Mack Draft - Anthony Meo, Supp 1, Sander Beck, Ricky Oropesa , Nick Williams , Henry Owens

The Mack Draft Report - Dec. 10, 2010



Anthony Meo: - http://www.collegebaseballdaily.com/  - We continue the countdown today at number 43 with Coastal Carolina junior RHP Anthony Meo. The Cranston, Rhode Island, native attended Cranston West High School as he helped his team to back-to-back state championships in his final two seasons, garnering All-State honors both seasons. Meo struck out 95 batters in 53 innings his senior season, and was named MVP of the State Championship his junior season. The Washington Nationals selected him in the 2008 MLB Draft in the 43rd round. He decided to attend Coastal Carolina to continue his baseball career.



Former Tampa Bay Rays slugger Carlos Pena agreed to a one-year, $10M contract with the Chicago Cubs. A Type B free agent, the loss for Tampa Bay nets them a supplemental pick between the first and second round of the 2011 MLB Draft. For the moment this lands the Rays the last pick of the supplemental round, #37. That number figures to change as more Type A free agents and higher ranking Type B free agents sign contracts during the 2011 off season, bumping the pick number lower.- http://www.baseballrumormill.com/  



Sander Beck: - http://baseballdraftreport.com/  - JR RHP Sander Beck throws a knuckle curveball, so you know he’s awesome. I think if your first name is Sander and you throw a knuckle curve, then you should be allowed to skip the minors and go straight to the big leagues. In all seriousness, Beck could be Maryland’s best 2011 draft prospect, even though I have my doubts about his way too hittable straight moving fastball. We’ll see



Ricky Oropesa 3B, USC - http://www.draftsite.com/article/2011-MLB-Draft-Preview-College-Hitters/43  - The first thing that comes to your mind when you see him is how big he is. At 6’3" and 225 lbs, he has a major league build already. Naturally with that size, Oropesa is one of the better power hitters in college baseball, and led the Trojans with 20 homeruns this past season. To go along with the plus power, Oropesa is also able to make solid contact due to his strong forearms and quick hands. The main problem for him though is he that has to learn how to make consistent contact. He is solid at third base and coming out of high school he was a two- way player, so the arm is there. However, he will have to watch his weight. If he continues to grow a potential move across the diamond to first base will be in order.



Nick Williams - of - Ball HS, Galveston, Texas - Williams walked away from the Area Code Games as the highest scoring athlete in the SPARQ events, totaling 82.87 points (primarily off of the strength of his 64-foot power ball throw). Williams is a balanced athlete with solid speed, solid agility and good power (with the potential for much more). He is average down the line from the left side and average to a tick above-average underway, has a nice first step and gets good jumps on the basepaths. With room in his frame to add strength, Williams projects to plus power given his quick hands and the amount of leverage he is already capable of producing in his swing. Another standout 2012 rep, he profiles to an outfield corner where he could develop into one of the better bats in the draft class. http://diamondscapescouting.com/articles_2010acg_wraps_part1_11162010.htm



Henry Owens - Edison HS (CA) - 6'6”, 195, L/L - http://www.5tooltalk.com/topprospects.html  - Owens appears as though he was born to pitch, with a feel for his craft unexpected for both a player his age, but also of his stature. He is a tall and lanky lefty, oozing with projectability and room for added strength. He is incredibly consistent from one start and/or event to another, routinely pitching in the 88-91 range with some movement on his fastball and incredible command. He spots the pitch virtually wherever he wants, and sets up one pitch to another beautifully with his three-pitch arsenal. Both his curveball and changeup are also refined pitches, and he’s able to throw both for strikes, using them effectively to lull batters asleep with soft stuff down and away before busting them up and in with his heat. He also shows a very competitive and aggressive nature on the mound in which he exudes confidence and doesn’t back down. Despite his stature, I’m not sure how much more velocity he’ll gain, if any, as he continues to mature, and the way he changes speeds and hits his spots, he doesn’t really have to. He should enjoy immediate success in the lower levels of the minor leagues or at Miami should he honor his college commitment.


Deep Leagues: - Top Future Players:


1. Anthony Rendon—3B, Rice Top 10 2012/2013

2. Yu Darvish—P, Japan Top 5 unknown (likely arrival)

3. Gerrit Cole—P, UCLA Top 20 2012/2013

4. Matt Purke—P, TCU Top 20 2013

5. Jackie Bradley—OF, S. Car. Top 50 2013

6. Sonny Gray—P, Vandy, Top 50 2013

7. George Springer—OF, UConn. Top 50 2013

8. Matt Barnes —P, UConn. Top 75 2013

9. Alfredo Despaigne—OF, Cuba Top 10 unknown (speculative arrival)

10. Taylor Jungmann—P, Texas, Top 75 2013

11. Trevor Bauer—P, UCLA Top 100 2013

12. Archie Bradley—P, HS Ok. Top 50 2015

13. Bubba Starling—OF, HS Ks. Top 50 2015

14. Kenny Diekroeger—3B, Stan. Top 75 2014

15. Daniel Norris—P, HS Tn. Top 75 2015