Game two against Chinese Taipei wasn’t a game that the USA Collegiate National Team is going to let bog them down, though they did collect four errors as a team and ultimately fell by a score of 9-2. With a 29-man roster on paper (all but Connor Jones of Virginia are in Cary), 21 of the players just completed their sophomore season and are giving scouts a deep look at the 2016 MLB draft class. Reinforcements have also continued to roll in over the last 24 hours as star freshman JJ Schwarz was in uniform while fellow Gators Buddy Reed, AJ Puk, and Logan Shore all arrived Tuesday night.

For the game at hand, the Stars and Stripes ultimately used four pitchers with California ace Daulton Jefferies getting the start, his first of the summer for Team USA. While he may not be the biggest standing at 6-foot, 180-pounds, Jefferies overall stuff rivals almost any other arm on Coach Ed Blankmeyer’s staff.With a loose and quick-twitch frame, Jefferies shows the same type of athleticism in his arm action as it remains loose and rather effortless coming through the back. Throughout his four-plus innings of work Jefferies lived comfortably in the 92-94 mph range, twice bumping 95 mph, though the velocity is just the starting point. With a simple set of overall mechanics, the rising junior showed the ability to work down in the zone and when he did his fastball showed some nasty and heavy life. More than once Jefferies painted at the knees to either side to pick up a backwards K and wasn’t afraid to challenge hitters inside, regardless right or left-handed and collected numerous uncomfortable swings. 

Commanding his fastball down in the zone more often than not, the Atwater, California native showed a nice three-pitch mix overall and wasn’t afraid to mix. Maintaining his arm speed well on an 85-86 mph changeup made it difficult for hitters to pick the ball up out of Jefferies’ hand as it also featured similar late life down in the zone. Though the changeup was only flashed a handful of times his breaking ball was more prominently displayed. Varying the shape and velocity of the breaker showed off Jefferies’ feel for the pitch as it featured more depth and curveball life in the lower velocities of the 74-78 mph and would tend to look more like a slider at the higher end of the range. 

Strongly built left-hander David Peterson of the University of Oregon has assembled quite the resume to this point in his career and he just finished his freshman year. At 6-foot-6 the former Perfect Game All-American came out showing a full four-pitch mix and had the ability to miss barrel with each offering. In the first inning Peterson ran his fastball up to 95 mph and in the process showed difficult angle on his fastball due to his release. Through his first inning Peterson lived in the 90-93 mph before settling a tick lower over his next two innings. 

As mentioned above, Peterson throws more than just a fastball and when each are executed he’s able to have hitters swing over the top. His strongest secondary is his slider, an 80-83 mph pitch that he maintains his arm slot on well very well and becomes a much more difficult pitch as he still shows angle and late two-plane bite. Facing a left-handed hitter during his last inning, Peterson unleashed an 83 mph slider that was perhaps his best one he threw as he spotted it low to his glove side giving the hitter zero chance of making contact. His curveball shows depth in the mid-70s and his changeup gives him another quality pitch, maintaining his slot on the 85-86 mph offering.

With a quick inning of work on the mound, Louisville freshman left-hander Brendan McKay showed off a full arsenal on the mound, giving scouts a look at what helped the Pennsylvania native to such a successful freshman campaign. Throwing strikes has been one of McKay’s strengths and he’s able to fill up the strike zone due to how short his arm stroke is through the backside, keeping his mechanics simple and repeatable.

Landing slightly closed at release, McKay throws from a high three-quarter slot and works over his front side allowing for angle on his fastball. With a fastball sitting in the 87-90 mph range and touching 91 mph, McKay does a nice job of repeating his mechanics and staying balanced throughout. Though he commands his fastball well, it’s his feel for his curveball and changeup that have helped McKay find constant success. His straight-changeup is a difficult pitch to detect out of his hand as he maintains his arm speed on the 81 mph pitch, giving enough separation on the pitch compared to his fastball.

Like both his fastball and changeup McKay throws his curveball from the same slot and shows big life on the pitch. Working in the 76-79 mph range, McKay shows big depth on his curveball and showed the ability to locate the pitch to the back foot of right-handed hitters.  

A key piece to the University of Arkansas road to Omaha this spring, rising junior right-hander Zach Jackson put his quality stuff on display yet again, this time wearing “USA” across his chest rather than “Razorbacks”. Working out of the bullpen as he had all spring, though he’s had several relief stints of five-plus innings and has the ability to start, Jackson worked a scoreless frame in the bottom of the eighth. 

Both of his pitches have potential to be plus offerings if they aren’t already. Standing at 6-foot-4 with a long and strong frame, Jackson shows a fast right arm that produced a steady 94-95 mph fastball and only dipped out of that range for a handful of heaters. He shows a full arm action coming through the backside and when he stays on top of the ball Jackson’s capable to generating some solid life down with his fastball.

The pitch that the Oklahoma native has become renowned for though is his curveball. A true hammer with 12-6 shape and hard, downward break in the 84-86 mph range, Jackson’s curveball may be the best breaking ball in the draft class. With the ability to harness the big life, Jackson spotted the pitch to the back foot of left-handed hitters and was able to induce more than a couple of swings and misses.

It probably comes as little surprise to anybody that Texas A&M outfielder Nick Banks lead the Collegiate National Team in hitting last time given his offensive production in 2015; .364/.450/.536. With a couple of singles throughout the game, one to each field, it was the soon-to-be junior’s first swing of the night that was the most impressive. Not trying to do too much, the left-handed hitting Banks showed off a quick path to the ball and shot an outer half fastball (from a left-handed pitcher who was creating big angle on his fastball) into the left-centerfield gap for a standup double. 

Oregon State first baseman K.J. Harrison took the collegiate baseball world by storm this spring as it seemed nearly impossible to get him out in the early going in part to his advanced barrel skills and approach at the plate. Though he didn’t fill up the box score on Tuesday and ended with just one hit, his approach was on full display and seemed to find the barrel each time at the plate despite facing a different arm every time he dug in.

The 2016 MLB Draft class looks as though the talent in the outfield may be the strength, aside from pitching of course, with a handful of college players and several prep bats making a name for themselves. One player scouts will keep an eye on is Auburn’s Anfernee Grier, a left-handed hitter who oozes pure athleticism and it full of fast-twitch athleticism. Generating solid extension in his swing, it was Grier’s ability to cover ground in centerfield that stood out. Though he ultimately didn’t finish the play, the Alabama native did cover an absurd amount of ground ranging to the left-centerfield gap before fully extending and just missing the deep fly ball.