Graham Ashcraft

When Ashcraft turned down the Dodgers as a 12th-round pick out of high school, it was reasonable to surmise that he might turn himself into a first- or second-rounder with a strong career at Mississippi State. After all, he was a strong, powerful pitcher who had touched 99 mph in high school, and he had also shown plenty of power at the plate—he hit 16 home runs to lead the state of Alabama as a high school junior. Nothing has been easy for Ashcraft since then. He showed a blazing, mid-90s fastball as a freshman with the Bulldogs, but his season ended early because he needed hip surgery. Ashcraft then missed all of the 2018 season recovering from surgery on his other hip. He decided to transfer for his redshirt sophomore year, and began this season in Alabama-Birmingham’s rotation. But his stuff has lacked the same consistency this year. He occasionally showed a mid-90s fastball, but his command was lacking. He lost his rotation spot and had a 16.20 ERA and 13 hits allowed in just 6.2 innings in six appearances over the final month of the season. Ashcraft still has plenty of potential, but he may be better off returning to school—he has two years of eligibility remaining—to prove he’s better than his late-season swoon.