2023 NCAA Aces

[Just Regular]

We've all put in the long years following this fraction of MLB competition.    I am excited in 2023 not to be here as much, and not to have dibs on America's best 18 or 21 year olds anytime soon.

The one demographic in the middle of the 1st round this year that would be plus entertainment for me is if Elias chose that Gregg Olson, Michael Wacha, Garrett Crochet NCAA type needing very little else before hitting the Show.

Fangraphs Longenhagen posted today his update as Friday night games begin this month.     These are his 5 top Aces:

https://www.fangraphs.com/prospects/the-board/2023-mlb-draft/summary?type=0&sort=-1,1&pos=pit

Tennessee, Chase Dollander

LSU, Paul Skenes

Wake Forest, Rhett Lowder

Florida, Hurston Waldrep

South Carolina, Will Sanders

The scouting world awaits the NCAA #1's ready to flash their hot new stuff like 2020 Max Meyer, who IIRC before the year began was a regular Friday night starter, not even in the SEC.

 

Edited February 19, 2023 by Just Regular

[Frobby]

The MLB Pipeline podcast featured an interview with Skene this week.  He’s an extremely impressive young man.  Among other things, he’s donating his NIL money to a charity that benefits the families of two former Air Force players who passed away.  He’ll never talk to us, but if he did, I’d love to have that guy in our org.  

[emmett16]

Here's a link with some more names.  If y'all haven't had a chance to see Savacool, Shliger, or Shaw I highly recommend checking out a UMD game.  They have a good squad this year.  I'll be up in Minnesota at the Cambria Classic in a couple weeks and will try to post some pics & info on the top prospects playing there.  

 

Collegiate Preseason All-Americans | Perfect Game USA

[RZNJ]

Yeah, I would be slightly surprised if it’s not still a college SS or OF in that first round.  Seems like enough SS in the mix this year.

[Just Regular]

I don't know if they were robust enough overslot tries to be considered Aces, but last year's unsigned Andrew Walters for Miami, and James Hicks for South Carolina pitched some opening weekend.

Looks like Walters did the Edwin Diaz type stuff, striking out 5 of the 7 guys he faced in a close game yesterday.

Nolan McLean also notched a 2-strikeout Save, but he was higher up and I suppose the Orioles-Holliday relationship gives them a good view of all things Oklahoma State.

That said, the lesson of Spencer Strider for me is I don't know what if anything regular fans will see much of in NCAA lines.   Dude threw 4 starts, 12 innings total his draft year, and he's Spencer Strider.    As long as OMAR gets his inputs from the SEC, ACC and other big conferences, I don't know that an Age 21 college arm needs to show much quantity.

Like Kyle Gibson and Cole Irvin, quantity in the NCAA these days may be Garrett Stallings putting up big innings for Tennessee.    Lots of pretty strikes good enough to get you through A ball...can you growth mindset anything else when you are 25?