It’s been a hectic start to the season and while I racked up the flyer miles in February, March marked the start of conference play in North Carolina. Having some prior obligations taking center stage in life, this means that this Live Looks edition will be longer than most. I made stops at East Carolina, NC State, and Wake Forest/Duke to start off the month and there will be more ACC content as the month progresses.
As a disclaimer, I will see Duke two weeks in a row, so the players I selected for this piece will likely not be written up on the next piece. Players like Jonathan Santucci, who had a rough outing against Wake Forest, will be written up after the series against Clemson, but that will include notes from the Wake Forest series as a comparison to what I saw between the two outings.
Live Looks: UMass vs. Virginia (3/3/2024)
Live Looks: Kubota College Baseball Series
Editor’s Note: This is a collaborative effort from Tyler Jennings and Patrick Bauer, both of whom attended the event in person.
Michigan Wolverines
OF Jonathan Kim
draft grade: Day 2 (2025)
Arkansas Razorbacks
LHP Hagen Smith
draft grade: Top Ten or better
RHP Brady Tygart
draft grade: Rounds 4-5
LHP Mason Molina
draft grade: Late Day 2 (Rounds 6-10)
OF/DH Kendall diggs
draft grade: Round 5
Oregon State Beavers
2B travis bazzana
DRAFT GRADE: Top three (legitimate 1.1 upside)
RHP jacob kmatz
draft grade: Late Day 2
RHP Aiden May
draft grade: third round (maybe second)
OF Gavin Turley
draft grade: First round (2025)
Oklahoma State Cowboys
OF Carson Benge
draft grade: Mid to late first
OF Zach Ehrhard
draft grade: late Day 2
RHP Gabe Davis
draft grade: day 1 (2025)
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.
Live Looks: UCSB @ Campbell
College baseball has returned to the world, and in turn, so has our coverage! But in 2024, I wanted to try something new. It was a chore to write up reports in 2023 with how busy life became, so I opted to change how I write these live look pieces and find an easier way to convey our thoughts to the public. The plan in 2024 is to present our writing in report form, utilizing a scouting report template to give readers an idea of how we scout at the field and to free up our busy lives. In this piece, you’ll see an image of a report, followed by the film from the game/weekend. Beneath the video, you’ll find a draft grade, where we place an idea of where this player will be taken. I hope you enjoy this new format!
RHP Derek Vartanian, Campbell
Draft Grade: Late Day 2 (Rounds 7-10)
RHP Matt Ager, UC Santa Barbara
Draft Grade: Early Day 2 (Rounds 3-5)
RHP Tyler Bremner, UC Santa Barbara (2025)
Draft Grade: day 1 pick (2025)
RHP Zach Sabers, Campbell
draft grade: Late Day 3/UDFA
3B Zander Darby, UC Santa Barbara
draft grade: third round
dh ivan brethowr, uc santa barbara
Draft Grade: Mid/late Day 2 (Rounds 5-9)
c aaron parker, uc santa barbara
Draft Grade: Day 3
Five Northeast Data Standouts
One of the tools we rely on heavily at Prospects Live when evaluating players at both the pro and amateur levels is data. Basically, our process for evaluation and analysis involves blending live looks, data, and industry chatter. Using all the tools available to us to help paint the most accurate picture possible is the ultimate goal. Analytics and data are often framed as a warring faction against scouting and “boots on the ground” evaluation. That may be an accurate depiction for some areas of the baseball world, but here at Prospects Live, we believe that all the pieces matter. Data is a tool. Stopwatches are a tool. Radar guns, too. If it aids us in our mission to provide accurate, detailed, and informative content, we’re going to use it. The draft team at Prospects Live keeps an eye on hundreds of MLB draft prospects each year. Those live looks, just like the data, are integral to our evaluation methods. No “battle” exists between the two in our minds.
Beyond evaluation, we use data to help identify players that are worth closer inspection. Evaluating college baseball in the Northeast region (for the purposes of this article, the Northeast region includes the following states: CT, MA, ME, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, and VT) has its fair share of challenges. Smaller programs, varying levels of competition, and unpredictable weather represent just a few of those challenges. In the public space where Prospects Live operates, information can be difficult to come by, which leads to players with “draft pedigree” slipping through the cracks. Pro teams and area scouts likely know about these hidden gems, but they aren’t exactly motivated to spill the beans. Data helps us uncover some of those types of players, which in turn makes our draft analysis, boards, and rankings more accurate. The goals of this piece were to highlight a handful of ballplayers with intriguing hitting or pitching data while also modeling how we use data at Prospects Live to identify players. Because of that, I shied away from including more well-known players from the region, such as Mike Sirota, and opted to stay true to the process that I use to find talented ballplayers that belong in the draft discussion. Here are five players that are worth monitoring from the Northeast region.
TREVOR COHEN
School: Rutgers
Position: Outfield
Class: Sophomore | 2025 Draft
B-T: Left-Left
H-W: 6’1-195
*Photo Credit: Rich Graessle
Trevor Cohen was an opening-day starter for the Scarlet Knights in 2023 as a freshman, flanking superstar centerfielder Ryan Lasko in left field. His 4-for-4 performance against Campbell was a sign of things to come, as Cohen went on to have a more than respectable debut season with a final batting line of .298/.383./.353 with 26 walks and 22 strikeouts in 261 plate appearances. That level of production earned Cohen a spot on the Big Ten All-Freshman Team, and he was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week twice last spring. Cohen is a player worth getting excited about if you are a Scarlet Knight supporter, and the underlying offensive data reinforces that feeling. So what does Cohen do that is so special? It’s simple, really:
Cohen finished his freshman year with a contact rate slightly above 90%. That 90% contact threshold places Cohen in an exclusive group among qualified D1 hitters (min. 100 PA), and you can count the number of freshmen to clear that mark on two hands. In our available dataset, Cohen appears to be the youngest D1 player to record a contact rate of 90% or higher during the 2023 season. While there are undoubtedly aspects of Cohen’s game that can stand to improve, his ability to consistently make contact right from the outset establishes a sturdy foundation to build upon.
I saw Cohen twice during the fall, and while the build remains lean, it looked like he added some good weight during the offseason. He hit a homer in a scrimmage against Vanderbilt and a triple off the center field wall against Stony Brook, perhaps a sign of things to come for Cohen in his second college season. Cohen split time between center and right field this fall. He is likely better suited for right long-term, which puts more pressure on his bat. He has quick, adjustable hands with an innate feel for the barrel. However, he tends to get on top of the ball, which leads to grounders and limits his power production. I would be shocked if Cohen didn’t significantly improve both his extra-base (nine XBH) and home run (one HR) totals from last spring. He’s currently in the “tweener” category, but Cohen has two more years to develop a little more thump to pair with his advanced bat-to-ball ability. He has a realistic chance to be one of the top college bats for the 2025 draft in the northeast region.
NICK ROSELLI
School: Binghamton
Position: Second Base
Class: Junior | 2024 Draft
B-T: Left-Right
H-W: 5’10-195
While Trevor Cohen excelled in an individual category (contact %), Binghamton second basemen, Nick Roselli distinguished himself in several offensive categories. He enters his junior year with a career .336/.426/.569 batting line with nearly equal walks to strikeouts (49:53) and 18 long balls. Some of Roselli’s top accomplishments to date include finishing 2nd in program history for RBI in a single season with 61 RBI last spring, recording a seventeen-game hitting streak that went from April to May, and being a Regional All-Tournament selection as a freshman in 2022, where he went 6-8 with two homers in two games. Roselli will be among the elite performers in Binghamton baseball history with a successful campaign in year three of his college career.
Roselli is undersized, but there’s plenty of strength in his compact frame, especially in the upper half. He has short levers, which allow him to control the inner half of the plate and get good loft when turning on inside fastballs. While he doesn’t have huge raw power, the batted ball data suggests Roselli has the ability to impact the ball enough at the pro level. Roselli’s average exit velocity was above 92 MPH, and his sweet spot percentage (batted balls with 95+ EV and 10°-30° launch angle) eclipsed the 25% mark. Roselli ranked among the 90th percentile in both categories, according to our dataset from the 2023 season. He amplified those totals with strong contact and chase rates, showing off his well-rounded offensive skillset. For the year, Roselli’s overall contact rate hovered right around 85%, with an even higher rate of contact against fastballs 93 MPH or higher, and he chased pitches outside of the strike zone at a 17% clip. Those are solid totals for sure, and while neither the contact nor chase percentages are elite, they indicate that Roselli’s offensive production to date isn’t simply a small conference mirage. When you combine the batted ball data that was referenced earlier, you end up with a highly intriguing ballplayer that merits closer evaluation.
Playing at Binghamton in the America East conference has allowed Roselli to fly under the national radar to date. But if he’s able to run it back in year three, show he can stick at second base defensively, and continue producing with Bourne on the Cape this summer, he’ll get some love on draft boards across the industry.
NICK GROVES
School: Niagara
Position: Centerfield
Class: Sophomore | 2025 Draft
B-T: Left-Right
H-W: 5’10-170
*Photo Credit: Michael P Majewski
If it’s easy for a guy like Nick Roselli to fly under the radar at Binghamton, think about what it must be like to play college ball minutes away from the Canadian border. That’s the reality for sophomore Nick Groves, a centerfielder who led all of D1 baseball in walks per game (1.21 BB/G) and amassed more base-on-balls in a single season than any player in Niagara and MAAC history. Groves displayed superlative table-setting skills atop the Purple Eagles lineup, finishing the 2023 season with a .339/.504/.421 batting line. An Ontario native, Groves has a chance to be the first Purple Eagle selected in the MLB Draft since Matt Brash (Padres, 4th round) back in 2019.
As you might have guessed, Groves’ inclusion in this article is based on his plate discipline and approach as a hitter. Those elite walk totals have to come from somewhere, right? Groves finished his freshmen season with a superb chase rate of around 14%. That’s an impressive rate on its own, but when you combine that with some of Groves’ other tools, you can picture the overall profile attracting eyeballs from area scouts. Groves ran a contact rate in the 80-85% range, showing an ability to handle decent velocity, spin, and offspeed offerings. On top of that, Groves has outstanding speed that he began to harness more effectively as he got his feet wet in college ball. Sources I reached out to said Groves’ run grade is at least a 60 and potentially a 70 grade tool presently. Groves also looks extremely capable in center field and even has some experience manning the keystone. So, put that all together, and what do you have? A twitchy athlete with serious wheels who controls the strike zone, puts the bat on the ball, and plays up the middle defensively. Sounds like an ideal leadoff hitter, no?
Of course, Groves will need to show more impact at the dish. His power production in 2023 was underwhelming, to put it nicely. He can get a little passive at the plate, though there is some evidence that he began to show more positive aggression as the spring progressed, while the swing can drift from ‘slasher’ and into ‘slap’ territory. Still, the base of skills and tools are palpable, and Groves has two more years to complement his game with some added impact at the plate. It’s not a perfect one-to-one comparison, but Groves reminds me a little bit of former Demon Deacon Tommy Hawke. Hawke had a similar profile and toolset as Groves (he even played a little middle infield) following his freshman year in 2022 but was able to grow into some power during his draft year. That bump in power was enough for Hawke to hear his name called by the Guardians in the 6th round last July. Whether Groves can follow a similar path remains to be seen, but there’s no question that he’ll be followed closely by MLB clubs over the next couple of years.
RYAN DROMBOSKI
School: Penn
Position: Right-Handed Pitcher
Class: Junior | 2024 Draft
H-W: 6’2-205
*Photo Credit: Michael Nance
I’m going to steal a term from Baseball America for a moment to describe Ryan Dromboski. He’s one of my personal cheeseballs in the 2024 draft class. The New Jersey native was named Ivy League Pitcher of the Year last spring and is an early favorite to obtain that honor once again in 2024. The junior righty finished his second year at Penn with a 3.17 ERA, 97 strikeouts, 35 walks, and 51 hits allowed in 71 innings. During conference play, Dromboski put together a 15-strikeout performance against Princeton and followed it up with a complete game, 12-strikeout outing against Brown. He also earned a win against #13 Auburn during regionals, allowing just two runs in 5.1 innings. Dromboski pitches with an incredible amount of intensity on the mound and can often be heard roaring after securing a big out. A self-described psychopath on the mound, Dromboski is the undisputed leader of this Quakers pitching staff, a group that looks poised to do some damage in postseason play for a second straight year.
There are a couple of data areas that are particularly striking with Dromboski. First, his four-seam fastball (91 MPH avg; 95 MPH max) has an extremely low vertical approach angle (VAA), below -3.75. That puts him in the top 1% among qualified D1 pitchers, according to our dataset from 2023. A ‘flat’ approach angle isn’t the end-all-be-all, but it’s a data point that pro teams value highly, and Dromboski’s VAA is firmly in outlier territory. Dromboski also used a sinker about half as often as the four-seam, and it actually had better results when it came to generating whiffs. That might be due to Dromboski’s other remarkable attribute, the strength of his slider, a pitch that tends to pair well with sinkers. Last year, Dromboski’s sinker had over 17 inches of horizontal break (HB) to his arm side with about 10 inches of induced vertical break (IVB). Combine that with a low 80s slider that averages over 15 inches of HB in the opposite direction with 5 inches of IVB and you have quite the one-two punch to keep hitters guessing. Dromboski threw his sweeper nearly as often as his four-seam last year (over 33% usage), and for good reason, as he racked up a whiff rate over 55% and an in-zone whiff rate above 40%. The slider is a clear plus-level pitch, which is probably a conservative grade when you consider both the shape of the slider and the way it pairs with the rest of his arsenal. For good measure, Dromboski also has a solid changeup with good arm-side fading action and great velocity separation off his fastball (~11 MPH). He pitches with some effort and he can lose control of his fastball at times, but the upside is immense, especially if his velocity adds a tick or two this spring.
I’m not entirely sure why Dromboski hasn’t received the attention that he’s clearly worthy of. Maybe it’s a lack of exposure. Maybe it’s a general hesitation when ranking pitchers out of the Ivy League. Whatever the reason, Dromboski hasn’t received a ton of love on preseason draft rankings in the public space. Expect that to change quickly as the 2024 season kicks into full gear.
RYAN REICH
School: Seton Hall
Position: Right-Handed Pitcher
Class: Sophomore | 2025 Draft
H-W: 6’2-215
I wrote about sophomore Ryan Reich a few months ago after checking out Seton Hall this past fall. To quickly recap, Reich was one of the top relievers in the Big East last year, emerging as a late-inning weapon for the Pirates last spring. He has since been named to multiple preseason All-Big East teams as he is expected to slide right into the weekend rotation in 2024. After seeing Reich live, it’s clear that he has gotten stronger, with the physicality necessary to handle a much larger role. On top of that, I also saw clear growth in his pitch arsenal during that short appearance, which suggested to me that there is legitimate draft potential moving forward.
So, what is it that makes Reich so interesting? The heater. You have probably heard commentators and analysts use the term “explosive fastball” before. A handful of Reich’s fastballs absolutely exploded during the scrimmage I intended. And I’m not talking about velocity here. Plenty of hard throwers have fastballs that lack life and are more hittable than you’d expect, given the radar gun readings. Reich’s velocity is moving in the right direction. He was up to 93 MPH and sitting around 90 MPH in my look, which is a slight uptick from 2023, when he averaged 88 MPH on his fastball. Even at 90 MPH, hitters have trouble catching up and squaring the pitch, thanks to the explosiveness that I mentioned earlier. This is an obvious example of a pitcher’s fastball playing above its velocity, and the data helps to confirm this.
Extension: 6.4-6.5 feet of extension in his delivery, roughly MLB average
Release Height: between 4.9-5.0 feet. Way below the D1 and MLB average,
18+ inches of induced vertical break (IVB)
Without getting too deep in the weeds with pitch data, these data areas all suggest that what I saw from Reich during that scrimmage was real. Like Dromboski, Reich has a low, flat approach angle (VAA) on his fastball in the -3.90 to -4.00 range, giving it that explosion as it crosses the plate. With such a low approach and solid extension, the pitch gets on hitters quickly and gives off the ‘rising fastball’ illusion that results in empty swings. The results on Dromboski’s four-seamer were just OK, but Reich’s were phenomenal. Even at the lower velocity that Reich showed last spring, he recorded an overall whiff rate and in-zone whiff rate above 30%. When I first saw those percentages, I figured they must be pretty good. But after taking a closer look it was clear that not only were they good, they were kind of special. Take a look at the chart below:
Those are all of the qualified pitchers from our dataset with a fastball that had both a 30% whiff rate and a 30% in-zone whiff rate in 2023. The majority of those pitchers are either in pro ball now or, like Reich, won’t be draft-eligible until 2025. Side note: Tennessee’s AJ Russell might be pretty good. Obviously, Reich threw fewer innings than many on this list, and he also faced a different level of competition, but the overall point remains true. When you miss bats like this with your fastball, pro teams are going to pay attention. And if he starts throwing harder over the next two seasons, those whiff rates may climb even further.
Reich isn’t a finished product by any means. We still need to see how he performs in a starting role. There’s a little violence and head movement in the delivery that could signal a future in the pen. We’ll also need to see how he complements his fastball moving forward. His curveball and changeup were both lackluster in 2023. However, both pitches appeared to be overhauled, with the curve looking more like a true slider, flashing short, late break at 80 MPH, and the changeup featuring splitter-type action at 83 MPH. The development of those two pitches will greatly determine what kind of ‘ceiling’ Reich has as a draft prospect, but the fastball data and results immediately turn him into a high-priority follow for the next two years.
Recca's Fall Ball Notebook Pt. 2: Saint Joseph's
The Saint Joseph’s Hawks 2023 season was both historic and heart-wrenching. Led by long-time Head Coach Fritz Hamburg, the Hawks have clearly turned a corner as a program with the right ingredients for sustainable success. Not only did the Joe’s experience its third consecutive winning season in 2023, Coach Hamburg led the team to its first-ever Atlantic 10 regular season championship. Atlantic 10 coaches picked Hamburg for 2023 A10 coach of the year, and he was further honored by the Mid-Atlantic Scouts Association as their selection for 2023 coach of the year. The program has gradually developed into a yearly conference title contender and it looks like the 2024 season will continue that trend. On top of the collegiate success, the team is finding and producing pro-level talent at an expanding rate. Catcher Andrew Cossetti was a 2022 11th-round pick by the Twins, while outfielder Brett Callahan was a 13th-round pick last July; those two draft picks are the start of a trend for the Hawks. After seeing Joe’s this fall on ‘Scout Day,’ I can safely say that more draft selections are on the table for both the 2024 and 2025 drafts.
*Saint Joseph’s Head Baseball Coach Fritz Hamburg (center) accepts the award for 2023 Coach of the Year by the Mid-Atlantic Scouts Association; November, 2023.
Conference: Atlantic 10
2023 Record: 28-24 | A10 Regular Season Champions
Head Coach: Fritz Hamburg | 16th year
Top Prospect ‘24 Draft: Ryan Cesarini, OF
Top Prospect ‘25 Draft: Ryan Weingartner, SS
It wasn’t the start or finish Coach Hamburg and his team were hoping for. The 2023 Hawks struggled out of the gate with a 1-7 start, and after a mid-April loss to Saint Louis, the team was staring at a 12-18 record. Following that loss, Joe’s went on an eight-game win streak and closed out the regular with an improbable 15-3-1 (yes, there was a tie) run that won them the A10 regular season crown. Unfortunately, the team was bounced from the tournament after three games, which included an 8-23 loss to Saint Louis and finally a 10-15 loss to Dayton. Saint Louis and Dayton were able to capitalize on Joe’s inconsistent pitching staff, which was an area of concern for the majority of the 2023 season. Coach Hamburg brought in accomplished Army pitching coach Jeremy Hileman to help bolster things on that side of the ball, and the staff looks improved on paper. While pitching, especially the relief corps, will be the biggest question mark for the 2024 team, Joe’s will also need to restructure their lineup and fill some roles offensively after a few notable departures.
The Hawks figure to have an experienced and productive offense, with five returnees who either logged an OBP over .400 or slugged double-digit homers in 2023. However, Joe’s will be losing a healthy dose of power after the departures of OF Brett Callahan (Tigers), INF Nate Thomas, and SS Luca Trigiani (now with William & Mary), all of whom recorded an ISO above .220 while combining for 28 long balls last spring. After getting an up close and personal view during St. Joseph’s scout day, several hitters looked equipped to replace that lost production. Because it was scout day, most of the action was focused on draft-eligible players, but a quality group of underclassmen made strong impressions as well. Overall, the offense for Coach Hamburg’s group looks strong on paper and will be a driving force toward a potential repeat performance as A10 regular season champs.
The Hawks' offense will be driven by a trio of Ryans, outfielders Ryan Cesarini and Ryan Picollo, as well as shortstop Ryan Weingartner. This triumvirate combined for 68 extra-base hits and 28 homers last spring, and I think they’re a good bet to surpass those totals in 2024. Let’s start with Ryan Cesarini. The junior from Archibald, PA, led the A10 conference in batting last season (.392) and finished third in OPS (1.088). He enters 2024 as the Hawks’ top draft prospect thanks to a strong track record of performance and impressive tools. Cesarini doesn’t offer much in the way of physical projection, listed at 5’10-205 with a stocky, filled-out frame. Jared Dupere, a 13th-round draft pick out of Northeastern by the Giants in 2021, is a solid body comp for Cesarini, but Cesarini has surprising athleticism and quick actions on the diamond. On scout day, Cesarini showed phenomenal speed with a 60-yard dash time just above 6.40 and home-to-first times in the 4.10-4.20 range. It’s unusual to see plus-level speed from a player with this kind of body; Dupere certainly didn’t display that kind of quickness. Perhaps a better physical comparison for Cesarini (and an admittedly unfair one) is Blue Jays outfielder Daulton Varsho.
At the plate, the lefty-hitting Cesarini has a crouched, compact stance with his hands tucked in tightly behind his helmet. Instead of a traditional stride, he rotates his front knee inward and points the toe of his foot directly into the ground before dropping back down and rotating swiftly into contact. He has quick, adjustable hands and plenty of bat speed to impact the ball on contact. It’s not the most athletic-looking swing, and it’s definitely unorthodox, but Cesarini has a special feel for making contact, which is aided by above-average plate discipline. Cesarini’s raw power teeters right near the above-average to-average line. He’s capable of turning on balls from the belt down for home run contact, which he showcased on a no-doubt blast during a simulated game. I’ll need additional looks before I’m able to make an honest evaluation of his defensive ability. You’d think Cesarini would be a capable centerfielder, given his speed and athleticism, but he split time between left field and DH last spring and only played the corners this summer in the NECBL. We’ll see how he’s deployed moving forward, but as of now, Cesarini has the potential to be a mid-to-late day two draft pick (rounds 6-10) based on what I’ve seen, though I wouldn’t be surprised if he were popped early on day three like Brett Callahan was last July.
Joining Cesarini in the outfield is senior Ryan Picollo, whose 6’4-225 frame stands as a stark contrast to Cesarini's. Picollo has a sturdy, rangy build with a good mixture of athleticism and strength. Despite solid power production last spring (10 HR, .227 ISO), Picollo had a difficult time getting the bat on the ball, as he struck out 55 times in 203 plate appearances. Picollo’s final line of .238/.292/.465 is emblematic of his issues maintaining a consistent approach. When Picollo avoids chasing pitches out of the zone and stays short to the ball, there’s big-time thump and above-average power to his pull side. While Picollo isn’t a burner, he’ll show solid average speed that is more noticeable on the defensive side of the ball. He’s a steady defender with quality arm strength that makes him a dependable option in right field. Picollo showed both the good and the ugly during scout day, with a rocket line drive double to left field but also in-zone whiffs on fastballs. While he may not clear up the rough edges of his game, Picollo possesses the tools and experience to take a step forward and settle in as a much-needed offensive catalyst for the Hawks in 2024. Finally, here’s a fun fact about Picollo: his father, JJ Picollo, oversees baseball operations for the Kansas City Royals as executive vice president and general manager.
The final Ryan set to lead the offense is quite likely the most important. Ryan Weingartner quickly secured the starting second base job during his freshman year and ended the 2024 campaign with a .323/.401/.531 line, which included 10 homers and 17 stolen bases. Not only will Coach Hamburg and company ask Weingartner to build on that breakout debut offensively, but they’ll also ask him to hop over to the other side of the second base bag to hold down shortstop. Weingartner looked the part at short during my initial look, but I’ll need to see how things play out at full game speed this spring to determine his long-term outlook.
An A10 All-Rookie team selection, Weingartner is far from imposing at the plate with a wiry, 5’11-185 build, but he more than makes up for it with a quick bat, uphill swing path, and a “passive-aggressive” approach. He showed an easy, confident swing during BP and had two hard-hit balls during the simulated game. A follow-up performance this spring and summer (he’s playing for the Harwich Mariners on the Cape) could vault him into the mid-day two conversation for the 2025 draft.
Looking beyond the Ryan’s, the Hawks have a couple more promising power options in corner infielder Owen Petrich and catcher Carter Jagiela. Petrich is a transfer portal addition from Delaware where he received minimal playing time the past two years. The 6’2-215 Petrich is a physical corner bat who played third base on scout day. At the plate, Petrich displayed above-average pop from the right side but struggled to handle spin during this brief look. He is highly capable of punishing mistakes, which he demonstrated by hitting multiple hard-hit balls, including the opposite-field homer seen in the clip below. Meanwhile, Jagiela is entering his sophomore year, and his size (6’4-220) and physicality immediately stand out. Jagiela has plus-level power to his pull side with an uphill swing path. He’ll need to iron out some things behind the plate, but he has plenty of arm strength for the catcher position. Jagiela should have plenty of time to hone his craft, as his likely role will be as a backup to senior Justin Igoe. Igoe played in only seven games as an underclassman, but he made up for lost time in 2023 as the full-time starter, finishing the year with a respectable .304/.411/.432 line. With a shorter, stout build, Igoe is a patient hitter with average power and an up-the-middle approach. He only hit three homers last year, but he adds length to the lineup and racks up quality at-bats. Igoe gets the job done behind the plate, though his arm is fringy, which led to an 85% success rate for base stealers last season.
Petrich Packs A
Punch
Delaware transfer Owen Petrich will look to revitalize St. Joseph’s power production in 2024.
Because my viewing came on scout day, the majority of the action involved draft-eligible players, so it was difficult to get a feel for the Hawks class of freshmen. With that said, outfielders Darius Adkins and Joey Gale are intriguing athletes, while middle infielder Tim Dickinson was a consistent performer at Malvern Prep, one of the top high school programs in the state of Pennsylvania. Playing time is likely to be tough to come by in 2024 for this crop of newcomers, but Coach Hamburg and his staff have a knack for getting timely production from their freshmen when needed.
On paper, Coach Hamburg has plenty of options to fill out his weekend rotation. RHP Domenic Picone, RHP Will McCausland, and LHP Ryan DeSanto led the Hawks in starts and innings pitched a year ago, and all three will return in 2024. McCausland and DeSanto were each selected for the A10 All-Rookie Team and remained sharp over the summer in the New England Collegiate Baseball League and the Valley League, respectively. Neither pitched on scout day, but I did see DeSanto last fall and tabbed him as an under-the-radar draft prospect for 2025. The sophomore duo won’t light up radar guns (upper 80s/low 90s in ‘23), but they have performed in games, and both have uniquely interesting traits under the surface when taking a peak at their trackman data. McCausland’s fastball has swing-and-miss traits thanks to a low vertical approach angle, a low release height, and good extension in his delivery. He also has a trio of decent secondary options that he can land for strikes consistently, with the slider showing the most potential of the bunch. DeSanto is about as funky as it gets, with a crossfire finish to his delivery and an extreme over-the-top arm slot. He gets elite IVB on his high spin fastball, which gets on hitters in a hurry with his size and deception. DeSanto will flash a bat-missing curve with 12-6 action and an intriguing changeup with good arm-side fade. Picone was also pitching as Hawk for the first time in 2023 after spending the previous three years at Rhode Island. He’s one of the smaller pitchers you’ll see at the D1 level, standing in at 5’8-180, but he had a respectable 4.50 ERA across 70 innings last spring. His fastball sits in the 88-92 range and plays well up in the strike zone, while his mid-80s cutter/slider hybrid is his best putaway offering.
Junior RHP Matt McShane is another arm that could be a starting option for Coach Hamburg. McShane thrived (2.40 ERA) as a multi-inning reliever as a freshman, but his stuff was down when I saw him last fall. That carried over to the spring, and his performance (5.46 ERA, 4.9 K/9, 10.9 H/9) took a step back as a result. McShane was much better (19.1 IP, 1.40 ERA, 11.6 K/9) with Bourne on the Cape this summer, and the average velocity on his fastball (92-93 MPH) and both breaking balls increased significantly compared to the spring.
McShane was the first pitcher to take the mound on scout day but didn’t face live hitters. The fastball was lively in the 90-92 range, coming from a high slot and a good, flat angle. McShane complimented the fastball with a slider that sat around 82 MPH, an upper-70s curveball, and what appeared to be a low-80s changeup. McShane threw some above-average sliders with late gyro-movement that he commanded better to his glove side. McShane did a really good of tunneling the fastball and slider, increasing the effectiveness of each pitch. He had trouble getting a consistent feel for the curve and changeup, though the curve did flash some sharp vertical break. Given McShane’s build at 6’3-215, his ability to spin multiple breaking balls, and his history of pitching multiple innings at a time, McShane has some traits to serve him in a weekend starter role. However, there’s some effort during his release, and there have been issues maintaining the quality of his stuff, which could indicate a late-inning relief role in the future. At his best, McShane appears to be the team's top draft prospect for 2024, but we’ll need to see how he holds up this spring.
Junior RHP Luke Gabrysh is a wild card for this Joe’s pitching staff. Standing at a lean and projectable 6’3-200, Gabrysh possesses the size and arsenal of a quality starting option. However, his effectiveness has been limited as he’s struggled to throw strikes, evident in his elevated walk rate of 20.4% through 27.1 career innings. On scout day, Gabrysh showcased impressive velocity, sitting consistently at 92-94 with his fastball and touching 95 MPH once. His go-to secondary was a 78-82 MPH slider, boasting remarkable raw spin (2,700+ RPM) and horizontal movement. Additionally, his mid-80s changeup showed plenty of promise with good arm-side movement and depth. Gabrysh allowed hard contact on multiple belt-high fastballs over the middle as he struggled to consistently command the pitch in the zone. The command of his secondaries appeared superior to his fastball command in this brief appearance. Overall, it’s one of the better three-pitch mixes on the Hawks staff in terms of raw stuff, but the ability to execute remains an open question. Regardless, Gabrysh provides some high-upside depth for the rotation with the kind of loud stuff you could envision closing out games. If things click for Garbrysh this spring, he’d make for a dynamic weapon down the stretch for St. Joseph’s and would likely fetch draft interest on day 3.
While the weekend rotation boasts a surplus of seasoned arms, the bullpen is marked by uncertainty. A notable portion of the relievers returning from last spring finished the year with ERAs north of 9.00. Gabrysh certainly has the raw ability to help bolster the pen if that’s where he ends up, and that’s also true for righty Alec Rodriguez, who is back as a grad student. Rodriguez looked poised for a breakout season last spring but was unable to fill the zone enough to be a reliable option. He’s a good athlete with a high-effort delivery and a slingy arm action that can be difficult to repeat. Rodriguez’s heater has a lot of movement with both riding and running life, which may actually be a contributing factor to his control issues. The velocity on his fastball remained solid as he averaged 92 MPH (max 95) and touched 94 MPH multiple times. His best pitch is a wipeout slider in the low 80s that generates well above-average whiff rates. Rodriguez had a decent changeup last spring that he used against lefty batters, and I thought I saw a couple of cutters at 87 MPH during this outing, which I believe would be a new pitch. As with Garbrysh, there’s no doubt Rodriguez possesses the repertoire to be a high-leverage relief option, but a significant improvement to his 2023 walk rate (18.7%) is required. RHP Colin Yablonski is a grad transfer from Coastal Carolina who sat 90-92 MPH on scout day with an above-average curveball in the upper 70s. He’s shown a little more velocity in the past, so he could just be warming up. Yet another grad year righty is Mike Picollo, who was an unsigned 33rd-round draft pick by the Mets in 2018 and is also the older brother of Ryan Picollo. He’s a low/side slot righty with a mid-to-upper 80s fastball and a late-breaking slider that should be tough on right-handed bats. He hasn’t had much success at the college level, but he did a great job repeating his funky delivery on scout day. Senior David Owsik displayed two quality secondaries, a 78-79 MPH sweeper and an 80 MPH changeup, complementing an 88 MPH fastball. While I didn’t see freshman RHP Luke Parise take the mound, his development is worth tracking. Listed as both a pitcher and catcher, Parise is a good athlete who receives high praise for his competitiveness and makeup.
Undoubtedly, the bullpen stands as a potential Achilles' heel for St. Joseph's in 2024. However, the depth of diverse options and present arm talent suggest that a reversal of fortunes is on the table. All in all, Coach Hamburg’s club is well-equipped to secure a conference title and a trip to regionals in 2024.
USA Baseball Releases 2024 NHSI Lineup
The 16-team field has been unveiled for the eleventh edition of the National High School Invitational, one of the most prestigious prep tournaments on the scouting calendar. The tournament, which USA Baseball hosts, will take place at the National Training Complex in Cary, North Carolina from April 10th to April 13th.
The single-elimination style tournament has a rich history of draft talent that has come through the gates since its inception in 2012. The likes of Cody Bellinger, Joey Gallo, Max Fried, and Lucas Giolito have stepped foot in the complex, as well as recent top draft picks in Dylan Lesko, Mikey Romero, Jack Leiter, and Pete Crow-Armstrong. In 2023, the tournament added three more first-rounders to its resume, with Noble Meyer, Adrian Santana, and Ralphy Velasquez putting together excellent outings last April. Velasquez recorded six hits throughout the tournament and took home All-Tournament honors, while Meyer struck out ten in seven stellar innings in a tough-luck loss to Calvary Christian. Santana utilized the event to show off his burgeoning toolset, which culminated in the Rays selecting him at 31st overall. Overall, nine players who participated in the 2023 edition were drafted last July.
This year’s lineup features a stout lineup, including reigning champions Huntington Beach and the return of three-time champions Orange Lutheran. Florida and California have four teams apiece with North Carolina and Arizona being the only other states with multiple participants. This will be the first time in tournament history that two in-state schools appear in Cary, plus the District of Columbia is being represented for the first time. Here is the full lineup of teams:
Apex Friendship (Apex, NC)
Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, NV)
Casteel (Queen Creek, AZ)
Chaparral (Scottsdale, AZ)
Corona (Corona, CA)
Farragut (Knoxville, TN)
Hagerty (Oviedo, FL)
Harvard-Westlake (Studio City, CA)
Huntington Beach (Huntington Beach, CA)
Key West (Key West, FL)
Orange Lutheran (Orange, CA)
Puyallup (Puyallup, WA)
St. John’s College (Washington, D.C.)
St. John’s Country Day (Orange Park, FL)
Trinity Christian Academy (Jacksonville, FL)
Wesleyan Christian Academy (High Point, NC)
There’s an impressive lineup of prospects in the 2024 class that’ll take the field in Cary, but there’s also high-end talent in the 2025 and 2026 classes that are worth paying attention to. We’ll tease a few of our new Top 100 rankings in this list (which will come out later this week), but here’s a list of prospects to keep an eye on in all three classes come April 10th:
2024s:
LHP Ethan Schiefelbein, Corona (#13)
RHP/SS Bryce Rainer, Harvard-Westlake (#14)
OF Derek Curiel, Orange Lutheran (#22)
LHP Mason Russell, Casteel (#50)
RHP Duncan Marsten, Harvard-Westlake (#73)
C Burke-Lee Mabeus, Bishop Gorman (#79)
C Josh Springer, Corona (#82)
LHP Talan Bell, Hagerty
UTL Chris Newstrom, Chaparral
RHP Cade O’Leary, Farragut
RHP Nathan Aceves, Huntington Beach
RHP Tommy Bridges, Harvard-Westlake
SS Gabe Fraser, Orange Lutheran
OF Kyle Boylston, St. John’s Country Day
RHP Felix Ong, Key West
SS Austin Jacobs, Hagerty
C Kailand Halstead, Puyallup
OF Brennon Seigler, Farragut
2025s:
RHP Seth Hernandez, Corona
SS Brady Ebel, Corona
RHP/SS Billy Carlson, Corona
RHP Josh Hammond, Wesleyan Christian Academy
RHP Sam Cozart, Wesleyan Christian Academy
OF Josiah Hartshorn, Orange Lutheran
C Trent Grindlinger, Huntington Beach
SS Linkin Garcia, Huntington Beach
OF Domaine Vann, Wesleyan Christian Academy
SS Mason Pike, Puyallup
2026s:
OF Brady Harris, Trinity Christian Academy
RHP Ethan Wheeler, Trinity Christian Academy
OF Ryan Harwood, Casteel
C Brady Murrieta, Orange Lutheran
RHP Brayden Harris, Trinity Christian Academy
Recca's Fall Ball Notebook: Pt. 1
Fall ball has all but wrapped up for college baseball programs across the nation. With the holiday season upon us, now feels like a perfect time to empty out my notebook after checking out some fall ball action. As the 2024 college baseball season looms, the anticipation surrounding St. John's, Iona, and Seton Hall is discernable. This in-depth analysis offers a revealing glimpse into the rosters, prospects, and dynamics shaping these three programs. From potential breakout pitchers like Ryan Reich leading Seton Hall to the emerging talents of Jimmy Keenan and Adam Agresti at St. John's and the observable transformation within Iona's squad under Coach Conor Burke, each team brings a unique narrative to the field. Join me as I uncover the strengths, challenges, and top prospects of these cold-weather baseball programs, setting the stage for what should be a highly competitive season on the diamond.
Conference: Big East
2023 Record: 28-25 | 4th in conference
Head Coach: Mike Hampton | 5th year
Top Prospect ‘24 Draft: Xavier Kolhosser, RHP
Top Prospect ‘25 Draft: Jimmy Keenan, C
The lineup for the Johnnies is projected to be veteran-laden until you reach the catcher and first base positions. Expect sophomore Jimmy Keenan and freshman Adam Agresti to hold down those two spots. To maximize the impact of their powerful bats, these underclassmen are likely to rotate between catcher and first base this spring. Keenan solidified his place in the everyday lineup during the 2023 spring, receiving 126 plate appearances and leading the team in OPS (1.067). His strong debut continued into the summer in the Futures League, where he finished second overall in home runs (9). Keenan's prowess was on full display in a scrimmage against Iona, hitting two home runs with exit velocities of 111 MPH and 106 MPH, showcasing his plus, all-fields power. His quick load, long stride, and strong rotational swing result in good angle and loft, allowing him to drive the ball in the air. Beyond the homers, Keenan's deep fly balls to his pull side hint at even more power potential. While his performance against higher-velocity arms remains to be seen, his current skill set is undeniably impressive. Defensively, Keenan has more than enough arm strength to stick at catcher, although his transfers on throws can stand to improve. Despite his substantial size at 6'3-225, he exhibits commendable mobility both at catcher and first base. The program likely hasn't seen an impact bat of this caliber since Mike Antico was with the team. Keenan is poised to play a crucial role in 2024 and could emerge as one of the top offensive catchers for the 2025 draft.
here’s jimmy!
The St. John’s offense will be powered by their sophomore catcher Jimmy Keenan, a rising star in the Big East.
Not content with just one standout catcher, the Red Storm secured a significant addition to their roster with Adam Agresti, a prized recruit from Kennedy Catholic High School in New York. A towering figure at 6'3-230, Agresti mirrors Keenan's profile remarkably closely. Both catchers boast impressive size and physicality, accompanied by clear plus grades in raw power and arm strength. I felt Keenan exhibited looser athleticism compared with Agresti, but Agresti had the quieter and more efficient swing and cleaner throws out of the crouch. Agresti's plate presence is marked by a keen sense for the barrel, consistently scorching balls located throughout the strike zone. While he faced challenges with breaking balls, an aspect worth monitoring, Agresti's offensive tools showcase remarkable advancement for a freshman catcher. Looking ahead, Agresti has the potential to accumulate a lengthy three-year track record of in-game performance by the time the 2026 draft rolls along.
Complementing the power duo of Keenan and Agresti, St. John's features a trio of speedsters with up-the-middle pedigree. Junior Luke Orbon will transition from second base to shortstop, and he looked comfortable there during my two observations. Orbon displayed athletic, confident actions and executed multiple tough throws while on the run. Offensively, Orbon serves as a table-setter with above-average speed, maintaining an impressive career triple slash line of .335/.395/.436.
Junior outfielder Jackson Tucker shares a similar profile with Orbon, featuring borderline plus speed and a contact-driven approach. Tucker, who accumulated 42 stolen bases in the past two years, added another 30 swiped bags during this summer in the Northwoods League. While Tucker has experience in center field, he may predominantly occupy a corner spot to accommodate DII transfer Garrett Scavelli. Scavelli, a standout at Molloy College, compiled an impressive .357/.458/.562 line as the team's everyday centerfielder for the past three years. His exceptional .391 batting average in 2023 ranked 2nd in the East Coast Conference. Demonstrating outstanding coverage in centerfield and 70-grade speed with a 4.07 home-to-first time, Scavelli brings an exciting toolset and a veteran presence to the lineup. Expect Orbon, Tucker, and Scavelli to reach base at a high rate and create havoc on the bases for opposing defenses. With this trio of seasoned players and the powerful duo behind the dish, St. John's has cultivated an impressive combination of talent and depth at crucial positions.
After taking in two days of scrimmages, it became clear to me that the strength of this St. John’s roster is on the offensive side of the ball. I got a good look at several promising arms this fall, but the lack of experience and depth on the pitching side is unmistakable. This is especially true when projecting the weekend rotation for the spring, the success of which is going to be placed in the hands of talented but relatively unproven options. Xavier Kolhosser is a prime example of that phenomenon. A redshirt sophomore, Kolhosser has the goods to be a Friday night stud and rotation anchor. Listed at 6’5-190, Kolhosser was a revelation last spring, pitching to a 2.56 ERA across nine starts (31.2 IP). After missing his freshman season in 2022 recovering from Tommy John surgery, St. John’s was understandably cautious with Kolhosser, which may explain why he made just three appearances (11 IP) after March. The spectacular results in that 31.2-inning sample certainly inspire confidence for the 2024 season, as did his outing against Iona this fall.
The first thing you’ll notice about Kolhosser is how big and lean he is. The body has great length with long limbs and a projectable pitcher’s frame. Watching him throw a bit prior to the start of the game, I was impressed by how low-effort his actions were; everything looked loose and athletic. That carried over to game action, where Kolhosser’s looseness was on display with quick arm speed and a clean, repeatable delivery. Kolhosser attacks hitters from a high release point, which, combined with above-average extension in his delivery, makes for an uncomfortable at-bat. The fastball has unique characteristics with excellent carry through the zone from that high release point, giving hitters the perception that he’s throwing much harder than the 87-90 MPH velo range during this three-inning outing. While he didn’t miss many bats with this fastball, Kolhosser threw an exceptional amount of strikes (83% strikes) with his heater, five of which were called strikes. Kolhosser used a full four-pitch mix that included an 81 MPH slider, a slow curve in the 73-74 MPH range, and a 79-80 MPH changeup. There wasn’t a true standout pitch among the four, but Kolhosser commanded each offering well, stole strikes, and limited hard contact. Here’s a pitch breakdown I created following Kolhosser’s start.
As you can see, Kolhosser didn't show much fastball velocity (88.7 average), and that lines up with what we saw last spring. However, he's reportedly been up to 94 this fall and has shown 91+ MPH velo during starts in the past. Looking at the secondaries, the slider appears to be a new pitch. He only threw it four times, but all four were strikes, and he dotted one back door to a lefty for a backwards K. Clearly there are attractive elements here and given the projectable body and low-effort mechanics, it is highly likely that there's more gas left in the tank. With further growth and good health, Kolhosser could garner day two draft interest.
St. John's utilized the transfer portal to bring lefty Evan Chaffee back to his New York roots after his freshman year with Alabama, where he didn't see any game action. During my fall look, Chaffee stood out with his pitchability and feel for two quality secondaries. At 6’2-185, he offers significant projection, and I like how the arm works during his delivery. Chaffee's fastball was 87-89 MPH in his first inning of action, dipping slightly into the 86-88 MPH range for innings two and three. The fastball displayed sinker shape and flashed some good arm side run. For Chaffee to become a legitimate draft prospect in 2025, improvements in fastball command and velocity are essential. Nevertheless, his ability to execute his secondary pitches and keep hitters off balance is a current strength. His curveball and changeup, both in the 76-79 MPH range, exhibit distinct qualities. The curve showcases two-plane movement (2-7 or 2-8 shape) and proved a solid-average pitch, while the changeup, Chaffee's standout, flashed above-average grades. It displayed late arm side movement, with Chaffee effectively maintaining fastball arm speed. Anticipate Chaffee contributing to the weekend rotation, gaining valuable innings and game experience, crucial for someone with his limited game experience. 2024 promises to be a pivotal test for Chaffee, making him an arm worth monitoring in the months ahead.
Two additional contenders for the weekend rotation include lefty Joe Mascio and righty Mario Pesca. Mascio, a pitchability lefty, emerged as a reliable option last spring, leading the team in games started and innings pitched as a sophomore with a respectable 4.68 ERA. While not overpowering, Mascio's starting experience over a full season sets him apart from many on this staff. On the other hand, Mario Pesca, a 6’8-225 righty from the Bronx, is more of a "draft guy." Despite a challenging freshman season with a 6.65 ERA, Pesca's potential is considerable. While I didn’t get to see him this fall, I’m told his fastball sat in the 89-91 MPH fastball with a rapidly developing high-spin slider between 79-82 MPH. Pesca topped out at 94 MPH last spring, and the prospect of an eventual velocity boost is plausible. Pesca also threw a curveball and changeup last spring, both of which have some promise. The key for Pesca lies in refining his strike-throwing and sustaining the quality of his stuff throughout a game and the entire season. I can envision Pesca developing into a sinker-slider righty who leverages his size to induce groundball contact.
Beyond Agresti, several other freshmen showcased their talents during my two looks. Righties Brady Clark and TJ Winn may not have exhibited overwhelming velocity, but both presented themselves as potential building blocks for the team's future. Clark, standing at 6’3-205, offers an intriguing combination of size, funk, and deception in his delivery. Despite occasional repeatability issues, Clark demonstrated command with all three pitches. His fastball ranged from 84-86 MPH, topping out at 87 MPH. The slider displayed impressive sweeping movement in the mid-70s, and the changeup proved effective against left-handed hitters, occasionally flashing average. On the other hand, Winn, with a lean and lanky build, operates from a low, almost sidearm slot. His fastball, ranging from 84-86 MPH, showcased notable sinking action, complemented by a slurvy breaking ball with significant horizontal break. Both Clark and Winn seem poised to contribute immediately, offering diverse looks out of the bullpen.
Switching to the offensive front, Zaine Toneske left a lasting impression with a colossal home run during my initial look. Physically mature at 6’2-230, Toneske possesses the potential to be a valuable power bat off the bench in the near term. While addressing swing-and-miss concerns is crucial for his development, his raw power stands well above average. On the other hand, Jayder Raifstanger brings a more refined hitting approach. Sporting a line-drive stroke from the left side, Raifstanger showcases quick hands at the plate with at least solid-average bat speed. Primarily playing second base during the summer in the Futures League, Raifstanger’s tool set suggests he could handle multiple positions, providing St. John’s with some valuable flexibility on the defensive end.
Conference: MAAC
2023 Record: 13-38 | 9th in conference
Head Coach: Conor Burle | 3rd year
Top Prospect ‘24 Draft: Michael Lorenzetti, RHP
Top Prospect ‘25 Draft: Josiah Ragsdale, OF
A palpable shift in energy resonates within this 2024 Gaels squad, marking a notable departure from their challenging past. My last encounter with Iona was in early March 2022 against Albany, and I won't sugarcoat it—the team was in disarray, finishing with a daunting 6-41 record. Head Coach Conor Burke navigated his inaugural year at the helm, and while 2023 posed its own set of difficulties (13-38), the team is undeniably on an upward trajectory. Burke has assembled a commendable coaching staff, and the talent on the current roster has undergone significant improvement in just two years. While there's still work to be done, the momentum suggests that, under Burke's guidance, Iona has the potential to emerge as a true contender in the MAAC in the near future.
Getting the start for Iona against St. John’s was righty Andrelys Payamps, a junior college transfer from Monroe College. Payamps possesses live stuff that promises to keep hitters on their toes this spring. His four-seam fastball consistently sat at 91 MPH, touching 93 early with riding action that induced whiffs. Additionally, Payamps spun several quality sliders with good depth at 80 MPH. While the quality of his arsenal isn't in question, Payamps will need to throw more strikes and maintain the quality of his arsenal over extended periods. Payamps seemed to hit a wall physically when some defensive miscues led to a long first inning, but to his credit, he rebounded after a brief respite between innings. Although the polish wasn't fully evident, there’s no question that Payamps has the raw stuff to go toe-to-toe with the other Friday night starters in the MAAC.
Payamps: Juco Bandit
Monroe College transfer Andrelys Payamps can rack up the whiffs in a hurry.
Iona's pitching staff features two towering sophomores in Michael Lorenzetti and Andrew Gaines, standing at an impressive 6’9-220 and 6'5-240, respectively. Lorenzetti, a draft-eligible sophomore, possesses a lanky and projectable build that hints at further physical and strength gains. Despite struggles with the consistency of his delivery, marked by some inherent violence, Lorenzetti compensates by getting good extension down the mound. He also has a deceptive arm action and release, which allows his stuff to play up when he’s in sync mechanically. Lorenzetti's fastball ranged from 88-91 MPH (he was up to 94 last spring) and displayed occasional riding and running action. For the secondary offerings, Lorenzetti utilized a slurve that flashed average in the 74-77 MPH range and a developing, below-average changeup in the low 80s. Lorenzetti's slurve has some further potential with its heavy two-plane movement from a tough angle. However, he had a tendency to alter his mechanics when throwing the breaker, which is something experienced hitters are going to exploit. Despite his current rawness, Lorenzetti exhibits promising traits for Iona's coaching staff to refine.
Mt. Lorenzetti
Michael Lorenzetti is a mountain on the mound at 6 feet 9 inches. The draft-eligible sophomore’s development will be vital for this Iona pitching staff.
In contrast, Andrew Gaines has a thicker, more filled-out frame. Gaines entered the game and went straight at hitters with a firm 91-92 MPH heater before settling into the 88-90 MPH range during his second inning of work. Gaines paired the fastball with a sweeping curve in the 73-75 range, which has some positive traits but will need further refinement. While there's noticeable effort in his operation, Gaines excels in spinning the baseball, and there are swing-and-miss elements to his fastball. Gaines is someone to watch in the months ahead, especially if he shows more control in his second year with the Gaels.
Closing out games for the Gaels, junior Matt Zguro is what I like to call a "slider monster." Zguro throws his 60-grade slider early and often to opposing hitters with good reason. In 2023, Zguro threw his slider over 55% of the time, leading to an excellent whiff rate slightly above 50%. His fastball operates in the upper 80s, and he exhibits less feel for locating it compared to his slider. If Zguro's fastball takes a step forward this spring, he stands poised to become one of the premier stoppers in the MAAC.
On the positional side, 4th-year shortstop Jayson Gonzalez had some hard-line drive contact and displayed a solid plate approach. With a lean, lanky build and athletic actions at shortstop, Gonzalez, a transfer from Maine, appears primed for an everyday role after limited playing time in recent years. Joining Gonzalez on the left side of the infield is sophomore Anthony Zollo. The last time I saw Zollo, he was playing with current Angels prospect Caden Dana at Don Bosco Prep. Zollo earned a spot on the MAAC All-Rookie team last spring with a .301/.373/.341 line over 194 plate appearances. Although lacking a standout tool presently, Zollo is a reliable defender at the hot corner and consistently puts the ball in play.
Another notable sophomore emerging during the scrimmage was outfielder Josiah Ragsdale. Battling through the harsh sun in right field, Ragsdale tracked the ball well, looking smooth in the process. He’s a solid athlete with some length to the frame and physical projection remaining. While I wasn’t able to get a home-to-first time, Ragsdale has at least solid-average speed, and that might be selling him short. He has some sneaky pop from the left side, but his plate approach seemed geared towards a quick, slappy swing that enables him to hit line drives from pole to pole. With a freshman-year batting line of .282/.391/.459, expect Ragsdale to make significant strides in his sophomore campaign.
Conference: Big East
2023 Record: 31-24 | 3rd in Conference
Head Coach: Rob Sheppard | 19th year
Top Prospect ‘24 Draft: Pat D’Amico, 3B
Top Prospect ‘25 Draft: Ryan Reich, RHP
I’ve been able to get a live look at Seton Hall three falls in a row now. In the fall of 2021, I remember thinking, “This doesn’t look like a Rob Sheppard-led team.” Something was off, and unsurprisingly, that 2022 team went 18-35. The team lost a substantial amount of talent to the transfer portal following the 2022 season. Four-year starter at third base Casey Dana left for rival UConn while promising underclass arms Zane Probst, Chris Lotito, and Drew Conover transferred to Alabama, Jacksonville, and Rutgers, respectively. I wasn’t sure what to expect going into fall ball last year, but it wasn’t long before I realized that the ship was back on course. Sure enough, the Pirates went 31-24 last spring, finishing 3rd overall in the Big East.
A major catalyst for Seton Hall's resurgence was the addition of Giuseppe Papaccio to the coaching staff. The former Seton Hall shortstop and associate head coach played a pivotal role in NJIT's 2021 squad, orchestrating a memorable regional victory in Fayetteville. Despite losing notable pieces like elite defensive catcher Jedier Hernandez to the transfer portal once again in 2023, Sheppard and Papaccio demonstrated their adeptness at assembling a competitive team that should compete at a high level in the Big East. The coaching duo's ability to nurture developing talent suggests that the program is not just aiming for success in the present but is strategically building for sustained competitiveness in the years ahead.
Dayton transfer Nate Espelin and sophomore Ryan Reich received the starting nods in the intrasquad scrimmage. Reich is one of my breakout picks for the 2024 season. The 6’2-215 righty proved his mettle as an integral late-inning arm for the Pirates in his freshman year, continuing his success as a starter in the Cal Ripken Collegiate League over the summer. Reich compiled a 2.56 ERA, 83 strikeouts (14.2/9), and allowed only 30 hits (5.1/9) in 52.2 innings. During the scrimmage, Reich showcased a fastball ranging from 88-91 MPH, touching 92 twice and 93 once. The unique shape and angle of his fastball elevate its effectiveness beyond its velocity. Reich also introduced a 79-81 MPH slider and an 82-83 MPH splitter as new secondary pitches. While their consistency needs refinement, both secondary offerings exhibited potential and should play well off of his unique fastball. I plan on diving deeper into Reich’s profile later this winter, so stay tuned for that. Transitioning from the bullpen to the weekend rotation is no small feat for an underclassman, but Reich's performance suggests he could eventually be a Friday night starter and potentially Seton Hall's most promising pitching prospect since David Festa.
Lefty Nate Espelin wasn’t able to put it all together at Dayton after being selected in the 35th round out of high school by the Yankees back in 2019. Espelin only received 41 innings during his time at Dayton with a bloated ERA of 10.76. Despite his previous struggles, Espelin, with a medium, thick build, displayed an intriguing four-pitch mix. His repertoire includes a four-seam fastball in the 87-90 MPH range (touching 91), a mid-70s curveball that was mostly fringe-average, a low-80s changeup with occasional quality arm-side fade, and a high-80s cutter that appeared to be his best pitch. Espelin's cutter usage was limited to less than 10% in the spring of 2023, but he threw it for strikes at a very high rate, and the late break on the pitch helps avoid barrels. Dropping the four-seam usage for more cutters might be worth exploring. There were inconsistencies in the delivery and with keeping his arm on time, but Espelin's cutter-curve-changeup combo showed promise when he was in sync mechanically. Anticipate Espelin getting a shot at the weekend rotation, aiming for a resurgence in his collegiate pitching career.
A few underclassmen of note made appearances in this one. This was my first look at sophomore righty Colin Dowlen in a Seton Hall uniform after seeing him pitch a controversial gem to win a state title in 2022. He lacks height but has a stout frame and attacks hitters from a low, deceptive arm slot. The fastball sat in the 86-88 MPH range with a lot of running action to his arm side. His high spin curveball was slurvy at times but was solid-average when thrown in the upper end of his 73-77 MPH velocity range. Dowlen didn’t show much present feel for a changeup and was tiring by his third inning of work. That likely means a bullpen role for Dowlen in 2024, which gives him the opportunity to refine his promising fastball-curveball combination.
Cody Sharman is a freshman southpaw who looked particularly crisp on this day. He makes up for his lack of present fastball velocity (83-84 MPH) with advanced pitchability and poise on the mound. Sharman had no issues executing his three-pitch mix, highlighted by a 73-74 MPH changeup that dropped off the table. Another freshman, Joey Calabretti, listed as a two-way player, took the mound late in the scrimmage. Calabretti's pro-level physique and agile movements on the mound were particularly impressive. While still raw as a pitcher, the righty from P27 Academy exhibited intriguing long-term potential. Employing a crossfire finish, Calabretti shifted between arm slots, primarily throwing from a low 3/4 slot and occasionally an over-the-top angle that gave his 87-88 MPH fastball more riding life. Although he struggled to throw competitive breakers, Calabretti spun one nasty 76 MPH sweeper that resulted in a zone whiff. Calabretti is undoubtedly raw, but there’s legitimate potential on both sides of the ball. I look forward to seeing how coach Rob Sheppard and Co. choose to deploy him moving forward.
Joey Calabretti
Two-way freshman Joey Calabretti could be a unique weapon for coach Rob Sheppard.
I didn’t see righties Daniel Frontera, Cole Hansen, Jay Allmer, or Michael Gillen during the scrimmage, but all four will be important members of the Seton Hall pitching staff. Daniel Frontera’s ERA is above 6.00 after two seasons and 86.2 innings at Seton Hall. He’s better than that but is still searching for an effective secondary pitch to compliment his solid 89-92 MPH fastball that topped out at 95 last spring. Frontera, who made 14 starts last year, could find success in a swing-type role. Redshirt sophomore Cole Hansen didn’t pitch at all as a freshman for Rutgers but earned himself a spot in the weekend rotation for the Pirates by the end of 2023. Hansen made 12 appearances, half of which were starts, and finished with a 3.75 ERA. He isn’t flashy, but he mixes and locates three pitches well, with a low 80s slider functioning as his putaway pitch. Allmer is your typical sidewinding reliever with a sinker-sweeper combo. He led the team in saves last spring after transferring from UNC Asheville. The senior righty was excellent this summer in the NECBL, racking up ten saves and a minuscule 0.60 ERA. Last but not least, Michael Gillen emerged as one of the most dominant relievers in the Big East as a freshman in 2023. His stat line was remarkable, posting a 0.34 ERA and a K-to-BB ratio of 27:5 in 26.2 innings. With advanced control of his 88-91 MPH riding fastball and a high spin slider in the upper 70s/low 80s featuring ample lateral movement, Gillen's two-pitch combination makes him an ideal fit for the bullpen. However, his immediate dominance suggests that a larger role may be worth exploring down the road.
hack man
Expect veteran outfielder and on-base machine Devin Hack to provide a spark atop the Pirates lineup in 2024.
The position player group is veteran-heavy with a mix of returnees and transfers. Leading the veteran charge is 5th-year senior Staus Pokrovsky, who was one of my picks to click after watching him mash last fall. He’ll likely split time at catcher and designated hitter while serving as a formidable power threat in the heart of the order. Pokrovsky hit eleven long balls last spring, and his top-end exit velos were in the top 5% among D1 hitters. Senior Max Viera had the bounceback season the Pirates were hoping for, boosting his OPS to .858 after a disappointing .562 OPS in 2022 with Northeastern. Viera makes a lot of line-drive contact and uses his 50-to-55-grade speed well on the bases. He played shortstop last year and has the ability to play multiple positions, though he didn’t play the field during this look. Jonathan Luders and Devin Hack are two more 5th-year seniors who are coming off successful 2023 seasons. Neither offers much in the power department, but both vets recorded OBPs over .400 last year, and they rarely swing and miss. Hack is a great runner who covers ground in center and can play all three outfield positions, while Luders looked comfortable at shortstop and has experience at multiple infield spots.
The Pirates also brought in some notable transfers this offseason. After putting up a .344/.423/.656 with Quinnipiac in 2022, Danny Melnick didn’t get much playing time at Rutgers in 2023. The 5th-year senior offers some versatility with his ability to rotate between catcher, first base, and the outfield. I wouldn’t be surprised if he experienced a bounceback year similar to what we saw with Viera. Kyle Lyons, a graduate transfer from Bucknell, brings a potent combination of contact hitting and robust outfield defense. First baseman Andrew Bianco is a grad transfer from DII New Haven with a lot of physicality and an imposing presence in the box. Bianco adds some much-needed power potential and some lineup protection for Pokrovsky.
Among the group of freshmen, Kevin Milewski, Ryan Frontera, and Casey Cumiskey stood out to me. Milewski is a gigantic 6’4-230 catcher from Connecticut with well above-average bat speed and present over-the-fence power. His size may push him to first base down the road, but the power ceiling is huge. Daniel Frontera’s younger brother, Ryan Frontera, battled during a strong at-bat that led to a hard-hit double down the left-field line. He manned left field during the scrimmage but played a lot of second base during summer ball. No high school hitter in the state of New Jersey had more base hits than Casey Cumiskey last year. But it was Cumiskey’s glove at shortstop that caught my attention. Cumiskey showed impressive polish and smoothness for a freshman and looks like the heir apparent at the position. He’s a good athlete with above-average speed, at least, and there’s some projection remaining in his 6’3-190 frame.
The most intriguing player on Seton Hall’s roster from a 2024 draft perspective, in my opinion, is junior third-baseman Pat D’Amico. D’Amico had a rough freshman year (156 PA, .584 OPS), but he took a major step forward last spring, boosting his OPS over 200 points to .810. He looks more physical this fall and is filling out his favorable 6’1-185 build nicely. D’Amico had some quality rounds during BP, showed off a strong, disciplined approach, and was sound defensively at third. If D’Amico experiences another boost in production and in-game power, he’ll certainly put himself on the draft radar.
On deck. . .
The fall ball coverage continues with Saint Joseph’s and Vanderbilt!
2023 USA Baseball Collegiate National Team Preview
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.
LHP Ben abeldt, texas Christian (2025)
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.
RHP Matt Ager, UC Santa Barbara (2024)
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.
RHP Eldridge Armstrong III, Transfer portal (2024)
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.
RHP Drew Beam, Tennessee (2024)
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.
C Karson Bowen, Texas Christian (2025)
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.
RHP Brody Brecht, Iowa (2024)
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.
RHP Aiven Cabral, Northeastern (2025)
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.
LHP/1B Jac Caglianone, Florida (2024)
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.
LHP Kayden Campbell, Louisville (2025)
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.
OF Cam Cannarella, Clemson (2025)
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.
RHP Evan Chrest, Jacksonville (2025)
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.
1B/OF Charlie Condon, Georgia (2024)
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.
RHP Christian Coppola, Rutgers (2025)
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.
C Jacob Cozart, NC State (2024)
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.
INF Kaelen Culpepper, Kansas State (2024)
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.
LHP Alton Davis II, Alabama (2025)
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.
LHP Cade Fisher, Florida (2025)
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.
LHP Dominic Fritton, NC State (2024)
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.
LHP Devin Futrell, Vanderbilt (2024)
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.
RHP Austin Gordon, Clemson (2024)
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.
INF Ethan “Duce” Gourson, UCLA (2024)
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.
OF Rodney Green Jr., California (2024)
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.
lhp jOSH hARTLE, wAKE fOREST (2024)
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.
RHP Luke Holman, Transfer Portal (2024)
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.
LHP Carter Holton, Vanderbilt (2024)
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.
RHP Ryan Johnson, Dallas Baptist (2024)
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.
OF Dakota Jordan, Mississippi State (2024)
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.
INF Seaver King, Wake Forest (2024)
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.
1B Nick Kurtz, Wake Forest (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.
OF Jace Laviolette, Texas A&M (2025)
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.
c/1B Anthony Martinez, UC Irvine (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.
RHP Michael Massey, Wake Forest (2024)
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.
RHP Xavier Meachem, North Carolina A&T (2023)
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.
LHP Omar Melendez, Alabama State (2024)
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.
LHP Mason Molina, Texas Tech (2024)
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.
OF/RHP Braden Montgomery, Stanford (2024)
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.
C Malcolm Moore, Stanford (2024)
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.
INF Christian Moore, Tennessee (2024)
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.
RHP Brandon Neely, Florida (2024)
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.
RHP Tyson Neighbors, Kansas State (2024)
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.
RHP Mason Nichols, Ole Miss (2024)
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.
INF Griff O’Ferrall, Virginia (2024)
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.
RHP Fran Oschell III, Duke (2024)
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.
OF Austin Overn, Southern California (2024)
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.
OF Ethan Petry, South Carolina (2025)
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.
RHP Kyle Robinson, Texas Tech (2024)
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.
RHP Matt Scott, Stanford (2025)
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.
INF Kodey Shojinaga, Kansas (2024)
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.
INF Anthony Silva, Texas Christian (2024)
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.
LHP Hagen Smith, Arkansas (2024)
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.
RHP Parker Smith, Rice (2024)
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.
C/OF Ryan Stafford, Cal Poly (2024)
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.
RHP Pablo Torres, bethune-Cookman (2025)
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.
INF/RHP Mitch Voit, Michigan (2025)
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.
INF J.J. Wetherholt, West Virginia (2024)
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.
RHP Nicholas Wilson, Southern (2023)
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.
RHP Jay Woolfolk, Virginia (2024)
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.
RHP Trey Yesavage, East Carolina (2024)
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.
Socal Stars No. 4: Boras Classic South - Pitchers
*This article was written by Grant Carver and Cameron Emamian
Ethan Schiefelbein, LHP Orange Lutheran, 2024
The way Schiefelbein was throwing the ball when I saw him was extremely entertaining. He was aggressive while attacking the zone with his quick arm action and had twelve strikeouts thanks to his overpowering fastball and curveball combination. The fastball usually sits in the upper 80s-lower 90s and it was looking really firm in this one. The curveball was a sharp breaker that featured some impressive command, which was probably the most impressive part of the pitch. The command on those two pitches was plus in this one. He mixed in a changeup for a velocity shakeup, but it fell a little flat and needs some more refining. Schiefelbein has some projection on him too as he gets older and is listed as 6’1 right now. His two-pitch mix and the command with them specifically were super impressive, and he could be a big name for UCLA if he gets there after next year.
Matthew Champion, RHP JSerra, 2024
Almost as if his name was earned, he’s an absolute competitor on the mound. Champion moves extremely well on and off the mound as he’s very athletic and can field his position. He’s a slender frame but will likely continue to grow, but he flashed three pitches to like. The fastball has a chance to be average, he commands it well and it sets up his other pitches well, but he’ll need to add more velocity and consistency to it for it to play. He also throws a curveball that shows good depth and deception, getting good amounts of chase and swing and miss, and it is definitely his best pitch. His last pitch is a changeup, which he shows feel for and it has flashes of an above-average pitch, although he struggles with its consistency in the zone, it has good arm side fade and plays off the fastball well. At times he can rush his mechanics and lose command and he carries his emotions with him on the mound but he’s a very intriguing arm going into the 2024 draft.
Justin Lee, RHP Notre Dame, 2023
His name has been all over the draft talks, especially given the lack of California prep arms that could be drafted this year. It’s been a tumultuous spring in terms of stuff for Lee, with his velocity being all over the place but there is one thing that remains true, its pitchability and command. During his outing at the Boras, he was unable to find the breaking ball in the first and he was able to avoid trouble thanks to fastball command, where he sat 88-90 MPH, touching 91 MPH. As the start went on he flashed a slider that had a lot of depth, and was borderline looked like a curve at times but it was highly effective as he pounded fastballs at the knees. He threw the splitter less than he usually does but it still wasn’t hit by anyone, an increased usage of that pitch could be really effective for him.
Zach Strickland, RHP Maranatha, 2025
This one is interesting because Prospects Live first got a brief glimpse of the righty at Area Code Select West in a one inning sample size, but he had a whole different outing on display at the Boras. He went seven innings in a game that went into extras, and despite not having his best stuff he fought for over 105 pitches to battle, showing a three pitch mix of fastball, curveball, and a changeup. His fastball was 88-90 MPH and by the end of the game was more 85-88 MPH but for a sophomore in high school to maintain velocity that well alone was impressive. The command can be spotty at times but at his best, he’s keeping hitters off balance and works north and south frequently with the fastball and curve. The changeup needs work but an arm to keep an eye on for the future for sure.
JJ Hollis, RHP JSerra, 2023
A 6’4 righty committed to UCSB, this is a college arm who could really break out and dominate. The velocity doesn’t jump off the page for someone his size, but he threw an incredible complete-game shutout and didn’t appear to break a sweat at any point throughout. It was mostly a two-pitch mix for much of the outing, throwing from a low three-quarters arm slot, it was a sinker that ran hard into righties and took their knuckles right off their hands, and a breaking ball, which genuinely could have been a curve or a slider thanks to his arm slot being so unique, but either way it didn’t matter, he threw it with solid velocity out of the same slot and it tunneled well. He split the plate in half and ate hitters alive with it, he mostly showed a ground ball mix but he did get enough swings and misses to be intriguing. He threw a handful of changeups that showed some potential and also played off the fastball thanks to the arm slot. Command carries his profile but will be an interesting guy to watch in the future.
*The video says ‘25 Josh Hollis but it is actually JJ Hollis ‘23
Collin Clarke, RHP Santa Margarita Catholic, 2023
Clarke was a really sound and effective right-hander on the mound in the start I caught. He overcame some early control issues and went the distance, racking up eight strikeouts while doing it. He is listed at 6’2 with some room to add weight, which should give the velocity a few ticks of improvement as he gets older. The mechanics were on point and consistent, and once he got in a groove after a couple of innings he kept going. His fastball does have good run on it with some late life. His best secondary pitch is probably his slider, which almost looked like a sharp cutter during this one. He threw in a changeup that was fringe as well. The stuff overall needs improvement and did not look super flashy to me, but the results were there and the process on the mound was impressive for Clarke.
Deep Drives: LSU/South Carolina Showdown
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.
RHP Paul Skenes, lsu (No. 4 on Top 400, 199 digs+)
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.
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
OF Dylan Crews, lsu (no. 1 on top 400, 196 bags+)
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
OF ethan petry, south carolina (197 bags+)
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.
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
SS Jordan thompson, lsu (no. 217 on top 400, 140 bags+)
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
RHP Jack Mahoney, south carolina (no. 80 on top 400, 131 digs+)
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.
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
SS Braylen swimmer, south Carolina (168 bags+)
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
RHP James Hicks, south Carolina (no. 300 on top 400, 114 digs+)
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
AREA CODE GAME WEST SELECT: Standout Pitchers
Area Code Game West SELECT: Standout Hitters
This past weekend, Area Code Select West took place at Dodger Stadium, a two-day event featuring some of the top high school talent on the West Coast. There were two major takeaways from the weekend. Walker Buehler level tight pants were all the rage and the talent pool was absolutely loaded. One thing to know about this event in comparison to other Area Code events is this was 40 hand-selected players, the cream of the crop if you will. These are the players who stood out in comparison to their peers. This piece will end with a couple interviews with players.