This will be an ongoing series during the fall and winter months. The goal is to highlight some college players that have aroused my curiosity but I haven't seen much of to date. Consider the players in this series priorities for me in terms of seeing them play and getting a read on them as draft prospects. You'll probably notice that many of these players share a similar background or have common traits. For example, there will be a high number of draft-eligible sophomores as well as transfers from smaller schools or the junior college level. There will certainly be other types of players mixed in, but players from the sophomore/transfer group are typically guys I have not seen in games the past year or two. Each player included will have a link to their baseball-reference page, some background info, and some reasons why they are included on my watch list. Don't be surprised if you end up seeing some of these names again when I publish my preseason sleeper list early next year.
I'll be covering 3 of the power conferences individually, followed by a combined Big 12/Big 10 post, and then a final post consisting of a hodgepodge of players across the D1 level. Here's a schedule:
PAC-12
BIG 10/BIG 12
SEC
Rest of D1
Hitters
Catchers
Gavin Logan, Oregon State
Background: Second Team All-West Coast League ('21)
Why: With Troy Claunch transferring to Texas A&M and Cole Hamilton signing on with the Nationals, Logan could be the next man up for the Beavers behind the plate. 2021 was Logan's first year with OSU and he received only a handful of opportunities during the spring. For what it's worth, Logan finished 2021 with a .920 OPS in 24 plate appearances. What makes Logan interesting to me is his performance in the West Coast League over the summer. Playing for the Bend Elks, Logan put up a solid .307/.457/.432 line which included a couple of long balls and a 23/24 BB: K ratio. We'll have to see if that summer performance can transfer over to the Pac-12, but lefty-hitting catchers that perform are always in demand. I'll be on the lookout for more info on the Oregon State catching situation this fall.
Nate Stevens, Washington State
Background: Juco Transfer (Johnson County CC); Perfect Game #119 ('19)
Why: This might end up being "fake news" but I'm pretty sure Nate Stevens has transferred to Washington State from the juco ranks. I haven't seen it reported and Wash State has yet to release their official roster so Stevens' spot on the roster is unconfirmed. Stevens' former school, Johnson County CC, has Stevens moving on to Washington State under their "Beyond JCC" tab on their website. I checked a bunch of the other names and destinations listed and they check out.
Back to Stevens, he was originally an Arkansas commit out of high school but ended up at Johnson County instead. Stevens received a lot of attention as a prep, climbing up to #119 on Perfect Game's high school ranks and #375 overall on their final draft board. Stevens was then ranked #278 on PG's juco prospects list heading into the 2021 season. He didn't get into a ton of games (partially because of Covid) but performed at a very high level for Johnson County. In 127 career at bats, Stevens slugged his way to an OPS north of 1.100 with over 40% of his hits going for extra bases. Stevens has always had a reputation of being a bat-first catcher and he certainly filled the bat portion of that profile during his limited playing time. How he fares on the defensive side of the ball is anyone's guess but it's certainly something I'll be paying attention to this spring. Finding info on Stevens over the past couple of years has been a challenge. This spring will offer a fresh look at what Stevens brings to the table as a prospect. There's a non-zero chance he ends up being one of the better catching prospects in the conference by season's end.
Corner Infield
Tony Bullard, Arizona
Background: Perfect Game #232 ('18)
Why: After a successful freshman season, Bullard struggled mightily (.505 OPS) in a small sample of plate appearances during the 2020 season. Bullard's struggles spilled over into 2021 and he became an afterthought in Arizona's high-powered lineup. By mid-May, Bullard had yet to homer and his batting average sat in the .220 range. But then things started to click. Over his final 17 games, Bullard had 8 multi-hit games and slugged 7 homers. He was named to the Tuscon Regional All-Tournament team and was named Pac-12 player of the week on June 1st.
Bullard's resurgence happened swiftly and also late in the college season. Because of that, it's hard to say which version of Bullard we'll see this spring. He's always looked the part physically and the raw tools have been known since his freshman season. Bullard may have plus raw power and his speed is a tick above average. He also developed into a dependable third baseman with plenty of arm for the position. But his ability to make consistent contact remains a question after he struggled during a small sample of plate appearances on the Cape. I want to see what Bullard looks like out of the gate. He's probably not much more than a 7-10 round draft prospect at best, but he could end up being one of the better power bats in the conference if his late-season performance carries over.
Nathan Martorella, Cal
Background: Boston Red Sox, 30th round ('19)
Why: Martorella hasn't done much during his Cal career with an OPS of just .720. Far too low for a first base only prospect. But he fared much better this summer on the Cape and showed some intriguing elements at the plate. Martorella's power didn't make much of an appearance on the Cape with an ISO (isolated power) below .100 and just 5 extra-base hits in 94 plate appearances. But he walked 19 times compared to 11 strikeouts which contributed to a solid .264/.430/.361 line. This line mostly tracks with what he's done at Cal as he's walked nearly as often as he's struck out (42 BB:46 K) in 297 plate appearances. Obviously, Martorella will need to hit for significantly more power this spring before he gets serious draft interest.
You can see in the clip below that Martorella has a strong, thick frame that looks capable of putting a charge into the ball. He utilizes a wide, crouched stance at the plate and I wonder if he'd benefit from switching to something more upright and less spread out. I want to see if Martorella makes any adjustments/swing changes for this spring to unlock some more game power. There's evidence that the plate discipline and contact components are ready for pro ball so determining what the future game power could look like is going to be essential.
*Clip courtesy of Cal Baseball + Talk Baseball USA
Brennan Milone, 3B, Oregon
Why: Transfer (South Carolina); Perfect Game #74 ('19)
Background: Most draft/prospects fans are familiar with the Brennan Malone that was drafted 33rd overall by the Diamondbacks (since traded to the Pirates). But there was also Brennan Milone the hitter who was well regarded and ended up being selected by the Dodgers in the 28th round that year. Milone didn't sign and ended up at South Carolina where he's played the past two years. I was a big fan of Milone and considered him a top 3-5 round type talent. But Milone has struggled mightily as a hitter during his college career as he currently sports a career .735 OPS. Milone had a rough time on the Cape this summer on a statistical level as his OPS was below .500 and he struck out in 15 of his 41 plate appearances.
So why is Milone included? For starters, he's now at Oregon instead of South Carolina. That's not a knock on the South Carolina baseball program by any means, but sometimes a change of scenery can shake things up for a player. A fresh start might be exactly what Milone needs to hit the ground running in 2022. There are a lot of impressive raw elements to dream about here. Milone has some plate discipline, his hands/wrists are quick and show some explosion, and his body is strong and well-proportioned. Personally, I can still see a really solid prospect in spurts and flashes. But Milone has yet to put all the pieces together and his rawness has been surprising to me. Milone was considered a fairly polished hitter as a prep but he looked far from a polished bat this spring. One thing working in Milone's favor besides the physical tools is the defensive ability at third. He's a very skilled defender at the hot corner with an accurate and strong throwing arm. Milone might end up being a plus defender at third and I wouldn't be surprised if he was similarly skilled at second base and both corner outfield spots.
The range of outcomes for Milone is quite vast. I don't think it would come as a total shock if Milone put it all together and recaptured some of that 3-5 round buzz from 2019. On the flip side, if he repeats what he did in 2021 I don't think that would be much of a surprise either. Now in his third year at the college level, this is typically when we see college players take a jump in their development and performance. 2022 could be a make-or-break year for Milone's pro future.
Jacob Melton, Oregon State
Background: Juco Transfer (Linn-Benton CC)
Why: Melton was one of the elite hitters in the PAC-12 for about 3 months before suffering an injury to his non-throwing shoulder. Melton was able to rack up several accolades during that 3 month span including Perfect Game National Player of the Week and PAC-12 Player of the Week in early April. Melton's final batting line was a fantastic .404/.466/.697 (117 PA) with 6 homers, 8 steals, and a 14:29 BB/K ratio. He spent most of his time at first base and right field but also played a handful of games in centerfield. Melton has a long, lanky build and his ability to be a high quality defender at first and in the outfield will likely conjure up Cody Bellinger type comparisons. Melton showed an exciting blend of power and speed as he inserted himself into the Oregon State's leadoff spot for most of the season. He caught fire towards the end of March when he had 6 multi-hit games and 4 homers in a 7 game stretch.
Melton had some success against decent arms, too. Here are Melton's numbers against some of the more notable pitchers he faced in 2021:
When you add all that up you get the following batting line: 36 PA, .250/361/.500, 16.67% BB, 27.78% K. That's pretty solid, though the strikeout rate is a concern. It's a small sample of plate appearances but it's still encouraging that he held his own against some talented pitchers. He would have faced a bunch more from schools like Stanford, Dallas Baptist, UCLA, and Arizona had he not gotten injured.
Melton is expected to be fully healthy for the start of 2022. It remains to be seen how OSU utilizes him defensively. I'd love to see what he's capable of as an everyday centerfielder. Being able to stick in center would greatly enhance his draft stock. I wouldn't be surprised if Melton's name starts attracting a lot more buzz as we get closer to opening day this spring. He'll have to cut down on the strikeouts but there's a lot of attractive components here. He'll likely be included on my preseason sleeper list.
*Clip courtesy of College Baseball Nation
Middle Infield
Sean McLain, Arizona State
Background: Perfect Game CCBL #72 ('21)
Why: Arizona State got hit hard with injuries early in the year, especially to their pitching staff. Because ASU lost their top arms and had a smaller number of 2021 draft-eligible hitters, they were a team I did not see much of last year. So I really don't know a whole lot about McLain. I was surprised to see his name added to the USA CNT this summer. Perfect Game ranked him #72 on their 'Top Cape Cod Prospects List' (he was only on the Cape briefly) and D1Baseball slotted him in at #62 on their 'College Top 100 Draft Prospects' rankings in September. Apparently, I'll have to get acquainted with McLain quickly, From what I've read it sounds like McLain has some hitterish qualities, emerging power, and a versatile defensive profile. Arizona State currently has a 3 year run of at least one middle infielder being drafted before day 3 of the draft. It sounds like McLain has a good shot of keeping that streak alive.
Dax Fellows, Oregon
Background: Juco Transfer (College of Southern Nevada)
Why: Fellows has had a bit of bad luck the past few years. Take a look:
FR- 30 Games; missed half of 2019 season with an injury.
SO- 20 Games; 2020 season canceled due to Covid-19.
rSO- 35 Games; missed half of 2021 season with an injury.
That's three straight years where Fellows wasn't able to get a full season in. When he was on the field he performed:
CSN Career: 291 AB; .366/.485/.629; 47 BB, 71 K, 11 homers, 23 SB, 43% XBH%
Fellows started to show more in-game power in 2021 as he slugged 8 long balls and finished with a .358 ISO. He's also shown the ability to stick on the dirt as his defense at shortstop received some praise from evaluators. I think it's unlikely that Fellows plays shortstop with any regularity for Oregon because Josh Kasevich has that spot locked down. Fellows is likely to play either second base or third base for the Ducks and he has the potential to be average or better at both spots.
At the plate, Fellows isn't explosive. He has a pretty simple swing with high hands, a bigger leg lift, and some natural loft. His hands work well and the bat speed looks solid average. Even without much explosion or plus bat speed, Fellows is able to make consistent hard contact because of his feel for finding the barrel. Fellows is a line drive machine and he's capable of driving the ball when he makes contact. It remains to be seen how he'll fare against better velocity and deeper pitching staffs at the D1 level. Will average bat speed and rotation be enough as he climbs the ladder? The overall profile shares some similarities to the previously mentioned Sean McLain. Fellows will already be 22 years old on draft day which limits his overall draft ceiling for 2022, but I think he has mid-to-late day 2 (rounds 5-10) or early day 3 (rounds 11-13) potential
*Clip courtesy of Prep Baseball Report Utah
Owen Cobb, Stanford
Background: San Diego Padres, 37th round ('19)
Why: Cobb was drafted late by the Padres in 2019 out of high school but chose not to sign. I liked Cobb's pure hitting skills, lean/projectable build, and twitch on the infield. He's someone I wanted to follow before he became draft eligible but that's been extremely difficult. Cobb only has 37 plate appearances in two years at Stanford. We have next to nothing to go off of in terms of evaluating what kind of player Cobb is at this stage of his career. I'm also not sure how much his playing time situation stands to improve in 2022. The Stanford roster is pretty stacked with an everyday lineup that could look like this:
C: Kody Huff
1B: Brett Barrera
2B: Tommy Troy
3B: Drew Bowser
SS: Adam Crampton
LF: Cole Hinkelman
CF: Brock Jones
RF: Eddie Park
DH: Henry Gargus
That alignment would relegate Cobb to a utility/reserve role. We'll learn more about how Stanford intends on setting their starting lineup as we progress through the offseason. It would be a great sign if Cobb wins a starting spot somewhere and it would make it easier to evaluate him ahead of the draft. He's a true wild card this spring.
D'Andre Smith, SS, USC
Background: Draft Eligible Sophomore; Perfect Game #136 ('20)
Why: I really, really liked D'Andre Smith as a prep. He was ranked #125 overall on my 2020 draft board, ahead of notable prospects like Marco Raya, Luke Waddell, Ian Seymour, and Carter Baumler. Smith only got on the field for 13 games last year because an offseason injury kept him on the shelf. Smith did well in a small sample of plate appearances (54) with a .836 OPS and 10 walks compared to just 4 strikeouts. He also stayed up the middle defensively by splitting time at second base and shortstop.
Smith plays with an extremely high motor and is aggressive in all facets of the game. He's a playmaker and someone who seems to do everything with an added level of flair. I have a tendency to value smaller, athletic, middle infield types highly and Smith, who stands in at 5'9/180, checks all those boxes. Smith has impressive bat-to-ball ability and an advanced approach that allows his offensive game to play up a bit. He's strong with a thicker build and he uses the strength distributed throughout his body well at the plate. Smith can put a charge into the ball when he gets squared but his ability to find the barrel is a bit of a weakness. Smith had a tendency to swing "around the barrel" rather than finding it which limits the amount of impact his batted balls could have. Improving his barrel feel and making sure his swing plane remains consistent will be important for Smith this spring. Smith has shown the ability to get the most out of his wheels. His instincts and aggressiveness on the bases allow his speed to play to a plus level even though his 60 yard dash times are closer to above average. Because of his build, Smith will likely lose some quickness and end up being closer to a solid average runner in the near future.
Defensively, Smith lets his athleticism shine as he's both smooth and flashy. His hands work extremely well with a combination of swiftness and softness. His high motor and quick-twitch allow him to get to balls that less gifted middle infielders have trouble with. I don't know if he'll end up having the arm for shortstop (it's about above average) to make up for the likely decline in foot speed as he ages. He projects better at second base long term, but I think he'll get a good, long look at shortstop this spring. I can't wait to see what Smith brings to the table this spring. He's one of the more exciting athletes in college baseball and is a major breakout candidate. He's draft-eligible for 2022 as a sophomore.
*GIF courtesy of Perfect Game California
Outfield
Dylan Beavers, Cal
Background: Perfect Game 2022 Top 150 College #18
Why: Beavers is a popular breakout pick as we head into the 2022 season. He had an excellent spring with 18 homers, 10 steals, and a 1.031 OPS as Cal's primary centerfielder. Both Perfect Game (#18) and D1Baseball (#22) ranked him in their top 25 college prospects for 2022. Prospects Live has Beavers ranked #69 among all eligible players for the 2022 draft. Beavers is an excellent athlete with a build that looks the part of an impact talent. He has big power, a decent set of wheels, and the arm for right field if/when he needs to move off of centerfield. The overall package of tools is among the best in college baseball.
I'm likely going to be a bit lower on Beavers than the rest of the pack, at least at the start of the college season. I have some mild concerns with the future hit tool. When I saw Beavers during the spring his approach was well below average which led to an elevated strikeout rate despite decent plate discipline and solid bat-to-ball ability. Beavers also has long arms and his overall size could make it tough for him to cover his large strike zone effectively. I tend to shy away from hitters with this profile because it seems like these types of hitters (poor approach and long/lanky build) end up getting exposed as they progress through the minor leagues. I'm worried that his struggles on the Cape and with Team USA (sub-.600 OPS combined) are signs of things to come. Still, every prospect is different and Beavers is obviously not a finished project. It doesn't seem like he is a free swinger so perhaps more reps and added maturity as a hitter is all he needs to clean up that part of his game. If he can show a bit more of a plan at the plate and cut down on the strikeouts I'll probably come around on Beavers as a prospect. He has 1-2 round potential for the 2022 draft.
*GIF courtesy of Perfect Game College Baseball
Justin Boyd, Oregon State
Background: Perfect Game #337 ('19)
Why: Boyd doesn't have much of a track record since arriving at Oregon State. He didn't play at all in 2020 and spent most of 2021 as a backup, accumulating only 88 plate appearances. Boyd made good use of his few opportunities as he finished with a .806 OPS while filling in at all 3 outfield spots and first base. I liked Boyd as a deep high school sleeper bat during the 2019 draft cycle. Boyd showed a good feel for contact with a gap-to-gap swing and approach. His body looked well proportioned and projectable and his swing was loose and athletic. His movement and body control on both sides of the ball stood out to me the more I saw him in clips and streams. Boyd played in the Northwoods League this summer and had a solid showing with a .875 OPS, a couple of homers, 15 steals, and a 26:22 K/BB ratio in 134 plate appearances.
Boyd was primarily a shortstop as a prep but it sounds like his days at short are behind him. As I mentioned earlier, he played the outfield and first base in 2021 and did more of the same in the NWL this summer. This is where Boyd's profile gets a little sketchy. If he is primarily a corner outfielder/first baseman the bat will really need to jump. I think Boyd is capable of tallying plenty of extra-base hits, but I'm not sure how many of those will be of the over-the-fence variety. It's extremely difficult to profile at those defensive spots without considerable HR power. He's also a righty hitter which means he'd be on the weak side of any platoon situation. I'm curious to see how Boyd would look in centerfield and/or third base. I have no idea what OSU plans on doing with their lineup/defensive alignment. If he's able to handle either of those spots it would be a major boost to his draft/prospect stock. There's a lot that we don't know about Boyd, but he's definitely someone that should be tracked from now until the draft.
Cole Hinkelman, Stanford
Background: Perfect Game #60 ('19)
Why: Cole Hinkelman is a huge dude (6'4/220) with huge raw power and very little playing time in two years at Stanford. Hinkelman was buried on Stanford's deep roster and only stepped to the plate 50 times. The former Perfect Game All American is likely to carve out an everyday role in 2022 at a corner spot. Hinkelman inspired some confidence for the future with his performance over the summer. Playing for the Bellingham Bells in the West Coast League, Hinkelman finished with a .996 OPS, 4 homers, and 12 extra base hits in 88 plate appearances. Hinkelman established himself as one of the top power bats in the league. He recorded a max exit velocity of 108 MPH and had a max fly ball distance of 436 feet.
With that great power comes considerable swing and miss. Hinkelman has struck out in 30% of his plate appearances at Stanford and he amassed 28 K's this summer. Hinkelman has close to plus bat speed and his lower half shows explosive rotation. When he's able to connect out front it leads to hard, fly ball contact to his pull side. The raw power might be double-plus to pull. I want to see if I can figure out the source of his strikeout problems. Is it a pitch ID issue? Does he struggle with velocity? I'll try to find out this spring.
Jon Jon Vaughns, OF, UCLA
Background: Draft Eligible Sophomore; Perfect Game #226 ('20)
Why: Vaughns is a physical and athletic freak. He's built like a linebacker which makes sense considering he plays linebacker for UCLA's football team. I won't pretend to know what kind of football player Vaughns is but he has some potential on the diamond.
He was a true freshman this past season but only started receiving regular playing time in May. Vaughns more than held his own in 83 plate appearances as he finished his freshman year with a .908 OPS, 5 homers, and a 9:28 K/BB. There's not much to go off of at this point. Vaughns didn't play baseball over the summer and is back with the football team currently. I didn't see Vaughns play much at all but his performance is really impressive considering his two-sport background. Vaughns combines huge strength with quick hands and excellent bat speed. Vaughns looks to rotate, get out in front, and lift the ball in the air to his pull side. He doesn't have much of an approach at this point and it feels like a good chunk of his production is coming from pure physical/athletic ability.
Obviously, we'd love to see him commit fully to baseball because the ceiling here is high. I have no clue what Vaughns plans on doing moving forward but the talent level on the baseball field is significant. Vaughns is certainly someone you can dream on but reaching his full potential will almost certainly require a commitment to baseball. It's hard to see a scenario where he's drafted in 2022 but the tools line up in the 4-6 round range.
Pitchers
Right Handed Pitchers
Cam Dennie, Arizona State
Background: 3.51 career ERA; 11.6 K/9 (33.1 IP)
Why: Dennie was technically draft-eligible as a sophomore last year but wasn't selected. The full-time reliever has a well-proportioned pitcher's body with plus arm speed. It's definitely a reliever look with a high effort delivery and a two-pitch mix. Dennie's velocity took a step forward as he was maxing out at 94 MPH during outings this past spring. He pairs that fastball with a wicked slider that he can throw in the mid-to-upper 80s and it shows diving action away from righthanded hitters. Dennie's ability to command and tunnel those two pitches gives him late-inning potential moving forward. If Dennie's velocity continues to climb from his current 90-94 range and he can limit the walks more (6.5 BB/9 in '21) he could become one of the better college relievers for the 2022 draft. Dennie only has 33.1 IP so there could be some growing pains during his 3rd year at ASU, but he certainly has draft-worthy elements to build on.
*GIF courtesy of PG College Baseball
Dawson Netz, Arizona
Background: Perfect Game #71 ('19)
Why: Netz got off to a dreadful start last spring and he carried an ERA of 9.00 into April. He was able to right the ship and rejoined coach Jay Johnson's circle of trust by season's end. I was familiar with Netz as a prep and was surprised with how much he struggled out of the pen early. I finally saw him pitch during regionals and in the College World Series where he established himself as a late-inning weapon for Arizona. Netz was sitting in the low 90s out of the pen with a power curveball in the low 80s that acted as a putaway pitch. His fastball showed some ability to play up in the zone and I'm curious what his pitch data looks like. The fastball/curveball combo looked strong and he was commanding that two-pitch mix at a high level when I saw him. After the slow start, Netz ended the 2021 campaign with a 4.50 ERA and a 36:10 K/BB ratio in 34 innings.
Netz moved on to the Cape Cod Baseball League for the summer and put together a brief but stellar performance there. Netz tossed 7 scoreless innings, striking out 10, and allowed just 1 hit and 1 walk. It looks like things are starting to click for Netz. He has two legit pitches and he's filling up the strike zone at a high rate. I wouldn't be surprised if Arizona moves Netz into a starting role now that he has solid command and some high leverage experience under his belt. But with Netz rolling along in a pen role we could see him return to the late innings for the Wildcats.
*GIF courtesy of Arizona Baseball
Background: Draft Eligible Sophomore; Perfect Game #127 ('20)
Why: I liked what I saw from Pasqualotto as a prep during Prep Baseball Report's Super 60 Showcase. He went undrafted during the shortened 2020 draft and ended up at Cal Berkeley. Pasqualotto held his own in Cal's weekend rotation as a freshman before being shut down with an injury in April. In total, Pasqualotto finished the year with a 4.57 ERA in 43.1 innings while striking out 36 and walking 21. Pasqualotto does a good job working downhill and the ball comes out of his hand smooth from a tough angle with his near over-the-top arm slot. His delivery is repeatable and I expect him to throw way more strikes moving forward. Pasqualotto has been up to 94 MPH with his fastball but sits in the upper 80s/low 90s while showing heavy sinking action on the pitch. I like the way his sinker and changeup pair together and I think the changeup could be a plus pitch in the near future. Pasqualotto gets good velo separation between the fastball and changeup. The changeup flashes above average arm-side fade and downward action, making it a potential putaway pitch to both righties and lefties. Pasqualotto has feel for a curveball and if he can add a little power behind it, the pitch could become another swing and miss weapon for him.
Pasqualotto's injury really pumped the brakes on a quality debut. I have no idea what the injury was, the severity, or what his outlook is like for 2022. If he can come back healthy, he'll have a leg up on many of the other sophomore eligible pitchers in the 2022 draft because of his success/experience as a freshman.
Aaron Roberts, Cal
Background: Boston Red Sox, 15th round ('19)
Why: I'm surprised Roberts hasn't received more attention at this point. He was Prep Baseball Report's player of the year for the state of Nevada and was an unsigned 15th round pick by the Red Sox. Roberts was a two-way player out of Nevada but has only pitched for Cal at this point. It's hard to imagine him picking up a bat again after showing elite raw stuff out of the pen during the spring. Roberts' fastball sits in the mid 90s and he has no problem registering 97s and 98s during outings. There are whispers of triple-digit velocity readings during some outings but I haven't been able to confirm that. Regardless, Roberts has top-tier fastball velocity with spin rates above 2,500 RPM. Roberts pairs his fastball with a power curveball that flashes sharp bite and 12-6 movement. Each pitch has plus potential or better and they may ultimately play up because of the way they work off one another.
Beyond the raw stuff, Roberts is a plus athlete with electric arm speed and strength. It's a high effort delivery/release but it's manageable in a bullpen role. Roberts will need to make the transition from thrower to pitcher in the near future, but he's fully capable of dominating at the college level already. Roberts has dealt with some injuries (he's already had Tommy John) in the past and only has 11.2 innings on his resume so there are still a lot of unknowns remaining. But there are few pitchers at this level that can match the kind of stuff Roberts shows when he takes the mound. He's a potential 3-5 round pick if he can build off his 2021 success.
*GIF courtesy of Omar Washington
Adam Maier, RHP, Oregon
Background: Transfer (U of British Columbia); Perfect Game CCBL #23 ('21)
Why: I'm not going to spend too much time covering Maier in this piece. For those unfamiliar with Maier's story, he's a Canadian pitcher that absolutely shoved this summer in the Cape Cod League. Maier came out of nowhere with a fastball up to 96 MPH and flashed one of the best breaking balls on the Cape in his slider. Perfect Game ranked Maier's slider the best of the summer and he also received consideration for the best changeup. Overall, Maier was ranked #23 on their CCBL ranking list and ProspectsLive already has him ranked #54 on their 2022 draft board. Maier recently transferred to Oregon where he's likely to hold down a weekend rotation spot for the Ducks. I have yet to see him pitch a full outing so I look forward to getting my first glimpses of him this spring. If he shows up at Oregon with the same kind of stuff we saw this summer it's not impossible for him to go late on day 1 or very early on day 2 of the draft.
Jaren Hunter, Oregon State
Background: Draft Eligible Sophomore; First Team All-West Coast League
Why: Hunter received a little mound time as a freshman but is likely to secure an expanded role as a sophomore. Hunter pitched in the West Coast League this summer and was named First Team All-West Coast League. He's an excellent athlete (former HS quarterback) who throws a high number of strikes and competes with a three pitch mix. Hunter may end up with above-average command as he fills the zone with all of his pitches. His fastball lacks present velocity (88-90) and he'll likely need a velo boost this spring to garner early draft interest. His changeup is a quality pitch that he has feel for and can land for strikes. Outside of the command, Hunter's calling card is his curveball. He posted some insane spin rates on his curveball according to the WCL's trackman leaderboard. Hunter had the highest recorded spin rate in the league with a 3,504 RPM reading with his curve on August 5th. He finished the summer with a sub-2.00 ERA and a 35/12 K: BB ratio in 42 innings. With more fastball velocity, Hunter could push himself into day 2 consideration as a sophomore.
Max Rajcic, UCLA
Background: Draft Eligible Sophomore; Perfect Game CCBL #56 ('21)
Why: Rajcic wasn't selected in the shortened 2020 draft but was ranked #162 on my 2020 draft board. Rajcic enjoyed a phenomenal debut season for UCLA as the team's closer. He was selected to the PAC-12 All-Conference Team and was named a Freshman All-American last year. Rajcic transitioned to a starter's role over the summer in the CCBL and had a decent showing overall. It's kind of a weird profile because Rajcic has a lot of starter traits but is undersized and clearly performed as a closer for UCLA. He doesn't have a true swing and miss pitch which holds the overall profile back some, but he throws strikes and has three pitches that he can throw with confidence. The fastball is mostly average with some arm side movement, low 90s velocity, and solid command. His breaking ball is his best secondary pitch and Perfect Game slapped an above average grade on it this summer. Rajcic's changeup was showing rapid development as a prep and it sounds like the pitch is moving in the right direction, giving Rajcic three present weapons to attack hitters with.
I imagine Rajcic will move into the weekend rotation permanently for the 2022 season. He already has the necessary components to thrive in a starting role but could really improve his draft stock if one (or multiple) of his pitches takes a leap forward. We'll have to see how he handles the transition as a draft eligible sophomore.
Matthew Sox, Utah
Background: Most Outstanding Pitcher California Collegiate League ('21)
Why: Utah hasn't been much of a baseball school the past several years but perhaps Matthew Sox can help change that. Sox was named 'Most Outstanding Pitcher' in the CCL this summer after throwing 40.1 IP of 2.46 ERA ball with 62 strikeouts against 10 walks and just 26 hits allowed. Sox didn't have much success during the spring (5.02 ERA; 37.2 IP) but he was Utah's "most pleasant surprise of the fall" according to D1Baseball prior to the 2021 season starting. I didn't see him pitch during 2021 but it's sounding like Sox is moving in the right direction.
Sox was a two-way player at DIII Whitman College before arriving at Utah last year. He didn't swing the bat this past spring and it looks like he's focusing on pitching full time. Both D1Baseball and PerfectGame had good things to say about Sox's performance this summer. Lucky enough, the youtube account "baseball." uploaded an excellent 8-minute clip (attached below) of Sox pitching during the summer. The fastball sits in the low 90s with well above average spin rates and he'll mix in three offspeed pitches, all of which he has a solid feel for. Both the slider and curveball are above average and that might be selling them short. Sox is almost guaranteed a starting spot this spring and he has the body, pitch mix, and feel for spin to hold his own in the PAC-12. His age (he'll be close to 23 on draft day) limits his overall draft stock but he could be a sneaky underslot pick on day 2. I'll definitely be checking in on Sox multiple times this spring.
Chase Grillo, Washington State
Background: Transfer (Gonzaga)
Why: Grillo isn't going to show up on many "top prospect" lists but he's worth monitoring this draft cycle. Grillo transferred to Gonzaga from the juco ranks in 2021 but didn't end up pitching in a game. He's headed to Washington State in 2022 after a promising showing in the West Coast League this summer. Grillo started training with Tread Athletics in late spring and has seen his stuff jump as a result. Giants fans may recognize the name 'Tread Athletics' as it was the training facility that Giants 5th rounder Rohan Handa worked with that helped lead to his breakout. Grillo's fastball was topping out at 95 MPH in the WCL over the summer and started sitting in the mid 90s during appearances out of the pen. Grillo filled the closer role for the Wenatchee AppleSox and locked down 5 saves while striking out 24 in 13.1 innings. I've never heard or seen Grillo before some clips this summer so he'll be a first-time viewing for me during the 2022 season. There's not a ton of info to go off of but he's a big dude at 6'3/205 and his stuff is clearly trending in the right direction. He could end up being a late-inning option (or even a closer) for the Cougars in 2022.
Left Handed Pitchers
Adam Tulloch, Arizona State
Background: Transfer (West Virginia); Los Angeles Dodgers, 17th round ('21); Perfect Game CCBL #69 ('21)
Why: I was surprised that Tulloch struggled so much with West Virginia during the 2021 spring. The stuff that he showed at the juco level showed up but his ability to command his 3 pitch arsenal was an issue. Tulloch has a lively fastball that is capable of reaching the 94-95 area and he pairs that with a swing and miss slider. Tulloch was a late cut on my 2021 draft board and ended up being a late selection on day 3 of the draft (he didn't sign) by the Dodgers. Tulloch followed up his mediocre spring with an encouraging summer performance on the Cape. Tulloch threw way more strikes during the summer as he walked only 8 in 43 innings (2.5 BB/9). Based on the clips I saw, Tulloch looked way more in control of his body and he was able to repeat his delivery more consistently as a result. Tulloch still throws with effort but his above-average athleticism gives him a chance to make things work in spite of it. The delivery is a little quirky and deceptive with the way his arm works in the back.
Prospects Live and Perfect Game both mentioned his ability to command his arsenal. The changeup, in particular, received praise this summer which is an important development. He could have 3 above average or better offerings moving forward. Tulloch transferred to Arizona State for the 2022 season and he immediately becomes one of the team's best starting options for their weekend rotation. The development of a third pitch in his changeup, as well as the improved command, gives Tulloch a shot to stick in a pro rotation. He has day 2 potential for the 2022 draft but will need to prove that his CCBL performance wasn't a fluke.
Kai Murphy, Arizona State
Background: Two Way Player
Why: Murphy hasn't pitched a whole lot during his college career but he's kind of interesting. The undersized (5'8/173) lefty has primarily been an outfielder for ASU but I think he profiles better on the mound after seeing him last May. Murphy is a very good athlete and it shows up on the mound with his body control and the ability to repeat his delivery. It's a pretty simple delivery without much extraneous movement and he releases the ball from a low 3/4 slot.
Despite limited time on the mound, Murphy shows the ability to throw three distinct pitches for strikes. He'll need to add some power behind his fastball and curve moving forward. The fastball sits in the 86-89 range and it will show cutting action towards his glove side and running action to his arm side. Murphy has adequate command of the fastball but it's more control > command at this point. His curveball will flash decent shape but it's not thrown with enough power to be much more than a get-me-over type breaking ball. The curve could be a useful pitch if he's able to add some more bite. He can throw the pitch in the zone for strikes but it isn't a bat misser currently. Murphy's best pitch is his changeup. It has plus potential and can be a legit weapon for him against both righties and lefties. He does an excellent job selling the pitch as he maintains fastball arm speed. Murphy's changeup will show good fading action to his arm side at its best and he's able to get swings and misses on the pitch.
Murphy is definitely one of the "deeper" college prospects on this list. He doesn't have the raw stuff to profile at the next level at this point in time. But he's surprisingly polished given his limited mound time and two-way history. There are some solid foundational elements with the ease of operation, strike-throwing, and feel for three pitches. If his stuff/velocity takes a step forward this fall/spring he'd make a nice late-round sleeper pick.
Quinn Mathews, Stanford
Background: Perfect Game CCBL #78 ('21)
Why: I only saw Mathews late in the 2021 season during regionals and the College World Series. The results weren't there but the 2nd year freshman showed enough to keep me interested. His start against Vanderbilt in the CWS stood out for me in particular. The final line in the box score (5.1 IP, 5 H, 4 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, 1 HR) wasn't sparkling but I felt he pitched better than that. Mathews showed much better command than I expected and he showed excellent feel for three offspeed pitches. It was a legit 4 pitch mix with the slider and changeup being the best of the bunch. His fastball lagged behind a bit and the velocity was well below average in the 87-89 range. Mathews relied heavily on the secondaries and it got him in trouble at times but Mathews competed against a solid Vanderbilt lineup. He's loose on the mound with wiry strength in his projectable 6'4/190 frame. His stuff plays up a bit due to deception with a deep arm action in the back and a higher 3/4 slot that allows him to hide the ball very well.
*GIF courtesy of Cotuit Kettleers
After Stanford was eliminated by Vanderbilt, Mathews moved on to the Cape Cod League where he had a nice little 4 start run for Cotuit. Mathews finished with an ERA of 1.56 and struck out 22 in 17.1 innings. Perfect Game slotted him in at #78 on their Top CCBL Prospects list and has this to say:
The Stanford lefty lacks velocity, but he commands his arsenal well, creates deception from his arm slot, and throws a lot of strikes. Slider is his primary pitch versus left-handed batters, works fastball+changeup versus righties.
That more or less tracks with what I saw briefly during the spring. The command element is important here as he struggled with his fastball command and walks during his 2nd season at Stanford. He did walk 11 batters during his 17 innings on the Cape but it sounds like the command overall was much improved. Like Kai Murphy before, Mathews would greatly benefit from some more fastball velocity. Even a moderate boost into the 89-92 range would be a major development as it would allow him to pitch off his fastball a bit more. Mathews has the arsenal, body, and pitchability to profile as a starting pitcher at the next level. He's expected to occupy a weekend starter's role for Stanford in 2022.
*Clip courtesy of Perfect Game College Baseball
Other Players to Watch:
Chris Barraza, RHP, Arizona
Keshawn Ogans, SS, Cal
Nick Proctor, RHP, Cal
Steve Zobac, RHP/OF, Cal
DJ Carpenter, RHP, Oregon State
Alex Williams, RHP, Stanford
Emanuel Dean, OF, UCLA
Cole Gabrielson, OF, USC
Kai Roberts, C/3B/OF, Utah
McKay Barney, OF, Washington
Cole McMilan, LHP, Washington State