Draft Prospect Breakdown: Andrew Calica

SEE ALSO: The BA500

NCAA regionals began Friday, an exciting time for fans of college baseball, who will get to see how their favorite teams fare with all their chips on the table.

But it’s also an important time for prospects who are in a position to be selected in the MLB Draft, which begins June 9.

For UC Santa Barbara outfielder Andrew Calica, this is a big weekend. The Gauchos face a challenging field in the Nashville Regional, and they’ll rely on Calica’s defense and on-base ability as they chase the dream of playing in the College World Series.

Calica has been a draft prospect for quite some time. He was a touted prospect coming out of Eastlake High (Chula Vista, Calif.), and he earned the No. 173 ranking in the 2012 BA 500, thanks to a combination of solid tools across the board. The Indians took a shot at Calica in the 17th round, but the academically inclined Calica chose not to sign.

He battled minor injuries early on in his UCSB career, but Calica became a key part of the Gauchos’ success in 2015, his first full season not disrupted by any kind of injury. Despite hitting .329, Calica was not drafted last year, and was not ranked in the BA 500, largely because of his lack of power production and the presence of carrying tool. He entered last summer with something to prove.

Calica took his talents to the prestigious Cape Cod League. Playing for the Wareham Gatemen, he batted .425 and won the league’s batting title.

“The Cape was a great experience for me,” Calica said. “I was being aggressive and selective at the same time. I had a pretty good feeling for the zone … I felt like I was hitting the ball well to most parts of the field and just exploiting the defense where I (could) and using my speed to my advantage. I just think I did a good job of using my tools, the tools that I had and obviously the results speak for themselves.”

Calica receives positive reviews for his aptitude and understanding of the game. His performance on the Cape was historic, but the recent track record of Cape Cod League batting champions isn’t as promising as one might expect. Over the past five years—that span during which Cape stats have become readily accessible—four individuals have earned the honor—Kevin Newman (2014, 2013), Patrick Biondi (2012), Dane Phillips (2011), and John Ruettiger (2010).

Of those players, only Biondi and Newman are active in affiliated baseball, and it’s too early to tell how their careers will unfold. Of the pack, Calica is most similar to Biondi, who was a 35th-round pick out of high school and spent four years at Michigan before signing with the Mets as a ninth-round pick following his senior year. Calica has better speed and defensive instincts. One thing of note about the Cape League champs is that only one of them showed power potential—Phillips posted a .178 isolated slugging percentage, with the second-highest being Newman’s .083 in 2014.

Calica has shown additional power this season. He said that he’s refined his approach and that when he finds himself in a positive hitter’s count, he adds a little bit of leverage to his swing and tries to get the bat head out front. He’s shown that he’s able to pull the ball over the fence, though his power is still a below-average tool.

The 22-year-old’s batting average is down a bit this season, but his on-base percentage is well over .400, and his peripheral stats are solid. Calica’s drawn 42 walks and struck out just 19 times. He’s also been hit by 23 pitches, which is second in the nation.

When asked to give a scouting report on himself, Calica described himself as “a tough out” and said that he feels his defense is one of his biggest strengths.

His overall combination of tools and baseball instincts gives him a chance to develop into a quality big Leaguer, if not an impact player. This weekend, Calica will get one last chance to prove himself to scouts prior to the draft.