DRAFT: - Tony Wolters, Jameson Taillon, Manny Machado , Kevin Jacob... and Zach Cox

Tony Wolters:

http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=4812  - A quick scouting summary on some of those “late bloomers:” -Tony Wolters, ss, Rancho Buena Vista HS, Vista, Calif. Wolters doesn’t spark much national attention because of the player he essentially is, a sure-fire, future big-leaguer without the typical plus tools or plus body that get the attention of most scouts.

Jameson Taillon:

6-2 from: - http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=4760  - 2. JAMESON TAILLON, rhp, The Woodlands (Texas) HS - UPDATE (5/15): Taillon’s chances of becoming the first-ever prep righthander to go No. 1 overall depend solely on Bryce Harper’s signability, and the willingness of the Washington Nationals to meet his price. That being said, the slow eroding of the top college pitchers in this draft have thrust the hard-throwing Texan, who was actually born in Canada, firmly into consideration for the number No. 2 selection (Pittsburgh). There is little or no chance, based on talent, that Taillon could fall past the fourth pick (Kansas City).—DR

Manny Machado

6-2 from: - http://www.sbnation.com/2010/6/2/1497708/2010-mlb-draft-preview-manny-machado-shortstops  - At the plate, he's a plus hitter with average raw power, and those two tools together means he has some of the best offensive potential for a shortstop in all of baseball at this moment. Though he's only an average runner, when that is combined with his hitting tools, he's seen as an elite offensive player for an up-the-middle player. Defensively, he's come a long way, and while many thought he'd have to move off the position last summer, he's made enough strides this spring to consider him a possible above-average defender with a plus arm. One of the major drawbacks about him is his signability, and even though he's expected to sign without any reservations, his adviser is Scott Boras, and his bonus is expected to be well above slot, even in the first five picks, where he's expected to go.

6-2 from: - http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=4760  - 4. MANNY MACHADO, ss, BRITO PRIVATE HS, Hialeah, Fla. - UPDATE (5/15): Machado finished up the year strong, and he’s now seen as not only the top high-school position prospect in the country, but also the top overall position prospect not named Bryce Harper. He was named his district’s player of the year and guided his team to the regional finals, only to fall short of reaching the state final four. Machado hit over .600 for the second year in a row and should receive strong consideration in the top five picks.—ANDY SEILER

Kevin Jacob:

6-1 from: - http://www.mlbbonusbaby.com/  - I'm having an incredibly difficult time pinning down Kevin Jacob. He's come back throwing hard once again, after having missed a couple months due to shoulder issues from weightlifting, but his velocity was down at the beginning of the spring and he brought on the Boras Corporation as his advisers over the offseason, so I don't have any idea where he's going. He has true closer potential, as he's been sitting in the mid-90s the last couple weeks, but I had to give him a 3B1, because I think he'll be a potential 7th or 8th round pick.

Zach Cox:

6-3 from: - http://metsmerizedonline.com/2010/06/mlb-draft-preview-infielders.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+MetsMerizedOnline-GetMetsmerized-NewYorkMets+%28Mets+Merized+Online%29&utm_content=Twitter  - Make no mistake, when you draft Cox, it’s for his bat, not his glove. Cox is an average fielder, not good, not bad. Cox is a draft eligible Sophomore from Arkansas who has seen his batting average of .266 in 2009 rise to .428 this year. His OBP went from .342 to .514 in that span. He also cut his K’s significantly while increasing his BB rate. So did he just open the door to his potential, or is it a bit fluky. He has power, but I don’t trust it. He’s hit very few HR’s at Arkansas to be considered a real power bat. His HR actually went down while his percentages increase. He doesn’t hit many doubles either, even when you compensate for a college season being shorter. Citi Field will not help him at all. As for the average, the enormous jump spooks me a little. Was he playing below his talent in his first year? Was he playing out of his mind in the second? The real Cox is somewhere in the middle, but I don’t see it as enough to justify him. I see him hitting for a good average, above .300, but not a game-changing player.