D1 Game Notes – Joey Gallo, Byron Buxton, Courtney Hawkins, Gustavo Cabrera, Chance Wolfe

D1 Game Notes – Joey Gallo, Byron Buxton, Courtney Hawkins, Gustavo Cabrera, Chance Wolfe                                

·        Joey Gallo may have struggled at the plate on Wednesday and lost the game as the starting pitcher on Thursday for Bishop Gorman (Nev.), but he may have opened some eyes with his arm strength on the mound. Gallo was in the mid-90s out of the gate in the first inning, and stayed in the low-90s throughout his start, according to Baseball America's Nathan Rode. What he didn't have was location, keeping his fastball up in the zone. He wants to hit and there are scouts who still love his raw power, size and strength at the plate - link

·        Keithlaw - ‏@keithlaw  - I think that is the most likely choice. "@ARankin11: Do you predict Byron Buxton to be the first overall pick to Astros in the draft?

·        Courtney Hawkins, OF/RHP, Carroll (Texas): In Carroll's one victory, Hawkins (No. 26) particularly showed what all the fuss is about. On the mound, he was up to 93 mph with a good breaking ball, as he struck out nine in 5 1/3 scoreless innings. He also provided the lone run for Carroll with a long home run to left-center. Most see him as an outfielder, but one scout thought he could excel either way if given the opportunity. - link

·        OF GUSTAVO CABRERA - 6-1/190, R/R, 1/23/96, LaRomana, DR -  PG Grade: 10 - Cabrera is the player that all the scouts want to see and is going to perhaps be the prospect who will lose the most by the new international signing rules. In the previous unlimited free market system he was likely a $4-to-$5 million dollar player. With the $2.9 million limit per team, he’ll be looking at something more in the neighborhood of $1.5 million. Cabrera has a tightly wound athletic body reminiscent of Justin Upton. In fact, Cabrera’s tools at the same age are very reminiscent of Upton’s. He ran the 60 in 6.34 seconds in Arizona and has an explosive first step that enables him to steal bases at will (he had 5 steals in one game in Florida) and the aggressiveness and instincts to use his speed. He throws 90-plus mph from the outfield with a very quick release and his speed will give him well above average range at any outfield position. - link

·        Congratulations to Clever C/RHP Chance Wolfe  on being named the Prep Baseball Report Missouri's Player of the week for the week of 3/26-4/1 . Wolfe carried the No. 11 ranked Clever Bluejays to a 4-0 record during the week, with an impressive .642 batting average (nine for fourteen at the plate). Of the nine hits , Wolfe had one double, one triple, and a dramatic walk off homerun.  He also collected eleven RBIs and drew two walks. On the season, Wolfe is hitting .526. On the mound, Wolfe picked up two wins, throwing eight innings and striking out fourteen batters. On the season, Wolfe has a 0.75 ERA  and has given up only one run - link

·        Speed Checks:

o   UVA Branden Kline – 92-94

o   LSU Ryan Eades (2013) -  94-96, 98, 82-SL, 84-86-CH

o   Arkansas Ryne Stanek (2013) l 95-96, 97, 84-87 SL, 84-85 CH

o   Stanford LHP Brett Mooneyham 89-93

o   LSU (2014) Aaron Nola  90-94, 95, 78-79-CV, 81-CH

o   Alec Rash - 93-94, 95

o   Cal LHP Michael Theofanopoulos - 90-92, 80-82 CH, 83 SL