3/14/17

Mack – Draft 5-Pack – Hunter Cullen, Brian Miller, Turner Larkins, Riley Otteson, JB Bukauskas


Aaron Fitt‏ - @aaronfitt - @ShotgunSpr  - D1 reports from @BaseballTitans’ comeback win vs. Gonzaga, and unlikely hero Hunter Cullen’s big game - 

D1 Baseball - Cal State Fullerton senior Hunter Cullen knows his role. He is a guy that gets to celebrate the final out of wins because he comes off the bench and provides excellent defense as a late-game substitution. He can play all three outfield positions and cover a ton of ground, helping the Titans pitchers with his range and ability to make the spectacular catch look easy. That’s why it was all the more devastating earlier this season when Cullen misplayed a line drive, helping Stanford steal an opening weekend victory. On Saturday night, Cullen helped snatch a win back for the Titans. Inserted into the lineup with right fielder Ruben Cardenas injured, Cullen was a perfect three for three with a walk and he notched the game-winning hit when he laced a two-run triple down into the right field corner that put Fullerton ahead of Gonzaga, 4-3, in the eighth inning.



Aaron Fitt‏ - @aaronfitt - North Carolina beats Virginia 12-2 in rubber game of first ACC series. UNC 1B/OF Brian Miller with 3 extra-base hits and 3 RBIs in finale.

UNC - Sophomore Season (2016) - Former walk-on had a breakout season as a sophomore, leading the team in hitting, runs, on-base percentage and stolen bases • Started 54 games on the year • Primarily played first base for much of the year but became a fixture in the oufield over the final month of the season • Hit a team-best .345 with 56 runs and 21 stolen bases in 26 attempts • Had a slash line of .345/.440/.469 with 12 doubles, five triples and two home runs • Also drove in 33 runs • Finished with a team-best 23 multi-hit games, including a career-best five hits at Virginia on April 17 • Closed the year strong, reaching base in 17 of the last 18 games of the regular season • Stole a career-best four bases against Fairfield on March 5 • Drove in multiple runs eight times, including a career-high four against Pitt on March 11 • Had an exemplary summer season, earning Cape Cod Baseball League All-Star honors for the Orleans Firebirds • Hit .327 for the summer, third-best on the Cape, and his 15 stolen bases were also third among players in the league.



Kendall Rogers‏ - @KendallRogersD1  -  In his debut today coming back from an injury, was told TAMU RHP Turner Larkins was 89-93 with his FB. CH was on point

 Bleacher Report - Ian Kennedy's career took off when he learned to throw a curveball and ditch a slider that had virtually no spin. He's been a successful innings-eater for a long time, with one outlier season thrown in the mix, and will always find work in the back of a rotation. That's the kind of pitcher Larkins is: His stuff isn't going to overpower anyone, and there are times when the long ball will get him in trouble, but the overall package is that of a reliable No. 4 starter who can log innings and post a few seasons with a league-average ERA.



Frankie Piliere‏ -  @FPiliereD1  -  Soph eligible Utah RHP Riley Otteson  was up to 99 mph this weekend, lived mostly 94-96 w/ improved command

Baseball America - The club’s X-factor should be draft-eligible So. RHP Riley Ottesen (2-2, 6.38), who has touched 96-97 mph at times and moves into a rotation spot.




Carolina Baseball‏ - In 26.0 innings, North Carolina RHP JB Bukauskas has struck out 37 batters while allowing just 5 walks. Opponents are hitting .169 against him.

 Red Reporter - When Bukauskas graduated high school in 2014 he reportedly asked all 30 MLB teams not to draft him. The Diamondbacks rolled the dice and took him in the 20th round, but the right hander stood firm on his commitment to North Carolina. As a freshman he went 5-3 in 14 starts for the Tar Heels. As a sophomore he went 7-2 with a 3.10 ERA. In those 78.1 innings of work he struck out 12.75 and walked 3.83 per nine. In 2015 Kiley McDaniel of Fangraphs had Bukauskas ranked as the second best draft prospect in the class of 2017. According to McDaniel he was the most talented high school player not to sign with a team that season.



1 comment:

Hobie said...

Confession Mack: I quaff your 5-pack every morning, savoring the guzzle. By noon, however, I cannot remember a thing I've read nor a who. I hope you will occasionally reprise BY POSITION (RHP, LHP etc.) so I can organize myself for June.

Old man disease.