| Player: Mulivai Levu | |||||||||||
| School: UCLA | Position(s): 1B | ||||||||||
| Height: 6’1″ | Weight: 205 lbs. | Bats: Left | Throws: Right | ||||||||
| Summary: As a member of the notorious band of MLB Draft prospects in the UCLA lineup, it can’t go unnoticed that Levu is one of the most productive bats in college baseball. He boasts a 1.048 OPS and 32 hits in his first 21 starts of his Junior season with the Bruins. This hot start comes off of an uber successful Sophomore year, in which he drove in 85 runs, earned a Gold Glove award, and helped lead UCLA to a College World Series appearance. His body of work so far has landed him inside MLB’s top 100 draft prospect list, and he should continue to climb up that list. At a sturdy 6’1” and 205 lbs., Levu has a thick build with nimble footwork that serves well for a Gold Glove corner infielder. With a handful of starts at third base last season, you start to get the idea of what makes him such a valuable defender. Mulivai can really pick it with his glove. He has great hands that absorb tough hops along with the footwork to get himself in a good position to get low and dig anything coming at him in the dirt. While he may not be the biggest target to throw to at first base, he definitely belongs there. Levu has a knack for finding the bag with good positioning as well as an internal clock to know when to be there and square up for his fellow Bruin infielders to hit their mark. He’s a very reliable defender, with just one error recorded in his last two seasons so far. However, the trait I have yet to see him display is the flexibility and mobility to really stretch and get tough outs on throws off of the bag, like we see some elite 1B defenders do. The offensive side of his game is a joy to watch. He sits in a compact and athletic stance, using his strong lower half to supply power from the ground up. With his hands sitting almost on top of his helmet, and the barrel of the bat cocked behind his head, his first move is a simple and deliberate squat and hinge into his back hip that triggers a quick leg lift. Levu springs from his back foot into the point of attack, delivering a powerful swing with great bat speed. His balance and bat speed allow his barrel to cover both halves of the zone well. Levu gets the barrel out front on inner-half pitches and shows an inside-out path on outside offerings, driving the ball with authority to the opposite field. His gap power is special; when he catches the barrel, the ball is rarely caught and often finds itself over the outfield fence. He can and will do damage to all parts of the field, which makes him a cornerstone of the middle of the Bruins’ lineup. The lefty’s ability to find hard contact, especially with runners on base, is what makes him an elite college hitter and probably what attracts so many Major League organizations to him. Mulivai Levu is a run-production powerhouse with a smooth left-handed swing. He can field with the best of them and continues to separate himself as a top prospect on one of the more talented rosters in the NCAA. The So-Cal native is one of those high-floor talents that would be hard to pass up due to his consistency, success, and impressive ability. | |||||||||||
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