Pat Valaika

Valaika's older brothers Chris and Matt both played for UC Santa Barbara and went on to the professional ranks, with Chris reaching the majors with Cincinnati and now Miami. Pat is similarly instinctive but lacks standout tools. He has been UCLA's starting shortstop since his freshman year, hitting .238 as a freshman, .266 as a sophomore and .262 this spring. He did hit for more power out of the cleanup spot, as his slugging percentage jumped from .362 last year to .421, and his home run total jumped from one to five. The 5-foot-11, 205-pound Valaika has a rotational swing with a pull approach, and he struggles against pitches over the outer third. His swing has length, and he lacks bat speed, so scouts project him as a below-average hitter with marginal power. He is an instinctive defender with a slightly above-average arm and a knack for putting himself in the right position to make plays, helping his range play up. Still, he's a below-average runner who probably lacks the range to play shortstop in the big leagues. His makeup could make him a useful organizational player with a chance to fill a utility role.