NILES, Ohio -- With the MLB draft in the rear-view mirror, prospects are still exploring avenues to utilize to break into professional baseball.
Prior to the start of the 2021 season, Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred announced the inception of the MLB Draft League, with a direct association to Prep Baseball Report (PBR) involved. The league was set up to help draft-eligible players showcase and improve their stocks heading into the draft and then after the draft, during free agency periods.
This summer, Pitt baseball products Jeffrey Wehler and Ron Washington Jr. are hoping the Draft League can do exactly that for them.
Wehler and Washington are working towards the next level with the Mahoning Valley Scrappers, a former short-season Class-A affiliate of the Cleveland Guardians in Niles, Ohio, which was converted into one of the Draft League's founding members before the start of its inaugural season last year.
"The draft didn't work out the way I wanted it to, but to continue to play the game I love and with high level coaches, it's a good time," Wehler said before Monday's game at Mahoning Valley. "It's a good experience, and hopefully I can keep the ball rolling."
Wehler is off to an explosive start since joining the Scrappers on Friday. He is 8-for-15 with a home run, a double, four RBIs, and three runs scored while racking up 19 total bases. On Monday, he went 2-for-4 with two RBIs, and he stole two bases.
Wehler played at Youngstown State University -- which shares a home field with the Scrappers -- for four years before he transferred to Pitt for the 2021 season. In his lone season as a Panther, he hit .294 with four homers, 37 RBIs, 17 doubles, and 65 hits in 53 games. He most notably went 3-for-5 with three RBIs and three runs scored in the Panthers' win over Louisville in the ACC tournament quarterfinal round.
"He's an elite player," said Scrappers manager Homer Bush, a 1998 World Series champion with the New York Yankees. "From my perspective he's got 'plus' tools in pretty much every aspect of the game. He barrels the ball up very consistently, and that's pretty impressive."
Bush also highlighted that Wehler runs well and has a good arm, and is "above average" as a prospect. Primarily playing at second base for Pitt and head coach Mike Bell, Wehler has been tested at shortstop, and he can play the corner outfield spots in a pinch.
"He can impact the game in a lot of different ways," Bell said. "Offensively, runs the bases, power, doing the little things to help the team win. But also defensively, he filled in and did a phenomenal job for us at second base. I think his athleticism allows him to be versatile for a professional team. I think the ability to play different positions can help somebody like him make it to the next level."
Washington was a career .292 hitter in 152 games for Pitt. He accumulated 20 homers, 102 RBIs, 37 doubles, and an .823 OPS. In 2022, he hit .276 and was second on the team in home runs (15), RBIs (42), and total bases (103).
He has collected three hits in 10 at-bats while stealing a base, driving in two runs, and scoring two runs in three games with Mahoning Valley.
"It's a blessing to be here," Washington said. "Getting this opportunity to play every day like this, it's been great so far. ... They're teaching us the little things about the game that we weren't exposed to yet. The things that they were exposed to while winning World Series championships and playing 10-plus years in the big leagues. It's been great so far, and I've really enjoyed this."
Washington has played two games in left field and one in right field for Mahoning Valley, and he hasn't committed an error in five chances. He committed two errors in 71 chances last season at Pitt.
The most impressive tool Washington has, according to Bush, is his power.
"Strong," Bush said. "[On Sunday] you could tell he got more comfortable in the batter's box, and defensively from what I've seen he's been able to hold his own. I would like to see these guys get hot, display some power, hit the ball gap-to-gap, and open some eyes."
Bell said Washington provides unique pop that can translate to the professional level.
"It's a different sound coming off the bat," Bell said. "It's a sound that guys that have evaluated the game before or watched a lot of big league games, you hear that sound, and you go, 'That's real,' and that's what he has. When he does make contact he has the ability to put a professional swing, professional power, professional, quality at-bats to the baseball."
Analytics are heavily used in the Draft League, with PBR providing data to scouts. Exit velocity, or the speed at which the ball comes off the bat upon contact, is among the most prominent of these analytics.
"[Washington's] exit velocity is right up there with the guys in the big leagues," Bell said. "And I think you've seen it over the years, his ability to hit the ball to all fields. His biggest thing is [doing it] consistently. If he can avoid the strikeouts and put more balls in play, then he's going to find himself playing for a long time."
Coaching within the Draft League is meant to remedy those inconsistencies. Wehler and Washington are currently learning under Bush and Vic Butler, a 10-year pro who's serving as Mahoning Valley's hitting coach.
Pitt catcher Tatem Levins was drafted in the eighth round by Seattle, and pitchers Baron Stuart and Billy Corcoran inked free agent deals with the New York Yankees and Arizona, respectively, this month.
Wehler and Washington are hoping to earn their calls from affiliated teams soon.
"Still trying to work in right now," Wehler said. "Just continuing to play the game hard, 100%, and hopefully I can get a shot."
