1. Kolbrin Vitek –
2-5: from www.collegebaseball360.com: Baseball America Pre-Season All American team: - Second Team - 2B Kolbrin Vitek, Ball State
2-9 from www.baseballamerica.com: - 2010 College Preseason All-Americans SECOND TEAM - 2B Kolbrin Vitek, Ball State Jr. R-R 6-3 195 .389 .465 .736 208 57 81 13 67 17
2-8 from www.pnrscouting.com: - mock drafted 65th
3-10-10 from - http://www.pgcrosschecker.com/articles/DisplayArticle.aspx?article=2199 - KOLBRIN VITEK, 2b-rhp, Ball State - SCOUTING REPORT/Great Lakes League: Vitek (.400-6-38) won the triple crown in the Great Lakes League this summer and was also tops in hits (54), total bases (100) and doubles (16). It was not an altogether surprising offensive performance for Vitek, considering he hit .389-13-67 as a Ball State sophomore, leading the team in homers and RBIs. He also paced the Mid-American Conference and tied a single-season school mark for doubles with 25. He displayed excellent bat speed through the hitting zone with occasional loft power to all fields, along with good plate discipline. Some of the league’s veteran coaches said he was the most dominating righthanded hitter to play in the league in a number of years. Vitek put almost all of his focus this summer on hitting and actually spent most of the GLL season out of position at second base. Normally a pitcher and third baseman at Ball State, Vitek arrived with a fatigued shoulder after going 4-3, 5.65 in 57 innings as a weekend starter for the Cardinals, and it was determined he would spend the summer at second to rest his arm. He still managed to work three innings for Lake Erie. The versatile Vitek made only five errors at his interim position and displayed acceptable range and hands, but it was generally agreed that his superior arm strength was wasted at the position and better suited for the hot corner. Vitek has been clocked up to 92-93 mph off the mound. In addition to his superior hitting skills, Vitek has impressive foot speed and was clocked in 6.6 seconds in the 60 at the league’s all-star game. He stole 10 bases and showed advanced base-stealing skills.
3-24 from: http://www.pgcrosschecker.com/articles/DisplayArticle.aspx?article=2225: - Two-way talent Kolbrin Vitek was already starting to gain steam heading into the regular season and continues to hit the ball extremely well for Ball State. He’s hitting .392/.451/.658 to open the year, and also is pitching important innings as one of the team’s weekend starters. Most see him settling in at third base at the next level, and he has been discussed as a potential sandwich pick who has solid second- to third-round value
4-14 from: - http://pnrscouting.com/rankings_2010_midseason_secondbase.html - Kolbrin Vitek, Junior, Ball St. Univ. shoots to the top of the second base rankings off the strength of a fine first half, but also due to the failure of any other player to step-up and make their own claim to the slot. Vitek is slashing .420/.507/.739, while walking around once every seven at bats and posting a neat 1.0 BB/SO. He shows some pop and is a good athlete that moves well both on the bases and in the field.
4-25 from XMLBScout: - http://perfectgame.atinfopop.com/4/OpenTopic?q=Y&a=tpc&s=114295945&f=6174069131&m=4361060202&p=5 – First, saw 2b, Kolbrin Vitek of Ball St, 6'2 200, R/R, strong kid, good makeup, DH'd on the day but did take grounders at 2b and threw some in the pen. Solid stroke with alley power to both RC/LC, on the way runner, not a sprinter out of the box, did run a 4.42, showed ML average arm at 2b, similar character traits to Jeff Kent, former Cal Bear player and most notably played for several big league clubs including the Dodgers. Kolbrin is a late 1st rounder in my eyes, and seems to want and go out.
4-30 from: - http://baseballdraftreport.com – Top 2Bmen in draft: - 1. Ball State JR 2B Kolbrin Vitek – Modest son of a gun I am, I’d never toot my own horn about getting out ahead of a prospect’s emergence, but, seeing as I’m wrong 95% of the time, give or take, I’d figure now is as good a time as any to point out this gem from early January: “Vitek’s tools all grade out similarly to fellow small school sensation Bryce Brentz. They both have plus bat speed, good plate discipline, and plus power potential. They are also both two-way players who have had success on the mound collegiately, though only Vitek could actually pull of the trick of being a legit draft prospect as either a hitter or pitcher. In addition to a glove/arm combination that will definitely play at third professionally, Vitek does all the little things well that make scouts (and wannabe’s like me) very happy. He is a sensational base runner, works deep counts, and has one of the coolest names this side of Yordy Cabrera. Vitek’s utter dominance of the Great Lakes League this past summer sealed the deal for me. He may not be a first rounder in June, but he is as good a bet as any college hitter in the 2010 to be an impact player in the big leagues.” Ha, I called him “Bryce Brentz without a publicist.” Genius prognosticating and comic gold. The myth of the next Jim Callis/Steve Martin super-hybrid has finally been realized.
5-14 from: - http://www.mlbbonusbaby.com/2010/5/14/1471745/kolbrin-vitek-this-years-tony#storyjump - Undrafted out of high school, Kolbrin Vitek burst onto the scene last year as a sophomore at Ball State University, hitting .389/.465/.736 and swiping 17 bases. He also showed promise as a pitcher, where he utilized a low-90's fastball on the mound. It is, however, his bat that will propel him to being selected in the first couple of rounds in 2010. In a draft class light on college bats, Vitek stands out with an intriguing power/speed combination. Vitek has a lean, athletic frame with good body control and flexibility. The biggest thing that stands out about him are his hands. Not only are they lightning quick, but he also understands how they work and uses them to his advantage. Vitek shows excellent balance through contact and rotates his hips well with a strong front side. His swing plane is fairly level, but he does get good lateral tilt and uses the entire field for easy plus power potential. Vitek has plenty of bat speed and extends well through the zone. Last summer at the Great Lakes League All-Star Game, Vitek ran a 6.6-second 60-yard dash. In 2009, he was 17 for 26 on the base paths, but has improved to 13 for 16 so far this year. Defensively, I think the consensus is that he profiles best at third base. He's got the arm strength, but he will need the repetitions to improve footwork and understanding of the position. As a second baseman this year, Vitek has shown he has the hands and agility to make plays to both sides of him. As good of an athlete as he is, he shouldn't have trouble developing into a serviceable to above average third baseman.
5-18 from: - http://www.prospectjunkies.com - While Vitek may be the best two-way player in College Baseball this season and was recently named the Mid-American Conference West Division "MAC" pitcher of the week, there is little doubt that his future is as a position player. While probably an unfair speculation on my part because he plays for a small conference, I think Vitek will be an easy sign. That factor, combined with him being one of the more advanced bats in the draft make him a safe bet to go in the mid to late portion of the first round. While I don't think he'll ever be a star in the League, his above average collection tools combined with his advanced bat make him a safe bet to reach the major leagues and contribute as an everyday player.
5-19 from: - http://www.sportingnews.com/blog/MLB_Draft - If Ball State's Kolbrin Vitek wasn't making it hard enough on scouts to figure out how to draft him, he just made it harder. On Monday, Vitek was named the Mid-American Conference (MAC) West Division Pitcher of the Week after tossing his first career complete-game shutout over Northern Illinois on Sunday. Vitek went the distance, giving up just five hits and striking out a season-high eight men. He threw 104 pitches in the effort and became the first Ball State player to throw a complete game shutout since 2005.
2. Matt Lipka – McKinney HS (TX) –
8-9: from Keith Law/ www.espn.com: - The Texas club was lead by Matt Lipka a 2B/SS from McKinney HS, TX. He draws comparisons to Orlando Hudson showing good speed and an easy swing designed for contact.
1-3 from www.perfectgame.com: - Top 2010 HS MIFs. Based on summer performance (PG Natl SC,TOS,Area Code, East Pro SC, Under Armour & AFLAC) and lots of discussions. - Matt Lipka 6'1 - Aflac All American. Possibly one of the most athletic mif of the draft class. (Texas All State WR)Great makeup. Plus plus runner 6.35 60 / 4.12 to first from R side. Hard line drive swing plane. Avg arm. plus defender. needs to smooth out inf actions. Made the Rawlings play of game ( Lipka-Wolters-Lakind)at Aflac. Named to All Area Code Team for Texas Rangers. Team USA Alum. Plays all out and grinds..High potential.
2-8 from www.pnrscouting.com: - mock drafted 141st
From: PNR Scouting: - SS Lipka is a strong up-the-middle talent with top-tier speed and plenty of arm to hold down shortstop. He shows smooth, athletic actions in the field and makes consistent hard contact from the right side of the plate. He has enough power in his hands and forearms to show pop already with wood, and could develop true homerun potential as he learns to elevate the ball more consistently
3. Russell Wilson – NC State
2-8 from www.pnrscouting.com: - mock drafted 76th
3-11 from: - http://collegebaseball360.com/2010/03/11/two-sport-report-1 - North Carolina State - Russell Wilson-5’11-201 – Football: QB & Baseball: 2B - Wilson has played in 9 games, starting 2 on the diamond. He’s hitting 8 for 20 with 9 runs, 2 HR and 6 RBI in helping the Wolfpack to an 11-1 start. He totaled 3,027 passing yards with 31 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in 2009, while also rushing for 260 yards and 4 more scores. His 31 touchdown passes led the ACC. He passed for 259 yards and 4 touchdowns to help N.C. State (5-7) upset North Carolina (8-4) to end an otherwise disappointing season for the Wolfpack
3-18 from: - http://collegebaseball360.com/2010/03/18/two-sport-report-week-2 - Russell Wilson – NC State - 5’11-201 – Football: QB & Baseball: 2B - Wilson has played in 11 games, starting 5 on the diamond. He’s hitting .333 with 11 runs, 2 HR and 6 RBI in helping the Wolfpack to a 12-4 record. He totaled 3,027 passing yards with 31 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in 2009, while also rushing for 260 yards and 4 more scores. His 31 touchdown passes led the ACC. He passed for 259 yards and 4 touchdowns to help N.C. State (5-7) upset North Carolina (8-4) to end an otherwise disappointing season for the Wolfpack.
5-27 from: - http://baseballdraftreport.com - 2010 MLB Draft: Top 30 College Third Base Prospects - 14. North Carolina State JR 3B Russell Wilson - Betting on Wilson is betting on upside, a worthy risk to take when you are considering which mid-round college hitter to gamble on. See, the sad little truth about lists like this are that the players, while undeniably impressive and accomplished and talented, are more than likely never going to play in the big leagues. Heck, many of them won’t see AA. Once you get past the top two or three names on any of these college lists, it’s all a big guessing game. Educated guessing, to be sure, but guessing all the same. To make a long intro slightly less long, if you’re are going to bet on a mid-round college player, go for the rare guy with untapped potential. That’s Wilson. Here’s why… I tend to overuse this word when writing about draft prospects, but it applies to Wilson so well here that I can’t help myself. Wilson is an interesting prospect. More than one team affiliated employee I spoke to used that word to describe Wilson in some way – “interesting upside,” “interesting bat,” and “interesting future.” Watch him for just a couple of innings and you’ll see evidence of all five tools right away. His bat is, well, interesting, and his power, while mostly to the gaps at this point, could top out with homer totals in the teens professionally. As a former quarterback unafraid to take off with the ball when needed, it comes as no surprise that his speed rates as an easy 60, with startlingly quick acceleration. Defensively he may have the speed, instincts, and athleticism to play up the middle (2B or CF), but his presence on this particular list is a bet on his plus arm playing best at third base over the long run. Wilson’s numbers this year were solid across the board, but his performance must be judged with his lack of college ball experiences prior to 2010 in mind. He needs more reps on the diamond, but if a team is patient with him they could be rewarded with a player who closely mirrors the Melvin Mora developmental path, something that will no doubt interest a big league club or two come draft day.
4. Ross Wilson – Alabama – junior… 2009: .353 9-HR 47-RB
10-7 from: - www.mlbresource.blogspot.com: - Ross Wilson---2B---Wilson who could be a top pick next June is a part of perhaps one of the best infields in Crimson tide history. Wilson and Josh Rutledge combine to make a great double-play combo and both will be counted on not only with their glove but also their bats.
10-8 from http://mlbbonusbaby.com - Ross Wilson, Alabama - Wilson is a middle infielder that might fit at either second or short, though his position right now is second with the Crimson Tide alongside 2010 shortstop prospect Josh Rutledge. Wilson’s one of those all-around solid hitters that has improved year-to-year and should be a solid pro hitter, too. He’s got a good eye at the plate and a solid hit tool with decent power, so he should be an intriguing guy to watch in the spring. Projected draft position: Early-second to early-third round.
12-25 from www.thecollegebaseballblog.com: - named to the 2010 NCBWA 2nd team all-american squad
1-1-9 from www.draftsite.com: - 53 Cleveland Ross Wilson 2B Alabama 5'11" 185 R,R
1-31: Named to the 2010 Ping!Baseball All American Teams: - SECOND BASE - First Team: Ross Wilson, Alabama
2-5: from www.collegebaseball360.com: Baseball America Pre-Season All American team: - First Team - 2B Ross Wilson, Alabama
4-30 from: - http://baseballdraftreport.com – Top 2Bmen in draft: - 7. Alabama JR 2B Ross Wilson– Pretty clear scouting over statistics pick. Wilson has as much power potential and athleticism as any player below him on the list, but has disappointed scouts who expected much more with the bat this spring. His numbers all fall below the three magic thresholds (slugging below .550, more K’s than BB’s, way less than 20 steals), so his placement on this list is a testament to the confidence I have in a plus athlete figuring out how to apply his significant tools before long. High risk, high reward pick that could either emerge as a legit big league caliber starting player or flame out in AA.
5-27 from: - http://www.mlbbonusbaby.com/2010/5/27/1489645/top-5-by-position-second-basemen#comments - Ross Wilson burst onto the national scene as a freshman at Alabama, having one of the best freshman seasons offensively in recent memory in the SEC. After improving upon that as a sophomore, he’s taken a major step backwards as a junior, and his draft stock has predictably plummeted. Wilson is notable for his background, as he was a notable high school quarterback and is the brother of former Alabama quarterback John Parker Wilson, but he chose baseball as his sport because of his natural tools for the sport. Despite going backwards this spring, he still has solid tools and could make a pro career out of baseball. Wilson’s tools are mainly centered on his bat and legs. When he’s reading pitchers right, he has an above-average hit tool with average raw power, a nice bonus from a middle infielder. He’s also an above-average runner, but he struggles to turn that speed into on-field production. He’s raw in the baserunning aspect of the game, and he’s been pressing a little too much this spring. Defensively, he has above-average range at second and a solid-average arm, and he could be the complete package if he could just snap out of his season-long funk. He’s dropped his stock somewhere into the sixth to tenth round range, but if he’s signable, a team could get a steal if Wilson turns it back around.
5. Garrett Nash -
6. Chris Bisson – Kentucky
2-5: from www.collegebaseball360.com: Baseball America Pre-Season All American team: - Third Team - 2B Chris Bisson, Kentucky
2-9 from www.baseballamerica.com: - 2010 College Preseason All-Americans THIRD TEAM - 2B Chris Bisson, Kentucky Jr. L-R 5-11 185 .360 .414 .455 222 49 80 2 52 13
2-8 from www.pnrscouting.com: - mock drafted 72nd
4-30 from: - http://baseballdraftreport.com – Top 2Bmen in draft: - 13. Kentucky JR 2B Chris Bisson– Steady enough to someday ascend to an everyday big league spot, but not currently in possession of any consistent standout tool. Noticing a trend yet? Bisson is lower here than ever I expected, but it’s more about liking the players ranked higher than disliking him. His upside is as a regular .275ish hitter (55) with low double digit homers (40) and above-average plate discipline. Add in a glove that borders on plus and you’ve got yourself a player that big league teams should start thinking about popping in the top ten rounds easy.
5-7 from: - http://baseballbeginnings.com/2010/05/08/chris-bisson-video - 2B Chris Bisson can run and he can play second base defense. He won’t have a big arm or power. The question for him once he signs will be if he can prove that he is not going to be a limited offensive player. The thing is, he doesn’t have to be Wade Boggs because his speed and defense are going to carry him. I think he’s got enough in his hands to be a 50 hitter. If that happens, Bisson is a big league second baseman.
5-27 from: - http://www.mlbbonusbaby.com/2010/5/27/1489645/top-5-by-position-second-basemen#comments - Chris Bisson is a Canadian prospect that only moved over to second base this spring to accommodate a better defensive shortstop in teammate Taylor Black. Bisson sat on the bench as a part-time player during his freshman year, but he was a breath of fresh air with his hard-nosed play for the Wildcats as a sophomore in 2009. After leading the Cape Cod League in steals last summer, he was expected to step up even more as a junior. However, he’s basically stagnated due to an offensive approach that is questionable. Instead of letting his plus speed play out, he’s tried to drive the ball in the air too much, causing a decline in his batting average and only minimal returns on his actual overall production. However, he’s still a solid prospect, and with some tweaking, he could be a solid contributor as a pro. His tools rely on the plus speed mentioned above. He causes havoc on the basepaths, and he’s made big strides in reading pitchers over the last 12 months. He’s a hard worker with an aptitude for learning, and even though his hit tool is average and he has very little raw power, he’s going to be productive enough offensively to squeeze out a starting spot on a number of teams. Defensively, he has above-average range for the position, but a fringe-average arm limits him to the right side of the infield for the foreseeable future. He could return to shortstop in a pinch if needed, but that doesn’t use his natural tools as effectively as second base does. He could be off the board as early as the third round and shouldn’t last into the sixth round.
7. Jadamion Williams – Brooks-Debartolo Collegiate Prep HS (FL)
2-8 from www.pnrscouting.com: - mock drafted 272nd
8. Josh Adams – Florida
2-8 from www.pnrscouting.com: - mock drafted 262nd
4-29 from: - http://baseballdraftreport.com – top 30 second basemen: - 21. Florida JR 2B Josh Adams– Personal favorite heading into the year has struggled as one of the veteran anchors of a young Gators lineup. His scouting reports are largely favorable, despite the subpar junior season. Like a few other names below him on the list, Adams will be helped by his positional versatility as he tries to make it in the pros as a utility guy.
5-9 from: - http://www.mlbbonusbaby.com/2010/5/9/1464253/more-seiler-ratings#storyjump - Josh Adams, 2B, Florida, 4D4: Solid college player has had rough junior year. Profiles as utility player anyway due to lack of tools, and he'll need to improve contact rate to project as a regular second baseman. Could be a super utility player that plays the outfield in addition to second and third base.
9. Derek Luciano – Central Florida
2-8 from www.pnrscouting.com: - mock drafted 299th
4-29 from: - http://baseballdraftreport.com – top 30 second basemen: - 22. Central Florida JR 2B Derek Luciano – His name makes me think slick fielding, speed middle infielder, but in reality Luciano is a below-average runner and inconsistent fielder who will have to rely on his lefthanded power if he wants to make it in pro ball. His good, but not great 2010 season has tempered some of the pre-season enthusiasm surrounding his prospect stock.
10. Phil Gosselin:
4-22 from pnrscouting: mock drafted #126
4-30 from: - http://baseballdraftreport.com – Top 2Bmen in draft: - 6. Virginia JR 2B Phil Gosselin– Remains an average to slightly below-average infielder (capable of playing third and short in a pinch) with an average arm well suited for second base, who many believe may ultimately wind up in the outfield as a pro. That’s what I’ve heard, anyway. I’m not necessarily buying it; heck, his mere presence on this list indicates I think it would be best to keep Gosselin at second as long as possible professionally. He doesn’t have the glove/range for center, and doesn’t have the bat for a corner. If he isn’t a starting caliber outfielder, why not at least give him a shot in the infield? Coming into the year I thought his future was as a big league super-sub, but his big junior year has me thinking his bat could work at second if the glove cooperates
5-3 from: - http://thecollegebaseballblog.com/2010/05/03/acc-players-of-the-week-22 - Top-ranked Virginia, which currently owns a 10-game winning streak, swept ACC Baseball honors for the week ending May 2. Junior second baseman Phil Gosselin was voted the ACC Player of the Week. The ACC hits leader with 77, Gosselin had hits in all five games (including four multiple-hit games) as Virginia completed a perfect week. Last Tuesday saw Gosselin break a scoreless tie with a two-out grand slam in the second inning of Virginia’s 6-3 win over Coastal Carolina, which was ranked as high as fourth nationally. The next night, he tied a career high with four hits against Georgetown.The West Chester, Pa., native then went 6-for-16 over the weekend at Duke, with three doubles. For the week, the Cavaliers’ leadoff hitter had a .500 on base percentage and posted a team-best eight RBIs.
5-27 from: - http://www.mlbbonusbaby.com/2010/5/27/1489645/top-5-by-position-second-basemen#comments - Phil Gosselin hasn’t always played full-time at second base, including this year, as he’s split time between second and left field for one of the best college teams in the country at Virginia. Scouts are fairly split on whether he profiles better in left or at second, but there is some consensus that it’s at least worth a shot to see if he can continue to handle second at the next level. As you can tell from his stats, he’s had a breakout season of sorts, showing his exceptional ability to hit the ball hard to all parts of the ballpark. He is the definition of a doubles hitter with enough power to keep pitchers honest, and he’s going to be productive with the stick as a pro. Gosselin’s overall tools don’t necessarily stack up well compared to some of his peers. As somewhat of a professional hitter without a true defensive home, he’s flashed an above-average hit tool with fringe-average raw power, and he’s going to make pitchers work. A lot of his strikeouts are a function of how many pitches he takes, and he’s going to be an asset in a Major League lineup as a number two hitter. He’s an average runner underway, but he’s an above-average baserunner and reads pitchers well. Defensively, his range is a little below-average up the middle, but his arm is average and good enough for second. He’s played shortstop before, as well, and if anything, he’s as steady as they come with the glove. He should go somewhere in the range of the fourth to sixth round.
11. Michael Bortolotti – Milton HS – 5-7… average speed… can hit to all fields,,, average fielding at SS… projects out as 2Bman…
12. Parks Jordan –
11-2 from www.thehardballtimes.com: - Parks Jordan, 2B, 2010, Winston-Salem, N.C., Canes - Beautiful left-handed line-drive swing (reminded me of Seth Smith), though I didn’t see much over the fence power potential. He struck out on a questionable call, and threw a pretty mild tantrum. Sort of slammed his helmet in the dugout and was pretty verbal (though not toward the umpire). A lot of scouts look down on stuff like this, but I see two sides to the coin; on one hand, maybe he does not deal with failure so well. But to me, it at least shows he gives a damn, and I like guys with a competitive streak. He’s not a high-round guy to me right now (I’d say more fourth-sixth), but he’s worth keeping an eye on. He’s committed to the University of North Carolina, which is a hitters hell. But if he’s able to prove me wrong and develop some more power during his college years, he could climb.
13. Mike Sodders – N.M. State – senior… 2009: .422 13-HR 68-RBI
12-20 from www.thecollegebaseballblog.com: - votoed to the 1st team NCBWA 2010 All-American Team
1-31: Named to the 2010 Ping!Baseball All American Teams: - SECOND BASE - Second Team: Mike Sodders, N.M. State
14. Braeden Riley – Sam Houston St. – junior… 2009: .387 2-HR 39-RBI
12-20 from www.thecollegebaseballblog.com: - votoed to the 3rd team NCBWA 2010 All-American Team
4-29 from: - http://baseballdraftreport.com – top 30 second basemen: - 28. Sam Houston State JR 2B Braden Riley – Another player with an interesting hit tool, but probably not enough power or patience to advance too far up the ladder professionally.
15. Colin Walsh – Stanford – junior… S/R…
7-23: stats thru 7-15 in Cape Cod League: .292, 5-RBIs, 4-SB… starting in Cape Cod All-Star game
4-30 from: - http://baseballdraftreport.com – Top 2Bmen in draft: - 4. Stanford JR 2B Colin Walsh – I wrote before the season that Walsh had a really pretty swing that caused scouts to project more power in his future. The future is now. Walsh’s excellent results on the field have finally caught up to his positive scouting reports. He also has an outstanding glove at second that may actually be good enough to work at shortstop, giving hope that he can be a utility infielder in the mold of Marco Scutaro someday. His offensive progression with Stanford actually reminds me of former Cardinal Cord Phelps, but, and this bears repeating, Walsh’s glove is outstanding. Phelps was a third rounder as a hitter with slightly less college production, a bit more physical projection, and a significantly lesser glove. 2010 is a really strong draft, especially near the top, but I’d still say that comparison bodes well for Walsh come draft day.
16. Robby Price:
4-30 from: - http://baseballdraftreport.com – Top 2Bmen in draft: - 12. Kansas SR 2B Robby Price – Differences between Bisson and Price are more perception than reality at this point. Bisson offers up more speed and a little more power projection, but Price has the edge in the field and batting eye. For teams that go overslot both early (first 5 rounds) and late (round 25 and up) in the draft, the middle rounds — 10ish to 25ish — are an area where cheap organizational types are often gobbled up. Price fits that prototype, but is more talented than the typical fringe of the roster taken.
5-11 from: - http://thecollegebaseballblog.com/2010/05/10/phillips-66-big-12-baseball-players-of-the-week-awards/#more-26199 - Robby Price (Kansas) has been tabbed the Phillips 66 Big 12 Baseball Player of the Week. - PLAYER OF THE WEEK - Robby Price, Kansas, 2B, Sr., 5-11, 185, Lawrence, Kan./Free State - Senior Robby Price hit .583 with two doubles, a triple, two home runs and eight RBI to help the Jayhawks sweep Missouri in the Border Showdown. It was the first three-game sweep of the Tigers since 1994. Price hit a pair of home runs in Sunday’s finale, marking the first multi-homer game of his career. He collected three hits and three RBI in the second game of the series while driving in two in KU’s six-run fourth inning, erasing a five-run deficit. The Lawrence, Kan.-infielder recorded two hits, a double and a triple, along with three runs scored in the series opener. Overall, Price went 7-for-12 against the Tigers with five of his hits going for extra bases. He also drew three walks and a hit by pitch to reach base at a .688 clip.
17. Pierre LePage:
4-29 from: - http://baseballdraftreport.com – top 30 second basemen: - 26. Connecticut JR 2B Pierre LePage – Stock is lower here than in other spots, an opinion based largely on his groundball inducing swing plane and lack of meaningful physical strength. In his defense, LePage qualifies as the type of player who grows on you every time you watch him play; pro scouts love guys like that. He can do just enough of everything, and do it all pretty well, but his slap hitting style could get the bat knocked out of his hands as a pro.
5-8 from: - http://baseballbeginnings.com/2010/05/08/pierre-lepage-video - I’m willing to bet that one very unsung reason behind UConn’s great season and push towards the Regionals has to do with their trusty second baseman, Pierre LePage. Good teams frequently have that glue in the middle and atop the order, the guy who basically is a blue-collar guy for the benefit of the players around him. It really ought to be a scouting grade. How does the player make other players better around him? If you did that, you’d find LePage would have a high mark.
18. Nick Crawford – UAB – junior… L/R…
7-23: stats thru 7-15 in Cape Cod League: .341, 6-SB… starting in Cape Cod All-Star game
19. Austin Anderson –
11-2 from www.thehardballtimes.com: - Austin Anderson, SS/2B, 2010, Sorrento, Fla., Orlando Scorpions - Anderson bats left-handed with a beautiful line-drive stroke who uses all fields. Plus bat speed, very short, quick stroke and consistently made hard contact. Saw him pull a left-hander for a long single to right-center, and later scream a liner into the left center gap off a righty. He’s an above-average runner; I had him at 4.08 to first base. The swing really made an impression on me, though, and he looked great playing second. Heard he has committed to Mississippi.
20. Jeff Yamaguchi – Lakewood HS (CA) – 6-1, 175, catcher also –
8-1: from http://perfectgame.atinfopop.com: will have to find a spot for him, 2b would be a good spot for him, solid hitting stroke, hits the ball where it's pitched, made adjustments, aggressive contact, solid arm strength, 45 right now, runs ok, not a clogger and deceptive physical strength.
21. B.J. Guinn – Cal – 6-1, 165, R/R –
8-1: from http://perfectgame.atinfopop.com: can switch hit, best at RHH, solid defensively, runs at least ave.
4-30 from: - http://baseballdraftreport.com – Top 2Bmen in draft: - 11. California JR 2B BJ Guinn – Might be good enough to hold an everyday job for a team that emphasizes speed and defense up the middle based on those two plus tools alone. The speed is very good, I don’t want to deemphasize his ability there, but it’s Guinn’s glove that really gets your attention. His arm may be a little short for the left side of the diamond, but his crazy range as second can’t help but make you wonder what kind of shortstop he’d be if given the chance.
22. Adam Duvall – Louisville senior… 2009: .328, 11-HR, 51-RBI
1-4: named to the 2010 Preseason All-Big East First Team as named by a vote of conference coaches:
4-30 from: - http://baseballdraftreport.com – Top 2Bmen in draft: - 5. Louisville SR 2B Adam Duvall – I’m as big a Louisville fan (prospect-wise) you’ll find outside of Kentucky, so take the Duvall ranking with a grain of salt. His speed and defense aren’t elite, but he’s strong enough in both areas. It’ll be his bat that gets him his shot as he rises to minor league prominence. Duvall reminds me a lot of great deal of 2009 fourth round pick Derek McCallum. Both players have really nice swings who should each hit for good averages with enough extra-base hits to keep pitchers honest.
23. Shaun Rockey –
1-31: Named to the 2010 Ping!Baseball All American Teams: - SECOND BASE - Second Team: Sean Rockey, George Washington
24. Steven Cardullo - FSU
3-11 from: - http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/baseball/news?slug=kr-rogersroad031110&prov=yhoo&type=lgns - Florida State’s Stephen Cardullo is evidence you can go from rags to riches with hard work. The senior infielder is off to a phenomenal start this season. He has improved in many facets of the game, but most impressive is his start at the plate, where he has a .425 batting average, two homers and 19 RBIs. Cardullo is the shining star for the Seminoles so far. He wasn’t always this highly thought of, though. Cardullo had a successful high school career, but Florida State wasn’t interested in offering him a scholarship. Still, Cardullo was willing to do anything to become a Seminoles baseball player and assistant coach Mike Martin Jr. eventually offered him an opportunity to walk on
25. Andrew Collazo
3-17 from: - http://baseballdraftreport.com - JR 2B Andrew Collazo (Texas A&M): 4-5, SB, RBI - Collazo gets a mention here because he was a key member of last year’s ridiculous Howard College team that went 63-1. He’s also a plus defender at second with just enough offensive value to get himself drafted late, contingent on his 2010 performance
26. Jason Martinson –
3-22 from: - http://thecollegebaseballblog.com/2010/03/22/southland-baseball-players-of-the-week-6 - Texas State infielder Jason Martinson has been named the Southland Conference Hitter of the Week and McNeese State right-handed pitcher Jaden Dillon has been named the Southland Pitcher of the Week, the league office announced Monday. Martinson helped Texas State claim its second Southland Conference series of the season by winning two of three games at Sam Houston State. The junior from Hurst, Texas (Grapevine), hit for the cycle in the first game of a doubleheader on Sunday. He doubled in the second inning to break open a 1-1 tie and delivered a two-run home run in the ninth to lift the Bobcats to a 9-8 victory. In the second game of the doubleheader, he was 2-for-3 and drove in two more runs. Martinson batted .471 in four games last week, which also included a 13-7 win at Texas Tech. For the week, he had two doubles, a triple and a home run, scored five times and drove in five runs.
27. Quentin Cate:
4-6 from: - http://thecollegebaseballblog.com/2010/04/06/tcbb-players-of-the-week-april-6th - The College Baseball Blog continues our tradition of naming National Player and Pitcher of the Week. This week we honor Wright State senior infielder Quentin Cate. Cate picks up Player of the Week honors after going 15-for-25 (.600) with two homers, six doubles, 11 runs and 20 RBI in five games last week. He also registered a 1.080 slugging percentage and .615 on-base percentage for the Raiders. The infielder recorded multiple hits and RBI in all five tilts last week. In a three-game weekend series against Butler, he went 11-for-16 with 10 scores and 15 RBI.
28. Zach MacPhee:
4-9 from: - http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/college/on-campus/2010/269792.html - Top Hitter - Zack MacPhee, 2b, Arizona State - Without a consensus pick, let's give the nod to MacPhee, the best player for the nation's No. 1 team, Arizona State. The 5-foot-8, 172-pound second baseman's batting average (.429) is 100 points higher than Rendon's, and he actually has a higher on-base percentage than Rendon (.525 to .511), a higher slugging percentage (.755 to .701), and more RBIs (36 to 34), though he has just three homers to Rendon's 11. MacPhee's 10 triples lead the nation, and he has 11 steals in 12 attempts, demonstrating his ability to put his well-above-average speed to use. MacPhee has also taken advantage of his speed and added to his offensive versatility by learning to switch-hit, after spending most of last year batting only from the right side.
29. Brian Fletcher:
4-19 from: - http://www.baseballrumormill.com/2010/04/mlb-draft-notes-saturday-review-417/#more - He has not received much attention to date, but Auburn second baseman Brian Fletcher hit his 11th and 12th home runs of the season with the second one coming against possible 2011 top pick, Vanderbilt's Jack Armstrong
30. Joe Terry:
4-30 from: - http://baseballdraftreport.com – Top 2Bmen in draft: - 8. Cerritos CC SO 2B Joe Terry– The quintessential hitting machine who makes hard contact darn near every time he steps to the plate. He does more than just hit, however; Terry is also an above-average runner with a strong arm who, despite appearing to fight his body sometimes in the field, should settle in as at least an average second baseman with the help of professional coaching. He reinvented himself somewhat in 2010 sacrificing some power for a more patient approach, but the 19th round pick from 2010 has maintained that draft momentum all the same.
31. Brandon Boykin:
4-30 from: - http://baseballdraftreport.com – Top 2Bmen in draft: - 9. Rutgers JR 2B Brandon Boykin– After excelling against relatively high level northeastern prep competition at Don Bosco Prep, Boykin has finally enjoyed a breakout season with the bat in year three at Rutgers. Friend of a friend of a friend told me the Phillies have him as a high priority mid-round middle infield target, no doubt because of his plus speed and surprisingly springy bat.
32. Curtis Wilson:
4-30 from: - http://baseballdraftreport.com – Top 2Bmen in draft: - 14. Southern JR 2B Curtis Wilson– Underrated player who is a good athlete with above-average speed and a really well rounded tool set. Biggest obstacle might be the lack of exposure and lack of one signature standout tool. Funny how a strength (no true weaknesses to his game) can be portrayed as a liability (no eye opening tool) in the next sentence. Speaking of second baseman from Southern, how awesome was Rickie Weeks? His junior year numbers: .500/.619/.987 with 27 steals in 27 tries. He’s probably the second baseman on my all-time favorite non-home team player team.
33. Cory Jones:
4-29 from: - http://baseballdraftreport.com – top 30 second basemen: - 15. Cal State Fullerton JR 2B Corey Jones – Jones is in pretty good company as the best 2010 draft-eligible Titan after a couple of guys named Christian Colon and Gary Brown. Live bat, power potential, and quickly maturing plate discipline, plus the possibility of some time back at his natural shortstop make for an intriguing pro prospect with more upside than your typical college athlete.
34. Steve McQuail:
4-29 from: - http://baseballdraftreport.com – top 30 second basemen: - 16. Canisius JR 2B Steve McQuail – McQuail has a pro body, pro power, and pro arm, but currently has too many holes in his long, loopy swing to profile as a regular. That said, McQuail’s tools are good enough to believe he has a chance to succeed professionally with the help of a good professional hitting instructor. I know I’m coming off like a broken record here, but when I read certain aspects of McQuail’s scouting reports (athletic, plus arm, only decent at second) I really can’t help but think some pro team has to think of him as a potential catching conversion.
35. Mike Freeman:
4-29 from: - http://baseballdraftreport.com – top 30 second basemen: - 17. Clemson SR 2B Mike Freeman – Almost an identical player to Scott Lawson, but Freeman provides better footwork in the field and a smidge better speed on the bases. He also possesses one of the quietest, most compact swings I’ve seen at the college level in some time, and has a well earned reputation as a player who doesn’t go the plate without first knowing as much as possible about the opposition. Solid hit tool, above-average speed, good defender, efficient swing, veteran approach….obvious enough we have another personal favorite on our hands, right?
36. Scott Lawson:
4-29 from: - http://baseballdraftreport.com – top 30 second basemen: - 18. Miami SR 2B Scott Lawson – Lawson, Jemile Weeks’ successor at second for Miami, has done nothing but hit since stepping on campus. Above-average hit tool, fantastic plate discipline, ten homer pro pop, and strong defense across the board…can you tell he is a personal favorite? Lawson’s spot on the list begins a stretch of players that I think can play regularly in the big leagues if everything, and I mean everything, breaks right for them.
37. A.J. Wirnsberger
4-29 from: - http://baseballdraftreport.com – top 30 second basemen: - 19. Georgia Southern SR 2B AJ Wirnsberger – The position-less Wirnsberger is on the second base list by default because, well, his bat is good enough to get him drafted, but his glove leaves much to be desired. Unlike a few other defensively flexible players on the list, Wirnsberger projects as a utility guy based more on a reputation as an iffy glove that needs to be hidden rather than a naturally versatile defender. The reason finding him a position is worth the trouble at all is the bat. A hotly recruited prep player, Wirnsberger has good loft on his swing and punishes mistakes, especially when he can get his hands extended. He could find a home behind the plate if a team believes his strong arm will play.
38. Joey Bergman:
4-29 from: - http://baseballdraftreport.com – top 30 second basemen: - 20. College of Charleston SR 2B Joey Bergman – Any regular reader should know that I wasn’t a Christian Colon fan coming into the year. To fill the void atop my shortstop rankings, I stubbornly tried to convince myself that there was somebody at the college level better. The one name that came up in conversations with people smarter than I am multiple times was Joey Bergman, but always with the caveat that he won’t stick at the position as a pro. Ultimately, nobody could vouch for any player over Colon at shortstop, but the positive vibes I kept hearing when discussing Bergman stuck with me. He’s another versatile defender who can play both up the middle spots, and his high contact rate bodes well going forward.
39. Greg Hopkins:
4-29 from: - http://baseballdraftreport.com – top 30 second basemen: - 23. St John’s JR 2B Greg Hopkins – A college third baseman better suited for second in the pros, Hopkins is a very well-rounded ballplayer who grades out with at least fringe average tools in all areas but foot speed. His 45 arm should be enough for second, and his gap power is better suited for the keystone sack than third. Looks like another organizational guy with the upside of a utility player.
40. Rafael Valenzuela:
4-29 from: - http://baseballdraftreport.com – top 30 second basemen: - 24. Arizona JR 2B Rafael Valenzuela – Less toolsy, less athletic version of Jared Humphreys, but similar defensive versatility and solid hit tool. What separates Valenzuela is a more professional approach at the plate and, despite less upside, a greater chance of helping a big league team someday.
41. Dallas Poulk:
4-29 from: - http://baseballdraftreport.com – top 30 second basemen: - 25. North Carolina State SR 2B Dallas Poulk – Four years of starter’s at bats have finally paid off for the hard working Poulk. Long considered the inferior prospect to his cousin, Dallas, Drew’s ultra productive 2010 season has finally gotten the attention of area scouts. What they are seeing is another potential organizational player at second, but one with just enough juice in his bat to make a conversion to catching a worthwhile risk.
42. Jared Humphreys:
4-29 from: - http://baseballdraftreport.com – top 30 second basemen: - 27. Kent State JR 2B Jared Humphreys – Really good athlete with plus speed and great baseball instincts who is capable of playing a variety of positions on the diamond. He’s probably best defensively in the outfield, but his bat players much better at second. Could be an organizational player who wears down a team over
43. J B Brown:
4-29 from: - http://baseballdraftreport.com – top 30 second basemen: - 29. Pacific JR 2B JB Brown – Above-average hitter in the mold of Josh Vitters, Howie Kendrick, and Placido Polanco. Of course, those three names were superior prospects at various points in their respective development; I’m talking about the type of hitter, not necessarily the quality of hitter. Brown is a notorious hacker, but has shown an uncanny ability to swing at pitches he can handle. Hitters like this are typically far too batting average dependent to emerge as successful professionals, but they make for interesting case studies as they progress through the minors.
44. Rico Noel:
5-2 from: - http://baseballbeginnings.com/2010/05/02/rico-noel-video - Rico Noel has a nice offensive foundation, can run and play defense. This is the kind of guy who has better tools than he gets credit for. I’m willing to bet the guy has been told he’s too short at every level. Well, you can’t take away tools. I liked his overall skill set, still do, and he’s going to be a very solid draft pick in 2010.
45. P.J. Jimenez:
5-10 from: - http://thecollegebaseballblog.com/2010/05/10/big-south-players-of-the-week-10 - Liberty senior second baseman P.J. Jimenez (Yucaipa, Calif.) has been named the Big South Conference’s Choice Hotels Player of the Week - Jimenez batted .611 (11-18) with nine runs scored, four doubles, four walks, two stolen bases and three runs driven in five wins last week. He had four multi-hit games, including three hits at George Mason as well as in the series finale at Charleston Southern. Jimenez scored four times against the Patriots, then went 2-2 with two RBI and two doubles against Maryland. In Liberty’s series sweep of Charleston Southern, Jimenez had two hits, two walks and two runs scored in Friday’s opener, added a hit and stolen base in the second game, and finished the weekend with two runs, a double and walk on Sunday. For the week, he posted an .833 slugging percentage and a .667 on-base percentage, and he handled 22 fielding chances without an error.
46. Ryan Hutson:
5-17 from: - http://thecollegebaseballblog.com/2010/05/17/southland-baseball-players-of-the-week-12 - UTSA second baseman Ryan Hutson has been named the Southland Conference Hitter of the Week. Hutson helped lead the Roadrunners to their second consecutive conference sweep last weekend against McNeese State. The junior from Round Rock, Texas (Round Rock), was 9-of-12 in the series with three home runs, seven RBI and seven runs scored. Hutson reached base in 12 of his 15 plate appearances, recorded a trifecta of three-hit games and had a home run in all three contests. He now has 38 career home runs, which moved him into a third-place tie with Michael Rockett (2006-09) on the program’s all-time list. Hutson enters the final week of the regular season riding an eight-game hit streak, during which he is batting 20-for-32 (.625) with four home runs and nine RBI. He leads the team with a .360 batting average, 14 home runs and 42 RBI.
47. Adam Smith:
5-17 from: - http://thecollegebaseballblog.com/2010/05/17/phillips-66-big-12-baseball-weekly-awards-5 - Adam Smith (Texas A&M) has been recognized as the Phillips 66 Big 12 Baseball Player of the Week. Adam Smith, Texas A&M, 2B, So., 6-3, 200, Spring, Texas/Klein - Smith hit .471 with two home runs and nine RBI to lead the Aggies to a perfect 5-0 week. Two of his RBI were game-winners. The first broke a 1-1, sixth-inning tie at Houston on Tuesday with his first career grand slam. Smith then delivered a key two-run single in a seven-run fourth against Centenary on Wednesday. The Spring, Texas-infielder opened the scoring against Oklahoma State on Friday with a home run to left center. On Saturday, Smith tripled off the wall in right center, driving home two in an eventual 10-inning game two win over the Cowboys.
48. Mitch Blackburn:
5-24 from: - http://www.themwc.com/sports/m-basebl/spec-rel/052410aab.html - San Diego State senior 2B Mitch Blackburn has been named Mountain West Conference Player of the Week. Blackburn went 11-for-14 (.786) in San Diego State's three-game sweep of MWC opponent UNLV last week. The Temecula, Calif., product hit four doubles and one triple while driving in six runs and scoring four more in the series. In Thursday's 8-4 decision, he opened with a sacrifice bunt and then had four hits in four more plate appearances, finishing with two doubles, two RBI and one run scored. On Friday, Blackburn aided the Aztecs' 12-6 win with a career-high five hits in six at-bats, hitting another double while driving in four runs and scoring two more. In Saturday's 6-4 series finale victory, Blackburn hit a triple and a double while scoring once as part of a 2-for-4 performance at the plate. For the week, he tallied a 1.214 slugging percentage and .800 on-base percentage. Defensively, he was perfect in the field, recording four putouts and nine assists in 13 chances at second base.
Mack’s Mets – the premier site for information on the New York Mets talent pipeline and dialogue on Mets prospects, Mets news, and Mets opinions.
5/31/10
2010 NCAA Tournament Field
Arizona St. Region (Tempe, AZ)
1. Arizona St. (47-8)
4. Milwaukee (33-24)
3. Hawai’i (33-26)
2. San Diego (36-20)
Texas Region (Austin, TX)
1. Texas (46-11)
4. Rider (36-21)
3. UL-Lafayette (37-20)
2. Rice (38-21)
Florida Region (Gainesville, FL)
1. Florida (42-15)
4. Bethune-Cookman (35-20)
3. Oregon St. (31-22)
2. Florida Atlantic (35-22)
Coastal Carolina Region (Myrtle Beach, SC)
1. Coastal Carolina (51-7)
4. Stony Brook (29-25)
3. NC State (38-22)
2. College of Charleston (42-17)
Virginia Region (Charlottesville, VA)
1. Virginia (47-11)
4. Virginia Commonwealth (34-24-1)
3. St. John’s (NY) (40-18)
4. Ole Miss (38-22)
UCLA Region (Los Angeles, CA)
1. UCLA (43-13)
4. Kent St. (39-23)
3. UC Irvine (37-19)
2. LSU (40-20)
Louisville Region (Louisville, KY)
1. Louisville (48-12)
4. St. Louis (33-27)
3. Illinois St. (31-22)
2. Vanderbilt (41-17)
Georgia Tech Region (Atlanta, GA)
1. Georgia Tech (45-13)
4. Mercer (37-22)
3. Elon (38-22)
2. Alabama (37-22)
Miami Region (Coral Gables, FL)
1. Miami (40-17)
4. Dartmouth (26-17)
3. Florida International (36-23)
2. Texas A&M (40-13-1)
Fullerton Region (Fullerton, CA)
1. Cal St. Fullerton (41-15)
4. Minnesota (30-28)
3. New Mexico (37-20)
2. Stanford (31-23)
UCONN Region (Norwich, CT)
1. Florida St. (42-17)
4. Central Connecticut St. (33-21)
3. Oregon (38-22)
2. Connecticut (47-14)
TCU Region (Fort Worth, TX)
1. TCU (46-11)
4. Lamar (35-24)
3. Arizona (33-22)
2. Baylor (34-22)
Auburn Region (Auburn, AL)
1. Auburn (40-19)
4. Jacksonville St. (32-24)
3. Southern Miss (35-22)
2. Clemson (38-21)
South Carolina Region (Columbia, SC)
1. South Caroina (43-15)
4. Bucknell (25-33)
3. The Citadel (42-20)
2. Virginia Tech (38-20)
Arkansas Region (Fayetteville, AR)
1. Arkansas (40-18)
4. Grambling (22-30)
3. Kansas St. (35-20)
2. Washington St. (34-20)
Oklahoma Region (Norman, OK)
1. Oklahoma (44-15)
4. Oral Roberts (35-25)
3. North Carolina (35-20)
2. California (29-23)
1. Arizona St. (47-8)
4. Milwaukee (33-24)
3. Hawai’i (33-26)
2. San Diego (36-20)
Texas Region (Austin, TX)
1. Texas (46-11)
4. Rider (36-21)
3. UL-Lafayette (37-20)
2. Rice (38-21)
Florida Region (Gainesville, FL)
1. Florida (42-15)
4. Bethune-Cookman (35-20)
3. Oregon St. (31-22)
2. Florida Atlantic (35-22)
Coastal Carolina Region (Myrtle Beach, SC)
1. Coastal Carolina (51-7)
4. Stony Brook (29-25)
3. NC State (38-22)
2. College of Charleston (42-17)
Virginia Region (Charlottesville, VA)
1. Virginia (47-11)
4. Virginia Commonwealth (34-24-1)
3. St. John’s (NY) (40-18)
4. Ole Miss (38-22)
UCLA Region (Los Angeles, CA)
1. UCLA (43-13)
4. Kent St. (39-23)
3. UC Irvine (37-19)
2. LSU (40-20)
Louisville Region (Louisville, KY)
1. Louisville (48-12)
4. St. Louis (33-27)
3. Illinois St. (31-22)
2. Vanderbilt (41-17)
Georgia Tech Region (Atlanta, GA)
1. Georgia Tech (45-13)
4. Mercer (37-22)
3. Elon (38-22)
2. Alabama (37-22)
Miami Region (Coral Gables, FL)
1. Miami (40-17)
4. Dartmouth (26-17)
3. Florida International (36-23)
2. Texas A&M (40-13-1)
Fullerton Region (Fullerton, CA)
1. Cal St. Fullerton (41-15)
4. Minnesota (30-28)
3. New Mexico (37-20)
2. Stanford (31-23)
UCONN Region (Norwich, CT)
1. Florida St. (42-17)
4. Central Connecticut St. (33-21)
3. Oregon (38-22)
2. Connecticut (47-14)
TCU Region (Fort Worth, TX)
1. TCU (46-11)
4. Lamar (35-24)
3. Arizona (33-22)
2. Baylor (34-22)
Auburn Region (Auburn, AL)
1. Auburn (40-19)
4. Jacksonville St. (32-24)
3. Southern Miss (35-22)
2. Clemson (38-21)
South Carolina Region (Columbia, SC)
1. South Caroina (43-15)
4. Bucknell (25-33)
3. The Citadel (42-20)
2. Virginia Tech (38-20)
Arkansas Region (Fayetteville, AR)
1. Arkansas (40-18)
4. Grambling (22-30)
3. Kansas St. (35-20)
2. Washington St. (34-20)
Oklahoma Region (Norman, OK)
1. Oklahoma (44-15)
4. Oral Roberts (35-25)
3. North Carolina (35-20)
2. California (29-23)
DRAFT: - Johnny Coy, Jacob Petricka, Brandon Workman, Taijuan Walker... and Tyler Holt
5-27 from: - http://baseballdraftreport.com/ - 2010 MLB Draft: Top 30 College Third Base Prospects - 12. Wichita State FR 3B Johnny Coy - Coy has taken a long, strange trip to get to this point, but the eventual payoff could very well make it all worth it. Coy’s story began as a two-sport high school star, regarded by many as a better basketball prospect than baseball. After getting drafted by the Phillies in the 7th round, protracted and sometimes testy (allegedly) negotiations between player and team led to the two sides opting to go their separate ways. Coy’s older brother was reportedly heavily involved with negotiations, strongly pushing his bro to either a) get every last penny from the Phillies as possible (making him a greedy villain to many) or b) go to school and get a quality education (a far more admirable position, some might say). Coy wound up enrolling at Arizona State, but never made it to baseball season. He left the Sun Devils to move closer to home after his father suffered a stroke in late 2008. That led him to Wichita State. As a Shocker, Coy has been able to focus on honing his considerable baseball skills. All of his raw tools grade out as average or better – 55 speed, 60 arm, 65-70 raw power, average hit tool, and, perhaps most controversially, above-average upside with the glove at third. I remember not believing for a second that he’d ever stick at third after seeing video of him in high school, but all of the noise regarding his defensive progress coming out of Wichita has been positive. I’m a big believer in the big (6-8, 210 pound) righthanded freshman. As mentioned, Coy was a 7th round pick by the Phillies back in 2008. The questions concerning his signability will probably keep him from hitting that mark here in 2010, but his true talent level makes him a top ten round candidate worth pursuing if he even begins to hint that he’ll consider signing.
5-30 from: - http://www.mlbbonusbaby.com/ - -The rise of Jacob Petricka intrigues me, but he's also a player I'm being more conservative about grading, as he's such a pop-up prospect with only a single definitely above-average pitch. He's also going to be 22 when he's drafted, so I don't believe he's got more coming in the way of secondary stuff. My reports have him sitting 92-94, touching 97, and while he has solid command, his curveball is only on the cusp between solid-average and above-average, meaning pro hitters will sit on that heater until he proves he command the deuce. His changeup is rudimentary, and he has an injury history, having had Tommy John surgery three and a half years ago, so I gave him a 1C3 grade, which was generous due to his fastball velocity. He could settle in as a late-inning reliever if he doesn't develop well as a starter.
5-31 from: - link - Brandon Workman: Workman is a junior out of Texas who has a good repertoire. Workman throws a two and four seamer (reaches mid-90’s), a 12-6 curve, a slider, cutter, and changeup. I won’t go too in depth, as he will certainly not be a top-7 pick, but he does have attributes to be between a 2-4 starter.
5-31 from: - http://baseballbeginnings.com/2010/05/31/taijuan-walker-report-updated - RHP 6-4, 190 Yucaipa HS, Yucaipa, CA PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: First thing I noticed was that he looked stronger here, particularly in his upper body. Still high hips, long and lose limbs, young features. STRENGTHS: Plus, plus arm speed. FB 91-95 (92-93), maintained deep into game. Breaking ball 74-75. CH 80-81. CH is his best secondary pitch now, shows early signs of throwing it from the same slot and release point. All around much better than he was in March. CB much better. WEAKNESSES: Inconsistent delivery points, helps him lose command of all three pitches. Doesn’t have complete mastery of a breaking ball yet; tries to throw the harder CB, sometimes chokes it, winds up slurving it. Loses his front side too many times still, flies open. SUMMARY: Better here than he was in March. Most power I’ve seen from him since the Fall. A big arm with a big future – good luck on pro side. GRADES (Present/Future): Fastball: 50/70 Curveball 40/50 Changeup 40/60 Control 40/50 Command 40/50 Overall Future Potential: 56
5-31 from: - http://www.deepleagues.com/?p=1733 - Another well-known college player who seems to be slipping under the radar. Holt has no incredible weakness, and seems to have very good upside with excellent speed and power potential. He is having an excellent senior season, batting .362 and recently hitting for the cycle. Therefore, Holt would be an excellent selection in the supplemental round.
DRAFT: - Anthony Ranaudo, Jason Martinson, Peter Tago, Justin O’Connor:... and Derek Dietrich
5-31 from: - http://metsmerizedonline.com/2010/05/mlb-draft-preview-righties.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+MetsMerizedOnline-GetMetsmerized-NewYorkMets+%28Mets+Merized+Online%29&utm_content=Twitter - Anthony Ranuado: What a difference a year makes. The guy was top 5 last year after leading LSU to the College World Series Championship. In case you were wondering how a can’t miss prospect is barely mentioned now; after an arm injury over the winter, he fell off a cliff production-wise. Ranuado (also a Boras client) has had a strong SEC tournament, in which he pitched three innings in relief to beat Alabama for the SEC title yesterday. It will not be enough to put him back in the top-20.
5-27 from: - http://baseballdraftreport.com/ - 2010 MLB Draft: Top 30 College Third Base Prospects - 13. Texas State JR 3B Jason Martinson - The more I do this, the more I begin to gain an appreciation for the way certain college programs recruit and develop talent. The job Ty Harrington has done in San Marcos is nothing short of spectacular. I relate it to a college football team with very specific offensive and defensive schemes recruiting not based on consensus overall talent levels, but rather best fits for the program. You’d think these less talented players would succeed mainly due to the system in college, but then, lo and behold, draft day comes and teams start taking these supposed system talents left and right. Turns out that players overlooked in high school can turn out to be pretty valuable prospects after three years of quality college coaching. I suppose that’s really just my long way of saying that even though it’s common the best high school players sign out of high school, and even though it’s common the best unsigned high school players go to the big name schools in Texas, it’s still possible to have some really talented players wind up at non-traditional baseball schools. Schools like that often have coaching staffs more familiar with coaching guys up than allowing them to coast by on natural abilities they may or may not have. Martinson is a plus athlete with very good defensive tools who, similar to Tennessee’s Matt Duffy, may be good enough with the leather to stick up the middle (either shortstop or second base) in some organizations. For me, however, his hands, range, and arm all play best at third, a position where he could eventually be a decidedly above-average defender. Offensively the rap on Martinson coming into the year was that he swung and miss too often to ever hit for an acceptable average professionally. That may or may not be true going forward — his 2010 performance has been very similar to his 2009 — but his quick wrists and above-average plate discipline should help keep his on-base percentage up even when he is striking out more often than you’d like. Teams will worry less about the low contact rate if Martinson can begin to tap into some of the long awaited above-average raw power that hasn’t really showed up through three seasons of college ball. If he can begin to apply some of his brute physical strength into homerun power professionally, he’s got a chance to be a starter. If not, his best chance of earning the big bucks will be in the good defender/patient pinch hitter role.
5-30 from: - http://www.mlbbonusbaby.com/ - -I'm not as bullish on Peter Tago as others seem to be, and I'm not sure why. To me, he smacks of an old school projection pick, the type of pitcher that used to bust so often, which led to the revolt against high school arms by a lot of the educated public. He works with a 90-93 mph fastball and a potential plus curve that he spins well, but his command of that curve is below-average, and he lacks a changeup. I don't believe throwing a large number of changeups is necessary to be a good high school prospect, but I'd like to know he at least has somewhat of a feel for it before I project him as anything more than a number three starter, which is my projection for him. I gave him a 1C2 grade, meaning I think he'll go in the top three rounds, has a ceiling as a mid-rotation pitcher, and he has a 20 percent chance of reaching that ceiling. That may seem like a bad grade, but that's fairly normal for the type of pitcher that Tago is.
5-31 from: - http://baseballbeginnings.com/category/2010-draft - Justin O’Conner moved behind the plate this spring after he was an infielder and a pitcher when I saw in summer 2009. At the time, I noted that O’Conner’s arm would play better in the infield than on the mound and that his athleticism would benefit him up the middle. I thought he’d have enough range for it. The reason I didn’t go for third base was because I wasn’t convinced he would have the power. When O’Conner moved behind the plate, his arm and athleticism played, the power that would have been marginal for third became above-average for behind the plate, and fielding range and running is a moot point. I haven’t seen him this spring so my grades are based off what I saw in the summer over a week-long look. Nobody learns to catch professionally overnight, no matter how polished they may look as amateurs. But athletic ability is what buys you time, and because the bat is there, people will be willing to take the chance to develop the talent.
5-31 from: - http://www.deepleagues.com/?p=1733 - Dietrich is the 3rd Astros 2007 signee to appear on this list. One of the leaders of an excellent Georgia Tech team, Dietrich is a player who has increased his draft status this season. He is a shortstop in college, but would likely move to either second or third base professionally. He does not have any exceptional tool and struggled in the Cape League, but he could increase his draft status if Georgia Tech makes a post-season run.
DRAFT: - Alex Wimmers, Michael Lorenzon, Alex McRee, Scott Woodward... and Ryan LaMarre
5-30 from: - http://www.mlbbonusbaby.com/ - -Though this is about a well-known prospect, I think he needs some love he hasn't really gotten on the national stage enough. Ohio State's Alex Wimmers has been pegged as the perennial "safe arm" in this class, and I think that's a bit unfair considering his track record and stuff. Sometimes players get put in that mold due to lacking a plus fastball, and that seems to be the case here. His fastball is above-average, though, sitting 90-92, touching 94, and with good life and command, and that's easily good enough to pitch off of against pro hitters. That's better than the famous Mike Leake last year. In addition, he throws what have been called two plus pitches, a curveball and changeup, and they've come a long way in three years. He has a long track record of success, having been an excellent player from Moeller High in Cincinnati before Ohio State, and I gave him a 1B2 grade, meaning I think he could be a number two starter. The ingredients are there, and even though someone like Deck McGuire offers more pitches and a more traditional frame, Wimmers could be a better long-term pitcher
5-30 from: - http://www.draftamerica.com/spotlight.php - Michael Lorenzon, OF, Fullerton Union HS (CA)... At 6'2-175, Lorenzon is lean and athletic. He's not particularly fast, but runs well and is simply a gamer. Very good contact hitter with some power potential and plus arm. Could be a real steal if he adds power to an already solid skill-set.
5-28 from: - link - LHP, Georgia: Big-bodied southpaw that throws from three-quarters delivery. Ground ball machine. Low-90's fastball with good late life and a sweeping slider that he backdoors to righties. Has dominating stuff at times, but struggles with control and command. Stuff could translate well to next level with some mechanical adjustments.
5-27 from: - http://baseballdraftreport.com/ - 2010 MLB Draft: Top 30 College Third Base Prospects - 15. Coastal Carolina JR 3B Scott Woodward - It’s very easy to envision Scott Woodward playing in the big leagues someday. He’s got an outstanding approach to hitting, a discerning batting eye, and a really good idea of his fundamental strengths and weaknesses at the plate. Woodward ably uses his plus-plus speed to leg out infield hits, turn balls driven to the gaps into triples, and steal bases at a tremendous success rate (46 steals in 52 tries). Home runs will likely never be a big part of his game, but his is a game based more on speed and plate discipline anyway. He could have the type of career many once projected for former Dodgers prospect Joe Thurston. Another comp that I like a lot is Phillies minor leaguer Tyson Gillies, a comparison made more interesting due to the fact both players are hearing impaired, but one not at all dependent on that fact as the basis of the comp. When I first thought of it a few weeks ago the connection didn’t even occur to me, but the two players share enough distinct offensive similarities to make it work.
5-28 from: - http://bleacherreport.com/tb/b4kdh - University of Michigan: There were few hitters in this Draft moving up the charts more than LaMarre as college's regular season drew to a close. After returning from a thumb injury and performing well once strength returned to the hand, he's being mentioned in first-round conversations. LaMarre has improved hitting skills after a rough Cape Cod season, should develop some power, can run well and plays excellent outfield defense. As a former hockey player, he's got that kind of mentality, and that's a good thing.
DRAFT: - Garin Cecchini, Jesse Biddle, Connor Powers, Ryan Delgado... and Reggie Golden
5-30 from: - http://www.draftamerica.com/spotlight.php - Garin Cecchini, 3B, Barbe HS (LA)... Injury took a toll on his season, and the LSU commitment may worry some, but Cecchini has a great deal of upside with a quick bat and strong build. Could be a real steal after round one.
5-29 from: - http://www.maxpreps.com/news/q68Z2mj6Ed-lugAcxJTdpg/biddle-looks-ready-to-take-next-big-league-step.htm - It’s probably why the 6-foot-5, 235-pound Germantown Friends (Philadelphia) senior left-hander, who is already committed to Oregon, is one of the most coveted high school gems in this year’s upcoming Major League Draft, running from June 7-9. During this season, Biddle has posted an 8-2 record, with a 1.20 ERA, with 125 strikeouts over 52 1/3 innings, giving up a mere nine earned runs all season. He’s shattered every Germantown Friends record, with 19-, 17- and 15-strikeout performances this year, including a no-hitter in leading the Tigers to their seventh straight Friends Schools League title. A four-year starter, Biddle, 18, has been clocked as fast as 96 mph, and has thrown consistently in the 91-93 mph range. But it is not just overpowering velocity that’s sitting down batters, Biddle has done it with movement, mixing in a curveball and shifty slider
5-28 from: - link - 3B/1B, Mississippi State: Plus power potential, significantly cut down the strikeouts from last year by drawing more walks than K's. Struggled with wood bats and quality pitching in the Cape the past two years. The bat will be his calling card, as he will be limited to 1B and is average defensively there. Strikeouts are still a concern, but he has a pretty good eye. Very similar to Roller.
5-27 from: - http://baseballdraftreport.com/ - 2010 MLB Draft: Top 30 College Third Base Prospects - 16. Azusa Pacific SR 3B Ryan Delgado - Delgado earned his way on the list because of his ridiculous power numbers over the years, but it certainly doesn’t hurt that Azusa Pacific has one of the most fun college names to say out loud. Try it, you won’t be disappointed. Besides the cool college name and plus power potential, Delgado has a true plus arm and a well above-average overall hit tool. His defense at third isn’t currently at the level where you could project him as above-average professionally, but the tools are there for him at least wind up a decent defensive player at least through his twenties. If it doesn’t work at third, however, there’s a backup plan that I know for a fact is actually Plan A for some teams. Delgado’s future for some teams might be donning the tools of ignorance behind the plate every day. It’s a stretch and it’s based largely on the 3B/C future that could be in store, but I can’t shake the Jake Fox comp for Delgado that I heard way back when.
5-28 from: - http://bleacherreport.com/tb/b4kdh - Wetumpka HS (Ala.): The proverbial raw, five-tool high school athlete, the emphasis with Golden should be on the word raw. He has the ability to do just about everything on the field, but simply needs to play and gain experience. He could be a find for a team willing to be patient and there was some buzz that there might be some teams as high as the end of the first round that might be.
Roster Moves
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· RHP Emary Frederick transferred from Binghamton (AA) to St. Lucie (High-A).
- LHP Mark Cohoon transferred from Savannah to SSA Brooklyn
- RHP Sammy Martinez transferred tfrom Savannah o SSA Brooklyn
- 1B/LF Alex Gregory added to Savannah from SSA Brooklyn
- INF Michael Fisher added to Savannah from Extended Spring Training
-IF Wilfredo Tovar from St. Luice to extended camp (hmm... sounds like Wilmer Flores might be pulled early today in Savannah...)
-IF Luis Nieve from extended camp to St. Lucie (hmm... and then again...)
-RP Brian Needham from St. Lucie to extended camp
-IF Rylan Sandoval from St. Lucie to extended camp
Buffalo Game Notes
Monday, May 31, 2010 (2:05 p.m.) - Coca-Cola Field
LHP Jonathon Niese (NR) vs. RHP Jeff Mandel (2-0, 1.56)
TV: Time Warner Cable SportsNet 13 Radio: WWKB AM 1520, bisons.com
TODAY’S GAME: This afternoon, the Bisons host the Syracuse Chiefs in the first game of a four-game series from Coca-Cola Field (2:05 p.m.). The Bisons are coming off a split of a four-game series with Toledo to begin this homestand. The Bisons are now 10-6 in a 20-game stretch from May 14 - June 3 that includes 16 of 20 games at Coca-Cola Field.
THRUWAY CUP: The Chiefs already have a stranglehold on the 2010 Thruway Series. Syracuse (9-1) swept the Herd (1-3) in a two-game set April 12-13 from Alliance Bank Stadium. The Chiefs then rattled off seven wins in eight games against Rochester (2-8). Dating back to last season, Buffalo is just 4-14 in their last 18 games against Syracuse.
NIESE TO SEE YOU: LHP JON NIESE will make an injury rehab start for the Bisons today. Niese was placed on the Mets’ disabled list on May 17 with a right hamstring strain. The southpaw is 1-2 with a 4.79ERA in eight starts with New York. The Bisons 2009 Opening Day Starter, Niese was 5-6 with a 3.82ERA in 16 starts with Buffalo last year. He led the IL with two complete games.
FIVE FOR HITTING: OF JESUS FELICIANO was a perfect 5-5 in yesterday’s loss. It was Buffalo’s first five-hit game since INF JOE INGLETT went 5-6 against Syracuse on August 25, 2005. Feliciano was an incredible 13-19 (.684) in the four-game series against Toledo and now leads the IL in average (.403) by 76 points. He also tops all IL hitters with 64 hits and a .448 on-base percentage. He trails only Albuquerque’s INF JOHN LINDSEY (.429) for the highest batting average in all of baseball. Feliciano has hit .477 (41-86) at home this year.
METS UPDATE: The Mets (26-25) blew out the Brewers 10-4 yesterday. New York pounded out 16 hits, including four from OF JEFF FRANCOEUR. Former Bisons OF ANGEL PAGAN hit his fourth homer of the year. Another former Bison, RHP R.A. DICKEY improved to 2-0 in three starts by allowing four runs in seven innings of work. The Mets are in San Diego to take on the Padres at 10:05 p.m. tonight.
Jesus Feliciano, Nick Evans, Emary Frederick, Who's On Second v7.0... and Kazmir on Ojeda:
Exactly what does it take to get a promotion to the major leagues? We all know Mike Hessman can’t seem to get one, though all he keeps doing is lead the AAA in home runs for the last 117 years. Take Jesus Felciano. He wins the Mets player of the year last year for his .311/.348/.382/.730 numbers at Buffalo and all he’s doing so far this year is .403/.448/.503/.951. I know the Mets don’t want to eat the 2-year contract on Gary Mathews Jr., but what signs are they sending if numbers like this can’t even warrant a utility, pinch hitting role for a player who has made the grade? Come on, guys.
It looks like Nick has his game back on track. He hit two more home runs last night and raised his AA-stats to: .286/.354/.542/.896, plus 10-HR, 32-RBI in 168-AB. The problem is what to do with him. He’s back to playing first base for Binghamton, but Buffalo has enough of them, with Mike Jacobs and Daniel Murphy. And, we don’t have to talk about how hard it’s going to be to move Ike Davis off the bag. No, it looks to me that Evans is in perfect position as trade bait, especially as part of a package around the all-star break, for a starting pitcher, like Roy Oswalt.
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I finished a piece on Frederick a few days ago, talking about the dominant job he has done at St. Lucie, plus the fast start he was off to in Binghamton. I have been a big fan of Emary since he played for Savannah and, in the piece, I had speculated that he might be back on the fast track again. Well, it looks like I was wrong. He stumbled twice for thw B-Mets and was demoted back to St. Lucie this morning. Frederick is 26-years old and looks to be headed in the wrong direction. This upsets me. He always had the talent to succeed, but there seems to be other factors preventing him to pitch consistently.
I checked the Buffalo box score the other night and saw that new second baseman Jason Turner had three hits last night. Then, I noticed something else. He wasn’t playing second base. Instead, he was on short and guess who was over at second? Yup, it was Ruben Tejada. Is this something we should get used to… again? Are the rumors of Luis Castillo being shopped around true? I guess this styory will continue…
SK: “I had to learn it, but to be honest it didn’t take me very long. As soon as I got to pro ball, I had some good coaching, some good tutoring, from legends. There was Bobby Ojeda—everyone that was in the Mets' organization when I got drafted there. I learned pretty quickly that that’s the key. You’ll find that your teammates will like you a lot better, too.”
BP: What did you learn from Bob Ojeda?
SK: Pretty much everything about the game. You can go as far as preparation, before a game, preparation the day of, before a game, preparation the four days in between. Even during the game, like how you approach hitters. How you breathe out there, how you relax and how you slow the game down when times get tough out there. With runners on and nobody out, you want to slow the game down a little bit. You don’t want it to start snowballing and get overwhelmed - link
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