2,209 MLB PLAYERS | 15,133 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
Create Account
Sign in Create Account
College  | Story  | 4/1/2018

Huge potential for Shockers duo

Vincent Cervino     
Photo: Wichita State Athletics



Talented Harris solidifies stock | Bilous fans 10 as Chants win | Weekend Preview | College Player Database

During the season Perfect Game scouts will be traveling to some of the top series to watch the very best players in college baseball. Those observations, captured with both written notes and video, will be shared in the College Player Database as linked above, notes that can also be accessed on the players' individual PG profile pages. Throughout the season select reports will be shared in feature format to promote the players, the teams and college baseball as a whole.

See also: Bohm right at home in Wichita


Greyson Jenista, OF, Wichita State



One of the duo of potential first round hitters for the Shockers, Jenista patrols centerfield for Wichita and has a loud presence at the plate. The listed height and weight of 6-foot-4, 220-pounds might be a bit on the lighter side in terms of underrating both his strength and physicality, especially through the lower half. Jenista's size might limit his ability to play centerfield in a professional setting as he is likely a corner outfield prospect, and he graded out at about average in arm strength so it wouldn't be unrealistic to see Jenista trotting out to right field in pro ball. 

Batting practice is important for scouts to get a feel for a prospect's raw power and Jenista certainly showed off how far he can hit a baseball. He might have been in the double digits in terms of BP home runs, and showed off 70-grade – plus-plus in scouting vernacular – raw power as he was routinely putting balls over the scoreboard and over the light posts deep beyond the wall. Jenista has shown the ability for his game power to be above average as he crushes balls routinely in game, however there is a slight swing-and-miss element to his game when he gets behind on counts. 

He hasn't hit quite as well during Wichita State's series against ECU but he still showed flashes with lots of bat speed and a simple set up into the swing. He generates tons of torque throughout his strong lower half and is able to turn on the baseball hard and with intent to drive the ball well into the air. 

Jenista's likely pro future as a corner outfielder, and about average run times from the left side, will limit the profile somewhat, but the bat has a chance to be special. He is currently projected to be a first rounder and his combination of above average power and a projected above average bat give him the potential to be one of the top offensive performers from this year's draft class.


Alec Bohm, 3B, Wichita State



Wichita State has a pair of potential first round draft picks as outfielder Greyson Jenista and third baseman Alec Bohm have been a force to be reckoned with offensively this season. Bohm is an extremely large and physical righthanded hitter, listed at 6-foot-5 and 220-pounds, with a very lanky frame with tons of strength, specifically through the lower half. 

The frame is a good place to start with Bohm as the size of the limbs and build leave some scouts to question his ability to play third base at the next level. Bohm recorded one run time during this scout's viewing, a 4.47-second second time to first, but showed decent lateral agility which included a diving stop and putout to his left. The arm strength is a bit of a question, as he was never really tested and he throws from a loopy sidearm slot that is very casual both in game and during warm ups, but he has enough athleticism and familiarity with footwork and actions to be passable at the next level. 

The bat is the calling card for Bohm as he showed off  plus raw power, if not plus-plus, as he certainly got into a couple. Bohm is best when he gets his long arms extended out in front of the plate. The strength through the point of impact is very loud, and Bohm certainly showed that strength off on Thursday night when he launched two home runs and also had a double. 

The feel to hit and plate discipline jump out about Bohm in addition to the prodigious power. The bat-to-ball skills and bat control in conjunction with his keen batter's eye result in a very high contact approach without sacrificing any power as evidenced by his absurd 22-to-8 walk-to-strikeout ratio thus far during the 2018 season. With a potential plus hit tool and plus power, Bohm looks like one of, if not the, best hitters in this year's college class and his draft position will likely reflect as such in June.


Gavin Williams, RHP, East Carolina



Reports have been very good thus far on true freshman Gavin Williams as the power-armed reliever had reportedly been touching triple digits earlier this spring. While Williams wasn't throwing quite that hard in ECU's series against Wichita State, he came in for a one-inning stint in a very big spot during the second game of the series. 

Williams entered with two runners on with no outs and proceeded to only allow one run and keep the East Carolina lead at one run before the Pirates blew the lead open later in the game. Williams has the frame associated with being a power-armed righthander at a listed 6-foot-6, 227-pounds with a long stride toward the plate utilizing his lengthy lower half. The arm stroke is shorter and quick through the back with lots of arm speed but also violence through release and he cuts his arm across his body which creates cutting life out of the mound. 

His extra-large frame allows him to leverage the ball low in the zone as he gets downhill fairly easily. He could run the fastball up in the zone to induce chases and the fastball worked 92-95 mph while bumping 96 mph in warm ups. Williams showed a curveball in warm ups in the mid-70s and threw one changeup at 85 mph for a strike. The fastball is the main draw here and Williams has been counted on, reliably thus far, late in games for the Pirates. 


Spencer Brickhouse, 1B, East Carolina



One of the top hitters for the newly-minted Top 25 East Carolina Pirates, Spencer Brickhouse fits the prototypical mold of a lefthanded slugging first base prospect with lots of power and physicality. The lefthanded hitter has a bit of unorthodox mechanics, and swing in general for that matter. but the raw physical tools in the box make him a feared middle-of-the-order hitter in the American Conference. 

The 6-foot-4, 223-pound frame has lots of well-proportioned strength and physicality throughout with an impressively strong build that allows him to generate power. The above average raw power showed during batting practice, but this is where the swing itself is important to consider. The swing looks a bit uncomfortable as he relies mostly on the quickness and strength of his wrists to generate torque through the hands and into contact. The lower half isn't incorporated all too much, but because his hands are so quick he is able to generate a lot of momentum at the point of contact. 

The swing path is direct and uphill so he can smoke baseballs into the air. Because of his reliance on his hands, that can cause him to be late at times which creates big fly balls to the opposite field. The strength through contact is undeniable, however, and gives him an intriguing power ceiling as he recorded a 6.59 second hang time on a fly ball on Friday night in ECU's series against Wichita State. The important factor to consider is that Brickhouse is comfortable in the box and has a feel for the barrel which will allow him to be one of the more prolific power hitters in the conference for this year and beyond since he isn't draft eligible until 2019.


D.J. Artis, OF, Liberty



D.J. Artis is already one of the most accomplished players in the history of the Big South Conference after winning Freshman of the Year in 2016 and securing the conference Player of the Year in 2017. The athletic outfielder has carved himself out a nice draft resume as well after being selected in the 40th round out of high school, as Artis seems to be a consensus top five rounds pick come June and he fits a prototypical speedy-leadoff profile at the professional level. 

While he didn't record any run times during this single-game look against Presbyterian, reports have him as a solid-plus runner from the left side and his plus athleticism also shines in centerfield. The first-step quickness and instinctiveness stand out from the position as he wasn't tested too difficultly, however, he made all of the plays rather easily and with conviction. The arm strength is a bit of a concern as it is below average by Major League standards, but a college position prospect with his feel for the barrel and athleticism normally overrule the arm strength concern. 

At the plate, Artis has extremely advanced bat control and barrel skills. The approach will get slashy/slappy at times, but his hands are incredibly loose and direct to contact as he will make a living dropping the barrel head on the ball for a lot of line drive contact. The easy comp here is Juan Pierre in terms of offensive approach and speed, as Artis is coming off back-to-back 20-plus steal seasons, but the Pierre comp doesn't do Artis' batter's eye justice. He has knowledge of the strike zone and is well on his way for a third consecutive season of more walks than strikeouts. 

Artis' batting stance is a bit unorthodox as he is very crouched through the load and has a hand hitch utilized as a timing mechanism. This all works well for Artis as he is able to bring his hands directly to the ball, however, there is little power to the profile as he didn't show much during BP, instead showing more of an all-fields, line drive approach. The profile is unique, but valuable, and Artis checks most of the boxes when considering a mid-major top five rounds draft prospect.
PG Special Events
Travel, Lodging, Entertainment
PG Partners
Recommended
About Perfect Game :: Contact us :: Terms of Use :: Privacy Policy :: Testimonials :: Job Opportunities
Copyright 1994-2024 by Perfect Game. All rights reserved. No portion of this information may be reprinted or reproduced without the written consent of Perfect Game.