Small School 2019 Pitchers With Big Time MLB Potential

Image credit: St. John's lefty Jeff Belge (Photo by Tomaso DeRosa)

Elon’s Kyle Brnovich and George Kirby are two premium pitching prospects in this year’s draft class from outside baseball’s traditional power conferences, but they are far from the only smaller school pitchers to watch this spring.

Ricky Devito, RHP, Seton Hall: The 2018 Big East Conference pitcher of the year, Devito posted a 1.88 ERA during his first stint as a starter with Seton Hall before carving up hitters in the Cape Cod League last summer.

Seth Johnson, RHP, Campbell: A converted junior college shortstop, he has wowed scouts with his athleticism on the mound and a fastball that’s been up to 96 mph as well as promising secondaries.

Hunter Gaddis, RHP, Georgia State: After becoming the first Georgia State player ever to be chosen to play for USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team in 2017, Gaddis went to the Cape last summer and wowed with a low-90s fastball and devastating slider.

Jeff Belge, LHP, St. John’s: The Most Outstanding Player of the Big East Tournament in 2018, Belge throws in the low 90s but has plenty of cutting action to his fastball as well as a hard, downer slider.

Levi Stoudt, RHP, Lehigh: Stoudt has been a reliable arm in back-to-back years in the Patriot League with a 2.69 career ERA. He pitches with a 92-95 mph fastball and a solid changeup.

Adam Lukas, RHP, Evansville: A physical righthander, Lukas struck out 9.3 batters per nine innings last season in the Missouri Valley Conference. He improved both his strikeout and walk rates over the summer in the Northwoods League.

Ken Waldichuk, LHP, St. Mary’s: He has posted a 2.03 ERA for the Gaels over two seasons and is coming off an excellent 2018 campaign where he fanned 118 batters and walked just 21 in 92 innings.