There is a ton of HBCU talent as we head into the 2021 collegiate baseball season and quite a few draft eligible players ready for Major League draft day.
The 2021 season is going to be exciting for HBCU baseball fans who have had few things to cheer about last season after the pandemic hit. With this year’s class, when the season officially starts, players will be working to ink deals and head off to minor league rosters in June.
Let’s turn our attention to the 2021 class.
It’s still fairly early to judge the HBCU baseball class of 2021 as a whole. This will be a critical year for the class as it could decide boom or bust status for them. As a whole, the 2021 crop of potential hitters and pitchers could be viewed as a phenomenal class.
As usual, there was nearly an even split between pitchers and hitters from the HBCUs. Because of the changes Major League Baseball made to shorten the number of draft rounds last year, HBCU players picked out of college could reach the big leagues faster, in my opinion. It’s not premature to name the best picks out of HBCUs and Travis Cole of Alcorn State University is leading the way for the top picks along with North Carolina Central University’s Luis DeLeon.
Black College Nines (BCN) analyzes the Pre-Grade Draft Class of 2021…
1. Travis Cole, OF, Alcorn State University
Cole has one of the highest floors in the draft. He’s a surefire up-the-middle-player in a draft that doesn’t have many of them. Cole is going to hit. He’s going to run. He’s going to play a good outfield. And Cole’s power has improved since his freshman year. The senior can drive the ball to all fields. I like this pick.
2. Luis DeLeon, OF, North Carolina Central University
DeLeon has a lot of certainty and one of the highest floors. He’s arguably the best pure hitter in HBCU baseball, and there is more power in there. DeLeon has proven he can play second base, and he should be a solid regular in the big leagues very quickly.
3. Josh Hancock, RHP, Florida A&M University
Hancock, stands at 6′-7″, has a plus fastball and a potential plus slider. He’s the first of several HBCU arms who should go in the first 5-10 HBCU picks this coming June. Good delivery and command, Hancock can hit 90s mph with his fastball, show you a plus curveball and scouts say his changeup is a plus pitch, too.
4. Nikelle Galatas, RHP, Jackson State University
Galatas uses every square inch of the strike zone. He’s polished. He throws strikes, he has solid stuff across the board and his power curveball shows promise as a second pitch. Given time to allow him to hone his command, his workload has been managed very well, and fast ball in the lower 90s. I think Galatas is a potential starter who can get to the big leagues.
5. Alsander Womack, 2B, Norfolk States University
Womack is a player with an extremely high floor as a second baseman. He is the best pure college hitter in this pre-draft class, and scouts believed his power would develop quickly. Womack played 2nd base well enough to stick at the position. He is a top-category college performer with additional projection left. His approach and hit tool carries his profile, but he also brings 20-homer potential alongside it.
6. Jacknell Guzman, RHP, Alabama State University
For Guzman, it’s the fastball. It’s not a triple-digits fastball, but the combination of velocity and deception make it a potential plus-plus offering with true swing-and-miss breaking stuff and a developing change, with great athleticism and makeup to top it off for outs.
7. Bradon O’Connor, OF, Benedict College
For O’Connor, it’s speed. The only prospect who matters in this pre-draft grade with legit 80 speed. The outfielder will make you overlook the fact that he’s very raw everywhere else, but can play an excellent defense in the outfield. That said, he has the speed to steal double-digit bases, but could one day hit 10-15 homers.
8. Keishaun Clark, INF, Lane College
Clark, his power-speed combination offers more upside potential, overall athleticism and can potentially steal 40-plus bases. He is going to get a long look. Add a potential above-average hit tool to the equation and that look only gets longer.
9. Ryan Miller, RHP, North Carolina Central University
Miller, being on this list isn’t quite who you probably expected, but then again one spot does not make a huge difference. Miller is that combination of pitchability, high-end upside, with an easy plus fastball and three secondary pitches. Don’t underestimate his athleticism either.
10. Brandon Rembert, OF, Alcorn State University
Don’t be surprised if Rembert shows back up as one of the best college hitters during the 2021 season. He’s one of the most well-rounded hitters, hits for average, he hits for power, he draws walks. I think he’ll hit more than enough to profile in the minors.
Honorable Mention:
Cameron Phelts, OF, Grambling State University
Marcos Castillo, OF, Coppin State University
Chris O’Neal, INF, Lane College
Kyle Coleman, RHP, Florida A&M University
Jabronski Williams, OF, Alabama State University
Equon Smith, OF, Jackson State university
Jacob Snyder, LHP, Southern University
Tanner Brandon, RHP, Bluefield State College
Andrai Wright, 1B, Savannah State University
Dashawn Hureskin, RHP, Kentucky State University
Brady Bibbs, RHP, Kentucky State University
Christian Harkey, RHP, Savannah State University
Roderick Coffee, OF, Texas Southern University