Twenty-one players from junior colleges in the state of Florida were drafted in the 2019 MLB Draft, with four of them coming from Chipola College. For this year’s draft, Beck Way is one of the top players that will entering the 2020 MLB draft.
Beck Way 2020 MLB Draft Profile
A native of Mechanicsburg, Pa, Way, 20, is a junior right-handed pitcher that recently graduated from Northwest Florida State College (NWFS) in Niceville, Florida. He is listed at 6’4″ and weighs 196 pounds.
Prior to NWFS, Way began his collegiate career as a freshman at NCAA DII Belmont Abbey College in Belmont, NC. He went 0-1 with two saves, a 3.98 ERA, and 31 strikeouts with the Crusaders before transferring to NWFS.
Way finished his sophomore campaign with the Raiders going 5-0 with a 0.67 ERA and 58 strikeouts in five appearances.
According to MLB.com, Way is currently ranked at 95 of the MLB Top 200 Prospects and one of two players from a junior college in Florida listed. Jake Smith from State College of Florida (SCF) is the other and is ranked at #158.
Strengths
Way’s style of pitching is a three-pitch mix from a three-quarters arm slot release. It consists of four pitches. His fastball is his biggest strength with a velocity reaching the mid-90s and all four quadrants of the strike zone. He also throws a changeup, cutter, and slider, with the slider being his “out” pitch.
According to baseballprospectjournal.com, Way said that he has consistently been improving his fastball since high school and continues to add more power to make it stronger.
Weaknesses
In the past season with Belmont Abbey, Way has struggled with his command on his pitches upon transferring to NWFS.
Way’s changeup is not used very much due to the lack of confidence and consistency in using it. He recently started using it in the Cape Cod League during the summer to gain confidence to throw it.
His cutter is uncertain on its effectiveness since he just added it to his repertoire in the summer.
MLB Comparison
Based on his pitch release, a three-quarters arm slot, Beck Way can be compared to Greg Maddux. Maddux‘s velocity in his pitching did diminish after his second stint with the Chicago Cubs, but his pitch accuracy was effective. Way throws a lot harder with his release of the pitch.
Way’s pitching accuracy and arm strength, with continued improvements, can be a benefactor for him as a starter or reliever.
Way is looking to join Jake Randa and Thomas Farr as the most recent drafted prospects from NWFS. Randa (13th by the Washington Nationals) and Farr (37th by the Texas Rangers) were both drafted in the 2019 MLB draft.
Way states that he will still commit to continue playing collegiate baseball at Louisiana State University (LSU) this fall if he is not selected in this year’s draft. He would join the Tigers with two years of eligibility remaining.
LSU finished last season 12-5 with their season cut short. Although they have won six national championships (’91, ’93, ’96, ’97, 2000, ’09), the Tigers have not made an appearance in the College World Series since 2017.
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