Five Interesting Seniors For The 2024 MLB Draft

Most older college players sign for pennies on the dollar in the draft. It’s a bummer it has to be this way, as many of these players arguably need more money, given they’ll get less opportunity in professional ball, but it’s just the reality of the situation. Regardless, finding players who can be productive big leaguers out of this senior sign bunch is one of the best ways to find ROI in baseball. Even getting 1-2 WAR out of these players is a huge win for an MLB org. On top of that, it allows teams to take huge shots on tough-to-sign players, typically toolsy high schoolers, who otherwise wouldn’t sign. Below I list five seniors (in no particular order) who aren’t getting as much buzz as I think they deserve and have a chance to go on day two of the draft.

Hunter Cranton, RHRP, Kansas

Admittedly, Cranton is probably my favorite prospect on this list. He’s is one of the most MLB-ready college relief prospects I can remember. It’s been a meteoric rise for Cranton, whose fastball velocity jumped 4.2 MPH between 2023 and 2024, and has been up to 99.9 this season. Some of that can be credited to moving into a full-time relief role, but it looks like other offseason changes were made, particularly getting into his lower half more, and creating a quicker, more consistent arm path. On top of the velocity added, Cranton has improved his fastball shape. He’s added an inch of induced vertical break to his fastball, taking it from just outside of deadzone at 16 IVB, to now at 17.5 inches of IVB. While this number may not blow you away on its own when you take into effect that other fastballs from similar release height average around 15 inches of IVB, you get one of the most outlier fastballs in the country. On top of this, while he’s throwing about the same number of strikes with it, he’s locating it across the top of the zone much better in 2024. 

On top of these fastball improvements, Cranton has significantly altered his slider, adding 6 MPH of velocity to it, and allowing it to pair much better with his rising fastball. It now has a much tighter shape, sitting around 87 MPH with about five inches of sweep. This pitch will play much better off his fastball than the slurvy 82 MPH slider he threw in 2023. 

Cranton already has the looks of a big-league reliever. Thanks to these changes, his fastball and slider garnered a 37% and 44% whiff rate in 2024, respectively. Cranton right now looks like a good middle reliever in the big leagues, but potentially adding a third pitch, such as a splitter, could take him into higher leverage situations.

Drew Woodcox, LF, Texas Tech

Woodcox has had an up-and-down college career but finished his career strong in 2024 with a .321/.403/.642 slash line at Texas Tech. While Woodcox doesn’t have much defensive value, his bat took a huge step forward in 2024. It has the looks of plus raw power from the right side from Woodcox. His exit data is beautiful, not only does he have an average exit velo of 95 mph and a hard hit rate of 66%, but he consistently gets to his max exit velocities, with a 90th percentile EV of 108, just 3 MPH off from his max of 112. He keeps the ball off the ground and uses the whole field. However, most of his home runs have come to the pull side, so there may be some low-hanging fruit to tap into more pull-side power.

While Woodcox doesn’t make a crazy amount of contact (78%, 88% in zone, both hovering around average), but has a very selective approach. Just swinging 38% of the time, and chasing around 20%, these isn’t the type of swing decisions you’d expect to see from a power hitter like Woodcox. Additionally, he saw only 58% strikes this year, which ranked in the bottom 20% of hitters in D1 in 2024. It would be interesting to see what Woodcox can do if he sees more strikes and isn’t getting pitched around.

Woodcox is a below-average runner with solid instincts and a below-average arm in the outfield. He’s a solid athlete and will be fine out there, but most of his value comes at the plate. I like Woodcox in a soft-side platoon role.

Woody Hadeen, SS, UC Irvine

We go from a power-driven profile to one that lacks any real power but does everything else on the field well. Hadeen missed all of his draft-eligible 2023 season with a shoulder injury but has made up for this in his senior season in a big way. The switch hitter hit .362/.529/.420 in 2024 while walking more than he struck out. Hadeen is an on-base king, only chasing 8% of the time in 2024! This is the sixth lowest in all of D1. On top of his strike zone discipline, he runs an 89% contact rate, while posting above-average line drive rates. It’s a spray, all-fields approach, something you don’t typically see from a hitter with this type of strike zone discipline. While there isn’t much thump here (101 max EV, 98 MPH 90th), Hadeen’s selectivity and barrel control should allow for some doubles and high on-base percentages. 

Hadeen has also shown slick fielding ability in the field. It’s plus hands, footwork, and actions, and is incredibly smooth around the bag. While it’s likely only fringe arm strength, Hadeen can throw from different platforms and angles incredibly well. Take for example this slowly hit ball to his right, which he gets out of his glove incredibly quick, and throws off his right foot to nab a speedy runner. It’s not uncommon to see players add strength, let alone arm strength in professional baseball, so there’s likely the makings of an average arm strength that plays above average. This is a player who can play all three infield positions. 

RJ Gordon, RHP, Oregon

I wrote about Gordon when I caught the Ducks at Globe Life Field the first weekend of the season. He was filling up the zone with a 92-93 cut ride fastball, landing a big 12-6 breaker, and turning over an average changeup. I felt like his pitch mix was missing an out pitch vs right-handers, and that a sweeper would fit his arm slot and supination-heavy profile, as he was only throwing a low to mid 80’s cuttery slider. Well, it looks like before his March 15th start vs Cal, Gordon added a sweeper full-time and is throwing his cutter harder. Averaging 13 inches of sweep at 83 MPH, this sweeper has the makings of a true out pitch vs right handed hitters. 

However, there have been some struggles for Gordon learning this pitch, as it only has a 20% miss rate, but I would argue this is likely Gordon is still gaining feel for a pitch that’s tough to command, let alone learn in-season. This pitch will flash double plus, as the video below is one with positive IVB, almost 20 inches of sweep, and throw 84 MPH, but Gordon is still gaining feel for it. While the pitch shape averages are good, it’s been a bit more inconsistent than you’d like. It’s a pitch he leaves over the heart of the plate a bit too often, and while it may get some called strikes, in predictable counts hitters can sit on it and do damage as long as they see it out of the hand. I like Gordon’s pitch mix a lot. While the results haven’t fully been there, tinkering in season can be tough, especially for a guy who missed all of 2023 with an injury. On top of this, given the run-scoring environment in college baseball in 2024, Gordon has a solid set of skills that I believe should translate better than his baseball card numbers may indicate. I still think there’s a #5 starter upside here, especially if the right team gets ahold of him.

Cameron Leary, OF, Boston College

Leary is another patient power-hitting outfielder, this time from the ACC. With a 110 90th percentile EV and 114 max, Leary hits the snot out of the ball. Leary likes to pull the ball in the air, with a pull rate that’s 5% higher than the D1 average. With a free swinger, this isn’t a profile that would generally work for a long time, but I think with Leary’s level of patience, this should be able to transfer well to pro ball. His 16% chase rate is in the 88th percentile of college hitters, and he’s another guy who saw an incredibly low rate of strikes at 53%. He’s incredibly patient with a 37% swing rate overall, but his 68% in-zone swing rate is right at the D1 average, telling me he walks the line between selective and passive. While there are certainly swing-and-miss concerns, and Leary won’t be a player who hits for a high average, he should be able to walk and be selective enough to keep his profile afloat.

Defensively, Leary has some interesting attributes. As a 40-runner, he certainly has a home in the outfield. It’s a below-average arm, so he probably fits best in LF, but he did play 161 innings in center in 2024. While it’s not blazing speed out there, Leary gets good jobs and takes nice routes to balls. I’m not saying he’s an everyday centerfielder or even a defensive replacement out there, but the fact he’s able to hold it down at this level makes me like his chances to be an everyday left-fielder at the next level. 

Leary struggles a bit vs left-handers, hitting the ball a bit softer and on the ground more, often still trying to stay with his pull-side approach it appears. That being said, he makes the same amount of contact here and only chases a touch more vs southpaws, so maybe an approach change could be in play here. Regardless, I like Leary’s potential as a strong-side platoon option.

MLB Draft Prospects Out West | Part 1

College baseball out west might not have the sensational appeal that it does eastbound in the SEC & ACC but it’s still a massive hotbed for talent. We all know about Travis Bazzana, Malcolm Moore, and Rodney Green, among others, but there are dozens of other prospects out west with less acclaim to their name.

While most of the more enticing prospects are playing out the final season in the Pac-12, the West Coast Conference (WCC), Big West Conference, Mountain West Conference (MW), and Western Athletic Conference (WAC) will send along their share of signees into pro ball. In order to prioritize depth and breadth, this overview will be split into three parts with the Pac-12 and WAC to follow below, the Big West to follow on it’s own, and the WCC and MW coverage to bring up the rear.

With conference play coming to a close, draft stocks are becoming more solid, though plenty of change will happen between now and mid-July.

PAC-12

Aiden May, RHP, Oregon State

The first of a handful of Beavers that stand out, May checks key boxes with above-average velocity, feel for spin, and sharp command. The 6-foot-2 right-hander has sat 93-95, topping at 98 this year--with two distinct fastballs--a fringe-average four-seam with some run and a somewhat flat approach because of his low 3/4 release height and a steep sinker that profiles to be an above average pitch as it avoids barrels and induces weak contact.

May backs the fastballs up with a 2800+ RPM tailing slider featuring premium late break. It’s easily a plus pitch that sits 83-86, capable of missing plenty of pro bats. There isn’t another pitch May uses often, though he’s flashed an upper-80s split-changeup with healthy fade that has the makings of a plus pitch because of his ability to kill spin and get the pitch downhill.

Continued development of May’s changeup could help keep left-handers off of his fastball and allow May to start as a pro. Improved strike throwing this year mitigates the reliever risk and the Albuquerque native will get a chance to start as a mid-90s arm with a plus slider and promising changeup.

Jacob Kmatz, RHP, Oregon State

From the same Albuquerque high school as May, Kmatz brings a resume as a three-year member of the Oregon State rotation. Unlike May, Kmatz doesn’t bring big velocity but he does throw a multitude of pitches that make him a tough scout for hitters. Standing 6-foot-3 and likely physically maxed, Kmatz will reach up to grab 94 but he will sit 90-92 with plus carry and some run on his fastball from a high 3/4 slot.

It should be an average or better pitch, even with the low-end velocity but Kmatz can keep hitters off of it by throwing a cutter, slider, curveball, and changeup. Kmatz focuses on the curveball, sitting in the mid-70s with hammer 12:30-6:30 shape. Surprisingly, it doesn’t miss many bats but when executed, it’s a contact killer. The slider doesn’t stand out though Kmatz has feel for it and changes speeds and shapes with the cutter to create effectiveness. Finally, the changeup has the potential to be Kmatz’s best secondary. He kills spin and creates a very steep plane with his high slot.

Kmatz lives in the zone which can get him into trouble at times with less-than-premium stuff but he won’t issue many free passes and avoids barrels when he’s at his best. There’s absolutely backend starter potential here because of the pitchability and arsenal diversity.

Bridger Holmes, RHP, Oregon State

Transferred in from Feather River College in northern California, Holmes has some gaudy characteristics that will get him selected early in this year’s draft. The lanky 6-foot-4 righty is a true sidearmer that sits 90-93 with a very lively sinker. The sidearm slot allows him to buy into the pitch’s run and bury it to the armside or get underneath the baseball and throw the heater up in the zone with run. There’s a chance for a plus offering here, especially if he can more routinely sit 92-94.

What has cemented Holmes as a mid-round prospect is a 3,000 RPM slider that hitters don’t pick up on because of the arm slot. It works hard horizontally and in and under the hands of lefties, allowing Holmes to dominate left-handers. While he’s a reliever going forward, Holmes will be a priority for teams looking for a varied look, premium feel for spin, and some projectability & moldability.

Tanner Smith, C, Oregon State

In some ways, Smith is the straw that stirs the drink for a dangerous Oregon State team. He’s a three-year starter behind the dish for the Beavers with above-average defensive ability and a bat that’s finally taking the requisite steps to make him a rounded pro prospect. Smith has good hands that can exchange the ball fast and his arm is above average, allowing him to be one of the best catch and throw backstops in college baseball. Smith is also an above-average framer and athlete behind the plate, with few pitches getting past him.

At the plate, Smith has seen an uptick in raw power and he now profiles to have average or better raw power with a chance to see a dozen or so home runs a season in the pros. Smith has also noticeably improved his swing decisions and is getting on base far more often as a result. There’s still some excessive swing and miss in Smith’s game and he’ll likely never be an average overall hitter because of it, though the improved approach makes the bat playable. Look for Smith to go sometime late on day 2 or early on day 3 to satisfy the teams’ yearly need for catching depth.

Elijah Hainline, SS, Oregon State

Part of an Oregon State transfer class that’s moving the needle in Corvallis, Hainline has picked up where he left off at Washington State. Primarily the Beavers shortstop this year, Hainline has flashed excellent and vastly improved zone awareness and now projects to walk at an average or better rate. The traits that Hainline carried into this year still prevail. Hainline has ultra-fast hands that clear the zone quickly and generate quality bat speed. With his slight frame, Hainline may be able to add a tick more power but he currently projects for average power output. 

Given a chance to play shortstop more often than at Washington State, Hainline has proven himself to be an above-average defender at shortstop with quick feet and an intense motor. There’s impressive two-way ability here and Hainline may be in line for an early day 2 pick, though the bat-to-ball skills remain fringe-average.

Brock Moore, RHP, Oregon

One of the top pure relievers set to be selected in July’s draft, the 6-foot-6 Moore has stuff that dreams are made of. Moore sits 96-100 on his fastball, coming from a low slot with some carry to create a very flat approach angle. It’s one of the best fastballs in the entire class and could be a double-plus offering. Moore throws three other pitches, a slider, curveball, and changeup with the changeup profiling best for the next level.

Moore gets his changeup steep downhill by leveraging his big frame and the ball has plenty of spin-induced fade. It’s another plus pitch in Moore’s arsenal and gives him closer upside. Neither of Moore’s breaking balls are especially polished at this stage, but he can spin the ball with the best of them and if one of the breakers can take the next step, Moore could be confidently tried as a starter in the pros. Moore had issues with his control at times at the NAIA level but has thrown plenty of strikes this year and could fast track as a reliever.

Bennett Thompson, C, Oregon

A second notable catcher in the Pac-12, Thompson has a promising hit tool with an excellent feel for contact and above-average swing decisions. The Ducks’ backstop fares well against all pitch types, giving him a very rounded hitting profile and the potential to get on base at an above-average rate in the pros. Thompson has below-average power but his swing frequently creates loft, giving Thompson a chance to hit 5-7 homers a year as a pro.

In terms of framing and blocking, Thompson has work to do and his fringe arm paints a lackluster defensive profile. On the basepaths, Thompson is fringe-average as well. While Thompson has one pro-ready tool, it’s arguably the most important one and Thompson will get a chance to develop as a backup catcher.

Bryce Boettcher, OF, Oregon

Boettcher is a legit two-sport athlete, recording 37 tackles as an inside linebacker for the Ducks football team in 2023. The football instincts translate to Boettcher’s ability to roam centerfield. Boettcher is an average runner at best but there is a tangible knack for reading fly balls and taking efficient routes to them, giving him a legit shot to stick up the middle in the pros.

With the stick, Boettcher has excellent hands. It’s not the most aesthetic swing but Boettcher keeps his hands quiet and makes plenty of contact. Boettcher can be a bit aggressive but it’s still likely an average hit tool. Boettcher has a physically mature and large build, but the power is presently fringe-average. The defensive instincts and plus hands will get Boettcher to the pros and he’ll have a chance to blow up by pursuing solely baseball.

Jeffery Heard, OF, Oregon

Transferring in from Sac State, Heard has gone from a mid-major star to a power conference contributor. Heard has a very smooth swing that creates a ton of loft. While his raw power is below average, Heard hits the ball hard in the air giving him a chance for fringe-average power. Heard also profiles as an average or better hitter as his connected swing makes a lot of contact and he runs a mature approach. There have been some struggles handling secondaries with Heard expanding his zone a bit too often, inflating his swing and miss totals.

Heard is an average runner with better-than-average top speeds and he should be more than capable in an outfield corner. There might not be a ton of upside with Heard but he’s a safe bet to hit in the pros and might be able to infuse more power into his smooth swing.

RJ Gordon, RHP, Oregon

Gordon finally broke out in his first year as a full-time starter for Oregon. The 6-foot righty has a compact, efficient build with intriguing arm talent. Despite his smaller frame, Gordon has sat 91-94 this year, grabbing 97 once or twice. On top of the solid average velocity, Gordon gets 20.2 inches of induced vertical break which paired with his average release height creates a flat approach angle that misses bats. The heater is average though, as Gordon adds more mass, he might be able to more routinely sit in the mid-90s and push the envelope.

The rest of his arsenal is fair with a quality steep slider as his second pitch along with a fringy slider and promising fading changeup. The latter two pitches may never become regulars in his arsenal but Gordon’s fastball, curveball, and clean mechanics will likely get him a shot to start in the pros.

Toran O’Harran, RHP, Stanford

The Sacramento native O’Harran looks to add to the Stanford Cardinal pitching legacy that has produced Mike Mussina, Jack McDowell, and Jeremy Guthrie, among others. O’Harran’s calling card is his fastball shape; it’s got ideal modern heater characteristics. Sitting 91-94, O’Harran gets serious carry on the pitch, averaging 19.8 inches of IVB with a more upward release angle to create an extremely flat approach angle. As a result, O’Harran’s fastball runs a 28.9% whiff rate and profiles as an above-average and potentially plus pitch.

To back up the fastball, O’Harran throws a fringey slider with quality depth but limited glove-side movement. O’Harran will need to revamp the pitch’s shape in the pros and tap into his natural ability to generate spin. O’Harran’s changeup will help him move up the pro ladder. The velocity difference is a bit steep as his offspeed sits in the mid-to-upper-70s, but it’s an out pitch regardless of how it sequences with his fastball, bending to the armside with plenty of drop. Developing the slider will be key to establishing a third speed in O’Harran’s arsenal. If he can do that, along with the refinement of his overall feel, there’s a legit starter profile here headed by two borderline plus pitches, though he may be viewed more as a reliever in the meantime.

Jackson Kent, LHP, Arizona

Likely the highest-ranked draft-eligible southpaw in the conference, Kent mixes the pitchability you want from a low-90s lefty with the type of deep arsenal that indicates starting upside. Kent’s fastball may appear fringey on the surface but the 90-93 mph offering has a flat shape for similar reasons to O’Harran above; a flatter release angle and a lower-than-average release height. The pitch gets roughly average carry but can be a weapon up in the zone, especially because Kent locates it effectively. 

The lefty has three secondaries to mix in with an above-average changeup representing the best one. With a bit of a funky delivery, Kent creates plenty of deception and also tumbles the pitch hard downhill, making it a weak contact magnet. Kent will then spin either a 12-6 curve or a slider that he likes to bury down. The curveball has proven difficult to hit while the slider gets average results. All four of Kent’s pitches are reliable, giving him a prototypical low-octane 5th starter outlook with a swingman floor that should get him drafted somewhat early on day 2.

Clark Candiotti, RHP, Arizona

Pushing 24 years old, Candiotti is an unusual name to include, however, a year with Arizona has done wonders for the big righty’s future. After sitting 88-91 at Wichita State last year, Candiotti has seen a huge velo jump and now sits 92-94 with some run. It’s an average or better pitch that teams may jump on as a senior sign money saver versus hoping for a UDFA commitment.

Candiotti has a fringe-average mid-80s slider with average depth but limited sweep that he’s still developing feel for. The Scottsdale native has an intriguing curveball with above-average drop that could become an average pitch and create legit pro upside.

Ryan Campos, C, Arizona State

The lefty-swinging backstop will be one of the first catchers off the board in July. Campos combines a zone contact percentage over 90% with above-average swing decisions to make a comfortably above-average hit tool. Campos produces more power than you’d expect from his compact 5-foot-8, 190-pound frame with a 90th percentile exit velocity over 103 mph. He won’t produce average power output but the bat is well-rounded. Campos can get too aggressive against fastballs but his zone is extremely tight when he picks up a change in velocity or spin.

Defensively, Campos is fringey in about every way. His exchange times can be average but his arm is usually a tick below average and his smaller frame minimizes his ability to vacuum up pitches in the dirt. Campos is clearly a serviceable defender but his path to being an everyday catcher is narrow. Fortunately, there is athleticism here that has served Campos well in the outfield—though sparingly this year—giving him a fallback option should catching not work long-term.

Nick McLain, OF, Arizona State

The brother of two-time first-round pick Matt McLain and Dodgers prospect Sean, Nick doesn’t carry the same hype as his oldest brother but the switch hitter is a talented and versatile player in his own right. The youngest McLain works an advanced approach, especially against fastballs, though he presents an oddity of whiffing against heaters far more often than he does breaking balls. He still impacts fastballs well and profiles to see all pitch types well. McLain has average overall feel for contact, giving him a chance for above-average hitting output because of his approach.

The power projection is minimal here with a 90th percentile exit velocity of 102.9 mph. McLain elevates the baseball well with a backspin-inducing swing but he’s likely to settle with below-average power. Strictly an outfielder, McLain’s fringe-average speed limits his overall range but he’s an efficient route runner and will be average in a corner. McLain is a sum of several good parts but his lack of a standout trait may leave him on the board well into day 2.

Cody Schrier, SS, UCLA

Discussed as a top-2 round player out of JSerra (CA) in 2021, Schrier found himself a 3-year starter at UCLA instead. A consensus freshman All-American, Schrier stagnated following his first year, in part due to a labrum tear in 2023. This year, teams will be considering Schrier’s former elite prospect status as they weigh selecting him. The UCLA star isn’t an explosive bat, with his career 90th percentile exit velocity hovering around 103 mph, but when Schrier is at his best, he blends average contact skills with average swing decisions to create a solid overall profile.

Schrier hasn’t fully figured out secondaries at the collegiate level and will do most of his damage against fastballs. Additionally, since the shoulder injury, Schrier has changed his stance and finds himself opening up earlier and reaching more with his arms, pounding the ball into the ground more often. In some ways, teams will see low-hanging fruit if they feel they can reconnect Schrier’s swing and he might get selected more in line with his overall reputation rather than his 2024 performance. Schrier’s ability to play an average shortstop, boosted by above-average arm strength will help his cause. 

Duce Gourson, 2B, UCLA

Gourson is one of UCLA’s best recruits in recent years and he’s lived up to the hype with early day 2 potential. The lefty-swinging middle infielder has quiet hands and a beautifully efficient swing that generates impact thanks to his load that creates plenty of core explosion and great lower-body engagement. The raw power is roughly average--with a 90th percentile exit velocity just under 105 mph--matching Gourson’s average-sized frame, but his bat path creates leverage and gets the ball in the air enough for him to maximize the raw juice. 

The strength of Gourson’s profile, however, is an above-average hit tool. His swing decisions are sound with a 20% chase rate and his zone-contact rate of 88.3% showcases the precision Gourson executes with. His college production does not match the underlying skill metrics or his pure talent. Gourson slid off shortstop completely this year with Schrier healthy, a necessary move as Gourson’s average range and fringe-average arm profile better on the right side of the infield. Gourson is a strong candidate to be a draft bargain for a model team with his complete offensive toolset.

Luke Jewett, RHP, UCLA

The Bruins best pitcher during a down year for the program, Jewett has a few promising components that make him a late day 2 or early day 3 target. The 6-foot-4 righty has a lively low-90s fastball that peaks at 95 with some carry and run. Coming from a high overtop slot, he’s a tough read for hitters though Jewett won’t ever miss many bats.

His curveball and changeup are both developed pitches that give some real life to this profile. Jewett’s curveball gets late sweep and has plenty of drop, creating a really steep pitch that also runs away from righties. Jewett has below-average movement on his changeup but it’s a sequence-based pitch that tumbles late and is hard to barrel.

Austin Overn, OF, USC

One of the bigger fallers in this class relative to preseason expectations, Overn failed to build upon an extremely promising freshman campaign, though there are still positive takeaways. While Overn likely couldn’t establish the same rhythm in a weaker Trojan lineup, he did noticeably add strength to his slim-athletic frame, elevating his power from below average close to average with a 104.3 mph 90th percentile exit velocity.

Overn came into the year needing to sharpen his discipline at the plate but actually saw an increase in chase swings and fewer deep counts. The average bat-to-ball skills paired with that budding power make the offensive profile a more compelling match with Overn’s plus glove in center field and easy plus wheels. While he didn’t play himself into the back of the first round as was discussed prior to the year, Overn still has promising upside as a two-way outfielder and will likely find a suitor in the middle of day 2.

Cole Cramer, 3B, Washington State

A JUCO grinder, Cramer made the most of his deserved Power 5 opportunity, establishing himself as one of the best pure hitters in this year’s class. Cramer’s feel for contact is excellent from his compact swing with his zone contact rate hovering just below 95%. Cramer also showed a mature approach from the get-go with a great high for velocity and a fair ability to read spin.

Because his approach is so geared towards making solid contact consistently, Cramer is not a power player with well-below-average game power though it’s feasible he could tick up a grade with more physical maturation. Washington State’s primary third baseman this year, Cramer looks fringey at the hot corner but impressed in his brief time at second base and could emerge as average there. This looks like a classic late-day 2 underslot option for a team looking for a classic gamer type.

Peyton Schulze, 1B, California

An atypical smaller-build first baseman, Schulze slugs like he’s a whole 4 inches taller than his 6-foot-1 frame. Schulze has a clean undercut swing that elevates the ball around an average rate but always with some impact. Schulze’s pure power metrics jumped a fair amount this year with a 90th percentile exit velocity of 108.5 mph. He’s pretty easy to project for above-average power production in the pros with easy plus raw power.

Schulze’s bat-to-ball skills are impressive for a player of his archetype and few in this draft class have the raw power Schulze does with a zone contact rate above 88%. What Schulze does lack is his selectivity; he’s a fastball hunter and will cut some at-bats short by running a similar approach with one strike as he does with two. If Schulze can better control the zone, he’s got serious pro upside, even as a 1 B-only player.

WAC

Tyler Wilson, OF, GCU

Another Grand Canyon product from MLB bloodlines with the last name Wilson (unrelated to Jack & Jacob), Tyler won’t be a high first-rounder like Jacob, but figures to be in mid-day 2 range. The 6-foot-2 outfielder has a smooth swing that generates healthy backspin, helping to maximize his fringe-average raw power. Wilson has made a name for himself by picking up spin and running a tight zone, chasing just 18.8% of pitches out of the zone.

There’s more swing and miss than you’d like for a player with Wilson’s power and he gets beat low and away, but his bat still profiles to make an impact. Wilson is more than capable in the outfield and features an average arm.

Daniel Avitia, RHP, GCU

A softer thrower, averaging just 90.6 on his fastball, Avitita wins with finesse and deception. The lanky 6-foot-4 right-hander hides the ball well and drops to a low 3/4 slot that leaves same-side hitters fooled while the run on his fastball provides potential for an arsenal to compete with left-handed bats, though they’ve gotten the better of Avitia to this point. Avitia’s big frame helps him get well extended to the plate and kicks up his perceived velocity.

Avitia backs his heater up with a slider and changeup, both of which have been dominant offerings. The changeup is a legit plus pitch and one of the best offspeeds in this class, it gets ridiculous run and fade, moving like a breaking ball. Avitia’s slider isn’t close to plus but it’s a sweepy breaking ball that wipes out right-handers. The present inability to get lefties out places some reliever risk on Avitia’s profile, though he could be dynamic and unique from a pen role.

Brandon Downer, RHP, California Baptist

Downer will be a ball-of-clay pick for a team on day 3. The big 6-foot-5 right-hander has sat 92-95 all year with above-average extension and some carry on his fastball; it has the makings of an average offering. Downer has a well-developed arsenal to back up his heater with two breaking balls and a quality low-spin changeup. The changeup is deceptive and profiles as a fringe average second or third pitch while Downer’s curveball has one of the steepest approach angles of any pitch in the class.

Downer is still developing some feel and locates inconsistently but he’s got the requisite power and secondary characteristics to get teams interested in his development.

Mitch Mueller, RHP, Utah Valley

Mueller has a very whippy arm that drops into a lower 3/4 slot and brings some power. The 6-foot-5 righty sits 91-94 from a lower slot and leverages his frame for extension, getting his fastball some extra giddy-up and flatter shape. Teams will look at it as a pro-ready pitch.

Backing it up, Mueller’s changeup has shown promise and his curveball is an effective offering that he has good feel for. Mueller throws his changeup hard in the 85-88 range with a deceptive action though its movement is wholly inconsistent. Teams will buy the arm talent here and perhaps give Mueller a chance to start early in his career.

The West is full of talent that sometimes goes under the radar, especially in non-power conferences. Keep an eye on this crop to be selected and make a pro impact down the stretch this summer.

Live Looks: Shriners College Showdown

To kick off the season, I attended the Shriners College Showdown. For the first time in the event’s history, it took place at Globe Life Field. A great venue for February baseball, fans of Tennessee, Oklahoma, Oregon, Baylor, Texas Tech, and Nebraska flocked to Arlington to watch some indoor baseball to kick off the season. Below are some players that stood out to me, along with a future value grade if they’re draft-eligible this season. I also included some notes on teams that I think can contend for a spot in the College World Series.

Tennessee volunteers

AJ Russell, RHP (2025)

At 6’6”, 195 lbs, Russell is a physical presence on the bump. To go along with this, Russell possesses some of the best stuff in the country. Coming from a ¾ arm slot and a crossbody delivery, it’s a tough AB, especially for right-handed hitters. To begin his start against Texas Tech, and just his second start of his collegiate career, Russell was 97-98 MPH with some crazy run and sink. After his first inning, he fell down to 94-96 MPH, and the velocity continued to fall after that, getting all the way down to 91 MPH. Through the velocity drop, Russell still punched out ten hitters, and eight of the first nine he faced. Russell’s go-to secondary was a 79-82 MPH sweeping slider. He threw this to both right-handed hitters and left-handed hitters and got whiffs from both. He turned over two changeups, one at 87 MPH and one at 83 MPH. They both had nice fade and minimal depth, and it’s a pitch I’d like to see him throw more in the future. He even flipped in a 75 MPH 10-4 curveball, however he did slow his arm a ton on this, something hitters will pick up on.

This was a nice start to build off for Russell. He may have only gone four and a third, but he was likely on a pitch count anyway. He showed he can dominate a lineup even with his diminished fastball velocity. Holding that velocity will be a huge step for him. His breaking ball will play in the SEC, though in the future I’d like to see what it looks like if he threw it a bit harder, maybe around 81-83. It may flatten out the shape a bit and worsen the results against left-handed hitters, but it’d make it an easy plus pitch, and he was borderline unhittable against right-handed hitters. This would also force him to lean on his changeup more as well, a pitch that potential to be a plus offering. Russell still has another year before he’s draft-eligible, but I’d put a first-round grade on him now. There’s a bit of Tanner Houck in here, who went 24th overall back in 2017. While there may be reliever risk, there’s plenty to like as far as starter traits, and Russell will continue to get stronger and better over the next year.

Drew Beam, RHP, 2024, 45 FV

The workhorse of this Vols rotation, Beam is another physical beast on the mound. Coming in at 6’4 and from a high ¾ arm slot, Beam creates a tough vertical angle on hitters. Beam commands his steep 92-95 MPH heater well to both sides of the plate and held his velocity throughout the start. At 79-81 MPH, his above average curveball generated swings in and below the zone. It’s 11-5 shape allowed it to play to both right-handed and left handed hitters. It appeared he mixed in some that had more slider sweeping shape, but he did this to both handiness and at the same velocity, so it was unclear if it was intentional. Third time through the lineup, Beam mixed in more changeups. Thrown in the mid-80s with good fade, it had the shape of an average offering, flashing above. He didn’t have great feel for it however, leaving up in the zone and getting hit around a few times. He even threw some to right handers, and these had a little more depth and even generated a whiff. He mixed in a cutter at 90 MPH, but it got barreled and didn’t have great shape.

Beam didn’t miss a ton of bats in this start, but Oklahoma has traditionally been a team that does a good job of putting the ball in play. For me Beam profiles as a contact oriented high floor back-end starter, with feel for two above average offerings. I do think there’s more risk here than other guys who project as back-end starters. There’s some fastball shape concerns, similar to what Ty Madden faced in 2021. I don’t love Beam’s arm action, as there’s some twist as he pulls the pull out of his glove, which may create some stress on his elbow, thus adding injury risk. Regardless, Beam has a starter frame and commands 92-95 MPH well, as well as two other average or better offerings. I like him to go in the comp round.

Christian Moore, SS, 40 FV

Moore is another physical specimen (a common trend among the Vols) with easy plus bat speed created by an explosive rotational swing. This swing allows him to hammer just about anything on the middle or inner third of the plate. This swing had some downside however, as he was susceptible on the outer third, specifically with spin. There are plenty of big-league hitters who struggle with this as well, and Moore did protect the plate with two strikes a few times against these, but it leaves much less margin for error on the middle to inner third of the plate. Moore is a pull side specialist, consistently looking to catch balls out in front and Moore has a fairly steep swing, which while it allows him to pull fly balls, a trait that often leads to players overperforming their raw power. He showed the ability to work counts and draw walks. Defensively, Moore has above average hands and actions to go along with an average arm. It’s not crazy range, which may move him off short as he continues to fill out.

Moore’s combination of bat speed and power, as well as the chance of him playing shortstop give him the makings of a day one pick. If Moore can show more range this season and that he can stick at SS in pro ball, Moore could be a first rounder. As of now, I have a third round grade on him.

Billy Amick, 3B, 45 FV

A transfer from Clemson, Amick is already proving to be one of the best portal adds in the country. Amick is a monster in the box, showing power to all fields and good feel for the barrel. He produced some consistently crazy exit velocities over the weekend, with his best bolt being an 112 MPH moonshot that landed in the second deck, an spot you don’t see many college players reach at Globe Life Field. It’s easy double plus raw power. Amick can cover fastballs on both sides of the plate. There’s even a little bit of a scissor in his lower half at times, something you see from hitters who rotate aggressively. However, he did put up some bad ABs against spin, usually due to his aggressiveness. Oklahoma exploited this, spinning him more than any team over the weekend, a game where he struck out three times. Amick has had chase and swing and miss problems in the past, and Oklahoma exploited his aggressiveness. There’s still real hit tool concerns here as he’s been prone to chase a ton to go along with below average contact rates. While mostly playing 1B at Clemson, it looks like Amick will man down the hot corner for the Vols in 2024. There were some question marks about his ability coming into the season, but he’s off to a nice start thus far, making a real nice play on his backhand and throwing on the run to catch a speedy runner. Amick has the makings of a third basemen, with above average arm strength and average hands.

With a great season this year, proving himself as a third basemen and improving his patience or contact ability at the plate, Amick could see his stock skyrocket in 2024. For now, I’ve got Amick as a day one pick, around the second to third round with a good chance to shoot into the comp round.

Dylan Dreiling, LF, 2024, 40 FV

At 5’11”, Dreiling’s power outplays his size by a good bit. Dreiling features an explosive swing, where he cuts across the zone and often will end up shifting his feet on impact. It’s plus bat speed, and likely plus raw power as well. Clobbering a 112 mph, 430-foot blast over the bullpen in left center field, Dreiling already beat his max exit velocity from 2023. Because of how Dreiling’s swing cuts across the zone, he has had some trouble covering the outer third of the zone. This has led to some big-time struggles’ vs left-handed pitching, something that kept him out of the lineup at times in 2023. He does feature a nice approach however, as a very patient hitter who walked more than he struck out in 2023. A below average runner, Dreiling isn’t great in the outfield, but does feature average arm strength. He looks like a pretty run of the mill left fielder.

If Dreiling is able to shore up his troubles vs lefties and on the outer third of the plate, you’re looking at a hitter who could sneak into the back end of the first round, similar to how Chase Davis did in 2023, however Davis had better raw power. For now, Dreiling looks like a second or third rounder, with the role of a platoon power hitting outfielder.

Aaron Combs, RHRP 2024 (senior), 35 FV

Combs was one of my favorite arms of the weekend. A Junior College transfer, Combs features a short arm action to pair with a repeatable rotational delivery, creating a ¾ arm slot. This arm slot allows him to throw some nice two seamers, which he threw off the front hip of left handed hitters, and ran into righties. At 91-94 MPH, Combs even was able to get whiffs at the top of the zone with his heater. Combs’ best pitch however, was his 78-81 MPH 11-5 above average curveball, which he showed great feel for. This pitch generated whiffs out of the zone and as well as in the zone, and was a great weapon for Combs. He flashed a changeup with nice fade at 85 MPH as well, a pitch that he should have good feel for from his arm slot. The Vols had him pitch into a third inning however, where his stuff and command fell off a good bit.

Combs is likely to be a big weapon for this Vols bullpen in 2024, and will likely get some save opportunities. With a good season where he generates strikeouts like he did in 2023, he could be a nice day three senior sign for a team.

AJ Causey, RHRP, 2024, 35 FV

Causey followed Russell on Friday night against Texas Tech, and filled up the zone. A funky sidearm delivery, Causey was 89-92 MPH, topping at 93 MPH with his heavy sinking, top spinning fastball. Causey did a good job limiting hard contact, with the exception of a triple on a slider he left up in the zone. Causey’s slider is 77-78 MPH with plus sweep and minimal depth. Because of it’s velo and lack of two-plane shape, it’s unlikely to miss bats in the zone, but because of his slot and how it pairs with his fastball, it will definitely get plenty of chases. Causey also turned over some nice 77-79 MPH changeups, with plenty of depth while still maintaining arm side run. This pitch gave left handed hitters fits, getting whiffs in the zone and chases.

Causey threw five innings for the Vols on Friday, and maintained his velocity and stuff well. He’ll be a nice weapon for the Vols out of the pen as a long man, and could be the answer for as their Sunday starter. Since he went five innings, I’m curious what Causey’s velocity would be in a one inning stint, which is likely the role he’d be given in pro ball. Causey will be a solid day three bullpen pick for a team, and if he adds velocity to his secondaries, he could move quickly through the minors and see himself in a big league bullpen soon.

Blake Burke, 1B, 2024

Perhaps the most notable name in this Vols lineup, Burke possesses easy 70 grade raw power. A swing where he completely throws his hands at the ball, it’s easy plus bat speed. Burke had a rough weekend, where teams pounded him inside and up most the weekend, getting jammed quite a bit. He fouled off some fastballs that he’d normally punish, but I expect him to be fine as the season progresses. Burke has avoided strikeouts more than you’d expect for someone with his type of profile, thanks to a two strike approach where he shortens his stance up and throws his hands at pitches, repeatedly fouling them off. When he’s able to extend his arms, it usually results in hard contact. I didn’t get a great look at Burke, so I don’t feel comfortable putting a grade on him just yet, but players like him have typically gone in the third to fifth round of the draft

Young Volunteer Flamethrowers

Two different right handers came out of the pen lighting up the radar guns for the Vols this weekend, Marcus Phillips and Nate Snead. The freshman Phillips is a physical specimen at 6’4 245, and started at 97-98 MPH, trickling down to 93 MPH with a poorly shaped fastball. Control over command and not much feel for his upper-80s slider, this should be an effective weapon against college hitters, and control will improve over time. The sophomore, Snead, a Witcha St transfer, came out with an easy 98-100 MPH two seamer, that dripped down to 94 MPH. A hard slutter at 85-87 MPH, Snead struggled with control over his five innings, walking five, but his stuff was so good that it really didn’t matter. Both should be nice weapons out of the pen for the Vols, in 2024 and beyond.

Final Notes

This Vols team looks primed to do some damage in 2024. While they may be missing a true table setting, on base guy at the top, it’s still a deep lineup 1-9, and every player has the capability to put the ball in the seats. The only real weakness I see is they may have some trouble against pitchers with good breaking balls, but there aren’t many college lineups that don’t. The two headed monster of Russell and Beam is sure to give opposing hitters fits, and there’s a lot of velocity and stuff to overpower college hitters in the pen. One common theme I noticed here was a lot of pitchers had similar breaking ball shapes. Russell, Causey, Snead, even Beam. It was this sweepy slider, usually around 79-81 MPH. The stadium radar typically identified them as curveballs, likely because they’re around -5 IVB with 10+ inches of sweep, but I’d imagine the Vols call them sliders. Part of this, if I had to guess, is that this shape plays vs both lefties and righties more than a traditional sweeper would and allows a pitcher to just have to focus on one secondary pitch. This is purely speculation, and just something I noticed.

Texas Tech Red Raiders

Kyle Robinson, RHP, 2024, 40 FV

Robinson had a tough task to make his sixth career start against a loaded Tennessee lineup but managed to limit damage. At 6’6” and an over-the-top delivery, Robinson’s steep downhill fastball creates a tough angle on hitters. Starting at 93-94 MPH and settling in at 91-93 MPH, Robinson struggled commanding this pitch. There were many times throughout the outing if he could have placed it glove side or at the letters he could have gotten out of trouble. Robinson’s best pitch is his 84-86 MPH tumbling changeup. Thrown with the same arm speed as his fastball, it’s a deceptive pitch that really falls off the table. Its depth allows it to play to both right handers and left handers, and he used it that way, and got whiffs from both. He also leaned on a 76-77 MPH 12-6 curveball, using it when behind in counts and to generate whiffs. Robinson mixed in some 87-90 MPH slutters. This had some nice lift, and average glove side movement. It’s not going to generate swings and misses, but rather is a good weapon to get off the barrel of specifically left-handed hitters, something he did to Blake Burke.

There’s a lot to project on here for Robinson. Sold velo, not much experience starting, a plus changeup, an average curveball he has feel for. While there are some questions regarding how his fastball will play, and not having a true weapon to get right-handed hitters out, there’s still mid rotation upside here. I’ve got a sixth round grade on Robinson, with some nice potential to shoot up the board with improved fastball command and a solid season.

Kevin Bazzell, C/3B, 2024, 45 FV

A stocky right-handed hitter who played third base most of last season, Bazzell looks like he’ll be the Red Raiders’ primary catcher in 2024 with the addition of third basemen Cade McGee and the departure of Hudson White. At the plate, Bazzell is very steady. A level swing, Bazzell makes contact at a high clip, and can cover most parts of the plate. Bazzell doesn’t chase much, though his passiveness got him in a bit of trouble over the weekend, as he got caught watching strike three on the outer third a few times. While they weren’t all strikes (though they were called strikes), you’d like to see him protect the plate on a 50/50 call with two strikes. Bazzell has average bat speed and raw power, but his level swing probably won’t allow him to fully tap into his raw power, so it’s likely below average power. Defensively, Bazzell was fairly raw behind the plate, as this is his first time playing catcher full time since high school. Bazzell was a solid receiver on the corners of the plate, stealing some strikes, but didn’t get many calls at the bottom of the zone. Bazzell hasn’t had many times to show off his arm behind the plate, but when he did they were around 1.95 second pop times with average arm strength. It’ll be interesting to see how this progresses as the season goes on, and how Bazzell can limit the run game in the Big 12.

At the plate another nice season will keep Bazzell’s draft floor pretty high. Bazzell is a sound hitter and looks like he might be average or even better. While catchers can be incredibly tough to evaluate and project, Bazzell is going to keep getting better, and already has the looks of an average catcher. At the plate, Bazzell reminds me a lot of Max Anderson, who went in the second round. Bazzell is a better defender and plays a more premium position than Anderson. I’m going to assume Bazzell is going to keep getting better at catcher and keep raking, and I see him as a first rounder.

Zane Petty, RHP, 2025

Petty got the ball on Saturday for the Red Raiders after a strong end to his 2023 campaign. Petty has good stuff, but struggled with control for a large part of his outing. Petty has a very high leg lift, something he often struggled to repeat. Combine this with his high effort delivery and head whack, and inconstant arm path, and his delivery was often out of sync. Petty started out 94-95 MPH with good shape from his high three quarters arm slot, before sitting 90-93 MPH. Petty has two distinct breaking ball shapes, a two-plane slider and an 11-5 curveball. The slider’s two plane shape and average sweep at 82-83 MPH. Petty was able to land these for strikes, but they were up in the zone so they were hit around a bit. At 78-80 MPH, Petty struggled to land this pitch, with it popping out of his hand a few times allowing hitters to lay off.

Despite the loud stuff, Petty hasn’t missed bats at a high clip in his career, likely due to the his struggles with command and control. If Petty can find another level of control this season and next, he has the potential of a day one pick, but finding this will be a critical part of his development, or else he’s just a high stuff reliver that doesn’t miss bats and struggles to find the zone.

Cade McGee. 3B, 2024, 35 FV

McGee was off to a hot start at Gonzaga in 2023 before sustaining an injury that sidelined him for a large bit of the season. In his limited time, he’s shown a great feel for the zone and high contact rates. That was on display this weekend, drawing four walks and working counts in his favor. McGee has below average bat speed and raw power, something you wouldn’t expect to see from a third basemen typically. Defensively however, McGee is sharp. With good athleticism for his size, McGee made a nice play coming in and a good throw on the run. Solid hands, good footwork, and an above average arm, McGee looks like he’ll stick at third moving forward. With a good season in the Big 12, McGee has the makings of an early day two pick and is a player to keep an eye on this season.

TJ Pompey, SS, 2026

A well-rounded freshman, Pompey had a nice weekend to kick off his collegiate career. In his second at bat of his career, Pompey shot a 101 MPH fly ball into the right center gap for a triple to put the Red Raiders back in the game. This was one of four hits Pompey had on the weekend at the bottom of the Tech lineup. Pompey has a fairly steep bat angle, which allowed him to fair well against secondaries, putting some good swings on sliders and changeups, but got some fastballs blown by him. Pompey has nice actions at short, but below average hands, to go along with average arm strength, but good arm utility, making a nice throw off his right foot on the run to nab a speedy runner. He did make an error on a backhand, but he got a nice first step and it would have been a tough play anyways. Pompey is a name to watch this season as he gets his feet wet at shortstop and college baseball.

 Gavin Kash, 1B, 35 FV

Kash had a rough weekend at the plate, striking out seven times in fourteen plate appearances. Kash had a tough time picking up offspeed and struggled to see the ball against lefties it seemed. I’ve seen Kash a few times in the past few years (and watched an impressive BP while he was a freshman at Texas), and he had an arm bar in his swing that I didn’t remember him having in the past. Kash has nice bat speed that pairs with a steep swing geared for power, though this makes him prone to swing and miss at breaking balls and fastballs up in the zone. In the past, he showed a good approach and the ability to work counts, but that was lacking this weekend. I won’t panic on Kash yet based on the first weekend of the year where he saw plenty of quality arms and left handed pitchers, as I still like the power and patience he’s shown in the past. Similar to Burke, I don’t feel comfortable to put a grade on Kash after his struggles this weekend, but this profile generally goes in the third to fifth round of the draft.

Final Notes

This Tech team may not have the star power of the Jung brother teams of years past, but it’s deeper than most teams I can remember. I didn’t even mention Damian Bravo or Austin Green, who will both likely slug over .500 and be big parts of the team. This lineup is capable of doing a lot of different things (and will always hit homers in the launch pad that is Dan Law Field), and if Graham Harrellson can get going, it’s an incredibly well-rounded lineup. While they may lack top end talent, it’s a deeper pitching staff than most years. Robinson, Petty, and a pitchability righty in Washburn is a solid rotation, and the bullpen is experienced and deeper. Parker Huytra is 93-94 MPH with a nice slider, Josh Sanders is 90-92 MPH with heavy sink, it seemed like every arm they were throwing out was 90-92 MPH and landing a solid slider. Depth is critical for winning in the postseason, and Tech looks like they have it this year.

Oklahoma SOONERS

Brendan Girton, RHP, 2024 Senior, 35+ FV

I liked Girton when he was at Texas Tech last year as big bodied, stocky righty with good pitch shapes but command issues. He’s since transferred to OU for his senior season, and it looks like he’s going to get a chance to start. In his first start against Tennessee, he had a strong showing. While he struggled with his command to start, he settled in with his fastball slider combination. Starting at 94-95 MPH and settling in at 92-94 MPH, Girton’s fastball has great carry to go with some deception and a relatively low release height. Getting sixteen (!) whiffs, the Vols were consistently swinging under this deceptive fastball. Girton’s go to secondary is a mid-80s sweeping slider. This pitch is sharp, and even flashed plus sweep, and has great separation from his fastball. Girton doesn’t have great feel for this pitch, but it improved as his start progressed. This combination was good enough on their own, so Girton only threw one changeup at 84 MPH, and it may be tough for him to consistently get to the side of the ball given his high three-quarter release point. Girton didn’t strike many people out during his time in Lubbock, so for him to begin the season with an outing like this is a great sign.

Professionally, Girton profiles as a reliever. His delivery is a bit inconsistent and has some tweaks to be made, for example he doesn’t stack his torso well, leading to him to be somewhat slouched over, making it tough to rotate at times. Should Girton show he can consistently throw enough strikes with his fastball slider combination over the course of a season, he has the looks of a day three senior signing, with a chance to move quickly.

James Hitt, LHP, 2024 (Senior), 35 FV

A young senior, Hitt is another Texas Tech transfer. In 2023, he appeared in seventeen games, starting twelve, but struggled to miss bats. In his first outing of the year against Nebraska, Hitt struck out ten on 88 pitches. Hitt’s fastball is likely his worst pitch. While it is 91-93 MPH and up to 94 MPH from the left side, the shape is incredibly inconsistent, and it’s control over command, leaving many over the middle of the plate to get barreled. Hitt heavily relied on his 78-81 MPH curveball that flashed plus. Hitt was able to bury this to right-handed hitters and got plenty of chases in the dirt from lefties. He also throws a 80-81 MPH slider that has mostly bullet spin, but his three-quarters slot creates some deception, thus adding some sweep. Later in the outing, he started throwing a filthy 84-85 MPH changeup. This pitch flashed plus as well, falling off the table and showing some nice fade as well. These secondaries carried Hitt through his start and made up for his hittable fastball.

A great start to the season, Hitt should continue to throw his secondaries more and more, and only rely on his fastball when he needs to. Should he continue to show he can miss bats with his curveball changeup combination, he has a nice floor as middle reliever and could see himself taken on day 2 of the draft around the 10th round.

Malachi Witherspoon, RHP

Malachi Witherspoon was the first arm out of the pen for the Sooners on Friday. A JUCO Transfer, Witherspoon has a nice body at 6’3” and 190 pounds, he still has room to fill out. This is a little scary, considering Witherspoon was 94-97 MPH, and up to 98 MPH with his fastball. Witherspoon gets to the side of this, and it’s a relatively over the top arm slot so it’s not great shape, but the velocity plays. Malachi’s go-to secondary is a top down, 78-80 MPH high-spin curveball. He showed nice feel for this pitch, landing it for strikes, but struggled to bury it below the zone when needed. Not concerned here though, as this is usually something that comes with time. There’s some herk and jerk in Witherspoon’s delivery, and he lost feel at a few points, but he’s young and will get better with time. Witherspoon looks like he’ll be an electric arm out of the Sooner pen for years to come.

Kyson Witherspoon, RHP

The brother of Malachi, Kyson is another electric arm for the Sooners. He’s a little more filled out than his brother and has more refined, repeatable delivery. A short, over the top arm action, Kyson was 95-96 MPH to start before settling in at 93-94 MPH. With nice carry and cut, Witherspoon had nice touch on this pitch, throwing it for strikes. His best weapon however was a 83-85 MPH slider with two plane break that he commanded very well. It’s hard to find this level of feel for this nice of a breaking ball in a 19-year-old, and Witherspoon has it. Witherspoon didn’t need to throw any changeups, and it may be tough to throw from his arm slot, so if he really needed to add a third offering for left-handed hitters, I’d like to see it be a 12-6 curveball. It’s worth keeping an eye on if Kyson pitches his way into the Sooner rotation, as he certainly throws enough strikes to do so.

Final Notes

It looks like another textbook Sooners team in Norman. The lineup is going to make a ton of contact and steal plenty of bags to go along with it. The rotation is solid, with some nice upside, but they have better weapons in the pen than they have in the past with the Witherspoon brothers. OU will certainly contend for the Big 12, and they’re the type of pesky team that can make noise in the postseason.

Oregon ducks

Drew Smith, 3B, 2024, 35 FV

An agile 3B, Smith had a nice weekend at Globe Life. Smith features a level swing with nice ability to manipulate the barrel. He showed the ability to cover the outer third of the plate well against secondaries, shooting them back up the middle and to right field on a line, often hit hard. Smith didn’t showcase any crazy power (max EV of 105), but rather consistent hard contact. Combine this with a smart approach, and not much chase at the plate, and you’ve got the looks of a fringe hitter. Defensively, Smith possesses nice footwork and hands, making a nice sliding play to his left. His arm strength could definitely improve, but if this is the biggest weakness defensively, I’m confident he can get stronger and stick there. Smith is the leadoff hitter for Oregon and will be an important piece for them this season. A solid season and he could sneak into the early rounds of day two of the draft.

RJ Gordon, RHP, 2024 Senior, 30+ FV

Gordon started on Friday for the Ducks against Oklahoma and put together a solid outing on a pitch count, pitching into the fifth and limiting hard contact. Gordon was 90-93 MPH and up to 94 MPH with a fastball that had good carry and cutting shape, a tough AB to left-handed hitters. Coming from a high three-quarters slot and a drop and drive delivery from a strong lower half, Gordon commanded this pitch well and filled up the zone with it. He also featured a 73-77 MPH 11-5 breaking ball, thrown mostly to left-handed hitters. It didn’t miss bats but was a nice strike stealer that put in the zone often. Gordon only threw what I thought his best pitch was seven times, his 81-83 MPH changeup. It had really nice separation off his fastball and above average glove side run. Getting two whiffs in the zone on it, I was impressed that a pitcher like Gordon, who naturally cuts and gets to the ball, was able to turn over a changeup like this. What surprised me most about Gordan was he didn’t throw a big slider, instead he threw an 84-87 MPH slutter. This pitch didn’t do much for me, not having much depth or glove side movement. A pitch to get off the barrel of a left-handed hitter? Sure, but not a weapon against righties, like he was using. Gordon has the arm path and supination bias that a lot of teams correlate to throwing a good breaking ball, specifically a sweeper.

You don’t normally see senior signs as dev projects, but I think teaching Gordon a sweeper would be a relatively easy process. Gordon also missed all of 2023 with an injury, so that’s even more development tim­­e he missed on. There’s potential of a fringe fastball with above average command, an above average changeup, fringe curveball that can steal strikes, and a potential plus slider. That’s the making of a back-end starter, and if a team can get that at a senior sign bargain, that brings a ton of value to an organization.