Wil Crowe

Part of the same Tennessee prep class of 2013 that included the likes of Nick Senzel, Will Craig, Dakota Hudson and more, Crowe was on the outside looking in last June, sidelined by Tommy John surgery. While the rest of that Tennessee prep class heard their names called in the draft, Crowe made clear he'd be returning to South Carolina for another season. The thickly built righthander had the misfortune of tearing his UCL late in his sophomore year, wiping out almost two seasons for Crowe, who was the Gamecocks' Friday ace and a freshman All-American in 2014. Crowe reclaimed his place in the Gamecocks rotation this spring and dominated early, showing the kind of stuff that made him a hot commodity before the injury. At his best, Crowe can touch 96-97 mph, sitting 91-94, with a sharp upper 70s curveball and a tighter, more horizontal slider. Crowe has shown improved feel for his 83-85 mph changeup this season, using it effectively against lefthanded batters. However, there's been some inconsistency in the quality of Crowe's stuff and sharpness, particularly late this season--perhaps the result of fatigue from his time on the shelf. He's been tasked with leading the South Carolina pitching staff since ace Clarke Schmidt went down with a torn UCL of his own.