Height: 6’3

Weight: 205

B/T: L/L

Commitment: TCU

Draft Day Age: 18 yr 2 mo

Another reclassified player from the 2025 class, Franco has some of the best two-way upside in this class. He's got a physical frame with very broad shoulders and plenty of athleticism that plays well on both sides of the ball, though there's a bit more upside with the bat. There is some swing-and-miss to his game, but he's not afraid to rack up walks and doesn't chase a ton, plus he's been able to hold his own in left-on-left matchups. There's plenty of bat speed present and he swings with serious intent, spraying the ball to all fields and showcasing solid power up the middle and to his pull-side. That'll get better as he becomes physically mature. He's likely limited to first base with his size, though don't let that fool you. He's rather mobile and shows quick twitch at the position, letting his athleticism shine. On the bump, he's been into the low-90s with easy, athletic mechanics and it's easy to project him into the mid-90s by next summer. He's got a high spin slider that has some teeth in the low-80s with late sweep, as well as feel for a change-up.


7. RHP Joey oakie, Ankeny centennial HS (IA)

Height: 6’3

Weight: 207

B/T: R/R

Commitment: iowa

Draft Day Age: 18 yr 2 mo

Another loud arm coming out of Ankeny, Iowa, Oakie has some of the loudest stuff in the entire class. Oakie generates a ton of scap load in his delivery with a big arm swing before driving down the mound with a whippy, near sidearm slot. He's already gotten into the mid-90s with the fastball, getting up to 97 MPH, with a ton of life and spin through the zone and plays up thanks to the low launch nature of his release. It wouldn't be a shock to see Oakie's velocity jump into the upper-90s when all is said and done, either. Oakie's sweeper might be the best pitch in the prep ranks, a diabolical pitch with a ton of sweep and hard biting action in the mid-80s and projects as plus. He's gotten up to 25 inches of horizontal break this summer and the pitch has insanely high spin rates, touching the 3,000 RPM barrier. He's got feel for a fading change-up that he throws hard in the mid-upper 80s that projects well, too. He'll need to iron out some command inconsistencies, but this is an enticing package overall.


8. RHP Owen Hall, Edmond north HS (OK)

Height: 6’3

Weight: 185

B/T: R/R

Commitment: Vanderbilt

Draft Day Age: 18 yr 8 mo

Hall is another big riser from the summer circuit, vaulting himself into the top ten with a mix of present stuff and starter traits. It's a fluid and athletic delivery on the bump with a lean frame that has plenty of projection remaining at 6'3, 185 pounds. Hall's fastball is rather explosive with a ton of late life, especially at the top of the zone, and he'll show a bit of a two-seam/sinker variant at the bottom of the zone. He throws plenty of strikes with the heater and he'll hold 92-95 MPH throughout outings, plus he's already been up to 98 MPH in shorter stints. It's a future plus pitch. He's got two breaking balls, a slider/cutter hybrid in the mid-80s that has good two-plane tilt and a curveball in the mid-to-upper-70s that has good depth, but lacks bite/conviction at times. He's developing a mid-80s splitter, as well. He'll need to develop consistency with his off-speed arsenal, but there's a ton to like with the Vanderbilt commit.


9. OF Slade Caldwell, valley view HS (AR)

Height: 5’9

Weight: 182

B/T: L/L

Commitment: Mississippi

Draft Day Age: 18 yr


The best way to describe Caldwell would be to call him a "menace." While he lacks premium physicality due to his shorter stature, Caldwell makes up for it with explosive athleticism and polish. It's a sweet swing from the left side of the plate and he's shown excellent plate discipline, rarely chasing and showcasing plenty of patience, drawing walks aplenty. There's solid barrel consistency in his swing and he utilizes the gaps often, prioritizing his plus-plus speed on the basepaths as a result. He's rather strong for his size and has been able to put the ball in the air more, though it's always going to be hit-over-power with Caldwell. His speed allows him to cover ground very well in center field, where he's a solid defender with great instincts. If there's anything to knock him on, it's the lack of a strong arm, which may push him to left field. With that said, he's got the tools to stick at the "eight" long term. He'll have plenty of fans come draft day.


10. RHP William Schmidt, Catholic HS (LA)

Height: 6’4

Weight: 180

b/t: R/R

COMMITMENT: Louisiana State

DRAFT DAY AGE: 18 yr 9 mo

In terms of raw stuff, Schmidt's one-two punch might be the best in this class. An above-average, if not better, athlete on the mound, Schmidt is a quick mover on the mound where his athleticism is explosive and there's a ton of projection with his long, lean frame. The fastball has seen a solid velocity uptick over the past year, now touching 95 MPH and holding 90-94 MPH consistently. There's plenty of riding life with the heater, as well as some cut, and given the projection, it's likely that he could get into the upper-90s soon. The true separator with Schmidt is an upper-70s curveball with a ton of upside. It's a true 12-6 hammer with tons of depth and extremely high spin rates, exceeding the 3,000 RPM threshold on occasion. There's plenty of bat-missing traits between those two pitches and he's developing an upper-70s change-up with plenty of fading life. Command comes and goes, but given the projection and pure stuff, this is a profile that can sneak into the first round with further development.


2024 MLB Draft: Top 50 Prep Prospects

2024 MLB Draft: Top 50 Prep Prospects

The Draft Team provides their first look at the 2024 prep draft class, ranking out the top 50 propsects.