Our second mock draft of the year starts college heavy and includes Charlie Condon, Travis Bazzana and others at the top.
2024 Pre-Season Top 100 Prospects Led by SS Jackson Holliday
Introducing the pSTFERA Suite - a new set of predictive ERA-estimators based on the Stuff of a given pitch, put on an ERA scale.
The first day of the MLB Draft has come and gone and man, what a night it was.
We saw plenty of history, including the first-ever teammates to go 1-2 in the draft, as well as the fewest amount of prep arms in the first round in quite some time. It was a relatively tame night, as well, as little chaos occurred, which is a change from what previous years have given us. But which classes and picks stand out the most from Day 1? That’s what I’m here to break down.
We’ll dive into six hauls and six individual picks that stood out and garnered my attention throughout the night, as well as give a bit of insight into what we could say on Day 2.
Picks: 1B/RHP Bryce Eldridge (16), SS Walker Martin (52), LHP Joe Whitman (69)
The Giants currently have the cream of the crop in terms of a haul this draft. Eldridge being selected as a two-way isn’t a shock, as that is likely the reason as to why he’s a first rounder to begin with. Unlike Crawford, I think Eldridge has a better chance to be a starter with the nature of his stuff, plus the bat is pretty underrated with plenty of power. He’ll be one interesting follow.
The Martin pick came as a bit of a shock admittedly, especially given the fact that he played with a back injury throughout the spring. However, I like the aggressiveness from the front office here. Martin’s bat is legit, as he’s got one of the better hit tools in the prep ranks, plus the power got better this spring. You can question where he fits defensively, he’s got the athleticism to start in the dirt with a move to a corner spot not out of the question. But the bat is the calling card here.
Lastly, Whitman is a phenomenal pick at 69. We thought he could find his way into the backend of the first and given the success the Giants pitching development team has seen the past few years, there’s plenty to like with Whitman’s profile. The fastball has potential, the slider is already a plus pitch, and the change-up is effective. The pick seems eerily similar to Carson Whisenhunt from a year ago.
Overall, it’s a pretty high risk, high reward class. I’m interested to see what the Giants do on Day 2, especially with under $10 million at their disposal in pool money. Maybe it’s a bit more of the college underslot demographic they go after, but I’d imagine Whitman may command a bit less and provide some savings.
Picks: C Kyle Teel (14), SS Nazzan Zanetello (50)
If I were Boston, I’d of been incredibly giddy to have Kyle Teel fall into my lap like that. Teel was a consensus top-ten guy, even being the third-best collegiate bat on our board. It’s as legit of a bat as you can find in the country, winning the ACC Player of the Year and having a potentially plus hit tool with pretty robust power. He’s likely someone that will end up peppering the Green Monster in due time. While he isn’t your stereotypical catcher, he’s very athletic back there and deserves every chance to stick there. This could be an early candidate for the steal of the first round.
With Zanetello, you’re getting a freak athlete. He’s got legitimate five-tool potential in his profile. He’s hit everywhere he has gone and the mix of very quick hands/bat speed will give him a rather robust power profile once he’s physically mature. Let’s not forget the speed he has, which grades out as plus to potentially double-plus, and a very strong arm that has hit 98 MPH, and you’ve got a very solid prep player. He was drafted as a shortstop and he should be given every chance there, though I do believe he’s either a third baseman or a right fielder.
It might only be two picks, but I don’t think Boston could have done much better here.
Picks: RHP Noble Meyer (10), LHP Thomas White (35), OF Kemp Alderman (47)
Man, what the Marlins did with their first two picks was perfect.
We’ll start with Meyer, who was the lone prep arm to be selected in the first round. We’ll jump into this later on, but I absolutely love the fit here. He’s already got a robust pitch mix, but with the way the Marlins develop change-ups, it’s just such a fun idea to think about the potential here. With White, they double down on the prep demographic and they have the pool money to get him signed. White has long been a famous name and has excellent stuff, getting into the mid-90s with a lively heater and a robust secondary arsenal, though getting that delivery in sync and scattered command gave him some fits. The Marlins know their strengths here and I’m excited about it. There’s a ton of upside here.
Alderman is also a fun profile to dive into. He has some of the best power in the entire class, consistently having exit velocities get above the 110 MPH threshold. If Miami can get him to tone down the aggressive approach and improve the contact rates, there’s a ton to like with the bat. Defensively, he’s destined for a right field spot thanks to an absolute bazooka of a right arm.
Time will ultimately tell on how these guys develop, especially Meyer and White, but if I’m a Marlins fan, I couldn’t be any more excited about their picks.
Picks: INF Tommy Troy (12), INF LuJames “Gino” Groover III (48), LHP Caden Grice (64)
The Diamondbacks’ Day 1 class is insanely fun and screams upside, especially on the offensive front.
The selection of Troy was celebrated amongst the draft team here at the site. We think he’s one of the best bats in the class with a sound approach, robust power, as well as being able to handle velocity. He had zero whiffs against pitches above 95+ MPH in 2023, which while it is a smaller sample size, it’s quite impressive. Defensively, he might end up at second base, but I like the idea of starting him out on the left side of the infield. It’s a very fun profile.
Groover does provide a bit more questions regarding the defense, but there’s no questioning the offensive ability. Groover’s MO is hitting, utilizing the whole field with a short, compact swing and having excellent plate discipline. He managed to get more into his power in 2023 as well, which was very encouraging to see. He’s likely destined for either second base, first base, or even left field, but I’d imagine Arizona will let him man the hot corner for a bit.
Lastly, Grice being a P.O. is a fun pick. Arizona is quite progressive with their arms and while Grice does have 70-grade power, the hit tool was likely never going to materialize. He was very good down the stretch for Erik Bakich with a low-90s heater that has sink, as well as a solid breaking ball and change-up. He’s relatively fresh too, as he didn’t really pitch heavily until this season. I like the fit here.
Picks: C Blake Mitchell (8), RHP Blake Wolters (44), OF Carson Roccaforte (66)
Yes, you can scream at me all you want about the prep catching demographic and how risky it is, but at the end of the day, Mitchell felt like the one to buck that trend. It’s not often that you get someone of his caliber at the position and he’s viewed as reasonably safe offensively, as he has a robust hit/power combination. He won’t get a chance to pitch like he did in high school, but rather he’s going to stick behind the dish long-term. He’s athletic and agile back there, plus the cannon of an arm that he has garnered double-plus grades. There’s a ton to like with the profile he has and I’d be very interested to see the monetary figure he gets.
With Wolters, the Royals get a very solid arm. He came into his own this spring, turning into a legitimate power pitcher with a loud fastball that gets into the upper-90s with very solid life to it. The slider will need to be more consistent, but it flashes. At its best, it’ll be a power slider in the mid-80s with nasty bite and tilt, though it becomes a slurvy breaker with gradual break when he doesn’t execute. The change-up needs refinement, too. I do trust the Royals development team enough to work their magic here.
Lastly, Roccaforte is a fun pick in the second round. While the home run power wasn’t the same as what it was in 2022, Roccaforte’s batted ball profile is incredibly fun to dive into. It’s very easy power and while there’s some things to iron out with the swing, there’s a lot to like there. He’s an above-average runner that has a chance to stick at the eight with solid route running and great defense. He’s got high grades on models, too.
Picks: OF Max Clark (3), INF Kevin McGonigle (37), INF Max Anderson (45)
Could this be a bit of a hot take? Maybe. It’s hard to pass up on a talented college bat in Wyatt Langford, but Max Clark is the kind of bat you feel comfortable passing on Langford for.
Clark’s offensive profile is a bit power limited when compared to the other names in the top five, he’s likely going to max out at average to above-average power when all is said and done. However, he’s a potentially plus hitter with a smooth left-handed swing that’s short to the ball and he can shoot the ball to all fields with ease, as well as having a pretty sound approach at the dish. What does give him the edge over someone like Walker Jenkins is the defensive upside here. He’s got a solid chance to stick in centerfield with very solid speed, route-running, and defense at the next level. Detroit did very well here.
McGonigle can be seen as a bit of a steal in the compensation round given the offensive upside and the first round grade we gave him. It’s pretty similar to what Clark’s bat is, a plus hitter with potentially above-average power when all is said and done. He has a lengthy track record of hitting everywhere he has gone and doesn’t strike out a ton against solid competition. If there’s anything to knock McGonigle on, it’s the fact that he’s likely limited to second base. He was drafted as a shortstop, but given the muscle he added and limited arm strength, a move seems likely down the line. But you can’t argue with an offensive-minded second baseman.
Lastly, Anderson had some helium in the last couple of weeks and felt destined to go higher than the ranking we gave him. Surely enough, here we are, as Anderson went 16 spots higher than our ranking. Anderson just flat-out hits, slashing .414/.461/.771 in the spring with Nebraska with very solid power output, particularly to the gaps. He does chase quite a bit and the walks aren’t where you’d want them to be, but he does a very good job of limiting the strikeouts. His defense is a question mark, though, given the lack of arm strength and range at second base. He’s likely a first baseman at the next level.
Honorable Mentions: Minnesota Twins, Cincinnati Reds, Tampa Bay Rays
I’ve seen a bit of scuttlebutt about Walters being a relief-only guy during his time at Miami, so I raise you this: he was one of the best closers in ACC history. Plus, given the electric nature of the fastball and the potential to move quickly as a bullpen ace in Cleveland’s system, I absolutely love the fit here. Walters has a unique fastball with a low release, flatter VAA, and excellent command. It was an incredibly dynamic pitch in college, and while you could say he’s a one-pitch pony, Walters has seen improvement in the breaking ball department, ditching the loopier curveball for a harder slider with solid bite. Cleveland’s pitching development is amazing, too. It’s hard not to love this pick.
Atlanta’s farm system is littered with a ton of arms, so why not add Waldrep to the fold? This feels like a steal given the nature of his stuff, particularly the off-speed, but I believe the Braves can be a development team that can fix his fastball. We already know how good the off-speed arsenal is, as the splitter is a legitimate 70-grade pitch and the curveball/slider are both above-average, but if Atlanta can fix his fastball command, this has the makings of another quick riser in that system. It’ll also help him live out his potential as a starter. If I’m Atlanta, I’m very happy that Waldrep fell this far.
I know I’ve already touched on how much I like this pick and the upside, but it’s one of my favorite fits in the draft thus far. Miami knows how to develop pitching, there’s no question about that, and Meyer has one of the best pitch mixes in the class that’s led by his plus slider. But if there’s anything I’m excited about here, it’s the development of his change-up. We’ve covered it in Deep(er) Drives, but the one thing industry folks wanted to see was more change-up usage. Miami knows how to develop the pitch and given the fact that Meyer has already made some tweaks to the pitch over the past year, I like the potential here.
Houck sliding this far was not on my bingo card, especially given we had him mocked to the Diamondbacks at 12. Houck’s upside is tremendous and he’s incredibly athletic. It’s a very solid swing from the right side and with the projectable nature of his frame, the power potential is quite high. There’s also enough to suggest that he sticks at shortstop long term with his twitch, range, and arm strength. The Mets may have gotten a legitimate steal with their first pick here.
Yeah, this was a match made in heaven. The Cardinals needed this kind of bat in their system and Davis fell right into their laps. He’s really evolved as a hitter in the past year, dropping the whiff and chase rates and shortening up the swing, all while keeping the robust power he’s always had. It’s likely that he gets a chance to start in center field, but in all likelihood, a move to a corner spot seems likely. I really, really like this fit.
The Twins were big winners in the draft lottery back in December and they get someone who fits their M.O. perfectly. While the medical history pushed some teams away, the upside here is amazing. It’s a potential 60-hit/60-power bat with Jenkins, as he has robust bat speed and impressive bat-to-ball skills that you don’t find often in a prep bat. He’s likely a fit for right field instead of center moving forward, where his strong arm should play very well. He’s got the speed to handle center, but he likely outgrows the position. All in all, Minnesota likes their high-OBP and power guys and Jenkins fits that bill.
As the spring turned to summer, top prospects stopped by to wrap up their regular and/or postseasons. From Chase Dollander to Paul Skenes, Dylan Crews to Kyle Teel, and some million dollar arms in Hoover, I went on the road to fill out the rest of my notebook and put a stamp on my 2023 coverage. Enjoy!
Hitting: 3-11, 1 HR, 1 2B, 2 BB, 5 K
Pitching: 3 IP, 3 H, 4 ER, 6 BB, 4 K
Jac Caglianone has taken over the college baseball landscape this season, becoming an amateur Shohei Ohtani clone. The two-way prowess has been rather impressive to watch, though there are some things I wanted to hone in on with him over the weekend. Could these be hot takes? I don’t know, but here’s my honest opinion on Caglianone: he’s electric, but there’s work to be done.
As a bat, you’re looking at some of the biggest raw power in the country. The bat and hand speed that Caglianone possesses is otherworldly and presently, he leads the country in home runs with twenty-three. His latest home run wasn’t a cheap one, murdering an 81 MPH breaking ball on the outer halfway over the right field fence, coming very close to leaving the stadium. Leaving the bat at 108 MPH, it would ultimately land 412 feet away. He’d add on a single and a double, and while it’s legitimate double plus power, I do have some reservations about the hit tool. He can get rather aggressive at the plate and shows trouble with off-speed. Will Sanders welcomed Caglianone to Columbia with three sliders, all of which Caglianone whiffed on. He’s in no rush to walk either, as he only has nine on the year. Defensively, he’s limited to first base and while he could see some time in the outfield to test his versatility, there’s gonna be pressure on the bat to perform.
Things you don't do with Jac Caglianone in the box: hang a breaking ball.
— Tyler Jennings (@TylerJennings24) April 22, 2023
The distance on this HR was 412 feet, but I'm not sure it ever landed. The ball left the bat at 108 MPH and the bat/hand speed is on full display here. Legit 70 juice.
Oh, btw, he's on the bump today. pic.twitter.com/cqM1PLjGsp
On the mound, it can get rather rough to watch. He labored through a lengthy first inning, allowing a home run to Braylen Wimmer and walking two more batters before the inning ended. He’d ultimately walk six batters in the span of three innings. It’s a reliever-ish look for him, as he can struggle to repeat his mechanics and his fastball command is rather pedestrian at best. He did hold consistent 93-96 MPH velocity, as well as a solid low-mid 80's slider with tight spin and a quality change-up with great separation and diving action, but the strike-throwing, or lack thereof, is slightly concerning.
He’s going to be a polarizing prospect in next year's cycle, not because of the two-way ability, but because of the rawness he has and whether or not he can find the polish that Vance Honeycutt and others have. If he manages to do that and performs admirably in the SEC in 2024, you’re likely looking at the 1.1 pick. If not, you might be looking at someone who’s defensively limited and aggressive at the plate, as well as a potential reliever down the line. Would you take that over a legitimate center fielder with a revamped approach in Honeycutt? That’s the real question and we can dive into that further later on. For now, though, we can sit back and enjoy the season he’s having and hope the polish comes around.
Final Line: 6 IP, 6 H, 5 ER, 3 BB, 10 K
Hurston Waldrep’s stuff is rather loud. The former Southern Mississippi arm has always had a robust arsenal, though the results just have not been there this year. Maybe I’m overthinking it because it’s the SEC, but he’s really struggled to open ballgames and last Friday was no different.
Hurston Waldrep's off-speed stuff is just bonkers.
— Tyler Jennings (@TylerJennings24) April 22, 2023
FB has been 94-96 T98 w/ cut-ride. Pitching off CB and SL a lot, SL high-80's w/ sweep and big 12-6 bender at 82-84. Flashing super-low spin splitter in high-80's. Retired nine straight at one point tonight. pic.twitter.com/hJ4dvwbGwI
Over the first two innings, Waldrep would primarily lead off at-bats with the fastball. The result? Five earned runs, including a three-run home run to Ethan Petry on a hanging 88 MPH splitter in the second inning. After that? Waldrep would retire the next ten batters straight before a leadoff walk in the sixth inning, primarily pitching backwards with his off-speed arsenal. The fastball features cutting action with some ride in the mid-90’s, touching 97 MPH early, though the command was scattered at times and it felt very hittable. The curveball was utilized often to steal strikes early in counts, sitting in the low-80’s consistently with big downer shape and he’d primarily pitch off his high-80’s slider that featured sweep and high spin. His splitter, which is one of the best pitches in this year’s class, lacked some feel and he didn’t utilize it much, though when snapped off properly, it featured very low spin and dropped off a cliff.
The main question with Waldrep is whether or not scouts see him as a starter long-term. He’s highly athletic with an over-the-top arm slot, but the delivery has a good amount of effort and the command, particularly with the fastball, draws some concern. He’ll need to utilize a more consistent fastball shape, too, as the pitch is subject to being lit up when down in the zone and he showed some struggles elevating the pitch early in his outing. He’s still a projected first-round pick, though he’s going to be a bit of a project for a big-league team.
Final Line: 5.2 IP, 4 H, 4 ER, 3 BB, 8 K
Brandon Sproat is a bit of an interesting case to dive into. He was selected in the third round of the 2022 MLB Draft by the New York Mets, but opted not to sign and returned to campus to be Florida’s new Friday starter. He’s shown glimpses of brilliance on the mound this year, including a complete game shutout against Alabama last month, though while he has seen an uptick in velocity across the board with his stuff, I wonder if he’ll ultimately end up in the bullpen.
.@GatorsBB's Brandon Sproat has some loud stuff.
— Tyler Jennings (@TylerJennings24) April 21, 2023
FB has touched 100 tonight, sitting 95-99 with big running life. CH at 88-91 has serious sinking life to lefties, showing off gyro SL in same velo band to righties. Flashing low-80's CB. Command is erratic, however. pic.twitter.com/o03VA47iCL
His start on Thursday was a mixed bag of sorts. He primarily lived off a lively fastball/change-up combo, sprinkling in a slider at the start before resorting to a curveball in the third and fourth innings. The fastball touched 100 MPH on the first pitch and he primarily lived in the 94-98 MPH range throughout the night, but the pitch’s shape and inconsistent command hamper it. It’s more of a running two-seamer than a riding four-seamer and won’t miss a ton of bats, plus the lack of strikes with the pitch is concerning. His best off-speed is the aforementioned change-up, which features great separation and he’s confident enough to throw it in any count. It lives in the 88-91 MPH range and dives hard to the dirt, garnering plenty of empty swings. The slider is more of a gyro pitch, showcasing decent depth with a little horizontal movement in the high-80’s, though at times, he did hang the pitch, which led to a home run in the first inning by Ethan Petry (he’s really good at this baseball thing, by the way). The curveball was primarily used to steal strikes to open at-bats later on in the low-80’s with solid depth and some sweep.
There’s athleticism in the delivery, which features a very long arm swing into a three-quarters arm slot, though there’s some effort in the operation. That, mixed with inconsistent command, does hint at a potential relief role down the line. However, he’s likely going to start off as a starter in the minor leagues until he’s forced into a bullpen role. It’ll be interesting to see if he manages to go higher than his 2022 selection and sneak his way into Day 1 conversations.
Final Line: 2-11, 2 BB, 3 K
Langford has long been one of my favorite players in this class. While his CNT trials didn’t result in a ton of hits, he impressed me enough in that week to solidify himself in my personal top five, so it was paramount to see him again this spring. While it wasn’t the weekend he wanted, he still showed off why he has legitimate five-tool potential.
Wyatt Langford is a line drive machine.
— Tyler Jennings (@TylerJennings24) April 21, 2023
Bit of a slow start offensively tonight, but got on the board with this line drive single (98 MPH EV) after a lengthy AB. Tons of bat speed and he's a physical freak, plus he can absolutely haul down the line. Pot. Top 5 pick this year. pic.twitter.com/uq4Fz5sl3u
His BP was rather fun to sit down and watch, spraying line drives across the field. There’s legitimate bat speed in his swing and his power plays to all fields, even though he hasn’t replicated his 2022 power performance. He’s showing off more patience at the plate, as well. On the year, he’s garnered 37 walks and just 21 strikeouts, though there is an issue of being too selective and letting opposing arms get to their weapons deeper into counts. He’s a physical freak, as well. It’s a muscular build at 6’1, 220 pounds, but don’t let the size fool you, this is a player that can absolutely fly. He’s recorded plus run times in the past and books it down the line on ground balls, and if it weren’t for a fringe-average arm in the outfield, he’d likely be manning center field over Michael Robertson thanks to his speed. The arm will need to improve at the next level.
He did miss a little over two weeks from a pretty brutal lower-half injury, though he returned much earlier than expected and is still performing at a phenomenal clip. This is a profile that will find itself inside the top five, there’s very little doubt about that. Logistics will figure itself out as we get closer to draft day, but the upside is immense and he could be on a fast track to the majors if all goes well.
Final Line: 5 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 6 K
We’ve written about Will Sanders and Jack Mahoney plenty this month, so why not talk about South Carolina’s new Sunday starter, Matthew Becker. The southpaw is destined to be one of the top lefties in next year’s class.
Becker made a loud impression as a freshman, throwing six innings of one-hit ball against the top team in the country, the Texas Longhorns, striking out eleven in the process. While Sunday was not a replication of that Texas start, Becker only allowed two hits across five innings of work, striking out six and walking just one. The lone blemishes in his outing were two opposite field jacks to Cade Kurland, both of which coming off fastballs. Becker throws two different heaters, a sinker in the lower half of the zone and a four-seam with significant carry up in the zone. He’s added a bit more velocity, sitting more in the 90-92 MPH range with the four-seam and 89-91 MPH with the sinker. He has two excellent breaking balls with distinct shapes, a high-70’s curveball and a low-80’s slider, both of which have high spin numbers and big break. He began utilizing a low-80’s change-up with fade later on in the outing, primarily against righties.
Command was the biggest issue with Becker as a freshman and he’s improved a bit as a sophomore, but his fastball command can be fringy at times. He’ll need to add more velocity and improve the command a bit more to solidify himself as a potential Day 1 arm in next year’s draft, but the mold is definitely there and he’s in a great place to work on it with pitching coach Justin Parker. He and Eli Jerzembeck have the potential to be a very nasty 1-2 punch in the SEC in 2024.
Final Line: 1.1 IP, 4 H, 5 R (0 ER), 1 BB, 2 K
The combination of loud stuff and personality is something that doesn’t show up all that often in college baseball. Enter Teddy Sharkey, Coastal Carolina’s psycho closer.
Teddy Sharkey: American Psycho.
— Tyler Jennings (@TylerJennings24) April 23, 2023
Sharkey has some of the best pure stuff in the country. FB was 93-97 today with ride and can bore it in on righties. High-80's SL and low-80's CB are dynamic breakers. Command wavered in his 2nd inning. One of the best relief arms in this class. pic.twitter.com/6phFj7EnVr
Sharkey has a stockier build on the mound with some physicality present, coming in at 5’11, 200 pounds. It’s a high effort delivery with a higher arm slot, but man, the stuff is loud. The fastball has plenty of carry and got up to 97 MPH, sitting 93-96 MPH later on in his outing with command that began to waver a bit. He has two distinct breaking balls that are both potential plus pitches. The slider sits in the 85-88 MPH range with sharp two-plane break that, when commanded away from righties, can be lethal. The curveball has the potential to be a legitimate hammer, a low-80’s offering with significant depth and some sweep. He looked the part of a high-leverage reliever in his first inning, snaking his way out of a bases-loaded jam with two strikeouts. However, after getting two quick outs in his second inning, it became clear that he was tired and he had a meltdown with two outs, though his defense did not help him much. All five runs he allowed were unearned as a result.
While Coastal Carolina has stretched him out in recent outings, Sharkey is suited more for shorter outings and he projects as a potential high-leverage reliever at the next level. There are some things that will need to be shored up in the minor leagues, mainly his command, but this is an arm that could fly to the majors if everything comes together. He’s expected to be one of the first true relievers off the board in July.
Final Line: 3-5, 1 HR, 2 R
Etzel was a highly touted JUCO bat coming into the year and while Southern Mississippi has had its fair share of trouble, Etzel has been a big bright spot out of the leadoff spot.
Southern Miss' leadoff guy Matthew Etzel impressed today. Hit a leadoff HR to start off another three hit day. Simple swing suited for line drives, very quick runner and glides in CF. Former JUCO bandit. pic.twitter.com/yrpNEhx17S
— Tyler Jennings (@TylerJennings24) April 23, 2023
Everything works easily for Etzel at the plate. He has solid plate discipline and it’s more of a line-drive approach at the plate. He does have decent power, but did not get his first home run of the season until his first at-bat on Sunday. The swing is more suited for spraying line drives across the field, but he has a knack for putting plenty of backspin on balls in play. He does have a bit of trouble with fastballs up in the zone, though that wasn’t very apparent in this series. He’d tally seven hits total in the three-game set, including back-to-back three-hit performances. He’s likely a lock to stay in at the eight moving forward, too. He glides on the basepaths and in center field, though his route running can waver from time to time. The arm may put him in a left field position should he move to a corner position, but ultimately, his speed should be the difference maker there.
He’s a bit of a weird one to rank on our board, but there’s a chance that Etzel could play his way into the top 100 picks. He’ll need to add more power to his profile, but he’s a potential center fielder with great speed and a knack for hitting. He’d fit anywhere at the beginning of Day 2 in July.
Honorable Mentions: INF Cade Kurland, Florida; OF Ethan Petry, South Carolina; INF Cole Messina, South Carolina; RHP Will Sanders, South Carolina; LHP Cade Fisher, Florida
This article is brought to you by Nick Johnson, one of the newest contributors at Prospects LIve
Performance: 6 IP, O R, 0 H, 0 BB, 1 HBP, 11 K
Talk about starting out with a bang! I’m not sure even Sean Sullivan could have scripted a better beginning to his Wake career. Through his first two appearances the 6’4 lefty has thrown 10 innings allowing only 2 hits, 1 walk, while striking out 21 batters!
As I wrote in January I thought Sullivan was one of the most under-the-radar transfers in all of D1. A Northwestern transfer, Sullivan had an impressive freshman season as the Wildcat’s Friday night starter throwing 64.2 innings, striking out 78 while sporting a 4.45 era. After the collegiate season he pitched an additional 28 innings in the Cape League where he struck out 29 in 28 innings while only giving up 22 hits and walking 9.
If you’ve never seen Sullivan pitch he throws from a funky low 3⁄4 slot that is super deceptive. He works quickly and pounds the zone. He has a 3 pitch mix (FB,SL,CH) but is super FB heavy. In his start Friday against Mount St. Mary’s he threw 77 pitches and a staggering 66 of them were fastballs (85%). He had a crazy 25 swing and misses on the day. The fastball had 55% miss and 41% chase. Sullivan’s FB sat 88 and topped out at 90. If he can tap into his big frame and gain velocity you could watch his stock soar. With the news that Teddy McGraw may be out for an extended amount of time it will be interesting to see if Sullivan sticks in the starting rotation. My bet would be yes.
⭐️Top Weekend Performers⭐️
— Nick Johnson (@nicholasmilo) February 28, 2023
Sean Sullivan: 6 IP, O R, 0 H, 0 BB, 1 HBP, 11 K
If you’ve never seen Sean Sullivan pitch he throws from a funky low 3⁄4 slot that is super deceptive. He works quickly and pounds the zone. He has a 3 pitch mix (FB,SL,CH) but is super FB heavy. pic.twitter.com/KjlXMxYc2n
Performance: 7.1 IP, 1R, 4H, 0BB, 8K
After missing all of 2021 due to injury Ryan Hawks became Louisville’s go to arm out of the pen in 2022. In 27 appearances (1 start) Hawks threw 49 innings allowing 54 hits, walking 16 and striking out 65.
This year Hawks becomes arguably the most important piece of a Louisville staff that is coming off an underwhelming 2022. The former Kentucky Gatorade player of the year has certainly looked the part of a Friday night starter through his first two games. In 13.2 innings he has only given up 7 hits, 1 walk, 1 ER, while striking out 17.
This Friday against Bowling Green he looked really good. He tossed 7.1 innings of 4 hit ball without allowing an earned run and striking out 8. He threw 88 pitches and was primarily FB/SL while mixing in 6 CH. Despite it being a brisk 45 degrees the fastball sat 92 and topped 93. I expect the velocity to tick up as it gets warmer and he builds back up. The slider looked really impressive with 56% whiff/31% chase. I hope he mixes the change in more because it had good fading movement and induced some funky swings.
Through two starts Louisville has to be extremely happy with what they’ve seen from Hawks as he will be a pivotal piece in their push to Omaha.
⭐️Top Weekend Performers⭐️
— Nick Johnson (@nicholasmilo) February 28, 2023
Ryan Hawks: 7.1 IP, 1R, 4H, 0BB, 8K
The former Kentucky Gatorade player of the year has certainly looked the part of a Friday night starter through his 1st 2 starts. In 13.2 innings @_RyanHawks has only given up 7 hits, 1 walk, 1 ER, w 17 K’s. pic.twitter.com/yPiV5qG29A
6 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 3BB, 13K
When Florida went and got Hurston Waldrep out of the transfer portal I imagine this was exactly what they thought they were getting. The RHP Southern Miss transfer was absolutely electric Saturday afternoon. The 6’2 Thomasville, GA native shoved against Cincinnati going 6.0 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 13 K (tied career high). He threw 100 pitches (62% strikes) and featured a FB,CB,SP/CH mix. The fastball sat 95 and topped 98. He held 96 into the 6th inning. The Split-Change was absolutely nails at 87 mph with 71% whiff/64% chase.
After facing Charleston Southern and Cincinnati, Waldrep will get his first real test of the season this weekend as he faces a talented and nationally ranked Miami offense highlighted by projected first rounder Yoyo Morales.
⭐️Top Weekend Performers⭐️
— Nick Johnson (@nicholasmilo) February 28, 2023
Hurston Waldrep: 6 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 3BB, 13K
Waldrep threw 100 pitches (62% K) w a FB,CB,SP/CH mix. The FB sat 95 and T98. He held 96 into the 6th inning. The Split-Change was absolutely gross at 87 mph with 71% whiff/64% chase.
🎥: @gabyvitalee pic.twitter.com/Lfdzz1Oi0B
5.2, 1H, 0 ER, 2BB, 8K, 81 pitches (50 strikes) at #10 TCU
8 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 12 K, 99 pitches (71 strikes) vs UPENN
7 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 9 K, 101 pitches (67 strikes) at #4 Ole Miss
Performance: 6 for 12, HR, 2 2B, 7 RBI
In what was billed to be one of the best matchups of the weekend #13 Maryland traveled down south to take on the #4 Rebels of Ole Miss. It was a great early season test for the Maryland offense to go up against some great SEC arms. While the series didn’t go the way Maryland would have hoped, Jr. catcher Luke Shliger really stood out. In the 3 game series the 5’9 LHH went 6-12 with a 2B, HR, 5 RBI’s, 2BB and 3K.
Shliger really burst onto the scene as a sophomore slashing .357/.500/.643 with a 1.143 OPS. He had 22 doubles, 2 triples, and 12 homers. He followed up his sophomore campaign with an All-Star season on Cape.
With a hit > power approach, good swing/take decisions, strong bat-to-ball skills, and limited physical projection remaining, the Maryland backstop profiles as a high-floor, low-ceiling type player. The question he will have to answer this spring is just how much impact the bat carries. The power production will dictate how high he goes but he currently projects as a Top 100 pick.
Top 5 | That's our captain!!
— Maryland Baseball (@TerpsBaseball) February 26, 2023
Luke Shliger hammers a ball over TJ McCants and into the student section for the Terps fourth home run of the game
Rebels 10, Terps 8 pic.twitter.com/oZwRJfATcO
Performance: 8-13, 7 2B, 1 HR, 11 RBI, 2 BB, 3HBP, 2 SB
I’m not sure anyone in the country had as good of a weekend as RS SO catcher Devin Burkes. Burkes went crazy against Wright St. going 8 for 13 with 7 doubles, 1 homerun, 11 RBI, 2 walks, 3 HBP, and 2 stolen bases. Including his midweek game against Indiana St. Burkes slashed .563/.667/1.188 with a 1.855 OPS. The Bradenton, Florida native is enjoying his first year as Kentucky’s everyday catcher and has a 20 game on base streak dating back to last season. He currently leads the nation in doubles. Burkes is making his case to fly up draft boards this spring.
👋, baseball@Devin_Burkes pic.twitter.com/tstNXQzA2e
— Kentucky Baseball (@UKBaseball) February 26, 2023
Performance: 5-9, 5R, 3 HR, 9 RBI, 1BB, 1K
Not even a historic Southern California deluge could cool off JR RHH Jack Costello. The third baseman only got two games in this weekend due to heavy rain but did wreak havoc in both.On Friday night against Hawaii he went 3-4 with 2 HR and 6 RBI. On Sunday against UNLV he went 2-5 with a HR and 3 RBI.
Costello is coming off an impressive sophomore campaign where he slashed .307/.369/.487 with a .856 OPS. He had 15 2B, 2 3B, and 8 HR. He spent 18 games in the Cape Cod league where he hit .270 in limited at bats.
The Terero’s are off to a hot 5-0-1 start and a lot of their future success will rest on the success of their star 3B.
It's Jack Costello versus everybody.#GoToreros pic.twitter.com/yJhOldsYgO
— San Diego Baseball (@USDbaseball) February 27, 2023
Prospects Live is back with their 2023 Preseason All-American teams leading up to their extensive 2023 college baseball coverage.
The Prospects Live Preseason All-American teams are listed below, broken down into three separate teams. We selected our Preseason All-Americans based on their production from 2022, their prospect status in terms of our MLB Draft evaluations, and 2023 expectations.
The 2021 and 2022 MLB Drafts were both a bit prep-heavy at the top featuring five and four preps in the Top 10 picks respectively. It was high school shortstops galore. Early projections point to 2023 being a bit heavier on the college side; generally a good sign for the health of a draft class historically speaking.
