MLB Draft Notes: Virginia's Gelof Deserves Early Attention
I opened up my own draft coverage last Monday with several player notes from the first weekend of Division I play. This post is dedicated to more of the same after another great weekend of college ball.
Zack Gelof - 3B - Virginia
As long as Gelof continues to perform this season, I’ll probably be one of the high evals on him. There’s a tantalizing combination of hit, power and athleticism in Gelof that orgs should covet coming into the July draft. He has a lengthy frame with good present strength, and he moves very well for his corner position player size. There’s an excellent explosiveness to his swing that produces a very quick bat and solid present power. He tracks the ball well and covers the zone, capable of turning on velo or backspinning gap shots the other way. He isn’t a one-groove slugger; Gelof has an ability to manipulate the bat head and barrel pitches in all quadrants. He also moves well at third and actually gets down the line at an above-average to plus clip. It’s uncertain how high Gelof may go in the draft, but I would be stuffing this report if I were the amateur scout.
Julian Bosnic - LHP - South Carolina
Bosnic is one of the three weekend starters for the Gamecocks, and all three have pro futures and should go fairly high in July. All three have similar vertical profiles that orgs love these days. Bosnic sits low-90s and will touch 94 with riding life and some jump up in the zone. He comes from a high slot and gets good plane on his pitches, including the lively fastball. He takes advantage of that slot to tunnel a downward-breaking curveball that flashes above-average depth and bite, falling off the table with high spin when thrown well. There’s a deceptiveness to his arm path, but the release and finish can sometimes be inconsistent and violent off the third base side. There’s good size, arm strength and a present two-pitch mix to Bosnic’s profile that scouts should love.
Brannon Jordan - RHP - South Carolina
Jordan is the high floor of the three South Carolina arms by showing two excellent present pitches and flashing four in all. He has an average build but produces good arm speed, coming from a high and consistent arm slot to tunnel all of his pitches effectively. The fastball rides with a high spin rate and produces late hop above the barrel, sitting low-90s up to 94. He tunnels a deep 11/5 curve with above-average depth that flashes plus, throwing it often with confidence. Jordan mixes in a short but tight slider as a harder look off the curve, and he will flash a low-80s changeup that projects well based on the arm speed and release. The overall profile isn’t jaw-dropping, but Jordan has four usable pitches and throws with confidence.
Thomas Farr - RHP - South Carolina
Farr is an easier eval among the Gamecock starters as more of an arm-strength guy with a big fastball that he relies on heavily. He has an average build but is strong and produces easy velo from a long, fluid arm path and high three-quarters slot. The fastball comes easy at 93-95, touching 97 with riding life and high spin. He has confidence to throw the pitch a lot and never goes away from it. He pairs it with a slider that flashes tight, three-quarters break and will miss bats at times, but overall feel remains in development. He also flashes a changeup with decent fade. Farr’s big arm strength and riding fastball should be a draw for orgs fairly early.
Ryan Watson - RHP - Georgia State
Watson doesn’t get the high-level attention of others I write about, but he deserves a shoutout for his performance Friday night at Vanderbilt. The right-hander buckled down in big spots and showed tons of confidence to keep one of the best teams in the country off balance all night, ultimately leading to a Georgia State win. He has a good pitcher’s frame with strength and athleticism, coming from a high three-quarters slot and a repeatable motion with smooth actions. He sits low-90s up to 93 with downhill plane and slight run, capable of locating around the zone. He pairs it with a tight slider that follows a similar path to the plate as the fastball before breaking late with good bite. Depth to the pitch is fringy, but the break comes late and keeps hitters off balance. He also flashes a projectable changeup with good arm speed, but the pitch doesn’t turn over consistently. Watson won’t go as high as others I highlight, but an org will get a guy with tons of confidence on the mound.