Major League scouts flocked to McKethan Stadium last Saturday to get a first hand look at the potential first pick in the draft, Florida Gators starter A.J. Puk. The junior left-hander threw the ball well but the scouts that remained in attendance after Puk’s day was done got an advanced scouting report on another potential first round pick — in the 2018 draft.
Brady Singer was selected 56th overall in the 2015 draft by the Toronto Blue Jays. That and the fact that Singer was initially committed to Clemson made this Saturday appearance in Gainesville all the more improbable.
Singer took the mound and fired away, 94 MPH fastballs bearing down on Florida Gulf Coast hitters, who were sent packing and kept off balance with a sharp slider coming in 17 miles per hour slower.
“He’s different. I’m just going to be honest with you,” head coach Kevin O’Sullivan said. “He’s different in terms of his mental makeup. He’s not a normal freshman.”
O’Sullivan has had a rollercoaster relationship with the draft. One of the tribulations of running a premier Division I college baseball program is recruiting and finding a balance of the best high school talent, while still somehow getting kids to school when a MLB team offers them a dream of playing professionally. Despite being a second round pick, Singer chose to come to Florida and he’s quickly impressed his teammates.
“That was some intense stuff,” junior Ryan Larson said of Singer’s first appearance. “I told Buddy [Reed] after Brady’s first inning running [off the field], ‘he’s going to be a dude.’ He really showed it today. It was great to see him have success.”
What does Larson mean by that?
“Define dude? Someone who comes in and you know nothing is going to happen,” Larson explained. “You know he’s got control of the game, he’s calm, he doesn’t have any jitters, no freshmen jitters.”
Singer did admit to some jitters. After coming out of the gate slinging 94 MPH heat he settled down and into a 91 mph fastball. The drop in velocity didn’t hurt. The Gators were trailing 4-3 when Singer entered the game. He tossed three hitless innings, striking out the first two batters he faced and three over three innings. He threw 32 pitches, 21 strikes.
“I’ve seen him pitch since his sophomore year of high school. I’d love to tell you differently, but I’ve seen this just about every time I’ve seen him pitch,” said O’Sullivan. “He just attacks the strike zone. And he’s gifted with a really good arm.”
The scouts may have made their way down to Gainesville to see Puk, but everyone was treated to a glimpse of the future. Singer’s collegiate career is only three innings old but he showed the potential that the Blue Jays saw when they drafted him and the potential that Florida’s pitching staff has to keep churning out top talent.
“He’s awesome, lights out. Even in intrasquad he’s the hardest pitcher I’ve ever faced,” freshman Jonathan India said. “[He throws] 94 with sink, great sink, great slider. That’s a great pitcher right there.”
Really nice article Nick. Sounds like this guy is going to be fun to watch over the next 3 years.