In its initial entry to the PBR Overall 2020 Rankings, four players from Oregon are featured prominently as prospects to know. Below, each player is highlighted with notes and reports on what makes them national prospects, and what could ultimately elevate them to MLB Draft hopefuls in June of 2020.

Mick Abel, RHP, Oregon State commit, #7 overall
Abel, a 6-foot-5, 190-pound right-hander was stellar on the national circuit last summer, and appears to be the top prep-prospect to come out of Oregon since Carson Kelly was selected 86th overall by the St. Louis Cardinals out of Westview High School in 2012. The Oregon State recruit is long and lean with an athletic frame that oozes projection, Abel’s loose arm stroke and quick hand speed has allowed him to run his fastball up to 96 mph with low effort that still hints at more to come. He counters the firm fastball with a sharp slider that has flashed potential as a plus-pitch in the future. His clean, repeatable delivery makes it easy to envision him continuing as a starter moving forward, and will headline a strong core of right-handers, nationally, heading into the summer.

 

Logan Paustian, C, S/R, Nebraska commit, #268 overall
Paustian, a product of eastern Oregon’s LaGrande High School and Nebraska recruit, is one of the more intriguing catching prospects, nationally, in the 2020 class. At 6-foot, 180-pounds he possesses some natural strength throughout an athletic frame. He presents soft hands behind the plate that combine with loose hips to make him an above average receiver. His fluent footwork and quick transfer allow his stronger arm to show some carry to second base. As a switch-hitter, Paustian exhibits some gap to gap power that stands to increase as he continues getting stronger, and should only help his stock as a prospect continue to soar.

Thomas Dukart, OF, L/R, Oregon State commit, #399 overall
Dukart, an Oregon State recruit, is the premier athlete in the class as an 6A All-State wide receiver who possesses game-changing speed on the base paths with a chance to be an elite defender in the outfield in the future. A left-handed hitter, the proportionally strong and athletic 6-foot-2, 185-pounder has strong wrists and quick hands that allow his flat path through the zone to produce gap to gap power. Balanced in his approach, Dukart has a high ceiling that he could quickly approach as he gains more experience against high-level competition. 

 

Jaren Hunter, RHP, Oregon State commit, #478 overall
At 6-foot-2, 195-pounds, Hunter has a strong, durable frame that still shows signs of developing more in the future, and could bring even more velocity. An Oregon State recruit, Hunter demonstrates the ability to repeat a simple delivery that enables him to find consistent success in the strike zone as he works his fastball to both sides of the plate. His feel for secondary offerings has continued to get better including a faded changeup and 11/5 breaking ball. As he becomes more comfortable going to those secondary offerings, expect Hunter to make another jump soon. His strong frame and ability to control the fastball should give him a chance to stick as a starter moving forward.