Jeff Belge

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #325 prospect in 2019 draft
  Belge is a 6-foot-5, 225-pound lefthander who has worked both as a starter and reliever for St. John's. He has maintained an impressive a strikeout per nine rate of over 10 since his sophomore season, but this spring his walk rate jumped to more than seven batters per nine. At his best this spring Belge has thrown a fastball in the 91-93 mph range, but he's drastically inconsistent from start to start and was down in the mid to upper-80s towards the end of the season. Belge has used multiple breaking balls in the past, one that's closer to a slider with sharp, downward tilt and another with bigger shape that's loopier. Belge also has feel for a changeup.
• Ranked #68 prospect in 2016 draft
  When scouts were following Syracuse-area prospect Scott Blewett in 2014, they saw him make a start against Belge. Then a sophomore, the lefthanded Belge opened eyes when his fastball reached 94 mph. Belge hasn't quite put it all together since then, but he has shown flashes of brilliance. As a rising senior on the showcase circuit, his velocity worked more at 89-92 and dropped off quickly. This spring, Belge has made himself a bit of a wild card. In one start, scouts had him sitting 92-95, with some reporting that he had hit 96 multiple times, and showing a potentially plus curveball. The next time out, in front of a packed house of high-level scouting officials, Belge struggled and his velocity backed up. He is a physical specimen, sitting at 6-foot-4 and 235 pounds, and he has an athletic, balanced delivery and a clean arm action. There are also some concerns about his medical history, as he is nearly blind in one eye, complicating his draft status even further. If Belge pitches well down the stretch, there's no telling how high he could push himself up. If he is not drafted high, he could honor his commitment to St. Johns.

• December, 2018 Scouting Report
  Belge is a 6-foot-5, 225-pound lefthander who has worked both as a starter and reliever for St. John's. He has maintained an impressive a strikeout per nine rate of over 10 since his sophomore season, but this spring his walk rate jumped to more than seven batters per nine. At his best this spring Belge has thrown a fastball in the 91-93 mph range, but he's drastically inconsistent from start to start and was down in the mid to upper-80s towards the end of the season. Belge has used multiple breaking balls in the past, one that's closer to a slider with sharp, downward tilt and another with bigger shape that's loopier. Belge also has feel for a changeup.