Cade Kuehler, Campbell (45 FV)
The 2023 class is pretty heavy on college arms, with guys like Chase Dollander, Will Sanders, and Hurston Waldrep near the top of most lists. While it may only be June, I am firmly of the opinion that Kuehler is the second best college arm available after only Dollander.
The fastball is beyond a standout pitch. He can run it up to 97 mph and averages just above 94 mph. The movement profile is likely plus-plus, getting 21" of IVB on average from a release height of 5.96 ft. The pitch also draws a relatively high number of whiffs considering that it is a fastball, at 35%. There is a bit of an issue with the command (likely going to land around 45), which holds the offering back just a bit. I’m going to go out on a limb here and call it a 70-grade pitch.
His curveball is easily his best secondary pitch. The first box I like to check on breaking balls is velocity (you don’t want there to be a noticeable difference out of the hand from the hitters’ point of view), and Kuehler gets a big ole green check mark. He averages at 80 mph and gets a solid amount of depth at 43". It is almost an identical profile to Julio Urias’ curveball. I’ll grade it as a 55 with real 60 upside.
He also throws a slider and change-up, which I would give 50s. The slider is a shorter shape with high velocity, 4.4" of lift and 4.5" of break averaging at 85 mph. The lift and velocity carry the pitch. His change-up isn’t anything too crazy. He throws it in the low 80s and gets 5.37" of lift and 6.21" of horizontal movement. On its own, I would likely give it a 45, but it has 15" of vertical separation from his fastball and a similar profile horizontally, which gives it a bump.
Max Clark, Franklin Community HS (45+ FV)
Max Clark has been a name to know on the circuit since the 15u Team USA trials in 2019. Since then, he has done nothing but get bigger, stronger, faster, more athletic and hit. He’s well built at 6’1 190lbs, leaving room for ~15lbs of projection on the frame. He’s a plus athlete and posts high level run times (6.33 60 yard dash). He checks every box that a future centerfielder should check: plus instincts, range, and arm. For reference, he has been up to 99.6 mph on the mound.
Offensively, Clark has a 60 hit tool and 60 raw power. He has top of the scale bat to ball skills and doesn’t whiff much at all, posting a 6% K rate in synergy from 2020–2022. He also possesses plus-plus bat speed (78–81 via Blast Motion). He has started flashing the power in game more this summer and has posted exit velocities >105 mph, a very positive sign considering he has largely been hit over power throughout his high school career. Clark is the full package, the kind of prospect that is a rare find within the prep ranks and will be a huge pick-up for a team in July of 2023.