When former Maryland baseball pitching coach Jim Belanger watched right-hander Brian Shaffer for the first time during a high school showcase, he was surprised the pitcher hadn’t received more recruiting interest, associate head coach Rob Vaughn recalled in April.

While few schools noticed Shaffer before the event, Belanger saw an athletic prospect with a sharp slider who could thrive in Maryland’s rotation.

During three seasons in College Park, Shaffer developed into a dominant force, winning Big Ten Pitcher of the Year this campaign after posting a 2.66 ERA. Along with shortstop Kevin Smith, he’ll headline a crop of eligible Maryland players in the 2017 MLB draft, which begins Monday night and ends Wednesday afternoon.

Baseball America, Perfect Game and MLB.com analysts believe Shaffer, a junior, will be selected in the first 10 rounds. The outlets also predict Smith will be taken early in the draft.

“[Shaffer’s] biggest strength is the way he combines his size, arm angle and sinking action on his fastball to create ground balls,” Baseball America’s Teddy Cahill said. “He does a good job of commanding his fastball. His offspeed stuff isn’t exceptional, but his slider especially gives him a good complement to his fastball.”

Shaffer was Maryland’s most consistent pitcher until the postseason. He was recognized as one of the best players in the country in April, earning a spot on the Golden Spikes Award midseason watch list, and was named a semifinalist for the honor last month.

But he struggled in Maryland’s Big Ten tournament opener against Iowa on May 25, allowing 10 hits and eight runs over 6.1 innings. Then, he allowed seven earned runs over five innings against West Virginia in the Terps’ first NCAA tournament contest.

Still, MLB.com’s Jonathan Mayo expects Shaffer to be a fourth- or fifth-round draft pick and doesn’t believe his recent struggles have altered his draft stock.

Perfect Game’s Brian Sakowski, meanwhile, said teams will likely pursue Shaffer as a candidate for the back end of a starting rotation. Shaffer walked just 18 batters in 108.1 innings this season, exhibiting the control teams are searching for in the draft.

“He absolutely pounds the zone and doesn’t give baserunners away,” Sakowski said. “He’s got three average or better pitches along with the delivery components to start.”

While Shaffer contributed to Maryland’s success from the outset, Smith experienced a slow offensive start. The preseason Big Ten Player of the Year ended the season hitting .268 with 13 home runs and 48 RBIs. However, he struck out 48 times in 194 at-bats, tied for third-most on the team.

Despite Smith’s inconsistent year, his above-average defense at shortstop will likely lead to a selection in the first five rounds of the draft, the analysts said.

Smith hit .301 with 12 doubles and two home runs for the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox in the Cape Cod League last summer and was named D1Baseball.com’s Summer Breakout Prospect. Mayo was told Smith “got too pull-happy, maybe trying to sell out for power too often” this past season, but he said teams “put a ton of stock” in summer performances.

“He’s a really good defender at a premium position who projects to stay there long term,” Sakowski said. “He’s not going to be a plus hitter, but the hope is that he can hit for a modest average while showing good power, all while playing good defense at shortstop.”

If Shaffer and Smith are selected, they would become the 20th and 21st players taken, respectively, during former coach John Szefc’s time in College Park.

Other draft candidates:

Right fielder Marty Costes

Costes just completed his sophomore season but is eligible for the draft after redshirting his first year. He hit .322 with 13 home runs and 46 RBIs and started each of Maryland’s 61 contests.

Cahill said that Costes’ power makes him an attractive draft candidate, and Sakowski said he’s been mentioned as an option to be drafted in the top 10 rounds.

“He has a good amount of leverage,” Sakowski said. “It’ll be interesting to see the dynamic of if he returns or not, if he’s taken in the top 10 rounds.”

Right-hander Mike Rescigno

Rescigno was sidelined for most of the second half due to an injury but is a candidate to be drafted, Cahill and Sakowski said. Over 16.2 innings, Rescigno pitched to a 5.40 ERA.

However, he thrived with the Baltimore Redbirds in the Cal Ripken League last summer, posting a 1.15 ERA and striking out 19 over 15.2 innings.

“Someone will take a chance on Rescigno’s upside, but probably late in the draft,” Cahill said.