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College Season Preview – Draft Eligible Prospect Batters To Watch

By Richard Haake
College Baseball Dynasty Baseball Preview

The MLB season is not quite here yet but we can get some baseball action early as college baseball starts this week! Those dynasty baseball managers who play fantasy baseball and watch college baseball at least in the early part of the season tend to get a leg up when it comes time for the MLB draft as well as in FYPDs.

Watching as many of these players as you can can give you insight into the upside when the draft season comes around. Also, it’s frankly fun to watch these guys throughout the spring work hard and build the stats necessary to be drafted and live out their dreams. For this article, I’m going to break down some of the top batting prospects to watch as the 2024 FYPD rankings start to take shape.

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Five College Hitters To Watch

Nick Kurtz, 1B Wake Forest

(2023- 56 GP, .353/.527/.784, 24 HR, 76 R, 69 RBI, 5 SB)

It’s almost a lock that Wake Forest will have multiple players go in the first round of the MLB draft in 2024. One of if not the most exciting players on this stacked Demon Deacons team is Nick Kurtz. In his first two seasons at Wake, Kurtz has been nothing short of fantastic. As a freshman in 2022, Kurtz played in 54 games, slashing .338/.471/.637 with 15 home runs, 65 runs scored, 56 RBIs, and two stolen bases. Fast forward to a dominant Wake Forest team in 2023 and Nick Kurtz was right at the center of it all. The power-hitting first baseman played in 56 games, slashing .353/.527/.784 with 24 home runs, 76 runs scored, 69 RBIs, and stole five bases in five attempts.

For dynasty managers watching Nick Kurtz this season, you will see an advanced hitter at the plate. The eye at the plate is impressive with Kurtz as he is a bat that stays toward the top of the Wake Forest lineup. His power is still improving and there is a chance of a 30 home run season out of him leading up to the MLB draft. Wake Forest enters the season ranked number one in the nation.

JJ Wetherholt, 2B West Virginia

(2023- 55 GP, .449/.517/.787, 16 HR, 67 R, 60 RBI, 36 SB)

If you are looking for advanced contact hitters this season you won’t be disappointed. JJ Wetherholt led the NCAA in batting average in 2023 and it’s no surprise to see him near or at the top of draft rankings early on. From college ball to the Cape Cod Baseball League, Wetherholt has never batted below .308 and last season at West Virginia he was impressive. In 55 games, Wetherholt slashed .449/.517/.787 with 16 home runs, 67 runs scored, 60 RBIs, and 36 stolen bases in 44 attempts. Wetherholt is a tough out as well as he only struck out 22 times in 225 at-bats.

While down in the Cape, Wetherholt continued to display his advanced bat, slashing .321/.406/.571 with one home run, and eight RBIs in eight games played. This is a table setter in any lineup who should be able to rack up a ton of runs. The high batting average, OBP, and steals are very helpful for dynasty managers to target in category leagues. West Virginia University goes into the 2024 season unranked.

Jac Caglianone, 1B Florida

(2023- 71 GP, .323/.389/.738, 33 HR, 74 R, 90 RBI, 4 SB)

Jac Caglianone is going into the 2024 season with a massive power upside. In 2023 Jac Caglianone slammed an NCAA-leading 33 home runs as a sophomore and the runner-up was junior masher Brock Wilken for Wake Forest. If Caglianone could have been draft-eligible there is no doubt in my mind he would have gone in the top 10 picks. On the season Caglianone played 71 games for the Florida Gators in which he slashed .323/.389/.738 with 33 home runs, 74 runs scored, 90 RBIs, and four stolen bases across 319 plate appearances.

This coming season should be exciting to watch and Jac Caglianone will probably be talked about all year long. The plus power is undeniable and the bat is very advanced in both seasons at Florida. When it comes to projecting out this season you have to assume Caglianone can hit another 30 home runs like we saw in 2023. His power and the high OBP and average could put him in the top three players selected in the draft. Florida goes into the season ranked fourth in the nation.

Travis Bazzana, 2B Oregon State

(2023- 61 GP, .374/.500/.622, 11 HR, 78 R, 55 RBI, 36 SB)

Born in Hornsby Australia Travis Bazzana is an impressive high contact and speed prospect out of Oregon State. As a freshman Bazzana played in a full season with the Beavers in 63 games played he slashed .306/.425/.478 with six home runs, 58 runs scored, 44 RBIs, and 14 stolen bases in 17 attempts. Over the off-season, Bazzana put on more muscle and it showed when his power output almost doubled in 2023. In 61 games played Bazzana slashed .374/.500/.622 with 11 home runs, 78 runs scored, 55 RBIs, and stole 36 bases in 39 attempts.

Travis Bazzana continued his dominance heading out to the Cape Cod League. In 33 games played for Falmouth Bazzana slashed .375/.456/.581 with six home runs, 33 runs scored, 31 RBIs, and 14 stolen bases in 17 attempts. This is an advanced hitter who should hit at the top of the lineup for Oregon State and has potential as a professional. It was good to see the power output once in the Cape Cod League continue to tick up leading me to believe we could see a 15-20 home runs season out of Bazzana in his Junior season. That paired with 30-plus stolen bases and elite bat-to-ball skills? Sign me up. Oregon State goes into the season ranked 5th in the nation.

Vance Honeycutt, OF North Carolina

(2023- 50 GP, .257/.418/.492, 12 HR, 51 R, 43 RBI, 19 SB)

Tar Heel fans rejoice there is a prospect up in the top five going into the 2024 season. Vance Honeycutt stands at 6’3” and 205 pounds and is going into the season looking to bounce back from a less-than-stellar year that ended as a result of a back injury. In 50 games played in 2023, Honeycutt slashed .257/.418/.492 with 12 home runs, 51 runs scored, 43 RBIs, and stole 19 bases. It was Honeycutt’s freshman season that had everyone talking about the five-tool centerfielder. In 64 games played Honeycutt slashed .296/.409/.672 with 25 home runs, 66 runs scored, 57 RBIs, and stole 29 bases.

If Honeycutt is in fact back to full health ahead of the 2024 season perhaps we can see some more of that magic we saw in his freshman season. There is true power and speed here and with a strong season in a tough ACC division, Honeycutt could crack the top five in the draft. North Carolina comes into the season ranked 17th overall.

For more of the great fantasy baseball rankings and analysis you’ve come to expect from FantraxHQ, check out our full 2024 Fantasy Baseball Draft Kit! We’re here for you all the way up until Opening Day and then on into your championship run.

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