2018 Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League Top Prospects

Image credit: Jordan Nwogu (Photo courtesy of Michigan Athletics)

Postseason Recap: The Southern Ohio Copperheads won a franchise-record 31 games en route to a Great Lakes Summer Baseball League championship, sweeping the Sugar Beets in two games.

1. Jordan Nwogu, OF, Lake Erie Monarchs (So., Michigan)

Nwogu tore it up for the Wolverines as a freshman this season and produced again this summer. As an athletically built 6-foot-3, 225-pound outfielder Nwogu already has the look of a pro. Before committing to play baseball at Michigan, he was recruited as a defensive end by deveral Division I schools. Nwogu moves well in the outfield and has some speed on the base paths. Those tools combined with his projectable power at the plate put him in the top spot.

2. Michael Darrell-Hicks, RHP, Southern Ohio Copperheads (Jr., Western Kentucky)

Darrell-Hicks had a bit of a breakout sophomore campaign out of the Hilltoppers’ bullpen this past season and was impressive as a starter for the Copperheads this summer. The 6-foot-5 righty has a power arm, sitting 90-94 mph and getting his fastball up to 97 mph this summer. He also mixes in a two-seamer with good depth and run. His go-to pitch is a hard-breaking slider, giving him two above-average pitches out of the pen. He also has feel for a changeup and is working on adding a curveball.

3. Miguel Cienfuegos, LHP, St. Clair Green Giants (So., Northwest Florida State)

Cienfuegos spent his prep years in Canada before dominating at Northwest Florida State this past season. The 21-year-old is an athletic lefty whose fastball sat 85-89 mph this summer and got up to 90 mph. At 6-foot-4, Cienfuegos has room to grow into his frame, which suggests he may be able to add some velocity. Cienfuegos also has a tight slider that helps him pick up strikeouts. His best attribute at the moment is his ability to throw strikes. He walked a total of 25 batters in 75 innings between his college and summer season this year.

4. Cade Beloso, 1B, Lima Locos (Fr., LSU)

At the start of the summer, Beloso was 17 years old and the youngest player in the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League. By the end of the summer, he was one of the top players in the league despite competing against opponents three or four years his elder. The LSU commit and Louisiana Gatorade state player of the year is an average to above-average defender at first base and has below-average speed. His top ability is his hit tool. He is a lefthanded hitter with some pop, including power to the left-center gap. He should be able to add more power as he matures, though he is already stockily built. Beloso also has an advanced approach at the plate. He walked five more times than he struck out this summer.

5. Ryan Jungbauer, rhp, Saginaw Sugar Beets (So., Northwestern Ohio)

Jungbauer didn’t see much action on the mound as a freshman at Northwestern Ohio. However, the 6-foot-6 righty flashed some impressive stuff this summer. Jungbauer sat in the low 90s and topped out at 94 mph. He pairs his fastball with a 12-6 curveball, which he throws in any count. He also has a changeup and is developing a slider. Jungbauer is raw at the moment, but his athleticism and big frame give him plenty of room to grow if he can become more consistent.

6. Blake Holub, RHP/1B, Southern Ohio Copperheads (So., St. Edward’s College)

Holub has a wipeout splitter and changeup and is also working on a cutter. He needs to work on his command, but his size and power stuff make him worth keeping an eye on.

7. Adam Proctor, C, Saginaw Sugar Beets (So., Michigan State)

Proctor started 28 games behind the dish for the Spartans as a freshman this past season. Proctor is a big, physical catcher at 6-foot-1, 230 pounds. He has a strong arm and is a skilled blocker and receiver. Proctor is a lefthanded batter with some raw power. He hit just two home runs for Michigan State and added four more this summer. He will need to make more contact in order for his power to truly show.

8. Griffin Doersching, 1B, Hamilton Joes (So., Northern Kentucky)

Doersching walked onto campus this spring and showed he already has power that plays. After smacking 13 homers for Northern Kentucky as freshman, the 6-foot-4, 250-pound first baseman led the GLSCL with 12 home runs. Doersching is a below-average runner and just an average defender at best in the field. However, his power appears to be a big enough tool to at least give him a chance.

9. Tanner Hall, LHP, Lima Locos (Jr., Mercer)

After transferring from Armstrong State this year, Hall saw limited action at Mercer. He was one of the bigger surprises in the GLSCL. The 6-foot lefty sat in the high 80s but got his fastball up to 91 mph. Hall throws strikes with four different pitches and works fast on the mound. His top offering is a slider, which acts more like a slurve and sits in the upper 70s. He also has a diving changeup and slow curveball. His pin-point command from the left side and pitchability could make him a pro at some point.

10. Blaine Crim, 3B, Southern Ohio Copperheads (Sr., Mississippi College)

Crim was named the league’s top offensive prospect by coaches a year ago and earned the league’s offensive player of the year award this summer. Crim moves well out in the field and has a good arm, reaching 90 mph on the mound, but his glove needs some work. He is better at first than third but a little undersized (5-foot-11, 190 pounds) for the position. While Crim doesn’t have as much projectability at this point, he has a long track record of hitting. Crim needs to walk more but he consistently barrels the ball up and has average to above average power from the right side of the plate.