5/14/12

Draft Notes 5-16-12 – Albert Almora, Duane Underwood, Nick Travieso, Lance McCullers Jr.




Albert Almora, Mater Academy (Hialeah Gardens, Fla.), OF, Senior - Almora had a phenomenal regular season, hitting .603 with six homers, 34 RBIs, 42 runs scored and 27 stolen bases. But a shocking loss to Hialeah-Miami Lakes (Hialeah, Fla.) in the Class 8A district playoffs ended the season of Mater Academy, which failed to qualify for the regional tournament. Meanwhile, the rest of The Starting Nine was still in postseason play through Sunday.




And then there's Duane Underwood. The athletic 6-foot-2, 185-pound righthander at Marietta's Pope High has had an up-and-down spring, mostly on the down side. A late uptick produced buzz that Underwood could put himself back into first-round consideration, as he reportedly hit 96-97 mph as Pope High approached the playoffs.




Nick Travieso is one of just a handful of pitchers who have consistently been clocked in the mid-to-high 90s, and that’s a primary reason that he has so much helium headed into the final month before the draft.

ESPN HS -

Lance McCullers Jr., RHP, Jesuit (Tampa, Fla.) - McCullers’ domination – he didn’t allow an earned run during the regular season -- has continued during the postseason as he went all seven, fanning 13 and allowing just four hits. Amazingly, those were the most hits he’s allowed in a start all season. As one scout in attendance opined, “We got to see him really focus, and bow his neck today, and the results speak for themselves.”



North Carolina sophomore pitcher, Shane Taylor, named ACC Pitcher of the Week.

LSU Kevin Gausman named SEC Pitcher of the Week.



Mack –

“How’s the recovery process. Are you 100%?”

Alex Bregman -

One hundred percent. Really excited to move forward with my baseball career.






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