In a previous article, I highlighted a handful of pitchers who ultimately went undrafted and will be making their way to campus this fall. In a similar fashion, I have listed a number of hitters who will be attending school. Overall, the incoming position player group is rather deep and features a number of tooled up athletes in the class.
OF Gavin Turley
Commitment: Oregon State
Turley was selected in the 19th round by the Arizona Diamondbacks, which came as a bit of a surprise as many believed he was a top five round talent. Ultimately, the asking price from Turley’s camp did not match the means for teams, and he was drafted as a day three insurance pick. He stands out from a physical perspective, with plenty of man strength distributed throughout his entire frame. He is looking to ambush at the dish, which is reflective in both his whiff rates and quality batted ball data. The aesthetics of Turley’s swing reminds me a bit of Kris Bryant, as he enters the hitting zone with a steep bat angle, with the intent of doing damage in the air. In addition to the tools he possesses in the box, he is an exceptional runner with a plus throwing arm from the outfield, which will bode well in centerfield long term. Turley figures to slot into the Beavers lineup as a freshman, as there are available at-bats for the taking following the turnover from last year's outfield.
SS Max Martin
Commitment: Rutgers
Following one of the best seasons in program history, Rutgers landed one of the more highly touted prep infielders in the Garden State in Max Martin. Martin is a huge get for the Knights, as he will stay in the state in which he garnered plenty of draft interest from northeast area scouts. Martin is a super projectable athlete, with smooth hands, a rangey glove and strong throwing arm suited to play shortstop. In the box, Martin has shown glimpses of being a twitchy athlete, which suggests that he will grow into more power with added strength. There is work to be done with improving his swing decisions and bat to ball skills, but Martin oozes with upside and figures to be a fixture in the Rutgers lineup for years to come.
OF Paxton Kling
Commitment: LSU
The 2022 Pennsylvania Gatorade Player of the Year, Kling, is a lean bodied athlete that has plenty of physical projection remaining. At the plate, he is very collected with loose actions and a whippy bat path. He creates a great rubber band effect with his hands which contributes to the explosiveness in his swing. With added strength, it is plausible to project on the in-game power to trend towards a plus tool in school. Defensively, his athleticism works to his advantage as he patrols all three outfield spots well with a strong throwing arm. When evaluating Kling, he shows shades of Chris Taylor when accounting for his physique, athleticism, versatility and presence he brings to the batter's box.
SS R.J. Austin
Commitment: Vanderbilt
Austin is one of the more skilled players who will be heading to campus this fall, as he has shown the ability to influence a game with his bat, glove, arm, and legs. On the showcase circuit, he appeared as a two-way player and was up to 93 off of the mound in-game, which is a credit to his arm strength and athleticism. Despite checking in at 5’11, Austin has some pop in his game which speaks to his twitchiness. He recently revamped his swing path with the intent to elevate the ball more frequently. Austin has shown the ability to turn on pitches and drive them over the fence, and with added strength it is reasonable to project on more power frequency as he matures. His bat has the potential to round into an above average tool as he continues to polish and refine his approach during his collegiate career. Defensively, Austin has experience playing all around the dirt and he flashes plus instincts with rangey actions and the arm strength to stick at shortstop long term.
C Malcolm Moore
Commitment: Stanford
Moore has a strong build with a physical makeup that is molded like a catcher. In the box, he demonstrates present bat speed with a sweepy swing that projects favorably for future power production. When Moore is performing at his best, he demonstrates good poise in the box with the ability to drive the ball around the yard. Where the inconsistency steps in is when he gets away from his approach, and becomes a free swinger. He is a quality receiver behind the dish, with room to improve upon his poptimes. Nonetheless, Moore is an exciting offensive minded catcher who has an avenue for immediate playing time following the departure of Kody Huff.
SS Jalin Flores
Commitment: Texas
The 6’3 Flores is a long levered and high waisted athlete that has a very projectable athletic frame. From a physical standpoint, he resembles former Texas shortstop Trey Faltine. Flores’s carrying tool is the bat, in which he currently has above average bat speed with room to grow into more power as he rounds out physically. His offensive profile may see a significant boost as he works under the tutelage of the Longhorns staff, which as a program ranked fourth in the nation in home runs in 2022. Defensively, he makes all the routine plays at shortstop but may profile more as a third baseman by the end of his tenure at Texas.
C Ike Irish
Commitment: Auburn
Irish was one of the more advanced prep, defensive catchers in the 2022 class. His plus arm strength is his carrying tool defensively, as it is accurate and on the line throwing arm with plenty of carry through the bag. He presents pitches well with subtle glove movements around the edges, and his athleticism translates behind the dish. Offensively, he works from the left side with a wide base. He uses the whole field with a lofty swing path. His offensive profile is a touch behind the defensive game, but he has the offensive tools to round into a productive hitter.
OF Michael Gupton
Commitment: NC State
The former high school track star, Gupton, possesses double plus speed that impacts numerous facets of his game. He is a quick twitch athlete with a super athletic build. His twitchiness is present in the batters box as he has an explosive swing which held its own in the Draft League by producing the highest exit velocities for a Williamsport Crosscutter. There is work to be done in regards to his overall polish in his game, but Gupton provides tremendous upside and has the potential to be a five tool player. Gupton’s style of play is reminiscent of former Arkansas Razorback standout and current Chicago Cub farm hand Christian Franklin.
Honorable Mentions:
Gavin Guidry (LSU) is another middle infielder who will be joining Jay Johnson and company this fall and has a twitchy skill set with super projectable offensive tools. Cameron Smith (Florida State) scouts liked him as a late bloomer, long levered with an explosive swing and plus arm strength across the diamond. Jordan Taylor (Florida State) similar to Smith, is a super projectable athlete with plus run times and throwing arm, room to grow into more power as he matures. Jeric Curtis (Texas Tech), rivals Michael Gupton for fastest runner in the in-coming freshman class and is a tremendous athlete. Jayden Hylton (Stetson) is an imposing 6’6 athlete with plenty of raw juice who figures to be a force if he can scale back on the strikeouts.