Austin
Love

2021 MLB Draft: The durable-bodied, 6-foot-3, 230-pound Love red-shirted his first year in Chapel Hill during the Tar Heel's run to Omaha in 2018, then posted solid numbers as a red-shirt freshman in 2019, going 8-4 with a 3.18 ERA in 68 innings. With an unspectacular 2020 (1-0, 6.75 ERA, 14.2 IP, 11 H, 8 BB, 14 SO) his emergence as a legitimate ace in 2021 began from an under-the-radar position, but will likely carry him into the top 3-4 rounds this July. With much improved command over previous seasons, Love can hold his velocity deep into games and has strong pitchability of a 91-95 mph fastball, which shows running life and gives right-handed hitters fits. He also has a plus power changeup, and throws it hard at 87-90. It has deception, heavy sink and arm-side run that induces a lot of soft rollover contact, especially against lefty hitters. His best sliders are in the 83-86 mph range and show hard, late tilt and spin in the 2500-2600 rpm range.

At 6-foot-3, 235 pounds, Love is thick, strong and physically mature as a red-shirt sophomore. He overpowers the baseball with pure arm strength from a high slot, running his fastball up to 94 mph, mostly sitting 92. Also showed a hard slider/cutter at 84-87 mph and a change of pace to his armside at 86-88. On this look his control was well-below-average, walking five of the nine batters he faced. He has a stiff arm and stiff hips and, as a result, does not project much at all. However, he has fared much better in the past, including last season as a D1 Baseball 2nd team Freshman All-American. (Seifert)

8/22/19: Tossed 20 innings over four starts and three relief appearances, striking out 21 while allowing 11 walks and 14 hits. Love generally works in the low-90s, touching 94-95 mph, with a changeup that flashes plus due to arm speed deception and good action and an average low-80s slide piece. Consistency in execution and limiting free passes will be the focus for Love upon returning to campus. After leading the Tar Heels in appearances last spring and stringing together some good performances for Orleans, Love looks poised to provide impact innings this spring, profiling as a potential early-Day Two target. (Faleris)

State Games of NC (Cary, NC) - Physical and mature body type that works out of a high-3/4 slot and some cross-fire from the delivery.  Love produced a fastball ranging 85-88 and touching 89.  The arm action has some effort with a slight elbow lead to the top, after bottoming out from the glove.  The slider shows potential to be an out-pitch.  At 75-78, it had a small hump in it, until later in the outing when the rotation was creating a later action.