2012 Draft: - SCAD, Michael Fagan, Albert Almora, Marcus Stroman

The Savannah College of Art and Design announced Monday that it is discontinuing baseball, softball and volleyball programs at the end of the 2011-2012 academic year. SCAD vice president for student success Phil Alletto said the money saved will make financial aid available to a greater number of incoming students. Affected student-athletes will keep their scholarships while they remain in good academic standing continue to progress toward graduation. http://savannahnow.com/latest-news/2012-01-23/scad-discontinuing-baseball-softball-and-volleyball

Michael Fagan  LHP  St. Cloud River Bats—Princeton -  Michael was one of the top relievers in the league. He went 3-2 and had a 1.95 era in 50.2 innings of work. He appeared in 19 games and led the league with 81 strikeouts. PG ranked him as the 28th best prospect in the league. http://www.collegesummerbaseball.net/2012/01/top-35-pitchers-in-northwoods-league_20.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter  

Albert Almora — 6’-2”, OF, Marion Christian Academy (FL) Aside from his five-tool abilities, Almora has leadership qualities not seen in many players his age. Those qualities were on full display during this year’s Pan-Am Championship games in Colombia. The six-time member of Team USA won MVP honors as the under-18 team brought home the gold by annihilating the competition. Almora hit .421 (16 for 38) with a team leading 11 runs, five doubles, 11 RBI and nine stolen bases as Team USA went 9-0, outscoring opponents 88-8. He has a plus arm and his speed should allow him to play center field at the next level. A total package of offense, defense, speed and an extremely high understanding and passion for the game, Almora should hear his name called in the upper half of next year’s draft. http://www.throughthefencebaseball.com/top-50-draft-prospects-for-2012-25-thru-1/15694/

We continue the countdown today at number 6 with Duke junior RHP Marcus Stroman. The Medford, New York native attended Patchogue-Medford High School where he was a four year letter winner. He went 9-1 as a senior with a 0.25 ERA and 120 strikeouts while hitting .350 with six homers and 22 stolen bases. His junior season saw him go 7-2 on the mound with a 1.20 ERA and 96 strikeouts while batting .410 with a pair of homers and 30 steals. He was named Louisville Slugger’s Player of the Year and earning the Gatorade Player of the Year honors for the state of New York. He also won the Paul Gibson Award, which goes to the top pitcher on Long Island. He was selected in the 18th round (532nd overall) of the 2009 MLB Draft by the Washington Nationals but decided to head to Duke. As a freshman, he hit .265 with 44 hits, 26 runs scored and 20 RBI while going 6-4 on the mound with three saves and an ERA of 5.31 ERA over 57.2 innings. He was named ACC Freshman of the Year and a second team Freshman All-American by Baseball America. http://ht.ly/1gV4Z8