Triston McKenzie

Scouts in South Florida have spent the spring watching McKenzie and Austin Smith, trying to determine which of the two high-profile, projectable high school righthanders in the area will be a better professional pitcher. Though Smith has seen his velocity tick up as many expected it would and McKenzie hasn't shown that kind of consistent improvement, a split camp remains. McKenzie is young for the class and won't turn 18 until August. That gives him more time to fill out his 6-foot-5, 160-pound frame and a chance to improve his velocity. He's worked hard to add strength, but some scouts wonder how much weight he'll ultimately be able to carry. If McKenzie does eventually fill out, there's plenty to dream on. His fastball gets up to 93 mph, but he more typically pitches in the upper 80s. He gets good depth on his curveball and both it and his changeup have above-average potential. He is a good athlete and has an easy delivery that allows him to throw strikes with his whole arsenal. McKenzie, a Vanderbilt commit, has an advanced feel for his craft. How his body develops as he gets older will determine whether he is able to reach his lofty ceiling.