10/17/10

2012 Draft - Top 20 RHPs in Draft

1. Lance McCullers:



6-23-10 from: - http://perfectgame.atinfopop.com/4/OpenTopic?a=tpc&s=114295945&f=6174069131&m=3221081702  - Day 1 at TOS: - 3b, Lance McCullers for Pony is a 2012, shows a near 70 arm at the corner and solid bat and approach at the plate. Runs ok, not a sprinter by any means, solid glove and range to his left. Can't wait to see him on the bump, hopefully tomorrow.



6-29-10 from: - http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/high-school/?p=192  - The highlight of Saturday came during the fourth game with AABC and PONY vying for a spot in Sunday's bronze medal game. Starting for PONY was Lance McCullers Jr., a well-known prospect for 2012, son of an ex-big leaguer and already a favorite among a couple Baseball America staffers. McCullers is a 6-foot-1, 180-pound infielder/righthander from Jesuit High in Tampa. I first saw McCullers—along with dozens of scouts and recruiters—at the World Wood Bat Championships in Jupiter, Fla. in 2008. He was an incoming freshman then and hadn't thrown a varsity pitch yet. He had an 88-90 mph fastball and also showed a nasty curveball. Almost a year later he made an appearance at USA Baseball's National Training Complex in Cary, N.C. for the Labor Day Cup for Florida Travel Ball, his summer team. He showed the same nasty curve with a little more velocity and ran his fastball up to 94.


6-29-10 from: - http://perfectgame.atinfopop.com/4/OpenTopic?q=Y&a=tpc&s=114295945&f=6174069131&m=6261024791&p=2  - RHP, Lance McCullers, Jesuit HS, Tampa, 6'1 185 now, probably will end up 6'2 plus and 210, power arm, runs ok, nice level swing, good hands and know how, competes and does it all easy!! fb vel ranges from 92-96, saw a couple at 97 on the jugs, solid at 93-94, with nasty knee buckler cb. Command is ok for his age and he can only get better.


6-28-10 from: - http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/high-school/?p=204&utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter  - 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.. - Lance McCullers RHP/INF L/R 6-1 180 Jesuit HS, Tampa 2012


6-24-10 from: - http://sullydraft.blogspot.com/2010/06/sneak-peak-2012-high-school-top-ten.html  - Sneak Peak: 2012 High School Top Ten - After watching the Junior National Showcase at Tropicana Field. Here is my top ten list for the class of 2012. - 1. Lance McCullers- RHP/SS, Jesuit HS (FL)


7-13-10 from: - http://web.usabaseball.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100713&content_id=12240358&vkey=recap_usab  - The USA Baseball 18U National Team beat the Minnesota Class A All-Stars 5-4 Tuesday night at Veterans Field.. Lance McCullers (Tampa, Fla.) worked a perfect ninth, striking out the side on just 13 pitches, to earn his first save. McCullers was electric in the ninth, sitting all three batters faced down on strikes to seal the U.S. win.


7-13-10: - MaxPreps Sophomore All-American Baseball Team - Lance McCullers, Jesuit (Tampa, Fla.), All-Purpose - Helped lead the Tigers to the 4A state finals by batting .457 with 8 doubles, 30 RBI, 35 runs scored and 2 home runs. Named to the All-Suncoast Team by the Tampa Tribune.


8-12-10 from: - http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/high-school/events/under-armour-preseason-all-america-tournament/2010/2610524.html  - RHP/IF - Jesuit HS, Tampa The son of the former big leaguer, McCullers is the top pitcher in the 2012 class and was one of just two underclassmen on Team USA's 18U squad this summer. He has an electric arm with a fastball that has touched 98 and is consistently in the mid-90s. He mixes in a filthy slider and shows good composure. McCullers is also an athletic infielder with with power potential from the left side.


8-16-10 from: - http://www.mlbbonusbaby.com/2010/8/16/1625615/2010-under-armour-all-american#storyjump  - Lance McCullers, Jr., RHP/IF, Jesuit HS (Fla.) Committed to Florida as another top 2012 prospect, McCullers woke up a relatively dead crowd in the fourth inning on the mound on Saturday – reaching back and pumping 95-97 mph heat. Obviously, the arm was the best of the day, and he was able to showcase his 83-85 power curveball as well. Both pitches have plus to plus-plus potential. The only downside on this day was his control and command, which graded out as below-average. He could have just been trying to do too much as a younger kid at a national event full of older players, so he’ll get a pass for now. The arm action is pretty long, so I’m curious to see how the control develops in the next couple years. Also a top prospect as an infielder, McCullers has some big-time raw power in his swing as well. But, my gut feeling based on what I saw on Saturday sees him as a pitcher down the road if he can correct a few mechanical errors.


8-16-10: - http://www.prospectwire.com/pw/article.php?id=130  - Lance McCullers Jr., RHP, Jesuit HS (FL)- A 2012 grad, McCullers featured the most impressive stuff of any pitcher in the game. He has two potential plus-plus pitches. He ran his fastball up to 97, and sat in the 94-96 range. He walked one, and hit two batters to load the bases, but got out of the inning by striking out Mason Robbins, and getting game MVP Brandon Nimmo to line out to first. His command needs to improve, but he will only be a junior this season. McCullers is one of the best pitchers in the country, regardless of class.


8-29-10 from: - http://www.mlbbonusbaby.com/2010/8/16/1625615/2010-under-armour-all-american#comments  – McCullers was impressive but raw. Absolutely no feel for the breaking ball in this inning. I see why he gets dinged as not having much projectability left — he’s pretty well-proportioned and doesn’t have a lanky frame at all — but he definitely has room to get stronger, which is scary as he was 94 all day. He’s definitely a Sonny Gray type, where the lack of size scares you


8-14-10 from: - http://www.5tooltalk.com/notes-mainpage.html  - As noted above, no one matched McCullers heat. He sat at 94 and touched 95 twice. The arm strength and overall delivery are pretty easy, and he also mixed in a violent hard downer low-80s curve that had some slurve-like two-plane to it at times. He threw too many breaking balls, and likely would have enjoyed a much more crisp inning had he thrown more fastballs. He walked and hit a batter and he struck out both Nick Delmonico and Mason Robbins on fastballs. It’s going to be hard to determine how to develop this young man, a debate scouts will likely have for nearly two years.



2. Lucas Giolito:


6-28 -10 from: - http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/high-school/?p=204&utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter  – With the conclusion of the Tournament of Stars in Cary, N.C., USA Baseball has now announced the trials rosters for the 16U national teams. - Lucas Giolito RHP R/R 6-6 210 Harvard-Westlake HS, Los Angeles 2012


8-11-10 from: - http://baseballanalysts.com/  - Lucas Giolito (Harvard-Westlake, North Hollywood, CA), class of 2012, just turned 16 in July, yet matched the best fastball of the tournament by consistently hitting 91-93 and touching 94 on at least one occasion according to the scoreboard display facing the press box. (Note: TrackMan registered his average fastball velocity at 95.8, or 3-4 mph faster than the consensus of the dozens of handheld Stalker Sport radar guns employed by scouts. TrackMan may measure the velocity at the pitcher's release point whereas radar guns and PITCHf/x estimate velocity at about 50 feet from home plate. There may be an additional explanation as well, which I would enjoy receiving from any expert in this area. In the meantime, the TrackMan leaders can be viewed here.) Giolito was wild with his entire repetoire of pitches (which included a 76-80 mph slurve and what appeared to be either a hard change or a two-seamer with more than decent arm-side run. With additional experience, the 6-5, 215-pound righthander may be able to improve upon his command, which was lacking on Saturday as evidenced by the 24 balls against 23 strikes and four free passes in only two innings. If so, he projects to go early in the 2012 draft.


8-11-10 from: - http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/draft/?p=2704  - Lucas Giolito, rhp, Harvard Westlake HS, Los Angeles - The hardest thrower in Long Beach, Giolito topped out near 96 and tossed 8 pitches that registered 94 or higher. Only 16 years old and a member of the 2012 class, Giolito is a physical beast at 6-foot-5 and 215 pounds. Saberhagen was duly impressed. “He has tons of upside, he is lanky and has a great body. He will only get more velocity as he gets older. . . I wouldn’t be surprised if he eventually reaches 97.” Giolito struggled through command problems in his first outing. Saberhagen said, from a mechanical standpoint, that Giolito “needs to be cleaned up a little bit. . . he needs to do a better job of using his lower body." The June 2012 draft is two long years away, however Giolito is an early favorite to be chosen with one of the top 10 selections in that draft.


3. Courtney Hawkins:


6-24-10 from: - http://sullydraft.blogspot.com/2010/06/sneak-peak-2012-high-school-top-ten.html  - Sneak Peak: 2012 High School Top Ten - After watching the Junior National Showcase at Tropicana Field. Here is my top ten list for the class of 2012. - 3. Courtney Hawkins- RHP, CC Carroll HS


7-13-10: - MaxPreps Sophomore All-American Baseball Team - Courtney Hawkins, Carroll (Corpus Christi, Texas), Pitcher - The MVP of the 5A state tournament, Hawkins also earned All-South Texas honors by the Caller Times. He was 9-1 on the season with a 2.31 ERA. he struck out 111 batters in 72 innings and also batted .383 with 6 home runs and 36 RBI.



4. Dylan Floro:


7-8-10 from: - http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/college/awards/freshman-all-america-team/2010/2610312.html  - named to second team 2010 College Freshman team - (Pos. Second Team W L ERA G SV IP H BB SO BAA) - SP Dylan Floro, Cal State Fullerton 7 2 3.26 27 2 91 102 11 69 .281


7-9-10 from: - http://thecollegebaseballblog.com/2010/07/08/usa-baseball-national-team-trials-game-3-recap  - Blue jumped out to an early 2-0 lead and never looked back as they defeated the Red squad 6-1 Thursday night in Game 3 of the Collegiate National Team (CNT) Trials at the National Training Complex (NTC). Dylan Floro (Cal State Fullerton) suffered the loss after he was touched for four runs (three earned) on six hits in 2 1/3 innings.


5. Michael Wacha:

7-8-10 from: - http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/college/awards/freshman-all-america-team/2010/2610312.html  - named to first team 2010 College Freshman team - (W L ERA G SV IP H BB SO BAA) - SP Michael Wacha, Texas A&M 9 2 2.90 25 1 106 86 22 97 .218


7-10-10 from: - http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/baseball/news?slug=kr-freshmanaa070910  – Yahoo all freshman team - SP Michael Wacha - School: Texas A&M - Ht.: 6-6, Wt.: 195 - Hometown.: Texarkana, Texas. - High school: Pleasant Grove - The Aggies have a solid future on the mound with Wacha leading the way. He split time as a reliever and starter this season. He compiled an impressive 2.90 ERA in 105 2/3 innings. He also struck out 97 and walked 22 and limited teams to a .218 batting average.


6. Matt Price:


7-8-10 from: - http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/college/awards/freshman-all-america-team/2010/2610312.html  - named to first team 2010 College Freshman team - (W L ERA G SV IP H BB SO BAA) - RP Matt Price, South Carolina 4 1 2.38 30 10 53 36 18 80 .188

7-10-10 from: - http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/baseball/news?slug=kr-freshmanaa070910  – Yahoo all freshman team - RP Matt Price - School: South Carolina - Ht.: 6-2, Wt.: 215 - Hometown.: Sumter, S.C. - High school: Sumter - What an incredible campaign the freshman had. Price made 31 appearances, earned 10 saves and had a 2.26 ERA in 55 2/3 innings. He also struck out 83 and walked 19 and limited opposing teams to a .183 batting average.


7. Brady Rodgers:

7-10-10 from: - http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/baseball/news?slug=kr-freshmanaa070910  – Yahoo all freshman team - RP Brady Rodgers - School: Arizona State - Ht.: 6-2, Wt.: 173 - Hometown.: Richmond, Texas - High school: Lamar Consolidated - Rodgers joins a laundry list of excellent ASU pitchers. Rodgers made 22 appearances and five starts and had a 2.11 ERA in 72 2/3 innings this past season. He also struck out 67 and walked 11 and limited teams to a .202 batting average.



8. Cory Roberts:



7-8-10 from: - http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/college/awards/freshman-all-america-team/2010/2610312.html  - named to second team 2010 College Freshman team - (Pos. Second Team W L ERA G SV IP H BB SO BAA) - SP Corey Roberts, Charlotte 6 3 3.48 15 0 85 81 23 75 .250

9. Hudson Randall:



7-8-10 from: - http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/college/awards/freshman-all-america-team/2010/2610312.html  - named to first team 2010 College Freshman team - (W L ERA G SV IP H BB SO BAA) - SP Hudson Randall, Florida 8 4 3.24 20 0 97 102 21 69 .268


7-10-10 from: - http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/baseball/news?slug=kr-freshmanaa070910  – Yahoo all freshman team - SP Hudson Randall - School: Florida - Ht.: 6-3, Wt.: 180 - Hometown.: Atlanta - High school: Dunwoody - Randall might not have had a solid start in Omaha, but he had a great first season. He had a 3.24 ERA in 97 1/3 innings. He also struck out 69 and walked 21 and limited opposing teams to just a .268 batting average.



10. Kurt Heyer:



7-8-10 from: - http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/college/awards/freshman-all-america-team/2010/2610312.html  - named to first team 2010 College Freshman team - (W L ERA G SV IP H BB SO BAA) - SP Kurt Heyer, Arizona 7 4 3.26 17 0 102 97 29 109 .255


7-10-10 from: - http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/baseball/news?slug=kr-freshmanaa070910  – Yahoo all freshman team - SP Kurt Heyer - School: Arizona - Ht.: 6-2, Wt.: 196 - Hometown.: Huntington Beach, Calif. - High school: Edison - The Wildcats have a bright future on the mound with Heyer leading the way. Heyer had a 7-4 record this past season with a 3.26 ERA in 102 innings. He also struck out 109 and walked 29 and limited opposing teams to a .255 average.



11. Justin Jones:


7-8-10 from: - http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/college/awards/freshman-all-america-team/2010/2610312.html   - named to second team 2010 College Freshman team - (Pos. Second Team W L ERA G SV IP H BB SO BAA) - SP Justin Jones, California 10 6 4.22 18 0 98 102 29 73 .272



12. Kyle Hansen:


4-19 from: - http://thecollegebaseballblog.com/2010/04/19/big-east-baseball-honors  - Red Storm freshman Kyle Hansen (2012) earned BIG EAST Baseball Pitcher of the Week recognition after leading St. John’s to a series-clinching victory in Game 3 over Cincinnati. Hansen tallied a career-high 12 strikeouts in 7.1 innings of work in a 7-1 win at Cincinnati on April 18. The righthander allowed four hits on the day, all of which were singles and three of which were hit during the first inning. Hansen kept batters hitless after the first through the eighth inning. He improved to 4-1 on the season. This is Hansen’s first Pitcher of the Week honor and the first for a St. John’s pitcher since May 18, 2008. He is also the first freshman to earn the recognition since March 10, 2008.


6-4-10 from: - http://www.sportingnews.com/blog/MLB_Draft  - Hansen is younger brother of former No. 1 pick Craig Hansen, whom the Red Sox selected with the 26th pick overall in 2005. Following in his brother's footsteps at St. John's, the 6-7 195-pounder looks like a string bean, but little about his repertoire is thin. Like his brother Craig, Hansen runs his fastball into the low to mid-90s, with excellent sink. He generates tremendous leverage with his height and length, pitching on a good downward plane. His breaking ball is fringe above-average, sort of a slurvy pitch in the 76-79 mph range which bodes for a freshman, as improvement is clearly and easily attainable for him.


7-8-10 from: - http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/college/awards/freshman-all-america-team/2010/2610312.html  - named to second team 2010 College Freshman team - (Pos. Second Team W L ERA G SV IP H BB SO BAA) - SP Kyle Hansen, St. John's 8 3 3.71 18 0 95 77 38 85 .227



13. Austin Sovay


11-2-09 from http://www.thehardballtimes.com/ : - Austin Sovay, RHP, 2012, Ft. Lauderdal, Fla., Marucci Elite - That’s right, a 2012 player already well on the radar. And he’s not alone. I only saw Sovay pitch one inning, but it was impressive. Fastball 85-88, hit 90, and showed a good curve at 73. He’s listed as 6-foot-5 190, which may be a bit low on the weight side. Not that he’s chubby, he just has big, muscular legs. Mechanically, things are pretty simple for such a big guy. However, he has one of those Tim Hudson-esque floating front feet (it strides towards the plate, then stops and starts heading toward the 1B line as his hips open up).



14. Tanner Spencer -



10-19-9 From http://www.perfectgame.com/ : - Watch for RHP, Tanner Spencer, 6'3 170, turning 16 soon, 2012 grad, Canadian Jr Team, upper 80's on his fb, with life, competitive. From Craik, Saskachewan.

15. Alec Rash:


4-6-10 from: - http://www.pgcrosschecker.com/articles/DisplayArticle.aspx?article=2248  - RHP Alec Rash - This is a name to definitely store away for the future. The 6-4, 185 lb Rash is a 2012 prospect from a small town just west of Des Moines named Adel. I saw him at the PG Midwest Underclass Showcase last September when he was listed at 6-2, 165 lbs, and he threw 83-86 mph at that event from a raw delivery and had obvious potential. A bigger and stronger Rash sat at 88-89 mph on Saturday and his delivery mechanics and over-the-top release point were smoother and more consistent. He threw only fastballs and changeups this outing, although he did cut some fastballs with what seemed like intent. He showed nice spin on his curveball in September, so that ability is there.



16. Brian Johnson:


4-29-10 from: http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/baseball/news?slug=kr-rogersroad042810  - Johnson has made one relief appearance, but he is mainly a weekend starter for the Gators, where he has made eight starts and has an outstanding 2.91 ERA in 43 1/3 innings of work He also has struck out 31 batters, walked nine and opponents are hitting him at a .266 clip



17. Brett Huber:


5-4-10 from: - http://thecollegebaseballblog.com/2010/05/03/sec-players-of-the-week-11  - PITCHER OF THE WEEK - Brett Huber • Ole Miss - Freshman • RHP • Belleville, Ill. - Huber was critical to the Rebels running their win streak to 10 games and sweeping Mississippi State in Starkville for the first time since 1972 (38 years) … It also marks the first back-to-back SEC sweeps for Ole Miss since the 2006 season … The wins pushed Ole Miss to the top of the SEC West standings in a tie with Arkansas. Notched a win and two saves to help the Rebels to a 5-0 week … Picked up saves against Mississippi State on Friday and Saturday … Picked up win in extra inning game versus Murray State…entered in 9th inning until UM won on walk-off HR in bottom of 10th.


7-8-10 from: - http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/college/awards/freshman-all-america-team/2010/2610312.html  - named to second team 2010 College Freshman team - (Pos. Second Team W L ERA G SV IP H BB SO BAA) - RP Brett Huber, Mississippi 2 0 2.54 29 12 46 30 19 54 .185



18. Eddie Butler:


5-10-10 from: - http://thecollegebaseballblog.com/2010/05/10/big-south-players-of-the-week-10  - Radford freshman Eddie Butler (Chesapeake, Va.) has been named The Crons Brand Pitcher of the Week for games played May 3-9, it was announced today by the League office. Butler pitched a complete game five-hitter and struck out a career-high 10 batters in defeating Presbyterian College on Saturday. He needed just 96 pitches over 2:21 to dispatch the Blue Hose, and allowed just two runners past second base in the game. Butler set down the side in order three times, struck out a batter in all but one inning, and did not allow a hit in the final three innings of the contest. Butler’s line last week: 1-0, 9 IP, 5 H, 1 R/ER, 2 BB, 10 SO, 1.00 ERA, .161 opponents’ batting average.



19. Jack Mayfield:


12-11-10 from: - http://thecollegebaseballblog.com/2010/05/10/phillips-66-big-12-baseball-players-of-the-week-awards/#more-26199  - Oklahoma’s Jack Mayfield has been named the Pitcher of the Week for games of May 3-9. - PITCHER OF THE WEEK - Jack Mayfield, Oklahoma, RHP, Fr., 5-10, 167, Del Rio, Texas/Del Rio - Mayfield became the first OU freshman pitcher since 1976 to toss a complete-game shutout in the Bedlam Series, as the No. 14 Sooners defeated Oklahoma State, 6-0, on Sunday. He did not walk a batter and surrendered just five hits along with his seven strikeouts. Mayfield led OU to its first shutout of the Cowboys since game one of the 1993 series in Tulsa. In his first career start, the Del Rio, Texas-native retired the first nine OSU hitters and faced the minimum in six of his nine innings. Mayfield threw 23 first pitch strikes to the 30 batters he faced en route to posting career highs in innings, strikeouts (7) and pitches (117). His previous longest outing was a 3 2/3 relief effort against KSU on May 2.



20. TJ Oakes:


5/17/10 from: - http://thecollegebaseballblog.com/2010/05/17/big-ten-players-of-the-week-13  - Minnesota - Fr., RHP, Jordan, Minn./Jordan - Oakes picks up Pitcher of the Week laurels after leading Minnesota to a 5-1 victory over Penn State on Saturday, helping the Gophers into sole possession of first place in the conference standings. The freshman tossed a career-high eight innings and allowed just one earned run and five base runners. Oakes was perfect through the first 5.1 frames, retiring the first 16 batters he faced. The right-hander held Penn State, who entered the series with a .333 average during conference play, to just .148 hitting in the outing. Oakes grabs the first weekly honor of his career and the fourth for the Minnesota pitching staff this season.

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