6/23/10

2011 DRAFT: - Matt Purke, Hunter Scantling, Gerrit Cole, Alex Panteliodis... and Sherman Johnson

Matt Purke:



6-19 from: - link  - While the six Horn Frogs taken in the 2010 draft won't get you uber-excited, possible 2011 top ten pick Matt Purke will. I'll assume if you're a regular reader of this site that you're somewhat familiar with Purke. A first round pick out of high school in 2009 by the Texas Rangers, Purke failed to sign and became one of the highest profile college freshman in recent history. Purke, who will be a draft-eligible sophomore next year, entered the season with almost insurmountable expectations and some how surpassed them all. Going a perfect 14-0 this year, Purke struck out 31.6% of batters he faced while walking only 6.6%. He held opposing hitters to a paltry .219 average against and only 22.6% of the 84 hits he allowed went for extra bases. The big lefty can run his fastball into the mid-90's but usually sits 92-93 MPH. Purke used a two-seamer more as the season went on, getting good sinking action out of the 87-89 MPH offering. Purke's changeup has good, late tumble. And his breaking ball has plus movement. The only big concern with Purke going forward is his somewhat unorthodox motion, which causes him to sling the ball towards home. Still, his upside and track record will likely get him drafted near the top of the 2011 MLB draft.



Hunter Scantling:


6-21-10 from: - http://baseballdraftreport.com/  - 2011 MLB Draft Players to Know – Florida State - SO RHP Hunter Scantling* (5.00 FIP; 7.98 K/9; 2.66 BB/9; 44 IP) - Scantling is huge (6-8, 270 pounds) and athletic, but his stuff still doesn’t quite match his imposing frame. That could change in a hurry, but for now he’s still sitting in the same upper-80s with iffy breaking stuff that he was at back in high school. It’ll be interesting to see if he’ll get more consistent innings as a starter or if Florida State opts to keep him coming out of the bullpen in 2011.






Gerrit Cole:


6-22 from: - http://www.sportingnews.com/blog/MLB_Draft#ixzz0rbHx9Kkj  -  Through six innings tonight, UCLA's Gerrit Cole was nigh unhittable against TCU. Mixing a 97-mph sinking fastball with a hellish slider averaging 87 to 88, Cole induced popup after popup and struck out nine Horned Frogs. Cole got out of the seventh and worked a scoreless eighth before leaving after 122 pitches (79 strikes). He finished with 13 strikeouts. The eight innings matched his season high. –


Alex Panteliodis:


6-22-10 from: - link  - Sophomore southpaw Alex Panteliodis could get first round consideration. There aren't many left handers with command of a 93-95 MPH fastball like Panteliodis. Panteliodis worked a masterful complete game, three hitter in the Super Regionals in which he struck out 12 Miami Hurricanes and only walked one. He also boasts one of the best nicknames in college, Johnny Pants.












Sherman Johnson:


6-21-10 from: - http://baseballdraftreport.com/  - 2011 MLB Draft Players to Know – Florida State - SO 2B Sherman Johnson (.335/.449/.513; 44/36 BB/K; 7/10 SB; 224 AB) - Johnson, a former walk-on, is one of my favorite college position player sleeper prospects heading into 2011. He’s taken to the patented ultra-patient Florida State approach like he’s been doing it all his life while still showing off tremendous bat control and an advanced feel for what opposing pitchers want to do against him. He’s also got the defensive tools to be well above-average at both second base and third base, though he could ultimately work best as a smooth fielding shortstop. If nothing else, his defensive talent at multiple infield spots makes a utility future seem like a decent floor projection. I won’t lie and claim to have a comprehensive knowledge of all 2011 college middle infield prospects at this point, but I’d be hard pressed to come up with as well-rounded a player as Johnson. The rising junior has enough of every tool to succeed at the next level.

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