Good news on the MLB Draft front..

[57stratdawg]

Looks like we’re getting Walling to campus unless something crazy happens. Good news for the LHP depth. Especially with all signs pointing MacLeod to pro ball.

[TWEET]1414716197224976386[/TWEET]

 

[messageboardsuperhero]

Not calling a repeat or anything, but we are going to be really talented in next year. Our rotation will be better and the lineup will be more explosive.

I feel better right now about the 2022 roster than I felt this time last year about the 2021 roster by a pretty significant margin.

 

[jethreauxdawg]

I read he throws 95-97 and has hit 100 and has a good slider in the 80’s. How does that not get drafted high enough to get paid “go pro now” money?

 

[Bulldogg31]

So we don’t get to host? **

 

[Quincy A. Wagstaff]

Not calling a repeat or anything, but we are going to be really talented in next year. Our rotation will be better and the lineup will be more explosive.

I feel better right now about the 2022 roster than I felt this time last year about the 2021 roster by a pretty significant margin.

I’ll call it: State vs Texas in CWS finals.

 

[Shmuley]

You raise a valid question.

 

[MSUDC11]

Fun fact, Walling actually pitched against us in 2020 when he was at Oregon State. 2.0 scoreless innings with 3 K's in the Saturday game.

Not saying we repeat as champs, but with the talent we should have, I don't expect very much of a drop off.

 

[MSUDC11]

I read he throws 95-97 and has hit 100 and has a good slider in the 80’s. How does that not get drafted high enough to get paid “go pro now” money?

Combination of him having a little bit of an injury history, some command issues at Oregon State (he looks to have improved in that area based on his JUCO stats), and the fact that he turns 22 in October. It's also possible he just wanted to come to State for a year and had a high dollar figure in mind that teams didn't want to go for.

As with any recruit, there's always a possibility that it doesn't completely come together for him here. But if he continues to keep it together here, he's a legit SEC weekend starter.

 

[MSUDAWGFAN]

I read he throws 95-97 and has hit 100 and has a good slider in the 80’s. How does that not get drafted high enough to get paid “go pro now” money?

Because he is coming here to win himself a Natty.

 

[messageboardsuperhero]

I read he throws 95-97 and has hit 100 and has a good slider in the 80’s. How does that not get drafted high enough to get paid “go pro now” money?

Walling had TJ surgery in high school and it took him a while to get his command back. He was inconsistent with velocity and throwing strikes as a freshman at Oregon State and didn’t really get much of a chance in 2020 due to COVID.

Goes to JUCO for a year and while still not an elite strike thrower, he was much more consistent. Velocity also jumped from 88-92 to 95-97. He could have been drafted as a reliever but wants a chance to prove himself as a starter.

I see Walling as kind of a wild card. If last year was not a fluke and he keeps progressing, we could have a steal. If he struggles as a starter, we don’t really lose anything and maybe even have an elite reliever. It’s a no lose situation for a team that already has a ton of depth on the mound.

 

[GloryDawg]

Fun fact, Walling actually pitched against us in 2020 when he was at Oregon State. 2.0 scoreless innings with 3 K's in the Saturday game.

Not saying we repeat as champs, but with the talent we should have, I don't expect very much of a drop off.

Just make it back to the CWS for a fourth time in four season would be great.

 

[57stratdawg]

I agree for the most part, but we’ve got to find some LHP. So far so good today with Harding, but even if he returns Walling is a guy we’re counting out. I’m sure we’ll work the portal, but we’re not going to find someone with his stuff.

If he’s a consistent weekend starter next year, a major hole is filled.

 

[messageboardsuperhero]

I agree for the most part, but we’ve got to find some LHP. So far so good today with Harding, but even if he returns Walling is a guy we’re counting out. I’m sure we’ll work the portal, but we’re not going to find someone with his stuff.

If he’s a consistent weekend starter next year, a major hole is filled.

We are fine at LHP, especially if Harding comes back. Walling, Tullar, Kohn, and Harding can all help.

Our pitching staff has a chance to be absurd next year. At this point on paper, I don’t see anyone in the SECW that can come close to matching us on the mound. Arkansas, LSU, and OM will all mash at the plate, but none of those teams have hardly any proven pitching.