Arizona Winter League Contingent

According to Adam Rubin, the Mets contingent to represent the Mesa Solar Sox in the Arizona Winter League will be:







(LHP) Robert Carson
Born: 01/23/1989
Birthplace: Hattiesburg, MS
Height: 6' 3"
Weight: 220
Bats: L
Throws: L
AA Binghamton




(RHP) Josh Stinson
Born: 03/14/1988
Birthplace: Shreveport, LA
Height: 6' 4"
Weight: 210
Bats: R
Throws: R
AAA Buffalo



(C) Kai Groneur
Born: 11/28/1986
Birthplace: Solingen, Germany
Height: 6' 1"
Weight: 205
Bats: R
Throws: R
Advanced-A St. Lucie




(2B/SS) Jordany Valdespin
Born: 12/23/1987
Birthplace: San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic
Height: 6' 0"
Weight: 174
Bats: L
Throws: R
AA Binghamton

PRESS RELEASE: - Mets Promote Mejia and Duda

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


August 31, 2010



Mets Recall RHP Jenrry Mejia from Bisons

Select Contract of Buffalo OF Lucas Duda



The New York Mets today announced that they recalled RHP JENRRY MEJIA from the Bisons. In addition, the Mets also selected the contract of Bisons’ OF LUCAS DUDA. Both players will be available for New York’s game in Atlanta on Wednesday night.

Mejia, 20, made one start for the Bisons. The Mets’ #1 prospect by Baseball America struck out nine in eight innings of a no-decision on Monday night against Syracuse. Mejia made New York’s team out of spring training and made 30 appearances with the Mets, going 0-2 with a 3.25ERA (27.2, 10ER).

Duda has played 70 games with the Bisons since his promotion from Double-A Binghamton on June 14. With the Herd, the outfielder hit .314 (83-264) with 23 doubles, two triples, 17 home runs and 53RBI. He finished 2nd on the Bisons team in home runs and RBI as well as in extra-base hits (41).

From June 28 – July 2, Duda tied a Bisons all time record by homering in five consecutive games.

2011 DRAFT: - OF - Dwight Smith

Dwight Smith –



11-2 from http://www.thehardballtimes.com/ : - Dwight Smith, OF, 2011, Peachtree City, Ga., Canes - Wowee. Fastest bat I saw in the tournament, and if his swing needs any tuning, that’s for someone far smarter than me. Power to spare (despite being 5-foot-11), good plate coverage, quiet hands and load… he’s dialed in. It stands to reason; this is the son of the former big leaguer of the same name. He’s a great athlete and an above-average baserunner. However, it looked like things were a bit of an adventure in the outfield. I think he’ll be a top-round draft pick in 2011.


6-10 from: - http://www.mlbbonusbaby.com/  - The top 2011 player that will be there is Dwight Smith, an outfielder from McIntosh HS near here, and he's the son of the former Major League outfielder. There are dozens of other players I want to see, and I don't know pitching schedules, so I could be missing Adam Griffin (Forsyth Country Day HS, NC) by not getting up for the 9:00 game, but his team (Dirtbags 17's) aren't playing a difficult pool matchup, so I'm crossing my fingers that I'll see him this weekend


6-14-10 from: - http://prospectinsider.com/360mock.php  - 2011 Mock Draft – 27 Atlanta OF Dwight Smith -- McIntosh HS


6-15-10 from: - http://www.deepleagues.com/?p=1830  – 2011 Mock Draft - 14. Colorado Rockies Dwight Smith OF, Peachtree City, Georgia


6-29 from: - Andy Seiler Mock Draft - http://www.mlbbonusbaby.com/2010/6/28/1541924/andys-first-2011-top-50#storyjump  - 20. Dwight Smith, OF, McIntosh HS (GA)


7-1 from: - http://www.mlbbonusbaby.com/2010/6/30/1544396/pats-first-2011-top-50#storyjump  – Pat Hickey Mock Draft – 32. Dwight Smith, OF, McIntosh HS (Ga.)


7-1 from: - http://sullydraft.blogspot.com/  – 2011 Mock Draft – 31. Dwight Smith- OF, Mcintosh HS


7-3 from: - http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2010/07/03/early-follow-list-for-2011-mlb-draft  - from Fanhouse.com MLB Draft guru Frankie Piliere – Dwight Smith OF McIntosh HS (Ga.) - Toolsy outfielder with strong frame. Complex swing, high leg kick, gets out in front at times. Big sound off bat.


7-3 from: - http://milbprospects.blogspot.com/2010/07/early-version-of-top-50-prospects-for.html  - Top 50 - 13 Dwight Smith , OF , McIntosh HS, Peachtree City, Ga.


7-13-10 from: - http://sullydraft.blogspot.com/  – top 10 high school outfielders: - 2. Dwight Smith- McIntosh HS


7-25: - http://www.fanhouse.com/ : - Fanhouse Top 70 Prospects - 49. Dwight Smith, OF, McIntosh HS (Ga.)

2011 DRAFT: - George Springer, Danny Hultzen, Bryan Brickhouse, Daniel Camerena... and Anthony Meo

George Springer:



8-27 from: - link  - OF George Springer Connecticut 6'3 205 R/R - a rejuvenation to a solid program that used to appear in the CWS in Omaha years back, this young man has plus tools across the board, strength is his power and pure straight away running speed, arm is plus and he has good range, instincts are ok to play either OF corner and even CF if needed. Will steal bases on occ and comps to Jeff Franceour, so he should produce some runs as a 3 or 5 hole hitter in a lineup.

Danny Hultzen:


8-27 from: - link  - LHP Danny Hultzen Virginia 6'2 1/2 195 L/L - also a quality hitter and first base man, Hultzen has a chance to be a 3-4 man in ML rotation, shows enough ML velo on Fb, range is 88-93, most are 89-91 with sink when down, gets hurt middle up in zone, also cb tends to flatten out and backdoor type action vs RHH, needs to lead with elbow and run cb in on RHH. Also straight change that's workable now and should improve in pro ball with more exposure.



Bryan Brickhouse:


8-12-10 from: - link  - RHP - The Woodlands (Texas) HS Brickhouse comes from the same high school that produced first-rounder Jameson Taillon this year. He has a nice pitcher's frame with good arm speed. His fastball gets up to 94 mph with command and he mixes in an above-average curveball. Brickhouse is committed to North Carolina.

Daniel Camerena:


8-18-10 from: - link  - Local two-way player Daniel Camarena (San Diego) doubled (short-hopped the right-field fence to drive in the game's first run) in three at-bats and also took the loss after allowing two runs on a walk and two doubles in the seventh. As a pitcher, Camarena delivered his fastball in the 83-86 mph range and seemed to rely a lot on his breaking ball.


8-19-10 from: - http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=4935  - Camarena appeared in this game as both a positional player and as a pitcher, but it was his swing in the batter’s box that really caught my eye. There are some young players that I have watched over the years that I feel just ‘get it,’ and Camarena is one of those hitters. He’s a lefty with good size and obvious bat speed with plenty of physical projection left for added strength. He looks like a hitter with sloped shoulders and very good extension in his swing. He showed the ability to hit the ball with back-spin, driving a double in the second to deep right field off of Michael Kelly, a ball that seemed to carry a lot farther than what it looked like it would do off the bat. That gives him promising power potential, and he also was throwing in the upper 80s with a big, slow curveball.

Anthony Meo:


8-21-10 from: - link  - Anthony Meo generated some buzz by being one of the hardest throwers in the Cape this summer. The Coastal Carolina right-hander had a strong spring for the Chanticleers but struggled slightly with Bourne in the Cape. Even though his fastball sits 94-95 MPH, regularly touching higher, Meo hasn’t posted elite strikeout rates. After whiffing 23.4% of hitters this spring, Meo sent just 15.8% of Cape batters down on strikes. Meo augments his mid-to-upper 90’s fastball with a 91-92 MPH cutter but lacks a quality off-speed pitch. If his off-speed stuff can develop, Meo could go high in the first round. If not, someone will still want to take a chance on that arm strength pretty early.

PRESS RELEASE: - Brooklyn 6, Connecticut 1

The Brooklyn Cyclones won the rubber game of a three-game series against the Connecticut Tigers by a score of 6-1 on Monday night bringing their overall record to 45-22. The Cyclones will finish off the year with a seven-game homestand against Vermont and Tri-City before advancing to the the NYPL playoffs.



Brooklyn pitchers held the Tigers to just one run on nine hits while striking out six. Starting pitcher Jonathan Kountis (1-0) found his rhythm early, striking out the side in the first inning and throwing five strong frames, surrendering one run on six hits while striking out five to earn his first win of the season. Since returning to Brooklyn from Kingsport Kountis is 1-0 with a 2.67 ERA, registering 14 strikeouts in 10.1 innings of work. LHP Nelson Pereira came on in the sixth inning to toss two scorless innings with one strikeout, allowing just two hits. RHP Johan Figuereo closed out the game throwing a scoreless eighth and ninth inning, surrendering one hit.



A day after being shut down, the Cyclones' offense got revenge on Connecticut's pitching, tagging the Tigers for six runs on fourteen hits with six Cyclones registering multi-hit games. SS Wilfredo Tovar went 3-for-4 with one run and one RBI. 2B J.B. Brown continued his hot hitting, going 2-for-5 with one run and one RBI bringing his average up to .316. Brown (pictured, by George Napolitano) has five runs and five RBI over his last ten games. C Blake Forsythe and DH Joe Bonfe each registered two-hit games, with one run and one RBI apiece. 1B Jeff Flagg and 3B James Schroeder were responsible for scoring two Cyclone runs in the ninth inning and fifth inning, respectively, while RF Cory Vaughn went 2-for-5 to bring his season average to .306,

PRESS RELEASE: - Bisons Notes 8/31/10 - Syracuse at Buffalo (7:05 p.m.)

Bisons Remaining 2010 Home Schedule


Tuesday, August 31 vs. Syracuse (7:05 p.m.)


Wednesday, September 1 vs. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre DOUBLEHEADER (Game 1 – 5:35 p.m.)


Thursday, September 2 vs. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (6:05 p.m.)

Buffalo Bisons (72-64, 2nd(-10.5), North) vs. Syracuse Chiefs (71-65, 3rd(-11.5), North)Tuesday, August 31, 2010 (7:05 p.m.) - Coca-Cola Field


RHP Fernando Nieve (2-0, 5.40) vs. RHP Erik Arnesen (8-7, 4.18)TV: Time Warner Cable SportsNet 13 Radio: WWKB AM 1520, bisons.com



TODAY’S GAME: Tonight, the Bisons take on the Syracuse Chiefs in the final game of a two-game series from Coca-Cola Field (7:05 p.m.). The Herd needs a win tonight to split the set with its IL North Division rival after losing last night, 4-1. Buffalo is now 41-27 at home this season. The Bisons will host the Yankees for a three-game in two-game series starting Wednesday.



WILD RACE: The Bisons have fallen back to 3.5 games behind the Columbus Clippers in the IL Wild Card. Along with the Herd’s loss last night, the Clippers were 6-4 winners over Indianapolis on Monday. Buffalo has eight games left while Columbus has seven contests remaining in 2010.



THRUWAY CUP: The Syracuse Chiefs (19-8) clinched the 2010 Thruway Cup with their victory over the Bisons (15-14) last night. The Chiefs snapped the Red Wings (7-19) two-year reign in the Thruway Series. The Herd is now 6-9 against the Chiefs this season and has now lost the season-series to Syracuse for the third straight year.



WELL SERVED: INF MIKE CERVENAK has hit safely in 19 of his last 22 contests with the Bisons. Since August 7, Cervenak has averaged .360 (31-86) with six doubles, four home runs and 13RBI in 25 games. The stretch has raised his average 27 points to .261. Cervenak leads the Bisons team with 103 games played and 105 hits and is second with 24 doubles.



BATTING RACE: OF JESUS FELICIANO went 0-4 last night to see his average drop to .340 in 82 games with the Bisons. Feliciano is now 31 plate appearances shy of qualifying as the top hitter in the International League. His average would be one point higher than Gwinnett’s INF Barbaro Canizares.



BISONS BITS: LHP MIKE O’CONNOR saw his consecutive scoreless innings streak snapped last night. The southpaw had tossed 16.2 innings without a run...INF NICK EVANS has reached base safely in 29 of his 31 games with the Herd since his promotion. Evans sports a .319 batting average and a .391 on-base percentage...RHP DILLON GEE fanned 11 batters on Saturday and now has an IL-best 161 on the season.

PRESS RELEASE: - BINGHAMTON METS 2010 GAME NOTES

Binghamton Mets (64-70) at Portland Sea Dogs (64-70)
AA Affiliate of the Boston Red Sox

RHP Eric Beaulac (0-1, 5.40) vs. RHP Stephen Fife (6-6, 5.03)

Game #135• Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Hadlock Field • Portland, ME • 7:00 p.m.

http://www.bmets.com/

 Upcoming Games and Probable Starters


Wednesday, Sept. 1 @Portland 7:00 PM RHP Dylan Owen (4-4, 4.38) vs. RHP Alex Wilson (3-4, 6.14)


Thursday, Sept. 2 @Portland 6:00 PM TBA vs. RHP Blake Maxwell (6-0, 2.32)


Friday, Sept. 3 Harrisburg G1 5:35 PM LHP Mark Cohoon (5-3, 4.36) vs. TBA


Friday, Sept. 3 Harrisburg G2 TBD TBA vs. TBA


LAST GAME: Binghamton dug itself an early 6-0 hole, but


emerged to tie the game after batting in the fifth, however


Portland retook the lead in the bottom of the frame and went


on to win 7-6 at Hadlock Field Monday night. Robert Carson


suffered his sixth loss after allowing seven runs on nine hits


over five innings. The Sea Dogs plated a run in the first on an


RBI single from Nate Spears and chalked up five runs in the


second, which was capped by a two-run double from Luis


Exposito. The B-Mets broke onto the scoreboard in the third


with an RBI single from Jordany Valdespin, trimming the deficit


to five, 6-1. 10 men came to the plate in the fifth and


scored five runs on seven hits to tie the score. However, Carson


gave the lead back in the bottom of the fifth courtesy of a


pair of walks and an Anthony Rizzo sacrifice fly. Ryne Reynoso


worked 3.1 scoreless innings to pick up the win in relief.



STARTING PITCHING MATCHUP: RHP Eric Beaulac is due to


make his second Double-A start tonight for the B-Mets. He


allowed three runs on six hits and six walks over five innings


at Reading August 26 to take the loss in his Binghamton debut.


Beaulac opened the season with St. Lucie (High-A) and


racked up a 5-5 mark and a 3.59 ERA over 102.2 innings.


Opposing hitters hit just .237 against him. In 2009, he spent


the year in Savannah’s (Low-A) rotation and went 7-7 with a


2.95 ERA over 116 innings with 133 strikeouts, the secondmost


among Mets’ minor league pitchers. New York (NL)


drafted Beaulac in the ninth round of the June 2008 draft out


of LeMoyne College.



RHP Stephen Fife will make his team-leading 25th start of the


season tonight for the Sea Dogs. He lasted just four innings in


his last start August 26 at New Hampshire where he allowed


two runs (one earned) on four hits in a no-decision. Fife is 6-6


with a 5.03 ERA over 125.1 innings. He is 0-3 with a 10.62


ERA over five August starts (20.1 IP). Fife made 18 starts


between Greenville (Low-A) and Salem (High-A) last season


and went 3-5 with a 3.71 ERA over 87.1 innings combined. He


was Boston’s fourth-round pick in the June 2008 draft out of


the University of Utah.


COHOON CALLING THE SHOTS: B-Mets southpaw Mark Cohoon


has been a man possessed in the month of August. Over


five starts, he is 4-0 with a 1.60 ERA in 33.2 innings of work,


dropping his ERA to 4.36. He has won four straight starts


courtesy of four consecutive quality starts.


LEFTY LABORING: B-Mets LHP Robert Carson has had a tough


go of it at Double-A so far with a 1-6 mark and an 8.74 ERA.


He has allowed four earned runs or more in all but one of his


nine starts and opponents are hitting .351 against him.

2011 ROSTER PROJECTION - THE KEEPERS: - #50 - SP - Chris Schwinden

Chris Schwinden – SP – A/A+ - 24/yrs.



Selected by New York Mets in 22nd Round (674th overall) of 2008 amateur entry draft.


From: http://www.visaliatimesdelta.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080513/SPORTS/805130322/1006  - "Chris Schwinden, Fresno Pacific baseball: The Golden West graduate ended the season with a 6-1 record on the mound and a 2.48 ERA. He had 96 strikeouts in 90 2-3 innings."


In 2008, Schwinden went 4-1, 2.01, 14 games, 8 starts, 70Ks, 62.2 IP, only 12 BBs, for Brooklyn.


From: http://www.dembrooklynbums.com/ : - Drafted by the Mets in the 22nd round of this year’s draft, many baseball insiders didn’t know what to expect from right-handed pitcher Chris Schwinden. Despite having great numbers in his last year at Fresno Pacific, going 6-1 with a 2.48 ERA, the Clones staff was so full of talent before the season started that it was impossible to know what the 21-year-old was capable of doing once he reached the pros. Regardless of that notion however, Schwinden has managed to thrive out of the Brooklyn bullpen so far this season, going 0-1 with a 1.88 ERA in four appearances and a start, after a college career that saw him mostly as a starter.


September 2008: Brooklyn pitching coach Hector Berrios on: Scott Shaw and Chris Schwinden: “These guys are both tacticians on the mound and they rely on spotting the ball. Their game is being able to locate their pitches and change speeds. They did an impressive job of that this season. I think Shaw was one of our most underrated pitchers and if you take two or three bad innings away from him, he was the best pitcher in the league this season.”


In September, Patrick Hickey wrote on: Chris Schwinden- Every season in Brooklyn, there’s a player who relies on command and ends up having a monster year. In 2006, it was Eric Brown. In 2007, it was Dylan Owen and Dillon Gee. Simply put, Schwinden is a sleeper prospect with a great attitude that I see rising through the organization. Is he the next Brian Bannister, Joe Smith or promising prospect to get to the Mets in a year or so? Probably not, but he’s still going to fun to watch develop. Final Grade- A


In 2009, Schwinden became one of the “Savannah 5”, posting a 9-6, 3.28, 1.22 record in 21 games, 17 starts. He also went 1-0, 3.97 for Lucy in the last week of the season.


1-1-10 Forecast: Everybody spent the entire 2009 season bragging on Jeurys Familiar and Robert Carson, while Schwinden stayed under the radar. Hey, this is a guy with a lifetime 1.17 WHIP! So far, in two seasons, he’s 14-7, 2.90, 1.17. I’ll take that at any level. We may have ourselves another pitching prospect here.


5-22-10: - AA- Chris Schwinden: The B-Mets have been stuck in their worst stretch so far this season, losing nine in a row going into Saturday night’s game. And no one has played worse than the rotation, who was 0-7, 8.79 during that stretch. They turned to Chris Schwinden, who was pitching the best at St. Lucie and he gave them six excellent innings: 6.0-IP, 1-ER, 5-K, 0-BB.


6-20-10: - Schwinden decided to show the people in Binghamton why he was promoted from m St. Lucie. Chris threw 6.1 innings, giving up zero runs, seven hits, while striking out five and walking one. His AA ERA was lowered to 5.63. Game wise, Chris got help from three B-Mets relievers and wound up on the plus side of a 1-0 victory. His combined stats for Lucy/Bing are: 5-4, 3.66, in 13 games, eight starts. I’m sure he’s not going anywhere else this season and will finish the year as a 24-year old. Look for him to possibly open next season in the Buffalo rotation.


7-3-10 from: - http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100702&content_id=11844328&vkey=news_milb&fext=.jsp  - Chris Schwinden fell three outs short of a perfect game Friday, settling for the first shutout of his three-year career as Binghamton pounded the Portland Sea Dogs, 10-0, in the first game of a doubleheader. The 23-year-old right-hander retired the first 18 batters before Che-Hsuan Lin led off the seventh and final inning with a line drive single up the middle. Schwinden ended up striking out five and did not walk a batter for the second straight start. He's been streaky since his promotion to Double-A in mid-May. After holding last-place New Britain to one run over six innings to win his Eastern League debut, he dropped his next four starts. The California native tossed 6 1/3 scoreless innings against Trenton on June 18, then lasted only 2 1/3 frames against New Britain five days later.


7-3-10: - Schwinden has had a hard time solidifying himself within the Binghamton rotation, but that might be all in the past after last night’s first game of the doubleheader. Schwinden had a no-hitter after six innings and finished up the 7-inning game with a two hitter. He also struck out five and did not give up a walk.


2011 Forecast: - Chris started off the 2010 season on fire. He went 3-0, 1.83 in St. Lucie and was the first pitching bump up to the B-Mets. He looked like the real deal in June and July at the AA level, but that was before he went around the league once. He finished the AA season with 14 starts (in 17 ganes) and a 5.56 ERA, before landing on the DL (strained left oblique), where he remained until the season ended. Schwinden probably is just going through the bumps that most lower level starters go through as they progess. I expect they’ll start him over in Binghamton for the 2011 season, being piggy-backed with another starter, in a 6-man rotation, through April. After that, he's on his own.

CUTNPASTE: - El Duque, Daniel Murphy, Carl Crawford, John Maine... and R.A. Dickey

El Duque:



link  - Orlando “El Duque” Hernandez shocked the Harrisburg Senators and Washington Nationals Sunday by deciding to prematurely end his baseball season. The 44-year-old pitcher, a three-time World Series champion who earlier this summer signed a minor league deal with the Nationals and spent the last three weeks pitching out of Harrisburg’s bullpen, left the Senators following Sunday’s 6-5, 10-inning victory over Trenton. He’s heading to his home in Miami to contemplate his future in baseball and perhaps await an offer from another organization, said Senators manager Randy Knorr and Nationals’ director of player development Doug Harris.

Daniel Murphy:


link  - Daniel Murphy wanted to contribute as a pinch hitter to the Mets in September, but his rehab from a knee injury suffered in a takeout slide with Triple-A Buffalo wasn't rapid enough to allow for it. However, the organization plans to send Murphy to the Dominican Republic this winter. Murphy primarily will play second base. He also should see action at first base and in left field.

Carl Crawford:


link  - The first player we’ll throw out for discussion is the big fish of the winter, Carl Crawford. The Tampa Bay outfielder, who just turned 29, has established himself as one of the game’s best all around players. Over the first nine years of his professional career, he’s averaged just under +4 WAR per season, and he’s been even better than that the last two years, posting a +5.5 win season last year and already reaching +5.6 wins so far in 2010. He’s in the prime of his career with a skillset that ages very well, and with a variety of abilities that are valued by every team, no matter their team building philosophy. Crawford is going to attract intense interest from multiple teams. There will be an inevitable bidding war for his services, with the Yankees and Angels most often rumored to be the teams ready to break the bank in an effort to lure Crawford to join their organizations. So, the question is, how much does he get, and for how long?

John Maine:


link  ~ 2010 salary $3.3M: After five seasons with the Mets his tenure in New York is almost definitely over. He blew out his shoulder this season for the Mets and his career could possibly be over. Hopefully he makes a recovery and is able to catch on somewhere else though.

R.A. Dickey:


link  - R.A. Dickey checks in at No. 7 on the National League leader board with a 2.57 ERA, at least for a few days. A pitcher needs an inning for every game in which his team has played to qualify. Entering the series opener in Atlanta, the Mets have played 130 games. And Dickey has logged 133 1/3 innings. That means he will drop out before pitching again Friday, because the Mets will have played 134 games before he next takes the mound.

STOCK: Robert Carson, GCL Mets, Jenrry Mejia,

9-1-10 – Stock Down – Look, no matter how we break this down, Robert Carson has not progessed enough this past season to be currently considered a top pitching prospect. He was absolutely lit up last night, going 5.0-IP, 9-H, 7-ER, 5-K, 2-BB, 1-WP. His Binghamton ERA is now 8.74, and, if you add that to his 4.17 in Lucy, the year looks like: 8-11, 5.74., with only 97-K in 131.2-IP, plus 55-BB. This has not been a great year for three of the Mets top so-called pitching prospects (Carson, Jeurys Familia, Brad Holt) and the season seesm to be coming to an end at the right time for Robert.


Old stuff this year on Carson:



1-1-10 Forecast: - Carson would have been ranked higher if he finished the season strong, but he didn’t. The Mets should have bumped him to St. Lucie at least two months prior to the end of the season, but they didn’t, and that could have been hanging over Carson. There’s a hell of a lot of talent here along with his confidence and bravado. I look for a tremendous season at St. Lucie in 2010.


5-22-10: Carson has put together three decent starts coming into Friday night, after starting the season all over the place. He did give up 12 hits Friday night, but his overall stats were impressive: 7.1-IP, 2-ER, 3-K. His ERA is now down to 4.95 from a year high of 81.00 on April 15.


5-22-10: - SP Robert Carson: Carson also got off to a bad start, especially his second outing of the year (0.2-IP, 6-ER, 81.00). The good news is, in his last three outings, Carson has stats of: 16.1-IP, 5-ER, 12-Ks. His last outing on May 17 was especially hot, striking out nine in 5.0-IP. Carson is 21-years old and, like Familia, projects out as a possible 2013 starter for the Mets


6-17-10: - A+ SP Robert Carson had another great outing, throwing 6..0 scoreless innings, giving up only two hits and striking out seven. His ERA is now below five, and he's given up only 2-ER in his last three starts (19.0-IP). This is real good news folks and there actually is a chance you may see him move on to Binghamton at some point this season.


6-30-10: - Carson did everything he could to throw a shutout Monday night… his first seven innings were close to perfect, but he eventually tired in the 8th inning, giving up four runs (7.2-IP, 4-ER, 9-H, 4-K, 1-BB). He did get the victory (6-4), and his ERA ended up at 4.54. There’s been a bunch of negativity in the scouting world involving Carson… many question whether he has that “something special”needed to make it someday in the Bigs. No one has every questioned his confidence (his Facebook name is Robert “Imdestinedforgreatness” Carson.) Let’s hope this is another sign that his game is returning.


7-4-10: - Carson continued Sunday night putting his season back together... 7.0-IP, 2-ER, 7-K, 1-BB... ERA down to 4.37. That translates to a 3.41 ERA over the last 10 starts, which, if that was his seasonal stats, he would already be on is way to Binghamton.


7-14 from: - http://www.amazinavenue.com/2010/7/14/1567569/mets-farm-system-mid-term-review  - No, on the surface those numbers are not very impressive. However, following a 7.07 April ERA, Carson has been very solid in each of the following months, including a 2.08 ERA in July. And really it isn't just the numbers that give me confidence with Carson, it's the reports on his increased stamina, mound presence and fastball command. After a 2009 where he regularly tired by the 6th, the big-bodied Carson is now holding his low to mid 90's velocity deep into games and is consistently commanding the fastball to both sides of the plate. He has also learned to work extremely quickly, improving his game pace and rhythm. While it may take a while, Carson is doing exactly what it takes for him to round into that back of the rotation innings-eater I'm hoping for instead of just a LOOGY.

9-1-10 - Stock down: - So, the GCL Mets make the playoffs as a wildcard and they had to play a one game, winner take all, game against the GCL Phillies, for the honor of moving on in the playoffs. As we wrote yesterday, both the manager and the pitching coach were sent packing after they got into each other on the field a couple of games ago. So, somebody else had to choose the starting pitcher for this critical game, and whoever it was, picked Domingo Tabia instead of Marcos Camerena… wrong move… Tabia’s stats: 1.1-IP, 7-R-, 6-H, 2-BB, and 1-HBP. Rumor is the Phillies sent cheese steaks to his locker after the game.



But, this isn’t the real issue, is it? These are VERY young men, busting their ass every day in the hot sun, being paid peanuts, and you would thing the last thing that would happen is their mentors start acting like their bunk mate in school.


BTW, both Tabia (#108) and Camerena (#95)
 are on The Keepers list.

Here’s the old stuff on both of Camerena:


Marcos Camerena seems to be the one standout player that will come out of the DSL/VSL system this year. Camarena debuted with the DSL Mets in 2008, going 0-1, 3.68 in 7 relief appearances. This year, he was moved to a starter and produced stats of: 7-2. 1.74, in 14 games, 12 starts. He also had 57K, and only 10-BB in 67.1-IP.


1-1-10:: As usual, not much info on this guy, but he’s 6-3, 202 and was virtually unhittable this season. Then again, how many others have I said this same thing about over the years (Nelson Portillo and Alay Soler comes to mind). I think we’ll see him in extended came come March and I’m sure he’ll pitch for one of the winter teams as well.


5-30-10 from: - http://myworldofbaseball.com/wordpress/?cat=42  - Marcos Camarena RHP - Marcos was 7-2, 1.74 in the DSL, allowing righthanders to hit only .198 against him. He had a 1 to 7 walk to K ratio, which should get him a promotion to a short season league stateside.


6-27-10: - Camerena piggybacked with another GCL Mets pitcher on Saturday and was just about perfect: 4.0-IP, 0-H, 0-R, 3-K, 1-BB. The team is still trying to figure out which five pitchers will settle in to their rotation, and Marcos made a good case for being one of them.


8-15-10: - SP Marcus Camerena continues to impress for Kingsport. He ”went the distance” in a 7-inning game Sunday, with stats of: 8-H, 3-ER, 3-K, 1-BB, and a seasonal ERA of 3.19 (in 9-G, 4-starts). He impressed us all last year for the DSL team (7-2, 1.74), as well as his short stint near the end of the 2009 season for the same team he plays for now (2-2, 3.03). The 6-3 righty turns 20 in September and I expect to see him Savannah next spring.

Stock Up: - I don’t mean to blow more smoke up you, but you have really feel much better about 2011 after the Jenry Mejia performance last night for Buffalo. I mean, the Mets went into last night’s game with Atlanta with the… 2nd LOWEST ERA IN THE LEAGUE… after the all-star break. You add Mejia to the mix next spring, plus a possible reborn Chad Cordero (yeah, I know… if signed) and the Mets really don’t have to worry about pitching next season. A rotation of Santana, Mejia, Niese, Pelfrey, and Dickey… well, it sure sounds good to me. Stats for the night: - 8.0-IP, 103-pitches, 5-H, 1-R, 9-K, 1-BB. On to Chicago….


Here’s my old 2010 notes on Mejia:


1-10-10 Forecast: - Everybody loves Jenrry Mejia. He was the talk of the winter leagues, both for his speed and the speed the ball went off opponent’s bats. He still has a long way to go and will start again at AA, but anyone who has spent any time observing him says he’s a can’t miss. Me? He’s a closet closer.


4-6-10 – Jack Flynn on Mack’s Mets: - At a time when Jenrry Mejia should be donning a Binghamton Mets jersey and preparing for his Opening Day assignment against Akron on Thursday, he is instead in the back of Jerry Manuel's bullpen having his development stunted. Relievers are made, not born. It's an old-school way of thinking, but I truly believe that every pitcher should be given an opportunity to fail as a starter before being converted into a reliever. By pre-emptively putting Mejia in the bullpen based on 15 Spring Training innings, the Mets are crippling his potential to develop secondary pitches and to blossom into a top-flight starter.


4-28-10: - http://benmaller.com/mlb  - As the Mets’ bullpen has exceeded expectations in the early part of the season, the need for Jenrry Mejia might be diminishing. But Jerry Manuel remains adamant that the 20-year-old will be a bigger part of the pen rather than be pushed out and sent to tune up for an eventual starting role. Asked if the emergence of Fernando Nieve in the pen could free up Mejia to become a starter, Manuel declined, instead noting that he’d like to work him more into a late-inning role


5-6-10: - http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/someone-help-the-mets  - Ignore the extra innings mismanagement of Francisco Rodriguez. That’s merely another bullet point on Manuel’s pink slip. Consider the horrendous handling of Jenrry Mejia to date. Manuel has instructed him to focus on his fastball – presumably the pitch that needs the least work for Mejia to become a good starter. If telling the organization’s best pitching prospect to disregard developing his secondary stuff isn’t enough, then how about then using that pitcher in lower leverage situations than just about everyone else in the bullpen? Manuel is actually using Mejia in the perfect developmental situations, yet he’s capping that development by disallowing him to throw his curve and change-up as often as he wants. Meanwhile, Mejia’s service clock continues to tick


5-22-10: - SP Jenrry Mejia: It’s impossible to project Mejia’s future right now because he’s supposed to return to the minors and be stretched out back to a starter. The problem is he’s still sitting in the Queens pen. So far this season: 20 outings, 19.0-IP, 3.79 ERA, 14-K, 11-BB… okay, but not what a 19-year old is supposed to be doing. The good news… he’s an extremely talented young man that should be a Met for a very long time.


5-26-10 from: - http://baseballanalysts.com/  - In combining both horizontal and vertical movement, it's evident that Peter Moylan generates enough movement on his fastball to throw it at elite levels, while Cabrera, again, has a mediocre-to-awful fastball in spite of his velo. Remember, I'm only including 95 MPH pitches, so imagine how bad his fastball must have been in 2009 at 91 MPH. Cabrera is the poster boy for pitchers who can throw gas but have no command or movement, rendering their fastball ineffective. Kevin Jepsen, Jonathan Broxton, and Brian Wilson are examples of pitchers whose 90-MPH pitches are better than most pitchers' 95s, since those guys are throwing off speed at 90. Also of note: Jenrry Mejia's fastball has excellent movement


6-17-10: - http://baseballanalysts.com/  - I have no idea if Citi Field's PITCHf/x system is calibrated correctly, but Jenrry Mejia has been throwing a fair share of fastballs that cut toward his glove side. Most fastballs tail at least somewhat to the glove side. Mejia still needs to command his pitches, but I believe a couple decades ago there was another Latin American 20-year-old learning to harness a fastball with incredible cutting movement who went on to close games in New York. At least the Yankees let Mo fail as a starter before he moved to the pen


6-20-10: - http://www.rotoworld.com/  - Jenrry Mejia was sent to Double-A Brooklyn after Sunday's game and will start in the minors. His value is highest as a starter, obviously, and it appears that Mets manager Jerry Manuel finally saw the light. He acknowledged that Mejia might be being wasted with use in the seventh inning. Now, the Mets will attempt to get him stretched out for my extensive use later on in this season. Keep in mind that there is still plenty of dispute as to whether Mejia should be a starter or a reliever, so if he struggles, the team could always put him back in the bullpen


6-21-10: - Maybe it took two loses to the Yanks, or maybe somebody finally just hit Jerry in the head, but Jenrry Mejia has been returned to the AA-Binghamton market are put back into the starting rotation. I also understand he will start on Wednesday. All this makes my prediction of Mark Cohoon being promoted from Savannah here a distant long shot, but we’ll see. I still think there’s a good chance that Mike Antonini will move on to Buffalo this month. Right now, the B-Mets rotation (Mejia, Antonini, Eric Niesen, Josh Stinson, and Chris Schwinden) is a pretty good one. And, no AAAA waste here. All pitchers that actually have a chance of getting to the Bigs. Is the Mejia move something that will enhance his value in a trade. I think so, but we’ll see.


6-27-10: - Suffering from a stiff right shoulder, Jenrry Mejia was forced to leave his start for Double-A Binghamton today after just an inning-plus. Mejia faced two batters in the second inning and seven for the game against Akron before departing. He allowed no runs, surrendering two hits and two walks while striking out two. He threw 43 pitches, 23 strikes. The Mets said Mejia was removed for "precautionary" reasons, though certainly this is an alarming development.


6-28-10: - Jenrry Mejia was examined in New York on Monday and diagnosed with a posterior cuff strain in his right shoulder. The Mets say he will return to throwing "as tolerated," but we're not exactly sure what that might mean. Mejia was lifted from a start at Double-A Binghamton on Sunday after complaining of discomfort in his throwing shoulder. He's been working on building up his stamina down in the minors with the hope of returning to the big leagues as a starter around late July


7-28 from: - http://www.amazinavenue.com/2010/7/28/1592006/mets-farm-q-a-with-baseball  - It shouldn't affect him long term unless the Mets start jerking around him, shuttling him back and forth from the bullpen to the rotation and from the minors to Triple-A. He could wind up being a reliever in the long run, but it would be silly not to try to turn him into a quality starter.


8-2-10: Mejia’s rehabbing stint made its way to St. Lucie last night and it was quite impressive: 4.0-IP, 1-H, 0-R, 7-K. Mejia’s conversion back to a starter seems to be right on target and I expect him back in the Binghamton rotation by mid-August and on to Queens in September.



8-5-10: - http://www.minorleagueball.com/2010/8/5/1606179/2010-top-20-new-york-mets  - Jenrry Mejia, RHP, Grade B+: Back in the minors on rehab for a strained shoulder, after spending most of the spring in New York, 3.25 ERA with the Mets, 17/15 K/BB in 28 innings, 29 hits. He held his own before getting hurt, but I still think it was stupid for him to be on the major league roster this year.



8-8-10: - It would be impossible not to write about Mejia’s performance last night. First, the stats: 4.1-IP, 3-H, 0-R, 4-K, 2-BB, 10-GB. He sat most of the night at 96 and hit 99 once. His seasonal minor league ERA, where he’s been a starter all the time, is now 1.17 (his WHIP is 1.69 due to 6-BB in 7.2-IP). I’m sure we’ll see him in Queens again this year, this time as a starter.



8-14: - Look… if last night’s outing by Jenrry Mejia is the worst he ever pitches, we’ll have ourselves a future HOFer. Mejia went: 5.2-IP, 8-H, 3-ER, 3-BB, 5-K, and his AA-ERA “soared” to 2.70. Reports from the stadium were that he didn’t have the pinpoint accuracy he had his last outing, but the velocity was still there. Mejia is sitting at 96 now, and hit 98 again last night. Remember… the Mets really only need one more SP (Santana, Niese. Pelfrey, Dickey). This sure looks like a strong candidate for 2011 (btw… Mejia threw this game against Michael Cisco, son of ex-Met Galen Cisco).



8-20-10: - We’re running out of superlatives involving Jenrry Mejia’s current return to an SP role in Binghamton. He easily had his best minor league outing on Wednesday night, going 7.0-IP, 1-H, 0-R, 8-K, 2-BB, with a 1.77 ERA. Even more important, Dylan Owen, who seemed lost this year as a starter, seems to be reinventing himself as a successful reliever, going 2.0 hitless innings and lowering his seasonal ERA to 3.57.Okay, Owen’ reliever ERA (4.55) is still higher that the six outings he started (2.70 ERA)… so why the relief role? I’m getting confused. Back to the main issue… Mejia is game ready which is very good news for the Mets.

PRESS RELEASE: - Syracuse 4, Buffalo 1 - Mejia Rocks

The Chiefs outlasted Jenrry Mejia and it earned them a win.



With the Mets' top prospect out after eight brilliant innings, Syracuse scored three in the 10th inning for the 4-1 victory over the Bisons on Monday night from Coca-Cola Field.

Centerfielder Michael Martinez doubled home two runs in the 10th off Mike O'Connor before scoring himself on a perfect suicide squeeze bunt from Carlos Maldonado. Josh Wilkie retired the Bisons in order in the bottom of the 10th to preserve the win.



With the loss, and a 6-4 Columbus win over Indianapolis, the Bisons fell 3.5 games behind the Clippers for the league's lone wild card spot.



The story early in the game was the work of the 20-year old Mejia. The Mets #1 prospect proved why he is so highly rated with strike after strike. The flamethrower struck out nine batters, including seven of the first eight he faced.



Mejia had a dominating fastball that reached as high as 97 mph. Through the first four innings, the Chiefs didn't get a ball out of the infield off the righty. Martinez broke up the Mejia's no-hit bid with a one-out home run in the top of the sixth.

Mejia then got some help from his newest teammates to keep the game tied. Kirk Nieuwenhuis threw out the speedy Boomer Whiting at the plate to end the sixth inning. In the seventh, a drawn-in Justin Turner threw Brian Bixler out at the plate trying to score on a one-out grounder.



The Bisons scored their only run of the game on Mike Cervenak's eighth home run of the season with two outs in the second inning.

PRESS RELEASE: - Portland 7, Binghamton 6

For Immediate Release



B-Mets Rally Back from Early Deficit, But Fall 7-6



Binghamton dug itself an early 6-0 hole Monday night, but roared back to tie the score before succumbing 7-6 to Portland at Hadlock Field. Robert Carson was hit hard for seven runs on nine hits over five innings to drop his sixth game with the B-Mets.



The Sea Dogs struck first with a run in the first off Carson. Jose Iglesias doubled into the alley in left-center to reach scoring position with one out. Nate Spears followed and lined the first pitch he saw from the left-hander into center for an RBI single, making it 1-0.

Portland (64-70) claimed its big inning in the second. Ryan Khoury led off with a clean single to right. Jorge Padron advanced him to second with a groundout to the right side. Will Vazquez brought Khoury around to score with a double off the base of the wall in right, upping the lead to 2-0. Chih-Hsien Chiang followed up the two-bagger with one of his own off the glove of streaking leftfielder Eric Campbell, scoring Vazquez. Che-Hsuan Lin joined Chiang on base with an infield single, putting runners at the corners. Iglesias then became the fourth straight hitter to reach as he poked an RBI single to center, plating Chiang. After Spears struck out looking, Luis Exposito throttled a double to right to clear the bases, improving the Sea Dogs lead to 6-0.



Binghamton (64-70) boarded the comeback trail in the third with its first run off starter Jeremy Kehrt. Jose Coronado doubled off the Maine Monster in left with one out. Coronado advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on a Jordany Valdespin infield single, trimming the lead to 6-1.



The B-Mets scored a five-run frame of their own in the fifth inning to tie the score. Josh Satin started the rally with a double off the wall in right-center. Sean Ratliff joined him on base with a single to right. Zach Lutz plated Satin with an RBI single to left. Marshall Hubbard was the fourth straight to reach with an RBI single to center off the glove of Spears at second, allowing the Ratliff to score and Lutz to reach third. Campbell then chased Lutz home with a sac fly to center, cutting the deficit to two, 6-4.



Brahiam Maldonado and Salomon Manriquez completed the comeback with back-to-back RBI doubles off Kehrt, who exited the game after giving up a single to Coronado. Ryne Renoso replaced Kehrt and retired Valdespin on a fielder’s choice to second. Valdespin recorded two of the three outs in the frame.



Carson, who was removed from the hook thanks to the feverish comeback, gave the lead back to the Sea Dogs in the bottom of the fifth. After getting Luis Exposito to ground out to short, he walked Anthony Rizzo and Khoury. The two runners executed a double steal to reach second and third and Jorge Padron plated Rizzo with the winning run on a sacrifice fly to center, making it 7-6.



Portland’s bullpen took it from there. Reynoso worked 3 1/3 innings in scoreless fashion to segue to Daniel Turpen, who closed it out with a scoreless ninth for his third save of the season.



The B-Mets put runners in scoring position with one-out doubles in the seventh and the eighth innings, but failed to score the runners each time.



Binghamton outhit the Sea Dogs 15-11 in the loss and six B-Mets enjoyed two-hit nights. Chiang led Portland with a 3-for-3 night with a double and an RBI.

2011 DRAFT: - Austin Hedges, Tyler Beede, Jacob Anderson, Robert Stephenson... and Deven Marreno

Austin Hedges



8-19-10 from: - http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=4935 - Similar to Bryce Harper from a year ago, Hedges’ arm strength alone was impressive enough to be mentioned in this column. He fired a seed to second to throw out Javier Baez stealing in the first inning, and overall showed like he belonged behind the dish. I also was impressed with his approach at the plate, as he used a quick, compact stroke to put a charge in a 94 mph Dillon Maples fastball in the third inning that was hit into the gap in left-center for a double. He also showed pretty good wheels for a catcher.


Tyler Beede:


8-27 from: - http://xmlbscout.angelfire.com - RHP Tyler Beede Lawrence Academy HS, Auburn Mass 6'3 1/2 200 - quality righty with good arm speed and easy delivery doesn't fight himself too much, not real deceptive or overpowering just yet. Will run fb up to 93-94, most are 89-90, has life in on RHH and down in zone, cb is true will be plus pitch in time with repeat in delivery. Lots of upside. New England will be busy next spring!!


Jacob Anderson:


8-12-10 from: - http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/high-school/events/under-armour-preseason-all-america-tournament/2010/2610524.html - 1B/OF - Chino (Calif.) HS Anderson is a tall, lean athlete who can play first base and either corner outfield spot. He generates bat speed that leads to pull-side power and is a sub-7.0 runner with above-average arm strength. His wiry build and quick bat make him one of the top righthanded bats in the 2011 class.


Robert Stephenson:


8-18-10 from: - http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/article/the-2010-aflac-all-american-baseball-classic - Right-hander Robert Stephenson (Martinez, Calif.) started for the West and worked two scoreless innings, needing only 20 pitches to retire the six batters he faced. The scoreboard had Stephenson's fastball at 89-94 mph. He walked one (erased by the aforementioned throw by Hedges), struck out two, and allowed just one ball to leave the infield.


8-19-10 from: - http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=4935  - Stephenson was right behind Bradley among the players that caught my eye the most, and like Bradley he got to show his stuff over two innings of work, the only two pitchers that did so. It looked as though he threw both a four-seam (clocked in the 93-95 range) and an upper-80s two-seamer with impressive diving action. His breaking ball was also a plus pitch, a hard curveball with a little slurve-type bite to it when thrown a little harder. He has good size with lean, tapered proportions, and overall looks to be a good athlete with a clean, repeatable delivery. He looked about as sharp as they come in his two innings of work.


Deven Marreno:


8-21-10 from: - http://projectprospect.com/article/2010/08/21/2010-cape-cod-wrapup - The defensive burden placed on shortstops puts them in high demand. Shortstops who can handle themselves with the glove and stick are always at a premium. Enter Arizona State shortstop Deven Marrero. Marrero actually lead the Sun Devils in hitting last spring, posting a .397/.442/.628 line as a freshman. Playing for Cotuit in the Cape, Marrero hit .306/.385/.378. An above-average runner with solid range, smooth hands and a plus arm, Marrero has more than enough defensive ability to hold down shortstop long-term. His quick, simple swing should lead to consistently high batting averages with just enough patience to post quality on-base percentages. While there isn’t much in the way of power projection with Marrero, it’s hard to imagine a quality shortstop with his track record lasting too long on draft day.

2011 ROSTER PROJECTION - THE KEEPERS: - #3 - 2B - Reese Havens

3. Reese Havens – 2B


Havens was drafted in the 1st round of the 2008 draft by the Mets. He signed days later which included a $1.4mil signing bonus.



MLB.com’s comments on draft day: Hitting Ability: Havens has improved over time as a hitter and makes good contact with a very patient approach. Power: Excellent bat speed does generate some pop and he could hit 10-15 homers, maybe 15-20 at best. Running Speed: He's a well below-average runner. Base running: Very alert on the bases and armed with good instincts, he won't hurt you. Arm Strength: He's got a plus arm at short. Fielding: He catches the ball well when he gets to it. Range: His range is restricted because of his lack of foot speed. Some feel he'll have to move to third. Physical Description: Havens is really put together with a strong, athletic body. Medical Update: He had a sprained thumb in the fall, but he's 100 percent now. Strengths: A good approach at the plate with the ability to make solid contact; good knowledge of how to play the game.

College Stats on Havens: 359 BA/.486 OBP/.645 SLG%/ 248 AB, 76 R, 89 H, 13 doubles, 2 triples, 18 HR, 58 BB-44 K, 13 E in 66 games, .953 FPCT


Scouting Report: Summation: Swing mechanics and theories towards what makes up “the best swing” are very diverse. But, there are many standards that I like to think are pretty constant when it comes to making a good stroke. That is why I chose to examine Reese Havens first. What you see in the video, and in the photos is a very refined hitter with a polished swing. He has some small flaws here and there and other things go into make a good hitter besides mechanics of his swing, but it is a good place to start. Havens’ stroke is built to spray line drives to the gaps and to all parts of the field. I’d be quite surprised if that polish doesn’t easily carry him to a big league career.



From Keith Law on Draft Day: This is a great pick for the Mets. He makes all the plays at shortstop because he reads the ball off the bat so well. At the plate he has excellent pitch recognition and hand-eye coordnation. If he has to move to second base because of the presence of Jose Reyes at shortstop, he has more than enough bat. Havens has a great approach and instincts, and he should move quickly through the Mets' system.



From Kevin Goldstein (BP) on Draft Day: I actually kinda like this pick. He's got some pop, he's got some holes in his swing, but he's a monster makeup kid who could move quickly, and is probably now the Mets 2B of the future



From Adam Rubin the day after the draft: Havens, born during the 1986 World Series, hit .259 as a freshman and .274 as a sophomore in the Southeastern Conference, but took off after shortening his swing under the tutelage of Mike Roberts (the Orioles’ Brian Roberts’ father) while hitting .315 in the prestigious wood-bat Cape Cod League. Havens hit .359 with 18 homers and 57 RBI in 63 games this season for the Gamecocks. The Mets’ recent philosophy has been to keep shortstops and center fielders at their natural positions until they’re close to the big leagues, including Fernando Martinez remaining in center field, but there already was draft-day speculation Havens could be converted to catcher, which he’s never played, or second base.


Havens was considered a potential first-round pick out of high school, and the Red Sox were prepared to draft him 26th overall in 2005, but he was seeking a reported $1.7 million signing bonus - and Boston’s offer would have been $1.35 million. With teams shying away, he dropped to a 29th-round pick by the Rockies and instead headed to South Carolina.



SNY the day after the draft: I love the Reese Havens pick. This is not a guy I expected Omar Minaya to pick, as he’s been leaning more toward tools and Havens plays much greater than the sum of his parts. He is not an athlete, per se, but definitely a baseball player. Through hard work and smarts, he proved capable at short and may even project there, but not on the Mets. Some teams, including the Red Sox, were rumored to want to move him to catcher. Havens, according to the reports Thursday, was not enthused about that switch. Perhaps it’s still in the cards for the Mets. He’ll sport a plus-lefty bat no matter where he ends up, but expect it to be second base for New York. This year at South Carolina, Reese had a .485 OBP/.628 SLG/1.113 OPS, walking 19 percent of the time.



ScoutingBook.com  ranked Havens as the 262nd top prospect: A successful shortstop in college whose range is a bit of a question in pro ball, South Carolina graduate David Havens could make a heck of a second baseman for a future Mets infield that already includes two All Stars and the player picked just before him in the 2008 Draft, first baseman Ike Davis. A solid line drive hitter with plus plate discipline, Havens could be a long-term keystone for New York


In June 2008, BA did a post-draft adjustment of their top 10 Mets prospects and Havens was ranked #3, with the comments: “more likely a third baseman or possibly a catcher, stands out with approach and pop. “



In late July 2008, ProjectProspect.com updated their top 10 Mets prospect list and Havens was ranked 3rd.



In 2008, due to injuries, Havens was used exclusively as a DH, at Brooklyn, going .247/.340/.471, with 3 HRs and only 11 RBIs in 23 games.



In February 2009 from MYOB: Reese signed for a little over $1.4 million. He doesn’t quite have the pop of Ike Davis, but he sent three more over the wall than Ike. His slugging percentage was .471 even though his batting average was a few points less than Davis. Reese will be more of a gap hitter. The Mets didn’t see a lot from him defensively, as groin and elbow problems limited him to DH. There are some that think his foot speed and first step quickness will not be adequate to stick at short and a move to second will be in his future. But since he wasn’t given much of a chance to show his stuff this year, the Mets will give him an opportunity to field the position next year. At least he has no less range than Mets super prospect Wilmer Flores. He does have great makeup and has the intangibles to succeed whereever he is placed.



In March 2009, Rotoworld ranked the Mets Top 10 Prospect: 5. Reese Havens - An elite performer in college, Havens hit .359/.486/.645 as Justin Smoak's teammate at South Carolina last season. No one saw him as a long-term shortstop, so it was thought he might fall out of the first round of the draft. The Mets, though, took him at No. 22 with the intention of grooming him as a second baseman. Havens hit plenty of homers in college, but he figures to be more of a doubles guy in the pros. He'll both hit for average and draw walks, so if he can deliver 35-40 doubles per year, he has a chance to be a very valuable offensive player. He should begin to move quickly this season.



9-9-9 From http://www.hardballtimes.com/ : - A big sleeper, Havens has been nagged by injuries since being taken by the Mets in the first round of last year's draft. The lefty shortstop has some serious power, as he had ISO's of .224 last year and .175 this year. A .275 BABIP has given him just a .247 batting average, but he's maintained a walk rate of 13.3%, showing that when he combines power and a good eye with some luck on balls in play, he can be a big threat. He still needs to cut down on his strikeouts and work on his defense, as many see a move to second base in his future.


9-15-09 from: - http://myworldofbaseball.com/wordpress/?cat=42  - 8. Reese Havens SS - He has more potential for shortstop than Flores, but his future is at second base because his foot speed will limit his range. Like the major league Mets, a quadricep injury limited his bats. He finished with an identical .247 average that he hit for the Cyclones in 2008 with an improved OBA and a slugging percentage that was slightly lower. He did hit 14 homeruns in only 97 games and his 55 to 73 walk to K ratio indicates that his average should improve.


2009 was an interesting year. On the down side, he only hit .247, but produced 14 home runs, which tied him for 6th in the league. His .422 slugging percentage ranked him11 th in the league and his .784 OPS put him in 10th place.


1-1-10: - Forecast: Nothing but blue sky, now that he has changed to second base. Havens goes from the 3rd, maybe 4th SS prospect, to the #1 slot for 2B, and gives the Mets potential pop at that position. Look for some additional errors this coming season in Binghamton, but, as long as the bat produced, this will be your Mets second baseman in 2012.



2-1-10: - Reece Havens – most prospect pundits still have Havens as the top second base prospect in the organization, but I need to see one more season out of him before I place him higher on my list. So far, he hasn’t hit for average, though he is showing potential pop. Also, a little more defense won’t hurt either. His future as a Mets may be similar to guys like Dustin Martin.


5-17-10: - Stock up: Havens was promoted to Binghamton after Friday night’s game for St. Lucie. The former first round draft pick is no longer kicking the ball around at short and has become a full time second baseman, in hopes of getting to Queens after Luis Castillo’s contract runs out after the 2011 season. No one is going to ever award Havens a Gold Glove, but did play A+ this season with zero errors in the field.In addition, his bat is coming around… at Lucy this year: .281/.369/.509/.878, 3-HRs in 57-AB. Look, Havens should be at AA and the rest of this season will be a good test for him. He also will fit in well with a lineup of Nieuwenhuis, Evans, and Lutz. No pitching around here.


5-24-10: - Stock up: Havens was promoted to Binghamton after Friday night’s game for St. Lucie. The former first round draft pick is no longer kicking the ball around at short and has become a full time second baseman, in hopes of getting to Queens after Luis Castillo’s contract runs out after the 2011 season. No one is going to ever award Havens a Gold Glove, but did play A+ this season with zero errors in the field.In addition, his bat is coming around… at Lucy this year: .281/.369/.509/.878, 3-HRs in 57-AB. Look, Havens should be at AA and the rest of this season will be a good test for him. He also will fit in well with a lineup of Nieuwenhuis, Evans, and Lutz. No pitching around here.


5-30-10 from: - http://myworldofbaseball.com/wordpress/?cat=42  - Reese Havens SS - Reese was the Mets number one pick, but selected after Ike Davis. He signed for $1.4 million, about $100,000 less than Ike. His first two years Reese has been stuck on .247. Defensively, he may lack the range to play shortstop so second or third base could be in his future. Reese started his season late after an oblique injury. After 14 games of rehab in the Florida State League, where he played all of last year, Reese was promoted to AA Binghamton, where he is hitting .348 in five games. Last year Reese was decent cutting down on his strikeouts and increasing his walks, but this year he has 22 whiffs in 19 games. He will need to have better success making contact if he wishes to hit at the top of the Mets order.


6-5-10 from: - http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/prospect-hot-sheet/2010/2610129.html  - Team: Double-A Binghamton (Eastern) - Age: 23 - Why He's Here: .360/.560/.840 (9-for-25), 3 HR, 1 2B, 1 3B, 6 RBIs, 6 R, 5 BB, 6 SO - The Scoop: As discouraging as it was to see Havens miss yet more time with injury this season—in this case a strained oblique—he's proven to be worth the wait. He homered twice off Orioles righthander Chorye Spoone and once off Indians reliever Bryan Price this week, while continuing to show a discerning batting eye. That's not an anomaly. Power and patience have been Havens' strong suits—he has walked in 12 percent of his minor league plate appearances while boasting a .199 isolated power. For a middle infielder in the New York-Penn, Florida State and Eastern leagues, that's pretty darn good. Taken four picks after Ike Davis in the 2008 draft, Havens just might join Ike on the right side of the Mets infield later this season


6-7-10: - Reese Havens hit another home run Sunday, his sixth in in Binghamton and ninth for the season. The 2011 battle for second base is starting to get very interesting, especially if Ruben Tejada plays the position well in Queens during the period he is there. I still think Tejada has a good shot at replacing Jose Reyes at short, simply because 2011 is Reyes last year, the Mets have an option to get out at 500K, and, most important, he’s one of the only players on the team that could warrant a one-for-one trade for an Oswalt-type starter. I’m not calling for a Reyes trade, but a team can’t win in this sport without a dominant starting rotation. Santana and Pelfrey aren’t enough.


6-12-10: - Reese Havens was removed from the Binghamton game last night in the second inning for "soreness"... manager Tim Tuefel told a reporter that he's had this problem before, which makes one wonder if this is related to him oblique strain that kept him out earlier this season. Right now, he is listed day-to-day.


6-21-10: - Havens was placed on the 7-day disabled list Sunday for soreness in his left obique. This is the same oblique that put him on the DL earlier this season, so it’s obvious that things aren’t healed yet. I have been told that this new hiccup is just that, a small set-back; however, I would hope that the Mets sit the boy down until he is fully healed this time. This, of cource, may not be the Mets fault and the player could have sent the wrong signs to the trainer. It looks like Havens has a bright future with the Mets and he’s not part of any trade package, so let him heal, even if it takes the rest of the season.


7-13 from: - http://www.amazinavenue.com/2010/7/13/1565273/mid-term-farm-system-review-part  - Havens is a tough evaluation as you can argue he's actually holding here. On one hand, he's been awesome when healthy. On the other hand, for the second-straight year, Havens has just been unable to stay in the lineup on a consistent basis, currently out with an oblique problem that does not sound like it's getting any better. As I said, performance wise, he's been great (though sample-size warnings apply). The walk rate is great, he's hitting for even more power than I expected, the average is good. The strikeout rate is a little high, but I'm not too worried yet. As with Zach Lutz below, Havens now has the injury-prone label, and until he stays healthy for a full season, it's going to stick, and for that reason, I'm giving Havens a falling stock grade.


8-5-10: - http://www.minorleagueball.com/2010/8/5/1606179/2010-top-20-new-york-mets  - Reese Havens, SS, Grade B-: Hit great for St. Lucie and Binghamton (.312/.386/.592) but limited to 32 games by an oblique injury. I like him a lot, if he can stay healthy.

8-31-10 - 2011 Forecast: - Look, whether this kid is playing or on the DL, he's the number one prospect second baseman in the organization. Injuries are injuries. Some are natural, and others happen when someone takes you out on a double play ball. Just because Strasburg is being operated on, doesn't make him the best prospect pitcher in baseball. That being said, it would be nice if Havens stopped trying to be like F-Mart.  Havens only had 125 at bats in 2010 (between St. Lucie and Binghamton), but they were impressive: .312/.386/.592/.978, 9-HR, 19-RBI. Project those numbers over a full season and you have an all-star. His latest injury is a nagging one, but shouldn't impede his growth. I do expect him to play winter ball, probably Hawaii, and there's a good chance he will compete for the Mets second base job, against Ruben Tejada, in spring training. Otherwise, expect him in Buffalo in 2011.

Top 31 Catchers in 2011 MLB Draft - updated ranking

1. Blake Swihart:


6-27 from: - link   - Day two at TOS - C, Blake Swihart, 6'0 175, S/R, solid lil receiver with plus arm and release, 1.85, 55 arm close to 60, also bat speed with deceptive strength, reminds me some of Jason Kendall. Blake is from Cleveland HS, in New Mexico. Definite follow.


6-27: - With the conclusion of the Tournament of Stars in Cary, N.C., USA Baseball has now announced the trials rosters for the 18U national teams. - Blake Swihart C S/R 6-0 175 Cleveland HS, Rio Rancho, N.M. 2011


7-1 from: - http://web.usabaseball.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100630&content_id=11786118&vkey=recap_usab  - CARY, N.C. -- Blake Swihart notched two hits and two RBIs to propel the Blue past the Red 3-2 Wednesday night at the USA Baseball National Training Complex in Cary, N.C. Christian Montgomery (1-0) earned the win improving the Blue team to 1-1 in the 18U National Team Trials. Offensively Swihart's 2-for-3 and two RBIs performance paced the Blue squad.


7-1 from: - http://sullydraft.blogspot.com/  – 2011 Mock Draft – 15. Blake Swihart- C, Cleveland HS


7-3 from: - http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2010/07/03/early-follow-list-for-2011-mlb-draft  - from Fanhouse.com MLB Draft guru Frankie Piliere  – Blake Swihart C Cleveland HS (N.M.) - Has the arm and body to stick behind the plate, but even more impressive power and consistent lasers to all parts of the field.


7-9-10 from: - http://sullydraft.blogspot.com/2010/07/high-school-top-tens-catcher.html  - top 10 high school catchers - 1. Blake Swihart- Cleveland HS


7-13-10: - MaxPreps Junior All-American Baseball Team - Blake Swihart, Cleveland (Rio Rancho, N.M.), All-Purpose - An All-Metro first baseman as a sophomore at Rio Rancho, Swihart transferred to Cleveland, switched to catcher and didn't miss a beat. Named to the 5A all-state team.


7-15 from: - http://web.usabaseball.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100714&content_id=12257374&vkey=recap_usab  - The USA Baseball 18U National Team slugged 13 hits to swing past the Chaska Cubs 8-3 Wednesday night at Chaska Athletic Park. Blake Swihart (Rio Rancho, N.M./Texas) notched two extra base hits and two RBIs. Swihart delivered a solo home run, after the U.S. lined into a double play, to give Team USA a 3-0 after two.


7-24 from: - http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/high-school/?p=244  - Team USA went 5-0 against the Greater N.Y. Alliance All-Stars, a collection of New York-area high school seniors and college freshmen. After the New York swing, the team headed to Minnesota to play some summer teams as well as three friendlies against Canada. Team USA went 6-1 there with the one loss coming in a 4-3 decision against the Canadians. During the tour, Blake Swihart led the team in hitting with a .464/.467/.789 clip. Swihart is an athletic, switch-hitting catcher that can also play the infield, making him a versatile threat for Team USA.


7-25: - http://www.fanhouse.com/ : - Fanhouse Top 70 Prospects - 21. Blake Swihart, C, Cleveland HS (N.M.)


8-1 from: - http://www.mlbbonusbaby.com/2010/7/31/1598074/all-questions-answered#comments - He has all the tools to be a plus at the plate and behind it. I think he’s rawer than some say, but  he could be an above-average hitter with plus power, and he has a plus arm with good footwork and decent receiving skills. He’s also a decent athlete, definitely more athletic than a regular catcher. I like him quite a bit, but I’m cautious with all high school catchers. I still don’t see him as being as polished as a lot of places say he is.


8-11-10 from: - http://baseballanalysts.com - Blake Swihart (Cleveland, Rio Rancho, NM), a 6-1, 175-pound switch-hitting catcher, had two hits and drew rave reviews from many talent evaluators for his offensive and defensive prowess. He is another Aflac selection who hit a team-leading .448 AVG (26-for-58) and .845 SLG (6 2B, 1 3B, and 5 HR) for the USA 18U club. He has also committed to play for the Texas Longhorns.


http://diamondscapescouting.com/articles_aflacallamerican2010_10playerstowatch_08152010.html - C, Cleveland HS (N.M.) -- Swihart was perhaps the best bat at the Area Code Games earlier this month, and possesses one of the best arms in this year's catching crop. Swihart produces consistent hard contact from both sides of the plate, showing the potential to grow into some power (he thrives gap-to-gap right now). His receiving will be tested tonight by an impressive collection of arms on the West roster, giving him the chance to solidify his hold among scouts as the top HS catcher in the 2011 class. His pop times are routinely sub-2.0 and often sub-1.9, and he gets excellent carry. While not a speedster, Swihart is a good enough athlete to move around the field as needed. He is committed to Texas.


8-19-10 from: - http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=4935 - I had heard about Swihart’s effortless approach at the plate before, and it was immediately evident the first time he took to the batter’s box. It starts with a patient and confident approach, knowing what he wants to hit and hit hard. The bat speed is obvious, using a quick, easy swing in which the ball jumps off his bat. He hit a hard single up the middle in the fifth inning off of a low-90s fastball from Deshorn Lake, and entered the game with a lot of fanfare for his overall hitting prowess. I can’t comment on his defense just from this game, but one player that he immediately reminded me of given his switch-hitting bat and prowess at the plate was Victor Martinez.


8-17-10 from: - http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2010/08/17/which-2011-mlb-draft-prospects-impressed-as-aflac-all-americans - Blake Swihart, C: Austin Hedges may be the standout with the arm and Marlette the standout as far as raw power, but it is Swihart that offers the best total package. He has the skills and frame to stick behind the plate and his bat continues to look fantastic. Swihart is very consistent mechanically from both sides of the plate, and unlike many young switch-hitters looks equally impressive from each side. With his consistent line-drive approach and plus power potential, he has the look of a future star behind the plate.

2. Peter O’Brien:



6-12-10 from: - link  - Smaller School Sleeper: Peter O’Brien, C, Bethune-Cookman, .386/.445/.748. The MEAC Conference MVP, I can’t give you a lot of background on O’Brien. He’s said to have a big arm, clubbed 20 home runs, and earned an invitation to the Cape Cod League for the summer. That’s good enough for me.


July 7, 2010 - http://web.usabaseball.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100707&content_id=12054480&vkey=news_usab&gid= - CNT Trials: Red-Blue game ends in tie. The nine-inning affair ended in a five-all tie when Peter O'Brien (Bethune-Cookman) singled home a pair of runs in the eighth frame.


7-6 from: - http://web.usabaseball.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100706&content_id=12003730&vkey=news_usab&gid= - USA Baseball kicked off its Collegiate National Team (CNT) trials Tuesday afternoon at the National Training Center (NTC), which will run through July 11. - Peter O'Brien (Bethune-Cookman) paced the Red squad to a 4-1 victory over the Blue. O'Brien, who caught for both teams on the day, was 1-for-4 at the dish connecting on a home run off Noe Ramirez (Cal State Fullerton) in the top of the first inning.


7-13-10 from: - http://perfectgame.atinfopop.com/4/OpenTopic?q=Y&a=tpc&s=114295945&f=6174069131&m=3221081702&p=3 - C, Peter O'Brien, Bethune-Cookman, Jr to be, 6'2 1/2 210, R/R, playing in a conference that's not top of mind, is not going to hinder this young man's exposure moving forward and it's put his team mates on display for 2010-2011 as well on the BC roster. Peter has a solid throwing arm, ave release, 1.92 with gear on and in game situation, also displayed level swing with line drive alley power and future HR power with lift to hit 15-20 HR in the ML. Shifting wise and leadership wise, no questions here. Loved his makeup in the heat too!


7-23-10 from: - http://pnrscouting.com/articles_teamusacollegiate_finalroster_07212010.html - USA CNT Roster Breakdown, Spring Stat Links and Trials Notes: - Peter O'Brien - CA So. Bethune-Cookman Univ. - Trials Notes: O'Brien put together a highly impressive week at CNT Trials, with a nice showing at the plate and behind it. Offensively, O'Brien has a balanced set-up and loads well, creating good leverage and in-game power. He shows solid bat speed through strong wrists and used that bat speed and strength to launch a pair of in-game homeruns (in addition to multiple highly impressive BP sets). Though his weight transfer is solid and he generally flows well through his core, he fell out of his timing a handful of times against more advanced off-speed stuff. Behind the plate, O'Brien was solid side-to-side and showed an ability to deaden balls in front of him. He is athletic enough to perhaps grow into an average defensive backstop, but his size may ultimately force a shift to a corner outfield spot. O'Brien has an adequate transfer and solid arm strength and footwork. He clocked pop times in the 1.95 - 2.10 second range, both in-game and between innings. He was one of the better overall bats during the week and could prove most valuable over the Summer. He has early-round potential and could be one of the first catchers off the board next June.


7-23-10 from: - http://thecollegebaseballblog.com/2010/07/23/team-usa-hammers-strike-zone-of-omaha-16-0 - In its final tune-up game before heading overseas to Taiwan and Japan, Team USA defeated the Strike Zone of Omaha 16-0 in seven innings Thursday afternoon at Warrior Field. With the win Team USA improves to 9-0 on the summer. Peter O’Brien (Bethune-Cookman) hit a pair of home runs and four RBIs. O’Brien’s solo home run to left field and an RBI double off the bat of Miller highlighted Team USA’s two-run third that extended the lead to 10-0. O’Brien’s second homer of the game, a three-run shot to left, capped a five-run sixth that gave Team USA a 15-0 lead.


7-25: - www.fanhouse.com: - Fanhouse Top 70 Prospects - 10. Peter O’Brien, C, Bethune Cookman


7-28 from: - http://thecollegebaseballblog.com/2010/07/27/team-usa-defeats-chinese-taipei-6-3 - Pete O’Brien (Bethune-Cookman) hit his fourth home run of the season and drove in two runs to help the Collegiate National Team (CNT) snap its two-game skid against Chinese-Taipei Tuesday with a 6-3 victory at Hsinchuang Field. With the win Team USA improves to 10-2 on its summer tour. O’Brien’s fielder’s choice RBI in the fourth inning broke a one-all and gave USA the lead for good at 2-1.

3. Brandon Sedell - C 3B/1B American Heritage Cooper City FL


7-1 from: - http://www.mlbbonusbaby.com/2010/6/30/1544396/pats-first-2011-top-50#storyjump – Pat Hickey Mock Draft – 42. Brandon Sedell, C, American Heritage HS (Fla.)


7-3 from: - http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2010/07/03/early-follow-list-for-2011-mlb-draft - from Fanhouse.com MLB Draft guru Frankie Piliere – Blake Swihart C Cleveland HS (N.M.) - Has the arm and body to stick behind the plate, but even more impressive power and consistent lasers to all parts of the field.


7-9-10 from: - http://sullydraft.blogspot.com/2010/07/high-school-top-tens-catcher.html - top 10 high school catchers - 4. Brandon Sedell- American Heritage HS


7-13-10: - MaxPreps Junior All-American Baseball Team - Brandon Sedell, American Heritage (Plantation, Fla.), Catcher - Selected as the top 3A player in the state of Florida by the Dairy Farmers Association, Sedell led American Heritage with his prowess at the plate as he batted .612 (52-for-85) with 40 runs, 46 RBI, 11 doubles and 9 home runs. He was also named to the All-Broward County team by the Miami Herald and he was the small school MVP by the Fort Lauderdale Sun Sentinel.


7-25: - www.fanhouse.com: - Fanhouse Top 70 Prospects - 50. Brandon Sedell, C, American Heritage HS (Fla.)

4. Jett Bandy -


4-7-10 from: link  - C Jett Bandy (Arizona): Bandy was a very strong-armed 6-foot-4 catcher with a cool name, and a long, strong swing out of high school. He played mainly third base as a freshman at Arizona, attesting to his athleticism. Back at catcher this spring, Bandy is hitting .450-5-27 with 15 walks and only seven strikeouts, which seems to address how he has adjusted his swing. Tools plus performance plus athleticism plus premium position . . . hard to imagine that doesn’t equal a very high draft pick.


6-12-10 from: - http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/wait-til-next-year-2011-draft-preview - Catcher - Best Player: Jett Bandy, C/3B, Arizona, .354/.444/.538. By far the thinnest position of the draft class, I don’t think there is a college catcher that will be drafted on the first day. However, Bandy has an invitation to play for USA Baseball this summer, and if the 6-foot-4 slugger proves that he can stick behind the plate, he has a chance. Bandy threw out 24-of-67 runners this year, while hitting 23 doubles and posting a 10.3 K%.


6-15-10 from: - http://www.deepleagues.com/?p=1830 – 2011 Mock Draft - 18. Philadelphia Phillies Jett Bandy C, University of Arizona


7-4 from: - http://pnrscouting.com/articles_teamusacollegiate_trialroster_07042010.html - Arizona’s Jett Bandy provides a nice combination of glove work and bat, possessing solid receiving skills and catch-and-throw-ability. At the plate, Bandy shows a good eye and ability to square-up with gap-to-gap pop, though he was more impressive out of conference than in.


7-25: - www.fanhouse.com: - Fanhouse Top 70 Prospects - 60. Jett Bandy, C, Arizona


7-25 from: - http://www.mlbbonusbaby.com/2010/7/24/1585669/all-questions-answered#comments - I thought long and hard about having Bandy in my top 50, but there are enough questions about his catching ability for me to have him in the 51-65 range. He’s got a solid-average bat with above-average raw power, though he’s more of a gap-to-gap hitter right now with the power being more about projection and his batting practices. There’s little doubt that he’ll be able to be at least a solid hitter against quality pitching, so the question is more about his glove. He has an above-average arm, but his footwork and receiving needs some work. I was a little surprised he was cut from Team USA in the trials, as I’d take him over Steve Rodriguez and have him and Pete O’Brien as a relative wash.

5. Nick Delmonico - C 1B Farragut Knoxville TN

6-13 from: - link  - C-3b-SS, Nick Delmonico, Farragut HS, Knoxville TN, 6'3 190, S/R, gamer, good bloodlines, solid ML arm with carry, runs just ok, biggest concern, also gets eaten up with good inside heat, will occasionally show power when he can fully extend his arms. Solid hands.


6-14-10 from: - http://prospectinsider.com/360mock.php - 2011 Mock Draft – 17 Detroit Nick Delmonico, SS/C -- Farragut HS


6-15-10 from: - http://www.deepleagues.com/?p=1830 – 2011 Mock Draft - 21. Texas Rangers Nick Delmonico C, Knoxville, Tennessee


7-9-10 from: - http://sullydraft.blogspot.com/2010/07/high-school-top-tens-catcher.html - top 10 high school catchers - 6. Nick Delmonico- Farragut HS


7-7 from: - http://web.usabaseball.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100707&content_id=12029396&vkey=news_usab&gid= - USA Baseball 9, N.Y. All-Stars 0 - QUEENS, N.Y. -- Four Team USA pitchers combined on a one-hit shutout to propel the USA Baseball 18U National Team over the Greater Alliance N.Y. All-Stars 9-0 Wednesday afternoon at Jack Kaiser Stadium in Queens, N.Y. Offensively five USA batters each notched two hits apiece Including Nicky Delmonico. Francisco Lindor added two RBIs Delmonico.


7/6 from: - http://web.usabaseball.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100706&content_id=11987434&vkey=news_usab&gid= - the USA Baseball 18U National Team past the Greater Alliance N.Y. All-Stars 8-5 Tuesday afternoon at MCU Park in Coney Island, N.Y. - The 18U National Team regained the lead manufacturing three runs on three consecutive two-out RBI hits. Nicky Delmonico capped the big inning for Team USA with a RBI triple off the left center field wall.


7-13-10: - MaxPreps Junior All-American Baseball Team - Nicky Delmonico, Farragut (Knoxville, Tenn.), Infield - One of the top players in the class of 2011, Delmonico is a veteran of Team USA play and was a key factor in Farragut's three straight state championships in Tennessee. He batted .485 with 18 home runs 75 RBI, 12 doubles, 66 hits and 66 runs scored.


7-15 from: - http://web.usabaseball.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100714&content_id=12257374&vkey=recap_usab - The USA Baseball 18U National Team slugged 13 hits to swing past the Chaska Cubs 8-3 Wednesday night at Chaska Athletic Park. C Nicky Delmonico (Knoxville, Tenn.) ripped a two-run home run. Delmonico propelled USA to an early two-run lead courtesy of a mammoth two-run home run. The Knoxville, Tenn., product sent the 2-0 Andy Daulwater offering well over the right field wall to give the U.S. an early lead.


8-3 from: - http://www.mlbbonusbaby.com/2010/7/31/1598074/all-questions-answered#comments - More of a solid player than a top-level talent to me. Above-average hitter with average power, fringe-average runner. Good arm, but not the most polished at catcher. Could end up at third base, but I think there’s a good chance he ends up at Georgia.


8-12-10 from: - http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/high-school/events/under-armour-preseason-all-america-tournament/2010/2610524.html - C/1B - Farragut HS, Knoxville Delmonico is one of the top hitters in the 2011 class. He has a sweet lefthanded stroke with bat speed and barrel accuracy. He hit a walkoff home run to win a state title for Farragut. He's a good athlete who can play multiple positions. Catching gives him the highest draft value, but he has played first base for Team USA the last two summer and shortstop on his high school team. He has committed to Georgia.

6. Daniel Mengden:


7-1 from: - http://sullydraft.blogspot.com – 2011 Mock Draft – 49. Daniel Mengden- RHP/C, Westside HS


7-3 from: - http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2010/07/03/early-follow-list-for-2011-mlb-draft - from Fanhouse.com MLB Draft guru Frankie Piliere – Daniel Mengden C Westside HS (Texas) - Lightning-fast hands. Has some Gary Sheffield in his setup and swing. Ball explodes off his bat. Strong arm behind the dish.


7-9-10 from: - http://sullydraft.blogspot.com/2010/07/high-school-top-tens-catcher.html - top 10 high school catchers - 3. Daniel Mengden- Westside HS


7-19 from: -http://sullydraft.blogspot.com - High School Top Tens: RHP - 10. Daniel Mengden- Westside HS


7-25: - www.fanhouse.com: - Fanhouse Top 70 Prospects - 52. Daniel Mengden, C, Westside HS (Texas)


7-27-10 from: - http://www.prospectwire.com/pw/article.php?id=98 - Dan Mengden, C/RHP, Houston Westside (TX) HS - I only got a brief look at Mengden on the mound and he showed low-90s strength out of an impressive delivery. There’s raw material to work with as a pitcher, but he’s relatively polished behind the plate, a plus defender in the making who has a chance to hit at the highest level. Mengden has the athleticism to play the outfield or third base as well as on the mound, but I like him best as the backstop. His 6’0” 190 lb frame is strong and sturdy but lacks projection for a pitcher


7. Cameron Gallagher:


7-3 from: - http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2010/07/03/early-follow-list-for-2011-mlb-draft - from Fanhouse.com MLB Draft guru Frankie Piliere – Cameron Gallagher C Manheim Township HS (Pa.) - Big raw power, and beginning to take it into game action. Physically mature, strong frame. Swing mechanics need work, big offensive upside.


7-9-10 from: - http://sullydraft.blogspot.com/2010/07/high-school-top-tens-catcher.html - top 10 high school catchers - 5. Cameron Gallagher- Manheim Township HS


7-25: - www.fanhouse.com: - Fanhouse Top 70 Prospects - 56. Cameron Gallagher, C, Manheim Township HS (Pa.)

8. Austin Hedges:


6-27 from: - link    - Day two at TOS - C, Austin Hedges, 5'11 160, R/R, Jserra HS, San Juan Capistrano CA, nice little receiver with plus release and ML arm strength, a tad better than ave, bat will come, there is bat speed but upper body still not fully developed and he receives well. Handled Owens well on the 3 inning stint by the lanky lefty.


6-27: - With the conclusion of the Tournament of Stars in Cary, N.C., USA Baseball has now announced the trials rosters for the 18U national teams. - Austin Hedges C R/R 5-10 160 JSerra Catholic HS, San Juan Capistrano, Calif. 2011


7-1 from: - http://sullydraft.blogspot.com – 2011 Mock Draft – 44. Austin Hedges- C, J Serra HS


7-3 from: - http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2010/07/03/early-follow-list-for-2011-mlb-draft - from Fanhouse.com MLB Draft guru Frankie Piliere – Austin Hedges C Junipero Serra HS (Calif.) - Very strong arm and good catch-and-throw skills in general. Good instincts. Line drive, lacks lift currently.


7-9-10 from: - http://sullydraft.blogspot.com/2010/07/high-school-top-tens-catcher.html - top 10 high school catchers - 2. Austin Hedges- J Serra HS


7-25: - www.fanhouse.com: - Fanhouse Top 70 Prospects - 57. Austin Hedges, C, Junipero Serra HS (Calif.)


8-3 from: - http://www.mlbbonusbaby.com/2010/7/31/1598074/all-questions-answered#comments - More of a defensive specialist at this point. Average bat, fringe-average power. Great defensive tools including plus arm and plus footwork. Good receiver, too. Easily had the best pop time at PG National. He’s the type of player that might slide if his bat doesn’t develop over the next 10 months.


8-11-10 from: - http://baseballanalysts.com - Teammate Austin Hedges (JSerra, San Juan Capistrano, CA), also an Aflac selection, had two hits and was 4-for-10 overall. He is an outstanding defensive catcher with a strong arm that was obvious to anyone paying attention before and during the games.


8-13-10 from: - http://www.prospectwire.com/pw/article.php?id=122 - Catcher Austin Hedges had one of the other hits and he is a standout player. I don't know that he will be more than an average hitter at the pro level and his power will likely fall short of average but he is a very good defensive catcher, with excellent catch/throw skills and a plus arm.


8-18-10 from: - http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/article/the-2010-aflac-all-american-baseball-classic - On the other side, Austin Hedges (San Juan Capistrano, Calif.) knocked a double to left-center and made a terrific throw to nail Baez attempting to steal second in the first. Baez got a great jump on the pitch and I had conceded the bag, but Hedges had other ideas. I wondered if maybe Baez lacked speed, but he showed plenty when legging out a triple to right-center in his next at-bat. Hedges just made a great throw.

9. C J Cron:


4-6-10 from: - link  - Utah sophomore baseball player C.J. Cron has received an invitation to the 2010 USA Baseball Collegiate National Team Trials, head coach Bill Kinneberg announced today. “This is a great opportunity for C.J. to put his skills against the best players in country,” Kinneberg said. “If he makes the team, what an experience that will be for him.” Cron, who plays at both first base and catcher, currently leads the Mountain West Conference with a .429 batting average and is second in the conference with a .725 slugging percentage. He is tied for the MWC lead with seven home runs, ranking third with 32 RBI



4-7-10 from: http://www.pgcrosschecker.com/articles/DisplayArticle.aspx?article=2253 - C C.J. Cron (Utah): Cron’s father, Chris, is a former major league first baseman and currently a coach in the Chicago White Sox organization, so he has hitting genetics that he’s using to the fullest. He has surprising athleticism for a 6-4, 230-pound catcher, but it’s his bat that gets the most notice. Cron is hitting .438-9-38 this spring after an impressive .337-11-58 freshman year that included a three-hit performance off Stephen Strasburg.


6-12 from: - http://thecollegebaseballblog.com/2010/06/11/ncbwa-announces-district-players-of-the-year - Nine of college baseball’s finest student-athletes have been named 2010 National Collegiate Baseball Writers of America District Players of the Year, as the NCBWA announced these 11th annual awards today. One was District VIII: C-1B-DH C.J. Cron - Cron, one of the nation’s most versatile standouts, started at catcher, first base and designated hitter for the 2010 Utes. The sophomore from Phoenix, Ariz., already has been selected to a pair of All-America teams while pacing Utah in virtually every category on offense. The two-time All-Mountain West performer leads the nation with 1.65 RBI (81 in 49 contests) and is fifth in slugging percentage (.817). He batted .431 with 55 runs and currently is eighth in NCAA Division I with 0.41 home runs per game. He 81 RBI total is 11th nationally, and Cron was 2010 Mountain West Conference Player of the Year as well as a MWC All-Tournament team member. He is the Utes’ first All-America choice since SS Ryan Khoury in 2006.


6-12-10 from: - http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/wait-til-next-year-2011-draft-preview - Catcher - Small School Sleeper: C.J. Cron, C/DH, Utah, .431/.487/.817. I know Utah doesn’t qualify as a small school, but it’s difficult to discern a top tier, and Cron is following his head coach Bill Kinneberg with the USA Baseball team this summer. That’s not to say it isn’t well-earned after his 20 home run season, but it will be his chance to prove his mettle against elite competition.


6-14-10: Named to 1st Team NCBWA 2010 All-America Team - C J Cron: - .431, 55-R, 20-HR, 81-RBI


7-1 from: - http://www.mlbbonusbaby.com/2010/6/30/1544396/pats-first-2011-top-50#storyjump – Pat Hickey Mock Draft – 39. C.J. Cron, C, Utah


7-1 from: - http://sullydraft.blogspot.com – 2011 Mock Draft – 45. CJ Cron- C, Utah


7-25 from: - http://www.mlbbonusbaby.com/2010/7/24/1585669/all-questions-answered#comments - I like his bat quite a bit, but he’s just outside of my top 50, as he’s unlikely to be able to be even average defensively behind the plate as a pro. He has an above-average hit tool and raw power, and his arm is in the solid-average/above-average range, but he’s a below-average receiver with bad footwork, and he’s just plain big behind the plate. He partially tore his PCL on the Cape before he was supposed to be part of Team USA, so that doesn’t help things, as there’s only a limited amount of scouting data on him against quality pitchers with a wood bat.


10. Garrett Boulware:


7-3 from: - http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2010/07/03/early-follow-list-for-2011-mlb-draft - from Fanhouse.com MLB Draft guru Frankie Piliere – Garrett Boulware C T.L. Hanna HS (S.C.) - Has the skills and solid frame to stick behind the plate. Shows big power to deepest parts of the field. Disciplined approach.


7-9-10 from: - http://sullydraft.blogspot.com/2010/07/high-school-top-tens-catcher.html - top 10 high school catchers - 10. Garrett Boulware- TL Hanna HS


7-25: - www.fanhouse.com: - Fanhouse Top 70 Prospects - 64. Garrett Boulware, C, T.L. Hanna HS (S.C.)


11. Mac Doyle:


5-10-10 from: - http://thecollegebaseballblog.com/2010/05/10/southern-conference-players-of-the-week-6 - Wofford catcher Mac Doyle has been named the Southern Conference Baseball Player of the Week.Doyle batted .462 (6-for-13) in four games last week while leading Wofford to a Southern Conference series win over visiting Samford. The Terriers’ sophomore backstop collected a pair of hits in each of the team’s first three games last week, totaling six RBIs and seven runs scored. Doyle also recorded a pair of doubles against East Tennessee State on Wednesday and blasted his 16th home run of the season in Friday’s game one win over Samford. In addition to his hits, Doyle drew six walks and was hit by a pitch to register a .650 on base percentage in 20 plate appearances.


12. Steve Rodriguez:


7-4 from: - http://pnrscouting.com/articles_teamusacollegiate_trialroster_07042010.html - UCLA’s Steve Rodriguez lags some in his offensive game, but is an above-average receiver who handled perhaps the most talented staff in all of college baseball, including two potential 2011 1st Rounders in Gerrit Cole and Trevor Bauer, as well as 2010 2nd Rounder Rob Rassmussen and 3rd Rounder Steve Klein. Regardless of how his bat plays this week, he should get ample attention off the strength of his glove alone.


7-13 from: - http://perfectgame.atinfopop.com/4/OpenTopic?q=Y&a=tpc&s=114295945&f=6174069131&m=3221081702&p=3 - C, Steve Rodriguez, UCLA, Jr to be, 6'1 190, L/R, smooth receiver, doesn't appear that big, but he'll fool you. He does everything rather easy and if he can handle the staff at UCLA like he did during the college season and this club with Team USA, you have to believe he's going to be mentioned with his skill package as a future ML backstop for sure. Some comparisons to Jorge Posada, except Jorge is a switch hitting witch! Steve handles the glove very well, is alert, light on his feet, 1.87 pop time and 55 arm, might be better as his throws have carry when on top of his throws, and he's accurate. Defensively I'd say he's ahead of Yasmani Grandal at the same point last year.


7-23-10 from: - http://pnrscouting.com/articles_teamusacollegiate_finalroster_07212010.html - USA CNT Roster Breakdown, Spring Stat Links and Trials Notes: - Steve Rodriguez CA So. Univ. of Calif. - Los Angeles - Trials Notes: Rodriguez is an advanced defensive catcher with soft hands receiving and some catch-and-throw skills (though more than a couple of his throws were lacking in carry). This past spring he worked with one of the best staffs in all of college baseball and brought that experience to the Trials, showing a high level of comfort with multiple talented arms. He has an average build and a good catcher's frame, showing solid agility, flexibility and athleticism. His footwork was impressive and he displayed pop times from 2.02 to 2.20 both in-game and between innings. At the plate, Rodriguez lacks the bat speed to catch-up to advanced velocity, though he did demonstrate an ability to start his bat early in fastball counts and put a charge into a couple of low-90s offerings. He has solid hands that are strong at contact, but unless he improves the barrel acceleration through the zone he may be limited to his current oppo to gap approach. He can also choke-and-poke, slapping gap-to-gap when he sacrifices leverage.



13. Tyler Marlette:


7-9-10 from: - http://sullydraft.blogspot.com/2010/07/high-school-top-tens-catcher.html - top 10 high school catchers - 8. Tyler Marlette- Hagerty HS


8-18-10 from: - http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/article/the-2010-aflac-all-american-baseball-classic - The catchers proved to be the stars on this day. Tyler Marlette (Oviedo, Fla.) started for the East All-Stars and crushed an 0-2 pitch off the second deck facade in left field in the fourth. Marlette also made a nice throw to nail local product Phillip Evans (Carlsbad, Calif.) at second in the first inning. (It looked like a bad call from my vantage, but the throw was strong). The one thing, other than his ability to hit the ball a long way, that stood out to me about Marlette is that he really crowded the plate.


8-17-10 from: - http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2010/08/17/which-2011-mlb-draft-prospects-impressed-as-aflac-all-americans - Tyler Marlette, C: In the power department, no player topped Marlette. The right-handed swinging catcher showed off massive power both in batting practice and in game action, blasting a shot off the second deck against Ricky Jacquez. His swing can get a bit long at times but for the most part he kept it under control. He's already a very big kid, so we will have to monitor his body to see if he can stay behind the dish.



14. Justin Kline:


6-13 from: - http://perfectgame.atinfopop.com/4/OpenTopic?a=tpc&s=114295945&f=6174069131&m=3221081702 - C, Justin Kline, North Dakota St, 6'2 190, R/R, solid arm strength and set up, as hitter has compact line drive swing and good eye hand coordination, have only seen on film, been told, he's definite follow for 2011 and this summer.


15. Jeremy Rodriquez:


5-12-10 from: - http://collegebaseball360.com/2010/05/11/cb360-primetime-performers-12-may-11 - Cal State Bakersfield sophomore catcher Jeremy Rodriguez is the Primetime Player of the Week. Rodriguez – a key top-of-the-lineup switch-hitter (#2/#3 spot) – batted 7-for-12 while factoring into 14 of Bakersfield’s runs (9 RBI, 5 R) and reaching base 12 times (5 BB; also had pair of doubles) during the Roadrunners’ series win at #21 Arizona (7-1 in 11 innings/6-17/22-5).


16. Jeremy Schaffer:


6-13 from: - http://perfectgame.atinfopop.com/4/OpenTopic?a=tpc&s=114295945&f=6174069131&m=3221081702 - C, Jeremy Schaffer, Tulane, 6'1 195, R/R, solid bat, ave arm with 1.9 pop, should hit enough to get into ML lineup or be suitable backup at ML level.

17. Andrew Susac:


6-13 from: - link  - C, Andrew Susac, Oregon St, 6'2 205, R/R, solid receiver, one of top catching prospects for 2011, another question on consistency, release points range, 1.85 to 2.2. Too much action during exchange from glove to hand to release.


8-21-10 from: - http://projectprospect.com/article/2010/08/21/2010-cape-cod-wrapup - Andrew Susac was a second or third round talent out of high school, in the deep 2009 high school catching crop. Susac struggled a bit as a true freshman, hitting .260/.387/.365 for Oregon State. But he did walk in 12.6% of his plate appearances -- very encouraging -- while striking out 19.3% of the time, which is not terrible for a freshman. Susac had a big summer for Falmouth, sporting a .290/.393/.500 line and was tied for third in home runs (5). Susac drew rave reviews as the best defensive catcher in the Cape and could find his way into the first round of the 2011 draft if the age-eligible sophomore carries over his offensive improvement.



18. Chad Carman:


6-15 from: - www.ocusports.com - Chad Carman was named an NAIA baseball all-American. Carman, a sophomore catcher from Midwest City, Okla., became an honorable-mention selection. Carman led the team with a .412 average to go with 22 doubles, two triples, 14 homers and 56 RBIs. In the NAIA Championship Opening-Round Group 5 Tournament, Carman hit .538 with three homers and seven RBIs. He went 2-for-4 with two homers and four RBIs against Northwestern (Iowa) on May 18. In the postseason, Carman hit .388 with three doubles, six homers and 14 RBIs. Carman also made first-team all-SAC.


19. Kevin Cron:



6-13 from: - http://perfectgame.atinfopop.com/4/OpenTopic?a=tpc&s=114295945&f=6174069131&m=3221081702 - C-1b, Kevin Cron, Mountain Pointe HS, AZ, 6'4 220, R/R, abv ave power, more than Kris Bryant, solid stroke, lacks position he can stick to, best advice would be to play 1b or move to LF. Doesn't run bad either.


7-13-10: - MaxPreps Junior All-American Baseball Team - Kevin Cron, Mountain Pointe (Phoenix, Ariz.), Catcher - An all-state pick by the Arizona Republic, Cron tied a state record by blasting 22 home runs. He batted .491 on the season with 24 runs, 54 hits, 10 doubles and 52 RBI to go with his prodigious home run total. Committed to play at TCU following his senior year.

20. Parker Brunelle:


6-21-10 from: - http://baseballdraftreport.com - 2011 MLB Draft Players to Know – Florida State - JR C Parker Brunelle (.222/.297/.395; 8/13 BB/K; 0/1 SB; 81 AB) - Brunelle, a top high school prospect way back when, has disappointed since enrolling at Florida State. He’s still an outstanding athlete with a line drive swing, so there may still be some hope he’s another late blooming catching prospect. Unfortunately, the lack of power and an average at best throwing arm represent two major strikes against him.


21. Blake Hickman:


6-27 from: -http://perfectgame.atinfopop.com/4/OpenTopic?q=Y&a=tpc&s=114295945&f=6174069131&m=3221081702&p=2 - Day two at TOS - C, Blake Hickman, 6'5 190, R/R, Simeon HS Chicago product, for 2012, long release, but pure arm strength, 60 arm, the rest needs work, with foot quickness and hitting approach is ok, still a work in progress, perhaps convert that arm on the hill?


22. Wayne Taylor:


6-27: - With the conclusion of the Tournament of Stars in Cary, N.C., USA Baseball has now announced the trials rosters for the 18U national teams. - Wayne Taylor C L/R 6-1 190 Memorial HS, Houston 2011


23. Elvin Soto:


6-27: - With the conclusion of the Tournament of Stars in Cary, N.C., USA Baseball has now announced the trials rosters for the 18U national teams. - Elvin Soto C S/R 6-0 188 Xaverian HS, New York 2011


7/6 from: - http://web.usabaseball.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100706&content_id=11987434&vkey=news_usab&gid= - the USA Baseball 18U National Team past the Greater Alliance N.Y. All-Stars 8-5 Tuesday afternoon at MCU Park in Coney Island, N.Y. - Elvin Soto registered a hit and RBI to round out the National Team's attack.


7-9-10 from: - http://sullydraft.blogspot.com/2010/07/high-school-top-tens-catcher.html - top 10 high school catchers - 9. Elvin Soto- Xaverian HS


24. BreShon Kimbrell:


7-9-10 from: - http://sullydraft.blogspot.com/2010/07/high-school-top-tens-catcher.html - top 10 high school catchers - 7. BreShon Kimbell- Mesquite HS



25. Cole Lankford:


7-13-10: - MaxPreps Junior All-American Baseball Team - Cole Lankford, Lamar (Houston, Texas), Catcher - Committed to play at Texas A&M after next year, Lankford was first team all-state and first team All-Greater Houston by the Houston Chronicle. He batted .541 with 10 home runs and 68 RBI.


26. Jake Lowery:


7-22-10 from: - http://perfectgame.atinfopop.com/4/OpenTopic?q=Y&a=tpc&s=114295945&f=6174069131&m=3221081702&p=4 - One last player I saw a few times for James Madison this spring is C, Jake Lowery, 6'0 195, L/R, some lefty pop with some power, solid arm strength and right at 2.0 release sometimes better - needs to stay down and not stand straight up to throw to 2b, drive his lower half to 2b from low position more which may aid his release time to be sub 2.0. Reminds me of former ML catcher, Steve Lake who caught for Cubbies among other ML teams. Should hit enough to get into ML lineup as backup at the least, 220-250 type hitter, shifts well enough behind the plate and said to be improved since HS days so that's a plus to know.


27. Chadd Krist:


7-21 from: - http://perfectgame.atinfopop.com/4/OpenTopic?q=Y&a=tpc&s=114295945&f=6174069131&m=3221081702&p=4 - C, Chadd Krist, Cal, 5'10 190, R/R, solid release time, 1.95, quick feet, glove is ok - can make adjustments, tends to stab a bit, needs to stay on top of his throws when he gets to the side the ball runs away from IF to 2b. Has compact swing with occ power, should hit enough to be contributor at worse as ML backup - some reminders of Redmond who played for Twins & Marlins.


28. Beau Taylor:


7-26 from: - http://perfectgame.atinfopop.com/4/OpenTopic?q=Y&a=tpc&s=114295945&f=6174069131&m=3221081702&p=4 - Here are some names of draft eligibles for 2011 who have not been mentioned much and are definitely on the radar for 2011 MLB scouting depts. – Catcher - Beau Taylor, Central Florida, 5'10 195, R/R, good receiver with abv ave release and knows how to play the game, puts the bat on the ball, occ 8-12 type HR power.


29. Coley Frank:


7-26 from: - http://perfectgame.atinfopop.com/4/OpenTopic?q=Y&a=tpc&s=114295945&f=6174069131&m=3221081702&p=4 - Here are some names of draft eligibles for 2011 who have not been mentioned much and are definitely on the radar for 2011 MLB scouting depts. – Catcher - Coley Frank, Michigan, 6'0 210, R/R, another power hitter with solid arm strength, gets it to 2b at 2.0 or less mostly, at times a bit stiff with glove, other times, very smooth, just needs to be more consistent, very strong kid.


7-26 from: - link - Here are some names of draft eligibles for 2011 who have not been mentioned much and are definitely on the radar for 2011 MLB scouting depts. – Catcher - Coley Frank, Michigan, 6'0 210, R/R, another power hitter with solid arm strength, gets it to 2b at 2.0 or less mostly, at times a bit stiff with glove, other times, very smooth, just needs to be more consistent, very strong kid.



30. John David Crow:


8-1 from: - http://www.mlbbonusbaby.com/2010/7/31/1598074/all-questions-answered#comments - Auburn commit that I honestly don’t have a lot on right now, and I’m looking forward to seeing him play. From what I do know, scouts generally like his bat, and there’s a good chance he hits for average against good pitching. He’s not the best or most polished defender, though, and I know he hasn’t always been a catcher, and some scouts think he’s better suited for third base, but I don’t know the details of why. Sounds like a less physically impressive Kellin Deglan.


31. Rafael Lopez:


8-6-10: - link - • Finally, catcher Rafael Lopez had probably the hardest hit ball of the night — an opposite-field line-drive double almost all the way to the left-center wall. Though he doesn’t have a body you’d call “projectable” — he stands at 5’9″ — his numbers on the season are hard to ignore: 92 AB, .337/.436/.533, 14 BB, 11 K. This for a team with a collective line of .282/.369/.398. Lopez had a less impressive college season, slashing .278/.389/.397 for a talented Florida State team that slashed .300/.411/.496 as a team en route to an 18-12 record in the ACC.