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College  | Story  | 2/15/2017

2017 College Ball: Staff Picks

Patrick Ebert      Jheremy Brown      Mike Rooney      Matt Czechanski      Vincent Cervino     
Photo: Virginia Athletics



2017 Perfect Game College Baseball Preview Index

With the 2017 college baseball season set to begin on Friday Jheremy Brown, Matt Czechanski, Mike Rooney, Brian Sakowski, Vincent Cervino and Patrick Ebert take their turns making predictions on several different categories. Those categories as listed below are split between individual player honors and achievements, both in relationship to the college baseball season and the MLB Draft, as well as team prognostications on how things may shake out over the next several months.


Impact Freshman
More and more impact players seem to be making their way to the college baseball landscape out of high school and last year we were dazzled by the big-time fireworks put on regular display by the likes of Seth Beer, Luken Baker and Kevin Strohschein, not to mention the performance of pitchers such as Davis Martin and Durbin Feltman that helped carried their teams to Omaha.

Nick Lodolo, Texas Christian
Nick Lodolo (TCU Athletics)
How talented is Nick Lodolo? Despite very low odds of signing Lodolo and thus risking the loss of that slot money, the Pirates still selected him 41st overall last June and offered him a reported $1.75 million. The 6-foot-6 lefthander throws an easy fastball in the low-90s and he already commands it opposite his arm side, meaning in on righthanded hitters. That pitch alone, and he has more, would make him a candidate for Freshman of the Year. – Mike Rooney

Carlos Cortes, South Carolina
You need take the bad with the good here if you’re a Gamecocks fan. The good news is that the smooth swinging Cortes will be a cornerstone of your offense for at least two years, from day one as he should hit for a high average and plenty of power in the heart of the order. The downside is that he’s a draft-eligible sophomore and if he lives up to his potential he may only have a two-year stay in Columbia. – Jheremy Brown

Nick Quintana, Arizona
Quintana certainly knows how to impact a baseball from the righthanded batter’s box, with very good bat speed and strong hands and wrists. He could make Hi Corbett Field look even smaller early in his collegiate career, and while he doesn’t have a two-way profile, he could replace, or surpass, the offensive production provided by Bobby Dalbec at third base in his first year. – Patrick Ebert

Logan Davidson, Clemson
It would be hard for any freshman, potentially ever again, to duplicate the kind of impact that Seth Beer had for Clemson a year ago, but Davidson is such a special type of talent that his impact may be nearly on par. Having gotten Davidson to campus is a downright coup for the Clemson coaching staff as the switch-hitting, highly athletic shortstop prospect has all the makings of a high-round draft choice in a few years, and should step right in to help Clemson immediately both offensively and defensively. – Brian Sakowski

Josh Smith, Louisiana State
Smith wasn’t even the highest ranked recruit in LSU’s typically loaded class, but he is expected to step right into a starting role at third base as a freshman and will move over to shortstop after Kramer Robertson’s senior season. Through only his first couple of months on campus he has drawn high praise from the coaching staff, comparing his baseball acumen to that of former LSU infield greats, D.J. Lemahieu and Alex Bregman. – Matt Czechanski

J.C. Flowers, Florida State
On a loaded Florida State team, it’s hard to pinpoint some of the younger contributors but Flowers has a chance to be one of the most valuable pieces across the board. He will be replacing Ben DeLuzio in center field while also coming out of the bullpen in the low-90s. Flowers will add a level of athleticism and excitement to a Seminoles team that will have plenty of that as they begin the season. – Vincent Cervino


Impact Transfer
Transfers are always a tricky group to evaluate, but when you get a good one, such as SEC Player of the Year Boomer White for Texas A&M a season ago, they can impact the game like few others can.

Harrison Bragg, Misssissippi State
Harrison Bragg (Kelly Price)
It is rare for a junior college player to come in and make such a loud impact on a roster as talented as Mississippi State’s, but Bragg is poised to do just that after a big showing in the fall. Bragg has shown big-time power thanks to his 6-foot-4, 229-pound frame and also displays quality arm strength from the left side of the infield. With the losses the Bulldogs had on offense from a season ago Bragg should certainly help fill on of those voids. – Matt Czechanski

Cal Stevenson, Arizona
Stevenson followed Head Coach Jay Johnson to Tucson from Nevada, although with a one-year detour at Chabot College so he didn't have to sit out last season due to transfer rules. He had a huge freshman year, setting the tone at the top of the Wolf Pack offense while guiding them to a Mountain West championship by hitting .359/.433/.456, and if he does the same for the Wildcats this year their offense may not miss a beat. – Patrick Ebert

Darryn Sheppard, Rice
During his three years at Baylor Darryn Sheppard hit 14 career home runs, including eight bombs last spring as a junior. Now a graduate student transfer who enrolled in January, Sheppard brings big offensive thump to the middle of a Rice program that opens the year as the 21st-ranked team in the nation. For an offense that already returns six of their seven top bats from 2016, Sheppard is an added bonus for legendary Head Coach Wayne Graham. – Jheremy Brown

Jordan Gore, Coastal Carolina
A touted prospect coming out of high school, Gore lands as the starter at short for the defending CWS champions. Gore will look to make an immediate impact on both sides of the field with exemplary defense and the ability to hit near the top of the order for the Chanticleers. The coaching staff should be very excited for the impact Gore will be having on their season. – Vincent Cervino

Hunter Kiel, Louisiana State
As we’ve seen in the Major Leagues over the past few years, having a lockdown bullpen can go a very long way towards giving a team an inherent advantage over the opposition. Kiel can touch the upper-90s and will fit nicely into the back end of the Tigers’ bullpen. Even if he doesn’t actually close, as that job may belong to Hunter Newman, Kiel projects to be a dominant force that helps shorten games, a thought that, when considering LSU starters Alex Lange and Jared Pochè, should be a very positive one for LSU fans. – Brian Sakowski

Wood Myers, Coastal Carolina
Wood Myers has always performed and his bat-to-ball skills may be the best in the country. As a true freshman at North Carolina in 2014, Myers was the hardest player in the ACC to strike out (15 strikeouts in 247 plate appearances). If you’re still not sold, he backed that up in 2015 by going 63 plate appearances without even one strikeout before losing the rest of that season to injury. – Mike Rooney

Impact Senior
So much of a team's projected success has to do with the productive players they return from the previous season, and the seniors especially are pointed to not only for their production on the field but their leadership qualities both on and off.

Timmy Richards, Cal State Fullerton
Timmy Richards (Matt Brown)
After spurning the Minnesota Twins in the MLB Draft, Richards is looking for one last shot to bring home a CWS crown with the Titans. The leader of the team, Richards provides some pop from the shortstop position with a team-leading nine home runs and 22 total extra-base hits. Richards is an imposing presence near the top of the lineup and can hurt opponents with his power, speed or any combination of those impressive attributes. – Vincent Cervino

Parker Dunshee, Wake Forest
The Demon Deacons’ Couch Ballpark is extremely offensive. This makes Dunshee’s career 2.87 ERA (over 222 2/3 innings) all the more impressive. He has pitched in every role imaginable but in 2016 he won 10 games as the Friday night ace. Wake Forest’s 2017 season changed for the better when Dunshee returned for his senior year despite being the Cubs’ 14th round selection last June. – Mike Rooney

Mike Rescigno, Maryland
Rescigno comes into 2017 projected as the Terrapins’ closer, following a dominant summer collegiate season and a very good fall. He’s capable of running his fastball into the mid-90s at times and complements it with a power curveball that gets lots of swings and misses, and as such should prove to be one of, if not the, best closers in the Big Ten. – Brian Sakowski

Pat Krall, Clemson
Drafted in the 28th round last June by the St. Louis Cardinals, Krall decided to hold off on professional baseball for another year. His decision to come back is huge for the Tigers as there may not have been a more dominant arm last season coast-to-coast as the lefthander nearly broke the strike zone by filling it up so frequently. This season marks relatively new territory for Krall as he’ll lead the pitching staff in the Friday night role and go head-to-head with the best in the ACC. – Jheremy Brown

Brian Howard, Texas Christian
The pieces seemed to have fallen together perfectly for the Horned Frogs for the 2017 season, and getting staff ace Brian Howard back, who went 10-2 last season with a 3.19 ERA, was as huge as his 6-foot-9 stature. Speaking of huge, fifth-year 6-foot-7 senior Mitchell Traver could also provide equally large dividends for TCU if he’s able to remain healthy. – Patrick Ebert

Jared Poche, Louisiana State
It’s hard to go wrong with a player that could finish the season as the school’s all-time leader in wins as a pitcher. Poche will rely on his fastball that will hover right around 90 mph and his quality four-pitch mix, which caused him to draw legitimate draft interest as a junior, but he opted to return after being drafted in the 14th round last June. Poche and junior Alex Lange will once again form a lethal 1-2 punch to navigate the always difficult SEC. – Matt Czechanski


Sleeping Giant
This group of players are already well-known commodities, both in the sense of the college game and the MLB Draft, but we're predicting even bigger and better things for them this season which could push their names even further up draft boards.

Tyler Johnson, South Carolina
Tyler Johnson (South Carolina Athletics)
South Carolina’s pitching depth has been well chronicled, and they have several candidates, especially on their staff, that could qualify for this category. Johnson in particular stands out as the team’s closer with absolutely nasty stuff, possessing a three-pitch arsenal that otherwise would place him in a starting rotation at pretty much any other school in the nation. His impact at the back end of games could be similar to that of Tyler Jay with Illinois during the 2015 season, and a similar season performance-wise could lead to an equally lofty draft slot. – Patrick Ebert

Blaine Knight, Arkansas
A legitimate high-round draft prospect who is flying a bit under the radar, Knight is a draft-eligible sophomore who looks like he’ll be Arkansas’ Friday night starter. His stuff has taken several leaps and bounds forward to now, where he’s capable of working up to 96-97 mph with his fastball and complements it with a dynamic, swing-and-miss changeup and an improving breaking ball and overall command. – Brian Sakowski

Tarik Skubal, Seattle
He might be one of the better kept secrets for those not entrenched in the draft, partly due to his geographical location up at Seattle University, dubbed as LHP U recently, and also due to the fact he missed a good portion of the 2016 season after succumbing to Tommy John surgery. But here’s what you need to know: he’s lefthanded, listed at 6-foot-4, 220-pounds, can challenge hitters with a mid-90s fastball and shows an advanced feel for his changeup. – Jheremy Brown

Clay Fisher, UC Santa Barbara
Let’s start with the blasphemy: Fisher may be an even better defender than highly touted high school prospect Nick Allen. On top of that, he has the size to stay at shortstop and his offense is trending up. Fisher could enter this draft as the top defender in the class and it’s hard to believe that profile will last until the third round. – Mike Rooney

Will Gaddis, Furman
Gaddis has a chance to be a first round pick this June with a big spring season. The righthander has a durable starter’s build, listed at 6-foot-2, 200-pounds, with big arm strength and a fastball that will get into the mid-90s with good life. He rounds out his four-pitch arsenal with command and intent to go after hitters. After a strong summer on the Cape, Gaddis could turn himself from a for-sure day one pick into the higher end of first round, pitching in a conference notorious for big offensive output. – Matt Czechanski

Logan Warmoth, North Carolina
On a North Carolina team that is expecting big things in the ACC this season, no player may be more important than shortstop Logan Warmoth. The third-year Tar Heel finished the 2016 season incredibly strong with a scorching slash line of .466/.528/.724 down the stretch. His defense is as-advertised and if he can bring that hot stretch into 2017 and continue to improve offensively there’s no reason he can’t be near the top of draft boards. – Vincent Cervino


Golden Spikes Award
Some players transcend the game, and this group in particular has what it takes to win college baseball's most prestigious award.

Seth Beer, Clemson
Seth Beer (Carl Ackerman)
Seth Beer is what happens when Olympic caliber focus and mental game meet generational physical talent. His 2016 season was one of the top freshman years in the history of college baseball. He was 11th in RBI, 13th in home runs and fourth in on-base percentage. Those are national ranks by the way, and he was a true freshman that left high school a year early to enroll in college. – Mike Rooney

Evan White, Kentucky
White might not get the consideration he deserves, but the Second Team Preseason All-American had a huge sophomore season, slashing .376/.419/.535. White has the rare bats right, throws left profile and defensively has the athleticism to line up either at first base, where he has Gold Glove upside, or in the outfield. The big question with White is whether his gap power will start to turn into over-the-fence power more frequently, and if it does he’s poised for a huge year. – Matt Czechanski

Jeren Kendall, Vanderbilt
A pure athlete who plays the game in a fast-forward function, the Wisconsin native has the skill-set that very few can match throughout the nation. Kendall is an easy plus runner which allows for graceful, above average defensive actions in center field, can work either gap with his loose lefthanded stroke and continues to show over-the-fence pop with 17 home runs over the last two seasons. – Jheremy Brown

Luken Baker, Texas Christian
The two-way standout who caught national attention for his role in TCU’s run in the CWS last year is among the best players in the country as only a sophomore. Even though he will focus strictly on hitting this year there’s an argument to be made that Baker is the best hitting prospect in his class, with all due respect to Seth Beer. – Vincent Cervino

Brendan McKay, Louisville
McKay hasn’t slowed down since his emergence as a freshman in 2015, as he is 21-7 with a 2.05 ERA on the mound and has hit .321 with 10 home runs over his first two seasons. Another strong season by McKay will definitely put him in the mix for the Golden Spikes Award and could help push Louisville to the promised land in Omaha. – Patrick Ebert

Pavin Smith, Virginia
One of college baseball’s more consistent performers, hitting over .300 with power and on-base ability in each of his first two seasons, Smith is perhaps the best pure bat in the college ranks, He has an innate natural feel for barreling up the baseball and his discerning eye has allowed him to walk just as much as he’s struck out. He’s likely a first rounder come June, but if his natural athleticism allows scouts to project him as a potential corner outfielder instead of a first baseman, he may turn himself into a top 10 pick. – Brian Sakowski

College World Series Sleeper
These teams open the year with a chip on their shoulder after being shunned from the initial Top 25 but certainly have what it takes to reach the promised land.

Texas Tech
Tanner Gardner (Texas Tech Athletics/Michael Strong)
After reaching the CWS in a somewhat surprising fashion, the Red Raiders look to replicate the success of 2016 with another trip to Omaha in 2017. Texas Tech lost a few pieces from a year ago but still return talented sophomore Davis Martin and junior standout Tanner Gardner in center field. The pieces are there for the Red Raiders to compete in a Big 12 that looks to be tough with TCU at the top. – Vincent Cervino

Texas A&M
Starting just outside of the preseason Top 25 at No. 26 to open the 2017 season, Texas A&M is extremely deep on the mound, led by ace Brigham Hill and closer Corbin Martin. However, they will have to count on either newcomers or inexperienced veterans to replace most of the starting lineup from 2016. Pitching is far from everything in college baseball, but it certainly can carry you well into the postseason. – Brian Sakowski

Sam Houston State
Over the last 10 seasons, the Bearkats have qualified for the NCAA Tournament seven times. I repeat, that’s seven Regionals in the last 10 years. If you speak to the University of Arizona coaching staff, they will tell you that Sam Houston State was one of the scariest teams they saw on their way to the CWS Finals (in the Lafayette Regional). Skipper Matt Deggs returns eight everyday players from that team plus two-thirds of his rotation. – Mike Rooney

West Virginia
The Big 12 is loaded yet again and the Mountaineers return six of their top offensive weapons, headlined by talented sophomore Darius Hill. Their pitching staff will see the most changes, with Conner Dotson and B.J. Myers moving into full-time weekend roles with quality swing-and-miss stuff. The 35th-ranked team in the preseason is set to navigate successfully through the Big 12 and have a chance to make a strong run in the postseason. – Matt Czechanski

Miami
Yes, the Miami Hurricanes lost one of the more prolific hitters in recent memory with Zack Collins and yes the offense will have a different feel with the additional turnover, but don’t sleep on this club for a second. Among the impact freshman talent that Head Coach Jim Morris brought in is a number of battle-tested junior college pieces who look to make a seamless transition, including outfielder Hunter Tackett, who was the Florida Junior College Player of the Year in 2016. – Jheremy Brown

Virginia
Virginia opens the 2017 season just on the outside of the Top 25, ranked 27th in the preseason, largely due to some question marks after losing so many key pieces from their 2016 season in which they hosted a Regional, which followed their National Championship season of 2015. The roster once again is full of talent and Head Coach Brian O’Connor is among the best in the business in knowing how to use those pieces to advance deep into the postseason. – Patrick Ebert


Sleeping Giant, Among Giants
Here are a handful of teams listed within the Top 25, but outside of the Top 10, that have serious upside and could be eyeing a National Championship come June.

Stanford
Tristan Beck (Stanford Athletics)
I’m a sucker for a great story and this will be legendary skipper Mark Marquess’ 41st and final team at Stanford. This group closely resembles the 2014 Cardinal unit that advanced to the Nashville Super Regional and nearly upset eventual national champion Vanderbilt: it’s an older position player group coupled with high-end arms. The caveat here is Tristan Beck as he must be healthy for this to come to fruition. – Mike Rooney

North Carolina
Mike Fox and his staff have perhaps one of the deepest rosters on both sides of the ball while simultaneously welcoming in Perfect Game’s top-ranked 2016 recruiting class. Shortstop Logan Warmoth and center fielder Brian Miller have the chance to solidify their status among the game’s best at their respective positions and they welcome back junior ace J.B. Bukauskas who is arguably the most electric hurler in the nation. – Jheremy Brown

Cal State Fullerton
The Titans’ Big Three of Colton Eastman, Connor Seabold and John Gavin is arguably the most dominant weekend staff West of the Mississippi River for a program that has always been built on pitching and defense. Continued steps forward by that trio, and an offense led by senior shortstop Timmy Richards, could be more than enough for Fullerton to make a return trip to the College World Series. – Patrick Ebert

Clemson
Ranked No. 19 in the initial PG Top 25, Clemson isn’t exactly being slept on, but they also aren’t being talked about much in terms of College World Series picks. Returning all-world Seth Beer to the middle of the lineup would be huge for anyone, and true freshman shortstop Logan Davidson looks like he might also be a star. Friday starter Pat Krall was dynamic as a fireman last year and No. 2 Charlie Barnes gives the Tigers another legitimate frontline arm. They’ll need big contributions from their youth, but Clemson looks to be waiting in the weeds, ready to strike and win the whole thing. – Brian Sakowski

Maryland
The Terrapins clocked in at No. 23 to open up the season, but have certainly enough talent to rise through the rankings and be a major threat in postseason play. Alhough they will be without Mike Shawaryn they return Brian Shafer to lead the weekend rotation who will show well above average command of his low-90s fastball and overall arsenal. Shortstop Kevin Smith returns to lead the offense and looks like the best collegiate shortstop in the country. – Matt Czechanski

Coastal Carolina
The Chanticleers lost a lot to the 2016 MLB Draft, but, to be blunt, they did win the whole thing last year. Transfers Jordan Gore and Wood Myers should help ease the blow of losing so many bats and they return their 1-2 starting punch of Andrew Beckwith and Alex Cunningham. Gary Gilmore has built one of the most consistent programs in the nation and now he has a chance to win back-to-back CWS titles. – Vincent Cervino


Super Regional Cinderella
What teams that aren't ranked among the preseason Top 25 and Top 40 have the highest chance of advancing to a Super Regional? We have your answer here:

Fresno State
Ricky Tyler Thomas (Mountain West Conference)
The Mountain West hasn’t been kind to the Bulldogs as they haven’t been to a Regional since joining the league in 2013. This team is built for the postseason though, with an elite ace in Ricky Tyler Thomas and one of the oldest position player groups in the country. And let’s not forget that skipper Mike Batesole has a national championship ring. – Mike Rooney

Michigan State
The Spartans look to be pretty loaded in their pitching staff, and, while losing key contributors offensively, should have a solid offense as well. If ace Alex Troop stays healthy he gives Michigan State a legitimate Friday starter as well as a dynamic middle-of-the-order bat. Freshmen Mason Erla and Michael Mokma have a chance to be big-time wildcards as well, and if they develop quickly they could give MSU upwards of 5-6 legitimate starting pitcher options in the postseason, something not many non-Top 25 teams can boast. – Brian Sakowski

St. John’s
The Red Storm return a lot of talent from a year ago and have a chance to not only win the Big East but make a run into the Super Regionals. Seniors Michael Donadio and Troy Dixon provide stability in the middle of the order while Jesse Berardi and Josh Shaw form a talented duo up the middle of the infield. With a sport as chaotic as college baseball is at times, it would be no surprise to see St. John’s get hot towards the end of the season and make a run late in the year. – Vincent Cervino

South Florida
Though they struggled last season the Bulls welcome back an incredibly young roster that is poised to make big advancements in the American. Pitchers such as live-armed redshirt freshman lefthander Shane McClanahan and fellow lefty Andrew Perez, along with slugging catcher Joe Genord and speedy outfielder Garrett Zech offer the most room for improvement. The return of infielder Kevin Merrell is also significant, and while the play of their young pitching staff will make the biggest impact the Bulls are on the verge of a big jump forward. – Matt Czechanski

Florida Atlantic
FAU enjoyed a very successful 2016 season, going 39-19 overall and 21-8 in C-USA play. While they lost shortstop C.J. Chatham to the professional ranks Tyler Frank has drawn rave reviews for his glove and contact-oriented bat and is projected to hit towards the top of the Owls’ lineup. They have several pieces returning to what appears to be a deep pitching staff that missed significant time last season, as well as closer Cameron Ragsdale, who recorded 15 saves and a 1.61 ERA.  – Patrick Ebert

UNC Wilmington
The Seahawks have proven they can leave the yard with any team in the country as they finished third nationally last season with 87 home runs and second with 1.45 home runs per game. Of those 87 home runs, 35 came from the bats of juniors Nick Feight and Brian Mims and overall this is a very experienced, veteran lineup, which as we saw last year can do wonders in the postseason. – Jheremy Brown


2017 CWS Champ: Fab 5 or the Field?
Recognizing that there is a pretty clear distinction between the preseason Top 5 teams in the nation and the rest of the teams ranked in the Top 25, this question is pretty simple: If you had to choose the eventual 2017 champion would you take the Top 5 (TCU, LSU, Florida State, Florida and South Carolina) or the Field?

Fab Five
Jared Poche (LSU Athletics)
I’m picking the Top 5 here, because I feel that even if TCU falters one of the remaining four teams has the best chance of running the table and being crowned College World Series champs. LSU is loaded from top to bottom, FSU should be able to hit with anyone and their relatively young pitching staff is extremely talented, Florida may have three high first-round arms in their weekend rotation and South Carolina has potentially the best pitching staff in terms of depth in the nation. – Brian Sakowski

The Field
I wasn’t a math major but I like my odds when choosing 294 teams over the top five, especially with the type of young talent that has been making their way onto campuses as of late. Impact freshmen classes will eventually turn to seasoned junior classes which will lead to a balance in talent and make it nearly impossible to predict a favorite year in and year out. – Jheremy Brown

Fab Five
Odds and statistical probability would tell you that picking just five teams compared to the field is a futile effort, but the strength and quality among the Top 5 is too alluring to pass up. Just look at the overall depth and talent that TCU and LSU possess throughout their pitching staff and on the offensive end. FSU and Florida will need younger players to take on larger roles but are their typical loaded selves. And then comes South Carolina, who arguably has the nation’s deepest pitching staff. – Matt Czechanski

The Field
It’s hard to lose with this category, and as much as I want to select one of the Top 5 teams given the absolutely loaded rosters of TCU, LSU, FSU, Florida and South Carolina, I remind myself that only one team in the past five years has won the College World Series after starting the season among Perfect Game’s Top 5 preseason teams (Virginia in 2015). – Patrick Ebert

Fab Five
In an exercise that will undoubtedly prove wrong, one of the teams in the Top 5 will win the College World Series. The amount of talent between the loaded TCU program, the power of both Florida schools with the Gators and Seminoles, as well as LSU and South Carolina – who round out the three SEC teams in the top 5 – is unimaginable. It is tough to single out one team who will come away on top but I am confident one of the teams in the preseason Top 5 will get it done. – Vincent Cervino

The Field
Since 2000, no team awarded the top overall seed has gone on to win the national championship. In fact, over the last 10 seasons, one of the tournament’s Top 8 National Seeds has won the whole thing just twice. I’ll take the field! – Mike Rooney

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