https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/top-25-seniors-we-want-to-see-in-college-baseball-in-2021/ -
Brian Van
Belle, RHP, Miami
Van Belle isn’t as famous as rotation mates Chris McMahon and
Slade Cecconi, and he doesn’t have the stuff of those two either, but he has
been the Hurricanes’ most consistent starter for the better part of two
seasons.
After going 10-2, 3.30 a season ago, the righthander had a
0.68 ERA and 38 strikeouts in 26.1 innings in 2020, proving to be just as
dominant as anyone on the Miami staff in that small sample size.
https://www.mlive.com/sports/2020/04/10-michigan-college-players-among-top-2020-mlb-draft-prospects.html -
OF Jesse Franklin Michigan
Franklin was a power threat in the middle of Michigan's
lineup in his first two seasons in Ann Arbor, combining for 23 home runs and
102 RBIs in 115 games. However, he never saw the field in 2020 as he worked his
way back from injury.
BA scouting report: "Franklin’s medical sheet has piled
up over the years, as he’s dealt with labrum issues, hamstring issues and
didn’t play a game in the shortened 2020 season thanks to a broken collarbone.
That leaves Franklin as a bit of an unknown, as scouts like his all-around
package of average tools and believed in his work ethic and plus-plus baseball
instincts to make the most of them. Franklin has a professional approach at the
plate and doesn’t strike out frequently, though some evaluators have noted that
a wide stance can cause his swing to get too lengthy, which causes issues
timing up fastball velocity. When he’s able to let his hands work, Franklin has
above-average power potential."
Dillon Dingler, C, Ohio State (No. 54 to No. 24,
up 30 spots)
Nicolas' teammate on Ohio state baseball and basketball
champions at Jackson High in 2016-17, Dingler flew under the radar a bit
because a broken hamate bone hampered him as a sophomore and led to him not
playing summer ball. He impressed this spring, showing better athleticism and
arm strength than most catchers while also doing a better job of getting to his
plus raw power.
18. Clayton Beeter, RHP —
Texas Tech
I was turned to Beeter by a former scout now coaching in the
Big 12.
“Just get a look at Beeter. Nobody’s talking about him out
there.”
So I started asking, and sure enough, area scouts like him a
lot and a few were trying to keep his name out of the media in hopes they could
get him after Round 1.
I don’t know if that’s plausible.
Beeter made four starts before the season was shut down,
covering 21 innings and wiping out 33 batters against just four bases on balls.
He’s built like a mid-rotation arm at 6-foot-2 and 220
pounds, sitting 91-94 mph and touching 96 on occasion. But his knuckle
curveball is absolute fire, the best in the class without question, inducing
tons of swings and misses, and he commands it well in and out of the zone.
Beeter’s fastball-curveball combo is very good, and despite
other college arms having a velocity advantage, the ball explodes out of his
hand and with a lot of life up and to his arm side.
Markevian Hence, RHP, Watson Chapel (Ark.) High School
Markevian Hence, who goes by the nickname “Tink,” is one of
the youngest prospects in this year’s draft class.
Hence, a 6-1, 175-pound righty, experienced an uptick in
fastball velocity last fall when he was clocked at 96 mph at the World Wood Bat
Association World Championship. He credited the velocity increase to a change
in arm slot, as he transitioned from three-quarters to over the top.
Hence throws a four-seam fastball, two-seamer, curveball,
slider and changeup. He exhibited solid command of all of his pitches last
summer and fall.
His fastballs are his best pitches and are currently
above-average offerings. His slider is his top off-speed pitch and generates
swings and misses.
Despite his smaller frame, he has the repertoire, ability to
repeat his delivery and athleticism that major league teams seek in a starting
pitcher long term.
Multiple scouts that I spoke with described Hence as
“electric” and believe he has the potential to be one of the top pro pitchers
from this year’s prep class.
A full spring season would have helped Hence gain exposure
and likely improved his draft stock. As of now, Hence likely will be drafted
anywhere between the second to fourth round.
2 comments:
Maybe the Mets pick Beetrr. Could be a world beater.
Hence sound like a later round possibility.
After last year, I am convinced the current regime will draft well.
Not so long ago, the Mets seemed to get poor grades almost annually on their drafts.
May those days be gone for good.
Agree with Tom on Beeter. Not so hot on the others.
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