6-23-10 from: - perfectgame. - 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.
I found Lance's head on perfectly straight...
Mack: Good morning folks.
We're talking today with the early favorite for the first pick in the 2012 draft, RHP Lance McCullers, out of Jesuit High School, in Tampa, Florida.
Hey Lance. First of all, I hear you've been hanging in the mountains for the holidays. Tell us about it.... .
McCullers: Every year either in the early summer or right before the New Year my family takes a trip to NC. This trip is to get away from everything and be together. We went skiing and had snow ball fights. We attempted to make snow men, which was an epic failure. It was a great time to be away and relax .
Mack: Lance, the internet has opened people like you up to the world and visa versa... take us back to the days you first started to pitch and realized you may have something here...
McCullers: Well to be honesty my Dad has always done a great job managing my arm and protecting it growing up. I was always a SS first and a pitcher second. Even though I wasn't always pitching I knew, by from what others said and through my own comparison, that I had a strong arm. When I was 13 I hit 90 for the first time and ever since then I really recognized I had something special.
Mack: We on this side of the interview always say that prospects with fathers who played pro ball have a distinct advantage than other kids. Do you agree with that?
McCullers: I agree with that 100%. I feel that my father has provided me with extra advantages in many ways. The biggest advantage he has given me is the mental aspect I now approach the game with. I understand how to handle the game, handle pressure, and handle the ups and downs of baseball better than others.
Mack: Lance, you're 18 months away from being drafted and it would be foolish to speculate where, why and whether you'll sign. More importantly, at this point of your growth, wouldn't there be more emphasis on curtailing activities that could create injuries that could hamper your baseball future?
McCullers: There has always been an effort on my parents part and myself to keep me as healthy as possible. Growing up I loved playing basketball and football as well as baseball. When I entered High School I realized that I must give up some things to accomplish my ultimate goals. So the answer to your question is absolutely. We are taking all precautions to ensure I stay healthy.
Mack: Do you have any showcases planned before your season starts back at school?
McCullers: I have been working out every day during the brief off season and do not plan on attending any show cases until the summer.
Mack: Last question Lance... is there anything you want to share with the readers out there that will be following your every move over the next 18 months?
McCullers: I just want everyone to know that I love baseball and I respect the game. Everything I have accomplished and I hopefully will accomplish is all through hard work and dedication. I have been working extremely hard this off season on every aspect of my pitching game and I think that everyone who has watched me pitch before will be very impressed this spring and throughout these next 18 months. Have a great new year and God bless.
Mack: Lance, thanks for the time and we'll check back in with you after the season. Lots of success and GB back at ya.
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