2023 MLB Draft: 14 Small School Pitchers & 10 Small School Hitters To Know

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Kade Bragg, LHP, Angelo State (Texas)

Bragg has been stellar thus far in his junior campaign for Angelo State. He pitches in the 92-94 mph range early before settling into 88-91 later in outings. On the year, Bragg is a perfect 9-0 with a minuscule ERA of 0.33 while punching out 71 batters in 54.2 innings. Accompanying his lively fastball is a sweeping, 79-81 mph slider as well as a firm, mid-80s changeup. The southpaw shows good command and confidence in his fastball, though his secondaries can be more hit and miss. He is certainly fun to watch as he works quickly and carries a reliever’s mindset in a starter’s role.

Casey Steward, RHP, Washburn (Kan.)

Steward certainly looks the part and possesses arm strength as well. The junior hurler’s velocity has improved with each start, most recently pitching in the 92-94 mph range, and he’ll use a sharp, downward breaking ball when ahead in counts. Steward does have feel for his 82-84 mph changeup that he will show mostly to lefties that generates late, downward fade when timed up. The big righty is punching out his fair share in 2023, with 75 strikeouts in 57.1 innings, though that has also come with 30 walks. With opposing batters hitting just .247 against him, look for Seward to become even more dominant as his overall command improves.

Carlos Rey, LHP, Nova Southeastern (Fla.)

The loose, long-armed lefty has the sort of life on his 92 mph fastball that will bring scouts to Davie, Fla. Rey is an effectively wild pitcher, and a low, three-quarter slot and the fact that he throws across his body can create an uncomfortable at-bat for hitters. Attacking with a two-pitch mix, Rey’s slider is a firm, 85-88 mph sweeper, but it lacks consistency. When the junior lefty is on, he can be very difficult to handle but there is room for improvement with his control. Rey gives off reliever vibes for the next level with a chance for the velocity to tick up even more thanks to his room to add size and strength to his wiry-athletic 6-foot-2, 180-pound frame.

Jake Karaba, RHP, Lewis University (Ill.)

Perhaps the most dominant pitcher at the Division II level, Karaba’s numbers are something to see. After six starts, Karaba is 3-1 with a 2.27 ERA and 65 strikeouts in only 35.2 innings. How’s he doing it? Karaba has a lightning-quick arm and his 92-94 mph fastball jumps out of his hand. It possesses late action when down and has been virtually unhittable at the letters. To make matters worse for opposing hitters, Karaba mixes in a sharp, downward slider that flashes plus at times. He does have an impressive changeup as well, but rarely uses it. He’s around the plate with all three offerings, and pitches with an aggression that evaluators look for.

Jacob Smith, LHP, West Alabama

Smith is a big lefty who brings deception to his mix, starting with the angle and life to his 89-91 mph fastball. In the past, Smith showcased raw offspeed stuff but has improved in that area and is now throwing both his breaking ball and changeup more aggressively, finding more success with each. On the year, Smith is sitting at a 6-3 record with a 3.56 ERA. Overpowering a lot of his competition with his lively fastball, the junior hurler has notched 88 strikeouts in just 60.2 innings. 

Luke Short, LHP, St. Edward’s (Texas)

Several elements of Short’s game stand out in a big way. His delivery is clean and efficient and he’s very consistent with his release point. Short attacks with a four-pitch mix that he commands extremely well, mixing speeds and location often. He works his 88-90 mph fastball in and out and mixes in a big, 75 mph breaking ball he’ll use often as a putaway pitch. He sells his 80-82 mph changeup extremely well and will show a mid-80s cutter to both lefthanded and righthanded hitters. Short has a classic approach to pitching with his ability to command his pitches, and that’s led to an 8-0 record with just 14 walks and an impressive 90 punchouts in 61 innings. 

Rane Pfeifer, RHP, Washburn (Kan.)

Pfeifer is 24 years old but coming into his own this spring. In 2022 the righty struggled with command, and though there are still some overall command issues, his stat line is reading much better in 2023 with a 3-2 record and a 4.10 ERA. In 52.2 innings, Pfeifer has punched out 68 and his fastball has been up to 96 mph. He complements his fastball with a sharp slurve and will show a changeup as well. A classic late bloomer, it’s hard to deny Pfeifer’s arm talent.

Zac Shoemaker, LHP, Pittsburg State (Kan.)

The veteran lefty has been the foundation for the Gorilla pitching staff this spring. He has posted a 2.82 ERA with a 7-0 record and has 74 strikeouts and just seven walks in 51 innings. Shoemaker attacks hitters with a mature, three-pitch mix. He does a fine job locating his 88-91 mph fastball and has good feel for his slider and changeup. Perhaps the most impressive aspect of Shoemaker’s game is his command. With only seven walks so far, you know what you’re going to get out of the 6-foot-4 ace each and every time out.

Mitch Farris, LHP, Wingate (N.C.)

Farris, the Division II strikeout leader, has been automatic for Wingate. Living on the outer rail with his 87-89 mph fastball and mixing in his 80-82 mph changeup has wreaked havoc on opposing teams as the redshirt junior is sitting at 8-0 with a 1.15 ERA. Although he leads all Division II arms with 99 punchouts, the fact that he’s only issued 13 walks is equally impressive. To go along with his fastball/changeup combo is a 73-75 mph slurve that he lands at will, and it puts something else on the hitter’s mind. A southpaw with feel for pitching will always be an appealing evaluation for scouts, even in the Division I baseball mecca of North Carolina.

Harrison Boushele, RHP, Augustana (Ill.)

The athletic Boushele possesses a three-pitch mix and commands the zone as well as anyone on this list. His fastball sits consistently in the 90-92 mph range and touches 93 on occasion. The difference maker lies in his curveball. Boushele throws his breaking ball hard, in the 80-82 mph range, and the result is a sharp, 12-to-6 break that has led to the majority of his 67 strikeouts in 44 innings. The feel for the changeup is there, but the junior righthander relies heavily on his fastball/curveball combo.

Hayden Snelsire, RHP, Randolph-Macon (Va.)

Loose. Athletic. Projection. Those are a few words that came to mind watching Snelsire. The junior hurler pitches with an up-tempo delivery that includes a quick, free-and-easy arm action and a three-quarter slot. His fastball has plenty of life in the 92-94 mph range and you get the impression there’s more velocity coming as he adds strength to his lean, 6-foot-2, 180-pound frame. His secondaries include an 80-82 mph slurve that can be hit or miss depending on how aggressively he throws it. He has a changeup in the fold that he’ll throw to lefthanded hitters around 80-82 mph as well that has potential but needs to be developed. Snelsire’s best days are ahead of him as he continues to mature both physically and as a pitcher. Keep an eye on him.

Darien Smith, RHP, Southeastern (Fla.)

The junior righty transferred to Southeastern from Florida Gulf Coast, where he led the Eagles pitching staff with 25 appearances in 2022. Now starting for the Fire, it appears Smith has found his comfort zone in the role. Smith is sitting at 9-1 after 10 starts with an incredible 65-to-17 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 55.2 innings. The dominance thus far can be attributed to his sinker-slurve combo. He attacks with his 92-94 mph sinker and when the ball is put in play, 63% of the time it’s on the ground. His slurve is a legitimate out pitch that darts away from righthanded hitters when executed properly. He does possess a changeup that is thrown sparingly that flashes potential as well. Southeastern currently sits atop the NAIA rankings at No. 1 with a 39-2 record. With an arm like Smith and other talented hurlers, I can see why.

Reece Wissinger, RHP, Southeastern (Fla.)

Another Southeastern hurler, Wissinger serves as the go-to reliever for the NAIA’s No. 1-ranked squad. The lanky righthander has deception in his game due to his height and over-the-top release. His fastball velocity has varied at times this spring with some outings more in the 90-92 mph range and others in the 92-94 range and touching 95-96. Regardless of the velocity, the depth on his fastball causes trouble for opposing bats as they are hitting just .112 against him, with 60% of the action in play on the ground. You’re not going to find many stat lines as impressive as Wissinger’s—he has a 0.75 ERA as well as a 46-to-6 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 24 innings.

Connor Martin, RHP, Hope International (Calif.)

The physical, 6-foot-5, 220-pound Martin is drawing a lot of scout attention on the West Coast. Along with his size, Martin competes with a late-running, 92 mph fastball and complements it with a sharp slider that will flash plus. The junior righty competes in the zone well, pitching to contact early and wiping hitters out with his slider late. The Anaheim native is off to a great start with a current record of 5-1 in seven starts and a 1.15 ERA. In 39 innings Martin has only walked nine while striking out 60.

Adam Becker, 3B, West Texas A&M

The reigning Lone Star Conference player of the year has picked up where he left off from the 2022 spring. Currently hitting .456 with 13 home runs and 60 RBIs, the physical third baseman absolutely punishes the ball while maintaining his plate discipline. He’s walked more times than he’s struck out and has a walk-to-strikeout rate of 19-to-16. Becker stands in with an open stance with his hands held high above his shoulders. There’s no extra movement from start to finish and his hands are quick with a direct path to the ball. Becker has a lot of natural strength and possesses the hand-eye coordination and bat speed that would lead to such power numbers. He is on pace to surpass his 22-homer mark he set a year ago.

Pat Monteith, 3B/OF, North Greenville (S.C.)

The 2022 Division II champions returned a lot of talent this spring and they are off to a 35-5 start. One of their key returners is Monteith. The 6-foot-2, 218-pound junior brings athleticism and strength to his game and is performing at a high level this spring. He’s currently hitting .331/.489/.662 with 11 home runs and 32 RBIs, but his most impressive stat might just be the fact that he’s walked 36 times compared to 18 strikeouts. Whether it was this past summer in the Coastal Plains League or during his time with North Greenville, Monteith’s walk total has always been high and this spring he has done a better job staying within himself and cutting back on his overly-aggressive swings with more of a gap-to-gap approach. It’s uncertain if his name will be called in the draft in July, but he’s definitely a ball player with size, strength and some tools to go along with it.

John Nett, OF, St. Cloud State (Minn.)

Nett is a ball player—plain and simple. The catalyst for the Huskies offense, Nett’s average currently stands at .422 and he possesses a quick set of hands with plenty of bat speed. A righthanded hitter who can drive the ball the other way consistently is a dangerous hitter and Nett has the ability to work to all fields based on the location. He has 12 doubles on the year with three home runs, but power is not his game. His performance in the Northwoods League this past summer was an eye-opener as well. Nett was sixth in the league with a .352 average behind five big school, Division I hitters. In 315 plate appearances over the summer he managed to walk 68 times with 30 strikeouts. Defensively, the fourth-year junior has the range and speed to stay in center field for the foreseeable future, and in my opinion, has earned a shot to see what he can do at the next level.

Harrison Rodgers, INF, Colorado Mesa 

Rodgers can do it all. That includes his role as PA announcer for Colorado Mesa’s basketball team. On the field, the lefthanded-hitting shortstop is terrorizing competition thus far with a .372 average, eight home runs and 44 RBIs. With most of his hard-hit action occuring to the pull side, his intent is to lift the ball and there’s plenty of bat speed to support it. Currently playing shortstop, the San Diego native’s defensive profile is best suited for second or third base if his game carries him to the next level. He has plenty of arm strength with fair range, and it should also be noted he is 14-for-15 in stolen base attempts so far. Rodgers is a lefthanded-hitting infielder with a solid hit tool and speed that I’m certain is drawing attention from the local scouting community.

Kobe Jones, OF, Shorter (Ga.)

Jones is an athletic, speedy lefthanded bat who can spray the ball around the field. He’s a tough out for the Hawks, and leads the team with a .378 average with only 15 strikeouts in 135 at-bats. Watching video on Jones, the bat speed in his level stroke stands out. His power numbers aren’t eye-popping but are respectable considering his style of offense with seven doubles and three home runs. Jones does have 11 stolen bases this spring and watching him in the outfield, his speed is certainly noticeable and allows him to make difficult plays. Looking at Jones’ body of work throughout his time at Shorter, he’s coming into his own this spring and I would suspect his best days are ahead.

Tripp Clark, C, Angelo State (Texas)

Every solid pitching staff has a catcher who plays a role in its success. Clark is that catcher for Angelo State. Not only does the backstop do a fine job as a battery mate for the dominant pitching staff of Angelo State, but he also brings an offensive skill set to his game that sets him apart from most. Batting .392 on the year, Clark not only provides power in his bat with nine doubles and seven home runs, the 6-foot-3, 220-pound athlete also has notched 11 stolen bases. With only 16 strikeouts in 125 at-bats, Tripp is certainly a consistent, reliable bat. On the defensive side, his receiving and side-to-side agility to make the difficult block are his strengths. He possesses a quick transfer with fair arm strength that registers around the 2.0-second pop time range and is something that can continue to improve with repetition and development. A solid defensive catcher with some strength in his bat should draw the attention of the pro game. I wouldn’t be surprised if Clark gets his shot in pro ball this summer.

Luke Napleton, C, Quincy (Ill.)

Another offensive catcher who has opened eyes this spring is Quincy’s Luke Napleton. The physical, 6-foot-1, 205-pound backstop has launched 17 home runs at the halfway mark of the season and has driven in a team-leading 45 RBIs. Watching video on Napleton, I was impressed with his instincts behind the plate and he does a fine job keeping balls in the dirt in front of him. With average arm strength, Napleton’s transfer is solid with accuracy on his throws. Like Clark, the thump is there in his bat. Look for him to continue to get scout looks as the spring progresses.

Christian Rivera, C, Erskine College (S.C.)

Primarily serving as the designated hitter with the ability to catch and play first base for the Fleet, Rivera grabbed my attention with his raw strength as he cranked eight homers during the 2022 summer in the Northwoods League. He is currently sitting at 11 round trippers this spring. I like how calm he is in the box and the way he capitalizes on mistakes. Looking at his spray chart from this past summer, the ability is there to work to all fields with gap strength. Rivera’s barrel stays through the zone well and he’s found success against the more difficult arms on the Fleet’s schedule. With a current average of .328, I’ll be curious to check back in on Rivera’s final stat line as he’s got a very good chance to surpass the 20-homer mark.

Dale Francis Jr., 1B, Erskine College (S.C.)

Let’s stay on the Erskine roster. Francis Jr., who transferred in from Alabama State, joins Rivera as an elite 1-2 power punch in Conference Carolinas. With a team-leading .448 average as well as 12 home runs and 35 RBIs it’s easy to see on video why Francis Jr. is performing the way he is. With very good balance in the box and minimal movement, the power-hitting righthanded hitter lets his quick set of hands work with a more level path that allows him to both cover the outer half and keep his hands inside the inner half pitch. When squared up, the ball jumps off his barrel and like his counterpart Rivera, he has the ability to drive the ball with strength the other way. Francis Jr. gives off the vibe of a professional bat and I wouldn’t be surprised if he gets his opportunity this year or next.

Cole Turney, OF, Cumberland (Tenn.) 

Turney has been a name well known to evaluators for some time. Drafted in the 37th round by Cleveland out of high school in 2017, the power-hitting lefthanded bat opted for college, and joined the powerhouse Arkansas program. Turney’s journey has landed him now at Cumberland, where he is posting astronomical numbers. Through 27 games, Turney is hitting a remarkable .571 and out of his 44 hits, 21 of them have been home runs. With a BB/K rate of 25/8, combined with his offensive potency, it is safe to say Turney is the most feared bat at the NAIA level. Age can be a factor in consideration for a pro organization to draft a college prospect and Turney will be 24.5 years old on draft day. My question would be, how much does someone need to perform to negate the age concept? If a big league team passes on Turney in the draft, he will have his choice of what Independent team to play for and could work his way in to organized ball from there.