RHP Beck Way, Northwest Florida CC
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DoB: 8/6/1999. Commitment: Louisiana State.
2020 Stats: 5-0, 0.67 ERA, 0.65 WHIP, 58/9 K/BB in 40 IP.
Way is well-travelled, having played high school ball in the Harrisburg, Pennsylvania area before heading down to Division II Belmont Abbey in the Charlotte, North Carolina area. After one season for the Crusaders, he transferred farther south to Northwest Florida State in Niceville, and if he doesn't sign in the 2020 draft, he'll head west again to LSU. Way first began to appear on the map after a strong summer in the elite Cape Cod League a year ago, putting up a 3.29 ERA and striking out 18 in 13.2 innings, and he took things to another level this spring. The warm weather in Florida enabled him to make seven appearances in the shortened season, in which he dominated the competition with a 0.67 ERA and a 58/9 strikeout to walk ratio over 40 innings, positioning himself as perhaps the best junior college arm in the class.
The difference for Way has been, well, everything. He throws his fastball in the low to mid 90's, but he can reach back for as much as 97 and the pitch plays up due to some running life coming from a low three quarters, almost sidearm slot. His slider is relatively inconsistent, but it flashes plus at times with nice late bite down in the zone. There is also a changeup with great fade to the arm side, and he proved durable by averaging six innings per start in 2020 (plus a four inning relief appearance). Way's command is also improving, having gone from below average over the summer (he walked 11 in 13.2 innings on the Cape) to above average this spring (9 walks in 40 innings). With three pitches that flash plus, a durable 6'4" frame, and improving command, Way shows a lot of starter traits that teams covet out of an arm that won't turn 21 until August.
Beck Way is probably the most complete arm in a pretty strong junior college class this year, which could push him off the board as early as the second round and which likely won't allow him to fall out of the third. He needs to refine his breaking ball and prove that the progress he's made with his command is legitimate, because that lower arm slot and the moderate amount of effort he puts into his delivery raise some minor relief concerns. With how he looked in 2020, though, many teams are likely confident that he'll stick in the rotation.
Pitching in 2020
Hype video Beck put togeher
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