a trusted Xavier bullpen arm with strikeout flashes and high-level upside
Jake Hooker is a 2026 junior right-hander for Xavier who gives the Musketeers a 6-foot-2, 195-pound power look from the bullpen, with outing-level flashes like a 1-2-3 frame at Arkansas and a clean inning against tough competition. In 2026, he’s been used in relief and has shown bat-missing potential, but he’s also had some volatile appearances, so he fits best as a developmental arm with upside rather than a finished product. If you want toughness, strike-throwing growth, and a pitcher who can handle meaningful innings, he’s worth a serious look.
