Mack’s Apples - Steven Matz, Brady Singer, Jake McCarthy, Third Is The Word, Mike Vasil

Brooks Baseball on Steven Matz -

Steven Matz has thrown 4,745 pitches that have been tracked by the PITCHf/x system between 2015 and 2018, including pitches thrown in the MLB Regular Season and the MLB Postseason. In 2018, he has relied primarily on his Sinker (94mph), also mixing in a Change (84mph) and Curve (79mph). He also rarely throws a Slider (89mph).

Basic description of 2018 pitches compared to other LHP:

His sinker has well above average velo and results in somewhat more flyballs compared to other pitchers' sinkers. His change results in more flyballs compared to other pitchers' changeups, is slightly firmer than usual, has slight armside fade and has some natural sink to it. His curve has a sharp downward bite, is slightly harder than usual, results in somewhat more groundballs compared to other pitchers' curves and has slight glove-side movement. His slider is thrown extremely hard, results in more flyballs compared to other pitchers' sliders and has primarily 12-6 movement.

SEC Country -

        

   Brady Singer, Florida, RHP

Draft projection: No. 3 overall (Sporting News)

What SEC Country says: Brady Singer entered this season with the highest of expectations, projected by Baseball America last winter to be the No. 1 pick in the 2018 MLB Draft. If that pressure weighed on him at all, it didn’t show. Singer earned SEC Pitcher of the Year honors, cruising through the regular season with a 10-1 record, conference-best 2.25 ERA and 92 strikeouts with 18 walks in 88 innings. (He missed his last start with a hamstring injury and his status is day to day this week). — Florida beat writer Ryan Young

Jonathan Mayo’s  top 200 Prospects – Biggest risers:

       

    No. 40 -- Jake McCarthy, OF, Virginia (+20)

The younger brother of Joe McCarthy, also a Virginia product who was a fifth-round pick of the Rays in 2015, Jake is an athletic center fielder who had a big sophomore year. A broken wrist kept him out of action for much of this season, impacting his stock, but a return late, during which he's shown he's healthy and

had all his tools on display, has put an up arrow back next to his name.

Numbers Game:  Third Is The Word -

With three weeks to go before the draft, Florida’s Jonathan India led the Southeastern Conference in both on-base and slugging percentage.

At that same juncture, Wichita State’s Alec Bohm led the American Athletic Conference in home runs and slugging.

The two college third basemen rank as the Nos. 5 and 6 draft prospects on the Baseball America pre-draft ranking—the BA 500—and if they are selected within the top 10 picks on draft day, then they will join productive company.

Potential first-round MLB draft pick Mike Vasil says he's heading to Virginia next year, no matter what –

        

    Potential first-round Major League Baseball draft pick Mike Vasil of Boston College High told USA TODAY Sports that he will honor his commitment to the University of Virginia, regardless of what happens when in the draft, which begins June 4.

In an email sent out to evaluators from all 30 MLB teams, thanking them for taking the time to get to know him this spring, Vasil asked to be withdrawn from consideration.

“A baseball career doesn’t last forever, and as I think about my future I realize that I want to be known as more than just a good player,” he wrote. “Attending the University of Virginia will afford me the tools for the next phase of my life. Not only will it prepare me for a potential career in the MLB, but will also provide me with other excellent career opportunities. It will shape me to become a ‘professional’.”