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Juco  | Story  | 12/23/2024

Year in Review: JUCO

Blaine Peterson      Troy Sutherland      Joey Cohen     
JUCO to the Draft

The 2024 MLB Draft saw 25 JUCO players get drafted. Out of those 25 drafted, 17 were pitchers which is a continued trend off last year where 2023 saw 33 arms drafted out of 44. The Dodgers and Tigers led the way with three JUCO picks each with the Red Sox, Angels, Astros, Rangers and Padres following with two each. Brandon Clarke (5th Red Sox) out of the State College of Florida and Caden Powell (6th Astros) out of Seminole State were the first two players drafted, both Top 50 PG JUCO ranked players. Clarke is a left-handed pitcher with a loose/whippy operation that produced a mid 90s fastball and two sharp/distinct breaking balls that allowed him to strike out 107 batters in 74 innings. Powell is a large/athletic shortstop with legit power that he displayed with his 32 JUCO HRs and he already made his single A debut with the Fayetteville Woodpeckers.

The draft also included a couple JUCO names that came out of nowhere to have standout seasons which included Jayden Voelker (Rays 8th) out of Northern Essex Community college who led the country with 126 strikeouts and a 1.48 ERA. Another pop up arm was Aiden Butler (9th Mariners) out of Polk State who put together an 8-4 year with a 3.67 ERA and 83 strikeouts. Standout JUCO player signings that also appeared on our T500 JUCO board go as follows #7 Mack Estrada (11th Yankees), #8 Deniel Ortiz (16th Cardinals), #30 Chase Williams (19th Dodgers), #36 Jalen Hairston (18th Reds), #51 Kasen Wells (16th Padres), #74 Victor Figueroa (18th Padres), #80 Samuel Gerth (14th Rockies), #96 Lucas Ellisalt (13th Tigers), #139 Michael Carpenter (11th Twins), #184 Colby Jones (13th Braves), #250 Iziah Salinas (17th Orioles), #257 Cody Morse (12th Dodgers) and #362 Aidan Deakins (13th Rangers), #446 Mac Rose (20th Rangers), #465 D'Angelo Ortiz (19th Red Sox) 



There were also some JUCO alumni that were drafted considerably high as Aiden May was a Pima Aztec before he was a Beaver and he was drafted in the 2nd round by the Marlins. Brian Holiday (3rd Cardinals) was a dominant arm at College of Central Florida before he was a standout at Oklahoma State. Aaron Combs (8th White Sox) was another Central Florida arm who played an important role in Tennessee’s championship run. Sam Antonacci (5th White Sox) is just one year removed from his time bashing the ball around the yard at Heartland. Other JUCO alumni drafted go as follows: Cam Schuelke (19th Guardians), Bryce Madron (10th Cardinals), Jacob Bimbi (11th Pirates), Riley Huge (13th Athletics), Carter Frederick (20th Royals) 

Looking Back at the 2024 Top 10 

Kevin Mannell RHP (‘24 Cloud County, ’25 Mississippi State) 

For his two years at Cloud, Mannell was one of the best pitchers at the level. His unorthodox stroke through a whippy low three-quarter release presents a unique and difficult look for hitters to pick up. Fastball will sit in the low to mid 90’s with running life through the zone. Pairs a sweeping style slider off of it that projects to miss a bunch of bats at the SEC level. Could see him as a leverage piece right away for the Bulldogs. 

Brent Iredale 3B (‘24 New Mexico JC, ‘25 Arkansas) 

The Australian native earned rave reviews through his first fall in Fayetteville. He is penciled in as the starting third baseman going into 2025 after two monster seasons at NMJC. Iredale is an above average pure hitter that can impact the baseball hard on a line through the gaps and will leave the yard 10-15 times in 2025. Led the Hogs in stolen bases through the fall, something to keep an eye on there. 

Drew Pestka RHP (‘24 John A. Logan, ‘25 Cincinnati Reds) 

Great usage of the new iteration of the draft and follow by the Reds with John A Logan right-hander, Pestka. On the hill its a durable and physically overpowering mold. Pitched in relief mostly in a short 21 inning sample in Single-A but showed well. If he can keep the free passes to a minimum, seeing him start is not out of the question and probably where the stuff, arm stroke, and frame fit best in my eyes.  

Conner Ware LHP (‘24 Pearl River, ‘25 Louisiana State) 

The wiry southpaw has lived up to every bit of the billing since stepping foot on campus at LSU, dominating his way through his fall outings with power stuff. Ware possesses all the tools to be a front line guy. He’s one that can be appreciated by all, the metric geek and the traditional scouting community alike. Real feel to pitch with premium stuff and velocity. Injuries have popped up in the past but fingers crossed we can see Ware get close to his potential for the Tigers in 2025. 

Colin Linder RHP (‘24 Northwest Florida, ‘25 Arizona State) 

After being hampered by some injuries, 2025 seems like the season the Linder could really re-establish himself in the regard that we have him on this list. He was a name well known to the PGJC crew after a strong 2023 campaign for the Raiders and started off marvelously in 2024 at The Panama City Beach Juco Classic. He can run the fastball well into the low to mid 90’s with true four seam carry. The excellent cut fastball was a separator for Linder and when the command is sharp, he is as good as any in the class at forcing soft contact. 

Michael Gupton OF (‘24 Gulf Coast (FL), ‘25 Samford) 

This finally feels like the right fit for Gupton. Since his emergence as one of the fastest players in the sport there have been lofty expectations of what his impact might be. In fact, unjust expectations, he is not the Billy Hamilton type burner that is trying to bash balls into the ground and hustle out an infield knock. He’s a power hitter that just happens to have 80 speed. Gupton’s speed plays the best when he gets going, doubles to triples and tracking down balls in the gap, not home to 1 or base to base, although very good there as well. He’s going to punch out his fair share but Samford assistant, Gil Walker, has had nothing but positive things to say about Gupton’s development and what his impact could be on their lineup in 2025. 

Mack Estrada RHP (‘24 Northwest Florida, ‘25 New York Yankees) 

Juco-wise nobody in the country improved their stock more than the Raider’s right-hander from our first look in Panama City Beach we were dead set on getting Estrada into the Top 10 when the time came. He has a potent blend from a shorter stature of life through the top rail with mid 90’s gas and wipeout spin. Profiles best in a high leverage role in eyes but landing in a good pitching development org. such as he did with the Yankees could unlock loads of his remaining potential. Triple digits could be on the way with already one of, if not the best sliders in junior college baseball. 

Deniel Ortiz 1B/3B (‘24 Walters State, ‘25 St. Louis Cardinals) 

This will be my bet on the guy we look back on and say “How did he go in the 18th round?”. Oritz physically could tighten up but the body is bound with sizable muscle mass and really plays through the barrel at impact. Like Iredale, he came into the season as a sure-fire lock Top 25 Juco prospect and only improved his stock from there. This is an impact bat with 30+ home run upside if he can make the jump to professional pitching. Zone awareness has been good and swing creates big thump without getting too big. Two positive traits that give me immediate hope for the production translation to his professional career. 

Mathis Meurant SS (‘24 Cochise, ‘25 Arizona) 

A French switch-hitting shortstop in the top 10, I LOVE junior college baseball. Meurant came into the year as a prospect that we thought could be the most polished of position player group. Buttery actions up the middle and on the barrel a bunch from both sides. Frame is still pretty lean so there could be some more juice to be added in a top notch development program in Tucson but I think if he’s batting near the top of the lineup and leading the Cats in OBP, his impact will be felt just fine. A big credit to the staff at Cochise for their intent on scouring the globe to find the best players for the Apache program. 

Caden Powell SS (‘24 Seminole State, ‘25 Houston Astros) 

We did Caden Powell absolutely no favors putting him at 10. This is the best hitter in Junior College in 2024. Enjoy these video game numbers from 2024… 217 AB sample mind you, Powell batted a crisp .502 with a 1.088 slug, 32 pumps, 16 swipes and 102 ribs. Ridiculous. Not to mention he’s a lean 6’3 and plays a premium position. Worth every bit of the 422 grand the Astros sunk into him to lure him away from Oklahoma State. 

-Troy Sutherland & Joey Cohen

PCB College Baseball Classic Recap

The Perfect Game Junior College baseball season got under way in Panama City Beach, Florida with 16 of the top junior college baseball programs in the southeast, Texas and Illinois. A prestigious tournament that regularly hosts highest level junior college teams and prospects to begin the season each year. Of the 16 teams in the 2024 field, 3 of them went on to qualify for the D1 JUCO World Series in Grand Junction including national runner-up Northwest Florida. Another went on to play in the 2024 D2 JUCO World Series. All together the field of 16 teams put on a highly scouted tournament by MLB teams with a total of 9 participating players that were 2024 MLB Draft picks. Highlighted by the first junior college player selected in the draft in 5th rounder Brandon Clarke. The 10th participating player that signed a pro contract in 2024 did so as a draft and stash player under the new MLB Draft rules. Chipolas Jean Pierre Ortiz was a 2023 draft pick of the Cincinnati Reds, played at Chipola in 2024 and signed his pro contract with the Reds at the conclusion of Chipolas spring season.

The defending PCB Champion Wallace-Dothan who won the tournament in 2023 put together another very successful PCB run all the way to the championship game in 2024. In the end the “host” team from Panama City, Gulf Coast State swept through the bracket winning four games in three days to take home the 2024 PCB title. Setting themselves up to potentially be a repeat champion of the PCB College Baseball Classic in 2025. Where we will be February 7-9.

JUCO World Series Recap

The 2024 D1 Junior College World Series saw ten teams earn the trip to Grand Junction. Nine of those teams entered their postseason play in our weekly combined junior college baseball rankings. Thirteen All-Americans participated in this years event including five 1st Team All-Americans. In the end the 2024 Junior College World Series saw a first time champion as Blinn Junior College completed their week long journey in Grand Junction to capture their first title in school history. The stars were stars for Blinn in the National Championship game where LSU signee Tanner Reaves went 4-for-5 with a home run to add an exclamation point to his outstanding junior college career. Cade Climie, a University of Houston signee and tournament most outstanding hitter drove in two runs in the championship game to cap off a week where he hit .556 with 5 home runs and 17 RBI. Blinn’s head coach, Dusty Hart, captured his 2nd national title as a head coach and first since 2008 where he led another Texas juco to the D1 Juco World Series title. Blinn players captured multiple award throughout the week including tournament most outstanding pitcher, Lucas Davenport. Most outstanding hitter and Kirby Puckett Memorial MVP, Cade Climie. And most outstanding defensive player in Tony Vernars. A season to remember for what has been one of junior college baseballs most competitive programs for years.

NJCAA D1 National Champion - Blinn Junior College
NJCAA D2 National Champion - LSU- Eunice
NJCAA D3 National Champion - RCSJ Gloucester
California Community College Athletic Association Champion - Saddleback College
Northwestern Athletic Conference Champion - Linn-Benton Community College

-Blaine Peterson
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