{"id":55683,"date":"2022-07-14T17:52:03","date_gmt":"2022-07-14T21:52:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/?p=55683"},"modified":"2025-09-16T11:13:44","modified_gmt":"2025-09-16T15:13:44","slug":"connor-prielipp-2022-mlb","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2022\/07\/14\/connor-prielipp-2022-mlb\/","title":{"rendered":"Connor Prielipp 2022 MLB Draft Profile"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The University of Alabama&#8217;s Connor Prielipp is a sleeper pick for the 2022 MLB Draft. After becoming the <a href=\"https:\/\/primetimesportstalk.com\/2022\/06\/11\/mlb-draft-profile-connor-prielipp\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Gatorade Wisconsin Player of the Year in 2019<\/a>, 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.<\/p>\n<p>Connor Prielipp is a 6&#8217;2 left-handed pitcher from Wisconsin who has played for the University of Alabama since 2020. This came after not signing with the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/category\/redsox\/\" target=\"_self\">Boston Red Sox<\/a> as their <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/register\/player.fcgi?id=prieli000con\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">37th-round pick in 2019<\/a>. Despite not playing during the 2022 NCAA Baseball season, the 21-year-old is the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mlb.com\/prospects\/draft\/connor-prielipp-687570\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">25th best prospect, according to MLB.com.<\/a><\/p>\n<h2>Strengths<\/h2>\n<p>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 <a href=\"https:\/\/primetimesportstalk.com\/2022\/06\/11\/mlb-draft-profile-connor-prielipp\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">70\/80<\/a>. 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&#8217;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.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Here&#39;s a look at a handful of pitches from Connor Prielipp&#39;s bullpen at the <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/MLBDraft?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#MLBDraft<\/a> Combine.<\/p>\n<p>FB: 94-95<br \/>CB: 85-87<br \/>CH: 86-87<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/DSeifertD1PBR?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">@DSeifertD1PBR<\/a> | @PBR_DraftHQ <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/Okk6dm8fQA\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/Okk6dm8fQA<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Nathan Rode (@NathanRode) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/NathanRode\/status\/1537967607340404738?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">June 18, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>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&#8217;s draft. Especially in a draft class, where plenty of left-handed pitchers are available.<\/p>\n<h2>Weaknesses<\/h2>\n<p>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 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.prospectslive.com\/prospects-live\/2022\/2\/12\/the-10-biggest-draft-questions-entering-the-2022-college-baseball-season\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Tommy John Surgery<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">LHP Connor Prielipp (Alabama, 2022) threw a bullpen yesterday for a large congregation of scouting brass in Hoover. Here&#39;s a sample (BBx2, FB, CH) from his first set of pitches thrown during the 50 pitch session. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/SZKzxRKJjE\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/SZKzxRKJjE<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Will Hoefer (@whoeferbaseball) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/whoeferbaseball\/status\/1529152997074272256?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">May 24, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2>Pro Comparison: Mike Soroka<\/h2>\n<p>His mechanics are very similar to <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/category\/braves\/\" target=\"_self\">Atlanta Brave<\/a>s pitcher Mike Soroka. Despite being the opposite hand of the Braves&#8217; starter, Soroka has a similar <a href=\"https:\/\/prospects365.com\/2020\/08\/23\/looking-ahead-the-loaded-2022-mlb-draft\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">body tilt<\/a> when it comes to his release. In addition, Soroka relies on his <a href=\"https:\/\/baseballsavant.mlb.com\/savant-player\/mike-soroka-647336?stats=statcast-r-pitching-mlb\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">slider<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Main Photo:<br \/>\n<a id=\"Rw5__GEASip9qqqAp_Mpsg\" class=\"gie-single\" style=\"color: #a7a7a7; text-decoration: none; font-weight: normal !important; border: none; display: inline-block;\" href=\"http:\/\/www.gettyimages.com\/detail\/73904791\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Embed from Getty Images<\/a><script>window.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'Rw5__GEASip9qqqAp_Mpsg',sig:'j1-JPNliZ6t6lJdd3ejgMn3MixtcZ6apH0kIhQVen1o=',w:'594px',h:'390px',items:'73904791',caption: true ,tld:'com',is360: false })});<\/script><script src='\/\/embed-cdn.gettyimages.com\/widgets.js' charset='utf-8' async><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Players Mentioned:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/register\/player.fcgi?id=prieli000con\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Connor Prielipp<\/strong><\/a>, <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/baseballsavant.mlb.com\/savant-player\/mike-soroka-647336?stats=statcast-r-pitching-mlb\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Mike Soroka<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The University of Alabama&#8217;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 [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3158,"featured_media":55695,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2,1071,29143],"tags":[5793,5764,542,951],"class_list":["post-55683","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-featured","category-mlb","category-mlb-draft","tag-connor-prielipp","tag-draft-profiles","tag-featured","tag-mike-soroka"],"modified_by":"Michael Kovacs, ADMIN","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/55683","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3158"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=55683"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/55683\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":107323,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/55683\/revisions\/107323"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/55695"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=55683"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=55683"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=55683"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}