New England Baseball Journal
2020 MLB Draft: Top 12 college pitchers from New England
By Dan Guttenplan
The start of the college baseball season has given MLB scouts and cross-checkers an opportunity to assess new roles for potential draft prospects and get a sense of which players to track over the next three months. We’ve put together our list of players to watch so that — if you have the desire — you can get out and see some of our region’s best talent heading into the 2020 MLB Draft.
Players like Bryant pitcher Tyler Mattison (Fort Ann, N.Y.) are not included in this list, as it consists of players who are native to New England.
To clarify, a player is eligible for this list if he grew up in New England and is now playing college baseball outside of New England. But it does not include players who grew up outside of New England and are now playing college ball regionally.
Here is a list of New England’s top 12 college pitching prospects for the 2020 MLB Draft.
1. Ian Seymour
Pitcher, Virginia Tech
Westborough, Mass.
Bats: Left | Throws: Left
Height: 6-0 | Weight: 190
Seymour has been a legitimate ace for Virginia Tech this season, going 3-0 with a 2.21 ERA through his first four starts. In a victory over Georgia Tech on Sunday, Seymour had 14 strikeouts in six innings of work. On the season, he has 40 strikeouts through 20.1 innings.
2. Jared Shuster
Pitcher, Wake Forest
New Bedford, Mass.
Bats: Left | Throws: Left
Height: 6-3 | Weight: 210
With the exception of one rocky start against Long Beach State on Feb. 22, Shuster has been an elite No. 2 starter for Wake Forest. He has gone 2-1 with a 3.76 ERA and 43 strikeouts in 26.1 innings. In his last start against Louisville on Saturday, he struck out 13 in a 3-2 victory.
3. Thomas Girard
Pitcher, Duke University
Simsbury, Conn.
Bats: Right | Throws: Right
Height: 5-11 | Weight: 170
Girard is the Duke closer this season, and he’s already racked up four saves. He blew his first save opportunity on March 10 against Davidson, but each of his previous eight appearances came at the end of Duke victories. He has recorded 23 strikeouts in 13 innings.
4. Brandon Dufault
Pitcher, Northeastern University
Windham, N.H.
Bats: Right | Throws: Right
Height: 6-5 | Weight: 195
Dufault, who has clocked 97 mph with his fastball, has pitched at the end of games for Northeastern, earning three saves in eight appearances. He has allowed just one earned run in 8.1 innings with 10 strikeouts. Dufault appears to be putting it all together this spring after struggles with consistency in 2019.
5. Nick Dombkowski
Pitcher, University of Hartford
West Springfield, Mass.
Bats: Right | Throws: Left
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 195
The 2018 America East Conference Pitcher of the Year has been a shutdown ace for Hartford through the opening month, allowing a total of two earned runs in three starts. He is 3-0 with a 0.90 ERA and 20 strikeouts in 20 innings. His control has been impeccable; he’s allowed a total of 12 base-runners.
6. Jared Wetherbee
Pitcher, Elon University
Fiskdale, Mass.
Bats: Left | Throws: Left
Height: 5-10 | Weight: 203
Wetherbee has served as Elon’s Friday starter and gone 1-1 with a 3.54 ERA through four starts. His best start came against UMass Lowell on Feb. 21, when he allowed just two hits over seven shutout innings with just one walk and 11 strikeouts.
7. Caleb Wurster
Pitcher, UConn
Coventry, R.I.
Bats: Left | Throws: Left
Height: 6-0 | Weight: 178
A sidearm left-handed reliever whose fastball barely eclipses 90 mph, Wurster has assumed an end-of-game role for UConn. He’s made seven appearances this season — all UConn wins — and allowed just one earned run in 7.0 innings. Wurster has picked up a win and two saves.
8. Joe Simeone
Pitcher, UConn
Groton, Mass.
Bats: Right | Throws: Right
Height: 6-1 | Weight: 219
Simeone has thrived in his role as a starter this season, posting a record of 1-1 with a 3.00 ERA through four starts. He had his best start on Saturday against Presbyterian College, allowing just one run and three hits in six innings while striking out 12. His fastball sits in the low 90s.
9. Joe Walsh
Pitcher, Boston College
Plymouth, Mass.
Bats: Left | Throws: Left
Height: 6-1 | Weight: 225
Walsh has been used as a starter and reliever through the opening month, logging a record of 0-2 with a 3.26 ERA. He’s settled into a role out of the bullpen of late, and allowed just one run in his last eight innings over four appearances. Walsh has struggled with his control, issuing 16 walks against just eight strikeouts.
10. David Stiehl
Pitcher, Northeastern University
Manchester, Conn.
Bats: Right | Throws: Right
Height: 6-0 | Weight: 200
Stiehl has been decent in a relief role this season, posting a 1-0 record with a 3.55 ERA. He has issued just four walks and struck out 12 in 12.2 innings. As a swing pitcher for Northeastern last spring, he went 6-4 with a 4.82 ERA in 70 innings.
11. Richard Brereton
Pitcher, Emory University
Darien, Conn.
Bats: Right | Throws: Right
Height: 6-0 | Weight: 170
Brereton is a dual-threat who could also be drafted on the merits of his hitting. He has made two starts on the mound and has yet to allow a run. He’s 2-0 with 12 strikeouts in 10.1 innings. As a hitter, he’s batting .478 with nine runs and nine RBIs in six games.
12. Matthew Stansky
Pitcher, Bryant University
Douglas, Mass.
Bats: Right | Throws: Right
Height: 6-0 | Weight: 202
Stansky looks like he’ll fill the role of the Bryant closer. Through six appearances, he’s allowed just two earned runs over eight innings. He is 1 for 1 in save opportunities. Stansky had a breakout sophomore campaign at Bryant, when he posted the lowest ERA (1.11) in D1 program history.
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