8-7-11: - http://www.perfectgame.org/AllAmerican/News.aspx?num=6104 - Virant is currently ranked 10th in the nation overall and the first among all left-handed pitchers from the high school class of 2012. With long and loose arms and legs, it's easy to see the 90-93 mph fastball velocity he showed as the National Showcase in mid-June continue to improve. He shows the ability to add running life to the pitch, as well as a power curveball. His changeup also is an advanced pitch for a player of his age.
8-25-11: - http://sullydraft.blogspot.com - This summer I went to the National Showcase, Prospect Classic, and the Under Armour All-American Game. Here is my updated top 50 HS prospects. - 18. Hunter Virant-LHP, Camarillo HS
10-6-11: - http://www.mlbbonusbaby.com/2011/10/5/2466822/2012-mlb-mock-draft#comments - Virant is extremely athletic. He’s only a year into concentrating on pitching and crosses his body on delivery at times. I’m guessing that’s what people mean by “project”. He does have a really good feel for pitching in the looks I’ve seen. His CB is not yet at the same level as Fried (who throws two versions) but Virant might have the better Changeup. Fried throws a bit harder. Virant just pitched out in Cali (following the USA 18u Trials) a week ago. Sat 86-88 touching 90. He needs to shut down. He was sick coming into the Area Codes, showed up late and pitched just OK. PGAA was pretty much a mess. Now he’s getting ready for a trip to Colombia with the 18u’s. Looks like he’s lost a lot of weight since the start of the summer which speaks to the drop in velo. Somebody needs to step in and advise him to take a rest and recover.
10-11-11: - http://espn.go.com/blog/high-school/baseball/post/_/id/455/prep-arms-the-difference-in-class-of-2012 - Max Fried, LHP -- Harvard-Westlake (North Hollywood, Calif.) Fried, who transferred from Montclair Prep (Van Nuys, Calif.) to join forces with Giolito, offers a fastball in the 89-92 mph range and a potentially plus curveball and changeup. He stays over the rubber well and is a good athlete, running sub seven-second 60 times over the summer. He's hit 94 on the gun in the past and his 6-foot-4, 175-pound frame offers plenty of projection to suggest he could sit in the 93-96 mph range down the road. Fried is committed to UCLA, but could perform his way into the Top 10 where the bonus money exceeds $2 million.
We could do a lot worse in the draft. My hope is that with 3 picks (assuming Reyes leaves) that the Mets pick up 1 pitcher who profiles with a SP1 or SP2 ceiling and two bats. It's too early to project but as of now I'm hoping for Victor Roache and Kenny Diekroeger.
ReplyDeleteit's too early to project, but, right now, all three of your choices would be available with the 12th pick overall.
ReplyDeleteMe?
I'd pick C Stryker Trahan