It seems like every year there’s a diaper dandy who walks onto a college campus fresh off high school graduation and immediately shows out.
Just take last year for example. There were baby-faced stars in the making everywhere you looked. LSU outfielder Dylan Crews was otherworldly in Baton Rouge with an absurd .362/.453/.663 line with 18 home runs and MLB-level exit velocities nearly every night. Ole Miss shortstop Jacob Gonzalez transformed his body and turned in some of the best batted-ball data in all of college baseball. Christian Little (Vandy), Tanner Witt (Texas), and Carson Montgomery (FSU) all look like future first round pitching prospects and there’s multiple other arms right behind that trio.
The incoming freshman class for this season is chock-full of MLB Draft talent for the 2023 and 2024 draft classes, but it’s what they could do this spring that has us excited.
This class is extremely deep, and it’s one of the main reasons I wanted to list 20 players who I believe will have huge impacts for their respective ball clubs in 2022.
RHP Jackson Baumeister, Florida State
~ It’s hard not to envision the potential that Jackson Baumeister has having made it to Tallahassee. A top 50 player on our final 2021 draft board, Baumiester brings an ultra projectable frame and old school, over-the-head delivery that creates huge extension down the mound and low release height. Primary three pitch mix with a mid-90s high spin fastball that gets explosive life and deception coming from the low release that’s paired with a mid to high-70s bugs-bunny curveball and changeup that flashes future plus pitch with serious fade in the low 80s. Baumeister is slated to start college career as a mid-week starter in likely the deepest rotation in college baseball, but this is frontline stuff that misses a ton of bats and provides a chance at top 5 upside in next year's draft class.
LHP Hagen Smith, Arkansas
~ Smith goes from dominating Texas high school competition last year to the absurd tune of a 0.10 ERA, 157 K and 7 No-Hitters in 67 innings to now possibly walking into a weekend role in the SEC just 9 months later. A physical frame with thick lower half, Smith creates effortless low-90s velocity on his fastball that gets natural sink and he will command anywhere in the zone for a ton of strikes. Shows two breaking balls but primarily works a low-80s slider that gets big sweep and an above average mid-80s changeup with heavy fade off the fastball, filling up the zone with both and creating a ton of ugly swings. A stoic demeanor on the mound with a ton of maturity, Smith has the chance to be a huge difference maker in 2022 for a Razorbacks rotation that just devastatingly lost its Friday night Ace Peyton Pallette for the season.
SS Alex Mooney, Duke
~ When your last 12 months include leading one of the best high school teams in the country, winning a PG All-American game MVP and then earning an everyday role in fall ball, it’s clear why Alex Mooney is a top three name on this list. Duke was set to have a massive hole at shortstop with Ethan Murray being a 5th round pick in the 2021 MLB Draft, but Mooney presents the well rounded toolset to fill that role in 2022 and beyond. An advanced, all-fields hit tool that shows balance and a heavy barrel that could lead to double digit home run chances. Above-average runner with plus arm strength and high level intangibles, Mooney can make the difficult plays at shortstop look butter smooth and routine look effortless. It’s partly still a shock to see Mooney on a college campus but the Blue Devils look to reap the benefits.
SS Cody Schrier, UCLA
~ The Bruins are expected to have a handful of quality true freshmen play huge roles in 2022, but none more important than the former JSerra Catholic standout. Likely to start the year as both the starting shortstop and batting in the two hole, Schrier brings an above average hit/power combo paired with all the defensive ability to impact the game on both sides from day one. Frame looks big league ready right now with strong hands and huge bat speed that should be conducive to instant power production. Near plus run tool and quality footwork only strengthens Schrier’s upside long term as the Bruins shortstop but the production will start this spring.
IF Peyton Stovall, Arkansas
~ You can easily go down the line on why Peyton Stovall could be an elite college bat starting this spring for the Razorbacks. You see high-level hit/power tools, a mature approach, and batting leadoff in front of a star-studded lineup all pointing in Stovall’s favor heading into 2022. A primary middle infielder throughout his prep career who now slides over to first base in lue of potential first rounder Robert Moore manning the keystone and should allow his bat to thrive even more without the intense defensive pressure as a freshman. Stovall held a first round grade or close to it from nearly everyone heading into the 2021 draft, but chose a chance to become a college superstar and win a Natty first, and that’s something all college baseball fans will rejoice in.
LHP Carter Holton, Vanderbilt
~ Last year during our MLB Draft Show series for the 2021 class almost every elite prep hitter named one arm as one of the toughest at-bats. Carter Holton. Armed with an above-average fastball/slider combo that misses bats and creates constant uncomfortable at-bats. Holton can juice the fastball up to 97 and will sit 92-95 long into outings from the left side. Slider will tunnel off the heater in the low/mid-80s with sharp, horizontal break and excellent command of both pitches. Exudes a good feel for a changeup that gets good velo separation in the mid-80s and late tumble. Holton's compact, but athletic delivery paired with loud stuff should slot nicely into a Vanderbilt weekend rotation that is largely talented, yet unproven heading into 2022.
2B Travis Bazzana, Oregon State
~ Bazzana took the amateur world by storm this past summer by showing up to the West Coast league as a primarily unknown 18-year-old from Australia and proceeded to the league in six offensive categories including Hits, OPS and Slugging. Slated to begin the season as the Beavers season as the starter at second base, Bazzana offers a Corbin Carroll starter pack at the plate with plus bat speed from the left side out of a small leg trigger that impacts the baseball with intent to do damage. Hit and power have a real chance to be above average to plus tools with present ability to show barrel control and a discerning eye to spin. Excellent first step that impacts both on the base pads (18 SBs in 45 G this summer) and range with the glove as well. Very well rounded offensive profile that has a chance to be something very special in Corvallis.
RHP Chase Burns, Tennessee
~ It’s a bit of a miracle to see Chase Burns make it to campus, but Vols fans will enjoy the flamethrowing for the next three years. Top-tier velocity that will reach triple digits and settle at 94-97 with a good feel to spin and exploding vertical break out of a longer, deceptive arm action. Utilizes two distinct breaking balls that both create swing and miss with a power slider in the upper 80s with hard, biting action that screams plus pitch and a 11/5 curveball that will maintain shape and create depth out of the same arm slot as the fastball. Changeup is a bit firm at 87-89 but shows feel and will get some late arm side fade that compliments the entire pitch mix. Burns gives you an ideal starters frame to build off of from day 1 with present strength throughout his 6’4, 220lb. frame and a thick lower half that drives off the mound well. It’s an extremely fun profile that offers frontline starter upside if everything clicks and takes on even more importance to make an impact in 2022 with the uncertainty surrounding Blade Tidwell and Seth Halvorsen’s injuries.
3B Casey Saucke, Virginia
~ Saucke offers a similar above-average hit/power combo as some of the bats mentioned above but flies a bit under the radar as a former cold weather prep out of New York. Projected to replace Zack Gelof, who was a 2nd round pick in last year’s MLB Draft at the hot corner, Saucke possesses plus arm strength across the diamond with soft hands and fluidity through his defensive motions to profile well long term at third. Above average in-game power will show up frequently for Saucke due to elite bat speed and easy ability to incorporate his natural wiry strength into his swing. Hands really stand out at the plate with ability to both handle velocity and adjust to breaking balls on a regular basis. The talent rich Cavaliers program gets yet another Perfect Game All-American who’s best days could be on the way very soon.
2B Davis Diaz, Vanderbilt
~ Diaz is the type of player any college program would love to have with big-time positional flexibility and a spark plug toolset at the dish. Compact, right handed swing that manipulates the barrel well and shows above average bat speed allowing Diaz to use an all-fields approach and strengthen a future plus hit tool. Defensively second base is where he will start his career and where I believe he profiles best long term, but Diaz has the skill set to be a quality glove in the middle infield, left field or maybe even behind the plate giving Tim Corbin and the Commodores staff plenty of options to get the quick quick twitch athlete into the lineup.
OF Lorenzo Carrier, Miami
~ A product of Appoquinimink high school in Delaware, Carrier brings an intriguing power/speed dynamic to Coral Gables as a freshman. Projected to be the starter in right field, the 2021 Delaware player of the year offers a Giancarlo Stanton-type toolset with plus arm strength and raw juice, sneaky straight line speed, and a 6’4”, 220lb. frame that will only get stronger. Last year, the Hurricanes saw YoYo Morales turn into one of the best bats on the team as a true freshman and Carrier has a real chance to make a similar impact.
SS Michael Braswell, South Carolina
~ The Gamecocks enter 2022 with a hole at shortstop following the graduation of longtime infielder George Callil, and no one looks to be positioned better to fill that role than Michael Braswell. Long, lanky frame that he uses well in the dirt, showing huge range and advanced body control to make tough plays in all directions. Above-average hit tool with a line drive approach and has shown the ability to handle velocity with lightning quick hands through the zone. There’s a real chance Braswell offers South Carolina some bullpen depth as well in 2022 with present plus arm speed that can run his fastball up to 94 and a pair of secondaries in curveball and changeup that flash potential.
RHP Ryan Johnson, Dallas Baptist
~ Ryan Johnson is the third member of the Johnson/DBU legacy following his dad and more recently his brother M.D, who was a 6th rounder in the 2019 MLB Draft. Johnson creates big-time funk and deception out of his short strided delivery that he pairs with a really whippy arm and big league starter’s frame that oozes projection. Can get it up to 97 with his fastball and settles in the mid-90s with late life. Pairs the fastball with a mid-80s slider that he shows the ability to manipulate the shape of and a 85-88 mph changeup that might be plus with heavy fade. Johnson brings an advanced feel for all three pitches and knows how to fill up the zone. Likely will have a chance to carry on the family legacy from day 1 as a mid-week arm but could be in a weekend role within a short period of time.
3B Deric Fabian, Florida
~ History looks to be repeating itself with another Fabian stepping into an everyday role as a true freshman with Deric in line to start the 2022 campaign as the starter at the hot corner. Long and lanky frame with the glove and arm strength to make all the plays on the left side of the infield, but it’s the potential for immediate impact with the bat that lands him on this list. Impressive bat to ball skills paired with big separation and natural loft give Fabian the ability to continue to grow into above-average power potential. Colby Halter and Sterlin Thompson are coming off of massive freshman campaigns in 2021 and now Deric Fabian could have a chance to continue that trend in 2022.
RHP Thatcher Hurd, UCLA
~ It’s pretty difficult to look at Thatcher Hurd and not think he has a chance to be the next great right hander out of the pitching pipeline that is UCLA. Plus frame and butter smooth mechanics that show effortless ability to repeat. Supreme ability to spin with a low-90s fastball living north of 2600 RPMs and a clear plus curveball that shows massive depth and has been clocked at nearly 3100 RPMs. Hurd also the feel for a changeup that’s flashed above-average and rounds out a premier pitch mix for a teenager. It’s uncertain what Hurd's role will be for UCLA in 2022 or he would be a lot higher on this list, but there’s no question he will contribute quickly and continue to develop into an elite prospect for the 2024 class.
SS Payton Green, NC State
~ Green goes from graduating from the premier prep baseball academy in all of North Carolina and straight into an opening day role as a starting shortstop for the Wolfpack in the matter of months. A plus defender at short, Green touts advanced hands and footwork at the position with the arm strength and frame to develop into a high level player from the opening series. All- fields approach at the plate with present bat speed and great use of his athleticism on the bases. NC State has a great tradition of top tier shortstops and Green just might have the skill set to be the next.
1B Jacob Walsh, Oregon
~ Jacob Walsh brings some of the best raw power in the entire freshman class into an everyday first base role in the Ducks lineup in 2022. Incorporating his strong lower half well and creating leverage with ease, Walsh is able to impact the baseball out front and show immense exit velocities and pull side power that shows consistently in-game. You add in an XL frame that will continue to get more physical, and Walsh has a chance to be a major run producer at the college level.
LHP Pierce Coppola, Florida
~ Florida found an arm in Coppola that brings even more funk from the left side to complement Hunter Barco. Showing potential to earn his way into an opening day weekend rotation spot, Coppola offers a massive, high-waisted 6’8” frame that utilizes a low arm slot and release that allows his 91-93 MPH fastball to create deceptive life and miss a ton of barrels. Compliments the heater with a low-80s slider that tunnels well with tight break. Will mix in a playable changeup as well and throws strikes consistently with advanced body control for his size. There’s obviously huge projection here for 2022 and beyond.
LHP/OF Jonathan Santucci, Duke
~ Santucci or the Blue Devils Swiss Army knife will be used in a multitude of ways this upcoming season. Don’t be surprised to see him in the outfield, maybe the bullpen or even a mid-week rotation piece. At the plate Santucci is real hitterish in the box with a wide base and real ability to turn on the baseball from the left side. Above-average raw juice with a chance to grow into plus pull-side. Off the mound, the lefty lives in the low-90s with some natural cut paired with a power low 80s curveball and changeup that flashes some fade. You then add plus arm strength and high level routes that play extremely well in a corner outfield role and you get a really well rounded profile.
OF Malakhi Knight, UCLA
~ Knight is coming off of a loud performance this summer in the West Coast league and now poised to take over an everyday role in the Bruins outfield. Big, physical specimen that covers a ton of ground and is backed with plus arm strength that will play extremely well anywhere at all three positions, but big upside in centerfield. It’s safe to say there’s even more potential at the plate with a compact right handed swing that shows elite hands and a swing path that’s optimized to create easy loft. It’s easy to see Knight having the ability to grow into one of the best outfielders in college baseball over the next three years.
Just Missed
2B Roc Riggio, Oklahoma State
DH/1B Tommy White, NC State
OF/RHP Braden Montgomery, Stanford
3B Xavier Casserilla, Wichita State
LHP Gage Jump and OF Nick McLain, UCLA
1B Max McGwire, Oklahoma
C Rene Lastres and OF Michael Robertson, Florida
RHP Dennis Colleran, Northeastern
LHP Pico Kohn, Mississippi State