College Baseball Stock Talk: Standouts from Week 3

Perhaps the most captivating start of the weekend, Caylon Dygert takes over Baum-Walker in game one while turning in a legendary outing.

A three-pitch pitcher, Dygert was filling up the zone with all offerings. His fastball sat 90-93 mph (up to 95) and though didn’t get the crazy whiff/chase rates, he located it east/west consistently.

Caylon’s best pitch was his slider, an 80-83 mph breaking ball used primarily against righties with late action and downward tilt. From start to finish, it overwhelmed the Razorback offense given its whiff rate north of 80% and chase rate north of 45%.

Dygart also mixed in a low-80s changeup that generated plenty of swing-and-miss over the duration of his outing. It tunnels well off the four-seam with some tumble with good feel and landed for over 60% strikes.

An absolute gutsy outing for Caylon, who gained plenty of notice and attention in one of the premier venues in college baseball. Dygert will likely make his next start for UT Arlington back at home this coming Friday against ULM.

Will Gasparino | OF

Gasparino’s unbelievable start to 2026 did not take a halt this past weekend, playing an instrumental role in UCLA’s lineup that eventually won the Amegy Bank College Baseball Series.

Serving as the ‘double-cleanup’ in the Bruins lineup, Will has yet to miss an advantage on a pitcher’s mistake. Gasparino had 14 at-bats in four games this recent calendar week with 11 balls put into live play. As a result, he’s mashed just about everything, averaging a 102-mph exit velocity and an 81.8% hard-hit rate.

Will plays exceptional defense in center field also, displaying plus range and arm strength both straight up and in the gaps. It’s excellent instincts and feel for the position, with ability to stay at the position for years to come though transitioning to a corner would be a seamless adjustment.

After not the most sensational season with Texas in 2025 nor on the Cape this past summer, it’s been incredible to witness Will’s full potential. Gasparino will be back in action for UCLA at home this coming Tuesday against Cal State Fullerton.

Gasparino is #92 on our Top 100 College Prospect Board.

Blake Morningstar | RHP

In his third start of 2026, Morningstar turned in his best performance against Loyola Marymount.

Blake’s unique pitch mix stands out when first evaluating him, and it was on full display with six different offerings, each having distinct shape. He went after hitters primarily with his upper-80s cutter, generating over a 60% whiff with 2,300 RPM used primarily against righties.

Morningstar also worked in two fastballs — a sinker and a four-seam that lived in the low-90s. He showed elite feel for each, landing both for over 80% strikes with the sinker having true tail and the four-seam having some ride through the zone.

His curveball was outstanding over the course of his outing, living 78-80 mph while flashing legit two-plane action and outstanding vertical separation off both heaters. Rounding things out, Blake incorporated a mid-80s changeup with plus fade as well as a low-80s slider with both sweep and lift.

It was a great bounce back for Blake this past weekend after two rough outings, seemingly fitting given the ACC begins conference play this upcoming week. Blake will likely make his next start for Wake Forest back at home this coming Friday against Stanford.

Morningstar is #50 on our Top 100 College Prospect Board.

Dawson Montesa | RHP

Making his third consecutive start on the road, Dawson was nails for the Mountaineers, overpowering Kennesaw State on Saturday.

Montesa had all four pitches clicking in his start, going after hitters primarily with his fastball. The Owls had no answer for it, sitting in the low-90s getting over 16 inches of ride and a 48% whiff.

Dawson complemented his fastball with three secondaries. First, a low-80s slider thrown against righties, a pitch with some sweep traits and generated over a 30% whiff. Second, a 77-78 mph curveball that was a dandy, nearing 15 inches of vertical drop with over an average of 2,600 RPM. Third, an upper-80s changeup that is rarely thrown, but Montesa has great feel for it, generating plus deception off the four-seam and a plus number of whiffs.

This time a year ago, Dawson was pitching at the D2 level. Now, he’s currently the innings leader for a gritty Mountaineer club heading into March. Montesa will likely make his next start for West Virginia back at home this coming weekend against Columbia.

Michael Sharman | LHP

Such a unique and dominant start this past Saturday to say the least, averaging an unreal 2.52 pitches per at-bat.

Sharman doesn’t have the most electric stuff in college baseball, though he understands his strengths and how to get outs (quickly). He throws two different fastballs, primarily a four-seam sitting 88-90 mph with run/ride traits and gets whiffs up in the zone. Michael works in a sinker also at similar velocity though it presents more arm-side depth.

Michael also works in two off-speed offerings in his repertoire. First, an upper-70s changeup that’s low-spin, a pitch that has north of an 80% strike rate and gives righties fits. Second, a curveball that sits 74-76 mph with slider traits though achieves whiff and chase rates north or 30%.

It’s appropriate to mention Sharman also works in a cutter, though rare. It’s a low-80s offering primarily thrown to righties.

In a career start against your main rival, you couldn’t script much more efficiency than what transpired. Sharman will likely make his next start for Clemson back at home this coming Saturday against La Salle.

Jackson Flora | RHP

Flora once again put together one of the best starts of the weekend, blending premier stuff with efficient results in his Friday start against Utah.

Living in the upper-90s with his four-seam fastball (up to 99), Jackson displayed excellent command with it as it landed for 70% strikes with over 17 inches of ride and 2,500 RPM.

His off-speeds were ridiculous from beginning to end. His new upper-80s kick-change was perhaps his best offering of the outing, thrown for nearly 65% strikes averaging 1,000 RPM with a whiff rate north of 60%. His sweeping slider continues to gain consistency, getting nearly 20 inches of glove-side action and lived around 80 mph.

Jackson also incorporated an upper-80s cutter with good glove-side lift through the zone, giving opponents another angle to think about in the box.

Another dominant showing for Flora, solidifying his argument not only as top mid-major arm in the country, but the best starting pitcher in college baseball. Jackson will likely make his next start for UCSB back at home this coming Friday against Long Beach State.

Flora is #12 on our Top 100 College Prospect Board.

Ruger Riojas | RHP

Just another clinic put on by Ruger Riojas, going five innings of one-hit ball against the 2025 national runner-up in the Bruce Bolt College Classic.

Ruger’s changeup was the best pitch overall, producing an absurd 85% whiff and thrown for strikes north of 75%. Though it doesn’t have the most devastating breaks, it’s a kill-spin offering that averages nearly 1,300 RPM with the ability to be thrown against both lefties and righties.

Both fastballs were on display also, with the four-seam averaging over 95 mph with 19 inches of ride while the sinker also living in the mid-90s with carry and arm-side run. Riojas mixed in an upper 80s cutter as well, with short action and some lift that missed barrels often.

Riojas additionally showcased two breaking balls though rare. First, a low-80s slider with downward action and often located low in the zone. Second, a curveball a tick less in velocity with far more vertical depth, creating good distance off the fastballs.

Another elite start for Ruger as he leads an elite Longhorn staff, averaging over 60% strikes with an even 10.0 K-BB ratio in 2026. Riojas will likely make his next start for Texas back at home this coming Friday against USC Upstate.

Logan Hughes | OF

Even with no midweek matchup, Logan Hughes turned up and turned heads this past weekend against CSU Bakersfield.

It’s clear that Logan tracks the baseball at an elite level, evidenced by putting 11 balls in play across his 12 at-bats over the weekend. He averaged a 101 mph exit velocity in the series, doing much of his damage on pitches elevated in the zone and on the outer half while still showing the ability to punish baseballs to all fields.

Hughes posted a superb 80.0% hard-hit rate, launching a home run in game one and collecting two doubles in both game two and the finale. He wrapped up the weekend with a 108.5 mph max exit velocity, and it’s been encouraging to see his batted-ball profile consistently traject upward and sometimes meet within the 110-mph mark.

Though he will stay a corner outfielder with average arm strength and speed, the bat is what makes his profile go. One of the best Big 12 bats in 2026, it’s no wonder he will be a top 50 selection this coming July. Logan will be back in action for Texas Tech at home this coming weekend against Penn State.

Hughes is #22 on our Top 100 College Prospect Board.

Hunter Dietz | LHP

A really good shake-back start for Dietz, shoving seven shutout frames against UT Arlington on Saturday.

Dietz had all three weapons working, starting off with the four-seam. Sitting 93-96 (up to 98), it got over 16 inches of ride and nearly averaged 2,400 RPM.

Hunter worked in both a cutter and a slider to complement his heater, and both were bangers. The cutter was in the upper-80s and got up to 90 mph, providing some lift through the zone with short firm action. Generating over a 55% whiff and a 40% chase, the UT Arlington offense had no answers.

The curveball was arguably better, living around 80 mph with plus feel and finished with a 75% whiff. It continues to progress by the week, achieving north of 60% strikes while having over 30 inches of separation off the fastball.

Coming into 2026 with only 1.2 collegiate innings, Dietz turned in his best start as an Arkansas Razorback, and it couldn’t have come at a better time after dropping Friday’s opener. Dietz will likely make his next start for Arkansas back at home this coming weekend against Stetson.

Dietz is #38 on our Top 100 College Prospect Board.

AJ Gracia | OF

Gracia continues to arguably be the most dangerous left-handed bat in college baseball, continuing his dominance against both George Washington and VCU.

In his six hits this recent calendar week, AJ collected three doubles and two no-doubt bombs. Gracia did most of his damage up in the zone with the ability to lay off spin trending down/away in the zone. Over the course of the four games, he didn’t whiff on a single pitch in the zone and hit only one baseball with an exit velocity below 80 mph.

Regarding batted balls, AJ’s max exit velocity was 105 mph throughout the four games. In his 12 swings that put baseballs in play, his average exit speed was impressively north of 90 mph. It’s a true yet rare tandem of quality barrel awareness and elite feel for the zone.

Gracia has kicked off his 2026 season in nearly ideal fashion as Virginia prepares to begin conference play this coming weekend. But before then, AJ will be back in action for Virginia on the road this coming Tuesday against Charlotte.

Gracia is #2 on our Top 100 College Prospect Board.

Jaxon Jelkin | RHP

It’s been three lights out showing for Jelkin in 2026, but his outing on Friday was by far the most dominant.

Working a five-pitch arsenal against St. John’s, they were all on full display from the jump. Jaxon primarily relied on his unique high-spin sinker, a mid-90s pitch averaging 2,500 RPM and 18 inches of bowling ball action while thrown for over 70% strikes. Jelkin also worked in a four-seam though rare, displaying some ride traits, similar velocity, and distinct shape off the sinker.

Jaxon incorporated three other offerings in his Friday campaign. Most often, a curveball with two-plane break that lived 80-82 mph and thrown for nearly 70% strikes as well. In addition, he worked in an 89-92 mph cutter with excellent vertical traits while average nearly 2,700 RPM. Lastly, a rare upper-80s changeup with some fade off the four-seam and good arm-side action that’s a quality offering against lefties.

Overall, in 2026, both Jelkin’s stuff and value gives the Wildcats a significant advantage to kick off weekends. Jaxon will likely make his next start for Kentucky back at home this coming Friday against The Citadel.

LJ Mercurius | RHP

We wrap up this weekly portion of Stock Talk with another returner, with LJ putting together a one-hit complete game masterclass against Gonzaga.

Mercurius went after Gonzaga’s offense with three different offerings to which they could come up with no solution with. Primarily a four-seam fastball sitting 92-95 mph (up to 96), generating over 2,300 RPM with 19 inches of ride and often located east/west.

LJ’s best offering this past weekend was his changeup, a low-spin pitch getting very good offset action off the fastball creating awkward swings from both sides of the dish. Sitting 82-85 mph, LJ demonstrates excellent command with it as proven by his strike rate north of 60% and whiff rate north of 35%.

He also mixed in a low-80s cutter featuring short, tight action with subtle lift, primarily used against right-handers, though he rarely needed to lean on it Saturday.

LJ is proving to be one of the more undervalued transfer pickups from this recent cycle, now up to over 17 innings allowing 1 earned-run with 28 punchouts through three starts. Mercurius will likely make his next start for Oklahoma back at home this coming weekend against Santa Clara.