I’ve been wanting to dive into college baseball the last 3-4 years, but for one reason or another (life/too GA) I never have, outside of watching some prospect videos right before draft day. The Angels having their highest draft pick since I’ve followed their drafts has given me that final nudge I needed to get in on the fun.
I’d like to share some of my observations, but in no way do I pretend to be anything other than an amateur whose word should be taken with a grain of salt. That being said… Between pitching and hitting, I feel much more comfortable with pitchers. Amateur hitters are still mostly a mystery to me.
Welcome to the club. Love the game, still don’t see a lot of what scouts do in a hitter.
I do tend to really emphasize Friday night play. Like if a kid goes 0 for 4 against the best on Friday then crushes the Sunday game, I still look at that as a bad series.
I also try to see if he looks over matched on Friday. Sometimes you put a good swing on a pitch and it’s an out.
Thanks!
Haven’t seen any comps to JLV yet, but that video you linked in this post reminded me a lot of Corey Seager’s swing! I think Nats choose him at 1 but we shall see
Here’s my spring watch list, organized as toy Angel draft classes based on early looks, and an outside dream that Perry M acquires a supplemental rounder to maximize this critical draft for his team.
#2 Jace LaViolette OF (college)
#47 Quentin Young 3B/OF (prep)
#80 Gabe Graulau OF (prep)
#106 Kolten Smith RHP (college)
#110 Ben Abeldt LHP (college)
(Potential comp round: AJ Russell RHP (college))
#2 Tyler Bremner RHP (college)
#47 Andrew Fischer 3B (college)
#80 Boston Kellner 3B / OF (prep)
#106 Anthony Pack OF (prep)
#110 Blake Cyr OF (college)
(Potential comp round: Nolan Schubart OF (college))
#2 Ethan Holliday 3B (prep)
#47 Max Belyeu OF (college)
#80 Anthony Eyanson RHP (college)
#106 Harrison Didawick OF (college)
#110 Ben Moore LHP (college)
(Potential comp round: Nick Dumesnil OF (college))
#2 Jamie Arnold LHP (college)
#47 Trent Caraway 3B (college)
#80 Gavin Turley OF (college)
#106 Trace Phillips RHP / 1B (college)
#110 Nicholas Partidge 3B (prep)
(Potential comp round: Gavin Fien 3B / OF (prep))
Other potential early round follows:
Chase Shores RHP (college)
Dylan Dubovik OF/3B (prep)
Brandon Compton OF (college)
Chris Arroyo 1B / LHP (college)
Great. Thank you.
By position I love the Arnold/Caraway/Turley class. By talent level, I’ll defer to the expert.
I love the upside of the LaViolette and Bremner classes, but would be happy with any of the above.
Don’t expect it to happen, of course, and I’m sure current rankings will be totally scrambled come summer.
So, I was watching the LSU vs Purdue game highlights, and I came away impressed with the SP from LSU, Chase Shores.
I see that you mention him as a potential target, so I thought I’d comment here.
Shores immediately reminded me of ex-Angel Alex Meyer in his pitching motion and size. (Meyer 6’9” and Shores 6’8″). Side note: Meyer really had me thinking we might have something in him after this game.
Back to Shores:
Fastball was 94-98 mph, highlights mostly show 96+. Definitely some movement on the fastball.
Slider 84mph @3:04, nicer one @4:04 with sharper break 88mph, and another @6:54 86mph.
Changeup ~89mph seen in the video @1:11 had nice downward action without any obvious giveaway that he was throwing offspeed.
The only run he allowed was from a 1st and 3rd situation in the first inning. Defense fell for the delayed double steal/run down situation. No walks allowed in 5 innings of work.
I looked on Fangraphs’ Draft Board, and they have Shores ranked as 20th. Kinda was hoping not to see him on there so we can pick him in round 2-3, but looks like he likely won’t make it that far.
Sun Devils could be back this year. It’s been a while.
Things are bleak at UCR. They started the Big West and D1 strong, but that was a life time ago. On the bright side, the Big West looks as bright as it has in years with UCSB and UCI. A great opportunity for the league to step up now that the Pac12 is gone. It’d be nice for the entire region if the Big West returned to its glory years.
you’d think UCLA/USC would be happy to go to the Big 10, but they both look middling there.
Omaha is the destination. And #46.
I do think the USC/UCLA move could bring more talent to the Big West. Who wants to play baseball in Michigan in February? Or travel that much?
Better to stay closer to home in better weather.
Oh Ty Ty. He’s my favorite. My heart sings his song.
It’s about time Murf got some love. I am gonna try to make the Gauchos/Bulldogs Friday game to see Bremner V Gray.
It would be awesome if they draft those two in order. Or Bremner and any of Curley/Kilen/Fischer who are available at 46.
BUT I hope they just go best stud available with that first pick. If Holliday is available, take him (he won’t be). If Arnold is better than my Ty Ty take him. If JLV is the best at #2 do that. Or if Max Belyeu or Cam Cannarella blows up and moves to the top, OK.
The whole reason I was so against a QOFA is because the low 40s rank for this draft is so packed that we can just take “the best” with our first pick. Andrew Fischer 3B, AJ Russells 70 grade fastball and 60 grade slider, Kade Anderson, Matt Scott, Payton Graham, Kolton Smith are all good college arms, AZ State outfielder Brandon Compton.
Hell, even at the pick #3 level there are guys like Murf Gray (3b) and Gavin Turley, the Oregon State OF who is basically JLV Lite.
A lot of the guys in this draft slot into what we need and where we pick.
Of course, this means I’ll probably be confused when we take LSU 2B Dan Dickensen with our 2nd pick….
For years I watched the NCAA post season but I really got into the full season a few years ago. During the MLB lockout I went to a couple of Long Beach State games and had a blast. So I started tuning into ESPN+ more often.
Hopefully people tune in and realize just how impactful the player we get at 46 can be in addition to finding who they want at 2.
I think at this point I’m leaning Jace but there’s an entire season to be played.
I’m not sweating it. Between prospects being a total crap shoot and me liking pretty much 4 guys that will likely be there at #2 I am actually more interested in who we take #46. At #2 it’s just gonna be “top prospect” since there aren’t any sexy catchers for us to take in the top 15.
Manifesting Holliday 🔮 🔮 🔮
An Angels Fan Guide to the NCAA Baseball Season
There’s never been a better time for college baseball. Between MLB shortening the draft to 20 rounds and powerhouse conferences like the SEC and Big 12 putting incredible resources into the game, the talent and coaching levels are at all time highs.
And with the Angels holding the second overall pick in the 2025 draft, Angel fans have never had a better reason to follow the college game. Really, the 46th overall pick should deliver a stud as well.
Thanks to the advent of streaming and conference TV networks, there’s never been more content available. So either bookmark that link or just tune into ESPN+ if you have a subscription.
So here’s your primer on the 2025 NCAA baseball season.
The season kicks off on Friday, February 14th with a full slate of games. Teams spend about a month playing against non-conference teams then settle into conference play. Conference play wraps up mid May and the post season begins. Expect a three game series each weekend and a random midweek game or two each week.
Friday nights are the nights in college baseball because that is when every team throws their best starting pitcher. “Friday Night Starter” is the college term for ace and holding that spot is an honor. Teams play three game series over weekends so getting that game one win is huge, and the Friday Night Starter is expected to deliver.
As of now, there are two Friday Night Starters to watch. One is UCSB’s Tyler Bremner and here’s how to follow him. The other is Florida State’s Jaime Arnold and here’s the FSU schedule. To catch Bremner on TV you’ll likely need an ESPN+ subscription. Arnold will be on both ESPN+ and the ACC Network. Additionally, FSU has a tab to watch most of their games on their web site.
There’s a ton of talent beyond just the Friday Night Starters. Jace LaViolet, a powerful outfielder from Texas A&M, is the current #1 collegiate prospect and his Aggies are the top team in the land. It isn’t hard to envision this guy in Angels red soon.
But let’s not forget about pick #46 while we look at the guys at the top of the board. To say the talent level in college baseball is phenomenal right now is an understatement. Just like it is an understatement to say third base has been an issue for far too long in Anaheim. Currently there are a couple of candidates who are ranked about right for that 46th pick.
May I introduce Fresno State Bulldog Murf Gray. That’s an epic baseball name and he brings a great glove along with his powerful bat. I love the Bulldogs and will follow him. I think he has the chance to move way up the boards.
And if Murf does move to first round territory, there are other options. Tennessee’s Andrew Fischer is one of a half dozen players worth following on his team. Following the orange during the SEC should be both entertaining and exciting.
Player rankings will move considerably over the course of the season and there will be guys like 2024 Angels draftee Chris Cortez who look human in one role but phenomenal in another who might intrigue you.
Of course, you can just watch the games for pure enjoyment. The level of play is on par with High A or even AA ball most nights but the fan excitement is on another level. Mississippi State will often pack 15,000 plus boisterous fans for a game. Rivalries such as Oklahoma vs. Texas spill onto the diamond just like they do other sports.
Locally, Long Beach State, UC Irvine, and CSU Fullerton tend to draw solid crowds when they play each other. None are nationally ranked headed into the year, but there is talent on each squad. UC Santa Barbara is ranked near the bottom of the Top 25 on most polls. Former Pac 12 schools Oregon and Arizona are rated the best of the West Coast teams.
From personal experience, Long Beach State games are a ton of fun and very family friendly. I will definitely catch an Anteaters game this year and plan on catching UCSB at Fullerton to get a second look at Bremner. If you are on the “no money to Arte” wagon college baseball is a perfect way to spend time at the ballpark; cost effective, fun, and family friendly.