Eli
Serrano

There’s a difference of opinion throughout the industry on where Serrano falls in this year’s college draft class. A draft-eligible sophomore, some scouts will stretch and project him to late on Day One, while other clubs who are more analytic-leaning will slot him into the fourth to fifth rounds. It’s a top-heavy draft and after the top echelon there are a lot of similar prospect profiles from the third-to-fifth rounds. Serrano should ultimately rise to the top of that group, settling somewhere close to the top 100 overall picks. Long and lanky at 6-foot-5, 200-pounds, the Wolfpack leadoff hitter has a smooth lefty stroke and length through the zone. It’s a strong approach that has led him to a high OBP, but below average game power production with just nine XBHs in 166 plate appearances that has resulted in an uninspiring .131 ISO. His season maximum exit velocity is 111 which is a tick above average and he is also an above average runner underway. In the big field he’s an average defender with an average arm, average accuracy and average range.

VA/DC Scout Blog

Serrano is very tall and has a lanky frame. He has added strength during the offseason but still has a ton of room to continue to do so as he develops. On the mound, Serrano worked two innings, struck out six hitters and didn't allow a walk or hit. Pounded the zone with 22 strikes in 29 pitches. Throws from a high three-quarters arm slot, breaks hands long, but shortens up during his arm stroke, quick arm action with easy effort to his delivery. Drop and drive delivery, lands a bit closed with some recoil in his delivery. Fastball was 79-82, working pretty consistently in the 81-82 range in his first inning, more 79-80 in his second. Threw the fifth and sixth innings on a chilly night after playing first base, so velo may be a tick down because of that and how early it is in the spring. Fastball had hard late cut to it, showed ability to work to both sides of the plate, and move up or down in the zone. Curveball was swing and miss, pitch was 71-73 with sharp 1/7 break and very good armspeed. Showed ability to back door it or back foot it to righties. 

At the plate, Serrano hits from the left side from a slightly open athletic stance. Short stride on line, smooth quiet load back. Hips are violently explosive, good base and balance at contact. Short to the ball, keeps hands inside, great extension through contact and has a lot of natural loft in his swing. The swing in the video is a home run he hit out to dead center of Shenkman in his first at-bat. The contact really isn't that good, but he has enough leverage to drive the ball 370 to center. He had another home run in a previous scrimmage that looked like this as well, and hit another one late in this scrimmage. He has very long levers and a ton of power, he has shortened up his swing to contact a bit over the offseason which will help him get on the barrel more often, but he obviously has plenty of present power to all fields even if he doesn't get great contact. Very high ceiling for him at the plate as his power continues to manifest.

VA/DC Scout Blog

Serrano is a tall lanky kid who has added weight during the offseason but still has a ton of projection left and a lot of room to continue to add strength to his frame. He hits from the left side from a spread out athletic stance, short stride on line, short smooth load back. Hips are explosive and he has some balance during his swing. Swing path is a bit longer but he still gets the barrel to contact on time, fast bat, long levers generate power to all fields with room to add more. Showed good approach using the whole field. First at-bat was easily his most impressive, Agnos got him into a quick 0-2 hole and he fought pitches off and battled back to full count before doubling off the base of the leftfield fence, which is the first swing in his video. Also singled in the middle of the field in the third swing on the video.

Serrano is a 6-foot-3, 150 left-handed pitcher at Patriot HS. Serrano throws from a three quarter slot and pitches with light effort. he displays quick arm speed and looks to have more in the tank with his projectable frame that should translate into more velocity as he progresses.