Baseball: SAC Conference Draft Aspirations

With draft day coming up, we need to look deeper into The Sooner Athletic Conference (SAC), to see what players we believe have a chance to be drafted. The SAC was one of the top conferences this season, as they had 5 teams with 30 wins. The SAC had two teams made the opening round tournament, in Oklahoma City University and The University Of Science and Arts (USAO). In this conference we saw anything from 95+ fastballs and 20+ home runs and in the SAC we had the home run leader in Kiki Menendez from Texas Wesleyan. Menendez finish the season with 26 home runs.

Angel Reyes – University Of Science And Arts – RHP

Reyes has a very electric fastball, as he would touch 97 mph throughout the season. Reyes finish the season with a 4-1 records, as he would throw 44 innings and would have a 3.07 ERA. Reyes would finish the season with 54, as he would only allow 11 walks and he would hold opponents to a .253 batting average. Reyes finish the season with 11 saves, as that would finish tied for 2nd in the NAIA. Reyes show comparison to Edwin Diaz, who is a pitcher for the Seattle Mariners.

Francis Ventura – University Of Science and Arts – LHP

Ventura has a solid fastball, that has been clocked at 93 mph. Ventura finish the season, with a 10-0 record and had a 4.44 ERA. Ventura would throw 75 innings, as he would strikeout 69 and hold opponents to a .245 batting average. Ventura compares himself with Aroldis Chapman, as he says they throw the fastball more than other pitch.

Lane Milligan – University Of Oklahoma City – Catcher

Milligan has put up some insane number this season, as he hit .462 with 15 home runs and 90 RBI’s. Milligan also finished the season with 15 triples and 10 doubles. Milligan also was able to work the count, as he would walk 44 times and only strikeout 19 times. Milligan finished his season with 330 putouts. With Milligan, you can see comparisons with Joe Mauer, as he can hit for average and power and can play multiple positions.

Matt Young – University Of Oklahoma City – RHP

Young time was limited this season, after getting struck by a line drive in the second game of the season. Young would finish the season with a 3-0 record with a 2.02 ERA. Young would only throw 35.2 innings, but he would finish with 50 strikeouts. Young has very good command, as he would only suffer 6 walks and would only hit 2 batters on the season. Young would consistently keep hitters off balanced, as he would hold opponents to a .176 batting average. Young has been compared to Michael Wacha and even Max Scherzer, for his ability to be a power pitcher and getting better start by start.

Joe Lytle – University Of Oklahoma City – Catcher/Outfielder

Lytle had a strong season, as he would hit .392 with 7 home runs and 76 RBI’s. Lytle would reach base 28 by the walk and would finish with just 13 strikeouts. Lytle would finish the season with a very strong 100 hits and would tack on 27 doubles throughout the season. Lytle is being compared to as Jonathan Lucroy and Kyle Schwarber.

Elliott Cary – University Of Oklahoma City – Outfielder

Cary hit .302 on the season, as he would tack on 10 home runs and 34 RBI’s. Cary would finish the season with 52 base hits. Cary has reached base 27 times by the walk, but has struck out 60 times this season. Cary would finish the season with 86 putouts. Cary has been compared to Christian Yelich, as he is a good outfielder with power to all sides of the field.

Kiki Menendez – Texas Wesleyan University – Outfielder

Menendez had himself a season to remember, as he hit .466 with 26 home runs and 84 RBI’s. Menendez would finish the season with 89 hits and would add on 23 doubles. Menendez would keep the strikeouts down, as he would finish the season with just 20 on the season. Menendez has been compared to Adam Jones, for his consistent power and power arm.

Stephen Yancey – Texas Wesleyan University – RHP

Yancey would finish the season with a 8-5 record and would have a 3.52 ERA. Yancey would throw 84.1 innings, as he would finish with 79 strikeouts and would limit his walks to 37 on the season. Yancey is holding opponents to a .237 batting average. Yancey had seen comparisons to Gerrit Cole, as he has shown his ability to mix pitches and strike guys out.

Slayton Vaughan – Southwestern Christian – Infielder

Vaughan had a very good season, as he hit .371 with 15 home runs and 70 RBI’s. Vaughan would finish the season with 76 hits, as he would tack on 17 doubles. Vaughan would finish the season with 367 putouts and would limit his errors to 7 on the season. Vaughan would be apart of 28 double plays. Vaughan has been compared to Paul Goldschmidt, with his ability to make plays and use his power to win games.

Juan Carlos Gonzalez – Southwestern Christian – LHP

Gonzalez is coming a great 2018 season, as he went 9-4 with a 3.49 ERA. Gonzalez threw 95.1 innings, as he would strikeout 117 and allow just 39 walks. Gonzalez also knows how to keep the ball inside the yard, as he has only allowed 2 home runs all season. Gonzalez has seen comparisons to James Paxton, as they both have elite arsenal’s and can control the game pitch by pitch.

Gregg Veneklasen – Wayland Baptist – Third Base

Veneklasen had a strong senior season, as he would hit .394 with 20 home runs and would finish with 69 RBI’s. Veneklasen would finish with 69 base hits, including 17 doubles and 4 triples. Veneklasen had 47 putouts with 99 assists and would finish with just 13 errors in the field. Veneklasen’s fielding percentage would end at .918 on the season.