FEBRUARY Leading Off
Martin and Rocker could be the No. 1 picks in the next two drafts. This year, they lead a team that is ranked No. 1 in the preseason.
FEBRUARY 2020 VOLUME 41, ISSUE 02
COLLEGE PREVIEW 15. Road To Omaha Teddy Cahill and Joe Healy project the field of 64, the national champion, Player of the Year and more.
16. Full Steam Ahead Vanderbilt’s historic 2019 season will be tough to top, so coach Tim Corbin is looking squarely ahead to 2020.
22. All-America Teams Major league scouting directors vote to determine the most talented college players in the nation.
AUSTIN MARTIN The junior third baseman is the undisputed team leader. See Page 21
23. A Hit At Any Altitude All Nick Gonzales does is hit, which has him positioned to be a top draft pick despite his unusual profile.
KUMAR ROCKER The sophomore righthander is ready to shoulder high expectations. See Page 20
25. Preseason Top 25 The key players for the best teams in the nation, complete with paths to Omaha and players to watch.
38. Resurgent Powers After clawing their way back to relevance, traditional powers Arizona State and Miami eye returns to glory in 2020.
40. Gaining Control Notre Dame reliever Joe Boyle made the preseason All-America team thanks to an impressive summer on the Cape.
The players, pitchers, teams and 2020 draft prospects to know in six major conferences.
SAM CARBINE
16
42. Conference Previews
3
FEBRUARY Leading Off FEBRUARY 2020 VOLUME 41, ISSUE 02
11
“He took flight in the second half, when he showcased fast hands, great timing and all-fields power.” DODGERS SHORTSTOP JETER DOWNS WAS ONE OF 10 FEATURED PROSPECTS WHO SHOWED SECOND-HALF GROWTH
EXTRAS
COLUMNS
7. Where Are They Now?
12. Cooper
Well-traveled Cory Snyder prepares to move on to the next chapter of his life.
PROSPECTS
Junior college coaches flock to pro ball, fostering opportunities for their successors.
50. New Release 10. Dandy Dozen
60
Ten prospects who showed growth in the second half and could be on the upswing.
Brenton Doyle’s loud pro debut affirmed the Rockies’ favorable evaluation of both his tools and aptitude. They snagged the Division II star in the fourth round. Q All 15 National League organization reports 53
66. Sheehan Twenty players who will be critical to their team’s success in 2020.
ON THE COVER
MINORS A clean bill of health would do wonders for these 10 prospects—led by Forrest Whitley and Jordan Groshans—who dealt with injuries in 2019.
Larry Walker was one of the most well-rounded players of the 1990s and 2000s.
11. Better Late Than Never
55. Gaining Helium
59. Healthy New Year
13. Ringolsby
The most accomplished college All-Americans of the Baseball America era.
AN
DRAFT
INTERNATIONAL
60. Preseason Stock Watch
62. Top DSL Prospects
The areas where projected first-rounders must develop this spring before the draft.
The names you need to know from the 2019 Dominican Summer League season.
COVER PHOTO BY SAM CARBINE
ON DECK FOR MARCH: In an annual spring tradition, we anoint the Top 100 Prospects in baseball as we head into 2020. ALSO: Our annual Major League Preview forecasts breakout teams, players and organizations. 4
FEBRUARY 2020 • BASEBALLAMERICA.COM
LARRY GOREN/FOUR SEAM IMAGES; KRISTIN M. BRADSHAW
Yankees righthander Luis Medina has one of the best arms in the minors. He finally found his release point and began to dominate late in 2019. Q All 15 American League organization reports 48
HEAD CLASS OF THE
The best college programs and players from the past four decades
New content exclusive to Head Of The Class analyzes the college game in the 1980s, 1990s, 2000s and 2010s.
Head Of The Class collects 39 seasons— 1981 through 2019—of college baseball reporting and analysis by Baseball America and its industry-leading voices. Includes the top 25 programs for each decade, the top storylines that shaped each decade and the top major league stars from each college class.
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BASEBALLAMERICA.COM
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BA Online WHAT’S NEW AT BASEBALLAMERICA.COM AND OUR SOCIAL ACCOUNTS @BaseballAmerica @BaseballAmerica BaseballAmericaMag ReadBA
WE WROTE THE BOOK ON PROSPECTS—AGAIN
NICK BITSKO IS FILTHY The Pennsylvania prep righthander will graduate early and become eligible for the 2020 draft. The Virginia commit was previously ranked as the No. 1 high school arm for the 2021 draft.
The 2020 Prospect Handbook is a must-have for superfans and fantasy players. You will find yourself returning to the book—now in its 20th edition—all year to see what we wrote. Get the scoop on big league callups, trade acquisitions or even prospective additions to your dynasty team. The Prospect Handbook ranks the Top 30 Prospects for all 30 organizations—for a total of 900 scouting reports. The book also includes:
Judging from this Instragram video, it’s easy to see why!
• Position rankings • Farm system rankings • The best tools in the July 2 signing class
2020 MLB DRAFT STOCK WATCH
Order your 2020 Prospect Handbook today for $34.95. For fastest delivery, order directly from Baseball America. Available in February.
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FEBRUARY 2020 • BASEBALLAMERICA.COM
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CATCHING UP WITH A NOTABLE PLAYER FROM BASEBALL AMERICA HISTORY
Cory Snyder prepares for life after baseball
PRODUCTION CREATIVE DIRECTOR James Alworth GRAPHIC DESIGNER Leah Tyner
by RON MORRIS
F
BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY MANAGER Brent Lewis ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Kellen Coleman MARKETING/OPERATIONS COORDINATOR Angela Lewis CUSTOMER SERVICE Melissa Sunderman
or the first time since his youth, 57-year-old Cory Snyder will not have a role in baseball this
COLUMNISTS RON MORRIS Columbia, S.C. TRACY RINGOLSBY Cheyenne, Wyo. JOE SHEEHAN New York
season. In mid-December, he
accepted a job in car sales for Murdock
WHERE TO DIRECT QUESTIONS
Hyundai of Lindon, Utah.
BACK ISSUES To order, visit https//www.baseballamerica.com/back-issues/ ADVERTISING ben.leigh@baseballamerica.com COLLEGES ted.cahill@baseballamerica.com DESIGN/PRODUCTION james.alworth@baseballamerica.com DRAFT carlos.collazo@baseballamerica.com HIGH SCHOOLS carlos.collazo@baseballamerica.com INDEPENDENT LEAGUES jj.cooper@baseballamerica.com INTERNATIONAL ben.badler@baseballamerica.com MAJOR LEAGUES kyle.glaser@baseballamerica.com MINOR LEAGUES/BUSINESS josh.norris@baseballamerica.com PROSPECTS kyle.glaser@baseballamerica.com REPRINTS angela.lewis@baseballamerica.com SUBSCRIPTIONS/CUSTOMER SERVICE customerservice@baseballamerica.com WEBSITE mark.chiareli@baseballamerica.com
Snyder leaves quite a legacy in baseball. He was a three-time All-American at Brigham Young, a member of the first U.S. Olympic baseball team in 1984, the fourth overall pick the same year and hit
Drafted fourth overall by the Indians in 1984, Cory Snyder entered 1985 with a chance to win Cleveland’s second base job.
149 home runs over nine seasons in the big leagues. Then he coached, managed and worked in the front office for 13 FROM OUR ARCHIVE
seasons at an assortment of independent
CORRESPONDENTS GABE BURNS Atlanta Journal-Constitution; TJ COTTERILL Tacoma News Tribune; SHI DAVIDI Sportsnet Canada; MIKE DIGIOVANNA Los Angeles Times; ALAN ESKEW Kansas City, Mo.; JACK ETKIN Denver; DERRICK GOOLD St. Louis Post-Dispatch; DOUG GRAY RedsMinorLeaguers.com; SCOT GREGOR Daily Herald (Arlington Heights, Ill.); TOM HAUDRICOURT Milwaukee Journal Sentinel; JIM INGRAHAM Cleveland; GEORGE KING New York Post; STEVE KRONER San Francisco Chronicle; ROCH KUBATKO MASNSports.com (Baltimore); LACY LUSK Washington, D.C.; PHIL MILLER Minneapolis Star Tribune; BILL MITCHELL Tempe, Ariz.; PATRICK MOONEY The Athletic Chicago; NICK PIECORO Arizona Republic; BILL PLUNKETT Orange County (Calif.) Register; MIKE PUMA New York Post; CHANDLER ROME Houston Chronicle; JEFF SANDERS San Diego Union-Tribune; JIM SALISBURY NBC Sports Philadelphia; ALEX SPEIER Boston Globe; CASEY TEFERTILLER Santa Cruz, Calif.; MARC TOPKIN Tampa Bay Times; WALTER VILLA Miami Herald; EMILY WALDON Grand Rapids, Mich.; JEFF WILSON Fort Worth Star-Telegram; TIM WILLIAMS PiratesProspects.com.
and minor league stops. “I’m a different kind of coach when I do baseball and hitting,” Snyder said. “I
Hriniak Way of hitting. The results were
try to get the players to be more involved
disastrous and Snyder’s playing career
RUNDOWN
in the solution, more involved in the
was over by 1995.
“His transition to the professional ranks was seemingly effortless. He’s probably the finest all-around athlete we’ve signed in my 12 years with the club,” Indians official Bob Quinn said.
adjustments, so they take more owner-
Jan. 15, 1985
ship of the game. “I feel like car sales is going to be the
After several seasons coaching his two young sons in baseball, Snyder’s professional coaching career took him through
same way, just getting to understand
independent league ball in Utah and
customers, building a rapport, building
Hawaii, and to Double-A and Triple-A
a relationship and finding out what they
as a hitting instructor for the Mariners.
STATISTICAL SERVICE
need.”
Then, he became the fourth American
Major League Baseball Advanced Media
manager to win a Mexican League title
BASEBALL AMERICA ENTERPRISES
Snyder also has his good name to sell, both from playing at BYU and in
with Puebla in 2016. He also managed in
Cleveland, where he was a fan favorite
the Chinese Professional Baseball League
during his five seasons with the Indians
in 2017 and 2018.
from 1986 to 1990. Snyder arrived at BYU as a pitching prospect. When he slugged the first three pitches he saw as a freshman for home
A year ago, Snyder worked in the front office of the Angels-affiliate Orem Owlz of the Rookie-level Pioneer League. Now, Snyder looks forward to spend-
runs, he was soon a full-time shortstop.
ing more time with Tina, his wife of 34
He set an NCAA record for slugging
years, his four daughters and two sons.
percentage (.900) while batting .450 with
Taylor is a shortstop in the Rockies orga-
27 home runs and 85 RBIs as a junior.
nization. Amberley is on a rodeo scholar-
Snyder left BYU after three seasons with
ship at Utah Valley University.
an NCAA record .844 slugging percentage
waist down nine years ago in an automo-
at the time.
bile crash and is the subject of a Netflix
the Indians produced 33 home runs and 82 RBIs in 1987 despite a .236 batting
MANAGING PARTNER David Geaslen CHIEF CONTENT OFFICER Jonathan Segal CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Sue Murphy
Amberley was paralyzed from the
and 73 home runs, the second most ever His best season as an outfielder with
CHAIRMAN & CEO Gary Green PRESIDENT Larry Botel GENERAL COUNSEL Matthew Pace DIRECTOR OF MARKETING Amy Heart INVESTOR RELATIONS Michele Balfour DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS Joan Disalvo PARTNERS Jon Ashley, Stephen Alepa, Martie Cordaro, Brian Rothschild, Andrew Fox, Ian Ritchie, Dan Waldman, Sonny Kalsi, Glenn Isaacson, Robert Hernreich, Craig Amazeen, Peter Ruprecht, Beryl Snyder, Tom Steiglehner
film “Walk. Ride. Rodeo.” She is a motivational speaker around the world. “She has realized she can help a lot of
average. Then the Indians traded Snyder
people overcome challenges and obsta-
to the White Sox following the 1990 sea-
cles and tough times in their lives,”
son, and he was introduced to The Walt
Snyder said. Q
OWEN C. SHAW/GETTY IMAGES
ISSUE
BASEBALL AMERICA (ISSN 0745-5372/USPS 591-210) November, 2019, Vol. 39, No. 11 is published monthly, 12 issues per year, by Baseball America Enterprises, LLC, 4319 South Alston Ave, Suite 103, Durham, NC 27713. Subscription rate is $89.97 for one year; Canada $102.97 (U.S. funds); all other foreign $115.97 per year (U.S. funds). Periodicals postage paid at Durham, NC, & additional mailing offices. Occasionally our subscriber list is made available to reputable firms offering goods and services we believe would be of interest to our readers. If you prefer to be excluded, please send your current address label and a note requesting to be excluded from these promotions to Baseball America Enterprises, LLC, 4319 South Alston Ave, Suite 103, Durham, NC 27713, Attn: Privacy Coordinator. POSTMASTER: Send all UAA to CFS (See DMM 707.4.12.5); NON-POSTAL & MILITARY FACILITIES: send address corrections to Baseball America, P.O. Box 420235, Palm Coast, FL 32142-0235. CANADA POST: Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to IMEX Global Solutions, P.O. Box 25542, London, ON N6C 6B2. Please contact 1-800381-1288 to start carrying Baseball America in your store.
7
Leading Off
For The Love of The Game CELEBRATING YOUTH STARS WHO EXCEL ON AND OFF THE FIELD
O
O
by STEVE
BERNHARDT
BASEBALL FACTORY’S CHIEF BASEBALL OFFICER
High school practices have started in some parts of the country, while others are still counting down the days until tryouts begin. Whether you’re already outside on the field or still working out indoors waiting for the snow to melt, it is never too early to establish yourself as a leader this season. Coaches love players who can help lead their team. Leadership shows itself in many ways, and you don’t have to be the team’s best player to do it. In fact, you don’t need to be in the starting lineup or even have a guaranteed roster spot when tryouts begin to have a positive influence on the rest of the team. While vocal leaders are valuable, you don’t have to be a “rah-rah” guy either to be a leader.
is BA’s For the Love of the Game Selection Partner
O
Becoming a team leader is easier—and more valuable—than you think
Here are 10 ways to lead by example for established players and those trying to prove themselves:
O
O
O JORDAN SPENCER, 12,
O TRENT NASAKAITIS, 15,
O ROMEO ROMERO, 15
O MADISON WOOLDRIDGE, 13
O BELLE MANCILLAS, 14
CITY NAME, MI
BILOXI, MS
BRYAN, TX
JONESBORO, AR
FROSTPROOF, FL
Helping others, being a great athlete and an even better student are some of things Jordan strives for. At the age of 11, he received numerous awards and accomplishments on the field. Jordan is also a leader off the field. A principal’s list recipient, he earned a 4.06 GPA. He volunteers at local food banks and actively participates with his church, feeding and assisting the less fortunate. He is youth member of our local NAACP chapter and is welcomed as a leader on his baseball teams.
Trent has spent the last two seasons in and out of the hospital dealing with digestive problems. Last season, he battled adversity by having a feeding tube up his nose but was back catching two days later. He overcame this and was named starting varsity catcher at St. Patrick’s Catholic as a freshman. The last two years, he was defensive player of the year and an all-district catcher. When he’s not on the field he is working out, doing catcher drills and helping younger athletes learn to catch.
Romeo has played baseball since he was 3 years old. His dad Lupe thought he was raising a soccer player until Romeo fell in love with baseball. He is now at Bryan High in Texas and is in the International Baccalaureate Program. Off the field, he always finds time to spend with his younger sister. That can mean playing with NERF guns together, or helping out on her softball team. She looks up to him so much that she even chooses to wear his same jersey number.
Madison has been playing softball since the age of 4 and basketball since the age 8. She has managed to play both sports at an extremely high level while maintaining all A’s in in the classroom. She also takes private pitching and hitting lessons in softball as well. She has exceeded all of the challenges put in front of her and is strong-minded. Being balanced on and off the field and encouraging her teammates has set Madison up for future success.
Belle made her varsity softball team as the starting pitcher in sixth grade and led them to back to back district titles. Off the field, she volunteers with the Helping Hands ministry and they go to a nursing home, serving ice cream, playing games and making crafts with the residents. Belle saves her money throughout the year and at Christmas, selects a family in need and buys gifts for them. She is also a member of the Junior National Honor Society and volunteers for Special Olympics.
8
FEBRUARY 2020 • BASEBALLAMERICA.COM
1. Be the first to the field each day. Show that you can’t wait to practice. 2. Listen attentively—with eye contact— every time a coach says something. 3. Hustle everywhere you go. Being the first on and off the field gets noticed. 4. When a coach explains or demonstrates a drill, be the first to do it—and do it correctly. 5. Bring consistent energy every day. Pay special attention to your energy level during the middle of practice and games. 6. Finish first in conditioning exercises. Embrace the difficult things. 7. Practice at game speed. It’s the best way to prepare and it is contagious. 8. Arrange a team-building activity that includes everyone away from the field. For example, volunteer to help a charity as a group or arrange a team breakfast. 9. Stay late to work on your game. You’ll be surprised at how many teammates begin to stay with you. 10. Treat every player with respect as a valued teammate, regardless of role or age.
Leading Off
Numbers Game AN ANALYTICALLY INCLINED LOOK AT THE GAME
DANDY DOZEN The 12 most decorated college All-Americans of the Baseball America era by MATT EDDY
s college baseball enters the 2020s, we pause to reflect on the best players from the previous four decades. Baseball America published its first issue in 1981, and in that time—39 seasons— four players have achieved postseason firstteam All-America status three times. Those four players—Brendan McKay, Greg Swindell, Jason Varitek and Robin Ventura— stand as four of the most accomplished collegians ever. But we aren’t content to stop there. Read on to learn the identity of the top 12 most decorated college All-Americans of the BA era.
A
1. ROBIN VENTURA, 3B, OKLAHOMA STATE FIRST TEAM: 1986, 1987, 1988 1986 FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR 1987 PLAYER OF THE YEAR Ventura gained national attention for his record 58-game hitting streak during his 1987 POY season, then cemented his reputation with a 16-year big league career in which he won six Gold Gloves and swatted 294 home runs. He still ranks seventh in Division I history with 302 RBIs and inside the top 20 with a .428 batting average and .792 slugging percentage. 2. BRENDAN MCKAY, LHP/1B, LOUISVILLE FIRST TEAM: 2015, 2016, 2017 2015 FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR 2017 PLAYER OF THE YEAR Perhaps no player in college history provided more value to his team than McKay, a three-year fixture as Louisville’s ace and first baseman. He is best known as a pitcher thanks to his 32-10 record and 2.23 ERA over 315 innings, but a power surge in his 2017 POY campaign boosted his career home run total to 28 to go with a .328/.430/.536 batting line. 3. JASON VARITEK, C, GEORGIA TECH FIRST TEAM: 1992, 1993, 1994 1994 PLAYER OF THE YEAR Revered by teammates and opponents alike, Varitek was named the greatest catcher in college history by BA during his 1994 POY season. As a senior that season— the tightfisted Twins failed to sign him as a first-round pick in 1993—Varitek hit .429 with 17 home runs, 86 RBIs and a D-I leading 76 walks. 4. GREG SWINDELL, LHP, TEXAS FIRST TEAM: 1984, 1985, 1986 1984 FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR Swindell helped pitch the Longhorns to runner-up finishes in Omaha in both 1984 and ’85. He dominated at a time when hitting records were regularly being eclipsed. Swindell holds the all-time D-I record with 14
10
FEBRUARY 2020 • BASEBALLAMERICA.COM
shutouts and led the nation with 19 wins, 204 strikeouts and 172 innings in 1985. 5. TODD WALKER, 2B, LOUISIANA STATE FIRST TEAM: 1993, 1994 SECOND TEAM: 1992 1992 FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR 1993 NATIONAL CHAMPION Walker helped key LSU to its dynastic run in the 1990s, when the Tigers won four national titles. He hit .400 in his 1992 FOY season but delivered his signature season in 1993, when he led the nation with 102 RBIs and captured Most Outstanding Player honors at the College World Series. 6. MIKE KELLY, OF, ARIZONA STATE FIRST TEAM: 1990, 1991 SECOND TEAM: 1989 1990 PLAYER OF THE YEAR Blending attributes of former Sun Devils standouts Oddibe McDowell and Barry Bonds, Kelly showed impact power and speed and all-world defense in center field. He won the 1990 POY as a sophomore and followed that with a junior year that resulted in his No. 2 overall selection in the 1991 draft by the Braves. 7. PETE INCAVIGLIA, OF, OKLAHOMA STATE FIRST TEAM: 1984, 1985 THIRD TEAM: 1983 1985 PLAYER OF THE YEAR The powerful Incaviglia hit .464 with 48 home runs and 143 RBIs in his 1985 POY season. His home run, RBI and slugging (1.140) marks still stand as single-season D-I records, while his 100 career homers—in just 213 games—are the most ever. 8. RICKIE WEEKS, 2B, SOUTHERN FIRST TEAM: 2002, 2003 THIRD TEAM: 2001 2003 PLAYER OF THE YEAR Weeks was a hitting savant who won national batting titles in 2002 (.495) and 2003 (.479) and holds the career D-I record for both batting average (.465) and slugging percentage (.927) among players with at least 200 at-bats. 9. KIRK DRESSENDORFER, RHP, TEXAS FIRST TEAM: 1988, 1990 SECOND TEAM: 1989 1988 FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR Dressendorfer led the nation with 18 wins as a sophomore in 1989 and had the D-I career record of 51 in his sights before shoulder tendinitis shortened his junior year. He completed nearly 70 percent of his starts in 1988 and ’89, perhaps contributing to his injury.
10. PAT BURRELL, 3B, MIAMI FIRST TEAM: 1996, 1997 THIRD TEAM: 1998 1996 FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR In his FOY season of 1996, Burrell led the nation in hitting (.484) and slugging (.948) while also claiming Most Outstanding Player honors at the College World Series. While he missed half his 1998 junior year to a back injury, Burrell was still a third-team All-American selection and was drafted No. 1 overall by the Phillies.
Oklahoma State third baseman Robin Ventura (left) poses with Joe DiMaggio while receiving his Golden Spikes Award in 1988. Ventura authored an NCAA-record 58-game hitting streak in 1987 that drew comparisons with DiMaggio’s major league record streak of 56 games, which he set in 1941.
11. TOM ESHELMAN, RHP, CAL STATE FULLERTON FIRST TEAM: 2013, 2015 SECOND TEAM: 2014 What Eshelman lacked in raw stuff he compensated for with supernatural control. He established the single-season D-I record with 0.23 walks per nine innings as a freshman in 2013, and with just 18 walks in 376 innings he holds the career mark for walk rate with 0.43 per nine. 12. BRAD WILKERSON, OF/LHP, FLORIDA FIRST TEAM: 1997, 1998 THIRD TEAM: 1996 Wilkerson led the nation in walks in 1996 and 1998 and holds the Florida record with a .531 on-base percentage. The two-way standout moved into the Gators’ rotation as a junior in 1998 and became the first player in D-I history to amass 20 home runs, 20 stolen bases and 10 wins in the same season. Q
CELEBRATING FOUR DECADES OF COLLEGE BASEBALL HISTORY Head Of The Class collects 39 seasons—1981 through 2019—of college baseball reporting and analysis by Baseball America and its industry-leading voices. • Every All-American • Final Top 25 rankings • Reporting from Omaha • Complete College World Series coverage • Features on every BA Player of the Year
New content exclusive to Head Of The Class analyzes the college game in the 1980s, 1990s, 2000s and 2010s. • Top 25 programs for each decade • An overall All-America team for each decade • The top storylines that shaped each decade • The top major league stars from each college class
Bu y
ric BaseballAme
a.com
Today
The Cubs’ 21-year-old lefthander Brailyn Marquez could be poised for a breakthrough year after a furious finish to 2019 that saw him throw more strikes, get more swings and misses and flash plus with both secondary pitches. Oh yeah, he’s a southpaw who hits 100 mph.
FA N TA S Y
BETTER LATE THAN NEVER Ten prospects who surged in the second half and could represent buy-low opportunities by
R
MATT EDDY
ecency bias colors how we perceive prospect performance— except when it comes to giving players credit for late-season development. A player who struggled through the first half but shined in the
second will tend to be viewed less positively than one who excelled early but faded late. That’s because in many cases there exists a lagging awareWe will help remedy that situation by examining five pitchers and five hitters who performed markedly better in the second half of 2019 than the first. Maybe these prospects figured something out. Maybe they adapted to a higher level of competition after the game sped up on them initially. Maybe it’s random variance. Regardless, the astute dynasty player is always looking for value, and
4. SETH CORRY, LHP, GIANTS Age: 21 | Projected Level: high Class A San Jose In his third pro season, Corry pitched effectively at low Class A Augusta in the first half of the season, albeit with pronounced wildness. Everything came together in an incendiary second half when Corry used a potent fastball/curveball mix to rank second in the minors with a 1.76 ERA.
these 10 prospects could be at their lowest value right now. 1H 2H
FIVE PITCHERS Medina has as much arm strength as any pitcher in the minors but throwing strikes had been a mountainous challenge. That all changed in the second half of 2019, when Medina found his release point and dominated low Class A competition with triple-digit heat and a hammer low-80s curveball before receiving a late-season promotion to high Class A Tampa. IP 46 58
ERA 7.43 3.90
AVG .279 .209
SO9 10.4 11.5
BB9 8.8 3.9
HR 4 5
SwStr 12% 14%
FIP 5.32 3.51
2. BRAILYN MARQUEZ, LHP, CUBS Age: 21 | Projected Level: high Class A Myrtle Beach A lefthander who hits triple digits will always receive notice, but Marquez’s late surge suggests he has another level to reach. Later in the 2019 season he began to harness his stuff, throw strikes and flash plus with both his power breaking ball and changeup, earning a late bump to the Carolina League.
1H 2H
IP 46 58
ERA 4.50 2.03
AVG .260 .195
SO9 11.5 10.7
BB9 5.9 3.1
HR 3 2
SwStr 15% 20%
FIP 3.82 2.54
3. JOEY WENTZ, LHP, TIGERS Age: 22 | Projected level: Triple-A Toledo It looked like a lost year for Wentz as he tackled Double-A for the first time, but then everything seemed to click into place at Double-A Mississippi. He continued to cruise at Double-A Erie after the Tigers traded Shane Greene to acquire him. At his best, Wentz shows a solid three-pitch repertoire, but continued success is dependent on maintaining his second-half control. 1H 2H
IP 62 67
ERA 5.37 3.11
AVG .246 .222
SO9 7.3 11.7
BB9 4.2 2.7
ERA AVG 2.74 .194 1.10 .154
SO9 BB9 HR SwStr FIP 13.4 6.8 2 12% 3.49 12.2 2.6 2 14% 1.95
5. RONALD BOLAÑOS, RHP, PADRES Age: 23 | Projected level: Triple-A El Paso
1. LUIS MEDINA, RHP, YANKEES Age: 20 | Projected Level: high Class A Tampa
1H 2H
IP 49 73
HR 11 5
SwStr 8% 16%
FIP 5.44 2.60
Signed out of Cuba late in the 2016 season, Bolaños found his footing in 2019 and pitched his way to San Diego in September. He made his final 15 minor league appearances at Double-A and mastered the extreme hitter’s environment at Amarillo. Bolaños’ high-spin breaking ball is notable, as is a fastball he manipulates both in terms of action and velocity. 1H 2H
IP 67 64
ERA AVG 3.92 .215 3.39 .238
SO9 BB9 HR SwStr FIP 9.4 3.9 7 13% 4.37 10.1 3.4 4 11% 3.27
FIVE HITTERS 1. GILBERTO CELESTINO, OF, TWINS Age: 21 | Projected Level: high Class A Fort Myers The Twins picked up Celestino at the 2018 trade deadline when the dealt reliever Ryan Pressly to the Astros. Celestino scuffled through the first half of 2019 in the Midwest League before tweaking his swing to get set earlier and speed up his start to impact the ball. PA AVG OBP 1H 270 .218 .293 2H 266 .338 .406
SLG .313 .511
HR BB% SO% OPS+ 4 8.9 18.5 84 6 9.8 13.2 174
2. JETER DOWNS, SS, DODGERS Age: 21 | Projected Level: Double-A Tulsa Downs was plenty good in the first half at high Class A Rancho Cucamonga but took flight in the second, when he showcased fast hands, great timing and allfields power. He reached Double-A for 12 games. On
the season, Downs totaled 24 home runs and 24 stolen bases to make him one of the game’s premier power-speed prospects. PA AVG OBP 1H 276 .251 .316 2H 259 .305 .411
SLG .474 .587
HR BB% SO% OPS+ 12 8.3 21.0 116 12 14.3 18.9 165
3. GABRIEL ARIAS, SS, PADRES Age: 20 | Projected Level: Double-A Amarillo Arias has always had notable physicality for a young shortstop, but his power spiked at high Class A Lake Elsinore with 17 home runs after he smoothed out his swing by toning down his load. The result was enhanced fluidity and sharper plate discipline. Arias is a strong defender who could be ready to take off if his second-half gains hold. PA AVG OBP 1H 237 .252 .297 2H 274 .344 .376
SLG .394 .533
HR BB% SO% OPS+ 7 5.1 30.4 102 10 4.7 20.4 166
4. PAVIN SMITH, 1B, D-BACKS Age: 24 | Projected Level: Triple-A Reno Smith’s power output has improved progressively over the course of three pro seasons—just not at the rate expected of a first baseman who was drafted seventh overall in 2017. But on the strength of his second half at Double-A Jackson, Smith ranked third in the Southern League with an .835 OPS in 2019. Going back to his all-fields hitting approach helped. PA AVG OBP 1H 259 .256 .340 2H 248 .329 .401
SLG .401 .535
HR BB% SO% OPS+ 5 11.6 14.3 116 7 11.7 9.7 174
5. TRAVIS SWAGGERTY, OF, PIRATES Age: 22 | Projected Level: Double-A Altoona The 10th pick in the 2018 draft struggled at high Class A Bradenton in the first half of 2019 before recovering in the second. As he made more contact, his productivity improved. His strong secondary skills—23 stolen bases, 57 walks—help keep him relevant even when the hits aren’t falling. PA AVG OBP 1H 266 .214 .312 2H 258 .316 .383
SLG .319 .443
HR BB% SO% OPS+ 5 12.4 23.7 86 4 9.3 20.5 146
11
DAN ARNOLD
ness of value for the second-half standout.
Column
with a larger college team had been presented
step for a coach who just a few months ear-
opportunities that seemed almost unthink-
lier had been playing third base at Division II
able. One year, they were working for a JUCO
Concordia-St. Paul in Minnesota while finish-
program. The next year, they were making
ing his master’s degree.
And that is not only changing pro ball. It’s
he felt like he couldn’t turn down—assistant
level. Around the country, there are programs
pitching coordinator for the Phillies.
During the lead-up to the 2019 season,
JUCO COACHES FLOCK TO PRO BALL
@ JJCOOP36
F
head coach for the 2020 season, thanks in part
two assistant coaches to pro ball. While happy
to a push by the team’s players. “I thought the hitting stuff was going to
son—he also worried at how difficult it would
keep me busy enough,” Sannes said. “From
be to replace them.
my side of things, it’s definitely a whirlwind.
A year later, he’s learned that losing coaches is something he just has to embrace. Again this offseason he lost a pair of assistants to
At the same time, it’s very humbling the way everything was kind of handled.” Sannes has been handed the keys to a
pro ball. But his perspective has changed. He
top-notch junior college program. Just a few
knows that the résumés for their replacements
months after he was being interviewed by
will be excellent. He’ll hear from coaches
Herget to become the team’s third assistant,
around the country who want to be the next
Sannes had to hire the club’s new assistants
coach to climb the ladder
himself.
“We’ve lost four coaches to professional teams because we’re moving in the right direction and doing the things the way that baseball is going now,” Smith said. Halfway across the country, North Iowa
Now, Sannes has the unique opportunity of running a top program at a very young age. There may not be too many opportunities for coaches like Sannes in the future. This new trend could end quickly. Teams began hiring coaches from small colleges because they
everyone to NIACC (pronounced Ny-ACK)—is
viewed them as simultaneously low-cost hires
annually one of the best programs in junior
(they are getting raises in many cases from
college baseball. The school has made the
sub-$20,000 salaries), tech-savvy (they have
NJCAA Division II World Series three times
been using some form of Rapsodo, HitTrax,
or decades, there were college coaches
since 2013 and has seen Brandon Williamson
Trackman, bat sensors and/or motion tracking
and pro coaches and the two groups
(Mariners), Bryce Ball (Braves), Malique
at their schools) and receptive to implement-
rarely crossed over. Jobs as pro coach-
Ziegler (Giants), Robbie Glendinning (Pirates)
ing the ideas of the front office.
es were reserved for ex-pro players.
and Luke Becker (Padres) head to pro ball in
College coaches were a mix of ex-pros and everyone else. And there was a hierarchy. There were travel team coaches and high school coaches, then junior college coaches, small college coaches,
the last five years. The Trojans will begin 2020 with a 24-year-
All of those factors are likely to remain true for junior college coaches in years to come, but those JUCO coaches are starting to face some
old head coach who was originally hired to be
serious competition. Every smart player who
the team’s third assistant coach.
gets his pink slip is a potential coach.
When NIACC hired Drew Sannes last sum-
“I think we’re in an interesting point in
Division I coaches, minor league coaches and
mer, he was getting a chance to learn from
baseball where people are getting into profes-
finally, major league coaches.
some of the better junior college coaches in
sional baseball without ever having played,”
the country. Head coach Travis Herget had
Phillies hitting coordinator Jason Ochart said.
on their climb up the ladder, but there were
spent 15 years at the program, assistant coach
“I think that’s unique and I do think that the
clear delineations. A junior college coach could
Shawn Schlechter had been coaching NIACC
pendulum may swing back a little bit. I can tell
realistically hope to jump to a four-year col-
hitters since 2013 and pitching coach Brett
you now there’s a lot of players who are going
lege, but the gap between college ball and pro
DeGagne had made a quick impact in his year
to be retiring the next couple years who know
ball was a nearly unbridgeable canyon.
and a half with the program.
all this stuff.
Sometimes a coach could skip a step or two
And then the Astros decided to change
And then DeGagne and Schlechter were
everything. When Jeff Luhnow took over as
gone. In late November, DeGagne was hired
Houston’s general manager, his regime soon
to serve as pitching coach for the Yankees’
turned over almost the entire minor league
Dominican Summer League affiliate, and
straight to pro ball may be a short-term trend.
coaching staffs, deciding that there was value
Schlechter was hired as the Twins’ high Class
But because of it, there will be lives that have
in hiring young, hungry coaches who were
A Fort Myers hitting coach.
been changed. There will be coaches in pro ball
tech-savvy and receptive to new ideas. Soon, other teams followed. Junior college
12
ture, Sannes was named the Trojans’ interim
Area Community College—shortened by
Moves leave many programs scrambling
J.J. COOPER
Two days after Herget announced his depar-
Central Florida JC head coach Marty Smith lost for his coaches—one of whom was his own
PERSPECTIVE
DeGagne left, Herget was offered a position
creating seismic shifts at the junior college that now lose coaches every year.
Bryce Ball is one of a number of solid pro prospects who have come through North Iowa Area Community College.
Less than three weeks after Schlechter and
So all of a sudden, Sannes received an unex-
“They’ve been coming through systems and they know all the technology” The path of junior college coaches jumping
who took advantage of their shot. And there
pected promotion—instead of working to
will be coaches who rose to the occasion in
assistant coaches whose hope a decade ago
help Schlechter with the hitters, he became
JUCO ball as well.
would have been to grind their way to a role
the club’s primary hitting coach. It was a big
FEBRUARY 2020 • BASEBALLAMERICA.COM
Maybe Sannes will be one of them. Q
TOM PRIDDY
significantly more in pro ball.
Column
THE REST OF MY BALLOT:
Major league managers viewed Larry Walker as one of the most well-rounded players of the 1990s and 2000s. He is one of just four players in history to hit .300 with 300 home runs and 200 stolen bases.
TODD HELTON: Nobody can debate his skills defensively, but because Helton spent his entire career with the Rockies, his offensive totals come under scrutiny. Baseball-Reference.com has a neutralized evaluation in which Helton’s .316/.414/.549
Even the great Sandy Koufax allowed dramatically more runs on the road than at
(.953 OPS) career batting line becomes
Dodger Stadium.
.302/.398/.513 (.911 OPS) in a 2019 context.
Sandy Koufax
W-L
PCT
ERA
IP
Dodger Stadium
57-15
.792
1.37
715
Everywhere else
108-72
.600
3.38
1,609
All of which gets the conversation back
is an inconsistency among voters who ignore these two, but have not blinked at
the writers’ ballot this year, and Helton, a second-year Hall of Fame candidate.
the enshrinement of other suspected steroid users with lesser accomplishments.
In full disclosure, I have been involved
Those voters also ignore the fact that their
in media coverage of the Rockies since the spring of 1992, the year before the team
efforts came before MLB adopted its performance-enhancing drug program. And
played its first game. In case there is any question, I was 10-for-10 in voting for Walker, easily the most complete player I have had the pleasure to watch in the 44 years I have covered the major leagues. And that is an endorsement embraced by some of the most influential men in major league history.
what about the voters who have ignored pitchers who threw spitters, even though those were against the rules, or took advantage of the amphetamines that for years were readily provided in clubhouses?
TERRY FRANCONA: “He was such a good baserunner, like his head was on a swivel. His talent was obvious.”
COMPLETE PLAYER
TONY LA RUSSA: “I mean, just a gifted all-around everything. In fact, I think he would probably be in the top three of
Larry Walker won many accolades as a player, but it took time to win over Hall of Fame voters
TRACY RINGOLSBY @TRACYRINGOLSBY
or all the moaning and groaning about how Coors Field benefited Rockies hitters such as Larry Walker and Todd Helton, it is interesting that pitchers are not dinged for having the luxury of a forgiving home ballpark like Dodger Stadium. Now, I would have voted for all of these pitchers for the Hall of Fame, but it is worth noting the home-road splits for these Dodgers starting pitchers.
F
JONATHAN DANIEL/ALLSPORT
Don Drysdale
W-L
PCT
ERA
IP
Dodger Stadium
65-43
.602
2.19
1,107
Everywhere else
144-123
.539
3.31
2,325
W-L
PCT
ERA
IP
Dodger Stadium
126-84
.600
2.66
2,027
Everywhere else
198-172
.535
3.63
3,255
Don Sutton
eras. Their careers have been tainted by strong suspicion of steroid usage. There
to Walker, who was elected to the Hall of Fame on his 10th and final appearance on
BOBBY COX: “He is better than one of the best. He is the best.” PERSPECTIVE
BARRY BONDS AND ROGER CLEMENS: They were the premier players of their
just about every category: baserunning, defense, handling the bat.” JIM LEYLAND: “The most complete player I’ve ever seen.” And the stats, modern-day analytics and old-time number crunching, point in his favor, too. In his career outside of Coors Field, Walker hit .282 and slugged .501. And Walker truly was a complete player. He could hit. He could hit for power. He could run. He could throw and defend. In fact, with a .313 career average, 383 home
DEREK JETER: The only question about his candidacy was whether he would follow former Yankees teammate Mariano Rivera, who became the first player to be unanimously elected to the Hall of Fame in the class of 2019. Jeter missed unanimity by one vote ANDRUW JONES: The completeness of a player should be a factor, not just the glitz. Jones, along with already inducted Chipper Jones, Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine and John Smoltz, completed the fearsome fivesome of a Braves team that made a record 15 consecutive postseason appearances. While he faded offensively at the end of his career, retiring with a .254 average, he still hit 434 home runs. More importantly, Jones’ 10 Gold Gloves are tied for second among center fielders to only Willie Mays. SCOTT ROLEN: A low-key personality can be easily overlooked, but Rolen won eight Gold Gloves, more than any third basemen in history except Hall of Famers Brooks Robinson and Mike Schmidt. He
runs and 230 stolen bases, he is one of four players in history to hit .300 with at least 300 homers and 200 steals.
had a career 122 OPS+ and 70 wins above replacement. The list of HOF eligible players who have more WAR and are not
The others: Hank Aaron, Willie Mays and George Brett. Now, all four are enshrined in Cooperstown.
enshrined is a short one: Bonds, Clemens, Curt Schilling, Lou Whitaker, Rafael Palmeiro and Bobby Grich. Q 13
D AW N O F A N E W D E C A D E
FORWARD THINKING by TEDDY
CAHILL
The 2010s were a time of change in college baseball. The game said goodbye to Rosenblatt Stadium and hello to TD Ameritrade Park. The BBCOR bat standard and then the move to a baseball with lower seams changed the way the game was played. Mike Martin and Augie Garrido, the two winningest coaches in college sports retired, part of a passing of the torch in dugouts across the country. A decade is dawning in college baseball. It’s hard to imagine the 2020s will be as full of change as the 2010s proved to be, but there are still potentially seismic developments ahead. The NCAA is beginning to enable players to profit from their name, image and likeness. There is serious talk of increasing scholarships across the board for equivalency sports, a long overdue development. Programs will rise and fall, and players will write their name in the record books. Baseball America will be there every step of the way, as it has been for each of the past 39 seasons. We took a step back after last season to look at the last four decades and collect the best players, teams and stories in one place—our new book title
A big year from center fielder Jesse Franklin could propel Michigan back to Omaha.
Head Of The Class, which is available now to order. Now, Opening Day is approaching for the 2020 season and it’s time to look ahead once again. The season is nearly upon us, and BA is proud to present its 40th annual College Preview issue. The pages that follow include the Preseason Top 25, the Preseason All-America teams voted on by major league scouting directors, conference previews and
JESSE FRANKLIN MICHIGAN
14
FEBRUARY 2020 • BASEBALLAMERICA.COM
JAMIE SCHWABEROW/NCAA PHOTOS VIA GETTY IMAGES
much more. The preview continues online at BaseballAmerica.com. There, readers can find previews for all 31 Division I conferences, the top 100 players in the country and previews of the top players and teams in all other divisions. The sun is out, the grass is cut, the dirt is raked, and a clean, fresh ball lies ready in wait on the rubber. It’s time to play ball. Q
B A’ S C R Y S TA L B A L L
1. (2) Louisville*^
2. Stanford
2. Coastal Carolina*
3. Liberty*
3. Tennessee
4. Fairfield*
NASHVILLE
STILLWATER
Vanderbilt
Louisville
Oklahoma State
Duke
BATON ROUGE
4. N.C. A&T*
DURHAM
Louisville After going as deep in Omaha as ever in 2019, a veteran team led by co-aces Reid Detmers and Bobby Miller returns poised to take the next step.
Coastal Carolina The Chanticleers are lurking just off the radar as the season begins, but if their premium arms click, they have the potential to compete with anyone in the country.
Texas Christian After dealing with a ton of injuries, but still sneaking into a regional, TCU is healthy headed into 2020 and just welcomed a top-five recruiting class.
1. (15) Duke^
2. Dallas Baptist*
2. East Carolina*
3. Texas A&M
3. Tennessee
BRACKET 1
2. Cal St. Fullerton* 3. San Diego State*
4. Army*
LUBBOCK
ANN ARBOR
Mississippi State
Georgia
Michigan
UCLA
ATHENS
4. Sacramento St.*
ATHENS 1. (7) Georgia^
2. Wake Forest
2. Georgia Tech
3. California
3. Oregon State
4. Central Mich.*
LUBBOCK
Best-of-three series at T.D. Ameritrade Park in Omaha. June 22-24
1. (5) Miami^ 2. Mississippi
1. (6) Texas Tech*^ 2. Arizona
3. McNeese State*
3. Brigham Young*
4. Illinois-Chicago*
CORAL GABLES
TALLAHASSEE
Miami
Texas Tech
1. (12) Florida St.^
Florida State
Arkansas
LUBBOCK
4. Binghamton* FAYETTEVILLE 1. (11) Arkansas^
2. Ohio State
2. North Carolina*
3. Baylor
3. Texas
4. Jacksonville St.*
Louisville
BATON ROUGE
Georgia
1. (13) Auburn^
1. (14) LSU^
Texas Tech
2. N.C. State
Kumar Rocker, RHP Vanderbilt Rocker showed how dominant he can be during the 2019 NCAA Tournament. Pitching at that level all year may be impossible, but I don’t want to put it past him.
Emerson Hancock, RHP Georgia It takes a special pitcher to dominate SEC hitters, and Hancock did so in 2019, putting up a 1.69 ERA and .157 opponent average in league play.
4. Campbell*
BRACKET 2
AUBURN
Austin Martin, 3B Vanderbilt Martin hits for average, hits for power and steals bases, all while possessing the ability to play just about anywhere on the field.
4. Alabama State*
FINALS
CORAL GABLES
Spencer Torkelson, 1B Arizona State No one has more power than Torkelson and he’s been an absolute force at the heart of the lineup. If ASU ends up in the mix in Omaha, he will be a big reason why.
KRISTIN M. BRADSHAW
Michigan
3. Clemson
2. Oklahoma
Arizona State
3. South Alabama
3. Houston
4. Samford*
GAINESVILLE
GAINESVILLE
Auburn
LSU
Florida
Arizona State
PHOENIX
4. Xavier*
PHOENIX 1. (3) Arizona St.*^
2. Virginia
2. Texas Christian
3. Connecticut
3. Minnesota
4. C. Conn. St.*
4. Harvard*
Jack Leiter, RHP Vanderbilt Leiter was the most talented player to get to college in the 2019 prep class and he’s advanced enough to get innings right away, even on a deep Vanderbilt staff.
GEORGE BULARD
2. Southern Miss.*
1. (10) UCLA^
JOE HOWELL
Miami
DONN JONES
1. (9) Mississippi St.^
JOE HOWELL
LOS ANGELES
Florida
PETER VANDER STOEP
Vanderbilt
STARKVILLE
P L AY E R O F T H E Y E A R
4. UNC Wilmington*
PITCHER OF THE YEAR
4. Oral Roberts*
1. (4) Florida^
N AT I O N A L C H A M P I O N
LOUISVILLE
1. (1) Vanderbilt*^
1. (8) Michigan*^
Vanderbilt The Commodores have the talent to repeat as national champions in 2020, starting with the dynamic Austin Martin and Kumar Rocker headlining the nation’s best group of frontline arms.
Number in parentheses indicates national seed ^ Regional host * Automatic bid
NASHVILLE
1. (16) Okla. St.^
J O E H EA LY
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
FIELD OF 64
T EDDY CA HIL L
OMAHA SLEEPER
JAMIE SCHWABEROW/NCAA PHOTOS VIA GETTY IMAGES
Before the first pitch of the season is thrown, Teddy Cahill and Joe Healy look into the crystal ball to make a few predictions for the 2020 season.
Bryce Osmond, RHP Oklahoma State Osmond, a top-50 draft prospect who chose OSU over pro baseball, will be thrown into the deep end right away as a member of the Cowboys’ rotation.
15
16
FEBRUARY 2020 • BASEBALLAMERICA.COM
Led by junior third baseman Austin Martin (left) and sophomore righthander Kumar Rocker, Vanderbilt returns many key players from its 2019 national title team.
FULL STEAM AHEAD
Vanderbilt coach Tim Corbin knows the Commodores’ historic 2019 season will be hard to top. So his focus is on forging a new identity for his similarly talented 2020 team—one that enters the season ranked No. 1 in the nation. by TEDDY CAHILL
F
rom his spacious office just behind the
and now boasts a pair of national titles. It is a
monstrous left field fence at Hawkins
recruiting juggernaut, regularly drawing premi-
Field, Vanderbilt coach Tim Corbin has
um high school players from across the country
the perfect perch from which to consid-
to Nashville. The program’s success stretches
er his program’s direction. Last fall, following
beyond the diamond. Vanderbilt has become
the Commodores’ second national champion-
one of the most diverse teams in the country
ship in six years and with a new decade about
at a time when college baseball is strikingly
to dawn, was an opportune time to consider the
homogeneous. Corbin has found a way to push
future in Nashville.
the envelope in nearly every direction for the
At Vanderbilt, the refrain is typically their slogan, “Anchor down.” But around Hawkins
None of that is by accident. From his perch
Field, “Full steam ahead” has been more appro-
above Hawkins Field, Corbin is always looking
priate for the Commodores during Corbin’s first
for ways to improve the program in all aspects.
17 years at the program’s helm. Corbin’s office is still relatively new. He
“For me, it’s very singular in nature,” he said. “I don’t have anything else that I really think
has occupied it for two years and it sits atop
about. Thankfully, my wife and I, outside of the
an impressive, expansive player development
girls, this is all we think about.”
facility that cost $12 million. It was the latest
So, what’s next at Vanderbilt?
development at Hawkins Field, which itself
On the field, expect more of the same over the
opened in 2002, just months before Corbin
next decade. Third baseman Austin Martin and
took over the program. Built within the foot-
righthander Kumar Rocker could be the No. 1
print of McGugin Field, which served as the
picks in the next two drafts. This year, that duo
Commodores’ home for 76 years, over the last
leads a team that is the preseason No. 1. The
two decades its seating capacity has doubled as
Commodores landed the top-ranked recruiting
it has grown out of the shadow of its neighbors,
class in the nation, the record sixth time they
Vanderbilt Stadium, the football team’s home,
have brought a No. 1 class to campus. Their 2020
and Memorial Gymnasium.
class ranked No. 2 on signing day.
Everything about Vanderbilt baseball has
SAM CARBINE
betterment of his players.
Off the field, big ideas are racing through
undergone a similar change under Corbin.
Corbin’s mind. College baseball’s biggest leg-
The program, which had only made the NCAA
islative priorities—increasing the number of
Tournament three times before his arrival,
scholarships and full-time coaching positions—
has become one of the sport’s gold standards
are at the forefront of his thoughts. He wants to 17
In 17 years at the helm, Vanderbilt coach Tim Corbin (right) has built the baseball program at a small private university into a national power, much like Duke has done in men’s basketball.
players, the universities and the communities at large.
It will be hard for Vanderbilt to improve on
room walls. Vanderbilt has a target on its back
its 2019 season. The Commodores went 59-12
as the reigning national champion. It is what
to lead the nation in wins and set an SEC sin-
every team in the country is chasing and, as a
ball either,” he said. “College baseball improves when programs improve
gle-season record. Only one team this century
result, it’s going to get everyone’s best shot all
and bring the right type of attention to the program and the right type of
won more games than they did—Florida State
year long.
“If we’re not improving, we’re not moving the needle for college base-
attention to the growth within the program. I see our
in 2002—and no national
program as a way to benefit diversity, benefit the kids,
champion since Wichita State
After nearly 15 years of having been one of the
benefit education, benefit the community in so many
in 1989 had won as many
country’s elite programs and morphing into
games as they did. It truly was
college baseball’s version of Duke men’s bas-
a remarkable team that will go
ketball, Vanderbilt is used to being circled on
down in history as one of the
opponents’ schedules.
different ways.” In short, Corbin is going to keep pushing the envelope. At 58, having built an elite program at a small private school devoid of tradition in the mighty Southeastern Conference and won two national titles, it might be natural to start looking for the finish line. Corbin, however, doesn’t sound like someone entering the final stage of his career. How long does he think he’ll keep coaching? “I think until I’m dead,” he said. “If I fall through the ground, then that’s it, I guess.” Striking a more serious tone, Corbin said as long as he’s still in tune with his players, in shape mentally and
“College baseball improves when programs improve and bring the right type of attention to the program and the right type of attention to the growth within the program.”
physically and curious, he intends to keep coaching.
—Tim Corbin
So, he’s far from slowing down. If anything, Corbin is accelerating. “Sometimes I feel like I just started,” he said. “I really do. Like this is my first year on the job. I could personally critique myself that way too. If we’re not getting better, then I don’t need to be doing this.” 18
FEBRUARY 2020 • BASEBALLAMERICA.COM
best. That, however, is all in the
But the Commodores are used to that as well.
“The perspective of others outside of your group is, ‘That’s the team or that’s the school
past. Corbin understands that
that won the national championship,’ whether
every season is unique, and
it has anything to do with those players or not,”
every team must separate itself
Corbin said. “There’s a lot that comes with
from all that has come before.
that, there’s a lot of baggage that comes with
That’s easier said than done,
it, luggage that you carry—that you don’t know
but within a week of the season
you’re carrying, but you’re carrying it.
ending last year, Corbin was already planning how he would foster that attitude in the 2020
“It’s the rubble that’s left behind from years past.” Vanderbilt will contend with that rub-
Commodores. Everyone in
ble in 2020. There is again a wealth of talent
the program deliberately has
in Nashville starting with Preseason All-
turned the page from last season, ready to start
Americans Martin, Rocker and closer Tyler
a new chapter.
Brown. Catcher Ty Duvall and second baseman
There’s a different view outside the locker
Harrison Ray are back as everyday players in
JAMIE SCHWABEROW/NCAA PHOTOS VIA GETTY IMAGES
improve the game’s diversity, to find new ways for baseball to benefit the
Pitching Pipelines
Walker Buehler leads the next wave of Vanderbilt arms in pro ball, a group that also includes all-stars David Price, Sonny Gray and Mike Minor.
Colleges that produced the most first-round pitchers in the 2000s While Vanderbilt position players Dansby Swanson, Pedro Alvarez and JJ Bleday were drafted first, second and fourth overall, the program is best known as a pitching factory. No college program has produced more firstround pitchers than Vanderbilt since 2000. What’s astonishing is that the Commodores’ pitcher pipeline was first established in 2004, when the Indians drafted Jeremy Sowers with the sixth overall pick. That means that under coach Tim Corbin, Vanderbilt has produced a remarkable nine firstround pitchers in the past 16 drafts.
their senior years and lefthander Jake Eder and righthander Mason Hickman return to key roles on the pitching staff. But there is also a newness to this team. The Commodores must replace a wealth of experience from a team that featured SEC Player of the Year JJ Bleday and six impactful seniors. large draft classes are naturally followed by elite recruiting classes full of players ready to take their places.
DANNY PARKER
This is an annual exercise at Vanderbilt, where
Integrating the newcomers into the team as
VANDERBILT
quickly as possible is a crucial step to keeping
9 FIRST-ROUND PITCHERS
Vanderbilt running like a well-oiled machine.
Year No Player, Pos
Corbin likens the team to a fraternity and the
2004
6 Jeremy Sowers, LHP
older players take it upon themselves to help the
2007
1 David Price, LHP
freshmen get acclimated.
2007
8 Casey Weathers, RHP
2009
7 Mike Minor, LHP
Braves
2011 18 Sonny Gray, RHP
Athletics
2014 14 Tyler Beede, RHP
Giants
quickly as we can, get to know them as quickly as we can,” Martin said. “It allows them to be a lot more comfortable on the field. As quick as they can get comfortable on the field, the better they can perform and that’s only going to help
MATTHEW SHARPE/WIREIMAGE
“We just try to embrace the freshmen as
2015
DAVID PRICE
Team Indians Devil Rays Rockies
8 Carson Fulmer, RHP
White Sox
2015 24 Walker Buehler, RHP
Dodgers
2017
5 Kyle Wright, RHP
Braves
The quantity and quality of Vanderbilt’s first-round pitchers is astounding. Price put the program on the map when he was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2007 draft. He went on to win the AL Cy Young Award in 2012 and a World Series ring in 2018. Buehler, Gray and Minor have all made an all-star team, while Wright is currently a Top 100 Prospect. The only real misfires have been Weathers and (to this point) Fulmer.
the team.”
FLORIDA
Jack Leiter, the New Jersey native and son of former big league all-star Al Leiter. He was the highest ranked player for the 2019 draft who did not sign. Leiter came to Nashville in a similar situation as Rocker did a year ago. Rocker said he worked with Leiter this fall to help ease his adjustment to college. “I’m in his ear a lot,” Rocker said. “As of right
RICHARD LEWIS-CORBIS/ICON SPORTSWIRE VIA GETTY
This year’s newcomers are led by righthander
7 FIRST-ROUND PITCHERS
Year No Player, Pos
Team
2012 31 Brian Johnson, LHP
Red Sox
2013 20 Jonathan Crawford, RHP 2016
A.J. PUK
Tigers
6 A.J. Puk, LHP
Athletics
2016 29 Dane Dunning, RHP
Nationals
2017 18 Alex Faedo, RHP
Tigers
2018 18 Brady Singer, RHP
Royals
2018 33 Jackson Kowar, RHP
Royals
Florida’s rise as a national power coincides with the program’s success at developing pitchers. Granted, the program’s pitchers tend to be middle or late first-round picks rather than top 10 selections. While no first-round Gator has busted through in the big leagues, Puk is poised to do so as an Athletics rookie in 2020.
now, he’s very quiet. Gets the job done, gets his work done and gets out, which is exactly what I
STANFORD
did last year.” Next year, Leiter will pass on those same les-
7 FIRST-ROUND PITCHERS
Year No Player, Pos
Team
2000
Expos
5 Justin Wayne, RHP
2002 22 Jeremy Guthrie, RHP
Indians
the kind of player-led culture coaches value so
2006
Rockies
highly. And it should perpetuate itself years into
2009 10 Drew Storen, RHP
the future, helping to keep Vanderbilt among
2011 16 Chris Reed, LHP
the nation’s elite. In the short term, that culture has Vanderbilt
LARRY GOREN
sons to the next class of freshmen. It’s exactly
MARK APPEL
2 Greg Reynolds, RHP
Nationals Dodgers
2013
1 Mark Appel, RHP
Astros
2016
8 Cal Quantrill, RHP
Padres
Guthrie didn’t break through as a rotation mainstay until age 28, but he stuck around long enough to amass 91 career wins. Quantill made his major league debut in 2019 and could be a key cog in the Padres’ resurgence. Just as notable: top-five-overall picks Appel, Reynolds and Wayne failed to impact the majors.
2020 season. No team has repeated as national champions since South Carolina in 2010 and 2011. Corbin knows exactly how hard it is to repeat, having fallen just short of the mark against Virginia in the 2015 CWS finals. From the outside, Vanderbilt is certain to be viewed through the lens of the 2019 season. But as he looks through the left field wall at Hawkins Field, Corbin has a different view of
JAMIE SCHWABEROW/NCAA PHOTOS VIA GETTY IMAGES
ready for what promises to be a challenging
RICE
PHILIP HUMBER
success for the 2020 Commodores.
it developed its own personality—team personality—then I’ll be happy with that,” Corbin said. Full steam ahead. Q
DOUG PENSINGER/GETTY IMAGES
and see that was a team that wrote its own in a unique way from the year before and then
Year No Player, Pos
Team
2001 11 Kenny Baugh, RHP
Tigers
2003 22 David Aardsma, RHP
Giants
2004
3 Philip Humber, RHP
2004
4 Jeff Niemann, RHP
2005
8 Wade Townsend, RHP Devil Rays
2007 19 Joe Savery, LHP
Mets Devil Rays Phillies
NORTH CAROLINA
“At the end of the year if we can look back chapter, it did its own thing, it separated itself
6 FIRST-ROUND PITCHERS
ANDREW MILLER
5 FIRST-ROUND PITCHERS
Year No Player, Pos
Team
2006
Tigers
6 Andrew Miller, LHP
2006 28 Daniel Bard, RHP
Red Sox
2009 15 Alex White, RHP
Indians
2010
7 Matt Harvey, RHP
2017 15 J.B. Bukauskas, RHP
Rice’s storied pitching tradition resulted in a mini-dynasty in the 2000s, but not one Owls ace developed into an impact major league starter. The ballyhooed trio of Humber, Niemann and Townsend never achieved sustained big league success, though Aardsma racked up 69 career saves.
Mets Astros
Miller and Bard helped UNC break through in Omaha and establish the program as title contenders. Miller won Player of the Year honors and was in play as the possible No. 1 overall pick in 2006. He has carved out a career as a relief ace. 19
ship and win the CWS Most Outstanding Player award. He was also named Freshman of the Year T H E AC E
IN THE SPOTLIGHT A sensational freshman season fosters expectations that Kumar Rocker is ready to meet by
TEDDY CAHILL
T
on the evening of June 8 as Vanderbilt prepared to face Duke in
In the immediate aftermath of the no-hit-
after going 12-5, 3.25 with 114 strikeouts and 21
ter, Rocker found himself getting recognized
walks in 99.2 innings.
more. He said the craziest part of his newfound
After his sensational season, Rocker spent the
fame has been when a section of the crowd at a
summer at Vanderbilt working out. The break
Vanderbilt football or basketball game will start
from baseball gave him a chance to reflect on
chanting his name.
the spring but, even then, he didn’t revel in it. “I definitely reflected on it, but just being
The best way for Rocker to handle the increased attention is by living up to the hype
here it wasn’t really on my mind,” Rocker said.
on the field. To that end, he has worked hard on
“I’m not a very out-there type of person. I
his craft since the end of last season.
really just stayed in my room and watched how he air in Hawkins Field crackled with a heightened anticipation
lets him get ahead of himself.”
things went.” Now, Rocker faces his next challenge: living
Rocker, like a lot of young players, needed to focus more on his physicality and spent the summer working on that, both by working out
Game 2 of the Nashville Super Regional. Duke had upset the hosts
up to even more hype. He’s college baseball’s
and improving his nutrition. His extra-large
in Game 1, putting the Blue Devils one win away from their first
most famous player, has established himself
frame helps make him an elite pitcher. It helps
trip to the College World Series since 1961. Standing in their way were the
as the early favorite to be drafted No. 1 overall
him throw mid-90s fastballs, shoulder the
Southeastern Conference champions and freshman righthander Kumar
in 2021 and is the ace of the top-ranked team
heavy burden of being a starting
Rocker, who were looking to force a decisive third game.
in the preseason. There will be more attention,
With his powerful fastball and hard slider working in tandem, Rocker
more scrutiny, more expectations.
was electric. Batter after batter went down swinging, unable to connect
It’s a lot for a 20-year-old.
with his slider darting out of the zone. He would finish the night with 19
Vanderbilt coach Tim Corbin, who has worked
strikeouts and a no-hitter, the first ever thrown in super regionals. On the big stage, the 6-foot-4, 255-pound freshman captured the attention of the sports world in a way few, if any, college baseball perfor-
But it also means he has to take extra care with his delivery to ensure it remains consistent, a necessity for pitching with control. “That’s all I’m trying to do out there,” he
with many stars throughout his career, doesn’t
said. “It’s not throw harder. It’s not throw dif-
think any outside pressure will get to Rocker.
ferent pitches. It’s working very efficiently.”
“That’s the way he’s been raised,” Corbin
Even as good as he is, Rocker has room for
mances ever have. Rocker followed up that historic night with two more
said. “Tracy and Lu would never let him get
improvement over the next two seasons. His
outstanding starts in Omaha to help Vanderbilt to the national champion-
ahead of himself. Because of that Kumar never
changeup remains a work in progress and he knows he needs to fine-tune his command. Corbin sees room for improvement for Rocker in many of the finer aspects of his craft, from understanding better how to manipulate his pitches to controlling the running game. He has little doubt Rocker will get there. “He takes on a very deliberate approach to what he’s doing,” Corbin said. “The investment period that that kid has in himself is high. He wants to get it.” As much as anything, Rocker said his biggest development since arriving at Vanderbilt has been the mental side of the game. Pitching coach Scott Brown has worked with him to understand how the mental and physical sides of pitching work in tandem. Rocker has taken those efforts to heart and “It’s a lot more mental than you think and if
Righthander Kumar Rocker isn’t content to rest on accomplishments from his Freshman of the Year season. He spent the offseason conditioning his mind and body for heightened expectations that come with being the ace for the No. 1 preseason team.
you bring that to the field every day you should have success,” he said. “But it’s not all physical—it’s not all in your long toss, it’s not all in your dry rep, it’s all in your mentality, coming to the field knowing you can dominate.” That mentality is visible to teammates. Initially, third baseman Austin Martin didn’t think Rocker’s personality lent itself to that killer instinct. But as he got to know Rocker more, Martin came to see he was wrong. “The kid competes, man,” Martin said. “He loves to win, and I think that’s huge. You get on the mound and you see him on there, and you see the way he throws the ball, the intent behind it, the way he works—it’s incredible.” Q
20
FEBRUARY 2020 • BASEBALLAMERICA.COM
JUSTIN TAFOYA/NCAA PHOTOS VIA GETTY IMAGES; JOHN BYRUM/ICON SPORTSWIRE VIA GETTY IMAGES
applied them on the field.
THE CENTERPIECE
TEAM PLAYER Austin Martin’s group-oriented mentality helps fuel Vanderbilt on its quest to go back to back by
A
TEDDY CAHILL
ustin Martin is always competing on the diamond. No matter what situation the Vanderbilt junior finds himself in, he attacks the game at full speed, always ready to
make something happen. Martin wants to win every play, every pitch,
Vanderbilt coach Tim Corbin calls junior third baseman Austin Martin one of the most competitive players he has ever seen. Martin enters the season as a favorite to win College Player of the Year and be the No. 1 overall pick in June.
every situation, whether that happens to be the College World Series or in non-conference play. “The one thing that makes him so unique is he plans and simply competes against the ball,” Vanderbilt coach Tim Corbin said. “If the ball is hit, he wants to catch it. If the ball is thrown, he wants to catch it. If the ball is thrown at him and he has a bat, he wants to hit it. “He just competes against the ball as well as any player I’ve seen.” That mentality had Martin prepared for a
stuff,” Martin said. “There’s no point to me
said. “I think they would probably play professional baseball. But these
whirlwind 2019. As a sophomore, he helped
even trying to do too much, think too much. I’m
kids understand that when they do something for a group effort, they
Vanderbilt win the national championship
focused on trying to get better, trying to have
individually grow as much as anything..”
by hitting .392/.486/.604 with 10 home runs
fun out there, trying to win ballgames. That’s
and 18 stolen bases. He moved to third base, a
really where I’m at right now.”
new position for him. He led the Southeastern
“He’s not one of those kids who’s going to
Conference in batting. He was the only under-
start attending the Austin Martin church,”
classmen to be named All-America.
Corbin said. “He knows who he is, and he’s not
Martin had just two days to celebrate following the national championship before he and
going to drink that water.” As big as 2019 was for Martin, 2020 figures
Martin loved being able to help his teammates improve this fall, and Corbin said he sees a teacher’s spirit in his star. Martin would get to practice early this fall and stay late to help his teammates in the batting cage. But he also just enjoys being around his teammates and the atmosphere they have cultivated at Vanderbilt. “Being able to hang out with these guys 24/7 is something I’ve never been able to experience before,” Martin said. “I literally do everything
closer Tyler Brown were on a plane to Cary,
to blow it out of the water. Scouting directors
N.C., to join USA Baseball’s Collegiate National
voted him a unanimous first-team Preseason
While Martin has nothing but love for his teammates, he is always com-
Team for its summer tour, which soon took
All-American at third base and he is the cen-
peting when he’s on the field. That desire to win and get better is a big part
them to Taiwan and Japan. Martin moved to
terpiece of the Commodores’ offense as they
of what has made him so successful.
center field for Team USA, helping to fill a hole
embark on their quest to repeat as national
left by injury, and continued to star.
champions. He’s among the favorites for the
hope the whole team should bring to the field every day, and that’s a dog
Player of the Year award, and there’s the small
mentality. He comes out here and balls every day. It’s simple.”
Martin got a bit of a break this fall. He had to take things easy while he recovered from a cleanup procedure in his knee. While he was
matter of the draft waiting in June. But for Martin, it really isn’t about him. He’s
with these guys. I can honestly say I have 34 best friends on this team.”
“It’s what he brings to the field every day,” Rocker said. “It’s what I
To Corbin, Martin’s competitiveness is part of what makes him so versatile defensively. Because he is so determined to succeed, he raises the
sidelined, he turned into an extra coach at fall
most concerned with the team’s results and
level of any unit he’s a part of. His tools probably profile best in center
practice, helping his teammates with every-
developments. For a lot of players, that attitude
field, but he has made himself into a strong third baseman.
thing from hitting to baserunning to defense.
might be cliché, an easy line to repeat because
Despite not playing, by the end of the fall, he
it makes them seem unselfish, but with Martin
position to help Vanderbilt get back to Omaha and become the first team to
had become one of the favorites to be the No. 1
it’s real.
repeat as national champions since South Carolina did so in 2010 and 2011.
overall pick in the 2020 draft. While Martin was well regarded coming out of
Corbin said Martin and ace Kumar Rocker, who was a projected first-round pick in
Martin is sure to be working hard all spring to get himself in the best
He surely wants to follow in the footsteps of former Commodores David Price and Dansby Swanson and become the first overall pick in June.
high school in Jacksonville and had a Freshman
2018 but instead upheld his commitment to
All-America season in 2018, it was still a rapid
Vanderbilt and went on to be named Most
He’s going to keep challenging his teammates, keep thinking about the
rise in 2019. For his prospect status and fame,
Outstanding Player at the 2019 College World
group first and—most importantly—keep competing.
anyway. Martin remains firmly planted on the
Series, share a group-oriented mentality.
ground, just as he always has been. “I really don’t try to pay attention to that
“If they weren’t, I daresay both of them probably would not be here right now,” Corbin
But he won’t do it by looking inwardly or thinking about his own future.
“As long as I put all my focus and energy into the team and to every other guy on this team and to winning ballgames, everything will take care of itself,” Martin said. “That’s really all I’m worried about.” Q 21
PRESEASON ALL-AMERICA TEAM by CARLOS COLLAZO
Arizona State first baseman Spencer Torkelson has the impact bat to profile as a middle-of-the-order corner bat in the major leagues.
PATRICK BAILEY, C NORTH CAROLINA STATE
SPENCER TORKELSON, 1B ARIZONA STATE
NICK GONZALES, 2B NEW MEXICO STATE
The top-ranked catcher in the 2020 class, Bailey entered college as an advanced defender with offensive concerns. He proved those concerns were unwarranted by leading all Atlantic Coast Conference freshmen in hitting (.321) before batting .325/.444/.598 as a sophomore. He brings power from both sides of the plate. Bailey also has strong plate discipline.
The best hitter in the 2020 draft class, Torkelson has the impact bat to profile at any corner and should fly off the draft board in June. He is a career .337/.443/.723 hitter with 48 home runs through two seasons and has top-of-the-scale power potential. While Torkelson’s most likely defensive home is first base, he has the athleticism to give a corner outfield spot a try.
A freshman All-America in 2018, Gonzales led New Mexico State in hitting (.347) as a freshman before leading the country as a sophomore (.432). He also showed his hitting chops last summer in the Cape Cod League (.351/.451/.630) against better pitching. He ranked as the league’s top prospect. Gonzales showed he could hit for power (seven home runs) with a wood bay and away from elevation.
AUSTIN MARTIN, 3B VANDERBILT
CASEY MARTIN, SS ARKANSAS
DANIEL CABRERA, OF LOUISIANA STATE
HESTON KJERSTAD, OF ARKANSAS
GARRETT MITCHELL, OF UCLA
GARRETT CROCHET, SP TENNESSEE
Martin led the nation in runs (87) as a sophomore at the top of a potent Vanderbilt offense and has one of the best hit tools in the country. His excellent bat speed and athleticism allows him to confidently play third, shortstop and center field. Martin also began tapping into more power, going from one home run as a freshman to eight in his follow-up campaign.
Martin has an enticing power-speed combination. He has 28 home runs and 18 stolen bases over two years with Arkansas, including a .316/.392/.551 career slash line. He started every game at shortstop as a sophomore and has the agility and hands to stick there. He can further take advantage of his tools if he refines an offensive approach that is overaggressive at times and has led to a 22% strikeout rate.
Known for his hitting prowess dating back to his high school days, Cabrera is a bat-first corner outfielder who consistently hits the ball hard and was named a Freshman AllAmerican after hitting .315/.405/.525 with eight home runs in 2018. Cabrera’s exit velocity numbers stack up with the best hitters in the country, though his strikeout rate climbed from 14 percent in 2018 to 21% in 2019.
Kjerstad has been a consistent power source in two years with Arkansas, hitting 14 homers as a freshman and 16 as a sophomore. He has hit .331/.412/.563 for his career. He also led all Team USA batters last summer with a .395/.426/.651 line, proving that he could hit with impact with both a metal and wood bat, and also handle a variety of pitching styles. Currently, he is a rudimentary defender.
One of the top-ranked hitters to make it to campus in 2018, Mitchell is tooledup in every way with plus speed, power and arm strength. After battling inconsistencies with his swing in high school and as a freshman, Mitchell broke out offensively as a sophomore and led the nation and broke a UCLA record with 12 triples. A Type I diabetic, he still has plenty to overcome but has the tools to do so.
Crochet ran up a 4.77 ERA in 128.2 innings as a starter and reliever in his first two seasons at Tennessee. Still, scouts loved the progress he showed last fall and think he might have the best fastball in the country. It’s an upper-90s heater that explodes out of his 6-foot5 frame. Crochet has also flashed plus with his slider, but he will need to improve the consistency and control of his breaking pitch this spring.
22
FEBRUARY 2020 • BASEBALLAMERICA.COM
P L AY E R P R O F I L E
Defying the odds Nick Gonzales may not look conventional, but his bat sure is by MIKE
ew Mexico State head coach Mike Kirby has barely been in Las Cruces for six months and he already has a Nick Gonzales story. The reigning Cape Cod League MVP and
COURTESY OF NEW MEXICO STATE ATHLETICS
N
LEMAIRE
2019 Division I batting champion, Gonzales was already a household name to Kirby when he took the job in June. But the former Cal State Fullerton and Nebraska assistant has coached plenty of future big leaguers and isn’t easily impressed, no matter how many accolades the player has piled up.
Nick Gonzales’ track record has him poised to be drafted in the top 10.
But in September, Kirby was walking by the batting cages and caught a glimpse of a lefthanded swing he
in 193 at-bats as a freshman and followed that up by
didn’t recognize. Intrigued by the loud contact, Kirby
hitting a ludicrous .432/.532/.773 with 16 home runs
decided to walk over and investigate. That is when he
as a sophomore.
got his first taste of just how good his second baseman really is. “I thought I knew all of my players’ swings by “Once I get closer, I see it is Gonzales working on
country and hitting .351/.451/.630 with seven home
switch-hitting. And he isn’t just making contact, he is
runs in 153 at-bats.
BILL MITCHELL
The story is hardly a unique one in college baseball. to transform from a lightly recruited walk-on to a
the former New Mexico State coach who was hired
potential first-round draft pick—his bat and his work
away by Washington State last summer. “I really didn’t do much tweaking. We helped him with a little bit of a hand change and a posture change.
work ethic. But work ethic is often an overused and
His swing started to get real loose and whippy, and
trite theme when talking about overcoming the odds.
next thing you know, the bat speed got crazy.” Gonzales isn’t quite the perfect prospect just yet.
byproduct of his size—he’s listed at 5-foot-10, 190
There are some concerns about his defense at second
pounds—and desire to prove his doubters wrong. But
base, and Green said that finding more zone disci-
for Gonzales, the answer is much simpler than that.
pline, especially as the quality of pitchers improves,
“I just want to play so bad,” Gonzales said. “Sitting
will be important for his growth. But it is unlikely,
on the bench, even for one game, kills me, and so
given his offensive ability, that he will slide out of the
when I wasn’t starting at the beginning of my fresh-
first round in June.
man year, I was always at the field doing something to get better. “I knew I was good enough, so I just tried to work harder than any guy I have ever seen.” The work ethic may be what has gotten him to where he is today, and it will likely continue to help him at the next level. But the reason why major league
The reality has already started to set in for Gonzales’ father Mike, who said that he nearly fell out of his chair when a scout told him that by June, his son was likely to be a millionaire. But for Gonzales, that stuff couldn’t be further from his mind. He has unfinished business in Las Cruces to take care of first. “My dad likes to ask me who I have met with and
teams are talking about drafting him in the top 10
honestly, I don’t even remember the teams,” Gonzales
picks is because there might not be a more advanced
said. “I am more worried about making another
hitter in all of college baseball. Scouting directors have
regional. I have the same goal in every game—hit the
fully bought in and unanimously voted Gonzales a
ball hard twice. If I do that, the draft stuff will take
first-team Preseason All-America.
care of itself.”
His numbers back up the hype and are so outrageous CONTINUED ON PAGE 24
practice by smoking the first 10 pitches right over first base on purpose. He is a machine,” said Brian Green,
Gonzales’ motivation may seem like the obvious
The No. 2 pitching prospect out of Georgia behind current Orioles lefty DL Hall in high school, Hancock had a middling freshman season at Georgia before exploding on the scene last spring. Hancock posted a 1.99 ERA over 14 starts and has four pitches that project as plus, with good control of the entire arsenal. He is the favorite to be the first pitcher drafted in June.
“There were days when he would start off batting
But it does help explain why Gonzales has been able
Everyone who knows Gonzales has a story about his
A first-round pick out of high school in 2018, Ginn didn’t come to terms with the Dodgers and instead was one of the best freshmen in the country with Mississippi State, joining Eric Dubose as the only two Bulldogs freshmen to reach 100 strikeouts in a season. Ginn racked up 103. He has a fastball that gets into the upper 90s with excellent life and a hard breaking ball to pair with it.
State plays at, Gonzales then spent the summer on the Cape, dominating some of the best pitchers in the
ethic.
EMERSON HANCOCK, SP GEORGIA
bers were inflated by the high altitude New Mexico
sight and so I wanted to get a closer look,” Kirby said.
hitting missiles. I was completely blown away.”
JT GINN, SP MISSISSIPPI STATE
If anyone wasn’t yet convinced or thought the num-
they can be difficult to believe. He hit .347/.425/.596
Mike Lemaire is a freelancer based in Laguna Beach, Calif. Q 23
BRIAN WESTERHOLT/FOUR SEAM IMAGES
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 22
KRISTIN M. BRADSHAW
The top-ranked lefthanded in the 2020 class, Lacy has posted back-to-back sub-3.00 ERA seasons with Texas A&M and as a sophomore allowed fewer hits per nine innings (4.97) than any Division I pitcher. Lacy has a strong frame and explosive pure stuff and will battle Hancock to be the first pitcher drafted. Coaches and scouts alike admire Lacy’s bulldog demeanor on the mound.
BRIAN WESTERHOLT/FOUR SEAM IMAGES
ASA LACY, SP TEXAS A&M
How We Select The Teams
BURL CARRAWAY, RP DALLAS BAPTIST
MAX MEYER, UT MINNESOTA
Carraway barely pitched as a Dallas Baptist freshman but came into his own as a sophomore, posting a 2.81 ERA in 28 games. He struck out 72 batters in 41.2 innings and his strikeout rate of 15.6 per nine innings was good for the second best in school history. Carraway has an electric fastball/breaking ball combination that creates uncomfortable at-bats for hitters, but his control can come and go at times. He’s also an impressive athlete.
Meyer’s explosive fastball/ slider combination makes him squarely a pitching prospect for pro teams. He has a 2.11 ERA as a starter and reliever with the Golden Gophers over two years—but he also hit in the middle of Minnesota’s lineup as a sophomore, batting .256/.323/.314. Meyer’s slider is arguably the best in the country, but some question whether he can hold that stuff in a starting role this spring.
24
FEBRUARY 2020 • BASEBALLAMERICA.COM
Every year, Baseball America surveys scouting directors to ask them to vote on our Preseason College All-America team. This year, a dozen scouting departments participated, giving a solid cross-section of how scouts view the college baseball talent heading into the 2020 season— and the draft. As we have for 40 years now, we ask scouting directors for their opinions because we’re attempting to look to the future with this team, not look back at past accomplishments. Our end-of-season College All-America Team rewards results, but our preseason team is a look at the top college talent in the nation. An asterisk (*) indicates sophomore. SECOND TEAM C 1B 2B 3B SS OF OF
*Austin Wells, Arizona *Aaron Sabato, North Carolina Justin Foscue, Mississippi State Gage Workman, Arizona State Alika Williams, Arizona State Parker Chavers, Coastal Carolina Jesse Franklin, Michigan
OF SP SP SP SP RP UT
Alerick Soularie, Tennessee Reid Detmers, Louisville Carmen Mlodzinski, South Carolina *Kumar Rocker, Vanderbilt C.J. Van Eyk, Florida State Tyler Brown, Vanderbilt Logan Allen, Florida International
THIRD TEAM C 1B 2B 3B SS OF OF
Casey Opitz, Arkansas Alex Toral, Miami Noah Campbell, South Carolina Niko Kavadas, Notre Dame Nick Loftin, Baylor *Colton Cowser, Sam Houston State Zach DeLoach, Texas A&M
OF SP SP SP SP RP UT
Joey Wiemer, Cincinnati Tanner Burns, Auburn Cade Cavalli, Oklahoma *Slade Cecconi, Miami Cole Wilcox, Georgia Joe Boyle, Notre Dame Casey Schmitt, San Diego State
LEFT: Georgia righthander Emerson Hancock throws four potentially plus pitches. RIGHT TOP: Arkansas outfielder Heston Kjerstad led Team USA in hitting last summer. RIGHT BOTTOM: North Carolina State catcher Patrick Bailey excels at the plate and behind it.
PLAYER TO KNOW: Jake Eder, LHP. Though Eder was a Top 100 prospect in the 2017 draft coming out of high school, he’s been able to fly under the radar a bit through two years at Vanderbilt while either serving as the team’s midweek starter or setup man. He has a chance this spring to take on a larger role and is coming off an impressive summer on the Cape, which has helped position him as a potential first-round pick in June. That jump could earn him a spot in the weekend rotation or perhaps see him pitch out of the pen as a relief ace. No Louisville lefthander Reid Detmers has the Cardinals roaring into the season.
matter where he settles, he’ll pitch important innings for the Commodores and scouts will be closely watching. PATH TO OMAHA: Over the years, Vanderbilt has come to be known for its pitching prowess. Last year’s national champions were the exception, as they flexed their muscles at the plate for much of the season until the pitching staff hit its stride down the stretch. This year, it’s a return to the norm for Vanderbilt. Its frontline arms are unmatched, and they should be able to lead the Commodores back to the College World
COURTESY OF LOUISVILLE
Series. To repeat as national champions, they’ll need their inexperienced hitters to step up around Martin and seniors Ty Duvall and Harrison Ray. But much like the lineup shouldered the burden last year while the pitching staff grew and developed, the pitching staff is good enough to carry the load through any early growing pains for the offense. 2020 LINEUP
RED ALERT Louisville is the top contender to dethrone Vanderbilt in our Preseason Top 25 by TEDDY
CAHILL AND JOE HEALY
1. VANDERBILT LAST YEAR
FINAL RANKING
59-12 (23-7 in SEC); won College World Series
No. 1
COACH (RECORD AT SCHOOL)
TOP 100 2020 DRAFT PROSPECTS
er in last year’s draft not to sign and is lauded for advanced feel on the mound. Leiter also leads the nation’s top-ranked recruiting class, giving Vanderbilt plenty of young talent to mix in this spring.
Pos. Name, Yr. C 1B 2B 3B SS LF CF RF DH
Ty Duvall, Sr. Dominic Keegan, So. Harrison Ray, Sr. Austin Martin, Jr. Carter Young, Fr. Cooper Davis, Jr. Isaiah Thomas, So. Matt Hogan, So. Spencer Jones, Fr.
Pos. RHP RHP LHP RP RP
Name, Yr. Kumar Rocker, So. Mason Hickman, Jr. Jake Eder, Jr. Tyler Brown, Jr. Ethan Smith, So.
AVG
OBP
SLG
HR
RBI AB
5 0 2 10
42 189 1 22 38 232 46 268
0 3 0
19 121 10 38 0 4
IP 100 97 39 49 33
SO SV 114 0 129 3 41 4 65 17 47 0
.275 .418 .413 .227 .320 .273 .276 .358 .397 .392 .486 .604 HS—Selah, Wash. .331 .441 .421 .368 .405 .684 .000 .364 .067 HS—Carlsbad, Calif. W 12 9 2 3 4
L 5 0 0 1 0
ERA 3.25 2.05 2.97 2.19 3.27
THE GOOD NEWS: The reigning national champion Commodores boast perhaps the best combination of position player and pitcher in the country. Martin is the most dynamic player in the country and could play nearly anywhere on the diamond for the Commodores but will likely reprise his role at third base. Righthander Kumar Rocker has an argument as the nation’s best pitcher after his sensational June that helped Vanderbilt win the national title and won him both Freshman of the Year and CWS Most Outstanding Player honors. Beyond that duo, Vanderbilt’s five or six best pitchers are better than that of any other team in the nation. Righthander Mason Hickman started and won the decisive game of the CWS finals
THE BAD NEWS: Vanderbilt will need its young players— both newcomers and those who spent last year as backups or role players—to step up in many instances. Gone are SEC Player of the Year JJ Bleday, Friday starter Drake Fellows and six seniors, a group that includes shortstop Ethan Paul and righthander Patrick Raby, who set the program’s career wins record. In another year, Bleday might have won National Player of the Year honors. Replacing his offensive production will be no small feat. The Commodores led the nation in home runs (100) and ranked fifth in slugging percentage (.514) and many of the players responsible for providing that thump in the lineup are now in pro ball, starting with Bleday and his 27 home runs, the nation’s most. This year’s Vanderbilt offense likely won’t be as powerful, but players who are getting a bigger opportunity this spring will need to bring the thunder. They’ll also need to bring their gloves considering Vanderbilt
and closer Tyler Brown finished second in the country in saves last season and then pitched for USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team. Lefthander Jake Eder was excellent out of the
posted a .980 fielding percentage last season, the 10th best nationally. Freshman Carter Young will be asked to step in at shortstop and has a strong defensive reputation, while sopho-
lefthanders Michael Kirian, who had a 1.69 ERA in relief last season, and Adam Elliott are back to help close out games. Offensively, Freshman All-American third baseman Alex
bullpen and is coming off a strong summer in the Cape Cod League. Righthander Jack Leiter was the highest ranked play-
more Isaiah Thomas will likely take over in center field.
Binelas, shortstop Justin Lavey, DH Danny Oriente, left fielder Zach Britton and toolsy second baseman Lucas Dunn, who
Tim Corbin (740-354-1, 17 seasons)
3B Austin Martin (No. 3), LHP Jake Eder (No. 50), RHP Tyler Brown (No. 76)
2. LOUISVILLE LAST YEAR
FINAL RANKING
51-18 (21-9 in ACC); reached College World Series
No. 3.
COACH (RECORD AT SCHOOL)
Dan McDonnell (605-240, 13 seasons)
TOP 100 2020 DRAFT PROSPECTS
LHP Reid Detmers (No. 11), RHP Bobby Miller (No. 89)
THE GOOD NEWS: In lefthander Reid Detmers and righthander Bobby Miller, the Cardinals have one of the best starting rotation one-two punches in the country. Detmers dominated in 2019 to the tune of 167 strikeouts in 113.1 innings, and Miller showed flashes of greatness while transitioning into a full-time starting role. At the back end,
25
the pitching will be vastly improved, but if several of these pitchers falter in taking the next step in their development, it could be on the offense to do the heavy lifting once again. PLAYER TO KNOW: Justin Fall, LHP. Fall comes to Tempe can handle multiple premium defensive positions if pressed into duty, provide a good foundation among position players.
after two seasons at Brookdale (N.J.) JC. After piquing some interest as an undrafted free agent at the conclusion of his
Defensively, catcher Henry Davis should help curtail stolen bases with his cannon of an arm. Center fielder Luke Brown, a
freshman year, he added weight to his 6-foot-6 frame and saw his raw stuff take a jump. As a sophomore at Brookdale, he
junior college transfer, has the speed to run down just about
had a 1.82 ERA with 68 strikeouts and 13 walks in 64.1 innings
anything in the outfield. A ton of talent returns from a team that made a deep run in Omaha last season.
using a fastball that touched as high as 95 mph and a slider that showed above-average potential when he was throwing
THE BAD NEWS: There is some turnover in the lineup,
it well. He impressed during fall practice and has the inside track on coming out as the Sun Devils’ Friday starter in 2020.
with the departures of Logan Wyatt, Tyler Fitzgerald, Drew Campbell and Jake Snider. The Cardinals will likely turn to a
If ASU’s pitching is going to make a big leap, Fall will almost certainly have to be a big part.
freshman in Dalton Rushing at first base and two junior college transfers, Brown and Levi Usher, in center and right field,
PATH TO OMAHA: In a Pac-12 that will likely be a step behind where it was last year, Arizona State has the talent to
respectively. Lavey is new to shortstop and though he has the tools to succeed there, it is a demanding position that could create a bit of an adjustment period for the former second
not only win the conference, but also put up a gaudy league record along the way. Its offense is already capable of slug-
baseman. A minor question mark is bullpen depth. Michael McAvene, Shay Smiddy and Bryan Hoeing are all gone after
ging its way to Omaha. But how well ASU is able to match up pitcher for pitcher with the teams it faces come June will
PLAYER TO KNOW: Bobby Miller, RHP. Detmers is a known commodity. In 2019, he set the Louisville program record for strikeouts in a season, which were good for second nationally, and he was named the ACC Pitcher of the Year. But Miller holds the key that could take the Louisville rotation from great to elite. He took steps forward last season, including throwing eight shutout innings against East Carolina in the deciding game of the super regional, and his stuff is absolutely undeniable, highlighted by a fastball that can touch 100 mph and a plus slider in the low 90s. With 12 starts among his 20 appearances last season, the next step for Miller will be taking the ball every week in 2020 and becoming a workhorse alongside Detmers. PATH TO OMAHA: If Louisville simply plays to its talent level and experience, it will have the inside track to get to Omaha, which would make three trips in four seasons for Dan McDonnell’s team. An experienced rotation led by two highly regarded draft prospects, a proven closer and a veteran-laden offense should make this team close to unflappable. 2020 LINEUP Pos. Name, Yr. C 1B 2B 3B SS LF CF RF DH Pos. LHP RHP RHP RP
Henry Davis, So. Dalton Rushing, Fr. Lucas Dunn, Jr. Alex Binelas, So. Justin Lavey, Sr. Zach Britton, Jr. Luke Brown, Jr. Levi Usher, So. Danny Oriente, Sr. Name, Yr. Reid Detmers, Jr. Bobby Miller, Jr. Luke Smith, Sr. Michael Kirian, Jr.
RP Adam Elliott, Sr.
26
AVG
OBP
SLG
HR
RBI AB
.280 .345 .386 3 23 HS—Brighton, Tenn. .309 .399 .398 1 25 .291 .383 .612 14 59 .286 .361 .366 3 33 .288 .368 .470 5 28 Transfer—John A. Logan (Ill.) JC Transfer—Kirkwood (Iowa) JC .332 .404 .435 1 49 W 13 7 6 3
L 4 1 1 1
ERA 2.78 3.83 4.24 1.69
IP 113 80 68 32
3
2
2.48
33
FEBRUARY 2020 • BASEBALLAMERICA.COM
132 191 206 227 132
193
SO SV 167 0 86 0 53 0 42 5 33
0
Shortstop Alika Williams is back to anchor Arizona State’s infield, which could be one of the best defensive units in the nation.
determine whether or not it can make a return to the CWS for the first time since 2010.
3. ARIZONA STATE
2020 LINEUP Pos. Name, Yr.
LAST YEAR
38-19 (16-13 in Pac-12); reached regionals COACH (RECORD AT SCHOOL)
Tracy Smith (155-129, five seasons)
FINAL RANKING
NR.
TOP 100 2020 DRAFT PROSPECTS
1B Spencer Torkelson (No. 1), SS Alika Williams (No. 32), 3B Gage Workman (No. 48), LHP Justin Fall (No. 67), RHP RJ Dabovich (No. 77)
THE GOOD NEWS: The Sun Devils will mash once again. An offense led by Torkelson, Williams, Workman and Trevor Hauver will likely be one of the very best in the country. Catcher Sam Ferri, second baseman Drew Swift and outfielder Myles Denson don’t have the gaudy numbers of those top four returning hitters, but all three are veterans, helping give ASU a lineup with a ton of experience from top to bottom. Ferri and Williams are also fantastic defensively at arguably the two most important positions on the diamond. Arizona State didn’t always pitch well enough to support its offense last season, but with new pitching coach Jason Kelly in the fold, there is plenty of optimism that will change in short order. A number of talented pitchers return to campus this season for Kelly to work with. They will be joined by some freshmen who should have an impact right away and a couple of high-end transfers in Justin Fall and Tyler Thornton.
AVG
OBP
SLG
HR
RBI AB
C 1B 2B 3B SS LF CF RF DH
Sam Ferri, R-Jr. Spencer Torkelson, Jr. Drew Swift, Jr. Gage Workman, Jr. Alika Williams, Jr. Trevor Hauver, Jr. Sean McLain, Fr. Myles Denson, Sr. Hunter Jump, Jr.
.269 .321 .385 2 24 .351 .446 .707 23 66 .265 .375 .333 0 20 .330 .413 .528 8 42 .333 .429 .474 4 53 .339 .433 .574 13 50 HS—Tustin, Calif. .292 .354 .416 0 11 Transfer—Central Arizona JC.
130 242 162 218 213 242
Pos. LHP RHP LHP RP RP
Name, Yr. Justin Fall, Jr. Boyd Vander Kooi, Jr. Cooper Benson, Fr. RJ Dabovich, Jr. Erik Tolman, So.
W L ERA IP SO SV Transfer—Brookdale (N.J.) JC 4 4 5.59 95 85 0 HS—San Luis Obispo, Calif. 7 1 4.75 53 47 3 3 1 3.38 48 49 0
89
4. FLORIDA LAST YEAR
FINAL RANKING
34-26 (13-17 in SEC); reached regionals
NR
COACH (RECORD AT SCHOOL)
Kevin O’Sullivan (531-255, 12 seasons)
TOP 100 2020 DRAFT PROSPECTS
RHP Tommy Mace (No. 49), RHP Jack Leftwich (No. 91)
THE BAD NEWS: The Sun Devils’ pitching staff is very long on talent, but short on track record at this level. Two-thirds of the projected weekend rotation, Fall and freshman Cooper Benson, will be getting their first taste of Division I baseball, and Thornton will take his first crack at the Pac-12. Returners
THE GOOD NEWS: Florida endured a lot of growing pains in 2019 and its regionals streak was in danger late in the season as a result. But the Gators finished stronger and made the NCAA Tournament for the 12th straight season, a run that dates back to the first year O’Sullivan took over the program. Now, with most of the team back, the Gators’ growing pains
like Boyd Vander Kooi, Blake Burzell and Will Levine will be asked to take steps forward after all had high ERAs last season. Closer RJ Dabovich had a 4.75 ERA last season, with the
should pay off. Mace and Leftwich have the talent to be one of the best 1-2 punches in the country and lead one of the deepest pitching staffs. Lefthander Hunter Barco was the
expectation that he will improve on that this season. Arizona State’s high preseason ranking is based on confidence that
second-highest player in last June’s MLB draft not to sign and will pitch in a key role, either in the rotation or bullpen. While
JACOB SNOW/ICON SPORTSWIRE VIA GETTY IMAGES; CLIFF WELCH
throwing a lot of innings in relief last season. There are plenty of quality arms on the staff to fill those innings, but it’s just a matter of finding the right pitchers for the right roles.
Florida lost its top two hitters from last season, it returns six regulars. Center fielder Jud Fabian has taken a step forward and the trio of him, senior Austin Langworthy and sophomore Jacob Young should give Florida one of the best outfields in the country. THE BAD NEWS: Florida must replace DH Nelson Maldonado, who was a four-year starter, and shortstop Brady McConnell. The pair last year not only led the Gators in hitting but were also their biggest power threats. Replacing that production will take a collective effort and Florida will especially look for the four regulars who last year played extensively as freshmen—Fabian, Young, second baseman Cory Acton and first baseman Kendrick Calilao—to take a step forward. For all its returning experience, Florida will be young up the middle. Freshmen Nathan Hickey and Josh Rivera will take over at catcher and shortstop, respectively. Rivera has immense potential, and both should be able to handle the challenge, especially defensively. But the transition to the SEC as freshmen at premium positions isn’t easy. On the mound, Florida has plenty of talent, but no settled roles. It’s rare that the Gators’ pitching staff is so unsettled entering a campaign and O’Sullivan will likely use the season’s first month to figure out how best to arrange the staff. PLAYER TO KNOW: Jud Fabian, OF. At this time last year, Fabian had been in college for about a month after graduating high school a semester early and joining the team in January. He had some ups and downs as a freshman, but overall handled the challenge well. He’s now coming off a full offseason in college baseball, including an impressive summer in the Cape Cod League. He’ll be at the heart of any success Florida has this year, manning center field and hitting in the middle of the order. PATH TO OMAHA: Florida’s talent level is again elite and last year’s experience should help its younger players take a step forward this spring. Its pitching staff should be one of the nation’s deepest, and if the Gators can get a couple arms to establish themselves in key roles they’ll also have one of the best staffs. If Florida can get solid seasons, especially defensively, out of Hickey and Rivera, it’ll be in good shape from a position player standpoint. With its upside on the mound, it won’t need to rely on its offense, but its lineup will be able to provide enough support that it won’t need every game to be a pitchers’ duel. Put it all together, and Florida is ready to prove that last year’s step back was just a blip. 2020 LINEUP Pos. Name, Yr. C 1B 2B 3B SS LF CF RF DH Pos. RHP RHP LHP RP RP
Nathan Hickey, Fr. Kendrick Calilao, So. Cory Acton, So. Brady Smith, Jr. Josh Rivera, Fr. Austin Langworthy, Sr. Jud Fabian, So. Jacob Young, So. Jordan Butler, Jr. Name, Yr. Tommy Mace, Jr. Jack Leftwich, Jr. Hunter Barco, Fr. David Luethje, So. Christian Scott, So.
AVG
OBP
SLG
HS—Jacksonville .276 .348 .401 .251 .353 .387 .270 .392 .428 HS—Bradenton, Fla. .283 .362 .498 .232 .353 .411 .311 .383 .404 .358 .404 .566 W L ERA 8 5 5.32 6 5 5.31 HS—Jacksonville 1 1 3.86 6 3 5.19
First baseman Alex Toral will again be at the center of Miami’s exciting offense, which could be the key to getting the Hurricanes back to Omaha.
5. MIAMI LAST YEAR
FINAL RANKING
41-20 (18-12 in ACC); reached regionals
No. 22
COACH (RECORD AT SCHOOL)
Gino DiMare (41-20, one season)
TOP 100 2020 DRAFT PROSPECTS
SS Freddy Zamora (No. 33), RHP Slade Cecconi (No. 40), RHP Chris McMahon (No. 60)
THE GOOD NEWS: The Hurricanes return just about everyone from a team that was in the mix to host a regional right up until the end of the regular season. A rotation of McMahon, Cecconi and Brian Van Belle could very well be one of the best in the country, and Daniel Federman is back to serve as a bullpen workhorse. An offense led by Adrian Del Castillo, Alex Toral, Raymond Gil and Zamora should have little issue supporting the pitching staff. The loss of primary catcher Michael Amditis would normally be of great concern, but catcher is perhaps UM’s deepest position, especially with Del Castillo moving back there full-time. Freshman Jared Thomas was the team’s most impressive newcomer in the fall according to DiMare, and Isaac Quinones served as the starting catcher in 2018.
struggled with control at times in 2019. Freshman lefty Carson Palmquist looks the part of someone who could step in immediately. While the potential is through the roof, McMahon and Cecconi both have something to prove. The former has battled injuries in his time in Coral Gables, while the latter will be in his first full season as a weekend starter. PLAYER TO KNOW: Freddy Zamora, SS. On a team full of high-end arms and power bats, Zamora has been one of the team’s steadiest performers over the last two seasons and will go into the 2020 season as UM’s best pro prospect. A .300/.391/.429 career hitter, Zamora is a complete player for the Canes. He’s stolen 33 total bases over two years, his walk total eclipsed his strikeout total in both seasons, and his slugging percentage took a 35-point jump from one year to the next, based largely on his home runs going from one to six. He has a ton of experience handling a tough defensive position and will go into the 2020 season improved in that regard.
HR
RBI AB
5 6 5
49 217 30 199 20 152
10 7 3 2
43 223 26 168 26 183 11 53
THE BAD NEWS: Bullpen roles will have to be sorted out
PATH TO OMAHA: This is a group out to prove itself. The veteran core of this team stepped on campus in the immediate aftermath of Miami’s 44-year regional streak ending in 2017, and then that group missed a regional again in 2018. Last season, they flirted with hosting one throughout the season but a bad habit of not finishing games kept that from happening.
IP 90 63
SO SV 62 0 62 0
behind Federman, who is a steady hand as the closer. Tyler Keysor would fit in nicely as a bullpen arm, as he did last season, but he could be pressed into duty as the midweek starter.
If the rotation can stay healthy and some of the role players on offense, such as outfielders Jordan Lala, Tony Jenkins and Gabe Rivera, can take steps forward, the Hurricanes will be
28 52
15 44
Pitchers like two-way player J.P. Gates and fourth-year junior Albert Maury, Jr. could be candidates for larger roles, after each
one of the most well-rounded teams in the country and a clear Omaha contender.
0 1
27
7. GEORGIA
back after saving eight games a year ago, Kurt Wilson can get on the mound and run his fastball into the high 90s, and new faces like junior college transfer lefthander Jakob Brustoski and Vanderbilt transfer Austin Becker could have immediate roles. Texas Tech’s position player depth also really sets them
C 1B 2B 3B SS LF CF RF DH
Adrian Del Castillo, So. Alex Toral, Jr. Anthony Vilar, So. Raymond Gil, Jr. Freddy Zamora, Jr. Jordan Lala, So. Tony Jenkins, Jr. Gabe Rivera, Jr. J.P. Gates, So.
Pos. RHP RHP RHP RP RP
Name, Yr. Brian Van Belle, R-Sr. Chris McMahon, Jr. Slade Cecconi, So. Daniel Federman, Jr. Tyler Keysor, Sr.
AVG
OBP
SLG
HR
.331 .293 .291 .318 .296 .276 .268 .290 .340
.418 .400 .416 .396 .393 .446 .392 .374 .371
.576 .656 .414 .565 .447 .386 .330 .590 .510
12 24 5 13 6 4 0 7 4
72 67 39 44 46 18 12 31 31
L 2 2 4 5 1
ERA 3.30 3.73 4.16 3.51 3.78
IP 95 60 80 49 48
SO SV 84 0 67 0 89 0 60 7 38 0
W 10 3 5 3 6
RBI AB 236 215 237 214 199 210 97 100 147
of Wilson, Cody Masters, Dru Baker, Max Marusak and highly touted freshman Dillon Carter would hold starring roles on
Bulldogs. Hancock may be the best pitcher in the country and is a contender to be the No. 1 overall pick in June, which has
many other teams, but instead will be battling with each other for playing time in the outfield corners around center
never happened in program history. Wilcox, who spent the summer with Team USA, gives him an elite running mate and the
fielder Dylan Neuse. They also have the luxury of welcoming back a productive senior in second baseman Brian Klein.
Bulldogs 1-2 punch figures to be among the best in the nation. Lefthander C.J. Smith is back to full health after back soreness
THE BAD NEWS: With Josh Jung, Cameron Warren and
sidelined him in the second half of last year and he rounds out the rotation well. Georgia also has a potentially elite defense
LAST YEAR
FINAL RANKING
No. 4
COACH (RECORD AT SCHOOL)
TOP 100 2020 DRAFT PROSPECTS
None
Tim Tadlock (285-152, seven seasons)
THE GOOD NEWS: The Red Raiders’ pitching staff is deeper than it has been in the past. Micah Dallas gives the team a proven Friday starter, and John McMillon and Bryce Bonnin are a pair of flamethrowers looking to develop into 28
FEBRUARY 2020 • BASEBALLAMERICA.COM
that got a significant boost when both second baseman Riley King and shortstop Cam Shepherd decided to return to Athens despite being drafted last June. Georgia added enough excit-
the offense, and Tadlock’s teams will always hit, but without those departed stars the ceiling might be a bit limited. On
ing young talent both on the mound and in the lineup that it shouldn’t need to rely on but could make an impact before
the mound, McMillon and Bonnin have elite arms, but both have spotty track records as starting pitchers. They have a lot to prove.
long.
PLAYER TO KNOW: Micah Dallas, RHP. On a pitching staff full of guys who can run their fastball into the high 90s with regularity, Dallas might be seen as a stereotypical crafty college pitcher, but his stuff is plenty good. He has a fastball that has been up to 95 mph, commands his entire repertoire and, crucially, he already has experience throwing on Fridays, having been thrust into that role as a freshman last season. Tech may have to spend some time shuffling roles on the pitching staff to find the best fit for everyone, but they know what they have in Dallas. PATH TO OMAHA: In the last couple of seasons, Texas Tech has relied on its prolific offense to carry the load while tinkering with its pitching staff throughout the season. In 2020, the clearest path to Omaha might be the inverse. If Dallas, McMillon and Bonnin hold down their starting spots from the beginning, and a handful of those hard-throwers carve out bullpen roles right away, it could take some heat off of a lineup that might have to use up a good portion of the season to find its footing.
Pos. Name, Yr.
46-20 (16-8 in Big 12); reached College World Series
Emerson Hancock (No. 2), RHP Cole Wilcox (No. 24). RHP
THE GOOD NEWS: It all starts on the mound for the
2020 LINEUP
6. TEXAS TECH
TOP 100 2020 DRAFT PROSPECTS
is making the move to first base. In the outfield, the quintet
Neuse and Klein, who will make this Texas Tech offense go. The aforementioned depth will keep the floor pretty high for
Pos. Name, Yr.
No. 16
Scott Stricklin (189-157-1, six seasons)
Gabe Holt in pro ball now, it’s difficult to predict, outside of
2020 LINEUP
FINAL RANKING
COACH (RECORD AT SCHOOL)
apart. In Braxton Fulford and Cole Stilwell, it boasts two players who could be full-time catchers, although the latter
Second baseman Brian Klein brings experience to the Texas Tech lineup.
LAST YEAR
46-17 (21-9 in SEC); reached regional final
C 1B 2B 3B SS LF CF RF DH
Braxton Fulford, Jr. Cole Stilwell, So. Brian Klein, Sr. Jace Jung, Fr. Cal Conley, R-Fr. Dru Baker, Jr. Dylan Neuse, Jr. Max Marusak, So. Tanner O’Tremba, So.
Pos. RHP RHP RHP RP
Name, Yr. Micah Dallas, So. John McMillon, Sr. Bryce Bonnin, Jr. Clayton Beeter, R-So.
RP Kurt Wilson, Jr.
AVG
OBP
SLG
HR
RBI AB
.298 .388 .419 .268 .408 .407 .315 .406 .440 HS—San Antonio Transfer—Miami .321 .395 .445 .298 .408 .494 .235 .301 .353 .261 .367 .402
4 3 3
34 191 22 123 57 257
3 8 1 2
25 137 51 245 12 102 20 92
W 7 4 7 0
L 2 3 1 3
ERA 4.03 3.40 4.08 3.48
IP 76 48 64 21
SO SV 84 0 67 3 65 0 40 8
0
1
6.14
15
12
0
THE BAD NEWS: While Georgia is going to hang its hat on run prevention and is equipped to win a lot of pitchers’ duels, it still needs to answer some questions offensively. The Bulldogs’ top three hitters all must be replaced, as do their three biggest power threats. The biggest single loss that must be accounted for is All-American third baseman/closer Aaron Schunk, who led the team in hitting and home runs and saved 12 games. Georgia’s pitching staff is deep enough to account for the loss and lefthander Ryan Webb has the stuff and experience to step in at the back of the bullpen. Garrett Blaylock, a junior college transfer, is expected to start at third base and provide good defense and a powerful bat. The Bulldogs also will get back outfielder Tucker Bradley, who suffered a shoulder injury on Opening Weekend that kept him out the rest of the spring. Overall, Georgia’s experienced, veteran lineup looks like it should have several tough outs, even if it’s lacking star power. PLAYER TO KNOW: Cole Wilcox, RHP. Hancock is the headliner, and with good reason. But Wilcox, a draft-eligible sophomore, is a significant part of the reason Georgia is among the College World Series contenders. After starting last season in the bullpen, he worked his way into the rotation and put together a solid year. He attacks hitters with a fastball that gets into the upper 90s and a sharp slider and, if he lives up to his potential, will give the Bulldogs a devastating 1-2 punch every weekend. PATH TO OMAHA: Georgia has been a top-eight overall seed in each of the last two years but has been upset in the Athens Regional both seasons. To break through to the next level and make it back to the College World Series for the first time since 2008, it’ll be up to its pitching staff and defense to shoulder the load. Georgia has the potential to be one of the best teams in the country at run prevention and will likely need to live up to that billing both on the mound and defensively. If it can just score enough runs, the combination of Hancock and Wilcox, plus a strong bullpen will make the Bulldogs a tough out.
JOHN WILLIAMSON; PETER AIKEN/GETTY IMAGES
refined starters. Sophomore lefthander Mason Montgomery has high upside as a fourth starter as well. Clayton Beeter is
2020 LINEUP Pos. Name, Yr. C 1B 2B 3B SS LF CF RF DH
Mason Meadows, R-Jr. Patrick Sullivan, R-Sr. Riley King, R-Jr. Garrett Blaylock, Jr. Cam Shepherd, Sr. Tucker Bradley, R-Jr. Randon Jernigan, So. Connor Tate, R-So. Chaney Rogers, Jr.
Pos. RHP RHP LHP RP RP
Name, Yr. Emerson Hancock, Jr. Cole Wilcox, So. C.J. Smith, Jr. Jonathan Cannon, Fr. Ryan Webb, Jr.
AVG
OBP
SLG
HR
RBI AB
.180 .322 .295 3 15 122 .263 .350 .360 3 24 175 .295 .403 .440 8 43 241 Transfer—St. John’s River (Fla.) JC .231 .333 .386 8 33 251 .222 .300 .444 0 3 9 .248 .338 .301 1 12 113 .270 .304 .459 3 19 74 .256 .379 .338 1 13 133 W L ERA IP 8 3 1.99 90 3 2 4.07 60 3 3 4.30 46 HS—Alpharetta, Ga. 1 0 3.75 24
SO SV 97 0 64 0 38 0 27
1
8. MICHIGAN LAST YEAR
FINAL RANKING
50-22 (16-7 in Big Ten); College World Series runner-up
No. 2
COACH (RECORD AT SCHOOL)
TOP 100 2020 DRAFT PROSPECTS
RHP Jeff Criswell (No. 53)
Erik Bakich (259-162-1, seven seasons)
THE GOOD NEWS: Michigan is coming off its best season in more than 50 years after winning 50 games and reaching the CWS, where it fell in three games to Vanderbilt. That team returns a significant amount of its core, which was built around what is now the Wolverines’ junior class. That includes Criswell, who will look to become the third member of last year’s rotation to be drafted in the top 75 picks, and up-the-middle players catcher Joe Donovan, shortstop Jack Blomgren and center fielder Jesse Franklin. Michigan also gets back lefthanders Ben Dragani and Steven Hajjar, who both missed last season due to injury and will now bolster the pitching staff. Another solid recruiting class last fall arrived in Ann Arbor and is ready to quickly make an impact, starting with sluggers Jimmy Obertop and junior college transfer Cameron Hart. THE BAD NEWS: The Wolverines return a lot, but they do have to replace a lot. All-American outfielder Jordan Brewer is gone, as are steady senior infielders Jimmy Kerr, Blake Nelson and Ako Thomas. Michigan is also missing its two workhorses from the front of the rotation in lefthander Tommy Henry and righthander Karl Kauffmann. Dragani, who had a strong freshman year in the bullpen before missing 2019, and Hajjar, who has premium stuff, provide ready-made replacements for Henry and Kauffmann, but they are coming off significant injuries and will need to show they can get back to their prior form. Offensively, Brewer last year was one of the best power-speed threats in the country as he hit 12 home runs and stole 25 bases. The Wolverines won’t be able to directly replace that kind of dynamism, but Franklin and Nwogu have loud tools and a history of production. They’ll need a couple new players to step up around them, but there’s enough talent in place to feel secure about that happening. PLAYER TO KNOW: Jesse Franklin, OF. Franklin has been an everyday player at Michigan since arriving as a highly anticipated freshman. He’s shown solid power, hitting 23 home runs in his first two seasons, and last year took over in
Shortstop Jack Blomgren is a part of Michigan’s big, talented junior class that is looking to lead the Wolverines back to the College World Series.
center field for the Wolverines. As a junior, Michigan needs Franklin to be a cornerstone both offensively and defensively. A big year from Franklin would take some of the pressure off Michigan’s more inexperienced hitters and propel him up draft boards. PATH TO OMAHA: Michigan’s breakthrough last year to the sport’s upper echelon had been anticipated for a few years, but few saw it coming so dramatically that the Wolverines would come within one win of a national championship in 2019. Now that it’s happened, Michigan is out to prove it has staying power. That requires quickly reloading, which this team is equipped to do with such a talented
2020 LINEUP C 1B 2B 3B SS LF CF RF DH Pos. RHP LHP LHP RP
Joe Donovan, Jr. Matt Schmidt, R-Sr. Riley Bertram, So. Teddy Burton, Fr. Jack Blomgren, Jr. Jordan Nwogu, Jr. Jesse Franklin, Jr. Christian Bullock, Sr. Jimmy Obertop, Fr. Name, Yr. Jeff Criswell, Jr. Ben Dragani, R-So. Steven Hajjar, R-Fr. Isaiah Paige, R-So.
RP Willie Weiss, So.
AVG
OBP
SLG
HR
RBI AB
.234 .314 .421 9 37 .167 .389 .250 0 2 .385 .515 .538 0 7 HS—Huntington Beach, Calif. .314 .417 .401 3 47 .321 .435 .557 12 46 .262 .388 .477 13 55 .263 .385 .407 2 14 HS—St. Louis W L ERA IP 7 1 2.72 106 Did not play—Injured Did not play—Injured 3 1 2.75 52 2
2
2.97
39
LAST YEAR
FINAL RANKING
52-15 (20-10 in SEC); reached College World Series
No. 5
COACH (RECORD AT SCHOOL)
Chris Lemonis (52-15,one season)
junior class. To get back to the CWS, Michigan needs its newlook rotation to live up to its promise and its lineup to find answers without some of last year’s leaders like Brewer and Kerr. It’s all within reach for Michigan, if it can just find a way to maintain the ease and looseness it displayed last June.
Pos. Name, Yr.
9. MISSISSIPPI STATE
209 12 26 242 246 260 118
SO SV 116 3
33
1
50
9
TOP 100 2020 DRAFT PROSPECTS
RHP JT Ginn (No. 12), 2B Justin Foscue (No. 34), SS Jordan Westburg (No. 36)
THE GOOD NEWS: Mississippi State returns several pieces of the core of last season’s team, which helped the Bulldogs reach the College World Series for the second straight year. Righthander JT Ginn, a Freshman All-American last season, is back and ready to take over at the front of the rotation. Second baseman Justin Foscue and shortstop Jordan Westburg, who form what might be the most dynamic double play combination in the country, are back. Foscue’s return means Mississippi State has its best power hitter back after he led the team with 13 home runs and a .564 slugging percentage a year ago. Outfielders Tanner Allen, who will move from first base to right field, and Rowdey Jordan also return after playing in every game a year ago and give the lineup another pair of experienced bats. THE BAD NEWS: While Mississippi State has some stars returning, it also must replace a pair of superstars. Center fielder Jake Mangum, who finished his career with the fourth-most hits in Division I history, graduated after four years of hitting at the top of the Bulldogs’ lineup. Lefthander Ethan Small, who was the team’s best pitcher during both Omaha runs, was drafted in the first round by the Brewers. Ginn provides Mississippi State with a readymade option to front the rotation, but not only do they have to backfill his spot in one of last season’s best 1-2 punches, they also must account for the loss of righthander 29
to shortstop. To be successful in 2020, UCLA is going to need a big year out of McLain. Peyton Plumlee. Mississippi State will turn to redshirt freshman lefthander Christian MacLeod, who last year was sidelined by a
PATH TO OMAHA: UCLA has the talent to reload and again contend for the Pac-12 title. Getting to the CWS will require
double bout of pneumonia, and sophomore righthander Eric Cerantola, who moves to the rotation from the bullpen. Jordan,
its young players to step up as they take on bigger roles. If the rotation proves it’s up to the task, the Bruins should be able
who last year played left field, could provide Mississippi State with a replacement for Mangum both in center field and at
to ride their pitching and defense to a lot of wins. Taking the next step will require some inexperienced hitters emerging
the top of the lineup. But accounting for Mangum and Small
to fill the void left in the lineup, be it a newcomer like Michael
in a baseball sense is the easy part. Finding a way to replace their leadership and presence is a tougher—and perhaps more
Curialle or someone like JT Schwartz, who missed last year due to injury.
important—task for Lemonis. 2020 LINEUP Pos. Name, Yr. C 1B 2B 3B SS LF CF RF DH
2018, Westburg last year took over as Mississippi State’s starting shortstop. He has a big, powerful frame at 6-foot-3, 206 pounds and has a strong offensive profile. He hit .294/.402/.457 with 21 doubles and six home runs last season, fitting right in with the rest of the Bulldogs’ powerful offense. With another strong season—and maybe a few doubles converted into home runs—he can be a first-round pick and a pivotal part of the Mississippi
UCLA outfielder Garrett Mitchell is one of the toolsiest players in the Pac-12.
State offense. PATH TO OMAHA: Mississippi State has plenty of talent on the mound but will need its young pitchers to grow into their new roles. That starts with Ginn, MacLeod and Cerantola in the rotation but must also include some young pitchers establishing themselves in the bullpen in support of righthanders Spencer Price and Riley Self, who are looking for bounce-back seasons. Mississippi State’s offense will be different without Mangum getting things started, but it should again have good depth. If the pitching lives up to its potential, the Bulldogs could make a third straight trip to Omaha. 2020 LINEUP Pos. Name, Yr. C 1B 2B 3B SS LF CF RF DH Pos. RHP LHP RHP RP RP
Luke Hancock, So. Brandon Pimentel, So. Justin Foscue, Jr. Landon Jordan, So. Jordan Westburg, Jr. Josh Hatcher, Jr. Rowdey Jordan, Jr. Tanner Allen, Jr. Logan Tanner, Fr.
AVG
OBP
SLG
HR
RBI AB
.326 .483 .419 0 Transfer—Howard (Texas) JC .331 .395 .564 14 .328 .397 .426 1 .294 .402 .457 6 .321 .379 .500 3 .290 .370 .420 6 .349 .426 .516 7 HS—Lucedale, Miss.
14
43
60 11 61 21 49 66
275 61 265 106 255 275
Name, Yr. W L ERA IP SO SV JT Ginn, So. 8 4 3.13 86 105 0 Christian MacLeod, R-Fr. Did not play—Injured Eric Cerantola, So. 3 0 4.30 15 21 0 Carlisle Koestler, Sr. Transfer—Southeastern Louisiana Riley Self, Sr. 2 0 4.91 26 18 0
10. UCLA LAST YEAR
FINAL RANKING
52-11 (24-5 in Pac-12); reached super regionals
No. 6
COACH (RECORD AT SCHOOL)
TOP 100 2020 DRAFT PROSPECTS
OF Garrett Mitchell (No. 8)
John Savage (539-360-1, 15 seasons)
THE GOOD NEWS: The Bruins held the top spot in the rankings much of last year and earned the No. 1 overall seed 30
FEBRUARY 2020 • BASEBALLAMERICA.COM
in the NCAA Tournament. They were upset at home in the super regionals by Michigan, providing a disappointing end to their national championship dreams. But UCLA is back in good shape in 2020. Righthanders Zach Pettway, Nick Nastrini and Sean Mullen were all sidelined by injuries at times during the 2019 season but are back healthy now and make up what could be the best rotation in the Pac-12. All-American closer Holden Powell returns to lock down the end of games. In shortstop Matt McLain and center fielder Garrett Mitchell, the Bruins have two of the toolsiest players in the conference and maybe the nation. And UCLA brought in the fifth-ranked recruiting class in the country, a group that is full of physical, projectable players who will add dynamism to both the lineup and pitching staff.
Pos. RHP RHP RHP RP
Noah Cardenas, So. JT Schwartz, R-Fr. Kevin Kendall, Jr. Jake Moberg, So. Matt McLain, So. Emmanuel Dean, Fr. Garrett Mitchell, Jr. Patrick Caulfield, Jr. Michael Curialle, Fr. Name, Yr. Zach Pettway, Jr. Nick Nastrini, So. Sean Mullen, So. Kyle Mora, Sr.
RP Holden Powell, Jr.
AVG
OBP
SLG
HR
RBI AB
.375 .476 .500 3 18 136 Did not play—Injured .258 .331 .298 0 13 124 .143 .250 .214 0 3 14 .203 .276 .355 4 30 217 HS—Anaheim Hills, Calif. .349 .418 .566 6 41 258 Transfer—Santa Barbara (Calif.) JC HS—San Juan Capistrano, Calif. W 2 1 1 3
L 2 0 0 3
ERA 4.55 1.37 0.00 2.09
IP 63 20 6 56
SO SV 60 0 28 0 6 0 67 1
4
3
1.84
49
65
17
11. ARKANSAS LAST YEAR
FINAL RANKING
46-20 (20-10 in SEC); reached College World Series
No. 8
COACH (RECORD AT SCHOOL)
Dave Van Horn (689-384, 17 seasons)
TOP 100 2020 DRAFT PROSPECTS
SS Casey Martin (No. 13), OF Heston Kjerstad (No. 35), C Casey Opitz (No. 94)
THE BAD NEWS: UCLA lost 11 players from last year’s team to the draft, a group that included top-five rounds picks first baseman Michael Toglia, ace Ryan Garcia and double-play combination Ryan Kreidler and Chase Strumpf. With so many players selected, the Bruins inevitably have a lot of holes to fill. In addition to Garcia, a first-team All-American, the Bruins must also replace righthander Jack Ralston in the rotation. That appears daunting, but the Bruins have never had a shortage of talent under the mound on Savage and, if they this year have better luck with health, that will be true again in 2020. More worryingly, the five everyday players UCLA lost combined to hit 49 of the team’s 67 homers. Finding a replacement for that thump in the lineup will be important. This year’s lineup may rely more on its speed and athleticism to manufacture runs, while playing to its strength of pitching and defense.
THE GOOD NEWS: With Martin and Kjerstad back, Arkansas has a pair of superstars at the heart of its order. They are the best pair of position players in the country and give the Razorbacks plenty of firepower to build around. Arkansas also returns Matt Goodheart, its leading hitter last year, and Opitz, who is known more for his glove but may be able to take a step forward offensively as a junior. The Razorbacks also added Robert Moore, the son of Royals general manager Dayton Moore after he graduated high school a semester early. He was considered a potential top-three rounds pick this June but will instead man second base for the Razorbacks. On the mound, Arkansas returns righthander Connor Noland, who has been solely focused on baseball for the first time after quitting football this year, and lefthander Patrick Wicklander. That gives it a pair of experienced starters to go with powerful reliever Zeb Vermillion.
PLAYER TO KNOW: Matt McLain, SS. An unsigned firstround pick in 2018, McLain stepped right into UCLA’s lineup
THE BAD NEWS: While Arkansas returns some superstars, it loses others. It has to replace All-Americans in its rotation
in center field. Lauded for his hitting ability in high school, he struggled against college pitching and struck out 64 times while producing a .631 OPS. But he got back on track over the
(Isaiah Campbell) and bullpen (Matt Cronin). The lineup is missing do-everything center fielder Dominic Fletcher and second baseman Trevor Ezell, the team’s second-leading hitter.
summer in the Cape Cod League and is going to be asked to play a larger role offensively for the Bruins while also moving
Offensively, the Razorbacks have the pieces to fill the gaps, especially with Kjerstad and Martin ready to shoulder a signifi-
BILL MITCHELL; JOHN KORDUNER/ICON SPORTSWIRE VIA GETTY IMAGES
PLAYER TO KNOW: Jordan Westburg, SS. After mostly seeing action at third base or off the bench as a freshman in
cant load. In addition to Moore, junior college transfer Braydon Webb should be ready to step right into the lineup. Christian
a legend in the dugout is never easy, but Mike Martin Jr. is as well-equipped as anyone can be having spent the last
Franklin, coming off a solid freshman season, will slide over to center. The pitching staff’s answers aren’t as certain, however. For three years, Arkansas has had an elite Friday starter
22 years coaching and recruiting on his father’s staff. He takes over a team with a true ace at the front of the rotation in righthander C.J. Van Eyk, a steady third starter in Conor
in Blaine Knight (2017-18) and Campbell (2019). Between Noland and Wicklander, the Razorbacks may have that again,
Grady and a promising lefthander who may have the most potential of the group in Shane Drohan. Catcher Matheu
but neither has the pedigree Campbell did last year when he moved to the front of the rotation. Cronin was one of the best
Nelson and outfielders Reese Albert and Robby Martin give the lineup a solid, young core to build around. The Seminoles
relievers in the country over the last two years and saved 26
are a battle-tested team after fighting through a tough NCAA
games. Vermillion has the stuff to take over as closer, but the Razorbacks will need him and a couple other relievers to step
Tournament draw last year to reach the College World Series.
up to keep the bullpen an area of strength.
THE BAD NEWS: The Seminoles must find replacements in the for All-American center fielder/closer J.C. Flowers, All-
PLAYER TO KNOW: Casey Opitz, C. While he hasn’t produced gaudy offensive numbers like his classmates Kjerstad
American third baseman Drew Mendoza, the team’s most dangerous hitter, and shortstop Mike Salvatore, who led the
and Martin, Opitz has also established himself as a crucial part of the Razorbacks’ lineup. He is known for his defense and
team in hitting. That trio combined for 36 of Florida State’s 81 home runs last year and it will need to be a team effort
stands out both for his receiving and plus arm strength, which shuts down opponents’ running games. That alone is a signifi-
to replace that production. A fully healthy year from Albert
cant asset for the Razorbacks. If he has another level to get to
should help both in that regard and to fill Flowers’ spot in center field. Nander De Sedas, a former blue-chip recruit, will take
offensively as a junior, he’ll shoot up draft boards this spring.
over at shortstop and has all the tools to be a star. Replacing Mendoza is the toughest task for the Seminoles. He brought
PATH TO OMAHA: After back-to-back trips to the CWS and a powerful offense returning, expectations are high in Fayetteville. To return to Omaha, Arkansas will need to find replacements for Campbell and Cronin. It certainly has the talent to do so, and a full year with pitching coach Matt Hobbs, who last year was hired in November after Wes Johnson left to take the same job with the Twins, will benefit the whole staff. If the Razorbacks find those solutions, they’ll be right back in contention at the top of the SEC and for the CWS.
a presence to the heart of the order that isn’t easy to find in college baseball. At the back of the bullpen, Florida State has several options to turn to from its recruiting class, while also being back experienced arms like seniors Chase Haney and Antonio Velez. In addition to needing a new closer, it must account for the loss of lefthander Drew Parrish, a rotation fixture for the last few years, though Drohan should be ready to fill that spot.
2020 LINEUP Pos. Name, Yr. C 1B 2B 3B SS LF CF RF DH
Casey Opitz, Jr. Jacob Nesbit, So. Robert Moore, Fr. Cole Austin, Sr. Casey Martin, Jr. Braydon Webb, Jr. Christian Franklin, So. Heston Kjerstad, Jr. Matt Goodheart, Jr.
Pos. RHP LHP RHP RP RP
Name, Yr. Connor Noland, So. Patrick Wicklander, So. Kevin Kopps, Sr. Caden Monke, So. Zeb Vermillion, Jr.
AVG
OBP
SLG
HR
RBI AB
.243 .379 .311 3 33 .255 .333 .344 3 42 HS—Overland Park, Kan. Transfer—Arizona State .286 .364 .548 15 57 Transfer—Grayson (Texas) JC .274 .361 .413 6 34 .327 .400 .575 17 51 .345 .444 .517 5 47 W 3 6 6 0 4
L 5 2 3 0 1
ERA 4.02 4.32 3.89 18.00 3.63
IP 78 67 42 3 22
177 212
283 201 266 203
SO SV 55 0 90 0 52 0 5 0 21 1
12. FLORIDA STATE LAST YEAR
FINAL RANKING
42-23 (17-13 in ACC); reached College World Series
No. 7
COACH (RECORD AT SCHOOL)
Mike Martin Jr. (first season)
TOP 100 2020 DRAFT PROSPECTS
RHP C.J. Van Eyk (No. 37), SS Nander De Sedas (No. 81)
THE GOOD NEWS: It’s the dawn of a new era in Tallahassee. For the first time in 40 years, the Seminoles have a new coach after Mike Martin retired at the end of last season as the winningest coach in NCAA history. Replacing
PLAYER TO KNOW: CJ Van Eyk, RHP. Van Eyk has impressed since he arrived at Florida State, earning Freshman All-American honors in 2018 as a swingman and then emerging as its best starter as a sophomore. Van Eyk enters his junior year as the Seminoles’ unquestioned ace and a potential first-round pick. A strong year from him at the front of the rotation would help ease the transition to Martin Jr. and go a long way toward Florida State staying in the mix at the top of the ACC.
Nander De Sedas will play a key role for Florida State as he moves to shortstop.
Pos. RHP LHP RHP RP
Name, Yr. CJ Van Eyk, Jr. Shane Drohan, Jr. Conor Grady, Jr. Chase Haney, Sr.
RP Bryce Hubbart, Fr.
W 10 3 9 2
L 4 1 6 2
ERA 3.81 3.66 3.64 2.41
IP 99 52 64 37
SO SV 129 0 71 0 71 0 36 1
HS—Windermere, Fla.
13. AUBURN LAST YEAR
FINAL RANKING
38-28 (14-16 in SEC); reached College World Series
No. 9
COACH (RECORD AT SCHOOL)
TOP 100 2020 DRAFT PROSPECTS
RHP Tanner Burns (No. 19)
Butch Thompson (141-110, four seasons)
PATH TO OMAHA:The strength of the 2020 Seminoles should be on the mound, which is a bit unusual in Tallahassee. But with Van Eyk and Grady back in the rotation, Drohan as a breakout candidate and a deep, talented bullpen, the pitching staff should be capable of carrying a significant load. Florida State has never had much of a problem scoring runs, but this year’s lineup may take some time to sort itself out. There’s a lot that’s new in Tallahassee, but by the end of the season the Seminoles should be back in a familiar position as a College World Series contender.
THE GOOD NEWS: Auburn broke through last year for its first College World Series appearance since 1997 with a magical run through the Atlanta Regional and Chapel Hill Super Regional. Almost everyone from that team returns next year, including the 1-2 punch atop the rotation of righthander Tanner Burns and lefthander Jack Owen, closer Cody Greenhill and seven regulars in the lineup. Auburn has taken a step forward every year under Thompson, rising to national prominence. With an older, experienced team in 2020, expectations for Auburn are even higher.
2020 LINEUP
THE BAD NEWS: The Tigers lost just two regulars from last year’s lineup, but they were two important players in shortstop Will Holland and third baseman Edouard Julien. The pair last year was inconsistent offensively, but their dynamism
Pos. Name, Yr. C 1B 2B 3B SS LF CF RF DH
Matheu Nelson, So. Carter Smith, Sr. Jackson Greene, Jr. Cooper Swanson, Jr. Nander De Sedas, So. Elijah Cabell, So. Reese Albert, Jr. Robby Martin, So. Nico Baldor, Sr.
AVG
OBP
SLG
HR
RBI AB
.282 .442 .442 6 .245 .360 .362 2 Transfer—Wallace (Ala.) JC .159 .362 .409 7 .231 .353 .337 4 .220 .404 .415 7 .283 .390 .518 9 .315 .398 .449 4 .173 .277 .252 1
29 156 10 94 14 32 25 35 54 16
88 208 164 166 216 127
and ability to change the game in one swing will be missed. With Holland and Julien in pro ball, the Tigers will have a new left side of the infield. Sophomore Ryan Bliss will move from second base to shortstop, where his athleticism will play well. Third base is less settled, with both sophomore Brody Moore 31
mantle as Friday starter midway through the year. He dealt with arm soreness over the season’s final month, however, and LSU will need him at full strength all season to reach its potential. When Henry is at his best, he’s a premium power pitcher who could pitch his way into the first round of the draft and
and first baseman Rankin Woley as options for the hot corner. Replacing the 43 extra-base hits that Holland and Julien pro-
LSU to the top of the SEC West.
vided last year will be important for the Tigers, and the whole team will likely have to step up. PLAYER TO KNOW: Tanner Burns, RHP. Burns has been a
PATH TO OMAHA: LSU has the talent; it just needs to find its best alignment in the lineup and on the mound. That may
fixture in the Auburn rotation since he stepped on campus
take some time, but Mainieri’s teams typically improve as the
and gives the Tigers a bone fide ace on Friday nights. He is, however, entering his junior year with some question marks
season goes on, peaking around May. LSU has the potential to have premium run prevention, thanks in part to the depth
after he was banged up down the stretch last season and threw just 5.2 innings during the NCAA Tournament. He’s fully
of its pitching staff. It may need to lean on its pitching and defense for a while, but the lineup should round into form as
healthy now and Auburn believes poor hydration was the root of his discomfort late last year. When he’s on, there are few
the season continues and, if it does, LSU could be one of the more complete teams by the time the postseason begins.
pitchers in the country better than him thanks to his mid-90s fastball and hard slider. He may also be able to find another
2020 LINEUP Pos. Name, Yr.
PATH TO OMAHA: Auburn last year went on a magical run to the College World Series, stunning Georgia Tech in the Atlanta Regional and then toppling North Carolina in Chapel Hill. This year’s Tigers shouldn’t need that kind of run to get back to Omaha, particularly if they can avoid the injury big that last year hit the pitching staff and impacted Burns, Owen and Greenhill. If that trio stays healthy, Auburn should be better positioned going into the NCAA Tournament and won’t need to again be road warriors. The offense needs to find more consistency, but with an older, more experienced group, Auburn should be ready for the rigors of the SEC West and anything the NCAA Tournament throws its way. 2020 LINEUP Pos. Name, Yr. C 1B 2B 3B SS LF CF RF DH
Matt Scheffler, Sr. Rankin Woley, Sr. Garrett Farquhar, Jr. Brody Moore, So. Ryan Bliss, So. Judd Ward, Jr. Kason Howell, So. Steven Williams, Jr. Conor Davis, Sr.
Pos. RHP LHP LHP RP RP
Name, Yr. Tanner Burns, Jr. Jack Owen, Jr. Bailey Horn, Jr. Brooks Fuller, So. Cody Greenhill, Jr.
AVG
OBP
SLG
HR
RBI AB
.260 .331 .342 2 28 .277 .336 .387 3 45 Transfer—Shelton State (Ala.) JC .333 .379 .444 0 4 .281 .367 .369 3 37 .272 .377 .393 5 34 .262 .340 .307 0 28 .247 .355 .413 9 36 .290 .351 .448 8 36 W 4 4 4 2 2
L 4 2 2 2 3
ERA 2.82 2.75 5.97 4.50 3.45
IP 80 69 38 44 57
219 256 27 249 257 225 235 252
SO SV 101 0 59 0 31 0 36 2 44 12
14. LOUISIANA STATE LAST YEAR
seasons)
40-26 (17-13 in SEC); reached super regionals
FINAL RANKING
COACH (RECORD AT SCHOOL)
TOP 100 2020 DRAFT PROSPECTS
Paul Mainieri (591-255-3, 12
OF Daniel Cabrera (No. 31), RHP Cole Henry (No. 55)
No. 15
Daniel Cabrera is the latest premium outfielder in Louisiana State’s pipeline and will look to anchor the Tigers’ lineup this spring.
chance to be a first-round pick and one of the nation’s premier hitters. Catcher Saul Garza chose to return to school instead of signing in the draft last June and is now fully healthy after being limited early last year by injury. The pitching staff runs deep thanks to a wealth of young, talented arms who went through some growing pains a year ago. Henry showed the ability to lead the rotation and righthanders A.J. Labas and Jaden Hill are back in action after injuries sidelined them in 2019. Righthander Devin Fontenot returns, ready to reprise his role as the team’s relief ace. The Tigers added another top-10 recruiting class, featuring outfielder Maurice Hampton, the highest ranked position player not to sign in the draft last June, though he remains a wild card because he spent the fall playing for LSU’s national championship football team. THE BAD NEWS: As much as the Tigers return, they also lost some real cornerstone pieces. Shortstop Josh Smith and outfielders Antoine Duplantis and Zach Watson, the team’s top three hitters, are all gone. The trio were the heart of the offense for the last few years and will be difficult to replace. Without Smith and Watson, LSU has some things to figure out up the middle. Freshman Zach Arnold was expected to be in the mix at shortstop but will be out due to injury to start the season, leaving the Tigers thin at the position. The outfield could shake out in a number of ways with the only certainty that Cabrera will be one of the starters. It may take LSU several weeks to determine its best alignment. The Tigers didn’t lose as much on the mound, but Zack Hess and Todd Peterson, who both pitched a lot of high-leverage innings over the last three years, must be replaced. The depth of the Tigers’ staff softens that blow, but it puts more pressure on Fontenot without his running mates in the bullpen.
THE GOOD NEWS: LSU isn’t lacking on talent entering the 2020 season. Now it’s on Mainieri and his coaching staff to figure out how best to deploy it. Cabrera enters his junior with a 32
FEBRUARY 2020 • BASEBALLAMERICA.COM
PLAYER TO KNOW: Cole Henry, RHP. Henry emerged last spring as LSU’s best starter as a freshman and grabbed the
C 1B 2B 3B SS LF CF RF DH
Saul Garza, Jr. Cade Beloso, So. Cade Doughty, Fr. Zack Mathis, Jr. Hal Hughes, Jr. Drew Bianco, So. Daniel Cabrera, Jr. Gavin Dugas, So. Hayden Travisnski, Fr.
Pos. RHP RHP RHP RP RP
Name, Yr. Cole Henry, So. Landon Marceaux, So. AJ Labas, R-So. Matthew Beck, Sr. Devin Fontenot, Jr.
AVG
OBP
SLG
HR
RBI AB
.303 .358 .476 5 27 145 .279 .339 .429 10 52 219 HS—Denham Springs, La. Transfer—San Joaquin Delta (Calif.) JC .174 .289 .188 0 11 149 .176 .348 .353 3 14 68 .284 .359 .516 12 50 225 .186 .265 .233 0 6 43 HS—Bossier City, La. W L ERA IP 4 2 3.39 58 5 2 4.66 58 Did not play—Injured 3 0 2.05 44 5 4 3.71 51
SO SV 72 0 43 0 39 54
0 7
15. DUKE LAST YEAR
FINAL RANKING
35-27 (15-15 in ACC); reached super regionals
No. 18
COACH (RECORD AT SCHOOL)
TOP 100 2020 DRAFT PROSPECTS
None
Chris Pollard (233-173, seven seasons)
THE GOOD NEWS: The Blue Devils have a lot of veteran players who have now played in two super regionals. Catcher Michael Rothenberg combines great catch-and-throw ability with a power bat that led the team in homers with 11 last season. Two-way player Matt Mervis might be poised for a huge senior year after an outstanding performance playing both ways on the Cape this past summer. The lineup is filled with plus athletes like shortstop Ethan Murray and outfielders Damon Lux, Chase Cheek and Joey Loperfido. Loperfido possesses incredible positional versatility, and if he starts in the outfield for Duke, it would be his third starting position in three years with the program. Friday starter Bryce Jarvis is back to lead the rotation after a quality 2019 season. A deep group of experienced arms will give Pollard and staff the chance to mix and match as the season goes on, if necessary. THE BAD NEWS: The weekend rotation is fairly unproven behind Jarvis. Freshman Henry Williams is in the mix for a spot, and while coach Chris Pollard calls him the most advanced freshman he has had since coming to Duke, he’s still just a
ICON SPORTSWIRE; JOHN WILLIAMSON
gear this spring under the direction of new pitching coach Tim Hudson, whose own game resembled Burns in some respects.
freshman. Sophomore Cooper Stinson and senior Bill Chillari are more experienced options, but each had an ERA above 5.00 last
leaders like Colin Simpson and Trevor Boone, among others, Oklahoma State has a nice nucleus of returners in the lineup,
season and has something to prove. It wouldn’t be a surprise for Duke to be a team that leans heavily on its veteran bullpen, but it would help the Blue Devils reach their potential if a run-
including a trio of productive seniors in Alix Garcia, Carson McCusker and Cade Cabbiness, the last of whom made great strides through fall practice and looks poised to take a step
ning mate emerged for Jarvis for a weekend role. There are also questions to be answered in the outfield. Loperfido is penciled
forward. Sophomore Hueston Morrill should slide over to shortstop seamlessly after serving as a second baseman last
into center field, with Cheek in right, but the latter might not be ready until March 1 after offseason ACL surgery. That leaves
season. Catcher Brock Mathis, a transfer from Louisiana State, brings big-game experience, and junior college transfer sec-
the likes of returning outfielders Lux and RJ Schreck and backup
ond baseman Kaden Polcovich should be one of the most
catchers Rudy Maxwell and Chris Dutra battling for playing time not only in left field, but potentially for Cheek’s at-bats if he’s
impactful newcomers in the Big 12 after he showed well in the Cape Cod League over the summer. The pitching staff is
not ready for Opening Day.
loaded with high-end talent, including freshman righthander Bryce Osmond, a top 50 prospect in the 2019 draft who chose
PLAYER TO KNOW: Michael Rothenberg, C. After serving in a part-time role as a freshman in 2018 behind veteran catcher
to attend Oklahoma State rather than begin his pro career.
Chris Proctor, Rothenberg became a star last season, leading the team in home runs and walks as one of two Duke players
THE BAD NEWS: The talent on the pitching staff is undeniable, but much of it is extremely young. Of the four starting
to appear in all 62 games. Behind the plate, he flashes a strong arm, receives the ball well and does a nice job of helping man-
spots, the three after Friday starter Parker Scott are projected
age the pitching staff. Catchers with plus defensive skills who
to go to freshmen in Osmond, Justin Campbell and Kale Davis. And while he is in his fourth year in the program, this will be
also happen to be switch-hitters with power from both sides of the plate don’t grow on trees and Duke is thrilled to be able to
the first year in which Scott is asked to take the ball as a starting pitcher week after week. Last season, he didn’t move into
pencil Rothenberg in every day.
the rotation until the middle of April. In most cases, talent wins out, and that very well could be the case with the Cowboys’ pitching staff, but it also wouldn’t be a surprise if there were some growing pains along the way.
PATH TO OMAHA: The Blue Devils were one win away from Omaha each of the last two seasons, so with a veteran roster back, this isn’t a team that needs to catch a ton of breaks just to be in that position again. Replacing the production from the departed Kennie Taylor and Kyle Gallagher in the outfield will be key for Duke’s success, as will figuring out how the pitching pieces fit together. Pollard and his staff always seem to get the maximum value out of their roster, and with the talent at Duke getting better year after year, the ceiling has been raised for a program that only snapped a 55-year regionals drought in 2016. 2020 LINEUP Pos. Name, Yr. C 1B 2B 3B SS LF CF RF DH Pos. RHP RHP RHP RP RP
Michael Rothenberg, Jr. Chris Crabtree, Jr. Grant Norris, Fr. Erikson Nichols, Sr. Ethan Murray, So. Damon Lux, So. Joey Loperfido, Jr. Chase Cheek, Sr. Matt Mervis, Sr. Name, Yr. Bryce Jarvis, Jr. Cooper Stinson, So. Henry Williams, Fr. Thomas Girard, Jr. Matt Dockman, Jr.
AVG
SLG
HR
RBI AB
.269 .390 .481 .263 .356 .394 HS—Somerset, Pa. .255 .325 .318 .305 .391 .445 .000 .200 .000 .261 .361 .389 .293 .380 .403 .274 .357 .421
OBP
11 3
52 212 32 198
2 5 0 4 1 6
W L ERA IP 5 2 3.81 76 1 4 5.47 54 HS—Darien, Conn. 1 5 2.33 46 6 1 3.80 43
38 40 0 18 24 31
239 200 8 157 181 190
SO SV 94 1 78 1 61 39
9 2
PLAYER TO KNOW: Kaden Polcovich, 2B. Even when Oklahoma State endures heavy personnel losses in the lineup, as they did after last season, they still tend to find a way to put together an offense that can score runs in bunches the following season. In 2020, Polcovich’s arrival is a big reason for optimism that this will be the case once again. After spending one fall at Kentucky, he spent the last two seasons with Northwest Florida State JC. In 2019, he hit .273/.452/.523 with 12 home runs and 16 stolen bases for the Raiders, and then followed that up with a line of .305/.426/.473 line for Chatham on the Cape. Polcovich will be a closely watched prospect for the 2020 draft and a key piece of Oklahoma State’s lineup. PATH TO OMAHA: If the new faces in the lineup, particularly the transfers in Brock Mathis and Polcovich, take to their roles right away and the young talent on the mound grows up quickly, the Cowboys absolutely have the talent to get one step further than they did last season, when they fell one win short of Omaha. The 2016 Oklahoma State team got to the CWS had a one-two punch in the rotation in Thomas Hatch and Jensen Elliott that set the tone for the rest of the staff. The path to the promised land would be a lot smoother if the Cowboys could replicate that to some degree in 2020.
16. OKLAHOMA STATE
2020 LINEUP Pos. Name, Yr.
LAST YEAR
FINAL RANKING
40-21 (14-9 in Big 12); reached super regionals
No. 11
COACH (RECORD AT SCHOOL)
TOP 100 2020 DRAFT PROSPECTS
None
Josh Holliday (271-151-1, seven seasons)
THE GOOD NEWS: Despite the departure of offensive
C 1B 2B 3B SS LF CF RF DH
Brock Mathis, Jr. Alix Garcia, Sr. Kaden Polcovich, Jr. Jake Thompson, R-Jr. Hueston Morrill, So. Carson McCusker, Sr. Caeden Trenkle, Fr. Cade Cabbiness, Sr. Blake Robertson, Fr.
AVG
OBP
SLG
HR
RBI AB
.164 .291 .287 3 12 122 .294 .388 .485 8 25 163 Transfer—Northwest Florida State JC Transfer—South Dakota State .282 .390 .386 2 20 220 .311 .383 .520 6 40 196 HS—Hillsboro, Texas .234 .307 .406 8 27 197 HS—Edmond, Okla.
Outfielder Carson McCusker is a veteran of the Oklahoma State lineup that has the Cowboys expected to again contend in the Big 12.
Pos. LHP RHP RHP RP RP
Name, Yr. Parker Scott, R-Jr. Bryce Osmond, Fr. Justin Campbell, Fr. Ben Leeper, Sr. Brett Standlee, So.
W L ERA IP 3 1 2.18 45 HS—Tulsa HS—Simi Valley, Calif. 4 4 4.31 31 3 2 4.46 73
SO SV 51 0
43 55
7 1
17. NORTH CAROLINA STATE LAST YEAR
FINAL RANKING
42-19 (18-12 in ACC); reached regionals
NR
COACH (RECORD AT SCHOOL)
TOP 100 2020 DRAFT PROSPECTS
C Patrick Bailey (No. 17)
Elliott Avent (875-528, 23 seasons)
THE GOOD NEWS: As usual, North Carolina State boasts an exciting group of position players. Patrick Bailey is a premier defensive catcher who doubles as a power bat in the middle of the order. Second baseman Tyler McDonough is a power and speed threat at the plate who can also play a lot of different positions in the field. Catcher Luca Tresh, blocked behind Bailey, showed impressive power last season in a small sample with a .522 slugging percentage in 67 at-bats, but after hitting nearly .500 in the fall with eight homers, he looks ready to force his way into the lineup in the outfield. And hitters don’t come more experienced than DH Brad Debo, who has a .285/.368/.429 slash line in 492 career at-bats. The Wolfpack’s pitching depth should also be quite good, as nine of the team’s top 11 pitchers in terms of innings pitched are back, led by projected Friday starter Nick Swiney, Saturday starter Reid Johnston, and top relief options Kent Klyman and Dalton Feeney. THE BAD NEWS: Losing shortstop Will Wilson as a firstround pick left a huge hole to fill on the infield, and NC State will look to freshman Jose Torres (who will wear Wilson’s No. 8) to do so. The Baltimore native has been lauded as an advanced defender at the position with outstanding hands and instincts, but that’s a tough ask for a first-year player, even if the expectation is not that he will be the same caliber of 33
player right away. On the mound, Swiney has shown that he can dominate in a relief role, but he only has four starts to his name in his two seasons on campus. Having the lefty develop into the type of starter they can feel comfortable putting out there on Friday in a regional would be a huge boon for the Pack. PLAYER TO KNOW: Patrick Bailey, C. Bailey showed up in Raleigh as one of the best defensive catchers in the 2017 high school class, but with questions about how much he could be expected to hit. Two years later, he has lived up to the hype defensively and turned into a power bat in the middle of the Wolfpack order. He goes into his junior year sporting a .303/.403/.553 slash line with 25 doubles, 23 home runs and 86 RBIs and is coming off of a summer spent with Team USA. As a switch-hitting catcher with power on both sides of the plate who also affect games with his defense behind the plate, Bailey will be the unquestioned centerpiece of an NC State
Righthander Joey Lancellotti is a versatile member of the North Carolina staff and is sure to make an impact no matter what role he fills.
team looking to make a deep postseason run.
2020 LINEUP Pos. Name, Yr. C 1B 2B 3B SS LF CF RF DH Pos. LHP RHP LHP RP RP
Patrick Bailey, Jr. Austin Murr, Jr. Tyler McDonough, So. Vojtech Mensik, So. Jose Torres, Fr. Luca Tresh, So. Jonny Butler, Jr. Devonte Brown, Jr. Brad Debo, Sr.
AVG
OBP
SLG
HR
RBI AB
.288 .390 .513 10 Transfer—Des Moines Area JC .320 .392 .452 5 .250 .366 .367 2 HS—Baltimore .224 .372 .522 6 .267 .378 .359 3 .286 .397 .347 0 .242 .352 .397 4
Name, Yr. Nick Swiney, Jr. Reid Johnston, Jr. Chris Villaman, Fr. Dalton Feeney, R-Jr. Kent Klyman, Sr.
W L ERA IP 7 1 4.61 57 6 2 3.71 78 HS—High Point, N.C. 1 1 1.86 29 5 2 3.41 29
46 236 47 250 14 128 17 67 29 251 5 49 39 194 SO SV 95 1 65 0 23 30
18. NORTH CAROLINA LAST YEAR
46-19 (17-13 in ACC); reached super regionals
FINAL RANKING
No. 14
COACH (RECORD AT SCHOOL)
Mike Fox (936-399-1, 21 seasons)
34
TOP 100 2020 DRAFT PROSPECTS
1B Aaron Sabato (No. 41)
FEBRUARY 2020 • BASEBALLAMERICA.COM
7 2
stock and help UNC’s versatility if he doesn’t have to often be
class now largely in pro ball, UNC is moving forward with a new core and Sabato is in the middle of it all. The All-American slugger is back at the heart of the lineup and gives the Tar Heels one of the most feared hitters in the country to build around. Shortstop Danny Serretti and center fielder Dylan Harris also return, giving UNC continuity up the middle. On the mound, while the Tar Heels may not have as much star power as they did in recent years, they have plenty of depth returning. New pitching coach Bryant Gaines needs to figure out how best to arrange the pitching staff, but there’s no doubt there’s talent to work with on the mound in Chapel Hill.
used as a DH.
THE BAD NEWS: The Tar Heels lost seven players to the draft, opening significant holes both in the lineup and pitching staff. They must replace half the lineup, starting with slugger Michael Busch, who was drafted in the first round. UNC will lean on its 17th-ranked recruiting class to fill some of those holes, with both freshman Tyler Causey and junior college transfer Mike Madej both expected to figure prominently into the lineup. The draft also hit UNC hard on the mound, with starters Tyler Baum and Austin Bergner now gone. Veteran righthander Gianluca Dalatri is back from injury and will play an important role, as is righthander Max Alba, who missed last season due to Tommy John surgery. Veterans Joey Lancellotti, Austin Love and Will Sandy all have experience and can play a variety of roles, but none has frontline starting experience. The Tar Heels’ depth gives them solid option but it may take some time for the rotation and bullpen to settle into consistent roles. PLAYER TO KNOW: Aaron Sabato, 1B. Last year, Sabato led the Tar Heels in most offensive categories, including hitting, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, home runs and doubles (25). Now a draft-eligible sophomore, he will have to shoulder an even bigger load after the departures from last season’s team. Sabato has game-changing power and will need to tap into it often for the Tar Heels’ offense to reach its ceiling. He’s also worked hard to develop defensively. Becoming a more complete player would improve his draft
PATH TO OMAHA:With its depth on the mound and the presence of Sabato in the heart of the order, UNC has some strong pieces to build around. To get to the College World Series, the Tar Heels are going to need some of their inexperienced players to quickly get up to speed, especially in the lineup. They should be solid defensively and they have a lot of options to try in various roles on the pitching staff. If the offense pops, this team could be dangerous. But to get to that point, UNC may need to fight through some early-season growing pains. 2020 LINEUP Pos. Name, Yr. C 1B 2B 3B SS LF CF RF DH Pos. RHP RHP LHP RP RP
Kyle Smith, Fr. Aaron Sabato, So. Mike Madej, R-Jr. Patrick Alvarez, Fr. Danny Serretti, So. Angel Zarate, R-So. Dylan Harris, Sr. Caleb Roberts, So. Tyler Causey, Fr. Name, Yr. Gianluca Dalatri, R-Jr. Max Alba, R-Fr. Will Sandy, So. Joey Lancellotti, Jr. Austin Love, R-So.
AVG
OBP
SLG
HR
RBI AB
HS—Wilmington, N.C. .343 .453 .696 18 63 230 Transfer—Northwest Florida State JC HS—Charlotte .299 .373 .424 3 45 231 .100 .182 .100 0 0 10 .268 .397 .423 7 29 246 .227 .374 .280 0 17 150 HS—Fort Mill, S.C. W L ERA IP 1 1 2.25 32 Did not play—Injured 2 2 5.52 59 6 4 3.12 52 8 4 3.18 67
SO SV 35 0 41 56 67
19. OKLAHOMA LAST YEAR
FINAL RANKING
33-23 (11-13 in Big 12); missed NCAA tournament
NR
COACH (RECORD AT SCHOOL)
TOP 100 2020 DRAFT PROSPECTS
RHP Cade Cavalli (No. 51)
Skip Johnson (71-48, two seasons)
THE GOOD NEWS: Cavalli, who spent the summer pitch-
0 3 5 TONY FARLOW/FOUR SEAM IMAGES; BRIAN WESTERHOLT/FOUR SEAM IMAGES
PATH TO OMAHA: NC State teams have a very high floor every year. You know they are going to hit and you know they are going to have a versatile pitching staff that will allow guys to shuffle in and out of roles as needed throughout the season. You can pencil them into regionals every year. If Swiney can develop into a workhorse at the front of the rotation to take some innings away from the bullpen, Torres can bring a steady glove to the shortstop position and a couple of returning lineup pieces like Tresh, third baseman Vojtech Mensik, center fielder Jonny Butler or right fielder Devonte Brown take a step forward to support Bailey and second baseman Tyler McDonough, the Pack can break away from the pack in the ACC and get to Omaha.
THE GOOD NEWS: With its ballyhooed 2016 recruiting
PATH TO OMAHA: There is an expectation that Oklahoma’s pitching staff will be excellent in 2020, and it has
starter had a 6.49 ERA in 68 innings last season, but he went to the Cape over the summer and dominated, putting up a
a chance to be elite. But the key to this team getting back in a position to go to Omaha is offensive production. The rotation’s ability to limit run production is likely going to be such
1.40 ERA and a 35-to-5 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 32 innings. If Shuster is truly ready to be an ace, it changes the ceiling for what Wake Forest can accomplish.
a strength that a trip to the CWS is plausible even with moderate offensive improvement. If the veteran lineup collectively
PATH TO OMAHA: Wake Forest will hit well enough to
makes a significant jump, however, the Sooners could be a juggernaut and push the Big 12’s best teams in the title race.
compete with anyone, even away from the hitter-friendly environment that is David F. Couch Ballpark. Just moderate improvement on the mound could very well get the Demon
2020 LINEUP Pos. Name, Yr. C 1B 2B 3B SS LF CF RF DH Pos. RHP LHP RHP RP RP
Brady Lindsly, Sr. Tyler Hardman, Jr. Conor McKenna, Sr. Peyton Graham, Fr. Brandon Zaragoza, Sr. Kendall Pettis, Fr. Tanner Tredaway, Jr. Brady Harlan, Sr. Diego Muniz, So. Name, Yr. Cade Cavalli, Jr. Levi Prater, Jr. Dane Acker, Jr. Jason Ruffcorn, Sr. Wyatt Olds, So.
AVG
OBP
SLG
HR
.291 .364 .480 .306 .394 .457 .255 .335 .361 HS—Waxahachie, Texas .257 .372 .296 HS—Chicago .260 .363 .308 .255 .377 .328 .220 .380 .366
RBI AB
5 6 3
34 179 42 219 31 208
0
30 206
0 1 3
10 146 20 137 19 123
W L ERA IP SO SV 5 3 3.28 60 59 0 7 4 3.26 80 97 0 Transfer—San Jacinto (Texas) JC 2 2 2.43 37 28 11 0 2 4.23 28 37 0
20. WAKE FOREST
THE BAD NEWS: The Sooners return just about all of their lineup, but that was a unit that really struggled for much of 2019 and ended the season with a .266 average and just 29 home runs as a team. Catcher Brady Lindsly and first baseman Tyler Hardman can be counted on as centerpieces of the offense, but if OU is going to live up to its potential in 2020, it will need several returners to take steps forward or newcomers to make an impact right away. PLAYER TO KNOW: Levi Prater, LHP. Cavalli is the higher-profile prospect, and his stuff and Team USA credentials make him the focal point of the Oklahoma rotation, but Prater was the statistically better starter in many ways in 2019. His 3.26 ERA led all OU starters, as did his 97 strikeouts and .211 opponent average, and it’s not as if he’s a non-prospect. With another season like the last, Prater could hear his name called in the top five rounds of the draft in June. Another season like his last would also go a long way toward getting the Sooners back to playing baseball deep into the summer.
LAST YEAR
FINAL RANKING
31-26 (14-16 in ACC); missed NCAA tournament
NR
COACH (RECORD AT SCHOOL)
Menendez and perhaps Fleming moving from the bullpen to starting roles, new reliable relief arms will need to emerge to close out wins.
First baseman Bobby Seymour led the nation in RBIs last season and returns to again anchor the Wake Forest lineup.
ing for Team USA and can run his fastball up into the high 90s, will go into the season as the favorite to win Big 12 pitcher of the year honors, and the combination of he and lefthander Levi Prater will give the Sooners a one-two punch as good as any in the conference. Returning righthander Ben Abram and junior college transfer Dane Acker, who began his career at Rice, should give the Sooners confidence that they will get extremely good starting pitching. The lineup returns all but one player—third baseman Brylie Ware—who played a major role last season. Shortstop Brandon Zaragoza, one of the best defensive shortstops in the country, gives the Sooners a steady hand at one of the most important positions on the field. Most of the key pieces of a bullpen that came into the 2019 season largely unproven will return in 2020, led by flamethrowing closer Jason Ruffcorn.
Deacons back in a regional, but to get to Omaha, each member of their veteran rotation will need to make a leap, and with
TOP 100 2020 DRAFT PROSPECTS
2020 LINEUP Pos. Name, Yr. C 1B 2B 3B SS LF CF RF DH
Brendan Tinsman, So. Bobby Seymour, Jr. D.J. Poteet, Jr. William Simoneit, Sr.* Michael Turconi, So. Christian Long, Sr. Michael Ludowig, Jr. Chris Lanzilli, Jr. Shane Muntz, Jr.
Pos. LHP RHP RHP RP RP
Name, Yr. Jared Shuster, Jr. Ryan Cusick, So. Antonio Menendez, Jr. Shane Smith, R-Fr. Bobby Hearn, R-Sr.
AVG
OBP
SLG
HR
.265 .377 .199 .299 .273 .162 .300 .347 .313
.326 .439 .317 .357 .379 .244 .405 .409 .477
.529 .576 .318 .493 .349 .216 .405 .620 .674
10 9 5 6 2 0 3 16 14
W L ERA IP 4 4 6.49 68 7 3 6.44 66 6 1 3.09 55 Did not play—Injured 2 0 3.31 33
RBI AB 41 92 23 19 24 2 30 67 40
155 236 176 144 172 37 190 245 144
SO SV 94 0 55 0 73 1 27
0
*Transferred from Cornell
None
Tom Walter (294-274, 10 seasons)
THE GOOD NEWS: The Demon Deacons are going to hit, as they always do. First baseman Bobby Seymour, whose 92 RBIs led the nation last season, outfielder Chris Lanzilli and DH Shane Muntz are all coming off of monster 2019 seasons. Catcher Brendan Tinsman and outfielder Michael Ludowig give the lineup enviable depth. They also added graduate transfer third baseman William Simoneit, who earned All-Ivy League honors in all three of his seasons at Cornell. Even if you allow for the fact that Wake Forest plays in a very offensive environment, that’s an impressive group. THE BAD NEWS: The pitching staff has a lot to prove. Last year, the team ERA was 5.89, and no pitcher who started more than four games had an ERA better than Colin Peluse’s 5.74 mark. Peluse is also now in pro baseball, which means the most accomplished of Wake’s starting pitchers from a year ago will have to be replaced. All four projected starters— junior Jared Shuster, sophomore Ryan Cusick, junior Antonio Menendez and junior William Fleming—pitched on the Cape this summer and showed well, but for the team to get back in the postseason hunt, this unit will have to show improvement.
21. GEORGIA TECH LAST YEAR
FINAL RANKING
43-19 (19-11 in ACC); reached regional final
No. 17
COACH (RECORD AT SCHOOL)
TOP 100 2020 DRAFT PROSPECTS
None
Danny Hall (1,062-551-1, 26 seasons)
THE GOOD NEWS: The Yellow Jackets return a couple of marquee players from a team that was the No. 3 national seed last season in shortstop Luke Waddell, who had a standout summer with Team USA, and outfielder Baron Radcliff, a freak athlete who has the most raw power and the fastest sprint speed of anyone on the team. Recruiting coordinator James Ramsey helped bring in a Top 25 recruiting class, highlighted by righthander Zach Maxwell, a Top 150 draft prospect who is tentatively slated to join the rotation right away. The hiring of new pitching coach Danny Borrell, formerly the co-minor league pitching coordinator for the Yankees, already paid dividends in the fall and promises to continue to do so as he works with the Georgia Tech staff. THE BAD NEWS: The departures in the rotation are signif-
RETURNER TO KNOW: Jared Shuster, LHP. With the pitching staff holding the key to Wake Forest getting back
icant, with Xzavion Curry and Connor Thomas now in pro ball and Brant Hurter out for most of the 2020 season after Tommy John surgery. Veteran Jonathan Hughes, a former blue-chip
into postseason position, Shuster might be the player most important to the Deacs’ success in 2020. The projected Friday
recruit who has seen early results from working with Borrell, will step in to lead the rotation. Hughes living up to his prom35
The Wildcats figure to have a powerful offense again this spring and if they can shore up their defense and pitching staff, they could pile up a lot of wins in what looks to be a wide-open Pac12. To get to Omaha, they’ll need their pitching to really take a jump, but between the newcomers and Yeskie’s influence on
ise as a redshirt senior after a career filled with injuries and setbacks would go a long way toward steadying the rebuilt
the staff, a dramatic improvement is not out of the question.
rotation. The offensive production of first baseman Tristin English and catcher Kyle McCann will be tough to replace as
2020 LINEUP
well. The continued development of veteran bats like Waddell, Radcliff and center fielder Michael Guldberg, and the initial
Pos. Name, Yr.
impact of freshmen such as Jake Holland and Drew Compton, who are penciled in at catcher and first base, respectively, will be key in the attempt to fill those voids. PLAYER TO KNOW: Luke Waddell, SS. Waddell’s offense took a jump from his freshman season to his sophomore campaign, going from .283/.348/.392 to .322/.436/.416, serving as a catalyst for Georgia Tech’s massive improvement in 2019. But he really made a name for himself with his performance for Team USA over the summer, hitting .320/.404/.380 while playing standout defense at third base. He’s not the flashiest an accurate arm. He’ll be a leader on the field and a table-setter at the top of the order for the Yellow Jackets. PATH TO OMAHA: Georgia Tech always finds a way to put together a quality offense, so even with the losses of English and McCann, there is confidence that the team will get that part of the game sorted out. If Hughes becomes the standout he was predicted to be when he arrived on campus following the 2015 draft and a couple of returning pitchers step up to support him, or freshmen like Maxwell are ready right away, the Yellow Jackets have the talent to make their first trip to Omaha since 2006. 2020 LINEUP C 1B 2B 3B SS LF CF RF DH Pos. RHP RHP RHP RP RP
Jake Holland, Fr. Drew Compton, Fr. Austin Wilhite, Sr. Jackson Webb, R-Sr. Luke Waddell, Jr. Colin Hall, Jr. Michael Guldberg, Jr. Baron Radcliff, Jr. Andrew Jenkins, Fr. Name, Yr. Jonathan Hughes, R-Sr. Cort Roedig, So. Zach Maxwell, Fr. Jackson Finley, Fr. Hugh Chapman, Jr.
AVG
OBP
SLG
HR
W L ERA IP 9 2 5.09 53 2 2 4.88 48 HS—Dallas, Ga. HS—Richmond Hill, Ga. 2 0 4.15 13
32 19 34 41 32 44
22. ARIZONA LAST YEAR
FINAL RANKING
32-24 (15-14 in Pac-12); missed NCAA Tournament
NR
COACH (RECORD AT SCHOOL)
TOP 100 2020 DRAFT PROSPECTS
C Austin Wells (No. 20)
Jay Johnson (153-91, four seasons)
218 125 233 241 220 183
SO SV 48 0 47 0
10
Pos. RHP RHP RHP RP
Name, Yr. Quinn Flanagan, So. Garrett Irvin, Jr. Chandler Murphy, Fr. Dawson Netz, Fr.
0
OBP
SLG
HR
RBI AB
.353 .462 .552 .336 .430 .464 .246 .362 .316 .301 .412 .482 HS—Honolulu .393 .480 .571 .267 .396 .408 .240 .378 .437 .323 .417 .596
5 2 0 2
60 221 24 110 8 57 17 83
4 2 7 10
28 35 33 53
168 206 167 161
W L ERA IP SO SV 8 3 4.92 68 42 1 Transfer—Riverside (Calif.) JC HS—Peoria, Ariz. HS—Sierra Madre, Calif. 2
2
3.47
36
27
2
Arizona catcher Austin Wells stands out for his well-rounded hitting ability.
including catcher/outfielder/second baseman Matthew Dyer, DH Dayton Dooney and Wells, all of whom produced an OPS of more than 1.000. Keeping the Wildcats’ offense humming is important but improving its run prevention is critical. To that end, Johnson brought in pitching coach Nate Yeskie, who established himself as one of the best in the nation during his tenure at Oregon State. The Wildcats’ No. 24 recruiting class was heavy on pitching and many of the newcomers will be thrust right into action. Arizona should also be better defensively as second baseman Jacob Blas returns from an injury that cost him most of last season and freshman Kyson Donahue arrives ready to take over at shortstop.
RBI AB
HS—Clermont, Fla. HS—Berkeley Heights, N.J. .266 .369 .349 1 .312 .437 .408 1 .322 .436 .416 2 .307 .363 .432 4 .355 .441 .418 1 .257 .403 .503 12 HS—Atlanta
Austin Wells, So. Brandon Boissiere, So. Jacob Blas, So. Tony Bullard, So. Kyson Donahue, Fr. Matthew Dyer, Jr. Donta Williams, Jr. Ryan Holgate, So. Dayton Dooney, So.
RP Vince Vannelle, Sr.
shortstop with the glove, but his footwork is solid and he has
Pos. Name, Yr.
C 1B 2B 3B SS LF CF RF DH
AVG
THE BAD NEWS: As much offensive firepower as Arizona returns, it did lose infielders Cameron Cannon and Nick Quintana, who last June were both top-50 overall draft picks. Cannon led the team in hitting and Quintana led it in home runs, leaving two large holes in the lineup. The larger concern, however, is on the pitching staff. Hi Corbett Field is an offensive friendly environment but Arizona last season only had one pitcher with an ERA below 4.50. Improving both its 6.23 team ERA and .962 fielding percentage will be critical to this year’s success. Freshmen Chandler Murphy, Dawson Netz, Wesley Scott, graduate transfer Davis Vanier and junior college transfers Ian Churchill and Garrett Irvin are the newcomers to watch on the mound. PLAYER TO KNOW: Austin Wells, C. Wells has an impressive offensive skillset that he showed off last year both for the Wildcats, earning Freshman All-America honors, and then in the Cape Cod League. The lefthanded hitter has plus raw power and a patient approach, making him one of the best all-around hitting prospects in the country. He also offers solid versatility, and he’ll split time with Dyer behind the plate, while also see-
23. DALLAS BAPTIST LAST YEAR
FINAL RANKING
43-20 (14-7 in Missouri Valley); reached regional final
NR
COACH (RECORD AT SCHOOL)
TOP 100 2020 DRAFT PROSPECTS
LHP Burl Carraway (No. 64)
Dan Heefner (473-249, 12 seasons)
THE GOOD NEWS: All Dallas Baptist does is get to regionals, as the team’s 2019 trip was the sixth consecutive and ninth in coach Dan Heefner’s 12 seasons at the helm. Lefthander Burl Carraway gives the Patriots one of the best relievers in the entire country, and Jimmy Glowenke, a shortstop who will begin the season at DH due to offseason arm surgery, will be a prohibitive favorite to win MVC player of the year honors. There are also a number of veterans back in the lineup around Glowenke, including second baseman Andres Sosa, third baseman Jackson Glenn, Blayne Jones, who will man shortstop for the time being, and Austin Bell. THE BAD NEWS: With MD Johnson and Jordan Martinson gone, the weekend rotation is going to look very different in 2020. Righthander Ray Gaither is penciled in as the team’s Friday starter, and it’s tough to know what to expect from him. He missed most of each of the last two seasons, but he started on Fridays as a freshman in 2017, leading DBU in strikeouts along the way. It has been a while since he has proven it, but the talent is there. Offensively, Bryce Ball is a tough piece to replace, but projected first baseman Dan Pruitt looks like a clone of Ball in many ways. At 6-foot-6 and 241 pounds, Pruitt has nearly the same build as Ball, who was listed at 6-foot-6 and 235 pounds. Like Ball, Pruitt comes to DBU after slugging his way through junior college pitching.
ing time at first base and left field thanks to his athleticism.
THE GOOD NEWS: Arizona had one of the nation’s
PATH TO OMAHA: Arizona finished last season red-hot, win-
most productive offenses last year, hitting an incredible .326/.432/.533 as a team. The bulk of that lineup returns,
ning 13 of its last 14 games, but fell just shy of an NCAA tournament bid. Now, it will try to carry that momentum into 2020.
36
FEBRUARY 2020 • BASEBALLAMERICA.COM
season that featured just two appearances, Carraway burst onto the scene in 2019 and immediately became one of the most electric arms in the country. He held opponents to a .195 bat-
BILL MITCHELL
PLAYER TO KNOW: Burl Carraway, LHP. After a freshman
ting average and struck out 72 hitters in 41.2 innings of work, and with ten appearances of at least two innings, he proved
All-American relief ace Andrew Magno, who stepped up in a big way during the Big Ten Tournament, as well as outfielders
ECU returns a roster with star power. Two-way player Alec Burleson’s tools don’t jump out at you, but he’s an elite com-
that he’s more than just a one-inning arm. He spent his summer pitching in the Cape Cod League and with Team USA, further cementing his place among college
Dominic Canzone and Brady Cherry, its two leading hitters for both average and power. Replacing Magno will require more of a group effort. Ohio State was able to only use 11 pitch-
petitor who can pitch in any role, and he’s developed into a middle-of-the-order power bat as well. Projected Friday starter Gavin Williams, who pitched primarily in relief last season, is a
baseball’s elite and further boosting his draft stock.
ers last season because its rotation covered 280 innings and Magno threw 64.2 more. Sophomore righthander Will Pfennig
Top 100 draft prospect with a fastball that can touch triple-digits. Lefthander Jake Kuchmaner will slot in behind Williams in
PATH TO OMAHA: Not only do the Patriots continually find their way into regionals, they’ve gotten to the regional final in
will need to step up and Ohio State will hope grad transfer Patrick Murphy, an Ohio native who spent the last four years at
the rotation after sporting a 2.99 ERA last season, and famously, throwing a perfect game against Maryland.
each of their last five trips. If they continue to do that year after
Marshall, will also be able to take on an important role in the
year, it’s only a matter of time before they do break through for a trip to Omaha. If this team is going to be the one, it will need
bullpen. Ohio State will have a new look in the outfield and Nate Karaffa, a three-sport star in high school, will get a chance to let
THE BAD NEWS: The personnel losses, particularly in the lineup, are extensive. The power-hitting duo of Bryant Packard
Gaither to be the type of pitcher he was in 2017 and others to step up around him in the rotation. Offensively, whether it’s
his athleticism shine. The Buckeyes will need him and a couple other young players to rise to the challenge.
and Spencer Brickhouse has departed, as has catcher Jake Washer, who actually led the team with 17 homers, and a four-
PLAYER TO KNOW: Dillon Dingler, C. Dingler has been a
year starting shortstop in Turner Brown. There are experienced players ready to step in, such as catcher Seth Caddell, first base-
regular in the Ohio State lineup since he arrived in Columbus. As a freshman, he showed off his athleticism and versatility, playing
man Thomas Francisco and shortstop Ryder Giles, but they’re going to be asked to take on a lot more in 2020. The presence
both catcher and center field, before settling in last season as
in the middle of the order that Brickhouse and Packard brought
the everyday catcher. He’s been integral to Ohio State’s success the last two years and will again be at the center of everything
every day is especially tough to replace, at least right away. Last year’s ace, Jake Agnos, is also gone, but the hope is that the
as a junior. He has top-two rounds potential in the draft, particularly if he taps into his raw power more often this spring, which
emergence of Williams will help mitigate that loss.
would also be a boost for the Buckeyes.
RETURNER TO KNOW: Alec Burleson, UTL. Burleson gives ECU an incredible amount of versatility, and not just because he’s a two-way player. Within those individual aspects, he gives his team a lot of options. On the mound, he has had success starting and relieving, and will go into 2020 as the team’s closer. In the field, he is penciled in at left field as it stands now, but can also handle first base, where he is fantastic defensively. His pitching numbers were fairly similar from 2018 to 2019, but he developed into an impact bat last season, going from .252/.325/.282 to .370/.399/.573, all while maintaining an incredibly low strikeout rate. After spending his summer with Team USA, Burleson returns to Greenville ready to be the Pirates’ primary catalyst.
Pruitt or someone else, DBU will also likely need to find a slugger to round out the lineup around the existing returners. 2020 LINEUP Pos. Name, Yr. C 1B 2B 3B SS LF CF RF DH Pos. RHP RHP RHP RP RP
Ryan Wrobleski, R-Fr. Dan Pruitt, Jr. Andres Sosa, Sr. Jackson Glenn, Sr. Blayne Jones, Jr. Austin Bell, Sr. Hayden Ebrecht, R-Fr. Jace Grady, Fr. Jimmy Glowenke, Jr. Name, Yr. Ray Gaither, R-Jr. Dominic Hamel, Jr. Cole Reeves, So. Burl Carraway, Jr. Kragen Kechely, Sr.
AVG
OBP
SLG
HR
RBI AB
Did not play—Redshirt Transfer—Western Okla. State JC .262 .365 .468 8 34 .292 .372 .460 7 54 .254 .354 .392 5 33 .229 .288 .375 1 13 Did not play—Redshirt HS—Austin .328 .429 .467 6 43
141 250 240 48
244
W L ERA IP SO SV 0 0 0.00 7 8 0 Transfer—Yavapai (Ariz.) JC 1 2 8.71 10 9 0 4 2 2.81 42 72 6 0 4 6.87 38 39 3
24. OHIO STATE LAST YEAR
FINAL RANKING
36-27 (12-12 in Big Ten); reached regionals
NR
COACH (RECORD AT SCHOOL)
TOP 100 2020 DRAFT PROSPECTS
C Dillon Dingler (No. 93)
Greg Beals (297-230-1, nine seasons)
THE GOOD NEWS: The Buckeyes won the Big Ten Tournament last year and have made regionals in three of the last four years after a six-year drought. Ohio State brings its entire rotation back from that team and has a star behind the plate in Dingler, allowing it to set its sights set on a third straight NCAA Tournament appearance, which has only happened three times in the program’s history. The rotation is headlined by lefthander Seth Lonsway, who is coming off a Freshman All-American season and, though his summer in the Cape Cod League confounded many scouts, a similar performance this spring would send him shooting up draft boards. In Lonsway, righthander Garrett Burhenn and lefthander Griffan Smith, Ohio State may have the Big Ten’s best rotation. The lineup also packs a lot of experience, as five regulars are in at least their third year of college baseball. Among those veterans is shortstop Noah West, who was lost to a season-ending knee injury last March. Returning him and third baseman Zach Dezenso, should give the Buckeyes a strong defensive left side of the infield. THE BAD NEWS: Ohio State must account for the loss of
PATH TO OMAHA: Ohio State hasn’t made three straight regionals since 2001-03 and hasn’t won one since 1967, but this team has the potential to end both of those droughts thanks to its pitching staff. The Buckeyes need their rotation to again carry the load and for another reliever to emerge in the way Magno did. The Buckeyes’ offense probably won’t be as powerful this spring, but its experience and athleticism will make life difficult for opposing pitchers all season long and should be productive enough to support what should be a high-end pitching staff. 2020 LINEUP Pos. Name, Yr. C 1B 2B 3B SS LF CF RF DH
Dillon Dingler, Jr. Conner Pohl, Sr. Matt Carpenter, R-Sr. Zach Dezenzo, So. Noah West, Sr. Michael Okuley, Nate Karaffa, Fr. Nolan Clegg, So. Brent Todys, R-Jr.
Pos. LHP RHP LHP RP RP
Name, Yr. Seth Lonsway, R-So. Garrett Burhenn, So. Griffan Smith, Jr. Patrick Murphy, R-Sr. Will Pfennig, So.
AVG
OBP
SLG
HR
RBI AB
.291 .392 .424 3 .264 .374 .396 7 .257 .302 .324 0 .250 .318 .440 10 .284 .322 .420 1 Fr. HS—Powell, Ohio HS—Toronto, Ohio .286 .362 .476 2 .256 .352 .462 9 W 8 6 7 2 2
L 4 4 5 1 4
ERA 3.70 3.96 4.66 2.95 4.78
IP 92 91 97 18 58
19 45 15 37 9
165 235 179 216 81
13 42 41 199 SO SV 126 0 69 0 96 1 11 1 53 2
PATH TO OMAHA: East Carolina knows what it has in Burleson and Kuchmaner, and to a certain extent, Williams, but the team’s chances of breaking through to Omaha for the first time in program history are closely tied to their success in bringing along the players like Caddell, Francisco and Giles, among others, who were stuck behind experienced stars last season. If a number of those guys turn into the next wave of stars in the program, Burleson and Kuchmaner are what they were last season and Williams’ conversion to a Friday starter goes swimmingly, the Pirates could get it done. 2020 LINEUP Pos. Name, Yr.
25. EAST CAROLINA LAST YEAR
FINAL RANKING
47-18 (20-4 in American Athletic Conference); reached super regional
No. 12
COACH (RECORD AT SCHOOL)
TOP 100 2020 DRAFT PROSPECTS
RHP Gavin Williams (No. 78)
Cliff Godwin (201-109-1, five seasons)
THE GOOD NEWS: Coming off of the program’s fifth-ever super regional appearance and second in the last four seasons,
C 1B 2B 3B SS LF CF RF DH Pos. RHP RHP RHP RP RP
Seth Caddell, Jr. Thomas Francisco, So. Connor Norby, So. Zach Agnos, Fr. Ryder Giles, So. Alec Burleson, Jr. Bryson Worrell, Jr. Lane Hoover, So. Christian Smallwood, R-Jr. Name, Yr. Gavin Williams, Jr. Jake Kuchmaner, Jr. Tyler Smith, Sr. Alec Burleson, Jr. Matt Bridges, R-Sr.
AVG
HR
RBI AB
.284 .434 4 .451 .478 4 .286 .290 1 HS—Haymarket, Va. .242 .385 .295 1 .370 .399 .573 9 .253 .327 .442 5 .328 .448 .358 0 .133 .278 .200 0
13 83 26 113 6 31
.241 .319 .194
OBP
SLG
26 149 61 246 19 95 15 134 1 15
W L ERA IP SO SV 1 4 4.56 49 56 1 7 2 2.99 87 73 0 7 1 5.57 74 49 0 6 2 3.28 60 68 5 Did not play—Injured
37
Meanwhile, the Sun Devils came flying out of the gate, starting 21-0 behind a prolific Arizona State junior shortstop Alika Williams is one of several returning players who helped the Sun Devils hit the third most home runs in the nation in 2019.
offense led by first baseman Spencer Torkelson, shortstop Alika Williams, third baseman Gage Workman and outfielders Hunter Bishop and Trevor Hauver. On 11 different occasions during that winning streak, ASU scored at least 10 runs. When you consider that last season’s offensive core was all on campus for one or both of those trying 2017 and 2018 seasons, it says a lot about both the ASU coaching staff’s ability to recruit and about the players’ willingness to be part of a turnaround project. “(Assistant coach) Ben Greenspan, [with] his efforts on the recruiting side, has done a fantastic job of putting together some quality pieces in the midst of a lot of external negativity,” ASU coach Tracy Smith said. “You look around our diamond now, (and) all of those kids were saying yes to Arizona State when there was a lot of—I’ll be very blunt—negativity circling around our program through people’s outside perceptions. To me, what that said is you have a lot of kids who followed their heart, wanted to be where they wanted to be, but also the belief in, ‘Hey, man, I’m going there to be part of the solution and not the problem.’ ” There’s no mistaking that both Arizona State and Miami were good teams in 2019, and perhaps each flirted with being great at various points during the season. In the postseason, though, it was clear that neither was quite ready for prime time.
RESURGENT PROGRAMS
How the mighty have risen Historical powers Arizona State and Miami eye returns to glory in 2020 by JOE HEALY
Though Alec Marsh gave ASU a solid Friday starter, the Devils ultimately came up a little short on the mound, leading to the pitching staff giving up 28 runs in a pair of losses to Southern Mississippi in their regional. Miami’s struggle was often at the end of games, including in the postseason, when they surrendered a 4-0 lead in an eventual 6-5
For Miami coach Gino DiMare, who was an
loss to Central Michigan to open the Starkville
tory of modern college baseball. With a nearly unparalleled level of
assistant under Jim Morris for those two seasons,
Regional. In the regional final, the Hurricanes
success and list of draft picks, the programs have spent the major-
it was a bitter pill to swallow.
led Mississippi State 1-0 going into the middle
ity of the last 50 years setting the bar for sustained excellence in
the sport. The Sun Devils made at least three trips to the College World Series in
“Those two years were just tough years for us,” DiMare said. “We had a record in all of col-
innings before dropping the game 5-2. “Our biggest thing last year is we didn’t finish
lege sports, men’s or women’s, 44 years in a row
games, and if we did, we would have hosted a
each decade between the 1960s and 2000s, winning five national titles
making it to an NCAA tournament. So for us not
regional. No doubt in my mind,” DiMare said.
along the way. The Hurricanes made it to Omaha an astonishing 15 times in
to make it, just imagine how difficult that was for
“You can even go into the regionals. Game 1
the 1980s and ’90s alone and have four national titles to their name.
us, and then we did it two years in a row.”
we lost, which we came back out of to get to
All the while, both programs churned out pro talent, highlighted by Barry Bonds at Arizona State and Ryan Braun at Miami. And until recently, they were still humming along as elite programs. Then, they faltered at exactly the same time.
Both programs dusted themselves off and got things headed back in the right direction in 2019. Arizona State was a No. 2 seed in the Baton Rouge Regional, while Miami was the No. 2 seed
ASU had back-to-back 23-32 seasons in 2017 and 2018, going a com-
in Starkville. Late into the season, both teams
bined 21-39 in Pacific-12 Conference play. The first of those seasons ended
even had realistic shots at hosting regionals.
the program’s 54-year streak of winning 30 or more games. Miami’s 32-27 season in 2017 also heralded the end of the program’s
Miami got off to a slow start, but after a sweep
Mississippi State (in the regional final), but we were up big in that game and lost it. We’ve just got to learn to finish it.” In 2020, both Arizona State and Miami look the part of national title contenders. Arizona State returns four of its top five hitters, missing just Bishop. Torkelson returns as a
at the hands of North Carolina State put them at
favorite to win College Player of the Year honors,
44-year run of reaching the NCAA tournament. The following season, the
15-9 overall and 3-6 in Atlantic Coast Conference
to say nothing of his chances to be the top over-
Hurricanes finished 28-26 and once again were absent from the postseason
play, the Hurricanes hit the accelerator, losing
all pick in the draft; and Hauver, Williams and
picture.
just three more ACC games the rest of the way.
Workman are just about the best lineup protec-
38
FEBRUARY 2020 • BASEBALLAMERICA.COM
BILL MITCHELL; CLIFF WELCH
T
he histories of Arizona State and Miami read something like a his-
tion imaginable. When you consider the returning offensive production, plus the high level of defense provided by Williams, Workman, catcher Sam Ferri and second baseman Drew Swift, there is plenty of reason for Smith to be optimistic about his position player group. “Clearly, we’ve got a lot of older guys coming back, so I think we feel really good certainly from the position player side of how things line up,” Smith said. This time around, the Sun Devils’ pitching looks like it will be one of the team’s strengths. Frankly, it looks like it could be the difference between the team being a solid regional team and a true national title hopeful. “This has probably, in all of my years, been one of my deepest pitching staffs, from just a personnel and ability standpoint, that I’ve had the good fortune of coaching,” Smith said. With what Arizona State has on its roster, it’s
Miami coach Gino DiMare expects big things from the Hurricanes, which bring back virtually their entire lineup from a team that reached the NCAA regional.
hard to disagree with Smith. Lefthander Justin Fall was a top prospect out of the junior college ranks last season. Righthanders R.J. Dabovich
learning how to win as a group on the fly.
thing on the front,” DiMare said. “They’ve
and Boyd Vander Kooi are players to watch for
They got hot as the season wore on, but
got that embedded in their minds.”
the 2020 draft. Righthander Tyler Thornton
still struggled with putting games away
was a Freshman All-American at St. Mary’s last
against the best teams on the schedule and
old days in Tempe and Coral Gables.
season before transferring to Arizona State, and
in the biggest moments.
Expectations are sky high and there is no
In many ways, it feels like the good
precocious freshmen, such as lefthander Cooper
Getting that taste of success but dealing
shortage of talent at either school, much
Benson, have already made good impressions on
with the feeling of falling short bodes well
of which will be in pro baseball after the
the club.
for their success in 2020, because they
season. But for these two giants of college
bring back three of their four top starting
baseball to fully exorcise the demons from
tion falls to new pitching coach Jason Kelly, and
pitchers—righthanders Slade Cecconi,
the tough 2017 and 2018 seasons and return
that should give the ASU faithful reason for opti-
Chris McMahon and Brian Van Belle, a top
to glory, they have to—here’s that word
mism. One of the best pitching minds in college
relief arm in righthander Daniel Federman
again—finish.
baseball, Kelly previously served at Washington,
and all but one starting position player.
The task of turning that potential into produc-
where he helped lead the Huskies to their first College World Series appearance in 2018.
“Our team is such a unique team because
“This year, the expectations are certainly going to be different—I think everyone
just about everybody is back,” DiMare
would agree with that,” DiMare said. “We
said. “From an offensive standpoint, you
don’t want to think it’s just going to hap-
and this is just me (because) I look for different
lost really one guy, and it was (Michael)
pen, just because we have a lot of guys back
things outside of just what’s going on on the
Amditis. That’s an important guy because
that all of a sudden, we’re going to go to
field, but I love the way that he’s able to com-
he’s our catcher, but we’ve got everybody
Omaha. It doesn’t work that way. So, I want
municate with his pitchers,” Smith said. “I’ve
back and that doesn’t happen often.
our guys to know that.”
“I think what makes him unique in my mind,
sat in on meetings that he’s had with them,
“It’s nice to have a few seniors, because
Smith emphasizes to Sun Devils players
QUICK HITS ASU INFLUENCE: Arizona State outfielder Rick Monday was the first pick in the first draft in 1965, keying a dominant two-decade run for the Sun Devils. They won the College World Series in 1965, 1967, 1969, 1977 and 1981 while finishing runner-up five other times, including three times in the ’70s. GOING STREAKING: Miami’s record streak of 44 straight seasons with an NCAA Tournament appearance ran from 1973 to 2016. The Hurricanes won national titles in 1982, 1985, 1999 and 2001.
DRAFT MUSCLE: Arizona State leads all college programs with five preseason top 100 draft prospects: first baseman Spencer Torkelson (No. 1), shortstop Alika Williams (32), third baseman Gage Workman (48), lefthander Justin Fall (67) and righthander R.J. Dabovich (77).
and to me, he’s got that unique blend of, ‘Hey,
we don’t get many here at Miami, and we
that the program’s stated goals are to be
SUMMER STARS: Arizona State’s
I’m going to be tough on you,’ but there’s that
had none last year. If you’re going to be
in the conversation for a national title, to
mutual respect that they want to please him.
ready, (you) certainly like to have a veteran
respect the heritage of Arizona State and to
“So, I think when you’ve got a coach who
team that’s been tested, they’ve got a lot of
develop future stars in the sport.
Torkelson and Williams and Miami righthander Chris McMahon all played for USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team last summer.
can certainly have a knowledge base the kids
experience, you feel good about that.”
can learn from, but yet a motivational ability
That’s not to say that a hands-off
When it comes to 2020, as long as it stays on course, his team will be in the conversa-
to where the athlete wants to not let that coach
approach has been taken to making sure
tion for the national title. With all of these
down or wants to compete for them, that’s a
that this group does a better job of finish-
preseason expectations and the immense
pretty special combination.”
ing games. There’s no assumption being
talent on the roster, the team is on its way
made that players a year older will simply
to honoring ASU’s history. And with five
with Kelly’s proven ability to get the most out of
learn how to win by virtue of being a year
players ranked among the top 100 pros-
his pitchers seems like a ready-made remedy for
older. It’s something that DiMare and his
pects for the draft, they have the future
the shortcomings that kept ASU from competing
staff are teaching and hammering home,
stars part covered. The same, of course, can
at a higher level last season.
and they have the shirts to prove it.
be said of Miami.
A pitching staff bursting with talent, combined
A remedy for what ailed the Hurricanes at
“We got the shirts made. They wear
Suffice it to say that both teams have the
times last season might not require much inter-
them all the time. The main word is ‘finish’
potential to be crowned champions this
vention at all. As a young team, they were clearly
on the back of the shirt and it says some-
season. Q 39
Notre Dame junior righthander Joe Boyle is in tune with his 6-foot-7 body thanks in large part to his passion for analytics and biometrics. Now, a big spring could make him a firstround pick.
trio of multi-inning relief appearances. In the playoffs, Harwich let him loose, and he threw the final three innings of a combined no-hitter in one appearance and then went four innings as part of a 15-inning marathon in the championship series against Cotuit. Notre Dame invested heavily in all the latest pitch-tracking technology in recent seasons under coach Mik Aoki, who was fired in June after nine seasons. Newly hired Link Jarrett isn’t as wed to the data, but he appreciates the way Boyle uses measurable feedback in the pursuit of excellence. “The other day I got on the Rapsodo machine and also the Edgertronic (camera), and I was working on my changeup,” Boyle said. “I was saying, ‘This pitch doesn’t look like it’s moving. It looks like it’s just straight.’ They showed me video. From my angle on the mound, you can’t see it move, but from the batter’s angle you’re going to be able to see armside run and sink.” Boyle, who junked his curveball once he got to college, has also worked this offseason to add more late horizontal movement to a slider that had become too vertical for his tastes. Ristano said the 2,600 revolutions-per-minute slider is tunneling better now than it did last spring and ranks with Boyle’s four-seam fastball (2,3002,600 rpm) in terms of strike-zone efficiency.
I N C O N T R O L?
Getting better all the time
“I think the use of analytics is just to confirm a lot of old ideas and confirm whether some are true or some are false and also develop new ideas,” Boyle said. “When I’m done pitching,
Joe Boyle’s star turn on the Cape makes him one of the most intriguing arms for the draft
it’s awesome to be able to go on my phone and
by MIKE BERARDINO
see, ‘OK, why was something working or why
be able to look at my data from the game and wasn’t something working?’ ”
The Notre Dame junior righthander believes he topped out at
All-America. Boyle struggled with his control during his
102 mph two summers ago in the Northwoods League, according
first two years at Notre Dame. As a freshman,
to his teammates with the Kalamazoo Growlers, but said he isn’t
he threw just two innings over eight appearanc-
sure what his maximum velocity was last summer in the Cape Cod League.
Boyle’s comfort level with analytics and self-discovery dates to his days playing for the St. Louis Pirates travel program. With a namesake father who works in
es, walking eight batters and striking out one.
upper-level management for UPS, the
“I just see three digits and I’m pretty happy about that,” Boyle said.
He improved as a sophomore but still walked
Philadelphia-born Boyle has also lived in
Chuck Ristano, in his 10th season as Fighting Irish pitching coach,
27 in 25.2 innings while going 3-3, 5.96 with 39
Southern California and suburban Louisville,
strikeouts.
where he spent his senior year of high school.
considers the 6-foot-7, 240-pound reliever a seeker, someone who is constantly looking to improve his understanding of his own arsenal and
On the Cape, however, Boyle stayed in his
But it was the seven years he spent in the St.
pitching in general. But there are times when he’d like to see Boyle be
delivery better than he had previously. He
Louis area that proved most pivotal in his
more direct in his mound approach.
also flashed a plus 86 mph slider to go with
development as a pitcher.
“Having the combination of that physical ability and also his want to
his overpowering fastball. When he got back
After sprouting from 5-foot-11 to 6-foot-4
know everything—biomechanically, video, pitch metrics—is all part of
to campus, he spent the fall working on a cir-
as a freshman at Fort Zumwalt West High in
what makes him so much fun to coach,” Ristano said. “There’s also times
cle-changeup, a necessary addition in anticipa-
O’Fallon, Mo., Boyle was gangly for a while. The
you want to say, ‘Hey, man, just go let that thing eat through the strike
tion of a possible move to the rotation.
drills Boyle picked up in travel ball helped him
zone.’ ” Boyle did that well enough for Harwich last summer to create predraft
Limited to side sessions after a busy spring and summer, Boyle spent extra time with the
grow into his body faster than he might have otherwise.
buzz. In 21 innings (including the playoffs) on the Cape, Boyle went 1-2,
Rapsodo machine as he worked to tweak a pitch
2.14, struck out 39 batters, walked 14 and held opponents to nine hits.
he knows he’ll need in longer stints. He made
growing,” Boyle said. “I could see improve-
Scouting directors liked what they saw enough to vote him a Preseason
one start of three innings for Harwich, plus a
ments with my athleticism. Basically, what
40
FEBRUARY 2020 • BASEBALLAMERICA.COM
“Senior year was when I finally stopped
BRIAN WESTERHOLT/FOUR SEAM IMAGES
J
oe Boyle has a big fastball, but he’s almost apologetic about it.
I’ve done for the past five years now is
bers, so we can get drills to correct those
same big arm when he pitched at Wrigley
just control my body and be strong and
movements.”
Field in the Under Armour All-America
lete, too.”
Now that two-sport lefthander Cole Kmet has applied for early entry in the
Game in 2016. But he officially opted out of the draft the next spring.
Notre Dame is one of three college
NFL draft, where he projects as one of
Interest is piquing again. Twenty-two
baseball programs that has contracted
the first tight ends taken this April, the
major league teams have sent scouts in to
with Premier Pitching and Performance
spotlight has found Boyle as a potential
meet with Boyle since the start of the fall
(P3) to do biomechanical assessments of
staff ace for the Irish.
semester, by the pitcher’s own count, but
its players. Charlotte and Missouri State are the others.
Whether he becomes the Friday night
KRISTIN M. BRADSHAW
explosive on the mound and as an ath-
he isn’t about to let that knock him off
starter or assumes closer duties, Boyle
track now. Parents Joe and Renee raised
While Boyle was shut down in late
will have much to say about the outcome
him and younger brother Nick, who has
October when P3 visited Notre Dame,
of Jarrett’s first season after being hired
signed to pitch at Xavier next year, to be
he stopped by the facility while back in
away from UNC Greensboro. His chan-
unassuming.
St. Louis over winter break. Thanks to a
geup acts more like a two-seam fastball
computer program that converts video
at this point, Jarrett said, but he knows
ness school, Boyle carries himself like a
into 3-D models, Boyle was able to skip
that’s OK for someone with 102 in the
normal student—until he steps on the
No. Pitcher, Pos, College
the sensors and just throw.
tank.
mound.
1.
Joe Boyle, RHP, Notre Dame
102
2.
Gavin Williams, RHP, East Carolina
100
“They can look at every position: your
Boyle’s performance this spring will
With a 3.1 GPA at Notre Dame’s busi-
“It’s refreshing to see a kid who strives
Bringing The Heat Notre Dame righthander Joe Boyle is one of a handful of high-octane college pitchers eligible for the 2020 draft. The top 10 listed with peak velocity in miles per hour. Max
kinematics, your kinetic positions—and
also have major draft implications. A
to be great at everything he does,”
3.
Cole Wilcox, RHP, Georgia
100
see, ‘How are you moving? Are you effi-
strong season, whether it comes in the
Ristano said. “It’s easy to get intoxicated
4.
Zach Brzykcy, RHP, Virginia Tech
100
cient? Are you rotating correctly? What
rotation or bullpen, would have him
by the measurables, but what’s import-
5.
Emerson Hancock, RHP, Georgia
99
are your rotation speeds?’ ” Boyle said.
moving up draft boards. An emergence
ant with Joe is the trajectory. I really
6.
Cade Cavalli, RHP, Oklahoma
99
“It’s hard to look at someone with your
as Notre Dame’s ace could push him into
believe that trajectory is going to lead
7.
Garrett Crochet, LHP, Tennessee
99
naked eye and see if they’re moving well.
the first round.
him to pitching in the big leagues at 24,
8.
Bobby Miller, RHP, Louisville
99
25 years old.”
9.
Carmen Mlodzinski, RHP, South Carolina 98
Even using a camera, you don’t know exactly. But these give you precise num-
Scouts were interested in Boyle coming out of high school and he showed off the
Mike Berardino is a freelance writer
10. Burl Carraway, LHP, Dallas Baptist
98
41
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: ALEC BURLESON, 1B/LHP, EAST CAROLINA
like Wichita State. Not only is he one of
Burleson is not only one of the most
days under Gene Stephenson, but he is
dangerous hitters in the conference, but
being tasked with doing something that
he’s also shown composure and talent
is undoubtedly a massive undertaking
on the mound. In 2019, the 6-foot-
(and arguably an impossible one given
2, 205-pound two-way talent batted
the current climate in college baseball):
.370/.399/.573 to go along with nine
bringing the Shockers back to a place
1. East Carolina
home runs and 61 RBIs, and there’s no
where they are competing for national
2. Houston
reason to believe his numbers won’t be
titles. Whether he accomplishes that
3. Connecticut
near that level or better as a junior. On
or not, it will be interesting to see how
4. Cincinnati
the mound, the lefty compiled a 6-2, 3.28
Wedge uses his varied experience as a
5. Central Florida
mark and will likely open the 2020 cam-
college player, pro player, minor league
6. Tulane
paign as the team’s closer for a formida-
manager, MLB manager and play-
7. South Florida
ble pitching staff.
er development advisor to build up a
Slugger/lefthander Alec Burleson will lead East Carolina.
PROJECTED STANDINGS
once-powerful college program.
8. Memphis
PITCHER OF THE YEAR: GAVIN WILLIAMS, RHP, EAST CAROLINA Williams was primarily used as a
TOP 20 2020 DRAFT PROSPECTS 2. Joey Weimer, OF, Cincinnati 3. Alec Burleson, 1B/LHP, East Carolina 4. Hudson Haskin, OF, Tulane 5. Bryson Worrell, OF, East Carolina 6. Colby Dunlop, RHP, Connecticut 7. Dalton Wingo, OF, Central Florida 8. Drew Minter, OF, Houston 9. Graham Hoffman, RHP, South Florida 10. Ron Brown, 1B, Houston 11. Chris Winkel, OF, Connecticut 12. Garrett Schoenle, LHP, Cincinnati
heading into the season. Coming off of a second-place finish in the league stand-
high-leverage reliever in 2019, appear-
ings and a regional appearance after
ing in 21 games and making just five
winning the AAC tournament, UC returns
starts, but he could very well become the
six of its seven top hitters from a year
Pirates’ Friday starter this season. Armed
ago, including outfielder Joey Wiemer
with a fastball that can routinely hit tri-
(.263/.360/.408), the current No. 98
ple-digits and a plus curveball, Williams
prospect for the 2020 draft. Coach Scott
just needs to work on his consistency.
Googins, with his success at Xavier and
He already has the stuff to miss plenty
now Cincinnati, has developed a reputa-
of bats, evidenced by his 56 strikeouts in
tion as something of a specialist who gets
49.1 innings as a sophomore. In addition
his team to play its best baseball in post-
to being our pick for AAC pitcher of the
season tournaments. This season, if the
American Athletic
year, the 6-foot-6, 230-pound Williams
pitching staff comes together to support
is also considered the top draft prospect
a veteran offense, his team could be good
East Carolina is again the favorite, but the always competitive AAC looks to be wide open
in the conference.
enough to keep it from having to win a
CONFERENCE PREVIEWS
BREAKING IT ALL DOWN by TEDDY
CAHILL, CARLOS COLLAZO,
JOE HEALY AND CHRIS HILBURN-TRENKLE
13. Paxton Wallace, SS, Wichita State 14. Clay Aguilar, LHP, Houston
O There is a buzz around Cincinnati
TEAM TO BEAT: EAST CAROLINA
tournament in order to play baseball in
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: REGGIE CRAWFORD, 1B/LHP, CONNECTICUT
June.
O Houston has the talent to make sure that its absence in the postseason in 2019
Fresh off its first super regional appear-
The first player to ever get drafted out
ance since 2016, East Carolina brings back
of North Schuylkill High in Ashland, Pa.,
rotation of two-way player Lael Lockhart
the talent to host a third straight NCAA
Crawford was selected in the 37th round
(4-6, 3.58; .225/.315/.288), lefthander
regional in 2020. Two-way star Alec
by the Royals but elected to honor his
Clay Aguilar (6-4, 3.06) and righthander
18. Seth Caddell, C, East Carolina
Burleson and pitchers Jake Kuchmaner and
commitment to UConn. The Huskies and
Sean Bretz (2-1, 2.53), who returned to
19. Lael Lockhart, LHP, Houston
Gavin Williams will be the focal points of
head coach Jim Penders are certainly
campus after being drafted in the 15th
the Pirates’ success, and they give the team
happy to add the two-way player who
round, will put the Cougars in position
the star power and experience to lead it to
carries an imposing 6-foot-4, 220-pound
to win every weekend series. Offensively,
its second consecutive AAC regular season
frame and plenty of power to a team
toolsy outfielder Derrick Cherry
title. Burleson, a junior, anchors a lineup
that hit just 40 home runs last season. In
(.292/.414/.417) and second baseman Brad
15. Alec Trela, 3B, Memphis 16. Connor Pellerin, RHP, Tulane 17. Jeffrey Hakanson, RHP, Central Florida
20. Jimmy Wang, RHP, Connecticut TOP 10 2021 DRAFT PROSPECTS
was just a one-year fluke. A weekend
that includes sophomores Lane Hoover
addition to providing solid defense at first
Burckel (.271/.397/.348) will be leaned
1. Brandon Schrepf, OF/RHP, South Florida
and Thomas Francisco , who combined for
base and a potential middle-of-the-order
upon heavily, as will a talented junior
47 walks compared to just 37 strikeouts in
bat, Crawford can get his fastball up to 94
college class featuring third baseman
2. Hunter Goodman, OF, Memphis
2019, and juniors Bryson Worrell and Seth
mph on the mound to help a roster that
Ryan Hernandez, outfielder Brett Cain,
3. Patrick Winkel, C/3B, Connecticut
Caddell. Yet the most dangerous component
lost three of its top pitchers from the 2019
outfielder Andrew Papatonis. Q
4. Nolan Lepkoske, RHP, Central Florida
of head coach Chris Godwin’s team is its
season.
5. Thomas Francisco, 1B, East Carolina
second on the team with seven wins last
6. Kyler Fedko, OF, Connecticut
17, anchors a pitching staff that includes
coach at Wichita State was one of the
7. Brad Burckel, 2B, Houston
Burleson, senior Tyler Smith and Williams,
more notable moves of this cycle. It’s
8. Hunter Patteson, LHP, Central Florida
a flamethrower who can routinely touch 100
incredibly rare that a former big league
mph. With a strong core group and plenty of
manager moves into a college head
East Carolina
9. David Bates, RHP, Tulane
experience, the Pirates will be the team to
coaching role, and it just adds to the
beat in the AAC.
intrigue that Wedge is doing so at a place
Houston Connecticut
10. Derrick Cherry, OF, Houston 42
FEBRUARY 2020 • BASEBALLAMERICA.COM
pitching. Kuchmaner, a junior who finished season and threw a perfect game on March
REGIONAL TEAMS NOTABLE STORYLINES O Eric Wedge’s hiring as the new
GREG THOMPSON/ICON SPORTSWIRE VIA GETTY IMAGES; COURTESY OF LOUISVILLE
9. Wichita State
1. Gavin Williams, RHP, East Carolina
the most famous alums from WSU’s glory
ago. Bailey, though, might offer more intrigue on both sides of the ball. While
NOTABLE STORYLINES O Conference quality and depth can
Wilson’s pure feel to hit was likely better,
ebb and flow from year to year, but 2020
Bailey has produced an OPS over 1.000
appears to be a season when the ACC will
in each of his first two seasons with the
have a high level of both. Louisville and
Wolfpack, thanks to a strong walk rate
Miami are on the short list of the most
(14.4 percent) and above-average power
serious national title contenders, sev-
as a switch-hitter (18 home runs). Bailey
eral other teams could find their way to
PROJECTED STANDINGS
is also one of the better catch-and-throw
Omaha, eight teams were ranked in the
backstops in the country with excellent
Preseason Top 25, 10 teams were in our
receiving skills, a strong arm and the
preseason Field of 64 projection and as
ability to confidently handle a pitching
many as a dozen could have real post-
staff.
season aspirations. It won’t be a fun year
Atlantic Division 1. Louisville 2. Florida State 3. North Carolina State 4. Wake Forest 5. Clemson 6. Boston College 7. Notre Dame Coastal Division 1. Miami 2. Duke 3. North Carolina 4. Georgia Tech 5. Virginia 6. Virginia Tech 7. Pittsburgh
to have to coach in the league, but it will
PITCHER OF THE YEAR: REID DETMERS, LHP, LOUISVILLE Detmers is the top-ranked player in
be exciting to be an observer.
O Mike Martin Jr. was quickly named the new Florida State head coach at the
the conference and is expected to go in
end of last season, succeeding his father,
the top half of the first round thanks
who had been at the helm for 40 years.
Atlantic Coast
to his polished all-around repertoire
The Seminoles sent the elder Martin
and standout command and control.
out in style last season. Though they
Louisville, Miami headline contenders in deep, talented conference
Last season he set the Louisville sin-
struggled in the regular season, they
gle-season strikeout record with 167 and
made a Cinderella run to Omaha in the
tied the program record with 13 wins.
postseason. Led by ace C.J. Van Eyk, FSU
Detmers’ 167 strikeouts were good for
is capable of beginning this new era of
the second most in the country (behind
Seminoles baseball in style as well.
Third baseman Alex Binelas anchors the Louisville lineup.
TEAM TO BEAT: LOUISVILLE The No. 2 preseason team in the country,
1. Reid Detmers, LHP, Louisville
Louisville should compete for a nation-
Ethan Small’s 176) and his command and
al title this season with a deep group of
deception are more than enough for a
intriguing teams in the conference for
returning players that includes a strong
potent, low-90s fastball and big-break-
a number of reasons. They have a new
core of hitters and impact pitching with
ing curveball to routinely overwhelm hit-
head coach in former UNC Greensboro
3. Freddy Zamora, SS, Miami
a 1-2 punch of lefty Reid Detmers, righty
ters. After posting a 2.85 ERA over 107.1
skipper Link Jarrett, whose track record
4. C.J. Van Eyk, RHP, Florida State
Bobby Miller and lefty closer Michael Kirian.
innings a season ago, Detmers will be the
of fielding offensive-oriented teams pro-
5. Slade Cecconi, RHP, Miami
While the Cardinals lost a number of players
Friday night ace for one of the best teams
vides optimism that he can turn around a
6. Aaron Sabato, 1B, North Carolina
to the 2019 draft—including first baseman
in the country.
Fighting Irish offense that has struggled
7. Chris McMahon, RHP, Miami
to score runs in recent years. He also has
8. Ian Seymour, LHP, Virginia Tech
real talent to work with. Flame-throwing
9. Joe Boyle, RHP, Notre Dame
Logan Wyatt, shortstop Tyler Fitzgerald, righty Michael McAvene and lefty Nick Bennett—they routinely bring more talent
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: NATE SAVINO, LHP, VIRGINIA
O Notre Dame is one of the most
TOP 20 2020 DRAFT PROSPECTS
righthander Joe Boyle is the No. 79 pros-
2. Patrick Bailey, C, North Carolina State
10. Nander De Sedas, SS, Florida State
through the program. Third baseman Alex
Virginia continues to draw pitchers to
pect on the preseason top 100 draft pros-
Binelas looks like one of the better hitters
the program. Two years ago, righthander
pects list and a Preseason All-American,
11. Bobby Miller, RHP, Louisville
in the 2021 draft class and should help carry
Mike Vasil was looking like a first round-
and he could be a game-changer for the
12. Luke Waddell, SS, Georgia Tech
the offense, alongside returners like short-
caliber arm out of high school but chose
Irish if he can get the control issues that
13. Andrew Abbott, LHP, Virginia
stop Justin Lavey, outfielder Zach Britton
to skip the draft to get to Charlottesville.
have plagued him in the past sorted out.
14. Niko Kavadas, 1B, Notre Dame
and second baseman Lucas Dunn. Catcher
Now the Cavaliers have convinced a
First baseman Niko Kavadas, the best
15. Elijah Cabell, OF, Florida State
Henry Davis has one of the better arms in
lefthander to do the same. Savino, a
returning power bat in the lineup, joins
16. Reese Albert, OF, Florida State
the country and should be able to capably
Sterling, Va., prep, was the top-ranked
Boyle as a preseason All-American. Q
17. Max Alba, RHP, North Carolina
handle a strong pitching staff, while also
prep southpaw for the 2020 draft class
limiting the running game. First baseman
and would have ranked in the middle
Dalton Rushing is unproven as a freshman
of the first round had he not enrolled
stepping into a big role but has the power
early with Virginia to pitch this spring.
and zone awareness to acquit himself
At 6-foot-3, 195 pounds, Savino throws
nicely, while outfielder Luke Brown and
from a lower three-quarters slot and has
Levi Usher should do an excellent job. The
a fastball that gets up to 96 mph, with
Cardinals will need to figure out their mid-
terrific running and sinking life. He spots
week starter and have some bullpen arms
the pitch well and pairs it with a plus
step up but are well-rounded and should be
slider in the upper 70s that has tons of
able to win in many ways.
horizontal movement and is a weapon against batters on both sides of the plate.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: PATRICK BAILEY, C, NORTH CAROLINA STATE North Carolina State has a thing for ACC
Savino lands his slider consistently for the amount of movement it has, and his combination of size, stuff and control
preseason players of the year, with Will
should allow him to make an immediate
Wilson taking home this recognition a year
impact on the college game.
18. Baron Radcliff, OF, Georgia Tech
REGIONAL TEAMS
19. Jared Shuster, LHP, Wake Forest 20. Austin Love, RHP, North Carolina TOP 10 2021 DRAFT PROSPECTS 1. Adrian Del Castillo, C, Miami
Louisville Miami Florida State Duke North Carolina State North Carolina Wake Forest Georgia Tech Virginia Clemson
2. Robby Martin, OF, Florida State 3. Alex Binelas, 3B, Louisville 4. Jack Perkins, RHP, Louisville 5. Sal Frelick, OF, Boston College 6. Mike Vasil, RHP, Virginia 7. Mason Pelio, RHP, Boston College 8. Cody Morissette, SS, Boston College 9. Henry Davis, C, Louisville 10. Davis Sharpe, RHP, Clemson 43
and first-round pick. As the No. 51 draft prospect for 2020 and with a summer spent pitching for Team USA, he is clear-
Texas Tech is the league’s favorite, but the Big 12 could turn into the Wild West as the spring unfolds
is to prove it. Last season, his first as a
3. Oklahoma
member of the weekend rotation, Cavalli went 5-3, 3.28 with a .238 opponent average in 60.1 innings. For Oklahoma to
1. Texas Tech 2. Oklahoma State
ly viewed that way. Now, all that’s left
TEAM TO BEAT: TEXAS TECH With Josh Jung, Gabe Holt and Cameron
reach its potential as a contender at the top of the conference, Cavalli will need
4. Texas Christian
Warren gone from the lineup, and Caleb
to take a step forward, and every sign
5. Texas
Kilian gone from the rotation, Texas Tech
points toward him succeeding.
6. Baylor
loses quite a bit going into 2020, but at this
7. Kansas State
point few programs deserve more of the
8. Kansas
benefit of the doubt that they will reload
9. West Virginia
year after year. The Red Raiders lose talent-
TOP 20 2020 DRAFT PROSPECTS 1. Nick Loftin, SS, Baylor 2. Cade Cavalli, RHP, Oklahoma 3. Kaden Polcovich, 2B, Oklahoma State 4. Bryce Bonnin, RHP Texas Tech 5. Bryce Elder, RHP, Texas
ed players every year, but they’ve been to
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: BRYCE OSMOND, RHP, OKLAHOMA STATE Oklahoma State will lean on a lot of
Omaha four times in the last six seasons, so
freshman pitchers in 2020, none more
it’s easy to think that 2020 will be more of
so than the righthander Osmond, who is
the same. Including senior second baseman
projected to slot in behind lefty Parker
Brian Klein and junior center fielder Dylan
Scott as the team’s Saturday starter. He
Neuse, nine players who saw significant
was a top 50 prospect heading into the
playing time last year are either penciled
2019 draft, but in part because of his
could be Omaha bound. If there are
into starting spots or are battling for time.
strong commitment to the Cowboys, he
significant growing pains, either from
On the mound, Tech will once again run out
slipped to the 35th round and made it to
those pitchers or the freshman position
Shortstop Nick Loftin is back to lead Baylor’s lineup.
a staff featuring multiple big-time arms.
campus. It’s asking a lot for any fresh-
players, it might be a struggle to get
6. Levi Prater, LHP, Oklahoma
Hard-throwing John McMillon, who elected
man to come in and prove effective in
back into the postseason.
7. Clayton Beeter, RHP, Texas Tech
to come back for his senior season rath-
the Big 12, but Osmond’s pedigree sug-
8. Carson Seymour, RHP, Kansas State
er than begin his pro career, will be a key
gests that he could pull it off.
9. Caleb Sloan, RHP, Texas Christian
shuffling along the way, Texas Tech always
piece in the rotation. Even if it takes some
10. Dane Acker, RHP, Oklahoma
finds the right combination on the mound
11. Parker Scott, LHP, Oklahoma State
by season’s end.
12. Zach Matthews, RHP, Oklahoma
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: NICK LOFTIN, SS, BAYLOR
13. Tyler Hardman, 1B, Oklahoma 14. Johnny Ray, RHP, Texas Christian 15. Dylan Neuse, OF, Texas Tech 16. Cole Quintanilla, RHP, Texas 17. Jakob Brustoski, LHP, Texas Tech
O Two new or renovated stadiums will come to the Big 12 this season. Oklahoma State opens up brand-new O’Brate
NOTABLE STORYLINES O Just about everything that could
Stadium with what should be a pivotal conference series against TCU beginning
have gone wrong did go wrong for Texas
March 20. First, they have to close down
last year, leading to a last-place finish
venerable Allie P. Reynolds Stadium,
in the league. Understanding that last
which will serve as the Cowboys’ home
season’s fall wasn’t predicted, either,
up to that point. The new stadium was
it’s extremely difficult to imagine the
initially slated to open in time for the
Big 12 will also go into the season as the
Longhorns struggling to the same
start of the 2020 season, but the tor-
favorite to win player of the year honors.
extent in 2020. Outfield will be a unit
rential downpours in Oklahoma in late
The junior has been incredibly consistent
of strength for Texas because of the
spring and early summer caused con-
The top-ranked draft prospect from the
at the plate in his first two seasons and has
return of seniors Duke Ellis and Austin
struction to fall well behind schedule.
18. Jackson Wolf, LHP, West Virginia
shown a bit more pop in his bat than you
Todd, plus sophomore Eric Kennedy,
As historic a venue as Allie P. Reynolds
19. Kameron Fields, RHP, Texas
might expect from someone of his stat-
who led the team in hitting last season.
is, this is a much-needed upgrade for a
20. Brett Standlee, RHP, Oklahoma State
ure. He hit .315/.375/.473 with a combined
D.J. Petrinsky is back behind the plate
top-flight program. Meanwhile, Kansas
30 doubles, 12 home runs, 78 RBIs and 38
after missing most of last season with
State will open up a renovated Tointon
walks compared to just 37 strikeouts. But as
a shoulder injury. The infield overall is
Family Stadium this season, including a
good as he has been offensively, he might
extremely inexperienced. First base-
new clubhouse. Q
provide more value on defense, where he
man Zach Zubia has experience at the
handles shortstop extraordinarily well
plate, but has never played first base
thanks to strong footwork and a strong
every day, and the three other project-
arm. He proved himself against elite com-
ed starters—second baseman Brenden
petition again over the summer as a mem-
Dixon, shortstop Trey Faltine and third
ber of Team USA and will look to use that
baseman Andre Duplantier II—are
experience to help push the Bears into the
freshmen. Behind junior Bryce Elder in
postseason again this season.
the rotation and Kam Fields at the back
TOP 10 2021 DRAFT PROSPECTS 1. Ty Madden, RHP, Texas 2. Max Marusak, OF, Texas Tech 3. Austin Becker, RHP, Texas Tech 4. Riley Cornelio, RHP, Texas Christian 5. Kolby Kubichek, RHP, Texas 6. Mason Montgomery, LHP, Texas Tech 7. Eric Kennedy, OF, Texas 8. Mason Bryant, RHP, Texas 9. Micah Dallas, RHP, Texas Tech 10. Jordan Wicks, LHP, Kansas State 44
FEBRUARY 2020 • BASEBALLAMERICA.COM
PITCHER OF THE YEAR: CADE CAVALLI, RHP, OKLAHOMA At 6-foot-4, 218 pounds with a fastball
REGIONAL TEAMS
of the bullpen, Texas will be leaning on
Texas Tech
a number of relatively unproven pitch-
Oklahoma State Oklahoma Texas Christian
ers, including sophomores Ty Madden, Kolby Kubichek and Mason Bryant and
that he can run into the high 90s, Cavalli
freshman Pete Hansen. If some of those
looks the part of a workhorse Friday starter
young pitchers become stars, Texas
Texas Baylor
JOHN WILLIAMSON; BILL MITCHELL
PROJECTED STANDINGS
Big 12
of the year in 2018 and back-to-back
an eye on USC. They boast three of the
All-America honors. He’ll come into the
league’s top 20 draft prospects for 2020.
season among the favorites to be taken first overall in the draft, and as the most
teams are projected into the Field of 64.
important piece in a Sun Devils’ lineup
If that comes to pass, it would be the
that hopes to lead the team to its first
most the league has had in the field since
national title since 1981.
2015, when it had six. Having three host
PITCHER OF THE YEAR: BRENDAN BECK, RHP, STANFORD Beck, the brother of former Stanford ace Tristan Beck, enjoyed a solid freshman season in 2018, going 8-0, 2.43 in
Righthander Brendan Beck headlines Stanford’s rotation.
Pacific-12 Arizona State is aiming for a return to Omaha with its powerful lineup, while others in the league reset
O Coming into the season, six Pac-12
teams again might be too heavy a lift for
PROJECTED STANDINGS
the league this season, but getting more
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11.
teams into the field than they have in recent years would be a feather in the cap in its own right.
O California and Stanford both lost
Arizona State UCLA Arizona Stanford California Oregon State Washington Southern California Oregon Utah Washington State
66.2 innings. Last season, he emerged as
significant pieces from their 2019 region-
a workhorse, throwing a team-leading
al teams. The former will be without
91.2 innings, with a 5-4 record and 3.63
slugging first baseman Andrew Vaughn
ERA to show for it. With Alex Williams,
and staff ace Jared Horn, while the latter
whose freshman season in 2019 was
will be missing its top five hitters from
reminiscent of Beck’s, the veteran
last year. However, both are projected as
righthander will lead what should once
regional teams once again. Cal returns
again be a Cardinal rotation good enough
veteran bats in second baseman Darren
to give the team a chance to win every
Baker, third baseman Quentin Selma,
weekend series.
outfielder Max Flower and first baseman
1. Spencer Torkelson, 1B, Arizona State
Grant Holman, plus a high-upside rota-
2. Garrett Mitchell, OF, UCLA
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: COOPER BENSON, LHP, ARIZONA STATE
tion led by Sam Stoutenborough and Sean
3. Austin Wells, C, Arizona
Sullivan. Stanford looks plenty talented
4. Alika Williams, SS, Arizona State
What promises to set apart the 2020
on the mound, paced by starters Brendan
5. Gage Workman, 3B, Arizona State
Arizona State team is the quality depth
Beck and Alex Williams.
TOP 20 2020 DRAFT PROSPECTS
O In dealing with the departure of
6. Kevin Abel, RHP, Oregon State
last season. Among all of that depth,
catcher Adley Rutschman, Oregon State
7. Justin Fall, LHP, Arizona State
Benson has already made a name for
will have the biggest hole to fill in the
8. R.J. Dabovich, RHP, Arizona State
himself. His raw stuff may not jump off
conference. Fortunately for the Beavers,
9. Trevor Hauver, OF, Arizona State
ly a good team. They started the season
the page just yet, but his competitive
they return a number of experienced
21-0 and their offense was good enough
nature does. Coach Tracy Smith notes
players in the lineup that will help in
to keep the team in most games, but they
that Benson believes that he’s going to
this regard. They include catcher Troy
11. Jacob Palisch, LHP, Stanford
were a bit short on the mound, which led
get every hitter out each time he steps
Claunch, utilityman Alex McGarry,
12. Brendan Beck, RHP, Stanford
to their elimination as the No. 2 seed in the
on the mound, and for a freshman in a
infielder Ryan Ober, outfielder Joe Casey
13. Tim Tawa, OF, Stanford
Baton Rouge Regional. This year could be
major conference, that’s huge.
and outfielder Preston Jones. Look for
14. Braiden Ward, 2B, Washington
OSU to pitch well again in 2020, thanks
15. Boyd Vander Kooi, RHP, Arizona State
TEAM TO BEAT: ARIZONA STATE Last season, Arizona State was clear-
on the pitching staff that was missing
a different story. With Spencer Torkelson, Alika Williams, Gage Workman and Trevor Hauver back in the lineup, the offense will
NOTABLE STORYLINES O It was a busy year on the coaching
in large part to the return of the lefty pair of Jake Mulholland and Christian
10. Jamal O’Guinn, 3B, Southern California
16. Darren Baker, 2B, California
be potent again. And Williams, Drew Swift
carousel. Four new coaches come into
Chamberlain, who have primarily pitched
17. Holden Powell, RHP, UCLA
and Sam Ferri give ASU excellent defen-
the league in 2020—Mitch Canham at
out of the bullpen in the past. One big
sive potential as well. The pitching talent
Oregon State, Jason Gill at USC, Mark
question mark for OSU is the availability
18. Ben Ramirez, SS, Southern California
and depth is on another level in 2020.
Wasikowski at Oregon and Brian Green at
of Kevin Abel, who could make a return
Righthander Boyd Vander Kooi returns after
Washington State. Canham’s hire comes
to the mound late in the season after
throwing 95 innings as a member of the
with the most intrigue, because he was
missing much of 2019 with injury. Q
rotation last year, but he’s surrounded by
chosen over OSU interim head coach Pat
highly talented new faces in junior college
Bailey and then-pitching coach Nate
transfer Justin Fall—a lefty with electric
Yeskie, not to mention that there had
stuff—freshman Cooper Benson, and St.
also been talk of former coach Pat Casey
Mary’s transfer Tyler Thornton. ASU is a
returning to the role. Year one won’t
complete team and a real contender to win
be easy for Canham. Player of the Year
2. Tyler Thornton, RHP, Arizona State
the national title.
Adley Rutschman is gone, as is every
3. Noah Cardenas, C, UCLA
pitcher who made more than three starts
4. Sean Sullivan, RHP, California
a season ago. The Beavers will have to
5. Nick Nastrini, RHP, UCLA
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: SPENCER TORKELSON, 1B, ARIZONA STATE It would be tough to be more productive
rebuild quickly if they are to get back in the postseason. Gill, Wasikowski and
than Torkelson has been at ASU. Over his
Green are all joining rebuilding programs
two seasons, he has hit .337/.443/.723 with
to varying degrees, where the postsea-
48 home runs and 119 RBIs, and a whole
son won’t be an expectation in 2020, but
host of awards, including Pac-12 freshman
if any of the three make a move, keep
REGIONAL TEAMS
19. Stevie Emanuels, RHP, Washington 20. Chandler Champlain, RHP, Southern California TOP 10 2021 DRAFT PROSPECTS 1. Matt McLain, SS, UCLA
Arizona State UCLA Arizona Stanford California Oregon State
6. J.T. Schwartz, 1B, UCLA 7. Ryan Holgate, OF, Arizona 8. Tony Bullard, 3B, Arizona 9. Seth Tomczak, RHP, Arizona State 10. Alex Williams RHP, Stanford 45
NCAA initially levied the ruling last year, two weeks before Opening Day, but the
PROJECTED STANDINGS
sanctions did not go into effect while the
East Division 1. Vanderbilt 2. Florida 3. Georgia 4. Tennessee 5. Missouri 6. South Carolina 7. Kentucky West Division 1. Mississippi State 2. Arkansas 3. Auburn 4. Louisiana State 5. Mississippi 6. Texas A&M 7. Alabama
school appealed. In addition to the one-
TOP 20 2020 DRAFT PROSPECTS 1. Emerson Hancock, RHP, Georgia 2. Austin Martin, SS, Vanderbilt 3. Asa Lacy, LHP, Texas A&M 4. Carmen Mlodzinski, RHP, South Carolina
year postseason ban, the program was hit by a 5 percent scholarship reduction, a fine and recruiting restrictions, including a reduction in evaluation days. The violation occurred a few years ago and the players involved are no longer in school.
O The SEC has long been rich in pitching, producing premium pitching prospects such as Casey Mize, David Price, Aaron Nola and Brady Singer over the last 15 years. This year, however, may be the conference’s best yet on the mound. All four starting pitchers voted by scouting directors as first-team Preseason AllAmericans are from the conference— Outfielder Heston Kjerstad has been a consistent source of power as an Arkansas freshman and sophomore.
State’s JT Ginn, Georgia’s Emerson
Southeastern Regularly the nation’s toughest league, the SEC will again be a weekly grind as title contenders abound
5. JT Ginn, RHP, Mississippi State 6. Casey Martin, SS, Arkansas 7. Garrett Crochet, LHP, Tennessee
Tennessee’s Garrett Crochet, Mississippi
TEAM TO BEAT: VANDERBILT The Commodores went 23-7 in the SEC
Hancock and Texas A&M’s Asa Lacy—and
PITCHER OF THE YEAR: KUMAR ROCKER, RHP, VANDERBILT
another four made the second and third
The 2019 Freshman of the Year is
duce half a dozen first-round pitchers in
teams. The conference could easily pro-
poised for an even bigger 2020 season.
June. The wealth of arms is well spread
He was very good during the regular
across the conference, which should
season a year ago but took it to another
make for many quick Friday night games.
level in the postseason. During the NCAA
O In each of the last two seasons, the
last year and set a conference record with 59
Tournament, he showed the depths of
SEC has matched the record for most
overall wins. They’re unlikely to best those
his dominance. He threw a no-hitter
regional bids, sending 10 teams to the
marks this spring, but the reigning national
against Duke in super regionals and then
NCAA Tournament each time. In the
champions enter the season as the top-
built on that performance at the College
preseason projected Field of 64, the
ranked team in the country. All-American
World Series, where he was named Most
conference again is predicted for 10 bids.
Austin Martin is back to anchor the lineup
Outstanding Player. His 4-0, 0.96 line in
In either of the last two years, the SEC
12. Heston Kjerstad, OF, Arkansas
and Vanderbilt has what looks to be the
the NCAA Tournament is probably unsus-
could have broken the record. It has had
13. Jordan Westburg, SS, Mississippi State
best frontline pitching in the country, from
tainable over a full season, but if anyone
a team listed among the first four teams
starters Kumar Rocker, Mason Hickman,
can do it, it would be Rocker.
out of the field both times. That could be
14. Tommy Mace, RHP, Florida
Jake Eder and Jack Leiter to closer Tyler
15. Jake Eder, LHP, Vanderbilt
Brown. Leiter headlined the top-ranked
16. Cole Henry, RHP, Louisiana State
recruiting class in the country, giving the
17. Zach DeLoach, OF, Texas A&M
Commodores more talent to work with this
18. Tyler Brown, RHP, Vanderbilt
spring. Put it all together and Vanderbilt has
landed the highest ranked player on the
Alabama, Kentucky and South Carolina—
19. Jack Leftwich, RHP, Florida
what it takes to repeat as SEC champion for
BA 500 to make it to a college campus.
to take a step forward if the SEC is to
20. Casey Opitz, C, Arkansas
the first time since 1973-74.
Last year it was Rocker and now, Leiter,
break the record. Q
8. Tanner Burns, RHP, Auburn 9. Cole Wilcox, RHP, Georgia 10. Daniel Cabrera, OF, Louisiana State 11. Justin Foscue, 2B/3B, Mississippi State
the case again in 2020, but with Missouri
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: JACK LEITER, RHP, VANDERBILT For the second year in a row, Vanderbilt
ineligible for the postseason, the SEC’s chances at breaking the record take a hit. It’ll be up to last year’s cellar-dwellers—
the son of former all-star Al Leiter, will
1. Kumar Rocker, RHP, Vanderbilt 2. Jack Leiter, RHP, Vanderbilt 3. Gunnar Hoglund, RHP, Mississippi 4. Jud Fabian, OF, Florida 5. Jaden Hill, RHP, Louisiana State 6. Jacob Young, OF, Florida 7. Kendrick Calilao, OF, Florida 8. Eric Cerantola, RHP, Mississippi State 9. Landon Marceaux, RHP, Louisiana State 10. Doug Nikhazy, LHP, Mississippi 46
FEBRUARY 2020 • BASEBALLAMERICA.COM
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: HESTON KJERSTAD, OF, ARKANSAS Kjerstad has established himself as one
try to follow his path to Freshman of the Year honors. Leiter joins a deeper pitching staff than Rocker did, but his talent
of the nation’s best hitters over the last
and advanced feel for pitching will help
two years and scouting directors made
him get on the mound quickly. No matter
him a unanimous selection as a first-team
how Vanderbilt uses him, Leiter will make
Preseason All-American. Listed at 6-foot-3,
an impact this spring.
200 pounds, the lefthanded hitter has plus raw power and consistently gets to it well.
REGIONAL TEAMS
NOTABLE STORYLINES
He hit .327/.400/.575 with 17 home runs as a
O Missouri will be ineligible for the
sophomore and carried that momentum into
postseason this spring after the NCAA in
the summer, when he led USA Baseball’s
November upheld its sanctions, denying
Collegiate National Team in hitting. Now,
the school’s appeal. The penalties result
Kjerstad will look to join Andrew Benintendi
from an academic misconduct inves-
as the only Razorbacks to be named SEC
tigation of a tutor who worked with a
player of the year.
dozen players across three sports. The
Vanderbilt Florida Georgia Mississippi State Arkansas Auburn Louisiana State Mississippi Tennessee Texas A&M
ANDY ALTENBURGER/ICON SPORTSWIRE VIA GETTY IMAGES; BILL MITCHELL
TOP 10 2021 DRAFT PROSPECTS
PROJECTED STANDINGS 1. Michigan 2. Ohio State 3. Minnesota 4. Indiana 5. Iowa 6. Maryland 7. Nebraska
Big Ten
8. Illinois 9. Purdue
After Michigan’s breakthrough, the league is aiming for new heights
10. Northwestern 11. Rutgers 12. Michigan State
TEAM TO BEAT: MICHIGAN
13. Penn State
The Wolverines produced the breakthrough season last year that had been anticipated for the last few years. They
Righthander Max Meyer excels on the mound for Minnesota, but the two-way standout is also a threat offensively.
won 50 games and advanced to the College World Series finals, where they came one win away from their first national championship since 1962. Michigan now will look
TOP 20 2020 DRAFT PROSPECTS 1. Max Meyer, RHP, Minnesota
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: JIMMY OBERTOP, C/1B, MICHIGAN Obertop is the latest premium recruit
Will Bolt, who has followed a path in coaching that makes him uniquely qualified for the gig. He played for Dave Van
2. Jeff Criswell, RHP, Michigan 3. Dillon Dingler, C, Ohio State 4. Jesse Franklin, OF, Michigan
to build on that breakthrough and become a
to arrive in Ann Arbor under coach Erik
Horn at Nebraska, was an assistant for
consistent part of the sport’s upper echelon.
Bakich and recruiting coordinator Nick
the Huskers under Erstad from 2012-
5. Jordan Nwogu, OF, Michigan
It has the talent to return to Omaha in 2020
Schnabel. He’s physical, shows advanced
14 and had two stints as an assistant at
6. Seth Lonsway, LHP, Ohio State
with its talented junior class leading the
feel behind the plate and has the versa-
Texas A&M for Rob Childress, who was
7. Jack Blomgren, SS, Michigan
way, including outfielders Jesse Franklin
tility to play first base as well, which will
himself a Van Horn assistant at Nebraska.
8. Harrison Rutkowski, LHP, Rutgers
and Jordan Nwogu in the lineup, shortstop
help him get in the lineup this spring. He
O Two other new head coaches came
Jack Blomgren, Joe Donovan anchoring the
has a powerful bat and could soon find
on board in time for the 2020 season—
10. Jack Dreyer, LHP, Iowa
defense and righthander Jeff Criswell at the
himself hitting in the middle of the order
Greg Goff at Purdue and Steve Owens at
11. Joe Donovan, C, Michigan
top of the rotation.
for the Wolverines.
Rutgers. Goff, who was on staff under
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: DILLON DINGLER, C, OHIO STATE Dingler has been an integral part of Ohio
NOTABLE STORYLINES O In 2019, the Big Ten continued its
9. Ben Dragani, LHP, Michigan
previous head coach Mark Wasikowski,
12. Patrick Fredrickson, RHP, Minnesota
will look to maximize continuity and
13. Isaiah Paige, RHP, Michigan
momentum from Wasikowski’s tenure,
14. Elijah Dunham, OF, Indiana
push to true power conference status
which saw Purdue rise up from last in the
State’s lineup since he arrived on campus
in college baseball. The league got five
Big Ten in 2016 to in a regional as a No. 2
and quickly became a team leader behind
teams into regionals for the third time
seed in 2018. Formerly the head coach at
the plate. He’s the Buckeyes’ leading
in five seasons, and by getting to the
Bryant, Owens led the Bulldogs to three
17. Randy Bednar, OF, Maryland
returning hitter after batting .291/.392/.424
CWS finals Michigan became the first
regionals and his final eight seasons on
18. Cole Barr, 3B, Indiana
as a sophomore, and he’s also a strong
Big Ten team to play for a national title
the job all ended with Bryant earning a
defender. With a strong junior year, he
since Ohio State won it all in 1966. With
least a share of the Northeast Conference
19. Sam Benschoter, RHP, Michigan State
could play his way up draft boards, possibly
two teams ranked in the Preseason Top
regular season title. Rutgers has strug-
sneaking into the first round, and provide
25—including the Wolverines as a top
gled to become a relevant program
the Buckeyes with needed experience at the
10 team—at least a half-dozen teams
within the Big Ten in its brief time in the
heart of the lineup.
have legitimate postseason aspirations.
league, but Owens’ history suggests he’s
Three Big Ten players ranked among
a good bet to be an agent of change. Q
PITCHER OF THE YEAR: MAX MEYER, RHP, MINNESOTA Meyer has established himself as the
the preseason top 100 draft prospects— Minnesota’s Max Meyer, Michigan’s Dingler—giving the conference momen-
his first two years of college. His fastball/
tum that shows little sign of slowing.
slider combination is one of the best in the
16. Drake Davis, RHP, Minnesota
20. Tevin Murray, LHP, Rutgers TOP 10 2021 DRAFT PROSPECTS 1. Steve Hajjar, LHP, Michigan 2. Aidan Maldonado, RHP, Illinois
REGIONAL TEAMS
Jeff Criswell and Ohio State’s Dillon
conference’s most talented pitcher over
15. Sam Thoresen, RHP, Minnesota
3. Garrett Burhenn, RHP, Ohio State 4. Jacob Campbell, C, Illinois 5. Sean Burke, RHP, Maryland 6. JP Massey, RHP, Minnesota
O One of the biggest surprise coach-
7. Maxwell Costes, 1B, Maryland
country and helped him go 5-3, 2.11 with 87
ing changes of the offseason came when
strikeouts in 76.2 innings as a sophomore.
Nebraska coach Darin Erstad resigned
Michigan
8. Willie Weiss, RHP, Michigan
He also is a regular in the Minnesota lineup,
after eight seasons on the job and four
9. Chase Stanke, C, Minnesota
but it’s on the mound that he truly shines.
regional appearances. Into the job steps
Ohio State Minnesota
10. Zach Dezenzo, 3B, Ohio State 47
American League O A White Sox top prospect sets his sights on Chicago PAGE 49 O An Astros catcher works on ƚĆŲŶÛſĩŀĩſơ ſĥĩŶ ŔƱŶĆÛŶŔŋ PAGE 50 O Rangers catcher gets schooled by ex-big leaguer PAGE 52
Yankees righthander Luis Medina finally found his release point at low Class A Charleston and began to dominate in the second half.
TONY FARLOW/FOUR SEAM IMAGES; BRIAN WESTERHOLT/FOUR SEAM IMAGES
PAGE 51
48
FEBRUARY 2020 • BASEBALLAMERICA.COM
AMERICAN LEAGUE
BALTIMORE ORIOLES The Orioles have set the number of desired candidates for the rotation: eight. They used the Rule 5 draft to reduce the starter shortage. Righthander Brandon Bailey was selected from the Astros organization with the second overall pick in the major league phase and will be given an opportunity to compete for a job. The 25-year-old’s lack of experience beyond Double-A won’t discourage the Orioles from auditioning him. “Bailey has a strong track record of performance everywhere he’s been, including at the Double-A level in a starting capacity,” pro scouting director Mike Snyder said. “He has a full assortment of weapons to lefthanded hitters and to righthanded hitters, and we’re excited to see what he can do in the spring.” Bailey was the Athletics’ sixth-rounder in 2016 out of Gonzaga. He joined the Astros after the 2017 season in a trade for Ramon Laureano. Bailey made 22 appearances (17 starts) in 2019 at Double-A Corpus Christi and posted a 3.30 ERA and 1.22 WHIP in 92.2 innings. He walked 41 batters and struck out 103. Over four minor league seasons, Bailey has registered a 3.07 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and .208 average while failing to reach Triple-A. That should not deter the Orioles, a team that has broken camp in past springs with Rule 5 players from the Class A level. “It’s a difficult jump for anybody to pitch in the major leagues, no matter where you come from,” Snyder said. The Orioles were already familiar with Bailey prior to conducting their research for the Rule 5 draft. Executive vice president/ general manager Mike Elias worked for the Astros before the Orioles hired him in November 2018 and he brought assistant Sig Mejdal and minor league pitching coordinator Chris Holt with him. Veteran righthander Alex Cobb and lefthander John Means are the only pitchers assured of rotation spots. Asher Wojciechowski will be given a chance to join them, but the Dylan Bundy trade created an opening for other pitchers. —ROCH KUBATKO
BOSTON RED SOX When the Red Sox acquired outfielder Marcus Wilson from the Diamondbacks for Blake Swihart last spring, the organization saw a player with a chance to provide outfield depth at the upper levels of the minors. Yet the transition between organizations proved sufficiently jarring to challenge that outlook. Wilson, a 2014 supplemental sec-
ond-rounder out of high school, opened at Double-A Portland but hit just .161 while striking out 44 percent of the time in 19 games. Worried that he would become overwhelmed, the Red Sox demoted him to high Class A Salem. There, Wilson caught his breath and excelled against Carolina League competition. In 45 games, he hit .342/.413/.603 while lowering his strikeout rate to 28 percent. He reclaimed the plate discipline—in concert with good outfield range that played in both center and right field—to re-establish his prospect credentials. Wilson moved back to Portland for the final month and a half of the season, when he hit .250/.325/.486 with a 30 percent strikeout rate. He was, in the words of Portland manager Joe Oliver, a “more confident player and more confident person,” one who had an approach rather than selling out with a pull-happy swing. Even with a more controlled approach, Wilson showed playable power—average to above-average—in games. The swing-andmiss inherent in the righthanded hitter’s game likely will cap his batting average and on-base percentage. If he doesn’t make more frequent contact, it’s hard to project the 23-year-old Wilson as an everyday player. But in his return to Portland, he showed enough contact and power to put himself back in position as a potential outfield reserve. “He’s having production where it’s not just, ‘If this kid figures it out, there’s a lot of potential,’ “ outfield coordinator Darren Fenster said. “He’s really starting to figure some things out.” The Red Sox added Wilson to the 40-man roster in November. It remains to be seen if he opens 2020 in Double-A or Triple-A, but he will be part of the organization’s calculus of its outfield depth. —ALEX SPEIER
CHICAGO WHITE SOX Considering he won an American League Gold Glove last season, it was a bit of a surprise second baseman Yolmer Sanchez was non-tendered by the White Sox. Then again, maybe not. From the minute he was drafted No. 4 overall in 2018 out of Oregon State, Nick Madrigal was on a fast track to the major leagues. “This is a young man who is extremely gifted, who we all love, everything about him,” White Sox manager Rick Renteria said. “He understands who he is and he’ll kind of tell us when that time will come.” The time for the 22-year-old Madrigal to take over as the starting second baseman will come in 2020, possibly on Opening Day.
Madrigal hit .311/.377/.414 between high Class A Winston-Salem, Double-A Birmingham and Triple-A Charlotte in 2019. The numbers say he’s ready now. A natural shortstop, Madrigal has made a smooth transition to second base and plays Gold Glove-caliber defense. He also stole 35 bases last season in his first full year as a pro. “You look at what he can do defensively, what he can do on the basepaths, his batted-ball skills, it’s impressive,” farm director Chris Getz said. “He’s also a leader, not only vocally but mainly leading by example, and that’s primarily what you want out of a professional athlete. “What really makes him so impressive is really the focus he brings into every pitch of the game, whether it be in the box or on the defensive side. And he demands that from everyone.” At 5-foot-7, 165 pounds, Madrigal is not going to be a power threat. But he’ll definitely help the White Sox, a team that struck out the fourth most times in the AL. Madrigal struck out just 16 times last season and his 2.2 percent swinging-strike rate was the lowest among all qualified full-season batters. “You watch Nick Madrigal hit and you get to see what scouts talk about when they talk about a 70 or higher hit tool,” general manager Rick Hahn said. “. . . It’s rare throughout the game to see a guy who can handle the bat the way he can.” —SCOT GREGOR
CLEVELAND INDIANS Some may have scratched their heads over the return the Indians got from the Rangers for two-time Cy Young Award winner Corey Kluber. But the Indians were excited about that return, which consisted of veteran outfielder Delino DeShields Jr. and 22-year-old reliever Emmanuel Clase. The flame-throwing Clase, in particular, has the Indians excited. Cleveland has had a knack for consistently constructing quality bullpens, and team officials feel the righthander will be a big part of their relief corps in 2020. “He has electric stuff,” president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti said. “He’s been up to 102 (mph) and averaged about 100 with his fastball, and he has a cutter that is hard to center up. He complements that with an above-average slider. “We feel he’ll go into our bullpen and be a weapon for us.” In 21 appearances with the Rangers last season Clase recorded a 2.31 ERA. In 23.1 innings he allowed 20 hits with 21 strikeouts and six walks. Clase started the 2019 season at high
Nick Madrigal excited the White Sox with his hitting in 2019, putting his big league debut in focus this season.
Class A Down East then moved up to Double-A Frisco. In a combined 39 appearances he logged a 2.82 ERA and 12 saves. In 44.2 innings he allowed 38 hits, with 50 strikeouts and nine walks, while holding opposing hitters to a .226 average. The Indians had a solid bullpen in 2019, but it lacked power arms. “In an era in baseball where bullpens have the hard-throwing guys, we had gone the other way,” Indians manager Terry Francona said. “ We were still good. But it’s nice when you can bring in a guy who, when all else fails, you know he has velocity. That can be really good.” On the day the trade was made, Antonetti said he immediately received trade inquiries on Clase from two other teams. “There are some 22-year-old relievers in the majors having success, but not many average 100 (mph) with their fastball,” Antonetti said. “We think Clase will fit in the back of our bullpen and provide a different look . . . We’ve got a diverse group able to attack hitters in a number of ways.” —JIM INGRAHAM
DETROIT TIGERS As unusual as it sounds, 2017 first-round righthander Alex Faedo is still learning the definition of an offseason. “It’s weird,” Faedo said. “In my first offseason, I had been shut down, so I didn’t really know when to start all that. Then last year I learned from that, getting ready earlier, having that season under my belt, so I know what to be prepared for.” The 24-year-old Faedo entered this off49
Organization Reports
—EMILY WALDON
HOUSTON ASTROS The Astros value versatility. The addition of a 26th man to active rosters this season will only further the club’s need for another versatile position player. Garrett Stubbs, a 26-year-old catcher who appeared in 11 major league games behind the plate last season, could be in line for a larger role in 2020 while playing multiple positions. Stubbs, a 2015 eighth-rounder from the Southern California, will share backup catching duties with Dustin Garneau. Neither man boasts much experience, but both will be counted on to spell Martin Maldonado at times during the season. Though Stubbs batted just 39 times last season and hit .200/.282/.286, his stint in the majors accomplished many firsts. Stubbs caught most of the team’s returning relievers, worked with returning starters and caught all 12 innings of a game in June, 50
FEBRUARY 2020 • BASEBALLAMERICA.COM
ter but appeared in only one game before being returned to the Cardinals. The 2018 Rule 5 draft, however, may be remembered best for what the Royals lost. The Blue Jays picked 18-year-old righty Elvis Luciano, who had never pitched above Rookie ball, but were able to stash him on the major league roster all season. —ALAN ESKEW
LOS ANGELES ANGELS
Thanks to the addition of a new pitch, Angels righthander Robinson Pina had his best year in 2019 at low Class A.
earning him respect. But Stubbs has minor league options remaining, so he could begin the season at Triple-A Round Rock. Former general manager Jeff Luhnow acknowledged at the Winter Meetings that Houston will, at times, carry three catchers on its active roster in 2020. To do so without wasting a roster spot, Stubbs must provide value elsewhere. At 5-foot-10, 175 pounds, Stubbs is considered an undersized catcher, but he makes up for it in athleticism. He played 18 major league innings in left field last season and will use spring training to work on his outfield defense. The Astros’ new manager figures to hand Stubbs an infield glove, which will put his offseason training to the test. After the 2017 and 2018 seasons, Stubbs trained with Athletics third baseman and two-time Gold Glove winner Matt Chapman. They worked on the intricacies of infield defense. Stubbs has started just three pro games as an infielder, but that could change in 2020 in order for him to stay in the majors. —CHANDLER ROME
KANSAS CITY ROYALS For the third straight year the Royals ventured into the Rule 5 draft, this time choosing righthander Stephen Woods Jr. from the Rays’ organization. The former University at Albany product
went 9-3, 1.88 in 18 games, 12 of them starts, at high Class A Charlotte last season. In 86.1 innings, Woods allowed 71 hits, walked 33 and struck out 79. He walked just 16 in his final 60.2 innings. “He can really spin the breaking ball,” assistant general manager Scott Sharp said. “We think he can generate a lot of swing and misses on that pitch. It’s a true curveball.” Woods, who is 24 and is listed at 6-foot-2, 200 pounds, throws a 90-95 mph fastball and the Royals are optimistic his plus curveball will allow him to be a serviceable big league reliever and spot starter this season. The Giants drafted Woods in the eighth round in 2016 but shipped him to Tampa Bay in 2017 as part of the package for Evan Longoria. He sat out the 2018 season after shoulder surgery to repair torn cartilage. Sharp acknowledged Woods’ control had been a concern early in his career. He walked 64 in 110 innings with low Class A Augusta in 2017, but the way he finished last year he “is more dialed in.” The Royals mined gold in the 2017 Rule 5 draft when they selected Brad Keller and Burch Smith. Keller was the Royals’ pitcher of the year in 2018, going 9-6, 3.08 and moving into the rotation, making 20 starts. He was the club’s Opening Day starter in 2019. The Royals picked righthanders Sam McWilliams and Chris Ellis in the 2018 Rule 5 draft. McWilliams did not make it out of spring training after allowing 10 runs in 4.2 innings. Ellis made the Opening Day ros-
For two years, the Angels tried to fit a changeup into righthander Robinson Pina’s repertoire before finally scrapping the pitch. Sizing up Pina’s huge hands and overthe-top delivery, coaches and instructors instead taught him a split-fingered fastball at instructional league after the 2018 season. It was a decision that could be career altering for Pina, who signed for $50,000 out of the Dominican Republic in 2017. The 21-year-old Pina’s new pitch, which he throws at about 87 mph with sharp break, helped him strike out 146 batters in 108 innings at low Class A Burlington in 2019. Just two other Midwest League pitchers had more strikeouts. “When a guy struggles to throw a changeup, then we usually go to a split-fingered fastball,” minor league pitching coordinator Matt Wise said of Pina, who posted a .213 opponent average. The 6-foot-4, 200-pound Pina has gained about 20 pounds since he signed, and the two years he has spent in the organization’s strength-and-conditioning program have clearly paid off. Pina’s fastball once sat at 91 mph. Today it sits 93 mph and tops out at 96 with late life up in the zone. His curveball, which sits at 83 mph, was his best secondary pitch until he learned the splitter, but his breaking ball still has potential to be a plus pitch. Pina has shown an ability to miss bats, but control is an issue. At three Rookie-level stops in 2018 he recorded a 3.48 ERA in 19 appearances, striking out 61 and walking 19 in 44 innings. While his strikeout rate held steady in 2019, Pina’s walk rate rose. In addition to walking 5.1 per nine innings, Pina also hit nine batters. But his control should improve as he grows into his body and learns to repeat his delivery. The Angels love Pina’s competitive nature and the way he attacks hitters, and they will keep him in the rotation at high Class A Inland Empire in 2020. But with his repertoire and mentality, he could eventually develop into a high-leverage reliever. —MIKE DIGIOVANNA
TRAVIS BERG/FOUR SEAM IMAGES
season coming off his strongest campaign since entering the organization two years earlier, fresh off a College World Series championship as the Florida Gators’ ace. In 2019 he made 22 starts at Double-A Erie and recorded a 3.90 ERA while ranking third in the Eastern League with 134 strikeouts in 115.1 innings. His strikeout rate climbed from 8.8 per nine innings in 2018 to 10.4 in 2019. For Faedo, a return to the EL meant a better sense of preparation. “I’m trying to do a better job at pitching inside, so I can open up the outside part of the plate,” Faedo said. “I love my changeup. I love the action on it. I’m trying to get it to slow down because all my pitches are so close together in velocity that it doesn’t give a big differential.” Faedo’s four-seam fastball added a few ticks in 2019, after an initial drop in velocity at the start of his career. “I’m trying to stay on top of the baseball when I throw it,” Faedo said. “When I get on top of it, it plays a lot better and gets through the zone a lot better. “I know I can manipulate it by getting on the inside of it and get more run on the ball, but I’m not really trying to sink the ball as of yet. I think I’ve got to master getting on top of the ball, driving it through, and getting the good carry on it.” Poised for a move to Triple-A Toledo in 2020, Faedo’s focus remains on more of the same: taking what he knows and simply sharpening. “I feel like everyone’s always trying to get better,” Faedo said. “I want to be able to look back on this season and be like, ‘I helped the bullpen out a lot.’”
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MINNESOTA TWINS Travis Blankenhorn started at third base on Opening Day for high Class A Fort Myers in 2019. In retrospect, it seems ironic. Blankenhorn, a 2015 third-rounder from Pottsville (Pa.) High, has played his way off third in the last four years. The 23-year-old manned the position just twice last season, and the Twins believe that’s a good thing. “He came to us out of high school as a third baseman, but from our perspective, we’ve really come to value versatility as a talent,” farm director Alex Hassan said. “If you can play multiple positions, you protect your team from injury in a lot of ways, and that adds real value to your résumé. “If there’s a shortcut to the major leagues, that’s probably it.” Maybe so, but the path to Minnesota is a dead end if you can’t hit. Fortunately, Blankenhorn rediscovered his stroke in 2019 and turned himself into a dangerous hitter after struggling in 2018. Blankenhorn earned a promotion to Double-A Pensacola just a month into the season, then clubbed 18 homers at his new level and hit .278/.312/.474. The Twins were so impressed they added him to their 40-man roster in November. “He had a rough year in 2018, but his reaction to it got our attention. He made some adjustments, worked on his swing, put some (suggestions) into action,” Hassan said. “We saw a different guy last year, a more confident hitter. He put the ball in play more. He’s trying to get a better base under him—see the ball better.” Adding to Blankenhorn’s offensive output is his defensive flexibility. He started 65 games at second base for Pensacola, and another 18 in left field. “We don’t (move players) if they can’t handle it,” Hassan said. “Travis can. It helps him, and it helps us.” —PHIL MILLER
NEW YORK YANKEES When the Yankees left the Winter Meetings in 2017 they did so with several teams interested in a trio of their young righthanders: Jorge Guzman, Albert Abreu and Luis Medina. The Yankees included Guzman in the 2017 trade with the Marlins that brought Giancarlo Stanton to the Bronx and have held onto Abreu and Medina. The Yankees think there is more to come from Abreu and Medina. “Medina was a lot better at the end
of August at (low Class A) Charleston,’’ vice president of baseball operations Tim Naehring said. “Abreu flashes major league stuff.’’ Their ages—Medina turns 21 in May and Abreu is 24—is one reason why inflated ERAs can be overlooked. Another reason is their exemplary velocity. Medina averages 97 mph and Abreu 96. The success Medina had in his last two outings for Charleston, when he didn’t allow an earned run, gave up four hits, struck out 17, walked three and held hitters to a .103 average in a dozen innings carried over to high Class A Tampa. In two Florida State League games, Medina worked 10.2 innings, allowed one earned run, seven hits, struck out 12, walked three and held hitters to a .175 average. “Early in the year he was very inconsistent, and at the end of the year he found a release point that brought the stuff back,’’ Naehring said of the Dominican Republic product who is 6-foot-1, 175 pounds and signed with the Yankees in 2015. “The fastball, breaking ball and changeup—he was throwing strikes with (them) and being consistent.’’ Medina’s final four starts were a marked improvement over his first 18 starts for Charleston, where he went 1-8, 6.89 and issued 64 walks to 98 strikeouts in 81 innings. Abreu, who came to the Yankees with Guzman in the 2016 deal that sent catcher Brian McCann to the Astros, spent 2019 at Double-A Trenton. “I like him. I don’t know what he is going to be (starter or reliever). The stuff is good, the command and control is an issue,’’ said a talent evaluator from another team. —GEORGE KING
OAKLAND ATHLETICS Back when Tony La Russa managed the Athletics, he often said of his players, “These are men, not machines.” The A’s finally got their Machin—26year-old middle infielder Vimael Machin—in the major league Rule 5 draft from the Cubs. “First and foremost, he’s a really good baseball player,” assistant general manager Dan Feinstein said. “He’s not all that large in stature (a listed 5-foot-10), but he can really swing the bat. He plays multiple positions. We’re just happy to get what we consider an extremely good player.” A’s scout Will Schock made the recommendation. The Phillies drafted
Machin, a 10th-rounder in 2015 from Virginia Commonwealth, and sold him to the A’s in a prearranged deal. “He was the guy we targeted in the draft,” Feinstein said. “He can really hit. The bat is what drew us to him.” Machin hit .295/.390/.412 in 129 games at Double-A Tennessee and Triple-A Iowa in 2019. He collected seven home runs and 27 doubles. Most impressive to the A’s was that he drew 69 walks while striking out only 62 times. As a lefthanded hitter, he has the potential to fill a need for the righthanded heavy Oakland batting order. He has played every infield position, and “he has stood in the outfield,” Feinstein joked. “I’m sure (manager) Bob (Melvin) will give him some time there during spring training to see what he can do.” A’s scouts rank Machin as a plus hitter. He is a slightly below-average runner and ranks about average defensively at shortstop and second base. Feinstein believes that Machin plays above his talent levels because he has such good baseball sense. He has below-average power. Machin was playing in the winter Puerto Rican League this offseason. He grew up in Puerto Rico and moved to the U.S. to attend college. “What we really like is that he has continued to show improvement,” Feinstein said. If that carries over to the major leagues, the A’s may well have plucked a prize from the draft. —CASEY TEFERTILLER
SEATTLE MARINERS If any doubts remained as to whether 23-year-old Evan White would make his major league debut as the Mariners’ Opening Day first baseman in 2020, those can be put to rest. General manager Jerry Dipoto made it clear White would have the starting job when he signed the 2017 first-rounder from Kentucky to a six-year, $24 million deal that includes three club options. The deal makes it clear Dipoto is serious about building around the organization’s top prospects. “We said going into the offseason that Evan was going to be given every opportunity in the spring to make the big league ball club—I think this contract makes it even more obvious,” Dipoto said. “And I said to him at the start of this that he’ll have a very long rope.” Though White spent all of 2019 at Double-A Arkansas and has appeared in just four career games at Triple-A, his contract shows the confidence Dipoto has in him.
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The only other players in history to sign extensions without any big league service time were the Astros’ Jon Singleton, the Phillies’ Scott Kingery and Eloy Jimenez and Luis Robert of the White Sox. Dipoto said he’s not averse to locking up some of his other top prospects, too. White was the ideal candidate for this contract because of his on-field production and projection as well as his leadership. Dipoto said White is the consummate teammate, and he witnessed that last season when White was playing alongside many of the Mariners’ core prospects. White has Gold Glove potential at first base. At the plate, his bat turned a corner with swing changes to help him combine his touted exit velocity with increased launch angle. He slashed .293/.350/.488 with a career-high 18 home runs in 2019 while playing half his games at one of the most extreme pitcher’s parks in the minors. “I have full trust in the organization and where we’re going,” White said. “It was an easier decision (to sign) when we sat down and weighed it. I truly believe in this organization and I’m really fortunate and blessed to be part of it.”
how to get pitchers through rough innings and wants to give that knowledge to the next wave of players. “He wanted to go to the minor leagues and learn the craft,” general manager Jon Daniels said. “Bobby’s path to the big leagues, his overall maturity and intelligence and feel for people, I think he’s pretty well prepared for it. —JEFF WILSON
—TJ COTTERILL The Rangers installed Bobby Wilson as manager at Double-A Frisco in part to mentor top catching prospect Sam Huff.
TAMPA BAY RAYS When the Rays traded No. 2 hitter Tommy Pham to the Padres in December, the move was panned by ace Blake Snell, who was critical of the trade on a video game livestream. But the Rays’ front office is banking on 20-year-old middle infielder Xavier Edwards to win converts—even Snell, the 2018 Cy Young Award winner. “We expect him to a be a long-term, major league, anchor-type contributor,’’ general manager Erik Neander said. The Rays acquired Edwards, the Padres’ supplemental first-round pick in 2018, big league outfielder Hunter Renfroe and a player to be named, while surrendering Pham and Triple-A shortstop Jake Cronenworth to San Diego. Edwards spent much of the second half of 2019 at high Class A Lake Elsinore. In 123 games overall, he hit .322/.375/.396 with one home run and 34 stolen bases. He spent most of his time at second base, playing shortstop about twice a week. “He turned 20 in August,’’ Neander said. “He’s a high school draft who adjusted really well to pro ball. He’s moved quick, and already demonstrated success at high A. “He’s just a dynamic player. He can switch-hit. Strong ability to hit for average and reach base. Big-time legs. He doesn’t strike out at all. We anticipate a little more power in time. Really, he’s a great kid with a 52
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great foundation.’’ Edwards said he was surprised to be traded, pleased to be closer to his South Florida home and excited to join a Rays farm system thick with middle infielders, led by Wander Franco, the No. 1 prospect in baseball. “It’s great to get around good young players, and they’re a talented bunch,’’ Edwards said. Neander acknowledged the Rays’ stockpile of middle infield prospects backing up a young big league double-play duo of Willy Adames and Brandon Lowe. He said those situations tend to work themselves out, potentially leading to other trades. Edwards said that Snell quickly reached out to smooth things over. “He was a good friend of Pham’s, and he kind of just reacted in that moment,” Edwards said, “. . . but that he didn’t mean any disrespect or any hard feelings. I’ve got to take him at his word.” —MARC TOPKIN
TEXAS RANGERS Bobby Wilson won’t be a professional baseball player for the first time since the Angels selected him in the 48th round of the 2002 draft out of St. Petersburg (Fla.) JC. The 36-year-old spent 10 seasons in the major leagues. That’s a heavy toll on any player, let alone a catcher.
Those years provided Wilson a wealth of knowledge and a desire to pass it on. So he is moving from retirement right into his first season as a minor league coach. He landed as a manager for an affiliate of one of his six former organizations, the Rangers. And Texas has a rather large reason for handing Wilson the reins to Double-A Frisco. Wilson is to serve as a mentor for top catching prospect Sam Huff in addition to all the other duties a minor league manager has. “It’s exciting to be able to possibly have somebody of that caliber,” Wilson said. “We’ve already had conversations about what my plan is for him and how we’re going to speed up his curve as fast as we can, on preparation and the mental side of the game.” Some consider Huff, the MVP of the 2019 Futures Game, to be the organization’s top prospect, in part because of his positional value. The 2016 seventh-rounder out of high school in Phoenix is a power hitter who bashed 28 home runs with an .845 OPS across two Class A levels, but the 21-yearold also moves well behind the plate and is a quality defender despite his 6-foot-4, 230pound frame. Wilson, who played for the Rangers in 2015 and 2016, caught 8,310 innings in his career. Most of those came in the minors, and some of them as recently as 2019. He knows how to survive a season and
Righthander Phillippe Aumont’s first stint with the Blue Jays, back in the summer of 2015, right after he helped Canada win gold at the Pan American Games, lasted an unhappy 22 days. The 11th overall pick in the 2007 draft returns to Toronto now on a minor league deal in a much different headspace. “That guy back in the day was a mess,” Aumont said. “I was all over the place mentally . . . When (the Blue Jays) released me with a couple of weeks left in the season, I (felt) like, ‘Thank you for making my misery end.’ “I didn’t have fun. Baseball was just not in my mind anymore.” The 31-year-old from Quebec has pitched parts of four seasons in the big leagues. He has retired, un-retired, been knocked around in affiliated ball and has resurrected his career in independent ball. Over the past 12 months, his passion for the game was reignited with Ottawa of the Can-Am League. His fiancée Frederique and 5-month-old daughter Gabrielle have inspired him to be the best version of himself. The opposite was true in 2016, when he retired. “It didn’t feel right,” Aumont said. He latched on in the Can-Am League in 2017 and signed with the Tigers for 2018 and pitched at Triple-A. “I was still not in a good spot,” Aumont said. “I was just going out there because I was getting an opportunity. I might as well take this . . . make a little bit of money—but baseball wasn’t that interesting for me. “But I grinded it out, and it finally paid off. I finally got in the right spot, met the right woman. I’ve got my daughter and now life is a gift. I’m trying to do good things, so I can set her up for life when she’s older.” No longer blessed with the same power sinker that attracted teams when he was in high school, Aumont now relies more on a cutter, throws a changeup for strikes and a curveball. He received plenty of free agent interest from clubs seeking minor league depth, with the Blue Jays being the most persistent suitor. —SHI DAVIDI
MIKE JANES/FOUR SEAM IMAGES; BILL MITCHELL
TORONTO BLUE JAYS
O A young Reds lefty shows uncommon poise PAGE 54 O 'ŔþĝĆŲŶ ƷŲŶſͳŲŔƆŋþĆŲ ŶſŲĩƚĆŶ ěŔŲ ÛŀŀͳÛŲŔƆŋþ balance PAGE 55 O A Giants righthander focuses on command PAGE 57
The Rockies feel like they snagged borderline first-round talent in fourth-rounder Brenton Doyle, who showcased both tools and production in his pro debut.
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—NICK PIECORO
ATLANTA BRAVES The Braves used the 2019 draft to replenish a farm system that, while still regarded among the best in baseball, has been depleted in recent years by graduations and Major League Baseball-issued penalties due to infractions committed by former executives. While the franchise has long focused 54
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—PATRICK MOONEY
The Braves drafted Texas A&M shortstop Braden Shewmake in the first round and expect him to advance quickly.
on drafting high school players, the 2019 class—the first under scouting director Dana Brown—was led by collegiate talent. The batch included Texas A&M shortstop Braden Shewmake, who impressed in his pro debut. The 22-year-old was regarded as a modest prospect whose floor was that of a quality utilityman with some upside. That projection helped him go 21st in the draft. He was the highest drafted shortstop by the Braves since Chipper Jones was drafted No. 1 overall in 1990. The 6-foot-4, 190-pound Shewmake is viewed as a versatile lefthanded hitter who could develop into a top-of-the-order hitter. He possesses above-average athleticism and could grow into future power. He exceeded expectations at low Class A Rome, hitting .318/.389/.473 with 18 doubles and three home runs in 51 games. His play was rewarded with a promotion to Double-A Mississippi, where he hit .217 in 14 games. Shewmake’s first 65 minor league games were viewed as a success which showed the exact traits the Braves referenced on draft night. “Braden is an athletic shortstop, and even though he’s a college guy, I think he has high upside with that loose, wiry frame he has,” Brown said. “We think he’s going to put on some strength. We think he’s going to get to some power. He’s really good at the position and an average to plus defender. “And what a lot of people don’t know is this guy can actually run. Definitely an above-average runner.” With the Braves projected to soon welcome top outfield prospects Cristian Pache and Drew Waters to the majors, there’s a notable drop off in position players in
the system. The ability to develop talents like Shewmake is increasingly crucial in maintaining a rich farm system and having cost-controlled options to provide depth in the big leagues. —GABE BURNS
CHICAGO CUBS Before the November 40-man roster deadline, the Cubs tried to trade for 6-foot-8 righthander Trevor Megill, a 26-year-old reliever squeezed by the young talent the Padres have assembled during their long rebuilding process. The Cubs made that kind of minor deal under similar circumstances in 2018, when they sent Triple-A third baseman Jason Vosler to the Padres for Rowan Wick, who quietly developed into one of Chicago’s most trusted relievers and positioned himself to be a big part of the 2020 bullpen. The Cubs executed another small trade with the Padres at the July 31 deadline, swapping Carl Edwards Jr. for Brad Wieck, a 6-foot-9 lefty who opened eyes by striking out 18 of the 38 big league hitters he faced in September. The Cubs had to wait until the Winter Meetings, but they acquired Megill with the ninth pick in the major league Rule 5 draft. Megill reached Triple-A for the first time in 2019 and finished with 71 strikeouts and 19 walks in 50.1 innings for El Paso. “We’ve had good reports on a big, physical righthanded reliever,” general manager Jed Hoyer said. “We’ve had some experience with him, and we were excited he was there.”
CINCINNATI REDS It usually takes more than a few months to see the on-field results start to show up for international free agents in baseball. When the Reds signed Mexican lefthander Misael Lopez in June, their hope was to have him pitch in the summer. Unfortunately, his work visa was delayed and he didn’t pitch during the regular season. This winter, though, Lopez has been pitching in the Mexican Pacific League for Los Mochis. Facing opponents who are much older, the 18-year-old Lopez has dominated. Lopez’s first four appearances came in relief, but toward the end of November he made the jump to the rotation. Through 11 appearances and 33 innings, he had recorded a 2.18 ERA and 0.97 WHIP to go with 34 strikeouts. The young lefty was throwing four pitches this winter. His fastball sat between 88-91 mph, though it has been a tad higher. His slider and changeup both come to the plate in the low 80s, and his slow curveball arrives in the mid 70s. Best of all, Lopez has shown a willingness and ability to use all of his pitches as necessary. Listed at 6-foot-3 and 242 pounds, Lopez could have more velocity in the tank. But at that size, he will need to keep an eye on his conditioning. Lopez’s advanced feel for pitching is already benefiting him on the mound this winter. The Reds are hoping to see that continue in 2020, when Lopez will pitch in affiliated ball. —DOUG GRAY
TONY FARLOW/FOUR SEAM IMAGES; BILL MITCHELL
For the first time in nearly a decade, the Diamondbacks will have a new farm director. Mike Bell, who ascended to the post in November 2010, left the organization in December to become the bench coach for the Twins. With his exit, 37-year-old Josh Barfield will replace Bell atop the player development ladder for the D-backs. Barfield spent the past two seasons as Bell’s top assistant. Bell, 45, said he had a desire to return to the dugout during the past couple of seasons. “In the role that I was doing, I was totally immersed in it and loved it,” Bell said. “But being in the clubhouse again, in the dugout, that closely linked to your teammates and the guys, there’s just a draw to it.” Bell’s tenure spanned three front offices. He was named to the post by Kevin Towers and stayed on throughout the next two regimes. That longevity across administrations is rare in today’s game. Bell’s name began to make the rounds as a managerial candidate, and over the previous two winters he interviewed for vacancies with the Rangers, Orioles and Mets. He hopes to eventually get an opportunity to manage, an idea he says was nurtured by D-backs general manager Mike Hazen in recent seasons. “I thought a long time ago, once I moved into the office, that I had made my bed and that was what I was going to do and I was content and happy with that,” Bell said. “In talking with Haze, he kind of opened my mind up that I could do more than that if I chose to.” Bell said the time felt right for him to leave—in no small part because of the connection he felt during conversations with Twins manager Rocco Baldelli and Minnesota’s front office—but he also said the timing works well for Barfield. “There’s no doubt in my mind that he’s ready to do it,” Bell said. “He’s very outgoing. The staff really likes him. They care for him and respect him. He has great relationships with players. I think he sees the game really well.”
The Padres drafted Megill in the seventh round in 2015 out of Loyola Marymount. As they did with Wick and Wieck, the Cubs could offer Megill both a new opportunity and the pitching infrastructure to help him get to the next level. The Cubs are at a transition point where their bullpen is no longer stacked with established veterans, and the entire organization appears to be focusing more on the future than 2020, meaning a Rule 5 pick should get a longer look than normal for a playoff contender. “There’s times you can’t do it,” Hoyer said. “You don’t have room on the roster sometimes, and you can’t fit (a Rule 5 pick) in. But in the years that you do have that space on the roster, it’s a nice thing to be able to do. “Obviously, there’s challenges that come with it, but Megill’s a guy we’re excited about. We’re excited to see him in spring training.”
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COLORADO ROCKIES The Rockies took outfielder Brenton Doyle in the fourth round last year, meaning he wasn’t a draft afterthought. But Doyle came from Division II Shepherd University in Shepherdstown, W.Va. That means Rockies farm director Zach Wilson has answered diamond-in-therough questions about Doyle, despite the 21-year-old hitting .383/.477/.611 with eight home runs and 17 stolen bases at Rookielevel Grand Junction. “This is how I sort of explained it,” Wilson said. “If he went to a school that people had heard of, for me he would’ve been a first-rounder. That’s the type of tools he has.” Wilson has spent 18 years in the Rockies’ organization, the first nine as a scout. When he looks at the 21-year-old Doyle through a scouting prism, scrutinizing his multiple tools and projecting, Wilson said, “Right now the limitless ceiling that he has is impressive.” Doyle is 6-foot-4 and 215 pounds with impressive raw power. But early on, the righthanded batter wasn’t taking advantage of the leverage his height creates. He was spread out and slightly crouched. “So we stood him up taller,” Wilson said, “which allowed him to see the ball a little longer and really allowed him to use his lower half and then create leverage with his arms, the lankiness of his arms.” Seeing the ball better enhanced Doyle’s pitch recognition and helped him lay off breaking pitches in the dirt. Doyle, who led the Pioneer League in batting, on-base percentage and OPS (1.088), missed three weeks with a fractured left cheekbone after getting hit with a foul ball while on the top step of the dugout. Doyle showed the ability to hit balls hard to right-center field and to shorten up with two strikes and make hard contact. He made 33 starts in center field, which he can play well because of his speed, and 11 in right field, where he has plenty of arm. Wilson said Doyle’s reads, jumps and accuracy are all playable. “But as you look toward the future,” Wilson said, “and the type of athlete he is, the type of aptitude that he has and what he’s presently able to do, he’s going to be solid-average to plus in all those ways.” —JACK ETKIN
LOS ANGELES DODGERS Michael Busch’s best position on a baseball field is obvious—the batter’s box. But the 31st pick in the 2019 draft doesn’t want to be known as a one-way player. “I like to think of myself as a complete player,” said Busch, a 22-year-old lefthanded
battled dead arm issues for most of that 2016 season, which helps explain his 5.90 ERA in a team-high 18 appearances. But the Nationals still liked Sharp enough to draft him in the 22nd round. “Scouts saw what I saw,” Nasby said. “Flashes of greatness.” Sharp pitched 148 innings and reached Double-A in 2018. In 2019 he missed more than two months with his first serious injury, an oblique strain, but he returned to post a 1.50 ERA in six Arizona Fall League starts. Sharp throws a heavy sinker and is an extreme groundball pitcher. He allowed only one home run in 18 starts in 2019. Sharp said he throws his one-seam sinker 92 mph and his two-seamer up to 94. “The closer it gets to the plate, hitters will perceive it to be lower than what it is, and they hit the top half,” Sharp said. “I get early contact with sinkers, but the changeup is my favorite. The way it comes off my hand, I get more swings and misses.” —WALTER VILLA
Dodgers first-rounder Michael Busch is committed to learning second base in pro ball to become more versatile.
hitter. “I don’t really like to say I’m a better hitter than I am a defender. If that’s the case, then maybe I need to work a little harder on my defense and become a better defender.” Long term, scouting director Billy Gasparino said the Dodgers see “overall defensive versatility” in Busch, who played mainly first base and left field at North Carolina. Multi-positional ability is certainly something the Dodgers value. For now, though, Busch is going to make second base his primary home. “I played the outfield and some second in college,” Busch said. “Really in high school, I just played shortstop, but I played second some in fall ball. That was really the only experience. “But (the Dodgers) gave me a bunch of tips and helped me out every day, just trying to get me as comfortable as possible as quickly as possible.” In his pro debut after signing for a $2.31 million, Busch played four of his five games in the Rookie-level Arizona League at second base before moving up to low Class A Great Lakes. Again, he played second base in four of five games before getting hit in the hand by a pitch, ending his time there. In the Arizona Fall League, he played second base only once in five games, seeing time at first base as well. The bat that was Busch’s main asset in the draft has yet to show. He hit just .125 in those 10 minor league games, albeit with seven walks and five strikeouts. “All you’ve got is baseball,” Busch said of his first taste of the pro experience. “No school. Not many things I’d rather be doing than that . . . It’s a job, but it’s a lot of fun.” —BILL PLUNKETT
MIAMI MARLINS Righthander Sterling Sharp didn’t have it easy trying to play baseball in suburban Detroit. “We couldn’t start practicing until midMarch, and, even then, there was still snow on the ground. Forty degrees was a good day for us,” said Sharp, a 6-foot-3, 170pound righthander. “Most days, we’d practice in our gym, when it wasn’t occupied with volleyball or basketball. “But it was tough to see the ball because the walls of our gym were white and tan.” From those humble beginnings, Sharp is now on the verge of potentially making his major league debut this spring with the Marlins, where he would enjoy considerably more sunshine. The Marlins selected the 24-year-old in December’s Rule 5 draft from the Nationals. Growing up, Sharp’s favorite athlete was Derek Jeter, who was also raised in Michigan. Jeter is now the Marlins’ CEO. If all goes well, Sharp will be the second pitcher the Marlins have “discovered” from Division II Drury (Mo.) in the past three years, joining righthander Trevor Richards in 2018. But while Richards went undrafted and fought his way up through independent leagues, Sharp was drafted twice. Rather than sign as a Braves 30th-rounder out of high school in 2013, Sharp attended Eastern Michigan. But the coaching staff—including pitching guru Eric Peterson—was dismissed after Sharp’s freshman year. Sharp spent his sophomore year at a junior college before landing at Drury, where Peterson had been hired. Drury coach Scott Nasby said Sharp
MILWAUKEE BREWERS Many fans expect their team to “win” every trade. But, truth be told, swaps are meant to benefit both sides. That was the case when the Brewers sent righthander Zach Davies and outfielder Trent Grisham to the Padres for lefthander Eric Lauer and middle infielder Luis Urias. The Brewers were looking to save money in their rotation and pick up a needed lefty, but the fascinating part of the deal was the exchange of Grisham and Urias. The 23-year-old Grisham hit his way into regular big league at-bats late in the season following a breakthrough year in the high minors. The 22-year-old Urias was considered the Padres’ second baseman of the future. The two teams had other things in mind. The Brewers wanted another option at shortstop after another disappointing season from Orlando Arcia. Though Urias’ best position is second base, the Brewers have a rising offensive star there in Keston Hiura. The Brewers could pit Arcia against Urias for the shortstop job in the spring. Or perhaps Urias will serve as a multi-position regular. Either way, the Brewers thought he was too exciting of a young talent to refuse. Urias was a dynamic performer in the minors. He won the California League MVP in 2016 and is a career .308 hitter in the minors. In 73 games at Triple-A El Paso in 2019, he batted .315/.398/.600 with 19 home runs. In his first extensive run in the majors, Urias struggled to a .223 average in 71 55
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—TOM HAUDRICOURT
NEW YORK METS In assessing the Mets’ rotation depth before spring training, general manager Brodie Van Wagenen included 24-year-old lefthander David Peterson in the equation as a potential starter. Peterson, a 2017 first-rounder from Oregon, spent last season at Double-A Binghamton, where he went 3-6, 4.19 with a 1.34 WHIP in 24 starts. He struck out 122 batters in 116 innings. “I think he faced a little bit of bad luck last year,” farm director Jared Banner said. “He gets a lot of ground balls and probably more ground balls than should have found holes at times during the year, but I think overall he did a good job commanding his stuff. “His slider is real good. His changeup continues to develop. He was durable. It was a really strong campaign.” Peterson, who stands at 6-foot-6, 240 pounds, also pitched in the Arizona Fall League. In four starts, he pitched to a 3.46 ERA and his fastball topped out at 94 mph, according to a talent evaluator. “I wish he would use his curveball a little bit more, so he’s mainly a three-pitch guy right now,” the evaluator said. “He knows what he is doing, he has got a feel for it. We all want these No. 1 picks to zoom to the big leagues and it just doesn’t happen.” Peterson received an invite to major league spring training last year and will return in February as a pitcher who could provide rotation depth behind the team’s five starters. The Mets have also mentioned relievers Seth Lugo and Robert Gsellman as potential starters, though they fell down the depth chart after Rick Porcello and Michael Wacha signed as free agents. “I think getting that experience in big league camp was good for him,” Banner said. “Coming in this year he won’t be as 56
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Pirates righthander Travis MacGregor benefited from the tutelage of former major league pitchers while rehabbing.
much on edge, he will be a little more comfortable this second time through and I am sure he will go out there and compete and show us what he can do.” —MIKE PUMA
PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES A roster crunch in Tampa Bay has led to an opportunity with the Phillies for lefthander Cristopher Sanchez. The prospect-rich Rays added five players to their 40-man roster in November but were unable to find room for the 23-yearold. He seemed to be a sure bet to go in the Rule 5 draft until the Phillies grabbed him in a trade on Nov. 20 and put him on their 40-man roster. In order to pull off the deal for Sanchez, the Phillies parted ways with 19-year-old Australian third baseman Curtis Mead. “We’re excited about him,” general manager Matt Klentak said. “Power stuff from the left side. Our scouts identified him early last season and stayed on him and really pounded the table for us to acquire him.” Sanchez, who signed with the Rays for $65,000 out of the Dominican Republic in July 2013, has a reedy, 6-foot-5, 165-pound frame with a side-saddle delivery similar to that of David Price. Sanchez spent most of his career pitching in Rookie ball before making his way to the Midwest and Florida State leagues in 2019. In 74.1 innings, he gave up just 56 hits, struck out 74 batters and finished with a 1.94 ERA. “His stuff and his performance real-
ly spiked last year,” Klentak said. “He’s a good-looking power pitcher with the ability to miss bats and keep the ball on the ground.” The most eye-catching part of Sanchez’s 2019 season was the jump in velocity. His fastball averaged 95 mph and touched 98. His changeup and slider are also solid pitches that are getting better, giving him the potential to have three average or better pitches as a starter. The club will get a look at Sanchez in big league camp and will learn a lot more about him in the coming year. For now, the team is intrigued by his package and ceiling and views him as someone who could develop into a mid-rotation starter or high-leverage reliever. Sanchez is expected to begin the season in the Double-A Reading rotation. —JIM SALISBURY
PITTSBURGH PIRATES If 22-year-old righthander Travis MacGregor reaches the majors, he’s going to have a lot of former and current major league pitchers to thank. The 2016 second-rounder out of high school in Tarpon Springs, Fla., showed a tall, lanky frame with a lot of moving parts that made it difficult to control his high-80s fastball. MacGregor had a big-breaking curveball that was spiked too often. He was a project who didn’t yet have a standout portion of his game. That changed when MacGregor worked with minor league pitching coach and
former Pirates closer Joel Hanrahan in 2018. The two worked on overhauling his mechanics, and the result was a 3.25 ERA and 74 strikeouts in 63.2 innings in the low Class A South Atlantic League. The strikeouts resulted from increased velocity on his fastball—he jumped from 91-93 mph with a high of 95—along with improved control and command. But then MacGregor went down with Tommy John surgery at the end of that season. As of this offseason, he had finished his rehab and has been throwing since mid-December. “I felt the control and the velocity was where it needed to be,” MacGregor said. “I’m excited to get to try to mix all of my pitches in during spring training this year.” MacGregor was only throwing his fastball and changeup during instructional league. When he reports to minor league camp this year, he will continue working on a new slider that he developed in 2018 to replace his curveball. Chad Kuhl and Edgar Santana throw two of the best sliders in the Pirates’ system. Both pitchers were rehabbing with MacGregor, allowing him to pick up some tips on his new pitch. “They definitely allowed me to think differently about how I’m presenting the slider in certain counts and certain situations,” MacGregor said. Also working with the group was Nik Turley, who helped him work on his ability to spin the ball. “He’s a guy who spins it really well,” MacGregor said of Turley. “He was able to help me get to a point where I’m spinning the ball faster than I normally would.” MacGregor is still a project, but he’s not as raw as he once was. —TIM WILLIAMS
ST. LOUIS CARDINALS At the beginning of the winter, one of the goals the Cardinals had was to use their stockpile of righthanded-hitting outfielders to address needs elsewhere on the roster. In a series of trades, the Cardinals peeled three outfielders off their roster and added some clarity, nothing for the 2020 team, and one of the top lefthanders in the minors. Matthew Liberatore, the lefty, is the prize the Cardinals coveted. St. Louis added Liberatore, the 16th pick in the 2018 draft, in a trade with the Rays that cost them outfielders Jose Martinez and Randy Arozarena. The teams also swapped supplemental-round draft picks, with the Cardinals moving from a draft position after the first round to one after the second. St. Louis also acquired Rookie-
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games. “This is a player who performed at very high levels at very young ages throughout his career,” president of baseball operations David Stearns said. “This is a player with elite zone control, has demonstrated elite contact skills in his past, and is also a very gifted defender. “We did not have good shortstop production last year (the club’s .612 OPS ranked last in the National League), and we have been open about that. For us to ultimately do what we want to do and be the type of team we want to be, production from that position needs to improve. “Having competition at that position is not a bad thing.”
NATIONAL LEAGUE
ball catcher Edgardo Rodriguez in the deal. Arozarena had a big year at Triple-A Memphis. Martinez was the team’s leading pinch-hitter and signed to a two-year deal. Their departure clears the way for others, but also adds a player the Cardinals have been chasing for more than a year. The 20-year-old Liberatore recorded a 3.10 ERA at low Class A Bowling Green, and in 78.1 innings he struck out 76 and walked 31. The 6-foot-6 southpaw’s fastball touches 97 mph but sits more in the 92-95 range. He is considered one of the most polished high school pitchers from his draft class. For the Cardinals, Liberatore represented the level of player they rarely get a chance to draft without a pick in the first half of the first round, and his acquisition recoups the talent the team could have had if it didn’t forfeit picks in the 2017 draft as punishment for the Astros hacking scandal. Liberatore is set to join to lefthander Zack Thompson, the 19th overall pick out of Kentucky in 2019, to form the Cardinals’ top two pitching prospects. Both could pitch in the high Class A Palm Beach rotation this season. Liberatore also reunites with third baseman Nolan Gorman, whom the Cardinals drafted 19th overall in 2018. The two were boyhood friends and former high school rivals in the Phoenix area. —DERRICK GOOLD
SAN DIEGO PADRES A long-term search to add balance to righthanded-leaning lineups in the A.J. Preller era—the Padres’ .298 on-base percentage against righthanders ranks last in the majors over the last five years—compelled the general manager to rearrange the deck chairs to address the shortcoming. The cost: 22-year-old middle infielder Luis Urias and 24-year-old lefthander Eric Lauer. The return: big league veteran righthander Zach Davies and Trent Grisham, a 23-year-old lefthanded-hitting outfielder. “You have to give up quality to get quality,” Preller said. “We’ve got some options in the middle of the infield in the short and long term. Getting an outfielder who hits lefthanded and can play all three outfield spots, along with Davies . . . it was a move that made sense for us.” The Padres had eyes on Grisham going all the way back to spring training, when he was beginning to get comfortable with reverting back to his old swing. Grisham had rested his thumbs against the handle of the bat, like a golf grip, when Milwaukee drafted him 15th overall in 2015.
he improves his command. “He’s got the stuff that if he wants to command the strike zone and throw the ball where he wants to throw it,” Haines said, “he could be there really fast. And if he takes smaller steps, then it’ll take more time. “I think all of us would hope for him to take some seasoning in the minor leagues, but you just never know with a guy with stuff like this.” —STEVE KRONER
WASHINGTON NATIONALS
Giants righthander Blake Rivera has the repertoire to fly through the minors—especially as he refines his command.
He had been convinced to use a more traditional grip in pro ball but opted to try things his way after hitting .242 through his first four pro seasons. The old habit clicked. The 13 homers that Grisham hit in 63 games at Double-A Biloxi were a career high. He hit his way to Triple-A San Antonio and then to Milwaukee. All told he hit .300/.407/.603 with 26 homers in 97 minor league games. Grisham hit enough in 51 big league games—.231/.328/.410—to warrant a spot as the Brewers’ leadoff hitter in the National League Wild Card Game. With newcomer Tommy Pham entrenched in one outfield corner and Wil Myers likely slotted for the other, Grisham looks like he will enter camp with at least a share of a center field platoon with the righthanded-hitting Manuel Margot. A healthy Franchy Cordero could force his way into the equation, but the Padres clearly envisioned significant playing time for Grisham when they gave up Urias. “(Grisham) has earned the right to go compete for a major league spot,” Preller said. “He’s a good player. He’s competitive. He sees the baseball well and has added that power component. He can impact us in a lot of ways.” —JEFF SANDERS
SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS Back-to-back starts at low Class A Augusta in April and June provided the Giants a tantalizing glimpse of how good
22-year-old righthander Blake Rivera can become. In two April starts, Rivera allowed one run on three hits in a combined 10 innings. He struck out 14 and walked three. He was even more dominant in the consecutive June starts—no runs on three hits over 11.2 innings to go along with 17 strikeouts and five walks. “Those games, I felt completely locked in,” Rivera said. “That’s how I need to throw every time I’m out there.” Rivera owns a mid-90s fastball and a solid curveball. He’s working on improving his changeup. “It’s been a great pitch for me sometimes,” Rivera said about his changeup. “I’ve just got to get more consistent with it.” Farm director Kyle Haines and Rivera know he needs to improve his command. He racked up 87 strikeouts in 73 innings with Augusta but also issued 39 walks. “It’s not like he’s wild,” Haines said. “He just needs to cut down (the walks) a little bit.” Haines likes just about everything else about Rivera, a 2018 fourth-rounder from Wallace State (Ala.) JC. Haines sees similarities between Rivera and one of his Augusta teammates. “He’s a little bit of a righthanded Seth Corry story,” Haines said, “where once (Rivera is) able to command the ball just a little bit better, then he’s able to put up that really eye-popping year.” A small fracture in his lower back sidelined Rivera for much of July and August, but he returned to make three brief outings at the end of August. Haines said Rivera could get to the big club relatively quickly if
From the moment Matt Cronin took the mound at Arkansas, he was too good as a reliever to go into the rotation. He saved a school-record 14 games as a sophomore and added 12 more as a junior, prompting the Nationals to take him in the fourth round of the 2019 draft. Cronin, a 6-foot-2, 195-pound lefthander, continued his success after signing. At low Class A Hagerstown, the 22-year-old allowed a .153 opponent average and amassed 41 strikeouts in 22 innings. He also had a save and posted an 0.82 ERA. “Matt came as advertised by our scouts,” farm director Mark Scialabba said. “He’s fearless and aggressive. He challenges hitters with his riding fastball and has a potential wipeout pitch in his downer curveball. He’s a power pitcher who loves to finish games.” In college, Cronin threw his 91-96 mph fastball about 90 percent of the time. With the Suns, he said that number decreased to 75 percent while he mixed in a curveball 25 percent of the time. He also worked on a changeup in instructional league. After a high school career that included a junior season in which Cronin led the state of Florida with 143 strikeouts in 68.2 innings for Navarre High, he joined the Razorbacks’ loaded pitching staff. He tallied one save as a freshman and then served as the closer on two teams that reached the College World Series. Wes Johnson, the Twins’ pitching coach, was the Arkansas pitching coach for Cronin’s first two seasons there and worked extensively with Cronin. “We had a really good bond, and he pushed me to be a better player,” Cronin said. After three years of dominating for a Southeastern Conference power, Cronin felt prepared for pro ball. “When you’re playing in front of 5,00010,000 fans in the SEC, it’s quite an experience,” Cronin said. “Now it feels like less pressure than the SEC. It’s really just about how you develop and what you’re working on that week.” —LACY LUSK
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MINORS i
A clean bill of health would do wonders for these 10 prospects in 2020
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INTERNATIONAL
i What the top
i The top 10 names you
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prospects have to accomplish before the draft day
need to know from the 2019 Dominican Summer League season
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Giants catcher Joey Bart should reach San Francisco this season provided that he can avoid the poor injury luck that dogged him in 2019.
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MINORS
TEN PROSPECTS WE HOPE HAVE A HEALTHY NEW YEAR A clean bill of health would do wonders by JOSH NORRIS
FAR LEFT: ZACHARY LUCY/FOUR SEAM IMAGES. TOP ROW, LEFT TO RIGHT: ZACHARY LUCY/FOUR SEAM IMAGES; MIKE JANES/FOUR SEAMIMAGES; BARRY COLLA. MIDDLE ROW, LEFT TO RIGHT: MIKE JANES/FOUR SEAM IMAGES; BRIAN WESTERHOLD/FOUR SEAM IMAGES; BILL MITCHELL. BOTTOM ROW, LEFT TO RIGHT: BRIAN WESTERHOLT/FOUR SEAM IMAGES; JOSHUA SARNER/ICON SPORTSWIRE VIA GETTY IMAGES; BILL MITCHELL
Everybody who follows prospects knows about the tools scouts look for when scouting. The sixth tool is health. Without it, none of a player’s tools can shine. While we wish every player a healthy new year, here are 10 of the prospects whose stock we believe would benefit the most from a 2020 season free of injuries.
A return to health could vault Astros righthander Forrest Whitley back toward the top of the Top 100 Prospects.
2. Jordan Groshans SS, Blue Jays
3. Triston McKenzie RHP, Indians
4. Joey Bart C, Giants
After getting drafted 12th overall in 2018, Groshans dominated the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League and showed impressive power against high-velocity fastballs during the Appalachian League playoffs. In 2019, he had an exceptional 23 games at low Class A Lansing before a foot injury knocked him out for the year. Groshans is an athletic player with the potential to be a plus hitter with plus power.
McKenzie missed the first half of the 2018 season with forearm soreness and then was sidelined for all of 2019 with an upper-back injury. When healthy, McKenzie shows a potentially plus fastball/curveball combination when healthy and backs up those two pitches with a changeup that flashes above-average. This season will be huge toward determining McKenzie’s future.
Bart’s first full pro season in 2019 was stunted by a pair of hand fractures. When healthy, Bart offers a blend of skills on offense and defense that could make him Buster Posey’s successor. But first he must stay on the field. Bart finished the year with a torrid stint at Double-A Richmond, and could get his first taste of the big leagues with similar play at the upper levels in 2020.
5. Casey Mize RHP, Tigers
6. Jay Groome LHP, Red Sox
7. Hunter Greene RHP, Reds
In his first pro season after getting drafted No. 1 overall in 2018, Mize went 8-3, 2.55 and pitched a no-hitter in his first Double-A start. He also missed about a month rehabbing, but was not the same upon his return and was shut down late in the year to give him a fresh start in 2020. A return to health would bring a sigh of relief from the organization and its fan base.
Since being drafted 12th overall in 2016, Groome has pitched just 66 innings and missed the entire 2018 season recovering from Tommy John surgery. The lefthander has missed plenty of developmental time after pitching just four innings in 2019, but he’s just 21 years old. A strong 2020 could remind everyone why he still belongs in the conversation of the highest-ceiling lefties in the game.
Since being drafted No. 2 overall in 2017, Greene has pitched just 72.2 innings. He sprained his ulnar collateral ligament in 2018 and had Tommy John surgery in 2019, but his career has had its share of highlights. Greene still leads the Reds’ Top 30 Prospect lists, and while the Reds will be cautious easing him back slowly, he should return at some point in 2020.
8. Brent Honeywell RHP, Rays
9. Kyle Isbel OF, Royals
10. Brennen Davis OF, Cubs
Honeywell was on the cusp of the majors heading into 2018, but his elbow popped in a spring training bullpen session and he missed the year. In 2019 he broke a bone in his elbow in extended spring training and the surgery caused him to again miss the season. When healthy, Honeywell has an electric arsenal. He will take a third crack at reaching the majors in 2020.
Isbel started hot at high Class A Wilmington but eventually had his season derailed by hamstring and hamate injuries. He resurfaced in the Arizona Fall League, where he showed his combination of speed and a hint of power. Isbel should get his first crack at Double-A in 2020 and could vault himself into more mainstream prospect conversations with a healthy year.
Davis was drafted as a toolsy but raw outfielder who had also starred as a basketball player in high school. After a strong spring in 2019, he was quickly moved to low Class A South Bend. His season was limited to 50 games after being hit by a pair of pitches on his right ring finger. Davis did impress in the Midwest League and could draw more attention with a return to health in 2020. Q
1. Forrest Whitley, RHP, Astros After an incredible 2018 season, Whitley entered 2019 as the game’s top pitching prospect. He had five pitches that projected as plus or better and seemed poised to make his big league debut at some point during the regular season. However, Whitley was hit hard and often in 2019, and was eventually sent back to the Astros’ minor league complex to rehab what was diagnosed as right shoulder fatigue. He made it back late in the year and returned for a successful turn in the Arizona Fall League, which helped rebuild his eroded prospect stock. Whitley is still just 22 years old, and a fully healthy 2020 season would put him right back on track toward a future at the top of the Houston rotation.
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Departments Arizona State’s Spencer Torkelson has answered all questions about his bat. If the first baseman has a big junior year and proves capable on an outfield corner, he could hear his name called at No. 1 overall.
5. NICK GONZALES, 2B, NEW MEXICO STATE Hit away from altitude, improve speed Gonzales is going to be nitpicked for his results in the hitter-friendly confines of Presley Askew Field, so it’ll be important for him to hit—and hit for power— when he’s on the road and away from altitude. Gonzales did well to hit with authority in the Cape Cod League last summer, and that should go a decent way in proving his juice is legit, but cementing that in the spring will be crucial. A less important area would be to show improved speed and stolen base numbers.
6. JARED KELLEY, RHP, HS—REFUGIO, TEXAS More consistent breaking ball Kelley checks almost all the boxes for an elite prep pitcher. He has high-octane velocity, above-average control and command, great feel for a changeup, physicality and a clean delivery. What’s missing is a consistently above-average breaking ball. Chris Paddack provides some hope for a fastball/changeup righthander making it to the majors, but he is still more an exception to the rule.
7. AUSTIN HENDRICK, OF, HS—IMPERIAL, PA. Defense, running
PRESEASON STOCK WATCH To-do lists for the top 2020 draft prospects by
B
CARLOS COLLAZO
aseball America is excited to explore the strengths and weaknesses of the 2020 draft class and talk to as many experts as possible. But before we kick into high gear, we’re looking at what the top draft prospects have on their to-do lists.
Our goal here is to identify specific areas of growth or weaknesses that
potential first-round picks will need to address this spring. Each player is listed with his areas to improve. We display the top 15 draft prospects here, but you can find the complete top 30 at BaseballAmerica.com
1. SPENCER TORKELSON, 1B, ARIZONA STATE Defensive profile Torkelson is perhaps the safest bet in this year’s draft class thanks to his exceptional hitting ability and massive power. Even if he had an average season by his own standards this spring, he would probably go off the board as one of the first five picks. But he is a first baseman, and if everything is equal, teams would prefer a more gifted defensive player. Torkelson is fairly athletic, and if he shows he can capably play a corner outfield spot or turns into an exceptional defender at first, that could make teams feel even better about drafting him. 60
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2. EMERSON HANCOCK, RHP, GEORGIA Breaking ball development Hancock has plus offerings across the board, but some evaluators don’t think his breaking ball is the true wipeout offering that the top pitcher in a draft class typically has. Hancock’s strong command of a deep pitch mix could make all of his offerings play up against college hitters, but if he takes his slider or curveball to another level this spring, teams would be even more excited about his chances to become a No. 1 starter.
3. AUSTIN MARTIN, SS, VANDERBILT Handle shortstop, hit for more power Martin is an exceptional athlete who can play all over the infield and outfield, but after playing third base for the entirety of his sophomore season, scouts will be bearing down on his ability to handle shortstop every day. He has all the tools to do it, but scouts still need to see it. His profile goes to an entirely different level if teams can project him as a pro shortstop, obviously, and if he taps into more power—like teammate JJ Bleday did last year—that’s just icing on the cake.
4. ASA LACY, LHP, TEXAS A&M Improve control and command Lacy has a dominant pitch mix from the left side, but the one area of growth that USA Baseball coaches cited was with regard to his pitch efficiency. He tends to get into high counts and because of that, walks more batters than you would expect. Improving his strike-throwing is one of the few areas that Lacy can improve to take his game to the next level. He walked 4.4 per nine innings as a starter in 2019.
8. GARRETT MITCHELL, OF, UCLA Prove center field defense, tap into power Mitchell primarily played right field as a sophomore, but with Matt McLain moving to shortstop this spring, Mitchell has the keys to the middle of UCLA’s outfield. He has more than enough speed to handle the position, but showing the defensive acumen to stick there could elevate his toolsy profile. Mitchell has also showed standout raw power dating back to his high school days—lately scouts have put 70 grades on him—but has never really tapped into that in games.
9. MICK ABEL, RHP, HS—PORTLAND, ORE. Add strength, hold stuff over full season Where Jared Kelley is physically mature and filled out, Abel has perhaps the best pitcher’s frame in the class as far as future projection is concerned. A lanky, 6-foot-5, 180-pound righthander, Abel could add more weight to his frame, which could help him hold his standout fastball velocity more consistently. Abel’s velo came and went at times over the summer, so filling out his frame should be his biggest priority.
10. CARMEN MLODZINSKI, RHP, SOUTH CAROLINA Health, perform in the SEC Mlodzinski has little to no Southeastern Conference
JOHN KORDUNER-ICON SPORTSWIRE VIA GETTY IMAGES; BILL MITCHELL
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Hendrick is going to hit against poor competition in Pennsylvania this spring, so he won’t be able to move the needle much in terms of his hit tool and power evaluation. Fortunately, he did an excellent job offensively during the summer showcase season and doesn’t have much to improve in that regard. Still, improving supplemental tools like his outfield defense and running ability could push him up boards—though he’s almost a lock to be a pro corner outfielder.
New Mexico State second baseman Nick Gonzales hit with wood and at low altitude as the No. 1 prospect in the 2019 Cape Cod League. That positioned him to come off the board early in 2020.
13. CASEY MARTIN, SS, ARKANSAS Offensive approach, reduce strikeouts
11. REID DETMERS, LHP, LOUISVILLE Changeup improvement
Martin has a tendency to get a bit too aggressive at the plate, and after a strong freshman campaign saw his numbers fall a bit in 2019. In both seasons Martin had a strikeout rate higher than 20 percent, so lowering that number, showing more patience and a more advanced approach could alleviate concerns about his hit tool.
Detmers is one of the most polished arms in the class, with solid stuff and good control of his entire repertoire. But when he reaches pro ball, it will be even more important for Detmers to have a solid offering to attack righthanded hitters. His breaking ball is perhaps the best in the Atlantic Coast Conference, but as he faces more advanced hitters who are better equipped to handle that break, going to a solid third pitch to keep batters off balance will be key. track record to speak of. That’s in part because he missed all but 10.2 innings in his sophomore year because of a foot injury. But when on the field, Mlodzinski has posted a 5.59 ERA in 56.1 innings as a starter and reliever. His outstanding performance in the Cape Cod League was a glimpse of his talent, but teams will need more data points of success, and succeeding in the SEC over a full healthy season is a big one.
12. JT GINN, RHP, MISSISSIPPI STATE Changeup improvement Ginn faced questions about his risk as a reliever out of high school and went a long way to dismissing those questions during his freshman season at Mississippi State, where he posted a 3.36 ERA and struck out 103 batters while walking just 18. Ginn has largely succeed-
ed with an impressive fastball/breaking ball combination. Showing he has a third quality pitch that he can use would further tone down reliever risk.
14. ED HOWARD, SS, HS—MOUNT CARMEL, ILL. Offensive approach, tap into power Like Austin Hendrick, Howard is playing in an area where the competition he faces is questionable, so there’s only so much he’ll be able to show against quality pitching. Howard has shown flashes of being a high-level hitter but needs to go out and dominate his Illinois competition and hit for power.
15. NICK BITSKO, RHP, HS—DOYLESTOWN, PA. Maintain body, improve changeup Bitsko looked like one of the better pitchers over the summer showcase circuit while playing as a member of the 2021 class, but he reclassified in January to enter the 2020 draft. Bitsko showed an impressive, power fastball/curveball combination and has all the pure stuff, but as a physically mature, 6-foot-4 righthander who already is 220 pounds, he will need to maintain his body and make sure he doesn’t add bad weight. Adding a third pitch to his fastball/curveball combination will further round out his repertoire. Q
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Born: March 12, 2002. B-T: R-R. Ht: 5-10. Wt: 160. Signed: Venezuela, 2018.
The younger brother of Braves outfielder Ronald
Mariners shortstop Noelvi Marte showed impressive power and speed while making his pro debut in the Dominican Summer League in 2019.
TOP 10 PROSPECTS IN THE DSL The names you need to know from the 2019 Dominican Summer League season by
F
BEN BADLER
or most Latin American prospects, their first official games are played in the Dominican Summer League. It’s a level that continues to become more heavily scouted, with clubs hoping to pick the pocket of another organization for a far-
away prospect before he breaks through. Players are now getting traded out of the DSL and frequently come up in trade discussions and proposals, though most deals never come to fruition or become public knowledge. To quality for this list, a hitter must have at least 70 plate appearances and a pitcher must have pitched at least 20 innings in the DSL. Older Cuban players who were in the league just to get a tuneup, like 22-year-old shortstop Yolbert Sanchez of the White Sox, weren’t included.
1. NOELVI MARTE, SS, MARINERS Born: Oct. 16, 2001. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-1. Wt.: 181. Signed: Dominican Republic, 2018.
After landing one of the premier international prospects in 2017—Julio Rodriguez—the Mariners did so again in 2018 with the signing of Marte for $1.55 million out of the Dominican Republic, and early returns have been fantastic. Marte showed an exciting combination of athleticism, hitting ability and power in the DSL in 2019. He hits with good rhythm and balance, sequencing his swing well from his leg kick to his fluid, explosive swing. He has fast bat speed and plus raw power with a swing geared to hit the ball in the air and good strike-zone discipline, making him a threat to get on base at a high clip with the potential for 25-plus home runs. An above-average runner, Marte got bigger and stronger last year without losing his
in his signing class. He breaks well off the bat and takes crisp routes. Urbina possesses above-average
lishing himself as one of the Rangers’ top prospects. He has a compact frame with quick-twitch explosive-
speed and a tick below-average arm.
ness and an aggressive mentality.
5. ALEXANDER MOJICA, 3B, PIRATES
His swing resembles Ronald’s, from his load to his quick, whippy barrel action through the zone. He
Born: Aug. 2, 2002. B-T: R-R. Ht: 6-1. Wt: 195.
swings with aggression, but he seldom swings and misses. He tracks pitches well and controls the strike
Mojica turned 16 on Aug. 2, 2018 and he celebrated his birthday by signing with the Pirates for
zone, leading to a high contact rate with more walks than strikeouts in his debut. Acuña has mostly gap
$390,000 on the day he became eligible to sign. Mojica spent most of 2019 as a 16-year-old in the
power now with an offensive skill set that will rely more on his on-base skills, and he has the potential
DSL, where he was one of the league’s best hitters. He led the DSL in OPS, ranked fourth in OBP and
to hit at the top of a lineup. He’s a plus runner and a good athlete with a plus arm.
second in slugging. He possesses plus raw power and he’s able to tap into it in games with a compact swing and a good bat path through the hitting zone. He showed a selective approach, walking more than he struck out, with a knack for getting on
base or center field.
base and power upside that could fit in the middle of a lineup if everything clicks. At third base, Mojica has good hands and a plus arm, but he’s a bigger-bodied player who will need to maintain his conditioning and mobility to stay at the position.
3. LUIS MATOS, OF, GIANTS Born: Jan. 28, 2002. B-T: R-R. Ht: 5-11. Wt: 160. Signed: Venezuela, 2018.
Matos earned a reputation among international scouts as one of the top offensive performers in the 2018 class and he showed why in his pro debut, with a 1.000 OPS that ranked third in the DSL and a late-season promotion to the Rookie-level Arizona League. Matos has a mature hitting approach for his age and manages his at-bats well. He was never a free swinger, but his strike-zone discipline improved last year. He continued to show quick hands, a fast bat and strong bat-to-ball skills. Despite showing a hit-over-power profile as an amateur, Matos demonstrated surprising power in his pro debut. An average runner with a solid-average arm, he doesn’t have typical burner speed in center field, but he’s an instinctive defender who reads the ball well. He looks like he could have enough offensive upside to profile in right field if he has to move there.
4. MISAEL URBINA, OF, TWINS Born: April 26, 2002. B-T: R-R. Ht: 6-0. Wt: 175. Signed: Venezuela, 2018.
The Twins spent $2.75 million to sign Urbina in 2018 as one of the elite players in his class. He had strong numbers in his first year, despite tailing off in August as fatigue set in, which is why the Twins held him back from games during instructional league. Urbina has good bat speed and a compact swing with an advanced ability to track pitches. Between his bat-to-ball skills and eye for the strike zone, Urbina walked nearly twice as often as he struck out
If that doesn’t happen or he outgrows the position, his offensive upside would fit well at second or third base.
last season. Urbina has occasional over-the-fence juice to his pull side, with a chance to grow into
FEBRUARY 2020 • BASEBALLAMERICA.COM
Signed: Dominican Republic, 2018.
2019 and he increased the probability he will be able to stay at the position instead of moving to second
athleticism. Marte has a strong arm that fits well at shortstop, but he still needs to improve his hands and footwork there and learn to play under more control at the position.
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A high-energy, instinctive player, Urbina shined defensively, no surprise given his reputation among scouts as one of the best defensive center fielders
Acuña, Luisangel made a big name for himself in his pro debut, making the DSL all-star team and estab-
Acuña made impressive strides at shortstop in I N T E R N AT I O N A L
15-20 home run power.
6. GABRIEL RODRIGUEZ, SS, INDIANS Born: Feb. 22, 2002. B-T: R-R. Ht: 6-2. Wt: 185. Signed: Venezuela, 2018.
Rodriguez was Cleveland’s top international signing in 2018, landing a $2.1 million deal. By the allstar break, he was hitting .263/.348/.474. He slowed down in the second half, but the Indians still saw enough to promote him to the Rookie-level Arizona League for the final month of the season. Rodriguez has a fairly short, balanced swing and does a good job of recognizing pitches and controlling the strike zone for his age. He makes hard contact and uses the whole field, with home run power to his pull side now and flashes of future average power. He recognizes pitches well, controls the strike zone and has a knack for barreling balls with a short swing from the right side that has good balance and speed, helping him square up high-end velocity. He has an all-fields approach, makes consistent hard contact and could develop into a plus hitter. As he’s gotten stronger, his power has grown near average with potential 20-plus home run pop in the future. When he was an amateur, many scouts expected him to move off shortstop, but the Indians think he can stay at the position. Rodriguez has been able to keep his body lean, which helps his chances to remain at the position. He’s a fringe-average runner whose first-step quickness and range might lead him to third base, but he has the hands, instincts and body control to play either spot, along with a strong arm.
BILL MITCHELL; BILL MITCHELL
2. LUISANGEL ACUÑA, SS, RANGERS
He dominated the league, ranking first Rangers shortstop Luisangel Acuña, the younger brother of Braves star Ronald, has a compact frame with quicktwitch explosiveness and an aggressive mentality.
batting average and striking out in just seven
in on-base percentage. Bailey walked more than he struck out and has numbers that look like they might come from a little guy,
percent of his at-bats in 2019. Signed for $400,000, Pinango has excellent hand-eye coordination, which shows up both in his
but he’s a physical specimen, with a chance to be a power/speed threat. He hit just two
high contact rate and command of the strike zone.
home runs during the season, but he has
above-average raw power that he should tap
Pinango didn’t hit any home runs in his debut, but he has a fairly strong and physical
into more with experience. Given his size,
yet compact frame and makes hard contact.
there is probably always going to be some length to his swing, but his strike-zone disci-
He can hit balls out in BP but his approach in games is to put the ball in play and spread
pline helps and he has good bat-to-ball skills for his frame.
the ball around the field, staying inside the ball well and shooting the ball to left
A corner outfielder, Bailey is an above-average runner underway, but he’s probably
field and center. If he gains a better understanding of which pitches to try to pull for
going to lose a step as he gets older and even bigger.
damage and gets more lift in his swing, more power should show up. Pinango is also a plus
10. YOHENDRICK PINANGO, OF, CUBS
runner whose 27 stolen bases tied him for eighth in the league.
Born: May 7, 2002. B-T: L-L. Ht: 5-11. Wt: 175. Signed: Venezuela, 2018.
Pinango was one of the best pure hitters in the DSL, ranking fourth in the league in
He runs well enough to handle center field now, though given his body type, there’s a good chance that he ends up either in left or right field. Q
7. ANGEL MARTINEZ, SS, INDIANS Born: Jan. 27, 2002. B-T: B-R. Ht: 6-0. Wt: 175. Signed: Dominican Republic, 2018.
Signed for $500,000 out of the Dominican Republic in 2018, Rodriguez is another instinctive player with an advanced bat the Indians have added to their farm system in recent years. It’s no surprise that Martinez separates himself with a high baseball IQ. His father is Sandy Martinez, who spent parts of eight seasons in the majors as a catcher and now is the Dominican Summer League manager and field coordinator for the Nationals. Martinez’s baseball acumen shows in his fundamentally sound play in all areas of the game. He has a direct, efficient swing from both sides of the plate and a good eye for the strike zone. That results in a high contact rate, with a line-drive approach and gap power that should increase as he gets stronger, but his offensive value will probably always come more from his on-base skills than his slugging ability. A fringe-average runner, Martinez doesn’t have the quick-twitch explosiveness some teams prefer at shortstop, but he’s a heads-up defender with a solid-average arm and a good internal clock. He has a chance to stay at the position, though there’s a possibility he could flip over to second base.
8. BRAINER BONACI, SS, RED SOX Born: July 9, 2002. B-T: B-R. Ht: 5-10. Wt: 165. Signed: Venezuela, 2018.
Bonaci signed a $290,000 deal with the Red Sox when he turned 16 on July 9, 2018. Since signing he’s put on 25 or so pounds, though he’s still wiry and physically underdeveloped. In his pro debut, he showed advanced game skills offensively and defensively and was hitting .344/.413/.480 at the all-star break, though he ran out of gas in the final month of the season. Bonaci lacks strength but still has the whip in his bat to generate sneaky power, though he’s mostly a line-drive hitter. His approach is advanced for his age and he has good bat control from both sides of the plate. Bonaci has the ability to play with a calm, under control tempo, slowing the game down well with fundamentally sound defense for his age. He reads hops well, has secure hands, easy defensive actions and a plus arm that might still tick up in the next few years as he gets stronger.
The majority of timber used for making wood bats ALL OVER THE WORLD, comes from the Northeast, USA. Wood bats: As American as Baseball itself
TM
9. BENYAMIN BAILEY, OF, WHITE SOX Born: Sept. 18, 2001. B-T: R-R. Ht: 6-5. Wt: 225. Signed: Panama, 2019.
Bailey signed with the White Sox for $35,000 last year in April and didn’t have much time to get ready for the DSL season, but that didn’t seem to matter. 63
Departments
in 1976. In 2002, he was inducted into the West Alabama Hall of Fame. JOHN BRADY, who played in the Milwaukee Braves
FOR THE RECORD
Obituaries
organization in 1956 and ’57, died Dec. 31 in Burlington, N.C. He was 83. PETE CAVA, who was a longtime member of The
Society of American Baseball Research and wrote at least three books, including “Indiana-Born Major League Baseball Players: A Biographical Dictionary, 1871-2014,” died Dec. 18 in Indianapolis. He was 73.
JACK JACOBS, who played in the minor leagues for the Giants in 1952, died Dec. 25. He was 87. Jacobs was a third generation baseball player. In 1952 while in spring training camp with the Giants in Phoenix, he struck out Hall of Famer Willie Mays. RICHARD JANACONE, who played in the minor leagues for the Washington Senators organization in 1949 and ’50 and the Cubs organization in 1953 after serving in the Army in the Korean War, died Dec. 20 in New Castle, Pa. He was 91. RAY JOHNSON, an outfielder who played in the
ERNEST CLIFFORD, a righthander who pitched for the Pirates organization for the Thomasville Tomcats in the Georgia-Florida League in 1952, died Dec. 21 in Silver Spring, Md. He was 87. RONALD DADALT, who umpired in the minor
leagues in the 1950s, died May 24 in Stafford Springs, Conn. He was 93. GREGORY FOREMAN, an outfielder who played in the minor leagues for the Braves organization from 1971-74, died Dec. 2 in Lake Charles, La. He was 67. THOMAS “TOM” FORRESTER, a first baseman and reliever who played in the minor leagues for the White Sox from 1985-90 and the Astros in 1991, died Dec. 1. He was 55. ROBERT “BOB” FREEMAN, who played in the minor leagues for the Cubs organization in 1946 and ’47 and the Giants organization in 1948, died Dec. 4 in Henderson, Nev. He was 97.
NORM ANGELINI, a lefthanded reliever who played for the Royals in 1972 and ’73,
died Dec. 21. He was 72. Angelini appeared in 28 games during his major league career, going 2-1, 2.75. He struck out 19 batters in 19.2 innings across two seasons.
GEORGE FUCHS, a righthander who pitched for the
Phillies organization in 1954 and ’55, died Dec. 24 in Mantua, N.J. He was 86. ROBERT GATES, a lefthander who pitched in the minor leagues in 1947 and in 1949 and ’50 after serving in the Navy in World War II, died Dec. 11 in Fairport, N.Y. He was 94. LEE GREENE, who authored “The Baseball Life of
GEORGE ARNOTT, who was drafted by the Pirates in the 23rd round in 1967 but did not play professional baseball, died Nov. 5 in Paradise, Calif. He was 70. BERNARD BELAN, a righthanded reliever who played for the Phillies organization
from 1960-1964, died Dec. 25 in Jefferson Hills, Pa. He was 81. Belan played alongside future Hall of Fame righthander Ferguson Jenkins and first baseman Dick Allen, who went on to win the 1972 American League MVP, for the Arkansas Travelers in 1963. EDWIN BINDER, a righthander who pitched for the Red Sox organization from
1958-1962, died on Dec. 26. He was 93. WILLARD BISHOP, who played in the minor leagues for the Kansas City Athletics
organization in 1959 and ’60, died Dec. 27. He was 79. RICHARD BOKELMANN, a righthander who pitched for the Cardinals organization from 1951-1953, died Dec. 27. He was 93. Bokelmann pitched in 34 games during his big league career, posting a 3-4, 4.90 record over three seasons. He pitched 68 innings and struck out 27 batters, while finishing his career with three saves. His best season came in 1951 as a rookie, when Bokelmann earned three saves, struck out 22 batters, pitched 52.1 innings and finished with a 3.78 ERA. LOUIS “LOU” BOSSIE, an outfielder who played in the minor leagues for the Orioles organization in 1955, died Jan. 3 in Westminster, Md. He was 85. WELDON “HOSS” BOWLIN, a third baseman who played in the minor leagues for the Cardinals, Athletics and Twins from 1959-1971, and appeared in two major league games for the Kansas City Athletics in 1967, singling once in five at-bats, died Dec. 8. He was 78. Bowlin collected 1,387 hits in 1.466 games over his career and finished with a .260 average. After his playing career ended, Bowlin coached the West Alabama baseball team and led the program to a 311-327-2 record. He led the Tigers to two Gulf South Conference Eastern Division titles in 1978 and ’79, and two Division II NCAA Tournament appearances in 1976 and ’79. The program also made the D-II World Series 64
FEBRUARY 2020 • BASEBALLAMERICA.COM
Willie Mays” and “The Johnny Unitas Story,” died Dec. 19 in Fairfax, Va. He was 91. RAYMOND GRUND, a righthander who pitched for
the Cubs organization in 1951, ’52 and ’55 after serving in the Korean War, died Dec. 24 in West Bend, Wis. He was 87.
REX JOHNSTON, a left fielder who played for
the Pirates in 1964 and played as a halfback for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League in 1960, died Dec. 15 in Los Angeles. He was 82. In 14 games for the Pirates, Johnston scored one run and walked three times in 10 plate appearances. Johnston, who played for Southern California, scored the winning run in the 12th inning of the 1958 College World Series championship game. He hit .374 during that memorable season. JAMES “JIM” JOLLY, who played in the minor leagues from 1948-1952 and managed in 1952, died Dec. 22 in Tyler, Texas. He was 93. RONNIE JONES, an outfielder who played in the Astros organization in 1964 and ’65, died Dec. 5 in San Angelo, Texas. He was 77. ROBERT KENDRICK, an outfielder who spent three seasons in the minor leagues and played for the Boston Braves organization in 1952, died Dec. 25 in South Yarmouth, Mass. He was 87. TED LEPCIO, a second baseman who played for 10 seasons in the major leagues for the Red Sox, Tigers, Phillies, White Sox and Twins, died Dec. 11 in Dedham, Mass. He was 90. Lepcio hit .245/.318/.398 over 10 years in the big leagues to go along with 69 home runs. In 1956, he hit 15 home runs, drove in 51 runs and hit .261/.335/.454 for the Red Sox. KENNETH MAY, a second baseman who played for
the Seattle Rainiers of the Northwest League in 1975 and ’76, died Nov. 10. He was 66. GEORGE MCBEE, who played for Ozark in the
FRANKLIN HAMILTON, who played in the minor leagues in 1946 and ’47 after serving in World War II, died Dec. 28. He was 95. ANDREW HASSLER, a lefthander who pitched for
the Angels, Royals, Red Sox, Mets, Pirates and Cardinals from 1971-1985, died Dec. 25 in Wickenburg, Ariz. He was 68. Hassler went 44-71, 3.83 during his 14 years in the big leagues. He appeared in 387 games (112 starts) and struck out 630 batters in 1,123.1 innings while finishing with 29 career saves. In 1974, Hassler sported a 7-11, 2.61 mark for the Angels and pitched 10 complete games. HARRY HICKMAN, who was a scout for the Cubs organization in the 1950s, died Dec. 31 in Hattiesburg, Miss. He was 92. STEVEN HODGES, a lefthander who pitched in the minor leagues for the Braves organization in 1990, died Dec. 27 in Victoria, B.C. He was 53. In addition to playing one season in the minors, Hodges represented Team Canada in the Intercontinental Cup tournament in Havana, Cuba, in 1987. His son Jesse was a third baseman in the Cubs organization prior to his release in July 2019.
Alabama State League in 1950 and served in the Army, died Dec 12. He was 90. HARVEY MILLS, a lefthander who pitched for the Dodgers organization from 1955-1958, died Dec. 24 in Somerville, Pa. He was 84. DARWIN MINNIS, who served in the Marine Corps in the Korean War and started and coached the Missouri Western State College baseball program, died Dec. 26. He was 90. Minnis served as head baseball coach of the Missouri Western program from 1969-1999, winning almost 700 games. During his coaching career, he was selected to coach the U.S. National Team. Following his retirement, Minnis was elected to nine different halls of fame, including the American Baseball Coaches Association, the NAIA and the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame. ROBERT MONTGOMERY, a lefthander who pitched
in the minor leagues in 1949 and ’50, died Nov. 25 in Shawsville, Va. He was 87. ROLLIN “OLE” NATER, who umpired in the
Mississippi-Ohio Valley League in the 1950s, died Nov. 25 in Janesville, Wis. He was 90.
BETTMAN; SPORTING NEWS/GETTY IMAGES
Ted Lepcio (pictured second from left) had a productive 10-year career highlighted by a 1956 season where he hit 15 home runs for the Red Sox.
Cardinals organization in 1941 and ’42 and served in the Army during World War II, died Nov. 21. He was 95.
DAN PETERS, who played in the Braves organization
in 1956, died Aug. 22 in West Branch, Iowa. He was 82.
JOSEPH TUREK, who played in the minor leagues
for the Pirates organization in 1947, died Dec. 29 in Sainte Genevieve, Mo. He was 97.
ROBERT QUINN, a lefthander who pitched in the
Athletics organization in 1955 and ’56, died Aug. 12 in Doylestown, Pa. He was 87. BOBBY LAMONTTE RAMSEY, who played for the
Yankees organization in 1949 and ’50 and served in the Air Force, died Dec. 14 in Franklin, Tenn. He was 88. VINCENT “VINCE” RICHBOURG, a shortstop who played in the minor leagues for the Athletics organization in 1961, died Dec. 30. He was 80. JEFFREY RUDOLPH, a catcher, shortstop and righthanded reliever who played in the Yankees organization from 1979-1981, died Dec. 7 in Cocoa Beach, Fla. He was 62. RICHARD “RICH” RUNDLES, a lefthander who
pitched for the Indians in 2008 and ’09, died Dec. 16, in Livingston, Ala. He was 38. Rundles appeared in nine games over two seasons with the Indians, striking out seven batters in six innings and finishing his career with a 1.50 ERA. After his playing career ended, the son of West Alabama head baseball coach Gary Rundles joined the program as operations manager and pitching coach in the fall of 2017. Rundles was getting ready to begin his third season as pitching coach for the program.
JULIUS WATLINGTON, who played for the Athletics in 1953 and played in the minor leagues in 1941 and from 1947-58, died Dec. 29, in Yanceyville, N.C. He was 97. Watlington left professional baseball to serve in the Army in World War II and received a Purple Heart and the French Legion of Honor Award for combat veterans for his service. Watlington finished his big league career with three RBIs and seven hits in 44 at-bats.
Rex Johnston was a two-sport star at Southern California and drove in the winning run of the 1958 College World Series. In addition to playing one season in the big leagues, he played in the NFL for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
WARD WILSON, a righthander who pitched in the minor leagues from 1953-59, including seasons spent with the Tigers, Reds, Pirates and Washington Senators organizations, died Nov. 28 in Georgia. He was 84. Wilson’s son Ward Jr., a catcher and third baseman, played in the minor leagues in the Mets organization from 1975-78. Q
WILLIAM SAAR, who played in the minor leagues for the Dodgers organization in 1951 and in 1954 and ’55 after serving in the Coast Guard in the Korean War, died Dec. 24. He was 87. After his playing career ended, Saar served as a referee in the National Basketball Association for 22 years. THOMAS SKOLE, who played in the St. Louis Browns organization in 1951 and ’52, died Dec. 24 in Roswell, Ga. He was 87. GEORGE SMITH, who played in the Cardinals organization in 1950 and ’51 and from 1954-56 and served in the Marine Corps, died April 15 in Mesa, Ariz. He was 88. JOHN IVORY SMITH, a righthander who pitched for the Reds organization from 1954-1960, died Nov. 27 in Columbia, S.C. He was 85. In 1955, Smith went 19-14, 3.66 in 253 innings for the Daytona Beach Islanders of the Florida State League. DEMPSEY STERLING, a lefthander who pitched
in the minor leagues from 1947-1951, died Dec. 27 in Nacogdoches, Texas. He was 92. HARRY STILLE, who served as head baseball coach at Erskine College in South Carolina from 1959-88, died Jan 6. He was 90. While serving as head coach at Erskine, Stille won more than 400 games and was inducted into the NAIA Hall of Fame. He also served for many years as mayor of Due West, the town where Erskine is located and some of his time as mayor of the town overlapped with the years he served as coach. After Stille retired from coaching, he served in the South Carolina General Assembly for 12 years. BARRY SULLIVAN, who played for the Pompano
Beach Cubs of the Florida State League in 1977, died Dec. 22 in Providence. He was 65. After his playing career ended, Sullivan served as head coach for the Bristol (Mass.) Community College baseball program in 1979. WALTER TOWNS, who played for the Victoria Tyees of the Winter International League in 1952 and served in the Korean War, died Nov. 2 in Los Angeles. He was 87.
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Column
PAUL GOLDSCHMIDT, CARDINALS. Even in winning the division, the Cardinals’ offense was a problem, in part because America’s First Baseman had the worst year of his career. Now, at 32, he starts a huge five-year contract extension.
JESUS LUZARDO. ATHLETICS. The lefty was supposed to have a big impact on the 2019 club, but injuries held him to 55 innings all year and just 12 in the majors. Those A’s won a wildcard berth again in spite of his absence, but after years of patching together a rotation and using openers, the A’s are ready to have a true ace. Luzardo, who pitches in the mid 90s with an excellent curveball and changeup, just needs to stay healthy to become the best pitcher on the best challenger to the Astros in the AL West.
YASMANI GRANDAL, WHITE SOX. The South Siders’ first big swing in free agency in a long time should help both the offense and the pitching staff, maybe even enough to make the team a contender.
KYLE SCHWARBER, CUBS. The 2016 World Series hero had his best full season, ripping 38 homers and slugging .531, posting the best contact rate of his career in 2019. The real key is how often he gets the ball in the air. About one in every four fly balls Schwarber hits leaves the yard, but he doesn’t have a high flyball rate (42 percent in 2019 and in his career—the top hitters in baseball are up around 50 percent). With the Cubs unwilling to add to their core, a repeat season by Schwarber is essential to their hopes of squeezing another title from this group.
PERSPECTIVE
TWENTY INTRIGUING PLAYERS FOR 2020 Five players who are key to their teams’ plans, plus 15 more potential difference-makers
JOE SHEEHAN @ JOE_SHEEHAN
T
his month, I give you my most interesting 2,020 players for the 2020s. . . . Wait, I have an editor on the line.
Fine, since Baseball America won’t just give
me 15 pages, I’ll lower my sights. Here are 20 players who will help set the course of the 2020 season.
ANDREW BENINTENDI, RED SOX. One reason the Red Sox entertained the idea of trading Mookie Betts is the presence of Benintendi, like Betts a complete player. The sweet swinger lost ground in 2019, however, dropping to careerworsts in average (.266), on-base percentage (.343), homers (13) and stolen bases (10). With or without Betts, Benintendi’s return to stardom is essential to the Red Sox competing with the Yankees in the American League East. EDWIN DIAZ, METS. Diaz went from the No. 2 reliever in baseball with the Mariners in 2018 to a dinger machine with the Mets. His ERA nearly tripled as he allowed 15 homers in 58 innings, and 66
FEBRUARY 2020 • BASEBALLAMERICA.COM
GIANCARLO STANTON, YANKEES. On a Hall of Fame trajectory a year ago, Stanton lost all but 18 games last year to four separate injuries, a reminder of the problems he had staying on the field with the Marlins. Now 30, and guaranteed $244 million over the next nine seasons, Stanton seems certain to pass on his 2020 opt-out clause, locking him on to the Yankees’ payroll through 2028. They need him in the lineup for 145 games and hitting 40 homers this season, both to win the division and to provide hope that he can produce big numbers deep into his 30s. Those are the big five. Here are 15 more names to keep in mind as spring training approaches. BYRON BUXTON, TWINS. He was headed for an MVP-caliber season when his body once again gave out: a wrist injury, a concussion, and finally, shoulder surgery. The Twins were a great team with Buxton, ordinary without. They need him healthy.
VLADIMIR GUERRERO JR., BLUE JAYS. The Jays put some money into their pitching staff—most notably by signing Hyun-Jin Ryu— because they think Vladito will be the centerpiece of a good young offense. They’re absolutely right; he could win the AL batting title this year. JOSH HADER, BREWERS. At times he was the only effective reliever in a bullpen decimated by injuries and regression, and he wilted a bit (15 homers) under the load. The Brewers have no path back to October without him. BRYCE HARPER, PHILLIES. Fair or not, the Phillies’ success or failure will be pinned on Harper—not Zack Wheeler or J.T. Realmuto. How many people realize he’s almost halfway to a Hall of Fame career? BRENDAN MCKAY, RAYS. This is the first prospect developed as a two-way player in generations. Will the Rays continue to deploy McKay as a starting pitcher/DH, or ask him to commit to pitching full-time? SHOHEI OHTANI, ANGELS. Despite the hype, Ohtani hasn’t really been a two-way player since 2016. The Angels need his arm more than his bat. Will managing his recovery from Tommy John surgery limit his impact on both sides of the ball? CHRIS SALE, RED SOX. Sale signed a fiveyear, $145 million contract extension and then turned in the worst season of his career, replete with an injured list trip for elbow inflammation. Red Sox fans will hold their breath with every pitch.
MIKE CLEVINGER, INDIANS. Limited to 21 starts last season, Clevinger was one of the best starters in baseball on a per-inning basis. He can make the same leap Gerrit Cole did a year ago.
JUAN SOTO, NATIONALS. With Anthony Rendon gone, an offense that was too often a two-man show is down to one man. There are support pieces in D.C., but no one who can provide the average, on-base percentage and slugging of the 21-year-old superstar.
GERRIT COLE, YANKEES. You can’t sign the largest contract for a pitcher in the sport’s history and not be a focal point for the coming season. Will Cole still be the pitcher the Astros made him into even after leaving Houston?
JULIO URIAS, DODGERS. Down two starters from 2019, the Dodgers will lean on the fruits of their farm system to fill the rotation. Urias, in his fifth major league season at 23 years old, is ready to take the leap.
CARLOS CORREA, ASTROS. Still just 25, and a star when he plays, Correa hasn’t reached 120 games or 500 plate appearances since 2016, and only once in his career. This is a critical year for him.
JOEY VOTTO, REDS. Is he done after the worst year of his career at 35? The Reds need a Votto bounceback—he hit .261 with 15 home runs and a 98 OPS+ in 2019—to go with all the new talent they’ve brought in. Q
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A rebound year from Edwin Diaz will be crucial if the Mets are to contend in 2020. He blew 20 percent of his save opportunities in 2019, a year after making his first all-star team with the Mariners.
he lost the closer role in August. The Mets lost 24 games in which Diaz appeared, an insane number for a closer. The Mets hope to catch the Braves and Nationals this year, and they can’t do it if Diaz is blowing one-fifth of his save opportunities.