Will
Sanders

The preseason first round draft prospect has not been himself all season as he’s battled injuries and similar to Dollander, his stuff on a consistent basis has simply lacked the crispness of past seasons. However, he did put together a stellar start for Aaron Fitt on April 21 and seemed to be back on track, but he did not appear in the Arkansas series and is currently listed as day-to-day with a lower body ailment. At his best, Sanders gets downhill on a 92-94 mph fastball that will occasionally touch 96. He will attack with a big power curveball in the 82-85 mph range that generates swing/miss and will mix in an occasional slider and changeup which was once his top off speed offering. For the season the 6-foot-6, 215-pound right-hander is 4-3 with a 5.75 ERA with 66 strikeouts in 56 innings pitched. We should know more on Sanders later this week, but reports out of Columbia are that his arm is completely healthy and he is dealing with a lower-body injury. The Gamecocks are optimistic that he will return soon on a permanent basis.

The 6-foot-6, 215-pounder has a tall frame with loose arm action. He can run his fastball up to 95-96 mph, has great feel for a mid-80s changeup and his mid-80s slider continues to come along.

Although likely higher on my follow list than mainstream, Sanders showed control of three pitches, along with a great feel for a 84-85 mph changeup. It’s his top off speed offering and currently grades a 50 (average) on the pro scale. It induces swing/miss as well; 42% this spring for the Gamecocks and a half dozen on my look in Princeton. His 84-86 mph slider is also an empty swing producer, however its shape and velo only grade to a fringe-to-average. The swing/miss is due to deception with a natural motion he has on the pitch and the identical window of its release.There’s also a favorable projection to his present long, athletic build of 6-foot-6, 210 pounds. It’s a frame that should easily add strength/weight for durability. With a starter’s delivery, loose arm action, three-pitch arsenal and athleticism, Sanders projects to the top round in 2023.

Sanders is a large-framed righty who projects well, physically, as a guy who can carry and eat innings in the future. As of now, Sanders looks like he’ll be able to wield three quality pitches down the line and, if he can show an ability to utilize all three in a start, he could make a push to become the top arm in the state.