Top 10 LHP in Draft - Re-ranked

1. Tyler Matzek - Capistrano Valley HS (California) senior… 6-3, 185… L/L… 18 years old… threw no-hiiter March 20… fastball in 89-92 range… has hit 94… fastball drops to 86-89 in the stretch… mid-70s curve… nice slider averages 82… and change… throws ¾ arm angle… most consider him the top lefty in the draft… 2009: threw no-hitter March 20… From Lincoln Hamilton’s Top 30 draftees… #3 (top LHP on list) - Clean mechanics, good control, deep pitch repitroire, projection and polish…so everything age: 18.5… 5/21: Jonathan Mayo’s Top 10 picks for the draft: - 39 (#2 LHP on list) - 9. Detroit Tigers: Tyler Matzek, LHP, Capistrano Valley HS, Mission Viejo, Calif. - The Tigers are liable to do anything and will take whoever they feel is the best player available, period. That often means they are linked with whatever wild cards there are in a Draft. This time, that could mean Tate, it could mean Scheppers, or it could mean Turner. Instead, for this first week, we'll go with the prep lefty from SoCal in Matzek, who's dazzled at times with his great stuff but has been a little enigmatic with consistently bringing it to the table.



2. Mike Minor - Vanderbilt junior… 6-4, 210… has allowed only five extra-base hits in 32 innings through March 2009… previously drafted in 2006 (13th round) by Tampa Bay… 200: 103.0 IP, 8.8 K/9, 2.4 BB/9… has pitched in low 90s, topping out at 94… change-up, curve, and slider… numbers through 4-7-09: 2-3, 3.55, 43K, 12BB, 46.0 IP… pressing. Velocity down… has allowed only 7 exra-baed hits in 46 innings thru 4-7… From John Sickles: Was getting attention pre-season as a top lefty in the draft, but has likely fallen behind Brouthers. Minor is 4-4, 3.93 with a 79/24 K/BB in 73 innings, 74 hits allowed, very good numbers within the Vanderbilt context, though not exceptional. Listed at 6-4, 195, he has an 88-92 MPH fastball, a curve, slider, and changeup, and seems like a safe pick that could be the second choice for a lot of teams in the second half of the round…. From Lincoln Hamilton’s Top 30 draftees… #17 (#4 LHP on list) -polished lefty with good mechanics, command, low-90's FB with terrific changeup … age: 21.4… 5/21: Jonathan Mayo’s Top 10 picks for the draft: - 3. (top LHP on list) - San Diego Padres: Mike Minor, LHP, Vanderbilt - Traditionally, the Padres have been fairly college-heavy, at least early in Drafts, and the thinking here is they'll go that route again. The pick for now is the Vandy southpaw with a very good track record, but a guy like Crow could fit as well. If the M's don't take Ackley, the Padres very well could. That being said, there is some talk going on in the organization about going in a different direction. Specifically, that's toolsy outfielder Donavan Tate, who has tremendous athletic talent and a commitment to play football and baseball at North Carolina.

3. Matt Purke - (down from #2) - Klein (Texas) HS… 6-3, 170, L/L… 89-92 mph fastball, tops off at 95… curve break at 78… slider in the 90 range… 2-7 74-77 changeup… 18 years old… needs some meat on his bones… In October 2008, Baseball America had Purke as the 5th overall pick in the draft… BA ranks him as the 3rd top high school prospect this year… considered by some as the 2nd top arm in the draft… March ’09: fastball now topping at 97. Slender frame… throws from a low ¾ delivery… high character kid… ***possible signing problems***… From Lincoln Hamilton’s Top 30 draftees… #8 (#2 LHP on list) - Matt Purke - Top Texas hurler, 6'3" hit 94 mph w/ sink in showcases, plus SL and solid change… age: 18.8

4. Chad James - (way up from 15th) - Bishop Verot HS, Fort Myers, Fla. Strong, pro body indicates his 88-90 mph fastball has room to grow… moving up the charts… now mid-90s… From Lincoln Hamilton’s Top 30 draftees… #19 (#5 LHP on list) - Clean mechanics, good arm strength, FB hits 95, big time curve, usable slider and change… age: 18.3

5. Tyler Skaggs - (up from 9th) - Santa Monica (Calif.) HS… 6-5, 190… many project as high as Matzek… high 80s fastball… 12-6 curve in the 60s… projectable frame… coachable… good mound poise… From Lincoln Hamilton’s Top 30 draftees… #28 (#6 LHP on list) -Tall and skinny lefty with big slow curve, good mechanics, fastball works in low-90's – age: 17.8

6. Brooks Raley - (down from #3) - Texas A&M… 6-3, 185, L/L, sophomore… 2008: 2nd team freshman All-American selection… 7-2, 4.76 in 18 games… moving up the charts… as of 4/23: Over 62 1/3 IP, he's allowed only 40 hits (.189 opponents' batting average) and 16 walks while striking out 65. Also an outfielder, he's leading the team with a .354 average and 21 steals… 8 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 10 K on 4/25… From John Sickles: Raley is having a statistically dominant season, going 7-1, 1.96 with an 84/19 K/BB in 78 innings, 51 hits allowed. He's also playing great as an outfielder, hitting .318/.443/.459 with 33 walks and 21 steals in 157 at-bats, demonstrating athleticism though scouts prefer him on the mound. His fastball is average at 87-89 MPH, but his curveball, slider, and changeup are all solid, and his control is very good. His athleticism and command should help him stay healthy. His lack of a plus fastball, as well as his sophomore status and resultant leverage, make it very unclear where he will fall on draft day… 5/6: 1.96 RRA in 78 IP… 5/6: Baseball Draft Report has him as 3rd LHP drafted…

7. Rex Brothers – (down from #6) - Lipscomp – 6-1, 205… – been skyrocking up mock drafts… fastball 93-94 range, touching 96… slider at 86-88… 15 scouting directors in stands for April 3rd game vs. Kennesaw State/prospect Kyle Heckathorn… 12Ks… thru 4/23: 4-4, 2.37, 94K, 29BB, 65.0 IP… 4/30: 4-5, 3.01, only 51 hits in 68.2 IP, 101Ks, 35 BB… From John Sickles: Brouthers is moving rapidly up draft lists. He has 3.01 ERA with a 101/35 K/BB in 69 innings this spring, 51 hits allowed, demonstrating an exceptional K/P ratio. He's dominating with excellent stuff, hitting 94-96 MPH with the heater and using a nasty slider. His changeup needs work and his command is still sloppy, but his ceiling is very impressive and he could be the first college lefty drafted…. 5/17: Second only to Strasburg with 120 strikeouts this year



8. James Paxton - (up from #9) - Kentucky… dominated SEC… 37.9% K 4.8% BB… born in Canada… 6-4, 210… 97 mph fastball, slurve, changeup… 4-0, 3.30, 47K/6BB/30.0 IP through March 2009… Through 3-25-09, Paxton is 4-0, 3.30 with 47 strikeouts and six walks in 30 innings. On March 20, he out-dueled Vanderbilt lefthander Mike Minor, striking out 10 in 6.2 innings… roughed up lately, but still touching 97 mph… From John Sickles: Paxton has an unattractive 5.40 ERA, but this is around average for his context, and his other numbers are sharp: 97/17 K/BB in 65 innings, 68 hits allowed, giving him K/IP, K/BB, and H/IP marks that are all very strong for the context in which he's pitching. His biggest weakness is a high home run rate, with 10 dingers given up. Paxton is 6-4, 215 and has been clocked as high as 95 MPH. He's from Canada and is a bit raw compared to some other college pitchers, but has a very high ceiling. He could go anywhere in the first or second round… for season: 5-2, 5.30, 109K, 20BB, 73.0IP… From Lincoln Hamilton’s Top 30 draftees… #11 (#3 LHP on list) - 6-foot-4 lefty with plus, plus velocity , dominating SEC (34.0% K 5.9% BB), long arm action… age: 20.5…


9. Andrew Oliver - Oklahoma State… 6-3, 212… L/L… 28.9%K; however. 6.67 ERA through March 2009 this season… a native of Vermilion, Ohio… sophomore season: 7-2 in 15 games… 2.20, 96K/98.1 IP… 2008: earned 1st team All-Big 12… 2nd team All-American by Rivals,com… 2-20 ERA… pitched for Team USA… In October 2008, Baseball America had him as the 11th overall pick in the draft… as of 4/6/09: has allowed 13 doubles and five home runs, resulting in a 5.91 ERA… not afraid ti come inside to right handed hitters… fastball touches 95… velocity maintained in late innings… must work on secondary pitches… 7 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 4 BB, 10 K on 4.25… From John Sickles: Rated as the top college lefty by some sources pre-season, due to his combination of above average stuff with sharp command, Oliver has had a disappointing spring, going 5-4, 4.96 with a 75/28 K/BB in 62 innings, 62 hits allowed. His K/IP and H/IP marks are actually not bad, but he's lacked consistency. His stock is down, but as long as there are no health concerns, someone could still take a shot on him late in the first round. Some theorize that Oliver has been knocked a bit off-kilter emotionally by the circumstances regarding the NCAA lawsuit, and will perform better once in pro ball… end of season: 5-6, 4.83, 14 starts, 90K, 78.1 IP…


10. Tyler Skaggs - (up from 9th) - Santa Monica (Calif.) HS… 6-5, 190… many project as high as Matzek… high 80s fastball… 12-6 curve in the 60s… projectable frame… coachable… good mound poise… From Lincoln Hamilton’s Top 30 draftees… #28 (#6 LHP on list) -Tall and skinny lefty with big slow curve, good mechanics, fastball works in low-90's – age: 17.8