1.
Steven Strasburg -
San Diego State… 6-5, 220… 56.9 K% 5.4 BB%, 100 mph fasball, but slider may be best pitch... really a slurve… 80-82… changeup: 80-82… 74 Ks in 34 IP through March 2009… 2008: 97.1 IP 12.3 K/9 1.5 8.3 K/BB… In his first start at the Olympics, Strasburg one-hit Netherlands over seven innings-- striking out five of the first six batters he faced… everyone has him being picked number one in the draft… through 4-1-09: 5-0, 42.1 IP, 24H. 8ER. 8BB. 88K, .161BA, 1.70ERA
… through 4-7: 94Ks in 48 IP, 6-0, 1.49… named Mountain West pitcher of the week April 20: complete game shutout, 14 Ks, vs. Arizona. As of 4/23: 8-0, 63 1/3 IP, 41 H, 9 ER, 12 BB, 121 K, .186 BAA, 1.28 ERA… thru 4/23: has struck out 51.5% of batters while walking 8.8%, which may be the highest in college baseball history… Thru 4/30: 9-0, 70 1/3 IP, 45 H, 12 ER, 13BB, 135 K, .182 BAA, 1.54 ERA… From John Sickles: The buildup about Strasburg is actually getting a bit ridiculous. The numbers are awesome: 10-0, 1.38, 147/18 K/BB in 78 innings, 48 hits allowed. The scouting reports are awesome: upper 90s to 100 MPH fastball, excellent secondary pitches, excellent command. But people are now throwing around Tom Seaver comparisons and calling Strasburg a once-in-40-years prospect. I don't mean to downplay him at all; he's legitimately terrific, and the Nationals are fools if they don't make every possible effort to sign him, but he's still a pitcher and as such is risky by nature. The contrarian part of my mind is starting to rebel somewhat against the hype…. End of Season stats: 11-0, 87 1/3 IP, 48 H, 12 ER, 17 BB, 164 K, .161 BAA, 1.24 ERA… through 2 playoff games: 13-0, 102 IP, 57 H, 14 ER, 19 BB, 180 K, .164 BAA, 1.24 ERA… From Lincoln Hamilton’s Top 30 draftees… #1… You may have heard of him by now, 50.4% K 5.2%BB, great stuff, his tears may cure cancer… 5/21: Jonathan Mayo’s Top 10 picks for the draft: 1. Washington Nationals: Stephen Strasburg, RHP, San Diego State - He was the top guy heading into the season and basically ran away and hid right from the get-go. The only question was about the bonus demands, and whether Washington would be willing to go down that road, knowing they really had to sign their first pick after not getting pitcher Aaron Crow into the fold a year ago. It seems likely they will select Strasburg, and look for the Nats to get it done and move him on the fast track… May 25th ProjectProspect’s mock draft: 1) Washington Nationals - Stephen Strasburg, RHP San Diego State - Hey, that was easy! Strasburg has been the presumptive number one pick the entire draft process. He's a generational talent who gives a much beleaguered fan base real cause for celebration. I don't think he's going to stay healthy for 2,000 innings, but I wouldn't say that about many pitchers. I've been lucky enough to see him in person a couple times this year and when I looked into his eyes it was like the first time I heard The Beatles. 5/26 from ScoutingBook: One of the best college pitchers of the 2009 class, righthander Stephen Strasburg mixes a high-90's (and occasional low-100's) fastball with a highly-effective (and unusual) curveball/slider type pitch for a devastating 1-2 punch. He wasn't a strikeout pitcher early in his college career, instead focusing on pitching to contact, but his K rate has been rising steadily since 2008. Some scouts are concerned about the max-effort 'inverted W' pitching motion, which looks a lot like the shoulder-shredding Mark Prior motion, but so far he's shown no signs of damage. He's widely expected to go to Washington in the draft with the first overall pick.
2.
Zach Wheeler –
6-4, 180… 95 mph fastball, sinker, curve, good mechanics… turning 19… East Paulding HS, Dallas, Ga…. went 8-3 for East Paulding High School in 2008 with a 1.31 ERA and 127 strikeouts in 64 1/3 innings… big, slow delivery… compared to Orel Hershiser… From Lincoln Hamilton’s Top 30 draftees… #9 (3rd RHP taken) – power pitcher, mid-90s with great sinker, big time curve, advanced control… 5/21: Jonathan Mayo’s Top 10 picks for the draft: # 7. (4th RHP on list) - Atlanta Braves: Zack Wheeler, RHP, East Paulding HS, Dallas, Ga.- This one almost seems to make too much sense, with the Braves loving power arms and taking guys in their own backyard. Wheeler fits both of those criteria. If Wheeler is taken above them -- which is extremely possible -- they could look elsewhere for a high school pitcher, perhaps Purke or fellow lefty Tyler Matzek… May 25th ProjectProspect’s mock draft: 7) Atlanta Braves - Zack Wheeler RHP, East Paulding High School (GA) - A strong-armed, local high school product with good upside going to the Braves, you say? This is a classic Atlanta pick, and rumor is pretty heavy they love the Dallas, Georgia native. High school pitching looks to be the best value on the board at this spot in the draft, and the Braves develop it well. Wheeler has a big fastball, 92-95 mph with fantastic late life and hard downward movement. His breaking ball is a big slurvey pitch that projects as an out pitch. He generates a tremendous amount of leg drive and shows great core strength, making me think even more velocity is possible with slight adjustments to his arm action -- he's a little slow picking the ball up, wasting some of the energy he creates. The sky's the limit for Wheeler, and I can't see him falling past the Braves. 5/27 from ScoutingBook: A flame-throwing righthander from Georgia, Wheeler mixes his 96mph fastball with a curve ball that's already a plus pitch. He's adding a changeup, and if he can make it even a serviceable pitch he can be a middle-rotation starter anywhere. Even without one, his fastball-curve combination is good enough for a major league bullpen today. He'll need some seasoning, of course, and scouts would like to see his pitcher-perfect body take on a starter's workload… 5/28: John Sickles’ ranking of top RHPs in draft: #7 - Zack Wheeler: STRENGTHS: 90-95 MPH fastball, good breaking ball, athletic and projectable, pitched against good competition in high school, perhaps has lower price tag than Miller and Turner. WEAKNESSES: Extra risk of high school pitcher. Needs a changeup.
3.
Kyle Gibson –
Missouri - 2nd in country through March 2009 with 54 Ks… junior… 6’6” 195… 2008: 86.2 IP, 10.0 K/9, 2.4 BB/9… 2007 Baseball America Cape Cod League Top Prospect… Baseball America projects him as the 9th overall pick in the draft… fastball: 91-92, tops at 94… big, angular kick… above-average sinker… changeup 80-82… absolutely wicked slider… command and poise… definitely a first round pick… through 4-7-09: 4-1, 1.1554K/39.0 IP… through 4/23: 90 strikeouts and 11 walks over 69 innings… From John Sickles: 3.66 ERA with a 107/14 K/BB ratio in 84 innings, 77 hits allowed. While most attention has been focused on Stephen Strasburg, Gibson has also had a terrific season as shown by his lovely K/BB and K/IP ratios. He has a 90-93 MPH fastball, with sinking action, and both is slider and changeup are strong pitches. Combine that with his sharp control and consistent mechanics from a 6-6, 210 pound frame, and you have a possible Top Ten pick… Gillette: “projectable frame, staff leader”… 5/21: Jonathan Mayo’s Top 10 picks for the draft: # 8. (5th RHP on list) - Cincinnati Reds: Kyle Gibson, RHP, Missouri - Once again, it's college-arm time and it might just depend on who falls to Cincy at this spot. In this scenario, it's Gibson, and the Reds would likely be just fine with that. They might have a discussion about Tanner Scheppers, who has top-of-the-Draft talent, but still has the question mark of a shoulder issue following him… May 25th ProjectProspect’s mock draft: 8) Cincinnati Reds - Kyle Gibson RHP, University of Missouri - The Reds are pretty hard to figure out, in terms of draft strategy. They show a slight preference for college players, but aren't afraid to select high schoolers. They'll take players at solid value, but will stray away from convention as well (Yonder Alonso over Justin Smoak). Gibson is a big guy with solid stuff and without obvious effort in his delivery. He has also been very productive this year, and his advanced command should allow him to move pretty quickly though the minor leagues. I'm not a huge fan but I understand that I'm in the minority… 5/26 from ScoutingBook: With stuff enough to be the ace of any college staff, Kyle Gibson was hidden behind Aaron Crow in Missouri. The big righthander is a workhorse with an high-command fastball and the determination to grind through opposing batters inning after inning. His fastball can reach 94-95mph, but he works mainly in the 91-92 range, relying on his plus slider and above-average change to beguile batters. He should be fast off the draft board in 2009… 5/28: John Sickles’ ranking of top RHPs in draft: #3 - Kyle Gibson: STRENGTHS: Solid fastball, good slider, good changeup, excellent control, strong college numbers, good size, high level experience. WEAKNESSES: Doesn't have consistent plus velocity on the heater. Perhaps more of a number three starter than a future ace.
4.
Zach Wheeler –
6-4, 180… 95 mph fastball, sinker, curve, good mechanics… turning 19… East Paulding HS, Dallas, Ga…. went 8-3 for East Paulding High School in 2008 with a 1.31 ERA and 127 strikeouts in 64 1/3 innings… big, slow delivery… compared to Orel Hershiser… From Lincoln Hamilton’s Top 30 draftees… #9 (3rd RHP taken) – power pitcher, mid-90s with great sinker, big time curve, advanced control… 5/21: Jonathan Mayo’s Top 10 picks for the draft: # 7. (4th RHP on list) - Atlanta Braves: Zack Wheeler, RHP, East Paulding HS, Dallas, Ga.- This one almost seems to make too much sense, with the Braves loving power arms and taking guys in their own backyard. Wheeler fits both of those criteria. If Wheeler is taken above them -- which is extremely possible -- they could look elsewhere for a high school pitcher, perhaps Purke or fellow lefty Tyler Matzek… May 25th ProjectProspect’s mock draft: 7) Atlanta Braves - Zack Wheeler RHP, East Paulding High School (GA) - A strong-armed, local high school product with good upside going to the Braves, you say? This is a classic Atlanta pick, and rumor is pretty heavy they love the Dallas, Georgia native. High school pitching looks to be the best value on the board at this spot in the draft, and the Braves develop it well. Wheeler has a big fastball, 92-95 mph with fantastic late life and hard downward movement. His breaking ball is a big slurvey pitch that projects as an out pitch. He generates a tremendous amount of leg drive and shows great core strength, making me think even more velocity is possible with slight adjustments to his arm action -- he's a little slow picking the ball up, wasting some of the energy he creates. The sky's the limit for Wheeler, and I can't see him falling past the Braves. 5/27 from ScoutingBook: A flame-throwing righthander from Georgia, Wheeler mixes his 96mph fastball with a curve ball that's already a plus pitch. He's adding a changeup, and if he can make it even a serviceable pitch he can be a middle-rotation starter anywhere. Even without one, his fastball-curve combination is good enough for a major league bullpen today. He'll need some seasoning, of course, and scouts would like to see his pitcher-perfect body take on a starter's workload… 5/28: John Sickles’ ranking of top RHPs in draft: #7 - Zack Wheeler: STRENGTHS: 90-95 MPH fastball, good breaking ball, athletic and projectable, pitched against good competition in high school, perhaps has lower price tag than Miller and Turner. WEAKNESSES: Extra risk of high school pitcher. Needs a changeup.
5.
Aaron Crow –
Unsigned 9th overall pick in 2008… left Missouri and became a member of the Fort Worth Cats/American Association… was 13-0, 127Ks for Missouri in 2008… pitched 1.0 innings for Ft. Worth in 2008… pitched Cape Cod summer where he led the league with 0.67 ERA projected as SP2… 6-3, 195, R/R… 2008 NCBWA All America… 2008: 3.57 ERA in 117.2 IP… Friday night starter… led team with 90Ks… some question his mechanics… mid-90s fastball… touches 98… excellent hard slider… keeps ball down in the zone… slider a plus pitch… Gillette: “people forget he was one of the top picks in 2008”… 5/21: Jonathan Mayo’s Top 10 picks for the draft: #5 (3rd RHP on list) - Baltimore Orioles: Aaron Crow, RHP, Fort Worth Cats - Crow was taken No. 9 overall a year ago by the Nationals, but didn't sign. Instead of returning to Mizzou, he went the indy route, pitching for a Fort Worth club that has had guys like Luke Hochevar pitch for it. Word is Crow looks the same as he did a year ago, and there were plenty of teams who liked him in 2008. The O's were one of them before they decided to go in another direction, and they still like the right-hander. Like in most spots in the top 10, a team looking at Crow is probably also looking at Gibson. Wheeler, the high schooler out of Georgia, is on their short list as well, and they could go for a bat like Green if they so choose… May 25th ProjectProspect’s mock draft: 9) Detroit Tigers - Aaron Crow RHP, Forth Worth Cats - The ninth overall selection should feel familiar to Crow, who was unsigned as the ninth pick in last year's draft. There has been a lot of talk that Detroit is leaning towards a high school hitter with this pick like Mike Trout or Wil Myers, but the Tigers always prefer strong arms in the draft. Crow is pretty awful mechanically, but the Tigers wouldn't really mind if he settled in as a late-inning reliever in short order. 5/26 from ScoutingBook: A righthander with three quality pitches and middle of the rotation capability, Aaron Crow was a nice fit for a patient Nationals team that's good at developing overlooked pitching talent. Sadly, the Nats couldn't sign him before the deadline, and so he'll take his chances with another team next summer. Expect him to go in the high-middle of the first round… 5/28: John Sickles’ ranking of top RHPs in draft: #2 - Aaron Crow: STRENGTHS: Plus sinking fastball, plus slider, great college numbers with strong command, relatively polished, should be ready soon. WEAKNESSES: Changeup? Some scouts worry about his mechanics and durability.
5/28 from MiLB: Crow didn't sign with the Nationals, who took him ninth overall last year, and headed to Fort Worth to be seen this spring as he re-entered the Draft. In an American Association start against Grand Prairie, he threw five shutout innings, giving up two hits and two walks while striking out nine. He's made two official starts, winning both and not allowing a run over 11 innings while giving up just five hits and two walks with 13 whiffs.6.
Tanner Scheppers –-
top '08 prospect before stress fracture injury… In his Junior year at Fresno State went 8-2 with a 2.93 ERA in 12 games (11 starts) with one complete game. In 70.2 innings he walked 34 and struck out 109 while opponents hit just .202 against him...Named 2008 WAC Pitcher of the Year and All-Conference First Team… was drafted in the 2nd round last year after the injury and turned down seven figures with the Pirates… left school and played for the Saint Paul Saints/American Association… now throwing 95 mph fastball, 87mph slider…fastball has touched 99… 40.1% K… 12.8% BB… 4/30: pitched in intrasquad Indy game – upper 90s… from MLBTradeRumors: “Scouts expect Tanner Scheppers, who was drafted but never signed by the Pirates last year, to be selected within the first 15 picks. They're divided on whether the righty, who is pitching in an independent league, can crack the top ten.”… 5/14: the Pirates have been granted permission to draft Scheppers again this year… many consider him now healthy, and a top 10 pick… From Lincoln Hamilton’s Top 30 draftees… #2 - Tanner Scheppers - mid-90's FB, + SL, healthy now, best pure stuff other than Stras - … 22.3 yrs. old… May 25th ProjectProspect’s mock draft: 5) Baltimore Orioles - Tanner Scheppers, RHP St. Paul Saints - The Orioles have established one of the best groups of young players in the game. The rebuilding effort is not complete however, and I think the Orioles address pitching pretty heavily in this draft. All the high school pitchers are still on the board at this point, nabbing Matzek, Turner, Miller or Wheeler here certainly makes some sense. Baltimore has had good success getting high profile college players in the last couple of drafts, which may give Scheppers a slight leg up. If their medical staff gives Scheppers the green light, he would provide the type of high-upside, polished fireballer who could make an impact very soon. A Matusz/Scheppers one-two punch would give plenty of support to Baltimore's Jones/Markakis/Wieters offensive core. 5/26 from ScoutingBook: A hot prospect before the 2008 draft, Scheppers fell to the Pirates in the second round due to concerns about an unusual (but non-structural) shoulder injury. He's got great upside, so if the shoulder problems are really in the past, he's a heck of a sleeper candidate… 5/28: John Sickles’ ranking of top RHPs in draft: #5 - Tanner Scheppers: STRENGTHS: Outstanding stuff when healthy, big-time fastball, strong curve, very good athlete, pitched great at Fresno State, reportedly healthy now. WEAKNESSES: Shoudler problem from last year could easily recur; command has been an issue at times
7.
Mike Leake -
Arizona State junior… 6-0,1 80, R/R… – pitched most innings in country through March, 40.0… 1.35 ERA… 32.4% K 4.7%... sophomore season: 16 G, 11-3, 3.49, 121.1 IP, 104K, 20BB… 88-94 fastball, sits at 91… hard slider 79-82… 73-76 curve… plus, plus command… a 70 on the scouting scale… as of 4/6/09: 7-1, 1.29, 62-13 K/BB, 56 IP. April 26: (9 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 7 K, 7th complete game of career, 3rd this season, 10-1, 1.54… From John Sickles: It is hard to beat Leake's statistical performance this year: 11-1, 1.59, 96/18 K/BB in 91 innings, 53 hits allowed. And Arizona State plays great competition. Leake has exceptional polish, and is rated as a first round talent despite a fastball in the 88-92 range. His slider, curveball, and changeup are all strong, especially the changeup, and his feel for pitching is terrific. Scouts love his competitive instincts and he should move quickly through the minors, even though he doesn't have the ceiling of some of these other guys. He could go anywhere from 20 to 50 on the draft board…. From Lincoln Hamilton’s Top 30 draftees… # 13 (6th RHP taken) Mike Leake - undersized but very athletic, quality four pitch mix with plus command, 29.6% K 4.5% BB - 21.5 years old… May 25th ProjectProspect’s mock draft: 15) Cleveland Indians - Mike Leake, RHP Arizona State University - The Indians have focused on advanced hitters in the past couple of drafts, but Leake is the kind of high-floor pitcher that should be intriguing to GM Mark Shapiro. Leake has been arguably the best pitcher in college this season not named Strasburg and profiles as at least a good No. 3 or 4 starter. He doesn't have overpowering stuff, but it's good enough. Athletic with clean mechanics, good control and multiple off-speed pitches that he'll throw at any point in the count, Leake will be a solid big league pitcher in pretty short order. 5/26 from ScoutingBook: A two way player who can turn in above average range and defense in the outfield, Arizona righthander Mike Leake is more appealing to MLB teams as a pitcher. While he lacks a real plus pitch, he has four above-average ones, and the baseball smarts to infuriate batters. Some scouts see Leake as too small-bodied for 220-inning seasons, but ever since the rise of Tim Lincecum, smaller pitchers have been getting the benefit of the doubt. He should be a first round pick in 2009, and he'll probably be developed as a starter until and unless he falls short of expectations… 5/27: named Pac-10 Pitcher of the Week during a very critical week entering the World Series… threw 2nd complete game shutout… 5-29 John Sickles: Mike Leake, Arizona State: STRENGTHS: Outstanding college performance against tough competition; excellent control, decent 88-93 MPH fastball, good slider, good cutter, good changeup, tremendous competitive instincts, fine athlete. WEAKNESSES: Not a big guy at 6-0, 180; has a lot of mileage on his arm. PROJECTION: He is very polished and will rise quickly through the minors, making him a safe and rational choice for many clubs, especially anyone who needs rapid pitching help (Oakland? Cleveland?) as early as the middle of the first round.
8.
Jacob Turner –
94 mph fastball… good curve and change… 6-4, 205… turning 18… Westminster Christian Academy, St. Louis… Pitched for Westminster Christian Academy, opponents, 5-2, 1.45, 92K/43 1 IP… Baseball America projects Turner as the 12th pick overall… pitched for USA 18U National team and struck out 19 in 10.0 IP… very big and strong… fastball in low 90s, tops 94… mid-70s plus curve… signability an issue… committed to North Carolina. Advisor: Scott Boras… from MLBOutsider: “Turner is a 6-foot-4, 215-pound right-hander who has reached 98 mph on the radar gun this spring and has flashed a plus breaking ball and more-than acceptable command as a high school senior. He Began the season behind other prep arms such as left-handers Tyler Matzek and Matt Purke, and right-handers Zack Wheeler and Shelby Miller, but his late push in front of dozens of scouts - including an 18-strikeout performance in early May where his final fastball was clocked at 94”… From Lincoln Hamilton’s Top 30 draftees… #9 (5th RHP taken) - Polished prep pitcher whose FB has hit 97-98 mph recently, good curveball and change - 18.0 years old… ***sign ability problems… May 25th ProjectProspect’s mock draft: 12) Kansas City Royals - Jacob Turner, RHP Westminster Christian Academy (MO) As Turner's velocity has increased this spring, so has his asking price. A few teams in the top ten might be scared off by the potential financial commitment to Turner, but the Royals showed last year they aren't afraid to tackle tough negotiations. Catcher is certainly a point of organizational need, but Turner provides much better value. His fastball has run up to 96-98 mph this spring while he has maintained the late sink that made his fastball a potential plus pitch when he threw it 92-94 mph. Some people -- maybe those being told to by Scott Boras -- have compared Turner to Rick Porcello. Porcello was a once-in-a-decade talent and Turner, arguably, isn't the best high school pitcher in this draft. Their fastballs are similar, but Turner's breaking stuff lags well behind where Porcello's was going into the draft. Still, Turner and Zack Grienke would give lots of hitters fits. 5/28: John Sickles’ ranking of top RHPs in draft: #6 - Jacob Turner: STRENGTHS: 90-96 MPH fastball, better secondary pitches than Miller, good athlete. WEAKNESSES: Extra risk of high school pitcher, high price tag with Scott Boras/North Carolina factor, command can be erratic.
9.
Alex White –-
2.7/1 K:BB… some mechanical concerns… hit on early this season… 20 years old… was drafted in 14th round by the Dodgers in 2007… fastball in 93-96 range with late life that acts like a turbo-sinker… slider that will be out pitch in majors… and spitter… 2.83 ERA in 15 games, 13-3, 113 Ks last year for Tarheels… 6-3, 200… some say he hasn’t developed since his high school days, but does have a pro-like fastball… currently projects out as a middle reliever in the Bigs. Named ACC player of the week April 20: last 4 outing, all against top 20 teams: 1.93, 36K, 32.2 IP…. threw UNC's first one-hitter since 1994… mechanics concerns over forearm turnover and pitching elbow well above shoulder height… through 4/25: 6-1, 3.14, 31H, 25BB, 58K, 44.1 IP… From John Sickles: White has a 3.36 ERA with a 77/26 K/BB in 70 innings so far, with 56 hits allowed. His components are very good though not exceptional. He has a fine body at 6-3, 200, a fine fastball at 89-94 MPH, an a very fine slider. His curveball and changeup will need some polish in pro ball. His command is generally solid, though not terrific. All in all, White is basically, well, solid, and would be another safe pick in the second half of the round… Gillette: “nasty slider and velocity that’s suited for the pen”… 5/21: Jonathan Mayo’s Top 10 picks for the draft: #4. (2nd RHP on list) - Pittsburgh Pirates: Alex White, RHP, North Carolina - The Pirates would have serious interest in Ackley if he somehow gets to them, but that seems unlikely at this point. If they decided a college bat is what they need, there has been some talk they've been interested in USC shortstop Grant Green. The next-best choices might be college arms, and Pittsburgh has been all over the Tar Heels' ace, as well as watching Crow and current Missouri starter Kyle Gibson. Don't forget the high school arms because they haven't, with prep stars like Zack Wheeler, Matthew Purke and Matt Hobgood still in the mix… May 25th ProjectProspect’s mock draft: 21) Houston Astros - Alex White, RHP UNC Part of me wants to make this pick an overrated catcher. Trying to determine logically how the Astros will approach the draft can make one's head spin. In a draft this fluid, someone is bound to fall and I think Alex White is a prime candidate. Thought of as a top 10 pick by some, White has a fastball he can run into the mid-90's with sink and a solid slider/splitter off speed combo. Despite his powerful arm, the results haven't been outstanding this spring and White's questionable motion should scare more than a few teams away. 5/26 from Scoutingbook: An alum of Marlins lefty Andrew Miller and Red Sox fireballer Daniel Bard, Alex White figures to be the next UNC ace to earn a premium MLB draft slot. A mid-90's fastball is his workaday pitch, but his slider is a real plus pitch, and his change is well-developed for such a young pitcher. He should be one of the first five or six players off the draft board in 2009, and he'll be worth every penny of signing bonus to the team lucky enough to sign him… 5/28: John Sickles’ ranking of top RHPs in draft: #4 - Alex White: STRENGTHS: Can hit 96 MPH though usually 2-4 MPH below that, good slider and splitter, athletic, intelligent, still has some projection. WEAKNESSES: Command comes and goes, hasn't dominated quite as much as expected with his kind of stuff… 5/27 BA Draft Tracker “3-down”: White still has top shelf stuff: a fastball that sits 91-94 mph and has topped out at 97, a sharp slider and a split-finger fastball that he uses as a changeup and results in a lot of missed bats. Still, he can struggle with his command and often falls victim to the big inning. That was the case on May 22 in the ACC Tournament when he got bounced after getting one out in the third inning and giving up eight runs. A few were metal-bat hits, but some of the balls were squared up as well. With plenty of scouts on hand, including some scouting directors with high picks, it wasn't a good time to have his worst outing this season. White is still likely to go in the top half of the first round, but his stock slipped a little bit.
10.
Shelby Miller –
94 mph fastball, sinker, two breakers… touched 97 this spring… 18 years old… Brownwood (Texas) HS… solid command of off-speed pitches… mid-70’s breaking ball… tossed three consecutive no-hitters last spring… committed to Texas A&M. week 4.25: 3-hit shutout… so far, 5-0 in league games… From Lincoln Hamilton’s Top 30 draftees… #7 (4th RHP taken) - Athletic fireballer w/ strong arm, FB sits 92-94 w/ sink, potential for two + breaking pitches - 18.6 years old… May 25th ProjectProspect’s mock draft: 14) Texas Rangers - Shelby Miller, RHP Brownwood HS (TX) - The Rangers have rebuilt a farm system in short order by taking some gambles on high-risk guys, and having those gambles pay off. GM Jon Daniels leans towards big prep power arms and Shelby Miller fits that bill, with the added benefit of being a local product. Very athletic, with elite arm strength, and a potentially plus curveball, Miller would fit right in with about half a dozen other Rangers' farmhands with similar front-of-the-rotation upside. Klien High School's Matt Purke, another native Texan, also figures to be in the mix but has been vocal about demanding large sums of money for his services. If all the top high school pitchers run off the board, Arizona State's Mike Leake would be a good fit as someone who could pay a quick dividend… 5/28: John Sickles’ ranking of top RHPs in draft: #8 - Shelby Miller: STRENGTHS: 90-95 MPH fastball with movement, good size, good curve, good athlete. WEAKNESSES: High school pitcher with the extra risk that entails, needs better command of changeup and curveball (though this is normal for his age).
11.
Eric Arnett -
Indiana… 6-5, 225… fastball touching 96 this year… 94 in the 9th inning… as of 4/23: 8-1, 69K, 19BB, 70IP, 4 complete games… 84-85 slider… pitched out of the bullpen first two years… through 4/25: 8-1, 1.94 69K/19BB in 70.0 IP… From John Sickles: Emerging prospect this spring, going 9-1, 2.49 with a 76/24 K/BB in 76 innings, 58 hits allowed. The contextual ERA in which he's pitched is about 6.00, and all of his component ratios are quite strong. He's big and physical at 6-5, 225, and scouts report his velocity has improved from 90-93 to 93-96 this spring, along with a sharper slider. He looks like a possibility in the second half of the first round, and isn't likely to get past the supplemental round. 5/18 from MiLB: “His performance a few weeks ago against Michigan -- 6 1/3 IP, eight hits, seven runs (six earned), five walks, seven strikeouts -- wasn't stellar, but he stayed in the game long enough to get the win and did little to dampen a breakout junior season that has seen the right-hander go 11-1 with a 2.78 ERA in 12 starts. He's thrown six complete games and has allowed only 73 hits (.215 batting average against) over 94 innings while walking 34 and striking out 93.”… From Lincoln Hamilton’s Top 30 draftees… #26 (9th RHP on list) 6-foot-5 very athletic, basketball player, smooth mechanics, FB sits mid-90's, good curve… 21.3 yrs. old… May 25th ProjectProspect’s mock draft: 30) Tampa Bay Rays - Eric Arnett, RHP University of Indiana The Rays get their lowest pick ever, making it much harder to project what they will do. In general, they prefer the toolsy high school athlete, but there doesn't seem to be good value in this range. Arnett has a big fastball that sits 93-94 mph and regularly ventures into the upper 90's, as well as a good slow curve and a slider with definite plus potential. With smooth mechanics and great natural athleticism, Arnett also looks like a potential workhorse. LSU's Jared Mitchell and Florida high schooler LeVon Washington figure to be the best two athletes available, but Arnett has impressed scouts to the point where he should now be a first round pick.
5-29 John Sickles: Eric Arnett, Indiana: STRENGTHS: Excellent 2009 performance with velocity boosted well into the 90s, good slider, durable. WEAKNESES: Needs to improve changeup; sometimes guys who improve quickly implode quickly as well. PROJECTION: Should go in the later half of the first round; won't get past supplemental round. He is likely the fall-back option for a lot of teams if the guy they really want gets picked too soon.12.
Sam Dyson -
South Carolina… draft-eligible sophomore… 98 mph fastball… 2008: 8-0, 4.09, 44K/28BB/51.0 IP…through 4-7 this year: 4-2, 4.85, 40K/20BB/43.0 IP, but consistently in the the 93-96 rank and touching 98. Plus 78-82 hard curve… from realsportsbloggers: A draft eligible sophomore, Dyson will have his name called out on the first day. Dyson has good size to remain a starter. He also has some of the best stuff in this draft. Dyson throws in the low 90’s, touching 98 on occasion. He compliments this with a sharp hammer curveball that gives him at least a bullpen arsenal. However, Dyson has several flaws. For starters, he’s had some arm problems in the past, and already has a Tommy John to his name. He also lacks a second offspeed pitch, with his changeup being a work in progress. However, he is aggressive on the mound, and when he’s on, he’s easily one of the most higher ceiling players in the draft. In terms of where I think he’ll go, because of his status as a draft eligible sophomore, he has some leverage to gain a higher bonus. I think he’s a first rounder, but probably toward the end… for season: 7-4, 5.70, 79IP, 72H, 31BB,68K… From Lincoln Hamilton’s Top 30 draftees… # 15 (7th RHP on list) Sam Dyson – HP Elite arm strength, mid-90's fb that hits 98, plus power slider, command must improve – age: 21.0… May 25th ProjectProspect’s mock draft: 23) Chicago White Sox - Sam Dyson, RHP University of South Carolina Kenny Williams has a reputation for being unpredictable, but the White Sox have a strong preference towards college players in the draft. Dyson is a power hurler with loads of potential, and the White Sox have been successful with players of similar talent and arm slot. The White Sox' organization would be a terrific place for Dyson, maximizing his chances of success. Rex Brothers of Lipscomb and Texas A&M's Alex Wilson are also strong possibilities… . 5-28 from MLBBonusBaby: - position in overall draft: 44. Texas – Sam Dyson, RHP, South Carolina – Dyson’s been up and down a dozen times this Spring, but it’s tough to beat his arm strength at the collegiate level. Only Steven Strasburg can bring better heat. The question is whether he fits as a starter or reliever. Previously: #56.
5-29 John Sickles: Sam Dyson, South Carolina: STRENGTHS: Can hit 96-97 MPH, one of the hardest throwers in the draft; promising curveball. WEAKNESSES: Very erratic college performance; has labrum surgery on his resume; fastball is straight; more thrower than pitcher. PROJECTION: Will be attractive to an upside-oriented team in the supplemental round, or possibly late in the first. Yankees at 29 might be a good fit.
13.
Alex Wilson -
Junior… 6-1, 205, R/R… 91-95 mph fastball… sits at 94… slider 82-85… 80-81 curve… had TJS and redshirted the 2008 season… 38.8% K 6.4% BB … Texas A&M… 49:8 strikeout-to-walk ratio … 2006 freshman All-American… 6-1, 205… thru 4-7-09: 68:12 strikeout-to-walk ratio… From Lincoln Hamilton’s Top 30 draftees… #22 (8th RHP on list) Dominated Big 12 (33.8% K 5.6% BB) with power stuff, 94-96 mph fb, plus slider, had TJ… age: 22.5… May 25th ProjectProspect’s mock draft: 32) Colorado Rockies - Alex Wilson, RHP Texas A&M Again, Colorado loves college products and prefers pitchers who can rack up outs without putting the ball in the play. Wilson has elite arm strength and a swing-and-miss slider. His draft stock has sunk slightly in the past few weeks as he moved from the Aggie rotation to bullpen in an effort to keep his workload in check. Wilson's arm already bears the scar of Tommy John surgery, so he's another guy who will keep GMs and team doctors in constant conversation. If his health checks out, his upside is tremendous.
5-29 John Sickles: Alex Wilson, Texas A&M: STRENGTHS: Excellent K/IP and K/BB ratios in college; can hit 95 MPH; strong slider; strong command. WEAKNESSES: Velocity tailed off in second half of season; had Tommy John in 2007; probably more a reliever than a starter in pro ball; history of significant bonus demands. PROJECTION: he looked like a sure first-rounder at one point, but now looks more like a supplemental or early second round pick. Might fit nicely for the Padres, who look a lot at stats, at 52.14.
Chris Jenkins -
Westfield HS; Westfield, NJ 6′4, 225, Bats R, Throws R… has hit 95, averages 91… 2008: 94K/50.0 IP, 1.60… thows from downhill plane… basically one pitch pitcher at this stage… 5/17 BA: “entered the year as a first-five rounds selection, but he's steadily climbed the charts and now has a chance to be selected in the first 15 picks”… sitting at 91-93 mph usually and touching as high as 96…. 5/21: Jonathan Mayo’s Top 10 picks for the draft: - (6th RHP on list) - 10. Washington Nationals: Chad Jenkins, RHP, Kenesaw State - I know what you're thinking -- that the Nats are going cheap because of Strasburg. Not so fast. Sure, if they can save a few dollars here, they won't say no, but the fact of the matter is Jenkins was rising up many Draft boards, not just in Washington, surpassing his teammate Kyle Heckathorn, also a first-round candidate. And it's not like he's the only option here. They could get in on the Scheppers hunt or, believe it or not, re-draft Crow. They were also spotted en force watching Matzek recently, and he could be the guy if they go high school arm here. 5/28 from MiLB: Jenkins moved past teammate Kyle Heckathorn on Draft boards and was named the Atlantic Sun Conference Player of the Year. He went undefeated in conference play after beating North Florida with a complete-game, 10-K performance. The right-hander was 8-1 on the year with a 2.54 ERA. In 92 IP, he gave up 80 hits and walked only 15 while striking out 98.
5-29 John Sickles: Chad Jenkins, Kennesaw State: STRENGTHS: 90-94 MPH sinker; very good slider, good changeup, sharp command, outpitched teammate Heckathorn. WEAKNESSES: Soft body means he has to work hard to stay in shape; more of a very solid inning-eater type than a potential rotation ace. PROJECTION: Jenkins looks like a solid and safe choice to me for later in the first round, though some rumors have him going as high as the Top Ten. 15.
Mychal Givens -
Plant HS senior… 6-1, 185… R/R… explosive arm… a pleasure to watch in the field… also a top pitcher who hits 96 with his fastball… named the high school player of the year by AFLAC… from underarmour: Mychal displayed his outstanding set of tools in last year’s Under Armour Southeast Tournament, operated by Team One Baseball in Jupiter, Florida. Although 2008 grad and #1 overall pick in this year’s draft Tim Beckham attracted the most attention at shortstop, the next biggest buzz surrounded Givens. Givens makes the game look easy with his smooth actions, soft hands and explosive arm across the diamond. He is a contact hitter who profiles as a number two type hitter at the next level. This spring he has also intrigued scouts with another part of his game, a mid 90’s fastball… thru 5/24: 8-3, 1.56…
16.
Kyle Heckathorn -
Kennesaw State… Junior 6-6, 220, R/R… 2008: 4-2, 4.98, 64K, 22 BB, 60.0 IP… fastball 96, touching 99… two-seamer sinker… major league changeup… from BA: In a terrific matchup against Lipscomb lefty Rex Brothers, Heckathorn beat the southpaw, 2-1. He went 8 2/3 innings, allowing one run on eight hits while striking out nine and walking three. For the season, he's gone 4-1 with a 3.55 ERA over 10 starts. He's struck out 68 and walked 21 in 63 1/3 innings pitched, while holding hitters to a .229 average… 5/6: Baseball Draft Report has him as 7th RHP drafted…
5-29 John Sickles: Kyle Heckathorn, Kennesaw State: STRENGTHS: Huge guy at 6-6 but has some athleticism, has hit 98-99 and works well in the mid-90s, strong slider. WEAKNESSES: Hasn't dominated college as much as you'd expect given his stuff; will need to improve changeup to remain a starter. PROJECTION: His stock has been up-and-down this spring, but he won't get past the top half of the supplemental round and could still go in the 20-25 range.
17.
Matt Hobgood -
Norco HS; Norco, CA. 6′4, 245… 91-95 range, sinker, 4-seamer… hard curve… Josh Beckett clone… Recent drop in velocity has scouts worried… From Lincoln Hamilton’s Top 30 draftees… 21st (8th RHP on list) - Matt Hobgood - Future workhorse, FB touches mid-90's, great power curveball, great makeup, baseball rat… age: 18.7… May 25th ProjectProspect’s mock draft: 25) Los Angeles Angels - Matt Hobgood, RHP Norco HS (CA) - The Angels could very well go with two Californians in the first round. Hobgood has been a little overshadowed in the draft process by Matzek, Turner and company but looks to be a workhorse with two plus pitches. He throws a hard downhill fastball, sitting 91-94 mph with some life, and a plus power curveball that sits in the upper-70's and touches 80 mph with late, tight two-plane break. The Angles haven't gotten much out of their past few drafts, but with five picks in the first 50 selections that can change in a hurry.
5-29 John Sickles: Matt Hobgood, California HS: STRENGTHS: Fastball at 90-95 MPH; good curveball, also has a slider and changeup that are better than most high schoolers. WEAKNESSES: Maxed-out physically at 6-4, 245; command is inconsistent, general high school pitcher risk. PROJECTION: This is another guy I can see the Angels, with their multiple picks, going for in the supplemental round.
18.
A.J. Morris - -
Kansas State… Junior… 6-2, 200, R/R… 4th year junior… 2008: 14 appearances, 12 starts, 4-4, 6.04… as of 4-7: 8-0, 0.83… April 26: 9 IP, 8 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 5 K… pick up his school-record 10th win of the year… From John Sickles: Morris is 10-0, 1.27 with a 74/20 K/BB in 78 innings, this year, with 55 hits allowed. All of his components are excellent for the context, and he has one of the livelier arms among college seniors this year, getting his fastball into the low-90s. His breaking ball and changeup are also solid, and his command has been very steady this spring. He doesn't have as much leverage as other pitchers and could be a nice bargain pick in the second round range… thru 5/6: 1.29 ERA in 83.2IP… won Big-12 conference Pitcher of the Year
19.
Drew Storen -
Sophomore… Stanford… 6-2, 175… switch-hitter… fastball in 89-95 range… fast curve averages 80-81… good college reliever who seems to have overcome reported command problems… so far as of 4/15: 32Ks and only 1 BB. From John Sickles: Storen has shown excellent command this year, posting a 42/4 K/BB in 28 innings. His K/IP is outstanding, and his 3.21 ERA and 25 hits allowed are very solid for context. He's picked up six saves, but his arsenal should be diverse enough to be a starter in pro ball: 90-94 MPH fastball, good curveball, and a changeup that needs polish but is promising when he uses it. His control is obviously excellent, and he fits well as a "safe" pick late in the first round or in the supplemental round… 5/17: touching 96 as closer… May 25th ProjectProspect’s mock draft: 31) Chicago Cubs - Drew Storen RHP, Stanford The Cubs have been on one of the most college-heavy teams in recent drafts, and figure to continue the trend this June. Storen is the top reliever on most boards (including mine), featuring a fastball that touches 96 mph with good life as well as a big slurvey breaking ball that projects as plus. What really separates Storen from most college relievers is his advanced command -- he has only walked 4.9% of batters faced this year. Storen should provide a quick, and fairly safe, return on investment.
5-29 John Sickles: Drew Storen, Stanford: STRENGTHS: Excellent season as Stanford's closer; good combination of stuff (92-95 MPH) and command, good slider; strong K/IP and K/BB ratios, fine overall athlete. WEAKNESSES: Stanford sophomore means he won't likely be cheap; there has been talk of making him a starter, which would slow his development but increase his future value. PROJECTION: mid-to-late first round, early supplemental at worst. Both performance-oriented and projection-oriented teams should be interested.
20.
Garrett Gould -
Maize HS (KA.)….- 5/23 from BA: - Gould just keeps getting better and better, and he's quickly pitching his way into the first round of the draft. He was the Kansas 6-A pitcher of the year in 2008, when he broke big leaguer Nate Robertson's Maize High record with 95 strikeouts in 57 innings. He won MVP honors at the World Wood Bat Association championship last October, beating Shelby Miller in the quarterfinals and allowing just one hit and one walk while fanning 18 in eight shutout innings. After working to add strength in the offseason, Gould has taken his fastball from 88-91 mph in 2008 to 91-94 mph this spring—and it's not even his best pitch. He has one of the best curves among this draft's high schoolers, a power breaker he delivers from a high three-quarters arm slot. He also dabbles with a changeup. Some scouts worry a little about some effort in his mechanics, while others aren't bothered by it and like how he stays tall and gets good extension out front. Gould is a quality 6-foot-4, 200-pound athlete who starred as a quarterback in football and as a forward in basketball before deciding to focus solely on baseball as a senior. He also plays the outfield when he's not pitching and has enough righthanded power to play both ways for Wichita State should he attend college. But he'll probably go too high in the draft for that to happen…. 5/24: picked 28th overall, in first round, on the new Sickles mock draft… 5/28 from MiLB: Gould was rising up Draft boards as the spring wore on and finished off his senior season with a championship win, tossing five shutout innings, allowing just one hit and striking out 12. For the season, the projectable right-hander went 6-1 with a 0.78 ERA. Over 45 innings, he walked only 14 and struck out 95.
5-29 John Sickles: Garret Gould, Kansas HS: STRENGTHS: 90-94 MPH fastball, excellent curveball, athletic and projectable, relatively fresh arm. WEAKNESSES: General high school pitcher risk; needs to polish his mechanics; might not be cheap to get away from Wichita State. PROJECTION: I have no direct evidence to support this, but if his bonus demands are reasonable I think he could end up going a lot higher than people currently expect, perhaps as high as the middle of the first round.
21.
Ben Tootle –
Jacksonville State – 6-1, 185… named one of the top prospects in the Cape Cod League last summer after hitting triple digits in the closing role. Fastball sits 94-96 touching 98… a bit unorthodox because of his size and his enormous leg kick. His low to mid 80s breaking ball was called the Cape's best by his manager from Falmouth. Considered the 2nd top closing prospect in the draft… Feb 09: named to the Baseball America preseason All-America team… 09: converted to starter… as of 4-15: 3-1, 3.58, thru 8 starts… 45K/35.2 IP… some of the best stuff in the draft… some consider him to be future reliever… From John Sickles: Another hard thrower, Tootle can get up to 99 MPH and this is reflected with 47 strikeouts in 40 innings, a fine ratio in the context of Jacksonville State. On the other hand, his command needs work: he's walked 26 leading to a 4.54 ERA. He's somewhat raw but could go anywhere in the second half of the first round or in the supplemental round…. From Lincoln Hamilton’s Top 30 draftees… #30 (11th RHP on list) - FB works upper-90's in relief with life, mid-90's as starter, plus power curve, battled illness - 21.3 yrs. old… 5/23 from BA: Tootle was the No. 4 prospect in the Cape Cod League last summer, but he has had a difficult spring. He caught a virus that prompted him to lose approximately 15 pounds, and he missed a month, only returning to the mound in May. In his last two starts against Tennessee Tech and Tennessee-Martin, he failed to make it out of the fifth against Tech, tiring in his longest outing since his virus, and got the loss against Tennessee-Martin. Both opposing coaches report that Tootle threw in the 92-94 mph range in those starts, touching 96. In the Cape, he regularly reached 98 mph. Tootle also struggled to knock off some rust from his layoff, with his fastball command coming and going, and against Tennessee-Martin this weekend, he missed the mark with his breaking ball. Scouts still love Tootle's arm strength, athleticism, work ethic and big fastball. He should have a chance to go in the first three rounds on June 9, but he could slip out of those first 110 selections and into the fourth round.
5/28 from MiLB: It was a strange season for Tootle, who was coming off a strong Cape showing as one of the top small school arms in the class. A virus forced him to miss a month and lose some weight. He threw well, though, against Tennessee-Martin in May, just prior to the conference tournament. He took the loss but went seven innings and allowed only two unearned runs on two hits. For the season, he went 3-4 with a 4.56 ERA, though he did strike out 58 in 51 1/3 IP (with 35 walks).
22.
Brad Boxberger –
USC… 6-2, 200… R/R… closer turned starter… averages 95 fastball plus cutter and good slider… 25.5% K 12.7% BB… has 25 walks through 32 innings through March this year… played in Cape Cod League in 2007: 1-0, 1.24… thru April 6, 2009: Only four walks over past 15 innings. As of April 23: Opponents hitting just .171 off of him… From John Sickles: 2.76 ERA with a 84/42 K/BB in 78 inning, 51 hits allowed. Boxberger's K/IP and H/IP ratios are excellent, but his walk rate is rather high. The stuff is here: 90-95 MPH fastball, good slider, curveball, changeup with some potential. Because of the command issue, he could last to the second round. There has been talk of making him a reliever, but given his overall performance this spring he could remain in the rotation as a pro. He would be another option late in the first round or in the supplemental area… 5/4: fastball was only 88-91… hit 93 a couple of times… slider 82… 76 curve… gave up 7 runs in 6.2…5-28 from MLBBonusBaby: - position in overall draft: 45. Arizona – Brad Boxberger, RHP, USC – I made this connection earlier on this Spring, and I’ve come back around to it. Boxberger makes a ton of sense for a team on a budget in the supplemental first round. He’s got a good assortment of pitches and should be signable. Previously: #47.
23.
Joe Kelly –
UC Riverside… 6-1, 178… junior… R/R… – closer… 9 saves for season, 5.33 ERA… 29 hits 25.1 IP, 18Ks… coming on in May…FB sits at 96, touches 99… average 81-85 slider… 5/15 Sickles mock: 44. Texas - Joe Kelly, RHP, UC Riverside - Texas has a history with relievers in the later rounds of the draft, but I don't think they'll pass up on a big arm like Kelly's. His fastball is as good as anyone's, and he's batting Billy Bullock for second-best relief prospect. Previously: #46… 5-28 from MLBBonusBaby: - position in overall draft: 46. Minnesota – Joe Kelly, RHP, UC Riverside – Kelly’s still got the best arm strength of the pure college relievers, and I think he’ll be part of a run on relievers in the supplemental first to second round. The Twins find value in odd places. Previously: #44.
24.
Jason Stoffel –
Arizona – many consider nation’s top reliever in draft… was named Pitcher of the Week in Pac-10 for Mar. 9 – 15… short memory and seldom gets rattled… would rather start… low-90s fastball… curve is a plus pitch… as of 4/23: 39 Ks, 7 saves in 25.2 IP – down a tick this year… fastball slightly down… 1-1, 4.54 thru 4/23… In Pac-10, 15 runs in 13 innings… hammer curveball has regressed… From John Sickles: Stoffel has struggled a bit with his command this year. He has a 5.59 ERA with a 41/19 K/BB in 39 innings, 36 hits allowed, collecting eight saves. His K/IP is very good for context, and even his ERA isn't bad given that the overall ERA in Arizona games is about 6.20. At his best, Stoffel buzzes hitters with a mid-90s fastball and a hard curveball, but he hasn't always been at his best this year. This reminds me of what happened to Mariners prospect Josh Fields at the University of Georgia, who had a similar slump in his junior year. Teams still like Stoffel, but where he gets drafted will likely depend on what his bonus demands are.
25.
Colvin, Brody - (up from 31st) -
More HS, Lafayette, La. … 5-28 from MLBBonusBaby: - position in overall draft: 47. Milwaukee – Brody Colvin, RHP, St. Thomas More HS (LA) – Colvin’s got a first round arm, but isn’t as refined as one would hope a first rounder would be. As a result, he’s a supplemental first rounder to me. The Brewers should be interested in some high upside arms. Previously: #52.
5-29 John Sickles: Brody Colvin, Louisiana HS: STRENGTHS: Projectable, already throws 90-94 and should get faster; good curveball; athletic. WEAKNESSES: High school pitcher risk; secondary pitches are raw; command is inconsistent. PROJECTION: Someone who likes raw arms will take him. . .would fit well with the Angels in the supplemental round with their extra picks.
26.
Bryan Berglund -
Royal HS… 6-4, 185… committed to Loyola Marymount… excellent slider, 80-82, sharp break…
5/28 from MiLB: He doesn't get the same kind of buzz some of the other California high school arms do, but that doesn't mean he should be ignored. Just ask those at Simi Valley High school, like Jonathan Meyer. In a mid-May start against them, Berglund tossed six shutout innings, allowing two hits along the way. He had a 1.58 ERA and .191 batting average against over the course of his senior season27. Madison Younginer - Mauldin HS; Simpsonville, SC. 6′3, 190… 91-94 fastball… 75 mph curve… over past 2 years: 6-1-1… verbally committed to Clemson… 5-28 from MLBBonusBaby: - position in overall draft: 42. Los Angeles (AL) – Madison Younginer, RHP, Mauldin HS (SC) – Younginer could be anywhere in the first 75 picks. Used as a reliever this Spring, there have been lots of comparisons to Jordan Lyles, a prospect who jumped up the boards with private workouts a year ago. Could happen again. Previously: #29…
5/27 from BA Draft Tracker: Tough to see as team's closer, but has been up to 95 mph
5-29 John Sickles: Madison Younginer, South Carolina HS: STRENGTHS: Athletic and projectable; can hit 94-96 MPH; shows promise with his slider. WEAKNESSES: Has been used as a reliever, so scouts haven't gotten to seen enough of him; normal high school pitcher risk; rough mechanics and general rawness; Clemson commitment could make him expensive if drafted too low. PROJECTION: Someone who likes raw arms should be interested in the second round; would fit well with Braves, Giants, or Dodgers based on past drafts.
28. Keyvius Sampson – (up from 32nd) - Forest HS; Ocala, FL. 6′1, 180… fastball in 90-92 range… has hit 95… excellent mechanics… curve in mid-60s.. committed to FSU.
5/27: BA Draft Tracker: Athletic with three-pitch mix pushing him into first 2 rounds
5-29 John Sickles: Keyvius Sampson: Florida HS: STRENGTHS: Athleticism, 90-93 MPH fastball, curveball and changeup show potential. WEAKNESSES: Mechanics and command need work, general high school pitcher risk, Florida State commitment could raise price tag, velocity is inconsistent, smallish at 6-1, 180.. PROJECTION: Has been mentioned anywhere from the supplemental round into the third or fourth round, but if he falls too far college will beckon. My guess: second round.
29. Victor Black - Dallas Baptist - A 41st-round pick by the Mets out of Amarillo (Texas) High in 2006… fastball consistently hits 95… sitting 93-96… Over his first 14 games this year, Black is 6-3, 3.80 with 91 strikeouts and 36 walks over 85 innings.
5-29 John Sickles: Victor Black, Dallas Baptist: STRENGTHS: Can hit 95 MPH; good slider, made strides with changeup, dominating performances this spring. WEAKNESSES: Was ineffective in previous seasons due to command problems; stamina could be an issue; like Arnett, he's made a lot of progress in a short time but needs to prove he can sustain it. PROJECTION: supplemental round; could be interesting for home-state Rangers at 44.
30. Brooks Pounder – Temecula Valley HS… 5-11, 150… R/R… Won fourth-consecutive state title and started all four clinchers
31. Zach Von Rosenburg – Zackary HS (LA.) - 5/27: BA Draft Tracker: Touching 94 with good life
32. Robert Stock – (new) – Southern Cal
5-29 John Sickles: Robert Stock, Southern Cal: STRENGTHS: 90-93 MPH sinking fastball, hard curveball, improving changeup, strong strikeout rate; good tools and athleticism overall, fresh arm. WEAKNESSES: he prefers catching to pitching, but had a bad year at the plate; needs polish and has an erratic track record; he's just 19 years old and could be expensive to sign. PROJECTION: he has as much natural talent as some of the definite first-rounders, but there is enough uncertainty about his future to knock him down a round or two.
33. Billy Bullock - Florida – 5/15 from Sickles mock: Here's the run on relievers. Last year it was in the first round, but I think it's more of a supplemental first round run to me this year. Bullock's snuck up on people, but he's a quality reliever who can move fast.
34. Scott Bittle – (down from 25th) - Mississippi… 6-2, 195… drafted by Yankees in 2nd round of the 2008 draft… Named to the Brooks Wallace Award Watch List honoring the nation’s top player ... 2008: 27 appearances… .145 OBA, 1.78 ERA, 130K/70.2 IP… 2009 so far: named SEC pitcher of the week 4/6 by the College Baseball Blog… 2 wins in 2 starts… 13K vs. Kentucky.. 0 BB… thru 5/6: 2.17 ERA…
35. Brett Wallach – (new) Orange Coast Junior College –
5/28 from MiLB.com: The son of former big leaguer Tim Wallach was the Southern California Junior College Player of the Year as a two-way player (yes, he played third base). But it seems his future is on the mound as he appeared to get better as the season wore on. He won a JC state championship start in late May with six strong innings to improve to 10-1, then came back a day later to save the championship clincher.
36. Kendal Volz - (down from 26th) - Baylor… 6-5, 225, R/R junior… Baseball America ranked him the 6th MLB draft prospect… pitched for the USA baseball national team this summer… fastball 88-92, tops at 97… slider 79-82… changeup 81-84… very good command… had 0.00 ERA and went 8-for-8 in save opportunities for college team... … thru 4-6-09: Walks up… strikeouts down… may be better suited as a reliever. Reports are he has lost 3-5 mph from his fastball…. 9 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 10 K, in a no-decision 4/27… From John Sickles: Volz's performance hasn't quite matched his potential yet. He's 3-5, 4.00 with a 71/33 K/BB in 74 innings, 73 hits allowed. His components are above average for context, but he lacks consistency. At his best, he has a 97 MPH fastball and a plus slider, but both his velocity and control will slip when his mechanics aren't right. His ceiling is impressive but he's still polishing up his game, and like several of these guys he could go later in the first round… 5/23 from BA: It's been a down year in general for the Baylor pitching staff. Expectations were high for Volz after he showed a 92-95 mph fastball and a low-80s slider with late break as Team USA's closer last summer. He didn't allow an earned run in 14 innings, saved the gold-medal game at the FISU World Championships in the Czech Republic and looked like a possible top-10 pick for 2009. But his stuff had gone backwards so much by May that he might not even go in the first two rounds. His fastball parked in the high 80s and flattened out, and his slider no longer was a weapon. His delivery looks different, as it now contains some ugly recoil, and his command has gotten worse as well. Volz has flashed an effective changeup and has a 6-foot-5, 225-pound frame built for a workhorse role, so he has the ingredients to be a starter at the next level—provided his previous fastball, slider and command return. If not, he looked well suited for a late-inning role last summer. But outside of his time with Team USA, he has been hit harder than someone with his stuff should.
37. Andrew Carraway – Virginia… 2008: as starter: 4-3, 4.06, 87Ks… career: 13-3, 3.44, 34BB, 172
38. Blake Smith - California… Junior… 6-2, 220… on Wallace Watch List… pitched this summer for USA National team… 2008: 3-0, 3.80, 36Ks, 21.1 IP… great hitter
39. Daniel Renken – CS Fullerton… thru 5/6: 2.27 in 75.1IP
40. Jerry Sullivan – Oral Roberts… junior… 6-4, 200, R/R… 2008: 9-2 record with a 3.88 ERA in 18 appearances and 15 starts
