Number 97 on our Top 100 Countdown is Arizona’s junior right-handed pitcher Cody Deason.
Deason broke onto the college scene with an impressive freshman season in which he helped take the Wildcats to the College World Series Finals.
That year he posted a 3.73 ERA in 21 appearances — 2 starts — with 25 strikeouts in 31.1 innings pitched. He allowed 26 hits and just 9 walks for a 1.12 WHIP.
Deason allowed 1 run in 1.2 innings pitched against Mississippi State in the Super Regional clinching game that year. He also threw a combined 2.1 scoreless innings in the College World Series Finals against Coastal Carolina, pitching in games two and three.
That summer Deason played in the Alaska Baseball League where he had a 1.89 ERA in 19 innings pitched with 19 strikeouts, 5 walks and 17 hits allowed.
This past spring he made 22 appearances for the Wildcats — 10 starts — and had a 3.86 ERA in 53.2 innings pitched with 49 strikeouts, 19 walks and 56 hits allowed.
What really has scouts on notice is his performance in the Cape Cod League this past summer. In 12 games and 22.2 innings pitched he posted an ERA of 1.19 with 32 strikeouts, 11 walks and 12 hits allowed.
He also pitched four scoreless innings in the CCBL Playoffs, while striking out eight batters and allowing just three base runners.
The 6-foot-4, 205 pound junior has set himself up for a big year at Arizona.
The video above is from when Cody was coming out of high school, but you can still see his easy-going deliver. He has a solid frame, which is what scouts want to see from a durability standpoint.
He doesn’t have overpowering stuff, but he has three good pitches that when he locates well can all be very effective.
Deason should get another chance this year to be in Arizona’s weekend rotation. Pitching in the Pac 12 isn’t easy, but if he can improve on last year’s numbers I could see him moving up some draft boards.
