In 2018, MLB teams were expected to score at least a run with a runner on second with no outs. Not many scenarios where managers would automatically walk the next hitter to help increase the opponents odds of plating runs. Especially with one out when walking the hitter increases the likelihood of a run scoring.
The college game has its nuances, and automatically walking star players with runners in scoring position is one of them. It’s a bit frustrating watching these games through the lens of draft scouting because you want to see how the top hitters perform with runners in scoring position. So often the bat is taken out of their hands, and it doesn’t necessarily make sense strategy-wise.
This is often happening for the two best college hitters: Adley Rutschman and Andrew Vaughn. Last night, Cal visited Oregon State to start a very anticipated three-game series. Unfortunately, no fireworks from either as Rutschman and Vaughn were hitless in Game 1.
However, Rutschman walked three times and Vaughn twice last night. On the season, Rutschman has 29 walks to 11 strikeouts sporting a .618 on-base percentage. Vaughn is not that far behind with 23 walks to nine strikeouts and a .589 OBP. Hopefully, both are challenged a bit more for Saturday and Sunday’s contests, but that wouldn’t fit the current trends in college baseball. Teams are treating opposing star hitters as if they are Mike Trout and are more than happy to give the free pass. I do wonder if that is leading to very inflated OBP’s this season, and something to monitor in future years.
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Sox Machine’s #4 draft prospect, UNLV shortstop Bryson Stott, didn’t have to worry about being pitched around Friday night against Nevada. Instead, Stott faced a shift to the pull side against left-handed pitching. This was an excellent opportunity to see how Stott handled facing infield shifts as he will see more of that when he’s in the minor leagues.
In five at-bats, Stott did very well avoiding the shift going 4-for-5 with a double. Stott’s first hit was an infield single beating the shift with a grounder to the left side. The second hit was between the third baseman at the normal shortstop position while the shortstop was roving behind second base. The third hit was a nice line drive to center field, and to cap it off Stott doubled down the right field line for his fourth hit.
Bryson Stott has been facing a shift all game - and he's 3-for-3 tonight. #MLBDraft pic.twitter.com/fhATBogBRY
— Josh Nelson - Sox Machine (@soxmachine_josh) March 23, 2019
It was a nice bounce-back night for Stott who was in a slump his last four games hitting 1-for-15. For the season, Stott’s hitting splits are .349/.513/.663.
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We might have finally found a college pitcher worthy of being a Top 10 pick. After Duke announced that Graeme Stinson will be moved from the starting rotation to the bullpen, TCU’s Nick Lodolo has taken the reigns as the best college starter.
Against Texas Friday night, Lodolo turned in another terrific performance throwing 116 pitches spanning eight innings, allowed nine hits and one earned run with nine strikeouts to just two walks. TCU would score three runs in the bottom of the ninth to beat Texas, 3-2 and helping Lodolo to avoid the loss in a close game. Scouting reports had Lodolo at 94-95 mph with his fastball, and his sharp slider was working well.
T2 | A 10-pitch inning for Lodolo that features a pair of strikeouts, including this one to end the top of the second. #GoFrogs
— TCU Baseball (@TCU_Baseball) March 22, 2019
Texas 0, TCU 0 - Mid 2 pic.twitter.com/GJCy2kvFjU
For the season, Lodolo in six starts has a 1.32 ERA in 41 innings with 24 hits allowed and 55 strikeouts to just nine walks. His next start will be on Friday, March 30th against Oklahoma State.
