UC Santa Barbara right-hander Dillon Tate was originally slated to start the 2015 season as the Gauchos' closer, a decision that head coach Andrew Checketts quickly reversed in the face of industrywide criticism thanks to a well-timed injury to one of their projected starters. Tate has quickly emerged as one of the top prospects in this year's draft class, something that never would have happened had he been mired in the bullpen, like how the University of Illinois has buried lefty Tyler Jay. Tate has 41 strikeouts through 36 innings (five starts), showing two plus pitches at times but needing work on his delivery and command.

Tate has reached 98 mph this spring, but on Friday at home against Texas-Arlington he was 91-96, sitting primarily 94-95 early and drifting down to 90-93 by the last few innings of his start.