2016 Recruiting Rankings: The Next 10
Xzavion Curry is an athletic two-way player who can run his fastball up to 94 mph (Photo by Stacy Jo Grant)
SEE ALSO: Top 25 Recruiting Rankings
SEE ALSO: Ole Miss Class Stays Together
SEE ALSO: 2016 BA 500
With 299 Division I college baseball programs, it isn’t easy to break into the Top 25 recruiting class rankings. Narrowing down the field is a difficult task that always leaves some impressive classes off the list. With that in mind, here are 10 more teams that fell just outside the Top 25, listed in alphabetical order.
Georgia Tech
Last year’s class may have had a higher profile thanks in part to unsigned second rounder Jonathan Hughes, but this year’s newcomers give the Yellow Jackets another strong group of newcomers. Righthander/shortstop Xzavion Curry is an athletic two-way player who can run his fastball up to 94 mph and has a solid feel for hitting. He is a capable defender at shortstop, and will likely pitch important innings this spring, either as a starter or a late-innings reliever. Righthander Garrett Gooden has a projectable frame to go with a promising fastball-curveball combination, while lefthander Connor Thomas stands out for his four-pitch arsenal and pitchability. Catcher Kyle McCann has a strong, athletic frame and big physical tools behind the plate. He is still improving defensively, but gives the Yellow Jackets a complement to Freshman All-American catcher Joey Bart. Georgia Tech got another pair of two-way players with the Wilhite twins, Austin and Nick. Both can throw 90 mph (Austin righthanded, Nick lefthanded) and are good defenders (Austin at second base, Nick in center field).
Indiana
As head coach Chris Lemonis and recruiting coordinator Kyle Cheesebrough enter their third season at Indiana, they bring their biggest (15 players) and best recruiting class to Bloomington. Righthander Cal Krueger has a solid three-pitch mix and good pitchability, giving him a chance to take on a spot in the weekend rotation as a freshman. The class also adds a trio of big, physical lefthanders in Cameron Beauchamp, Jack Eagan and Andrew Saalfrank. Beauchamp and Eagan, the 2015 Wisconsin Gatorade player of the year, have both touched 94 mph with good breaking balls. Saalfrank pitches with a little less velocity, but a better curveball. Third baseman Matt Lloyd, a transfer from Iowa Western CC, brings athleticism to the lineup and should provide immediate impact. He was the three-hole hitter and ace in junior college and will continue to pitch for the Hoosiers, but in a more limited role out of the bullpen. Indiana also adds a couple players with strong baseball bloodlines. Catcher Jake Matheny is the son of Cardinals manager Mike Matheny and has a long, lanky frame behind the plate, much like his father. Toolsy third baseman Jaxon Shirley is the son of White Sox cross checker Mike Shirley and has plenty of upside.
Kentucky
The Wildcats had a chance for a banner class, but it thinned out after taking some hits in the draft and a coaching change this summer. Still, Kentucky adds two premium arms in righthanders Zach Thompson (No. 308 on the BA 500) and Christopher Machamer (No. 323), as well as catcher T.J. Collette (No. 364). Thompson throws his fastball in the low 90, while mixing in a big curveball. He has an easy delivery that he repeats well, giving him advanced control for his age. Machamer is still learning the finer points of pitching after being a two-way player in high school, but he can run his fastball up into the mid 90s and flashes a promising breaking ball. He didn’t show the same kind of strike-throwing ability as Thompson in high school, but should be able to improve as he gets more time on the mound. Collette is an advanced hitter who is still developing defensively, but he will be sidelined this season following knee surgery.
Louisville
The Cardinals class is anchored by shortstop Tyler Fitzgerald (No. 187), the son of former big leaguer Mike Fitzgerald. Listed at 6-foot-3, 190 pounds, he is a bigger shortstop, but has above-average arm strength and the range and infield actions for the position. He is unlikely to be asked to start at shortstop immediately at Louisville, however, with Devin Hairston returning at the position this season. Later in his career, however, he and powerful third baseman Justin Lavey are likely to make up the left side of the Cardinals’ infield. Lefthander Rabon Martin, who helped Darton State (Ga.) JC reach the Junior College World Series last year, has a chance to pitch key innings this spring. Lefthander Nick Bennett and righthander Michael McAvene are the best of the Cardinals’ incoming prep pitchers. Both are powerfully built at 6-foot-3, 210 pounds and have the tools to develop into weekend starters under the tutelage of pitching coach Roger Williams.
Michigan
Since head coach Erik Bakich came to Michigan from Maryland four years ago, the Wolverines have been among the best recruiters in the Big Ten Conference. This year’s class, led by righthander Karl Kauffmann (No. 330), is another strong one. Kauffmann can throw his fastball up to 94 mph and mixes in a good changeup and curveball. He has significant upside and should become a mainstay in the Michigan rotation before too long. Righthander Alec Rennard, a transfer from Santa Rosa (Calif.) JC, should provide more immediate impact for the Wolverines’ staff. He went 14-1, 1.40 last spring while helping Santa Rosa win the California junior college state championship. He throws four pitches for strikes and has an advanced feel on the mound that gives him a chance to join Michigan’s weekend rotation. While transfers from four-year schools don’t count in the rankings, Michigan added a key player when outfielder Miles Lewis transferred in after North Dakota cut its program. He was the Western Athletic Conference freshman of the year and is a top-of-the-order type player with plus speed. Lewis’ speed is rivaled by outfielder Christian Bullock. The freshman has good bat speed and some pop to go with his elite speed, and will find a way into the lineup somewhere.
Mississippi State
After a program-record 11 players were drafted from last year’s Southeastern Conference championship team, Mississippi State went heavy on junior college players in this year’s class. Nine of the Bulldogs’ 16 newcomers are junior college transfers, but the class also has some exciting freshmen, led by righthander Graham Ashcraft (No. 175). He adds a power arm to the staff for new pitching coach Gary Henderson. Ashcraft touched 99 mph last spring and pairs it with a wipeout slider. He’s still learning how to pitch, but his raw tools give him tremendous upside. Reed Smith (No. 484) profiles as a speedy second baseman or possibly a center fielder. Catcher Dustin Skelton is a solid defender behind the plate with a chance for average power. He also has the athleticism to play third base, giving him versatility to keep his bat in the lineup. The Bulldogs’ top junior college transfer is first baseman/outfielder Chase Goldwater who has significant righthanded power and some athleticism. Third baseman Harrison Bragg has even more raw power than Goldwater, but is still learning to get to it consistently in games.
Oklahoma State
The Cowboys had 11 players drafted from last year’s team that broke through to return to the College World Series after a 17-year drought. With so much talent moving on, Oklahoma State brought in a 19-man class as it looks to reload. Righthander Jonathan Heasley (No. 307) is a classic Texas power pitcher who throws strikes with his fastball that reaches 94 mph. He was a two-sport star in high school and won state titles in both football and baseball last year. Lefthanders Brady Basso and Parker Scott give pitching coach Rob Walton two more promising pitchers to work with. Outfielder Cade Cabbiness (No. 366) was also a two-sport prep star and won back-to-back Oklahoma state championships in football as a wide receiver. He’s better on the diamond, however, where he profiles well in right field with lefthanded power and a strong arm. Catchers Michael Neustifter and Travis Wacker will compete for the starting job behind the plate and provide some power offensively.
St. John’s
The Red Storm went heavy on pitching in this year’s class, hauling in a group of exciting prospects on the mound. Lefthander Jeff Belge (No. 68) was the third-highest ranked player to make it to college and headlines the class. He has a strong frame, clean arm action and flashes both a plus fastball and curveball, but is still working to put everything together. Righthander Gavin Hollowell (No. 384) throws in the low 90s and has the most upside of the group, but he’ll need to improve his pitchability to reach his considerable ceiling. Lefthander Nick Mondak is a little more advanced than Belge and Hollowell and has a good fastball-changeup combination. Righthander Sean Mooney doesn’t match his new teammates’ upside, but he throws a lot of strikes and has a good feel for pitching, traits that will likely allow him to quickly carve out a role. Catcher Rob Boselli, a junior college transfer, will give the Red Storm a strong, physical presence at the plate and behind it.
San Diego
The Toreros landed three top-flight pitchers in lefthanders Chris Murphy (No. 305) and Miles Sandum (No. 348) and righthander Louis Crow. All three have big arm strength and the potential to become weekend starters. Crow has the most velocity, running his fastball up to 95 mph, with Murphy just behind him. Murphy ranked as the No. 4 prospect in the West Coast League this summer, and led the circuit with 71 strikeouts in 42.2 innings. Sandum threw in the low 90s last fall, but suffered a torn bowel as a result of an outfield collision this spring and is still getting back to full strength. While pitching is the strength of the class, the incoming position players provide some needed depth. Second baseman Rykker Tom has a good feel for hitting and profiles well as an offensive second baseman.
Texas
The new Longhorns coaching staff this summer hit the ground running on the recruiting trail, working on the 2017 class and beyond. But they also have a solid group this year thanks in part to the efforts of former recruiting coordinator Tommy Nicholson. Shortstop David Hamilton (No. 188) was one of the fastest players in the draft class, running a 6.5 60-yard dash in high school. He still needs to refine some aspects of his game defensively, but he has the tools to be the Longhorns everyday shortstop in time. Righthander Blair Henley (No. 392) has advanced pitchability to go with solid stuff. He’ll be expected to log important innings as a freshman and eventually take over a spot in the rotation. Righthander Kevin Roliard also has the makings of a starter, but isn’t as advanced as Henley and will likely begin his career as a reliever. He’s touched 96 mph with a quality changeup. Once he becomes a more consistent with his velocity and control, he should take on a large role in the Texas staff.
Comments are closed.