California ace righty Daulton Jefferies (Shotgun Spratling)

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Cal’s Jefferies Gets Diagnosis

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California has been struggling as of late and now finds itself potentially on the outside looking in from a postseason standpoint, but the Golden Bears could have some good news on the horizon as it relates to heralded junior righthander Daulton Jefferies.

Jefferies, a 6-foot, 180-pounder, hasn’t thrown since the Oregon State series back on March 24, where he struck out four, didn’t walk anyone and allowed just two runs on four hits in a complete game performance. It was the same game where his injury occurred, now officially being billed as a chronic degenerative SLAP tear, a condition that often is prominent in pitchers with heavy workloads, but on the positive side of things, is an ailment that typically tapers away and becomes clinically pain free.

Jefferies threw a successful bullpen Tuesday afternoon and the Golden Bears will have him threw a live session next Tuesday or Wednesday with hopes of being able to use him in some capacity in their series against Utah in two weekends.

We’ll see just how effective Jefferies can be after almost two months out of commission, but his return could turn the tide for the Golden Bears, who clearly have the talent and leadership to do some special things in the postseason, but who have lacked continuity because of injuries and other setbacks throughout the season.

Cal ace Daulton Jefferies (Shotgun Spratling)

As for Jefferies, this is clearly huge news for his draft stock. Just last week, the elite righthander was slated to go No. 20 overall in our first MLB Mock Draft for 2016, and will be a top 30 prospect in our latest overall prospect rankings, set to be released on Wednesday. Jefferies came in at No. 10 in our College Midseason Top 100 prospects list.

Before his injury, Jefferies had put together mighty impressive numbers for the Golden Bears, tallying 43 strikeouts and walking just six in 33 innings of work, while he made a big mark last season, helping the Golden Bears reach the College Station Regional title game with a 2.92 ERA in 80 innings, along with 73 strikeouts and 17 walks. Meanwhile, he was terrific for the USA Collegiate Baseball National Team last summer, where he tallied a 2.57 ERA in 13 innings, along with 12 strikeouts and just four walks.

Stuff-wise, Jefferies shows mature poise and excellent command, sitting 91-94, and at times, up to 95 mph with his fastball, while also showing very good feel for a 77-80 slider with slurve action and a mid-80s changeup, while there’s also promise with his mid-70s curveball.

Nothing is ever a given when it comes to arm injuries, but Jefferies looks like an elite pitcher on the road to recovery and a return. And that’s good news for him, and Cal, which needs a sense direction these final few weeks of the regular season.

Kendall Rogers and Frankie Piliere contributed to this story