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Ivan Melendez: Collegiate Baseball National Player of the Year

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Blotto

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https://www.espn.com/mlb/insider/story/_/id/34096230/top-mlb-draft-prospects-watch-2022-college-world-series

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Top 15 MLB draft prospects

1. Jacob Gonzalez, SS, Ole Miss (2023)

2. Peyton Graham, SS, Oklahoma

3. Cayden Wallace, 3B, Arkansas

4. Brock Jones, CF, Stanford

5. Drew Bowser, 3B, Stanford (2023)

6. Jaxon Wiggins, RHP, Arkansas (2023)

7. Jake Bennett, LHP, Oklahoma

8. Jimmy Crooks, C, Oklahoma

9. Ivan Melendez, 1B, Texas

10. Braden Montgomery, RF, Stanford (2024)

11. Robert Moore, 2B, Arkansas

12. Silas Ardoin, C, Texas

13. Hayden Dunhurst, C, Ole Miss

14. Cade Horton, RHP, Oklahoma

15. Sonny DiChiara, 1B, Auburn

Arkansas Razorbacks
Top prospect: Cayden Wallace, 3B

Wallace has been hot lately with a shot to go in the 20 to 30 range. He has sure hands at the hot corner and power that he's been using in games. Wiggins is regularly in the upper-90s and has above-average off-speed stuff but is still inexperienced. Moore is a second- to third-rounder who may return to school. He has shown inconsistent contact and below-average power but his speed, defense and feel are strong. Shortstop Jalen Battles was eligible for last year's draft and has some contact questions, but possesses real defensive ability and power. Brady Tygart is the latest exciting, electric reliever for the Hogs who should be able to convert to the rotation in the next couple seasons. Second baseman Peyton Stovall, who is 2024 draft eligible, and LHP Hagen Smith are also impact freshmen.


Auburn Tigers
Top prospect: Sonny DiChiara, 1B

Auburn isn't as loaded with top-tier pro prospects as other SEC teams, but the Tigers have a lot of pro-worthy depth. A Samford transfer known as Sonny D, DiChiara had a huge season and figures to go between the third and fifth rounds. Righty Blake Burhalter is a key bullpen arm who sits in the mid 90s, while Trace Bright and Mason Barnett have shown flashes as potential starter types. Second baseman Cole Foster (2023) is another name in the lineup to keep an eye on.


Mississippi Rebels
Top prospect: Jacob Gonzalez, SS (2023)

Gonzalez is right in the thick of a half-dozen college hitters in the mix to go No. 1 overall next summer. He has a slightly quirky bail-oriented swing from the left side, but he's a sure shortstop with outstanding numbers and above-average tools in the best amateur league in the country.

Hayden Dunhurst has been frustrating for scouts, with a solid set of defensive skills and power, but an odd setup at the plate that's led to an up-and-down year offensively. LHP Hunter Elliott (2024) has emerged as a potential selection in the top three rounds in a couple years, while 2023-eligible 1B Kemp Alderman has big power. A half-dozen other arms of various classes have solid pro potential.


Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Top prospect: Liam Simon, RHP

Notre Dame's pro prospect group is led by power righties, with Simon (into the high 90s, solid slider, improving control with starting role) and Jack Brannigan (reliever often in the upper 90s, but still inexperienced as he's also the regular third basemen) -- both eligible in 2022 -- just missing the list and 22-year old Alex Rao (94 to 96 mph, above-average splitter) just behind them. LHP Jack Findlay and RHP Roman Kimball, both 2024 eligible, are freshmen who both possess early-round upside with solid-average stuff and strong contributions this year.


Oklahoma Sooners
Top prospect: Peyton Graham, SS

Graham is similar to Tim Anderson of the White Sox. Both are slim-framed shortstops with excellent tools who are limited a bit by swinging too often. Graham has a shot, buoyed by a better approach down the stretch, to sneak in the 20 to 30 range. Bennett is in the second or third round with some reliever questions but above average stuff from the left side. Crooks is also in that mix with a solid approach and sure hands behind the plate. Cade Horton is a round behind them with outstanding stuff, but still needs more refinement given a recent Tommy John surgery, two-way play and a football background. Second baseman Jackson Nicklaus (2024) is another potential early-round prospect.


Stanford Cardinal
Top prospect: Brock Jones, CF

Jones looked like a possible pick in the top half of the first round coming off of a solid summer with Team USA, but had a horrid start to the 2022 season, with scouts putting him in the third round as his swing fell apart. He got hot again late in the season and is now in the mix for the end of the first round. Drew Bowser has 30-homer potential and outstanding skills, but he needs to cut down on the swings and misses. Montgomery also could stand to do that but has had a strong freshman season at the plate and on the mound. First baseman Carter Graham (2023) will be a priority follow for next year's draft, while RHP Alex Williams, C Kody Huff and LHP Quinn Matthews fit between the third and fifth rounds this summer.


Texas Longhorns
Top prospect: Ivan Melendez, 1B

Melendez joins Ole Miss' DiChiara as another 22-year-old with a breakout season, launching him higher in this year's draft. Melendez arguably has the most power in all of college baseball, and it's not hard to see with his nation-leading 32 homers. Silas Ardoin is a solid backstop with some offensive upside while SS Trey Faltine has even more power and defensive upside, but much bigger contact concerns. LHP Pete Hansen and CF Douglas Hodo III are two more players with the potential to be picked in the top-five rounds this summer.


Texas A&M Aggies
Top prospect: Ryan Targac, 2B (2023)

Like Auburn, the Aggies aren't overflowing with top-round talent, but are well-coached and deep. Targac (would've been ranked 16th on this list) has a shot to sneak into the top 50 picks next summer with a nice mix of contact, power and defensive ability. RHP Nathan Dettmer (2023) has thrown in the mid 90s with solid off-speed stuff and some believe that might land him in the top three rounds next summer. RHP Chris Cortez (2024) is regularly in the upper 90s but has a relief look and doesn't currently strike out as many batters as his stuff would have you believe.
 

 

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Scheiss Meister

Scheiss Meister 8407

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So Ivan goes 1 for 8 in the last two games, 0 for 4 today.  Does that affect the Golden Spikes voting, or is it all done?  It seems that the best player in college baseball would step up when he's needed most.

Don't get me wrong, I hope that he gets the Golden Spikes, but damn, this weekend has been a disappointment.

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Steel Shank

Steel Shank 9423

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So Ivan goes 1 for 8 in the last two games, 0 for 4 today.  Does that affect the Golden Spikes voting, or is it all done?  It seems that the best player in college baseball would step up when he's needed most.
Don't get me wrong, I hope that he gets the Golden Spikes, but damn, this weekend has been a disappointment.

It’s definitely not the coaching.
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NorthLoop

NorthLoop 14195

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1 hour ago, Scheiss Meister said:

So Ivan goes 1 for 8 in the last two games, 0 for 4 today.  Does that affect the Golden Spikes voting, or is it all done?  It seems that the best player in college baseball would step up when he's needed most.

Don't get me wrong, I hope that he gets the Golden Spikes, but damn, this weekend has been a disappointment.

Pretty sure the voting was already done. Also the other finalists didn't make Omaha so fuck that shit. 

Also that pitch was 6 inches below the zone. 

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Helobious

Helobious 9448

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On 6/19/2022 at 11:14 PM, Scheiss Meister said:

So Ivan goes 1 for 8 in the last two games, 0 for 4 today.  Does that affect the Golden Spikes voting, or is it all done?  It seems that the best player in college baseball would step up when he's needed most.

Don't get me wrong, I hope that he gets the Golden Spikes, but damn, this weekend has been a disappointment.

2 bad games does not a bad season make. Brutal punch out with the bases juiced, that pitch was mid-shin. It was even outside of the “swing if it’s close” zone 

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Balcones

Balcones 316

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1 hour ago, Helobious said:

2 bad games does not a bad season make. Brutal punch out with the bases juiced, that pitch was mid-shin. It was even outside of the “swing if it’s close” zone 

Who else would get it?  Some guy sitting at home on the couch not have to face CWS pitching?

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WBT

WBT 20564

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On 6/17/2022 at 3:13 PM, Valmy77 said:

So theoretically a high school player could win the Golden Spikes?

Apparently.  Bryce Harper won it at whatever bullshit community college he went to and A-Rod was a finalist but didn't win in high school.

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hobbes2702

hobbes2702 13032

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We don’t need any statues of players at Disch. Retire their numbers if you want, give them the plaques, build a hall of honor, but statues (busts) at the Disch are for the guys that coached. We’ve only had 5 since this became an official program (6 if you include the WW2 seasons). We’ve had many many many elite players and many players of the year. 
 

That isn’t taking anything from Ivan. This is the best single season I’ve ever seen from a Texas player. 

Edited by hobbes2702
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Js1

Js1 85316

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12 hours ago, hobbes2702 said:

We don’t need any statues of players at Disch. Retire their numbers if you want, give them the plaques, build a hall of honor, but statues (busts) at the Disch are for the guys that coached. We’ve only had 5 since this became an official program (6 is include the WW2 seasons). We’ve had many many many elite players and many players of the year. 
 

That isn’t taking anything from Ivan. This is the best single season I’ve ever seen from a Texas player. 

Agree. For baseball, I’m good with jersey retirements and the plaques for players.  Statues reserved for coaches and football players. 

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