UCLA Baseball Recruiting Class Spotlight: SS Cody Schrier

The highly-touted infielder will join the Bruins after withdrawing from the 2021 MLB Draft earlier this summer

(Photo Courtesy of Cody Schrier/Instagram)

UCLA baseball has 14 new players coming to Westwood this fall to replace the 10 who got picked in the 2021 MLB Draft and even more who graduated and went elsewhere. From top recruits to under-the-radar prospects and high-profile transfers, All Bruins is breaking all of them down to see what they could offer UCLA in 2022 and beyond.

Here’s a quick introduction to incoming freshman Cody Schrier.

Former top MLB Draft prospect Cody Schrier is set to join the ranks of top-tier shortstops that have called Jackie Robinson Stadium home.

Brandon Crawford, Kevin Kramer and, most recently, Matt McLain have all been mainstay shortstops for the Bruins under coach John Savage. JSerra Catholic High School alumnus Cody Schrier could be the next to stake claim to the spot. This past season, Schrier hit .374 with a team-leading eight home runs and 20 RBIs. Schrier was 57th on ESPN’s top 200 prospects’ list, drawing similarities to McLain, who was drafted No. 25 overall in 2018 before heading to UCLA.

According to Perfect Game, Schrier was the No. 10 shortstop and No. 43 player in the 2021 recruiting class. Schrier withdrew from the draft a few weeks before it was set to begin, but all reports leading up to the event had Schrier being selected within the first three rounds.

MLB.com described his hitting ability like this:

“Schrier is one of the strongest players among the high school crop in this [2021] Draft class. The 6-foot-1 infielder is very physical and athletic, though he lacks polish. He has the ability to drive the ball to all fields, but is definitely much more power over hit from the right side of the plate.”

Cody Schrier with the good piece here, staying back on the breaking ball and driving it out to the big part of the yard. #4 ranked prospect in the state and a UCLA Baseball commit
@VCervinoPG @B_Sakowski_PG @PG_Scouting @codyschrier5 @JSerraLionsBB @perfectgameUSA #MLBDraft pic.twitter.com/fctGa4zslH

— Perfect Game California (@California_PG) June 17, 2021

Featuring a quick and aggressive swing, the shortstop’s best tool is likely going to be his power. With the ability to drive the ball to all areas of the field, Schrier has pop that is arguably the best of this incoming recruiting class.

Named a 2021 All CIF-SS Division 1 Baseball Team member alongside his JSerra teammates and fellow UCLA newcomers Gage Jump and Luke Jewett, the First Team honor capped off his senior season.

Schrier played for the Bellingham Bells of the West Coast League this summer. There may not be much stock to put into the statistics from the 16 game sample size, but the results were not ideal for the new Bruin.

In 54 at-bats, Schrier hit .148 with two home runs and four RBIs. He did happen to show off his speed on the basepaths, however. His five stolen bases in the limited number of games played is something to keep an eye on as he heads into Westwood.

Prediction

Schrier has the pop and profile to start immediately for Savage and the Bruins, but it is more likely he will platoon at a few positions in year one. With the losses of Matt McLain and Mikey Perez to the draft, the shortstop and second base jobs are both up for grabs. With Kyle Karros likely settling in at first base now that JT Schwartz is also gone, Schrier could pick up serious playing time at all three infield positions to the left of first. Senior infielder Jake Moberg likely has priority on a starting job as well, so the freshman may have to bounce around the field a bit when he first starts with the Bruins.

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