Mack’s Weekly Draft Outlook

 

Brian Recca @brian_recca Mar 22, 2024: 

Justin Sinibaldi goes the distance for Rutgers Baseball. Complete game shutout for the big lefty. Final line: 

9 IP, 110 pitches

4 H

0 R

1 BB

9 K

  

Teddy Cahill @tedcahill) Mar 22, 2024: 

Chase Burns goes seven for the second week in a row. His day today against Louisville: 

7 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 12 K 

His season: 1.69 ERA, 37.1 IP, 12 BB, 68 K

 

                        Joe Doyle @JoeDoyleMiLB Mar 22, 2024: 

Chase Burns and Hagen Smith are every bit on the level of Paul Skenes 

 

                        Teddy Cahill @tedcahill Mar 22, 2024 

The strikeout race this year is absurd. 

Chase Burns (@WakeBaseball): 68 in 37.1 IP (16.39/9) 

Hagen Smith (@RazorbackBSB): 62 in 29 (19.24/9) 

Riley Huge (@WinthropBSB): 62 in 32 (17.44/9) 

Brody Brecht (@UIBaseball): 50 in 23 (19.29/9) 

 

Joe Doyle @JoeDoyleMiLB  Mar 22, 2024: 

Seaver King is having a banger weekend with a truckload of heavy-hitter scouts in the seats. Hit a ball 115 to the opposite field last night 

 

Joe Doyle @JoeDoyleMiLB  Mar 21, 2024: 

Want a draft sleeper? 

How about New Mexico State OF Titus Dumitru. Kid is running a .397/.507/.603 slash with a 1:1 K/BB ratio. His 11.9% chase rate ranks inside the 99th percentile in college ball. His 93 mph average EV ranks inside the 93rd percentile. 

 

Kendall Rogers @KendallRogers  Mar 21, 2024: 

Wake Forest preseason All-American LHP Josh Hartle has allowed seven runs in four innings against Louisville tonight. That has pushed his ERA so far this season well north of seven. Pretty shocking to say the least. Louisville leads 7-5 in mid frames in W-Salem 

 

Kendall Rogers @KendallRogers  Mar 21, 2024: 

INJURY NEWS: 

Houston RHP Jaxon Jelkin was not listed in the weekend rotation for this weekend against Kansas State. Jelkin will miss his usual Friday start because of fatigue but has not been ruled out for the entire weekend just yet, I’m told. 

 

MLB Pipeline @MLBPipeline  Mar 20, 2024: 

HR No. 10 for the No. 10 Draft prospect! 

Braden Montgomery continues his torrid run for the Aggies, upping his slash line to .372/.505/.859 through 22 games 

 

Joe Doyle @JoeDoyleMiLB  Mar 21, 2024: 

Heat Check 

Guys who have touched 100 mph this year: 

Greysen Carter, Vanderbilt

Pierce George, Alabama

Nate Snead, Tennessee

Brock Moore, Oregon

Chase Burns, Wake Forest

Brody Brecht, Iowa

Chase Allsup, Auburn

Bradley Wilson, Appalachian State

Hunter Cranton, Kansas 

 

MLB Pipeline @MLBPipeline  Mar 20, 2024: 

HR No. 10 for the No. 10 Draft prospect! 

Braden Montgomery continues his torrid run for the Aggies, upping his slash line to .372/.505/.859 through 22 games

  

Peter Flaherty III @PeterGFlaherty  Mar 20, 2024: 

Make it 12 HRs for Jace LaViolette as he drops the barrel on this shin-high fastball and drives it out to LCF. The HR race this season will be fascinating to follow. 

 

Joe Doyle @JoeDoyleMiLB  Mar 20, 2024: 

I was extremely bullish on Rutgers SS Joshua Kuroda-Grauer entering the year. He's been unbelievable. 

Currently running a .442/.500/.628 slash with 2 HR, 10 SB and more BB than K. 

One of the best blends of bat-to-ball and impact in the 2024 class. Kid is a really tough out

  

Joe Doyle @JoeDoyleMiLB  Mar 19, 2024: 

Jac Caglianone can do things to baseballs almost nobody else in college baseball can do. Kid end-capped one out LCF tonight. 

2 more bombs tonight.

 

 Joe Doyle @JoeDoyleMiLB  Mar 18, 2024: 

James Madison OF Fenwick Trimble is up +172 spots in today's update. Fifth-most of any player. An aggressive bat who boasts impressive bat-to-ball skills. Sneaky juice too. He plays a polished CF and could be average out there as a pro. 

 

Joe Doyle @JoeDoyleMiLB  Mar 18, 2024: 

James Madison OF Fenwick Trimble is up +172 spots in today's update. Fifth-most of any player. An aggressive bat who boasts impressive bat-to-ball skills. Sneaky juice too. He plays a polished CF and could be average out there as a pro. 

FULL BOARD: https://t.co/KQcNEAPGsm  https://t.co/64t7LzUIMA

 

 FSS PLUS - 2024 MLB Draft: Top 300 Prospects -

 Mets Pick -

 1.19  - SS Kaelen Culpepper

Kansas State

HOMETOWN: Memphis, TN

 HEIGHT: 6-0

 WEIGHT: 185

 BAT/THROW: R-R

 Culpepper has been a staple in the Kansas State lineup providing thump and run production for two years now. He had a breakout 2023 campaign that earned him an invite to Team USA. He's gained good weight on campus and is now a twitchy, athletic, physical infielder with upside at both positions on the left side of the infield. There's budding impact at the plate too. Defensively, he'll get the opportunity to play shortstop at the next level after receiving the bulk of his play at Kansas State at the "6" in 2024. His plus throwing arm will be an asset at either shortstop or third base role. While Culpepper may not have a specific carrying tool, he does a lot of things average or a tick above and his athleticism points toward untapped upside across his game. He boasts solid average exit velocities and has a chance to hit for some power with a hit tool that feels unrefined and on the come up. Scouts would like to see his chase rates trend down, as well as show a greater ability to cover velocity at or above the letters as the draft approaches. Regardless whether that happens, someone is almost certainly going to buy high on the physical, athletic, and up-the-middle tools in a draft that dreadfully lacks that in round one.

 

 Joe Doyle @JoeDoyleMiLB  Mar 18, 2024:

 Draft News: The 2024 High School All-American Game will NOT happen this year. It has been scrapped. The game had taken place during the All-Star Weekend going back to 2019 and featured the top draft-eligible high school juniors for the following year's draft.

 

 Carlos Collazo  @CarlosACollazo  Mar 18, 2024:

 There's a real lack of shortstops at the top of the class. Padres scouts in shambles.

 "If you scan this mock draft you’ll find perhaps three or four players with realistic chances to stick at shortstop and of those a majority might still be better off at other positions."

 

 A - Top 25 College Rankings - 3-18-2024 -

 1. Arkansas

Previous ranking: No. 1

Last week: 4-0

Overall: 17-2, 3-0 in SEC (1-0 vs. Top 25)

Weekend record: 5-0

 Results 

March 12: Oral Roberts: W 4-2

March 15-17: Missouri: W 8-0, W 6-0, W 9-1

Arkansas beat Oral Roberts and swept Missouri to extend its winning streak to 13 games and remain No. 1 for another week. The Razorbacks had a 25-inning scoreless streak this week and shut out the Tigers until the seventh inning Sunday. Their 2.35 team ERA is the best in the nation. Arkansas will look to keep its impressive run going this week as it travels to Auburn.

 

 2. Vanderbilt

Previous ranking: No. 8

Last week: 4-0

Overall: 18-3, 3-0 in SEC (4-0 vs. Top 25)

Weekend record: 5-0

 Results

 

March 12: Indiana: W 13-5

March 15-17: (17) Auburn: W 11-1 (8), W 13-5, W 9-6

Vanderbilt extended its winning streak to 13 games with a rout of Indiana and then a sweep of Auburn to open SEC play. The Commodores scored 46 runs on the week, led by catcher Alan Espinal, who went 10-for-16 with two doubles and a home run. After a crosstown matchup against Belmont, Vanderbilt this weekend hits the road to take on South Carolina.

 

3. Clemson

Previous ranking: No. 9

Last week: 4-1

Overall: 17-2, 2-1 in ACC (4-1 vs. Top 25)

Weekend record: 5-0

 Results

 March 12-13: Manhattan: W 13-1 (7), W 5-1

March 15-17: (3) Duke: L 5-2, W 8-7, W 8-6 (10)

Clemson bounced back from a loss Friday against Preseason All-American Jonathan Santucci to win a tough series at Duke. The Tigers secured the series with a wild win in Sunday’s rubber game, throwing the would-be winning run out at home to end the ninth and then hitting two home runs in the 10th inning. Clemson has a busy week ahead, culminating with a series against Florida State, the last undefeated team in the country.

 

4. Oregon State

Previous ranking: No. 4

Last week: 2-1

Overall: 17-2, 2-1 in Pac-12 (1-1 vs. Top 25)

Weekend record: 5-0

 Results

 March 15-17: @ Utah: W 7-5, W 8-1, L 14-11 

Oregon State got all it could handle at Utah, but came away with a road series win to open Pac-12 play. The Beavers scored five runs in the ninth Friday to score a comeback win and Saturday’s series-clincher was scoreless until they put up a seven-spot in the eighth inning. Oregon State jumped out to a big, early lead in the finale but couldn’t hold on for the sweep. They’ll return home this weekend to host Washington.

 

5. LSU

Previous ranking: No. 2

Last week: 3-2

Overall: 17-4, 1-2 in SEC (1-0 vs. Top 25)

Weekend record: 4-1

 Results

 March 12-13: North Dakota State: W 6-1, W 7-0

March 15-17: @ Mississippi State: L 10-4, W 9-8, L 15-5 (8)

The Tigers faltered at Mississippi State, giving up 33 runs in a series loss. While the pitching faltered, LSU blasted seven home runs on the weekend, including three from All-American third baseman Tommy White. LSU returns home for a big week ahead, as it hosts Louisiana Tech and then Florida for a rematch of last year’s College World Series championship series.

 

 And Hail State BB jumps on Thatcher Hurd for 3 in the first, as Amani Larry led off with a double on 95 mph heat, then Connor Hujsak (pictured) hit a 2-run double to LF corner and Aaron Downs hit an RBI double to same corner, both on sliders down in the zone. The Dude is fired up

 

Aaron Fitt  @aaronfitt  Mar 17, 2024:

 Thatcher Hurd has settled in since allowing 3 runs in the first, retiring 7 of the last 8 batters for LSU baseball. Stuff is great as usual: 93-96 and flashing 2 plus breaking pitches in his 85-86 slider spinning in 2900s, and hammer curve at 80-82 spinning in 3000-3100 range

 

 Joe Doyle @JoeDoyleMiLB  Mar 17, 2024:

 Another day, another dinger for Braden Montgomery. This one of the right-handed top-spinning variety.

 No. 9 on the year.

 Up to .378 on the season

 SPOILER: You won't have to scroll far to find his name in tomorrow's Top 300 Draft Board update

 

 Jake Hedberg @HedbergJake  Mar 17, 2024:

 Have a day Travis Bazzana. Second home run of the game scores three and OSU is up 8-0 in the top of the third. Bazzana is 3-for-3 with a double, 2 dingers and 5 RBI’s

 

                        MLB Pipeline @MLBPipeline  Mar 17, 2024: 

Travis Bazzana, the No. 3 Draft prospect, had a game to remember: 

5 H (ties career high)

2 HR (career high)

2B

5 RBIs (ties career high)

3 R

 Here's his full scouting report: https://t.co/hHgIMEBrHb 

 

 

 

Joe Doyle @JoeDoyleMiLB  Mar 17, 2024:

 

LSU 3B Tommy White is certainly heating up. He’s homered in every game of the Mississippi State series, twice to the opposite field.

 

White barely participated in fall ball and wasn’t a full go in spring scrimmages recovering from injury. He looks to be approaching 100% now.