Draft League Scouting Notes - May 29-30

Frederick Keys

The Keys’ offense came alive on Saturday night as three different hitters combined to generate four triple-digit exit velocities. INF Alex Ulloa, a Calvary Christian HS (Fla.) product who is committed to Oklahoma State, recorded two of them, hitting a 102-mph double and a 103-mph triple as part of a 3-for-5, two-RBI performance. His Calvary teammate, C Rene Lastres, a Florida Gators commit, connected on his first Draft League homer, a 102-mph solo shot (below) that traveled 362 feet to straightaway left field. Also joining the home-run club was OF/1B Anthony Herron Jr. (John Logan JC), who hit an impressive 105-mph shot with an 18-degree launch angle 371 feet from the three-spot in the lineup. He finished 2-for-4 with two RBI, also reaching base once via a walk in the Keys’ 10-9 loss to Mahoning Valley. 

Frederick didn’t fare any better against the Scrappers on Sunday night, falling 6-2, though Herron Jr. swung the bat well once again, ultimately recording the day’s top three exit velocities: 100.7 mph (LD), 99.8 (GB) and 99.1 (GB). Ulloa was held hitless but stood out offensively for a second straight night, generating a pair of 97-98 mph exit speeds from the two-hole. 1B Nick Fernandez (UT Permian Basin) entered as a pinch-hitter and went 2-for-2, after a 1-for-4, two-RBI showing on Friday.  

Keys starter RHP Brock Gilliam (Washburn) scattered three hits and struck out four in 3.2 innings on Saturday. He was 92-94 mph with late tail early in the outing before settling in at 87-90, albeit while still showing feel for both his mid- to upper-70s downer curve and 81-82 mph changeup. RHP Darien Smith (East Florida State) spun his breaking ball up to 2811 rpm, posting a 61.5-percent whiff rate on the pitch while throwing it 13 times over three innings out of the bullpen. RHP Anthony DeFrancesco (Arizona Christian) also opened eyes with his stellar spin rates, running his fastball up to 2845 rpm while sitting 89-90 mph (T 91) and his low-80s slider up to 2800+ on several occasions. DeFrancesco’s high spin rates, along with his athleticism and clean arm action, are all solid indicators for his potential to develop better stuff. 

Making his second Draft League start, RHP Luis Guerrero (Chipola) struggled with his control early, leading to a four-run Mahoning Valley second inning, but settled in to complete four innings, striking out five and walking four. He was up to 95 mph with his fastball and posted an elite 66.7-percent whiff rate with the pitch (15 swings/10 whiffs). Guerrero also posted a 50-percent whiff rate (8 swings/4 whiffs) with his splitter, throwing it at 80-85 mph with bottoming-out action and spin rates as low as 680 rpm. RHP Nick Stewart (James Madison) fanned five batters without allowing a hit in three innings, pairing his 90-93 mph fastball with a sharp, downer curve. RHP Kameron Fields (Texas Southern) pitched around three singles to complete a scoreless eighth. He showed a live arm coming out of the ‘pen, attacking hitters with a power sinker at 93-95 mph.  

Mahoning Valley Scrappers

The Scrappers rallied from an eight-run deficit to defeat Frederick 10-9, on Saturday night. They scored nine runs from the fifth inning on including four in the ninth, capped by INF Chase Valentine’s (Sandra Day O’Connor HS (Ariz.)) walk-off three-run double down the left-field line. Left-handed hitting OF Sam Crail (Saint Leo) enjoyed a perfect night at the dish, going 3-for-3 with a 101-mph single and a team-high two runs scored. CIF Jarrod Belbin (Western Arizona) reached base three times via a walk and two hits including a 105-mph double that plated a run. RHP Jacob DeLabio (Carthage) allowed one hit while fanning three over the next two frames. The 6-foot-5, 205-pounder has been a standout early among Draft League pitchers as he’s shown the ability to throw quality strikes with his 92-94 mph fastball and 83-85 mph slider, both of which he throws with above-average spin rates.

The Scrappers’ pitching was more consistent on Sunday night, with four hurlers combining to allow just four hits in a 6-2 victory. LHP Ethan Brown impressed in pitching to both sides of the plate with his tailing 89-92 mph fastball. He consistently pounded right-handed hitters away, using his fastball command to set up a trio of quality second pitches, including a tight slider at 80-81 mph. LHP Jimmy Burnette (Saint Leo) recorded five of his six outs via the strikeouts out of the bullpen. In addition to showcasing a 95-mph fastball in the outing, Burnette also recorded a whiff on seven of eight swings against his low-80s slider, posting a 71.4 percent CSW% while throwing it 14 times.

OF Mathieu Vallee (Northeast Oklahoma A&M) reached base three times from the leadoff spot, finishing 1-for-2 with a double, two walks and two RBI. C Duncan Hewitt (Butler) paced the offense with two hits, including a triple that he hit 370 feet and 98.3 mph.   

State College Spikes

The Spikes played just one game versus Trenton over the weekend, and even that contest was suspended after four-plus innings due to rain. Still, that provided plenty of time for LHP Chris Wall (Columbia College) to make his mark by striking out six batters over three one-hit frames. Working from the far third-base side of the rubber, Wall works in and out, pounding both sides of the plate with his two- and four-seam fastballs. He throws his heater with good finish through the zone, touching 93 mph and sitting 90-91. Wall’s mound positioning allows him to attack righties under the hands well, too, and he keeps righties and lefties alike off balance with an occasional slider at 78-81 mph. Overall, Wall has fanned 10 batters in six innings (2 G/1 GS), allowing two hits and four walks. RHP Andrew Moore (Chipola) was up to 95 mph for a second straight outing, nothing a strikeout in one-plus frames.    

Trenton Thunder

LHP Justin Garcia (Roger Williams College) fired four no-hit innings, compiling three strikeouts against one walk on Sunday in his first start for the Thunder. Similar to Wall, Garcia did most of his work using his four-seam fastball and sinker, throwing the two pitches at a combined 84.2-percent clip. He sat around 90 mph and topped out at 92.4 mph in the outing, complementing his heater with a 76-80 mph curveball. Puerto Rican prep SS Ryan Cepero Roman (CBBA, P.R.) tallied Trenton’s lone hit from the two-spot in the lineup and also impressed with his range and athleticism at shortstop, making a highlight-reel play up the middle. 

Williamsport Crosscutters

The Crosscutters rallied for five runs in the eighth inning to notch an 8-8 tie against West Virginia on Saturday night. Starting pitcher LHP Jacob Smith (Wallace Dothan) fanned five over three innings while showing feel for three pitches. RHP Josue Santana (El Shaddai Christian Academy, P.R.) bounced back from a shaky performance last time out to fan a pair across two hitless innings. He was mostly 89-90 mph, driving his fastball downhill from a three-quarters slot and pairing it with an average mid-70s breaker. 

After opening eyes by touching 96 mph in his first appearance, Puerto Rican prep hurler LHP Eduardo Rivera (CADEST) once again showed a live fastball up to 95 mph with above-average spin rates along with a sharp slider with plus spin rates at 79-81 mph. It’s been legitimate power stuff so far from the 17-year-old southpaw, whose 6-foot-7, 240-pound should give him a chance to start at the next level. RHP Tyler LaPorte’s control and secondary offerings need some work, but the former converted shortstop has a power arm that can generate a heavy 92-95 mph (T96) fastball. 

Offensively, INF Chaz Salter (Wallace Dothan) continued his hot hitting from atop the Crosscutters’ lineup with a 2-for-5, three-RBI performance. MIF Isaac Nunez (South Florida) also stayed hot, going 2-for-5 with a pair of singles at 106 and 103 mph. 1B/OF Hogan McIntosh (Parkland College) drove in two with a pair of hits, including a 105-mph single. Prep 2B Christian Olivo (LCA, P.R.) reached base via three walks en route to a pair of runs scored from the eight-spot in the lineup.

RHP Chase Castello (Stetson) has done nothing but improve his Draft stock in his two starts for Williamsport. On Sunday night, the 6-foot-4 righty sat 92-94 mph (T95.1) for the duration of his three-inning outing, improving on all fronts the deeper into the game he worked. He showed above-average pitchability, complementing his fastball with an average 83-85 mph slider and a changeup at 82-84 that flashes above-average potential. Overall it’s one of the more complete starting-pitcher profiles to emerge in the first week of the Draft League’s.

RHP Ryan Velazquez struggled to repeat his delivery and throw quality strikes, but he still showed a pair of swing-and-miss pitches in a 92-94 mph (T95) fastball and a slider that has late, sharp bite. RHP Owen Holt (Alvin CC) threw his 90-92 mph fastball with good downhill plane and kept hitters off-balance with an upper-70s curveball.

LHP Holden Christian (Loyola Marymount) was nails out of the Crosscutters’ ‘pen, tossing two scoreless frames with five strikeouts to lock down the win. He flooded the zone with strikes in the outing, working in and out with his 88-90 mph fastball. Holden changes the shape of his 76-77 mph curveball well, manipulating the pitch to have either 1-to-7 or slurve shape depending on the count and the batter’s handedness. 

Two-hole hitter 3B Freddie Matos (Butler) paced the Crosscutters’ offense by going 3-for-5 with a run and RBI. His 97.3-mph double in the contest was the team’s second hardest-hit ball in the contest behind McIntosh’s 98.2-mph single. 

West Virginia Black Bears

The Black Bears showcased several interesting arms on Saturday night, led by starter and Georgia Southern commit RHP Ga’Von Wray. An athletic hurler with a clean arm action from a high-three-quarters release point, Wray manipulated his fastball nicely in the start, operating at 88-91 mph with sink and some glove-side cut. He showed solid pitchability for a second straight outing, mixing his heater with a power curveball with big break at 78-79 mph and a sinking 84-85 sinking changeup while completing three frames. 

RHP Carlos Lomeli (Saint Mary’s) turned in three innings of one-hit ball in relief of Wray, striking out five. He looked polished in the outing, throwing quality strikes from a three-quarters slot. Lomeli’s 92-94 mph fastball featured good cary to both sides of the plate, and he befuddled hitters with two distinct breaking balls: a 75-76 mph curveball that he landed early in the count for strikes, and a 82-83 slider that he used to induce chase whiffs once ahead. RHP Trevor Tietz (Jefferson College) issued a pair of walks after entering into a bases-loaded jam, then pitched his way out of another bases-loaded situation in the ninth, striking out the side with a fastball up to 95 mph to secure an 8-8 ties against Williamsport. 

OF Cooper Swanson (Florida State) scored two runs and seven of the Black Bears’ nine starters scored a run in the contest. C Ryan McCoy (Wabash Valley JC) went 2-for-4 with an RBI single and a walk in his first game of the season. C Tucker Mitchell (State College of Florida) finished 1-for-4 with two RBI, while 3B Jake Reinhardt (North Park), 3B Jesse Pierce (Grayson) and C/1B Caleb Taylor (WVU-Potomac) tallied a hit and run apiece. He went 1-for-2 with a 348-foot double the next day. SS Jeron Williams (Lincoln Trail JC) collected the other two Black Bears hits in the contest, finishing 2-for-3 with two RBI and walk from the bottom of the order, .

Sunday starting pitcher RHP John Czeslawski (North Area Iowa CC) gave up an unearned run on two hits and walk in three innings, striking out two. The sinker-baller operated at 88-90 mph with a long-breaking 80-81 slider. RHP Logan Clayton (College of Central Florida) ran his fastball up to 95 mph and sat better than 92, flashing some solid velocity along with a hard, sharp slider at 82-83 mph and a more traditional curveball at 78-81. Ultra-athletic and projectable RHP Kobe Robinson (Chattanooga St. CC) pitched around a hit and walk to strike out a pair during a scoreless sixth inning. He once again showed a live arm, running his fastball up to 95 mph with heavy sink and bore at times.

RHP Jeffrey Willson (Pensacola State) was up to 92.6 mph and recorded whiffs on five of nine swings with his 76-79 mph curveball, throwing the pitch 18 times. RHP Michael Hobbs (Saint Mary’s) is a max-effort reliever but throws a good amount of strikes with a 90-93 mph cutting fastball and a low-80s breaking ball that flashes at least average Major League potential.