Our Director of College Scouting, David Seifert, spent the opening weekend of Division I baseball first situated in Myrtle Beach, S.C., where he got eyes on one of the nation’s top left-handed collegiate players in a matchup between Duke and Indiana. Gloomy weather forecasted in Florida kept him tied to South Carolina instead, where he ended up getting looks at Iowa’s heralded pitching staff, as well as some mid-major views of Ball State, Miami (OH), College of Charleston, Marshall, Seton Hall, and Lehigh, in addition to power fives Michigan State and South Carolina.

More Draft HQ Headlines:

• Winter’s Top-200 Draft Board
• Post-Lottery Mock Draft
• Dark Horse First-Rounders
• Draft-Eligible College Sophs.

Continue on to read Seifert’s first College Crosscheck of the 2024 season:

Friday, February 16

Duke vs. Indiana in Myrtle Beach, S.C.

Starting off the 2024 college baseball season with some “Baseball at the Beach”, the main scouting attraction was Blue Devil Jonathan Santucci (ranked No. 21 overall on our Preseason Top-200 Draft Board). Athletic and competitive, the 6-foot-2, 205-pound lefthander was making his first appearance since March 31, 2023 after an elbow injury limited his sophomore season to 29.1 innings. Amped with adrenaline and overthrowing a bit, Santucci issued a four-pitch walk to the Hoosier leadoff hitter, Carter Mathison (ranked No. 165). However, it was mostly smooth sailing from there as Santucci struck out seven of the next 10 batters, including Mathison the second time through the order. Santucci exited the game after five scoreless innings, allowing four hits and two walks.

Jonathan Santucci LHP / Phillips Academy Andover, MA / 2021 Draft HQ Rank: No. 21 The loose-armed lefty pitches with a full arm path in back, accelerating into a high ¾ release point with good arm speed out front. It’s a repeatable, starter-type delivery with good balance and direction. He topped out at 96 several times with his lively heater in the first inning and sat 94-95 through the fourth. He then lost a few ticks during the final inning of his 86-pitch outing. Outside of the first six pitches of the ballgame, he showed above average command of his fastball, mostly working it in/out and finishing with it up in the zone for chase and empty swings. His heater is full of life in all parts of the zone, but is most noticeable up in the zone with an IVB up to 21 inches. He also repeated an above-average, low-80s slider for strikes, as well as expanding to his glove side against left-handed batters for chase. Despite the lack of a third pitch on this day, Santucci profiles as a pro starter and with continued good health he’s a likely first-round selection.