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College Pitchers Draft Preview (Part 1)

03/03/2022 9:00 AM

Article By: Joe Koetters

      With college baseball in full swing, it is time to dive into a few pitchers who are looking to raise their draft with solid performances during the 2022 season. Early on in the college baseball scene, we have seen numerous teams score over 20 runs in a game and it seems that hitters have dominated thus far. However, do not let this distract you from the fact there are a slew of pitchers that have dominated their opposition. Let’s take a look at some of those arms.

Jonathan Cannon – RHP / Georgia / Orleans Firebirds

      In 2021, Cannon absolutely dominated the Cape Cod League for the Orleans Firebirds. He appeared in 3 games, throwing a combined 13 innings with 8 strikeouts and only 9 hits allowed with 0 runs. Cannon had a WHIP under 1 in each game and hitters never hit better .205 in any outing against Cannon. Cannon was selected 89th overall in the 2021 MLB Draft but decided to return to Georgia the following year.
      Cannon passed on professional baseball to return to Athens to a loaded staff and has picked up right where he left off. In 2 outings so far, Jonathan has pitched 14.1 innings and only allowed 5 hits while striking out 9. What is just as impressive as his 2-0 record and 0.00 ERA so far is the fact that in 14.1 innings, he is yet to allow a walk to any batter. Cannon was projected to go in the first two rounds of last year’s draft and has so far proved that it was a mistake that he wasn’t. If he can put together a year similar to what he has started out with, there is no doubt that Cannon could hear his name called on day 1 in this year’s draft.

Bryce Hubbart – LHP / Florida State / Brewster Whitecaps

      Similarly to Jonathan Cannon, Bryce Hubbart was lights-out in 2021 in the Cape. Hubbart started 6 games for the Whitecaps, averaging over 5 IP per start and struck out 45 batters while only walking 8. Hubbart only allowed 3 earned runs for Brewster and proved this past summer why he should be a first rounder.
      Hubbart has continued his dominance at the college level as well. So far in his redshirt sophomore season, Bryce has started in two games, thrown 11 innings and struck out 22 batters while only walking 1. Scouts have Hubbart slotted to go in the first round assuming he can continue to pitch the way he has in the past 10 months. Hubbart will look to bring Florida State its first National Championship in school history before hearing his name called in the 2022 MLB Draft this summer.