2023 MLB Draft Review: Houston Astros

Full list of draftees

The Astros went their own way in this draft, with many of their selections not lining up with public boards and perception, but they have drafted well in the past and I trust what they're doing. The hitters represent an emphasis on batted ball data, especially between guys like Brice Matthews and Cam Fisher who possess some of the best raw exit velocities in the class. The pitching, meanwhile, was all on the college side, led by one of the more interesting arms at the top of the college class in Alonzo Tredwell. Houston also picked up two Houston-area natives, which is a nice tie in.
Full index of team reviews here. Full rankings here.
Note that the number before a player's name indicates their draft position. "2-50" would indicate that a player was drafted in the second round with the fiftieth overall pick.

1-28: SS Brice Matthews, Nebraska {video}
Slot value: $2.88 million. Signing bonus: $2.48 million ($402,500 below slot value).
My rank: #37. MLB Pipeline: #57. Baseball America: #57. Prospects Live: #41.
The Astros stayed in their own backyard with their first pick, grabbing Brice Matthews out of Nebraska. Though he spent his college career in Lincoln, Matthews grew up in Humble, Texas, in the shadows of IAH Airport and attended Atascocita High School less than twenty miles northeast of Minute Maid Park. After two middling seasons at Nebraska, Matthews broke out for a massive junior season in 2023 by slashing .359/.481/.723 with 20 home runs with a 53/47 strikeout to walk ratio over 54 games. He has huge bat speed from the right side that produces plus-plus raw power and elite batted ball data overall. He has also become a more patient hitter as he's developed, and with strong adjustability in his right handed swing he can get the barrel to the ball all over the zone. With a pull-oriented approach, he does run into some swing and miss in the zone and ran 20% strikeout rate in 2023, a little higher than you'd like especially in the Big Ten. It's still a strong overall offensive profile with the potential for 25-30+ home runs per year and solid on-base percentages. A former high school quarterback and a successful one at that, his athleticism is apparent on the diamond but his actions at shortstop are a bit raw. He has a chance to stick there with further development but with a solid arm and plus speed he could really end up anywhere on the diamond. His $2.48 million signing bonus was more than $400,000 below slot value, giving the Astros an opportunity to spend big later in the draft.

2-61: RHP Alonzo Tredwell, UCLA {video}
Slot value: $1.3 million. Signing bonus: has not yet signed.
My rank: #69. MLB Pipeline: #63. Baseball America: #64. Prospects Live: #86.
Alonzo Tredwell has a bit of a different profile, and he makes a fun one for the Astros with some parallels to their second round compensation pick a year ago, Andrew Taylor. Tredwell drew considerable attention during the 2021 draft despite undergoing Tommy John surgery but made it to campus at UCLA, and he's been lights out for the Bruins. After a huge freshman season out of the bullpen (2.11 ERA, 62/6 K/BB in 47 IP), he stepped into the rotation in 2023 with good results, posting a 3.57 ERA and a 51/12 strikeout to walk ratio over 45.1 innings. The profile here is fairly unique – standing 6'8" with great body control, he gets down the mound extremely well with a combination of extension and height that makes his release point fairly unique. While his fastball only sits in the low 90's and tops out around 96, he gets nice riding action on the pitch and that unique release point really gives it a different look. He shows a curveball and slider, both with downer action, as well as a slider, though he's still gaining feel for that offspeed stuff. The slider stands out as perhaps his best offspeed pitch for now. The Southern California native pounds the strike zone with above average command and moves well on the mound, so any added velocity would really play. The biggest drawback with Tredwell's profile is health, as he didn't pitch after April 22nd with back problems and that's a bit more on the complicated side when it comes to nagging injuries. If he can stay healthy and add a little velocity, he has a chance to be a mid-rotation starter.

3-99: RHP Jake Bloss, Georgetown {video}
Slot value: $678,500. Signing bonus: has not yet signed.
My rank: #147. MLB Pipeline: #178. Baseball America: #250. Prospects Live: #121.
If Alonzo Tredwell has some similarities to Andrew Taylor, then Jake Bloss has some similarities to the Astros' third round pick last year, Michael Knorr. Bloss began his career at Lafayette, where he was unremarkable as an underclassman but had a nice junior year in 2022. Graduating in three years, he transferred to Georgetown to get a masters' degree in finance, and with eligibility remaining, he joined the baseball team as well. Fourteen appearances later, he hung his hat on a 2.58 ERA and a 96/24 strikeout to walk ratio over 76.2 innings, including some outstanding outings against Iona, Hartford, Creighton, and St. John's. The stuff all got considerably louder while he retained his strong pitchability, and now he may want to put the finance world on hold as a legitimate starting pitching prospect. Bloss now sits in the low to mid 90's with his fastball, touching 97 with riding action. He has feel for two distinct breaking balls in a deep curveball and a shorter slider, with the ability to work in a changeup as well. Well built at 6'3", he pounds the strike zone with solid command and feel for pitching, giving him every chance to work his way up as a back-end starter. Though he's a senior sign, he's on the younger side for his class and isn't too much older than some juniors drafted this year. He has a chance to work up the ladder quickly like Knorr, who is already showing well in High A.

4-131: OF Cam Fisher, Charlotte {video}
Slot value: $497,600. Signing bonus: has not yet signed.
My rank: #112. MLB Pipeline: #210. Baseball America: #141. Prospects Live: #120.
In Cam Fisher, the Astros pulled in some of the best raw power in the class. Fisher began his career at Ole Miss but didn't play, spent a year at Walters State Community College near his hometown in Tennessee, then transferred to Charlotte in 2022 and took just two seasons to set the school's all time home run record at 48. In fact, 2023 was his best season yet as he slashed .348/.507/.813 with 30 home runs and a 63/64 strikeout to walk ratio over 64 games. The 30 home runs were third in all of Division I, behind only likely 2024 first rounder Jac Caglianone and 2023 first rounder Brock Wilken (Brewers). Fisher can crush a baseball with the best of them, with elite 90th percentile exit velocities approaching 110 MPH and a natural ability to lift the ball with authority. Fisher is also an extremely patient hitter that rarely chases and effectively works counts to find a pitch he can elevate. If he doesn't, he's more than happy to draw a walk and did so over 20% of the time in 2023. The drawback in the profile here is swing and miss in the strike zone, as he can get overpowered by higher quality stuff (especially offspeed) and that will be a concern in pro ball when pitchers are more capable of living in the zone when they choose to. If Fisher can find a way to shore up his bat to ball ability in the zone, he has a chance to be a real impact hitter for Houston. Defensively, he runs well enough to handle a corner outfield spot but overall profiles as an average corner outfielder. The most likely outcome here is as a power hitting platoon bat.

5-164: SS Chase Jaworsky, Rock Canyon HS [CO] {video}
Slot value: $360,800. Signing bonus: has not yet signed.
My rank: unranked. MLB Pipeline: unranked. Baseball America: unranked. Prospects Live: #395.
This is a real sleeper pick for the fifth round. Chase Jaworsky went unranked on most public boards and only holds a commitment to Utah Valley University, in stark contrast to many top drafted preps typically headed to blue blood programs. He's a trajectory pick, as he wasn't even considered a prospect until recent strong showcase and spring performances late in his high school career. Jaworsky is skinny and projectable at 6'1", with a simple left handed swing that channels his core strength for some power to the pull side. As he fills out and learns to get his arms extended a little more, the power could continue to develop. Otherwise, he doesn't have much track record against higher level pitching, and much of his exposure came from playing on the same Colorado-based travel team as Giants second rounder Walker Martin. He's also a good runner with a good shot to stick at shortstop, though I couldn't find much video fo his defense.

11-344: OF Nehomar Ochoa, Galena Park HS [TX] {video}
Slot value: up to $150,000. Signing bonus: has not yet signed.
My rank: unranked. MLB Pipeline: unranked. Baseball America: #348. Prospects Live: #385.
Nehomar Ochoa gives the Astros a second hometown pick. Originally from Venezuela, he moved to the Houston area as a kid and grew up in Galena Park, just seven miles east of Minute Maid Park amidst the ports and oil refineries along Buffalo Bayou. A two-way player in high school that earned considerable interest as a pitcher, where he was up to 95, he'll be a position player only in the Astros' system. Ochoa is big and strong at 6'4", with above average raw power that he has tapped against his Houston-area competition. He hasn't been seen much against higher level competition on the showcase circuit, so the Astros are buying into that power and his strong track record locally. Ochoa is also young for the class, exactly one year younger than Chase Jaworsky (who is on the older side for the class) to the day, which always helps with projectability. The arm plays in the outfield and he plays solid defense. Committed to the University of Houston, it sounds like he'll instead sign with, well, Houston.

15-464: C Garret Guillemette, Texas {video}
Slot value: up to $150,000. Signing bonus: has not yet signed.
My rank: unranked. MLB Pipeline: unranked. Baseball America: unranked. Prospects Live: #339.
The Astros plucked Garret Guillemette out of the University of Texas in the fifteenth round. A California transplant, he grew up in the Los Angeles area and began his career at Southern California, where he was solid but unspectacular, then broke out to slash .298/.401/.541 with eleven home runs and a 52/34 strikeout to walk ratio over 64 games in his lone season in Austin. Standing 6'1", Guillemette has a classic catcher's profile with a sturdy frame, some pop, and the ability to control the strike zone. His pure bat to ball skills are average and he did strike out close to 20% of the time in 2023, so the bat likely limits his ultimate ceiling to that of a backup catcher. He's fairly strong behind the plate, with a good arm and the defensive feel for the game to stick.

16-494: C Will Bush, Tyler JC [TX] {video}
Slot value: up to $150,000. Signing bonus: has not yet signed.
My rank: unranked. MLB Pipeline: unranked. Baseball America: unranked. Prospects Live: unranked.
Will Bush gives the Astros a fourth player with Texas ties. A native of North Richland Hills in the Fort Worth area, he attended Tyler Community College in East Texas and raked to the tune of a .357/.510/.617 slash line, eight home runs, and a 35/50 strikeout to walk ratio over 53 games. Moving on to the MLB Draft League this summer, he hit just .185/.313/.185 in a seven game sample. Just a freshman, he only turned 19 in March and comes with much more boom/bust potential than Garret Guillemette. Bush is big and strong at 6'4", 230 pounds, with big raw power from the left side that he's still learning to tap in games. A patient hitter, he walked at a sky-high 23.7% clip for Tyler JC this spring, and continued to draw walks in the MLB Draft League even if the rest of the production wasn't really there. He's otherwise raw at the plate, with a very open stance and a high hand set that may or may not need to be tweaked in pro ball. It's a similar story behind the plate, with a strong arm that will help keep him back there.

2023 MLB Draft: An early look at the Pac-12 Conference

2022 draftees: 41. Top school: Oregon State (8)
2022 preseason writeup (published 9/12/2021)

Top 2022 draftees:
1-19, A's: C Daniel Susac (Arizona)
1-22, Cardinals: LHP Cooper Hjerpe (Oregon State)
CBA-33, Orioles: OF Dylan Beavers (California)
2-60, Blue Jays: SS Josh Kasevich (Oregon)
2-64, Astros: OF Jacob Melton (Oregon State)
2-65, Rays: OF Brock Jones (Stanford)
CBB-73, Reds: OF Justin Boyd (Oregon State)

The Pac-12 can be the forgotten Power Five conference in football and basketball some years, but baseball is its best sport with schools like UCLA, Stanford, Oregon State, and Arizona consistently competing for College World Series spots every year. Even though they'll lose a powerhouse program in UCLA in addition to USC to the Big Ten, and possibly others to other conferences, they're deep enough in baseball to withstand realignment better than in football or basketball. Throw in the presence of other West Coast powers like Gonzaga, UC Santa Barbara, and San Diego State, among others, that could potentially be absorbed, and Pac-12 baseball isn't going anywhere. As it stands today, though, they're coming off a year with three picks in the first 33 names selected. It's also fitting that Oregon State, who seems less likely to depart the conference than some other schools, had the most draftees with eight and possesses the conference's most recent National Championship after winning in 2018. 

This year, Stanford appears to be the standard bearer for the conference with four names in the top twelve prospects and a few more that just missed the list. Three transfers also grace this list, highlighting that conference realignment isn't the only factor creating a new era in college athletics. With that, let's take a look at the conference's top twelve 2023 draft prospects heading into 2022-2023 academic year.

*Note: when this was originally published, I completely overlooked the University of Arizona. So the original version of this article did not include Chase Davis or TJ Nichols, and this new version will go twelve deep by virtue of already having done the write ups.

1. 2B Tommy Troy, Stanford.
Bat: R. Throw: R. 5'10", 195 lbs. Born 1/17/2002. Hometown: Los Gatos, CA.
2022: 7 HR, .339/.371/.568, 5 SB, 38/9 K/BB in 55 games.
It appeared that the Pac-12 would be littered with second to third round types for this year's draft, but Tommy Troy made a loud statement over the summer to establish himself as the clear-cut best prospect in the conference for now. After showing well as a regular in Stanford's lineup as a freshman, he broke out to hit .339/.371/.568 in 2022 and acted as one of the major catalysts in the school's run to Omaha. That put him on the map for late day one of the draft, but it was his performance over the summer that really got scouts buzzing about a potential first round selection. Playing for Cotuit, he slashed .313/.385/.539 with five home runs over 34 games against some of the best pitching in the country, which built off a strong 2021 run through the league as well. Point is, Troy has not stopped hitting for over a year now, whether that be on the Cape, in the Pac-12, or in the 2022 NCAA Tournament. Standing just 5'10", he gets by with exceptional feel for the barrel that helps him spray hard line drives all around the field, posting higher exit velocities than you'd expect from a smaller guy. The Bay Area product takes very strong at bats never looks overmatched in the box, aiding what is a plus hit tool overall. Because he makes so much contact, he doesn't walk much at this point in his career, so that will be a small thing to watch for in 2022. Troy probably doesn't project to be a big home run threat, but as was previously mentioned, he hits the ball very hard for a smaller guy and could tap average or better power in pro ball. That could mean 15-20 home runs a year in the majors with high batting averages. Troy is not a standout defender, but he gets the job done at all the up-the-middle positions and would make a strong second baseman or a solid utility man glove-wise. Right now, he looks like a mid to late first rounder.

2. OF Chase Davis, Arizona.
Bat: L. Throw: R. 6'1", 215 lbs. Born 12/5/2001. Hometown: Elk Grove, CA.
2022: 18 HR, .289/.414/.583, 4 SB, 66/48 K/BB in 63 games.
Chase Davis had significant draft interest as high as the second round in 2020, but a high asking price landed him in Arizona with fellow Sacramento-area prep stars Daniel Susac (now with the A's) and TJ Nichols. While Susac and Nichols immediately stepped into prominent roles, Davis started just one game as a freshman while he was buried by one of the deepest offenses in the country, but he broke out with 18 home runs and a .400+ OBP upon receiving every day playing time in 2022. More than anything, Davis is known for his power. One of the strongest players in the Pac-12, he is loaded with lean muscle that helps him whip the bat through the zone at explosive speed. Mostly a pull hitter, he can demolish a baseball to the pull side but is plenty strong enough to put one out the other way, and baseball's new anti-shift rules will really help him. He's very patient in the box but has a long swing that begins with significant bat wrap, causing some swing and miss and ultimately leading to 45.5% of his plate appearances in 2022 leading to one of the three true outcomes (22.8% strikeouts, 16.6% walks, 6.2% home runs). Davis may always deal with hot and cold streaks due to his all or nothing approach in the box, but he could become a 30+ home run bat if things go right more than they go wrong. He'll also provide value on defense, where he possesses a plus-plus arm in the outfield and enough speed to make him an above average defender in right field. All eyes will be on how he handles Pac-12 pitching in 2023, and if he can get his strikeout rate below 20% without sacrificing pop, it's a first round profile for me.

3. LHP Ross Dunn, Arizona State.

Bat: R. Throw: L. 6'3", 220 lbs. Born 2/20/2002. Hometown: Salt Lake City, UT.
2022 (@ Florida State): 2-4, 4.88 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, 77/26 K/BB in 48 innings.
Those aren't the loudest numbers for Ross Dunn, but it's important to remember that he was pitching in an ACC that was absolutely loaded with many of the best lineups in the country. After serving as the Sunday starter in an all-lefty weekend rotation at Florida State that saw both Parker Messick (Guardians) and Bryce Hubbart (Reds) go in the top one hundred picks, Dunn will transfer closer to home at Arizona State and look to join his southpaw counterparts in that draft range. He hasn't quite put it together yet, but the pieces are there. The Salt Lake City native has plenty of arm strength and can run his fastball up to 96, though many times he can sit closer to 90. His slider is his best pitch for now, grading out above average and flashing plus when it's on with late, hard bite. He also adds a solid changeup that gives him a very strong three pitch mix, and it all comes from a very projectable 6'3" frame that figures to help him add velocity in a pro conditioning program. With a loose, easy delivery, he has improved his strike throwing considerably but is still looking for more consistency in that regard. It's very easy to project Dunn as at least a back-end starter, and if he can get more consistent with his command and maintain his peak fastball velocity more consistently as well, he could become an impact arm and shoot himself into the first round. For now, it looks like more of a second round profile.

4. RHP TJ Nichols, Arizona.
Bat: R. Throw: R. 6'4", 190 lbs. Born 6/24/2002. Hometown: Roseville, CA.

2022: 6-4, 5.50 ERA, 1.54 WHIP, 84/38 K/BB in 88.1 innings.

One of the better freshman arms to reach campus in 2021, TJ Nichols stepped right into a prominent swingman role for a loaded Arizona team and performed well, putting his name in early consideration for the first round in 2023. Despite holding down the Friday night role all season long in Tucson, he didn't quite take the step forward many where expecting as he allowed at least three earned runs in each of his final ten starts and was blown up for seven apiece against Washington and Oregon. Still, he remains firmly on scouts' radars as one of the Pac-12's top breakout candidates in 2023, and with good reason. Nichols sits in the mid 90's with his fastball and can reach back for up to 98-99 at his best, coming from a lower slot that makes for a tougher read. His slider has been inconsistent and lets hitters sit on his fastball when it's not working, but it's an above average pitch when it's on. The Sacramento-area product also adds a solid changeup to round out his arsenal. He possesses the prototypical projectable frame at a skinny 6'4", so it's not out of the question that he could continue to add velocity and bump triple digits one day. For now, he'll want to focus on his inconsistent command that comes from an equally inconsistent release point, and he does throw with moderate effort. While it's far from a finished product, nothing in Nichols' profile is egregious and small steps forward with the consistency of his offspeeds and command could do wonders for his draft stock, and he could pitch his way into the first round if he breaks out like some expect. Despite Hi Corbett Field's deep dimensions, Tucson is not an easy place to pitch with the thin, dry desert air up nearly 2500 feet above sea level, and pitchers like Tylor Megill (Mets) and Chase Silseth (Angels) have gone on to success in pro ball despite high ERA's with the Wildcats.

5. RHP Alonzo Tredwell, UCLA.
Bat: L. Throw: R. 6'8", 230 lbs. Born 5/8/2002. Hometown: Coto De Caza, CA.
2022: 4-1, 2.11 ERA, 0.83 WHIP, 62/6 K/BB in 47 innings.
This is a very interesting one. Part of UCLA's unbelievably loaded freshman class a year ago, Alonzo Tredwell earned some day two draft interest out of Mater Dei High School in Orange County and is eligible again as a sophomore because he is a year older than many of his classmates. He did plenty to build his stock in that one year on campus, posting a 2.11 ERA out of the UCLA bullpen while striking out 34.1% of his opponents to just a 3.3% walk rate. Variously listed at 6'7" or 6'8" depending on the source, the word of the day here is extension. Tredwell gets down the mound extremely well and releases the ball right in front of the hitter's face, immediately making for a very tough look before you even get to the rest of the profile. He currently sits in the low 90's and tops out around 93, so for now it's more the extension and ride than the velocity that makes his fastball play up. Tredwell mostly pitches off that fastball, but he does flip in a solid breaking ball and a decent changeup that both need more refinement. Fortunately this is not solely a projection play, as he has gotten much better at repeating his delivery and showed plus control in 2022, with the command hopefully coming in behind that as he gets older. Throw in great athleticism for his size and there is a ton to work with in this profile, but he will need to refine his arsenal itself in order to succeed as a starter in pro ball. Still, the floor is already very high as a high leverage reliever that can control the zone and give hitters a different look.

6. 3B Drew Bowser, Stanford.
Bat: R. Throw: R. 6'4", 220 lbs. Born 10/2/2001. Hometown: Los Angeles, CA.
2022: 18 HR, .293/.350/.573, 0 SB, 77/20 K/BB in 62 games.
Drew Bowser is bound to present one of the most polarizing profiles in this year's draft. A highly heralded recruit who earned draft consideration as high as the second round in 2020, he made it to campus at Stanford and immediately hit .302/.361/.487 as a true freshman playing every day. Bowser tapped much more power in 2022, jumping his home run total from 7 to 18 and bumping his ISO (SLG - AVG) from .185 to .280, but that also came at the expense of his contact ability and his strikeout rate ballooned from a respectable 17.4% to an ugly 29.3%. Meanwhile, he has struggled over two years on the Cape, slashing .181/.278/.234 over 34 games, and there are serious questions about his ability to perform against pro pitching. Still, you can't deny the power. Bowser shows easy plus power from a simple right handed swing and a big, strong, 6'4" frame, causing the ball to jump off his bat to all fields in a way most hitters can't match. Combine that with a strong track record of hitting in the Pac-12 as well as back in his prep days, and there is serious upside in this bat. He'll have to cut down significantly on his chases in order to reach that lofty season, but if he can get his strikeout rate below 19-20% in 2023 while consistently tapping his power in games, he could go in the first round. The defense is so-so for now, with enough arm strength to play third base but a bit of an inconsistent glove that could force him to first base if he doesn't make some refinements there. Showing he can stick at third, of course, will help take some pressure off his hit tool.

7. SS Luke Keaschall, Arizona State.
Bat: R. Throw: R. 6', 170 lbs. Born 8/15/2002. Hometown: Watsonville, CA.
2022 (@ San Francisco): 8 HR, .305/.445/.502, 30 SB, 34/37 K/BB in 57 games.
Ross Dunn isn't the only transfer on Arizona State's roster looking to go on day one of the draft. Luke Keaschall had a very successful pair of seasons at San Francisco and will look to continue that success in the Pac-12, and there is every reason to believe it will translate. In addition to slashing .312/.427/.489 over two years on The Hilltop, he also hit .280/.345/.403 through 67 games over two years in the Cape Cod League, proving that he can handle high level pitching with no issue. He stands out for exceptional feel for the barrel, with tremendous adjustability in his right handed swing that enables him to square up virtually everything thrown his way. It's an above average hit tool that could grade out as plus with a strong season in Tempe, so he should transition easily not only to the Pac-12 but to pro ball when that comes around. For now, the power is below average as he lacks the present strength to really put carry on that high quantity of squared up baseballs. Keaschall is young for the class and won't turn 21 until after the draft, which does lend some hope that he can tack on strength to his skinny 6' frame, but for now I'm not sold that he'll consistently reach double digit home runs in the majors. He may have to rely on high on-base percentages to provide value, though his defensive versatility will help take some pressure off that power. He saw time all over the infield at San Francisco and also appeared regularly in the outfield on the Cape, helping give a floor as a speedy utility man that can get on base. If he does tack on some power, it suddenly becomes a very well-rounded profile.

8. 1B Garret Forrester, Oregon State.
Bat: R. Throw: R. 6', 205 lbs. Born 11/11/2001. Hometown: Fair Oaks, CA.
2022: 9 HR, .332/.480/.498, 1 SB, 48/64 K/BB in 64 games.
If it breaks right, Garret Forrester could be the right handed Kyle Manzardo, who is now tearing it up in the Rays organization after coming out of Washington State. Forrester stands out for his exceptional plate discipline, coming off a 2022 where he walked at an extremely high 20.8% rate and ran a .480 on-base percentage. He rarely ever chases, but if you come into the strike zone, he also rarely misses a good pitch to hit, so he never gets himself out. He uses a line drive swing from the right side to spray the ball around the field with authority, but there is some power in the tank when he turns on one and he could profile for 15-plus home runs a year at the major league level. Given that it's a first base-only profile, there is some pressure for the power to show up even with the plus hit tool. Nobody doubts Forrester's ability to handle pro pitching and get on base, but if he wants to go in the top couple rounds, he will have to tap that power in games. Kyle Manzardo represents what could happen if things go well, but the floor is still something like Cal's (now the Padres') Nathan Martorella, to continue with the West Coast theme.

9. 3B Kyle Karros, UCLA.
Bat: R. Throw: R. 6'5", 225 lbs. Born 7/26/2002. Hometown: Manhattan Beach, CA.
2022: 6 HR, .308/.365/.473, 0 SB, 43/18 K/BB in 43 games.
The Karros family has come to be synonymous with both UCLA and Dodgers baseball. Eric was drafted out of the school in 1988 and played for the Dodgers from 1991-2002 (where he hit 270 of his 284 career home runs), while son Jared holds a 3.51 ERA over 41 career innings for the Bruins and signed with the Dodgers in the sixteenth round this year. Now, younger brother Kyle is ready to cap off his UCLA story and possibly even end up a Dodger if history is any indication. Kyle is coming off a strong sophomore season in which he slashed .308/.365/.473 despite missing some time due to injury, but there is plenty of untapped potential here and he could be primed for an even bigger breakout. He's an aggressive hitter with a bit of a swoopy swing that can get in and out of the zone quickly, leading to a 21.7% strikeout rate last year to just a 9.1% walk rate, so the hit tool is fringy for now. However, his long, lean 6'5" frame gives him plenty of leverage when he catches the ball out front and helps him really impact it well. As he continues to get stronger and fill out that big frame, he could get to above average or even plus power in time. For now, there is a bit of a long way to go and that fringy hit tool got him into trouble on the Cape, where he slashed just .157/.279/.157 in 18 games. The glove does buy the bat some slack, as Karros moves very well at the hot corner and shows off a plus arm that will help him not only stick, but potentially be an asset out there. Like his teammate Alonzo Tredwell on this list, he's mostly a projection play for now, but one with high upside between his size, athleticism, and bloodlines. He's also young for the class to boot, not turning 21 until after the draft.

10. LHP Ryan Bruno, Stanford.
Bat: L. Throw: L. 6'3", 220 lbs. Born 1/4/2002. Hometown: Wellington, FL.
2022: 6-1, 2.75 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, 71/35 K/BB in 39.2 innings.
Stanford has landed some huge recruits from east of the Mississippi River recently, notably Braden Montgomery (Madison, MS), Tommy O'Rourke (Morristown, NJ), and our man here, Ryan Bruno (Wellington, FL). Always noted more for his stuff than his command, Bruno barely pitched as a freshman in 2021 when he walked 14 of the 29 batters he faced in four innings. Pulling it together enough to get consistent innings in 2022, he posted a 2.75 ERA and a 71/35 strikeout to walk ratio over 39.2 innings, dropping that walk rate from 48.3% to 19.8%. His command has limited him to a bullpen role so far, and it remains to be seen if he throws enough strikes to earn a rotation spot this spring. He has cleaned up his delivery steadily in Palo Alto but still struggles to repeat it, making it difficult to rein in his big stuff. He can run his fastball up to 97 with tough angle from a cross-body delivery, sitting comfortably in the mid 90's in short stints. Bruno's breaking ball is a big, slurvy slider with deep bite, helping him miss a ton of bats and run 40%+ strikeout rates. He also adds in a solid changeup that would make any transition to the rotation a bit easier. If the 6'3" lefty can come out with even fringe-average command in 2023, it would go a long way towards helping teams visualize him in a big league role, as the track record for college relievers is very spotty at this point. The stuff is loud and can overwhelm Pac-12 hitters when it's located, and it's sure to play in pro ball if he can stay ahead in counts.

11. OF Owen Diodati, Oregon.
Bat: L. Throw: R. 6'2", 220 lbs. Born 8/17/2001. Hometown: Niagara Falls, ON.
2022 (@ Alabama): 8 HR, .242/.360/.439, 3 SB, 43/25 K/BB in 49 games.
Owen Diodati has been a known commodity to area scouts all over North America, first as a notable prep in Ontario, then as a freshman sensation at Alabama in 2020 and now coming in to play at Oregon. After hitting .309/.431/.673 in his shortened freshman season, scouts were very excited to see what he could do over a larger sample in Tuscaloosa and he was one of the bigger names for the 2022 draft very early in the process. Unfortunately, neither his sophomore (.230/.314/.420, 27.0% K rate) nor junior (.242/.360/.439, 23.1% K rate) seasons lived up to the hype and he went undrafted in 2022. He wound up transferring to Oregon and spent the summer in the Cape Cod League, where he suddenly rebuilt his stock in a big way by slashing .344/.500/.557 with three home runs over 22 games. Suddenly, the Owen Diodati hype train might be back in motion, and because he was very young for the class last year, he's only slightly old for this one. He stands out first and foremost for huge raw power, a product of a very strong 6'2" frame and lightning quick hands that produce a ton of bat speed. Diodati can blast the ball out to any field even if he doesn't get all of it, though he hasn't always tapped it in games. He has struggled considerably with pitch recognition in the past, leading to plenty of swing and miss and more than his fair share of taken strikes as he got trigger-hesitant. On the Cape this summer, he looked more confident and decisive in the box, which could unlock a world of potential for the young Canadian. If he can carry those adjustments from the Cape over to Eugene, he could be one of the better hitters in the entire conference and rebuild all his lost draft stock.

12. LHP Drew Dowd, Stanford.
Bat: L. Throw: L. 6'2", 205 lbs. Born 1/3/2002. Hometown: Belmont, CA.
2022: 6-0, 4.55 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, 77/34 K/BB in 75.1 innings.
Stanford started this list with Tommy Troy and led all Pac-12 schools with four names, so it's only fitting that they'll close it out too. While Ryan Bruno possesses some of the loudest stuff in the conference, Drew Dowd is a very different type of pitcher that will provide a nice contrast as the two lefties look to lead the Stanford pitching staff in 2023. He was a steady if unspectacular arm in 2022 then elevated his profile by throwing well on the Cape, where he posted a 2.60 ERA and a 23/7 strikeout to walk ratio over 17.1 innings. He only sits around 90 with his fastball and tops out around 92, while his curveball and changeup are both average pitches, so it's not about the stuff. Instead, Dowd is a deception and command arm that hides the ball well and puts tough angle on his pitches from an overhand slot, getting some run and sink on his fastball to boot. He'll definitely need to add a couple ticks of velocity to succeed in pro ball, but for now the rest of his game is strong enough to buy him some time and help him succeed in the Pac-12. For now though, he profiles as a #5 starter that could go somewhere in the mid to late part of day two.