The Top 20 Washington Nationals prospects headlined by Dylan Crews
The Top 20 New York Mets prospects headlined by Brandon Sproat
This past Sunday, I was able to travel to Merion Station, PA to watch Saint Joseph’s University take on Bucknell University in a doubleheader. I was able to get good looks at both Sean Keys from Bucknell and Matt McShane from Saint Joseph’s, both likely to be selected during the 2024 MLB Draft.
3-4, 2 2B, BB, 2 IBB, HBP
Keys is number 86 on our 2024 Preseason Top 100 College Draft Prospects list. He had a nice showing against St. Joseph’s last weekend only recording one out in 8 plate appearances. He faced two talented St. Joseph’s starting pitchers Ryan Desanto and Domenic Picone. In the first inning of game one, he turned on a Desanto fastball and drove it off the right-center field wall for a double. He drew a walk in his second AB and an intentional walk in his third. In game 2, he showed off his pull-side power once again, driving a ground-rule double to right-center. He also recorded another intentional walk as well as a HBP.
Keys has proven during his time at Bucknell that he is a very patient hitter and knows the strike zone well. Not only that, but he is also aggressive when he gets the pitch he wants. He has quick hands, good bat speed, and is violent at the point of attack with a swing path capable of covering much of the strike zone.
Keys, 6’2” 220 lbs, has a strong, powerful build that not only boosts his power at the plate but conversely causes limitations to his mobility at third base. He isn’t a smooth mover on the basepaths or in the field. While I do believe he has the arm to play third base and potentially the glove as well, I don’t feel that he has the lateral quickness to play the position at the next level. Unless he vastly improves his athleticism come draft time, I feel that a move to first base would be what best suits both him as well as the team that picks him.
If all goes perfectly for Keys this spring, he could potentially hear his name called in the 3rd round, but I would currently project him being drafted in the 4-6 round range.
0.2 IP, 0 H, 1 BB, 1 SO
McShane has shown an uptick in his velocity from a year ago. His fastball so far this year has been 93-95 mph, topping out at 96. The only thing that worries me is that he put out a lot of effort to get it to the mid-90s. His slider has been very effective coming in at 82-83 mph with a tight, gyro movement. It stays in the zone for a long time and is extremely deceptive to hitters. He also has an 86-87 mph changeup that he has struggled to control at times but is effective when he hits his location.
He entered the game Sunday with one out in the ninth inning, two runners on, and a five-run cushion. He walked the first batter he faced, then came back with a strikeout on a 95 mph fastball. He then hit the next batter, allowing a run to score. Finally, he induced a flyout to right field to end the game.
I would like to see if he can clean up some of his control issues as the year goes on before placing a proper grade on him, but when he’s at his best, he has the stuff to be a potential day two pick.
X: @JakeBarg
Continuing on our series of analyzing pre-season 2024 prep prospects throughout the Ohio Valley to keep an eye on this spring. We now jump into the left-handed pitchers (LHP) in the region this week. As outlined in the first article last week, the State of Indiana has some of the most stout arms in the country, and it resumes with the southpaws. The State of Michigan may have the most polarizing lefty in the draft class in Joey Broughton and also features some solid future college arms to keep an eye on garnering Power 5 attention. Lastly, the Buckeye State, after producing three intriguing left-handed pitchers last season out of the 2023 class (Colton Hartman - Louisville, Titus Lotz - Bowling Green, and Blaine Albright - Indiana), is shutout in this week's article as their 2024 class currently lacks the projectable velocity for the MLB Draft and many of their arms are more college projects than day one contributors at the Power 5 level.
Next week, we will dive into the infield dudes making noise heading into the spring. With that said, what LHP prospects should we pay attention to this spring that can create momentum heading into July? Let's dive into the lefties making noise leading into the varsity baseball season.
| Brayton Thomas, Bishop Dwenger HS (IN) |
| 6-foot-4 | 236 - pounds | Commit: Indiana | Draft Day Age: 19 yr. |
‘24 LHP Brayton Thomas (@Brayton12614219)
— Prep Baseball Indiana Scouting Coverage (@PrepBaseINScout) February 25, 2024
• 6’4” 235 lbs, big league frame
• @IndianaBase recruit
Heavy fastball gets on hitters w/ 7’ extension, sweeping SL tunnels.
Uncapped ceiling
FB 90-92, T 93 (2500+)
SL 79-83 (17”+ HZB)
CB 73-76
CH 84-85#SNLiveABs || @ShooterHunt pic.twitter.com/JumbDjYJJV
One of the most polished arms out of the Ohio Valley and arguably one of the top southpaws you will see from the nation's 2024 class. Thomas is an uber-physical southpaw who displays projectable front-of-the-rotation stuff on the mound and has punched out over 150 batters in less than 86 innings at Bishop Dewinger HS.
On the mound, Thomas has a tall, durable XL frame with a barrel chest and mature features for his age. When operating on the bump, Thomas works with a prototypical drop-and-drive delivery that is repeatable from a low ¾ arm slot, quick arm action, natural deception, and a high leg kick. There is some effort in the arm, but nothing too alarming. Overall, he has clean mechanics. At Prep Baseball's All-American Games, Thomas recorded up to 7 feet of extension working downhill towards the plate (for perspective, Spencer Strider and Shane McClanahan both create 7 feet of extension working towards the plate. Across the board, it's excellent that makes their stuff play up and gives hitters less time to react). Thomas displays good calm composure, presence, and tempo on the mound and has looked unfazed against all high school hitters who have stepped into the box against him so far.
Diving into the arsenal, Thomas brings a 4-pitch mix of a fastball (FB), a slider (SL), a curveball (CB), and a changeup (CH). The fastball is a true rising four-seamer with backspin, which operates in the low 90s, topping out at 93, exhibiting life through the zone, and is frequently thrown for strikes. The fastball shows solid rise and run action with some natural cut and above-average spin rates (over 2400). Also, the FB tunnels well with the off-speed (SL) that he usually locates well in the lower half or inside on both LHHs & RHHs. Next, the SL will be Thomas's bread and butter pitch that will make him some money. The SL works in the upper 70s with good tilt and adequate spin (around 2300 – 2400) that displays tight and downward action into the zone towards batters with advanced feel; It's a real-deal weapon that Thomas often uses as a put-away pitch. Scouts continue to see consistent S/M out of the SL, leading to plus pitch potential going into the draft. Thomas also works with a CH that operates in the low 80s with good fade and some feel. Lastly, Thomas has been operating with a CB as a fourth option to build more into his starter profile. CB works in the low 70s with good movement and sufficient spin (around 2200 - 2350).
Overall, there is lots to like about Thomas moving forward, with room still in the tank for further advancements on the mound. Between his advanced feel on the bump, pro ball size/athleticism, and good pitchability; there is a chance for his name to get called this summer. The real question lies in his commitment to the in-state school of Indiana and whether going to school will benefit him more in the long run. Presently, I see day two upside in Thomas, but if he goes to school, there is easy Friday night starting stuff here (sooner rather than later) with the upside of his name getting called in the first or second round in the 2027 draft. My gut is leaning toward that if we see a velocity jump this spring with him sitting in his mid-90s and topping out around 95-96, he will not be heading to Bloomington in the fall. Just like Kosterman last week, the stuff is the real deal, and only time will tell, but, at the moment, he is an entertaining arm to watch at the prep level out of the Hoosier State.
Preseason Draft Grade: Top 100 HS player; Day 2 grade with intriguing chance of going to school.
| Joey Broughton, Northville HS (MI) |
| 6-foot-2 | 200 - pounds | Commit: Pittsburgh | Draft Day Age: 18 yr 7 mo |
LHP Joey Broughton (MI)@Pitt_BASE recruit
— Shooter Hunt (@ShooterHunt) February 4, 2024
6-foot-2, 200 pounds
FB: 92-94 mph
CB: 78-79 mph 2722 RPM
CH: 85-86 mph #Super60 || #MLBDraft pic.twitter.com/DCqw7pZsVO
Probably the most compelling LHP coming out of the Ohio Valley and an arm with the most helium metrics going into the prep baseball season in the nation. Lately, he came off of Prep Baseball's Super 60 event in February and impressed scouts at the event by heating up the fastball to nearly 95 mph and setting a new bar for the rest of the class by capturing the highest average fastball spin rate ever produced in the history of the Super 60 event (2646 avg and 2746 max spin) and further positioning his name on MLB draft boards as a must-watch prep arm this spring.
On the bump, he works with a repeatable athletic delivery, a high leg kick, and a closed finish. The arm works out of a high ¾ arm slot with a quick arm action and solid tempo. Mechanically, some fine-tuning needs to be done, but everything moves clean and effortlessly on the mound. Physically, Broughton displays a great projectable frame with a durable lower half. He oozes subtle confidence on the mound with good pose and has a competitive mentality to dominate the zone and throw strikes.
Now, diving into the fun stuff of Broughton, he operates with a 3-pitch mix of a fastball (FB), a curveball (CB), and a changeup (CH) that all have outstanding metrics. The FB has seen a jump over the last calendar year as it now sits in the low 90s and tops at 95 with ludicrous spin sitting around 2550 - 2650 with it topping out north of 2700. Further, the FB shows outstanding movement, and he can develop extraordinary spin on the ball, getting 24 + inches of Horizontal Movement (HB), 6 + inches of Induced Vertical Break (IVB), 18 + inches of separation, and a spin efficiency of 89% (IVB and avg. HB were number 1 at the Super 60 event). The FB displays rising and jumping traits into the zone with arm-side running action. Broughton has an outstanding feel for the heater as it is a strike-throwing pitch in his arsenal, landing in the zone roughly ¾s of the time. The fastball alone will make player development departments around MLB salivate and pound the table for their team to draft Broughton this July, as it's a plus pitch. During their evaluation process, scouts will need to see if the bullpen session control and command from the winter translates to in-game well and grades out as the plus pitch we believe it can be.
Diving into the offspeed pitches, Broughton also brings a hammer curveball into the mix as it operates in the upper 70s with high spins touching nearly 3000 RPMs (averages around 2800). The CB displays excellent depth and bite, working with an average of 16 inches of HM that can top out over 20 inches. In addition, the CB works with a 2/7 shape out of the hand. Also, he has shown the ability to land the breaker into the zone consistently for strikes as well. Overall, the CB is a good pitch that supplements the FB, keeping hitters off-balance. Lastly, Broughton brings in a CH that works in the mid-upper 80s and works well within the other pitches of his arsenal. It shows firmness and fading downward movement, with arm-side run. Further, he has shown confidence and feel in the CH and has demonstrated the ability to add/subtract spin, which causes bedlam for hitters in the box.
𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝟔𝟎 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐚 𝐃𝐢𝐯𝐞: @broughton_joey 📊
— Prep Baseball Michigan (@PrepBaseballMI) February 22, 2024
One of the more impressive north/south profiles in the class 👀👍#BeSeen // #Super60 // @prepbaseball pic.twitter.com/Dk12rW7LKs
All-around, Broughton will be one of the most seen arms in the Ohio Valley this spring as the plus metrics show the workhorse ability he projects to become with a chance of breaking out with a "Jackson Jobe" like senior year due to the plus data metric arsenals. He has a good feel and confidence to use any of the three pitches in his arsenal. His arm has some real front-of-the-rotation starting profile and projection with elite spin rates, superior movement, an advanced three-pitch package, and projectable size that could make Broughton into a big helium riser going into the summer. I do not see any limitations in his game where he couldn't add another pitch in the arsenal during his development time in the minors, further pushing his projection as a top-of-the-rotation arm (I would love to see him develop a cutter or splitter in the arsenal; Game Over!). His draft status highly depends on his control, command, and ability to work in longer outings this spring. If everything looks good this spring without any hiccups for him, I see it as unlikely that he will end up in college baseball next season. The upside is too enticing for a club to pass up on, and I believe the metrics will lure a team into paying the man.
Draft Grade: Top 200 selection (current ceiling of a late second-round draft pick while sitting as a third - eighth round grade).
| Caden McCoy, Bloomington North HS (IN) |
| 6-foot-2 | 226 - pounds | Commit: Texas A&M | Draft Day Age: 18 yr 5 mo |
LHP Caden McCoy (IN)@AggieBaseball recruit
— Shooter Hunt (@ShooterHunt) February 4, 2024
6-foot-3, 220 pounds
FB: 87-90 (2600)
CH: 76-77 (1900)
SL: 80-81 (2500)#Super60 || #MLBDraft pic.twitter.com/DLiGZlWbOR
A helium prep arm out of the Hoosier 2024 class, McCoy has become one of the top arms in the region after displaying his stuff when he hopped onto the mound at the National Program Invitational (NPI) and PBR Future Games in the summer of 2022 that led to a near-instantaneous offer from the Aggies. Since then, he has been on everyone's radar out of the Hoosier State and is another arm out of Indiana that has the chance to hear their name get called during All-Star Week.
On the mound, McCoy is a physical pitcher who displays a thicker, stronger frame with durability. When working on the bump, he displays smooth clean operations from an athletic delivery that is repeatable from a high ¾ arm slot, a high leg kick, and a closed finish. His arm is quick with minimal effort; when watching him pitch, the ball darts out of his hand quickly and into the zone. Scouts are bullish on his competitiveness and high-energy demeanor on the bump.
McCoy works with an advanced four-pitch mix of a fastball (FB), a slider (SL), a curveball (CB), and a changeup (CH). The FB is firm that works in the upper 80s and low 90s, topping out at 92, with good arm-side run and plus control. So far, the FB has been the primary pitch in his arsenal that works away on RHHs, inside on LHHs, and, on occasion, living up in the zone. Further, the FB is a data-darling pitch in his arsenal that has produced over 19 inches of IVB, and 12 inches of HB and produces ridiculous spin rates (sits north of 2500 and touches over 2620) that creates frequent S/M against the opposition. The FB on the mound hasn't shown any traits of tapping out, and scouts/coaches genuinely believe there will be another velocity bump in the tank shortly. Overall, the FB is an enticing pitch for any pitching coach to work with that displays promising metrics; however, McCoy this spring would be better off in front of MLB scouts displaying better command with the heater as he periodically will miss his spots driving up his pitch count and show that he can pitch in long outings (holding velo) as a rotation guy so he doesn't get clumped into a reliever category on draft boards due to his burly size.
Next, McCoy works with a pair of breaking balls of a CB and a SL. The CB is a sharp 1/7 - action breaking ball in the upper 70s with average spin rates (2400). The CB displays big breaking motion downward into RHHs that freezes hitters in their shoes and cause them to get rung up on occasion. Next, the SL is the pitch he often uses as the knock-out blow on batters, bringing out the ugly stick as batters record hideous swings and misses. His SL, is a tight slurvy two-plane breaking ball that works in the low 80s with spin that sits between 2200 - 2400 and has touched over 2500 in previous bullpen sessions. He has a great feel for his SL, and it works with the FB as a typical duo that tunnels well together, a legitimate one-two combo. Lastly, he operates with an upper-70s changeup that has flashed quality stuff that, with future development, can become a plus pitch. The CH exhibits fading downward movement with arm-side action and a good feel, creating over 12 inches of HM and 14 inches of IVB that flashes upside. Like the SL, the CH tunnels well with the FB, causing issues for hitters in the box.
Caden McCoy SL work 🤝@CadenMcCoy21 #PRPRemote pic.twitter.com/fgll5FLtHl
— PRP Baseball (@PRPBaseball101) February 24, 2024
Overall, McCoy has the strength, durability, and size to be a starter at the next level, but due to his burly size, he could be pushed into a bullpen role. I envision pro scouts seeing McCoy in a similar light to Sal Romano coming out of HS, who also had a similar size and arsenal (when coming out of HS, Romano's FB sat at the same velo as McCoy and darted up to 93-98 mph T100 in the Reds farm system). Depending on the organization, McCoy may be stretched out to be the starting arm or may look to build him to be a prospective lock-down closer. Ultimately, it goes down to if scouts want to take the chance early on McCoy and they feel they can develop him into something they can imagine. If not drafted this summer, then he will become an enticing project in College Station and a potential electric arm for the Aggies to play with.
Preseason Draft Grade: Dart-throw day three grade with outstanding upside for the college level.
| Honorable Mentions |
| Ethan Lund, Hamilton Southeastern HS (IN) |
| 6-foot-5 | 212 - pounds | Commit: Oklahoma State | Draft Age: 18 yr 10 mo |
| Leighton Harris, Frederick Douglass HS (KY) |
| 6-foot-3 | 210 - pounds | Commit: Kentucky | Draft Age: 18 yr 11 mo |
| Brendon Bennett, Novi HS (MI) |
| 6-foot-2 | 210 - pounds | Commit: Clemson | Draft Age: 18 yr 4 mo |
| Kael Gahan, Lake Orion HS (MI) |
| 6-foot-2 | 180 - pounds | Commit: Duke | Draft Age: 17 yr 9 mo |
Editor’s Note: This is a collaborative effort from Tyler Jennings and Patrick Bauer, both of whom attended the event in person.
As of writing this piece, tryouts for the 2024 high school baseball season have begun, and players are starting to get ramped up for the upcoming Prep Baseball Season in the Ohio Valley. For our readers in the Ohio Valley and Midwest who are battling through the up-and-down weather and weekly snow squalls, I have decided each week until the varsity season begins to provide a pre-season deep dive of some 2024 prep prospects throughout the Ohio Valley to keep an eye on that are either guys I can envision getting their name called this July or potential impact college players in the near future. At the end of the prep season, I will re-evaluate and include dudes who have jumped this spring.
For the avid readers of my upcoming content, nearly all of my content will be focused on either the prep or collegiate baseball within the Ohio Valley (the Ohio Valley in my content will pertain to the states of OH, MI, IN, KY, and sometimes WV) with some content focused on the higher level dudes outside of this region projected to go really high. Additionally, when we get into the summer months, I'll transition into breaking down some outstanding impact guys within the MLB Draft League, Prospects League, and Great Lakes League.
After straying from the subject matter, we are starting this week with the RHP prep baseball players to watch for this spring. When diving into the pitching prospects of the Ohio Valley, the state of Indiana is loaded (no, seriously, Indiana may lead the scorecard in July for most high schoolers getting their name called in the Ohio Valley region). High school pitching in this region has seen a meteoric rise this winter and will start to get more attention when the playing season begins. Let's get down to business!
| Brayden Krenzel, Dublin Jerome HS (OH) |
#54 - Prospect Live 2024 MLB DRAFT: TOP 100 PREP PROSPECTS 01/11/24
| 6-foot-3 | 195 - pounds | Commit: Tennessee | Draft Day Age: 18 yr. 6 mo. |
𝗢𝗻 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝘂𝗻𝘁: 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰 𝗠𝗟𝗕 𝗗𝗿𝗮𝗳𝘁
— Prep Baseball (@prepbaseball) February 1, 2024
presented by: @S2Cognition
RHP @BraydenKrenzel (OH): At the #PBRAAG23, Krenzel showed command and feel for a strong 3-pitch mix with a FB reaching 94 mph. 📈 @PrepbaseballOH
🔗 https://t.co/zdYC8Yk2nH | @ShooterHunt pic.twitter.com/qusAiKd6CC
Probably the most well-known and premier arm out of the Ohio Valley. A coined term that has been used a lot around Krenzel in the previous calendar year has been the word “intriguing” by many scouts. On the mound presents a smooth operation, a super clean arm, and displays natural deception within his delivery. A low-three-quarter arm slot that shows a lower release and exhibits a more extended whippy arm action. Further, he pitches with a “Hunter Greene-like” calming composure and confidence when on the mound.
On the bump, he brings a 3-pitch mix of a fastball (FB), a slider (SL), and a changeup (CH). The FB usually sits low-90s, touching 94 MPH, showing arm-side run and occasional heavy sink. Regarding future projections, he still has enough in the tank to fill out and add to the FB velo with the expectation that it can sit in the mid-90s due to his projectable and physical frame/size. Subsequently, his slider is arguably one of the best in this prep class overall and is a typical go-to pitch that wipes out hitters in the box and locates very well down in the zone (a regular nightmare for RHHs). SL usually operates in the low-80s and has a sweeping shape that tunnels out of the hand very well with his CH. Works well on either side of the dish, and in recent outings and showcase appearances, the SL has made a recent jump in metrics. Lastly, the CH sits in the low-80s and is a little more fringy than you look for with higher projected pitching prospects and probably will be average at best moving forward, but with how it tunnels with the SL and how Krenzel mixes his arsenal, it will play.
Overall, Krenzel has a good feel for all of his pitches, isn’t afraid to pitch any of them, and frequently throws strikes. In previous live looks, he has been a usual tough at-bat that creates S/M for even the best hitters in Ohio and within the summer circuit to face. If the velo takes a jump this spring and holds well, we can see an arm in the Buckeye State that could get his name called early during All-Star Week.
Preseason Draft Grade: Top 100 selection (third - sixth round)
| Cameron Sullivan, Mount Vernon HS (IN) |
| 6-foot-2 | 200 - pounds | Commit: Notre Dame | Draft Day Age: 18 yr. 3 mo. |
RHP Cameron Sullivan (IN)@NDBaseball recruit
— Shooter Hunt (@ShooterHunt) February 4, 2024
6-foot-2, 200 pounds
FB: 95-97 (2600)
CH: 90-92 (2200)
SL: 89-90 (2800)#Super60 || #MLBDraft pic.twitter.com/tAlcApaHfa
Probably the most electrifying arm in the Ohio Valley and an arm with the most helium going into the prep baseball season in the region. Recently, came off of Prep Baseball’s Super 60 event and impressed scouts in a showcase setting by dialing up the FB nearly to 97 mph and over 2600 RPMs of spin. Putting his name on draft boards and making it tough to find a seat at Mount Vernon games this spring.
Sullivan, on the mound, operates with a 3-pitch mix of a fastball (FB), a slider (SL), and a changeup (CH). The FB is a plus pitch that sits mid-90s that carries with life through the zone, and is frequently thrown for strikes. The off-speed/breaking-ball pitches are what I feel are going to separate him from the rest of this prep baseball class in the nation. The SL is an upper-80s breaking ball that touches 90 MPH that has sharp tilt and looks firm with high spin rates (upper 2800). Further, in the box, the slider displays a late lateral break that is disgusting to even go against, creating S/M. From a metrics standpoint, the pitch is enticing, but if he can show better command and hit his spots this spring against live ABs with the SL, he could jump further in the draft. Lastly, he delivers a low-90s CH that is firm and has shown occasional sink, which from a metric standpoint is a really good pitch (over 15 inches of separate and HM hitting over 20 inches) but does seem fringy at times in-game.
Overall, Cameron has a good feel for his pitches and pitches with a mission on the mound. Operates with a good tempo and a repeatable delivery. Further, he performs with a high leg kick, a high three-quarters arm slot, a short, quick arm action, and pitches with deception. The ball jumps out of his hand well. An obvious athlete on the mound and is a superb pitching talent. I easily envision him being a top 100 draft prospect and top 30 prep arm for this draft class in our next rankings update, and it is not an unrealistic projection that he jumps Krenzel by the end of the spring as the best RHP in the Ohio Valley. His draft status highly depends on his control and command this spring.
Preseason Draft Grade: Top 100 selection (current ceiling of Compensation A round draft pick while sitting as a second - fifth round grade).
| Jack Brown, Fishers HS (IN) |
| 6-foot-1 | 205 - pounds | Commit: Louisville | Draft Day Age: 18 yr. 9 mo. |
Great stuff from ‘24 RHP Jack Brown (@jackbrown_24) in his start for @TigerBaseball17
— Prep Baseball Indiana (@PBRIndiana) April 7, 2023
Superb athlete at 6’1/200lbs - @LouisvilleBSB recruit
Tons of ASR on the FB. CH w/ fade pairs well w/ the FB, confident in CH R/R. Tight, slurvey breaking ball
FB 88-91 T 94
SL 77-79
CH 81-83 pic.twitter.com/mkcCOdjlhq
A dude who has been a prominent arm out of Indiana for a little while. Brown is a productive and efficient arm out of Noblesville, IN, who has accumulated over 190 Ks to 57 BB and under a 2.00 ERA during his Fishers HS career so far. An arm that reminds me of a current Louisville Cardinal, Colton Hartman, who is a premier talent on the bump and accumulates many praises for being a workhorse, but their athleticism isn’t limited to just the mound as there is two-way potential in them, as both in their HS career have displayed the ability to do damage in the box (for the sake of this article we are going to focus on the arm).
When on the bump, Brown operates with a smooth delivery with some up-tempo, a high leg kick, and when pitching does show some effort at release. Additionally, relies heavily on creating energy from the lower half that works until heel strike. The arm works out of a three-quarters slot that has quick action. Uber-athlete on the mound with physical and projectable traits. Overall, I would like to see the mechanics cleaned up to become more efficient and repeatable.
Brown, on the mound, operates with a 4-pitch mix of a fastball (4-SM and a 2-SM Sinker), a slider (SL), and a changeup (CH). Both FBs work in the low-90s, topping out around 95 MPH with arm-side run. Both FBs have been the primary pitches in his arsenal early on in counts he relies on the most, pitching low in the zone and inducing a high rate of groundballs. Next, he has a tight slider that displays some late slurvy action. The SL has become a solid and reliable put-away pitch for Brown, generating whiffs on both righties and lefties that step into the box. His SL is interesting as it bounces from different actions (sometimes 11/5 and other times 10/4) with improving metrics (roughly up to 2500 spin). In recent winter bullpen sessions, he has bumped the velocity up into the mid-80s T87. It's an offering within his arsenal that scouts will want to see this spring, as he's added roughly 6-8 MPH over the offseason. Lastly, Brown has a contentious CH from outing to outing, creating S/M. The CH operates in the mid-80s and works well with the FB. It shows some fade and downward movement, with an arm-side run. Brown has shown confidence in the CH and has demonstrated the ability to add/subtract velo with it, which can create issues for hitters. Across the board, Brown has a good feel for his arsenal, throws strikes, and has shown solid pitch ability against RHHs and LHHs. Additionally, he has the stuff and dedication to be developed into a high-level starting pitcher. Like Hartman last year, we can envision him being drafted, but he is probably a hard sign to get him out of his Cards commitment.
Preseason Draft Grade: Day 2 grade but probably going to school.
| Jake Hanley, William Mason HS (OH) |
| 6-foot-6 | 230 - pounds | Commit: Indiana | Draft Day Age: 18 yr. 11 mo. |
RHP Jake Hanley (OH)@IndianaBase recruit
— Shooter Hunt (@ShooterHunt) February 4, 2024
6-foot-6, 225 pounds
FB: 92-95
SL: 78-81
CH: 81-85#Super60 || #MLBDraft pic.twitter.com/NY8S3ffR7D
The most polarizing, intriguing, and tooled-up athlete in the Midwest of this class goes to the Cincinnati native. Once seen as only a projectable 1B prospect who has been more physical and stronger than most in his class for some time, is now unknown whether he will be a hitter, a pitcher, or both in the future. Being known for blasting baseballs into orbit and grabbing eye-popping metrics in showcase settings in the box, Hanley has made some serious strides as an RHP since the beginning of his junior year. Earlier this winter, just like Sullivan, Hanley came off of Prep Baseball's Super 60 event and impressed scouts in a showcase setting by dialing up the FB to nearly 95 MPH, appearing effortless and having room to further develop into an RHP. I will talk about his offensive abilities another day, but his pitching potential has skyrocketed within the last 16-18 months and lands him as one of the arms to see for the spring.
On the bump, Hanley operates with a three-pitch mix of a fastball (FB), a slider (SL), and a changeup (CH). The FB works with life in the low to mid-90s and carries into the zone. Hanely has displayed the ability to work inside on hitters and through any quadrant he pleases for strikes. The FB has shown plus signs of high spin but needs to be more consistent. Overall, scouts would like to see more movement, rise, or hop with his FB as, at times, it gets a little flat or dead zone, a troubling issue for pitching at the next level. Next, he works with an upper-70s and low-80s SL with average spin and some late 11/5 tilt towards the plate, creating S/M. Lastly, he has an average CH, which works in the low to mid-80s.
Hanley operates with a smooth, effortless delivery and excellent athleticism. Exhibits a short loose arm action out of a three-quarter slot with some deception. Hanley towards the plate doesn't get much extension and works heavily on the upper body with "Brody Brecht-like mechanics." All the pieces are there for a program or team to work with him as a premium pitching project. As an underclassman, he has been given opportunities to pitch. Yet, many were short outings, leaving a potential stigma of him being an RP at the next level (total of 44 innings pitched in HS varsity). Cincinnati's Alpha Baseball has done another great job developing a premium athlete and a potential star pitcher for the next level. Ultimately, it goes down to Hanley being able to impress scouts this spring with his advances on the bump against quality ABs and for longer outings. If his name isn't called in July, the Hoosiers may get another steal from Cincinnati as they did with Devin Taylor.
Preseason Draft Grade: Top 100 HS player; Day 2 grade but probably going to school.
| Kellan Klosterman, Archbishop Moeller HS (OH) |
| 6-foot-1 | 175 - pounds | Commit: Notre Dame | Draft Day Age: 18 yr. 10 mo. |
RHP Kellan Klosterman (OH)@NDBaseball recruit
— Shooter Hunt (@ShooterHunt) February 4, 2024
6-foot-2, 175 pounds
FB: 89-91 mph
SL: 76-78 mph
CB: 77-79 mph
CH: 85 mph #Super60 || #MLBDraft pic.twitter.com/wK4Ld8H3Wr
A helium prep arm from the summer of 2022 for the Ohio 2024 class, Klosterman has become one of the top arms in the region after displaying his stuff at Prep Baseball’s Top Prospect Games in Ohio, dominating in PG's WWBA and, being a member of the highly touted Moeller Crusaders rotation that won a state title in 2023, who's looking to repeat. Kellan is an arm that may not get the serious MLB looks like the other four above will, but is an arm that, if he ends up in ND, will be a workhorse for their pitching staff with possible weekend upside and could further develop into being a dude getting their name called in 2027. If I'm an ND baseball fan, I'm ecstatic over this signing.
Klosterman works with an advanced four-pitch mix of a fastball (FB), a slider (SL), a curveball (CB), and a changeup (CH). The FB works in the upper-80s and low-90s, displaying heavy sink and lower spin (1800). FB comes out of the hand with ease, and velocity is very effortless with more in the tank for future higher velocity. Kellan works the FB as a typical duo with his SL that tunnels well together. The SL is an upper-70s breaking ball (11/5 shape) with wipe-out abilities that have shown traits of being heavy with tight spin and tilt (roughly 2400 - 2500 spin), a true put-away pitch against hitters; with further development, this pitch can become a plus offering. Next, he brings an upper-70s CB, a pitch he doesn't display much, but it creates over 11 inches of HB and spins it very well (roughly 2300 - 2400 spin). Lastly, he delivers a CH that sits in the mid-80s with intriguing traits. CH has fading/depth action, creating over 17 inches of HM and bringing powerful features to the plate. Overall, he is consistent when on the mound. He has a good feel for most of his pitches, lands strikes, and has solid control.
On the mound, he works with an easy repeatable operation of a smooth & controlled delivery at a good tempo, with no effort in a calm/cool presence. Operates with a high leg kick, a snapping explosive quick arm, and a large extension towards the plate—pitches out of a ¾ arm slot that is loose with longer action. Everything mechanically on Klosterman is polished, fluid, and efficient and is probably one of the best in this category behind Krenzel. Physically, I like what ND is working with here, as there's room for him to grow out and add muscle with further stuff in the arsenal. Overall, the stuff is the real deal for Kellan to be an impactful starter at the college level that potentially will garner him looks for the professional level; only time will tell for Klosterman, but, at the moment, he is a fun arm to watch at the prep level.
Preseason Draft Grade: N/A - future college arm
| Honorable Mentions |
| Brendin Oliver, Mooresville HS (IN) |
| 6-foot-4 | 195 - pounds | Commit: Cincinnati | Draft Age: 18 yr. 10 mo. |
| Bryce Brannon, William Mason HS (OH) |
| 6-foot-3 | 205 - pounds | Commit: Duke | Draft Age: 18 yr. 8 mo. |
| Carson Rhodes, Salem HS (OH) |
| 6-foot-2 | 190 - pounds | Commit: Virginia Tech | Draft Age: 18 yr. 2 mo. |
| Carson Van Haaren, Tates Creek HS (KY) |
| 6-foot-1 | 200 - pounds | Commit: Eastern Kentucky | Draft Age: 18 yr. 10 mo. |
| Griffin Tobias, Lake Central HS (IN) |
| 5-foot-11 | 190 - pounds | Commit: Indiana | Draft Age: approximately 19 yr. 0 mo. |
| Maximus McCellan , St. Edwards HS (OH) |
| 6-foot-7 | 215 - pounds | Commit: South Carolina | Draft Age: 18 yr. 3 mo. |
| Nash Wagner, Zionsville HS (IN) |
| 6-foot-5 | 215 - pounds | Commit: Alabama | Draft Age: 18 yr. 9 mo. |
| Nick Heitman, Mount Vernon (IN) |
| 6-foot-3 | 190 - pounds | Commit: Iowa | Draft Age: 18 yr. 10 mo. |
| Noah LaFine, Archbishop Hoban HS (OH) |
| 5-foot-11 | 175 - pounds | Commit: Vanderbilt | Draft Age: 18 yr. 11 mo. |
| Zakery Spurrier, Central Hardin (KY) |
| 6-foot-2 | 230 - pounds | Commit: Kentucky | Draft Age: 18 yr. 4 mo. |
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
With the spring season beginning, organizations are getting started on getting their last looks on some of the prep talent that is available in the 2024 draft. Today, I’ll be looking at three prep pitchers to keep an eye on as their senior season kicks off. Let’s dive in.
RHP Aidan Hayse (Joliet Catholic Academy, Tennessee signee) showed his athleticism on the bump this past Sunday.
— Prep Baseball Illinois (@PBRIllinois) February 6, 2024
◼️FB: 91-93 mph.
◼️SL: 80-82 mph, avg 2580 rpm.
◼️CH: 83-86 mph, avg 18.2” HM.#Super60 | #MLBDraft pic.twitter.com/MQVXatg7xU
There might not be more of a data darling in this year’s prep class of pitchers than Hayse. It’s a pretty ridiculous three-pitch mix that shows some solid upside. Standing at 6’3, Hayse is uber-athletic. It’s a smooth delivery with some electric arm speed. Sequencing-wise, he could stand to get into the front leg a little more consistently, as he can get a bit pushy with the back side, causing him to miss up and arm-side on occasion. However, when he does have it all synced up, it’s clear that there’s something special there. Hailing from Illinois, Hayse hasn’t seen as much time in game as some of his warmer-weather companions in the class have. As he makes the switch from high school to either Tennessee or pro ball, expect him to settle in fairly quickly and put up some more consistent results.
Let’s get into this ridiculous three-pitch mix. His worst pitch is probably his fastball. That said, he consistently throws it in the 91-93 mph range and touched 95 mph this summer. It gets around 16 inches of IVB with about 10 inches of horizontal break to the arm side. When it’s at its best, it shows late life to the arm side. With the arm speed at present, I wouldn’t put it past him to consistently run it up in the mid-high 90s in the coming years. The slider is a real weapon. He comfortably throws it in the 80-82 mph range, and there is some real feel for spin here. The slider typically gets around 14 inches of horizontal break, and he can locate it to either side of the plate. Profiles as a future above-average pitch, and will only continue to improve as the velocity ticks up. The changeup is borderline ridiculous. It’s a hard one as he throws it in the 83-86 mph range, but he’s still able to get upwards of 20 (!!) inches of horizontal break to the arm side. This creates some really uncomfortable looks for both right and left-handed hitters. He throws it at a lower release height, allowing it to produce a pretty steep vertical approach angle as it enters into the zone. It shows the promise of a future double-plus pitch. All in all, Hayse possesses all of the raw tools to succeed at the next level, and the pitchability is only going to continue to improve.
Some ⚡️⚡️stuff from ‘24 Ethan Schiefelbein (CA) who collected whiffs at 91-93 with hop thanks to a whippy arm.
— Shooter Hunt (@ShooterHunt) June 4, 2023
Firmer CB 78-80 (2500+) with swing/miss potential.
Wiry 6’2” frame. Competes. @UCLABaseball recruit #PBRProcase || @PBR_California pic.twitter.com/zrNKct6U7h
Standing at 6”1 175lbs, Schiefelbein isn’t necessarily physically imposing, but the arm talent here is very real and has a chance to be very special. It’s a loose and effortless delivery that is extremely well-sequenced. He can simply cruise through games, oftentimes looking as if he has yet to even break a sweat. But, when he really needs to ramp it up, he’ll add a little extra juice to blow a pitch by the hitter. It’s an incredibly mature approach to the game, and he has all the tools to stick as a starter for a long time to come. He handles his business on the mound like a professional, and the mental game is advanced beyond his years. When you combine this advanced approach with impressive arm talent, Schiefelbein shows outstanding promise and has a chance to be one of the first prep southpaws taken off the board this summer.
Getting into the actual pitch miz, Schiefelbein has a really impressive arsenal. He typically throws the fastball in the 89-92 mph range, occasionally running it up to 94 mph. He gets an incredible amount of carry on the pitch, allowing it to really play up in the zone. It frequently pushes 20 inches IVB, and is a real weapon. His curveball is one of my favorite pitches in this prep class. Aesthetically, it brings back memories of Barry Zito’s big 12/6 breaker that gave hitters fits for years. It’s a true 12/6 that pairs extremely well with the riding fastball he features. He has the ability to manipulate the spin and shape, sometimes opting to flip it in the middle of the zone with a bigger break, and sometimes throwing it a bit firmer and burying it when ahead in the count. This ability to provide different looks with the breaking ball keeps hitters off-balance and second-guessing, and it produces some really ugly swings from some of the best hitters in the class. The changeup shows a good bit of arm-side run, pushing 15 inches of HZB frequently. This allows him to work both up and down and in and out. He throws a slider on occasion, but it oftentimes ends up fairly similar to the curveball as he gets fatigued. As he moves into pro ball or UCLA, the slider should continue to clean up and develop. This will provide him with a pretty devastating 4-pitch mix that can be deployed to any quadrant of the zone. Either way, the current arsenal shows plenty of promise. The two-pitch sequence of the riding fastball and depthy curveball will continue to be his bread and butter and allow him to avoid platoon splits against righties. He’s a mature, calm, and collected pitcher who will most certainly have plenty of eyes on him this spring as teams prepare for the draft.
‘24 RHP Tommy Bridges from @hwbaseball
— 𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐏 𝐁𝐀𝐒𝐄𝐁𝐀𝐋𝐋 𝐂𝐀𝐋𝐈𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐍𝐈𝐀 (@PrepBaseballCA) February 14, 2024
FB: 87-90
SLD: 77-79 w/sharp bite
CHG 80-82
The #TCUcommit worked quickly attacked the zone with feel for all 3 pitches and good intent @shooterhunt / @prepbaseball#PBCASI pic.twitter.com/fe2bxjWebH
Bridges has a smaller frame than Hayse and Schiefelbein, standing at 5”11, but he uses it incredibly well. It’s an incredibly smooth and incredibly efficient delivery. He stays closed for a really long time, effectively hiding the ball from hitters as he goes through the delivery, which leads to some really uncomfortable at-bats. Bridges goes about his business on the mound with an aura of confidence and poise. Like Schiefelbein, he seems to be collected beyond his years, and the entire operation when he has the ball in his hands is incredibly relaxed and confident. As he finishes up his senior year and moves on to TCU or the draft, he should see some really nice physical development which will only improve the already polished arsenal that he has. Bridges probably falls into the high-floor, lower-ceiling category, but there’s some real projection here to be a middle-of-the-order rotation arm for a long time to come.
Bridges features a really solid three-pitch mix. The fastball will consistently be 88-90 mph, occasionally topping out at 92 mph. From the lower release height that he creates from his stature and his delivery down the mound, he’s able to create some tough angles to both the top and bottom of the zone. He’ll manipulate the shape and throw it with sink down and some ride up, keeping hitters guessing even with the heater. Off of the fastball, Bridges will deploy a slider with some real teeth to it frequently. He shows really advanced feel to land both the slider and the fastball in any count and to any zone. It’s a sharp slider at 80-82 mph that misses a good bit of bats and hardly ever generates good contact. He tunnels it extremely well with the fastball with sink at the bottom, and his ability to add some deception into his motion allows it to play up even more than one might think. He also uses a fading changeup that he throws at 80-82 mph. This creates a good change of speed as well as a change of direction off of the slider. All in all, it’s about as polished of a repertoire as you could ask for as a prep arm. The physical gains will only allow the stuff to improve even more.
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.
The @BinghamtonBASE offense is rolling!
— America East (@AmericaEast) May 26, 2023
Reifler drives in a run and Nick Roselli follows with an RBI double for a 7-1 lead in the 8th!#AEBASE x #AEChamps pic.twitter.com/DwOVOOtCvX
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.
B1 | Groves opens the day with a leadoff single!#EAGLES pic.twitter.com/QZXXCuWOtP
— Niagara Baseball (@NiagaraBASE) April 7, 2023
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.
The Ivy League leader in Wins, ERA, and Batting Average Against🔥
— Penn Baseball (@PennBaseball) May 19, 2023
Ryan Dromboski, 2023 Ivy League Pitcher of the Year🌿#QuakeShow | @DromboskiRyan pic.twitter.com/hphfEk0YAP
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.
With the 2024 draft approaching this summer, high school players have a couple more months to catch some helium and rise up draft boards. Today, we’ll be focusing on the offensive side of the ball and looking at three hitters that I believe should be receiving more attention than they currently are. Let’s dive in.
3B Kale Fountain (NE)@LSUbaseball recruit
— Shooter Hunt (@ShooterHunt) February 4, 2024
6-foot-5, 230 pounds#Super60 || #MLBDraft pic.twitter.com/ol7PHZBBl7
Fountain is very physically imposing, standing at 6’5” and 230 pounds. He’s an incredibly gifted athlete, especially for his size, evident by the 6.65 60 time he ran at PG National over the summer. Fountain plays a solid third base in the field, showing off his range and fast-twitch on balls in the hole and down the line. He has a shot to stick on the dirt moving forward, but I would imagine he’ll end up in the outfield once he enters professional ball. The real upside here is at the plate, however, as Fountain has some of the best raw power in the class.
At the plate, Fountain gets on plane early and provides some real leverage when he gets the arms extended toward the front of the plate. He holds the single-season HR record for Nebraska high school baseball, and a few looks at the swing and size can explain why. He gets into rotation incredibly efficiently and quickly. This allows him to be on plane for a long time and still do some damage on balls that he may have “mishit”. At the PBR Super 60 event, he posted a top exit velocity of 108, really showcasing the top-of-the-line power potential that he holds. In game, he could benefit from getting the ball a little more out front on occasion, but the hit tool is still really impressive for a guy with this much power. He possesses the ability to hit the ball to all fields, and this combination of raw power and solid bat-to-ball skills should be intriguing for some organizations this summer.
‘24 SS Ty Southisene (NV)
— Shooter Hunt (@ShooterHunt) August 7, 2023
5’9” 165#PBRinSD || @PBR_DraftHQ #MLBDraft24 || @PBR_Nevada pic.twitter.com/cHskMKEhly
Despite winning the PG All-American Game MVP, it still seems like the industry is rather low on Southisene. Quite the opposite of Fountain, Southisene stands at 5’9” and 160 pounds. However, he plays with the confidence and swagger of the biggest guy on the field every time he laces them up. He is extremely athletic and an absolute sparkplug on both sides of the ball. In the field, Southisene might be the smoothest infielder I’ve seen at the high school level. While his arm may not be top of the line, he more than makes up for it with quick hands and feet that can make any play on the dirt. He will most certainly stick at second base for a long time, and he profiles as a plus to double-plus defender due to his incredible instincts and smooth actions. A 6.45 runner, Southisene gets great jumps on the basepaths, and his high baseball IQ leads to excellent reads on balls in play.
At the plate, Southisene hits literally anything and everything. Velo, spin, doesn’t matter. He utilizes a decent sized leg kick, but he has great control and rhythm throughout the swing that allows him to be on time to do damage even at his size. The hand speed is really impressive, and part of the reason why he always seems to be on the barrel in games. Regardless of his physical stature, the bat speed, fluidity, and explosiveness allow his game to play up. One of the more consistent hitters in this 2024 class, and there’s no doubt in my mind he will keep these plus bat-to-ball skills as he moves to the next level.
Arnold Abernathy ('24, GA) w/ some quick hands that throw a fast barrel through. #GBO commit #PGNational @PG_Georgia pic.twitter.com/9WHTUCR0tT
— PG Showcases (@PGShowcases) July 14, 2023
Abernathy is another high-level athlete with a really nice feel for the game. His quick twitch and movements in the infield are extremely fluid and natural, and his arm talent stands out, as he was clocked at 98mph from the outfield at PG National. Moving forward, he will more than likely stick in the outfield, most likely in center where he’ll have more of an opportunity to show off his plus first step and 6.38 speed. He has the speed to impact the game in a variety of ways. On the basepaths, his twitch and pure speed can wreak havoc and will be a major advantage with the new rules that encourage stolen bases. From a pure athleticism standpoint, these tools are not easy to come by, and will certainly be a point of appeal for organizations this summer.
At the plate, Abernathy uses a taller setup and a leg kick as he moves forward into launch. Shows solid bat-to-ball skills and adjustability, allowing him to hit to all fields. His quick twitch allows him to see the ball deep and make mid-swing adjustments, which will be big for him to hopefully avoid drastic platoon splits against left-handed pitchers as he progresses. He is hit over power right now, but there is promise for more power as he learns how to tap into some more of the natural athleticism in his swing. Regardless, even if the hit tool ends up being average, his tools will still be able to shine on the basepaths and in the field. He has a really promising future.
Over the weekend I attended the Future Stars Series showdown at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. Playing in the event were five JUCO teams, New Mexico State, Blinn, Northwest Florida State, Navarro College, Odessa, and San Jac. In addition to these top-tier programs was a team of some top-tier high schoolers, who were split into two teams. Getting to see this much talent in one place is a great opportunity, and getting to see it on a big-league field adds some great perspective. Fly balls that are usually blown out at these players’ home parks are easy flyouts in this stadium. It puts into perspective how good professional players are. With all that being said, it’s important to remember the context of this event. It’s January, so a lot of these players aren’t close to the rhythm of the season yet, the scoreboard isn’t operational. It’s good to treat it as more of a spring training-like environment, and not too much weight into the results. Below are some players that caught my attention throughout the weekend.
Slade Caldwell, OF, Future Stars
An ultra-twitchy, squatty outfielder, the Ole Miss commit impressed with his speed and athleticism. Busting multiple 70-grade run times on hard-hit ground balls, Caldwell’s speed allows him to cover plenty of ground in center field, as well. At the plate, Caldwell showed a mature approach, working multiple walks and showing a good feel for the strike zone. He didn’t flinch at secondaries and jumped on fastballs in his zone. Caldwell has a sweet swing and is an explosive rotator, putting out impressive bat speed for his stature. He shows great plate coverage and ability to manipulate the barrel, long story short, Caldwell is going to get on base a ton. While he may have below-average arm strength in center, his athleticism and range give him a good chance to stick there. Caldwell is a super exciting player with a high on-base and defensive floor, whose explosiveness may give him more power than you would expect from his stature. With a serious chance to go on Day 1 of the draft, he should be a fun player to follow this spring.
Brandon Arvidson, LHP, San Jac
After redshirting at Texas A&M in 2023, Arvidson headed South to San Jac. In this outing, the Texas commit was 91-94 MPH and touched 95 MPH a few times, throwing both two-seamers and four-seamers. Arvidson threw one 87 MPH slider to an LHH, but his main bread and butter was his 80-82 MPH curveball, which he was landing for strikes against right-handed hitters and left-handed hitters. With short 1-7 movement and coming from his over-the-top release, hitters had a hard time picking it up out of the hand, generating multiple whiffs. Arvidson also flashed a few changeups at 84-85 MPH. These had more fade than depth but were a good change of pace off of his fastball. I’d like to see him throw that high 80s slider more often, as it could be a missing weapon needed against left-handed hitters. Arvidson threw strikes but lacked consistent fastball command. His tilted shoulders and hips give him some reliever red flags, but he may throw just enough strikes to give him and his deep arsenal a chance to start at the college level should he make it to Austin.
Thomas Mangus, RHP, Navarro
Up to 94 MPH in the past, the physical Oklahoma commit Mangus was 89-92 MPH, touching 93 MPH in this outing. Mangus didn’t show crazy fastball shape, generating some ride and getting a few whiffs, but he was able to command it to both sides of the plate, from a high ¾ slot, and often elevated it late in counts. Mangus showed an interesting 80-82 MPH sweeping slider. Thrown to both RHH and LHH, this pitch generated whiffs in and out of the zone. Mangus threw it mostly late in counts, and it’s something I’d personally like to him throw it more often in the future. With an upper-half heavy delivery and two-pitch mix, Mangus looks like he’d be a good fit in the bullpen, but with the development of a third pitch, you may see him get a chance to start. Mangus looks like he'll be a reliable weapon out of the Navarro bullpen in 2023, and in Norman in 2024.
Sam Gerth, RHP, Navarro
Another physical RHP, the DBU commit Gerth features a higher effort rotational delivery, creating a three-quarters slot that allows him to get heavy sink on his 90-93, T94 MPH heater. His command may limit how this pitch plays, as the control over command profile put him behind in many counts. When he didn’t have a great feel for his heater, Gerth went to his best offering, his 80-83 MPH sweeper. One of the better breaking pitches of the tournament, Gerth threw this to both LHH and RHH, buckling the knees of both and garnering whiffs in the zone. While he didn’t throw any changeups, and elected sliders over changeups to LHH, his three-quarter slot gives him a chance to turn over a changeup in the future, though homing in his fastball sights might be higher on the priority list. Regardless, Gerth looks like he’ll get plenty of punchouts with this sinker/slider combo.
Tanner Reaves, MIF, Blinn
An LSU commit, Reaves is a steady force in the Blinn lineup and infield. At the plate, Reaves has a smooth, controlled swing. He covers the plate well and features a bit of loft geared for line drives, though did struggle to get to fastballs up in the zone. Reaves doesn’t have eye-popping bat speed, but enough to handle velocity and shoot gaps for doubles. He often looked up the middle and other way, but what impressed me most about Reaves was his approach and feel for the strike zone. Reaves consistently was patient and worked counts in his favor on multiple occasions and laid off secondaries looking to garner a chase. Reaves got innings at both second and short, not showing crazy range, but solid hands and average arm strength. He’s likely more suited for second, but at the college level, he could fill in at short in a pinch and could likely handle third if needed as well. Reaves isn’t a great runner or features any loud tools, but an all-around solid ball player with a good floor. There’s still some room for Reaves to add strength and explosiveness, so a team may take a chance on him on Day 3 of the draft, but should he make it to Baton Rouge, he’ll be a nice consistent player for the Tigers.
Brendan Sweeney, RHP, Blinn
At 6’6”, 200 lbs, Sweeney is an imposing force on the mound. With a tall and fall delivery and high three-quarters arm action, Sweeney creates a tough vertical angle on hitters. Pair this with his heavy sinker, and you have a ground ball specialist. Up to the mid-90s in the past, Sweeney was 90-91 MPH, and threw a ton of strikes with his fastball, keeping it low in the zone and commanding it well to both sides of the plate, especially the glove side. Sweeney’s best offering was his plus changeup in the low-80s. This pitch tunneled great with his fastball and produced whiffs to both lefties and righties. With more depth than fade, it completely fell off the table and was thrown at the same arm speed as his fastball. He threw some that had straight vertical movement, making me wonder if he was mixing a splitter in as well. Sweeney’s pronation bias has some drawbacks, as he struggled to find a consistent pitch moving to his glove side, throwing a gyro slider at 80 MPH, and an 11-5 curveball at 77 MPH. Sweeney still has room to fill out and has a good chance to throw harder in the future, raising his ceiling even higher. Should he make it to Columbia, he’ll be a great ground ball weapon to have out of the bullpen, with the capabilities of starting.
Bryce Hubbard, C, NWFS
The saying “the best catchers go unnoticed” didn’t apply much to Hubbard this weekend. With runners in scoring position, Hubbard made multiple big blocks on hard-breaking balls. On top of this, the Mississippi State transfer displayed an above-average arm to go with his 2.0 second pop time to nab a runner. A Georgia commit, Hubbard is ultra-physical and strong, and this goes on display in the box as well. With multiple hard contacts, Hubbard also showed great adjustability in his lower half, putting good swings on a few offspeed pitches. Hubbard’s reliability behind the plate should land him plenty of playing time in Athens in 2025, and his bat will be a reliable presence in the middle of the Northwest Florida lineup this season.
Mack Estrada, RHP, NWFS
A freshman at Northwest Florida, Estrada came out firing, sitting 90-94 MPH with a sinking fastball. His best weapon, however, was an 84-85 MPH slider. This pitch flashed plus, with good depth and average sweep. Coming from a high three-quarters slot, this pitch baffled right-handed hitters, generating whiffs in the zone. This pitch was having enough success that Estrada elected to go to it vs left-handed hitters over a changeup. Estrada has room to fill out still at 6’4. Right now, it’s a control over command profile, with a high-effort delivery that he had a hard time repeating. Estrada is still an uncommitted freshman and is only going to get better from here. If he gains consistency in his delivery and develops a reliable third pitch, he’ll have professional teams knocking at his door before he gets a chance to go to a four-year school.
Colin Linder, RHP NWFS
At 6’4”, Linder has a nice build and physicality, being big-chested and broad-shouldered. He did a good job repeating his compact, over-the-top delivery, which resulted in a ton of strikes. At 92-93 MPH, Linder dominated with his fastball. Featuring an intriguing cut ride shape, Linder got plenty of swings under this pitch, as well as called strikes. While the strikes weren’t perfect, he did show the ability to move his fastball to both sides of the plate. Linder’s dominance with his fastball mitigated a need for any secondaries in this outing, though the few he flashed were short, low-80s sliders. Linder, an Arizona State commit is a name to watch this spring. With his loud stuff, he's a bat-missing machine, giving him a chance to be taken on Day 3 of the draft. Should he make it to Tempe, he has a good chance to pitch out of the Sun Devil’s weekend rotation.
Robbie Demetree, 3B Future Stars
At 6’1, 190, Demetree had a solid weekend at Globe Life Field. Showing a solid approach and spitting on multiple secondaries, Demetree hunted fastballs. a few hard contacts, Demetree showed a good ability to not only time up some good fastballs but to also catch them out in front and pull them. While Demetree doesn’t have the best plate coverage, whiffing on some fastballs up in the zone, the power potential is real, putting multiple balls over the fence during BP. At third, Demetree has solid hands, and a plus arm, making throws from behind the bag and on the run. Demetree should put together a good college career at UCF, and with some refinement may hear his name called early in 2026.
Loic Guilmette, LHP, Future Stars
An LHP, FIU commit from Canada, Guilmette stands at 6’4” with plenty of room to fill out. Given his 2-way background (hit multiple HRs in BP), Guilmette had fairly good body control. He struggled to locate his high-80s fastball, but his sweeping slider missed bats against RHH & LHH. He was able to command it to both sides of the plate and threw it in all counts. His slider’s success mitigated a need for a changeup in this game, and the ones he threw weren’t competitive, running out of the zone and not getting any swings. Guilmette’s feel for his slider gives him nice upside, and his cold weather, two-way background gives scouts and coaches plenty to dream on.
Lucas Davenport, RHP, Blinn
Davenport was 89-91 MPH with his fastball and didn’t throw many secondaries, but the ones he did throw were excellent. The low-80s changeups he threw completely fell off the table and fooled hitters. He also threw a few sliders, generating whiffs from left-handed hitters. While the fastball doesn’t pop, Davenport’s secondaries should get him D1 looks, and maybe some professional looks.
Juan Villareal, LHP, Odessa
Villareal was only 89-91 MPH with his running fastball, but at 6’7”, showed impressive body control, with feel for a nice changeup and a slurvy breaking ball. There’s certainly more velocity in the tank here and looks like a guy who could be throwing mid-90s in the near future.
Tyler DeJune, INF, NWFS, Troy commit
DeJune played with his hair on fire, being ultra-aggressive, and even tried to steal home once. At the plate, DeJune has a smooth, calm swing and shot balls up the middle and the other way. DeJune is a steady player and a key cog to this NWFS lineup.
DJ Layton, INF, Future Stars
An athletic middle infielder, Layton showed an aggressive all-field approach at the plate. Hunting fastballs early, Layton got his hands to the ball quickly and shot the ball all over the field with a level swing from both sides of the plate. Defensively, he had solid actions and above-average arm strength. He even got an inning on the mound, sitting 90-91 MPH with a nice changeup. The Southern Miss commit will be a great addition to an always-loaded Golden Eagles roster.
Jackson Evers, RHP, NWFS
Evers was 89-91 MPH with a deceptive three-quarters delivery. He commanded his upshooting fastball well, allowing him to miss bats above the belt with it. He flashed a mid-80s slider with good sweep at its best, though its shape and feel were inconsistent. With an improved slider feel, Evers has the looks of a D1 bullpen arm.
Cade Clime, INF, Blinn
Clime has impressive bat speed and power from the right side of the plate. With a rotational swing, Clime had multiple hard contacts to the pull side. The physical third basemen showed solid range and arm strength, making some throws on the run, as well. Clime will be a staple in this Blinn lineup this spring and should get some D1 looks.
Coy DeFury, INF, NWFS, Texas State Commit
Another nice bat from the Blinn lineup, Defury has a sweet stroke from the left side. The Texas State commit showed a steady approach and feel for the strike zone. Defury timed up fastballs and had an XBH on Sunday, shooting a ball into the right-centerfield gap. Defury is a big part of this Blinn lineup and should be a nice addition for Texas State in 2024.
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.
Director’s Note: All Draft Day Ages for players are pinned to July 14, 2024, our guess as to when the MLB Draft will start. The league has not announced the dates for the 2024 MLB Draft and once revealed, we will adjust approximate ages to that date.
The 2024 Top 100 High School board can be found here. Once the season is in full bloom, we will begin to integrate a single list, starting off with 200 prospects. As always, our 2024 Prospect Footage can be found here.
Wetherholt's bat has a chance to be very special, as the mix of pure hit and power tools profile as one of the best in the entire country. Wetherholt posts elite contact rates and seldom whiffs with impressive feel for the barrel. It's a compact and powerful swing from the left side of the plate, showcasing very quick hands and loud bat speed. Wetherholt utilizes the whole field to his advantage and will punish the gaps with legitimate above-average to plus power, which also plays well to his pull side. It's a truly special bat. He's played at third base and second base the past two years, though he's been given a chance at shortstop this fall and the reports are promising. The range is there to handle the position, though the arm strength needs some improvement. He's a solid runner and knows how to be a menace on the basepaths, as well, recording 36 stolen bases in 2023.
Coming in at 6'5, 235lbs, Nick Kurtz is a monster of a human being at the plate. The size, strength, and power Kurtz possesses is a scout's dream. The Wake Forest first baseman has a scary good offensive profile. He is going to draw his fair share of walks due to his patience at the plate while also hitting for massive power thanks to his near 70-grade pop. On top of that, he's got a well advanced approach at the plate and is able to use the entire field. Shockingly for his size, he is fairly athletic and can more than hold his own at first base. He's one of the best defenders at first base and easily grades as a plus defender. Kurtz is a likely frontrunner to be the 2024 ACC Player of the Year and should be providing plenty of offense as the anchor for the Demon Deacons lineup. He has the makings of becoming a force in a big league lineup and will likely be a fast riser through the minors.
An import from Australia, Bazzana's overall toolset is ridiculously impressive. He's put up incredible numbers in his two years at Oregon State, slashing .340/.463/.549 across two seasons in Corvallis with elite bat-to-ball skills and plate discipline. He's a really tough out at the plate, rarely expanding the zone and he's got an incredible eye, racking up walks aplenty. His spray chart is a thing of beauty, utilizing the entire field with a compact, line drive swing with a ton of bat speed that is meant to do serious damage. It's above-average juice at the present and most of it plays to his pull side, but he's shown an ability to hammer the ball to the opposite field gap. Bazzana is also an incredible runner, posting plus run times on a consistent basis. He's primarily been a second baseman up to this point, though there's a chance we see him at shortstop in 2024. He's got enough athleticism and twitch to have solid range there, though his arm is nothing more than average. Either way you draw it up, this is a potentially elite bat with suitable defense up the middle.
Burns is an electric factory on the bump. The Wake Forest transfer is a bulldog type on the mound and he exudes all the confidence you want to see in a pitcher on the mound. He isn't afraid to go right after batters with his electric fastball. What is an elite two-pitch mix, he sits in the upper-90s with significant life to the fastball and pairs it with a diabolical upper-80s/low-90s slider that he can manipulate the shape of. He also isn't afraid to reach back on his fastball for a little extra and can get it up to 101-102 mph. He's been working on a curveball and a splitter, flashing potential, though he doesn't rely on either heavily. His command can waiver at times, but when he is locked in, he can paint a masterpiece. Even with the slight command woes, the stuff is elite and it will be interesting to see what the Wake Forest pitching lab can do to elevate his already incredible arsenal to the next level. He is the best arm in this class.
The reigning SEC Freshman of the Year, Condon's unexpected emergence was a welcome sight. After redshirting his first year on campus, Condon exploded onto the scene with a .386/.484/.800 slash line and 25 home runs in 56 games. Condon has a towering, physical frame at 6'6, 211 pounds with plenty of strength throughout his body and there's quite a bit of projection to it still. Condon has plus-plus raw power to all fields and got to it often in 2023, posting healthy exit velocities and even getting into the 110-115 MPH range. It's a ton of bat speed and very quick hands with the barrel exploding through the zone with little effort. There's some hitterish traits with Condon, as he has solid bat-to-ball skills, though he does have his struggles with spin. Defensively, Condon has enough speed and athleticism to handle a corner outfield spot, though if he outgrows the position, he can handle first base. The bat would have to continue to perform in that case and that's the selling point right now.
Finding guys with five tool potential is a tough task, but Honeycutt has the potential to be that type of player. Honeycutt showed plenty of improvements in the strikeout department in 2023, dropping the strikeout rate significantly, though that came with the price of production. Nonetheless, Honeycutt has game-changing tools. There's plenty of bat speed from the right side of the plate and there's potentially plus power that plays to his pull side and he'll hit the gaps to show off his blazing speed. The swing-and-miss has toned down and he rarely chases, which is promising for the hit tool. If everything comes together in 2024, there's potential for an above-average hit tool here. He's a lock to stick in center field long term, as his plus speed gives him exceptional range and he'll make highlight reel plays on a consistent basis. There's a strong arm here, as well. If everything clicks, there's serious 1-1 potential.
One of the funnest development stories to follow, Seaver King has made his way to Wake Forest after playing last year at Division II Wingate. He was quite undersized coming out of high school which only earned him the Wingate offer, but he's grown a bit since then and found his way into a gig with what might be one of the best college teams going into the 2024 season. King has a robust line-drive approach at the plate with tons of bat speed and has the ability to use the entire field to go along with very good exit velocities, getting up to 111 MPH this fall. King doesn't strikeout often and gets a lot of barrel to ball, but he also doesn't walk a ton either and the chase rates are a bit too high. If he can improve the discipline in 2024 and continue to blast the baseball, he'll be a certified top fifteen pick. He's rather twitchy in the field and can play a myriad of positions for Wake Forest this spring, including center field.
Brecht may have the highest upside of any arm in this loaded college class and he's lit up Stuff+ models with some of the loudest stuff in the college landscape. Brecht has undergone some mechanical tweaks since his high school days, most notably being a shortened arm action that has given him more deception. It's a very quick arm with excellent athleticism, as well. He's gotten up to 101 MPH during starts in 2023, holding upper-90s velocity well throughout his starts, accuring whiffs at a high rate despite suboptimal vertical carry. The slider is the real deal, showing true double-plus potential with hellacious bite. It'll display shorter break with late lateral movement and he's shown an ability to land it for strikes when the fastball command is out of whack. He's tinkered with a low-90s change-up and a low-80s curveball, but he's primarily just had to use the FB-SL combination thus far. The high walk rate and command woes have been the big thing holding Brecht back, though he did show improved fastball command down the stretch for the Hawkeyes. He's stepped away from football and will be focusing solely on pitching moving forward.
Dubbed the "Ohtani" of college baseball, Caglianone is one of the most well-known players at the amateur level with legitimate two-way potential. There's a bit of rawness to his game, but the power on both sides of the ball are rather impressive. We'll start with the bat, which might have the best power in this entire class. It's easy double-plus right now with extremely quick hand speed and torque, generating a ton of bat speed and all fields power. He's producing some of the loudest exit velocities in the country as a result. The hit tool could use some refinement, as he's rather aggressive and expands the zone frequently. On the defensive side, it's a first-base profile. As an arm, Caglianone has loud stuff, but the command holds him back. The fastball has flirted with triple digits with some life, paired with a bullet-esque slider with solid potential and a bigger bender. The change-up has excellent velocity separation and fading life, boasting a high whiff rate. He's tinkered with his mechanics, becoming more compact this fall, but time will tell how much this helps his command. The jury is still out on if he has to choose one or the other, but the upside on both sides is enticing.
Sirota is about as well-rounded of a hitter as you'll find in college baseball. The Northeastern outfielder possesses a rare combination of discipline, power, and hit ability that is hard to come by at the amateur level. Offensively, he lets the ball get deep in the zone, allowing him to stay back and drive the ball to all fields with authority. He rarely chases pitches out of the zone, drawing plenty of walks in the process. Though he occasionally gets knocked for playing at a mid-major, his performance against high-quality pitching over the last two summers in the Cape Cod League show he can excel with a competition jump and wood bat. His speed allows him to cover a ton of ground in center field, which is where he projects as plus long-term. Sirota's advanced bat combined with his athleticism are what make him a potential first-round pick.
Director’s Note: All Draft Day Ages for players are pinned to July 14, 2024, our guess as to when the MLB Draft will start. The league has not announced the dates for the 2024 MLB Draft and once revealed, we will adjust approximate ages to that date.
The 2024 Top 100 College board will be released tomorrow. Once the season is in full bloom, we will begin to integrate a single list, starting off with 200 prospects. As always, our 2024 Prospect Footage can be found here.
There may not be a more famous name in this class than Konnor Griffin, who reclassified from the 2025 ranks and has a chance to be the first prep player off the board next July. Given the reclassification, he projects to be one of the younger guys in this class, though you wouldn't know that with mix of physicality and projection. He's got two-way abilities, though most project him as a center fielder, where his athleticism, plus speed, and excellent range are on full display. He's got a very good arm and plenty of twitchiness, too. At the dish, it's a polished approach with a ton of bat speed and over-the-fence power, which projects as plus once he's fully developed. His overall contact has shown some inconsistencies this summer, though it's gotten better as the summer has progressed. All in all, Griffin has the potential to be rather special offensively. There's upside on the bump, as well, as he's already gotten into the mid-90s with his fastball and shows a promising breaking ball with swing-and-miss traits, too.
There's no mincing words here, Morlando projects as the biggest offensive threat in this year's prep class thanks to a loud combination of high contact rates, robust power, and mature plate discipline. Morlando has a quiet setup with a wide lower half, but he really explodes through the zone with quick hands and high-end bat speed. He's a patient hitter who knows the strike zone and isn't afraid to rack up the free passes, plus he'll utilize the whole field and keeps the whiffs to a minimum. The power potential with Morlando is sky high with the bat speed and leverage/loft he generates and he's already put on shows during batting practices in big league stadiums. It's easily plus right now. Defensively, he projects as a potential corner outfielder thanks to his athleticism and average speed/arm, which have improved over the years. There's still a chance that he moves to a first base role as he grows, though that's not set in stone just yet. The South Carolina commit will be a fun one to follow for years.
Bonemer profiles as one of the biggest, if not the biggest, riser from the summer circuit, propelling himself to the top of the class with a loud toolset. It's a legitimate power/speed threat with a chance to be a solid defender on the left side of the dirt. There's not a ton of wasted energy with Bonemer's swing, as he stays very quiet through his load and short to the ball, displaying explosive bat speed from the right side and punishing baseballs in the process. Most of his power plays up the middle and to his pullside and he's already produced multiple exit velocities over 105 MPH. If there's anything to work on with Bonemer, it's polishing up his plate discipline, as he does run into some issues with whiffs and the chase rate is a bit higher than you'd want to see. Despite the physical nature of his frame, he's very athletic and produces plus or better run times. He's got a very good glove and could stay at shortstop, though given his size, a move to third base seems likely, where he'd be a potentially above-average or better defender.
Sterling turned in a loud summer and has vaulted himself to the top of the class with a mix of loud stuff, pitchability, and projection. For starters, Sterling will be one of the youngest players in the entire class, as he won't turn 18 until September, which certainly helps him in team model runs. He projects as a starter with a buttery-smooth delivery on the mound and a legitimate four-pitch mix that is led by a fastball that's already in the low-90s with life and can easily get into the mid-90s with added strength to his long and lanky frame. His best secondary comes in the form of a low-mid 80s change-up, which has splitter-esque movement and dives hard away from lefties. He mixes in an upper-70s curveball that classifies more as a sweeper and a mid-80s cutter with tight spin to righties. He's got plenty of athleticism and he throws a large quantity of strikes as a result, showcasing potentially above-average command at best.
As a hitter, Johnson possesses almost everything you want to see in a swing from a prep prospect. His hands work quick, his hips fire, and there's plenty of bat speed. He has performed at every summer event that he has attended, and shows an ability to barrel up stuff, as well as taking what the pitcher gives him. Defensively, Johnson has the instincts and hands to stick on the dirt, but there are concerns about his foot speed at shortstop. A move to 2nd base or 3rd base could be made down the line, but Johnson has the prototypical long shortstop body to add strength and should be given every opportunity to prove that he can handle the speed and physicality of the position. Even if there is a future move to 2nd or 3rd base, Johnson has enough power and hitting ability to stick at those positions. He's a high follow for the Deep South region, and is the top prep prospect in the state of Alabama.
Another reclassified player from the 2025 class, Franco has some of the best two-way upside in this class. He's got a physical frame with very broad shoulders and plenty of athleticism that plays well on both sides of the ball, though there's a bit more upside with the bat. There is some swing-and-miss to his game, but he's not afraid to rack up walks and doesn't chase a ton, plus he's been able to hold his own in left-on-left matchups. There's plenty of bat speed present and he swings with serious intent, spraying the ball to all fields and showcasing solid power up the middle and to his pull-side. That'll get better as he becomes physically mature. He's likely limited to first base with his size, though don't let that fool you. He's rather mobile and shows quick twitch at the position, letting his athleticism shine. On the bump, he's been into the low-90s with easy, athletic mechanics and it's easy to project him into the mid-90s by next summer. He's got a high spin slider that has some teeth in the low-80s with late sweep, as well as feel for a change-up.
Another loud arm coming out of Ankeny, Iowa, Oakie has some of the loudest stuff in the entire class. Oakie generates a ton of scap load in his delivery with a big arm swing before driving down the mound with a whippy, near sidearm slot. He's already gotten into the mid-90s with the fastball, getting up to 97 MPH, with a ton of life and spin through the zone and plays up thanks to the low launch nature of his release. It wouldn't be a shock to see Oakie's velocity jump into the upper-90s when all is said and done, either. Oakie's sweeper might be the best pitch in the prep ranks, a diabolical pitch with a ton of sweep and hard biting action in the mid-80s and projects as plus. He's gotten up to 25 inches of horizontal break this summer and the pitch has insanely high spin rates, touching the 3,000 RPM barrier. He's got feel for a fading change-up that he throws hard in the mid-upper 80s that projects well, too. He'll need to iron out some command inconsistencies, but this is an enticing package overall.
Hall is another big riser from the summer circuit, vaulting himself into the top ten with a mix of present stuff and starter traits. It's a fluid and athletic delivery on the bump with a lean frame that has plenty of projection remaining at 6'3, 185 pounds. Hall's fastball is rather explosive with a ton of late life, especially at the top of the zone, and he'll show a bit of a two-seam/sinker variant at the bottom of the zone. He throws plenty of strikes with the heater and he'll hold 92-95 MPH throughout outings, plus he's already been up to 98 MPH in shorter stints. It's a future plus pitch. He's got two breaking balls, a slider/cutter hybrid in the mid-80s that has good two-plane tilt and a curveball in the mid-to-upper-70s that has good depth, but lacks bite/conviction at times. He's developing a mid-80s splitter, as well. He'll need to develop consistency with his off-speed arsenal, but there's a ton to like with the Vanderbilt commit.
The best way to describe Caldwell would be to call him a "menace." While he lacks premium physicality due to his shorter stature, Caldwell makes up for it with explosive athleticism and polish. It's a sweet swing from the left side of the plate and he's shown excellent plate discipline, rarely chasing and showcasing plenty of patience, drawing walks aplenty. There's solid barrel consistency in his swing and he utilizes the gaps often, prioritizing his plus-plus speed on the basepaths as a result. He's rather strong for his size and has been able to put the ball in the air more, though it's always going to be hit-over-power with Caldwell. His speed allows him to cover ground very well in center field, where he's a solid defender with great instincts. If there's anything to knock him on, it's the lack of a strong arm, which may push him to left field. With that said, he's got the tools to stick at the "eight" long term. He'll have plenty of fans come draft day.
In terms of raw stuff, Schmidt's one-two punch might be the best in this class. An above-average, if not better, athlete on the mound, Schmidt is a quick mover on the mound where his athleticism is explosive and there's a ton of projection with his long, lean frame. The fastball has seen a solid velocity uptick over the past year, now touching 95 MPH and holding 90-94 MPH consistently. There's plenty of riding life with the heater, as well as some cut, and given the projection, it's likely that he could get into the upper-90s soon. The true separator with Schmidt is an upper-70s curveball with a ton of upside. It's a true 12-6 hammer with tons of depth and extremely high spin rates, exceeding the 3,000 RPM threshold on occasion. There's plenty of bat-missing traits between those two pitches and he's developing an upper-70s change-up with plenty of fading life. Command comes and goes, but given the projection and pure stuff, this is a profile that can sneak into the first round with further development.
