The Maryland hitters will not be the only Terps hoping to hear their names during the draft. Another trio of Terps are coming off strong seasons and have put themselves on scouts’ radars.
Maryland had one pitcher drafted last year when the Kansas City Royals took LHP Ryan Ramsey in the 13th round. Ramsey posted a 3.22 ERA during the 2022 season and finished with an 11-1 record. He also was the second pitcher in Maryland history to toss a perfect game.
Here’s a look at the Maryland pitchers who could be selected:
Jason Savacool – Right-Handed Pitcher
Savacool had a stellar 2022 campaign and followed it up with another solid year. He posted a 4.22 ERA with a 9-5 record in 16 starts. This was enough to earn him a Second Team All-Big Ten selection. He also threw 95 strikeouts this season, upping his career total to 270, the third most in Maryland history.
Savacool sits at #199 on MLB.com’s Draft Prospect Rankings, the highest ranking for a Maryland pitcher.
Nick Dean – Right-Handed Pitcher
Nick Dean earned a Third Team All-Big Ten selection for the second season in a row. He started 15 games in his senior season where he had a 5.54 ERA, a 3-2 record, and 77 strikeouts. Dean had some sharp outings this year, including six shutout innings with eight strikeouts in his 2023 debut.
Dean’s ability to get strikeouts is a major draw. While his fastball is low-90s, he has a killer changeup. Although he is not high on many prospect lists, he would be a great value pick on day two or three of the draft.
Nigel Belgrave – Right-Handed Pitcher
In 2023 the redshirt sophomore had a 6.42 ERA and struck out 43 batters in 33.2 innings pitched. Belgrave is ranked #250 in MLB.com’s Draft Prospect Rankings. He features a mid-90s sinker and a low-80s slider that has been effective in producing groundballs. His high walk rate (29 BB in 33.2 IP) is something that could be fixed with pro instruction and could make him a solid bullpen piece at the MLB level.