2/22/20

Mack – Draft News – More Week One Highlights





I have been writing that one of the Mets targets at #19 should be #7 Arkansas outfielder Heston Kjerstad. Well, that ship might have sailed after week one of the college season. Kjerstad led the Razorbacks to a 3-game sweep of Eastern Illinois, with a 7-12, .583 stat line with a slugging percentage of 1.667 and an OBP of .643, he hit 4-HR’s and had 10-RBIs. So much for being available at #19.


Clemson opened up its 2020 season with a 3-game sweep of Liberty. Clemson is famous for developing relief pitchers and their best, senior Carson Spiers, is off to a fast start… 2 appearances, 4-IP, 0-R, 0.00, 5-K, 0-BB.


The #1 team in the nation, Vanderbilt, did not get off to a great start this season. The Vandy Boys lost their opener to #13 Michigan and then beat Connecticut, followed by a loss to Cal Poly. 3B Austin Martin started off slow (2-10, .200), while starting pitcher Jake Elder didn’t impress either (1-start, 3.1-IP, 5.40). Highlights were SP Mason Hickman (1-ST, 5-IP, 0.00) and Freshman sensation (remember this guy?), Kumar Rocker (1-ST, 6-IP, 9-K, 0.00).


#2 ranked UCLA swept UC Riverside in their 3-game opening weekend series. Outfield sensation, Garrett Mitchell, went 3-8, .376, 1.143-OPS, for the series.


#4 ranked Louisville was knocked back on their heals by Ole Miss, losing two of three weekend games. Prospect lefty, Reid Detmers, went 5-IP, 1-ER, 9-K, 1.80, in his first outing of the young season.


Speaking of Ole Miss, Louisville became #1 in the nation after Vanderbilt lost their opener. Well, they then lost that ranking to Michigan after Ole Miss won this series. IF/C Cael Baker went 5-12, .417, with 2-HRs and IF Anthony Servideo, went 5-10, .500, with 1-HR.


#5 ranked, Mississippi State, swept Wright State in their weekend series. The biggest disappointment was top pitching prospect, J. T. Ginn, who gave up 2-ER, in 3-IP (6.00). OF Rowdy Jordon went 5-11, .455 for the weekend.


#6 Texas Tech is now 4-0 after the weekend. They sent Houston Baptist (2 games, 27 runs) and Northern Colorado (2 games, 36 runs) back to the drawing board after back-to-back drubbings. Draft prospect IF/OF Dylan Neuse (8-15, .471), and C Braxton Fulford (2-5, 4.00) led the way.  OF Cody Masters needs to giddy-up (1-9, .11). Name to remember: Freshman C/IF Nate Rombach (14-AB, 5-HR, 15-RBI).


#8 Auburn also went 4-0 this weekend, winning all four over Illinois-Chicago, Prospect outfielder, Steven Williams, went 4-11, .364 while starter Tanner Burns had a rough first outing (5-IP, 3-ER, 7-K, 1-BB, 5.40).


#9 Florida State went 2-1 against Niagara. They got off to a slow start, losing the opener 3-1, but they went on to score 35 runs over the next two games. FSU has two prospect pitchers… CJ Van Eyk went 5-IP, 0-R, 8-K and Shane Drohan gave up one run in 3.1-IP (5-K, 1.88).


#10 Oklahoma State (1-2) got their butt handed to them by… wait for it… Grand Canyon. Leading senior hitter OF Carson McCusker (1-10, .100) needs to do more while IF Alix Garcia (4-11, .364) fared well in a bad situation.

8 comments:

Reese Kaplan said...

Will the new front office brainpower recognize talent or will it be more of the past where the vast majority of selections never advance successfully?

Tom Brennan said...

I like that Heston dude - maybe we'll get lucky

Mack Ade said...

Reese -

It is going to be hard to ignore the 40-50 ++ RHSPs in this draft.

Mack Ade said...

Tom -

The Heston dude has calmed down this week so, yeah, there is an outside chance, only because of all the great pitching just waiting to be picked in this draft.

Tom Brennan said...

Almost sounds like this could be projecting to be the greatest pitching draft ever, then?

Also, any sense how Hestion compares to Kelenic?

Mack Ade said...

I think he grades higher than Kelenic.

Mack Ade said...

Tom

This draft could be 5 rounds deep in 1st round RHP talent

Tom Brennan said...

incredible