The Top 20 Washington Nationals prospects headlined by Dylan Crews
The Top 20 New York Mets prospects headlined by Brandon Sproat
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. Furthermore, we do not own the rights to any images utilized in these lists and those rights belong to the proper individuals/organizations.
The link to our 2024 Top 50 High School board can be found here and our 2024 Prospect Footage can be found here.
An import from Australia, Bazzana's overall toolset is ridiculously impressive. He's put up incredible numbers in his two years at Oregon State, slashing .340/.463/.549 across two seasons in Corvallis with elite bat-to-ball skills and plate discipline. He's a really tough out at the plate, rarely expanding the zone and he's got an incredible eye, racking up walks aplenty. His spray chart is a thing of beauty, utilizing the entire field with a compact, line drive swing with a ton of bat speed that is meant to do serious damage. It's above-average juice at the present and most of it plays to his pull side, but he's shown an ability to hammer the ball to the opposite field gap. Bazzana is also an incredible runner, posting plus run times on a consistent basis. He's primarily been a second baseman up to this point, though there's a chance we see him at shortstop in 2024. He's got enough athleticism and twitch to have solid range there, though his arm is nothing more than average. Either way you draw it up, this is a potentially elite bat with suitable defense up the middle.
Wetherholt's bat has a chance to be very special, as the mix of pure hit and power tools profile as one of the best in the entire country. Wetherholt posts elite contact rates and seldom whiffs with impressive feel for the barrel. It's a compact and powerful swing from the left side of the plate, showcasing very quick hands and loud bat speed. Wetherholt utilizes the whole field to his advantage and will punish the gaps with legitimate above-average to plus power, which also plays well to his pull side. It's a truly special bat. He manned second base primarily in 2023, though he's got prior experience at the hot corner and one would expect him to see more time there in 2024. The range is there to handle the position, though the arm strength needs some improvement. He's a solid runner and knows how to be a menace on the basepaths, as well, recording 36 stolen bases in 2023.
Burns is an electric factory on the bump. The Wake Forest transfer is a bulldog type on the mound and he exudes all the confidence you want to see in a pitcher on the mound. He isn’t afraid to go right after batters with his electric fastball. What is an elite two-pitch mix, he sits in the upper-90s with significant life to the fastball and pairs it with a diabolical upper-80s/low-90s slider that he can manipulate the shape of. He also isn’t afraid to reach back on his fastball for a little extra and can get it up to 101-102 mph. He’s been working on a curveball and a splitter, but both pitches are still a work in progress with potential. His command can waiver at times, but when he is locked in, he can paint a masterpiece. Even with the command issues, the stuff is elite and it will be interesting to see what the Wake Forest pitching lab can do to elevate his already incredible arsenal to the next level.
Coming in at 6’5, 235lbs, Nick Kurtz is a monster of a human being at the plate. The size, strength, and power Kurtz possesses is a scout's dream. The Wake Forest first baseman has a scary good offensive profile. He is going to draw his fair share of walks due to his patience at the plate while also hitting for massive power thanks to his near 70-grade pop. On top of that, he’s got a well advanced approach at the plate and is able to use the entire field. Shockingly for his size, he is fairly athletic and can more than hold his own at first base. He’s one of the best defenders at first base and easily grades as a plus defender. Kurtz is a likely frontrunner to be the 2024 ACC Player of the Year and should be providing plenty of offense as the anchor for the Demon Deacons lineup. He has the makings of becoming a force in a big league lineup and will likely be a fast riser through the minors.
Finding guys with five tool potential is a tough task, but Honeycutt has the potential to be that type of player. Honeycutt showed plenty of improvements in the strikeout department in 2023, dropping the strikeout rate significantly, though that came with the price of production. Nonetheless, Honeycutt has game-changing tools. There's plenty of bat speed from the right side of the plate and there's potentially plus power that plays to his pull side and he'll hit the gaps to show off his blazing speed. The swing-and-miss has toned down and he rarely chases, which is promising for the hit tool. If everything comes together in 2024, there's potential for an above-average hit tool here. He's a lock to stick in center field long term, as his plus speed gives him exceptional range and he'll make highlight reel plays on a consistent basis. There's a strong arm here, as well. If everything clicks, there's serious 1-1 potential.
Brecht may have the highest upside of any arm in this loaded college class and he's lit up Stuff+ models with some of the loudest stuff in the college landscape. Brecht has undergone some mechanical tweaks since his high school days, most notably being a shortened arm action that has given him more deception. It's a very quick arm with excellent athleticism, as well. He's gotten up to 101 MPH during starts in 2023, holding upper-90s velocity well throughout his starts, accuring whiffs at a high rate. The slider is the real deal, showing true double-plus potential with hellacious bite. It'll display shorter break with late lateral movement and he's shown an ability to land it for strikes when the fastball command is out of whack. He's tinkered with a low-90s change-up and a low-80s curveball, but he's primarily just had to use the FB-SL combination thus far. The high walk rate and command woes have been the big thing holding Brecht back, though he did show improved fastball command down the stretch for the Hawkeyes. He's stepped away from football and will be focusing solely on pitching moving forward, which is great news for his potential.
The reigning SEC Freshman of the Year, Condon's unexpected emergence was a welcome sight. After redshirting his first year on campus, Condon exploded onto the scene with a .386/.484/.800 slash line and 25 home runs in 56 games. Condon has a towering, physical frame at 6'6, 211 pounds with plenty of strength throughout his body and there's quite a bit of projection to it still. Condon has plus raw power to all fields and got to it often in 2023, posting healthy exit velocities and even getting into the 110-115 MPH range. It's a ton of bat speed and very quick hands with the barrel exploding through the zone with little effort. There's some hitterish traits with Condon, as he has solid bat-to-ball skills, though he does have his struggles with spin. Defensively, Condon has enough speed and athleticism to handle a corner outfield spot, though if he outgrows the position, he can handle first base. The bat would have to continue to perform in that case and that's the selling point right now.
Cozart is the latest to join a recent pipeline of NC State backstops and there's a chance he could be the best of the bunch. Instead of enduring a "sophomore slump," Cozart improved in all facets of his game, becoming a very well-rounded catcher with a budding bat. While he does struggle a bit with spin, Cozart's plate discipline is great and he's able to curb the strikeouts with solid contact rates. There's at least average power in his sweet lefty swing and it plays primarily to his pull side, but he's shown an ability to go up the middle and use the gaps. He shines on the defensive side, as he's one of the best defensive catchers in recent memory. He's a very good framer and has excellent actions behind the dish, as well as owning an above-average arm with solid pop times. It's above-average defense at the present with plus potential down the line. He was one of the best players to try out for the Collegiate National Team, as well.
Are you looking for someone with tools for days? Look no further than Braden Montgomery. The two-way star transferred to Texas A&M and will be looking to make an impact on both sides of the ball for the Aggies. He’s a force at the plate, as the switch-hitter has easy plus pop from both sides of the batter box. There were plenty of concerns about his approach and patience at the plate, but he greatly increased his walk rates and cut down on the strikeouts last year. He’s got the tools to project as a power corner outfielder as he has what might be the best arm in the draft class. It’s extremely accurate and has tons of carry. Montgomery also saw time on the bump as his fastball has been up to 97 MPH. He’s struggled quite a bit with command of his fastball, leading many to believe that he will eventually focus on being a bat only. He will likely be a day one call as many teams will want to take a shot on his physical tools and athleticism.
Dubbed the "Ohtani" of college baseball, Caglianone is one of the most well-known players at the amateur level with legitimate two-way potential. There's a bit of rawness to his game, but the power on both sides of the ball are rather impressive. We'll start with the bat, which might have the best power in this entire class. It's easy double-plus at the present with extremely quick hand speed and torque, generating a ton of bat speed and all fields power. He's producing some of the loudest exit velocities in the country as a result. The hit tool could use some refinement, as he's rather aggressive and expands the zone frequently. On the defensive side, it's a first base profile. As an arm, Caglianone has loud stuff, but the command holds him back. The fastball has flirted with triple digits with some life, paired with a bullet-esque slider with solid potential. The change-up has excellent velocity separation and fading life, boasting a high whiff rate. The jury is still out on if he has to choose one or the other, but the upside on both sides is enticing.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again for consistency’s sake, the draft madness never ends. So, with the book now closed on the 2023 cycle, why not open the new book and dive into the 2024 cycle?
This is purely just for having some post-draft fun and is more of a practice in futility than legitimacy, but I’ll still put my best foot forward and put names to teams with a fifteen-pick mock. We’d go for the full first round, but doing so months before the lottery seems futile. We’ve already gotten plenty of solid looks at a good amount of players in this class, which will be a key part when we introduce our 2024 board updates later this summer.
Before we begin, here’s a look at what the lottery simulator randomized for this exercise. As a side note, while the Washington Nationals got the seventh pick, they’re going to be moved down to tenth. Here’s a quick rundown on why this is happening, written by Jim Callis last March: “Teams that receive revenue-sharing payouts can't receive a lottery pick for more than two years in a row and those that don't can't get a top-six choice in consecutive Drafts. Furthermore, a club that's ineligible for the lottery can't select higher than 10th overall.”
Oakland got the short end of the deal in the 2023 lottery, dropping from a potential top-three pick to sixth overall, so the lottery plays nice this time around.
There’s only been one prep player to go 1.1 since 2018, Jackson Holliday in 2022. After reclassifying from the 2025 ranks, it’s easy to think that Konnor Griffin could be the next one. The size and physical projection stand out at first glance, but the toolset is extremely loud. It’s a polished hit tool and approach, burgeoning power, a plus run tool, as well as excellent defense in the outfield with a strong arm that has gotten up to 96 MPH. It’s legitimate five-tool potential here and guys like this don’t come around too often.
Detroit winds up being one of the biggest winners in this lottery, jumping up five spots from outside the lottery and up to the second overall selection.
It may be hot take material, but I’m not going to mince my words here: Travis Bazzana might just be the best collegiate bat in this class. The Aussie has terrorized Pac-12 pitching in his two years on campus thus far, showcasing a very polished hit tool with plenty of bat speed and a ton of contact. While he’s on the smaller side of the spectrum, the power he generates is rather impressive and robust. The profile is full of twitchiness, as well. He’s been limited to second base so far in Corvallis, but the expectation is that he’ll see time at shortstop in 2024.
The Cardinals are another big winner in this lottery, jumping up three spots to third overall.
They just got done adding some firepower to their farm system with Chase Davis, so why not add some more on the bump? Burns is an absolutely electric factory, sitting in the upper-90s with a heater that can get up to 102 MPH and a plus slider in the upper-80s that profiles as one of the best pitches in this class. There is a promising change-up, as well as a curveball, in his arsenal, too. He just committed to Wake Forest out of the transfer portal, and if 2023 was any indication of what that pitching lab is capable of, Burns could very well be the best arm in this class.
The Royals do drop a little bit in the lottery with the Tigers and Cardinals jumping them, but they still wind up with a top-five pick.
The college bat demographic appears to be the strongest part of this draft class, so why not dive into it with West Virginia superstar JJ Wetherholt? Wetherholt’s bat is one of the best in the country. It’s a short, compact swing that does plenty of damage to anything in the zone and the approach is pretty advanced already. He doesn’t get pull-happy and he’ll abuse the opposite field gap when he needs to, while also showing off very good juice to the pull side. He’s also a menace on the basepaths, registering 36 stolen bases in 2023. He’s primarily been a second baseman, but there’s a chance that he can handle third base in 2024.
The Yankees are the biggest winners in this run, jumping up twelve spots with minuscule odds into the top five.
Nick Kurtz has been a revelation for Wake Forest the past two seasons and he’s easily the frontrunner for the ACC Player of the Year award in 2024. A mountain of a human being, the offensive profile is scary good. There’s patience at the dish and he’ll rack up a ton of walks, but he’ll use the whole field to his advantage. Oh, and he’s got some of the best power in this class, grading out at plus presently and maybe even double-plus in the future. He’s rather athletic for his size and it shows at first base, which isn’t commonly known for robust defense. He’s one of the best defenders at the position in quite some time. The idea of Kurtz abusing the right field stands at Yankee Stadium is quite fun to dream about.
Colorado gets the Oakland treatment in this lottery, going from being tied for the best odds at the first overall pick to the last pick in the lottery at sixth overall.
Colorado’s hitting development has been rather solid the past couple of years, with guys like Sterlin Thompson and Jordan Beck standing out in last year’s draft class. Much like Beck, Vance Honeycutt does bring some question marks with the hit tool, but the power potential is already obvious. There’s a ton of bat speed and he’s made approach improvements, slashing his strikeout rate considerably from 2022. Honeycutt’s defense is center is stellar and he’ll stick there long-term, plus he’s an incredible runner. If he can improve his contact consistency in 2024, Honeycutt’s upside may be the best in the class.
Chicago does drop out of the lottery in this scenario, but they’ll move up a spot with Washington only able to pick as high as tenth in 2024.
Brecht has some of the biggest upside in the class with a robust two-pitch combination. He’s one of the hardest throwers in the class, consistently sitting in the mid-upper 90s, getting into triple-digits, with some lively action through the zone. The slider is absolutely electric with hard two-plane break in the upper-80s with an insane whiff rate and he’ll flash a firm change-up in the low-90s. His arm action creates plenty of deception, too. The biggest outlier here is that the command lags behind the stuff, but the expectation is that will improve as he’s now firmly focusing on baseball. If he can harness the stuff and improve a third offering, the upside is sky-high.
A year after taking Paul Skenes first overall, the Pirates find themselves a bit lower in this draft, but they’re still in prime position.
Charlie Condon was one of the biggest revelations in the country in 2023, going from a redshirt year with no action to the SEC Freshman of the Year. Condon’s bat is insanely impressive, as the hit tool flashes real potential and there’s significant power in the bat. He has quick hands and plenty of bat speed, routinely posting exit velocities in the triple digits and exceeding 110 MPH at times. He’s currently hitting everything thrown his way on the summer circuit, as well. He might be a bit limited defensively, as he’s played first base and both corner outfield spots, but he’s got the tools to be given a legitimate chance to stick in the outfield. If so, the profile improves even more.
It may not be the kind of year that Mets fans were looking for, but getting a top-ten pick should provide some comfort.
Braden Montgomery transformed himself as a hitter in 2023, upping the walk rate significantly and improving his contact rates. He’s a switch-hitting outfielder with impressive power potential from both sides of the plate. There’s some swing-and-miss here, but the improved approach gives some hope that it’ll come down some more in 2024. He’s got one of the best arms in the entire class, a true bazooka of a right arm with impressive carry and accuracy from right field. He’s also been up to 98 MPH on the bump, but likely will have to ditch pitching at some point. Formerly at Stanford, Montgomery recently entered the transfer portal.
Just a little reminder that the new CBA doesn’t allow a team to have lottery picks two years in a row, so Washington gets bumped down to tenth overall despite being seventh in the simulation.
Despite this, the Nationals have a chance to get their hands on a high-risk, high-reward player in Jac Caglianone, college baseball’s Shohei Ohtani. He’s pretty raw and needs a bit of polish to his profile, but the two-way potential is legitimate. He’s been up to 99 MPH from the left side on the bump with a bullet slider and a solid change-up, but the command has been the biggest issue here. With the bat, Caglianone has explosive hand speed and double-plus power, but can get a bit aggressive with his approach and his contact rate needs improvement. If he can iron out some of these kinks in his profile, he’ll go high in 2024.
The Cubs have been pretty aggressive in recent years with their draft strategy, so let’s keep that trend going.
South Carolina prepster 1B/OF PJ Morlando is one of the strongest kids we’ve seen in recent memory. There’s a ton of bat speed in this profile and he’s already pretty physical, which gives him a ton of power potential. He’s already been hitting second-deck tanks in batting practice at big league stadiums this summer. It’s a pretty advanced approach at the dish, too. It might end up being a first base profile, but he’s gotten some time in the outfield and could get a chance to start there at the next level.
The Padres certainly don’t shy away from the prep ranks in drafts, as that’s been their M.O. since the 2017 draft. We’ll keep that trend going in 2024.
Derek Curiel is one of the more famous names in this class, as he’s long been a performer on the circuit. It’s a nice and easy swing from the left side with a projectable frame, as well as some added bat speed. He’ll punish the gaps, but he may grow into all fields power when all is said and done. The hit tool is already pretty advanced, as he really knows the zone and doesn’t expand, as well as using the whole field to his advantage. He’s got great instincts and defense in center field, too.
A new year, but it’s the same idea with the Los Angeles Angels. Grab a guy who could be in the majors quickly.
Hagen Smith certainly fits that mold. A southpaw with pretty funky mechanics, command has been the biggest thing holding him back, but his stuff is absolutely electric. He’s been up to 97-98 MPH with the fastball, showcasing solid life through the zone, but it’s the slider that’s the selling point here. It’s a sweepy monster in the upper-80s that is super tough on lefties from the angle that he creates and flashes double-plus potential. He’ll tinker with a change-up, but it needs refinement. The potential here is fun to think about.
Just a year after taking prep superstar Walker Jenkins with the fifth overall pick, the Twins may just stick with their type in 2024.
Tommy White fits their “slugger with an ability to hit” type. He lit up the ACC in 2022 with NC State and continued to do so in the SEC in 2023, being a catalyst for LSU’s championship run in Omaha. He has some of the best power in the class and it comes easy, as he can flick the ball to the opposite field and the pull side juice is rather robust. He limits strikeouts, but he’s in no rush to take walks, either. He’s gotten time at third base, but the range is rather limited, so it wouldn’t be a shock to see a move to first base at some point.
Seattle put together a solid class in 2023 with their abundance of picks on Day 1, and they’ll find themselves in the top fifteen in 2024 in this scenario.
Much like Griffin, Caminiti is a reclass from 2025, though it’s a different mold. Caminiti has legitimate two-way potential, as he backspins baseballs with ease from the left side with solid power potential, but the main selling point comes on the mound. Finding a prep southpaw that’s already into the mid-90s is rather rare, but that’s what Caminiti brings to the table. He’s also got a slurvy breaking ball with potential and a solid change-up, giving him very good upside on the bump.
Ladies and gentlemen, it’s that time of year again.
The summer circuit is alive and well, and as the 2023 draft cycle is entering its final weeks, we’ve begun to turn our attention to next year’s class. One of the more pivotal events of the summer is USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team, which is set to kick off on June 25th with a four-game training camp series to determine the final 26-man roster for international series’ against Chinese Taipei and Japan.
Before we dive into the full 58-man roster for training camp, let’s break down some key notes. Wake Forest leads the way with four players invited to camp, followed by TCU, Stanford, and Florida with three apiece. Schools like North Carolina A&T and Alabama State will have their first invitees in program history, a momentous occasion for those schools. Like last year, there will be some draft-eligible prospects involved, though it’s a smaller number this year, as Xavier Meachem and Nicholas Wilson are the lone 2023 prospects to be invited. There are a handful of 2025 prospects included, as well. Last, but certainly not least, Cal Poly head coach Larry Lee will manage the team this summer, succeeding Ole Miss skipper Mike Bianco.
2023 Pitching Line: 32 Games (1 Start), 55 IP, 3.60 ERA, 24:71 BB:K ratio, 2 Saves
Summary: A true freshman that has become one of TCU’s most used bullpen pieces, Abeldt brings serious funk to the mound. He’s added velocity since getting to campus, now sitting in the low-90s consistently with more of a two-seam shape, but he creates a seriously tough angle thanks to the amount of crossfire in his delivery. It’s similar to what Chris Sale is able to do, if not more severe. The slider is his primary off-speed offering, a tight spinning breaking ball with some two-plane break, but it plays up thanks to his angle. He’ll need to add a third weapon, but this is an arm to watch in the 2025 class as a potential starter.
2023 Pitching Line: 15 Games (All Starts), 92.1 IP, 3.12 ERA, 26:115 K:BB ratio
Summary: A freshman All-American in 2022, Ager transitioned into a starting role with UCSB and was one of their top arms in 2023. He’s got a long, projectable frame with an easy and loose delivery on the bump. He can run the fastball up into the mid-90s, but will generally sit in the low-90s with solid extension and some life through the zone. His best pitch is his slider, a low-80s offering with big sweeping movement and some depth, profiling as his primary strikeout pitch. He’ll toy with a curveball and change-up, but they’re sparsely utilized.
2023 Pitching Line: 30 Games (0 Starts), 41.2 IP, 3.24 ERA, 15:46 BB:K ratio, 1 Save
Summary: Formerly an infield prospect, Armstrong has transitioned fully to the mound and has seen plenty of usage in San Diego State’s bullpen. A low-90s fastball leads his arsenal with solid carry and a flat approach angle, though his best pitch is his slider. It sits in the 81-85 MPH range with tight spin and gyro movement, sometimes acting like a cutter. With that said, he could use some refinement with the pitch. He’ll mix in a curveball and a change-up, but not very often. Armstrong has entered the transfer portal as of June 14th.
2023 Pitching Line: 17 Games (All Starts), 84.1 IP, 3.63 ERA, 23:88 BB:K ratio
Summary: One half of Tennessee’s highly touted pair of arms in next year’s class, Beam is a sturdy workhorse on the bump who has seen an uptick in stuff in 2023. What was more of a low-90s arm in 2022 has bumped up into the mid-90s in 2023, touching 98 MPH, with a mix of carry and run up in the zone and sink at the knees. His curveball has 10-4 shape and can get slurvy, but it’s thrown hard in the low-80s with big sweep and depth. He’ll mix in a cutter-esque slider in the mid-80s and a hard, firm change-up in the high-80s, as well. Having taken the Sunday role the last two years in Knoxville, Beam likely moves higher up in the rotation ranks next spring.
2023 Slash Line: .350/.420/.502, .922 OPS, 6 HR, 46 RBI, 9 SB, 25:49 BB:K ratio
Summary: A highly touted prepster in 2022, Bowen made it to TCU and provided an immediate impact. A bulkier catcher, Bowen does a great job of generating contact and spraying the ball to all fields. There’s not a ton of power presently, though as he matures physically, that’ll likely change. He’s got a solid eye at the dish, though he has shown struggles with swing-and-miss against off-speed pitches. He’s got solid actions behind the dish with a strong arm and he’ll be given every chance to stay back there moving forward.
2023 Pitching Line: 17 Games (16 Starts), 77 IP, 3.74 ERA, 61:109 BB:K ratio
Summary: The 2024 class has plenty of potentially high-end arms and Brecht might just have the most upside of them all. This was his first year in the weekend rotation, posting solid numbers and putting together a few noteworthy outings. The fastball has steep downhill plane in the upper-90s, breaking the triple-digit barrier on numerous occasions, with bat-missing traits, but his slider might be the best pitch in college baseball. Thrown in the upper-80s, Brecht’s slider is a legitimate plus-plus offering, showcasing serious two-plane tilt and a whiff rate over 50% in 2023. He’ll mix in a hard change-up, though it’s a work in progress. His mechanics are rather effortless, though his command and strike-throwing need improvements.
2023 Pitching Line: 19 Games (16 Starts), 83.2 IP, 2.58 ERA, 14:69 BB:K ratio
Summary: A Freshman All-American, Cabral was one of the best pitchers in the Colonial Athletic Association in 2023. There’s some funk to his delivery with a deep arm stroke behind his back leg, creating some deception for hitters. He doesn't throw hard, usually sitting in the high-80s and topping out at 92 MPH, with running life, though he doesn’t miss a ton of bats with it. His primary secondary is a slider in the high-70s with two-plane break and solid bite that has a whiff rate over 40%. He’ll mix in a mid-80s change-up with sink that will blend in with the fastball at times.
2023 Slash Line: .325/.391/.735, 1.126 OPS, 31 HR, 84 RBI, 4 SB, 17:53 BB:K ratio
2023 Pitching Line: 17 Games (All Starts), 73.1 IP, 3.68 ERA, 52:85 BB:K
Summary: A two-way star who took the country by storm in 2023, Caglianone is the collegiate version of Shohei Ohtani. A physical presence on the field, Caglianone has thunderous power at the plate with explosively quick hands and bat speed. It plays to all fields and when he gets a hold of one, you know it. He can get aggressive and run into strikeout issues, though he generates a good amount of contact. When he’s not pitching, he’s manning first base. On the bump, he’s been up to 99 MPH from the left side, routinely sitting in the mid-90s with carry and run. The change-up has plenty of velocity separation from the fastball and dives away from righties in the low-80s, and he’ll flash a cutter-esque slider in the high-80s. He’ll need to refine his command, but he’s pretty raw in that aspect presently.
2023 Pitching Line: 23 Games (0 Starts), 19.1 IP, 5.12 ERA, 8:25 BB:K ratio, 2 Saves
Summary: Another 2025 eligible arm, Campbell is a unique reliever. There’s serious funk to his delivery, starting with an arm swing and low release that provides deception and allows the fastball to jump on hitters quickly. He’ll primarily sit in the 88-92 MPH range with sink and run, though he’ll throw in a four-seamer with some utility up in the zone at 92-94 MPH. His slider provides plenty of sweep in the high-70s/low-80s with solid spin rates, though it can blend in with a slower curveball. He’ll also throw in a change-up with run.
2023 Slash Line: .388/.462/.560, 1.022 OPS, 7 HR, 47 RBI, 24 SB, 33:39 BB:K ratio
Summary: The ACC Freshman of the Year, Cannarella was originally a shortstop prospect, though he has taken over the centerfield position and become one of the best in the country. He’s got a quick bat and smooth swing from the left side, abusing the opposite field with solid pop, though he’s shown an ability to turn on pitches to pull-side with excellent results and power. He’s got a great eye at the plate and will limit the strikeouts while taking his walks. He’s got excellent speed and range at the eight, not to forget that his defense is very good. He looks like he’ll be the next top ACC centerfielder after Vance Honeycutt gets drafted.
2023 Pitching Line: 15 Games (All Starts), 90.2 IP, 2.68 ERA, 36:98 BB:K ratio
Summary: The ASUN Freshman of the Year, Chrest was a late riser in the prep ranks last spring, but ultimately took over the Friday night role out of the gate for Jacksonville. He’s on the smaller side of the spectrum, but it’s a legit three-pitch mix. The fastball has a solid mix of ride and run, routinely sitting in the low-90s and there’s enough projectability remaining to see him get into the mid-90s. The slider has extremely high spin and two-plane break in the 80-85 MPH range, profiling as his best offering. His change-up is a runner in the low-80s and projects rather well, already showcasing a hefty whiff rate and gets quite a bit of usage late in outings.
2023 Slash Line: .386/.484/.800, 1.284 OPS, 25 HR, 67 RBI, 0 SB, 33:45 BB:K ratio
Summary: After redshirting his first year on campus, Condon had a breakout spring, taking home SEC Freshman of the Year honors and setting the new SEC freshman home run record. He’s got a lankier frame with a good bit of physicality present, coming in at 6’6”, 211 pounds. There’s a ton of easy power in his profile, grading out as plus at the next level with a couple of exit velocities topping 110 MPH. The hit tool itself is promising, limiting swing-and-miss and primarily spraying the gaps with great feel for the barrel. Defensively, he’s split time between first base and the outfield, playing solid defense at both positions with a good arm. He’s the third-ever Bulldog position player to receive an invite and the first since Kyle Farmer in 2012.
2023 Pitching Line: 13 Games (All Starts), 66 IP, 3.68 ERA, 27:71 BB:K ratio
Summary: A true freshman, Coppola pitched his way into Rutgers’ Friday night role after starting the year as the Saturday starter. He doesn’t throw hard just yet, primarily sitting in the high-80s/low-90s with plenty of armside run. His breaking ball is his best pitch, a high-70s pitch with a high whiff rate that he can manipulate the shape of. He’ll throw more of a true slider with two-plane shape closer to 80 MPH, whereas the slower breaking ball looks more like a curveball with tons of depth. He’ll throw in a hard change-up that’s a work in progress. Expect Coppola to be one of the best arms in the Big Ten for at least the next two years.
2023 Slash Line: .301/.392/.546, .938 OPS, 10 HR, 42 RBI, 0 SB, 24:38 BB:K ratio
Summary: Cozart’s rough freshman campaign ended on a bright spot in May, translating into a breakout campaign in 2023 for the sophomore backstop. There’s been added loft to his swing and the contact has drastically improved from the left side, including better plate discipline. His power mainly plays to the pull side, though he can utilize the opposite field gap. Behind the plate, he’s got an excellent arm with solid defense, plus he’s one of the best framers in the country. He’ll need to shore up his chase rate, but overall, it’s a solid package of tools.
2023 Slash Line: .325/.423/.576, .999 OPS, 10 HR, 41 RBI, 9 SB, 16:27 BB:K ratio
Summary: Despite missing a month of the season due to a hand injury, Culpepper was a catalyst in Kansas State’s lineup when he returned. He’s got solid plate discipline, limiting the strikeouts, though he’s in no rush to rack up the walks just yet. He’s got solid pull-side juice in his bat and does not get phased by fastballs, though he can be vulnerable to breaking balls away from him. He plays a solid third base presently, showcasing solid range and a strong arm, though there’s a chance that he could move off the position. If he stays healthy and irons out some warts in 2024, he has a chance to be a Day 1 pick.
2023 Pitching Line: 25 Games (0 Starts), 33.2 IP, 5.35 ERA, 12:32 BB:K ratio
Summary: Davis is the true definition of a string bean figure. At 6’5”, 185 pounds, he’s as wiry as they come, but don’t let the frame fool you, he’s benefitted greatly from a collegiate weight room. Davis sits comfortably in the 92-95 MPH range, touching upwards of 97-98 MPH, with downhill plane and some life through the zone. He has two distinct breaking balls, a mid-80s slider that has plenty of sweeping action and a two-plane curveball in the high-70s, both of which have solid spin numbers. He was just a pure relief arm in 2023, but Davis has the makings of being a weekend starter for Alabama.
2023 Pitching Line: 25 Games (2 Starts), 44.2 IP, 3.22 ERA, 12:42 BB:K ratio, 2 Saves
Summary: Don’t look now, but looks like Florida was able to clone Hunter Barco. Fisher has been impressive in his first year on campus, nailing down a key role in the bullpen and accumulating a couple of starts. He primarily sits in the low-90s with a ton of running life, mainly due to the nature of his low release that hovers around the five-foot mark. The slider profiles as his best pitch, a low-80s sweeper from a tough angle that he can backfoot to righties and locate away from lefties for chases. He’ll throw a change-up that mimics the fastball shape with plenty of running life, as well. He’s looking to be one of the better 2025 eligible arms down the line.
2023 Pitching Line: 17 Games (9 Starts), 62.2 IP, 3.59 ERA, 24:75 BB:K ratio, 3 Saves
Summary: A draft-eligible sophomore, Fritton burst onto the scene as the Wolfpack’s Sunday starter before being moved into an Evan Justice-esque role in late April. It’s a three-pitch mix for Fritton, though it’s a fastball-heavy attack, and for good reason. It’s a low launch heater with a flat approach angle and great riding life in the zone that plays up from the low-90s velocity he sits at. There’s a mid-70s curveball and a low-to-mid-80s change-up, though he lacks feel for both and doesn’t throw a ton of strikes with either.
2023 Pitching Line: 16 Games (15 Starts), 83.2 IP, 3.44 ERA, 20:72 BB:K ratio
Summary: Futrell has evolved into one of Vanderbilt’s better arms, moving into the weekend rotation and becoming a bit of a workhorse. He’s the classic projectable lefty with a loose arm, slight crossfire, and solid athleticism. He’ll top out at 93 MPH on the heater, routinely sitting in the 88-92 MPH range with good ride and run, commanding it very well and having solid extension. His change-up is the best secondary, an upper-70s offering with big tumbling life away from righties. He’ll mix in a slider in the same velocity band with depth and a slower curveball.
2023 Pitching Line: 16 Games (All Starts), 84 IP, 4.61 ERA, 22:76 BB:K ratio
Summary: A primary reliever in 2022, Gordon has become a legitimate workhorse for Erik Bakich. It’s a fastball-heavy diet, with the pitch sitting in the low-90s with solid shape, though he doesn’t miss many bats with it. He’ll throw a low-80s slider and a knuckle curve in the high-70s, though he tends to spike them and will need some refinement. He’ll throw in a low-80s change-up to lefties and at times, he’ll dabble with an upper-80s cutter. There’s enough projection to suggest that he can get into the mid-90s, though he’ll need to add some deception to his delivery.
2023 Slash Line: .319/.438/.515, .953 OPS, 10 HR, 48 RBI, 8 SB, 36:51 BB:K ratio
Summary: Primarily a middle infielder for UCLA this year, Gourson built upon a solid freshman year by showcasing why he’s one of the best west coast bats in the 2024 class. It’s a sweet swing from the left side with solid contact and has some decent power that plays gap-to-gap well. He profiles as a potential average or better hitter, though if there’s any knock against him at the plate, it's that he expands the zone a bit and will need to cut down the strikeout rate. He’s likely to profile best at second base defensively, as he doesn’t quite have the arm strength required for a shortstop.
2023 Slash Line: .293/.388/.558, .946 OPS, 14 HR, 38 RBI, 29 SB, 32:77 BB:K ratio
Summary: Physicality is the name of the game with Green. He has a physical presence in the box with a solid left-handed swing built for lofting balls over the fence. It’s above-average to plus raw power in his bat that plays primarily to his pull side with ease. He does have contact issues, namely swing-and-miss. He’ll need to refine his plate discipline in order to reach his ceiling. He’s got excellent speed and plays a very solid center field, showcasing a lot of range and very good instincts.
2023 Pitching Line: 18 Games (17 Starts), 102.1 IP, 2.81 ERA, 24:140 BB:K ratio
Summary: The transformation that Hartle has had between his freshman and sophomore years is on par with what Rhett Lowder experienced. The body is rather projectable and he creates a tough angle to the plate, utilizing a wider release point while standing on the first base side of the rubber. The sinker mainly sits in the 87-92 MPH range, tickling 93-94 MPH, but the addition of a cutter has given him new life. The cutter flashes plus with tighter spin, pairing well with a sweepy slider and a more vertical curveball that he locates down in the zone. The change-up has little to no velocity separation from the fastball and mimics its shape. It’s likely that he’ll add more velocity and if he does, it’s a profile that screams Day 1.
2023 Pitching Line: 16 Games (15 Starts), 81 IP, 3.67 ERA, 31:87 BB:K ratio
Summary: Holman stepped up as a big contributor for Alabama’s staff when Grayson Hitt and Ben Hess went down with injuries, leading them to a hosting spot. He’s got a long and lanky frame with everything coming out of an over-the-top arm slot. The fastball has good carry and a steeper plane, sitting in the low-90’s consistently and getting up to 96 MPH. The slider and curveball both stand out, with the slider showcasing tighter spin in the 81-85 MPH range and the curveball having big depth and bite in the high-70s. He can kill spin with his change-up, though he doesn’t use it often. His command does come and go at times, though there’s enough athleticism to suggest he’ll improve there. Holman entered the transfer portal on June 22nd.
2023 Pitching Line: 11 Games (All Starts), 50.1 IP, 4.11 ERA, 24:56 BB:K ratio
Summary: While Holton did miss the end of the season with an injury, it looks like he’ll make his return to Cary and attempt to make the national team for the second year in a row. He creates a tough angle with some crossfire and deception, plus he’s seen a velocity uptick on the fastball. He was consistently in the mid-90s when healthy and got up to 98 MPH with serious life in the zone. The slider profiled as his best secondary, a pure sweeper with tilt and serious bite in the low-80s that was tough on lefties and had a whiff rate near 50%. He’ll throw an upper-70s curveball with solid depth to steal strikes and tinkers with a change-up, though it needs refinement. If he can stay fully healthy in 2024, expect Holton to go pretty high.
2023 Pitching Line: 16 Games (15 Starts), 87.1 IP, 4.43 ERA, 22:116 BB:K ratio
Summary: Johnson is not your orthodox starting pitcher. It all starts with a rather unique delivery, which has an abbreviated turn on the rubber before he pushes toward home plate. His arsenal is not led by his fastball, but rather his slider. It’s a high-70s/low-80s pitch that he can manipulate the shape of, mostly showcasing sweeping life but he’ll add some depth when needed. The fastball has tickled triple digits and primarily sits in the mid-90s with sink and run, working best horizontally. The change-up tumbles away from lefties in the mid-80s, though it takes a backseat to the rest of the arsenal.
2023 Slash Line: .307/.397/.575, .972 OPS, 10 HR, 40 RBI, 4 SB, 25:46 BB:K ratio
Summary: An extremely physical player, Jordan is one of the most potent bats in the country. There is some concern with swing-and-miss and contact, but there’s a ton of bat speed, loft, and insane power from the right side of the dish. He’s also an excellent runner despite his physicality, posting plus run times. There’s legitimate centerfield potential with his speed, plus he’s got a solid arm in the outfield. He’s the fourteenth player in program history to receive an invite and the first since Logan Tanner went to Cary in 2021.
2023 Slash Line: .411/.457/.699, 1.156 OPS, 11 HR, 53 RBI, 13 SB, 18:26 BB:K ratio
Summary: King posted loud numbers at Wingate, a DII school, before hitting the transfer portal and making his way to Winston-Salem. He’s a twitchy infielder with a polished hit tool from the right side of the plate and produced quality exit velocities this spring. He’s not in a big rush to take his walks, but he doesn’t strike out a ton, either. He’s handled shortstop in the past, though his throwing arm likely limits him to second base at Wake Forest, where he’ll likely replace impact transfer Justin Johnson. I’d circle this name as a breakout candidate in 2024.
2023 Slash Line: .349/.525/.758, 1.283 OPS, 22 HR, 64 RBI, 5 SB, 62:49 BB:K ratio
Summary: A mountain of a human being, Kurtz’s profile is both unique and stupidly good. You can just tell by the gaudy numbers above this summary that the offensive potential with Kurtz is sky high. He can run into issues with being too passive and letting arms get to the weapons deep in counts, but he has an extremely strong eye and loves his walks dearly. Not to forget, he uses the whole field to spray line drives and the power potential is robust with him. Despite being limited to first base, he provides plenty of defensive value at the position with great lateral movement and quick feet. This profile screams first round in 2024.
2023 Slash Line: .287/.414/.632, 1.047 OPS, 21 HR, 63 RBI, 18 SB, 48:75 BB:K ratio
Summary: It’s not too often that a freshman is mentioned as having some of the best power in the country, but that’s exactly what Laviolette has. A seriously imposing figure, Laviolette’s power has plus-plus potential and it plays to all fields. There’s significant loft to his swing and the power comes very easily, plus he’s shown flashes with the hit tool. He’ll need to tone down the swing-and-miss, but he’s got a respectable chase rate. He’s got the speed to stick in the outfield, likely profiling as a corner outfield bat with solid defensive chops. This profile has 1-1 potential in 2025.
2023 Slash Line: .394/.471/.619, 1.090 OPS, 11 HR, 60 RBI, 0 SB, 25:27 BB:K ratio
Summary: One of a few 2025 eligible players that received invites, Martinez has been a force in the Big West, leading the conference in multiple offensive categories. He produces a solid amount of contact from the left side with a balanced swing, utilizing the whole field. There’s solid raw juice in the bat and it primarily plays to the pull side for Martinez. He split time between catcher and first base in 2023, though he’s likely to be a first baseman long-term. He’s the first Anteater to receive an invite since Trenton Denholm did in 2019.
2023 Pitching Line: 27 Games (1 Start), 41.2 IP, 2.59 ERA, 16:76 BB:K ratio, 1 Save
Summary: A transfer for Tulane, Massey made himself right at home in Wake Forest’s bullpen, becoming a late-inning monster for opposing teams. He’s a physical presence on the mound and utilizes a higher release with a very short arm circle. Massey’s heater is diabolical, utilizing a cut/ride shape in the mid-90s and a flat approach angle, missing bats over 40% of the time. The slider is just as good, sitting in the mid-80s with some sweep and high spin, missing bats over 50% of the time. That’s as dynamic of a one-two punch as you can get. He’s tinkered with a change-up, though the results are very inconsistent.
2023 Pitching Line: 16 Games (7 Starts), 48.1 IP, 5.59 ERA, 26:47 BB:K ratio, 5 Saves
Summary: USA Baseball dips into the HBCU demographic here, which I must say is an excellent development. Draft eligible this year, Meachem will be the first NC A&T athlete to receive an invite to Cary. He got some starts down the stretch after being the closer to start the year, showcasing a solid fastball/slider combination. He’s gotten up to 97 MPH, maintaining 91-94 MPH with solid carry and high spin rates. The slider is a pure sweeper with spin rates approaching 2,900 RPMs in the 82-85 MPH range. He’ll throw in a curveball and change-up, as well. Strike-throwing will need refinement, but if he can’t make it as a starter, there’s serious potential in the bullpen.
2023 Pitching Line: 16 Games (15 Starts), 93 IP, 2.52 ERA, 27:96 BB:K ratio
Summary: Another HBCU athlete invited to Cary, Melendez is the first Alabama State athlete to get this honor. He does not throw very hard at all, averaging in the mid-80s with the fastball, but there’s some deception and life that lets it play up. The change-up is his best secondary which fades hard away from righties in the mid/upper-70s that has a whiff rate over 40%. He’ll sprinkle in some breaking balls, but it’s primarily a fastball/change-up heavy game plan. He’s able to repeat his delivery rather well for a guy of his stature (6’6”, 210 lbs.) and throws plenty of strikes, as well as eating plenty of innings.
2023 Pitching Line: 16 Games (All Starts), 83.1 IP, 3.67 ERA, 35:108 BB:K ratio
Summary: A legitimate workhorse, Molina quietly turned in a very solid campaign in 2023 for the Red Raiders. There’s solid athleticism and he’s got a physical figure on the bump with some bulkiness. He usually sits in the 87-91 MPH range, touching 92-93 MPH, though the pitch plays up from the fringy velocity thanks to excellent carry with some cut. The slider is in the upper-70s with tight spin and gets plenty of whiffs, as well as averaging close to 2,700 RPMs. There’s a big bending curveball in the mid-70s and he’ll sprinkle in a change-up with some tumble, though he can use some refinement there.
2023 Slash Line: .336/.461/.611, 1.072 OPS, 17 HR, 61 RBI, 6 SB, 51:64 BB:K ratio.311
2023 Pitching Line: 10 Games (2 Starts), 14 IP, 12.21 ERA, 11:19 BB:K ratio.304/
Summary: Making a return to Cary, Montgomery has shown progress with the bat in 2023. He’s a switch-hitting outfielder with robust power from both sides of the plate and a knack for spraying the ball to all fields. He’s been able to cut down the whiffs a bit, but what’s more impressive is the large jump in walks, going from 18 in 2022 to 51 in 2023. There’s progress to be made still, but it’s been encouraging thus far. He profiles best in right field, where his bazooka for a right arm will be let loose with excellent arm strength and accuracy. He’s also had time on the bump, getting into the upper-90s, though he’s had plenty of struggles and likely won’t pitch at the next level.
2023 Slash Line: .311/.386/.564, .950 OPS, 15 HR, 63 RBI, 3 SB, 21:50 BB:K ratio
Summary: One of Stanford’s biggest recruits out of high school, Moore has burst onto the scene in the Pac-12. It’s an admittedly wacky stance at the plate, though the load is very condensed and he explodes through the zone. Think Anthony Rizzo, except maybe a bit more open and a love for toe taps. There’s plenty of power, primarily from center field to the right field foul pole, though he’s going to have to tone down the aggressiveness at the plate. He’s likely to stick behind the dish long term with solid athleticism and a strong arm, as well. He’ll be draft-eligible in 2024 due to his age, though he’ll be one of the youngest players on the college side.
2023 Slash Line: .304/.444/.603, 1.047 OPS, 17 HR, 50 RBI, 16 SB, 50:67 BB:K ratio
Summary: A highly touted recruit out of high school, Moore is a rather physical specimen for the Volunteers. He has plenty of bat speed and power, which plays to all fields rather easily, and he’ll utilize the gaps for doubles. He runs into plenty of issues with whiffs and strikeouts, but he’s able to generate a high walk rate despite the rather aggressive nature at the dish. If he’s able to get the hit tool closer to average, Moore likely sees his name called relatively early. Defensively, he’s primarily manned second base in his collegiate career and that’s likely where he’d profile moving forward due to his arm strength.
2023 Pitching Line: 33 Games (0 Starts), 51.2 IP, 3.66 ERA, 19:68 BB:K ratio, 13 Saves
Summary: Florida’s closer throughout the year, Neely has been a bright spot out of the bullpen, tied for the sixth most saves in the country. There’s some deception to his delivery thanks to some crossfire and that helps his fastball play up. It’s an electric heater, sitting in the low-to-mid-90s with serious life in the zone, missing a ton of bats in the process. He has a bullet/gyro slider in the low-t0-mid-80s with some life, though it lacks sufficient bite. The change-up has some potential with fading life to lefties, though Neely doesn’t utilize it often. It would not be a surprise to see Neely thrusted into a rotation spot in 2024, though the off-speed arsenal will need to improve.
2023 Pitching Line: 25 Games (0 Starts), 48.2 IP, 1.85 ERA, 16:86 BB:K ratio, 11 Saves
Summary: There may be no better reliever in the country than Neighbors. A physical figure on the bump, Neighbors has been otherworldly dominant for Kansas State in 2023, striking out 70 batters in just 38.1 innings. The fastball has been up to 99 MPH, routinely living in the mid-90s with massive riding life in the zone, though his slider may be one of the best pitches in next year’s class. A legitimate plus pitch, his mid-80s slider is diabolical, showcasing tight spin and devastating late bite with a whiff rate over 65% (!) in 2023. There’s a low-80s curveball with more depth, too. He’ll be the second Wildcat in school history to adorn the stars and stripes, the first since Craig Wilson in 1992.
2023 Pitching Line: 23 Games (0 Starts), 38 IP, 5.45 ERA, 16:45 BB:K ratio, 4 Saves
Summary: A returning invitee from 2022, Nichols served as a key arm in Ole Miss’ bullpen. He’s a two-pitch guy at the present with a long, lanky frame that suggests he’ll throw harder once he fills out physically. The fastball sits in the low-90s, but the pitch has insane carry at the top of the zone and misses a ton of bats as a result. His slider has some two-plane break and plays best when down in the zone, though he can get inconsistent with the pitch. He’ll need to add a third pitch if he is to have a chance to start next year, though there’s solid potential here if he can refine the slider.
2023 Slash Line: .396/.453/.495, .948 OPS, 1 HR, 42 RBI, 16 SB, 29:38 BB:K ratio
Summary: O’Ferrall was a big part of Virginia’s top-of-the-order gauntlet in 2023. He’s a shorter, scrappy infielder with solid defense at shortstop, though he likely profiles more as a second baseman at the next level, maybe even a utility guy. His power is rather limited, but he makes up for that in pure hitting ability. He can lace line drives to all fields and can really run, creating mayhem on the basepaths. His 108 hits in 2023 are the most ever in a single season in program history, topping Phil Gosselin’s mark of 100 in 2010.
2023 Pitching Line: 22 Games (0 Starts), 39.1 IP, 0.69 ERA, 18:66 BB:K ratio
Summary: Nice.
Oschell broke out in a big way out of the Blue Devils’ bullpen in 2023. The violence in his delivery has toned down a bit and it’s a funky operation with deceptive motions. The fastball is a metric monster, sitting in the 92-97 MPH range with seriously good ride and extension, as well as a flatter approach angle. It profiles as one of the best fastballs in the 2024 class and boasts a whiff rate of around 40% this year. He throws a breaking ball in the low-80s with two-plane break, though he’ll need to refine it.
2023 Slash Line: .314/.402/.530, .932 OPS, 4 HR, 38 RBI, 16 SB, 29:46 BB:K ratio
Summary: A draft-eligible sophomore, Overn is one of the fastest players in the entire country. He’s got a short, compact swing from the left side with very quick hands, spraying the ball to all fields with some power to his pull side. He recognizes spin well, though his chase rate is high and he does have some issues with higher-end velocity. He had more triples than doubles in 2023, recording fourteen triples (!) and eleven doubles. His excellent speed will allow him to cover plenty of ground in center field with solid defense. He’ll be a polarizing prospect to watch in 2024.
2023 Slash Line: .376/.471/.733, 1.204 OPS, 23 HR, 75 RBI, 4 SB, 33:59 BB:K ratio
Summary: It’s not too often that you see a true freshman torch the SEC, but that’s exactly what Petry did in 2023. He has insane bat speed and loft to his swing, which helps him generate his power, which grades out as plus presently and likely becomes double-plus as he fills out his frame. He’ll utilize the whole field with the hit tool, too, though he does have some issues with breaking balls and can get streaky with the strikeouts. He got to campus as a third baseman, but he’s seen time in the outfield, where he has a solid arm. In all likelihood, I would not be surprised if he moved back to the infield when all is said and done.
2023 Pitching Line: 18 Games (5 Starts), 45.1 IP, 5.36 ERA, 19:45 BB: K ratio, 2 Saves
Summary: Another Red Raider to receive an invite, Robinson split time between the rotation and bullpen in 2023. He’s a tall, lanky pitcher with an easy delivery on the mound, though he’s not overly athletic. He usually sits in the low-90s with some armside run, getting up into the 95-96 MPH range when he rears back. He sells his mid-80s change-up very well and has confidence throwing to any batter. He’ll throw it with plenty of conviction and it falls off the table. He’s got a tight slider in the low-80s that has promise, though he does not use it much. He’ll likely find his way into Texas Tech’s rotation in 2024.
2023 Pitching Line: 24 Games (12 Starts), 67 IP, 5.10 ERA, 37:62 BB:K ratio, 1 Save.
Summary: Don’t let the stats fool you, Scott profiles as one of the best 2025 eligible arms in the country. He’s a mountain of a human being at 6’7”, 231 pounds and despite the size, he repeats his delivery relatively well. He usually sits in the low-90s, though he’s run it up to 96 MPH with a mix of carry/run and a steeper downhill plane. His best secondary might be his change-up, which features diving action away from lefties with solid velocity separation in the low-80s. The slider can be inconsistent, though when on, it’s got gyro movement in the mid-80s and flashes above-average or better.
2023 Slash Line: .378/.421/.526, .947 OPS, 6 HR, 32 RBI, 0 SB, 16:25 BB:K ratio
Summary: Shojinaga, a native of Hawaii, will be Kansas’ first invitee since Ryan Zeferjahn competed for a spot back in 2018. There’s some physicality to his frame, including a sturdy lower half, and has the look of a catcher, though he’s been converted into an infielder. He runs high contact rates from the right side and will utilize the gaps often, with most of his over-the-fence power playing to his pull side. He does need to lower the chase rate a bit, but he does a great job limiting the swing-and-miss. He has some versatility to his profile, though he primarily played second base in 2023 between his time at Kansas and a brief stint with the Bourne Braves.
2023 Slash Line: .330/.416/.471, .887 OPS, 7 HR, 50 RBI, 17 SB, 23:33 BB:K ratio
Summary: A draft-eligible sophomore, Silva turned in an excellent season at TCU and has lined himself up as one of the better collegiate bats available next summer. He’s a wiry-framed shortstop with solid contact abilities from the right side, as well as solid gap-to-gap power. As he fills out his frame, expect a jump in power production. He’s got a very good eye at the plate and doesn’t strike out often, though he’s in no big rush to take his walks either. Defensively, he’ll stick at the six moving forward. He’s a premium defender with solid range and athleticism, as well as a really strong arm.
2023 Pitching Line: 18 Games (11 Starts), 71.2 IP, 3.64 ERA, 42:109 BB:K ratio, 2 Saves
Summary: One of the most consistent arms in the SEC, Smith was given a hybrid role, coming out of the bullpen for longer outings while still getting a fair share of starts. He creates a tough angle with his delivery and there’s plenty of deception. He’s run the heater into the upper-90s, though it usually sits in the 92-95 MPH range with solid extension and late life, varying shapes. The slider continues to be a demon, especially against lefties, with sweeping life in the mid-80s, getting close to 90 MPH. He’ll throw in a splitter at times, though there needs to be continued development there. Strike-throwing will need refinement, too, but it’s a fun package.
2023 Pitching Line: 15 Games (All Starts), 88 IP, 3.58 ERA, 23:82 BB:K ratio
Summary: A legitimate workhorse in every sense of the word, Smith is the first Owl to be invited to Cary since Matt Canterino in 2019. It’s a really low release and he hides the ball well in his delivery with a whippy arm action. He’s been up to 96 MPH, though he’ll live in the low-90s with solid command and heavy life. His change-up doesn’t have a ton of velocity separation in the mid-80s, but it runs a ton and Smith has confidence in the pitch. It currently profiles as his best offering. He’ll also show off a sweepy slider in the low-80s.
2023 Slash Line: .313/.393/.500, .893 OPS, 7 HR, 44 RBI, 4 SB, 22:38 BB:K ratio
Summary: Stafford has done nothing but hit while under the tutelage of Larry Lee. There’s excellent bat-to-ball skills, utilizing the whole field, and possessing decent pull side juice from the right side. He’s primarily been the catcher for Cal Poly, with a good throwing arm and a solid blocker, and has manned left field a bit, too. He has a slender build for a catcher, though physicality is already present. He’s the eleventh Mustang in program history to receive an invite to Cary.
2023 Pitching Line: 15 Games (4 Starts), 40 IP, 6.30 ERA, 26:52 BB:K ratio
Summary: Torres is on the smaller side of the spectrum for a pitcher, but it’s a fun two-pitch mix for the Bethune-Cookman righty. Utilizing drop and drive mechanics, Torres has a really low release that helps his fastball play up from the high-80s velocity that he has. He’s gotten up to 92 MPH and utilizes a cut/ride fastball shape to get whiffs. He’ll pair it with a low-80s slider that has some sweeping life to it, though it can get soft and uncompetitive at times. There’s some projectability here and the easy nature of his mechanics suggest he could start down the line.
2023 Slash Line: .267/.338/.439, .777 OPS, 7 HR, 32 RBI, 0 SB, 18:50 BB:K ratio
2023 Pitching Line: 19 Games (1 Start), 36 IP, 3.25 ERA, 12:25 BB:K ratio, 5 Saves
Summary: Voit is an intriguing two-way prospect who shined in his first year in the Big Ten. On the mound, he’s primarily been a reliever with an arsenal dominated by his fastball, which sits in the 89-93 MPH range with a mix of carry and run. He’ll mix in a change-up and breaking ball, but sparsely uses them. As a hitter, he’s got a solid swing from the right side and likes to utilize the opposite field. There’s good power potential here to all fields, too. He’ll need to shore up his approach and plate discipline, as he struggles against breaking balls and runs a high strikeout rate, but the clay is there to improve for Voit on both sides of the ball.
2023 Slash Line: .449/.517/.787, 1.304 OPS, 16 HR, 60 RBI, 36 SB, 26:22 BB:K ratio
Summary: Simply put, Wetherholt was one of the best, if not the best, bats in the country in 2023. Wetherholt utilizes an open stance at the plate and has very mature plate discipline, rarely striking out and producing a ton of quality contact. His bat lives in the zone for a long time and he doesn’t get pull-happy, utilizing the whole field to his advantage. He’s a menace on the basepaths, tallying thirty-six stolen bases on the year. He’s primarily played second base throughout 2023, and that’s likely where he’ll stay long-term, though third base could be an option. Should Wetherholt make the final 26-man roster, he’d be the first-ever Mountaineer to do so.
2023 Pitching Line: 15 Games (13 Starts), 86.2 IP, 3.22 ERA, 23:101 BB:K ratio
Summary: A JUCO transfer from Texas, Wilson has excelled with Southern out of the SWAC league. An easy operation on the bump, Wilson struck out 101 batters in 2023, including a four-game stretch of double-digit strikeouts in late April and early May. He will sit in the high-80s, touching 90+ MPH at times, with plenty of cut to the pitch that plays up thanks to a flat approach angle. His slider is a solid offering, showcasing plenty of sweeping life and bite in the high-70s and garners plenty of whiffs in the process. He is set to turn 22 in a couple of weeks, so he is eligible for the 2023 draft.
2023 Pitching Line: 30 Games (0 Starts), 34 IP, 2.91 ERA, 20:38 BB:K ratio, 9 Saves
Summary: Woolfolk will be the latest in a long line of recent invitees from Virginia. One of the more reliable relievers in their stable, Woolfolk is sturdily built and showcases solid athleticism on the bump. He’s been up to 97 MPH with the fastball, primarily sitting in the low-to-mid 90’s with a two-seam/sinker movement profile. The slider has two shapes, a true slider with more depth in the low-to-mid 80’s and more of a cutter in the high-80’s with solid spin rates. The change-up could wind up being his best offering, a mid-80’s offering that really tumbles away from lefties.
2023 Pitching Line: 16 Games (14 Starts), 76 IP, 2.61 ERA, 23:105 BB:K ratio, 1 Save
Summary: A full-time reliever in 2022, Yesavage became ECU’s ace in 2023, putting together a very solid season before arm fatigue caught up to him for a bit. The stuff is electric, led by a fastball with excellent riding life that sits anywhere from 91-96 MPH, topping out at 98 MPH. He mixes in a mid-80s slider, a low-80s curveball, and a low-80s splitter, all of which have high whiff rates. His strike-throwing has improved quite a bit, too. He’s currently one of the top pitching prospects in the 2024 class.
It’s not too often that you get to have eyes on two of the best players in a draft cycle. Well, that’s exactly what we got over the weekend in Columbia.
While Mother Nature had other plans for us, this weekend’s series between LSU and South Carolina was an electric factory. Despite the rubber match being canceled, we managed to get two great games in from a draft perspective. In this week’s return of Deep Drives, I’ll welcome one of our newest draft writers in William Mann, who gets to have some fun on writing blurbs. From Paul Skenes getting tested to Ethan Petry becoming an icon in Columbia, here’s our takes from a wild weekend down south.
What Paul Skenes has done this year atop LSU’s rotation has been nothing short of incredible. Coming into his start on Thursday, he had struck out 51.9% of the batters he had faced on the year, a figure we have not seen since Strasburg’s 2009 season to this point. South Carolina posed to be his biggest challenge of the year, and while he had two blemishes that would ultimately hand him his first loss of the year, he’d still find a way to impress and even up that insane strikeout rate.
He’s undergone an insane transformation under Wes Johnson’s supervision. Formerly 92-95 MPH in our look at CNT, Skenes is now comfortably in the upper 90’s and touched 100 MPH on numerous occasions Thursday. It comes in like a bowling ball and he has excellent command of the pitch, mainly working east-west across the zone. The pitch will get upwards of twenty inches of run or more, which is truly absurd. The slider is his primary out pitch, a high-80s offering with serious late bite and sweep that plays very well low in the zone. He showed an ability to manipulate the shape, showcasing more depth at times, though it’s primarily a big sweeper with fifteen inches or more horizontal movement. It’s easily plus. The change-up did not get much usage, with only two being thrown, but it has great velocity separation in the 88-89 MPH range with big tumble. It’s likely an above-average pitch moving forward. He’s got great feel to spin, as well.
Here's a better angle of Paul Skenes' outing for LSU.
— Tyler Jennings (@TylerJennings24) April 7, 2023
FB was a bowling ball at 96-100 MPH with six whiffs, manipulated SL shape (one tighter spin/one pure sweep) in mid-80's, threw in a single CH @ 89 with hard tumble. Pitches from third base side, tough angle for batters. pic.twitter.com/FplKmjgIGL
The aforementioned two blemishes he had would be two long home runs from Ethan Petry and Braylen Wimmer. South Carolina tested him throughout on close pitches and didn’t chase all that much early, as Petry showcased in his first at-bat. Petry’s home run was on a 99 MPH heater on the outer third, whereas Wimmer got a middle-middle heater and he did not miss it. He ultimately tallied ten whiffs overall with eight strikeouts in the three innings before a lightning delay ended his night. As a result, his strikeout rate on the year has jumped up to 53% (!).
Skenes is likely one of the best collegiate arms in recent memory. A true three-pitch mix with the big swing-and-miss traits he has, as well as very good command of his arsenal and ease of operation, really stand out and if Dylan Crews did not exist this year, you’re likely looking at the 1.1 favorite with three months remaining to the draft. It’s hard to envision Skenes falling out of the top three picks at this moment in time. - Tyler
On the other side of the ball for LSU, what Dylan Crews has done in 2023 is bordering on legendary. He’s had control of the top spot in this draft class for his entire collegiate career thus far and he’s only gone and continued to improve, currently hitting above .500 over halfway into the season with high exit velocities and contact rate. However, he showed some struggles at the plate in his battles against South Carolina pitching.
It felt as if Crews was being a bit too selective and patient at the plate and dug himself holes rather early in counts, allowing South Carolina pitchers to get into their weapons in two-strike counts. Crews has shown a tendency to struggle with sliders and change-ups and that’s what got him on the strikeouts he had over the weekend. At one point, he had swung at a slider in the dirt early in a count before whiffing on a change-up down and in. He’d end the weekend with just one single to his name that was of the infield variety. He did get hit twice and walked once in the second game, which allowed LSU to capitalize and take the lead in the top of the ninth to avoid a sweep.
With those struggles noted, he still showed off the tools that’s allowed him to become the 1.1 favorite. In batting practice, it was a line drive showcase to all fields. There’s plenty of bat speed visible to the naked eye, too, helping his potential plus power grade. As a runner, it’s above-average to plus speed, as he recorded a 4.16 home-to-first time on Friday and followed that up with a 4.25 on the infield single. You don’t find that kind of run tool with a right-handed hitter often. The speed allows him to get great range in center field and he showcased solid routes in both games. It’s enough to say he’ll hold down that spot unless there’s a better option for a team in the minors, where his arm would play well at. It’s a true five-tool potential profile and as of now, I have a hard time thinking he doesn’t go 1.1, but more clarity will appear as we creep closer to draft day. - Tyler
Ethan Petry likely will have the key to the city of Columbia come July. Why? Well, for starters, this is the most impressive freshman in the country at this point in time and is the driving force in a potent Gamecock offense that has solidified itself as one of the best in the nation. Oh, and it’s likely that this is a high-end first-round profile in 2025.
Folks, Ethan Petry has done it again.
— Tyler Jennings (@TylerJennings24) April 7, 2023
Gets a breaking ball down in the zone and absolutely does not miss it for a grand slam to blow this game wide open. Easy swing, easy juice.
Dare I say it....1.1 2025? pic.twitter.com/x5JbrcyPPK
His plate discipline and approach are rather advanced for a freshman in the SEC, and while he could draw more walks, he does a good job of limiting strikeouts and doesn’t show too much swing-and-miss to his game. His power comes very easy and there’s plenty of juice in his bat, which he displayed with two home runs in Thursday’s game, including one against Paul Skenes. He’d spit at 99 MPH and 100 MPH just off the outside corner in his first at-bat before pulling a 99 MPH heater on the outer third for a mammoth line drive homer, traveling 400 feet and leaving the bat at 111 MPH. He’d strike out on a nasty slider from Skenes in the next at-bat, but he’d crush a down and in slider from Micah Bucknam in his third at-bat for a grand slam, sending Founders Park into a frenzy. It’s truly special what he’s done.
Defensively, he’s got the stereotypical frame to play the outfield, a physical specimen with a projectable upper half to his body. He takes good routes and has a solid arm, though most of his value presently comes from the bat. He did have some infield time as a prep, and maybe there’s a chance he gets to play there at some point in his college career, but it’s likely that he sticks in the outfield. He does have some good athleticism, though his run tool is never going to stand out and is likely below-average at best. However you view this profile, you’re looking at the likely SEC Freshman of the Year winner. - Tyler
If there was anyone I’d have to say was the best bat throughout the weekend for LSU, it’d have to be their shortstop, Jordan Thompson.
Thompson has slowly, but surely, evolved himself into more of an offensive threat while on campus in Baton Rouge. He’s still got some issues with spin away from him, but this is a kid that will battle pitchers in the box. He had multiple at-bats that lasted seven to eight pitches, fouling off pitches and protecting the plate. What was a bit of a surprise was the power in the bat. He had two long home runs to his pull-side, both of which were on pitches in the inner third of the plate. The kid knows how to turn on a pitch, sending both out with exit velocities hovering around 105 MPH and one of the balls landed halfway up the bleachers in deep left field. His swing is more suited for line drives, primarily to the gaps, too.
He’s certainly improved overall with his defense at shortstop, coming off a campaign with eighteen errors in 2022, though he admittedly struggled at times against South Carolina. It felt as if he was rushing himself and should have slowed down to make plays, accruing two errors throughout the series. He’s got the range and arm to stick at the position, though he likely profiles more as a utility infielder who starts at shortstop in the minor leagues. He’s certainly raised his stock this year and likely finds himself being drafted somewhere in the early part of Day 2. - Tyler
In what’s been a pleasant surprise in 2023, South Carolina RHP Jack Mahoney has seemingly turned himself into one of the better SEC arms in this year’s draft class. He had missed the entirety of the 2022 season with a torn UCL, but he’s making a statement in 2023 and profiles as the best arm the team has.
RHP Jack Mahoney is going to be a name to watch come draft day.
— Tyler Jennings (@TylerJennings24) April 7, 2023
Heavy bore on heater at 91-95 and command it well east-to-west. Slider is go-to breaker with sweep in low-80's, flashing CH at 82-83 with good fade. Looking at a potential third-rounder. Up to 5 K's. pic.twitter.com/4eU5YDnvJ8
There’s a good chance that Mahoney likely throws harder down the line with the way he moves down the mound, though for now, he’s primarily in the 92-95 MPH range with two-seam life that plays horizontally across the zone. He’s shown an ability to paint the corners with the pitch, though he likely won’t miss a ton of bats moving forward. He only had two whiffs on the heater, one up and away from Tre’ Morgan and the other boring in on the hands of Paxton Kling. The slider is his best pitch overall. A sweeper in the 80-85 MPH range, his slider is his primary out pitch that tunnels well with his fastball. It gives him a potentially dominant two-pitch pairing that would play very well out of a bullpen down the line. He mixes in a change-up that is firm and dives away from lefties, though it’s sparsely utilized.
He’s had a very good year up to this point and the command, which was a bit of worry coming off the injury, has looked very solid. This is a profile that could find itself scratching its way into the second round, though as of now, a third-round selection seems more likely. Mahoney has the potential to move quickly, especially if an organization believes he’s better suited for a bullpen role moving forward. With that said, he’s earned the opportunity to start at the next level. - Tyler
Wimmer displayed many reasons why he was selected in the 18th round of the 2022 MLB Draft by the Phillies on Thursday night. He doesn't fear anyone at the plate between, not even the best pitcher in the country, Paul Skenes. Wimmer went 2-for-3 with a homer, a pair of walks, and a pair of RBIS.
He is 6'4 and looks every part of it with his upright stance at the plate. This frame allows him to take long strides and be a plus runner for his size. On the flip side, however, his frame looks to be negative at short, and while he has a tendency to make highlight reel plays there, he often looks clunky, and he's still learning at the position.
Wimmer isn't a hitter that's going to get cheated at the plate, and this is what positioned him to have such a quality night up there. He displayed this perfectly in the third inning when Skenes grooved him a 98 mph fastball middle-middle, and Wimmer completely took advantage of it with the ball leaving the park. The ball left his bat going 107 mph and went a nice 407 feet before finding former Gamecock Tight end Nate Adkins's hands. Wimmer finished the day with a couple of walks and a single.
Braylen Wimmer is a very polished senior, and he has picked up right where he left off SEC play last year. Many questioned his decision to return and play shortstop for his final season, and while the position change is still up in the air, no one is questioning his ability to handle the bat when the lights shine the brightest. - William
Just like Wimmer, James Hicks was also selected in the 2022 MLB draft, but by the Brewers in the 15th round. With last season being very short-lived for Hicks due to a torn UCL, he decided to return to school to make a more prominent name for himself and improve his stock for the next cycle.
While not overpowering in stature, Hicks is a nice 6’2 190 and utilizes this athletic frame well on the mound. He is a real competitor on the mound, and on Thursday night against LSU, there were plenty of moments showcasing this.
Hicks is a true sinkerballer who uses his slider to complement the movement of the sinker well. The sinker sits around 90-92 but can occasionally run it up to 94. The slider is a true putout pitch here and has a whiff rate over 40%. The slider is nasty and flashes plus potential to me. The sinker is full of life and can be a plus pitch going forward.
All in all, Hicks has done everything the South Carolina staff asked of him, including a very impressive outing Thursday night against top-ranked LSU, where he went 4 innings, giving up two runs. Although he gave up these runs, he looked comfortable out there and mostly pitched to contact until eventually giving up a two-run shot to SS Jordan Thompson. Hicks has been labeled a Swiss army knife by many, which raised his draft stock from a year ago. He is one to keep a close eye on as the draft continues to creep up on us. - William
Honorable Mentions: 3B Tommy White, LSU; RHP Will Sanders, South Carolina; 1B/OF Tre’ Morgan, LSU; RHP Gavin Guidry, LSU
Wake Forest looked for their red-hot bats to stay hot as they took on Clemson at Doug Kingsmore Stadium and stay hot they did from the first inning onward.
1B Nick Kurtz, Wake Forest , 2024
The sophomore first baseman kicked things off in the first inning by hitting an 0-2 fastball way out of the stadium to right field, scoring Castillo. What was most impressive about the swing was how fast Kurtz got hands through the zone.
In the following at-bat, Kurtz worked his way up 3-0 and quickly fell down in the count 3-2. He managed to foul two away before Austin Gordon eventually put him away swinging. Kurtz Walked once and struck out again before grounding out to short to end his day in the 9th.
Kurtz is also an excellent fielder, and on multiple occasions, he bailed out his fellow infielders. At one point, he made a miraculous pick to end the inning. After seeing Kurtz play, all the tools are there that make him a potential top-ten pick in the 2024 MLB Draft.
NICKY NUKES 😳
— Wake Forest Baseball (@WakeBaseball) March 30, 2023
📺 ACC Network@nickkurtz23 🕸 pic.twitter.com/0Sle3b8NWq
I mean.... they call him Spidey for a reason 🕸
— Wake Forest Baseball (@WakeBaseball) March 31, 2023
Let's go, @nickkurtz23!
📺 ACC Network pic.twitter.com/PWNS2pK3HJ
3B Brock Wilken, Wake Forest, 2023
Fortunately enough I got to the ballpark a few hours early and watched Wilken’s batting practice.Baseballs were jumping off of Wilken’s bat as he easily sprayed balls to both gaps; the raw power and gap power were being shown off to those who watched. In one of the culminating swings, Wilken put a ball about 3/4 of the way up the left-field bleachers.
One of the big questions for me coming into the day was how Wilken would do when he was down in the count. He didn't do a good job of fighting back when he was behind, making life more challenging than it needed to be for him. The day could have been better for him, but it certainly wasn't bad. He had a pair of strikeouts, one of which was pretty bad at bat for Wilken's standards. The second strikeout of the day came after multiple foul balls, and Austin Gordon just caught him off guard.
Now onto the good for Wilken; he had a pair of really nice swings, both of which he turned on well and resulted in singles, one coming in the 4th on an 0-0 count and the other coming in the 8th on a 1-1 count. All in all, Brock Wilken was as advertised and looks poised to have an excellent finish to the 2023 regular season.
LF Will Taylor, Clemson, 2024
Another question I had coming into this weekend was how Will Taylor would handle the surplus of elite arms that Wake Forest has. Taylor answered this question by going 3-for-4 and scoring two runs in the process. His first hit of the day came in the first inning as he put the 3-1 pitch up the middle for an excellent single.
The next hit came in the bottom of the 6th inning, where Taylor blooped one in shallow center field where no one could get to it. My favorite thing about this play was how hard Taylor ran out of the box; this showcased how much of a competitor he is and will continue to be.
RHP Rhett Lowder, Wake Forest, 2023
A pair of Wake Forest Pitchers stuck out today, the first being projected top-20 pick Rhett Lowder. He went seven innings giving up a run, and seven hits, many of which were not hit that hard, struck out 6. He has an awe-inspiring arsenal of weapons he'll throw at any given start.
Lowder’s 6’2 frame on the mound needs to be mentioned, and it's worth noting how athletic he looks on the mound. He looks like a natural and is invested in every pitch and result. He uses this athleticism nicely in the field did a decent job of fielding his position, highlighted by a nice put-out to first on a rollover.
The best pitch Lowder throws is his changeup, which sits around 84-87. His change has a noticeable amount of fade, making life very difficult on all hitters. He starts many at-bats against left-handed hitters off with his fading changeup. Lowder located his changeup well but could not get many swings and misses or strike calls. However, he also deploys a nice slider that dives very late in the zone. The slider forced a handful of swing and misses and looked to be his most impressive pitch on Thursday night. His fastball which sits around 91-94 leaves a lot to be desired and quite frankly doesn’t have much life to it causing him to rely on his other pitches. It’s worth noting that he also throws a cut fastball which was getting weak contact consistently for him.
Before the game, I had never gotten a chance to see Lowder throw live, but he looks like he has a great chance to become an even better pitcher with small improvements to the life and velocity of his fastball. Lowder is a projected top-20 pick in this year's draft, and there was no shortage of moments in this game to solidify that.
Two punchies in a scoreless fifth from 4️⃣.
— Wake Forest Baseball (@WakeBaseball) March 31, 2023
JJ due up. Deacs still lead 5-0!
📺 ACC Network pic.twitter.com/cFdQ0yce9Q
RHP Michael Massey, Wake Forest, 2024
Finally, we reach the final pitcher of the night for Wake Forest, Michael Massey. After a decent year at Tulane, he hit the portal and committed to Wake. This decision looks to be paying off well, and Massey showed why he has a plethora of reasons to be in the weekend rotation next year.
I’d never seen Massey pitch before today, and he lived up to expectations. Massey's fastball sits 93-96 with good zip that's underscored by good extension from his 6-5 frame.
He was charged with the fireman role and did a tremendous job of getting out of the jam he inherited in the 8th. He followed that up with a 1-2-3 9th while striking out the first two guys he faced.In a relatively quick outing, Massey showed off his impressive fastball, and with improvement to his secondary pitchers, he will be one to watch for the 2024 draft as he looks to keep moving up boards.
The state of JUCO baseball in Florida couldn’t be stronger. Everywhere you look throughout the state there’s a squad with multiple D-1 or draft hopefuls, or both for that matter. College of Central Florida fits that description to a tee.
This has been my third time seeing the Pats this spring, and there have been multiple reasons why this squad is the best JUCO baseball team in the country. Potent, quality bats throughout the lineup and one of the deepest pitching staffs in the state. Let’s talk about a few of the roster that really stood out.
Lohry has been the most impressive bat that I’ve seen on the JUCO circuit this spring by a good margin. It’s a strong hit tool out of leadoff with a compact load paired with both electric hand and bat speed. Shows a strong ability to manipulate the barrel throughout the zone and will use the entire field. Flashed an impressive ability to turn on the ball into stiff headwind and can tap into above-average raw power at times in a smaller frame. Likely a 55 runner at worst with a sneaky first step and ability to reach top speed quickly. 4.0 home-to-first on an infield knock as well. Defensively, Lohry can stick at second base long term with good positioning and smooth transfers out of the glove. The Vols commit is the definition of a gamer on the diamond, and can bring instant impact to a lineup. I’m not outside of thinking that Lohry can be one of the rare JUCO bats drafted in the first 150-200 picks.
Yet another quality look at #CoCF 2B Bradke Lohry.
— Ian Smith (@FlaSmitty) March 8, 2023
On base three times with a pair of knocks and a BB. Clocked a 4.0 H-1st. Strong tools across the board. #Vols commit. pic.twitter.com/BLgWVfHc7c
A Georgia Tech transfer, Marant brings both imposing size and strength to the field. An XL 6-6, 230lb. with above-average athleticism for his size. Showed both impressive opposite-field pop with an effortless flick into a headwind for a home run and ability to show pull-side juice as well with above-average bat and strong lower-half. Easy plus raw power long term. Advanced approach at the plate with a good eye for spin and ability to do damage throughout the zone. Elevated fastballs got Marant to whiff a few times but adjusted in later at-bats. Defensively, athletic enough to play in either corner but likely will make a long term home at first base. Still uncommitted, and could be a very valuable power bat to plenty of D1 teams.
With an imposing 6-6, 225 frame, #CoCF OF John Marant shows off the massive LH raw pop essentially flicking this pitch over the LF wall for the oppo HR into 20+ mph winds.
— Ian Smith (@FlaSmitty) March 9, 2023
Adv. approach and above-average athleticism for the frame. Potential to be an impact bat for a P5 school. pic.twitter.com/eFebMpTefg
Fresh off of a brand new commitment to Mississippi State, Cam Scheulke continued to show why he’s one of the most unhittable relievers in the country, regardless of level. Mixing between a high three-quarters and submarine arm slot, Schuelke shows a very deceptive pitch mix from both slots with an immense feel to spin. Fastball from over the top was up to 89 with carry, and mid-80s with some sink and run from the submarine slot while missing bats with both. Slider can be a real weapon from both slots at anywhere from 72-77 with tight break and ability to tunnel off the fastball from both slots. Schuelke will show a 11/5 curveball with consistent shape from the three-quarters slot as well. Avoids barrels at all costs, and will keep hitters off balance seemingly his entire outing. Just one earned run allowed across 23+ innings, and it’s easy to see the transition to the SEC next year.
Others to note:
3B Edwin Toribio and CF Carson Bayne are two uncommitted middle of the order bats for the Pats who have hit in every look for me this spring. Toribio has really leaned out since his prep years while maintaining impressive strength throughout the frame. Seemingly triple digit exit velocities on every barrel. Bayne shows an above-average glove in centerfield with a clear plus arm and ability to cover ground with ease. At the plate, creates leverage while using his lower half extremely well. A willing runner as well with sneaky foot speed, and will consistently pad the extra base hit numbers. Both bats can be quality pieces on a multitude of rosters.
This is introducing my new weekly, sometimes multi-week series of live looks that I’ll be conducting this spring and summer where I touch on a few players from either a game, showcase or even weekend series.
We start off with a quality high school matchup featuring Viera and Melbourne high that had multiple D1 commits and underclass that could be among the best in their classes.
We're 16 months out but the hype surrounding the top of the 2024 MLB Draft is percolating. Jac Caglianone fever has run rampant. Our team has been at ballfields for the better part of two months now and we’re constantly digging into the analytics we can get our hands on. You can find a lot of our film and live looks in each player’s blurb below. As always, our boards are built on three pillars:
Our team’s Live Looks.
Trackman, Rapsodo and data evaluation.
Conversations within the industry. What are scouting executives, cross-checkers and area scouts seeing at the ballfields?
This far out, this Top 200 really establishes a few things:
We're leaning on "potential" and "stuff" when it comes to college arms and bats. There's still enough time for "polish" to take a back seat in evaluations.
The high school bats appear a bit more impactful and potent than what the 2023 class is providing.
We are excited to be offering a new benefit to our Patreon: one week early releases of our MLB Draft board updates and mock drafts! This is our first step in a journey to bring MLB Draft content to Patreon and even more value to your subscription! These releases will be accessible through the 55 Tier ($5 /mo).
With this release of the Top 200 we are also launching the Draft Database, an online application that will be a Patreon exclusive, housing all of our MLB Draft lists in one place. You'll be able to easily filter through positions, schools, class and easily see the list view or all the blurbs for each player. Additionally we'll have links to our MLB Draft Show interviews and film where available.
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Harnett County, North Carolina is about as rural as rural can get. It sits as a midpoint between Raleigh and Fayetteville, loaded with farmland as far as the eye can see. It's the last place you'd expect a Division I university to be situated, yet hiding in the fields by the Cape Fear River is one of the top mid-major baseball programs in the country.
Prospects Live is back with their 2023 Preseason All-American teams leading up to their extensive 2023 college baseball coverage.
The Prospects Live Preseason All-American teams are listed below, broken down into three separate teams. We selected our Preseason All-Americans based on their production from 2022, their prospect status in terms of our MLB Draft evaluations, and 2023 expectations.
