Update: 2010 MLB Draft - Everyday Players

C:

1. Bryce Harper – Las Vegas High School

From Rob Nyer, in 2008, as a 15-yr. old: Harper has a power bat and a plus throwing arm that "already grades out to 70 on the 20 to 80 scouting scale," according to Dave Perkin of Baseball America. During infield prior to the game, Harper, in full gear, rifled the ball out of a crouch to second and third base with precision. Upon seeing him in action, I marked down "+ + arm" next to his name in my program. Although the rap on him is that he's not all that fast, I thought he ran very well from home to third on that triple, especially considering his age, size, and power. The kid is nothing if not impressive.

As a 16-year old, Harper hit .626 in 2009, with 14 home runs and 55 RBIs in 115 at-bats for the Wildcats this season. He hit 22 doubles, nine triples and stole 36 bases. He only struck out five times. He also scored nine times on wild pitches… from 2nd base.

5/09: played a three-game travel schedule… hit 11-12, with 10 HRs and one double

7/07 fr. www.projectprospect.com :Just a few weeks ago the 2010 draft looked solid but lacked a true star. Enter Bryce Harper. Harper told the Las Vegas Review Journal that he planned on getting his GED and has already enrolled at the College of Southern Nevada, a junior college with a strong baseball program. The Sports Illustrated cover boy will be the most hyped teenage sports star since LeBron James. With 80 raw power, a plus-plus arm, above-average speed and good defensive ability at the most difficult position on the diamond, the only thing holding Harper back might be the pressure living up to the hype.


2. Yasmani Grandal – Miami – taken in the 27th round of the 2007 draft by Boston… excellent power and plate discipline… strong arm… needs work on his skills…

7/07 fr. www.projectpropsect.com: One of the top unsigned prospects for the 2007 Draft Grandal might be 2010’s Josh Phegly - a good hitter, with big time power but questionable defensive ability behind the dish despite a strong arm. Grandal lead the Hurricane’s in home runs with 16 this spring while sporting a .299/.410/.599 line with 33 walks and 37 strikeouts in 239 plate appearances. If Grandal can stay at catcher defensively, his strong bat could make him a star.


3. Mitch Karraker Univ. of Oregon -

4. Micah Gibbs - LSU –

7/07 fr. www.projectprospect.com: - Tennessee’s backstop Blake Forsythe and LSU’s catcher Micah Gibbs are potential first round picks. Both guys need to improve their contact abilities next spring but have good upside.

5. Blake Forsythe - Tennessee -

7/07 from www.projectprospect.com: - Tennessee’s backstop Blake Forsythe and LSU’s catcher Micah Gibbs are potential first round picks. Both guys need to improve their contact abilities next spring but have good upside. Forsythe has more power while Gibbs has more defensive value…


6. Jeremy Malo – Texas Tech – Junior – 5-10, 194, R/R… good power… 2009: .313/.453/.618 in 144 at bats… 11-HRs, 35-RBIs, 11-E

7. Zane Evans – Roswell HS (GA) – 6-3, 210, R/R – raw power… also RHP with 88mph fastball… excellent arm strength--- verbally committed to Auburn….

8. Samuel Peterson – DeRidder HS (LA) – 6-0, 185, R/R – excellent catch and throw skills… handles bat well…

9. Arman Valenzuela – Northview HS (CA) – 6-1, 175, R/R – athletically built… all around defensive skills… verbally committed to Loyola Marymount…

10. Stefan Sabol – Aliso Niquel HS (CA) – 6-0, 200 – 6.75 in 60-yd… pop time: 1.88… needs work on catching balls, not throwing…
1B:
1. Troy Scott - Univ. of Washington –

2. Andy Wilkins - Arkansas … 6-2, 225, R/L… junior… excellent swing… can hit for power to all fields … 2009: .319, 19-HR, 58-RBI, 48-BB

3. Christian Yelich – Westlake HS (CA) – L/L - also plays OF… runs 60-yd in 6.8… arm strength questionable… projects out at 1B… one of the best pure hitters in draft…



SS:

1. Christian Colon – Cal State Fullerton – excellent defense… only 11 errors as a sophomore… projects out as catcher… handles the bat well… could be best infielder in the draft… toolsy… led the 2008 US National team with 26 hits… hits to all fields… excellent defensive player with strong arm, great hands, and incredible range… excellent power for middle fielder… great bat speed… walked only 7.8% in 2009… drafted in the 10th round in 2007 by the Padres… freshman All-American… hit .352 as sophomore… projected as second baseman.

7/07 fr. www.projectprospect.com: Colon was very highly thought of out of high school, winning the MVP of the Aflac All-American game in 2007, but slid to the 10th round due to a mediocre spring and a strong commitment to the baseball factory in Fullerton. A full-time starter from the day he set foot on campus, Colon managed a .357/.442/.529 line in 2009 with 26 of his 91 hits going for extra bases. Colon shows great contact ability, only whiffing 8.0% of the time last year. Defensively he has a strong arm, solid range and outstanding instincts. Colon has always been seen as a very smart player who maximizes his abilities. While he doesn’t have the raw tools of a Grant Green or Brandon Crawford, Colon looks like a very solid bet to be an average big leaguer.


2. Yorby Cabrera – Lakeland HS (FL) – father Tigers’ minor league coach… also a pitcher but projected as a third baseman… FB 94 range… pro arm in the field…

3. Kaleb Cowart – Cook County HS (GA.) – excellent pitcher but wants to be an every day player… very athletic… swings bat well… good hands… may project out at third…

4. Josh Rutledge - Alabama –

7/07 fr. www.projectprospect.com: the University of Alabama should have the most talented left side of infield in college next year as SS Josh Rutledge and 3B Ross Wilson both have solid tools with decent power potential.

5. Rick Hague - Rice – junior… 6-2, 190, R/R… excellent fielder and capable hitter… great attitude and team player… from the Rice web site: Wayne Graham said -- "We view Ricky Hague as one of the top shortstops in college baseball and expect him to be one of the better hitters around. We expect big things both in the field and with the bat."

7/07 fr. www.projectprospect.com: SS’s Derek Dietrich of Georgia Tech and Rice’s Rick Hague have big time problems making contact, Hague is the only sure bet to stick at short, where he is very, VERY good….


6. Marcus Littlewood - Pineview HS, St. George, Utah –

7. Derek Dietrich – (new) – Georgia Tech -

SS’s Derek Dietrich of Georgia Tech and Rice’s Rick Hague have big time problems making contact, Hague is the only sure bet to stick at short, where he is very, VERY good….


8. Kris Bryant - Bonanza HS, Las Vegas –

9. Brad Miller – Clemson – Sophomore… 6-0, 175… drafted in the 39th round by the Rangers in 2008… batted only .273 as freshman

10. Brandon Drury – Grants Pass HS ( OR) – 6-1, 180, R/R – excellent arm strength… good body control defensively… pure right hand swing…

11. James Harris – Etowah HS (GA) – 6-1, 190, L/R – very athletic… all-around toolsy talent…



3B:

1. Jake Lamb – Bishop Blanchet HS (WA.) –

2. Ross Wilson – (up fr. 5th) – Alabama –

7/07 fr. www.projectprospect.com: the University of Alabama should have the most talented left side of infield in college next year as SS Josh Rutledge and 3B Ross Wilson both have solid tools with decent power potential.


3. Zack Cox - Arkansas – draft-eligible sophomore… 3B tools and excellent bat speed… has had back problems.

4. Victor Sanchez – San Diego – was drafted 25th by Cubs in 2007… lots of raw power… 12 HRs as freshman… injured most of sophomore year… shortstop in high school…

5. Derek Dietrich - Georgia Tech

6. Nick Castellanos - Archbishop McCarthy HS, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. –

7. Joey Kenworthy – Texas Tech – Senior… 5-5, 152, S/R… 2009: .335/.378/.417 in 220 Abs… 17 errors…

8. Ryan Albert – Newport Harbor HS (CA) – 5-11, 170, L/R – raw power… also throws 88-fastball, 76 curve… projects out at third due to his excellent hitting ability…

9. Josh Anderson – Poway HS (CA) – 6-0, 205, R/R – also pitches with 84-87 fastball… well above average tools… but slow…

10. Bryan Soloman – Memorial HS (NJ) – 6-4, 245, R/R – raw power and excellent extension threw contact… also pitches with good command…


OF:


1. Kentrail Davis – BA ranks him as the #2 sophomore in the 2009 season…

2. Bryce Bentz – (up from 4th) – Middle Tennessee State – has the most raw power in the draft class… incredible bat command and speed… projects out as a first baseman.

7/07 fr. www.projectprospect.com: If you want your kid to be a massive power hitter, name him Bryce. Bryce Brentz is the No. 1 power hitting prospect from the four-year college ranks. Brentz lead all of Division-I in batting average, slugging percentage, home runs, and total bases all that ads up to a triple slash line of .465/.535/.930 with 28 home runs. While MTSU plays in a strong hitter park (120 PF, BoydsWorld.com), Brentz compliments his outstanding power with very solid zone judgement. Brentz walked 11.4% of the time last year while striking out in just 11.8% of his plate appearances. A college center fielder, Brentz gets knocked some for his defense as some think he may wind up at first base in the pros. Wherever he plays, his bat could be special.


3. Trey Griffin – MLK H.S. (Stockbridge, GA.) – 5-tooler… quickly reads ball off of bat… good speed… also plays SS… incredible hands… power to all fields.

4. Leon Landry – LSU –

7/07 fr. www.projectprospect.com: Leon Landry will follow in the footsteps of teammate Jared Mitchell as a super-toolsy two-sport athlete outfielder from LSU.

5. Tyler Holt – (up from 13th) - Florida State -

7/07 fr. www.projectprospect.com: While Holt may not have the same buzz as the rest of guys above him on this list, he is very deserving. At least a plus runner, Holt gets good jumps on the ball and covers tons of ground in centerfield. He’s an asset in the field and on the base paths (34-39 stolen base attempts). Holt’s biggest tool is his on-base ability, as he walked an astonishing 17.9% of the time last spring boosting his overall line to .401/.520/.578. A line-drive hitter with strong wrists and good bat-speed and a fantastic approach, Holt projects as a prototypical lead-off hitter.

6. Josh Sale - Bishop Blanchet HS (WA) – 6-1, 195, L/L …

7. Gary Brown – Cal State Fullerton – also plays 3B and projects out as a 2Bman… excellent speed… needs to develop consistency.

8. Austin Wilson – Harvard-Westlake H.S. (CA.) – 6-4, 200 - has most power of the draft… not polished, but who cares… hit two 500+ HRs at Florida showcase, both to different parts of the field. One scout said he’s a “young Adam Jones”… 2008 Area Code games alumni… projects out on corners… average speed… excellent arm… star in batting practice…

9. Kevin Keyes – Texas – 6-4, 225… excellent bat speed and strength… 2nd on team in 2009 in HRs and doubles… charts out as a RFer… average arm

10. Jarrett Parker – Virginia – 6-4, 205 junior… excellent size, power, speed, and defense… zero HRs as a freshman, 15 as a sophomore… struck out 76 times in 259 at bats.

11. Taylor Lindsay - Desert Mountain HS, Scottsdale, Ariz. –

12. Krey Bratsen - Bryan HS, Texas -

13. Michael Choice - UT Arlington -

14. Kolten Wong – Hawaii - named to the 2009 USA Baseball national team… 2009: .341, 11-HR, 21-doubles, 52-RBIs, 46-R, 11-SB… led team in outfield assists.

15. Casey McGrew - Wright State -

16. Matt Newman - Arizona State -

17. Reggie Golden - Wetumpka HS (AL) - 2009: .458, 9-HR, 30-RBI

18. James Meador – San Diego – senior… 2009: .376 in 213 at bats… .976 fielding… projects out as right fielder

19. Ryan Dew – Ohio State – Senior… 6-1, 220, L/L… led team in hitting in 2009: .388/.429/.562… 7-HR, 42-RBI… 1.000% fielding percentage

20. Evan Hilton – Woodlands HS (GA) – 5-10, 165, S/L – two-way… athletic… very accurate outfield arm… 6.93 speed… 83-86 fastball…

21. Taylor Kaczmarek – Desert Ridge HS (AZ) – 6-2, 210, R/R – very lively swing… raw power, projects out eithr on corners or first base….

22. Cory Hahn – Mater Dei HS (CA) – 5-9, 160 – toolsy… 6.6 lightning speed… solid arm… quick bat… strikes out too much…

23. Michael Lorenzen – Fullerton HS (CA) – 6-2, 180 – 6.8 speed… powerful arm… also pitches in the low 90s… needs to develop plate discipline…

24. Angelo Gumbs – Torrance HS (CA) – 6-1, 190 – gome to first in 4:07… prep shortstop… good arm… thows inconsistently…