Independent Analysis and Commentary

Baseball

2021 UVA Baseball Roster Draft – Part Two

ByKarl Hess

Jan 19, 2021 , , ,

We’re back with the second half of our 2021 roster draft. If you missed part one, you can find it here.

Part two will cover picks 20 through 38. Let’s jump right in.

20 – Jake Berry (LHP, Freshman)

Kendall: The bigger the Berry, the sweeter the juice! This is a reach, and I know this is a reach, but the dude is a SIX-FOOT-FREAKING-TEN, TWO HUNDRED AND THIRTY POUND power-pitching lefty, and the #1 recruit from the state of Virginia (top-100 overall).

Odds are good that he won’t play at all this season as a true freshman, but if I have a chance to draft the Big Unit in any format, god damn right I’m gonna do it.

Karl: Kendall sneaking in all the fun picks! The bird population of Charlottesville is officially on notice.

21 – Kyle Whitten (RHP, Junior)

Karl: I’ll go boring and steady with a high volume middle reliever.

Whitten figures to be a major part of the UVA bullpen contingent in 2021. In D1 Baseball’s Fall Report for UVA, Aaron Fitt noted that Whitten was working 90-92 with his fastball and his slider was showing swing-and-miss qualities at 80-82. He said that Whitten was also working a backdoor curve in the mid 70s.

Fitt noted that Whitten’s command needed to be more consistent. That’s kind of where I am with Whitten – needs to be more consistent due to his role on the staff. I can’t quite figure out the puzzle here because he has the coaches’ confidence (tied for 3rd in appearances in 2020 with 7) and the stuff is good enough.

But he led the team last season in runs surrendered with 10 in 10.1 IP. The rub there is that only 3 of those runs were earned, so his ERA was just 2.61. But Whitten also tied for the team lead in home runs surrendered with 2 in just those 10.1 IP. Yet, on the plus side, he was striking out nearly a batter an inning too (9 Ks on the season). Hopefully the extra work with Coach Drew this offseason and fall pays dividends here.

Kendall: I like Whitten. He passes the eyeball test for me, and that’s – stupidly – what I tend to care the most about. I think he’s a good college-level pitcher; a guy who you add to more elite-level starters in order to compose a dominant pitching staff.

22 – Zach Messinger (RHP, Sophomore)

Kendall: In an exercise like this, I think it’s important to illustrate the potential depth and quality of our pitching staff. Messinger is our 11th pitcher drafted.

Entering his third year in the program after being a top-400 recruit nationally in 2018. 4.03 ERA in 16 appearances (29 innings) in 2019, 3.29 ERA in 7 appearances (13.2 IP) in 2020.

The thing I like best about Messinger is his breaking ball. He throws a fairly nasty sinker that gets some 11-5 action, and he throws it for strikes. When you need a guy to come in and disrupt an opponent’s lineup, Messinger is exactly the kind of guy you want in your bullpen. He actually started five games in 2019 and two in 2020, so he might have caught Oak’s/Drew’s eye as a midweek starter. If we get to Omaha, a guy like Messinger is a very interesting weapon to have in your arsenal…

Karl: An overlooked aspect of the UVA staff is that the bullpen is littered with guys that have the ability to go long in relief or make spot starts. Despite the pitching staff miracle of the 2015 CWS, it’s an important thing to have in postseason baseball. I’m a big fan of Messinger and I would not be surprised to see him in the weekend rotation in 2022 if he throws well in 2021.

23 – Jimmy Sullivan (OF, Sophomore)

Karl: As one of two charter members of the Jimmy Sullivan Bandwagon, I can’t wait any longer to welcome him to the draft.

You can tell that Sullivan is still a bit raw when he’s in the lineup. And that’s no surprise as he’s from Connecticut. It’s doubtful that Sullivan has as much experience as his teammates from further south that could play longer during the year or even year round during their pre-college years.

But the tools are evident. Sullivan has surprising speed despite his 6’5 frame (2 for 2 stealing bases in just 10 games played in 2020). And his power was shocking (4 homers in just 30 at bats). He hit the top of the damn scoreboard in right center with one blast. That’s an all-timer for UVA baseball!

Sullivan still has work to do at the plate and on defense. I think Sully’s swing is a bit long and might have a hole in it that’s exploitable, but that can be fixed. He’ll want to become more well rounded at the plate too as 4 of his 7 hits were home runs. Playing time is the best prescription for his weaknesses, but that’s going to be difficult to come by in 2021 outside of spot starts and maybe DH at bats.

Kendall: This dude ripped a “Natural” off the top of the scoreboard above the Blue Monster? Holy shit, Karl. Screw you for smuggling him to the #23 pick!

24 – Channing Austin (RHP, Freshman)

Kendall: The Brooklyn Bulldog is a small, compact-built natural athlete with a live arm and a spark that has caught our coaching staff’s attention and captured their imagination. They say he might contribute as a true freshman, I’m not sure where exactly that might happen, but I think he could surprisingly be in the mix as a relief pitcher an/or midweek starter. I’m a sucker for players who fit that “low floor, high ceiling” profile, and that’s what Austin is. The NYC toughness and grit is a big bonus.

Karl: This dude is Branden Kline reincarnated (BK is still alive people, just work with me here). I’m planting a flag on that comparison.

Kendall: I like that comparison! A lot!

25 – Matt Wyatt (RHP, Freshman)

Karl: I’m the bullpen king this year! Much like the staff is excited about Channing Austin’s potential this year, they were equally as excited about Wyatt’s last year. Like most UVA pitchers, Wyatt has a big frame at 6’4 and 200 + pounds.

During his rookie season, he put up respectable numbers in 6 appearances / 12.0 IP (4 relief, 2 mid week starts): 3.00 ERA, 1.167 WHIP, no homers, and 8 strikeouts.

Of course, he also walked seven. And that tends to be an issue with young pitchers just getting their feet wet. Ideally, Wyatt would have had an entire year to develop in game action. The staff thinks they have a future closer or weekend starter here, but he’ll essentially have a do over on his first year in 2021. Wyatt will see a fair amount of usage this season, but his best innings are still in the future.

26 – Addie Burrow (OF, Freshman)

Kendall: I’m a Bengals fan and a HUGE lover of all things Joe Burrow, so go ahead and give me his cousin… although I know exactly nothing about him or his game!

Karl: WHO DEY!!!!

27 – Blake Bales (RHP, Junior)

Karl: Mr. Bullpen strikes again! Bales is going to be another important bullpen cog for the Hoos. He can eat innings in middle relief, get outs, and possibly even make an emergency start if required. Nothing sexy here but reliability is just as important in the pen.

Bales was one of the most improved pitchers on the team last season and was beginning to raise some eyebrows on the coaching staff in my opinion. My favorite Bales stat is that from 2019 to 2020 he improved his walks per 9 innings from 7.0 to 3.1. His ERA also improved from 4.32 to 2.08. And he was striking out over 1 more batter per inning.

Fun fact: Bales ties Andrew Abbott and Griff McGarry for the team lead in wins in 2020 with 3. Sometimes, as a reliever, being in the right place at the right time can be beneficial.

28 – Drew Hamrock (C/IF/OF, Sophomore)

Kendall: He’s a sub-.300 hitter, a little on the small side, but offers quite a bit of good, old fashioned utility man versatility (including catcher). I think for this 2021 team, Hamrock is injury insurance and a defensive sub.

Karl: I’m always a sucker for utility players. When I play fantasy baseball, I have to actively avoid filling my roster with them. Hamrock scratches that itch on this team for me. And despite playing some catcher, he’s a pretty good runner. He’ll be at the top of the pinch runner list for the Hoos.

29 – Tate Ballestero (C/IF, Freshman)

Karl: Ballestero arrived at UVA with some hype. He has good size (6-3 195), was the 205th ranked recruit nationally in the class per Perfect Game, and was a switch hitting catching prospect. He also picked up a decent amount of buzz exiting the fall baseball season. None of those things translated to opportunity where Ballestero was blocked by established players.

And that’s still the case this year. To add, Ballestero didn’t do much with his limited opportunities during the 2020 season – 1 for 12 (.083 batting average) with a triple, 2 runs scored, and 2 RBI.

But I still believe in the potential. Plus the switch hitting bat on the bench for pinch hitting duties is a plus. If we assume that Kyle Teel is now the future of the catching position behind Michaels/Rivoli, then perhaps Ballestero will earn his opportunities as a DH or Ortiz’s future replacement at 1B.

30 – Connor Hincks (IF, Freshman)

Kendall: I think he’s the sleeper of the class. A smooth-fielding contact hitter who patterns his game after Alexi Ramirez? Sign me up. I think he’s got the perfect set of skills and approach to the game for Virginia Baseball.

Karl: LOVE this pick by Kendall. Hincks is my sleeper in the recruiting class too. Dude is a winner!

31 – Jacob Hodorovich (RHP, Freshman)

Karl: Hodor! We have to get that in while Game of Thrones is still semi culturally relevant.

Back to Jacob…he won the pitching side of the 2020 Iron Cavalier challenge. Right off the bat, you know the sophomore is a gritty, athletic guy. That’s half the battle on the pitching mound.

I see some vague hints of Josh Sborz in the way he pitches too, especially in the windup. That’s got my attention. He’s got to improve on his freshman numbers, however. He posted a 6.75 ERA in 4.0 IP. His issue was giving up too many hits (5 including 2 home runs). It is encouraging that in 19 batters faced, Hodorovich didn’t walk anyone.

In D1 Baseball’s Fall Baseball Report for UVA, Aaron Fitt called out Hodorovich as a pitcher to look for making a big jump in 2021. During the fall, he was reported to be throwing 90-92 with his fastball while having a good feel for a quality breaking ball and changeup.

32 – Alex Greene (OF/P, Freshman)

Kendall: Low key, he might be the gem of the stacked 2020 recruiting class. Not a lot of buzz about him this fall, but that’s probably because he’s still got one foot in pitching and another in the outfield. Not sure he has Haseley (or even Ortiz) upside as that type of two-way player, but I do think that’s within the ballpark of being a fair comp here.

Greene WAS rated a top-100 recruit by some services, and he has next-level athletic ability, can hit for power in the alleys, and as a pitcher offers easy-effort 91 mph heat with a complementary slider and curve. There’s a lot to like here, even if he probably won’t be much of a factor for the Hoos in 2021.

Karl: Also worth mentioning is that he’s got a cannon for an arm in the OF. If he can handle the rest of the job defensively, I’m willing to pencil him in as a corner OF starter in 2022.

33 – Jake Gelof (IF, Freshman)

Karl: Like many of his classmates, Jake is expected to have a minor role on this team due to the stacked roster already present upon arrival. He’ll have a nice jump on adjusting to the level of competition found in Division 1 and ACC baseball because by virtue of being Zack’s younger brother, Jake will have Zack’s experience to lean on.

He also played top flight competition while playing his final two years of high school baseball at IMG Academy. He supplemented that experience by playing for the Brockton Rox of the Futures Collegiate Baseball League this past summer.

During the summer, Jake got 128 at bats in 35 games for Brockton. He hit .281 (36 hits) including 8 doubles, 2 triples, and 2 home runs while driving in 19. He also drew 17 walks while striking out 23 times. Jake also stole 4 bases during the summer season.

Next season is when we can really expect Jake to be more than Zack’s younger brother as he’s likely to challenge for a starting spot on the left side of the infield assuming that both Zack Gelof and Nic Kent depart for the professional ranks after the 2021 season.

34 – David Coppedge (IF, Freshman)

Kendall: Plus-level athlete, good defensively, projectable bat. Could end up at 2B, SS, or 3B at Virginia. He’s still at least a year away from playing time, is my guess.

Karl: Aaron Fitt of D1 Baseball had some nice things to say about Coppedge’s work on defense this fall. It also sounds like he’s the gritty type of baseball player that UVA fans have an appreciation for.

35 – Jacob Baldino (LHP, Freshman)

Karl: Baldino gets the nod over the three remaining first year pitchers because he’s had a complete year in the program already. He’s starting a step ahead of those guys. But he needs to show improvement over his 2020 results.

Baldino had just 4 appearances in which he pitched 4.0 innings, so the sample size is reallllyyyy small. But he gave up 9 runs (8 earned) for an 18.00 ERA. He also gave up 6 hits to include 1 homer while walking 3. On the plus side, Baldino did strike out 5 so you’ll gladly take more than 1 K per inning.

Baldino, who I naturally gravitate towards as a lefty bullpen option, features a sinker and changeup as his top two pitches. Aaron Fitt of D1 Baseball described the changeup as deceptive with good fade during his Fall Baseball report for on the Hoos. He noted that Baldino was working his sinker in the 84-86 MPH range too. Baldino worked some as a starter during scrimmages in the fall, so that could be a hint at his ultimate future slotting in the pitching staff.

36 – Luke Schauer (LHP, Freshman)

Kendall: He’s a lefty, and that always gets bonus points from me. He’s athletic, projectable, and has the tools to build on his 88mph heat and 1-7 breaking ball. At this point, he’s a developmental project for Coach Drew, but the raw talent is there to be molded.

Karl: This was the right pick here. This fall, Oak compared his stuff to Andrew Abbott’s at the same age. That’s certainly high praise and enough to get me interested.

37 – Rece Ritchey (LHP, Freshman)

Karl: It’s not often that you can snag a top 175 Perfect Game recruit (Rece was ranked 158 in the incoming class) this deep in the draft. He was the third ranked recruit in the state of PA behind MLB first round draft picks Austen Hendrick (12th overall) and Nick Bitsko (24th overall).

Rece fits the profile of a typical UVA pitcher – multi-sport athlete (hoops) and tall (6-4). He’s got a deceptive delivery from the left that accentuates his stuff. He arrived at UVA with a fastball in the upper 80s to low 90s and a nasty slurve that plays in the upper 70s. He’s also a bit lanky, so adding strength while refining his talents will be goal number one this season as opportunities on the mound will probably be hard to come by this season for Rece.

38 – Avery Mabe (RHP, Freshman)

Kendall: A tall (6-4) righty who needs to build out his arsenal of pitches. He’s a Virginia kid, and another lump of clay for Drew to get his hands on.

Karl: Another multi-sport athlete (hoops, golf) joining the pitching staff. And he’s a lifelong UVA fan whose mother is a UVA grad. I’m sure that Mabe will be willing to wait out the roster logjam ahead of him this season while he works on his stuff and mechanics (I think he’s got some work to do there as his stride to the plate seems to always drift considerably to his left).

That wraps up another roster draft. We hope you enjoyed reading it as much as we did putting it together. We’re expecting an exciting 2021 season for the Hoos. The talent is there for a big year. And the coaches seem very confident in their team.

We’ll be back soon with our lineup projections.

 

By Karl Hess

UVA sports fan since the mid 80s. Graduated from UVA in 2000. Currently residing in Virginia Beach. Also not the hoops ref.

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