11/26/10

2011 Draft: - Top 34 Third Basemen (new ranking)

3B:



1. Anthony Rendon - - Rice – 2009: .388, 60-R, 20-HR, 72-RBI


12-23-9: named 1st team NCBWA All-American


2-11 from http://www.pgcrosschecker.com - Next year’s draft class does offer Rice third baseman Anthony Rendon, who already is being put in the same conversation with some of the biggest and best college hitters to emerge in recent years. Rendon may be most similar to former Virginia Cavalier and current Washington National Ryan Zimmerman, in that his game seems to be incredibly well rounded. Rendon can hit, hit for power, and he offers a slick glove and a strong arm from the hot corner. Like Zimmerman, it is believed that Rendon could play shortstop in a pinch, and may even settle down at second base. He’s good enough at third and his bat plays well enough there to not get cute in trying to figure out where he could play.


3-15-10 from http://pnrscouting.com/rankings_2010_houstoncollegeclassic.html - Top 10 Players (2011 Draft Class) - Anthony Rendon, 3B, Rice Univ. - Flashed a little bit of everything throughout the weekend, showing soft hands, a strong and accurate arm, above-average speed up the line, power and perhaps the best approach of any player at the plate; victim of a few hard-hit balls not falling, but was easily the best player to suit up over these nine games.


4-7-10 from: http://www.pgcrosschecker.com/articles/DisplayArticle.aspx?article=2253 - Rice has been disappointing as a team this spring (17-12), but don’t blame 3B Anthony Rendon. College baseball’s biggest offensive threat (at least when he’s pitched to) is hitting .320-11-34 with an excellent 39:15 walk-to-strikeout ratio.


6-12-10 from: - http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/wait-til-next-year-2011-draft-preview - Corner Infield - Best Player: Anthony Rendon, 3B, Rice, .394/.530/.801. I wanted to start with the likely 2011 #1 overall pick, who followed up the best freshman season in Rice history (.388/.461/.702), with probably the best offensive season the school has ever seen. A very good defender and good baserunner, Rendon does not have a discernible hole in his game. His 21.5 BB% is more reflective of the fear he strikes in opposing teams, and rightfully so. Rendon is worthy of Orioles fans to begin rooting against their team.


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 VII: 3B Anthony Rendon (Rice) - Rendon is just the second player in Conference USA history to be named Player of the Year in back-to-back seasons after picking up that honor this year while leading the Owls to the regular season league championship. The two-time first team All-C-USA selection was named to the C-USA Championship All-Tournament team and was named the Most Outstanding Player at the NCAA Austin Regional. He batted .402 in conference play and finished the season hitting .394 overall. The sophomore from Houston, Texas, led Conference USA in home runs with 26 and had more homers than strikeouts (22) all season long. Rendon ranks among the nation’s leaders in runs scored (83) and walks (65) while maintaining a .530 on-base percentage. He had 12 doubles and 85 RBI, while posting an .801 slugging percentage.


6-13 from: - http://perfectgame.atinfopop.com/4/OpenTopic?a=tpc&s=114295945&f=6174069131&m=3221081702 - 3b, Anthony Rendon, Rice, 5'11 180, R/R, smooth stroke with power, tools are ave across the board, arm is slightly better than average.


6-14-10 from: - http://prospectinsider.com/360mock.php - 2011 Mock Draft - 1 Baltimore Antony Rendon, 3B -- Rice


6-14-10: Named to 1st Team NCBWA 2010 All-America Team - Anthony Rendon: .394, 83-R, 26-HR, 85-RBI


6-15-10 from: - http://www.deepleagues.com/?p=1830 – 2011 Mock Draft - 1. Baltimore Orioles Anthony Rendon 3B, Rice University


6-19 from: - http://thecollegebaseballblog.com/2010/06/19/2010-dick-howser-award-finalists/#more-27608 - Rice third baseman Anthony Rendon have been named as one of the finalists for the 2010 Dick Howser Trophy. Rendon is just the second player in Conference USA history to be named Player of the Year in back-to-back seasons. He picked up that honor again this year while leading the Owls to the regular season league championship and the school’s 16th consecutive NCAA Regional appearance. The two-time first team All-C-USA selection was named to the C-USA Championship All-Tournament team and was named the Most Outstanding Player at the NCAA Austin Regional. He batted .402 in conference play and finished the season hitting .394 overall. Rendon led Conference USA in home runs with 26 and had more homers than strikeouts (22) all season long. Rendon ranks among the nation’s leaders in runs scored (83) and walks (65) while maintaining a .530 on-base percentage. He had 12 doubles and 85 RBI, while posting an .801 slugging percentage.


6-29 from: - Andy Seiler Mock Draft - http://www.mlbbonusbaby.com/2010/6/28/1541924/andys-first-2011-top-50#storyjump - #1 - Anthony Rendon, 3B, Rice


7-1 from: - http://sullydraft.blogspot.com – 2011 Mock Draft – 1. Anthony Rendon- 3B, Rice University


7-1 from: - http://www.mlbbonusbaby.com/2010/6/30/1544396/pats-first-2011-top-50#storyjump – Pat Hickey Mock Draft – 1. Anthony Rendon, 3B, Rice


7-3 from: - http://milbprospects.blogspot.com/2010/07/early-version-of-top-50-prospects-for.html - Top 50 - 1 Anthony Rendon , 3B , Rice


7-3 from: - http://collegebaseball360.com/2010/07/03/rices-rendon-wins-dick-howser-trophy - Rice sophomore third baseman Anthony Rendon is the recipient of the 24th annual Dick Howser Trophy as college baseball’s player of the year. The presentation was made Friday evening in Lubbock, Texas as part of the festivities to recognize and induct the College Baseball Hall of Fame and the awarding of several other national honors for 2010. Rendon is just the second player in Conference USA history to be named Player of the Year in back-to-back seasons. He picked up that honor again this year while leading the Owls to the regular season league championship and the school’s 16th consecutive NCAA Regional appearance.


7-4 from: - http://pnrscouting.com/articles_teamusacollegiate_trialroster_07042010.html - Though the 2010 Trials Roster is overflowing with talented positional players, the crown jewel entering this week is undoubtedly Anthony Rendon. The Rice third baseman put up one of the most impressive offensive performances in D-I ball this past Spring, finishing with a line of 302 PA, 226 AB, 89 H, 12 2B, 1 3B, 26 HR, 65 BB and just 22 SO, along with a slash line of .394/.530/.801. In addition to plus strikezone command and incredibly quick and strong wrists, Rendon possesses a solid glove at third with an ability to make the spectacular play, as well as plus arm strength with good accuracy. He should be a lock for the 2010 final roster and should hit right in the middle of a talented lineup. Rendon ranked as our top 2011 talent in an impressive field at the 2010 Houston College Classic this March.


7-13 from: - http://perfectgame.atinfopop.com/4/OpenTopic?q=Y&a=tpc&s=114295945&f=6174069131&m=3221081702&p=3 - 3b, Anthony Rendon, Rice - very quick bat, slight upper cut tilt to his swing, solid arm and glove, quick on his feet, quick hands, set up and hitting approach not the prettiest but he gets it done somehow, he'll need to make adjustments as for me, he's not in the same class as Evan Longoria or Nick Castellanos are as far as pure hitters go, but he will be a productive ML player don't get me wrong, just areas of opportunities and I'm trying not to be a nit picker as Tony Luc used to say back in the day (Tony was former ML scout with Phillies up to 1989 and signed Mike Schmidt among his many ML he signed for the Phils, I got to meet him in 1988 at Great Lakes All-Star tilt in South Bend, Indiana), bless his soul!


7-15 from: - http://projectprospect.com/article/2010/07/15/anthony-rendon-scouting-report-part-i - To reiterate what Veteran Scout said earlier: "Plus power, plus hit tool, plus arm, solid glove" and a mechanically fantastic swing to boot. On top of all that, he adds in outstanding patience at the plate. He doesn't just dictate the at-bat the second he walks into the box, he rules it with an iron fist. Rendon has a great understanding of the strike zone, is disciplined, and has the swing built to optimize pitch tracking, quickness and raw bat speed. He has everything needed to be an all-star level player in the Major Leagues and has earned every bit of his candidacy to go No. 1 overall in the 2011 draft. *Note: Today we learned of Rendon's gruesome ankle injury at the Team USA trials in Cary, NC. Best wishes to him for a speedy and full recovery.


7-15 from: - http://perfectgame.atinfopop.com/4/OpenTopic?q=Y&a=tpc&s=114295945&f=6174069131&m=3221081702&p=3 – 3b, Anthony Rendon, Rice, went down with an ankle injury last evening vs the Korean Republic team during a run down. Possible surgery indicated. Freakish angle his leg was in, makes ya wanna cringe!


7-23-10 from: - http://pnrscouting.com/articles_teamusacollegiate_finalroster_07212010.html - USA CNT Roster Breakdown, Spring Stat Links and Trials Notes: - Anthony Rendon 3B So. Rice Univ. - Trials Notes: Rendon is a potential five-tool talent at third, showcasing plus arm strength with accuracy, soft hands, average range and an advanced hit and power tool. While some question his footspeed, he's relatively quick out of the box and has clocked home-to-first times in the 4.2 to 4.3 range throughout the Spring. At third, he charges well and shows a knack for the spectacular play both to the hole and to the bag. He has a quick release, good arm speed and can generate that arm speed from multiple angles. Offensively, Rendon uses elite bat speed produced by strong wrists/forearms and quick hands. For the first half of Trials, Rendon saw some length added in his swing -- perhaps as a result of some pressing on his part to show the power expected of him -- and resulting in an un-Rendon-like number of empty swings. Though he started the week slowly, the Rice third baseman finished strong with impressive BP displays on Days 4 through 6 in addition to hard in-game contact. He is the favorite to be the first position player selected in the 2011 draft and will likely vie for #1 overall in one of the more talented draft classes in recent history. UPDATE: Rendon's summer has been cut short due to an ankle injury suffered during the US's series against Korea. Rendon turned awkwardly while caught in a run-down and is believed to have suffered a fractured and dislocated ankle, through doctors are waiting for the swelling to diminish before confirming the initial diagnosis and plotting a course of action. Rendon has been replaced on the CNT by Vanderbilt third baseman and fellow potential 1st Rounder Jason Esposito.


7-25: - www.fanhouse.com: - Fanhouse Top 70 Prospects - 1. Anthony Rendon, 3B, Rice


8-6-10 from: - http://projectprospect.com/article/2010/08/05/summer-college-baseball-update - The Rice third baseman has a fantastic swing, and his statistical dominance lead me to name my college projection system in his honor (RENDON). Unfortunately Rendon broke his ankle during trials for Team USA. Rendon did undergo successful surgery on July 26th. One of the attending surgeons, Dr. Tom Clanton offered good news. "The operation went better than expected since the fracture pattern and ligament injuries were less severe than they originally appeared. We expect Anthony to make a full recovery and be playing baseball for Rice next Spring."


8-8 from: - http://thecollegebaseballblog.com/2010/08/01/2011-mlb-draft-seattle-eyeing-rices-anthony-rendon - Larry Stone of the Seattle Times recently took a look at some of the best prospects for the 2011 MLB Draft and the consensus a couple of weeks ago was that Rice third baseman Anthony Rendon was the clear cut number 1 pick. (Full Player Profile on Rendon available here) Rendon went down injured on July 14th with multiple fractures in his right ankle which was his second straight year of having a major right ankle injury. Both Jim Callis of Baseball America and Keith Law are both saying that teams could be scared away from Rendon with his recent ankle injuries. I personally spoke with a national scout at the 2010 Cape Cod All-Star Game that he would rank UConn’s George Springer just slightly behind Rendon right now


8-27 from: - http://xmlbscout.angelfire.com - 3B Anthony Rendon Rice 5'10 1/2 185 R/R - solid hitter with 20-25 type HR power, glove side range and good hands, agile on his feet and solid throwing arm which is plus. Slight hitch in long swing that starts his trigger, will tend to overswing on slow stuff away and out of zone, but get a fb up in the middle of the plate to him and he'll hurt you. A cripple shoot type hitter who generate enough stats to be 3 man in lineup or 5 man to help drive in runs. Ankle surgery on the mend which will be watched closely over the next few months and eventually he'll have 100% running speed back which is ok, he's not a burner, but that's not his game. Producing runs is.


9-24 from: - http://bleacherreport.com/articles/470764-2010-mlb-mock-draft-40-shaking-up-the-order-and-the-picks#page/2 - Rendon just had ankle surgery, but if his recovery is anything like his last ankle surgery, then he should be just fine. He rebounded from torn ligaments in his ankle to rake to the tune of a .394 average with 26 home runs, 85 RBI and an .801 slugging percentage. The Pirates already have Pedro Alvarez occupying the hot corner, but given his size and mobility he could stand a move to first base, which would leave third wide open for Rendon, giving the Pirates one of the most impressive corner combos in the big leagues. Rendon offers Gold Glove caliber defense, a quick bat, and above-average power, and more than anything he gives the city of Pittsburgh one more superstar, something they've lacked for too long.


10-7-10: - http://www.draftsite.com/article/2011-MLB-Draft-Preview-College-Hitters/43 - 1) Anthony Rendon, 3B, Rice University - The consensus top hitter in the 2011 class, he has everything you could want. Rendon has an extremely quick bat, with good weight transfer, giving him plenty of power, as the ball seems to just pop off his bat. He combines it with very good plate coverage, tremendous pitch recognition, and patience. At third base his defense is above average; he has very good range, to go along with soft hands and an extremely strong arm. The few marks against him could be that he isn’t the biggest guy at 5’11" and he lands somewhat late on his front foot at the plate, but that is just nitpicking. College pitchers just don’t enjoy facing Anthony Rendon right now. To top it all off he has very high baseball instincts and should be the top bat and potentially the top player off the board when the draft rolls around.


11-2-10 from: - http://milbprospects.blogspot.com/2010/11/top-25-under-25now-and-in-2015.html - 1. Anthony Rendon, 3B, Rice University - Where he came from: Rendon will play the 2011 season at Rice University and will likely be the 1st overall pick in the 2011 draft by the Pirates. Why he’s here: Rendon has huge power and that is what sets him apart. His numbers at Rice have been elite and I can only see that continuing. Where he’s headed: Rendon will debut in 2013 in the Majors and make his mark with the Pirates, I assume, sending Pedro Alvarez to 1B. Rendon will stick at 3B and be the next stud 3B after Evan Longoria. He has solid tools all around. He could hit .300 with 25-30 HR's and be an impact bat.


11-8-10 from: - http://diamondscapescouting.com/rankings_usacnttop15_09082010.html -
3b
Rice (Jr.) - Rendon's summer was cut drastically short when he broke his leg in the first game of the Collegiate National Team's campaign. Still, his performance during the second half of Trials week was enough to set him apart from the rest of the positional players and neck and neck with Cole as the top two talents on the squad. Rendon shows potential for five above-average or better Major League tools, with his footspeed being the weakest of the five (impressive, given that Rendon has broken off home-to-first times in the 4.2 to 4.3 range multiple times this spring and again during Trials). The Rice third baseman has easy plus arm strength and soft hands, showing an ability to make plays to both sides and in front of him. At the plate he is a complete hitter, capable of hard contact in every at bat and seldom giving away a bad strike. He profiles as a potential elite offensive and defensive player and an all-star candidate year -in and year-out at the next level.


11-11-10 from: - http://xmlbscout.angelfire.com - #5 - 3B Anthony Rendon Rice 5'10 1/2 185 R/R - solid hitter with 20-25 type HR power, glove side range and good hands, agile on his feet and solid throwing arm which is plus. Slight hitch in long swing that starts his trigger, will tend to overswing on slow stuff away and out of zone, but get a fb up in the middle of the plate to him and he'll hurt you. A cripple shoot type hitter who generate enough stats to be 3 man in lineup or 5 man to help drive in runs. Ankle surgery on the mend which will be watched closely over the next few months and eventually he'll have 100% running speed back which is ok, he's not a burner, but that's not his game. Producing runs is.


2. Harold Martinez:


Harold Martinez: - 4-7-10 from: http://www.pgcrosschecker.com/articles/DisplayArticle.aspx?article=2253 - 3B Harold Martinez (Miami): Martinez was a 2007 Aflac All-American, so he’s hardly an unrecognized player. But his development as a third baseman and hitter at Miami has been steady and impressive. He’s hitting .300-8-28 thus far and has a 20:24 walk-to-strikeout ratio, noteworthy for a young power hitter who used to be a free swinger.


6-13 from: - http://perfectgame.atinfopop.com/4/OpenTopic?a=tpc&s=114295945&f=6174069131&m=3221081702 - 3B, Harold Martinez, Miami-F, 6'2 195, R/R, solid glove and hitter, will hit for enough power to be contributor at ML level ala Pedro Feliz.


7-3 from: - http://milbprospects.blogspot.com/2010/07/early-version-of-top-50-prospects-for.html - Top 50 - 19 Harold Martinez , 3B , Miami


7-18 from: - http://www.mlbbonusbaby.com/2010/7/17/1574115/all-questions-answered#comments - Martinez is a guy that is still learning the strike zone. His swing can get a little long, and while he has plus power, he honestly doesn’t project to be more than an average hitter at the Major League level. I like his athleticism at third, and he could be an above-average defender there with continuous reps. His arm is also an above-average tool. His big struggle is going to be pro secondary stuff, and he needs to prove a lot between now and next June. He’s in my top 50 because of his pure talent, but he needs to improve.


8-27 from: - http://xmlbscout.angelfire.com - 3B Harold Martinez U of Miami-Fla 6'2 195 R/R - solid hitter with 15 type HR power, solid arm strength with quick glove and range to left and to his right, runs just ok, not a flyer but not a clogger, may steal a base on occ, some comps to Moises Alou as far as approach offensively goes and comes to play and has had solid stat numbers and has done it quietly. Lots of upside left here still


3. Levi Michael:


6-14-10 from: - http://prospectinsider.com/360mock.php - 2011 Mock Draft – 18 St. Louis Levi Michael, 2B -- UNC


6-15-10 from: - http://www.deepleagues.com/?p=1830 – 2011 Mock Draft - 11. Washington Nationals Levi Michael INF, Univ. of North Carolina


6-12-10 from: - http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/wait-til-next-year-2011-draft-preview - Middle Infield - Best Player: Levi Michael, IF, UNC, .346/.480/.575. Michael skipped his final season of high school to attend North Carolina a year earlier, but his polish is such that you wouldn’t guess he’s a year younger than his peers. Probably a second baseman in the end, Michael cut down his strikeout rate (12.1%) by nine percent, and upped his walk rate (15.7%) by seven perfect as a sophomore. Michael is a good base runner (20-for-22 this season), has power in his bat, and will stick in the middle infield.


6-13 from: - http://perfectgame.atinfopop.com/4/OpenTopic?a=tpc&s=114295945&f=6174069131&m=3221081702 - 2B-3B, Levi Michael, UNC, 5'11 175, S/R, very good hitter, competes, solid arm and glove, runs well, better underway, 4.2 from left, 4.3 from right. 280 type hitter.


7-1 from: - http://www.mlbbonusbaby.com/2010/6/30/1544396/pats-first-2011-top- 50#storyjump – Pat Hickey Mock Draft – 46. Levi Michael, 3B, North Carolina


7-3 from: - http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2010/07/03/early-follow-list-for-2011-mlb-draft - from Levi Michael 3B North Carolina - Power potential w/ wood bat. Good carry, consistent line drive stroke. Looks more advanced from the right side.


7-3 from: - http://milbprospects.blogspot.com/2010/07/early-version-of-top-50-prospects-for.html - Top 50 - 37 Levi Michael , 2B , North Carolina


7-25: - www.fanhouse.com: - Fanhouse Top 70 Prospects - 46. Levi Michael, 3B, North Carolina


8-21-10 from: - http://projectprospect.com/article/2010/08/21/2010-cape-cod-wrapup - I’ll warn you in advance, the man-crush that we at Project Prospect have for UNC infielder Levi Michael is just beginning and could blossom into full Mike Leake mode before next June. Michael hit .346/.480/.575 for the Tar Heels last spring and followed that up with a mediocre .252/.353/.370 line for Harwich. Michael is an athletic switch-hitter and versatile defender who has seen time all over the UNC infield. While some feel Michael could hold down short, he could be a plus defender at second base. Michael has a smooth, line-drive stroke from both sides of the plate with gap power and outstanding plate discipline. Michael drew walks in 15.8% of his plate appearances last spring while striking out just 9.3% of the time. Michael actually graduated early so as to begin his college career sooner and will only be 20 years old when drafted next June. Polished beyond his years, I would be shocked if Levi Michael doesn’t have a long, productive MLB career


4. Matt Skole:


6-13 from: - http://perfectgame.atinfopop.com/4/OpenTopic?a=tpc&s=114295945&f=6174069131&m=3221081702 - 3B, Matt Skole, Ga Tech, 6'1 195, R/R, solid bat, arm and glove is good enough to stay at 3b, runs better on the way, solid ave runner straight away. Plus power.


6-14-10 from: - http://prospectinsider.com/360mock.php - 2011 Mock Draft – 21 Cincinnati Matt Skole, 3B -- Georgia Tech


5. Hunter Cole:






6. Steve Proscia:


6-13 from: - http://perfectgame.atinfopop.com/4/OpenTopic?a=tpc&s=114295945&f=6174069131&m=3221081702 - 3B, Steve Proscia, Virginia, 6'2 210, R/R, smooth bat, has power, mostly alley linedrive pop, solid arm and adequate glove to stay at 3b. Not going to win many running contests.


http://www.draftsite.com/article/2011-MLB-Draft-Preview-College-Hitters/43 - Proscia is a player that will not wow you at any one thing, but remains solid in many. He was a two-way player coming out of high school, but has played third base for the Cavaliers. At the plate Proscia’s swing is not the prettiest; he has a poor weight transfer and tends to slightly collapse his back side. But he is a big strong kid at 6’2" and 215 lbs and produces decent power numbers. In the field he is fairly solid; his strong arm remains, and he can make the plays at third. He isn’t the most athletic, but he produces numbers and with a few tweaks could be a good player at the next level.


7. Tyler Goeddel:


7-3 from: - http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2010/07/03/early-follow-list-for-2011-mlb-draft - from Tyler Goeddel 3B St. Francis HS (Calif.) - Consistent line drive hitter w/ power potential. Good carry to the opposite field.


7-25: - www.fanhouse.com: - Fanhouse Top 70 Prospects - 66. Tyler Goeddel, 3B, St. Francis HS (Calif.)


8-11 from: - http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/draft/?p=2725 - Tyler Goeddel, St. Francis HS, Mountain View, Calif. - Sporting a remarkably loose, gangly and projectable 6-foot-4, 170 pound frame, Goeddel played third base in Long Beach and while he was acceptable at the hot corner, his best defensive home may be elsewhere—the OF perhaps. Goeddel, whose brother, Erik, was a 24th-round pick by the Mets this June, is a stunning athlete, recording a blazing 6.67 60 and a 34.7 vertical leap. While his bat requires substantial improvement, Goeddel has the raw tools and physical frame to fit almost any spot on the diamond.


8. Dante Bichette:


6-15-10 from: - http://www.deepleagues.com/?p=1830 – 2011 Mock Draft - 29. Atlanta Braves Dante Bichette 3B, Orlando Florida


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 - Dante Bichette, strong physical kid, fully mature, 6'1 perhaps, 215, R/R, solid arm, best shot might be on the bump, I was not crazy about the bat speed I saw and had a hard time going up the zone with below ave velocity fb. Orangewood FL


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. - Dante Bichette Jr. INF R/R 6-1 215 Orangewood Christian HS, Maitland, Fla. 2011


7-1 from: - http://www.mlbbonusbaby.com/2010/6/30/1544396/pats-first-2011-top- 50#storyjump – Pat Hickey Mock Draft – 40. Dante Bichette Jr., SS, Orangewood Christian HS (Fla.)


7-3 from: - http://milbprospects.blogspot.com/2010/07/early-version-of-top-50-prospects-for.html - Top 50 - 23 Dante Bichette , SS , Orangewood Christian, FL


7-11 from: - http://sullydraft.blogspot.com – top ten high school middle fielders - 6. Dante Bichette- Orangewood Christian HS


7-10 from: - http://www.mlbbonusbaby.com/2010/7/10/1562916/all-questions- answered#comments - There’s not a whole lot of questions about the bat as much as the secondary tools. He projects well for some power and hitting ability, but his biggest problem in terms of hitting is just needing the reps against quality secondary pitches. That’s normal, and I think he’ll be a quality hitter in the end.


7-13-10: - MaxPreps Junior All-American Baseball Team – Dante Bichette Jr., Orangewood Christian (Maitland, Fla.), Infield - Named the Central Florida Player of the Year by the Orlando Sentinel, Bichette batted .597 with 36 runs, 37 RBI, and 9 home runs. The son of the former Major Leaguer by the same name, Bichette has committed to play at Georgia.


8-12-10 from: - http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/high-school/events/under-armour-preseason-all-america-tournament/2010/2610524.html - 3B - Orangewood Christian HS, Maitland, Fla. The son of the former major leaguer with the same name, Bichette shows good righthanded power that he gets from plus bat speed. He's an aggressive, advanced hitter who makes consistent hard contact. He could be a middle-of-the-order run producer at the next level. He has sure hands and plenty of arm for the left side of the infield. He has committed to Georgia.


8-16-10 from: - http://www.mlbbonusbaby.com/2010/8/16/1625615/2010-under-armour-all-american#storyjump - Dante Bichette Jr., 3B, Orangewood Christian HS (Fla.)- Committed to Georgia, the right-hander has some of the best raw power in the high school ranks, and it was on fine display in batting practice Saturday morning. Bichette generates plus bat speed and tremendous loft through an open stance and a huge timing step, which will need to be quieted down as he faces more advanced pitching. His plus raw power potential is strictly to the pull-side right now, as all but one or two of his hits went down to left field. During game action, Bichette showed similarities to a key-hole hitter, looking for one pitch in particular, a fastball on the inside corner, that he could drive, resulting in a pseudo-patient approach that may be mistaken as a good approach (overly selective). At the hot corner, Bichette was very sound, showcasing a great arm to go along with good actions and demeanor.


8-16-10: - http://www.prospectwire.com/pw/article.php?id=130 - Dante Bichette Jr., 3B, Orangewood Christian School (GA) - Bichette is one of the top power bats in the 2011 class. His bat speed is plus, and the balls fly off the bat when he makes contact. However, in both days of batting practice, I did not see him go the other way once. He is pull happy, trying to kill every ball that comes at him. In the game, however, he did go the opposite way a lot and handled the outside pitch well. He is a top follow and will be highly regarded come draft time.


8-29-10 from: - http://www.mlbbonusbaby.com/2010/8/16/1625615/2010-under-armour-all-american#comments – Bichette was lifting his front foot and basically hitting off of one foot all day. Not a fan of that. He starts very open (similar to but less pronounced than Brett Lawrie) and he often landed open when he put the front foot down, so anything on the outside half the plate leaves him helpless


10-1-10 from: - http://www.prospectwire.com/pw/article.php?id=149 - Dante Bichette (#3) plays shortstop and third base for Orangewood Christian HS in central Florida. Many of us believe his future is in the outfield, where his 6’1”, 207 lb body looks the part. But the main feature is Bichette’s right bat and his powerful buggy-whip swing that will find him a place on the field somewhere


http://www.diamondscapescouting.com/blog.html - Day Four – Infielder Dante Bichette (Orangewood Christian HS, Orlando, Fla.) produced hard contact twice, including a long double down the left-field line. He has some of the best raw power around, but he struggles to manifest it against better velocity. Bichette vacillates between three different stances, depending on the count, and has difficulty closing his lower half in all three. His workable power is seen almost exclusively to his pull side.






9. Matt Dean:


6-14-10 from: - http://prospectinsider.com/360mock.php - 2011 Mock Draft – 26 Los Angeles-N Matt Dean, 3B -- The Cdlony HS


10. Sean Trent


7-3 from: - http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2010/07/03/early-follow-list-for-2011-mlb-draft - from Sean Trent 3B Bishop Moore HS (Fla.) - Quick to the fastball inside. Big pull power, produces good backspin. Strong arm, could stick at third.


7-25: - www.fanhouse.com: - Fanhouse Top 70 Prospects - 62. Sean Trent, 3B, Bishop Moore HS (Fla.)


8-19-10 from: - http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=4935 - If Pfeifer looks like he was born to pitch, then Trent looks like he was born to hit. With sloped shoulders, strong proportions and a solid build, he offered a strong presence in the batter’s box, showing a good eye and a solid approach overall. He used his strong, compact frame to produce an equally strong and compact swing with good bat speed. He ripped a high fastball off of Bradley in the fifth, and then another in the seventh off of Caramena for a two-run single, the hit that put the East on top for good. He played both left field and third base in this game, and handled one opportunity at the hot corner cleanly with a very strong and accurate throw to first.


11. Riccio Torrez:


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. – Third Base - Riccio Torrez, Arizona St, 5'11 190, R/R, has played 1b mostly at ASU, can play several positions and talk that he could catch as well. Shows solid arm and glove, puts the bat on the ball, not a true power guy but he has ability to hit 8-12 HR eventually. Runs just ok


12. Kyle Raubinger:






13. Ricky Santiago:






14. Mark Ginther:


4-7-10 from: http://www.pgcrosschecker.com/articles/DisplayArticle.aspx?article=2253 - 3B Mark Ginther (Oklahoma State): The 6-4, 200-pound Ginther quarterbacked his high school to two state football championships and was the state player of the year in that sport as a senior, so he’s still adjusting to baseball full-time. His .351-6-32 performance this year says he’s adjusting quickly.






15. Matt Leeds:


6-13 from: - http://perfectgame.atinfopop.com/4/OpenTopic?a=tpc&s=114295945&f=6174069131&m=3221081702 - 3B, Matt Leeds, College of Charleston, 6' 185, S/R, hits well, puts it in play and can drive it to the alleys, arm is adequate and hands are ok, runs better once underway


16. Corey Thompson:


6-13 from: - http://perfectgame.atinfopop.com/4/OpenTopic?a=tpc&s=114295945&f=6174069131&m=3221081702 - 3B, Corey Thompson, E. Carolina, 6'2 200, R/R, power ability and contact hitter, solid arm, so-so range, may be a clone of Matt Williams, former Giant slugger back in the day


17. Troy Channing:






18. Andy Burns:


7-18 from: - http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/college/?p=3870 - On former Kentucky third baseman Andy Burns (.245/.321/.306, 12 RBI in 98 AB): "He's in transition right now, leaving Kentucky, may redshirt, may not—he's a quality player. He's played short and third, but will probably end up being a third baseman wherever he lands. He's a 6.8(-second) runner (in the 60-yard dash), he has good hands, an average, accurate arm in the infield, and he's heady. He's a communicator. He'll strike out a little bit like a lot of guys out here, but he's kind of a catalyst for our club."


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. – Third Base - Andy Burns, Kentucky, 6'2 190, R/R, raw tools, lots of holes in his swing and will have to show more consistency as hitter and discipline to be talked about in first 3 rounds, definitely ability is there however.


19. Kyle Gaedele:


6-12-10 from: - http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/wait-til-next-year-2011-draft-preview - Small School Sleeper: Kyle Gaedele, 3B, Valparaiso, .373/.429/.610. The most heralded player to ever make it to campus, Gaedele is a great athlete with a career 25-for-27 mark on the bases. A team might see him as a second baseman, where his gap power would profile better.


20. Cole Gleason:


6-13 from: - http://perfectgame.atinfopop.com/4/OpenTopic?a=tpc&s=114295945&f=6174069131&m=3221081702 - 3B, Cole Gleason, Red Mountain HS, Mesa AZ, 6' 200 R/R, solid hitter, playable arm, runs ok, not a clogger.


7-13-10: - MaxPreps Junior All-American Baseball Team - Cole Gleason, Red Mountain (Mesa, Ariz.), All-Purpose - An all-state pick, Gleason was one of the top home run hitters in the country as he blasted 18 on the season. he had a .514 batting average with 46 runs, 54 hits, 57 RBI and 14 doubles.


21. Wet Delatte -


12-23-9 fr. http://baseballdraftreport.com -


FR 3B Wet Delatte (2011) is…wait…his name is Wet? I mean, sure, his real name is William, but he willingly goes by the name Wet. I have a pretty simple rule on this site: any player named Wet moves up 50 spots on the big board automatically. Wet is already a decent defender at third and a gifted natural hitter. He’ll get his chance as LSU’s staring third baseman heading into the spring.


22. Kevin Lusson -


3-15-10 from http://pnrscouting.com/rankings_2010_houstoncollegeclassic.html - Top 10 Players (2011 Draft Class) - Kevin Lusson, 3B/SS, Univ. of Texas - Shortstop quality hands at the hot corner and plenty of arm for the left side; mixed-bag at the plate this weekend but shows some understanding of the strikezone and a developing ability to square with regularity.


23. Stuart Tapley:


6-21-10 from: - http://baseballdraftreport.com - 2011 MLB Draft Players to Know – Florida State - JR 3B Stuart Tapley (.281/.419/.454; 40/57 BB/K; 7/9 SB; 185 AB) - Tapley is a favorite among coaches, scouts, and fans for his superior work ethic, hustle, and on-field demeanor, so it’s easy to believe he could be in store for a quick return trip back up teams’ draft boards with a big senior season. He’s not a third baseman long-term, but a utility future could be in the cards if he can show any kind of aptitude at second. If that doesn’t work, he could be a four-corners bench bat type. Tapley was one of the last few cuts from my 2010 list of top 30 college third basemen, for what it’s worth.


24. Derek Odell:


7-13-10: - MaxPreps Junior All-American Baseball Team – 3B Derek Odell, Canyon (Canyon, Texas), Infield - The Amarillo area player of the year, Odell was also the district 3-4A MVP while batting .568 with 7 home runs and 66 RBI.


25. Mark Threlkeld:


7-21 from: - http://perfectgame.atinfopop.com/4/OpenTopic?q=Y&a=tpc&s=114295945&f=6174069131&m=3221081702&p=4 - 3b-IF, Mark Threlkeld, La Tech, 6'2 plus and 200 plus, R/R, strong with 70 power, turned many heads of the 30 plus scouts in attendance and a couple former front office execs with his HR Derby display, barrel of the bat was squared during BP, during the game showed the same bat speed, tends to overswing some but does make adjustments, again facing different pitchers each time in these Showcase/All-Star events is tough but good hitters make adjustments before they get into the box and while they are at the plate. This kid is going to hit enough with enough power to be mentioned in the Top 50 players come next spring. This was my first time seeing him for sure, showed 50-60 arm, 50 glove, needs to be a bit lighter on his feet (technique), reminds me of former ML Ensberg who played for the Astros. Solid makeup too.


26. Garrett Wittles:


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. – Third Base - Garrett Wittles, Fla Int'l, 6'1 205, R/R, can flat out rake from film, also displays solid arm and ok glove, getting better each year which is key in development.










27. John Lorenz:


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. – Third Base - John Lorenz, Michigan, 6'2 205, R/R, solid arm strength and power potential, tends to overswing some but makes up with adjustments later in other ab's. Runs well for size.


28. Jordan Steranka:


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. – Third Base - Jordan Steranka, Penn St, 6'2 205, L/R, interesting player with good body and arm strength, some power in lefty stroke, will have to see more next spring for sure.


29. Alex Santana:






7-29-10 from: - http://perfectgame.atinfopop.com/4/OpenTopic?a=tpc&s=114295945&f=6174069131&m=8531042802 - 3B, Alex Santana, 6'3 200, R/R, imposing specimen with a strong throwing arm with carry and good glove, not as agile as an IF should be but he will get there, has good pop to his swing though it's long, ran BA to 1b, might be better on the way, right now BA for me, even with his reported sub 7.0, 60. Good upside, attends, Mariner HS in Florida. Keep an eye on him, the ball jumps off his bat, when he makes solid contact, tends to throw arms to the ball and lunge a bit. Definite follow for 2011!!!!


30. Jose Brizuela:


10-4-10 from: - http://www.prospectwire.com/pw/article.php?id=151 - One such secondary pitcher is third baseman Jose Brizuela, who plays at Archbishop McCarthy HS. The 5’11”, 180 lb Brizuela is very athletic and as good a defensive high school third baseman as I’ve seen in this class. He has a quick lefthanded bat and a chance to hit, but it will take time and his power potential is uncertain. I believe Brizuela might have even more upside on the mound. He was mostly 85-86 MPH today, peaking at 89 MPH, and didn’t bother much with off-speed. His athleticism is quite evident in his delivery and in his quick loose arm. With a natural low three-quarter slot, Brizuela has the potential for plus movement on his fastball. A number of scouts are following him as an infielder, I don’t know of any personally who are thinking of Brizuela on the mound because he is more of a project there. But I would keep the possibility open.


31. Sherman Johnson:


10-9-10 from: - http://www.thecollegebaseballblog.com/2010/10/09/top-100-countdown-number-95-sherman-johnson-florida-state/#more-30274 - Johnson had a breakout season in 2010 as he started all 68 games as he finished second on the team with a .337 average while hitting 10 homers and driving in 58 runs as the everyday third baseman. He was also solid on the bases as he stole seven bases in ten attempts. He did struggle with his defense as he made 10 errors over at the hot corner. He returned to the Valley League in the summer of 2010 as he appeared in 22 games with a .267 batting average while stealing seven bases in nine attempts.


32. Jacob Tanis:


10-11-10 from: - http://www.thecollegebaseballblog.com/2010/10/11/top-100-countdown-number-94-jacob-tanis-mercer/#more-30299 - 3B - Tanis had a breakout season as a freshman as he appeared in 43 games (42 starts) while hitting .340 with 11 homers and 35 RBI. He was named to the Atlantic Sun All-Freshman team while also picking up All-American honors from Louisville Slugger. He had an even better season as a sophomore as he hit .388 (second on the team) with a team high totals of 22 homers and 88 RBI. He appeared among the NCAA leaders as he finished 40th in the nation in runs scored (69), 10th in hits (104), tied for 19th in doubles (25), 12th in home runs (22), second in RBI (88), 31st in slugging percentage (.735) and third in total bases (197). He was selected in the 26th round by the Colorado Rockies but decided to head back to Mercer for his junior season


33. Ryan Coward:


10-18-10 from: - http://www.prospectwire.com/pw/article.php?id=165 - One of the most underrated plays of the game was when the Bullets got a leadoff man on to start the 7th. With no outs and man on 1st, the Bullets did a sac bunt which went right down the 3rd base line. But Juice 3B Ryan Coward (2011, McKeel Academy) charged in on the ball, stopped on a dime and made a very quick release to 2B to get the lead runner in a bang-bang play. I can't stress enough how quickly Coward got rid of the ball, it was as if he does PFPs (pitchers fielding practice) and realized he couldn't take the extra step. If Coward takes a split second longer to get rid of that ball, the Bullets were in business with 1st and 2nd and no outs. That play by Coward changed the dynamics of that inning and eventually lead to the Juice victory.






34. Garrett Buechele:


11-11-10 from: - http://www.collegebaseballdaily.com/2010/11/11/top-100-countdown-67-garrett-buechele-oklahoma/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+CollegeBaseballDaily+%28College+Baseball+Daily%29&utm_content=Twitter - We continue the countdown today at number 67 with Oklahoma junior infielder Garrett Buechele. The Arlington TX native had an impressive career at Arlington Lamar High School where he won three letters. During his career, he had an impressive .421 batting average with eight homers and 65 RBIs while having a .430 batting average with 30 RBIs as a senior.He spent the 2008 season as a part of the Oklahoma program but was redshirted for the season as he did not see any action. Garrett played the summer of 2008 in the Southern California Collegiate Baseball Association as he hit .270 with 14 RBI while playing in 34 games.Buechele would participate in his first intercollegiate game in 2009 when he started all 63 games at third base. He ended up finishing second on the team with a .353 batting average while hitting four homers and driving in 40 runs. He was even better in conference play as he led the Big 12 with a .396 batting average. He became the first Oklahoma player to be named the Big 12 Freshman of the Year after the season. He was also named second-team All-Big 12 while being named a Freshman All-American by Collegiate Baseball.Garrett continued his strong start to his college career as a red-shirt sophomore as he led the team in all three triple crown categories with a .359 batting average, 17 homers, and 65 RBI. He was named a Second-Team All-American by Baseball America as he helped led the Sooners to the College World Series.

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