NSU baseball’s standout pitcher Carlos Rey making a case for MLB Draft

Carlos Rey’s ERA is up 1½ runs from last season – and yet he has made significant progress as a prospect for the 2023 MLB Draft, which is set for July.

Rey, a left-hander for Nova Southeastern University, went 6-0 with a 1.40 ERA in 16 appearances last year, including 13 in relief. He held batters to a .138 average.

This year, Rey has made 13 appearances – all as a starter – and he is 5-4 with a 2.90 ERA. Rey has 89 strikeouts in 71 1/3 innings, and opponents are hitting just .180 against him.

On Friday, Rey beat Barry University 6-1, posting the first complete game by any NSU pitcher in two years. Rey struck out eight batters in nine innings.

Sharks coach Laz Gutierrez said Rey proving he can be an effective starter can only enhance his draft stock.

“Carlos is a former outfielder who has only been a full-time pitcher since January of 2022,” Gutierrez said of Rey, who played his high school ball at Miami Springs. “He has high-grade stuff.”

According to two scouts who spoke to The Herald on the condition that they would remain anonymous, Rey is the top prospect on the NSU squad.

These days, the draft is only 20 rounds – down from 40 as recently as 2019 – making it tough for any non-Division I player to get selected.

Yet, the two scouts The Herald spoke to say Rey and Barry right-hander Angel Cespedes have a shot to perhaps get drafted or sign if not selected.

Cespedes has a pro body at 6-5 and 210 pounds, but the production has been lacking at times as he is 7-3 with a 4.84 ERA this season. Batters are hitting .257 against Cespedes, who needs to more determined on the mound, according to scouts.

Barry coach Juan Ranero said Cespedes is attractive to scouts because of a fastball that can reach 96 mph.

“Angel looks like (Marlins star) Sandy Alcantara – facially and in his pitching style,” Ranero said of Cespedes, who is from New Jersey. “Angel is a hard worker. He is raw with great potential. He was a hitter most of his career.”

Due to a lack of elite velocity, scouts are not as high on Barry lefty Mike Reagan. But Reagan has been more productive, going 8-1 with a 3.57 ERA in 13 starts.

“Mike is legit,” Ranero said. “He’s not a soft-tosser. He throws 87 to 91 with a plus changeup. He has an average breaking pitch, but he locates and battles. I think he has shot (for pro ball).”

In terms of Dade/Broward college prospects outside of Division I, another player to watch is St. Thomas University third baseman Robin Fernandez, a lefty hitter who played his high school ball at Westland Hialeah.

Fernandez, who is 6-foot-3, can hit to all fields with power.

However, after hitting .370 with a 1.101 OPS in 2022, he has slumped this year. He is hitting .282 with a .779 OPS.

“He has all the ability in the world,” STU coach Jorge Perez said, “but he puts a lot of pressure on himself.”