This past weekend saw Stanford’s baseball team journey to Chapel Hill to challenge North Carolina. I managed to witness a couple of the showdowns, taking considerable note of a host of MLB Draft aspirants, including a prime power hitter of the current draft crop and potential selections for future years. Among them, North Carolina’s resident catcher, Luke Stevenson, unquestionably cuts a figure worth the first-round pick, due to his positions and apparent power connection, rated highly, possibly even 70 standard; his ultimate team is likely to be those who truly foresee him perpetuating his role as a long-term catcher. His drafting will slightly be contingent on his annual performance.
Stevenson’s prodigious power is undeniable. In Saturday’s game, he scored two home runs, aggressively seizing advantage of the first pitches thrown his way. Each time, his exit velocities surpassed 110. His approach to batting is characterized by a particularly vigorous swing and a substantial stride, which may pose a risk when confronted with pitchers adept at speed change. His defensive prowess has garnered a gamut of responses from scouts, yet I’d be hesitant to strip him of the bat, considering his performance, unless it proves absolutely crucial. Being in the college catcher running for this draft, I’d say he falls slightly short of Auburn’s Ike Irish but not by a large margin.
North Carolina’s Kane Kepley, a center fielder, transferred from Liberty this spring. His time at Liberty was marked with a remarkable record of stealing 42 bases from 46 attempts over two years. He also boasted an impressive batting record, with his sophomore year statistics showing a batting average of .330/.482/.521 and 53 walks compared to 27 strikeouts.
Stanford’s right-hander Matt Scott has managed to kick off a promising start in 2025, drawing the attention of national scouts with his pitching. In his debut three games, he conceded just three runs in 17 1/3 innings, complete with 19 strikeouts – 10 of which were in one single game – and only seven walks. Despite his promising start, his performance on Friday against UNC was notably poor. He ended up conceding six runs in the space of only 3 2/3 innings, with UNC successful in striking almost all of his pitches.
Scott displayed a strong command of a four and two-seamer during these performances, along with a cutter, slider, and changeup. However, he seemingly struggled during the long first inning, failing to serve a single changeup.
Stanford first baseman, Rintaro Sasaki, unfortunately has not lived up to the hype. The expectations that accompanied his shift from the NPB draft in favor of the U.S. landscape have not been met, with the player exhibiting only raw power on the field.
We also saw the triumphant return of UNC right-hander Jake Knapp, after sitting out for the 2024 season following his Tommy John surgery. His performance during the Saturday game was nothing short of admirable, displaying a 92-95 performance with a dependable changeup that effectively countered Stanford’s seasoned lineup.
Lastly, a promising player to watch was Jason Decaro, UNC’s sophomore right-hander. He shone during the first round, adding eight whiffs to his tally by deploying an incisive upper-80s slider that demonstrated a precise downward break. His changeup technique is quite promising and merits more frequent utilization in future games.