An Early Look-in on College Baseball Action & MLB Draft Hopefulls

Picture courtesy of OWlAccess.com

  Earlier in the offseason I had the pleasure of speaking with and obtaining insight and insider information on the FAU baseball team from Chuck King, Managing Editor for www.FAUOwlAccess.com.

  I fully understand that Mets camp just opened (I plan on being in St Lucie on Tuesday all day to get a LIVE look in) but please allow me to write a follow up post on the FAU baseball team after the first 4 games of the year, and how the previously spotlighted players are doing.

  FAU is off to a torrid start on the year, currently sitting at 4-0 after Sunday's win over South Dakota St.  Two of their wins this year are against the #11 ranked Mississippi St. Bulldogs.  FAU is playing with heavy hearts as they have started the year without their Head Coach John McCormack, who was recently diagnosed with cancer and the team is allowing him some rest to start the season.

  I wanted to update everyone on the 3 previously spotlighted players on the team, who all project to work towards becoming MLB draft eligible and perhaps be drafted in the upcoming June draft.

  Why not lead off with the guy who leads things off for the team in the batting order:

2B Stephen Kerr Jr., 5-9, 170 R/R

FAU's starting second baseman and lead-off hitter for two seasons. Prototypical spark plug-type player. His uniform is always dirty by the third inning. Hit .307 and stole 15 bases last season. Can do a lot of things with the bat. Should be playing professionally following this season.

 Stephen continues to lead off for the OWLS this year and so far statistically is at:

3 for 19, with 4 runs scored, 2 BBs, 3 Ks, 1 stolen base, 1 Home Run and 3 RBIs (all coming off the homer)

 Next up is the FAU cleanup hitter, who has unfortunately not been cleaning up statistically during the opening 4 games this season.

OF Christian Dicks Sr., 6-0, 195 L/L

A real wild card of a player. Tremendous athlete. When he gets a hold of a pitch it goes a long way. Tied for the team lead in homers last season, but was also prone to slumps. He has the speed to run down balls in the gap, but also suffered from defensive lapses. Some thought he might be drafted last season based solely on potential – athletic left-handed power isn't easy to find. Word from fall practice was that Dicks was showing some consistency. 

Christian is currently:

 1 for 16, with 2 runs scored, 0 homers, 0 RBIs, 3 BBs and 8....8 strikeouts through 4 games.

Last but not least is the teams #3 hitter in the order.

SS CJ Chatham Jr., 6-4, 180 R/R

Possesses strong arm and surprising range for this size. Hit .355 as a sophomore and showed hints of power to come. Recently listed among Perfect Game's Top 150 MLB Draft prospects. With a strong junior season, Chatham should vault into the draft's early rounds. Might eventually become a third baseman as his body continues to mature.

 CJ Chatham, before the season began, was selected as a Louisville Slugger Preseason All American, and also named the Preseason pick for Player of the Year out of Conference USA.  So far this season, CJ is:

  7 for 18, with 4 runs scored, 3 RBI's, 1 double, 2 BB's,  and 1 K.

The above listed profiles and insight is courtesy of Chuck King.  To follow along throughout the year on the team and specific possible upcoming MLB draft hopefuls and their progress, please can an eye out for my posts, and also feel free to check out the OWL Access website.