DRAFT: - Peter Tago, Justin LaTempa, Adam Duke, Delino DeShields... and Zack Cox

Peter Tago:

6-2 from: - http://www.sportingnews.com/blog/MLB_Draft  - On May 25, Dana Hills (Calif.) High school right-hander Peter Tago pitched 6 1/3 innings, allowing three runs on four hits with eight strikeouts in a 6-3 victory over Murrieta Valley. He also went 2-for-3 at the plate with two RBIs. Three days later, Tago went 3-for-3 with two RBI while playing first base in a victory over Moorpark. All of this was after Dana Hills had upset back-to-back Sunset League champs Edison in the first round. Then earlier today, Tago pitched his team to the championship game with a 5-3 win over El Dorado in the CIF Div-1 semifinals. Tago struck out 13 and improved his record to 10-3. That was a just a top-notch, high-caliber performance from him, start to finish," Dana Hills head coach Tom Faris said to OCVarsity.com. "That was something special to watch."

6-2 from: - http://baseballbeginnings.com/2010/06/02/peter-tago-update-5  - Tago struck out 13 and walked two in this seven-inning complete game. He reached 95 in the first inning and 95 in the seventh inning. He also touched 96 in the first inning and proceeded to pitch comfortably with his fastball at 93-94 into the sixth. Tago typically generates more consistent power the deeper he gets into games. I thought his best fastball inning was the sixth, when he was getting great extension and downhill plane, and his arm slot and release points were consistent and accurate

Justin LaTempa:

6-1 from: - http://www.mlbbonusbaby.com/  - -Pat Hickey wrote about Oregon's Justin LaTempa when he discussed college seniors on Friday, and I have a couple things to add. From what I'm told, LaTempa has gone down from major shoulder issues no less than 4 times over the last five-plus years, and it's a miracle he hasn't needed major shoulder surgery. However, his upside is huge for a fifth-year senior, as I have at 92-94 with a plus slider and average changeup. I gave him a 2C1 grade, as I'm cautious with injuries like that, but he's a name to watch if your team picks him up next Tuesday.

Adam Duke:

6-1 from: - http://www.sportingnews.com/blog/MLB_Draft  - On the other hand, Spanish Fork (Utah) High School right-hander Adam Duke proved himself to be the state's best pitcher, going 10-0 in 26 games. The Dons ended up winning the 4A championship, sucessfully defending the title they won in 2009. Duke won seven of the Dons' last nine games. The 6-2, 180-pounder is committed to Oregon State, flashes a 72-74 mph improving curveball and sits anywhere from 89-92 on his fastball. One scout said Duke had touched a legit 94 at one point, which means there might be more velo in there somewhere. Smart kid, with good pitchability. Healthy and strong, Duke profiles as perhaps a No. 3 or 4 starter in the big leagues, depending on his development of a third pitch.

Delino DeShields:

6-1 from: - http://benmaller.com/mlb  - Woodward Academy’s Delino DeShields will follow in the baseball footsteps of his famous father. But it was only after DeShields proved he could’ve taken another sports path, if he had wanted. DeShields, the one-time college football prospect, and Cook pitcher Kaleb Cowart are candidates to be the first Georgia high schoolers selected in Monday’s major-league draft. “I’ve heard rumors about where I might get drafted, but we’ll see what happens,” DeShields said. He said a “fair offer” with bonus money — and not where he is drafted — will be the determining factor on going pro or attending LSU on a baseball scholarship. Baseball America’s mock draft has the Houston Astros picking DeShields at No. 19, while the Toronto Blue Jays (No. 11) and Los Angeles Dodgers (No. 28) are rumored to have first-round interest. That’s pretty high for a guy who only four months ago was fiercely determined to pursue a football career.

Zack Cox:

5-28 from: - http://baseballdraftreport.com/  - Top 30 College Third Base Prospects - 2. Arkansas SO 3B Zack Cox - Easily confused fellow that I am, I don’t quite understand the negativity surrounding Cox’s power potential that has come to the surface this season. It seems to me that he can’t really win with some people. Last year people oohed and aahed as he flashed prodigious raw power, but disappointed in the plate discipline department. This year he’s taken a much more patient, contact-oriented approach, but is getting heat for not hitting for the same power as he did his freshman year. I realize slugging .600+ and socking 20 extra base hits in college (like Cox has done so far in 2010) isn’t quite the feat it appears to be at first blush, but it’s still a decent indicator that the guy hasn’t been reduced to a singles only hitter this year. Now imagine the possibility that good professional coaching can help Cox unlock the secret of maintaining his gains in plate discipline and a high contact rate while simultaneously helping him rediscover the big power stroke of his first collegiate season. Sounds pretty good, right? As arguably the draft’s top position player prospect, much has already been written about Cox’s toolset. The cliff notes version is this: potential plus bat, above-average present power but plus projection, 45/50 runner, plus arm, good defender. His worst tool is probably his speed, and, as you can see, even that project to be around average. I think Cox’s ceiling is below that of your typical top half of the first round college bat, but he’s still a relatively safe pick to be an above-average regular third baseman for a first division club.