To piggyback off of last week’s draft podcast episode with Carlos, I thought it would be a fun exercise to take an even deeper look into some of the players we discussed. Four of the guys below were discussed on the podcast, but I am bringing one additional player into the fold who is looking more and more like a top-three-to-five-round pick by the day. There is no rhyme or reason as to the order in which the players are listed, and this is not a ranking.
Daniel Eagen, RHP, Presbyterian
After logging just 53.1 total innings between his freshman and sophomore seasons—including 9.2 in 2023—Eagen has exploded onto the scene in 2024 to the tune of a 2.98 ERA with 87 strikeouts to 21 walks across 51.1 innings.
Eagen has a prototypical pitcher’s build at 6-foot-4 and 200 pounds with some physicality in his lower half. He has a somewhat up-tempo operation on the mound with an abbreviated arm stroke and attacks from a three-quarter slot. Eagen relies primarily on his fastball, which sits 92-95 but has regularly been up to 96. It explodes out of his hand and flashes exceptional carry through the zone, averaging nearly 21 inches of ride. Unsurprisingly, it is at its best—and generates the most swing-and-miss—when located in the top half of the strike zone.
Eagen supplements his heater with a plus low-80s curveball that is both big in shape and flashes sharp, downward bite. It is effective against both right and lefthanded hitters, and this season opponents are hitting a measly .093 against the pitch. He has solid feel for the offering and it is a legitimate swing-and-miss pitch that this year has an impressive miss rate of 58%.
The key for Eagen going forward will be to show continued improvement in the strike-throwing department as well as the addition of a viable third pitch. He has occasionally mixed in an effective gyro slider as well as a mid-80s changeup, and it is reasonable to project at least one to be an eventually average pitch—especially his slider.
There is plenty of good clay to mold here with Eagen as well as exciting upside. He is on track to be a fourth-to-sixth-round pick in this year’s draft.
Bridger Holmes, RHP, Oregon State
Holmes came to Oregon State via Feather River College, where in 2023 he posted a 2.50 ERA with 86 strikeouts to 33 walks across 57.2 innings. He has been nails for the Beavers this year and has cemented himself as one of the best relievers in college baseball. Across 23.2…