The University of Alabama’s Connor Prielipp is a sleeper pick for the 2022 MLB Draft. After becoming the Gatorade Wisconsin Player of the Year in 2019, Major League teams started to take notice. During his 2019 year, he struck out 215 batters in 101 and 1/3 innings pitched. However, MLB teams were reluctant to draft Prelipp as he expressed his commitment to the University of Alabama.
Connor Prielipp is a 6’2 left-handed pitcher from Wisconsin who has played for the University of Alabama since 2020. This came after not signing with the Boston Red Sox as their 37th-round pick in 2019. Despite not playing during the 2022 NCAA Baseball season, the 21-year-old is the 25th best prospect, according to MLB.com.
Strengths
Prielipp is a power pitcher best known for his slider. Some scouts have said that his slider might be the best pitch in the draft class. Scouts have given his slider a rank of 70/80. The slider is used to strike out right-handed hitters as the movement goes down and in. In addition, his fastball averages in the low 90’s, but has reached 95 mph on a few occasions. He has also worked on a change-up, which he throws rarely. There is work needed, but with proper refinement, it could be an effective tertiary pitch.
Here's a look at a handful of pitches from Connor Prielipp's bullpen at the #MLBDraft Combine.
FB: 94-95
CB: 85-87
CH: 86-87@DSeifertD1PBR | @PBR_DraftHQ pic.twitter.com/Okk6dm8fQA— Nathan Rode (@NathanRode) June 18, 2022
Prielipp has shown effective command of his pitches during his time with the Crimson Tide. In 28 innings pitched with Alabama, Prielipp has a 0.96 ERA with 47 strikeouts and a WHIP of 0.714. His greatest strength is getting strikeouts in high-leverage situations. He could likely be the first left-handed pitcher selected in this year’s draft. Especially in a draft class, where plenty of left-handed pitchers are available.
Weaknesses
Heading into the 2020 NCAA baseball season, Prielipp was projected to go first overall in the 2022 MLB Draft, but has fallen to 25th for two reasons. The first is, that he underwent Tommy John Surgery in May 2021. After a year of recovery, it is uncertain if Prielipp will be able to pitch to his standard before the surgery. After missing the 2022 NCAA season, the left-hander has thrown a bullpen session, but chose not to throw the slider. While the velocity was not there, he still has time to improve as the draft nears.
The other reason for him to fall is his lack of longevity. With the 2020 season cut short due to the pandemic, 2021 ending with Tommy John, and the 2022 season missed due to recovery, Prielipp never played an entire NCAA season. As someone who has not played a full season since 2019, teams could be uncertain to select him so high in the draft.
LHP Connor Prielipp (Alabama, 2022) threw a bullpen yesterday for a large congregation of scouting brass in Hoover. Here's a sample (BBx2, FB, CH) from his first set of pitches thrown during the 50 pitch session. pic.twitter.com/SZKzxRKJjE
— Will Hoefer (@whoeferbaseball) May 24, 2022
Pro Comparison: Mike Soroka
His mechanics are very similar to Atlanta Braves pitcher Mike Soroka. Despite being the opposite hand of the Braves’ starter, Soroka has a similar body tilt when it comes to his release. In addition, Soroka relies on his slider more than his fastball like Prielipp. Prielipp could go late in the first round like Soroka (who was selected 28th in 2015), despite coming from a colder climate (Alberta and Wisconsin). The University of Alabama used Connor Prielipp as a starter, and it is likely so will the organization that will draft him.
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