2,076 MLB PLAYERS | 14,476 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
Create Account
Sign in Create Account
College  | Story  | 2/18/2018

UNC wins in extras to take series

Vincent Cervino     
Photo: UNC Athletic Communications



Opening day heat from McClanahan | Baum, Tar Heels even series
Purdue, WMU square off in Georgia | Perfect Game College Player Database

During the season Perfect Game scouts will be traveling to some of the top series to watch the very best players in college baseball. Those observations, captured with both written notes and video, will be shared in the College Player Database as linked above, notes that can also be accessed on the players' individual PG profile pages. Throughout the season select reports will be shared in feature format to promote the players, the teams and college baseball as a whole.


Austin Bergner, RHP, North Carolina

One of the more well-regarded prospects coming out of high school, righthander Austin Bergner pitched the final three innings of the extra-inning victory in the final game of their three-game series against South Florida to open the 2018 season, and earned his first win of the season as a result. The righthander was a PG All-American in high school and landed himself at No. 23 on Perfect Game's Top 250 Draft Prospects list. Bergner was very sharp in his relief role and showed why he is so coveted. 

Bergner has a very long and projectable frame with an abbreviated arm circle and lots of arm speed. The takeback is very clean and he does an excellent job at getting downhill and repeating the delivery. Bergner's ability to get downhill aided him in creating good sinking life on the fastball that sat in the 91-94 mph range throughout his outing on Sunday afternoon. The command of the pitch was exemplary as he could get to either side but had very impressive command to the low-arm side corner. 

Bergner only showed two breaking balls on the day but they were both in the dirt and didn't provide very good looks, however the pitch still showed the makings of the impressive offering he showed in high school. The changeup was the go-to secondary pitch for Bergner as it showed 55 multiple times throughout the game. The pitch worked in the 83-85 mph range with good tumble and fading life. 

What stood out about Bergner is the polish and the ceiling. The command stands out with a very low effort delivery and the repeatability and ability to command all of his pitches absolutely stands out. Bergner showed that he is absolutely a high follow for the draft and should be monitored closely as the season progresses. He is expected to return to the starting rotation, possibly as soon as next weekend, and struck out five of the nine batters he faced during his three scoreless, and hitless, innings.


Andrew Perez, LHP, South Florida



One of the better relievers of the American Conference a year ago, Perez got the ball two times this weekend in high leverage situations in South Florida's series against North Carolina. Perez earned the save on Friday night and was awarded the loss during Sunday's game that saw him get extended over three innings in a game that was decided in the 10th. 

Perez works from a simple delivery with an online arm action and an extended arm slot. He attacked with his fastball that worked in the 90-92 mph range in both appearances and showed significant run and sink to the arm side. The fastball was lively no matter which side it was on. The life wasn't as evident on Sunday as he continued to get extended later into the game, however, Perez does create some angle on the fastball too. 

He showed two secondary pitches, a curveball in the low- to mid-70s and a changeup. The curveball was effective as a change-of-pace pitch and can be thrown for strikes while the changeup was a very intriguing offering. The changeup was thrown with similar conviction as the fastball and showed a lot of tumble and sink. Perez went to the changeup often on Sunday as he got tired and got a good number of swings and misses. 

Perez' delivery makes for a very uncomfortable at-bat against lefthanded hitters, as he hides the ball well through the delivery and features a heavy crossfire element through the lower half. The crossfire landing leg can create some timing and consistency issues and it is effective at making him that much more deceptive and uncomfortable against batters of the same handedness. Overall in his two appearances Perez allowed three hits and a walk with six strikeouts in 4 2/3 combined innings.


Graham Hoffman, RHP, South Florida

After getting to campus after being a primary middle infielder in high school, freshman righthander Graham Hoffman impressed the South Florida coaching staff all fall and showed the makings of a frontline starting pitcher. Hoffman threw one-third of an inning of relief on Sunday, facing two batters, and showed why he will likely end up in the rotation as the season progresses – and why the USF coaches are very high on the freshman. 

Hoffman stands at a very broad and projectable 6-foot-3, 203-pounds with long limbs and plenty of room to fill out with additional strength. The delivery itself is a bit stiff on the front side landing foot but he gets on top of the ball and downhill from a compact arm action with a bit of a hook through the back. The arm strength absolutely stands out as he worked in the 91-93 mph range with mostly true life. 

He flashed a soft breaking ball and also showed a changeup with some fade, albeit he guided it in at times. There is a lot to like from the true freshman and he should continue to see playing time for the Bulls, whether it be on the mound or in the infield.
PG Special Events
Travel, Lodging, Entertainment
PG Partners
Recommended
About Perfect Game :: Contact us :: Terms of Use :: Privacy Policy :: Testimonials :: Job Opportunities
Copyright 1994-2024 by Perfect Game. All rights reserved. No portion of this information may be reprinted or reproduced without the written consent of Perfect Game.