Jeff Criswell

Criswell showed promising stuff coming out of high school, but scouts wanted to see go to college and add strength and consistency—which is exactly what he did. Criswell stepped into a high-usage reliever role as a freshman and led Michigan with 24 appearances while posting a 2.23 ERA. He transitioned to a starting role as a sophomore and posted a 2.72 ERA while improving his strikeout and walk rates. As a junior, Criswell is now listed at 6-foot-4 with a strong, 225-pound frame and a solid three-pitch mix. His fastball regularly ranges from 94-97 mph, and he pairs the offering with a slider and changeup that both have average potential. Scouts would have liked to get more time to bear down on Criswell this spring, but he threw just 24 innings over four starts, getting hit around a bit by Pepperdine in his last outing. There is some concern about whether Criswell fits best in a starting or relief role. He has enough stuff to succeed in either, but without improved control (he walked 4.5 batters per nine in his Michigan career) he might fit best in the bullpen. He has taken steps to improve the walk rate each season, a promising trend as he continues to learn how to harness his repertoire. Criswell is a day one pick in a normal draft and should be off the board by the third round.