As we dive deeper into the college baseball season, some common names are beginning to buoy their way to the surface as prime performers. It’s been seven weeks. The road is long and winding ahead. We’re approaching the half-way mark. Much can change. And it will. Conference is in full-force. It’s go time. Week seven provided a few familiar names, and a few less-so to keep an eye on moving forward…
Stock Rising…
PITCHERS
Michael McGreevy, RHP, UC Santa Barbara
9 IP, 0 ER, 3 H, 0 BB, 10 K
Frankly, we’re a little surprised it took this long for an arm out of Santa Barbara to make the top cut in Stock Watch. Head Coach Andrew Checketts does a great job with his staff and the Gauchos seemingly always produce good arms. The 6-foot-4-inch McGreevy did whatever he wanted against Hawaii. He’s in the conversation as one of the top 100 talents in this draft class.
McGreevy has all the qualities of a future big league starter. At 6-foot-4, 200 pounds, McGreevy has the frame and athleticism necessary to succeed across extensive innings. He’s armed with a really heavy fastball in the 93-96 range, touching 97 with plenty of arm-side run. He’s got a true out-pitch in a hard curveball with impressive depth. McGreevy also utilizes a slider and changeup, both of which are average more often that not.
McGreevy has a career ERA of just 2.04 including his 3.03 figure so far this season. On the year, he’s posted 35.1 innings, punching out 41 batters and issuing an impressive 5 walks. Strikeouts are up a bit this year and walks are way down; a good sign for McGreevy’s prospects as a draft-talent and potential top five round pick.
Seth Lonsway, LHP, Ohio State
7 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 17 K
Seth Lonsway continues to have some of the best pure stuff in the entire class and Friday was no different. He absolutely abused the University of Indiana, recording 17 strikeouts on the 24 batters he faced.
Lonsway was draft-eligible in 2020 but went unselected due to his signing bonus demands, as well as untapped potential at the college level. It’s always been about command for Lonsway. It’s a loud low-to-mid 90s fastball with two distinct high-spin breaking balls, the curveball being a comfortable plus offering, even better when Lonsway is commanding it. He’s also got a changeup.
The questions on Lonsway really haven’t changed. He’s posted 27.2 innings this season and has issued 16 walks. That, including his 7-inning, 1-walk performance from Friday. Because of the self-immolation, Lonsway sports a 3.90 ERA. He’s allowed just 12 hits in those innings. Feast or famine, indeed. Lonsway will be selected in the 2021 MLB Draft, there’s no doubt about that. Lonsway’s stuff is so good, don’t be surprised if he debuts in 2021 or 2022 for a big league club as a versatile reliever.
Matt Mikulski, LHP, Fordham
9 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, 0 BB, 12 K
Another 2020 draft-eligible lefty, Mikulski decided to head back to Fordham for his senior season and that’s certainly paying off. The 6-foot-2 lefty has diced his way through the 2021 season, Friday being his most impressive outing completely paralyzing Seton Hall.
Command woes are the name of the game with Mikulski, but when he’s on, he can really neutralize a lineup. He sports a low 90s fastball with a hard, mid-80s slider that’s his go to out-pitch. Mikulski will need to continue developing his changeup at the next level if he’s to start for a pro team, but regardless, he’s a talented mid-major arm with two very good pitches.
Over 5 starts and 30.2 innings, Mikulski has punched out 52 hitters and allowed just 12 hits. He’s surrendered 11 walks as well. His efforts have culminated in a career-best 1.17 ERA and career-best K/9. Mikulski will be 23 for the 2021 MLB Draft, so he won’t have much leverage, but he’ll absolutely be a sought arm in the 4-8 round range, and a potential money saver for a team.
Other Notables: Levi David (Northwestern State), Ben Casparius (UConn), Gavin Williams (East Carolina), Doug Nikhazy (Ole Miss), Seth Halvorsen (Missouri), Jack Leiter (Vanderbilt), Tanner Bibee (Cal State Fullerton), Justin Campbell (Oklahoma State), Cullen Kafka (Oregon), Travis Weston (Cal Poly), Austin Krob (TCU), Mason Black (Lehigh)
HITTERS
Riley Tirotta, 3B, Dayton
11 FOR 18 (.611/.682/1.111) 2 HR, 2B, 3B, 9 RBI, 4 BB, SB, 4 K
Riley Tirotta entered 2021 as one of the sleeper college bats for this cycle and he’s really rounding into form of late. After hitting just .197 through his first 18 games, his average is up to .316 after going 18 for his last 33 (.545 average). Xavier took a heavy helping of that streak surrendering 10 hits to the South Bend native during their 4-game series this weekend. He hit for the cycle on Saturday.
There’s a lot to like about Tirotta as a pro prospect. It’s easily above average raw power, some throwing plus grades on it. He’s a definitive third baseman at the next level with above average run times and mobility scores, as well as a plus, maybe double-plus throwing arm. The hit tool remains the biggest question mark, though that seems to be rounding into form. Tirotta is a career .241 hitter at Dayton, so hitting for average this season would be a new development, but certainly not one scouts didn’t envision coming. The bat speed is there, and mechanically, there’s a lot to like about his swing.
In a year where college hitters are scuffling, Tirotta has a chance to take a big step forward on draft boards. He may be one of the top four or five college third baseman available in the draft, and after his last few weeks, has an up arrow next to his name. Through 28 games, Tirotta has six homers and is currently running a walk-rate over 12-percent and a K-rate under 18-percent.
Jacob Melton, 1B/OF, Oregon State
9 FOR 16 (.500/.583/1.500) 4 HR, 2B, 3B, 8 RBI, 2 BB, 1 SB, K
Melton is a reasonably fascinating story. Rather unknown coming out of South Medford HS, Benton took his talent to Linn-Benton Community College in 2019 where he’d thrive. He ended up at Oregon State in 2020 and after some growing pains, he’s really, really popped in 2021. He single-handed eviscerated Utah this weekend.
Melton is still rather unknown in scouting circles. There’s obviously bat-speed there and an affinity for lefty-righty splits at the plate (though he hit a homer this week 111+ mph lefty-lefty). There’s definitely some raw juice in the bat. It would appear the hit tool and arm are fringy. Melton best projects in left field or at first base as a pro.
There’s no two ways around it. Melton is having a mammoth year. He’s batting .456 with a .530 on-base percentage, slugging .754. Melton wasn’t even a full-time regular the first two weeks of the season, so even Head Coach Mitch Canham was taken a bit by surprise. The four dingers this week were his first of the year. If he pummels the ball like that the rest of the way, we’ve got a very legitimate pop-up on our hands. He’s certainly a name to watch the rest of the way.
Henry Davis, C, Louisville
7 FOR 15 (.467/.619/1.000), 2 HR, 2 2B, 6 RBI, 3 BB, 3 HBP, 2 K
It wouldn’t be a Stock Watch without some mention of Henry Davis now would it? Davis was right back to his usual ways this weekend turning in solid AB after solid AB against Wake Forest, helping the Cardinals take the series.
There’s not much left to say about Davis as a pro prospect. He can hit, the power’s there, he’s got a huge arm, he’s a talented runner and he’s at least an above average defensive catcher. There’s questions on his swing path at times, but even that’s ticky-tacky on the pros/cons chart by now. He very much so figures to be a top ten pick in July.
It’s been a big year for Davis who’s flirting with the Golden Spikes award here in April. He’s batting .385 with a .492 on-base percentage, slugging .677. Davis has almost as many stolen bases (8) as he has strikeouts (10) on the season. He’s squarely one of the best players in college baseball this season.
Notables: Tyler Hardman (Oklahoma), Austin Knight (Charlotte), Jordan Cozart (Murray State), Nic Kent (Virginia), Jack Rogers (Sam Houston State), Matt McLain (UCLA), Carson Johnson (Charlotte), Aaron Zavala (Oregon), Christian Franklin (Arkansas), Nathan Hickey (Florida), Luke Brown (Louisville)