2/21/12

Draft 2012: Keon Barnum, Richie Shaffer, A.J. Puk, Beau Cebulski



8. Keon Barnum, 1B, King (Tampa, Fla.)  Barnum is a man-child at 6-foot-4 and 225 pounds and generates good bat speed and big power from the left side of the plate. The swing path, which creates good loft, is natural, suggesting he’ll hit for power, but he has problems making consistent contact. He's committed to Miami, but he has a chance to go in the first 100 selections to a team that believes they can teach him to hit for average. http://espn.go.com/blog/high-school/baseball/post/_/id/1108/joey-gallo-is-nation%e2%80%99s-top-corner-infielder

Clemson JR 1B Richie Shaffer - I’ve waffled back and forth on top ACC first base prospect, but am finally settling on a player not even projected to play first this spring. Long-term, however, I’m pretty confident that first base will be Shaffer’s pro home. Then again, from the “take it for what it’s worth” files, one of my sharper buddies who saw Shaffer in fall ball this year deemed him athletic enough to stick at third base, at least through his first few pro seasons. If nothing else, we know he has the arm (94 peak FB on the mound) for it. His plus raw power and whole-fields approach give him the narrow edge over the underrated Jayce Boyd. http://baseballdraftreport.com/

Young A.J. Puk, a 6-foot-5, 195-pound left-handed pitcher and first baseman, announced in August he was leaving the Washington football team to pursue a dream that he hopes will someday blossom into a professional baseball career. It was a bit of a shocker because Puk was the Warriors’ starting varsity quarterback as a sophomore and was an effective leader while helping them reach the state playoffs. But there is a lot more football history in the Puk family than just that. A.J.’s father, Dr. David Puk, was a four-year football letterman and Academic All-American at the University of Minnesota from 1982-85 and A.J.’s uncle Steven Puk lettered at Minnesota in 1984. Another uncle, J.J. Puk, was an all-Big Ten linebacker at the University of Iowa from 1986-87 and yet another of those Puk brothers, Kevin, lettered at Stanford from 1989-91. All four played football at Cedar Rapids Washington High School, the same school A.J. attends. http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=6584

Beau Cebulski is one of those under the radar prospects who has the potential to get to the next level.  His primary position, and the position he will play going forward, is catcher.  He has also pitched and played shortstop. Cebulski put up a .643 batting average during his senior year and continued to show good skill with the bat during the summer.  He has some pop in his bat, as well.  He has a recorded 60 time is 7.2. Everyone I contacted about Cebulski spoke highly of his defense, with adjectives ranging from good to great.  He has an above average arm and pop times from 1.85 to 1.90. Cebulski is definitely a favorite of coaches and instructors, who all speak highly of his defense, character, and work ethic. http://mlbdraftguide.com/

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