Baseball recruiting class

[MattP31]

Since the baseball team seems to have more interest than I can ever remember seeing I thought I’d give you guys a little preview of the top few kids in the incoming recruiting class. Three kids at the top are what really stand out, with two of them having a chance to end up being drafted. These are just the kids committed.

In addition the transfer portal is going to be as wild as you saw in football and basketball....it already is just that most of the names aren’t public and I’m not going to put their business out there. I can say for sure we are in on one pretty significant transfer. It’s not a “big name” right now(but could be after the summer since he’s headed to the Cape Cod League) or even a former top recruit, but this player has been extremely productive at a lower level and has a connection here


Tommy Tavarez is a middle infielder from NY, likely a shortstop. Decent athlete and good defender with potential at the plate. May take a year to really get going but has serious potential. A shot to get drafted.


Tyler Kennedy is a right hander from a top program in Georgia that’s worked with a lot of big time pitchers in the last few seasons(an Indians first round pick, Georgia’s top JUCO P they’re getting this year, 2 more pitchers who will be drafted this spring). Late bloomer who can bring it in the mid to upper 90s and more in the tank. Very hard worker. Maybe the best shot to help right away. Probably the best shot to get drafted.

Jonathan Bautista is a right hander from Philly with the potential to be a two way player here even though his future is on the mound. Good ACC caliber player here though not an immediate impact guy.

 

[ThePanthers]

Thanks! Keep posting updates!

 

[mike412]

I assume there will be more, although Bell seems more inclined to pursue JUCOs and transfers.

When we played UNC in the 3-game series, they threw a bunch of freshman pitchers at us. I looked at their roster and they had 12 freshmen, including 7 pitchers. And, all of the pitchers looked like scholarship guys, who were top HS players in whatever state they were ftom (5 different states if I remember correctly). I assume almost all baseball players are on partials, but how many scholarships do you get in baseball? It most be 20-something to field a decent roster.

This is all subject to the draft, but out here UCLA has assembled perhaps the best credentialed incoming freshman pitching staff in history. Probably not a tough sale when you have produced Gerrit Cole, Trevor Bauer and Barry Zito. They have 3 who are potentially first round draft choices, including the top left and right handers in California and the top pitcher in Washington. They have 5 more who are considered among the top 75 high school pitchers in the country. I assume they expect to lose half of them to the draft, but they could lose more.

On the other hand, they can point to Cole, Bauer and Zito, all of whom arguably got the to Majors more quickly than they would have had they signed in HS. They will try to sell the parents on the value of a college education. I’m sure they won’t point out that Barry Zito received zero credits during his time at UCLA. He enrolled for one semester, pitched, and dropped every course before finals. According to my booster friend (former UCLA catcher), Cole and Bauer spent 3 years there but were less than halfway to degrees when they left.

With the large number of college pitchers getting to the League a year or two out of college, it should be easier to sell a pitcher in going to school than a position player.

 

[Joe the Panther Fan]

I assume almost all baseball players are on partials, but how many scholarships do you get in baseball? It most be 20-something to field a decent roster.

20-something? Good lord, no.

D1 baseball teams get 11.7 scholarships that can be divided up among no more than 27 players.

 

[MattP31]

Just to add the impact transfer landed elsewhere this week, Florida State to be specific. Brett Roberts originally at Tennessee Tech, a 2020 Freshman All American and equally productive this year. His connection to Pitt was with our top recruit Kennedy. Would have been a huge add but wanted to put it out there to close that rumor out. Hard to compete with FSU, especially for a Southern kid

 

[TheSpecialSauce]

Jeff Wehler

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d1baseball.com

We added a good Grad Transfer from YSU.

 

[pittchagg]

Jeff Wehler

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d1baseball.com

We added a good Grad Transfer from YSU.

Looks like he played 50 games at second base, and a handful across a few other positions. Might be able to step in and give some of the production we’ll lose from Yanni.

 

[TheSpecialSauce]

Chase Smith transferred to Hoopieville.

 

[mike412]

Smith is a big loss IMO. He was our most reliable setup man and got better as the season progressed.

 

[TheSpecialSauce]

Smith is a big loss IMO. He was our most reliable setup man and got better as the season progressed.

I would have preferred that he stayed, but I think you are being over dramatic. Opponents were batting .291 against him and his ERA was 5.47.

 

[mike412]

He was bad at the beginning of the season but if you read the story in PSN, he improved significantly as the year progressed. Besides, this team didn’t win with low ERAs. He had the sixth best ERA on the pitching staff and two of the pitchers with better ERAs hardly had any innings pitched. So, he had the second lowest ERA among the primary relievers.

I’ve seen quite a few pitchers in the NCAA tournament with ERAs above 5.

 

[wbrpanther]

He was bad at the beginning of the season but if you read the story in PSN, he improved significantly as the year progressed. Besides, this team didn’t win with low ERAs. He had the sixth best ERA on the pitching staff and two of the pitchers with better ERAs hardly had any innings pitched. So, he had the second lowest ERA among the primary relievers.

I’ve seen quite a few pitchers in the NCAA tournament with ERAs above 5.

I am keeping an eye on incoming freshman pitcher Brendon Baer from Johnstown. He's been a local stud athlete since 6th grade and his fastball is low to mid 90s. I grew up with his Maternal Grandmother.

 

[MattP31]

We may see some additional super seniors next year as players aren’t having an easy time finding jobs as UDFA’s. I’m talking about some extremely productive players from big programs who would have been locks to be drafted in the 40 round draft. They’re taking to Twitter and begging for an opportunity and some are heading to summer leagues to try to get one more look. I think reality is starting to set in that MILB isn’t the same now with the contraction/Covid $ issues

 

[Joe the Panther Fan]

We may see some additional super seniors next year as players aren’t having an easy time finding jobs as UDFA’s. I’m talking about some extremely productive players from big programs who would have been locks to be drafted in the 40 round draft. They’re taking to Twitter and begging for an opportunity and some are heading to summer leagues to try to get one more look. I think reality is starting to set in that MILB isn’t the same now with the contraction/Covid $ issues

They aren't going to have any easier a time next year. Their best hope will be to one of those guys like the Pirates picked a few of in the back end of the top ten rounds, guys who will have a slot value of $300,000 and the team that drafts them will offer them $10,000 so they can use the other $290,000 to sign the guys they really want.

Each MLB team has probably about 50-ish fewer minor leaguers than they did just two years ago. Those fringe guys just aren't going to get a chance like they used to. If they want a chance they are going to have to go to an independent league team like the Wild Things and hope their performance there gets them a contract.

 

[MattP31]

They aren't going to have any easier a time next year. Their best hope will be to one of those guys like the Pirates picked a few of in the back end of the top ten rounds, guys who will have a slot value of $300,000 and the team that drafts them will offer them $10,000 so they can use the other $290,000 to sign the guys they really want.

Each MLB team has probably about 50-ish fewer minor leaguers than they did just two years ago. Those fringe guys just aren't going to get a chance like they used to. If they want a chance they are going to have to go to an independent league team like the Wild Things and hope their performance there gets them a contract.

Some might. One who sticks out is Chris Lanzilli, who had the worst year of his career this year. Career OPS of .908, 1.030, 1.018(2020), and then a low of .807 this year(hitter friendly park). Had a .833 mark in Cape in 2019. Currently in the Cape now trying to get another look to get signed.

Others like Hunter Wolfe, TCU OF/SS who was Pirates 12th rounder in 2017 and KC 19th in 2018 would be 26 years old at this time last year likely won’t have that chance despite the past pedigree.

However a guy who had a down year- especially with the weird last two years, or a guy who thinks he still has more in the tank could absolutely get drafted.

All it takes is looking at the Golden Spikes winner(baseball version of Heisman). A 24 year old breakout reliever from Arkansas who was drafted in the third(senior sign but still). Not to mention the competition in the ACC/SEC/B12/P12 is arguably better and definitely more heavily scouted than Indy ball

 

[TheSpecialSauce]

 

[pittchagg]

Bell gets a commitment from 2022 left-handed outfielder Carlos Elian Martinez, a Puerto Rico native and the #264 player in the class per Perfect Game. Clocked a 6.74 60 yard dash and a 91 mph arm from the outfield this summer, which indicates that he might be able to stick in Cost's very large center field.

Carlos Elian Martinez Class of 2022 - Player Profile | Perfect Game USA

Carlos Elian Martinez Class of 2022 Perfect Game Player Profile

www.perfectgame.org

Martinez is Bell's second top-500 commit for the 2022 cycle, along with #431 Peters Township 3B Andrew Ripepi - one of the biggest power bats in the class. In the incoming 2021 class, Bell had three top-500 commits in SS Tommy Tavarez (#120), RHP Tyler Kennedy (#250), and RHP Jonathan Bautista (#381). Before that, Pitt didn't have a top-500 kid arrive on campus (2019 commit Michael Limoncelli was #166, but signed with the Mariners out of high school) since 2018, when Mason Ronan, Billy Corcoran, Kyle Hess, and Zach Klapak were all top-500 kids largely recruited by Jordano.

Edit: Should also note that Bell already has three top-500 kids committed for 2023 in #281 Sebastian Piscareta, #465 Bryce Rudisill (as referenced above), and #479 Austyn Winkleblech from Central Catholic (who clocked an absolutely smoking 6.54 60 in February). The 2023 class only has four commits so far, so the staff is off to a great start, especially since 3/4 of the commits are from PA and the fourth is from NJ.

 

[pittchagg]

Another top-500 2023 commit in PA SS Gavin Chillot (#272 overall):

https://www.perfectgame.org/Players/PlayerProfile.aspx?ID=496144

 

[pittchagg]

Incoming catcher transfer Tatem Levins from LaSalle was named to the Cape Cod all-league team. Levins has two years of eligibility remaining. Career .320 batting average at LaSalle with a career .500 (!) slugging percentage.

 

[gary2]

From what I am aware of (surely not complete) we have a veteran lineup and “absolutely” zero pitching?

 

[pittchagg]

From what I am aware of (surely not complete) we have a veteran lineup and “absolutely” zero pitching?

Gilbertson is back, and Corcoran will hopefully bounce back after basically a lost season. They’re also getting a transfer lefty from Michigan, Ben Dragani, who was a freshman all-American in 2018, then had a TJ redshirt in 19, the weird Covid year in 20, and was up and down in 2021. He might have the inside track at the third starter spot - it would be nice to have a lefty in the rotation after being righty-exclusive for a few years. There’s also transfer Ryan Miller, who was the MEAC pitcher of the year last year out of NC Central. The competition jumps, but he was really really good.

They also seem to like the two freshmen power arms, seems like they’ll be out of the bullpen to start.

 

[gary2]

Gilbertson is back, and Corcoran will hopefully bounce back after basically a lost season. They’re also getting a transfer lefty from Michigan, Ben Dragani, who was a freshman all-American in 2018, then had a TJ redshirt in 19, the weird Covid year in 20, and was up and down in 2021. He might have the inside track at the third starter spot - it would be nice to have a lefty in the rotation after being righty-exclusive for a few years. There’s also transfer Ryan Miller, who was the MEAC pitcher of the year last year out of NC Central. The competition jumps, but he was really really good.

They also seem to like the two freshmen power arms, seems like they’ll be out of the bullpen to start.

Thanx, was looking for information. That was a big help.

 

[gary2]

Gilbertson is back, and Corcoran will hopefully bounce back after basically a lost season. They’re also getting a transfer lefty from Michigan, Ben Dragani, who was a freshman all-American in 2018, then had a TJ redshirt in 19, the weird Covid year in 20, and was up and down in 2021. He might have the inside track at the third starter spot - it would be nice to have a lefty in the rotation after being righty-exclusive for a few years. There’s also transfer Ryan Miller, who was the MEAC pitcher of the year last year out of NC Central. The competition jumps, but he was really really good.

They also seem to like the two freshmen power arms, seems like they’ll be out of the bullpen to start.

Last year the new roster came out Oct 10th.

 

[gary2]

Gilbertson is back, and Corcoran will hopefully bounce back after basically a lost season. They’re also getting a transfer lefty from Michigan, Ben Dragani, who was a freshman all-American in 2018, then had a TJ redshirt in 19, the weird Covid year in 20, and was up and down in 2021. He might have the inside track at the third starter spot - it would be nice to have a lefty in the rotation after being righty-exclusive for a few years. There’s also transfer Ryan Miller, who was the MEAC pitcher of the year last year out of NC Central. The competition jumps, but he was really really good.

They also seem to like the two freshmen power arms, seems like they’ll be out of the bullpen to start.

Full roster now up.

Was hoping for a few more pitching transfers.

Maybe the JC kid can be the closer?

 

[pittchagg]

I could see him, the USF transfer or the Penn State transfer being that guy. They got really good innings out of a kid from Monmouth last year, so you never know what you’re going to get. Even with some of the freshmen, they’ve got a lot of options out of the bullpen. No idea who the best one is going to be though.

 

[gary2]

I could see him, the USF transfer or the Penn State transfer being that guy. They got really good innings out of a kid from Monmouth last year, so you never know what you’re going to get. Even with some of the freshmen, they’ve got a lot of options out of the bullpen. No idea who the best one is going to be though.

Any thought regarding Ferguson?

 

[pittchagg]

Any thought regarding Ferguson?

I’ve always kind of had him pegged in my head as a future starter type, but that’s just me guessing based on his frame and high school production. I’d really like to see them start to groom some of these younger arms - either a guy like Ferguson or one of the freshmen - as the midweek starter this year because you’re probably going to need to replace two weekend starters in 2023.

 

[pittchagg]

Got a feeling all four of these guys are going to log serious innings.

 

[ThePanthers]

I've never really followed baseball recruiting. Is this a good class for pitt?

 

[pittchagg]

I've never really followed baseball recruiting. Is this a good class for pitt?

I don’t subscribe so I can’t see the rankings, but my vibe is that it’s Bell’s best, and it’s probably similar to Jordano’s best recruits at the top 3-4 or so guys in the class (Jordano got some decent commits once we joined the ACC, but some of them were lost to the draft)...but the depth seems to be a lot better and stronger. It’s an ACC-level class, which is a high standard.

 

[pittchagg]

Fourth top-500 commit for 2023 in Texas corner infielder/pitcher Aidan Coleman. Highest-ranked third baseman in Texas. Also hit 92 on the gun and had some of the best hitting metrics at the Perfect-Game Underclass All-America games this summer. https://www.perfectgame.org/Players/PlayerProfile.aspx?ID=697196

With 4 top-500 ranked commits and a couple of other recruits who are flirting with top-500 status, 2023 is primed to be the deepest class Pitt has had in recent memory, and likely the best in Pitt's history.