2019 Draft Notes
I’ve created a list of college players who I believe you should keep your eyes on going forward.
Pitchers to Watch:
George Kirby, Elon Jr. SP:
17.843 K/BB, 36th in the country in K, Mid 90’s fastball, averaged more than 6 innings per start including 3 complete games and averaged 89.1 IP his last two seasons, is capable of taking things to the next level innings wise. Only gave up 3 HR, struck out more than 10 on 5 occasions. .89 WHIP is 11th in NCAA D1. Good frame at 6’4”, room to grow at 201 lbs, but an already strong frame for a pitcher. Might be discriminated against because of school, worth a flier in early rounds with the right development could achieve Maddux like potential.
Ethan Small, Mississippi St. Rs Jr. SP:
#2 WHIP in NCAA (.80) and 2nd most K’s in NCAA with 160 in just 96 IP. Only 27 BB and sports a 1.80 ERA, 13th in NCAA. Topped 10 K’s 11 times in 16 starts and struck out 92 and walked 15 in his last 55 IP. Red-shirt Junior LHP with a 6’3” 214 Lb frame with a low to mid 90’s fastball. Room to improve on an already impressive resume.
Matt Waldron, Nebraska Senior SP:
11.71 K/BB, 82 K and 7 BB in 92.2 IP, 3.11 ERA. Wiry righty at 6’2” 185 LB. Coached by Darin Erstad.
Noah Song, Navy Sr. SP:
161 K and 31 BB, 1.44 ERA 11-1 opponents hitting just .171 off him. Mid 90’s fastball. Will he have to serve in the military for 2 years? Fastball is flat with late life. Mechanics are plus with room to improve. Needs to work on off-speed pitches.
Aaron Barkley, Mississippi Valley State Jr. RP:
.97 whip in 38 IP, 51 K’s and just 7 BB, interesting relief option, catcher turned pitcher. Could have some solid value in the early mid-rounds.
Nick Lodolo, TCU Jr. SP:
.95 WHIP, 10th most K’s in D1 with 131 in 103 IP, just 25 BB and a 2.36 ERA. Wiry lefty with a 6’6” 185 LB frame who boasts a mid 90’s fastball. Topped 10 K’s 6 times.
Alek Manoah, West Virginia Jr. SP:
.88 WHIP, 5th most K’s in D1 with 144 K’s and merely 27BB. 17th NCAA ERA at 1.85. Topped 10 K’s 7 times. Jumped from 54 to 108.1 IP from ’18-’19 when he assumed full-time SP role. Big man 6’6” 260 LBs, hugely high ceiling.
Sophomores to watch:
John Stankiewicz, Fordham SP:
.83 WHIP, 2nd in ERA 1.21. 6’4” 222 LB’s, 102 K and 20 BB in 92 IP.
Emerson Hancock, Georgia SP:
Best D1 WHIP at .78, 7th in era 1.56 just 3 bb in his last 37.1 IP with 30 Ks. Did a great job fine tuning his control in his last 6 starts. Sophomore, 6’4”, 215 LBs, excellent frame for P, just 19 years old, years to grow. Mid 90’s fastball. Interesting to see if he pursues MLB or opts to stay in school.
Reid Detmers, Louisville SP:
.88 WHIP, 156 K’s (4th most in D1) and 25 BB in 100.1 IP (most K’s in D1), Detmers is deserving of first consideration. He boasts a 6’2” 210 Lb frame and averaged more than 6 IP in all his starts. His fastball sits in the low 90’s, however he gets great movement on his pitches particularly his two-seamer. Only a sophomore last season, room for velocity to grow. Notched 16 K’s in 7.2 IP vs. Georgia Tech and hurled 62 K’s and only 12 BB in his last 40 IP. Real deal.
Hitters to watch:
Andrew Vaughn, Cal Jr. Infielder:
Excellent approach with 59 BB and 33 K in 176 AB’s. 15 HR, 14 2B, hit a bonkers line of .381, .544 OBP and .716 SLG. Impressive power numbers for an infielder, room to grow his 6’0” 214 LB frame.
Jacob Hurtubise, Army Jr. OF:
Studly approach with 69 BB and 26 K en route to a .375 AVG and .541 OBP. No home runs in 200 AB’s or in the entirety of his college career, however power can develop as he measures at 6’0”, 180 LB’s. 50 BB and 25 K in his sophomore season, excellent hit tool. 87 steals and 7 CS in 412 AB’s his sophomore and junior seasons (45 Jr. year). Great range in OF, with the right tools and coaching around him he could be a cornerstone CF table setter. Frankly unsure if there is a service requirement he may have to attempt to forgo.
Cameron Cannon, Arizona Jr. Infielder:
Versatile infielder who slashed .397/.478/.651. Born to hit, improving BB/SO ratio (35/29), 29 two baggers. Reminds me of 2019 Tommy La Stella (despite hitting righty), would be an excellent producer at MIF. Backloaded stance enables power potential, will be interesting to see what adjustments, if any he makes as he grows his frame.
Adley Rutschman, Oregon St. Jr. C:
Always had a strong approach at the plate but really put it together in his sophomore year hitting .408 with 53 bb, 40 k and a NCAA best .580 OBP (6th in SLG at .765). Junior year of .418, 75 bb and 37 k with 17 hr and 10 2b in 182 at-bats cements his status as an elite talent. A bat so talented that whoever draft’s him should strongly consider moving him to 1B to preserve his longevity at the plate. Other notes, 1st in D1 in walks with 38, Pac-12 Conference Player of the Year 2019. Helped lead Oregon State to win the 2018 College World Series and was named CWS Most Outstanding Player. Was Oregon State placekicker his freshman year. Grandfather Ad Rutschman was a football and baseball coach at Linfield college.
Jake Garella, Saint Louis Jr. INF/OF :
.330 AVG, .404 OBP and .529 SLG in 227 Junior AB’s. 27 doubles and 6 homers, 6’1” 195 LBs, room to grow, would develop into a more complete hitter with extra pop with 20 more LBs of mass. Would like to see improved discipline with 56 K and 21 BB, but the power potential is there.
Troy Johnston, Gonzaga Jr. OF:
Lefty, .330 AVG, 26 K and 20 BB in 218 Abs. 27 2B, 2 3B and 10 HR, 5’11”. Very strong potential with his excellent approach.
Hunter Bishop, Arizona St. Jr. OF:
22 HR, 15 2B, .344/.478/.758 (!) in 215 AB’s. 6’5” 210 LB frame from the right side, not just power and AVG, 12 steals too. He has serious MVP potential If he adds 20-30 LBs of muscle.
J.J. Bleday, Vanderbilt Jr. OF:
Quality pop from the left side, led NCAA with 26 HR, impressive 51 BB and 50 K in 237 AB. .354/.468/.747 slash combined with a 6’3” 205 LB frame. If he adds 10-20 LBs and focuses on making better contact, he could be an MVP.
Parker Phillips, Austin Peay Jr. UTIL:
Power prospect. 6’5” 240 LBs. 25 HR, .316/.450/.732 in 209 AB’s. Approach can improve, 63 K/34 BB. Could lead the league in batted ball distance and exit velocity with excellent development. Nice mid round+ flier.
Kody Hoese, Tulane Jr. Infielder:
Elite talent, lead D1 in total bases at 183. 23 HR and 20 2B in 235 AB’s. .391/.486/.779 and 39 BB/34 K’s. Room to grow in size at 6’4” 200 LBs to add to an already super impressive slash line, produced similarly in his sophomore year and is one of my favorite infield draft prospects.
Kyle McCann, Georgia Tech Jr. C:
Strong all around lefty hitting catching prospect. Short compact swing, relaxed stance and great plate coverage. 60 BB/75 K, .294/.465/.673, 23 HR and 12 2B in 214 Abs. 6’2”, 217 LBs big power & discipline potential.
Jake Sanford, Western Kentucky Jr. 1B:
Impressive all around lefty hitting 1B prospect. 2nd in D1 total bases at 175, .398/.483/.805, 20 2B, 22 HR, 50 K and 33 BB in 221 AB. Solid sized frame at 6’2” 215 LBs, room to grow into his body. Looping lunging swing is somewhat concerning, however tweak is small and I’m still buying the potential.
Kel Johnson, Mercer Graduate OF:
Strong line of .290/.389/.622, 23 HR and 9 2B in 241 AB’s. 72 K and 40 BB, 6’4” 199 LB outfielder. Interesting project could develop into a hybrid power/avg outfielder.
Sophomores to watch:
Alejandro (Alex) Toral, Miami Sophomore Infielder:
.286/.398/.631, 22 HR, 5 2B, 39 BB and 66 K in 206 AB’s from the infield. Hugely impressive ACC stuff. 6’1” 220 LB frame, power approach with a power frame and can develop comfortably into his approach.
Jason Hinchman, Tennessee Tech Infielder:
.278/.420/.697, 24 HR and 11 2B in 198 AB’s. Plus approach with room to improve, 43 BB/77 K. 6’3”, 225 LBs, plus frame with potential to grow more into his body.
Stats courtesy of:
https://www.ncaa.com/stats/baseball/d1/current/individual/494
D1baseball.com and team sites