Austin Adams

Adams could be the top prospect in NAIA this spring after lefthander Ashur Tolliver of Oklahoma City. He's shown a premium arm for several years at Faulkner, which retained him as a recruit even after Auburn offered him late in his senior season. Adams was drafted as a shortstop in 2008 as a 27th-round pick but he didn't sign and came back to school as a senior. He hit .389 with 14 home runs this spring, is an above-average runner with 4.05-second times to first base from the right side and has solid infield actions, with a chance to stay at shortstop as a pro. With all that, he'll be drafted as a pitcher. After relieving much of his career, Adams has moved into more of a starting role this spring and maintained the premium velocity he'd flashed in the bullpen. After hitting 95 last year, Adams topped out at 98 mph this spring and pitched at 91-96 mph, even as a starter, and showed the quick arm and athleticism to maintain that velo deep into games. He also throws a curveball and changeup, though scouts prefer the curve, a power breaker in the lower 80s. It has plus potential if he can improve his command. Lacking experience as a pitcher, Adams has plenty of refinements to make. His stuff tends to flatten out the harder he throws, helping explain how a NAIA pitcher with his velocity and breaking ball can go 5-2, 5.83 with ratios of just 8.16 strikeouts per nine innings.