2016 State Draft Report: Indiana

CROP RATING
	Not up to par
Rating compares this year’s group to what a state typically produces, not to other states

 

Number of players drafted in 2015: 20.

Somewhat quietly, Indiana has turned into a draft hotbed.

In each of the past four seasons, there has been at least one first-round pick from the state, including Kyle Schwarber (2014), Kyle Freeland (2014) and Kevin Plawecki (2012).

This year will almost assuredly end that streak. There’s not as much draft-eligible college talent this year or premium arms as we’ve seen in recent drafts.

NATIONAL TOP 500 PROSPECTS

BA 500 Scouting Reports

1. Skylar Szynski, rhp, Penn HS, Mishawaka, Ind. (National Rank: 94)
2. Alex Call, of, Ball State (National Rank: 266)
3. Zack Thompson, lhp, Wapahani HS, Selma, Ind. (National Rank: 308)
4. Jake Kelzer, rhp, Indiana (National Rank: 332)
5. Cavan Biggio, 2b, Notre Dame (National Rank: 350)
6. TJ Collett, c, Terre Haute (Ind.) North HS (National Rank: 364)

 

OTHER PROSPECTS OF NOTE

2016 Draft Map

7. Reid Schaller, rhp, Lebanon (Ind.) HS
8. Caleb Baragar, lhp, Indiana
9. Zach Plesac, rhp, Ball State
10. Kyle Hart, lhp, Indiana
11. Jarrett Rindfleisch, c, Ball State
12. Matt Gorski, 3b/of, Hamilton Southeastern HS, Fishers, Ind.
13. Craig Dedelow, of, Indiana

 

ADDITIONAL SCOUTING REPORTS

Reid Schaller, rhp, Lebanon (Ind.) HS – A Vanderbilt signee, Schaller has plenty of present velocity. He’s touched 95 and sat 90-93 mph this spring with a developing slider.

Caleb Baragar, lhp, Indiana – In two years at Indiana, Baragar has proven to be a reliable weekend starter, although the senior lefty survives more on competitiveness than any plus pitch. Baragar pitches predominantly off a 88-91 mph fastball that has some deception to it–he’ll throw it 80-85 percent of the time when he’s on. He throws both a curveball and a slider, but neither is an average offering.

Zach Plesac, rhp, Ball State – Plesac came into the year with high hopes, but his stuff was rarely as sharp during his junior year as he’s shown in the past and he eventually was shut down for the final month of the season with an arm injury. Pre-injury, Plesac seemed to struggle to get loose, as he’d often sit at 87-90 mph, down a tick or two from what he’s shown in the past. His changeup has been an average offering in the past. His slider is improving but is still a well-below-average offering that needs to be tighter with more bite. Plesac is a good hitter for a pitcher, good enough that Ball State played him in left field before he was shut down.

Kyle Hart, lhp, Indiana – It is fair to say that Hart has been an Indiana a very long time–he was part of the same recruiting class as Kyle Schwarber and Sam Travis–one of the best recruiting classes in Indiana history. He was member of Indiana’s weekend rotation as a freshman in 2012 and has been a fixture there ever since when he’s been healthy. He missed the 2014 season as he recovered from Tommy John surgery. He ranks second on Indiana’s career wins list. Hart lacks an average fastball as he’ll sit 86-88 mph but it plays up because of his plus changeup and he’s added a cutter to go with his fringy slider and curveball. Hart is an excellent athlete who fields his position well and has even served as a defensive replacement in center field.

Jarrett Rindfleisch, c, Ball State – Rindfleisch excels at the ancillary parts of being a catcher. He’s an excellent leader and has raw power, although his swing doesn’t really let him connect enough to drive the ball consistently. Defensively he has a strong arm but his mechanics get in the way some times. He sets a good target and blocks balls well.

Matt Gorski, 3b/of, Hamilton Southeastern HS, Fishers, Ind. – At this point, Gorski’s athleticism is more notable than his skills. He has some defensive versatility as a corner outfielder/corner infielder with plus speed. The Indiana signee was a multi-sport star in high school who was all-state in soccer, who should blossom now that he’s focusing on baseball.

Craig Dedelow, of, Indiana – A former walk-on, Dedelow earned playing time as a freshman thanks to his defense and he has been Indiana’s everyday center fielder for two years. Dedelow is an above-average center fielder thanks to excellent reads and routes and he has an above-average arm. At 6-foot-4, 195-pounds, he has a pro body. But Dedelow is an average runner and still faces questions about his bat. For a center fielder with below-average power (he does sting doubles to the gaps) there’s too much swing-and-miss to Dedelow’s game. He has a significant load to his swing.