00:01.676 --> 00:05.059 [SPEAKER_00]: Welcome back to the baseball America college baseball podcast.

00:05.119 --> 00:06.340 [SPEAKER_00]: I'm Jacob Rudner as always.

00:06.361 --> 00:11.405 [SPEAKER_00]: I'm joined by Mr. Peter Flairty Peter it's off season mode.

00:11.485 --> 00:18.632 [SPEAKER_00]: We're back for the first time in two weeks as has always been the case Tuesdays are our off season

00:18.792 --> 00:25.654 [SPEAKER_00]: day for those of you who are new Mondays during the season will be our baseball America College baseball podcast.

00:25.694 --> 00:35.616 [SPEAKER_00]: We will also convert back to the weekly podcasts right now just with you know less college baseball content to discuss in a podcast format.

00:35.636 --> 00:39.617 [SPEAKER_00]: We slowed it down but Pete loaded show today.

00:39.677 --> 00:42.238 [SPEAKER_00]: That's the benefit of the two week process before we get into it.

00:42.518 --> 00:43.198 [SPEAKER_00]: How are you?

00:43.678 --> 00:45.278 [SPEAKER_00]: What's the latest in Peter land?

00:45.298 --> 00:46.799 [SPEAKER_00]: You and I are getting ready to go to Jupiter.

00:46.859 --> 00:47.179 [SPEAKER_00]: You can tell

00:48.879 --> 00:50.820 [SPEAKER_00]: And yeah, give us a give us the Peter update.

00:51.720 --> 00:53.201 [SPEAKER_01]: Everything's great in Peter land.

00:53.241 --> 00:53.801 [SPEAKER_01]: Thank God.

00:54.521 --> 00:57.662 [SPEAKER_01]: Like you said, we're gearing up to go down to the Jupiter in a week.

00:57.702 --> 01:06.785 [SPEAKER_01]: We can have actually a great event to see some talented players and hang out and talk with, you know, a number of coaches.

01:06.865 --> 01:09.666 [SPEAKER_01]: So that'll be a great event as it always is.

01:09.726 --> 01:10.587 [SPEAKER_01]: And then, you know,

01:11.307 --> 01:12.367 [SPEAKER_01]: fall balls underway.

01:12.407 --> 01:19.150 [SPEAKER_01]: We had our first handful of scrimmages not like team red versus team white over the weekend.

01:19.170 --> 01:20.771 [SPEAKER_01]: We actually had teams playing each other.

01:20.851 --> 01:27.673 [SPEAKER_01]: You can't really take much from it other than, you know, you scrimmages to fall and, you know, you can see how guys have done.

01:27.733 --> 01:29.654 [SPEAKER_01]: So ramping up a little bit.

01:31.035 --> 01:35.536 [SPEAKER_01]: But, you know, as you said, when we head down to the sunshine state, that'll be

01:39.798 --> 01:44.002 [SPEAKER_01]: a really good opportunity to see a lot of talented players.

01:44.082 --> 01:51.309 [SPEAKER_01]: So a lot of stuff to look forward to in exciting time and should be great finish to the fall.

01:52.110 --> 01:52.751 [SPEAKER_00]: No doubt about that.

01:52.911 --> 01:56.574 [SPEAKER_00]: We'll talk about that on the Baseball America College Podcast.

01:56.634 --> 02:00.738 [SPEAKER_00]: I'm sure also you can tune it to the Baseball America's RAFed Podcast, which also features Peter.

02:01.519 --> 02:02.440 [SPEAKER_00]: And they're going to talk about that.

02:02.560 --> 02:03.161 [SPEAKER_00]: I would imagine.

02:03.521 --> 02:18.199 [SPEAKER_00]: quite a bit the the Jupiter experience and what you and I get to see out there on our show today though we've got a lot of exciting stuff to cover first some news then we're going to get into a game that I'll explain better in a bit where you and I are going to draft.

02:18.820 --> 02:23.004 [SPEAKER_00]: hitters and pictures for the upcoming college season based on their performance.

02:23.224 --> 02:26.047 [SPEAKER_00]: We will judge later who had the better team.

02:26.427 --> 02:30.791 [SPEAKER_00]: I'll be keeping track of it here and I'm sure we're going to revisit those lists as the year goes on.

02:30.811 --> 02:32.413 [SPEAKER_00]: Maybe we'll do a full draft as well.

02:32.433 --> 02:33.734 [SPEAKER_00]: But more on that in a second.

02:33.834 --> 02:39.900 [SPEAKER_00]: For now, let's talk about what I find to be the biggest and most pressing news in college baseball, which is that according

02:40.440 --> 02:54.383 [SPEAKER_00]: to Andrew Bagherley of the Athletic, Tony Vitalo, Tennessee's head coach, is what he described as a dark horse candidate, a wildcard candidate, for the San Francisco Giants job opening.

02:54.423 --> 02:59.584 [SPEAKER_00]: The Giants recently parted ways with manager Bob Melvin, leaving an opening in their dugout.

03:00.144 --> 03:04.605 [SPEAKER_00]: One of the names mentioned in Bagherley's story was Tony Vitalo.

03:05.265 --> 03:10.309 [SPEAKER_00]: I'm just going to come right out here and say it, I would think that that would be a major surprise at this point.

03:10.529 --> 03:23.520 [SPEAKER_00]: If Tony Vitello ended up as the San Francisco Giants manager, I'm not saying it's impossible, but after conversations with several sources, I have learned that there if there have been conversations, they have been very, very minimal.

03:23.920 --> 03:29.925 [SPEAKER_00]: I would even lean towards at this point, they're being very little conversation between the two sides with regard to the role,

03:30.805 --> 03:44.230 [SPEAKER_00]: But, you know, you never know, and it does bring up an interesting point, are we in an era with the speed that college players are reaching the major league level that some of these top-notch college coaches could find themselves in major league dugouts?

03:44.410 --> 03:46.050 [SPEAKER_00]: I don't think we're that far off from it.

03:46.511 --> 03:57.374 [SPEAKER_00]: I don't think that this is the example that is going to end up becoming, you know, kind of the the landmark transition that starts to open the floodgates a little bit if you will, but I do think it's something that could happen soon.

03:59.820 --> 04:16.590 [SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, I'm with you, I thought it was really interesting to see reported and it kind of got my wheels turning in my head a little bit about how that would look and, you know, the comparison between the two obviously managing the the San Francisco giants is opposed to being the head coach of the Tennessee volunteers.

04:16.610 --> 04:19.571 [SPEAKER_01]: There are some similarities, but also a whole lot of differences.

04:21.092 --> 04:27.196 [SPEAKER_01]: So be an unorthodox outside the box type of higher, but like you said, I didn't really spend a

04:27.836 --> 04:34.677 [SPEAKER_01]: a whole lot of time thinking about it because I mean simply put it's just I would be floored beyond belief.

04:35.618 --> 04:38.898 [SPEAKER_01]: If it ends up coming to fruition and that's not an indictment of coach.

04:38.918 --> 04:45.320 [SPEAKER_01]: If I tell you one of the best college coaches in the game, I just I just don't think that it'll it'll happen.

04:46.320 --> 04:49.761 [SPEAKER_01]: Right now, but like you said, it was it was interesting to just see it

04:53.102 --> 05:09.066 [SPEAKER_00]: And I do still think, you know, to reiterate it one more time that we are getting closer to a point in college baseball where I think some of the best college baseball coaches are going to start to find their ways Into major league dugouts whether that's has a major league manager or not.

05:09.306 --> 05:18.568 [SPEAKER_00]: I don't know that's a really big step And it doesn't happen very often like it does, you know, maybe slightly more occasionally in the college football or basketball

05:19.188 --> 05:30.412 [SPEAKER_00]: ranks, baseball's a little bit different, we do see assistant coaches make the jump quite frequently and in recent years you've actually seen a lot of professional coaches become college coaches.

05:30.832 --> 05:34.094 [SPEAKER_00]: So the pipeline is very interesting in our sport Peter.

05:34.834 --> 05:37.495 [SPEAKER_00]: We'll see how much it continues to evolve over the next couple years.

05:37.515 --> 05:44.117 [SPEAKER_00]: I think NIL will be a factor that pushes coaches to maybe make some decisions to move on to the professional ranks if they have the opportunity.

05:44.958 --> 05:45.338 [SPEAKER_00]: But again,

05:46.610 --> 05:52.753 [SPEAKER_00]: Not an occupant Tony Vitalo in the slightest, it's not a matter of his candidacy that I think is going to keep him out of this job race.

05:52.833 --> 06:03.038 [SPEAKER_00]: I just think it's such a long shot in terms of where the giants are at in their process, maybe some of the people who they're considering, and just how Tony Vitalo's been engaged with with the giants to this point.

06:03.078 --> 06:15.384 [SPEAKER_00]: I know that he has a good relationship with people in that organization, and they probably have had some sort of conversation over the course of the last month with regard to maybe his former players, Drew Gilbert in particular has made some noise,

06:16.104 --> 06:20.866 [SPEAKER_00]: and become kind of a, you know, a spirited leader very quickly in San Francisco.

06:21.146 --> 06:22.826 [SPEAKER_00]: I'm sure that has been a conversation.

06:23.166 --> 06:26.147 [SPEAKER_00]: Whether or not the managerial position though has been discussed.

06:27.048 --> 06:31.009 [SPEAKER_00]: I don't know that it's been that intense and I don't think it'll get that intense.

06:31.149 --> 06:31.509 [SPEAKER_00]: But we'll see.

06:31.529 --> 06:32.269 [SPEAKER_00]: Yes.

06:32.289 --> 06:34.050 [SPEAKER_00]: And it's worth mentioning on the pod.

06:34.750 --> 06:36.891 [SPEAKER_01]: A question and it might be kind of a stupid one.

06:36.911 --> 06:39.412 [SPEAKER_01]: Do you think Code V would even want to?

06:40.393 --> 06:43.414 [SPEAKER_01]: Like, he's got a pretty great thing going at Tennessee.

06:43.474 --> 06:47.235 [SPEAKER_01]: I mean, he's built that program to be where it is today.

06:47.555 --> 06:49.236 [SPEAKER_01]: They're a national powerhouse.

06:49.296 --> 06:51.657 [SPEAKER_01]: They compete for a national title year and year out.

06:52.457 --> 06:54.938 [SPEAKER_01]: For, you know, they're a machine.

06:55.418 --> 06:57.078 [SPEAKER_01]: I don't know if you'd even want to leave that.

06:58.979 --> 07:00.560 [SPEAKER_00]: You know, it's tough.

07:00.820 --> 07:03.441 [SPEAKER_00]: I think on one hand, yes.

07:03.881 --> 07:07.382 [SPEAKER_00]: And I believe anybody would if you're in baseball,

07:08.705 --> 07:09.386 [SPEAKER_00]: for two reasons.

07:09.706 --> 07:16.732 [SPEAKER_00]: One, I think Tony Vitalo has kind of accomplished whatever, you know, the most that you can accomplish already in a very short time at the college level.

07:16.772 --> 07:18.193 [SPEAKER_00]: He's one of college world series.

07:18.914 --> 07:25.860 [SPEAKER_00]: His team is one of the best in the SEC and by the way, I think it's notable that he turned Tennessee from kind of zero to hero in the SEC.

07:26.040 --> 07:29.223 [SPEAKER_00]: So a turnaround project in a conference where that's really, really hard to do.

07:30.183 --> 07:39.549 [SPEAKER_00]: And so maybe there is, you know, some line of thinking, I've done it and I can get out of here while the NIL is still kind of picking up is there's a lot of uncertainty in college sports.

07:39.969 --> 07:41.850 [SPEAKER_00]: Do I opt in for something with more stability?

07:42.111 --> 07:46.874 [SPEAKER_00]: The second thing I would add is that there is something to be said for the opportunity to go win.

07:47.874 --> 07:54.200 [SPEAKER_00]: world series, not a college world series, but the real deal world series, that's kind of every baseball person's dream.

07:54.680 --> 08:03.949 [SPEAKER_00]: But I do think that for some coaches who have this dynasty potential in college baseball, the appeal to leave is probably not terribly strong.

08:03.989 --> 08:06.371 [SPEAKER_00]: I'm talking about guys like Jay Johnson.

08:06.631 --> 08:12.255 [SPEAKER_00]: Do I think that Jay Johnson, if you got the San Francisco Giants offer, would be on the next flight to San Francisco from Baton Rouge?

08:12.636 --> 08:13.777 [SPEAKER_00]: No, I don't think so.

08:13.917 --> 08:17.119 [SPEAKER_00]: I think that he would probably be very invested in what he has going for him right now.

08:17.419 --> 08:19.701 [SPEAKER_00]: There are two time national champions in the last three years.

08:20.181 --> 08:25.586 [SPEAKER_00]: Is it the best opportunity to go and try and, you know, bring a major league club out of the mud after

08:26.186 --> 08:31.571 [SPEAKER_00]: You know, several years now of not performing to the standards of what that club has been historically.

08:32.111 --> 08:32.732 [SPEAKER_00]: Probably not.

08:32.752 --> 08:34.093 [SPEAKER_00]: I don't know that it's that type of healing.

08:34.833 --> 08:38.216 [SPEAKER_00]: But listen, I do think 20 Vitalo would be a really good.

08:39.358 --> 08:41.820 [SPEAKER_00]: Emotional fit for that club.

08:42.000 --> 08:42.680 [SPEAKER_00]: They're young.

08:42.800 --> 08:43.841 [SPEAKER_00]: They're trying to get better.

08:43.901 --> 08:46.002 [SPEAKER_00]: They need somebody who's going to come in and be spirited.

08:46.022 --> 08:48.624 [SPEAKER_00]: I think he checks every single one of those boxes.

08:48.784 --> 08:51.205 [SPEAKER_00]: He's proven that he can turn a team around and win quickly.

08:51.686 --> 08:55.988 [SPEAKER_00]: It is a completely different ballgame though, you know, managing a major league team versus a college team.

08:56.388 --> 09:00.391 [SPEAKER_00]: And whether or not somebody who's had a tremendous amount of success.

09:00.451 --> 09:03.132 [SPEAKER_00]: He's the second highest paid coach in the sport for a reason.

09:04.233 --> 09:06.274 [SPEAKER_00]: is this the right opportunity to jump on?

09:07.134 --> 09:07.694 [SPEAKER_00]: I'm not sure.

09:08.054 --> 09:08.834 [SPEAKER_00]: It's not for me to say.

09:09.654 --> 09:15.236 [SPEAKER_00]: I'm not 100% sure, but I think that it would be, I think it would be considered as the way I would put it.

09:15.396 --> 09:21.957 [SPEAKER_00]: I don't know that it would be something that he or several others in his stratosphere of college coaching would go racing towards.

09:21.977 --> 09:22.858 [SPEAKER_00]: Yeah.

09:23.098 --> 09:23.758 [SPEAKER_01]: Again, I'd be,

09:24.758 --> 09:39.822 [SPEAKER_01]: I'd be real shocked, if it ends up happening, I'm with you that he is the intangibles and managerial and leadership qualities to have success really in any role in which he finds himself.

09:39.922 --> 09:45.083 [SPEAKER_01]: I think he's a little bit of a chameleon in that way and in the most positive ways, because I mean,

09:46.163 --> 09:55.648 [SPEAKER_01]: You know, the buying that he gets consistently year over year is is really impressive and the results speak for themselves in a business that is results oriented.

09:55.688 --> 10:03.733 [SPEAKER_01]: I mean, he's, you know, he's the the creme de la creme, but you know, the season is is, you know, you go from 52 to 55ish plus games to 162.

10:03.773 --> 10:06.575 [SPEAKER_01]: It's a little bit of more of a revolving door with.

10:10.837 --> 10:24.524 [SPEAKER_01]: The number of players you're going to have, the person how he's obviously are a little bit different, perhaps more egotistical, albeit though in the NIL era, you know, everyone's egos are coming out in one way or another, but.

10:26.255 --> 10:36.801 [SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, again, I don't think it ends up happening when I was sitting down, but the fact that he was even mentioned and it was reported on is, you know, means that it's a non-zero possibility.

10:36.821 --> 10:40.183 [SPEAKER_01]: You know, they're a reporter who reported it from the athletic.

10:41.623 --> 10:43.344 [SPEAKER_01]: You know, he's, he's the real deal.

10:44.305 --> 10:49.628 [SPEAKER_01]: And it's also a testament to, to what coach by Tela's done and how highly he's regarded in the space and rightfully so.

10:51.001 --> 10:56.165 [SPEAKER_00]: We're going to take a quick break and after that, more on our little game that we're going to play in today's episode of the podcast.

10:58.447 --> 11:04.212 [SPEAKER_00]: All righty, we are back with more baseball America College Baseball podcast.

11:04.732 --> 11:17.142 [SPEAKER_00]: One thing before we get into what's next year for our show, I do want to plug the website head on over to baseballamerica.com slash college, check out all of the content, Peter and I have going up on the website right now and it is actually quite a bit

11:17.642 --> 11:28.011 [SPEAKER_00]: between fall ball, you know, 2026 draft stuff, Carlos Colazo wrote an excellent piece on Rock Cholowski, the presumed number one overall pick in 2026 and I highly recommend reading all of it.

11:28.031 --> 11:36.017 [SPEAKER_00]: So again, it's baseballamerica.com slash college, but for us right now, Peter, we are going to do something that I've been looking forward to for weeks and that is drafting.

11:37.018 --> 11:38.540 [SPEAKER_00]: a team, a unique team.

11:38.560 --> 11:46.146 [SPEAKER_00]: This is not a full-starting lineup of college players ahead of the 20, 26 season that we are going to keep track of.

11:46.266 --> 11:48.348 [SPEAKER_00]: This is a little bit of a competition.

11:48.388 --> 11:56.374 [SPEAKER_00]: Whoever drafts the best and most productive team, which will be judged by a panel of our colleagues at the end of the year, will win.

11:56.755 --> 12:01.018 [SPEAKER_00]: When what I don't know, pride and maybe an opportunity to talk about how the

12:03.200 --> 12:03.861 [SPEAKER_00]: on the podcast.

12:03.881 --> 12:04.602 [SPEAKER_00]: But here's the rules.

12:04.682 --> 12:05.363 [SPEAKER_00]: It's very simple.

12:05.723 --> 12:08.546 [SPEAKER_00]: Each of us are going to draft four hitters and three pictures.

12:08.927 --> 12:12.130 [SPEAKER_00]: One of the three pictures has to be a reliever.

12:12.571 --> 12:15.715 [SPEAKER_00]: And again, we'll go back at the end of the year and compare notes.

12:15.995 --> 12:20.841 [SPEAKER_00]: And so without further ado, Peter, your first overall pick, who is it?

12:21.281 --> 12:21.702 [SPEAKER_00]: And why?

12:22.262 --> 12:23.664 [SPEAKER_01]: Oh, man, I got one one here.

12:24.177 --> 12:24.697 [SPEAKER_01]: give one one.

12:24.717 --> 12:25.078 [SPEAKER_01]: I'm giving it.

12:25.118 --> 12:25.518 [SPEAKER_00]: Wow.

12:25.698 --> 12:25.998 [SPEAKER_00]: All right.

12:26.038 --> 12:28.100 [SPEAKER_01]: Well, for me, it was kind of set it and forget it.

12:28.180 --> 12:31.522 [SPEAKER_01]: I'll take the man, Rock Chalousey shortstop at a UCLA.

12:31.562 --> 12:40.508 [SPEAKER_01]: We spent a lot of time in the last couple of weeks talking about him, whether it be Carlos is excellent piece that you referenced over on the website baseballamerica.com.

12:41.149 --> 12:47.012 [SPEAKER_01]: Carlos and I also did a deep dive on rock that was about 50 minutes and on our, um,

12:47.873 --> 12:56.601 [SPEAKER_01]: draft podcast last week and today's is the the golden boy and he's the one one in our our fantasy draft so to speak.

12:56.641 --> 12:57.662 [SPEAKER_01]: Maybe it's a harbinger of

12:58.645 --> 13:00.407 [SPEAKER_01]: of what's to come this July.

13:00.467 --> 13:02.889 [SPEAKER_01]: But anyways, it's a whole lot of what it looks like with Rock.

13:03.149 --> 13:05.932 [SPEAKER_01]: He was the national player that year last year for us.

13:06.032 --> 13:09.775 [SPEAKER_01]: He had 350 with 19 doubles, 2300 and 74 RBIs.

13:09.875 --> 13:17.181 [SPEAKER_01]: You know, it's a really smooth and rhythmic swing with a smattering of above average to plus tools across the board.

13:17.962 --> 13:23.747 [SPEAKER_01]: I guess where this is production-based, you know, I can't really spend too much time talking about the defense.

13:24.728 --> 13:48.016 [SPEAKER_01]: The defense with him is easily plus and he's got gold glove upside with buttery smooth actions, a plus arm Comfortability attacking the baseball and knack for making the the highlight real type of play, but he's consistently on the barrel grew into a lot more impact between his freshman and sophomore years the the bad at ball that I ticked up across the board

13:50.844 --> 13:54.026 [SPEAKER_01]: last season which led to a huge uptick in power.

13:55.026 --> 14:08.573 [SPEAKER_01]: So again, it's a smattering of of above average to plus tools and you know he's got he's got the ability to be, you know, a highly impactful player in a number of different ways.

14:08.613 --> 14:09.994 [SPEAKER_01]: So I thought this was a no-brainer.

14:11.117 --> 14:16.119 [SPEAKER_00]: easily, the number one overall pick would have been mine if I gave myself the opportunity to pick first.

14:16.159 --> 14:24.822 [SPEAKER_00]: And one thing I will add from the history standpoint, we have never had at Baseball America, the same player win player of the year and back to back years.

14:24.882 --> 14:29.124 [SPEAKER_00]: So Rocholowski has about as good a chance as anybody to be able to do that.

14:29.464 --> 14:33.185 [SPEAKER_00]: We also haven't had a whole lot of guys win that award as non-draft eligible players.

14:33.225 --> 14:35.266 [SPEAKER_00]: He became just the sixth to do that in 2025.

14:35.306 --> 14:36.306 [SPEAKER_00]: Obviously that UCL-A team,

14:38.067 --> 14:40.368 [SPEAKER_00]: Has the potential to go very long ways in 2026.

14:40.808 --> 14:42.449 [SPEAKER_00]: I would imagine again.

14:42.489 --> 15:04.199 [SPEAKER_00]: It's very early still got fall And a lot of the preseason to get through that that will be UCLA our number one team to open the year with rock Chalowski at the front of it and again if he wins player of the year He would become the first ever to win it back to back seasons and now Peter it is time for my first pick You got who I believe to be the best

15:04.679 --> 15:07.483 [SPEAKER_00]: hitter in the country and perhaps the best overall player.

15:08.123 --> 15:18.215 [SPEAKER_00]: I'm going to take who I believe to be one of if not the best pictures in the country and that is my good friend Dax Whitney from over at Oregon State.

15:18.796 --> 15:23.101 [SPEAKER_00]: Could I have gone with Cameron Flooky or Liam Peterson or Tommy LePore?

15:24.542 --> 15:31.285 [SPEAKER_00]: Or Jackson Flora in this position, absolutely, those guys are your most prominent 2026 draft eligible pictures.

15:31.785 --> 15:43.311 [SPEAKER_00]: However, as we wrote on the website when we did our way to early annual predictions for national awards, I just think Dax Whitney brings something to the table that is going to be very hard to deny.

15:43.711 --> 15:47.052 [SPEAKER_00]: If you are a draft eligible pitcher trying to compete for picture of the year,

15:51.134 --> 15:52.714 [SPEAKER_00]: over a hundred batters last season.

15:52.794 --> 15:54.895 [SPEAKER_00]: He's into the mid 90s, upper 90s even.

15:55.275 --> 15:58.956 [SPEAKER_00]: He's got a curve ball that was outstanding throughout his freshman season.

15:58.976 --> 16:01.356 [SPEAKER_00]: This top down very biting curve ball.

16:02.176 --> 16:03.917 [SPEAKER_00]: There's a slider in there that's really good.

16:04.277 --> 16:07.077 [SPEAKER_00]: The ability to throw strikes is advanced for his age.

16:07.357 --> 16:11.558 [SPEAKER_00]: He's got some funky mechanics that I think toy with hitters that are just not ready for the stuff he brings.

16:11.878 --> 16:18.580 [SPEAKER_00]: This is somebody who I believe is easily a professional quality baseball player and could have skipped the whole college route if he wanted to.

16:19.060 --> 16:19.780 [SPEAKER_00]: But he chose

16:20.920 --> 16:21.920 [SPEAKER_00]: I think he made a great decision.

16:22.320 --> 16:24.981 [SPEAKER_00]: He pitched them to a college world series appearance last year.

16:25.341 --> 16:26.922 [SPEAKER_00]: I think he is the potential to do it again.

16:27.482 --> 16:32.563 [SPEAKER_00]: And if he does, we're talking about what I believe to be one of the best pictures in the country.

16:32.624 --> 16:34.844 [SPEAKER_00]: So is this your top draft guy for 2026?

16:35.184 --> 16:36.725 [SPEAKER_00]: No, he's not even eligible.

16:36.905 --> 16:40.406 [SPEAKER_00]: But I do think that I got somebody who has a chance to be our picture of the year.

16:40.726 --> 16:44.087 [SPEAKER_00]: And even if he doesn't win it, he will be in the conversation barring something on foreseen.

16:45.206 --> 16:46.347 [SPEAKER_01]: It's a great pick.

16:46.767 --> 17:01.638 [SPEAKER_01]: As you said, both in our way to early awards predictions and also in your rationale, I mean, he's there's an argument to be made that he's the best picture in the country regardless of class, the stuff is outstanding.

17:01.698 --> 17:06.361 [SPEAKER_01]: Obviously, you know, the body's great, but it's really enticing combination of

17:07.362 --> 17:28.233 [SPEAKER_01]: of stuff and strikes with DAX and it's it's pre-most stuff like you turn down top two round money at a high school opted to make his way to Corvallis and you know there's there's a real chance that he's he's a top five to top ten pick in in a little under two years uh it's it's all very real with him so

17:29.354 --> 17:35.058 [SPEAKER_01]: With that being said, I sound like some kid making a notes app post saying he's going to enter the transfer portal.

17:35.118 --> 17:41.163 [SPEAKER_01]: But with that being said, hitter 2, I'm stacking up on hitters right now.

17:41.263 --> 17:46.166 [SPEAKER_01]: Hitter 2 for me is going to be TCU outfielder, soar, straw, snider.

17:46.186 --> 17:46.787 [SPEAKER_01]: Nice.

17:47.107 --> 18:01.200 [SPEAKER_01]: Tools is a name of the game with Mr. Straw Snyder kind of went through typical freshman growing pains last year was hitting a buck 67 through like March 2nd or 3rd, but he flipped a switch and just you know, exploded.

18:01.240 --> 18:07.586 [SPEAKER_01]: He ended up hitting 350 with 13 doubles, led the country with 10 triples, 11 homers and 51 RBIs.

18:09.248 --> 18:30.444 [SPEAKER_01]: was the big 12th freshman of the year, like tooled out, fits that description to tons of bats feed plus raw power, particularly to the pool side with him, plus arm, and he's also a plus runner, consistently turns in plus run times, center of fueler by trade, but probably ends up shifting over to a corner of Spiosy, progresses to pro ball.

18:32.025 --> 18:52.900 [SPEAKER_01]: And I think the biggest key for him going forward is if you can add a code or two of polish to his hit tool, though, this year, the bad to ball skills were above average on pitches in the stragg zone, which was encouraging like the contact ability for me was a pleasant surprise with soar and for what it's worth.

18:54.301 --> 19:02.863 [SPEAKER_01]: from where I stand like a potential dark horse one one, depending on how much of a dark horse even when a call source draws cider.

19:04.144 --> 19:05.844 [SPEAKER_01]: It's not like this is a deep pull at all.

19:06.204 --> 19:12.526 [SPEAKER_01]: He is kind of a sleeper one-one type of guy for me this year.

19:12.546 --> 19:14.647 [SPEAKER_01]: I think he's got that kind of upside.

19:14.707 --> 19:17.827 [SPEAKER_01]: So I'll snag him with my second hitter.

19:19.848 --> 19:21.548 [SPEAKER_01]: and I guess I'll throw it back to you.

19:21.768 --> 19:23.149 [SPEAKER_00]: I'm happy with my first two picks though.

19:23.789 --> 19:26.189 [SPEAKER_00]: I would be happy with your first two picks as well and I'll add.

19:26.209 --> 19:27.210 [SPEAKER_00]: So here's Stroke Snyder.

19:27.250 --> 19:36.912 [SPEAKER_00]: If we had to rank our freshman of the year in 2025, I'd be very comfortable saying that he would have finished second for that award behind Dylan Volantis from Texas who won it.

19:37.712 --> 19:40.733 [SPEAKER_00]: Derek Kiriel may be a tied for second type situation.

19:42.893 --> 19:52.161 [SPEAKER_00]: You are stacking up on pitching or excuse me on hitting I'm going to take this opportunity to snag who I believe to be the best hitters excuse me.

19:52.181 --> 19:53.743 [SPEAKER_00]: Wow, I'll confuse here.

19:54.083 --> 19:59.568 [SPEAKER_00]: I'm going to take this opportunity to snag the best pitchers in the country Cameron Flooky is my next pick.

20:00.821 --> 20:13.325 [SPEAKER_00]: I think if there was a group of guys who have a chance to win picture of the year and if DAX is my one A, Cameron Flooky from Coastal Carolina is my one B, the fastball quality is outstanding.

20:13.485 --> 20:22.407 [SPEAKER_00]: I remember last year during the College World Series, you and I had some data up on the screen when we were doing our live show from Omaha and Cameron Flooky.

20:22.447 --> 20:23.648 [SPEAKER_00]: We were having a conversation

20:24.448 --> 20:36.777 [SPEAKER_00]: started to look especially in Omaha and obviously it was the case before getting to the college world series and the rest of the world really started paying attention to them, but it really really looked like somebody who could be the first pitcher off the board.

20:36.838 --> 20:39.259 [SPEAKER_00]: It was S.P.1 quality stuff for the draft.

20:40.300 --> 20:41.481 [SPEAKER_00]: He's got good control.

20:41.961 --> 20:46.185 [SPEAKER_00]: The fastball is up to 98 with great life through the top of his own

20:46.765 --> 21:03.533 [SPEAKER_00]: He's got a couple of off speed pitches that I think are impressive and I do believe that this is going to be the kind of year where he has a chance to step up and lead the shots perhaps back to Omaha, which would be the first time they've appeared in the College World Series and back to back seasons, high quality arm, high quality stuff.

21:04.473 --> 21:31.263 [SPEAKER_01]: And like you you predicted potentially the picture of the year he was your pick for that so I mean I'll I'll actually let you talk about my pick more than I will but but then I am like you excited about my first two picks because I think my rotation is going to be stacked Peter Yeah, I mean it already is stacked with Whitney and flookie that says dynamite of duo as I think that's out there So I mean you hit on it with flookie He used my picture of the year pick for a reason not that that was all a hot take or not, but

21:32.123 --> 21:41.427 [SPEAKER_01]: Um, was excellent last spring and it was a kind of spearheaded the shots turn, you know, really spearheaded their efforts all year.

21:41.447 --> 21:52.913 [SPEAKER_01]: I mean, he was the anchor of that pitching staff, him and Jacob Morrison, um, in the pitching staff really kind of turns into his own, um, this spring with the departure of Jacob Morrison of the draft, but

21:53.773 --> 22:02.378 [SPEAKER_01]: Um, really, really high end stuff as you cited like mid to upper 90s heater with with plus carry through the zone.

22:02.939 --> 22:07.862 [SPEAKER_01]: Um, the mid 70s curve ball was a real revelation this spring flashed above average with.

22:08.680 --> 22:17.129 [SPEAKER_01]: some depth and bite and generated a 49% Whiff rate and the slider in which he rounds out his arsenal with, it's distinct and shape.

22:18.010 --> 22:24.736 [SPEAKER_01]: And it's also really effective and he's also kind of shown a mid to high 80s change up that is a,

22:25.457 --> 22:26.839 [SPEAKER_01]: It's an intriguing fourth pitch.

22:26.859 --> 22:28.280 [SPEAKER_01]: So I mean, it's a deep arsenal.

22:28.941 --> 22:30.303 [SPEAKER_01]: It strikes it stuff.

22:30.403 --> 22:31.825 [SPEAKER_01]: It's a really good body.

22:31.885 --> 22:36.610 [SPEAKER_01]: I mean, when you start to buck it, fluke it out and see which boxes he checks, it's a whole lot.

22:36.831 --> 22:39.834 [SPEAKER_01]: And that's obviously for this spring in terms of production.

22:39.874 --> 22:41.216 [SPEAKER_01]: I have no doubt he's going to go out.

22:42.328 --> 23:06.908 [SPEAKER_01]: and dominate each Friday for coastal but also for the draft like you know this isn't arm that you're only going to let slip for so long like I think that there's no doubt top half of the first round type of upside here with with flookie so that's a dynamite pick for my third pick I guess I'm just going to keep on rolling here with the theme of hitters and take Virginia out

23:10.330 --> 23:15.573 [SPEAKER_01]: So, Metidumself is one of the premier freshman in college baseball, his freshman year at Duke.

23:16.734 --> 23:19.795 [SPEAKER_01]: Got off to kind of a sluggish and slow start last spring.

23:20.996 --> 23:23.357 [SPEAKER_01]: He was sitting just 188 through April 3rd.

23:23.917 --> 23:26.718 [SPEAKER_01]: So, we're not talking about like three bad series.

23:26.798 --> 23:27.259 [SPEAKER_01]: Like he was...

23:28.319 --> 23:52.275 [SPEAKER_01]: He was on the struggle bus through through the first week in April, but he made a handful of small tweaks to his stance and operation that that really paid off in dividends kind of lowers handset closed off his front side a little bit and there was less of sort of this bat wrap and hand press or load whatever you want to call it in his load.

23:53.435 --> 23:58.297 [SPEAKER_01]: Um, and as a result, he just got in a way better position to hit and do damage.

23:58.337 --> 24:16.103 [SPEAKER_01]: So with that finish the year, just as productive, if not a little bit more, then as a freshman, it 293 with 15 homers, um, 57 walks to just 36k's, um, pro body, really aesthetically pleasing swing with a lot of hands speed.

24:16.983 --> 24:36.123 [SPEAKER_01]: can drive the baseball to all fields he you know simply put he doesn't chase he chase it just an 18% clip last season feel for the barrel it's all fields type of impact it's a really you know exciting hit power combo I think he's going to be a key producer this year for Virginia along with Eric Becker.

24:36.870 --> 24:41.494 [SPEAKER_01]: Joe Teroli and others, that's going to be a really good team in and of itself.

24:41.574 --> 24:46.879 [SPEAKER_01]: But I'll take AJ Grascia as my, as my third hitter.

24:46.899 --> 24:52.924 [SPEAKER_00]: I'm just going to keep things rolling here with my first hitter of the day.

24:53.985 --> 25:01.071 [SPEAKER_00]: Listen, I know and we've talked about this on the podcast that there is a split camp.

25:01.723 --> 25:11.610 [SPEAKER_00]: when it comes to how the pro scouting community feels about Georgia Tech outfield or Drew Burris in terms of his draft prospect status.

25:12.071 --> 25:18.396 [SPEAKER_00]: On one hand, there are a lot of people who look at the five foot 975 pound outfielder and they go, you are undersized.

25:18.816 --> 25:22.919 [SPEAKER_00]: We are worried about how much power you're actually gonna be able to translate to a wood bat.

25:23.079 --> 25:26.201 [SPEAKER_00]: Are you the dreaded metal bat merchant?

25:26.562 --> 25:29.524 [SPEAKER_00]: That's going to make a team regret the early first round

25:31.623 --> 25:45.611 [SPEAKER_00]: There are other people who think that this is a super athletic, super twitchy, super cool, you know, half half fast hand speed type of hitter who's going to be able to stick in a premium position and they're really excited about him either way though Peter and this is the point I'm trying to make.

25:53.716 --> 26:00.741 [SPEAKER_00]: for all the talk that there isn't rightfully so about Rock Chalowski, there probably needs to be more conversation and we're responsible for that.

26:01.161 --> 26:04.564 [SPEAKER_00]: For Drew Burris, and I just think that this is going to be a great year for him.

26:04.624 --> 26:07.806 [SPEAKER_00]: So I am picking Drew Burris last year was great.

26:08.106 --> 26:08.707 [SPEAKER_00]: Bad at 33, 33, 23 doubles, 19 homers.

26:11.252 --> 26:13.714 [SPEAKER_00]: Just an 18% chase rate as a sophomore.

26:14.495 --> 26:17.398 [SPEAKER_00]: He has legitimate power that we've seen at the college level.

26:17.418 --> 26:19.820 [SPEAKER_00]: Whether or not that translates to pro ball.

26:20.180 --> 26:24.264 [SPEAKER_00]: We will see But you know undeniable with metal in his hands.

26:24.344 --> 26:31.110 [SPEAKER_00]: So I am excited about the what feels like near guaranteed production from Drew Burris

26:31.730 --> 26:47.563 [SPEAKER_00]: Again, this is not about draft position, it's not about how the pro community feels about these players, the game that we're playing is purely to put together the most productive list of 2026 college baseball players, I feel very good about having Drew Burris on my team, what you got.

26:47.643 --> 26:58.811 [SPEAKER_01]: So it's funny, you took the words right out of my mouth, both with the Burris pick and then also the rationale because up until I, I said, AJ Grossia, I was wrestling.

26:59.792 --> 27:00.995 [SPEAKER_01]: Also with Drew Burris.

27:01.135 --> 27:02.838 [SPEAKER_01]: So I can't argue with any of that.

27:03.058 --> 27:10.091 [SPEAKER_01]: It's for all the reasons that you said in terms of college producers, there's a chance he's at the

27:11.360 --> 27:17.363 [SPEAKER_01]: the top of a couple of statistical categories when we circle back in June.

27:17.743 --> 27:22.185 [SPEAKER_01]: Like I mean, he's got golden spikes finalist type of upside.

27:23.105 --> 27:26.927 [SPEAKER_01]: There's that type of performance in the tank and not to discount the tools with Burris.

27:26.967 --> 27:30.328 [SPEAKER_01]: I mean, he's not everyone's cup of tea when it comes to the draft.

27:30.408 --> 27:34.210 [SPEAKER_01]: I can't even say that I'm personally on the higher end of the spectrum with him, but

27:35.120 --> 27:37.841 [SPEAKER_01]: you know, there are there are legit tools here with Burris.

27:37.881 --> 27:40.302 [SPEAKER_01]: You know, there's a, you know, he's got a plus arm.

27:40.322 --> 27:42.523 [SPEAKER_01]: He can run, thump in the stick.

27:42.563 --> 27:47.525 [SPEAKER_01]: I'd be, I'm curious to see how that will translate professionally.

27:48.065 --> 27:50.166 [SPEAKER_01]: If that's a little bit of a tell us to how I feel.

27:50.226 --> 27:53.287 [SPEAKER_01]: But, um, no, the tools with him are very real.

27:54.227 --> 28:03.431 [SPEAKER_01]: And he's going to be the, the straw that serves the drink for the third straight year for Georgia Tech and a stacked Georgia Tech team at that.

28:05.037 --> 28:21.322 [SPEAKER_01]: I think finally I'll dip into the pitching side of things because I feel really confident actually that I'm not going to get pickpocketed by you on my fourth hit or even though that we always are, you know, kind of on the same wavelength with how we think, guys, we consider

28:22.002 --> 28:34.804 [SPEAKER_01]: And what not actually do feel really confident you're not going to stack my fourth hitter, but for my first picture, I'm going to take and I might be taking your pocket here to an extent, well, actually no, because you're going to take a reliever.

28:34.904 --> 28:46.467 [SPEAKER_01]: So I'll take Jackson Flora, UC Santa Barbara right hand, or I know you're wrestling with taking him with, you know, each of your, your first couple of picks on the pitching side, but

28:48.712 --> 28:58.258 [SPEAKER_01]: It was he was a legit arm and in log meeting full innings for them as a freshman, but it was an uptick across the board.

29:00.219 --> 29:05.562 [SPEAKER_01]: Last excuse me last season at Santa Barbara and he kind of stepped into that.

29:08.177 --> 29:22.504 [SPEAKER_01]: a way more prominent role piggybacking off of Tyler Bremner with Bremner being the Friday guy and Jackson being the Saturday guy but pitched to a 360 RA with E6Ks to just 17 walks across 75 innings.

29:24.685 --> 29:31.588 [SPEAKER_01]: You know, with Tyler Bremner gone now to professional baseball, he was the second overall pick of the Los Angeles Angels.

29:32.918 --> 29:41.543 [SPEAKER_01]: Floor is now going to take the reins of the rotation and kind of serve as that anchor and I'm really excited to see him do it because I think that you know he's going to continue to thrive.

29:41.563 --> 29:47.606 [SPEAKER_01]: You know he's a long leon kid at six five and in two hundred and five pounds.

29:49.107 --> 29:50.968 [SPEAKER_01]: little bit of an efforty look in his delivery.

29:50.988 --> 29:59.673 [SPEAKER_01]: There's, you know, it's accompanied by a bit of a headwack, but you know, it's a with the arm stroke with with no shortage of arm speed.

29:59.693 --> 30:04.296 [SPEAKER_01]: He relies really heavily on his fastball slyer combo.

30:04.356 --> 30:09.638 [SPEAKER_01]: And the two made up for 94% of the pitches he threw last spring.

30:10.559 --> 30:13.080 [SPEAKER_01]: The heater sits in the mid to upper 90s, but it's been up to 100.

30:14.321 --> 30:19.824 [SPEAKER_01]: explodes out of the hand, ton of life through the zone and it plays especially well on the top third.

30:20.544 --> 30:30.028 [SPEAKER_01]: Thanks to it's writing life and he's also shown the ability to to run it in on the hands of of right-handed hitters and just kind of be a a knuckle eater.

30:30.408 --> 30:33.050 [SPEAKER_01]: So to speak, but the sweeper here with Flora, it's a

30:33.830 --> 30:47.862 [SPEAKER_01]: consistently it's a it's a it's a pitch that consistently flashes plus it's got a ton of late lateral bite, but he's also got enough feel for it, where you can manipulate its shape and back foot to left handed hitters so.

30:49.363 --> 30:55.027 [SPEAKER_01]: He's not completely anemic against left handed hitters given kind of the lack of a third pitch right now the change up is more.

30:56.077 --> 31:09.363 [SPEAKER_01]: under construction and he's working on trying to develop a kick change, but he's got plus fuel for the fastball side or combo and his command is rather advanced like the quality of strikes is there.

31:09.463 --> 31:12.945 [SPEAKER_01]: So be curious to see what the arsenal looks like this spring.

31:14.245 --> 31:19.468 [SPEAKER_01]: He's got a chance to dominate and he's going to be one of the premier arms on the west coast.

31:20.762 --> 31:21.423 [SPEAKER_00]: No doubt about that.

31:21.683 --> 31:25.128 [SPEAKER_00]: I also add, there is a change up in there when I saw him live in person.

31:26.129 --> 31:30.014 [SPEAKER_00]: There was a change up that flashed at least average at points.

31:30.434 --> 31:35.381 [SPEAKER_00]: It's a work in progress, but with his command and arm speed, I do have confidence that that could be a pitch.

31:36.281 --> 31:52.907 [SPEAKER_00]: That just continues to excel his profile into the top of the draft and other one of those guys who sits right there with Liam Peterson and Cameron Flooky as a potential very early name off the board I have to go back to hitting because I'm not yet ready to take

31:53.667 --> 31:54.487 [SPEAKER_00]: a reliever.

31:54.848 --> 32:01.270 [SPEAKER_00]: And so I'm going to go with more what feels like guaranteed production here with ace Reese.

32:01.751 --> 32:06.993 [SPEAKER_00]: I just think that that is a guy who's going to be very successful this year.

32:07.473 --> 32:12.095 [SPEAKER_00]: And I wad, I know that he probably wasn't picking your pocket there, but I know you like him.

32:12.975 --> 32:15.796 [SPEAKER_00]: Last year, he was one of the best hitters in the country hit 352.

32:17.037 --> 32:23.904 [SPEAKER_00]: with 18 doubles 21 home or 66 RBI's was the SEC newcomer of the year and a second team on the American for us.

32:24.904 --> 32:25.425 [SPEAKER_00]: It was great.

32:25.758 --> 32:31.842 [SPEAKER_00]: in the cave and then joined Team USA and went to Japan, really physically built.

32:32.663 --> 32:37.827 [SPEAKER_00]: Six foot three, two hundred five pounds, he's athletic, a compact, powerful hitter.

32:38.627 --> 32:41.370 [SPEAKER_00]: He's got great bat speed, efficient hips.

32:42.470 --> 32:45.673 [SPEAKER_00]: And then the strength is matched with great barrel accuracy.

32:45.753 --> 32:48.855 [SPEAKER_00]: Last year, produced a 90th percentile eggs of velocity of 105 miles per hour, 55% hard hit rate.

32:53.058 --> 32:53.698 [SPEAKER_00]: really good bat.

32:54.159 --> 32:57.160 [SPEAKER_00]: Somebody who's probably going to make a lot of noise this year for Mississippi State.

32:57.180 --> 33:05.664 [SPEAKER_00]: These kinds of guys who have strong arms and fast bats tend to have productive years, especially in the SEC with a ball fly is just a little bit further.

33:06.605 --> 33:08.726 [SPEAKER_00]: And I've got a lot of confidence in ace Reese.

33:08.786 --> 33:13.528 [SPEAKER_00]: So I feel as though I'm stacking up on a lot of home runs here with Drew Burris and ace Reese.

33:14.349 --> 33:16.950 [SPEAKER_00]: And I think that's going to help me when we play this game later on in the air.

33:17.530 --> 33:18.551 [SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, I agree.

33:18.591 --> 33:21.753 [SPEAKER_01]: I mean, I think that between the two of them you're looking at

33:22.793 --> 33:44.370 [SPEAKER_01]: You know, and it's crazy to say it, but realistically, I think 40 plus homers, I mean, you hit on it with Reese, like the offensive profile with them is is really exciting, particularly the impact he's able to generate, I mean, he consistently is on the barrel generates high quality contact on a regular basis, he's a plus power guy.

33:44.390 --> 33:50.554 [SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, I mean, he's he's going to be the centerpiece of of Mississippi state yet again.

33:51.635 --> 34:02.541 [SPEAKER_01]: Um, so I'm, again, very confident my pocket's not going to get picked on my fourth hit or so I'm going to keep on rolling here, um, with my pitchers and I'm going to take.

34:04.042 --> 34:13.748 [SPEAKER_01]: So it's kind of crazy that Liam Peterson is still on the board and I'm wrestling with it in real time as both of you and the listeners can hear, um, but.

34:14.980 --> 34:16.700 [SPEAKER_01]: I'm going to take T.C.

34:16.780 --> 34:29.203 [SPEAKER_01]: Wrighty, Tommy LePore and I know that again, man, Pearson's really hard to pass up on, but I can't go back now, um, really.

34:29.223 --> 34:30.304 [SPEAKER_00]: Well, actually, let me interrupt you.

34:30.324 --> 34:35.725 [SPEAKER_00]: He just went undrafted officially because you have to take a reliever next, so nobody's going to have Lee and Peterson in our game.

34:36.420 --> 34:40.283 [SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, so man, that's probably one of the more surprising guys to go on draft.

34:40.343 --> 34:43.966 [SPEAKER_01]: But anyways, I don't want to keep it too chalky and just have it relegated at the top.

34:44.806 --> 34:46.368 [SPEAKER_01]: I don't know five or six players.

34:46.988 --> 34:55.634 [SPEAKER_01]: But anyways, was initially a member of the witch tough state shockers and and pitch his way to their weekend rotation as a freshman and.

34:56.435 --> 35:09.471 [SPEAKER_01]: had really impressive results, but then he like so many others, and are the portal committed to TCU and over the course of last season, he established himself as TCU's most reliable arm.

35:11.232 --> 35:18.613 [SPEAKER_01]: can pile the 3.09-air-a with E8 strikeouts to 27 walks in 90 and a third innings.

35:20.054 --> 35:24.414 [SPEAKER_01]: Big time arms strength, he's armed with a mid to upper 90s fastball.

35:24.534 --> 35:36.817 [SPEAKER_01]: It's been up to 100, but decent carry in the top half of his own supplements, his fastball with a really effective load of mid 80s slider that flashes 2.0 tilt.

35:38.377 --> 35:49.983 [SPEAKER_01]: Um, in a change up for my money's worth is that consistently flashes above average, um, that'll flash both arm side fade and late tumble the slider and change up respectively.

35:50.763 --> 35:53.585 [SPEAKER_01]: Generated mistakes of 42% and 34%.

35:54.525 --> 36:00.868 [SPEAKER_01]: So obviously from a draft prospect standpoint, Lapura is an impressive armament of himself.

36:00.948 --> 36:01.809 [SPEAKER_01]: We have him ranked.

36:02.986 --> 36:11.409 [SPEAKER_01]: Inside the top 30, or perhaps even inside the top 25 on our most recent B.A.

36:11.429 --> 36:15.810 [SPEAKER_01]: 20, 2600, which is as of August.

36:15.890 --> 36:21.012 [SPEAKER_01]: So, I mean, everyone has a very freshly updated report.

36:21.092 --> 36:28.154 [SPEAKER_01]: But from a production standpoint, it's not a hot take at all to say that LePore has

36:29.562 --> 36:35.445 [SPEAKER_01]: Big 12 pitcher of the year type of upside, like I think that's more cold than it is a hot take.

36:35.505 --> 36:57.058 [SPEAKER_01]: But again, where the name of the game here is production, I feel confident in this pick and then it's a draft prospect, you know, it's like every arm we've talked about, there's a, you know, you can command the baseball, there's, you know, two probably at least above average pitches in there in the tank with LePore and he looks the part of a starter professionally.

36:58.472 --> 37:19.612 [SPEAKER_01]: just this big kind of physical workhorse kid, just with a really exciting mound presence, I remember last year, I forget who it was against, but he was deep into a game, over a hundred pitches and the camera zoomed in on them and he was just so locked in this blinder's down tunnel vision.

37:19.832 --> 37:22.694 [SPEAKER_01]: It looked like the only two people on earth were him in the hitter.

37:23.575 --> 37:31.403 [SPEAKER_01]: Um, any rear back and, and through a, a fastball like a hunter that was elevated with carrying, just blew the doors off the kid.

37:31.483 --> 37:37.529 [SPEAKER_01]: So that's a long wind and went answer of saying that I'm, I'm excited to have LePore on my squad.

37:38.587 --> 37:50.054 [SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, one of my favorite pictures in the country this year, I had considered him very highly when we were making our preseason predictions for awards are a way to early award predictions.

37:50.555 --> 37:55.118 [SPEAKER_00]: I'm going to do my best here, Peter, to pick your pocket on this hitter.

37:55.298 --> 37:58.660 [SPEAKER_01]: I'm telling you, you're not going to, though it will be someone I've considered.

37:59.360 --> 38:04.342 [SPEAKER_00]: You know what of that I can tell you for sure that you've considered this person because I know you like him.

38:04.542 --> 38:07.623 [SPEAKER_00]: I'm going to go with trade brussard the outfield or from Houston.

38:07.783 --> 38:14.225 [SPEAKER_00]: I have a lot of power in my ranks right now, but I really could use some excellent athleticism.

38:14.325 --> 38:22.488 [SPEAKER_00]: And I feel like I get that with brussard hit 292 with 20 extra base hits and notably 31 stolen bases for the coogers.

38:22.955 --> 38:35.481 [SPEAKER_00]: Then he hit 296 over the summer while taking home Cape League all-star game MVP honors quick hands more of a hit over power profile although I wouldn't be surprised to see him grow into a little bit more power this season

38:37.096 --> 38:41.017 [SPEAKER_00]: His speed allows him to turn balls in the gaps into extra bases very quickly.

38:41.857 --> 38:45.238 [SPEAKER_00]: The athleticism plays in center field where I think he'll be able to stick as a professional.

38:45.559 --> 38:50.640 [SPEAKER_00]: He's got great range, he makes good reads, he looks like a pro defender at the position which is big time.

38:51.840 --> 39:00.303 [SPEAKER_00]: It's not necessarily the flashiest name on this list, and I don't know that it's going to produce the flashiest stats, but I do believe that he adds to my team two things.

39:00.963 --> 39:03.744 [SPEAKER_00]: great center field defense, which is going to be really hard to quantify.

39:03.764 --> 39:06.144 [SPEAKER_00]: I'll go I'm sure our colleagues will find a way to do it.

39:06.584 --> 39:07.925 [SPEAKER_00]: But then the run numbers.

39:08.325 --> 39:10.585 [SPEAKER_00]: I don't know that I have the run numbers on my roster yet.

39:10.705 --> 39:19.827 [SPEAKER_00]: He will certainly bring them after stealing 30 plus he has a chance to be in that 30 plus maybe he's been hit 40 stolen bases if he's really productive this year and hits over 300.

39:20.107 --> 39:25.869 [SPEAKER_00]: And then again like I said, I do think there's more power in the tank and in his immediate future with

39:31.250 --> 39:42.875 [SPEAKER_01]: Awesome pick, because I was kind of reserving hit or four, so to speak, as like a dark horse guy, as I'm sure you are slash were as well.

39:43.115 --> 39:45.136 [SPEAKER_01]: And he was someone that I kicked around like,

39:46.356 --> 40:08.028 [SPEAKER_01]: Spark plug in every sense of the word kind of had a coming out party a little bit on the cape was the all-star game MVP It's a really kind of intriguing and exciting tool set on both sides of the baseball Obviously offensively it's hit over power like the bat to ball skills and contact ability just the hit tool in general

40:08.948 --> 40:13.574 [SPEAKER_01]: outweighs the current impact and in the impact he projects to grow into.

40:15.095 --> 40:21.643 [SPEAKER_01]: But he's a plus runner, as you said, looks every bit of the, every bit the part of a pro center fielder.

40:21.723 --> 40:25.568 [SPEAKER_01]: I think he's going to be a really high producer for Houston this year.

40:25.588 --> 40:28.471 [SPEAKER_01]: I mean, he's, I'd be shocked if he doesn't lead off for him.

40:29.272 --> 40:41.560 [SPEAKER_01]: Um, just given his profile, but like, I mean, I would not be surprised at all if he ends up hitting 32330, like you said with a number of stolen bases 30 to 35 plus if not more.

40:41.580 --> 40:45.903 [SPEAKER_01]: Um, and I also wouldn't be surprised even though he's not currently on.

40:46.903 --> 40:54.046 [SPEAKER_01]: our college top 100, I have a good feeling that he will be when we, you know, kind of make some tweaks to it after the fall and update it a little bit.

40:54.807 --> 40:58.849 [SPEAKER_01]: I think it'll be on there and I also think there's a chance that he's a top two round draft pick.

41:00.029 --> 41:02.250 [SPEAKER_01]: When all of a sudden done, I think he is that kind of upside.

41:02.330 --> 41:05.932 [SPEAKER_01]: So as you can tell, I do really like that pick.

41:08.393 --> 41:13.775 [SPEAKER_01]: I guess for the sake of suspense, I'll save my fourth hitter until my last pick.

41:15.750 --> 41:38.200 [SPEAKER_01]: As you say at the top, we have to have a reliever for our last picture and coming up with this one was actually a little bit hard because you don't know necessarily who's going to be a team's reliever until they, these roles are actually carved out.

41:38.320 --> 41:41.682 [SPEAKER_01]: So I guess to walk people through my thinking,

41:42.950 --> 41:48.731 [SPEAKER_01]: Obviously, Dylan Valanis last year was one of the premier bullpen arms and college baseball.

41:49.631 --> 41:58.133 [SPEAKER_01]: There was no doubt about that, but he, for all intents and purposes, like I think he's probably going to make the leap in the Texas's rotation this year.

41:58.913 --> 42:00.034 [SPEAKER_01]: So I straight away from him.

42:00.354 --> 42:09.015 [SPEAKER_01]: Another reliever that I really like is Isaiah Magdaleno of Hawaii, however, I also think that he's going to make the leap into Hawaii's rotation.

42:09.055 --> 42:09.736 [SPEAKER_01]: So I don't want to end up

42:12.056 --> 42:14.337 [SPEAKER_01]: with no saves on my roster.

42:15.558 --> 42:24.721 [SPEAKER_01]: So again, to sound like an athlete entering the transfer portal with that being said, I am going to take, ooh, I'm down to two guys here.

42:26.222 --> 42:28.823 [SPEAKER_01]: Um, man.

42:31.124 --> 42:32.445 [SPEAKER_01]: All right, I got to just pull the trigger on it.

42:32.545 --> 42:37.187 [SPEAKER_01]: I'm going to take all in a situation of winning

42:41.018 --> 42:48.901 [SPEAKER_01]: guys who are definitely going to close, I'm going to take Texas A&M right hander, MJ Ballinger.

42:48.921 --> 42:57.845 [SPEAKER_01]: He was nails in relief last year for Florida Atlantic was their closer all the way.

42:57.865 --> 43:00.667 [SPEAKER_01]: 28 appearances, all of which came in relief.

43:01.757 --> 43:12.806 [SPEAKER_01]: Pissue and ERA just over to at 2.01, not collected 10 saves, 39 punchouts and 44 and 2.3rds innings.

43:12.986 --> 43:21.694 [SPEAKER_01]: I feel really confident in him, you know, obviously sticking is kind of a higher leverage reliever, but also racking up his fair share of saves.

43:25.677 --> 43:26.538 [SPEAKER_01]: in Aggieland.

43:26.778 --> 43:42.169 [SPEAKER_01]: He's a really good reliever and was a nice get kind of an underrated get for my money's worth out of the portal for coach early in company but three pitch mix armed with a with a low 90s fastball.

43:42.209 --> 43:49.634 [SPEAKER_01]: It's been up to 94 and then both has his high 80s to excuse me,

43:52.769 --> 44:01.833 [SPEAKER_01]: in upper 70s change up or both effective off speeds as a really nice job of staying off the barrel above average command across the board.

44:02.013 --> 44:15.418 [SPEAKER_01]: So I think that he's going to be a consistent getter of saves that was phrase so eloquently, but I'm confident in him anchoring my one-man bullpen.

44:17.860 --> 44:19.080 [SPEAKER_00]: Well, I'm going to take a reliever now, too.

44:20.861 --> 44:28.182 [SPEAKER_00]: I thought for sure there was a chance that my pocket would be picked on my reliever pick, but a last, it was not.

44:28.703 --> 44:35.824 [SPEAKER_00]: I'm going to go with Santiago Garcia from LSU, the Oregon Transfer Left Hander.

44:36.644 --> 44:44.266 [SPEAKER_00]: I am very excited about what Santiago Garcia brings to Baton Rouge, and I think pitching coach

44:47.727 --> 44:56.941 [SPEAKER_00]: Uh, there's a lot of potential here, 91 to 93 miles per hour, tickles 95, but the movement on that pitch is absurd.

44:56.961 --> 45:02.509 [SPEAKER_00]: Uh, last year at Oregon, average 22 and a half inches of induced vertical break.

45:02.929 --> 45:06.252 [SPEAKER_00]: He has interesting release traits, including some pretty solid extension.

45:07.033 --> 45:11.798 [SPEAKER_00]: He went to his fastball nearly 70% of the time last year and still produced a 25% mystery with the pitch.

45:12.298 --> 45:17.043 [SPEAKER_00]: On top of that though, he has a low 80s high spin curveball that produced a 41% misrate in 2025.

45:17.083 --> 45:18.524 [SPEAKER_00]: So between the release characteristics,

45:23.088 --> 45:39.053 [SPEAKER_00]: an unreal fastball that has according to a couple sources been really lights out in the fall so far in Baton Rouge, plus the curveball, plus a change-up that I think has average potential, plus the fact that with Hianus over the summer within the Cape,

45:39.453 --> 45:41.894 [SPEAKER_00]: He threw 11 scoreless innings with 15 strikeouts.

45:42.354 --> 45:54.279 [SPEAKER_00]: I believe we are looking at somebody who has a chance to be one of the best relievers in the country in 2026 and we know that these guys who kind of catch on quick at LSU have a chance to do big things.

45:54.699 --> 45:56.560 [SPEAKER_00]: He's going to be at LSU for two more years.

45:57.140 --> 46:14.610 [SPEAKER_00]: So, not only are we looking at somebody who has outstanding potential as a reliever this year, but I think with continued development under Nadeeski, which a lot of these guys are doing really well lately, he has a chance to potentially be a 2027 starter type with some really standout stuff that just needs to continue to progress.

46:14.670 --> 46:19.073 [SPEAKER_00]: But for right now, a really good bet to end up in their bullpen, and I think somebody who's going to be productive.

46:19.845 --> 46:30.669 [SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, I mean, the fastball with him is, you know, there are a lot of outlier traits there, as you said, he averaged almost 23 inches of ride.

46:32.609 --> 46:40.512 [SPEAKER_01]: Last spring at Oregon, he pairs that with a pretty flat approach angle, so it literally like in the top half of the zone and you want to, you know.

46:41.118 --> 47:09.110 [SPEAKER_01]: get down to the nitty-gray of it a little bit more like in the top third of the zone and really elevated legit looks like a rise ball or a ski ball for opposing hitters and you know it helps it play up above it's it's low 90s to you know 94 95 mile an hour velocity and like you said he's on a one trick pony with the fastball both his curve ball you know the flash is a ton of depth and sharp downward bite in the low 80s change up that flashes late tumble like

47:10.225 --> 47:16.209 [SPEAKER_01]: Those two are legitimate secondary weapons and with generators.

47:16.269 --> 47:31.621 [SPEAKER_01]: Like between the spring at Oregon and the Cape with Hyannis, the curve ball and change up generator respective mister rates of 44% and 59% and to translate and keep it simple.

47:31.941 --> 47:32.622 [SPEAKER_01]: That's pretty good.

47:33.302 --> 47:34.243 [SPEAKER_01]: It's actually really good.

47:34.383 --> 47:36.704 [SPEAKER_01]: So that's an awesome pick as your reliever.

47:37.025 --> 47:50.033 [SPEAKER_01]: And I think that, you know, just from an excitement standpoint, it's a great pick and then also from a production standpoint, you know, he's going to be a key arm for for LSU.

47:50.273 --> 47:56.738 [SPEAKER_01]: So now for the pick that I've been teasing for the better part of, I don't know, the last 20 or so minutes.

47:59.017 --> 48:05.226 [SPEAKER_01]: I'm going to take my final hitter and round out my draft with Texas Tech outfielder Logan Hughes.

48:06.588 --> 48:14.440 [SPEAKER_01]: Um, and so last, you know, he started his career at Statson with, you know, for a freshman.

48:15.733 --> 48:41.326 [SPEAKER_01]: Had a really productive year, hit a shade over 290 with 20 extra base hits, ended up transferring to Texas Tech, we're last year, he hit 327 with 13 doubles, 19 homers, 58 RBIs, and more walks than strikeouts, and then he had a strong stand on the cape that lasted 24 games, so just over half the summer.

48:43.718 --> 48:44.339 [SPEAKER_01]: It's the bat.

48:44.599 --> 48:49.422 [SPEAKER_01]: It's all about the bat with Hughes, both with my rationale is to why I'm taking him.

48:51.064 --> 49:07.696 [SPEAKER_01]: But also as to, you know, his draft stock and what, you know, like for me, when I was writing him up last week in my 10 underrated college draft prospects piece, like I think the bat alone with Hughes is going to be enough to warrant.

49:08.066 --> 49:13.251 [SPEAKER_01]: you know, a top to round, top 50, perhaps overall pick.

49:14.593 --> 49:21.440 [SPEAKER_01]: It's a really simple operation in the box with minimal moving parts.

49:21.460 --> 49:22.761 [SPEAKER_01]: There's a ton of bats bead.

49:23.702 --> 49:29.407 [SPEAKER_01]: He's shown the ability to drive the baseball with a theory to all fields while consistently being on the barrel.

49:30.788 --> 49:33.651 [SPEAKER_01]: It's just a real tantalizing hit power combo.

49:33.811 --> 49:43.760 [SPEAKER_01]: Like on top of his plus bat to ball skills, last spring in overall in zone contact rate of 91% his rock power to me also grades out as plus.

49:45.581 --> 49:47.022 [SPEAKER_01]: You know, the under the hood.

49:48.003 --> 49:59.160 [SPEAKER_01]: numbers and data are just as impressive if not more impressive than kind of the back of the baseball card numbers, the, you know, he posted an average EV exit velocity last spring of 94.4.

50:01.563 --> 50:19.472 [SPEAKER_01]: in a 90th percentile eggs of velocity of 166.7, a hard hit percentage over 60% so again, defensively profiles is like a left field first base type, but the bat's going to carry him both this spring and beyond as he progresses through professional baseball.

50:19.492 --> 50:22.274 [SPEAKER_01]: So I think he's going to be a 20 plus homer guy for Texas Tech.

50:23.394 --> 50:32.639 [SPEAKER_01]: Um, and take a lot of Pete kind of make a national name for himself this spring with his performance.

50:32.699 --> 50:35.361 [SPEAKER_01]: It's a really, really appealing offensive profile.

50:37.152 --> 50:38.793 [SPEAKER_00]: Alrighty, this is it.

50:39.193 --> 50:45.418 [SPEAKER_00]: Last pick of the draft, I'm surprised that this guy is available still.

50:45.998 --> 50:49.981 [SPEAKER_00]: Rock Chalowski Peter is the best shortstop in this class.

50:50.021 --> 50:55.404 [SPEAKER_00]: He's probably the best shortstop prospect in a decade coming out of college baseball.

50:55.605 --> 50:59.868 [SPEAKER_00]: But if there's a guy in this year's draft, I think has a chance to make

51:00.688 --> 51:12.993 [SPEAKER_00]: Not as much noise, not going to be rock Chalowski, but a guy who has a chance to stick a short stop and be really good in 2026, that's Tyler Bell from Kentucky.

51:13.833 --> 51:15.674 [SPEAKER_00]: I love Tyler Bell.

51:15.754 --> 51:17.375 [SPEAKER_00]: It's been that way for some time.

51:17.435 --> 51:23.257 [SPEAKER_00]: He was a second-round pick out of high school by the raised, turned it down in favor of heading to Lexington.

51:23.657 --> 51:24.878 [SPEAKER_00]: and it quickly paid dividends.

51:24.898 --> 51:32.982 [SPEAKER_00]: He was excellent last year hit 296 with 17 doubles and 10 home runs, showed enough polish to earn a spot with Team USA.

51:33.382 --> 51:38.065 [SPEAKER_00]: His game is built on outstanding athleticism on both sides of the ball.

51:38.125 --> 51:42.027 [SPEAKER_00]: He's a rangey capable and consistent defender at the plate.

51:42.087 --> 51:45.109 [SPEAKER_00]: He has a real fuel for contact, destroys velocity.

51:45.129 --> 51:47.951 [SPEAKER_00]: And while he does have some holes in

51:52.753 --> 51:56.275 [SPEAKER_00]: and he pears it with steady bat to ball and pretty good power.

51:56.495 --> 52:02.298 [SPEAKER_00]: I will say I don't think Tyler Bell's power gets enough love in conversations about him.

52:02.378 --> 52:06.140 [SPEAKER_00]: Ten home runs is nothing to scoff at for a true freshman.

52:06.220 --> 52:10.442 [SPEAKER_00]: I think we'll see more power this year which will continue to elevate the profile.

52:10.803 --> 52:15.085 [SPEAKER_00]: So we're talking about somebody who's going to hit in my mind at least 15 home runs.

52:15.445 --> 52:25.110 [SPEAKER_00]: he's going to be a steady producer as a short stop, he's going to make lots of contact, he's going to destroy fastballs in a fastball league and he's just built to succeed.

52:25.250 --> 52:28.071 [SPEAKER_00]: So, do I think he's the best short stop in this class?

52:28.472 --> 52:30.092 [SPEAKER_00]: No, and I don't think it's even really close.

52:30.213 --> 52:44.760 [SPEAKER_00]: Then Rochelowski has already run away with that title, but if I had to pick second place, I wouldn't feel too bad about putting Tyler Bell's name in that hat, and that is why I will have him round out my roster and what was a really fun game.

52:44.960 --> 52:45.220 [SPEAKER_00]: Peter.

52:45.260 --> 52:51.103 [SPEAKER_00]: I think this is going to end up being a cool exercise to take a look back at in a couple months and see how we did.

52:51.123 --> 53:02.530 [SPEAKER_00]: To recap the teams quickly, I'll run through Peter's first rock Chalowski story, Sawyer Stroestnighter AJ Garcia Jackson Flora Tommy LePour MJ Balinger.

53:03.278 --> 53:06.600 [SPEAKER_00]: and Logan Hughes, rounding out his squad.

53:07.040 --> 53:18.727 [SPEAKER_00]: For me, it's Dax Whitney, Cameron Flucke, Drew Burris, Ace Reast, Trae Broussard, Santiago Garcia, and Tyler Bell, rounding out the group.

53:18.907 --> 53:23.910 [SPEAKER_00]: Four hitters, three pitchers, including one reliever for the two of us.

53:24.810 --> 53:25.551 [SPEAKER_00]: This was fun.

53:25.611 --> 53:27.312 [SPEAKER_00]: Peter any final thoughts before we get out of here.

53:28.132 --> 53:31.156 [SPEAKER_01]: I echo your sentiments of it being a fun exercise.

53:31.196 --> 53:40.927 [SPEAKER_01]: I think in addition to our weekly picks to click, which hopefully won't be as black and white between the first half and second half this year.

53:40.947 --> 53:42.469 [SPEAKER_01]: It's a little bit more competitive.

53:43.610 --> 53:45.572 [SPEAKER_01]: This will be a fun little side.

53:46.553 --> 53:51.779 [SPEAKER_01]: plot to follow in one that we can circle back on on the podcast every few weeks.

53:51.839 --> 53:58.287 [SPEAKER_01]: So it's hard to say that both of our teams aren't really high quality.

53:58.327 --> 54:05.575 [SPEAKER_01]: These are prominent draft prospects, whether it be 26 or 27 in consistent college producers.

54:05.655 --> 54:06.616 [SPEAKER_01]: So I think that

54:07.317 --> 54:16.521 [SPEAKER_01]: They're each going to put up pretty impressive numbers and it should be kind of a sprint to the finish so to speak.

54:16.562 --> 54:20.263 [SPEAKER_01]: I'm excited to see it and that was a very fun exercise.

54:20.303 --> 54:31.729 [SPEAKER_01]: Maybe we'll do something again, sort of a variation of it either during the season or during the offseason and another draft type of deal because I think that those are always a lot of fun.

54:32.943 --> 54:40.406 [SPEAKER_00]: Well, there you go, we hope you enjoyed it as much as we did on this episode of the baseball America College baseball podcast before we let you go.

54:40.866 --> 54:43.847 [SPEAKER_00]: Once again, head on over to baseballamerica.com slash college.

54:44.187 --> 54:47.749 [SPEAKER_00]: If you like what we do on the podcast, you're going to love what we do on the written side too.

54:48.089 --> 54:51.070 [SPEAKER_00]: We are constantly turning out college content, we don't have

54:51.550 --> 54:57.274 [SPEAKER_00]: an off-season at baseball America and things are actually pretty busy right now with football.

54:58.054 --> 55:15.966 [SPEAKER_00]: Jupiter like we said coming up that'll be a topic of conversation on our next show which will be in two weeks and in the great month of October I'll be going to make some stops throughout the country for football to check in on some programs and then before you all know it it's going to be time.

55:16.426 --> 55:26.856 [SPEAKER_00]: For the college preview magazine, we're going to have lots of preview content in terms of rankings, but it is already almost October, which means the college season is Nye.

55:27.016 --> 55:30.099 [SPEAKER_00]: So again, baseballamerica.com slash college, repeater flarity.

55:30.219 --> 55:32.742 [SPEAKER_00]: I'm Jacob Rudner, and we will see you next time.