Luke Shliger
C Maryland
11-28-22 - 2023 MLB Draft: College Top 100 Prospects - https://d1baseball.com/prospects/2023-mlb-draft-college-top-100-prospects/ -
84 Luke Shliger C Maryland Big Ten
11-19-22 - 2023 MLB Draft: an early look at the Big Ten
http://dugoutedgebaseball.blogspot.com/2022/11/2023-mlb-draft-early-look-at-big-ten.html?m=1&s=03
5. C Luke Shliger, Maryland.
Bat: L. Throw: R. 5'9", 180 lbs. Born 9/25/2001. Hometown: Danbury, CT.
2022: 12 HR, .353/.495/.602, 14 SB, 42/54 K/BB in 62 games.
Matt Shaw isn't the only sub-six footer in Maryland's lineup projected to go in the first couple of rounds. Luke Shliger was a light hitting backup in his freshman year in 2021, but busted out for a huge sophomore season in which he led the Big Ten in on-base percentage and his 1.097 OPS comfortably topped Shaw's .985. Though his power didn't really show up, he kept getting on base at an elite clip on the Cape, where he slashed .266/.404/.291 in 28 games.
If there is a bat in the conference that is advanced enough to make the jump to pro ball, it's his. The western Connecticut native rarely chases, taking extremely professional at bats that led to walk rates above 16% both at Maryland and on the Cape, the latter of which you rarely see. He recognizes offspeed stuff and is unfazed by velocity, which also helps him get his barrel to the ball with great consistency. Combine that pitch selection and barrel accuracy with a natural uppercut that maximizes his power, and he can really ambush you.
The problem comes when you account for his lack of actual raw power, as he stands just 5'9" with an average build. While the ambush power works great with metal bats, it didn't show up on the Cape with wood and there are questions over how much will come in pro ball.
He's limited at that size, but if he can get on a pro conditioning program and bulk up a little, his swing and approached are geared to get the most out of it. Defensively, Shliger is a good athlete with the agility to stick behind the plate, though the finer aspects of his game do need some work and he'll need to prove he is physical enough to handle a full season back there.
It's probably a backup catcher/utility man profile that can play some corner outfield and get on base, with a chance for more if he bulks up in the right program and unlocks more offensive impact.
7-28-22 - https://www.prospectslive.com/prospects-live/2022/1/15/2023-mlb-draft-prospects -
#113 C/OF
Luke Shliger
Maryland
Shliger has been an absolute powerhouse for the Terps in his career showcasing hit, power, run, throw and field. He's a multi-dimensional player who can handle the outfield in a pinch, though evaluators do think there's a shot he can stick behind the plate as a pro. Shliger has fringe-average power though he's getting to all of it in game.
He doesn't have a ton of projection left in his smaller frame, but he's already performing at a high level with an advanced approach at the plate and impact in his offensive game. There's some swing-and-miss here, but he stays inside the zone and is more than willing to take his walks. In fact, jogging to first base has been one of his offensive pillars.
All the 2023 Draft Prospects in the Mack’s Mets database can be viewed by going to www.macksmets.blogspot.com and clicking on 2023 DRAFT PROSPECT DATABASE found on the top, left of the front page of the site.
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