Another week in the books and some LOUD statements made by some top prospects this week.
Daniel Susac, C, Arizona
Susac had a big weekend on the road against Cal, going 7 for 15 with two home runs. All weekend long Susac was finding barrels amongst a variety of pitch types, and the ball just jumps off the bat. Focused exclusively on right handed hitting this year, he shows an ability to see spin out of the hand and his timing is very strong. Defensively, there is some pause about his large frame possibly being too big to handle the rigors of catching on his knees, but with improved framing he should stick there as long as his body allows him to. A very good runner for a catcher, Susac moves well behind the plate as a blocker and has a very strong arm that keeps the running game in check. Only knock so far is that he’s been very aggressive in his swing decisions--just three walks in 85 PAs--but when you find the barrel so much early on it’s understandable to swing often. Susac is just outside of our top ten for the 2022 MLB Draft, and is neck and neck with Kevin Parada as the first catcher off the board.
Joe Lampe, 2B/CF, Arizona State
Prior to the 2022 season, Joe Lampe had been considered by most evaluators to be a gap to gap type hitter--one who can occasionally run into a home run but mostly emphasized getting the bat to the ball over driving it with much force. Well, within the first four weeks of the spring Lampe has hit six bombs, doubling his seasonal total from last year in a third of the plate appearances. Crediting an offseason devoted to getting stronger in the weight room during a post game interview with ASU student reporter Cole Bradley, the Sun Devils’ center fielder also looks more athletic and fluid with his swing plane. With strong center field and plus plus speed, if Lampe can maintain this power without altering above average swing decisions and contact skills, a team will probably scoop him up before the end of the second round.
Zach Neto, SS, Campbell
Neto took a while to wake up and show off his power in games this Spring, but emerged from hibernation to blast two mammoth shots against the velocity rich Liberty Flames this weekend. Before blasting a 94 MPH baseball over the batter’s eye, the reigning Big South player of the year was mostly showing off his above average tools around the infield that give evaluators confidence that he’ll be a positive asset at shortstop in pro ball. Long a high contact batter with an ability to drive balls in any part of the zone, Neto has overcome concerns about the noise coming from a high leg kick and active hands pre-swing to project as an above average hitter going forward. Boosted by a big (if injury shortened) summer on the Cape, it’s hard to envision the Fighting Camels’ star shortstop making it past the supplemental round of this year’s draft.
Brandon Birdsell, RHP, Texas Tech
Another pitcher benefiting from scouts coming to see a top draft prospect on his team, Brandon Birdsell definitely puts the gas in “Gassed Up.” Armed with a mid to high 90s fastball that touches triple digits, the Red Raiders’ righty mowed down 15 Rice hitters in just six innings of perfect work on Saturday. Birdsell has put in work on his body this offseason--we have him down from 245 to 210 lbs.--and as the season has gone on his endurance continues to show out. The main accoutrement to his fastball is a high 80s slider that darts downward with heavy gyro spin, allowing him to work up with his high carry fastball and finish batters down with said slide piece. Development of a third pitch will be a process with Birdsell, but a once surefire reliever is beginning to show starter traits and could become firmly entrenched in the 3th-5th round discussion with continued performance in the Big 12.
Drew Thorpe, RHP, Cal Poly
Thorpe went shutout complete game on Friday night vs. Harvard, striking out 11 and allowing only three hits on the night. He owns a preposterous 44:2 K:BB ratio in his first four starts, and showed off the entire arsenal early and often against the Crimson. He sits low to mid 90s with a four seam fastball with strong carry and efficient spin, and works off it primarily with a fading changeup that he demonstrates great feel for. Complementing that one two punch is a bendy breaking ball that is getting better with each start. Thorpe possesses the body and command of his arsenal that evaluators love to see, and is becoming an Friday night attraction of his own alongside top prospect Brooks Lee. Look for him to keep gradually moving up our board over the next few months, and the Mustangs’ ace might be gone within the first 75 picks this July.
Nate Savino, LHP, Virginia
The Hoos’ Friday night guy went the full nine against Duke on Saturday, striking out seven and shutting out the Blue Devils 5-0. A much heralded prep arm out of the mid-Atlantic in 2020, Savino chose to honor his commitment to Virginia and enrolled early to forego consideration in that year’s draft. While his heavy sinking fastball has backed up from sitting 92-94 to 89-92, the lefty ace has demonstrated a stronger command of his arsenal than ever before. On Friday he was able to get up to 93 early on against Duke, and settled in at low 90s for the rest of the day. Paired with an improved high 70s curveball and a low 80s change that flashes above average, Savino has been able to carve up all levels of competition so far in 2022. Teams that value his pitchability and ability to generate sharp late breaking movement on his arsenal could scoop him up in the vicinity of the fourth round.