Dillon Tate

Lightly recruited out of Claremont (Calif.) High, Tate pitched just three innings in four appearances as a freshman for the Gauchos, though one of his nine outs that season was recorded against Kris Bryant on a 3-2 changeup. Tate's confidence grew when he emerged as UC Santa Barbara's closer as a sophomore and when he earned a spot on USA Baseball's Collegiate National Team last summer. He made the transition to starting as a junior, and with the exception of a missed start due to a strained muscle in his neck, Tate had hit few speed bumps in ascending draft charts this spring. Tate's high-energy delivery, fast arm and athletic body deliver plus fastballs, sitting 94-96 mph and touching 97-98, especially early in games. They have some arm-side life that make his hard, plus slider even more effective. It's his strikeout pitch, missing bats with late life and upper-80s velocity, scraping 89 mph. Tate's changeup has improved the more he's used it, and his cutter gives him a another wrinkle to throw at hitters from the same release point. Tate had doubled his 2014 innings total already, so scouts continue to watch how he holds up under a starter's workload. He has adjusted to the role well, though, establishing a routine and holding his stuff deep into games and the season. His lack of an extensive track record is the biggest knock against him, but he still projects to be the first college pitcher drafted with a shot to go No. 1 overall.