2020 Draft: Top 30 College RHP
By Teddy Cahill
College righthanders are always one of the draft’s most important position groups. Lauded both for their upside and consistency, they are popular picks throughout the draft.
This year’s crop of college righthandersis a solid one, headlined by Georgia’s Emerson Hancock, who is a likely top-five pick. With the likes of Auburn’s Tanner Burns, South Carolina’s Carmen Mlodzinski and Cole Wilcox, Hancock’s rotation-mate, in the mix as well, there’s plenty of depth behind him.
This list is based on draft status and does not include two-way players.
- 1Notes:
With an outstanding sophomore season, Hancock established himself as the top righthander in the country. He was off to a solid start in 2020, posting a 34-to-3 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 24 innings. With a fastball that can reach 99 mph and a pair of above-average secondary offerings in his changeup and slider, he has all the makings of a top-five pick.
Less - 2Notes:
Burns was the highest rated prep player not to sign in the 2017 draft class. He’s largely lived up to that hype for the Tigers, stepping immediately into the rotation as a freshman and then taking over from Casey Mize as the staff’s ace. Burns is a little undersized but makes up for it with good athleticism and a powerful arsenal that he controls well.
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Carmen Mlodzinski
South Carolina RHPNotes:Mlodzinski missed most of the 2019 season due to a broken foot but returned in time to spend the summer in the Cape Cod League, where he established himself as the best pitcher in the league. He attacks hitters with a powerful fastball-slider combination and pitches with good control.
Less - 4
JT Ginn
Mississippi State RHPNotes:Ginn was injured on Opening Day and saw his season ended a couple weeks later when he underwent Tommy John surgery. His fastball reaches the upper 90s and he pairs it with a powerful breaking ball, when healthy. Ginn is a draft-eligible sophomore.
Less - 5Notes:
Like Ginn, Wilcox is an eligible sophomore and an alumnus of the USA Baseball 18U team that won the 2017 World Cup. He this year formed a formidable 1-2 combination at the top of Georgia’s rotation with Hancock and they both project as first rounders. Wilcox has a powerful arm and a big frame at 6-foot-5, 232 pounds.
Less - 6Notes:
Miller and lefthander Reid Detmers, the No. 2 ranked lefthander in the class, give Hancock and Wilcox a run for their money as the best 1-2 punch in the nation. Miller runs his fastball in the upper 90s and mixes in a powerful slider and changeup.
Less - 7Notes:
Van Eyk has been a key member of the Seminoles’ staff throughout his career, emerging as the team’s ace. He typically works in the mid 90s, has good secondary stuff and pitches with at least average control, giving him a strong, all-around skillset.
Less - 8Notes:
Listed at 6-foot-4, 218 pounds, Cavalli has a powerful arsenal to match his big frame. His fastball gets up to 98 mph and his slider and changeup are both powerful pitches that work in the upper 80s.
Less - 9Notes:
Part of a talented Hurricanes staff, McMahon combines high-end stuff with good athleticism and size. He runs his fastball into the mid and upper 90s and controls it well, to go with a slider and changeup.
Less - 10
Slade Cecconi
Miami RHPNotes:An eligible sophomore, Cecconi pitches behind McMahon in the Hurricanes rotation and falls just behind him in this ranking. He attacks hitters with a fastball-slider combination and has a classic pitcher’s frame at 6-foot-4, 219 pounds.
Less - 11Notes:
Jarvis was one of the biggest risers on draft boards this spring thanks to an exceptional start to the season and improved velocity after spending last summer getting stronger. His changeup is perhaps the best in the country and his fastball works in the mid 90s.
Less - 12
Jeff Criswell
Michigan RHPNotes:After his former teammates Tommy Henry and Karl Kauffmann were drafted in the second round last year, Criswell will this year look to join them. His fastball gets into the mid 90s and he pairs it with a quality slider.
Less - 13
Cole Henry
Louisiana State RHPNotes:An eligible sophomore, Henry last year emerged as LSU’s ace. He’s performed well in the role thanks to a fastball reaches 97 mph and a good curveball. There’s still some projection in his frame, as well.
Less - 14
Christian Roa
Texas A&M RHPNotes:The Aggies again had a deep, impressive pitching staff fronted by Asa Lacy, who tops the lefthanders list. Roa has a full four-pitch arsenal and has a good feel for his offspeed stuff and his breakout has been aided by improved fastball velocity, as he now runs the pitch into the mid 90s.
Less - 15
Tommy Mace
Florida RHPNotes:Mace has been the Gators ace for the last two seasons and has established a solid track record. He’s not as flashy as some of Florida’s recent aces but with a low- to mid-90s fastball and quality slider, he has solid upside of his own.
Less - 16
Clayton Beeter
Texas Tech RHPNotes:One of the breakout prospects of the spring, Beeter moved this year from the back of Texas Tech’s bullpen to the front of its rotation. He has power stuff as his fastball gets up to 97 mph and he pairs it with a quality curveball.
Less - 17
Gavin Williams
East Carolina RHPNotes:Williams is one of the hardest throwers in the country and has touched 100 mph. He’s still learning to harness that stuff, however, and has mostly worked out of the bullpen for the Pirates.
Less - 18
Kevin Abel
Oregon State RHPNotes:As a freshman in 2018, Abel played a key role down the stretch for Oregon State during its run to the national championship. His performance in Omaha, including a shutout in the clinching game against Arkansas, earned him Freshman of the Year honors. But he had Tommy John surgery early last spring and has been sidelined for the last year.
Less - 19
Bryce Elder
Texas RHPNotes:Elder last year moved to the front of the Longhorns’ rotation and has acquitted himself well as their ace. He has a physical, 6-foot-2, 220-pound frame and attacks hitters with a low-90s fastball and good cutter.
Less - 20
Kyle Nicolas
Ball State RHPNotes:Nicolas and Drey Jameson came to Ball State as a duo in the fall of 2017. Jameson quickly developed into a top-50 pick as an eligible sophomore last year, while Nicolas has come on strong this year. His fastball gets up to 97 mph and he’s made strides with both his curveball and control.
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Trenton Denholm
UC Irvine RHPNotes:Denholm is undersized at 5-foot-11 and doesn’t have overwhelming velocity – his fastball typically sits around 90-91 mph. But he makes up for that with impressive control and pitchability. He didn’t allow an earned run in 32.2 innings over two years on the Cape and also built a strong record of success at UCI.
Less - 22
Tyler Brown
Vanderbilt RHPNotes:Brown is the first reliever to appear on this list and has been one of the best in the country for the last few years. He’s big and physical at 6-foot-4, 242 pounds, has a fastball that sits in the mid 90s to go with a good slider and the makeup for high-leverage moments.
Less - 23
Joe Boyle
Notre Dame RHPNotes:Boyle is the hardest thrower in the country and has touched 102 mph with his fastball. Fully harnessing that elite velocity remains a work in progress for Boyle, who will need to improve his control. He offers significant upside but isn’t as advanced as many of the pitchers on this list.
Less - 24
Bryce Bonnin
Texas Tech RHPNotes:Bonnin has offered big promise since he was in high school but hasn’t been able to realize that potential in college. His fastball gets into the upper 90s and has a promising all-around arsenal, but needs to control it better.
Less - 25
Stevie Emanuels
Washington RHPNotes:Emanuels spent the first two years of his college career in the bullpen before this spring moving to the rotation. Listed at 6-foot-5, his fastball sits in the low 90s and he pairs it with a quality slider.
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