Browsing: Underrated

Is The Undertaker the most underrated “big man wrestler†of all time? JBL thinks so.

For 30 years, Mark Calaway struck fear into the hearts of WWE Superstars and fans alike as The Undertaker. The legendary Phenom battled some of the biggest names in the history of the business — from Hulk Hogan to “Stone Cold†Steve Austin to Shawn Michaels — becoming a mythical figure in the process.

Taker retired from in-ring competition after three decades of putting his body through hell. He still makes occasional cameos, and when heâ€s not circling the ring on his chopper, Calaway spends his time mentoring legends and future greats while providing creative input for AAA.

Speaking of legends, WWE Hall of Famer JBL was recently asked to name his top five underrated big men wrestlers on the latest episode of Something to Wrestle. The former WWE Champion listed Vader and Mark Henry at number five, Bruiser Brody at four, Stan Hansen at three, Kane at two, and The Undertaker at number one.

When Conrad Thompson joked, “Who the hell is underrating The Undertaker?†JBL offered the following response:

“You talk about the greatest big men of all time,†JBL said. Heâ€s not on everybodyâ€s list. What? Heâ€s 6â€8″, 6â€10â€, whatever he is. Heâ€s 320 or 330 pounds when heâ€s at his peak. And people want to bring all kinds of different guys ahead of The Undertaker.

“I donâ€t think thereâ€s anybody in the history of the business, especially when youâ€re talking about big men, who belongs ahead of The Undertaker. I mean, heâ€s done absolutely everything. He was the guy who got other guys through matches. He was the guy who got put out there with sh*tty gimmicks — guys who couldnâ€t get over by themselves. They said, ‘Taker can do it.â€â€

JBL on The Undertaker being the barometer for wrestlers in the â€90s

“He was the barometer for guys who came in during the â€90s. To see if they could work or not, they got put out there with him. But he was also expected to draw crowds, and he did it everywhere he went.

“You know, ‘Mr. WrestleMania,†the ‘Streak†— thereâ€s just so much about him. To this day, when he walks out there, people go nuts. He is the greatest big man in the history of the business.â€

READ MORE: JBL Explains What Hurts Kaneâ€s Legacy As A Great Big Man Wrestler

Do you agree with JBLâ€s rankings? Let us know your thoughts by sounding off in the comments section below!

If you use the quotes from this article, please credit the Something to Wrestle podcast and give an H/T to WrestleZone for the transcription.

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Guardians OF Juneiker Caceres (Photo by Tom Priddy/Four Seam Images)

There are a few different ways that a hitter can be considered underrated as a prospect.

In some cases, projection models like RoboScout forecast stronger future production than industry consensus or traditional rankings may suggest. Players such as Reds infielder Sal Stewart and Royals catcher Carter Jensen fit this mold over the past two years, consistently ranking as RoboScout favorites well before broader lists caught on, providing an opportunity to get ahead of the industry and identify some hidden gems.

Another category of underrated prospect is one whose underlying data indicates more promise than surface-level performance shows. Braves catcher Drake Baldwin, for example, had excellent underlying Statcast hitting data that didnâ€t seem to actualize in minor league games. Those who were leery of taking the plunge on him, because the surface stats werenâ€t all that compelling, could have invested with confidence had they looked at the underlying metrics.

Let’s identify a few hitters that fit either of those profiles below for Baseball America subscribers.

Juneiker Caceres, OF, Guardians

In 2024, RoboScout ranked Caceres near the top of its DSL list after he produced solid underlying data for his age. Despite being only 16 at the time, the Guardians outfielder posted a 90th percentile exit velocity of 101 mph while pairing it with a plus-to-double-plus contact rate (86%) for the level, At 5-foot-10 and likely limited to a corner outfield spot, he received little prospect fanfare, and much of his production was met with skepticism despite the underlying indicators pointing toward more upside.

That upside began to materialize in 2025. Playing the entire season at 17 years old, Caceres raised his 90th percentile exit velocity to 105.1 mph—plus for both his age and level—while maintaining a better-than-plus contact rate and strong in-zone contact ability. Although his swing decisions remain closer to average, and his barrel rate sits right at league norms, showing that his best contact has not yet consistently come at ideal launch angles, he has an excellent hit-power foundation. The fact he produced this profile as such a young age is notable.

Based solely on production, Caceres already projects as a potential .270/.345 hitter with 20 home run power in the majors. After seeing his Statcast data over back-to-back years, RoboScout will take the over.

Wilder Dalis, 3B, Rockies

Although fellow 18-year-old Rockies infielder Roldy Brito gets most of the fanfare, Dalis has solid numbers too. In other words, he’s potentially underrated.

Across 219 plate appearances at the complex, Dalis showed modest power with three home runs, though his .173 ISO was notably higher than Dodgers outfielder Ching-Hsien Ko at the same level. After a promotion to Low-A Fresno, Dalis added another 137 plate appearances, three more home runs and a .138 ISO—again better than Koâ€s mark in Low-A, and even higher than Giants shortstop Jhonny Level, who is the same age and generally more highly regarded as a hitter.

Comparing Brito’s production against Dalis is instructive. Both logged nearly identical sample sizes, first at the complex and then in Low-A.

Complex:

NamePABB%K%wRC+HRSBGB%Brito20910.5%20.1%15932256%Dalis21913.2%20.1%14931039%

At the complex, the two were comparable, with Dalis walking more often and hitting the ball in the air more consistently.

Low-A:

NamePABB%K%wRC+HRSBGB%Brito1569.0%17.3%15611356%Dalis13711.7%19.0%1013645%

Brito maintained essentially the identical wRC+ (and groundball rate) in full-season ball for Low-A Fresno as he had at the complex, while Dalis had more home runs but his wRC+ dropped 48 points.

Under the hood, though, letâ€s compare their Statcast data across the levels:

NameCont%z-Cont%90th EVChase%Barrel%Brito74%81%103.2 mph34%15%Dalis75%85%102.5 mph28%20%

Dalis has better contact rates, with an above-average contact and borderline plus in-zone contact rate, along with a league-average chase rate. In other words, Dalis arguably has a better hit tool than his org-mate.  And while Brito has a slightly higher 90th percentile exit velocity, Dalis’ barrel rate sits more than one standard deviation above the league average. Combined, those inputs yield a HIT+ metric in the 95th percentile for the level—yet he receives little fantasy fanfare.

Ethan Frey, OF, Astros

The indicators are stacking up in Frey’s favor. A few weeks ago, RoboScout tabbed him as an FYPD option with excellent Statcast data. Baseball America’s Carlos Collazo recently ranked his debut seventh best among 2025 draftees.

In 122 plate appearances for Low-A Fayetteville, Frey had a 165 wRC+ with three home runs and nine stolen bases. Although he had a 20.5% strikeout percentage, his swinging strike rate was only 6.2% which is more indicative of a lower strikeout rate.

On the surface, a 21-year-old posting this line in Low-A projects to a modest peak: roughly a .240/.315 hitter with 15 homers and 15 steals, good for about a 90 wRC+.

Under the hood, however, he has plus contact and in-zone contact rates. He chases at a rate one standard deviation less than the rest of the league, while putting up a 90th percentile exit velocity of 108.3 mph. That’s higher than Dodger outfielder Mike Sirota, who is one year older. The 6-foot-6 outfielder is someone I would target inside the top 50 of FYPD drafts.

Deniel Ortiz, 3B, Cardinals

Ortiz made a strong impression in 2025, splitting time between two levels while showing impact across the board. In 320 plate appearances at Low-A Palm Beach, the 20-year-old posted a 145 wRC+ with 10 home runs and 31 stolen bases. Promoted to High-A Peoria, he continued to produce, recording a 169 wRC+ with three home runs and eight steals in 130 plate appearances.

This performance corresponds to a major league projection of a .245 batting average and .325 on-base percentage with 20-25 homers and 15-20 stolen bases. Considering he projects as an average or better major league hitter with 20/20 potential, he falls into the bucket of underrated fantasy prospects despitethe production.

There aren’t any under-the-hood indicators that suggest regression is coming. His power output is backed by plus exit velocities and strong barrel rates, while his contact rates are fringe-average but playable. He chases one standard deviation less than league average, adding a layer of plate discipline to his offensive game. Put it altogether and Ortiz has been a nice breakout for the Cardinals in 2025.

Nathan Flewelling, C, Rays

In his first pro season, the 2024 third-rounder produced a 124 wRC+ with six homers and nine steals of 439 plate appearances for Low-A Charleston, then added 22 more plate appearances at High-A Bowling Green. That corresponds to a MLB projection of .255/.345 with a 110 wRC+ and 20 home runs. With that type of projection, based solely on his surface stats, he already seems underrated.

But itâ€s under the hood where we see the potential for a significant breakout in 2026. Flewelling rarely chases at all (18% chase rate) and it’s not as a byproduct of passivity: his Swing%-minus-O-Swing% is essentially average. His average exit velocity, 90th percentile exit velocity, barrel rate and xwOBA are all plus. Only his contact rate is below-average, and it’s more of a 45 closing in on a 50 grade compared to a 40.

Last month, RoboScout compared Flewelling’s Statcast data with Reds backstop Alfredo Duno, who is a year older than the Rays backstop. Here are the updated numbers for the season:

NameAgeCon%z-Con%90th EVChase%xwOBAconNathan Flewelling18.669%77%105.1 mph18%.357Alfredo Duno19.569%73%105.5 mph15%.382

Considering Duno’s age and lack of Statcast data advantage over Flewelling, the wide disparity in their perceived value as fantasy prospects provides a potential investment opportunity.

Anthony Huezo, OF, Astros

A few weeks ago, Baseball America’s Geoff Pontes explained why the 19-year-old Astros center fielder is a scouting and development win for the Astros, who drafted Huezo in the 12th round in 2023. RoboScout doesn’t have much to add, except maybe a gif nodding approvingly.

In 160 plate appearances at the complex, Huezo produced a 143 wRC+ with six home runs and 12 stolen bases. After his promotion to Low-A Fayetteville, he added a 128 wRC+ with two more homers and six steals over 91 plate appearances.

Combined, his performance projects to a 96 wRC+ at the major league level with 21 home runs and 13 stolen bases. The trade-off is clear: his 30% strikeout rate limits the projection to a .236 batting average and .305 on-base percentage at peak.

Still, Huezo fits the mold of a prototypical Astros prospect. The contact rates are below average, but he has double-plus thump with a 107 mph 90th percentile exit velocity and a 24% barrel rate. With average swing decisions and the ability to impact the ball as consistently as he does, Huezo has all the ingredients for a high ceiling if he can continue improving his bat-to-ball skills.

Izaac Pacheco, 3B, Tigers

Pacheco is 22 years old, the average age for a High-A hitter, and has yet to reach the upper minors despite spending parts of the last four seasons at the level. So it would require undeniably excellent minor league production to consider Pacheco a notable prospect.

He delivered exactly that in 2025. Across 425 plate appearances for High-A West Michigan, he posted a 155 wRC+ with 17 home runs. Translated to the major leagues, that line projects to a 105 wRC+ with 25-28 homers and a .240 batting average, which is limited by his 29% strikeout rate. For perspective, Blue Jays slugger Addison Barger has been a 2025 major league breakout with a .241 batting average and 20 home runs. For that very reason, I think that makes Pacheco underrated.

The underlying data supports the performance. Pacheco produced double-plus exit velocities and barrel rates, and in 2025 those gains were optimized. His sweet-spot percentage and damage-launch-angle contact both graded as plus, and his air pull rate also sat in the plus range. This level of damage-on-contact helps overcome his slightly below-average contact rate.

Like with Huezo, this is a prototypical Astros profile where the quality of contact is above-average or plus, at the expense of contact rates. But Pacheco makes league-average swing decisions, and he should be an above-average big league hitter who plays adequate third base with a strong arm.

Sam Antonacci, 2B/3B, White Sox

The early read on Antonacci entering 2024 first-year player drafts was straightforward: he had a great hit tool and little power. His 100.1 mph 90th percentile exit velocity in his brief pro debut last year supported that outlook.

In 2025, Antonacci continued to demonstrate elite plate skills. His contact, in-zone contact, chase rate, and swing%-minus-chase% all graded as plus over a full season. The more exciting development was in his power. His 90th percentile exit velocity jumped to 103.1 mph, with a max of 110 mph and an above-average barrel rate. Even more encouraging, his exit velocities actually ticked up after his promotion to Double-A Birmingham.

Across 288 plate appearances with High-A Winston-Salem and another 217 in Double-A, Antonacci projects to a .265/.340 line with a 108 wRC+, 10 home runs and 23 steals at peak. But given the gains in exit velocity and barrel rate, his true ceiling could be higher—potentially pushing into 20/20 territory if the power continues to play.

His statcast actually looks quite similar to JJ Wetherholt, though Wetherholt did have 221 plate appearances in Triple-A, arguably better pitching against which he put up these numbers:

NameAgeCon%z-Con%90EVChase%xwOBASam Antonacci2285%89%103.1 mph17%.355JJ Wetherholt2279%84%103.6 mph17%.365

Geoff Pontes recently explored how Antonacci’s numbers stack up relative to his level. Spoiler alert: he described 70-grade plate skills.

Hendry Mendez, OF, Twins

At 21 years old, Mendez isn’t quite on the same level of the other candidates here because he has a clear flaw he must overcome. Long known for his excellent bat-to-ball skills, the lefthanded-hitting outfielder has battled a career groundball rate around 60%, limiting his ability to translate raw strength into in-game power.

In 2025, however, he reached double-digit home runs for the first time in his career while walking more than he struck out, finishing his Double-A season with a .299/.399/.439 line over 491 plate appearances. And while his launch angle still averaged 3.5 degrees, he did improve his ground ball rate significantly in the first half of the year (53%) before he was traded to the Twins by the Phillies. Unfortunately, the regression monster struck again, his groundball rate became closer to his career average of 58% once he joined his new organization.

The launch angle is a key hurdle. That said, his Statcast data is otherwise quite good. Here’s how it compared to Tigers outfielder Max Clark who, granted, is one year younger than Mendez:

NameAgeCon%z-Con%90th EVMax EVChase%xwOBAHendry Mendez2185%91%104.8 mph113 mph19%.332Max Clark2082%88%104.8 mph112 mph19%.339

What’s not depicted above—though it’s indirectly captured within xwOBA—is that Mendez’s league-average 13.6% barrel rate trails behind Clark’s 18.1% rate. Even so, with one of the best pure hit tools in the minors, Mendez projects as a .280/.360 hitter with a 120 wRC+ at peak. To fully unlock that ceiling—and sustain a long major league career—heâ€ll need to elevate the ball more consistently.

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Hurricane Helms recently shared a surprising take, naming a shocking WWE star as one of the most underrated people in the business.

In a recent post on social media, Helms quoted a photo of Akira Tozawa, who had posted on X a photo of himself in a match. In the post, Tozawa questioned how many more matches his body can handle. In the quote, Helms said Tozawa could be one of the most underrated talents on TV.

“Maybe the most underrated Talent on TV currently. Or at least in the convo,†said Helms in his post.

Fans were quick to react to the post. Many joked that Helms — a match and talent producer at WWE — should do something about it. Many also agreed, noting that Tozawa doesnâ€t seem to get the credit he deserves for his career.

Tozawaâ€s career has spanned over 20 years in wrestling. The star originally came up in Japanâ€s Dragongate promotion, where he has won several titles throughout his career. In 2016, the star signed with WWE, and is also a decorated champion there. Tozawa is a one-time WWE Cruiserweight Championship, and has also held WWEâ€s 24/7 Championship 16 times.

Recently, Tozawaâ€s role in WWE has been more or less a side role. Heâ€s been involved with Alpha Academy since 2023, and has mostly appeared in comedic opportunities. Despite this, Tozawa sitll has a dedicated fanbase.

READ MORE: WWE SmackDown Results: Review, Grades, Card For Sept 26

What do you think? Is Akira Tozawa really one of the most underrated stars on TV? Let us know in the comments section below.

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After discussing 10 underrated 2026 draft prospects last week, we’re running it back with another deep dive on an additional nine college players who might be considered under the radar for the 2026 draft cycle.

None of the players listed below currently rank in our Top 100 draft prospects for 2026. However, a handful of them are more than capable of playing their way inside that range, making them names to keep tabs on heading into the spring.

AJ Evasco, OF/1B, Kansas State

Following a loud showing in the Futures League as a high school senior, Evasco announced his presence with authority last spring and hit .311/.380/.554 with 12 doubles, 11 home runs and 52 RBIs. His summer consisted of a 16-game stint in the New England Collegiate League, during which he posted a .278/.328/.444 slash line with six extra-base hits.

Evasco stands at 6-foot-6 and 220 pounds, and he has impressive length throughout his frame. He has a rather unique setup in the box and sits deep in his stance with an open front side and high handset. He features a barrel tip in his load and has comfortably plus bat speed. For someone of his stature, Evasco moves well in the box.

Evasco is susceptible to miss and chase against secondaries down and/or away, and his swing decisions could use an additional coat or two of polish. Last season, he posted an overall chase rate of 35 percent. His bat-to-ball skills are average, if not a tick above, and he has a present feel for the barrel. He undoubtedly has plus power upside, and last season he posted a 90th percentile exit velocity just under 105 mph while flashing the ability to drive the baseball with authority to all parts of the field. As Evasco continues to fill out and get stronger, expect his power to continue to tick up.

As referenced above, Evasco moves reasonably well for his size and has a chance to stick in a corner outfield spot long term. However, if he moves off the grass, he’s also shown he can handle first base.

Elijah Foster, RHP, South Carolina

After spending two seasons at Sacred Heart, Foster this offseason entered the portal and committed to South Carolina. A quality get for the Gamecocks, Foster this fall will compete for a spot in the weekend rotation.

Foster is an undersized righthander whose delivery is accompanied by a degree of effort. He has a loose, whippy arm stroke and attacks out of a three-quarters slot with real arm speed. His fastball averaged 92 mph and was up to 96, but nearly seven feet of extension—paired with a flat approach angle and the pitchâ€s riding life—allow it to play well in the top half of the zone where it routinely gets over the barrel of opposing hitters.

Foster pairs his fastball with an upper-70s/low-80s slider that flashes two-plane tilt with some sharpness. This spring it garnered a 33 percent whiff rate while holding opposing hitters to a .179 average. Fosterâ€s mid-80s changeup generated a modest miss rate of just 22 percent, but it flashed above-average with fade and, at times, some late tumble.

Foster can sometimes be a bit of a spray gun, and thereâ€s some reliever risk, but heâ€ll be a fun arm to watch develop both this year and beyond.

Congratulations to Elijah Foster on recording his 100th collegiate strikeout!#WeAreSHU pic.twitter.com/LBgTRzOr66

— Sacred Heart University Baseball (@sacredheartbsb) March 15, 2025

Tatum Marsh, OF, Stanford

Marsh last spring rather quietly put together one of the best seasons of any true freshman in the country, slashing .377/.459/.526 with 18 extra-base hits. Heading into 2026, Marsh figures to once again be the table-setter atop a Stanford lineup that desperately needs a spark.

Listed at 6-foot-1 and 194 pounds, Marsh has an athletic, wiry build. He stands fairly upright in the box with a medium-high handset, and he works with a simple operation featuring minimal moving parts. Marsh is a small strider who has present hand speed and consistently gets off quick, tight turns with his hips.

While he has room to fill out and add strength, Marsh is currently a hit-over-power profile who stands out for his bat-to-ball skills and sound approach. Last spring, he posted a 92 percent overall in-zone contact rate, though that mark jumped to 94 percent when focusing solely on fastballs. Against all heaters, Marsh hit .386/.445/.515 with nine extra-base hits. He also had minimal issues handling velocity, as against all fastballs 92 mph and above he slashed .400/.450/.543 in a 35 at-bat sample.

Marsh showed the ability to use the entire field, and while his highest quality of contact came to the pull side, he also laced a number of line drives to the opposite field. Marshâ€s lack of present impact leaves a bit to be desired, but his game power output figures to improve as he adds physicality and learns to pull the ball in the air more regularly

On the grass, Marsh last season handled both corner outfield spots, and his defensive skillset—particularly his arm—profile best in left field professionally.

Marsh has top-five round upside in this yearâ€s draft. As a draft-eligible sophomore, he has plenty of leverage and could elect to return to school for his junior year.

M1 » 🌲 0, 🦅 0

After having a 37-game reached base streak snapped on Friday, freshman @tatum_marsh has started a new streak with a double in the first!

📺 » ACC Network Extra | #GoStanford pic.twitter.com/nMl4LzviKo

— Stanford Baseball (@StanfordBSB) May 3, 2025

Chris McHugh, 1B, NC State

McHugh began his college career at Virginia Commonwealth, where he hit .273/.390/.385 as a freshman. He proceeded to transfer to NC State and enjoyed a breakout sophomore season to the tune of a .365/.462/.533 slash line with 12 doubles and seven home runs. McHugh carried the momentum he built during the spring into his summer on the Cape, where he collected 12 extra-base hits—including five long balls—across 29 games.

Listed at 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds, McHughâ€s natural strength stands out. He stands tall in the box with an ear-high handset and has a noticeable front leg lift which leads into a normal stride. His hands hardly drift in his load. He moves well in the box, has above-average bat speed and does a nice job of keeping everything tight and connected throughout his swing. There is some swing-and-miss against secondaries, but McHugh’s swing decisions as a whole are solid, and it hasnâ€t hindered his production to this point. He pulverizes fastballs, and last spring he slashed .388/.504/.602 with a 92 percent in-zone contact rate against them.

As a whole, McHughâ€s bat-to-ball skills are a tick above average. His carrying tool, though, is his power. He has all-fields impact, but his highest quality of contact has come to the pull side. In 2025, McHughâ€s 90th percentile exit velocity was an impressive 109.2 mph to go along with a hard-hit rate of 55 percent. He gets to his power consistently in games and figures to continue to do so with wood.

McHugh is wedded to first base defensively, but his bat alone will likely be enough to warrant a third-to-fifth round pick next July.

We have submitted a trademark for “A McHugh Mash”

Chris McHugh extends the lead with the second home run of the inning!

B5 | NCSU 4, VT 1 pic.twitter.com/abQWCKawp4

— #Pack9 âš¾ï¸ (@NCStateBaseball) March 14, 2025

Tyler Minnick, 3B/1B, Connecticut

In the wake of a productive freshman season and all-star summer in the New England Collegiate League, Minnick was a popular breakout pick heading into 2025. To say he “broke out†would be a drastic understatement, as last spring he hit .350/.433/.729 with 11 doubles, 22 home runs, 74 RBIs and 22 stolen bases.

Standing in at 6-foot and 205 pounds, Minnick has a strong, athletic frame with present physicality. Minnick stands fairly tall in the box with a slightly-open front side and high handset. His leg lift leads into a small stride. Minnick’s bat-to-ball skills are just average, but Minnick possesses big-time bat speed. He hammers the baseball all over the yard, and his batted-ball data jumps off the page.

Minnick has plus power to all fields, and he doesnâ€t need to sell out to get to it in games. Heâ€s consistently on the barrel and regularly generates high-quality contact. Last season, Minnickâ€s 90th percentile exit velocity and hard-hit rate were 106.7 mph and 55 percent. He was all over pitches in his “go zone,†showing a knack for pulling the ball in the air and boasting optimal launch angle data.

On the dirt, Minnick is a solid athlete and capable of handling either corner infield spot. He has enough arm strength for third, though a slide over to first—where his actions might be better suited—isnâ€t out of the question as he progresses through pro ball. As a cherry on top, Minnick picks his spots on the base paths and is an effective basestealer.

Cody New, LHP, California Baptist

New had some draft buzz as a prepster in 2023, but he wound up making it to campus. He showed flashes as a freshman in 2024 before breaking out in the Alaska League where he compiled a 1.87 ERA with 43 strikeouts to 22 walks across 33.2 innings. That success has carried over to this past spring, as he pitched to a 3.49 ERA with 98 strikeouts across 80 innings.

Newâ€s heater sits in the low 90s and has been up to 95 mph. Itâ€s at its best when located on the armside of the plate and/or in the top third of the zone due to its run and ride. His best pitch, however, is a high-spin, upper-70s-to-low-80s breaking ball that consistently flashes sharp, two-plane bite with impressive finish.

New rounds out his arsenal with a low-80s changeup that has shown both fade to the arm side as well as late tumble at times. He does a nice job of killing spin on it, and itâ€s an effective change of pace off his heater. It garnered a 44 percent whiff rate last spring and looks the part of an average third pitch.

New has present strength and physicality in his lower half to go with a short, quick arm stroke in which he coils his wrist. His control has taken a considerable step forward since last spring, and he is now far more competitive in and around the strike zone.

Deven Sheerin, RHP, LSU

Sheerin missed the entire 2025 season recovering from a knee injury, but in 2024 at Mount St. Maryâ€s he compiled a 4.76 ERA with an eye-popping 109 strikeouts to 32 walks across 70 innings. This year wasnâ€t a complete wash for Sheerin, though, as across 12.1 innings on the Cape this summer he worked a 4.38 ERA with 12 strikeouts.

At 6-foot-5 and 245 pounds, Sheerin is plenty physical and possesses a thunderous fastball-slider combination. He has a drop-and-drive delivery with a crossfire finish, and he features a short, compact arm stroke. He attacks from an ultra-low, three-quarters slot that borders on being sidearm.

Sheerinâ€s fastball has been up to 97 mph. It generates the most swing-and-miss when located in the top half of the zone thanks to its riding life and Sheerinâ€s approach angle. In 2024, it garnered a 35 percent miss rate overall and 28 percent in-zone miss rate.

Sheerin pairs his fastball with a mid-80s power slider that routinely flashes sharp, two-plane tilt. It looks the part of a true put-away pitch, and in 2024 it generated a 40 percent whiff rate while holding opposing hitters to a meager .211 average.

While Sheerinâ€s command can escape him and thereâ€s plenty of reliever risk, heâ€s an exciting arm talent.

Nathan Taylor, RHP, Cincinnati

Taylor showed flashes in his freshman season and struck out 70 across 72.2 innings. Last spring, he assumed the Friday starter role and pitched to a 3.93 ERA with 91 strikeouts to 36 walks in 87 innings.

Taylor, a 6-foot-5 righthander, has a physical, high-waisted build with strength throughout. He employs a simple delivery that starts with his body positioned slightly towards the third base side. He quickly brings his hands down to belt-level, gathers himself and attacks out of a high three-quarters slot.

Taylorâ€s heater sits in the 91-94 mph range and has been up to 96, but it doesnâ€t miss many bats. While it has some carry in the top third of the zone, and Taylorâ€s nearly seven feet of extension is an intriguing building block, his vertical approach angle is on the steep side. Last season, it generated a sub-15 percent whiff rate.

Taylorâ€s moneymaker is undoubtedly his mid-80s gyro slider. Itâ€s a pitch he throws with conviction and is comfortable using it in any count. It generated impressive miss and chase rates of 44 percent and 36 percent, respectively, last spring and routinely flashed above-average.

Taylor rounds out his arsenal with a seldom-used mid-to-upper-80s changeup. Itâ€s more of a show pitch than anything else right now, but he turned over a few good ones last spring flashing both tumble and fade.

Taylorâ€s command is average, and he looks the part of a starter professionally. There are some exciting traits here, and Iâ€ll be curious to see how his fastball shape progresses professionally.

Drew Titsworth, RHP, Clemson

Titsworth logged meaningful innings as a freshman before stepping into an elevated role last season and working a 4.28 ERA with 50 strikeouts to 19 walks across 54.2 innings.

A physical 6-foot-3 righthander, Titsworth attacks from a tough-to-pick-up sidearm slot and features a drop-and-drive delivery in which his back knee scrapes the dirt.

He relies heavily on a fastball—a pitch he threw 77 percent of the time last spring—that sits in the 92-95 mph range. Even with Titsworthâ€s usage of the pitch, he still managed to generate miss and chase rates of 28 percent and 30 percent, respectively. It jumps out of his hand and flashes life through the zone. It plays especially well in the top third—where it looks like a rise ball—thanks to Titsworthâ€s ultra-flat vertical approach angle and release traits.

Titsworth pairs his fastball with a low-to-mid-80s sweeper. While itâ€s shorter in shape, it will flash late gloveside life and was an effective bat-misser last season. Titsworth completes his arsenal with a low-to-mid-80s changeup, though he threw it just eight percent of the time last spring, making it a distant third offering.

Titsworth is an above-average strike-thrower and would be a fun ball of clay for an organization to mold.

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While each player was on the outside looking in for our most recent 2026 college draft rankings, they all received…

Image credit: Sawyer Strosnider (Photo by Eddie Kelly / ProLook Photos) In this week’s College Baseball Podcast, Jacob Rudner and…

Despite some early-season handwringing yet again about the Philadelphia Eagles’ passing game, Jalen Hurts still finds ways to help his team do enough to win games after a 20-17 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday.

As one rival executive told The Athletic’s Jeff Howe, Hurts’ “toughness and makeup are so underrated.”

Hurts has become a lightning rod in terms of quarterback evaluation. His passing stats have rarely been eye-popping, even in the 2022 season when he finished second in MVP voting (3,701 passing yards, 22 touchdowns, 66.5 completion percentage).

In his quarterback rankings on The Ringer, Steven Ruiz has Hurts at No. 13 and labeled him “an elite role player on an elite team.” He is absolutely a player who benefits from a friendly environment, including playing with arguably the best running back and offensive line in the NFL.

The main drawbacks of Hurts’ game come when he’s asked to be a high-volume thrower over an extended period of time. His worst season came during the 2023 season when the Eagles’ defense fell apart down the stretch and he threw a career-high 538 passes (3,858 yards, 23 touchdowns 15 interceptions).

It’s hard to know how much of the blame for Hurts’ struggles in 2023 was on him and how much was on everything falling apart for the Eagles.

Hurts rebounded last season, but most of the credit for Philadelphia’s offensive success was attributed to Saquon Barkley and the offensive line. He elevated his stock by playing his best game in the 40-22 win over the Chiefs in Super Bowl 59.

In fact, Hurts’ two best games in the NFL have been his two Super Bowl appearances. He has thrown for 525 yards, three touchdowns and completed 73.3 percent of his attempts. The Eagles have scored 75 points in those two games.

Yet seven months after being named Super Bowl MVP, Hurts is once again leaving people wanting more when he has to throw the ball. He has just 253 passing yards and no passing touchdowns through two games, though he does have three rushing touchdowns.

The Eagles are 2-0 with victories over a divisional opponent (Dallas Cowboys) and the reigning AFC champs on the road (Chiefs).

Hurts may not belong in the very top-tier of quarterbacks like Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson, but there’s ample evidence throughout his career that he can step up his game under the brightest spotlight.

Sometimes that’s enough for a team to be successful, as the Eagles have proven with one Super Bowl victory in two appearances over the previous three seasons.

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