10/17/10

2011 DRAFT: - Pratt Maynard, Bubba Starling, Dwight Smith... and Billy Flamion

Pratt Maynard:



10-16-10 from: - http://www.thecollegebaseballblog.com/2010/10/16/top-100-countdown-89-pratt-maynard-nc-state  - We continue the countdown today at number 89 with Pratt Maynard of NC State. He is from Franklinton North Carolina and attended South Granville High School. He was a four-time all-state selection while as a senior hitting .351 with seven home runs, 26 runs scored and 29 RBIs and having a 7-2 record with a 0.90 ERA on the mound. A a freshman in 2009, he appeared in 51 games (46 starts) while hitting .261 with six homers and 40 RBI as he split time between catcher and DH. He played the summer of 2009 in the Coastal Plains League with the Forest City Owls as he batted .318 with 16 doubles, four homers, and 38 RBI in 49 games. In the playoffs, he was even better as he hit .526 (10-for-19) with six doubles and five RBIs in five games as the Owls won the CPL title.

Bubba Starling


8-14-10 from: - http://www.5tooltalk.com/notes-mainpage.html  - Starling was the talk of the event, as his two-way skills, overall athleticism and commitment to Nebraska as a quarterback certainly created a lot of intrigue. I was pleased with what I saw of him on the mound, as he sat 89-90 with his fastball that had a little run and dip to it. He uses a compact delivery, which was somewhat surprising given his size, and overall pitched effortlessly. He started to snap off some really nice 75-77 curveballs that in my opinion were the best breaking balls thrown at the event. The future certainly looks bright for this young man, although even if he does forego football, the next question will be where his future is brighter: At the plate or on the mound?


10-18-10: - http://www.prospectwire.com/pw/article.php?id=159  - The “safety” factor of his bat is what pushed him over #2 Bubba Starling (Gardner-Edgerton HS, KS) and others. Starling is the more impressive physical specimen, standing 6’3”, 210 lbs, with the shoulders and torso to grow into a very big man. He also ran 6.5-6.6 60 yard-dashes over the summer and showed a projectable plus outfield arm. Starling’s bat has a chance to turn out, but that will be what delays his path to the majors if he spurs a football scholarship to Nebraska and signs next June.



Dwight Smith:


10-18-10: - http://www.prospectwire.com/pw/article.php?id=159  - At #3 is Dwight Smith (McIntosh HS, GA), who is surprisingly similar to Flamion in the fact he’s an undersized (5’9”, 180 lbs), bat-first, lefthanded hitting outfielder with solid but unexceptional peripheral tools to go with it. Scouts will question both of their projections, but their bats should play early and big. #4 Mike Conforto (Redmond HS, WA) and #6 Aaron Brown (Chatsworth HS, CA) are a few inches taller, but essentially from the same mold: advanced lefthanded hitters with solid but unspectacular peripheral tools. #7 Travis Harrison (Tustin HS, CA) is a pure righthanded hitter with the best power of the bunch and a plus arm. Harrison has corner infield options as well.
 Billy Flamion:


10-18-10: - http://www.prospectwire.com/pw/article.php?id=159  - OF- In the end, we went with Billy Flamion from Modesto Central Catholic HS in northern California. Flamion breaks the mold of the typical physical, toolsy 1st-round prep outfielder, standing 5’11”, 175 lbs, with his best asset being his left bat. Flamion ranks among the nation’s very best pure hitters with an advanced approach and the tools to also become at least a solid-average defensive outfielder.



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