Deep Drives is back after a well-deserved break!
We’re playing a little bit of catch-up after a quick turnaround to the ACC Tournament, but I managed to take a quick trip down to Charlotte to get a look at some mid-major draft talent. Charlotte has an intriguing pair of bats, as well as a Friday night arm that is a lock to be a Day 2 selection in July, while Middle Tennessee State has a duo on the mound that could both go in the top five rounds. We’ll keep this one shorter than most, mainly because we’ve got plenty of ACC Tournament content on the way!
RHP Wyatt Hudepohl, Charlotte
Line: 7 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 10 K (100 Pitches)
A former Kentucky bullpen piece, Hudepohl sought an extended role in the transfer portal, landing in a place that’s been known for pitching development the past few years under coach Robert Woodard. Well, I’d say it’s been a beneficial relationship for both sides thus far, as Hudepohl has cemented himself as one of the best mid-major arms in this class.
What stood out pretty quickly was the level of pitchability that Hudepohl possesses. He came out of the gate very strong with two perfect innings, pitching backwards off his curveball and change-up constantly. However, once the rain began to fall harder, his command began to slip away in the third inning and he wound up giving up a home run on a hanging curve. After that? He wouldn’t allow another hit until the seventh inning. The fastball does have some carrying life, though the velocity isn’t quite there, routinely sitting in the 90-93 MPH range throughout the start. While there isn’t much separation velocity-wise to the change-up, there’s deception in Hudepohl’s delivery that makes it tough for hitters to pick up. It’s pretty firm in the high-80s, but he’s able to keep the pitch down in the zone. The curveball is his best pitch, throwing it hard in the low-to-mid 80s with serious intent and downward bite, racking up plenty of empty swings throughout Middle Tennessee’s order.
If I had to be a guessing man, Hudepohl’s future is likely in relief, which would allow his stuff to excel, though there are enough starting traits here to trot him out in a rotation at the next level. He’s able to hold his velocity rather well, though the frame suggests that there is not much projection remaining as he’s already quite bulky. That said, there are not too many warts in his delivery, as there’s not a ton of effort on the bump with an over-the-top slot. He’ll find himself a home somewhere on Day 2 and whichever team takes him will get a solid mold of clay to work with.
OF Cam Fisher, Charlotte
Line: 3-7, 1 HR, 2 BB, 0 K
I don’t know about you, but I don’t think there’s a hotter bat in the country than Cam Fisher, a former Ole Miss product that’s become a mainstay in Charlotte’s outfield.
The first thing that stands out to you when seeing Fisher is his physicality. He’s listed at 6’2”, 210 pounds, and has plenty of muscle in that frame. His stance is rather upright, similar to what Brock Wilken employs, which does make me wonder how well he’ll handle better off-speed pitches at the next level. But if there’s one thing you can’t underestimate in his profile, it’s his plus power. There’s a ton of bat speed and he generates a ton of power from the ground thanks to his bulky lower half, and he showed just that in the nightcap on Thursday. He got a fastball middle-middle and proceeded to unleash violence on the baseball, hammering it over the scoreboard in RCF and hitting the farthest ball that ballpark has seen. It would land 478 feet away and left the bat at 112 MPH, and it also gave Charlotte the lead for good. It’s a sweet swing, see it for yourself:
He’s turned in a solid defensive year in the outfield, as well. He’s not the greatest runner and his route-running could use some work, but he projects to be in left field, maybe right field if there are stark improvements. This is a profile that can ultimately crack the top 100 when all is said and done, though. It’s an offensive threat with serious power, as well as a seriously good eye, though the aforementioned contact issues are prevalent. He’s a big reason why Charlotte won the conference tournament and as a result, he’ll get to play the Tennessee Volunteers in Clemson, a team that Fisher grew up with in Knoxville.
OF Jake Cunningham, Charlotte
Line: 1-6, 3 BB, 4 K
A three-year star at Charlotte, Cunningham excelled in a breakout 2022 campaign. While his 2023 numbers aren’t as great as they were last year, there’s a ton to like about his profile.
For starters, he’s one of the youngest college prospects in this class, as he won’t turn 21 until a week before the draft. He’s a tall, lanky athlete with room to add muscle to his frame at 6’4”, 205 pounds, though he moves rather well for a guy his size. At the plate, he did struggle in the two games I managed to see, only tallying one hit before hitting a home run in the final game of the series. He’s got a solid eye, but it felt as if he was being passive at times, allowing Middle Tennessee pitchers to attack deeper into counts. He also does have some trouble with breaking balls, though I do think a team can work out that kink. While his speed hasn’t shown on the basepaths like last year, he’s still an excellent runner, consistently having plus or better run times out of the box. His speed will allow him to stay in center field long term, where he’s got solid range and defense already. The power potential is intriguing, given the projectability of his frame and the already present juice, which plays mostly to his pull side, but he has shown an ability to go the other way with his power.
If anything, Cunningham feels like a guy who can go in the top 150 picks in July. The mix of projection, offensive potential, and center field defense will give teams solid clay to work with as he continues to develop. If a team believes they can shore up the discipline and improve contact, he may move through the minors relatively quickly.
RHP Eriq swan, Middle Tennessee State
Line: 4 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 6 BB, 4 K (83 Pitches)
It’s pretty tough to come across an effortless delivery, but when you’re able to throw triple digits without breaking a sweat, scouts take notice. Eriq Swan is that prospect.
I overheard a scout during his start say, “That’s a 7 body with a 7 fastball.” I could not have said it better myself. Swan is built like a string bean, showcasing classic projection and easy motions on the bump. If there’s any sort of complaint to be made about his delivery, it’s mainly because he doesn’t utilize his lower half much, but even then, it’s loud stuff coming out of his hand. The fastball got up to 101 MPH, consistently sitting in the 97-100 MPH range throughout his start with plenty of life, though command and strike-throwing are a concern. His slider is his best secondary, showcasing sharp bite and sweep in the 82-85 MPH range that he can backfoot to lefties when he’s on. There’s a change-up in the low-90s that’s relatively firm, but he sells it well with solid arm speed. He did lose feel of the pitch at times, however. He’d end up walking six total batters, including three in a lengthy first inning. It feels like his arm plays catch up with his shoulder during his arm swing, which creates his inconsistent command.
If there’s a team who believes that they can fix the inconsistencies in his delivery and command, Swan projects as a fast-moving reliever with the capability to close in some capacity down the line. It’s a mix of loud stuff and projectability that scouts love, and I do believe Swan fits somewhere in the top five rounds in July. It’s a work in progress, but the right organizational fit will do wonders for him.
RHP Jaden Hamm, Middle Tennessee State
Line: 3.1 IP, 7 H, 8 ER, 2 BB, 6 K (86 Pitches)
Yes, that final line is not great. That’ll be the first thing that catches your eye in this segment. However, despite the lackluster start, Hamm is a very solid pitcher from a draft standpoint and there are some intriguing qualities to build on for scouts.
The delivery is unique and unorthodox, as he holds a big hip hinge down the mound and has solid arm speed from an over-the-top slot with some deception. He started off rather well, working around a single in the first with a couple of strikeouts, though as the outing went on, his command and stuff began to back up and Charlotte took advantage as a result. The fastball got up to 95 MPH early, routinely sitting 91-94 MPH with carrying life at the top of the zone and some cut. His signature pitch is his curveball, a potential hammer of a breaking ball in the high-70s/low-80s featuring a ton of depth. It’s similar to what Justin Campbell had with Oklahoma State in terms of a FB/CB combination with close to 35 inches of vertical separation, which is rather insane. He rounded out his arsenal with a decent change-up, though he did not have the greatest feel for the pitch during his outing.
Much like Swan, there’s stuff to iron out here, but I’d imagine someone like the Dodgers or Rays would love to have him in their development program. He’ll stick as a starter presently, though should the change-up not progress moving forward, I can see a pretty explosive FB/CB pairing playing very well in the bullpen. He should be someone who gives in either rounds four or five.
