Quietly, the Pacific Northwest has turned itself into a sneaky little hotbed of talent of late. It’s been a quality few years in the rainy states as it pertains to draft talent.
2019 featured the number one overall pick in Oregon State backstop Adley Rutschman, as well as blue-chip prep outfielder Corbin Carroll, the 16th overall pick out of Seattle, WA. Fellow Washingtonian Josh Mears out of Federal Way was selected in the second round by the Padres. Oregon State also saw Beau Philip and Grant Gambrell selected in the Top 100 picks, while the Oregon Ducks saw Ryne Nelson and Spencer Steer selected inside the Top 100 picks as well.
2020 was a lighter year for draft talent, though Portland, Oregon produced the 15th overall pick in the draft in 6-foot-5-inch Mick Abel, a prototype right-handed pitcher many valued a Top-10 overall talent in the class.
2021 saw the Pacific Northwest get a rise back to draft-prominence as Washington State University first baseman Kyle Manzardo was selected in the second round. Oregon outfielder Aaron Zavala also came off the board inside the top 50 picks. While not selected due to sign-ability concerns, many also viewed Washington preps Malakhi Knight and Max Debiec as Top 100 players as well.
With eleven months to go, it’s still awfully early to project anything concrete, but some early live looks suggest a potential big year for the region in 2022.
Names To Know
Ian (J.R.) Ritchie Jr.
Right-Handed Pitcher
Bainbridge High School (Bainbridge Island, WA)
In a deep prep pitching class, the bespectacled Ritchie stands out for a loud package of both pure stuff and control/command. The 2022 prep pitching class had more guys touching 97 at 17 years old than maybe any other class in history. But not all of them can find the strike zone with consistency. That is where Ritchie thrives. The fastball sits 92-95 on most days, up to 97. He has a firm, tight slider up into the mid-80s with late two-plane break that he also commands very well. Jordan Lawlar called his breaking ball the best pitch he saw all summer in 2021. He also built a deeper, high-70s curveball into his arsenal with distinct vertical movement and significant spin rates. Ritchie also features a changeup he’s shown feel for with good arm-side fade that he deploys primarily against lefties. Finally, he's working to mix in a low-90s 2-seam fastball, deployed away from left-handed bats. Ritchie has an extremely quick arm with elite mechanics and lower half strength. He’s a very good bet to start long-term and has the potential to be the best prep arm to come out of Washington since Blake Snell or Tim Lincecum. At this stage, most scouts have thrown a first round grade on Ritchie Jr.
Josh Kasevich
Shortstop
Oregon
Kasevich is a contact-oriented hitter with very low strikeout rates and a healthy amount of walks. He's got a ton of pop in the bat, with comfortably plus raw power. That said, Palo Alto, Calif. product sometimes struggles to get into it in-game thanks to an inside-out swing and a flatter bat path. He's got the frame and strength to suggest he could tap into more game power as he continues to grow and mature into his game-swing. The batted-ball data here is enormous, so it’s just a matter of tinkering with the swing a bit to unlock more impact at the plate. He's played shortstop at Oregon and some evaluators believe he could end up at the position long-term if he doesn't outgrow the spot thanks to a big, plus arm and fringy speed. Kasevich has fantastic infield instincts and good burst to get to more balls than his pure foot speed would suggest. There are some similarities between Kasevich and Jordan Westburg from the 2020 MLB Draft. The tools here are significant and certainly worthy of a Top 100 selection if it all clicks in 2022.
Jackson Cox
Right-Handed Pitcher
Toutle Lake High School (Toutle, WA)
Cox really saw enormous growth moving into the 2022 cycle, now featuring first round stuff at times. He’s got a strong, long body with excellent mechanics and an extremely quick arm on the mound. He’s wirey and whippy on the bump with plenty of conviction and starter traits. He shows good extension and finish and commands the baseball very well out of the windup or the stretch. Right now, it’s primarily a fastball/slider combo that tunnel well off each other. He’s generally 91-93, though the fastball has been up to 96. The breaking ball has big potential with spin rates in excess of 3000 RPM. As Cox continues to develop his changeup and further grows more into his 6-foot-1, 175-pound frame, the stuff could continue to tick up and his stock may further rise. The pure stuff is significant here and potentially worthy of a Top 100 selection next July. Cox is committed to the University of Oregon.
High-Follows
Dominic Hellman
Shortstop
Henry M. Jackson High School (Mill Creek, WA)
Hellman comes packed with a unicorn frame – it’s an extremely physical, 6-foot-6, 230-pound imposing Aaron-Judge-like body with the big bat to fit the label. His batting practice display put on at the Perfect Game National Showcase may go down as the most impressive session in the history of the event. It’s comfortably 80-grade elite raw power. There’s some bat-to-ball skills here too. He shows good ability to get to balls below the strike zone and create lift. More importantly, however, Hellman’s athletic traits exceed what's to be expected in the build. Given the ultra-tall frame, Hellman's physical maturity and physical movements will be something to watch. Right now, however, he’s an above average, maybe even a plus runner with the hands to handle shortstop for his travel ball team. Ultimately, Hellman could end up in a number of different positions at the next level. Corner infield, corner outfield, it could go a number of ways. But at the end of the day, the bat will dictate the prospect value, and the pure power is potentially the best in the entire class. If Hellman hits the showcase circuit well, watch out. Hellman is committed to the University of Oregon.
Andrew Mosiello
Right-Handed Pitcher
Oregon
A product of Temicula, Calif., Mosiello really burst onto the scene in for the Ducks in 2021 with 52 punchouts in just 31 innings. More impressively, he issued just eight free passes all season. Mosiello started just one game, but that figures to change in 2022. The fastball is his primary weapon generating plenty of swing and miss, generally 91-93. He's got two distinct breaking balls and a changeup as well. There's some natural deception from Mosiello who employs a unique low release. The ball really explodes out of his hand. Getting the extended innings will undoubtedly showcase Mosiello a bit to big league scouts. If the stuff continues to tick up and the opposing whiffs persist, he’s a name to watch toward the top of the 2022 draft.
Will Frisch
Right-Handed Pitcher
Oregon State
Frisch comes packed into a big, strong frame with strong shoulders and some barrel chest. He’s been up to 95 in Corvallis with a breaking ball that flashes plus from time to time. He'll be reasonably young in the 2022 class. He was fairly dominant in his first crack at college innings in 2020 and 2021. His 2.38 ERA over 51 innings last season was pretty impressive. Scouts want to see more swing-and-miss from the opposition, as well as the limitation of free passes. If he takes the next step forward in both of those categories in 2022, Frisch is the type of college performer and ultra-competitor who could pitch his way up into the first few rounds of the draft, similar to Andrew Moore in 2015 for the Beavers.
Cooper Hjerpe
Left-Handed Pitcher
Oregon State
Hjerpe is a polished lefty with a low-90s heater, a cutter, a slider and a changeup. He presents a ton of funk from a low three-quarters delivery that doesn’t require too much effort. Definitely starter characteristics here moving forward. He limits walks and gets a ton of swing-and-miss, a bit of a prerequisite when it comes to hearing one’s name called at the top of any draft. He's been a mainstay in the Oregon State rotation since arriving to campus as a true freshman and represents one of the more consistent forces in the class. That said, he's certainly a pitch over "stuff" arm with some traditional starter characteristics. Hjerpe misses bats, limits his walks and knows how to pitch. He’s a pitch-over-stuff guy right now, though his 6-foot-2-inch frame is beginning to fill out. Scouts are eager to see whether an uptick in stuff is in the cards for the Capay, Calif. Native in 2022.
Anthony Hall
Outfielder
Oregon
Hall was one of the most consistent pieces of the Oregon offense in 2021 and figures to be a mainstay.in the middle of their lineup in 2022. The body is well-levered and he's got plenty of bat speed. He's still getting stronger and some think that may eventually move him out of a corner outfield position and into a 1B role down the road. That, obviously, would put more pressure on the bat. He's currently a fringy runner and can get to balls in the gap, though his average arm limits him at times. Hall can get into ruts where he'll strikeout quite a bit, but there's an up arrow next to him name in draft circles thanks to big tools at the plate. Scouts expect to see a surge in homers and slugging for Hall in 2022.
Sleepers
Sam Boyle
Left-Handed Pitcher
Columbia River High School (Vancouver, Washington)
Boyle is super data-savvy with a big-time riding fastball. He mixes in two distinct breaking balls and feel for a changeup at times. The velocity isn't quite there yet, touching 91, but many evaluators believe it is coming.
Felix Schlede
Right-Handed Pitcher
West Seattle High School (Seattle, WA)
When I last saw Schlede he was 89-91 touching 92. He was featuring a big, power breaking ball in the high 70s with impressive depth. He also showed feel for a changeup with some arm-side run. Those close to the program say he’s touched 95 and consistently settles in 89-92 these days, tickling 93 and 94 as he goes. The pure stuff is great, but Schlede comes at batters from a super imposing 6-foot-6-inch, 220-pound frame. He’s got long levers, a high waist and fairly impressive balance and body control for a kid his size.
Hunter Hyatt
Left-Handed Pitcher
Bellevue High School (Clyde Hill, Washington)
Hyatt is a long, lanky lefty with tons of funk and deception coming from a higher three-quarter arm slot. The fastball sits 88-90 with arm-side run. The changeup is his best secondary with hard tumbling action in the low-80s. He's got a slow, loopy breaking ball in the low-70s that he uses almost exclusively against lefty bats. This is a live, athletic, quick arm, though scouts are split on the sustainability of the arm action itself.
Tyce Peterson
Infielder
Juanita High School (Kirkland, Washington)
Peterson is a muscled-up infielder with good bat speed and an all-fields approach. He has a ton of strength in his lower half and anchors well to create leverage and some power at the plate. He’s shown a knack for barrel control and it really works gap to gap. As it stands, he’s a hit-over-power prospect though he may mature into more game power as he continues to develop and understand his swing. Peterson runs well and has some bounce in his step too. Ultimately, he’s likely a second baseman or third baseman at the next level. He’s committed to the University of Washington.
Brennan Milone
Infielder
Oregon
Milone had a massive freshman campaign but really scuffled in his sophomore year at South Carolina. Looking for a fresh start, he transferred to Oregon where he'll look to rekindle a hit tool that took a step back in 2021. Milone is a solid defender up the middle with an above average arm for the infield. He has plus raw power, but struggles to get to it at times due to some swing and miss and approach flaws. With Kacevich at shortstop, Milone likely slots in at third base.
Hylan Hall
Outfielder
Washington State
Hall was an extremely highly regarded player out of high school in 2019, though he went undrafted despite the big tools. He decided against enrolling at the University of Miami and instead enrolled at Wabash College. He was draft-eligible again in 2021, though he went unselected and will now try his luck in Pullman, Wash. with the Cougs. Hall has a good arm, good speed and burgeoning power. The hit tool will ultimately dictate his ceiling in the 2022 draft. He performed well in 2021 with Wabash and many think the tools will translate into the Pac-12.
Kyle Russell
Second Base
Washington State
One of the highest recruited preps out of the state of Washington in 2020, Russell is once again draft-eligible as a second-year sophomore. He will be just 20 years old in July. Russell is a very good defender up the middle with very soft hands and an average arm for the position. He may ultimately end up at second base because of the arm strength. The bat to ball skills are pretty good here, though scouts want to see more thump in the bat and impact on the offensive side of the ball. Much of that must come from weight and strength gains.
William Kempner
Right-Handed Pitcher
Gonzaga
William Kempner throws an electric fastball up to 96 with a changeup in the upper-80s with diving action. His slider made strides in 2021 and is now a sharp breaking ball up to 83. Kempner must continue to show improvements with his command, as well as show pitchability and perform at a high level.
Gabriel Hughes
Right-Handed Pitcher
Gonzaga
Hughes, a Team USA member, suffered an injury in 2021 for Gonzaga, keeping him off the mound for about half of his freshman campaign, but when he was on the mound, it was awfully impressive. Big fastball, coupled with a downer curveball and a changeup. Hughes has scouts in the Pacific Northwest very intrigued in 2022, though he’ll have to prove he can perform at a high level to receive the draft helium some suspect could come.
Ryan Orr
Right-Handed Pitcher
Tumwater High School (Olympia, Washington)
Orr has a really appealing operation on the bump with good tempo, rhythm and balance. The 6-footer has a quick arm and budding velocity, up to 92 on the bump. His bread and butter is a big, downer curveball he commands well to both sides of the plate. He also features a firm mid-80s changeup. Orr has a really solid mechanics and if the stuff continues to tick up moving toward July, he could be an intriguing name for the draft. Orr is committed to Washington State.
Ely Kennel
Infielder
Santiam Christian High School (Monmouth, Oregon)
Kennel is a twitchy, jittery outfielder with quick hands and a lanky, projectable body. He hits from the left side of the plate and has some present pop, though most believe his future role will come by way of the hit tool. Kennel’s lower half is really strong and he really gets into his hips and legs when hitting. The operation is semi-reminiscent of how short and compact Joey Votto keeps his swing. Kennel is a plus runner with a plus arm and above average bat speed. He certainly has the athleticism scouts love to see at this age. He’s an Oregon State commit.