Draft Sunday

By:  Mack Ade

·    Clemson got some great news when 2013 eligible draft prospect, Austin Meadows, an outfielder from Grayson High School in Georgia, picked the Tigers over South Carolina, Georgia, and Vanderbilt. Perfect game ranks Meadows as the #2 prospect nationally (fat chance he goes to college).

·   Talked to OF-LHP, 6-5 Rock Rucker, senior at Redan H.S. (GA).

From Baseball Factory:  Rocker is a top prospect and a solid two-way player. Feet are quick and athletic as he takes proper routes / angles in tracking down balls in the OF. He moves well laterally, displaying plus range. Actions are loose and easy with the baseball exploding out of his hand. Throws display life, carry, and on line carry into his target. Offensively is continues to shine as he displays outstanding hitting abilities and power. Hands are quick, generating plus bat speed with leverage in his swing. Power is a plus with baseball exploding off his bat. On the mound, fastball shows late life and arm side run. Ball gets on the hitter in a hurry. Breaking ball displays 1/7 shape with tight spin and late / sharp action. Split finger shows downward action.

Looks like he plans on continuing pitching:

“My goals for this Season are to hit for average and also hit for power. Now that I have tweaked my mechanics on the mound I will take over the Ace position at my school, Redan. When all is said and done I want to lead my team to the state playoffs and beyond and hopefully win a state championship before June comes around.”

·   Div II #16 UNC-Pembroke beat Chowan, 13-3, behind the 4-4, 5-RBI, 3-R day by senior Eitan Maoz. Alex Pierce went: 6.0-IP, 3-ER, 4-K and notched his first career win

·         Albuquerque Academy (NM)  IF Alex Bregman checked in with his thoughts on the season:

“My goals this season are to lead my team back to Isotopes Park again for the state championship. I want to teach the younger guys on my team as much as I possibly can before I leave. Lastly, I just want to play every inning, every out, and every pitch as hard as I can.”

Bregman is a shortstop, but is currently rated the top second baseman in the draft. We’ll keep an eye on him all-season.

·   You know how much I like C Peter O’Brien. I was looking for a confirmation from the Dean of Draft, Keith Law:

Keithlaw @keithlaw Reply - Trahan. I'm not an O'Brien fan "@MackAde: @keithlaw - #2 C in draft... O'Brien, Trahan, or Maddox ?"…  so much for that J

·         A.J. Simcox checked in about his preparation for the season:

“My goals this pre-season are first and for most, get the team in the state of mind we need to be in to compete at a high level. Also, to take the young guys under my wings and show them how to take care of business on and off the field. Gotta take care of the body and get your sleep. I don't set individual goals, just team goals. And that goal is for us to come out, compete and play hard every game. If we do that, our hard work in the offseason will take control.”

Simcox is finishing up his high school career for Farragut H.S. (TN) and is committed to Tennessee. It was Georgia and South Carolina, but they never really had much of a chance. AJ’s father, Larry Simcox, was once an assistant coach for the Vols. AJ led his team in 2011 to the AAA state championship, after hitting .470 and leading the state in hits (70).

·   College Baseball Daily came out with their college all-stars and here’s their first team:

C Mike Zunino (Florida)

1B Christian Walker (South Carolina)

2B Devon Travis (Florida State)

3B Colin Moran (UNC)

SS Deven Marrero (Arizona State)

OF Tyler Naquin (Texas A&M)

OF Victor Roache (Georgia Southern)

OF Daniel Aldrich (College of Charleston)

DH Preston Tucker (Florida)

UT Brian Johnson (Florida)

SP Michael Roth (South Carolina)

SP Marcus Stroman (Duke)

SP Mark Appel (Stanford)

SP Hudson Randall (Florida)

SP Tyler Ray (Troy)

RP Nick Wittgren (Purdue)

RP John Neely (Texas Tech)

RP Corey Knebel (Texas)

Frankly, this is a weak year for college players. I’m surprised that Stroman was named as a starter since he has been sued most of college career so far as a reliever. The other thing I found interesting that Peter O’Brien was named the 2^nd team catcher. I totally agree.

·         Speed Checks:

o    RHP Nick Stroud - 6-4, 195, Mt. Zion H.S. (IL) -  89-92 FB

o    RHP Shane Watson – 91-93

o    RHP Hagerty HS (FL) 6-5  Zach Eflin -  90-95, 76-79 CB, 83-84 CH

o    RHP Lucas Giolito -  94-95, 78 CB

o    RHP Chase DeJong – 89-91, 76-78 slider, 82 change

o    LHP Tim Conyers - mid-70s changeup,  87 FB

o    LHP Max Fried - 91-94, 77 hammer

o    RHP Jonathan Harris – Hazelwood Central H.S. (MO.) 6-4, 160 – 88-89

o    (2013) RHP Pulaski Acadamy (AR) 6-3 Lawson Vassar hit 88

o    RHP Justin Garza – 94, 78-80 slider

o    LHP Troy Conyers – 86-88

o    (2013) LHP  Minnehaha Academy (MN) John Pryor  hit 87

o    LHP Hunter Virant   87-89 FB,  77-78 changeup.

o    RHP Cody Poteet –90-92, 78 change

o    (2014) RHP Lee’s Summit (MO) Alex Lange 85-87. 89

o    RHP Kieran Lovegrove - 92-93, hit 94, 83-85 slider

o    RHP Adm H.S. (IA) 6-5 Alec Rash - 91-93, sharp slider

o    Christian Brothers College Prep (MO):

o    (2013) RHP Robert Plohr - 84-88, 74 CB, 78 CH

o    (2013) RHP Dan Hermann - 86-89, 76 CB, 77 CH

o    University of St. Louis Pirates:

o    (2013) RHP Robert Plohr sat 87

o    (2013) RHP Adam Jelovic topped at 87

o    (2013) Dan Herrmann topped 89 

·         Talked to Andrew Suarez, one of 2011’s big time high school pitchers (Columbus H.S. FL.). He’s part of a tremendous 2012 University of Miami team that includes C Peter O’Brien, RHP E.J. Encinosa, and RHP Eric Whaley.  Andrew seems to have his head on straight:

“My individual goals for this season are to stay healthy, be a weekend starter by the end of the year, do whatever it takes to contribute to the team. The only team goal I have is to make it to Omaha. With the team we have this year, we have a really high chance to make it. Our pitching is super deep and is going to take us far, our defense and hitting are just as good.”

         Duke IF/OF Chris Marconcini, who led team in doubles, triples, HRs, RBIs, runs, SLG as a freshman, will miss 2012 with torn ACL