RHP Eli Saul, 13th round (378th) – Arizona Diamondbacks -- Signed $120,000
Hometown: Vancouver, BC
Bats/Throws: L/R.
Height/Weight: 6’ 5”, 215 lbs.
School: Sacramento State University.
Coach: Reggie Christiansen.
Rankings: 149th on Baseball America ‘s final top 500 projection (July 12, 2002) … 188th on Perfect Game top 600 final rankings (July 14, 2022) ...Listed at No. 148 on the highly-respected publication Baseball America (June 29). The 148 ranking is down six spotss on the top 400
Previous teams: UBC Thunder, Junior National Team, Vancouver Mounties bantams, Dunbar Little league.
Previous coaches: Mitch Hodge, Greg Hamilton.
Previously drafted: 29th round in 2019 by the Texas Rangers (865th overall).
2022 season at Sac State: Went 6-1 in 15 starts with a 3.71 ERA, striking out 66 in 87 1/3 innings to lead the Hornets … He had wins against Dixie State (six innings, two runs, six strikeouts), Seattle (seven scoreless, six whiffs), Utah Valley (six innings, two runs, six strikeouts), New Mexico State (six innings, two earned runs, one strikeout), Seattle (six innings, three earned runs) and Grand Canyon (nine innings, five runs and four strikeouts) … His other starts included facing Northern Illinois (two innings, three runs, three strikeouts), No. 6th-ranked Long Beach State (7 2/3 scoreless, nine strikeouts), against Houston Baptist (three innings, three runs, two strikeouts), Grand Canyon (seven innings, two runs, one whiff), Dixie State (five innings, four runs), California Baptist (5 2/3 inning one run, seven strikeouts),
2021 season at Sac State: Appeared in 16 games in his second season, starting 13 ...Was 2-4 with an 8.82 ERA, walking 21 and striking out 38 in 50 innings … Was easily team’s hardest thrower, touching 97 mph regularly ... Had the best start of his career on at San Francisco, throwing eight scoreless on the road as he allowed four hits, struck out six, and did not walk a batter, throwing a season-high 96 pitches in that same outing ... Facing Texas State, he pitched six innings allowing one run ball … Worked more than five innings three times in his 16 games ... Struck out four or more five times.
2020 season at Sac State: Appeared in five games for the Hornets, making two starts ... Was 1-1 with an 8.59 ERA in five games, walking three and striking out six ... Worked 7 1/3 innings, including a season-high three scoreless innings against Pacific in his first career start as he earned his first career win fanning a season-high four while walking none and not allowing a run ... Made his debut against UC Santa Barbara.
2019 season with Junior National Team, on Dominican Summer League Tour: Pitched 9 2/3 innings, 7.48 ERA, two walks, 11 strikeouts ... Allowed three runs on six hits and two walks, while fanning five in five innings beating the Royals ... Best arm at Inside Performance showcase at North Vancouver, BC
2018 season with UBC Thunder and Junior National Team: Made debut with Junior National Team program at Fall Instructional League camp … Participated in Area Code Games in Long Beach, Calif. ... Struck out 10 in five innings as the B.C. Orange beat Ontario Green 4-3 in Tournament 12 at the Rogers Centre, as he threw 55 pitches (40 strikes).
Honours: 2019 season with UBC Thunder _ Honorable Mention with Perfect Game Preseason All-American and All-Region Teams for Canada/Puerto Rico.
Twitter Handle: @eli_saul1_
Most influential person in his baseball life: Mitch Hodge
Scouting Reports
Prospects Live
Standing 6-foot-5, Saul definitely looks every bit the part of stud starting pitcher for the Hornets. His fastball is now up to 95 and his slider is currently sits 81-84 with swing-and-miss characteristics. The previously drafted Saul (2019, 29th round, Rangers) still needs more refinement after competing in the Cape this summer, but the upside here is really exciting. He will have the chance to be a weekend starter when back on campus. With a tall, lanky frame, there is plenty of physical projection remaining for Saul.