The College Hot Sheet has returned for the 2024 season. Like our pro Hot Sheet that runs during the minor league season, we’re recognizing some of the top performers from around the country in college baseball after each weekend of play. Carlos Collazo and Peter Flaherty contributed to the College Hot Sheet this week. Players are listed in alphabetical order.
You can find our updated 2024 draft rankings here. All of our college coverage each week during the season can be found here.
A 6-foot-2, 195-pound righthander and Vermont native, Alekson had his first start in conference last weekend against Niagara and turned in the best performance of his young career. He threw seven shutout innings and scattered two hits and a walk while striking out a career-best eight batters. He has pitched with an upper-80s fastball, a changeup and a pair of breaking balls this season but has landed each of his four offerings for strikes at a 65% or better rate. Alekson has posted a 4.24 ERA through 10 starts and 46.2 innings with a 19.3% strikeout rate and a 6.4% walk rate. –CC
Ryan Andrade, RHP, Pittsburgh
Class: 2024
What He Did: 7 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 8 K
Andrade could not have picked a better time to turn in his best start of the season, as on Friday he outdueled Florida State ace Jamie Arnold and spun seven shutout innings in which he struck out eight and held the Seminoles’ potent offense to just three hits—all of which were singles. He generated 22 total swings and misses between his fastball and curveball, with 13 coming against his heater. Andrade’s fastball on Friday was up to 96 and flashed life at the top of the zone. He was able to consistently get it over the barrel of opposing hitters and located it well. Andrade’s curveball was effective against both right and lefthanded hitters, flashing depth and some sharp, downward bite. In his last two starts, Andrade has allowed just 1 run with 15 strikeouts across 14.1 total innings. He profiles as a potential day three pick this July. -PF
Jamie Arnold, LHP, Florida State
Class: 2025
What He Did: 7 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 17 K
Arnold struck out a career-best 17 batters against Pittsburgh last weekend which put him in a group of just five D-I arms with 17 or more punchouts in a single game this season. It was the most strikeouts for a Florida State pitcher since 1987 but FSU somehow spoiled his outing and lost the game 1-0. Arnold has been tremendous in his sophomore season for the…