3B Jonathan India (Florida): 6'1", 185 lbs, born 12/15/1996
Overview
Hit: 55. Power: 50. Run: 55. Throw: 55. Field: 55.
A potential top 100 pick out of a South Florida high school in 2015, Jonathan India slashed a respectable but unremarkable .289/.361/.435 with ten home runs, 26 stolen bases, and an 85/45 strikeout to walk ratio over 126 games in his first two seasons in Gainesville. However, he got in better shape and changed his approach in 2018, and the results speak for themselves: .365/.506/.730 with 16 home runs, 11 stolen bases, and an even 45/45 strikeout to walk ratio over 54 games at the conclusion of the regular season, knocking around the best pitching college baseball has to offer. Combining his offensive ability with his speed and ability to play third base, and he has pushed himself from a possible top five rounds pick to a surefire first rounder, one that has a very good chance to crack the top ten picks.
Strengths
Few players can match the season India has put up this year, and demolishing the toughest pitching in college baseball is the best thing you can do for your draft stock on the field. He was especially hot in the middle of the season, putting together a 24 game hitting streak, of which 16 games featured at least two hits and which overall featured eight home runs. He uses a short swing and quick hands to generate his sneaky power, and despite striking out in 19% of his plate appearances, he also draws a lot of walks (19%), showing patience to go along with his overall offensive profile at the plate. On defense, he is a very good third baseman, but he could fit in at second base or even shortstop if needed, his versatility also adding to his resume. He's a good baserunner, stealing 37 bases in 42 attempts in his three years with the Gators, completing his all around profile.
Weaknesses
India doesn't have many glaring weaknesses. He lacks a standout carrying tool, but with everything being above average, I don't really see that as a problem. The one weakness that would drop him at least out of my top ten is his power. He has hit 16 home runs this year after hitting four and six in his freshman and sophomore years, respectively, but he's not the biggest guy at 6'1", 185 lbs, and it's hard to tell whether his quickness – rather than brute strength – generated power will translate to wood bats. He has a career .281/.397/.398 slash line over 36 games across two summers in the wood bat Cape Cod League, and while that .397 on-base percentage is very impressive, he hit just one home run in those 36 games and I wouldn't say that it's a guarantee that he can hit 20 home runs in a major league season.
Tuesday, May 22, 2018
Sunday, May 20, 2018
2018 Draft Preview: Brady Singer
RHP Brady Singer (Florida): 6'5", 180 lbs, born 8/4/1996
Overview
Fastball: 60. Slider: 55. Changeup: 55. Control: 55.
Brady Singer's stock has had a bit of a roller coaster ride this year, as he was the consensus front runner to be picked first overall coming into the season, but his stock slipped considerably early in the season before building itself back up as the season progressed. When he's right, he's your prototypical top of the draft arm, having dominated the SEC for the past two seasons with a clean delivery, three plus pitches, good command, and well-regarded makeup. However, he hasn't always been at his best, leading to questions. At this point, he's most likely set to go pretty much anywhere in the top ten, but he's unlikely to reclaim that first overall spot from Casey Mize. As of May 20th, he is 10-1 with a 2.25 ERA and a 0.88 WHIP over 13 starts, striking out 92 and walking 18 in 88 innings for the Florida Gators.
Strengths
Singer has a lot of strengths. Starting with his build, he stands 6'5" with broad shoulders a lot of room to add good weight, and though he reportedly had some problems with his physical after being drafted in the second round of the 2015 draft out of high school, he has been completely healthy during his time in Gainesville. He sits in the low 90's with his fastball, but he can easily crank it up as high as 96 when he needs to, and its running life makes it very difficult to square up. He plays it off his at-times plus slider very well, as it breaks hard away from right handers and is nearly unhittable when he is at his best. His changeup is very good as well, showing good depth and coming along nicely with the rest of his arsenal. His command isn't quite pinpoint, but he has walked just 5.1% of his opponents this year and walked just 6% last season, showing the ability to fill the strike zone and help all of his pitches play up. Scouts are impressed with his makeup, as he is extremely competitive on the mound and receptive to coaching. That 2.25 ERA and 92/18 strikeout to walk ratio on the season include some very good starts against some very good teams, including Texas A&M (9 IP, 0 ER, 6 H, 0 BB, 5 K), Missouri (7 IP, 1 ER, 1 H, 3 BB, 6 K), Vanderbilt (7 IP, 1 ER, 2 H, 1 BB, 11 K), South Carolina (6 IP, 1 ER, 2 H, 2 BB, 7 K), and Kentucky (7 IP, 2 ER, 3 H, 1 BB, 10 K).
Weaknesses
Singer's biggest weakness this season has been his inconsistency. Despite those dominant starts against SEC programs (plus Siena and Rhode Island), he has also had some dud starts, including against Miami (5 IP, 3 ER, 9 H, 0 BB, 4 K), Tennessee (5 IP, 3 ER, 4 H, 3 BB, 7 K), and a exceptionally strong Arkansas offense (7 IP, 6 ER, 7 H, 2 BB, 7 K). Though he has righted the ship recently, those starts do exist, and his stuff looked more average than plus in them. Teams are also a little worried about his mechanics, which resemble those of Max Scherzer because of his lower arm slot, and inconsistency in those mechanics may have caused his early season inconsistency. Otherwise, I'm not exactly sure why people seem to be so down on him, and I wouldn't mind him at all as a top five pick
Overview
Fastball: 60. Slider: 55. Changeup: 55. Control: 55.
Brady Singer's stock has had a bit of a roller coaster ride this year, as he was the consensus front runner to be picked first overall coming into the season, but his stock slipped considerably early in the season before building itself back up as the season progressed. When he's right, he's your prototypical top of the draft arm, having dominated the SEC for the past two seasons with a clean delivery, three plus pitches, good command, and well-regarded makeup. However, he hasn't always been at his best, leading to questions. At this point, he's most likely set to go pretty much anywhere in the top ten, but he's unlikely to reclaim that first overall spot from Casey Mize. As of May 20th, he is 10-1 with a 2.25 ERA and a 0.88 WHIP over 13 starts, striking out 92 and walking 18 in 88 innings for the Florida Gators.
Strengths
Singer has a lot of strengths. Starting with his build, he stands 6'5" with broad shoulders a lot of room to add good weight, and though he reportedly had some problems with his physical after being drafted in the second round of the 2015 draft out of high school, he has been completely healthy during his time in Gainesville. He sits in the low 90's with his fastball, but he can easily crank it up as high as 96 when he needs to, and its running life makes it very difficult to square up. He plays it off his at-times plus slider very well, as it breaks hard away from right handers and is nearly unhittable when he is at his best. His changeup is very good as well, showing good depth and coming along nicely with the rest of his arsenal. His command isn't quite pinpoint, but he has walked just 5.1% of his opponents this year and walked just 6% last season, showing the ability to fill the strike zone and help all of his pitches play up. Scouts are impressed with his makeup, as he is extremely competitive on the mound and receptive to coaching. That 2.25 ERA and 92/18 strikeout to walk ratio on the season include some very good starts against some very good teams, including Texas A&M (9 IP, 0 ER, 6 H, 0 BB, 5 K), Missouri (7 IP, 1 ER, 1 H, 3 BB, 6 K), Vanderbilt (7 IP, 1 ER, 2 H, 1 BB, 11 K), South Carolina (6 IP, 1 ER, 2 H, 2 BB, 7 K), and Kentucky (7 IP, 2 ER, 3 H, 1 BB, 10 K).
Weaknesses
Singer's biggest weakness this season has been his inconsistency. Despite those dominant starts against SEC programs (plus Siena and Rhode Island), he has also had some dud starts, including against Miami (5 IP, 3 ER, 9 H, 0 BB, 4 K), Tennessee (5 IP, 3 ER, 4 H, 3 BB, 7 K), and a exceptionally strong Arkansas offense (7 IP, 6 ER, 7 H, 2 BB, 7 K). Though he has righted the ship recently, those starts do exist, and his stuff looked more average than plus in them. Teams are also a little worried about his mechanics, which resemble those of Max Scherzer because of his lower arm slot, and inconsistency in those mechanics may have caused his early season inconsistency. Otherwise, I'm not exactly sure why people seem to be so down on him, and I wouldn't mind him at all as a top five pick
Wednesday, May 16, 2018
2018 Draft Preview: Matthew Liberatore
LHP Matthew Liberatore (Mountain Ridge HS, AZ): 6'5", 200 lbs, born 11/6/1999
Overview
Fastball: 55. Curveball: 55. Slider: 55. Changeup: 60. Control: 60.
My personal favorite in this year's high school class, as of mid May, is Matthew Liberatore, who reminds me a lot of Clayton Kershaw. Liberatore is a tall, skinny left hander who is more about polish than power, throwing an array of quality pitches and commanding them well. He has hung around the top of the draft all spring, and he will likely go in the top ten picks with a good shot at the top five, though high school pitchers can be unpredictable.
Strengths
Liberatore is as polished as they come in high school. He has enough fastball velocity to get by, throwing in the low 90's, even touching 97 at some points, and he can locate that fastball around the zone with ease. His curveball has very good depth on it, and while it doesn't have too much power at the moment, its high spin rate makes it a very promising pitch. The slider is new this year, showing good bite and offering a different look from his curve. The changeup also has very good diving action, giving him four quality pitches, and with his command, everything plays up. His delivery looked like it would need to be cleaned up once he was in pro ball, but it looks cleaner this year already, showing that he is trending in the right direction.
Weaknesses
When teams are going to bypass high-upside flamethrowers for polished strike throwers like Liberatore, they look for consistency, and while Liberatore hasn't been too inconsistent, his stuff has ticked up and down a little bit this spring. He came out of the gate throwing mid 90's this spring, but has settled back into his usual low 90's as the season progressed, and his stuff has looked plus at times while looking more ordinary at others. That said, he is just 18, so you can't expect him to be perfect.
Clayton Kershaw Comparison
Kershaw and Liberatore share a striking number of similarities. Both are tall, skinny left handers with balanced skillsets that don't rely on any one pitch or skill to much. Both throw in the low 90's, and they're offspeed arsenals are identical. Kershaw's curve has more power, but Liberatore's drops nearly as much and has a similar shape, and both have short but effective sliders. Lastly, they both know how to use a changeup, and both can command their pitches around the zone. They also have similar deliveries, using a sizable leg kick before dropping and driving to the plate while dropping the ball down behind their back knee. Liberatore doesn't have the pause, but that is nit picking. I obviously don't think Liberatore will be quite the sure-fire Hall of Famer that Kershaw is, but they are extremely similar pitchers.
Overview
Fastball: 55. Curveball: 55. Slider: 55. Changeup: 60. Control: 60.
My personal favorite in this year's high school class, as of mid May, is Matthew Liberatore, who reminds me a lot of Clayton Kershaw. Liberatore is a tall, skinny left hander who is more about polish than power, throwing an array of quality pitches and commanding them well. He has hung around the top of the draft all spring, and he will likely go in the top ten picks with a good shot at the top five, though high school pitchers can be unpredictable.
Strengths
Liberatore is as polished as they come in high school. He has enough fastball velocity to get by, throwing in the low 90's, even touching 97 at some points, and he can locate that fastball around the zone with ease. His curveball has very good depth on it, and while it doesn't have too much power at the moment, its high spin rate makes it a very promising pitch. The slider is new this year, showing good bite and offering a different look from his curve. The changeup also has very good diving action, giving him four quality pitches, and with his command, everything plays up. His delivery looked like it would need to be cleaned up once he was in pro ball, but it looks cleaner this year already, showing that he is trending in the right direction.
Weaknesses
When teams are going to bypass high-upside flamethrowers for polished strike throwers like Liberatore, they look for consistency, and while Liberatore hasn't been too inconsistent, his stuff has ticked up and down a little bit this spring. He came out of the gate throwing mid 90's this spring, but has settled back into his usual low 90's as the season progressed, and his stuff has looked plus at times while looking more ordinary at others. That said, he is just 18, so you can't expect him to be perfect.
Clayton Kershaw Comparison
Kershaw and Liberatore share a striking number of similarities. Both are tall, skinny left handers with balanced skillsets that don't rely on any one pitch or skill to much. Both throw in the low 90's, and they're offspeed arsenals are identical. Kershaw's curve has more power, but Liberatore's drops nearly as much and has a similar shape, and both have short but effective sliders. Lastly, they both know how to use a changeup, and both can command their pitches around the zone. They also have similar deliveries, using a sizable leg kick before dropping and driving to the plate while dropping the ball down behind their back knee. Liberatore doesn't have the pause, but that is nit picking. I obviously don't think Liberatore will be quite the sure-fire Hall of Famer that Kershaw is, but they are extremely similar pitchers.
Friday, May 11, 2018
2018 Draft Preview: Nick Madrigal
2B Nick Madrigal (Oregon State): 5'7", 160 lbs, born 3/15/1997
Overview
Hit: 70. Power: 40. Run: 60. Throw: 50. Field: 60.
Last year, it was 5'9" San Diego high schooler Nick Allen who had everyone's attention as a standout defensive shortstop with some feel to hit. This year, it's another West Coast Nick who is making a lot of noise for a little guy. Nick Madrigal, who is listed at 5'7" and 160 pounds, has earned comparisons to Jose Altuve for his size and position, but unlike the tank-like Altuve, Madrigal has a skinny build. That said, he hits. As a sophomore, Madrigal slashed .380/.449/.532 with a 16/27 strikeout to walk ratio (5.7% to 9.6%), and as a junior this year, he is up to .449/.488/.590 with a 2/6 strikeout to walk ratio (2.3% to 7%), as of May 9th. That's a lot of production for a little guy, and as a second baseman, it's a lot of value on both sides of the ball. With the success of guys like Dustin Pedroia and Jose Altuve, Madrigal has a good chance to go in the top five picks.
Strengths
Madrigal's bat to ball skills and feel for the barrel are unrivaled by perhaps anyone in amateur baseball. As of May 9th, he has struck out just twice in 86 plate appearances, but he's not just making weak contact. Because he has such a good feel for the barrel, he is able to make up for his small stature and spray line drives all over the park with regularity. With the quantity of balls he squares up, he does run into a few and can actually hit home runs on occasion, at least with the metal bats; he hit four in 60 games in 2017 and has two so far in 18 games in 2018. Mechanically, he has made strides this year (literally) by gaining more ground with his swing while maintaining that stiff front leg, which helped him put up better power numbers in the small sample size before he broke his wrist. Defensively, he is a well above average second baseman, and some scouts feel he may be able to handle shortstop if he can make his average arm strength play up there.
Weaknesses
Obviously, Madrigal will never be a power hitter. He gets the most out of his frame, but even if he barrels up every baseball, at 160 pounds, he won't be hitting more than ten home runs per season. Additionally, because he makes contact so easily, he hasn't walked much this year, with that walk rate dropping from 9.6% in 2017 to 7% in 2018, something he'll need to improve on based on his on-base oriented profile. Lastly, his power hasn't resurfaced since returning from his broken wrist, but that's natural for wrist injuries and it should return as the season progresses.
Overview
Hit: 70. Power: 40. Run: 60. Throw: 50. Field: 60.
Last year, it was 5'9" San Diego high schooler Nick Allen who had everyone's attention as a standout defensive shortstop with some feel to hit. This year, it's another West Coast Nick who is making a lot of noise for a little guy. Nick Madrigal, who is listed at 5'7" and 160 pounds, has earned comparisons to Jose Altuve for his size and position, but unlike the tank-like Altuve, Madrigal has a skinny build. That said, he hits. As a sophomore, Madrigal slashed .380/.449/.532 with a 16/27 strikeout to walk ratio (5.7% to 9.6%), and as a junior this year, he is up to .449/.488/.590 with a 2/6 strikeout to walk ratio (2.3% to 7%), as of May 9th. That's a lot of production for a little guy, and as a second baseman, it's a lot of value on both sides of the ball. With the success of guys like Dustin Pedroia and Jose Altuve, Madrigal has a good chance to go in the top five picks.
Strengths
Madrigal's bat to ball skills and feel for the barrel are unrivaled by perhaps anyone in amateur baseball. As of May 9th, he has struck out just twice in 86 plate appearances, but he's not just making weak contact. Because he has such a good feel for the barrel, he is able to make up for his small stature and spray line drives all over the park with regularity. With the quantity of balls he squares up, he does run into a few and can actually hit home runs on occasion, at least with the metal bats; he hit four in 60 games in 2017 and has two so far in 18 games in 2018. Mechanically, he has made strides this year (literally) by gaining more ground with his swing while maintaining that stiff front leg, which helped him put up better power numbers in the small sample size before he broke his wrist. Defensively, he is a well above average second baseman, and some scouts feel he may be able to handle shortstop if he can make his average arm strength play up there.
Weaknesses
Obviously, Madrigal will never be a power hitter. He gets the most out of his frame, but even if he barrels up every baseball, at 160 pounds, he won't be hitting more than ten home runs per season. Additionally, because he makes contact so easily, he hasn't walked much this year, with that walk rate dropping from 9.6% in 2017 to 7% in 2018, something he'll need to improve on based on his on-base oriented profile. Lastly, his power hasn't resurfaced since returning from his broken wrist, but that's natural for wrist injuries and it should return as the season progresses.
Thursday, May 10, 2018
2018 Draft Preview: Joey Bart
C Joey Bart (Georgia Tech): 6'3", 225 lbs, born 12/15/1996
Overview
Hit: 50. Power: 60. Run: 30. Throw: 60. Field: 55.
Coming into the season, Joey Bart was considered a solid catching prospect with lots of power, but scouts were worried he struck out to much to reach that power. Last year, he slashed .296/.370/.575 with 13 home runs and an ugly 50/16 strikeout to walk ratio for the Yellow Jackets, which played right into the scouting reports. However, he has taken a huge step forward this year with the bat, with his slash line jumping to .362/.470/.612 with 12 home runs and a much improved 44/34 strikeout to walk ratio (through 5/9). The strikeout rate fell from 24% to 19%, not a huge difference but notable, while his walk rate jumped from 7.7% to 14.7%. Georgia Tech has already produced two famous catchers in Jason Varitek (14th overall in 1994) and Matt Wieters (5th overall in 2007), and Bart looks to go in the same draft range as those two.
Strengths
Bart has a ton of power and can stick behind the plate. That alone puts him in the first round conversation, but with his significantly improved plate discipline this year, he's an elite draft prospect. Through 48 games, Bart has smashed 12 home runs and 11 doubles for a .250 isolated power, down a hair from his .279 last year but much better considering his on base percentage jumped 100 points from .370 to .470. He is taking more pitches and doing damage on the ones he can, launching deep home runs that leave scouts in awe. He has a clean swing without holes, leaving his hands back before exploding, though at times he can be a bit slow to get those hands going. On defense, Bart separates himself from previous big-hitting college catchers like Zack Collins and Matt Thaiss by leaving no doubt he can stick behind the plate, showing a very strong arm and good receiving and blocking skills. When you think of big league catchers who can hit, the list doesn't go much farther than Gary Sanchez, Buster Posey, and J.T. Realmuto, all of whom are extremely valuable.
Weaknesses
Bart's one weakness is his strikeout rate. He struck out 50 times as a sophomore for a very high 24% rate, and while he has brought that down to 19% this year, it's still a bit high and higher level pitching could find ways to get the ball by him consistently. His Cape Cod League track record isn't that bad though, with a .276/.361/.386 slash line and a 37/13 strikeout to walk ratio (25.1% to 8.8%) in 38 games over two seasons, but the high strikeout rate is clearly there. He's also a well below average runner, but he is 6/7 in stolen base attempts in his three years at Georgia Tech and nobody is drafting him for his wheels anyways. Really, the one thing to be weary of is the strikeout rate, even if it is going down.
Overview
Hit: 50. Power: 60. Run: 30. Throw: 60. Field: 55.
Coming into the season, Joey Bart was considered a solid catching prospect with lots of power, but scouts were worried he struck out to much to reach that power. Last year, he slashed .296/.370/.575 with 13 home runs and an ugly 50/16 strikeout to walk ratio for the Yellow Jackets, which played right into the scouting reports. However, he has taken a huge step forward this year with the bat, with his slash line jumping to .362/.470/.612 with 12 home runs and a much improved 44/34 strikeout to walk ratio (through 5/9). The strikeout rate fell from 24% to 19%, not a huge difference but notable, while his walk rate jumped from 7.7% to 14.7%. Georgia Tech has already produced two famous catchers in Jason Varitek (14th overall in 1994) and Matt Wieters (5th overall in 2007), and Bart looks to go in the same draft range as those two.
Strengths
Bart has a ton of power and can stick behind the plate. That alone puts him in the first round conversation, but with his significantly improved plate discipline this year, he's an elite draft prospect. Through 48 games, Bart has smashed 12 home runs and 11 doubles for a .250 isolated power, down a hair from his .279 last year but much better considering his on base percentage jumped 100 points from .370 to .470. He is taking more pitches and doing damage on the ones he can, launching deep home runs that leave scouts in awe. He has a clean swing without holes, leaving his hands back before exploding, though at times he can be a bit slow to get those hands going. On defense, Bart separates himself from previous big-hitting college catchers like Zack Collins and Matt Thaiss by leaving no doubt he can stick behind the plate, showing a very strong arm and good receiving and blocking skills. When you think of big league catchers who can hit, the list doesn't go much farther than Gary Sanchez, Buster Posey, and J.T. Realmuto, all of whom are extremely valuable.
Weaknesses
Bart's one weakness is his strikeout rate. He struck out 50 times as a sophomore for a very high 24% rate, and while he has brought that down to 19% this year, it's still a bit high and higher level pitching could find ways to get the ball by him consistently. His Cape Cod League track record isn't that bad though, with a .276/.361/.386 slash line and a 37/13 strikeout to walk ratio (25.1% to 8.8%) in 38 games over two seasons, but the high strikeout rate is clearly there. He's also a well below average runner, but he is 6/7 in stolen base attempts in his three years at Georgia Tech and nobody is drafting him for his wheels anyways. Really, the one thing to be weary of is the strikeout rate, even if it is going down.
Friday, May 4, 2018
2018 Draft Preview: Casey Mize
RHP Casey Mize (Auburn): 6'3" 210 lbs, born 5/1/1997
Overview
Fastball: 60. Cutter: 55. Splitter: 70. Curveball: 50. Control: 65
So what is all the fuss about Casey Mize? A likely top ten pick heading into the season following an excellent sophomore season at Auburn (8-2, 2.04 ERA, 0.90 WHIP, 109/9 K/BB in 83.2 IP), Mize has absolutely dominated the SEC again in 2018 and has improved his stock to the point where he is by far the most likely player to be taken first overall at this point, so Tigers fans pay attention. This year, he is 9-2 with a 2.25 ERA, a 0.68 WHIP, and a 119/7 strikeout to walk ratio in 84 innings in the toughest conference in college baseball. That record includes excellent starts against powerhouse teams like Texas A&M (7.1 IP, 1 ER, 13 K's), Mississippi State (9 IP, 1 ER, 9 K's), and Vanderbilt (9 IP, 1 ER, 15 K's), as well as a complete game, 13 strikeout no-hitter against Northeastern. Long story short, he's easily the best pitcher in college baseball right now and has few peers anywhere in this draft class. The Tigers love big armed right handers, and with the first overall pick, any smart bet would be on Mize.
Strengths
Mize finds success through a combination of top-notch stuff and excellent control. He throws his fastball anywhere from 92-97, typically sitting around 93-94 with running life. He can also mold the fastball into a cutter, which comes in around 90-91 and is very tough to square up. That cutter can in turn become a slider, which is currently his worst pitch but which also gives hitters a slower look. However, his not-so-secret weapon is a plus-plus splitter that just dives at the plate and could be classified as "un-hittable." On top of it all, he knows exactly how to use all of it and can spot all of his pitches around the zone, leading to tons of swings and misses. He has walked just 16 batters over his past two seasons, totaling 168 innings, striking out 228 in the process. Simply put, he has obliterated SEC hitting for two seasons by spotting excellent stuff without making location mistakes. He's listed at 6'3" and 210 pounds, a prototypical starting pitcher's build.
Weaknesses
There aren't many. Mize did have to be shut down with arm fatigue at the end of the season last year and again over the summer, which made some teams nervous, but he has proven to be durable this year and has not had any of the same issues. He does throw with a little bit of effort; not too much to the point where I would make anything of it, but it's also not the absolute smoothest motion in the world. It's simply nitpicking to fill this paragraph.
Overview
Fastball: 60. Cutter: 55. Splitter: 70. Curveball: 50. Control: 65
So what is all the fuss about Casey Mize? A likely top ten pick heading into the season following an excellent sophomore season at Auburn (8-2, 2.04 ERA, 0.90 WHIP, 109/9 K/BB in 83.2 IP), Mize has absolutely dominated the SEC again in 2018 and has improved his stock to the point where he is by far the most likely player to be taken first overall at this point, so Tigers fans pay attention. This year, he is 9-2 with a 2.25 ERA, a 0.68 WHIP, and a 119/7 strikeout to walk ratio in 84 innings in the toughest conference in college baseball. That record includes excellent starts against powerhouse teams like Texas A&M (7.1 IP, 1 ER, 13 K's), Mississippi State (9 IP, 1 ER, 9 K's), and Vanderbilt (9 IP, 1 ER, 15 K's), as well as a complete game, 13 strikeout no-hitter against Northeastern. Long story short, he's easily the best pitcher in college baseball right now and has few peers anywhere in this draft class. The Tigers love big armed right handers, and with the first overall pick, any smart bet would be on Mize.
Strengths
Mize finds success through a combination of top-notch stuff and excellent control. He throws his fastball anywhere from 92-97, typically sitting around 93-94 with running life. He can also mold the fastball into a cutter, which comes in around 90-91 and is very tough to square up. That cutter can in turn become a slider, which is currently his worst pitch but which also gives hitters a slower look. However, his not-so-secret weapon is a plus-plus splitter that just dives at the plate and could be classified as "un-hittable." On top of it all, he knows exactly how to use all of it and can spot all of his pitches around the zone, leading to tons of swings and misses. He has walked just 16 batters over his past two seasons, totaling 168 innings, striking out 228 in the process. Simply put, he has obliterated SEC hitting for two seasons by spotting excellent stuff without making location mistakes. He's listed at 6'3" and 210 pounds, a prototypical starting pitcher's build.
Weaknesses
There aren't many. Mize did have to be shut down with arm fatigue at the end of the season last year and again over the summer, which made some teams nervous, but he has proven to be durable this year and has not had any of the same issues. He does throw with a little bit of effort; not too much to the point where I would make anything of it, but it's also not the absolute smoothest motion in the world. It's simply nitpicking to fill this paragraph.
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