64 JULY 2019 • BASEBALLAMERICA.COMDepartments
COLLEGEEARLY 2020
DRAFT PREVIEW
High-end pitchers return to top of college ranks
by CARLOS COLLAZOS
couting directors begin bearing down on the 2020 draft class as
soon as the 2019 draft concludes. The top of the college class is
already well defined, and scouts have a long history with many of
the players. Everything is subject to change, particularly as play-
ers improve their stock this summer.Arizona State first baseman
Spencer Torkelson is one of
the most dynamic hitters in
college baseball and a can-
didate to go No. 1 overall in- He has a chance to play
corner outfield in pro ball.
BILL MITCHELLREVIEWING THE PREVIEW
One year ago, we forecast the top 10 college
prospects for the 2019 draft. How did we do?Rank Player, Pos, School Drafted- Adley Rutschman, C, Oregon State Orioles (1st overall)
- Shea Langeliers, C, Baylor Braves (9th overall)
- Josh Jung, 3B, Texas Tech Rangers (8th overall)
- Logan Davidson, SS, Clemson Athletics (29th overall)
- Zack Thompson, LHP, Kentucky Cardinals (19th overall)
- Braden Shewmake, SS, Texas A&M Braves (21st overall)
- Nick Lodolo, LHP, Texas Christian Reds (7th overall)
- Will Holland, SS, Auburn Twins (5th round)
- Drew Mendoza, 3B, Florida State Nationals (3rd round)
- Matt Wallner, OF, Southern Mississippi Twins (1st supp)
- SPENCER TORKELSON, 1B
ARIZONA STATE
Torkelson has some of the
biggest raw power in the 2020
class and is one of college base-
ball’s most dynamic hitters. After
breaking Barry Bonds’ program
record for home runs by a fresh-
man, he followed that by hitting
.348/.447/.687 with 21 home
runs. His impact has translated
just fine to wood bats, in both the
Cape Cod League and with Team
USA. Primarily a first baseman,
Torkelson has a chance to play the
corner outfield in pro ball. - EMERSON HANCOCK, RHP
GEORGIA
The Friday night ace for one of
the best college pitching staffs in
the country, Hancock broke out
as a sophomore after a middling
freshman campaign and was one of
the most dominant pitchers in the
country. Over 14 starts, he record-
ed a 1.99 ERA with 97 strikeouts
in 90.1 innings and walked just 18
hitters. Hancock has potential plus
pitches across the board, headlined
by a fastball that reaches the upper
90s and a putaway slider. - CASEY MARTIN, SS
ARKANSAS
Martin starred as a freshman
third baseman for Arkansas in
2018, hitting 13 home runs in his
first crack at the Southeastern
Conference. This spring he moved
to shortstop and continued to
shine by hitting .293/.370/.556
with 15 home runs and 10 stolen
bases. Martin is a plus runner with
arm strength and projects to stay
at short. - PATRICK BAILEY, C
NORTH CAROLINA STATE
Bailey was one of the best
catch-and-throw backstops in the
country coming out of high school
in 2017, but at the time scouts
worried about his offensive poten-
tial. He has proven to have power
from both sides of the plate in
two seasons in the Atlantic Coast
Conference. As a complete catcher
with exceptional feel for receiving,
blocking, throwing, handling a
staff and hitting from both sides,
Bailey has obvious first-round
talent. - COLE WILCOX, RHP
GEORGIA
One of several touted pitchers
from the 2018 draft to make it to
campus, Wilcox will be a draft-el-
igible sophomore and has emerged
as one of the better talents for - He has a fastball that reaches
the upper 90s as well as a sharp
slider and a solid changeup, and
he has first-round potential if
he performs as a starter in 2020.
Wilcox struck out 64 batters in
59.2 innings as a freshman but will
need to cut down his walk rate. - ASA LACY, LHP
TEXAS A&M
The projectable lefty was draft-
ed out of high school in 2017 but
made it to campus at Texas A&M,
where he has been lights out over
two seasons. In 2019 he posted a
2.13 ERA over 88.2 innings with
a team-best 130 strikeouts while
leading the nation with just 5.0
hits per nine innings. Lacy has a
92-95 mph fastball and one of the
best changeups in the country. - J.T. GINN, RHP
MISSISSIPPI STATE
The Dodgers’ liked Ginn’s elite
fastball/breaking ball combination
enough to draft him 30th over-
all in 2018 out of high school. He
didn’t sign and quickly established
himself as one of the best college
freshman arms in the coun-
try. Through 16 starts and 80.1
innings, Ginn posted a 3.36 ERA
with 103 strikeouts and 18 walks. - REID DETMERS, LHP
LOUISVILLE
Detmers came into his own as
a sophomore and was briefly in
the running for Player of the Year
with his early-season dominance.
He significantly improved his walk
rate this spring and has a solid
four-pitch mix that he locates
well, with a fastball that gets into
the mid-90s. Through 17 starts
and 107 innings, Detmers posted a
2.85 ERA with 162 strikeouts—the
second most in the country behind
Ethan Small. - AUSTIN MARTIN, SS
VANDERBILT
Martin hit a team-best .410
this season while playing multiple
positions and was the only under-
classman to be named a first-team
All-American. He should have
a chance to play shortstop as a
junior, and if he performs as well
as expected he should be one of
the first college hitters off the
board next June.- C.J. VAN EYK, RHP
FLORIDA STATE
Van Eyk put his name on the
map with a strong freshman
campaign while working as both
a starter and reliever, but he
truly shined for USA Baseball’s
Collegiate National Team that
summer with exceptional feel for
spin. He can land a 79-84 mph
two-plane breaking ball with ease.
Van Eyk has zip on a low-90s fast-
ball as well and posted a 3.80 ERA
over his first 17 starts and 94.2
innings this spring. n