Last season, CJ Van Eyk showed out in his first year as a weekend started. The junior’s pitching arsenal is one of the best in the country and the experts agree. In MLB.com’s first top 100 for the 2020 MLB draft, FSU’s ace came in as the number 19 overall prospect and seventh RHP.
The 2020 #MLBDraft is just over six months away. Here’s our brand-new Top 100 Prospects list, which features a bevy of premium college pitchers: https://t.co/ztSDywGlr9 pic.twitter.com/VZcqMP5GFn
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) December 5, 2019
If it wasn’t for one of the most loaded college pitching classes in recent years, Van Eyk could be even higher. With improved command and execution, CJ has the potential to move into the top-10.
The Tampa native posted a 3.81 ERA in 99.1 IP last season. Van Eyk struck out 129 batters, 13th best in the nation, and had a 11.7 K/9 in 2019. If the junior can improve his 3.72 BB/9 in 2020, he will help both his draft stock and his team moving forward. Another strong season will likely land the Seminoles’ ace in the first round of the 2020 draft. An arsenal containing a mid-90’s fastball, nasty changeup, and hammer curve ball is just too good for 30 teams to pass up on.
FSU commit Carson Montgomery also found himself in the top 100 as the number 30 prospect for the 2020 draft. Montgomery is the Seminoles’ highest rated commit for Mike Martin Jr’s first recruiting class and has been committed to Florida State for over two years. The Windermere native is the 3rd rated high school pitcher on the list, but with all of the top end 2020 college pitching talent, Montgomery could fall past the first round.
No other FSU commits or players made the top 100, but there’s still potential to lose some other commits and draft-eligible sophomores in the early rounds. Of the commits, Trey Carter, AJ Shaver and Najer Victor could all hear their names called within the first five rounds. A healthy season for Reese Albert could see him go in the first five rounds as well. Breakout years for Shane Drohan, Nander De Sedas, and Elijah Cabell all have the tools to be early round draft picks but have to put it together on the field. At a premium position, catcher Mat Nelson could leave FSU after his sophomore season as a high draft pick as well with another strong season behind the dish.
Losing players to the draft isn’t easy, but it means the program is bringing in the right guys to compete for championships. With a talent evaluator like Mike Metcalf and recruiters like Mike Martin Jr. and Jim Belanger on the trail, the Seminoles new staff will continue a tradition of top-level talent at Dick Howser stadium. FSU had four players drafted within the first nine rounds last year.