College https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/competition/college/ Baseball America is the authority on the MLB Draft, MLB prospects, college baseball, high school baseball, international free agents. Baseball America finds the future of the game of baseball. Fri, 30 Aug 2024 12:47:45 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.3 https://www.baseballamerica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/bba-favicon-32x32-1.bmp College https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/competition/college/ 32 32 Ranking College Football’s Best Baseball Players In 2024 https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/ranking-college-footballs-best-baseball-players-in-2024/ https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/ranking-college-footballs-best-baseball-players-in-2024/#respond Fri, 30 Aug 2024 12:47:44 +0000 https://www.baseballamerica.com/?p=1494737 From backups to Heisman hopefuls, we run down the top baseball players in college football for the 2024 season.

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While last weekend was a slight taste of what’s to come this fall, tomorrow’s games mark the first full slate of the college football season. Outside of college baseball’s opening day in February, it is one of my—and millions of others’—favorite days on the sports calendar.

As a Boston College fan, there hasn’t been a whole lot to cheer about since the Matt Ryan days, but Bill O’Brien is building a monster and I—like I have done every single year—have convinced myself the Eagles will go 10-2.

An underrated aspect of college football, though, is that there are a number of athletes who either still play baseball or had illustrious playing careers in high school. To take it a step further, one player listed below even logged 50 games in the majors. The inimitable Teddy Cahill used to put this piece out annually, and I must admit that this was a ton of fun to put together. The players are in no particular order, and you can expect to see them all make an impact on the gridiron, and in some cases on the diamond, this fall and spring.

1. Monte Harrison, Arkansas

Harrison has had the most unique career path of any of the 10 players listed, and it is one that will be difficult to top. He was a second-round draft pick out of Lee’s Summit West High School in Missouri, but he was also a four-star wide receiver with a plethora of high-profile offers. Harrison signed with the Marlins and eventually made his MLB debut in 2020, appearing in 50 games between 2020 and 2022. He accumulated an underwhelming career slash line of .176/.253/.294, but he homered twice and drove in six runs. Harrison was released by the Brewers last fall, and last spring he announced his intention to walk onto the Arkansas football team.

At 29-years-old, Harrison is by far the oldest true freshman in the country. He showed flashes of his explosive athleticism last spring and will look to earn reps for the Razorbacks as the season progresses.

2. Nik Sanders, Texas

Sanders saw limited playing time on the diamond as a freshman and went just 1-for-18 on the season, but he was in the Longhorns’ opening day lineup and went 1-for-3 with an RBI single to drive in their first run of the season. He proceeded to have a brief, yet productive, stint in the California Collegiate League in which he went 8-for-23 (.348) with four doubles and three RBIs across nine games. Sanders is plenty physical with no shortage of arm strength, and this summer he announced that he would be joining the No. 4 ranked Texas football team. He’s listed as a running back on the roster and will see limited—if any—playing time.

3. Grant Gray, UCLA

In addition to being ranked the No. 70 overall draft prospect on the 2023 BA 500, Grant was also a four-star wide receiver who, in addition to UCLA, held offers from Arizona, Boise State Colorado and others. He is an exceptional athlete with no shortage of raw tools, though they have yet to translate to the baseball field collegiately. Gray appeared in just one game for the Bruins last fall and did not see the field in the spring. He will look to earn more reps for both teams in their respective seasons.

4. Tywone Malone, Ohio State

At 6-foot-4 and 301 pounds, Malone is a mountain of a man and as physical as they come. A product of football powerhouse Bergen Catholic (NJ), Malone was a four-star star football recruit who held every offer under the sun. He committed to Mississippi to play both baseball and football, and as a true freshman he both saw time on the football field and went 4-for-9 (.444) with two home runs on the Rebels’ national championship team. Malone appeared in 13 games on the gridiron as a sophomore and hit another home run in the spring, but proceeded to enter the transfer portal where he would eventually commit to Ohio State.

Although Malone has hung up his baseball cleats, he possessed double-plus raw power and the ability to generate tremendous impact. He will be a part of the second-ranked Buckeyes’ defensive line this spring as they look to win their first national title since 2014.

5. DJ Uiagalelei, Florida State

Uiagalelei was the top-ranked quarterback in the 2020 class and has thrown for over 8,500 yards and 57 touchdowns in his college career, but he was also a standout righthander for St. John Bosco (Calif.). His outstanding arm strength and physical 6-foot-4, 250-pound frame translated well to the mound, where he ran his fastball into the mid-90s and was eventually drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 20th round of the 2023 draft. Uiagalelei has long been focused on football, but he would be an intriguing late-inning option for the Seminoles.

6. Duce Robinson, Southern California

Robinson was ranked the No. 156 overall prospect on the 2023 BA 500, but was also a five-star football recruit and the top-ranked tight end in the country. He announced his intention to play professional baseball and college football, but went undrafted. Robinson was an immediate contributor for the Trojans last fall, catching 16 passes for 351 yards and a pair of touchdowns. He logged just six at-bats in the spring, but laced four extra base hits and drove in nine runs across 19 games this summer in the California Collegiate League.

Robinson is a 6-foot-6 Adonis with freakish athleticism and big-time raw power. His long term future looks to be on the football field, but he will look to be a productive member for the Trojans this spring on the diamond.

7. JonJon Vaughns, UCLA

Vaughns has been a four-year member of the UCLA football and baseball teams. A linebacker and outfielder, Vaughns has an impressive combination of athleticism and physicality. He has collected 109 career tackles with a pair of interceptions, and across 158 games on the diamond he has accumulated 38 extra-base hits with 72 RBIs. In what has been the case in each of the last four years, Vaughns in 2024 will again be a key dual-sport contributor for the Bruins.

8. Robby Ashford, South Carolina

Ashford was one of the best pure athletes in the 2020 class and was a four-star dual-threat quarterback on top of being ranked inside the top 250 on the BA 500. He was invited to participate in the Under Armour All-America game for both baseball and football, a feat that has only been accomplished by the likes of A.J. Brown and Kyler Murray. It has been a tumultuous college career for Ashford, though. After not seeing the field in the fall and logging just 35 at-bats as a freshman, Ashford eventually transferred to Auburn and decided to focus solely on football.

He played his way into a starting role in 2022, but in 2023 saw limited action. For the second time in three years, Ashford hit the portal and committed to South Carolina. He heads into week one as the Gamecocks’ backup quarterback.

9. Blake Shapen, Mississippi State

Shapen ranked No. 371 on the 2020 BA 500, but he shifted his focus entirely to football after high school. He redshirted as a true freshman, and in 2021 he led Baylor to a Big 12 championship after Gerry Bohanon went down with an injury. Between 2022 and 2023, Shapen threw for 4,978 yards with 31 touchdowns. He will spend his last season at Mississippi State and is slated to be the Bulldogs’ QB1.

10. Carson Beck, Georgia

Before Beck cemented himself as one of the premier quarterbacks in the 2020 class, he was committed to play baseball at Florida. On the diamond, his 6-foot-4 frame combined with arm strength and above-average raw power made for a pretty solid foundation for Beck to hypothetically play in a corner outfield spot. With that being said, I think it’s pretty safe to say he made the right choice to focus on football.

Beck took the reins of Georgia’s offense last season and completed over 72% of his passes for 3,941 yards and 24 touchdowns. He will again be the top-ranked Bulldogs’ starting quarterback and is one of the favorites to take home the Heisman Trophy.

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Tennessee, Tony Vitello Agree On Record Five-Year Contract Extension https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/tennessee-tony-vitello-agree-on-record-five-year-contract-extension/ https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/tennessee-tony-vitello-agree-on-record-five-year-contract-extension/#respond Fri, 23 Aug 2024 21:25:59 +0000 https://www.baseballamerica.com/?p=1490199 Tony Vitello's reported $3 million annual salary with Tennessee will make him the highest paid coach in college baseball.

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Tennessee this afternoon announced that head coach Tony Vitello has signed a five-year contract extension that stretches through June 30, 2029. Vitello will reportedly make $3 million annually, which would make him the highest-paid coach in college baseball.

The extension comes on the heels of a record-setting season in Knoxville. Vitello led the Volunteers to their second SEC tournament—and regular season—title in the last three seasons, third College World Series in the last four seasons, fourth-straight regional championship and—most importantly—the program’s first-ever national championship. As a cherry on top, Vitello took home National Coach of the Year honors.

When Vitello took over in 2017, the Vols had not made a regional since 2005. Since taking the reins, the 45-year-old Vitello has established Tennessee as a national powerhouse and the team to beat annually. In the last four seasons, Tennessee’s 211 wins, .773 win percentage and 25 tournament wins all rank first nationally. And since 2020, Tennessee’s 28 draft picks also rank first nationally.

“Tony and his staff have developed the country’s top baseball program, and we are excited to announce this long-term extension to keep Tony on Rocky Top,” said Tennessee athletic director Danny White in the release. “As an athletics department, we aim to lead the way in college sports, and Tony has created a baseball program that sets the standard across the entire sport. The on-field results in the nation’s best conference are unmatched, and the enthusiasm he has brought to Vol Nation has been incredible to witness.”

Vitello also receives a $250,000 signing bonus and a $200,000 bonus for winning the 2024 College World Series in the new deal. Vitello’s $3 million salary is the highest in college baseball, and also would rank in a tie for 13th among MLB manager salaries this year, according to Front Office Sports.

The announcement continues a steady run of positive momentum in Rocky Top, which includes the national championship, stadium renovations and now a lengthy contract extension for its head man.

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2024 College Baseball Transfer Portal Rankings https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/2024-college-baseball-transfer-portal-rankings/ https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/2024-college-baseball-transfer-portal-rankings/#respond Thu, 22 Aug 2024 15:04:05 +0000 https://www.baseballamerica.com/?p=1420095 Baseball America's Peter Flaherty ranks the top 100 transfers from the summer, headlined by a new Oregon State infielder.

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There were thousands—yes, thousands— of players who hit the portal during the 2024 transfer cycle. It can be extremely overwhelming to keep track of. Below, we’ve ranked the top 100 players to change schools and included fresh scouting reports for each player to help you get familiar with the new faces in new places ahead of the 2025 season.

You can check out our transfer portal winners and losers here.

1. Aiva Arquette, 2B, Washington

New school: Oregon State

Arquette entered the portal in the wake of former head coach Jason Kelly taking the pitching coach job at Texas A&M. Arquette broke out this spring and hit .325/.384/.574 with 14 doubles, 12 home runs and 36 RBIs. The lengthy middle infielder has above-average raw power that he was able to tap into this season, and he was one of the more highly coveted underclass bats in the portal.

2. Daniel Dickinson, 2B, Utah Valley

New school: LSU

Dickinson hopped in the portal after a career year in which he hit .367/.469/.661 with 14 doubles, 18 home runs, 53 RBIs and 32 stolen bases in 58 games. On top of being an all-WAC first team selection, Dickinson was most recently named a third team all-American. He has a hitterish look in the box with advanced feel to hit and sound pitch recognition skills. His baseball sense is also outstanding. Dickinson has a legit middle infielder body at 6-foot-1 and 195-pounds, and will anchor the middle of the field—and lineup—for LSU in 2025.

3. Gavin Kilen, SS, Louisville

New school: Tennessee 

It was a bit of a surprise when Kilen decided to transfer at the end of the season. He had been an everyday player for the Cardinals since stepping onto campus as a freshman and started at shortstop this spring. Kilen enjoyed the most productive season of his college career to the tune of a .330/.361/.591 slash line with 23 doubles, nine home runs and 41 RBIs. Kilen has a hitterish look in the box with a compact swing and quick hands. He also has plus feel for the barrel. 

4. Anthony Eyanson, RHP, UC San Diego

New school: LSU

Eyanson was a last-minute—but massive—addition to the transfer portal. The 6-foot-2 righthander is fresh off an excellent spring in which he worked a 3.07 ERA with 85 strikeouts to 24 walks in 82 innings. He had a strong six-inning stint where he allowed just two earned runs in the Cape League before heading off to Team USA. Eyanson has an impressive arsenal that features a low-90s fastball—it’s been up to 97 mph this summer—and two distinct breaking balls in a big, mid-70s curveball with some teeth and a shorter low-80s slider. The key for Eyanson going forward will be optimizing his fastball shape. A no-doubt starter at the next level, Eyanson had big-time suitors and has top-two round upside in next year’s draft.

5. Cade Fisher, LHP, Florida

New school: Auburn

Following a standout freshman campaign, Fisher didn’t quite have the same success as he did in 2023 to the tune of a 7.13 ERA. However, he did accumulate 76 strikeouts against 29 walks in his 59.1 innings and was still one of the most highly coveted arms in the portal. From a lower slot, Fisher’s fastball has been up to 98 with some natural armside run, a pitch he supplements with a long, low-80s slider. Expect him to headline Auburn’s rotation in 2025. 

6. Andrew Fischer, 3B, Ole Miss

New school: Tennessee

Fischer entered the portal for the second time in as many seasons. A physical corner infielder, Fischer had a successful season in Oxford hitting .285/.397/.643 with 10 doubles, 20 home runs and 57 RBIs. He does not get cheated in the box, and deploys a high-effort swing with no shortage of bat speed and power to the pull side. He has the arm strength to handle third base collegiately, but the actions might fit best over at first long term. Fischer is a power-over-hit profile right now. 

7. Easton Winfield, OF, Louisiana-Monroe

New school: Texas

Winfield’s decision to enter the portal was unsurprising given the nature of today’s college baseball. He put together a fantastic freshman season hitting .332/.414/.546 with eight doubles, 10 home runs and 40 RBIs and was a mainstay in the Warhawks’ lineup. Winfield has a strong, explosive operation with plus hand speed, present impact and above-average power to the pull side. He also consistently turned in plus run times. His skill set enables him to impact the game in a myriad of ways.

8. Deven Sheerin, RHP, Mount St. Mary’s

New school: LSU

Sheerin is the pitching version of Easton Winfield. He was under-recruited in high school, ended up at a smaller program and made a big name for himself as a freshman. Sheerin this spring pitched his way to a 4.76 ERA with an impressive 109 strikeouts to 32 walks across 70 innings. He has a workhorse frame at 6-foot-5 and 245 pounds, and possesses a thunderous fastball-slider combination. Sheerin’s fastball has been up to 97 with carry through the zone and worked a 35% miss rate. His mid-80s power slider routinely flashed sharp, two-plane tilt and generated a 40% miss rate. He is also a bulldog on the mound. 

9. Landon Beidelschies, LHP, Ohio State

New school: Arkansas

Beidelschies was another somewhat surprising name to hit the portal. After pitching out of the bullpen as a freshman, Beidelschies this spring headlined the Buckeyes’ rotation and worked a 4.15 ERA with 91 strikeouts to 31 walks in 84.2 innings. His fastball sits 92-95, but has been up to 98 and is most effective in the top half of the zone. Beidelschies supplements his heater with an above-average gyro slider and a changeup that is an effective third pitch against righthanded hitters. 

10. Blake Cyr, 2B, Miami

New school: Florida

Cyr entered the portal after an up-and-down 2024 in which he dealt with his fair share of injuries. While he played just 25 games and likely wasn’t 100% for most—if not all—of them, Cyr was still a rather productive hitter and had 10 extra-base hits and 21 RBIs. However as a freshman, he lit the world on fire and posted a .305/.427/.620 slash line with 12 doubles, 17 home runs and 63 RBIs. Cyr plays with an infectious energy and swagger, has a tantalizing toolset—especially offensively—packed into his 5-foot-11 frame and will be a high-impact player next spring for the Gators.

11. Myles Patton, LHP, Long Beach State

New school: Texas A&M

Patton tore up the California Collegiate League last summer to the tune of a 1.11 ERA with 48 strikeouts to just 10 walks across 32.1 total innings. He carried that success over to this spring and pitched his way to a 3.26 ERA with 85 strikeouts against 26 walks in 66.1 innings. Patton’s low-90s four-seamer plays up given its life through the zone. He also mixes in an above-average slider and a budding changeup. There’s a lot to like considering he’s an advanced strike-thrower with sneaky stuff and moves well on the mound as an athletic lefty. He’s a major get for Texas A&M. 

12. Ryan Black, 2B, Texas-Arlington

New school: Georgia

Making his way to Athens by way of Texas-Arlington, Black was a big-time pickup for the Bulldogs. Don’t let his somewhat modest season fool you, the 6-foot-1 infielder has tools and will be a name to follow closely throughout the 2025 draft cycle. Black has a strong swing with above-average bat speed and quickness in his hands, and flashes some pop to the pull side. He has an advanced approach with polished swing decisions, but his calling card is his contact ability. Black this spring boasted a ridiculous 95% in-zone contact rate, including 96% against fastballs. I’m excited to watch him take his game to the next level in Athens.

13. Zach Root, LHP, East Carolina

New school: Arkansas

Root was perhaps the most notable East Carolian transfer amid a mass exodus from Greenville. He was expected to slide into the Friday starter role next season in the wake of Trey Yesavage’s departure to the draft. Root pitched exclusively out of the rotation as a sophomore and posted a 3.56 ERA to go along with 76 strikeouts to just 21 walks across 68.1 innings. Root’s secondaries are his calling card. His plus changeup gets solid separation off his fastball and flashes ample fade and late tumble. His above-average slider—especially against lefthanded hitters—is long and sweepy with a bit of depth. Root is a major splash for Arkansas. 

14. Bristol Carter, OF, East Carolina

New school: Auburn

Carter arrived on campus as a highly regarded player and earned East Carolina’s starting center fielder job coming out of fall camp. He had plenty of success in year one and finished the year hitting .346/.406/.440 with 10 extra-base hits and 31 RBIs in 56 games. In the box, Carter takes a direct path to contact and has no shortage of bat speed with present barrel skills. He is a dynamic athlete who is a plus runner. His routes in the outfield at times lack polish but he can really go and get it in center field. Expect him to hit in the top third of Auburn’s lineup next year. 

15. Tommy LaPour, RHP, Wichita State

New school: TCU

LaPour is a little bit in the mold of new LSU righty Deven Sheerin. He’s a strong-bodied righthander with serious arm talent. His fastball has been up to 97 and plays well in the top half of the zone, where it is most effective—and generates the most swing-and-miss—given its riding life. LaPour’s slider flashed plus with both depth and sweep, and has the makings of a potential out pitch down the road. I am really excited to see how his changeup progresses wherever he ends up. It is a little firm right now, but he throws it with conviction and it flashed plus at times this season with fade to the arm side and late tumble.

16. Ethan Conrad, OF, Marist

New school: Wake Forest

The 6-foot-3, 200-pound outfielder arrives at Wake Forest by way of Marist, where he enjoyed a standout two-year career. In the wake of a strong 2023 campaign, Conrad this spring hit .389/.467/.704 with 18 doubles, a nation-leading 13 triples, nine home runs and 52 RBIs in 55 games. On top of his above-average power, Conrad has advanced contact skills to the tune of a 91% overall in-zone contact rate. He projects to slot into the middle of the Demon Deacons’ lineup and figures to make an immediate impact.

17. Jacob Mayers, RHP, Nicholls

New school: LSU

Mayers burst onto the scene as a true freshman and posted a 2.02 ERA with a whopping 105 strikeouts in 75.2 innings. He backed up a little bit this spring, but still enjoyed a solid season to the tune of a 4.58 ERA with 106 strikeouts to 76 walks across 70.2 innings. Command and control have always been an issue for the 6-foot-5 Mayers, but there is no denying the pure stuff. He relies heavily on his thunderous fastball, a pitch he threw 91% of the time this spring, but for good reason. On top of being up to 97, it has serious carry through the zone and generates plenty of whiffs. Mayers supplements his heater with a seldom-used gyro slider. 

18. Kane Kepley, OF, Liberty

New school: North Carolina

Kepley entered the portal after it initially closed because of coaching changes at Liberty. He was immediately one of the most sought-after position players. The 5-foot-8 outfielder has a skill set that is very similar to current Guardians prospect and former Wake Forest outfielder Tommy Hawke. Kepley is a bat-to-ball specialist with an excellent approach. It is without a doubt a hit-over-power profile, but he has a little bit of thump to the pull side. Kepley is a plus runner with good base-stealing acumen, which helps the tool play up.

19. Cody Bowker, RHP, Georgetown

New school: Vanderbilt

Bowker will go down as an under-the-radar, yet huge pickup for Vanderbilt. The 6-foot-1 righthander projects to slot into the Commodores’ weekend rotation after two successful seasons at Georgetown in which he compiled a 2.80 ERA with 106 strikeouts to 45 walks across 90 innings. Bowker possesses an intriguing combination of strikes and stuff, headlined by a sweeping slider. He has a true five-pitch mix and profiles as an eventual day two selection in next July’s draft.

20. Liam Doyle, LHP, Ole Miss

New school: Tennessee

Not only did Doyle join teammate Andrew Fischer in the portal, but he also decided to accompany him to Knoxville. Doyle showed well during his lone season at Oxford, working a 5.73 ERA with 84 strikeouts to 21 walks in 55 innings. Doyle has an explosive delivery with no shortage of arm speed, and his best offering is his 92-95 mph fastball that touches 97 with great shape. His low-80s slider looked like more of a bat-misser this spring, and it flashed plus potential with tight sweeping action.

21. Evan Chrest, RHP, Jacksonville

New school: Florida State

Chrest took a step back after an excellent freshman season in which he took home Atlantic Sun Freshman of the Year honors after posting a 2.58 ERA with 98 strikeouts to 36 walks across 90.2 innings. However, he did not have the same success this spring as his ERA inflated to 6.82 and got hit around a little bit. After the end of Jacksonville’s season, Chrest entered his name into the transfer portal and swiftly committed to Florida State. Chrest’s fastball has been up to 95 and is at its best when located down in the zone, where it flashes some running and sinking life. His high-spin, sweeping slider is an above-average pitch, and Chrest rounds out his arsenal with a similarly effective changeup.

22. Chandler Dorsey, RHP, South Florida

New school: LSU

Dorsey was excellent this spring for South Florida. He also had a dominant three-game stint on the Cape for Hyannis in which he didn’t allow a run and struck out 13 in 8.1 innings. His fastball has been up to 97 with riding life to go along with an above-average slider, but his best pitch is a plus cutter. Dorsey will be a big-time weapon for the Tigers regardless of whether he pitches out of the bullpen or in the rotation. 

23. Zac Cowan, RHP, Wofford

New school: LSU

Cowan is a personal favorite of mine–not necessarily from a prospect standpoint, but because he is an old school type of pitcher in today’s game. After posting a ridiculous strikeout-to-walk ratio of 54-to-3 in his freshman season, Cowan excelled this spring to the tune of a 3.35 ERA with 124 strikeouts to only 29 walks across a whopping 110 innings. The rising junior has pinpoint command and control of his entire arsenal, headlined by his high-70s plus changeup. Cowan has shown the impressive ability to pitch off his “cambio,” an offering he supplements with a low-90s fastball and an effective gyro slider. An old school strike-thrower and innings eater, Cowan will look to carry his success into the SEC.

24. Wyatt Henseler, 3B, Pennsylvania

New school: Texas A&M

Since the Ivy League does not allow for fifth-years athletically, Henseler has been committed to the Aggies since late this fall. He enjoyed an outstanding four-year career at Pennsylvania, headlined by a monster 2024 season in which he took home Ivy League Player of the Year honors after hitting .360/.465/.755 with nine doubles, an Ivy League single-season record 22 home runs and 56 RBIs in 49 games. Henseler has shown the ability to drive the baseball with authority to all fields. He is also an impact defender at third base where he has plenty of arm strength. He withdrew his name from this year’s draft, reaffirming his strong commitment to the Aggies.

25. Gavin Kash, 1B, Texas Tech

New school: Texas A&M

Kash entered the portal for the second time in three seasons after a productive two-year tenure at Texas Tech in which he hit 29 doubles, 41 home runs and drove in 135 runs across 120 games. It is without a doubt a power-over-hit profile for Kash, who has impressive juice to the pull side. Despite considerable draft interest, Kash instead opted to return to college baseball and will now head to the SEC. 

26. Camden Kozeal, 2B, Vanderbilt

New school: Arkansas

It was a bit of a surprise when Kozeal hit the portal, given he was a stalwart in Vanderbilt’s lineup this year. Kozeal regularly started for Tim Corbin and showed well to the tune of a .284/.349/.439 slash line with 13 extra-base hits and 28 RBIs. He has a compact, line drive-oriented swing with plenty of bat speed and a present feel for the barrel. Kozeal is a hit-over-power profile, but he does possess some impact and has shown the ability to drive the baseball to either gap. He joined a loaded transfer class for the Razorbacks.

27. Henry Kaczmar, SS, Ohio State

New school: South Carolina

In the wake of the departure of former head man Bill Mosiello, it wasn’t all that surprising to see a number of Buckeyes enter the portal. On top of staff ace Landon Beidelschies–who committed to Arkansas–Kaczmar also announced his intention to transfer. The 5-foot-10 shortstop played every day in the six-hole this spring for Ohio State and hit .320/.417/.476 with 10 doubles, seven home runs and 36 RBIs. A draft-eligible sophomore, Kaczmar could’ve signed this July. Instead, he’ll be Paul Mainieri’s everyday shortstop at South Carolina. 

28. Daniel Jackson, C, Wofford

New school: Georgia

Jackson enjoyed a fantastic freshman campaign, hitting .358/.460/.599 with 10 doubles, 12 home runs and 69 RBIs. He took home SoCon Freshman of the Year honors and it was a little surprising to see him hit the portal. Jackson promptly committed to Georgia–who had an excellent portal season–and should be the Bulldogs’ everyday backstop next spring with the departure of Fernando Gonzalez.

29. Brady Neal, C, LSU

New school: Alabama

Though he split time behind the plate this spring, it was a bit of a surprise to see Neal enter the portal. He hit a respectable .276/.409/.578 with eight doubles, nine home runs and 31 RBIs, and seemed destined to play behind the plate every day in 2025. Neal will provide some thump with his bat as well as advanced defensive acumen for Alabama. 

30. Luke Gaffney, 1B, Purdue

New school: Clemson

After redshirting in his true freshman season, Gaffney exploded onto the scene this spring to the tune of a .359/.449/.646 slash line with 15 doubles, 13 home runs and 64 RBIs. He was named the Big Ten’s freshman of the year for his performance and subsequently entered the portal. Gaffney carried that over to a hot start on the Cape and ultimately hit .276 with a homer and 15 RBIs through 29 games for Falmouth. He has impressive power to the back side and will be a high-impact, middle-of-the-order bat for someone next spring.

31. Connor Harrison, C, St. Mary’s

New school: Texas A&M

Harrison made an immediate impact as a freshman catcher and entered the portal after posting a great year for the Gaels in which he hit .322/.410/.541 with 16 extra-base hits and 35 RBIs in 43 games. For now, the 6-foot-3 Harrison is a bat-first catcher, but he figures to continue to gain polish with additional experience. He was a highly sought-after target for a number of schools. 

32. Luis Hernandez, 1B, Indiana State

New school: LSU

Following a solid 2023 campaign, Hernandez exploded in 2024 and hit .359/.421/.694 with 14 doubles, 23 home runs and 76 RBIs in 59 games en route to a first team all-MVC selection. Hernandez was a heavily sought-after bat in the portal, but eventually settled on LSU. He’ll need to prove his hit tool will translate to the SEC, but Hernandez has plenty of power to the pull side and will be a valuable piece next spring for the Tigers.

33. Charles Davalan, OF, Florida Gulf Coast

New school: Arkansas

Davalan heads to Arkansas by way of Florida Gulf Coast, where he had a productive freshman season in which he hit .288/.413/.514 with 16 doubles, 10 home runs, 37 RBIs and 13 stolen bases. The rising sophomore has no shortage of tools packed into his compact 5-foot-10 frame and he can impact the game in a myriad of ways. Davalan has some thump to the pull side, is an effective baserunner and also boasts a plus arm in the outfield. He can hold down either right or center field, but could hold his own at second base in a pinch.

34. Dalton Beck, OF, Incarnate Word

New school: LSU

Beck saw incredibly limited playing time as a freshman at Kansas State, but he exploded this spring at Incarnate Word and took home the Southland Conference’s Newcomer of the Year award after hitting .377/.434/.716 with 20 doubles, 18 home runs and 67 RBIs in 57 games. Beck has a powerful lefthanded swing and can drive the baseball all over the yard, which will give him an opportunity to be a stalwart within the Tigers’ lineup this season.

35. Grant Cunningham, RHP, Washington

New school: Texas A&M

Cunningham was excellent this spring for the Huskies, pitching his way to a 2.86 ERA with 56 strikeouts against just 16 walks across 50.1 innings. He decided to follow his former head coach Jason Kelly—who recently took the pitching coach job at Texas A&M—to College Station, where he will be a regular in the Aggies’ bullpen. An advanced strike-thrower, Cunningham’s trademark “invisiball” fastball has been up to 95 with plenty of life at the top of the zone. He threw it 84% of the time this spring, but he supplemented it with an effective sweeping slider that averaged over 14 inches of sweep.

36. Josiah Ragsdale, OF, Iona

New school: Boston College

Ragsdale is perhaps Boston College’s best addition in the transfer portal era. The toolsy outfielder this season hit .385/.470/.646 for the Gaels and then proceeded to enjoy an all-star summer in the New England Collegiate League. Ragsdale boasts an exciting skill set that enables him to impact the game in a myriad of ways, and he figures to be a difference-maker this spring in Chestnut Hill.

37. Nathan Hall, OF, Clemson

New school: South Carolina

Hall logged just 22 at-bats this spring for Clemson, but exploded on the Cape to the tune of a .333/.400/.413 slash line with seven RBIs and seven stolen bases. He fits the definition of a “toolshed” to a tee, and there is borderline top-five round draft upside. Hall can backspin the baseball with ease and authority to all fields, boasts an at least average arm in right field and is an above-average runner once underway. Look for him to earn a starting role this spring in Columbia where he has a chance to take the SEC by storm.

38. Mike Mancini, 2B, James Madison

New school: Vanderbilt

After the departure of Camden Kozeal, it didn’t take long for coach Tim Corbin and company to find another high-quality infielder. Mancini this spring hit .329/.419/.587 with 10 doubles, 15 home runs, 49 RBIs and 29 stolen bases. He has a hitterish look in the box with some quickness in his hands and an advanced feel for the barrel. Mancini tapped into more power this spring, and he most notably hit four home runs in one day—across two games—in the Raleigh Regional. He is a plus runner, handles himself well at second base and projects to hit at or near the top of the order for the Commodores.

39. Kyle Walker, 2B, Grambling State

New school: Arizona State

Walker this spring posted a career-best slash line of .384/.508/.611 to go along with 11 doubles, 11 home runs and a career-high 43 RBIs. The junior second baseman packs an intriguing skill set and figures to thrive in the offense-oriented environment of Phoenix Municipal Stadium.

40. Jason Torres, 1B, Miami (FL)

New school: Alabama

Though he logged just 36 at-bats in 2023 as a freshman, Torres made the most of his limited opportunities and went 17-for-36 with seven extra-base hits. While an injury derailed his 2024 season, Torres was again a force in the Hurricanes’ lineup and hit .331/.385/.529 with 15 extra-base hits–including eight home runs–and 32 RBIs in 39 games. An offensive-minded first baseman, Torres figures to provide plenty of thump to the middle of the Crimson Tide’s order.

41. Nick Groves, OF, Niagara

New school: Illinois

Groves is one of the most intriguing players on this ranking. After hitting .326/.448/.460 with 18 extra-base hits, 38 RBIs and 19 stolen bases this spring, he proceeded to hit .364/.512/.394 with 14 RBIs and 10 stolen bases across 24 games on the Cape with Hyannis. Groves has comfortably plus bat-to-ball skills to go along with a mature approach, but he is also a plus runner who maximizes his effectiveness on the basepaths. Simply put, he is a nightmare for opposing teams to deal with. Groves projects as the perfect table-setter this spring for the Fighting Illini.

42. Logan Lunceford, RHP, Missouri

New school: Wake Forest

Lunceford struggled at times this season at Missouri, but he thrived on the Cape where he pitched his way to a 1.80 ERA with 12 strikeouts in 10 innings. Lunceford’s fastball has been up to 94 with life at the top of the zone, but he also features a big mid-70s curveball, an effective slider and a changeup that is closer to a 70 than it is a 60 on the 20-80 scale. Between his stuff with the Wake Forest pitching lab and development chops, the ingredients are present for a potential big-time starter in the ACC.

43. Jason Reitz, RHP, St. Mary’s

New school: Oregon

Though his 6.00 ERA doesn’t jump off the page, Reitz this spring punched out 65 hitters across 48 innings. The 6-foot-9 righthander also showed flashes this summer on the Cape, as across 15.2 innings between Yarmouth-Dennis and Hyannis he worked a 2.30 ERA with 13 strikeouts. Unsurprisingly, Reitz gets plenty of extension which allows his entire arsenal—but especially his fastball—to play up. Not only is he a mighty intriguing draft prospect, but he also projects to earn a spot within Oregon’s weekend rotation.

44. Brennyn Cutts, RHP, Indiana State

New school: Louisville

Cutts was the anchor of Indiana State’s pitching staff this spring and worked a 3.69 ERA with 75 strikeouts in 83 innings. He was named the Missouri Valley’s Pitcher of the Year and promptly entered the transfer portal, where he eventually committed to Louisville. Cutts’ heater sits in the low 90s, but has been up to 95 with some life at the top of the zone. He pairs his fastball with an effective slider that this season generated a 30% miss rate. Cutts projects to pitch in the Cardinals’ weekend rotation next season.

45. Ethan Mendoza, 2B, Arizona State

New school: Texas

Mendoza burst onto the scene this spring for Arizona State and hit .315/.367/.443 with 17 extra-base hits and 24 RBIs. He earned the starting job at second base—where he can pick it—after a strong fall season and never looked back. He will now don the burnt orange this spring for his home school. Just like he did for the Sun Devils, Mendoza figures to again start at second base for the Longhorns.

46. Colby Turner, 3B, San Diego State

New school: Michigan

Turner was a big-time get for Michigan this transfer cycle and will be a high-impact, middle-of-the-order bat this spring for the Maize and Blue. As a freshman at San Diego State, Turner slashed .361/.417/.582 with 15 extra-base hits and 30 RBIs in 34 games. He is very much an offense-first profile, but he has the ability to be one of the better hitters in the Big Ten.

47. Noah Sullivan, RHP/DH, South Carolina Upstate

New school: Mississippi State

Sullivan will be a key contributor for the Bulldogs on both sides of the baseball next spring, and he is fresh off a career year for the Spartans in which he hit .324/.453/.613 with 27 extra-base hits—including 17 home runs—and pitched his way to a 4.88 ERA with a career-high 51 strikeouts in 75.2 innings. 

48. Bobby Boser, INF, South Florida

New school: Florida

It was a bit of a surprise to see Boser go undrafted, but he’s a high-quality addition for the Gators. Following another strong season at South Florida, Boser had an excellent 21-game stint this summer on the Cape in which he hit .319/.443/.486 with eight extra-base hits. Boser has an exciting set of tools and no matter where he ends up for the 2025 season, he figures to be an impact player for Florida.

49. Ryland Zaborowski, 3B/OF, Miami (OH)

New school: Georgia

Georgia has put together one of the most impressive transfer hauls of any school, and Zaborowski was a quality get for the Bulldogs early on in the cycle. The towering 6-foot-6, 235-pound third baseman is fresh off a career season for Miami (Ohio) in which he hit .305/.421/.532 with 13 doubles, 10 home runs and 45 RBIs. Zaborowski has plus raw power; the key is having it translate consistently to games. Playing at the hitter-friendly ballpark that is Foley Field will help in that regard. Expect Zaborowski to be a regular in Georgia’s starting nine next season.

50. Jimmy Keenan, C, St. John’s

New school: Wake Forest

Following an impressive freshman season in which he hit .343/.439/.628, Keenan picked up right where he left off this spring to the tune of a .335/.403/.615 slash line with 21 doubles, 12 home runs and 57 RBIs. Keenan is a power-over-hit profile at the dish and there is some swing-and-miss, but the power will definitely play in Winston-Salem. Highly regarded freshman Matt Conte will undoubtedly see some time behind the plate, but Keenan projects handle the vast majority of the catching duties.

51. Christian Coppola, RHP, Rutgers

New school: Arizona

After pitching his way to a Team USA Collegiate National Team invitation as a freshman, Coppola took a step back this spring and worked a 7.63 ERA with 47 strikeouts to 33 walks in 43.2 innings. He has intriguing stuff, and heading out to Arizona and working with the pitching duo of coaches Kevin Vance and John DeRouin is a mighty interesting developmental pairing. Expect them to get the most out of Coppola and have him looking like his 2023 self again.

52. Logan Maxwell, OF, TCU

New school: Arkansas

Maxwell entered the portal in the wake of a successful 2024 season that saw him hit .335/.447/.482 with 17 extra-base hits and 25 RBIs. He has advanced bat-to-ball skills and a sound approach, and should bring some balance to the Arkansas lineup. Maxwell’s lefthanded bat will play well in Baum-Walker Stadium, and he will provide value both on and off the field. This was a nice get for the Razorbacks. 

53. Sean Youngerman, RHP, Westmont College (D-II)

New school: Oklahoma State

Youngerman enjoyed a strong spring for Westmont College, where he had a 3.71 ERA with 69 strikeouts against only 15 walks in 70.1 innings. Where he really shined, though, was on the Cape for Yarmouth-Dennis where he posted a 2.55 ERA with 33 strikeouts to 10 walks in 24.2 innings. It’s an enticing combination of strikes and stuff, and Youngerman this spring will be in contention to start for the Cowboys.

54. Devin Obee, OF, Duke

New school: Undecided

Obee entered the portal late and since he graduates from Duke this winter, he will then be able to transfer. It’s a bit of a unique situation, but Obee will be a quality get for someone—most likely a high academic institution. It all came together this spring for the veteran outfielder, who hit .309 with 11 doubles, 16 home runs and 50 RBIs. He has serious power, especially to the pull side, and while it’s still a work in progress Obee was able to cut down a bit on the miss and chase.

55. Ryan DeSanto, LHP, St. Joseph’s

New school: Penn State

DeSanto was excellent again this spring for St. Joseph’s, where he had a 3.72 ERA with 88 strikeouts to 35 walks in 75 innings. He had a strong showing this summer on the Cape, as across six starts for Harwich he posted a 3.33 ERA with 20 strikeouts against only four walks in 24.1 innings. DeSanto is armed with an effective high-80s-to-low-90s fastball, though his bread-and-butter pitches are his slider and changeup. He is squarely in the mix to be Penn State’s Friday starter this season.

56. Jake Hyde, OF, Georgetown

New school: Duke

Hyde heads to Duke after an illustrious four-year career at Georgetown in which he compiled a career .314/.403/.592 slash line with 104 extra-base hits and 167 RBIs in 186 games. The 6-foot-4 outfielder has no shortage of power, and he will slot somewhere in the middle of Duke’s order.

57. Isaac Humphrey, OF, Louisville

New school: Mississippi

Humphrey this spring returned to 2022 form, albeit with added impact, and hit .310/.412/.565 with 13 doubles, a career-high 10 long balls and 39 RBIs. On top of his offensive ability, the 6-foot-3 Humphrey defends well in right field which is where he figures to start this spring for head coach Mike Bianco.

58. Chase Hungate, RHP, Virginia Commonwealth

New school: Mississippi State

Mississippi State had plenty of success this spring with multi-slot specialist Cam Schuelke, and it will have another sidewinder at its disposal next spring in Hungate. Over the course of this season, Hungate established himself as one of the most reliable bullpen arms for Virginia and pitched his way to a 3.74 ERA with 37 strikeouts to 13 walks in 53 innings. Hungate relies heavily on his mid-80s changeup, which fades and tumbles below the barrel of opposing hitters, consistently generating soft contact. His two-seam fastball has been up to 92 and bears in on hitters’ hands. Like he was in Charlottesville, Hungate profiles as one of the Bulldogs’ most trusted relievers in 2025.

59. Malachi Lott, OF/LHP, Sam Houston

New school: Houston

Lott is the headliner of an extensive Houston transfer class, and rightfully so. He figures to make an impact on both sides of the baseball this year for the Cougars after hitting .303/.349/.502 with 21 extra-base hits and 40 RBIs last spring, along with working a 3.86 ERA with 16 strikeouts to just four walks in 14 innings. 

60. Todd Hudson, RHP/OF, Liberty

New school: Miami (FL)

Hudson is an intriguing player who can be used in a number of different ways for the Hurricanes. At the plate, he hit .286/.383/.597 with 11 doubles, 11 home runs and 40 RBIs in 48 games. While nothing jumps off the page when looking at Hudson’s stats on the mound, his fastball has been up to 94 with a potentially effective slider and changeup. Hudson will almost certainly be used in relief—if at all—but his bat is enough for him to earn consistent reps for coach J.D. Arteaga and company.

61. Jacob Galloway, C, Southern California

New school: Texas A&M

You’d be hard-pressed to find a more competitive catchers’ room in the country than Texas A&M’s. All three of its 2025 backstops rank among the top-100 transfers in college baseball, and all have a strong case to start. Galloway this spring assumed the starting role for the Trojans and showed well, hitting .286/.386/.451 with 17 doubles and six long balls. In addition to being a productive bat, Galloway receives well behind the dish.

62. Nick Moran, LHP, Liberty

New school: East Carolina

It always felt as if Moran was overshadowed at Liberty pitching behind Garrett Horn, but the fellow southpaw this spring had his best season to date and pitched his way to a 4.68 ERA with 59 strikeouts to 24 walks in 67.1 innings. An intriguing combination of strikes and stuff, expect Moran this spring to slot somewhere within East Carolina’s new-look weekend rotation.

63. Tanner Franklin, RHP, Kennesaw State

New school: Tennessee

Franklin this season posted a 5.60 ERA with 43 strikeouts across 27.1 innings, but was outstanding on the Cape to the tune of a minuscule 0.75 ERA with 19 strikeouts in 12 innings. His command and control will both need to improve, however, as he walked 27 and 12 this spring and summer, respectively. Franklin relies heavily on his loud fastball-slider combination, and he figures to assume a late-inning role this spring for the Volunteers.

64. Hunter Watkins, RHP, Grand Canyon

New school: Oklahoma State

Watkins established himself as a reliable bullpen option this spring as a freshman at Grand Canyon, where he worked a 3.83 ERA with 47 strikeouts in as many innings. The imposing 6-foot-8 righthander’s fastball has been up to 95, a pitch he supplements with an effective mid-80s slider. Watkins was used sparingly as a starter this spring, but he projects to pitch exclusively in relief for Oklahoma State.

65. Rocco Peppi, OF, Fresno State

New school: Arkansas

After spending his first two college seasons at Long Beach State, Peppi made his way north to Fresno State where he enjoyed a career season in which he hit .327/.392/.602 with 30 extra-base hits and 56 RBIs in as many games. An aggressive hitter, Peppi has borderline plus power to the pull side. Arkansas’ outfield is crowded this spring, though Peppi’s bat should be enough to net him consistent at-bats.

66. Ruger Riojas, RHP, Texas-San Antonio

New school: Texas

An Austin, Texas native, Riojas this spring will pitch for his hometown school. Last spring, he compiled a 10-3 record with 75 strikeouts to just 18 walks across 69.1 innings. Rojas’ fastball will reach 95 and 96 MPH, but he has an advanced feel for both his slider and changeup that generated miss rates of 39% and 36%, respectively. Riojas will immediately have a prominent role in Texas’ bullpen and will be one of the Longhorns’ most valuable arms.

67. Griffin Hugus, RHP, Cincinnati

New school: Miami (FL)

Following a modest spring season, Hugus blossomed this summer on the Cape for Bourne and worked a 2.31 ERA with 24 strikeouts to just four walks in 23.1 innings. His strike-throwing improved, flashed an advanced feel for his arsenal and thrived in relief. While he made just one start between this spring and summer, Hugus can throw four-to-five innings at a time. Look for the junior righthander to be one of head coach J.T. Arteaga’s most relied upon relievers this season.

68. Jamal George, C, Alabama State

New school: Texas A&M

George is one of three catchers first-year head coach Michael Earley brought in via the transfer portal, but he figures to compete for the opening day job. This spring, he built off a solid freshman year and hit .316/.409/.546 with 20 extra-base hits, a career-high 36 RBIs and 10 stolen bases.

69. Harrison Bodendorf, LHP, Hawaii

New school: Oklahoma State

It’s clear that Oklahoma State put an emphasis on arms in this summer’s portal cycle, and Bodendorf is an exciting pickup. The 6-foot-5 lefthander split time between the rotation and bullpen this spring, and pitched his way to a 4.61 ERA with 64 strikeouts in 56.2 innings. Bodendorf has plenty of funk in deception in his delivery, which helps his stuff play up. His fastball will sit in the high-80s-to-low-90s, but his best pitch is a plus changeup that generates plenty of swing and miss.

70. Will Marcy, OF, Memphis

New school: Kentucky

After a strong sophomore season at NC State, Marcy continued to swing the bat well this spring at Memphis where he slashed .303/.398/.407 with 13 doubles, 19 RBIs and 13 stolen bases. He has an athletic build with budding impact, and there is plenty to like under the hood. Marcy packs an intriguing toolset and he has the chance to have a breakout season for the “Bat Cats.”

71. Matthew Dallas, LHP, Tennessee

New school: Wake Forest

Dallas was one of the more highly-regarded freshman arms heading into this past season, and he fared well in his 17 innings. The lanky, 6-foot-5 southpaw logged a 4.70 ERA with 22 strikeouts in 17 innings and then proceeded to notch 25 strikeouts in as many innings pitched on the Cape. There is plenty to dream on with Dallas, and Wake Forest will look to unlock his big-time upside.

72. Parker Stinson, OF, Indiana State

New school: Oregon

Stinson was one of a plethora of Sycamores to enter the transfer portal following the departure of head coach Mitch Hannahs. The future Oregon Duck was one of Indiana State’s most productive bats this season, hitting .295/.442/.604 with 32 extra-base hits—including 15 home runs—and 51 RBIs. Oregon has had a ton of success in the transfer portal when it comes to not only getting guys to commit, but also having them be key contributors to the team. Stinson fits that mold perfectly, and he projects to be an everyday member of the starting lineup this spring.

73. Griffin Kirn, LHP, Quincy University (D-II)

New school: West Virginia

At Division-II Quincy, Kirn this spring was the staff ace and worked a 3.00 ERA with 96 strikeouts to just 25 strikeouts in 78 innings. He had similar success this summer on the Cape for Harwich, where he had a 2.18 ERA with 13 strikeouts to five walks in 20.2 innings. Kirn is a pitchability-over-stuff arm, but he pounds the strike zone with his arsenal and does a nice job of inducing soft contact.

74. Cole Zaffiro, RHP, Pennsylvania

New school: Wake Forest

Graduate transfers from Ivy League schools have established an impressive track record for themselves at major programs over the last few seasons, and everyone on this ranking—and even those who are not—have the chance to do the same. Zaffiro brings plenty of experience and a slow heart beat to Winston-Salem, which are two qualities that tend to translate well. He’s a proven strike-thrower who will attack the zone and potentially earn a weekend role on the Demon Deacons’ staff.

75. Eric Snow, 2B/SS, South Florida

New school: Auburn

Auburn put together a fantastic transfer portal class this summer, and Snow is a key reason why. After lighting the world on fire as a freshman, his productivity took a bit of a step back this spring. However, he returned to form this summer on Cape where he hit .326/.407/.424 with three doubles, a pair of home runs and was an all-star. Snow has a sound approach and a simple swing that is geared towards putting the ball in play. Whether at second base or shortstop, Snow projects to start every day up the middle next spring for the Tigers.

76. Carson Ozmer, RHP/1B, Pennsylvania

New school: Alabama

Ozmer this season was again one of the Ivy League’s best relievers, working a 4.05 ERA with 45 strikeouts across 40.1 innings. The sidewinding righthander has an east-to-west profile on the mound and relies heavily on his sinker-slider combination. Nothing Ozmer throws is straight, and he consistently stays off the barrel of opposing hitters. This spring he also flashed his ability in the box, hitting .328/.444/.454/ over the course of 119 at-bats. Expect Ozmer to be used almost exclusively on the mound in 2025, but if the Crimson Tide ever get in a pinch at the dish, you know who to watch for.

77. Robbie Burnett, OF, UNC Asheville

New school: Georgia

Georgia was one of, if not the biggest, winners of this year’s portal cycle, and Burnett is one of the headliners of the Bulldogs’ loaded class. Across 137 games in three standout seasons at UNC Asheville, the veteran outfielder hit .339/.450/.623 with 27 doubles, 36 home runs and 113 RBIs. In addition to a bevy of experience, Burnett packs an exciting skillset that will land him an everyday role next spring.

78. Brian Curley, RHP, Virginia Commonwealth

New school: Georgia

This spring, Curley was the Rams’ most relied upon weapon in relief, and for good reason. The rising junior pitched his way to a 2.87 ERA with 78 strikeouts in 87 innings over the course of 19 appearances. His fastball sits in the low-90s and has been up to 96, but Curley’s most effective offering is his high-80s cutter. Again, Georgia did well in the transfer cycle, and Curley is a key part of the Bulldogs’ transfer class.

79. Chris Stanfield, OF, Auburn

New school: LSU

Stanfield had a solid spring season in which he hit .276/.365/.395 with 13 extra-base hits and 25 RBIs before having a strong summer on the Cape with Bourne. Like a number of players on this ranking, Stanfield has an exciting set of tools that give him the chance to be a high-impact player. He runs well, can go and get it in centerfield and has flashed some impact at the dish. His hit tool and contact ability will need to take a step in the right direction in order for him to maximize his upside, but Stanfield will be a legit weapon this spring in Baton Rouge.

80. Connor Maggi, RHP, Gardner-Webb

New school: Kansas

Kansas has quietly put together a fairly impressive transfer class, and Maggi is the headliner on the pitching side. Pitching exclusively in relief this spring, Maggi had a 3.00 ERA with 73 strikeouts to just 15 walks for the Runnin’ Bulldogs. He relies heavily on his low-to-mid-80s slider, which he threw a whopping 64% of the time this spring, but he also mixes in an effective curveball and low-90s fastball. Maggi will be one of, if not the most relied upon bullpen arm this season for the Jayhawks.

81. Peyton Schulze, 1B, California

New school: Texas Tech

In the wake of a strong 2023 summer in the California Collegiate League, Schulze broke out this spring to the tune of a .323/.375/.552 slash line with 21 doubles, 10 homers and 59 RBIs in 55 games. The physical Schulze now heads to Texas Tech—his third school in four years—where his offensive game figures to translate well.

82. Nolan Nawrocki, 3B, Clemson

New school: South Carolina

Nawrocki was off to an excellent start this spring before a wrist injury derailed his season a bit. He regained his footing a bit by season’s end, though, and hit .264/.352/.400 with nine extra-base hits, 24 RBIs and 11 stolen bases. Like his former and future teammate Nathan Hall, there is no shortage of tools with Nawrocki. He is an outstanding athlete with a plus arm at third, a plus runner once underway and some thump in his bat. Nawrocki’s hit tool will certainly need to improve, but he figures to be an every day guy this spring for the Gamecocks.

83. Tommy Barth, OF, East Tennessee State

New school: Kansas

Following a somewhat quiet sophomore season, Barth bounced back this spring to the tune of a .319/.412/.495 slash line with 18 extra-base hits, 32 RBIs and 25 walks to just 12 strikeouts. His advanced approach and plus bat-to-ball skills profile best at the top of the order, which is where he projects to slot in this spring for Kansas.

84. Sam Boyle, LHP, Washington

New school: Oregon

Following the departure of former Washington head coach Jason Kelly, Boyle entered the transfer portal and committed to rival Oregon. This past spring, the rising junior lefthander pitched his way to a career-low 3.40 ERA with 36 strikeouts to 21 walks in 42.1 innings. Boyle attacks from a low slot and relies heavily on his mid-to-upper-80s fastball. He threw the pitch a whopping 86% of the time this spring, but his changeup and slider, though used sparingly, showed the ability to be effective.

85. Jake Ogden, 3B, UNCG

New school: Miami (FL)

Ogden this spring was one of UNCG’s best hitters, posting a .313/.385/.482 slash line with 20 extra-base hits, 45 RBIs and 16 stolen bases. His four home runs this summer ranked second for Harwich, where he also handled himself well at the hot corner. Sophomore sensation Daniel Cuvet started 54 games at third base this spring for the Hurricanes, but he might move off the position for Ogden. Time will tell, but wherever it is Ogden will be a stalwart in Miami’s lineup.

86. Sam Dutton, RHP, LSU

New school: Auburn

Dutton showed flashes during his three seasons in Baton Rouge, but never fully put it together. This season was his best, as he struck out 29 against just six walks across 27.2 innings. Dutton has advanced control that he pairs with appealing stuff, headlined by an effective high-80s cutter-slider hybrid. He is in line to take on an elevated workload this spring.

87. Jayson Jones, OF/3B, Arkansas

New school: Oklahoma State

Jones logged just 43 games in two years at Arkansas, but enjoyed a strong summer on the Cape in which he was named an all-star and hit .269/.317/.426 with 11 extra-base hits and 17 RBIs. Jones is a physical player with arm strength that translates both to a corner outfield spot and third base, and he also has above-average raw power. He has a chance to have a career season in the offensive-oriented environment that is O’Brate Stadium.

88. Ben Rounds, OF, Harvard

New school: Duke

After a comparatively modest 2023 season, Rounds lit the world on fire this season, hitting an impressive .403/.506/.685 with 16 doubles, eight home runs and 34 RBIs. He set new career-highs in every statistical category, and his .403 average ranked 12th nationally among all Division I hitters. On top of his back of the baseball card stats, Rounds boasted an overall chase rate of just 17% and above-average bat-to-ball skills. Like other programs, Duke has had its fair share of success with Ivy League transfers, and Rounds will look to further establish the Blue Devils’ track record.

89. Aeden Finateri, RHP, Georgia Tech

New school: Alabama 

Finateri heads to Alabama by way of Georgia Tech where he had a solid three-year stint. Following a sophomore season in which he worked a career-best 4.64 ERA, he struck out a career-high 80 hitters across 75 innings this spring. He pitched exclusively as a starter, though he has the experience and versatility to also be used in relief if that’s what Alabama’s staff decides. Regardless of how he’s utilized, Finateri projects to again log a hearty amount of innings in 2025.

90. Lorenzo Carrier, OF, Miami (FL)

New school: Pittsburgh

A highly-touted recruit out of high school, Carrier was never really able to get it going during his three-year stint in Coral Gables. The tools are loud, but he struggled to tap into his upside on a consistent basis. Between a change in scenery and heading closer to home, the 6-foot-5 Carrier will look to finish his college career on a high note. He projects to be an every-day member of Pitt’s starting nine where he will get every chance to flash his tools.

91. Brady Counsell, 2B, Minnesota

New school: Kansas

The son of former big leaguer and current Cubs manager Craig Counsell, Brady is fresh off the best season of his college career. The veteran infielder posted new career-highs in every statistical category, hitting .287/.386/.520 with 14 doubles, 11 home runs, 36 RBIs and 16 stolen bases. He will look to ride the momentum he built this spring at Kansas, where he projects to be the Jayhawks’ starting second baseman.

92. Aiden Moffett, RHP, LSU

New school: Texas

Moffett never really gained his footing at LSU, where across two seasons he logged just 17.2 innings. He has unbelievable arm strength and possesses a fastball that sits in the upper-90s, but he is lacking in the pitchability department. Moffett joins first-year pitching coach Max Weiner at Texas, which is a mighty intriguing pairing from a development standpoint.

93. Carson Boles, OF, Lincoln Memorial (D-II)

New school: Arkansas

Boles had a video game-like season this spring at Lincoln Memorial, where he hit an eye-popping .475/.572/.863 with 24 doubles, 15 home runs, 68 RBIs and 40 walks to just 18 strikeouts. He went on to have a solid 10-game stint on the Cape where he drove in four runs and walked as much as he struck out. As mentioned, Arkansas’ outfield is crowded, but Boles will get a chance to earn consistent at-bats. 

94. Cullen McKay, RHP, Virginia

New school: Coastal Carolina

From a pure stuff standpoint, there is an argument to be made that McKay was the best of the bunch this spring on Virginia’s pitching staff. He got off to a strong start last season and even pitched his way into the Friday starter role, but he backed up from there and ended the year pitching sparingly out of the bullpen. McKay heads to Coastal Carolina where he will look to regain his footing with first-year pitching coach Matt Williams.

95. Reid Easterly, LHP, Yale

New school: Duke

Easterly wasn’t quite as effective this spring as he was in 2023, but he still managed to pitch his way to a 4.56 ERA with 69 strikeouts to only 20 walks across 75 innings. The 6-foot-1 southpaw’s secondaries are his calling card, and both his slider (31%) and changeup (38%) this season generated miss rates north of 30%. Easterly does a nice job of minimizing hard contact and will compete for a starting job this season.

96. Billy Barlow, RHP, Clemson

New school: Florida

Barlow heads to Florida looking to build off the momentum he built this year after posting a career-low 4.28 ERA in 48.1 innings. His fastball sits comfortably in the low-90s and has been up to 96, but his best offering is a mid-80s changeup that this season generated a 38% miss rate. With Florida returning most of its weekend rotation firepower, expect most of Barlow’s workload to come in relief or as the Gators’ midweek starter.

97. Lucas Steele, C, Samford

New school: Auburn

Steele announced his presence with authority as a freshman in 2023, hitting .315/.404/.636 with 15 doubles, 16 home runs and 51 RBIs. He got off to a slow start this year, but still managed to hit 10 doubles, 13 home runs and drive in 61 in 56 games. Steele has a sound approach and is a quality second catcher in addition to Ike Irish.

98. Michael Anderson, 1B, Rhode Island

New school: Arkansas

This spring, Anderson clubbed a career-high 13 home runs before hitting .246/.356/.439 with seven doubles and five home runs for the Cape League champion Harwich Mariners. In fact, for the first two weeks of the season he looked the part of a potential league MVP candidate. There is a little “all or nothing” in Anderson’s offensive profile, but his big-time raw power allows him to change the course of the game in one swing. 

99. Alex Bouche, 1B, Old Dominion

New school: East Carolina

It was a transfer cycle to forget for East Carolina, though Bouche—along with Nick Moran and co.—is a reason for Pirates fans to be excited. After hitting .299/.420/.527 with 11 home runs as a freshman, Bouche had a more modest sophomore campaign to the tune of a .241/.369/.377 slash line. He can generate high-quality impact; the key is just putting the ball in play on a consistent basis. Strikeouts have been an issue for Bouche. If he can get back to his freshman year self, he could be a high-impact bat this spring in Greenville.

100. Daylan Pena, OF/1B, Texas State

New school: Oregon

Pena was a key piece for the Bobcats this spring, setting a new career-high in multiple offensive categories. He hit a respectable .270/.373/.471 with a career-best 15 doubles, seven home runs and a career-high 43 RBIs. Pena is a strong-bodied, physical hitter who has shown the ability to drive the baseball. He provides some versatility defensively, too, as he can be used both in the outfield and at first base.

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College Baseball’s Scholarship Conundrum, Chandler Simpson’s Historic Year | Hot Sheet Show Ep. 21 https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/college-baseballs-scholarship-conundrum-chandler-simpsons-historic-year-hot-sheet-show-ep-21/ https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/college-baseballs-scholarship-conundrum-chandler-simpsons-historic-year-hot-sheet-show-ep-21/#respond Tue, 20 Aug 2024 21:09:50 +0000 https://www.baseballamerica.com/?p=1487602 Chandler Simpson and Craig Yoho have the Hot Sheet Show's attention, plus a deep dive on the state of high school recruiting.

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Today’s Hot Sheet Show dives deep on a pair of under-the-radar prospects in extremely smart organizations who could soon make big league impacts. We also welcome Matt Pajak of the 90th Percentile Podcast to explain the current crisis facing high school baseball seniors as college baseball’s recruiting landscape transforms in an era of 34 scholarships and the transfer portal.

(0:00) J.J. defends one-knee catching
(3:15) Can Chandler Simpson steal 100 bases in the big leagues one day? 
(10:30) Brewers reliever Craig Yoho has a ridiculous changeup
(16:00) Is this the worst time ever to be a senior high school baseball player? 
(20:00) How will teams allocate their transfer and NIL resources? 

We stream the Hot Sheet Show every Tuesday at 3 p.m. ET on YouTube. You can also listen to the show wherever you get your podcasts!

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2024 Cape Cod Baseball League Top 25 Prospects https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/2024-cape-cod-baseball-league-top-25-prospects/ https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/2024-cape-cod-baseball-league-top-25-prospects/#respond Thu, 15 Aug 2024 16:58:48 +0000 https://www.baseballamerica.com/?p=1469610 We rank the Top 25 Prospects who played in the Cape Cod League this summer. It's a list that is dominated by hitters.

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90th Percentile: The Impact Of Expanded Scholarships In College Baseball https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/90th-percentile-the-impact-of-expanded-scholarships-in-college-baseball/ https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/90th-percentile-the-impact-of-expanded-scholarships-in-college-baseball/#respond Fri, 09 Aug 2024 16:51:17 +0000 https://www.baseballamerica.com/?p=1471473 The move to 34 full scholarships from the traditional 11.7 number this offseason will further shake the core of the college game.

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The game of college baseball is in a period of great transition in 2024, as so much has changed since 2021. The introduction of name, image and likeness deals alongside the opening up of the transfer portal has had a significant impact on roster building in recent seasons. The move to 34 full scholarships from the traditional 11.7 number this offseason will further shake the core of the college game. Hosts Geoff Pontes and Matt Pajak dive into what they believe will be the outcomes and consequences of the move.

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College Baseball Transfer Portal 2024 Winners And Losers https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/college-baseball-transfer-portal-2024-winners-and-losers/ https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/college-baseball-transfer-portal-2024-winners-and-losers/#respond Thu, 08 Aug 2024 14:55:23 +0000 https://www.baseballamerica.com/?p=1471382 With the 2024 transfer cycle all but dying down, here are five winners and five losers in the portal.

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With the 2024 transfer cycle all but wrapped up, there has been time to sit back and dissect the transfer classes—and departures—of various programs. This cycle was arguably the craziest yet, as thousands of players opted to hit the portal. Somehow, though, the dust has finally settled and there will be plenty of notable players donning new jerseys when Opening Day rolls around in February.

Top 100 Transfer Rankings

See the top players on the move this summer according to Baseball America’s Peter Flaherty.

Winners

LSU

Like they seem to do each summer, head coach Jay Johnson and his staff once again put together a loaded transfer class. Former UC San Diego righthander Anthony Eyanson (6-2, 3.07 ERA) will compete for the Friday night starter job, while Daniel Dickinson (.367/.469/.661) and his exciting skill set will hit in the top-third of the order. In addition to Eyanson, righthanders Jacob Mayers (5-1, 4.58 ERA) and Deven Sheerin (6-5, 4.76 ERA) both possess big-time stuff. They could end up in the Tigers’ weekend rotation when all is said and done. 

The X-factor of LSU’s transfer class is righthander Zac Cowan (10-2, 3.35 ERA). An advanced strike-thrower and innings eater, Cowan brings a low heartbeat and track record of success to Baton Rouge. Between a revamped pitching staff and added firepower to its lineup, LSU’s latest portal haul will have it competing for a national championship.

Tennessee

Quality over quantity is the name of the game here for Tennessee, which brought in a trio of high-profile transfers to help defend its title. The Volunteers have plenty of production to replace from this year’s national championship team. Former Duke and Ole Miss infielder Andrew Fischer will help in that regard. The powerful lefthanded hitter hit .285/.397/.643 with 10 doubles, 20 home runs and 57 RBIs in 55 games. Fischer figures to slot into the heart of Tennessee’s order and once again has 20+ home run upside. Joining Fischer in Knoxville is fellow former Rebel Liam Doyle. Doyle this spring struck out a career-high 84 and walked just 21 across 55 innings.

Finally, Gavin Kilen makes his way to Tennessee by way of Louisville. He projects to be the Vols’ everyday second baseman while hitting at—or near—the top of the lineup. Kilen this spring hit a career-high .330/.361/.591 with 23 doubles, nine home runs and 41 RBIs.

Texas A&M

Texas A&M could be viewed as a portal winner simply for retaining Gavin Grahovac, Jace LaViolette, etc. The fact that it also brought in perhaps the deepest transfer class in the country is a big-time cherry on top. Former Long Beach State southpaw Myles Patton (4-3, 3.26 ERA) rounds out what figures to be an all-lefthander weekend rotation, as he joins a pair of potential day one draft picks in Ryan Prager (9-1, 2.95 ERA)—who was drafted in the third round last month but opted to return to Aggieland—and rising junior Shane Sdao (5-1, 2.96 ERA).

First-year head coach Michael Earley will have immense depth at the catcher position. He welcomes the trio of Jacob Galloway (.286/.386/.451), Jamal George (.316/.409/.546) and Connor Harrison (.322/.410/.541) to College Station. All three are viable options behind the dish, but expect Harrison to be the No. 1 guy. Earley will also have plenty of power on the corners thanks to third baseman Wyatt Henseler (.360/.465/.755, 22 home runs) and first baseman Gavin Kash (.300/.365/.561, 15 home runs). Both profile as middle-of-the-order bats and their skill sets will translate well in Blue Bell Park. After being one win from their first-ever national championship this season, the Aggies are squarely in the mix to dogpile in Omaha next June.

Georgia

2024 SEC Coach of the Year Wes Johnson and his staff put in serious work this offseason, landing a dozen new portal additions. It’s the perfect blend of experience and exciting, young talent, as well as a nice balance of pitching and position players. On the position player side, infielder Ryan Black stands out. Following a fantastic freshman campaign, Black took a bit of a step back this spring but still laced 29 extra-base hits. He has advanced contact skills and a knack for being on the barrel. Black figures to hit in the top-half of the Bulldogs’ lineup.

Also on the position player side, rising sophomore Daniel Jackson projects to be Georgia’s everyday backstop after hitting .358/.460/.599 last spring with 10 doubles, 12 home runs and 69 RBIs in 56 games. Veteran outfielder Robbie Burnett will be a stalwart in the Bulldogs’ lineup. Across three seasons at UNC-Asheville he hit .339/.450/.623 with 27 doubles, 36 home runs and 113 RBIs.

Georgia returns most of its starting pitching from last season, so adding bullpen depth was the focus of this summer’s transfer cycle. The trio of Davis Chastain (1-3, 8.37 ERA), Brian Curley (6-0, 2.87 ERA) and Alton Davis II (4-2, 5.61 ERA) all project to log their fair share of innings out of the ‘pen this spring. Georgia was one win from going to the College World Series this season. Its loaded transfer class will look to guide it to Omaha next spring for the first time since 2008.

Arkansas

The Razorbacks—as they are each season—will be poised for a run to Omaha. Their latest transfer class is a key reason why. Replacing last year’s rotation that included Hagen Smith, Brady Tygart and Mason Molina is almost impossible, but adding the dynamic lefthanded duo of Landon Beidelschies (6-7, 4.15 ERA) and Zach Root (6-2, 3.56 ERA) certainly helps. Both possess an impressive combination of strikes and stuff and will headline Arkansas’ rotation.

Rising sophomore Camden Kozeal (.284/.349/.439) will slot somewhere on the dirt—most likely at second base—after a strong freshman season at Vanderbilt. Charles Davalan (.288/.413/.514) is in line to be the team’s everyday center fielder. Former division-II standout Carson Boles (.475/.572/.863) will be in the mix to earn meaningful reps after posting a video game-esque season at Lincoln Memorial. Michael Anderson and Rocco Peppi provide experience and pop to the lineup, and the hitterish Logan Maxwell (.335/.447/.482) could be slotted in anywhere in the order. Following a shocking regional loss this past June, the Razorbacks will be playing with an extra chip on their shoulder this season.

Losers

Miami (FL)

It was a transfer cycle to forget for first-year head coach J.D. Arteaga, who saw a litany of Hurricanes find new homes. On offense, both Blake Cyr (.284/.397/.537) and Jason Torres (.331/.385/.529) leave a gaping hole in Miami’s lineup. Antonio Jimenez’ back of the baseball card (.182/.300/.313) is modest, but he can really pick it at shortstop and leaves Miami in limbo up the middle. Lefthanders Ashton Crowther and Chris Scinta both logged meaningful innings this spring, while freshman J.T. Caruso transferred closer to home to Connecticut. Like East Carolina, the losses of the players above will be enhanced due to the talent lost in the draft. It was a tough 2024 for the ‘Canes, and there is a chance 2025 isn’t much better.

Ole Miss

Speaking of transfer cycles to forget, Ole Miss saw over a dozen players hit the portal. On top of losing Fischer and Doyle—both mentioned to Tennessee above—the Rebels also saw a number of additional arms depart the program. Wes Mendes (2-1, 6.82 ERA) is the most notable of the group, but Grayson Saunier (4-3, 5.64 ERA) leaves the rotation without much depth. J.T. Quinn (1-3, 8.84 ERA) has a chance to really help Georgia out if he recaptures the flashes he showed in 2022. Outfielder Treyson Hughes announced he was transferring for the second time in as many seasons after playing 50 games for the Rebels.

Ole Miss won the national championship—its first in program history—in 2022, but it has not made a regional since. The pressure is on in Oxford, and heading into the 2025 season without their most talented player on each side of the baseball does not bode well for the Rebels.

Louisville

Between the draft, players graduating and the portal, it was a difficult offseason for Louisville. When honing in solely on the portal, though, the Cardinals lost potential top-two round draft pick Gavin Kilen (.330/.361/.591) to Tennessee and everyday outfielder Isaac Humphrey (.310/.412/.565—who was fresh off a career year—to Ole Miss. When you combine that with the fact they lost nearly 80 innings on the mound—228 if you include the losses of Sebastian Gongora and Evan Webster—you’re looking at a Louisville team with a plethora of holes to fill before February rolls around.

East Carolina

The Pirates endured a tough portal cycle that ended with them losing their two most exciting underclass talents in lefthanded pitcher Zach Root (6-2, 3.56 ERA) and outfielder Bristol Carter (.346/.406/.440). In today’s game, retaining top talent is imperative for schools that don’t fall into the “power five” conference bucket, so it was tough to see ECU lose both Carter and Root. While two players might not seem like a lot when compared to other schools, both were high-impact players for the Pirates. Their departures are exacerbated by how much talent was lost to the draft. Head coach Cliff Godwin has done an outstanding job in Greenville, but there is no doubt he has his work cut out for him in 2025.

Indiana State

To no fault of its own, Indiana State saw a mass exodus after former head coach Mitch Hannahs took the same job at South Florida. Nearly every major contributor from the 2023 and 2024 regional teams is now gone, and new head coach Tracy Archuleta is tasked with rebuilding the Sycamores and maintaining their reputation as a mid-major powerhouse. It might not happen in year one of the “Archuleta Era,” but expect Indiana State to regain its footing and uphold its reputation as one of the most dangerous programs in the region.

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How College Baseball Scholarship Expansion Hurts Mid-Major Programs’ Chances At College World Series Success https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/how-college-baseball-scholarship-expansion-hurts-mid-major-programs-chances-at-college-world-series-success/ https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/how-college-baseball-scholarship-expansion-hurts-mid-major-programs-chances-at-college-world-series-success/#respond Wed, 07 Aug 2024 12:37:19 +0000 https://www.baseballamerica.com/?p=1469631 J.J. Cooper delves into how the move from 11.7 to 34 scholarships has put smaller college baseball programs at a major disadvantage.

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In late July, college baseball coaches learned that the much-despised 11.7 scholarship limit is going away. Beginning with the 2025-26 academic year, Division I schools will have roster limits of 34 players, all of whom can be given full scholarships.

The demise of the 11.7 scholarship limit is almost universally popular. For generations, college baseball has been a sport in which 25 or more players saw playing time, and almost none of them were on full scholarships. This change will ensure that fewer players have to go into student debtor rely on their parentsto play college baseball.

That’s great news, as pretty much everyone agrees.

“I think it’s an important issue,” Charlotte head coach Robert Woodard said. “I look at all of this through the lens of: 20 years ago, I was a freshman on a $1,500 scholarship. People have been complaining about 11.7 since I was in middle school. 

“Now that it’s expanded . . . It could have gone the other way . . . Now isn’t the time to complain about the challenges in front of us.”

While scholarship expansion is great news, it might be too much of a good thing for many. Woodard may not want to complain, but there are a lot of coaches feeling stressed. 

The jump from a limit of 11.7 to 34 available scholarships may be way much too much of a good thing. It’s as if the largest college athletics departments designed a new rule to ensure that no one else will be able to compete with them. They are pulling up the drawbridge and leaving everyone else outside the moat.

The near tripling of the number of potential scholarships is a decision that was made by the remaining power conferences—the Atlantic Coast, Big Ten, Big 12 and Southeastern—as part of the settlement for House v. NCAA. But it will apply to all D-I conferences.

In recent years, college baseball has become a game of haves and have-nots. Schools in power conferences have massive financial advantages, meaning that mid-majors now face an even greater challenge.  

At many programs, the only way to be fully funded at 11.7 scholarships is if the baseball coach raises enough money every year to fund some of those scholarships. For most schools, the jump from 11.7 to 34 scholarships would require raising an additional $1 million to $1.2 million per year, every year.

And that’s not all. Because of Title IX regulations, an increase in baseball scholarships requires a commensurate increase in scholarships for an equivalent sport for women. As one coach described it, his ability to increase scholarships through fundraising would be dependent on either the softball coach raising an equivalent amount for softball scholarships, or sharing the fundraising between the two sports. 

So fundraising for six scholarship increases could mean three for baseball and three for softball.

“I’m at the point of adapting,” said one Division I coach who said he was not comfortable speaking on the record. “That’s the way we think in this program, and we will make it happen. But it can sink some ships.”

Said another coach who also requested anonymity: “The playing field is separating itself.”

In some ways, that’s already happening. College baseball has long been a sport where a top-notch coach with administrative support could build a mid-major into a power. The game has never been truly fair, but it’s always been one in which the imbalances were never enough to keep a team from having a realistic hope of reaching Omaha. And once or twice a generation, one of those schools could even win it all.

One-bid leagues had a realistic chance to dogpile in Omaha not all that long ago. Coastal Carolina (Big South) did just that in 2016. So did Fresno State (Western Athletic) in 2008. Pepperdine won a title representing the West Coast Conference in 1992. 

Stony Brook (American East), Kent State (Mid-American) and the Big West trio of UC Irvine, UC Santa Barbara and Cal State Fullerton all made it to Omaha between 2012 to 2017.

It’s never been an even playing field, but for a long time, it was enough to give teams all around the country a chance to dream. Most warm-weather schools’ fans could believe that with the right coach, the right support and a little bit of luck, they could have a season to remember. That was also an alluring sales pitch for athletic directors and school presidents. 

That sales pitch is now as obsolete as a corded phone.

While Oral Roberts reached Omaha in 2023, it is the only non-Power Five school to make it to the final eight in the past six College World Series. In that time, 21 of the 48 teams in Omaha have come from the SEC.

From 2001 to 2017, only once—in 2011—was there a CWS in which all eight participants were Power Five schools. In most years, there were multiple teams from smaller conferences. This year, all eight teams came from either the ACC or SEC.

Since Coastal Carolina won it all in 2016, Oregon State is the only non-SEC school to win a title. Since 2017, 11 of the 14 teams in the championship series have come from the SEC. One of the other three was Oklahoma, which is joining the SEC.

The increasing prevalence of transfers in addition to name, image and likeness (NIL) opportunities at college baseball powers has already created these disparities. But none of that compares with what will happen when some schools have 30 or more full scholarships while many others field just 10.

It used to be that Omaha was an optimistic but hopeful goal for a team. Now, the concern is that even super regionals will become unrealistic. As multiple coaches pointed out, a team with 11 or 12 total scholarships will have a hard time ever having enough pitching to survive in a regional against a team with 15 pitchers on full scholarship.

For the SEC, ACC, Big 12 and Big Ten, these changes will open up a lot of opportunities. The consolidation of top college talent onto fewer rosters is likely to continue.

For a lot of other schools, there are concerns. Some see it as an intentional effort to ensure they cannot compete with the biggest schools. Others just see themselves as unintentional collateral damage.

But all agree: College baseball has changed more in the past five years than it had in the previous four decades. And many are concerned about where the sport will be five years in the future.

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2024 Team USA Collegiate National Team Top 10 Prospects https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/2024-team-usa-collegiate-national-team-top-10-prospects/ https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/2024-team-usa-collegiate-national-team-top-10-prospects/#respond Wed, 07 Aug 2024 11:00:00 +0000 https://www.baseballamerica.com/?p=1469598 Ranking the 10 best prospects on the 2024 Team USA Collegiate National Team with an eye on the 2025 and 2026 drafts.

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USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team annually puts together a roster of some of the top players in the country, giving scouts and draft fans an early preview of the best-in-class talent for next year’s class. 

This year USA Baseball fielded two college rosters: an international friendship series roster composed mostly of rising juniors who will be eligible for the 2025 draft and a summer league tour roster composed mostly of rising sophomores who won’t be eligible until 2026.

Here we rank the top 10 players from the “senior” team, which isn’t quite as hitter-heavy as last year’s CNT—which featured 2024 first-rounders JJ Wehterholt, Braden Montgomery, Seaver King, Jac Caglianone and Charlie Condon—and is instead led by a pair of high-profile, high-probability starters in righthander Tyler Bremner and lefthander Jamie Arnold.

Team USA went 5-0 in their friendship series against Taiwan and then won a July 4 game against the summer league tour roster, 4-3. Team USA stats referenced include trials roster and Taiwan series games and are pulled from SynergySports. 

1. Tyler Bremner, RHP, UC Santa Barbara

Bremner is a 6-foot-2, 180-pound righthander who this spring with UC Santa Barbara posted a 2.54 ERA over 88.2 innings and nine starts, with a 30.2% strikeout rate and 6.1% walk rate. He’s one of the best pitchers in the 2025 class. With Team USA in two outings this summer he struck out six, walked two and allowed only a single hit while showing three pitches that might be plus.

Bremner works with a fluid and easy delivery that features a quick arm out of a high three-quarters slot. He averages 94-96 mph with his fastball and runs the pitch up to 98 with excellent riding life and armside run that should make it a plus offering. He has great feel to land a diving mid-80s changeup that averages more than 10 mph in separation from his fastball and has an 85-87 mph slider with hard biting action. 

2. Jamie Arnold, LHP, Florida State

Arnold trailed only Chase Burns for the top pitcher in the Atlantic Coast Conference this spring and posted a 2.98 ERA over 105.2 innings and 18 starts, with a 29.6 K-BB% that was good for fifth-best in the country. A 6-foot-1, 191-pound lefthander, Arnold added plenty of power to his arsenal this spring which pairs nicely with a deceptive slot and advanced command and makes him one of the most complete arms in the class.

With Team USA in two outings Arnold struck out eight, walked three and allowed only one single. He works with a drop-and-drive action in his delivery and throws from a sidearm slot that creates an extremely low release height that amplifies his pitch mix. Arnold sits 93-95 mph with a fastball that touches 97 and features tons of run, and also mixes in a sweepy mid-80s slider, a low-80s curveball with more depth and a mid-80s changeup. 

3. Devin Taylor, OF, Indiana

Taylor is a strong and physical outfielder with a powerful 6-foot-1, 215-pound frame who’s had a pair of tremendous offensive seasons with Indiana. He’s a career .338/.440/.660 hitter with 36 home runs for the Hoosiers and played left field and DH for Team USA this summer. While Taylor went just 7-for-27 (.259) in six games, it’s easy to see why his offensive profile is so appealing. 

He employs a crouched stance in the lefthanded batter’s box with a tight bat wiggle before taking a fairly typical leg kick and hand press in his load stage. Taylor has above-average bat speed and a level plane with his swing but enough strength for home run power to all fields. He has fair contact skills but can be overly aggressive with his swing decisions—he struck out six times to no walks with a 30% chase rate with Team USA. He profiles as a corner outfielder and has mostly played left with Indiana. 

4. Drew Burress, OF, Georgia Tech

Burress earned top-three-rounds consideration out of high school in the 2023 class, but ultimately made it to campus at Georgia Tech where had a Freshman of the Year campaign in 2024, when he led all freshmen with 25 home runs and slashed .381/.512/.821. He became Team USA’s leadoff hitter and primary center fielder this summer and went 9-for-24 (.375) in seven games with a pair of homers.

A 5-foot-9, 182-pound righthanded hitter, Burress uses his size to his advantage and rarely expands an already small strike zone. He chased just 15% of the time this spring—the best mark of any Team USA hitter—walked more than he struck out and has a strong combination of bat-to-ball skills and raw power that mostly plays to his pull side. An above-average runner with a strong arm, Burress has the tools to be a strong defender and stick in center field.

5. Caden Bodine, C, Coastal Carolina

Bodine is the top-ranked catcher in the class and followed up a 2023 Sun Belt Conference freshman of the year season with another strong campaign as a hitter and receiver this spring. He’s a career .347/.432/.564 hitter with Coastal Carolina and shared catching duties with Troy backstop Brooks Bryan for Team USA this summer.

A 5-foot-10, 197-pound switch-hitter, Bodine stands out mostly for his bat-to-ball skills. He rarely swings and misses, has walked more than he’s struck out in his college career and with Team USA walked four times to two strikeouts with a 91% overall contact rate. 

Bodine has unusual movements from both sides of the plate, specifically with a late hand raise, high back elbow and barrel tip in his load, but has made the operation work for the most part. He has a hit-over-power offensive profile and also has the above-average arm strength and solid receiving chops to stick behind the dish. 

6. Nolan Schubart, OF, Oklahoma State

Schubart was a high-profile high school hitter who showed some of the best power upside in the 2022 prep class and has become one of college baseball’s most fearsome sluggers in two seasons with Oklahoma State. Now a 6-foot-5, 227-pound outfielder, Schubart is a career .352/.480/.743 hitter with the Cowboys who homered 23 times this spring and then led Team USA with a 1.571 OPS and five extra-base hits this summer. 

Schubart has tremendous raw power and posts eye-opening exit velocities—including a 111.6 mph 90th-percentile mark this spring—but has plenty of contact questions in his game. He looks to do damage on all of his swings with fierce hacks from the left side and phenomenal bat speed but will need to improve the 63.3% contact rate he managed this spring. 

While Schubart will swing and miss versus all pitch types, to his credit he has done a nice job staying within the zone on his swing decisions and walking at a high clip. He’s a definite corner outfield profile with more than enough power to profile there. 

7. Matt Scott, RHP, Stanford

Scott is a big and broad righthander with a 6-foot-7, 247-pound frame and background as a high-profile prep prospect who ranked as a top 200 player in the 2022 class. While his career 5.57 ERA with Stanford over two seasons is unexceptional, he has solid peripherals and pure stuff to dream on. With Team USA he struck out four, walked three and allowed just two singles in two outings.

Scott throws from a high three-quarters slot and boasts a four-pitch mix, though his fastball and slider are his go-to offerings. He sits 92-94 mph with his fastball but has been up to 98 with tremendous riding life and he filled up the zone with a mid-80s two-plane breaking slider this summer. Scott also mixes in a low-80s split-changeup and 87-91 mph cutter, though both pitches need more polish. 

8. Marek Houston, SS, Wake Forest

Houston is a 6-foot-3, 185-pound shortstop who earned an early reputation as one of college baseball’s most impressive defensive infielders. After a light-hitting 2023 season with Wake Forest, Houston posted a .949 OPS this spring with Wake Forest and served as Team USA’s primary shortstop this summer. The righthanded hitter went just 3-for-19 (.158) in seven games but drew eight walks to manage a .429 on-base percentage in that time.

High-level defensive ability is the name of the game for Houston. He’s a reliable defender who has all the tools necessary to stick at shortstop and play the position at an above-average level. While he’s not a burner, he shows a quick first step with good range to both sides and pairs above-average arm strength with an advanced internal clock, no-doubt middle infield actions and footwork and impressive body control. His upside as a prospect will depend on his progress as a hitter next spring. 

9. Kyson Witherspoon, RHP, Oklahoma

Witherspoon began his college career with Northwest Florida State JC but transferred to Oklahoma this spring where he posted a 3.71 ERA over 80 innings and 11 starts. He continued to perform with Team USA. In two outings he struck out eight, walked two and allowed just one single. 

A 6-foot, 205-pound righthander, Witherspoon is solidly filled out now with broad shoulders and a well-developed frame. His arm action features an odd, hitch-and-hook movement in the back of his stroke but he fires to the plate with tons of arm speed from a three-quarters slot. He sits 95-96 mph with his fastball and has touched 99 with solid ride and cut. He uses a mid-to-upper-80s slider as his go-to secondary. 

Witherspoon also has a firm, upper-80s changeup that he uses infrequently as well as a cutter around 90 mph. There’s some inherent reliever risk given Witherspoon’s delivery and control.

10. Gabe Davis, RHP, Oklahoma State

Davis has primarily pitched out of the bullpen in college but did make five starts for Oklahoma State this spring before pitching in a relief capacity for Team USA this summer. Davis appeared in three games and struck out seven of the 12 batters he faced without allowing a hit or walk. A monstrous presence on the mound, Davis is listed at 6-foot-9, 225 pounds and throws from a relatively easy delivery and three-quarters slot. 

Scouts loved what they saw from Davis this summer. He averaged 95 mph and touched 100 this spring at OSU and was a tick higher on average with Team USA. His fastball might play up because his extension is above-average and his perceived velocity is likely greater than the TrackMan readings. He generated eight whiffs on 15 swings with the pitch with Team USA. He paired it with a hard mid-80s slider that was also a swing-and-miss offering. 

Davis showed impressive command in his brief summer stint. He’ll need to replicate that next spring and improve on his career 13.3% walk rate.

2024 Team USA CNT Best Tools

Best Hitter: Caden Bodine
Best Power: Nolan Schubart
Best Plate Discipline: Drew Burress
Fastest Runner: RJ Austin
Most Exciting Player: Tyler Bremner
Best Pitcher: Tyler Bremner
Best Fastball: Tyler Bremner
Best Breaking Pitch: Gabe Gaeckle 
Best Changeup: Tyler Bremner
Best Control: Jamie Arnold
Best Defensive C: Caden Bodine
Best Defensive INF: Marek Houston
Best Defensive OF: Drew Burress

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NL West Draft Picks With The Most Intriguing Statcast Pitch Data https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/nl-west-draft-picks-with-the-most-intriguing-statcast-pitch-data/ https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/nl-west-draft-picks-with-the-most-intriguing-statcast-pitch-data/#respond Mon, 05 Aug 2024 12:22:02 +0000 https://www.baseballamerica.com/?p=1466936 Our Statcast draft deep dive concludes with intriguing arms beyond the first round in the NL West.

The post NL West Draft Picks With The Most Intriguing Statcast Pitch Data appeared first on College Baseball, MLB Draft, Prospects - Baseball America.

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Each week, I dip into public Statcast data to provide insight on up-and-coming minor league talent. Now that the draft is complete, I will shift gears and dig into some data on recent draftees.

It is important to note that the dataset is incomplete. Pitchers may or may not translate their pitch shapes directly from college baseball to the majors due to differences in the baseballs, as well as potential differences in data quality and measurement. If a pitcher isn’t included here, it’s because there wasn’t any Statcast data.

We’ll also be looking at things primarily through a “stuff” lens. Namely, those pitch shapes that have the potential to work in the major leagues. This is inspired by the countless examples of unheralded college pitchers who take huge leaps once they hit a major league development system.

Arizona Diamondbacks

Mason Marriott, RHP, 6th Round

Marriott possesses a solid fastball, sitting 93 and topping out at 95, with slightly below-average ride, which will likely be worse with the minor league ball. He pairs that with with a two-plane curveball at 80 mph, with promising feel for spin (2800 rpm), which might be a nice secondary for him. He mixes in a changeup that will need some development. It’s a shallow arsenal, and his performance in college wasn’t great either, so he’ll need to develop a slider and/or gain a few ticks of velo to be a viable prospect.

Luke Craig, LHP, 7th Round

Craig’s got the natural arm slot for a plus sweeper. While it only gets about 8 inches of sweep at the moment, he’s not getting the spin efficiency he needs to generate the plus sweep that his 2600 rpms should be able to generate. He’s able to get the almost perfectly horizontal spin axis required, he’ll just need to learn how to avoid gyro spin on the pitch. This is likely something that can be tweaked with professional training. His hard pitch looks like a sinker with great run, and a lot of movement on both planes. I have it as an above-average pitch even at its 92 mph velocity. This is an arsenal that will work very well against lefties, and completely fall apart against righties.

John West, RHP, 12th Round

West is a massive human, standing 6-foot-8, 265 pounds, giving him the potential to throw a lot harder than his sinker’s current 91-92 mph average velocity. One of the ways to generate velocity, both as a hitter and a pitcher, is to leverage ground forces, which having more mass helps with. His sinker will be a fantastic weapon against righthanded batters, as it’s a SSW sinker, with huge run and massive vertical movement deviation (movement that differs from what the spin axis would predict). He has a nice gyro slider that he uses as his primary secondary, and should be a platoon-neutral weapon, but he’ll need to push his sinker velocity up to help it play up.

West also has a fascinating changeup, with negative vert and decent fade. It’s quite rare for a changeup to have negative vert, which could give it potential to really fool batters. This gives us a very different movement plot:

It’s almost entirely an east-west movement profile. I think he’ll need to add a four-seam fastball, and should have an easy time learning the sweeper given the arm slot and ability to sweep the sinker. I’m very intrigued by this profile, and look forward to seeing what he can accomplish with pro development at his disposal.

Kyle Ayers, RHP, 13th Round

Ayers represents a tale of two sets of numbers. On the one hand, he’s a proverbial “stuff monster;” on the other hand he’s a college reliever with a terrible track record of performance. He also underwent Tommy John surgery and is likely out for the season. Despite all that, I think Ayers has a chance to be a high-leverage arm that could move very quickly.

Ayers has an easy plus fastball from a shape and velocity standpoint, with nearly 3 inches of ride over expected (19 inches IVB/flight), and great velocity at 96 mph, with very good spin at 2500 rpm. The ride is easy to see, as almost all of his fastballs are above the expected IVB line. He pairs it with a gyro slider/cutter with negative vert that should be an absolute weapon for him, with elite feel for spin at 2950 rpms.

He has the rare ability to throw it with curveball spin, which helps him get “death ball” movement. This pitch looks like it has plus-plus potential from a stuff perspective. He throws a huge two-plane curveball at 80-81 that he probably won’t need. I probably shouldn’t be this excited about a relief pitcher prospect, but his pitch data is just so compelling, I can’t help myself. I’ll be keeping on eye on Ayers as he makes his way through Arizona’s system.

Rocco Reid, LHP, 15th Round

Reid is a low-slot sinkerballing lefty, with a nice changeup that shows huge depth, and his data look a lot like John West’s, albeit from the left side, and with about 8 inches less height. The low-slot sinker plus depthy changeup might be a profile that Arizona was targeting in the later rounds.

Dawson Brown, RHP, 16th Round

Brown has an interesting gyro cutter at 88 mph, and decent velo on his sinker at 93 mph (from a low slot like the other guys listed here), along with a changeup with negative vert. He’ll need some work to fix the sinker shape, but his slider and changeup could be decent.

Colorado Rockies

Brody Brecht, RHP, CB-B

Brecht’s fastball is likely not going to be his calling card. It’s a low-spin pitch with well below-average ride. While he has good velocity at 96, he’ll need to rush it up at around 100 to offset what will be poor shape. His slider, on the other hand, is a fantastic pitch, with “death ball” movement at -4 inches of vertical break. He could likely get major league hitters out with that pitch. As a low-spin guy, he might need to develop a splitter to give him a weapon against lefties. I was expecting to be blown away by Brecht’s data, given the scouting superlatives, but to my eyes, it looks like a plus-plus slider, with the athleticism to dream on the other stuff being good enough that it will all come together for him. I do think the low-spin arsenal is a theoretically better fit for Coors field.

Lebarron Johnson, RHP, 5th Round

Lebarron’s movement chart is just begging for a two-plane curveball to fill out the movement profile. However, he already shows a very promising three-pitch mix. The fastball looks almost average in every respect, sitting 94 mph, with average ride given the slot, average spin rates and average extension. That may sound like a bad thing, but sometimes the important thing with a fastball is that it shouldn’t be terrible. He throws both a hard riding cutter at 87 and a gyro slider at 84. He’ll need both those pitches to become plus to succeed.

Fidel Ulloa, RHP, 7th Round

Ulloa is a reliever with a subpar fastball at 93-94 and a gyro slider/cutter that got a lot of whiffs at 84-87 mph. He pales in comparison to Brock Moore who was taken later in the 7th round, without any clear reason to me as to why a team would select Ulloa over Brock Moore if they were choosing just between the two. It’s somewhat easier for me to do a post-facto analysis, rather than picking from a giant pool of players, however, I believe teams should be taking as many arms as they can that have a realistic shot at being a major leaguer. I’m guessing the Rockies really like the slider here, and I will be very happy to be proven wrong by Ulloa.

Luke Jewett, RHP, 8th Round

Jewett started 14 games this season for UCLA, with a solid 4.35 ERA and decent command, averaging almost six innings a start. He has a starter’s frame, standing 6-foot-4 and 225 pounds. More importantly, he has a four- or five-pitch arsenal that, while not exciting, could make him a back0of-the-rotation starter if everything breaks right.

The fastball gets only 16 inches of ride, with about 2 inches of ride below expected, and he’ll need to throw harder than the 92 he currently does. You can see above that he gets his whiffs on the few pitches that get above-average ride. He also throws a sinker, with some decent vertical movement deviation, giving him a couple of fastballs he can use against righties. The throws either a gyro slider/curve that is a tweener pitch, neither a sweeper, nor a gyro. I think those could be refined into two pitches (gyro and sweeper). He flashed a changeup with poor shape at 86. He’ll need to develop a lot to be successful, but there’s a hope for a No. 5 or No. 6 starter type if you really squint.

Justin Loer, LHP, 13th Round

Loer is a huge dude who throws from a low lefty slot that gets by throwing mostly sliders and changeups. The changeup is interesting as it gets 16 inches of fade, giving him at least one weapon against righties, though his 91 mph sinker will likely only be viable against lefties. Could be a lefty-one inning guy, but he’ll need to throw just the gyro slider and changeup to righties. If you can get a situational lefty in the 13th round, that’s a pretty good outcome.

Hunter Omlid, RHP, 20th Round

Omlid exceeds his expected IVB by 3-4 inches, allowing his 92-93 mph velocity to play up. It also has great spin at 2500 rpms, so there might be room for more with gains in spin efficiency. He has a 2850 rpm sweeper, that currently doesn’t get the 16 inches or more of sweep that makes them play up, but he’s not far off. If they can teach him to be more spin efficient with that pitch as well, he could have two plus pitches. That’s great value for a 20th round pick.

Los Angeles Dodgers

Jakob Wright, LHP, 4th Round

I must confess that when a pitcher is selected by the Dodgers, I expect to see sizzling data. So when I first glanced at Wright’s data, it didn’t immediately pop, mostly because he throws a hard cutter, rather than a traditional riding four-seam fastball. My data is from 2023, but he showed a low spin-efficiency four-seam fastball at 90-91 that I’d grade out as slightly below average. He showed the potential for a plus sweeper if he can be more spin efficient with the 2700 rpms he generates on the pitch.

Evan Shaw, LHP, 16th Round

Evan Shaw has two very distinct pitches, a huge sweeper with negative vert and a low-efficiency cut fastball at 90 mph. The sweeper is unusual as most sweepers get positive vert due to movement deviation, and I can see the Dodgers teaching him how to trade some bite for sweep (generally a good thing with sweepers) that will help it play up. The fastball is all over the place, and he’ll either need to go all-in on the low spin efficiency four-seam look, or throw a traditional high-efficiency four-seam fastball, or a true sinker. I think the sweeper is the calling card here, and the Dodgers will teach him two fastballs, giving him a chance to be a lefty specialist down the road.

San Diego Padres

Tyson Neighbors, RHP, 4th Round

Neighbors’ fastball ranks as one of the best in the draft class from a pure stuff perspective, right up there with Brock Moore (easily my favourite pick of the draft), Thatcher Hurd, Hagen Smith and Chase Burns. It’s easy to see why when we chart his pitches:

Every single fastball he throws is at least 2-3 inches above the expected line given his release characteristics and height, with the average pitch being closer to 4 inches of extra IVB. It’s good velocity at 95-96, with room for optimization if he learns to extend more than the 5.7 feet he currently gets. He pairs that with a 2900 rpm curveball with huge depth and great velocity at 84 mph, which looks like it will be a really good pitch, and a 2800 rpm gyro slider/cutter at a blistering 89 mph, which gives him a profile that looks a lot like Chase Burns from a pure stuff perspective, minus a few ticks of velocity, with less refined secondaries, and out of the bullpen where he can go max effort. He also has a track record of college dominance, striking out 160 batters over 95 innings.

I think Neighbors should absolutely be given a chance to start, as he has the makings of three plus pitches, and the more reps he can get, the better his command will get. I’m a big believer in not type-casting guys as “reliever only”, and that the potential difference-makers like Neighbors should be afforded the opportunity to falsify the relief-only premise. I absolutely love this pick for the Padres.

Clark Candiotti, RHP, 4C

Candiotti put together a decent final season in college as a starter, and has a big frame, listed at 6-foot-4, 237 pounds. It’s a solid arsenal with an average fastball in shape and velo, a gyro slider with plus potential and a hammer curve at 78 mph. He’ll likely need to develop a changeup, but the north-south arsenal should play well against both righties and lefties even if he doesn’t. As an older guy with little leverage, the Padres got a nice scoop here, saving about $440K of bonus pool room, which helped them land the mammoth Boston Bateman in the second round for an overslot deal. Candiotti has a shot to be a back-end starter, making this a nice win-win.

San Francisco Giants

Greg Farone, LHP, 7th Round

Data is from 2023. Farone is a 6-foot-6 lefty that throws from a very vertical slot, which makes his otherwise excellent 21 inches of IVB/flight play down somewhat, though it’s still a roughly average pitch despite the 89 mph velocity. He throws a hammer curve at 78 and a changeup without depth or fade. The velo will need to jump quite a bit for Farone to be be a viable prospect.

Tyler Switalski, 16th Round

Switalski has a below-average fastball with fringe-average shape, but subpar velo, a changeup with promising depth at 81-82 and a gyro slider that he’ll need to throw much harder than his current 78 mph. The gyro slider could give him three viable pitches if he can push the velo to 85 mph, which is asking a lot, but the fastball velo would indicate it’s possible.

Hunter Dryden, RHP, 17th Round

Dryden’s data are from the MLB Draft League, so we can be more confident that his stuff will translate to the minor leagues more directly, as they use the same ball there. His fastball is very inconsistent shape-wise, mostly due to not getting some more east-west spin rather than pure vertical backspin. The Giants will be looking to clean that up, which might help it get close to an average pitch shape wise. He combines that with a gyro slider at 81, with decent potential, and a changeup which he’ll need to refine. Dryden has the look of a guy who will benefit from pro development, however, he’ll need to make a big leap to become a major league pitcher.

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