Prospect notes from No. 5 Georgia at No. 19 Vanderbilt

Vanderbilt

Game one of the series was the “A” version of JD Thompson. Vandy’s ace surrendered a leadoff home run to start the game, but then locked in and dominated from there. The 6-foot lefty tossed eight innings on 120 pitches, 87 for strikes. He allowed one run on five hits, struck out 14 and walked just one. His performance against Georgia reminded me of Kade Anderson’s recent domination of Oklahoma.

Thompson filled the zone with four pitches, the best of them his trademark riding heater. He lived at 91-92 most of the evening with a fastball that plays above its raw velocity. Its efficient spin (98-100%) from a lower release height and an average of 17-18” IVB with above average extension out front gets on hitters quickly and stays above their barrel. This season his fastball has produced a 93rd percentile (29.5%) Whiff rate (total swing & miss / total swings) and the Whiff rate in the zone (Z-Whiff) is even better at 98th percentile (30.2%). It’s also a pitch that he’s not afraid to throw early and often. In a day and age where breaking balls rule, Thompson pumps his heater to the plate 56% of the time with a 73.4% strike rate (99th percentile).

Throughout the contest, Thompson mixed four pitches for a consistent freezing of the Bulldogs’ hitters. His secondaries include a changeup, slider and curve. All three pitches are effective with his changeup producing the best results to date. It’s a low-spinner (1300-1400 rpm) at 80-82 mph that has produced a 96th percentile Whiff rate this spring. Both his breaking balls are near average in terms of shape/speed and overall quality. And they both play up a hair with his ability to consistently repeat the pitches down in the zone. They were at their best in the 6th, 7th and 8th innings against Georgia with the curve coming to the plate at 76-78 mph and the slider 80-82.

I’m also a big fan of his delivery. He logged 12 starts last season as a sophomore and has posted every weekend this spring. He takes stress off his arm/shoulder by riding his backside and using his lower half and core really well. It’s a very mechanically sound and repeatable operation that also produces good arm speed. Although his velocity was inconsistent earlier in the season and some decision-makers did not see him at his best, they’ll get a second look at the SEC tournament. For me, Thompson is on track to be selected in the top 50 overall picks.

Senior stopper Sawyer Hawks relieved Thompson on Thursday night, throwing the final inning for his fifth save of the season. It was an easy three up, three down frame. Summoned again on Saturday in the 8th inning, the righthander again delivered, this time for two innings and his sixth save of the spring. He faced just seven hitters, striking out two. The 6-foot-4, 215-pound righthander has greatly elevated his game from last season when expectations were off the charts after his transfer from the Air Force Academy. Hawks currently leads Vandy in ERA at 1.34 and has struck out 46 in 33.2 innings. Possessing a starter’s arsenal, he pounded the zone with four pitches. His best on this look was a tight 82-84 mph slider, and his other three are all high quality as well. From a consistent 5-foot-9 release height his fastball rides a bit at 94-95, while his changeup is firm, yet deceptive at 87-88 with low spin in the 1200-1300s. He also spins a 74-76 mph curve (2400-2500 rpm) that has produced a 93rd percentile Z-Whiff of 33%. Overall, Hawks is easily a top ten round prospect who could sneak into the top five rounds with continued domination this spring. He will likely be turned into a starter at that pro level.

Friday’s game two starter, Cody Bowker, was also at his finest for the ‘Dores, especially early in the ballgame before a stadium light delay foiled his momentum. He struck out four of the first six Georgia batters, mostly living upstairs with his 91-93 rising fastball. It’s a filthy, different look pitch unleashed from a lower release height. The pitch appears to be rising, much due to this slot and another part as a result of a 98-100% spin efficiency at 2300-2500 rpm. Bowker also hides the ball well and hitters get a later look at its release. He ripped an 83 mph slider off of the leadoff hitter's leg to start the third inning, and followed that with a walk to the second batter before settling down with a flyout, strike out looking and another fly ball out. After a lengthy delay before the fourth inning, he returned, but the long sit took the mojo from his mix. Bowker surrendered a double, a walk and then a long home run to Georgia’s Daniel Jackson. He then walked the next batter and was removed from the game. Bowker finished with seven strikeouts, throwing 75 total pitches, just 36 for strikes. Overall, the 6-foot-1 righthander projects as a mid-day two draft pick this summer.

Bowker’s fastball plays a grade above its velocity, and game three starter Connor Fennell’s plays up even further. Armed with just an 86-89 mph fastball, the righthander’s heater plays up at least three grades with its elite spin efficiency (98-100%) and a super low release height (4-foot-4 to 4-foot-7). The sophomore transfer from Dayton struck out 11 in 5.2 innings generating whiffs from a plus (at times) changeup and a sweeping breaker that boasts a 100th percentile Z-Whiff this season. Combined, his three pitch repertoire has produced a 93rd percentile Whiff rate and 98th percentile Z-Whiff. The 6-foot-1, slender-bodied Fennell has struck out 51 in 27 innings (48.1% strikeout rate) which ranks him first in the country, ahead of Tennessee’s Liam Doyle who is second at 46.2%. Furthermore, Fennell is also the only righthander in the top four of strikeout rate this season.

A fun one to follow for the 2026 draft is sophomore Alex Kranzler. The quick-working righthander relieved on Friday night and featured a 87-90 cutter at 2500 rpm, a 94-96 mph fastball at 2100-2200 rpm with 91-95% spin efficiency and a low-80s slider. It’s a three pitch arsenal that is led by a 95th percentile Whiff rate slider and has keyed his success as one of Vandy’s most dependable bullpen arms, holding opponents to a .224 batting average and striking out 29 in 28 innings. He’s a top ten round follow for next summer’s draft.

The preseason prospect headliner in the Dores’ everyday lineup was junior outfielder/super utility RJ Austin. Currently mired in a 0-for-27 slump which has lowered his batting average to .260 for the season, Austin sat out the series’ finale for a much-needed mental break, in addition to resting an ailing biceps/shoulder injury. During the first two games of the series his swing was obviously not in its best form. His shoulders spun after a slight dive to his stride. He was off-time and off-plane. The 5-foot-11, 195-pound righthanded hitter couldn’t get to his plus raw power (112 mph max EV) for hard contact and he’s hit only one home run all season after going deep seven times as a freshman and four as a sophomore. Despite his struggles this spring, Austin will likely be selected well above where his production in the batter’s box equates. He’s a throwback type of player with high expectations. He works extremely hard at his craft and is obviously pressing his draft year. There’s much untapped potential to his entire game which includes above average power, run and defensive tools. Look for Austin to be selected in the third round.

A late addition (mid-July) to Vanderbilt’s recruiting class last summer after a decommitment from UT Rio Grande, first baseman Riley Nelson was early to impress area scouts this spring with six hits in 13 at-bats opening weekend. He continued to square it up with four hits (three doubles) in nine at-bats at Texas A&M during the second weekend of SEC play and hasn’t slowed. The 6-foot-3, 220-pound lefthanded hitter is now a national cross-checked prospect after ballooning from a relatively unknown out of the Arizona desert in Yavapai to a top five round prospect for this year’s draft. He combines strong contact ability with a max EV of 112 mph (55/60-grade).

Nelson reminds many in the industry of Sean Casey for his good bat-to-ball skills and the ability to drive the baseball. He leads Vandy with a .373 batting average, .494 OBP and .590 SLG and he’s walked (27) more than he’s struck out (26). He has a strong setup in the batter’s box, stays in his legs and behind the ball for good balance and uses all fields with authority. His swing path is short and quick with his hands starting high, above his back shoulder. He took quality passes throughout the Georgia series that included an RBI double the opposite way to left field off a 2-2 count, 98 mph fastball from Alton Davis during Friday’s game. And his two-run oppo taco with a 94 mph EV traveled 336’ over the short porch and high wall at Hawkins Field to break a 1-1 tie on Saturday. Defensively, Nelson has committed just two errors in 248 chances for a .992 FLD% at first base. His Synergy DRS (Defensive Runs Saved) is 3.26 which is above average.

Second on the club in batting average at .307 and tied for first in stolen bases with 16, Jacob Humphrey hits from a big crouched stance, a la Pete Rose. The lefthanded hitting outfielder does expand up for some chase, but manages the strike zone well enough and plays with good energy from the eight-spot in the order. Another senior, shortstop Jonathan Vastine, continues to show the same top round tools (above average speed, arm strength and raw power) that he’s possessed throughout his career at Vanderbilt. However, he’s still in need of cutting his strikeout rate which sits at 27.5% this season and 26.6% during his four-year career. Sophomore corner outfielder Braden Holcomb also has big tools and may have begun a breakout from what has otherwise been a season on the Struggle Bus. The 2026 draft-eligible collected seven hits in 11 at-bats, raising his batting average from .233 to .282 over the three-game series. The 6-foot-4, 230-pound right handed hitter also had another hard contact (109 mph EV) directly into the mitt of a perfectly shifted defense during his first at-bat of the series finale on Saturday.

Georgia

Bulldogs’ ace Brian Curley set the tone on Friday night, cruising through the first six, allowing no runs on just one hit. However, after giving up a leadoff home run in the seventh, he allowed a 103 mph line drive up the middle and that was it. He was removed from the game, but not after posting another excellent start – 6 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 8 SO. 92 pitches, 57 strikes. The 5-foot-11 righthander has touched 100 this spring (Heat Sheet), but sat in the 94-98 mph range with his high-riding fastball against Vanderbilt. It’s also a high-spinner into the 2700 rpm range and has limited opponents to just a .149 batting average and a .270 SLG this season. Curley also mixes three different speed breakers, led by his most-often used cutter. It spins at 2700+ rpm as he pounds it into the hands of lefthanded hitters at 88-89 mph. It’s a 91st percentile Z-Whiff pitch. His other two breakers receive near equal use. The best performer to date has been a 99th percentile Z-Whiff curve in the low-80s, but his 85-86 slider is strong as well, recording a 91st percentile Whiff rate. Overall, Curley's progression from the 24th-ranked portal transfer pitcher from VCU last summer to early season reliever to the present as the Bulldogs’ top starter has been impressive, to say the least. He’s also positioned himself to become a top five round pick this summer.

Game two starter for Georgia was junior Kolten Smith. The 6-foot-3 athletic righthander has a simple and repeatable delivery. He lands balanced and on-line which puts him in a good position to adeptly field his position. He relies heavily upon his 84-86 mph slider, throwing it 51% of the time so far this spring. With this usage rate there comes obvious great feel for the pitch with a 92nd percentile strike rate of 67.5%. It also results in great success with 98th percentile grades in both Whiff rate and Z-Whiff. His main secondary is a low-90s fastball that he throws 24% of the time. It’s a pretty straight offering that spins in the 2300s and finds bats – an 89.7% contact rate on fastballs swung at inside the zone – and it’s not often chased; 12.9% (19th percentile). The remainder of his repertoire includes a curve, cutter and changeup. His 85-86 cutter spins at 2500-2700 rpm with a strong 92nd percentile Whiff rate, while his mid-80s straight changeup is also effective with a 81st percentile Z-Whiff. Overall, Smith is very good at manipulating shape, spin and velo on a variety of breakers that he mixes with the situation. Overall, Smith profiles as a back of the rotation starter at the pro level, yet may be better suited to a middle relief role where his stuff has a chance to play up one time through the lineup. He’s a top ten round prospect for this year’s draft.

The Bulldogs’ game three starter was 6-foot-5, 225-pound righthander Leighton Finley. His 92-94 fastball showed occasional explosive arm side life/run and was a good finishing pitch in the early innings. It wasn’t quite as dominant over the course of the game, downgrading into more of a tweener fastball shape in that it wasn’t a rider or a sinker. His semi-efficient spin of 87-89% with 1950-2200 rpm from a 5-foot-4 release height could be developed to gain even more swing/miss and increase an already strong 90th percentile Whiff rate of 27.9%. His 83-84 mph slider was effective to disrupt timing and did produce a couple strikeouts, but overall was not a consistent swing/miss offering. It was mostly a soft contact-inducer that he commanded to both sides of the plate. Three of his eight total strikeouts were on backdoor benders taken for strike three. His third pitch was an 83-85 mph changeup at 1400-1500 rpm with fair feel and below average control. Finley showed a very consistent release height on all of his pitches that were thrown with average effort and average arm speed.

After the starting trio of Curley, Smith and Finley, it was a parade of big arms out of the Dogs’ pen as quick hooks/limited looks with a next man up mentality fostered the use of 11 bullpen arms over the three game set.

First man up on Thursday was 6-foot-3 redshirt senior Tyler McLoughlin. The righthander has been up to 97 this season, but topped at 95 on Thursday as he hit the only batter that he faced. Six-foot-5 Ohio State transfer Zach Brown was up next. The righthander provided a different look with a low three-quarter slot and east/west offerings. His fastball sat 89-91 and was paired with a low-80s slurve. Righthander DJ Radtke tossed a 50/50 mix between a 77-81 breaking ball and 93-95 mph fastball. There was some tail to his heater and he commanded the action. He also snapped off several average to better breakers and was on-point to the back door with his slider for a few backwards KOs to lefthanded hitters. Junior righthander Zach Harris delivered a lively 94-96 mph four-seam with spin in the 2300s rpm. His 83-85 slider spun into the 2400s and his upper-70s changeup was a plus swing/miss offering. He sold it well with fastball-like arm speed and an identical release point to that of his heater. For the season his change-of-pace ranks in the 100th percentile for both Whiff% and Z-Whiff%. Big-armed junior righthander Matthew Hoskins powered a 95-98 mph heater with below average control – he’s walked 18 in 21 innings. His 82-84 slider with a spin rate into the 2500s flashed plus with its action, but inconsistent control holds it back from playing at that grade. It’s also released 4-5” lower than his fastball, enabling the better hitters to pick up on it a bit. The lone lefty of the group, Alton Davis II, is a 6-foot-7 long legged junior with a 96-98 mph sinker, 84-86 sweeping slider and 80-81 curveball. His slider is the best of the trio with a 98th percentile Z-Whiff. Possessing high round raw weapons, Davis has yet to develop the performance piece of the prospect puzzle. With a season ERA over 10 and a career of 6.48, it will take one heckuva a presentation by an area scout to win over both his scouting director and analytics staff to take him inside of ten, but there aren’t too many like him at the amateur level and will likely be worth the “gamble.” If nothing else, talent like his becomes an excellent trade piece for an MLB front office.

The Bulldogs everyday lineup has been led by veteran transfers that include Ryland Zaborowski (Miami, OH), Robbie Burnett (UNC Asheville), Christian Adams (Florida Atlantic), Nolan McCarthy (Kentucky), Devin Obee (Duke), Ryan Black (UT Arlington) and Daniel Jackson (Wofford). Of them, Zaborowski and Burnett are the top two prospects.

Big Z (6-foot-5, 235 pounds) was limited to just three at-bats in the series after taking a line drive off his ankle during the later innings of Thursday’s game. He looked overmatched by the riding heaters from JD Thompson and struck out in all three of his at-bats, but there’s no doubting the season that he’s put together. Zaborowski is batting .556 and slugging 1.259 (both 100th percentile) against fastballs this season and overall he’s currently slashing .398/.527/.881 with 16 home runs. It reminds of the 2022 season that Sonny DiChiara produced in the SEC which then springboarded him from a relatively unknown junior at Samford into a senior slugger for Auburn – and ultimately a fifth round draft pick of the Los Angeles Angels. With a less than ideal, yet manageable strikeout rate (20%) and a season max EV of 116 mph, Zaborowski has a very good chance to do something similar, if not in an even higher round, as a junior transfer from a mid-major (Miami, Ohio) to a senior masher at Georgia.

The dynamic, high energy Burnett is a 5-foot-10, 180-pound lefthanded hitter who combines power (50-grade with a max EV of 109 mph) and speed. He leads the Dogs’ offense in home runs, RBIs (55) and stolen bases (12). He’s also been hit-by-pitch an incredible 18 times. There wasn’t much rhythm to his swing in Nashville with very limited pre-pitch movement and more hands than hips in his swing, but he did generate good bat speed that transferred into hard contact to all fields. This ability was highlighted by an oppo shot on Saturday, his SEC leading 17th of the season. Burnett has a typical lefthanded hitter heat map in that he has some swing/miss up/away against the fastball and down/away against offspeed, but overall he covers the zone well and does not chase too often. He reminds of Cedric Mullins (Baltimore) for his size, speed and ability to hit for power from the left side. Mullins was selected in the 13th round of the 2005 draft out of Campbell, but Burnett should be selected around the fifth round this summer.

One of my favorites from last summer for the USA CNT was the multi-positional Tre Phelps. Primarily a DH and leftfielder this spring, he also played a little third base last summer and can play just about anywhere on the diamond, although he doesn’t necessarily excel at any one spot. Unlike many of his Georgia teammates, he’s a homegrown Bulldog and soph-eligible for this summer’s draft. Similar to RJ Austin, Phelps seems to be pressing in his draft year and has struggled to find his swing and get to his raw power this spring. At the plate, the righthanded hitting Phelps has a loose and upright setup. An aggressive hitter last season, he swung nearly 50% of the time; chasing 26.7% and swinging at 76% of pitches in the zone. He has continued to chase in 2025 (27.1%), but the big difference lies in his ability to make contact with fastballs in the zone. Last season he put the bat on the in-zone fastball 90.5% of the time. This season that mark has fallen to 73.5%. Or in other words, he went from the 75th percentile of making contact with the fastball in the strike zone to the 5th percentile. And it’s been limited to just making contact with the fastball. When comparing his in-zone contact against offspeed pitches last year to this current season, the Z-Whiff has remained similar. This tells me he’s just missing his pitch – the fastball. Last season’s strength has become this year’s weakness. He’s also lost power. His max EV has decreased from 112.6 mph in 2024 to just 110 this spring and his hits for extra bases backs that up; 23 in 161 plate appearances in 2024 to 12 in 153 PAs this season. However, some good news. The max EV might be down, but my eyes tell me there’s still plenty of bat speed as the bat remains fast through the zone. And more good news, Phelps has increased his walk rate to nearly 10% after a 6.2% mark last spring.

It will take a remarkable turnaround by Phelps over the last several weeks of this season to return to his preseason prediction as a top 50 overall pick, but there’s no doubting his talent. He’s a gifted hitter with a ton of upside. It’s a tricky slope to navigate and history is not in his favor, but soph-eligibles with down seasons have returned for greater success as juniors – Colby Shelton (Florida) and Jared Jones (LSU) are the two most recent examples. However, far more have returned to lesser seasons – Jalin Flores (Texas), Harrison Didawick (Virginia), Zack Stewart (Missouri State), Anthony Silva (TCU) and Blake Barthol (Coastal Carolina).