56 OF Tommy Hawke (21.5yo)
53 INF Christian Knapczyck (22.0yo)
Knapczyck and Hawke were the Guardians 5th and 6th round picks from the 2023 draft, where they seemed to really focus on ACC conference hitters, as they picked 5 in a row (Kayfus, Ingle and Mooney with 2nd rd P Walters also ACC). Maybe of note: one of the potential no1 prospects for the 2024 draft, Nick Kurtz, is also an ACC bat.
Both are smallish (under 5'10), extreme hit over (very little) power with good speed. Both have been among the best ACC conference hitters from day one in college, so both came with strong track records. And they also performed in their summer league appearances.
Knapczyck was consistently ranked around 150 on most draft boards and that's where he landed (161st overall). Hawke (188th) was ranked anywhere from 100 to 250, but was higher than Knapczyck on some boards (PG had him 107). So both were very solid values where they were taken.
Here are their draft profiles from FSS/PL:
Christian Knapczyk started as a true freshman for Louisville as their everyday shortstop, and had a productive campaign that carried over into a strong summer on the Cape for Bourne. Knapczyk has a simple swing that stays short to the ball and is geared for line drive contact. He shows good plate coverage and works counts to find pitches that he can drive into the gaps. Limited power, has yet to hit a collegiate home run. Put up a few 70 grade run times on the Cape, speed is going to be a huge part of his game. Mostly played shortstop in 2021, athletic defender that can make plays with his range and his arm. Has soft hands, a good internal clock, sound footwork, and surprising arm strength and utility for a guy that's 5'9'' 155 lbs.
Hawke is a dynamic, unassuming table-setter with a patient, slasher mindset and the ability to do some damage once on-base. He doesn't have much power, but that's not his game either. He's a singles hitter who can play a solid average center- or left field. He's got a shot to go on day two if a team buys into the seemingly top-of-the-scale bat-to-ball skills.
Hawke has a lot of Kwan out of college in his profile, while Knapczyck's reminded me of Ernie Clement, another former ACC bat. I expect both to open conservatively at single A Lynchburg, simply because of the prospect logjam ahead of them, as both have the track record to open in A+ right away, but it shouldn't take long for them to get there, just like the very similar Nate Furman, who was the org's 4th rd pick a year before.
Future defensive home will be an important part of their prospect journey. If Knapczyck can remain at SS and Hawke in CF, it would rewally elevate their stock and fit their profiles best.