3/30/25

2025 Draft Prospect - #61 - RHP - James Ellwanger - Dallas Baptist

 


On 12-5-24, MLB.com posted their top 100 prospects in the upcoming draft. Beginning 2-2-25, we will post it in backward order, ending with the pick for 1.1

https://www.mlb.com/prospects/2025/draft/      - 

#61        James Ellwanger      RHP, Dallas Baptist

20/years old      6' 4"      209

DRAFTED 2023, 19th (555) - WSH

COMMITTED - Dallas Baptist

Scouting grades: Fastball: 65 | Curveball: 50 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 45 | Overall: 50

Ellwanger's fastball shot into the mid-90s midway through his Texas high school senior season in 2023 and made him a top-three-rounds prospect, but his signability dropped him to the Nationals in the 19th round and sent him to Dallas Baptist. He touched 99 mph in his college debut last February, then missed most of March and April with a flexor strain in his pitching elbow before performing well in the Cape Cod League during the summer. With a healthy and successful spring, the sophomore-eligible could surpass Vic Black (No. 49 in 2009) as the highest pick in school history.

When Ellwanger is dialed in, he can sit in the mid-90s with his fastball and blow it by batters in the zone with ample carry and armside run. He lands more strikes and gets more chases with his mid-80s slider than his low-80s curveball, though both pitches need more consistency. He barely uses his mid-80s changeup but it will dive at the plate at times.

After working just 30 2/3 innings between Dallas Baptist and the Cape in 2024, Ellwanger needs innings to hone his craft and prove he can do more than just overpower hitters with his heater. He's athletic but will have to polish and repeat his three-quarters delivery to develop average control and command. He still has projection remaining in his 6-foot-4 frame, so his arsenal could become even more powerful.


1-22-25 –

Just Baseball: 2025 MLB Draft – Top 80 College Prospects

https://www.justbaseball.com/college/mlb-draft-top-college-prospects/?s=03

37. James Ellwanger – RHP

HT/WT: 6’4/205 | Bat/Throw: R/R | School: Dallas Baptist | Age: 21.1

A 19th-round selection by the Washington Nationals in 2023, Ellwanger is a draft-eligible sophomore who had heavy buzz to his name his senior spring. He ended up at the pitching factory that is Dallas Baptist and he’s been able to hold the loud stuff that he had the previous spring.

While an injury kept him out for almost two months, Ellwanger saw time on the Cape with Cotuit, striking out 22 in 13 innings. He has excellent athleticism on the bump and electric arm speed from a higher release point.

The fastball has touched 99 MPH this spring, though he’ll consistently sit in the 93-96 MPH with solid carry out of the hand, missing bats at a consistent rate. He’s been predominantly fastball heavy and command is a work in progress, but it’s a potentially plus heater at the end of the day.

There’s two dynamic breaking balls in his arsenal, a mid-80s slider with two-plane tilt and a low-80s curveball with a ton of depth and sweep.

There is a fringy change-up, as well, though he’s only thrown a handful since he got to campus. Given the athleticism and operation, there’s a good chance that Ellwanger will grow into better command and strike-throwing. He’s leaning towards a Day 1 pick.


12-23-24  -  Top 50 college baseball prospects for 2025 MLB draft, per D1Baseball

https://www.ncaa.com/news/baseball/article/2024-12-23/top-50-college-baseball-prospects-2025-mlb-draft-d1baseball      -              

43    James Ellwanger    RHP    Dallas Baptist

 

9/8/24

2025 Draft - B/R's Way-Too-Early 2025 MLB Mock Draft

28. Baltimore Orioles: RHP James Ellwanger, Dallas Baptist

Ellwanger had a forgettable freshman season at Dallas Baptist, posting a 6.11 ERA with 23 walks and 11 strikeouts in 17.2 innings over eight starts, but he was one of the breakout prospects in the Cape Cod League this summer.

The 6'5', 200-pound right-hander posted a 2.77 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and a 22-to-5 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 13 innings facing some of college baseball's most talented hitters, and the draft-eligible sophomore is trending up in a big way heading into the 2025 season.

 

https://dbupatriots.com/sports/baseball/roster/james-ellwanger/7328 -

MLB DRAFT

19th Round - Washington Nationals (2023)

2024 (FRESHMAN)

Made eight starts in the weekend rotation ... Went 1-1 with a 6.11 ERA … Struck out 23 batters in 17.2 innings … vs. TOP 25 OPPONENTS: Struck out three batters over 2.1 innings against No. 15 Alabama at the Frisco College Classic (3/3) … vs. CUSA OPPONENTS: Combined with Jerrod Jenkins in a seven inning no-hitter at FIU (4/28) after serving as the opener and pitching 1.0 scoreless inning … vs. NON-CONFERENCE: Made his collegiate debut versus Southeast Missouri (2/18) and worked 4.0 innings, allowing two runs, and striking out four … Earned his first career win against Central Michigan (2/25) after tossing 5.0 shutout innings and striking out a season-high eight batters.

COLLEGIATE SUMMER LEAGUE

Pitched for the Cotuit Kettlers in the Cape Cod Baseball League last summer.

 

HIGH SCHOOL

Four-year letterman at Magnolia West High School ... Played for head coach Travis Earles … Named a First Team All-State selection after helping lead Magnolia West to a Class 5A State Championship as a senior … Pitched a complete game one-hitter and struck out 17 batters in the semifinals of the Class 5A State Tournament … Finished his senior season with a 1.30 ERA and struck out 124 batters in 76.1 innings … Was a two-time First Team All-District selection and tabbed the District’s Newcomer of the Year as a sophomore … Rated the No. 64 overall prospect nationally and the No. 18 right-handed pitcher in the country by Perfect Game … Also ranked as the No. 4 player in the state of Texas and the No. 2 right-handed pitcher in the Lone Star state by Perfect Game … MLB.com rated him as the No. 107 prospect entering the 2023 Major League Draft … Selected by the Washington Nationals in the 19th round of the 2023 MLB Draft … Was also a Second Team All-District selection in basketball … Competed in the summers for the Texas Twelve.

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