Year 2 of finding some JUCO Jewels. As expected, the Tigers added 3 more guys from the JUCO route last year in Cale Wetwiska, Cash Kuiper, and Joey Wimpelberg.
Last year, 1 of the 4 guys I had listed was drafted, just not by the Tigers. He happens to also be the only repeat on my list. Let’s take a look.
Hayden Morris (RHP)
A repeat from last year, was drafted by the Yankees in the 19th round last season. He didn’t end up signing and returned to Blinn College. His season numbers didn’t look as well this year as last. He gave up almost double the HRs in about 60% of the IP and saw his ERA bloat to 6.59. He didn’t see a drop in his K%, but he did drop his wild pitches rate. However, the stuff was there enough that he committed to Texas Tech next season.
I really like Hayden Morris. Last year, I noted he was hitting 95.1 with 4-seam that had 2472 RPMs, and 2621 RPMs with his curveball from a video his Instagram. He’s now throwing that fastball in the upper 90s. He also made the top 10 JUCO players from Perfect Game back in January.
Jeylem Sepulveda (RHP/1B)
A sophomore at Western Oklahoma State (D2 JUCO), Jeylem was named the D2 Pitcher of the Year. Another big kid, standing 6’4”, weighing 220 pounds. He made 16 appearances, 13 starts, he went 10-2 and had an insane 15.76 K/9. Meanwhile he’s seem drops in his ERA, WHIP, and BB/9 compared to his Freshman year.
He also collected 160 AB in 58 games at the plate where he was able to get a 1.050 OPS that includes a .619 SLG. He’s got some power. And it’s because of that, he’s headed to Louisiana Tech.
There aren’t any metrics that really stand out, but they also aren’t the most recent. He was sitting 91 with his fastball as a high school senior and didn’t have any outstanding spin rates, but that hasn’t stopped the Tigers in the past.
Peyton Fiene (RHP)
I seem to really like sophomores on my list. Peyton attended Odessa College (D1 JUCO). Like Jeylem, Peyton also won a Pitcher of the Year award this year. Made 14 starts, striking out 107 and walking just 22. He stands 6’1” and weighs 185 lbs. I’m not sure how much more he will grow given his frame, so this might be the size he is.
His fastball was up to 94 MPH this past season. He also threw a changeup and slider. His changeup looked like it had some late arm side movement from the few I saw him throw, the fastball got on the hitters quick.
Marcus Metz (LHP)
Marcus was a junior attending Central Arizona College (D1 JUCO). He’s an Oklahoma State University commit, the greatest part of his game was limiting the HRs. He allowed just 1 HR last season. His walks were on the higher side, but he shows some promise.
Marcus just seems like the type of player the Tigers would target. The lefty sits 90-92 with his fastball, some good arm side movement. He also throws a slider that looks like it has a lot of movement. His arm is at a lower arm angle and he does a really good job at hiding the ball before delivering. .
Rogelio Castillo 
Colin Arthur