After turning down a mediocre offer from the Yankees as a 45th-round pick in 2009, Baltz went off to Rutgers and put together one of the finest seasons ever put together by a freshman.
He hit 24 home runs, drove in 85 runs and maintained a .396 average, winning Big East Freshman of the Year honors as well as a spot on the conference All-American team. He then dazzled in the Northeast Collegiate League, and started to earn some buzz for the 2012 draft.
He regressed a bit in 2011, witnessing a slump in his batting average (.311). He continued to be a solid run producer, driving in 60 runs but also saw a decline in his power (just six home runs). On a plus note, he continued to show solid plate discipline, walking just five fewer times than he struck out.
With perfect size and a dazzling bat, Baltz could very easily be one of the first college hitters taken in the 2012 draft.
