2022 MLB Draft Report: Updated college starting pitching rankings and programs on the Omaha radar

I apologize for last week's missed 2022 MLB Draft Report. With the MLB Lockout finally ending, chaos reigned, and losing a week of the report was, unfortunately, a victim. We didn’t miss much other than the confirmation that both top college starting pitchers are missing the rest of 2022. Mississippi State’s RHP Landon Sims joins the Tommy John surgery party, and East Carolina’s LHP Carson Whisenhunt is suspended for failing a drug test. 

A look at the updated college starting pitching rankings for the 2022 MLB Draft, and yeah, it’s dour. 

The topic of college pitching has been a point of discussion with our friend, Joe Ostrowski of BetQL. Now, he’s looking for an opportunity to find betting value on who could win the College World Series. Often you look through the Top 25 list and compare those rankings to the current odds in hopes of finding better than 50-to-1 odds of a school that could win it all in June. 

Here’s the list of schools I like the most after 20-plus games to reach Omaha, whether expected or unexpected.

Josh's Omaha Radar

#1 Vanderbilt (17-2)

Big surprise! I’m going out on a limb choosing Vanderbilt as one of my favorites, but this program has become the Alabama football of college baseball. Shortstop Carter Young is their first-round talent this season, and he’s performing well, hitting .313/.439/.597 with three home runs. What impresses me is they have three first-round talents for the 2023 MLB Draft being significant contributors. Outfielder Enrique Bradfield Jr. reminds me a lot of Juan Pierre. Pitchers Patrick Reilly and Christian Little are getting an opportunity to prove they are worth the hype. 

Coach Tim Corbin does an excellent job of recruiting and applies MLB’s modern approach to the game of baseball to this Vanderbilt squad. Not only is he preparing them well to be a high selection and become a professional ballplayer, but they consistently win. 

#3 Tennessee (19-1)

The Volunteers currently lead all of Division I in team ERA (1.87) and home runs per game (2.8).  Even with Friday night starter Blade Tidwell still sidelined, the Vols have seen Freshman Chase Burns step up. Burns has only allowed two earned runs in 26.2 innings pitched (0.67 ERA). SP Chase Dollander has 44 strikeouts to six walks in 24 innings, and SP Drew Beam has a 1.09 ERA. 

Their bullpen has been lights out and is led by RP Ben Joyce. You've seen Joyce's highlights if you follow Pitching Ninja on Twitter. He’s the guy hitting 102+ mph in his appearances. 

Offensively, OF Jordan Beck (#42 ranked prospect) is having trouble with his strikeout to walk ratio (15 K: 5 BB) but is hitting .329/.378/.561 with 5 HR. Drew Gilbert (#79 ranked prospect) is a hits machine. In 14 games, Gilbert’s slash line is .474/.593/.789, with 12 walks to two strikeouts. Even though Gilbert has just one home run on the season, he’s an intriguing college bat entering the second round. 

Then there is Trey Lipscomb, who already has 9 HR and 38 RBI. He’s a Senior, so the odds are against him from being selected high in the 2022 MLB Draft. Lipscomb could still be a good target for teams looking to save on bonus pool money. 

#8 Virginia (19-1)

When you lead the country in runs scored and have the fourth-best team ERA, that’s a great combination. Third baseman Jake Gelof has inserted himself into the Golden Spikes/Dick Howser Player of the Year conversation. Hitting a ridiculous .472/.548/1.194 slash line, Gelof leads the NCAA with 13 home runs and 46 RBI. 

LHP Nate Savino was looked at as being a third or fourth-round draft pick in this class is off to a strong start. Savino has 35 strikeouts to three walks through five appearances, a 1.88 ERA in 28.2 innings of work. The Cavaliers bullpen has been stellar, with RHP Devin Oritz and LHP Jake Berry (all 6’10” of him) leading the way. 

#10 Florida State (13-6)

I’m worried about the Seminoles' offense if it’s good enough to carry the team to Omaha. I believe in their pitching staff, especially with their one-two punch of starters Bryce Hubbart (#45 ranked prospect) and Parker Messick (#55 ranked prospect). 

We saw last year with Vanderbilt how beneficial it is to have proven starters go back-to-back games. With many contenders struggling to find two dependable starters, Florida State is good enough to host a Regional. They only have to win three games to advance to Super Regionals. If Hubbart and Messick continue to do their job, it makes knocking out Florida State incredibly difficult. 

#23 Gonzaga (14-4)

Very similar to Florida State in that I worry about Gonzaga’s offense, but the Bulldogs can pitch. I’ve written about their Ace, Gabriel Hughes, and he continues to look like a first-round talent. Sophomore starter Trystan Vrieling has turned it on as of late. In his last four starts against Cal State Fullerton, #14 Oklahoma State, Long Beach State, and Pacific, Vrieling has 43 strikeouts in 27.2 innings allowing 14 hits and eight walks. In those four games, Vrieling allowed only three runs with two earned. 

The offense only has hit five home runs this season. They’ll need to pick it up as the season continues, but the Bulldogs have enough pitching to make a run. 

Games I wish I could watch:

A little different than usual because I’ll be on a cruise ship sailing to Cabo, Mexico, but you should check out these matchups Friday and Saturday. 

#3 Tennessee at #5 Ole Miss (SEC Network)

A great test for both programs, especially for Tennessee. After this weekend, they head to Nashville next week for a marquee showdown. 

#16 LSU at #7 Florida (SEC Network)

I will be for sure watching the replay of Friday’s tilt as LHP Hunter Barco goes up against this dangerous LSU lineup. 

#4 Texas at #11 Texas Tech (ESPN+)

Great in-state rivalry featuring two schools who had some bumps in the road recently looking to get back on track.