>> The Peninsula roster features three Connecticut Huskies of note. The top prospect of the bunch is righty Austin Peterson, who leads the Pilots with 28 strikeouts against 10 walks in a team-high 23.1 innings, going 3-1, 4.24. Peterson began his college career at Purdue, where he had success out of the bullpen in 2019, then shined in the shortened 2020 spring at Wabash Valley JC, posting a 3.05 ERA and a 29-7 K-BB mark in 20.2 innings. A 6-foot-6, 240-pound behemoth, Peterson has a whippy three-quarters to low three-quarters arm action and some front-side funk that gives him added deception. He attacked at 90-91 mph in my look with a decent spin rate up to 2315 rpm, and his three-quarters slurve showed solid bite in the 78-79 mph range. He also mixed in an adequate straight changeup at 85 mph. He used the big-breaking slurve as his putaway pitch on all three strikeouts in the inning I saw, showing very good feel for it against both righties and lefties, against whom he backfooted or backdoored it effectively. He should be a major impact contributor for the Huskies, and he appears to have the three-pitch repertoire and pitchability to succeed as a starter if called upon to assume that role next spring.
Two-way talent Erik Stock, who transferred to UConn from Old Dominion last year after recovering from Tommy John surgery, has a chiseled 6-foot-1, 205-pound physique and good pop in his righthanded stroke at the plate. I saw him drive the ball wit authority to all fields, highlighted by a towering two-run homer to left on a slider. Stock plays a good first base, but he’ll have to hit a ton to profile at that position in pro ball. Regardless, he should be a key middle-of-the-order run producer for the Huskies next year. His ticket to pro ball is likely as a pitcher; he has shown 92-93 mph heat and a good breaking ball off the mound this summer.
Finally, keep an eye on UConn righthander Angus Mayock, who has a sparkling 1.54 ERA in 11.2 innings this summer, though his walk rate is high. The nephew of Oakland Raiders GM Mike Mayock, Angus is a physical specimen at 6-foot-4, 225 pounds, and the Huskies said he has run his heater up to 94-95 mph in the past. I saw him pitch off an 86-88 mph sinker this summer, though his slingy three-quarters arm action suggests he is clearly capable of throwing harder. He mixed in a useful three-quarters slurve at 77 mph and a low-80s changeup. Arm issues have dogged Mayock over the course of his career, but he’s an interesting X-factor heading into 2021.<<
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