Brock Wilken
3B Wake Forest
2021 WF stat line - 60-G, 254-AB, .272, 23-HR
10-16-22 - 2023 MLB Draft: an early look at the ACC
http://dugoutedgebaseball.blogspot.com/2022/10/2023-mlb-draft-early-look-at-acc.html?m=1&s=03 -
4. 3B Brock Wilken, Wake Forest.
Bat: R. Throw: R. 6'4", 225 lbs. Born 6/17/2002. Hometown: Valrico, FL.
2022: 23 HR, .272/.362/.602, 0 SB, 71/34 K/BB in 60 games.
In a conference full of power bats, you might not find one more prodigious than Brock Wilken. The Tampa-area product has already blasted 40 home runs over two years at Wake Forest, plus thirteen more over Cape seasons.
He really cemented himself as a top prospect in this class with a fantastic run through the Cape Cod League in 2021, just as he was turning 19 years old, and when you include his more ordinary 2022 Cape season he hit .271/.400/.471 over 73 games. So long story short, Wilken has faced a huge sample of high level pitching and has consistently performed for a long time now.
While Yohandy Morales is leaner, Wilken is a barrel chested 6'4" that looks like he would fit right in for Dave Clawson on the gridiron. He deploys that copious strength into big right handed swings, and the ball just jumps off his bat like few in college baseball. He can easily put it out to any field with plus power and does plenty of damage on mishits as well, and if he makes enough contact, he could profile for thirty-plus home runs a year at the major league level.
Wilken is a patient hitter that works counts well, spoiling tough pitches until he gets a good one to hit, though he does get into trouble occasionally in those deep counts and his 24.2% strikeout rate last spring was a bit higher than you'd like to see. He'll probably always struggle with swing and miss, but that grinder mentality in the box will serve him well and he has done nothing but hit for a very long time now. He also possesses a plus arm that could give him a shot at third base, though he'll need to get more agile to stick there long term. At his ceiling, he could be a similar player to Pete Alonso.
10-14-22 - Cape Cod Top Prospect List - https://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=21362&s=03 -
No. 1 Prospect, 2021: Brock Wilken, 3B, Harwich (Wake Forest)
10-9-22 - Mazdak Darvari @darvari_mazdak
Brock Wilken (‘23 elig.) collected 2 hits today & has made a big name for himself since arriving to Wake. The 2x CCBL All and 2021 Official CCBL MVP has 40 career HRs for Wake Baseball. Has some of the class’ biggest raw power & the tools to stick at 3B; projected 1st rounder https://t.co/MgVCYERlFO
10-7-22 - Pittsburgh Pirates: Way Too Early Look at the 2023 MLB Draft - https://rumbunter.com/2022/09/14/pittsburgh-pirates-early-look-2023-mlb-draft/ -
The best power bat in this year’s draft class is Brock Wilken. Wilken is a third baseman from Wake Forest University. Wilken has been a great hitter throughout college, slashing .275/.363/.609 with 40 home runs. He’s absolutely ripped the cover off the ball with a .334 isolated slugging percentage and a pace of 47 home runs every 600 plate appearances. He also has a healthy 11.4% walk rate. The downside? He has a career 21.4% K-rate and struck out in 24.2% of his plate appearances last season.
Wilken’s glove at third base is fringy, though he has a powerful arm. The red flags are there, but so are the signs of potential. FanGraphs projects him to grow into 80-raw power eventually. Though how good his power will play will likely depend on if he can cut down on the K’s. If Wilken could improve in the strikeout department, he may go within the first five selections.
8-3-2022 -
Ranking the Top 30 2023 MLB Draft Prospects -
17. Brock Wilken, 3B, Wake Forest
7-28-22 - Top Third Basemen In 2023 Draft -
https://www.prospectslive.com/prospects-live/2022/1/15/2023-mlb-draft-prospects -
31 3B
Brock Wilken
Wake Forest
Wilken is a middle-of-the-order power bat with an advanced approach. He had huge freshman season in both ACC and Cape Cod League play. His raw power is prodigious, and his batting practice displays frequently contain balls hit hard in a way that no one else on the field can replicate. Swing and miss is in Wilken's profile, particularly with off-speed stuff away, but he has a good eye and possesses a selective approach befitting of a man that abhors striking out. Wilken really limits his strikeouts and fights deep into at-bats to ensure such an outcome. At third base, Wilken has solid enough hands and reacts well to batted balls, but isn't very rangy due to below average foot speed. The big plus here is a rocket arm, and that helps mitigate skepticism about him sticking at third as a pro.
2023 MLB Draft mock
https://www.mlb.com/news/2023-mlb-draft-mock -
12. Rockies: Brock Wilken, 3B, Wake Forest
Teams looking for college power bats will certainly be watching Wilken closely. The third baseman hit 17 homers as a freshman, then six more in the Cape Cod League that summer. He followed that up with 23 more this past spring.
7-19-22 - 2023 MLB Draft: 10 College Players to Know -
https://baseballprospectjournal.com/2023-mlb-draft-10-college-players-to-know/ -
Brock Wilken, 3B, Wake Forest
Wilken is a big-time power hitter who uses all parts of the field. The 6-foot-4, 225-pound right-handed hitter is more of a power over average hitter and is aggressive every time he steps to the plate. His approach sometimes leads to strikeouts, as he has recorded 107 strikeouts to 57 walks in two seasons at Wake Forest.
Defensively, Wilken is an adequate defender and will play third base in pro ball due to his strong arm.
7-28-22 - 2023 MLB DRAFT - TOP 150 PROSPECTS
https://www.prospectslive.com/prospects-live/2022/1/15/2023-mlb-draft-prospects
31 3B
Brock Wilken Wake Forest
Wilken is a middle-of-the-order power bat with an advanced approach. He had huge freshman season in both ACC and Cape Cod League play. His raw power is prodigious, and his batting practice displays frequently contain balls hit hard in a way that no one else on the field can replicate. Swing and miss is in Wilken's profile, particularly with off-speed stuff away, but he has a good eye and possesses a selective approach befitting of a man that abhors striking out. Wilken really limits his strikeouts and fights deep into at-bats to ensure such an outcome. At third base, Wilken has solid enough hands and reacts well to batted balls, but isn't very rangy due to below average foot speed. The big plus here is a rocket arm, and that helps mitigate skepticism about him sticking at third as a pro.
"At his ceiling, he could be a similar player to Pete Alonso?" You caught my attention with Brock.
ReplyDeleteGe is the top power bat in this draft
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