Dalton Friend

Jefferson made its second straight trip to the Junior College World Series this spring, with Friend earning the extra-inning win over Eastern Oklahoma State to advance to Grand Junction, Colo. Friend was 11-0, 2.93 with one save in 12 appearances entering the Juco World Series, ranking fourth nationally with an average of 13.3 strikeouts per nine innings. Scouts got excited when they heard reports that the 6-foot-3, 235-pounder was touching 95 mph, but they saw mostly 89-91 mph fastballs when they went to see him. Friend also throws a 12-to-6 curveball with nice shape but so-so power to it and has a four-pitch arsenal. Scouts project him as a two-pitch reliever because of his inconsistent over-the-top delivery and his medical history. He had arm issues in high school, lost most of 2011 to a shoulder injury that required arthroscopic surgery and missed time this year with a sore elbow. A redshirt sophomore, he has committed to Texas Tech for 2013.