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4/30/14

A Quick Look - RHP - Aaron Nola - LSU

  
 Aaron Nola

5-28-13 - Aaron Nola, RHP, LSU  - One of the best control artists in college, Nola also has power behind his pitches. As a freshman, he had 87 strikeouts over 83.2 innings and walked just seven. In his second start of his career, he threw 62 out of 78 pitches for strikes against Tulane. The 6’-1”, 190-pound right-hander has been just as impressive this year. In his first start against Maryland, he tossed 6.2 shutout innings, allowing two hits while striking out nine to one walk. Against Brown in his third start, he went seven scoreless, striking out 11 to no walks, allowing three hits. Over his 19.2 innings on the season, he has 26 K/4 BB and has allowed just nine hits. He uses his low-90s sinker to bury hitters and sets up the pitch with a low-80s change-up with good deception. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft/29840#fm24otWuYCEocLQZ.99

6-1-13 - College Baseball 360‏ @CB360updates - LSU's Aaron Nola (7IP-5UER-6H-3BB-6K) pitcher of record when 4R t8 vs. Sam Houston (8-5)...SHSU's Caleb Smith no-dec. (2.2-4R/3ER-6H-4BB)

6-9-13  -   6.Aaron Nola, RHP (LSU): The righty was sitting in the low-to-mid 90s consistently in 2013, holding his velocity late into games. He controls his fastball well, only allowing 17 walks in 109 IP. http://www.minorleaguerundown.com/2013/06/09/2014-mlb-draft-top-30-prospects/

6-9-13  -  16. Colorado Rockies — Aaron Nola, RHP, LSU - Maybe the best control artist available in the 2014 MLB draft, the 6’-2” right-hander features a plus, low-90s fastball with nasty sink to it. He offsets his fastball with a deceptive change-up that freezes hitters. As a freshman, he had 89 K/7 BB over 89.2 innings and 40 of those strikeouts were looking. This season, he has been lights-out so far. Over 15 starts, he is 11-0 with a 1.82 ERA, 0.85 WHIP and 111 K/17 BB over 109 innings. His size limits his upside, but you’d be hard pressed to find a better pitcher in the true sense of the word out there. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-mock-draft-1-0-no-time-like-the-present/34008#Vj5KQGPZZT1XUyhx.99

6-10-13 -  Aaron Nola, RHP, Louisiana State -  Like the other pitchers on this list, Nola shows very good stuff.  His fastball sits 89-93 and touches 94, with good run.  His slider and change are also good pitches.  Nola shows exceptional command and can throw any pitch on any count. http://bigleaguefutures.net/1/2013/06/10/2014-mlb-draft-early-college-names-to-know/

6/-11-13 - 5. Aaron Nola, RHP, Louisiana State: What's a Draft class without a top LSU arm? Nola was LSU's Friday starter this year, going 12-0 with a 1.68 ERA, striking out nearly a batter per inning while holding hitters to a .187 BAA. http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130611&content_id=50293726&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb&tcid=tw_article_50293726

16. Colorado Rockies — Aaron Nola, RHP, LSU - Maybe the best control artist available in the 2014 MLB draft, the 6’-2” right-hander features a plus, low-90’s fastball with nasty sink to it. He offsets his fastball with a deceptive change-up that freezes hitters. As a freshman, he had 89 K/7 BB over 89.2 innings and 40 of those strikeouts were looking. This season, he has been lights-out so far. Over 15 starts, he is 11-0 with a 1.82 ERA, 0.85 WHIP and 111 K/17 BB over 109 innings. His size limits his upside but you’d be hard pressed to find a better pitcher in the true sense of the word out there. http://beforeitsnews.com/sports/2013/06/2014-mlb-mock-draft-1-0-no-time-like-the-present-2513748.html?currentSplittedPage=2

6-16-13  -  Aaron Fitt ‏@aaronfitt  - Aaron Nola and Plutko were both fantastic, as expected. Nola was 87-90 late, had 92 when needed it. He loves that backdoor breaking ball vs. LHHs.

6-16-13  -  College Baseball 360 ‏@CB360updates - Aaron Nola done for LSU (8 IP–2 unearned runs–5H–BB–HB–5K) ... Nick Rumbelow in ... all 7 runs allowed by Nola in 2013 NCAAs unearned

6-28-13 - Aaron Nola, RHP, LSU - Nola represents a change from the hard-throwing pitching prospects like Rodon and Beede with ability to throw multiple pitches at an average to above-average level and great maturity and pitchability on the mound. Though Nola's stuff doesn't quite compare to Rodon or Beede, it's still appealing as a #2 or solid #3 starter in an MLB rotation. His fastball and curve are his best pitches, both with the potential to be plus, and mixes in an average changeup. His control is among the best in the draft, and his fastball has some sink on it. A few things working against Nola; he's only 6'1'' so he doesn't have the prototypical frame or projection a lot of teams look for when drafting a pitcher in the top five picks. And though he's the third best college pitcher right now, pitchers just below him with better pure stuff like Michael Cederoth and Nick Burdi could overtake Nola if they dominate their draft-year seasons, much like Jonathan Gray did http://www.crawfishboxes.com/2013/6/28/4450674/the-way-too-early-2014-tcb-astros-draft-board

8-14-13 – Through The Fence – Top 50 Prospects – 20. Aaron Nola, RHP, LSU - Maybe the best control artist available in the 2014 MLB draft, the 6’-1” right-hander features a plus, low-90s fastball with nasty sink to it. He offsets his fastball with a deceptive change-up that freezes hitters. As a freshman, he had 89 K/7 BB over 89.2 innings and 40 of those strikeouts were looking. He was lights-out as a sophomore for LSU, going 12-1 over 17 starts with a 1.57 ERA, 0.80 WHIP and 122 K/18 BB over 126 innings. His size limits his upside a bit, but you’d be hard pressed to find a better pitcher, in the true sense of the word, out there. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-top-50-prospects/36463#mwWwsFxSUZy7YC5V.99

9-1-13 - Jim Callis – 10. Aaron Nola, rhp, Louisiana State - With his solid fastball, plus changeup and impressive pitchability, he’ll move quickly in pro ball."

9-4-13 – Mack’s Mock Draft v1.0 – 31 – RHP Aaron Nola – LSU – Nola is considered the top control pitcher in the 2014 draft. As a sophomore, he went 12-1 over 17 starts with a 1.57 ERA, 0.80 WHIP and 122 K/18 BB over 126 innings. Low 90s fastball with nasty sink. Lack of height (6-2) could send him to the pen.

9-29-13 – XMLBScout – 17.)RHP, Aaron Nola, LSU, 6'1 185, R/R, classic quick arm and comparisons to Jake Peavy, arm side run and fb that tops 94 on occ, pitchability and a gamer, commands the strike zone, not real tall but gets good leverage and sink on his fb, hard slurvy breaking ball that will end up becoming a slider, also solid straight change that will be a 3rd pitch for him in pro ball. Early 1-3 round guy for 2014! http://xmlbscout.angelfire.com/

9-30-13 – TTF Mock 2.0 - 23. Texas Rangers — Aaron Nola, RHP, LSU  Maybe the best control artist available in the 2014 MLB draft, the 6’-1” right-hander features a plus, low-90s fastball with nasty sink to it. He offsets his fastball with a deceptive change-up that freezes hitters. As a freshman, he had 89 K/7 BB over 89.2 innings and 40 of those strikeouts were looking. He was lights-out as a sophomore for LSU, going 12-1 over 17 starts with a 1.57 ERA, 0.80 WHIP and 122 K/18 BB over 126 innings. His size limits his upside a bit, but you’d be hard pressed to find a better pitcher, in the true sense of the word, out there. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-mock-draft-2-0-draft-order-set/38280#5E3F5j1jWOgE69bJ.99

10-15-13 – Baseball America - 10. Aaron Nola, rhp, Louisiana State: Smallish, athletic college ace has excellent life on a low-90s fastball and plus changeup. http://www.baseballamerica.com/college/2014-draft-top-50-october-2013-carlos-rodon/

11-4-13 – MLB Draft Insider - Top 14 for ’14: College Pitchers - 5. Aaron Nola / RHP / LSU – Nola was one of the best pitchers in the SEC last year, pounding the strike zone with a low 90′s fastball and above-average secondary offerings. His arm slot is a major concern from the scouts I’ve talked to, however. http://mlbdraftinsider.com/2013/11/top-14-for-14-college-pitchers/

11-19-13 - Aaron Nola (RHP) - College: LSU - In short, Nola’s numbers for LSU in 2013 were absolutely ridiculous. In 17 starts, he had 126 innings pitched–good for a little over seven and one/third innings per start. His control was impeccable walking just 18 batters while striking out 122, giving him an impressive strikeout-to-walk ratio of 6.78. At 6’1″, 183 pounds, Nola doesn’t have that towering pitcher build that scouts rave about, but as you can see by the numbers, he doesn’t really need it. He makes up for it by employing a somewhat deceptive three-quarters motion to provide exception movement on three above-average pitches. His go-to is his sinker which touches 94 MPH with both downward and tailing movement. He also has a plus changeup that mimics the movement of his fastball. Finally, he has an above-average 11-5 breaking ball which is resembles a slurve more than just a curveball or slider. Baseball America has him 10th in their latest 2014 draft rankings, so he, like Turner, will likely be unavailable by the time the Cardinals pick. However, if interested here is a video of him pitching in the Cape Cod League in 2012. His deceptive whipping motion is on full display in the video. In my opinion, he has the best chance of any pitching prospect to make a Michael Wacha-like rise through a team’s farm system. Let’s hope he doesn’t end up in the National League Central. http://stlcupofjoe.com/2013/11/19/2014-mlb-draft-five-prospects-to-keep-an-eye-on-part-2/

  11-27-13 – Big League Futures Top 25 Poll –   22 Aaron Nola    RHP Louisiana State http://bigleaguefutures.net/1/2013/11/26/mlb-draft-top-25-prospects-poll/

12-9-13 – Pine Tar Press  -  14- RHP Aaron Nola LSU 6/4/93- He is the younger brother of former LSU SS Austin. Aaron dominated his sophomore year winning 12 games with a 1.57 E.R.A and 122 K. He projects as a solid mid rotation guy who commands 3 pitches well. He is a type of arm that I could see fly thru a system as he is about as finished of a product of anyone in this class.(Diamondbacks @ 16)  http://pinetarpress.com/early  -look-2014-mlb-draft/

1-3-14 – TTF Baseball - 15. Los Angeles Angels — Aaron Nola, RHP, LSU - Few can match the kind of control Nola possesses. The 6’-1” right-hander features a plus, low-90s fastball with nasty sink to it. He offsets his fastball with a deceptive change-up that freezes hitters. As a freshman, he had 89 K/7 BB over 89.2 innings and 40 of those strikeouts were looking. He was lights-out as a sophomore for LSU, going 12-1 over 17 starts with a 1.57 ERA, 0.80 WHIP and 122 K/18 BB over 126 innings. His size limits his upside a bit, and he isn’t a power arm, but not many can toss a game like he can. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-2/40753#ppGUqI6CbWFvzsPf.99

1-20-14 – PG Preseason College All-Americans – Starting Pitcher - Aaron Nola, Louisiana State - 2013 Stats: 1.57 ERA, 126 IP, 122 K, 18 BB, .188 OPP BA] - The Tigers had one of the nation’s best teams and rotations last season, and it should be much of the same this spring with Nola and lefthanded pitcher Cody Glenn leading the charge. Nola, a 6-foot-1, 183-pounder, is Mr. Command out on the mound, as evidenced by his incredibly low walk total from last season. From a stuff standpoint, Nola has a fastball that typically sits in the low-90s. However, he can get up to 94 at times. Meanwhile, his curveball sits in the upper-70s, along with a low-80s changeup. http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=9294


2-5-14 - Aaron Nola, RHP, LSU - While he may not have the upside as others on this list, and he may not have the ideal size you want in a frontline starter at 6’-1” and 185 pounds, not many can toss a game like Nola. A pinpoint control artist, he went 12-1 with a 1.57 ERA, 0.80 WHIP and 122 K/18 BB over 126 innings as a sophomore. As a freshman, he had 89 K/7 BB over 89.2 innings and 40 of those strikeouts were looking. He features a plus, low-90s fastball with nasty sink to it. He offsets his fastball with a deceptive change-up that freezes hitters. He also adds a 77-80 mph curveball with depth that flashes plus potential. His three-pitch mix, great command of all of them, and mentality on the mound, make him one of the better pitchers in the 2014 MLB draft and a safe pick if there is such a thing. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-dark-horse-candidates-chicago-cubs-first-pick/41075#UeYBipV5rOuYd7xE.99

Draft 14 – Grant Holmes, Joey Pankake, Jace Fry, Matt Chapman, Drew Rasmussen


2-3-14 – MaxPreps - Top 10 MLB Draft Prospects in high school - 7. Grant Holmes, Conway (S.C.) Holmes is seen as a pitcher with three potential big league pitches, including a fastball that approaches 96 mph, a heavy-dropping curveball and an above average changeup. Holmes is seen as one of the more polished high school pitchers in the draft. Look for him to go late in the first round. http://www.maxpreps.com/news/B41AzcsA90iOL5xwFL8T7Q/top-10-major-league-baseball-draft-high-school-prospects.htm

3-25-14 – TTF 10 college players on the rise — week 6  - Joey Pankake, 3B, South Carolina (53) - Pankake started off the season a bit slow but has really picked it up at the plate as of late. Over his last eight games, he is hitting 419/.500/.710 with three doubles, two home runs and four walks. Over 20 games this season, he is now hitting .307/.411/.480 with four doubles, three home runs and nine walks to just six strikeouts.  At 6’-1” and 200 pounds, he has an advanced approach at the plate, a canon arm and excellent bat speed. He showed developing power as a sophomore, hitting .311/.387/.496 over 62 games with 11 home runs while drawing 29 walks to just 29 strikeouts. His arm, footwork and power should allow him to stick at the hot corner. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-10-college-players-rise-week-6/42071#MDUXGtxd7YCtKt0X.99

3-9-14 – MLB Draft Insider - Jace Fry – LHP Oregon State – Fry pitched the fifth no hitter in Oregon State history, in the first game of a double header against Northern Illinois. Fry is a likely top five round pick, who has had some injury issues at OSU. He was only able to pitch seven innings last season, after a very good freshman year for Oregon State. Fry walked two hitters on the day and struck out ten in the course of the day. http://mlbdraftinsider.com/2014/03/the-rundown-march-8/#more-3872

2-27-14 – TTF - 10 college players on the rise - Matt Chapman, 3B, Cal State Fullerton (34) - The 6’-2”, 200 pound right-hander has found his groove at the plate recently. Over his last three games, he has gone 7-for-16 with two doubles, a home run and five RBI for the Titans. A gifted defender with a plus arm and the range to stick at the hot corner, scouts wanted to see more from his bat this year, including power. It’s only seven games, but a .344/.417/.531 slash line is a great sign. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-10-college-players-rise-2/41299#ldBBF8hRKzmaiy5H.99


P - Drew Rasmussen, RHP/3B, Sr., Mount Spokane (Wash.) - The big powerful righty has extra life on his fastball that typically works in the low 90s, allowing it to play up a bit firmer. He has a good delivery which allows him to locate the ball on both sides and backs it with a slider and changeup which both have good shape in the low 80s. http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=9561

Top 10 C in 2014 MLB Draft - Updated 4-26-14

     
1.       Alex Jackson – Rancho Bernardo (CA) HS –

         
9-4-13 – Mack’s Mock Draft v1.0 – 5 – Brewers – C Alex Jackson – Rando Bernardo (CA) HS – We can talk all day about what a great catcher Jackson is, but this a future corner outfielder in the making. He probably will rate out as an average outfielder, but he does have a ++ arm that will work well out there. But, you’re drafting this guy for his bat. Is one of the top projected power hitters of the draft.

1-27-14 – BP - Positional Preview: High School Catchers - Alex Jackson | C/OF | Rancho Bernardo (San Diego, CA) | Commit: Oregon  Height/Weight: 6-foot-2/210 pounds  B/T: R/R  Draft Day Age: 18y 5m  Jackson boasts one of the best blends of offensive and defensive upside in the draft class, with a chance to hit for average and power while providing solid defense behind the dish and a strong catch-and-throw game. The Oregon commit routinely impressed in batting practice throughout the summer showcase circuit, with big pull side power generated through a leveraged swing. In-game the load can get a little deep, with the swing length causing some issues with velocity, but the bat-to-ball ability and bat speed give hope that the Oregon commit will figure things out as he continues to log reps against quality arms. Behind the plate Jackson moves well side-to-side with and shows an ability to impact the game with his arm, clocking pops as low as 1.77 for me over the summer and routinely sitting in the 1.85 to 1.95 range with low, level lines on his throws. There’s work to be done, no doubt, but the San Diego prepster has the body and athleticism to grow into a solid receiver and defender. Should a team desire to shift him to a corner to expedite offensive development, he is athletic enough to handle right field and possesses more than enough arm. Jackson was a worthy recipient of the first annual Baseball Prospectus Prospect of the Year Award last August as an impressive athlete with a chance to grow into an impact bat at a premium defensive position. He currently profiles as a solid top half of the first round talent. http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=22662


2.       Kyle Schwarber – Indiana –

             (up from #3)

     
B/R – 11-21-13 - Kyle Schwarber, C/1B, Indiana - Possessing arguably the best raw power in the 2014 draft class, Kyle Schwarber is loaded with strength at 6’0”, 235 pounds—and it shows when he hits the ball. Furthermore, because he has a relative flat bat path and keeps the barrel in the zone for an extended period of time, he projects to hit for a decent average at the highest level. Even though he’s currently a catcher, Schwarber is adequate at best defensively, lacking the agility and athleticism needed to be a full-time regular in the majors. So while he’s likely ticketed for a career at first base, his potent bat has the potential to support the position change.  http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1860341-2014-mlb-mock-draft-early-first-round-projections-for-all-30-teams/page/10

     
3.       Max Pentacost – Kennesaw State –

                (down from #2)

      
9-4-13 – Mack’s Mock Draft v1.0 – 30 – C Max Pentacost – Kennesaw State – Players earn their summer stripes in different ways and Pentacost earned his at the Cape Cod Games. He dominated offensively and was also named the Perfect Game College Summer Player of the Year. You can’t do better than that.

2-5-14 - Max Pentecost, C, Kennesaw State - If scouts believe Pentecost can stick behind the plate, he has an outside chance to go this high with a strong junior season. His offensive potential alone makes him a first round pick. He picked up MVP honors at the Cape Cod League after hitting .346 over 35 games with six home runs, 29 RBI and five stolen bases. He also drew 16 walks to 22 strikeouts, showing off a solid approach at the plate. The 6’-2”, 195 pound right-hander is a very good athlete who has been clocked at 6.8 in the 60. Over 57 games as a sophomore, he hit .302/.374/.410 with 14 doubles, three home runs and drew 22 walks to 27 strikeouts. More of a line-drive hitter right now, many believe more power is going to come. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-dark-horse-candidates-chicago-cubs-first-pick/41075#UeYBipV5rOuYd7xE.99

   

4.  Chase Vallot

        (up from #5)

    
9-4-13 – Mack’s Mock Draft v1.0 – 22 – C Chase aellott – St. Thomas More (LA) HS – There’s a lot of good catching in this draft and Vellott is one of them. Has a strong arm capable of pop times in the 1.9-2.0 second range. Vallot is one of the youngest players in the class and will not turn 18 until the end of the minor league season next year

12-10-13 – TTF – Top 50 HS Players - 31. Chase Vallot, C/OF, St. Thomas More HS (LA) - One of the youngest players in the draft, the 6’-0”, 205-pound right-hander generates a ton of raw power due to his bat speed and strong wrists. His strong arm, size and footwork could allow him to stick at a premium position but many believe a move to a corner outfield position is likely. Another player I got to see at Wrigley, he hit a couple bombs out of the park with ease and showed a polished approach at the plate during the game. Committed to Mississippi State. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-top-50/40532#zz88YJZTOG8iEa1Z.99  



5.       Jakson Reetz – Norris (NE) HS –

               (down from #4)

1-27-14 – BP - Positional Preview: High School Catchers - Jakson Reetz | C/OF/RHP | Norris (Firth, NE) | Commit: Nebraska  Height/Weight: 6-foot-1/195 pounds  B/T: R/R  Draft Day Age: 18y 5m  Reetz is one of the better athletes in the draft class at the catcher position, and showed good growth in his game between June and October. The Nebraska commit is an instinctual player who has no trouble slowing the game down on both sides of the ball. Throughout the summer and fall Reetz showed a knack for squaring up pitches and effectively working the whole field. Perhaps most impressive was how strong he finished the long summer, with a monster August/September that included a standout performance for the gold medal USA Baseball 18U National Team, a loud Area Code Games, and MVP honors at the Perfect Game All-American Classic. He’ll enter the spring as the top draft prospect in the Cornhusker State. http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=22662






    6.  Grayson Greiner -

     
9-29-13 – XMLBScout – 6.)C, Grayson Greiner, South Carolina, 6'5 215, R/R, one of best catchers in collegiate baseball for 2014, throws well above ave with sub 2.0 pop times and presence to be a strong ML catcher for a long time, has enough bat speed and strength to hit 250 and drive in some runs from the 6-7 hole spot and hit 15-20 HR's on occasion, best suited as a defensive guy, a gamer with good hands and shifts well defensively to be solid ML catcher. Top 10 picks for 2014!!  http://xmlbscout.angelfire.com/
     

7.  Aramis Garcia - Florida International

 Prior to FIU: Attended Pines Charter High School in Pembroke Pines, Fla. where he was coached by Carlos Iglesias... Drafted in the 20th round of the 2011 MLB Amateur Draft by the St. Louis Cardinals... Garcia is a rarity; an athletic high school catching prospect with remarkably quick feet and fluid receiving skills... His home-to-second-base throwing times range from 1.85 to 1.95 seconds, already above major league average... 2011 Rawlings Florida Region Honorable Mention All-American... Finished his high school career a .414 hitter (106-for-256) with 15 home runs, 89 RBI and 79 runs scored... Hit .508 with seven home runs, 25 RBI and a 1.071 slugging percentage his senior year... As a senior, was named team MVP as well as All-County First-Team by the Miami Herald and the Sun-Sentinel... Also named All-Broward First-Team and All-District First-Team by BrowardHighSchoolBaseball.com in addition to being selected to numerous all-tar squads... Qualified for the Connie Mack World Series with the Florida Legends in the summers of 2010 and 2011... Was team MVP in 2011.         


8.  Garrett Boulware - Clemson

  
Catcher who emerged as one of the team's best hitters in 2013 after playing sparingly in 2012 ... a career .290 hitter with a .366 on-base percentage in 89 games (77 starts) over two seasons ... has 14 doubles, one triple, eight homers, 47 RBIs, 50 runs, 27 walks, nine hit-by-pitches, and four steals ... has committed only three errors and has a .993 fielding percentage ... showed his versatility as a freshman by playing most of his action in the outfield while serving as the team's third-string catcher in 2012 ... sidelined for the 2013 fall practice season due to a shoulder injury, but recovered in time for the 2014 season ... team co-captain for 2014  


9.     JJ Schwarz – Palm Beach Gardens (FL) HS –

         
11-19-13 - J.J. Schwarz (C) - High School: Palm Beach Gardens - I admit it. I took a look at this guy strictly because of his first initial and last name (J. Schwarz). However, upon further review, this 17-year-old University of Florida signee looks to have quite the potent bat with gap-to-gap power. Early reports from this summer’s East Coast Pro Showcase indicate that he has quite the arm as well–picking off two runners in a game. He was also a key performer on the Gold-medal winning 18-and-under Team USA squad at the World Cup. I am almost certain he will end up playing college ball at Florida instead of signing, but like I said, I just had to check out a guy with the same name as me. Here is a Baseball America video of Schwarz taking batting practice this summer. http://stlcupofjoe.com/2013/11/19/2014-mlb-draft-five-prospects-to-keep-an-eye-on-part-2/

 10.   Mark Zagunis – Virginia Tech –


5-28-13 - Mark Zagunis, C/OF, Virginia Tech - One of the more athletic catchers you will find, the 6’-1”, 200-pound right-hander stole 17 bases in 22 attempts as a freshman. He also hit .344 with 13 doubles, five home runs, 34 RBI with a slash line of .430/.513/.943 over 49 games, striking out just 25 times. He has started the year out hitting .415 (22-for-53) for the Hokies with five doubles, a home run, 14 RBI and six stolen bases. It remains to be seen if he will stick at catcher or end up in a corner outfield position. His bat and athleticism will find a way into a lineup at the next level. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft/29840#fm24otWuYCEocLQZ.99

Through The Fence - Mock 7.0



1. Houston Astros — Carlos Rodon, LHP, North Carolina State
2. Miami Marlins — Tyler Kolek, RHP, Shepherd HS (TX)
3. Chicago White Sox — Tyler Beede, RHP, Vanderbilt
4. Chicago Cubs — Brady Aiken, LHP, Cathedral Catholic HS (CA)
5. Minnesota Twins — Nick Gordon, SS, Olympia HS (FL)
6. Seattle Mariners — Jeff Hoffman, RHP, East Carolina
7. Philadelphia Phillies — Alex Jackson, C/OF, Rancho Bernardo HS (CA)
8. Colorado Rockies — Grant Holmes, RHP, Conway HS (SC)
9. Toronto Blue Jays — Trea Turner, SS, North Carolina State

10. New York Mets — Bradley Zimmer, OF, San Francisco

While he has cooled off just a bit as of late, Zimmer is still hitting .374/.458/.598 through 42 games with eight doubles, five triples, seven home runs and 19 stolen bases. He has 21 walks to 30 strikeouts, showing improvement in his approach. At 6’-5” and 200 pounds, the left-handed hitter is the best power/speed player in the 2014 MLB draft and, like his brother Kyle Zimmer, has a canon for an arm.

http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-mock-draft-7-0-first-round/42690 

B-Mets Rained Out Again



Wednesday morning’s game between the Binghamton Mets and Akron RubberDucks has been postponed due to inclement weather. It will be made up as part of a doubleheader at Canal Park on June 10th with first pitch of the opener set for 5:35 PM.

Wednesday’s rainout marks the seventh postponement of the season for the Binghamton Mets. They return to the Southern Tier after going 2-3 on their second road trip of the season.

The B-Mets (12-10) enjoy their second off day of the season on Thursday before opening a four-game series against the Portland Sea Dogs on Friday night at 7:05 PM at NYSEG Stadium. RHP Greg Peavey takes the ball for Binghamton against LHP Henry Owens. The Horizons Federal Credit Union Pregame Show begins at 6:50 PM on Newsradio 1290 WNBF.

Reese Kaplan - Mr. Alderson: Do Something!

One of the frustrations of Mets fans throughout the whole Sandy Alderson/Terry Collins era is their inertia when something needs to change.  If you thought it was bad when things were not going so  well, the inertia is likely going to be far worse now that the team is off to a surprisingly positive start. 

Exhibit one would be the lack of attention paid to the shortstop situation.  It was clear both during the season and during the off-season that Ruben Tejada was not the answer, yet the inertia took hold and nothing was done.  There were multiple external options via free agency, multiple options via trade and (lowest probability) internal development of your own players. 

Exhibit number two is the recently resolved 1st base situation.  It was crystal clear to everyone from the casual fan to the sportswriter to baseball professionals that it was an untenable situation to have two lefty sluggers who were relegated to platoon duty with the suddenly offensively impotent Josh Satin.  Was anything done to keep this circus from bleeding into the start of the season?  No.  In fact, it was only solved when a roster decision had to be made with Chris Young returning from the DL.  With his back against the wall, Alderson finally blinked. 

Exhibit number three is the construction of the bullpen.  While no one could anticipate the Tommy John surgery for him, it was clear that the neck situation was prolonging his return to normal baseball activities.  He also had Josh Edgin coming off an injury and Scott Rice coming off an injury.  Did Alderson find young, promising pitchers who could support what was arguably one of the weakest bullpens in baseball?  No, he did what he always does – tried the over-the-hill, lightning-in-a-bottle approach by picking relievers off the scrap heap that no other team deemed worthy of extending a contract.  Interestingly, he had the chance to pick up the surprisingly valuable LaTroy Hawkins during the off-season for very modest money but passed, only to pay for Jose Valverde later.  Valverde was coming off a downward trend in his career, unlike Hawkins who was coming off positive results when he was secured for just $1 million in 2013.  How is that $1.5 million delta between their salaries looking right now?  While I understand the buy low/sell high concept, when a player crosses a certain age it’s entirely possible the low is the result of burnout after many years of success. 

Speaking of which, the jury is still out on Kyle Farnsworth.  He started off impressively but in his last two appearances has given up runs.  His velocity is way down and already some people are calling for Daisuke Matsuzaka or Carlos Torres to take over as closer.   

Now comes the scary part…the team is doing well.  If they didn’t make changes when there was nowhere to go but up, what is the probability they will make proactive changes to improve the roster?  What have we seen in propelling the team towards a positive future?  Well, they added 40 year old one-dimensional pinch hitter Bobby Abreu to replace young one-dimensional pinch hitter Ike Davis.  They brought up K-machine Kirk Nieuwenhuis who has already whiffed 7 times in just 18 ABs.  They continue to play a leadoff batter who can’t get on base.  They refuse to put Lucas Duda (who leads the club with 4 HRs) in the cleanup slot.

Now in some cases, we have to accept what we have.  David Wright’s power will come around.  Curtis Granderson will continue to play due to the size of his paycheck.  Travis d’Arnaud is improving every day.  Daniel Murphy is solid. 

However, take a look at what the St. Louis Cardinals did today.  They had a player for whom they had higher expectations named Kolten Wong demoted to the minors as he was hitting in the .220s with just 5 RBIs.  That’s how a winning club does business.  They see a problem and they try to change things to improve. 

By the way, our shortstop is hitting a robust .197 with but 4 RBIs yet no one in the Mets’ collective brain trust seems to have a problem with it.   Granted, the in-house options are pretty slim but there were and are other avenues to pursue to address this deficiency. 

However, I’m not sure Mr. Alderson can be trusted.  When we feature the worst offense in all of baseball, he trades a hitter (who needed to go – no problem with that part) for a pitcher and a PTBNL who, even if he’s a star slugger in the making, won’t be able to help for the foreseeable future.  Did he not notice that the organization is rather deep in pitching…that pitching is why there is a winning record thus far, and that the only  hitter who thus far this year is not posting substandard (and often embarrassing) stats is the currently injured Juan Lagares? 


So the question I pose to you is if you were the GM, how would you go about addressing these issues to improve the team?

Morning Report - Apr 30



Coming Up Today:

      10 am - Reese Kaplan – Mr. Alderson, Do Something!

      12 noon – Through The Fence - Mock 7.0

       3 pm - Top 10 C in 2014 MLB Draft - Updated 4-26-14

      6 pm – Grant Holmes, Joey Pankake, Jace Fry, Matt Chapman, Drew Rasmussen

      8 pm - RHP - Aaron Nola - LSU


Well, I am back.

I had expected to be offline a little longer; however, things worked out that I only had as many off days as the Mets… one.


I had a chance to catch up a little on the situation out in Los Angeles regarding outfielders. I know we are currently redefining the definition of the 8th best team in baseball, but the Mets really do need to someday improve on the productivity of their outfield.
The Dodgers, on the other hand, are raining outfielders. We started this discussion around four months ago when we wondered how they were going to find playing time for their ‘four starters’ (Yasiel Puig (.265), Matt Kemp (.221), Andre Ethier (.211), and Carl Crawford (.206). We discussed this because we wanted to get our hands on top prospect Joc Peterson (.389), who is still currently stuck at the AAA level

Now, it’s even more complicated. Along comes, out of nowhere, 27-year old Scott Van Slyke (.281) who is 4th in team hitting. What the hell are the Dodgers going to do now with Peterson?

Look, this looks like a no-brainer. Sandy Alderson has one (or two) young pitchers from a list of many. One would think that Peterson would be a perfect target the Mets that could be orchestrated during the trading season this summer.

Obviously this would complicate the Mets outfield, but I really don’t care. I know the Mets are going to keep playing Curtis Granderson for the length of his contract. Past that, the Mets need a potential all-star. Peterson offers that and current Mets outfielders can either be sold off (both Youngs) or cast aside.


Every draft season has one kid that climbs the mock drafts at the last minute (or, in our case, April). This season’s meteor is Stone Bridge HS (VA) RHP Jacob Bakauskas. I never heard bupkis about Bakauskas until someone wrote that he was routinely ‘hitting 100 with good secondary stuff’. That usually is enough to get you on the Day One draft board and, right now, he’s projected to be at least a comp 1st round pick. Not bad for a kid that just seems to have found the zone.


Bob Sugar asked -

Is Matt Reynolds SS for Bingo a real prospect for us? I know he was a high draft pick but he fell off the radar. Looks like he is putting it together in AA

      Mack – No he is not, but don’t tell him that.

He actually was a 2nd round draft pick and was given a hefty $525K to sign and join the Mets in 2012 in Savannah (.259). He had a particularly bad season last year for St. Lucie (433-AB, .226, 20-E on SS) which didn’t project him well for New York State; however, he’s currently 2nd in the league in hitting (.389). 

Look, he didn’t that well in college at Arkansas (2010: .203, 2011: .243, 2012: .323) unless you consider being a late bloomer warranting a 2nd round pick.

He’s made four errors in 20 games Leads team) which is pretty normal for a middle infielder.

I’d just let him play at this level for the remainder of the year to see if he can sustain this kind of batting average at the AA-level.


I don’t see him taking over in Queens someday, but I’ve been wrong before.



Look, I'm not sure what's going on right now. There are seven guys in the lineup hitting between .130 and .230 and this is supposed to be one of the top team in baseball.

We said it in 2011 under 2014 avatars... pitching, pitching, and more pitching. And, the best one's are still on the farm.

We'll talk more around noon after another surgery this morning.

Akron 3 - Binghamton 2



The Binghamton Mets surrendered three unanswered runs and mustered just two after the third inning in a 4-3 loss of the Akron RubberDucks on Tuesday night at Canal Park. The B-Mets failed to score over the final seven innings in their second straight loss.

Binghamton wasted no time getting on the board in the first inning. Kyle Johnson started the ballgame by getting hit by Kyle Davies’ 1-2 pitch. Johnson moved into scoring position when Dustin Lawley walked. Matt Clark brought him home with the game’s first run by lining a single into right.

Tyler Naquin used his speed to tie the game in the first. Akron’s leadoff hitter laced a single up the middle, stole second, moved to third on a wild pitch, and crossed home on a groundout by Francisco Lindor.

The game didn’t remain tied for long. In the top of the second with Xorge Carrillo on second, Wilfredo Tovar launched a 2-0 pitch over the left-field wall for his first home run of the season. Tovar collected four round-trippers as a B-Met last year.

Robles made the lead stand through four innings. The righty posted a perfect second, used a double play to erase a leadoff single in the third and used another twin-killing to nullify an Akron rally in the fourth.

Davies fought through three more shutout innings after allowing Tovar’s homer. The Georgian exited after five innings, his shortest outing as a RubberDuck. He was tagged for three runs on seven hits and struck out one.
Robles’ run came to an end in the sixth. Naquin worked an eight-pitch at-bat before ripping a leadoff double to center. Two batters later, Giovanny Urshela lifted an 0-2 pitch over the left-field fence, tying the game at three. Akron chased the B-Mets starter from the game with back-to-back two out singles. Jack Leathersich took over and struck out Tony Wolters to end the threat.
Akron grabbed their first lead of the game in the seventh. Justin Toole flared a one-out single to right and moved into scoring position on Naquin’s bunt groundout. With two outs, Lindor poked a single into right field. As Toole rounded third, Cory Vaughn bobbled the roller, allowing the go-ahead run to score standing up.

Jordan Cooper took over from Davies and put the B-Mets down in order in the sixth and seventh. Given a one-run lead, he walked Matt Reynolds to start the eighth. Reynolds advanced to third with two outs, but was left stranded when Cory Vaughn struck out. Tyler Sturdevant worked around a two-out single to put up a shutout ninth inning, securing his second save of the season.
Cooper (2-0) tossed three hit-less innings of relief to collect his second win of the season. Leathersich (1-1) surrendered the go-ahead run in the seventh in the loss. Robles allowed three runs on eight hits over 5-2/3 innings in the no-decision.

The B-Mets (12-10) conclude their three-game visit to Akron with a Wednesday morning game. RHP Greg Peavey takes the mound against RHP Gabriel Arias with first pitch set for 10:35 AM. The Horizons Federal Credit Union Pregame Show begins at 6:20 PM on ESPN 1360 WYOS.

POST-GAME NOTES: Tovar’s home run was his first since he hit two against the Altoona Curve on August 7, 2013…Xorge Carrillo has hit safely in his first eight games of the season…Binghamton has not scored a run after the fourth inning since the opening game of their doubleheader against the Erie SeaWolves on April 26...Matt Reynolds' 14-game hitting came to an end with an 0-for-3 game tonight - team press release

Savannah Sand Gnats 4,Delmarva Shorebirds 0


Game one of the three game series between the Savannah Sand Gnats and the Delmarva Shorebirds was played in front of 1,361 fans Tuesday evening at Grayson Stadium. Delmarva out hit Savannah 6-3, but Savannah won 4-0.
Savannah starter, Kevin McGowan, was brilliant, shuting out Delmarva for 6 2/3 innings, allowed only 3 hits and struck out 7 improving his record to 1-1 with the win.
In the first inning, Savannah scored their first run without a hit. The first two batters walked and the bases were loaded when a batter got hit by a pitch. A walk to Stefan Sabol,lf scored a run.
Savannah rallied to score three runs in the 6th inning. L. J. Mazzilli,2b led off the inning with a single and scored on a triple by Jared King,rf. A wild pitch allowed King to score. A sacrifice fly by catcher, Colton Plaia scored a run.
Savannah pitching:   IP.    Runs.   Hits.   K.  BB
Kevin McGowan.    6 2/3.     0.       3.      7.   2
Robert Coles.           2 1/3.     0.       3.      1.   0
Game two of the series starts at 7:05 pm Wednesday, at Grayson Stadium.



Charlotte 11 - St. Lucie 2



The Charlotte Stone Crabs jumped out to an early lead and never looked back, defeating the St. Lucie Mets 11-2 on Tuesday at Tradition Field.

Thomas Coyle hit a home run as the second batter of the game, and Josh Sale went 3 for 5 with a two-run homer and a triple for the Stone Crabs.

Gabriel Ynoa was roughed up for seven runs, all earned, on nine hits in 4 2/3 innings for the Mets.

The Stone Crabs scored a run in every inning except the third and seventh. It was only 3-0 with two outs in the fourth, but Ynoa could not finish off the Crabs. Justin O’Conner belted a two-run double and Sale followed with his home run to make it 7-0.

The Mets got a run back in the fifth when Aderlin Rodriguez hit his fourth homer in six games on the first pitch he saw from Crabs starter Austin Pruitt.

Other than allowing the Rodriguez home run, Pruitt was terrific for the Crabs. Without, hitting 90 mph on the radar gun, Pruitt was able to navigate his way through the best hitting lineup in the Florida State League. He gave up just three hits in six innings. He walked three and struck out three.

Charlotte got another two-out, two-run base hit in the eighth inning by Patrick Leonard to make it 10-1. The Crabs added four hits and one run in the ninth inning against Ryan Fraser to finish the scoring at 11-2.

Charlotte had 17 hits in the game.

Dilson Herrera went 2 for 5 and was the only Mets player with a multi hit game.

FSL batting average leaders Brandon Nimmo and T.J. Rivera were held hitless. Nimmo worked a walk. - team press release

Mets Minor League Report: April 29, 2014




MMLR Player of the Day: Savannah RHSP Kevin McGowan


Reno (14-12) tops Las Vegas (18-8) 7-5.
Rafael Montero was coasting, not giving up a hit in the first 3 innings, when he was ambushed in the 4th: 4.0 IP, 5 R, 3 ER, 3 H, 4 BB, 3 K.
Buddy Carlyle didn‘t fare any better in the 5th: 1.0 IP, 2 R, 1 ER, 3 H, K.
Joel Carreno righted the ship, possibly too late: 2.0 IP, 0 R, H, 0 BB, 3 K.
Erik Goeddel: 1.0 IP, 0 R, H.
Jeff Walters: 1.0 IP, BB, K.

Juan Lagares, rehabbing: 1-1, 2B.
Wilmer Flores continues hot: 2-5, 2B, 2 RBI.
Eric Campbell: 2-4, RBI, R.

 

Akron (14-11) edges Binghamton (12-10) 4-3.
Hansel Robles: 5.2 IP, 3 R, 8 H, (HR) BB, 2 K.
Jack Leathersich: (L, 1-1) 1.0 IP, R, 2 H, 0 BB, 2 K.
John Church: 1.1 IP, H, K.

Matt Clark: 2-4, RBI.
Xorge Carrillo: 2-4, R.
Wilfredo Tovar: 1-4, HR, 2 RBI, R.

 

Charlotte (11-14) drubs St. Lucie (14-11) 11-2.
Not a good night at all for Gabriel Ynoa: (L, 2-2) 4.2 IP, 7 R, 9 H, (2 HR) 3 BB, 3 K. Could A+ St. Lucie be too advanced for the soon to be 21 yr. old Ynoa?
Seth Lugo wasn‘t at his best either: 3.1 IP, 3 R, 4 H, BB, 5 K.
Ryan Fraser pitched an inning, gave a run: 1.0 IP, R, 4 H.

Dilson Herrera: 2-5, R.
Aderlin Rodriguez: 1-4, HR, RBI, R.

 

Savannah (15-8) stifles Delmarva (12-12) 4-0.
Kevin McGowan, (W, 1-1) in rare form, pitched a gem: 6.2 IP, 0 R, 3 H, 2 BB, 7 K.
Robert Coles, was equally solid in relief: 2.1 IP, 0 R, 3 H, 0 BB, K. After posting a 1.83 ERA in 19.2 innings of relief at Kingsport last year, the 22 yr. old Coles has not allowed a run in 10.2 innings with Savannah this year.

Gavin Cecchini: 1-3, BB, R.
L.J. Mazzilli: 1-4, R.
Jared King: 1-3, 3B, RBI, R.




4/29/14

April 29th 2014 -- Mets 6, Phillies 1

Tuesday night in rainy Philadelphia, Jonathon Niese out dueled fellow south paw Cole Hamels as the Mets beat the Phillies 6-1. The start of the game was delayed by a one hour and twenty-eight minute rain delay. It was worth the wait.  Daniel Murphy extended his hitting streak to 10 straight going 3 for 5. He put the Mets ahead to stay in the top of the 2nd when his RBI single to right brought home Ruben Tejada to make in 1-0. In the 3rd the Mets scored twice, Josh Satin hit an RBI single up the middle to make it 2-0 and then with the bases loaded, Niese drew a walk scoring Curtis Granderson with the 3rd run.  Former Met Marlon Byrd got the Phils on the board in the bottom of the 4th with a solo homer (4) off Niese.  In the 5th Chris Young drove in Murphy with an opposite field single to make it 4-1. Ruben Tejada then knocked Hamels out of the game with a 2 run single to make it 6-1 Mets. On the mound Niese had his best outing of the year going 7, allowing 4 hits, the one run, he walked 1 and struck out 5.  Niese gets the win improving to 2-2 on the year. Hamels took the loss falling to 0-2. Daisuke Matsuzaka pitched  a scoreless 8th, Jose Valverde pitched the 9th and allowed a double to Ryan Howard, who was stranded on 2nd to close it out. The Mets continue to be road warriors. They start this 9 game road trip with a win and are now 7-3 on the road overall. On the season they are a season high 4 games over .500 standing at 15-11. Wednesday night, if the weather holds, it’s game two of the series. Bartolo Colon (2-3 4.50) coming off his best outing of the year goes for the Mets. Kyle Kendrick (0-2 3.52) goes for Philly.

A Quick Look - RHP - Dylan Cease - Milton (GA) HS


      Dylan Cease

6-11-13 - 10. Dylan Cease, RHP, Milton HS, Ga.: This year's Draft was partly about the outfielders in Georgia. Cease will make 2014 about pitching, as the right-hander has a loose, electric arm that touched 97 mph this past spring to go along with a good breaking ball and a feel for a changeup. http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130611&content_id=50293726&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb&tcid=tw_article_50293726  

6-30-13 - Jheremy Brown ‏@JBrownPG  - 2014 RHP Dylan Cease (Milton, GA) warming up at 92/93 on field 2 at East Cobb

7-2-13 - 10. Dylan Cease- RHP, Milton (GA) HS -  6’2, 180 RHP who ran it up to 97 at the National Showcase http://www.ninebaseball.org/Wordpress/jeff-sullivans-top-100-2014-prospects/ 

7-5-13 - Dylan Cease, RHP, Milton HS (GA) - A 6’-2”, 190-pound right-hander with an extremely live arm, Cease hit 97 mph at the Perfect Game Nationals and showed the makings of a plus curveball. He adds a solid change-up and he has a clean, easy delivery. Like many others on this list, he is a very good athlete and two-way player. He had a 1.05 ERA and 98 K/35 BB over 68.1 innings as a junior. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/prep-arms-chicago-cubs/34856#Vp7zJ4JvRevfV1fR.99  

7-25-13 – Top 30 High School Prospects For 2014 Draft - 4. Dylan Cease, RHP, Milton HS (GA) - 6'2/180, Draft Day Age: 18.44, No college commitment, Full Report & Video - Quick Take: Cease isn't that big but will sit 93-95 and hit 97 mph with a well-synced delivery, mix in a mid-70's curveball that's plus at times along with a changeup that's at least average. http://sbb.scout.com/2/1310090.html  

8-2-13 - Jeff Sullivan ‏@JSully12  - Dylan Cease - RHP, Milton (GA) HS sitting 95-96 in the 1st inning. 2 K pic.twitter.com/fMGNd718O0  

8-6-13 - Top pitchers - East Coast Professional Showcase, Syracuse, NY - 1. Dylan Cease, RHP, Milton HS (Ga.): In his first inning of work, Cease threw a steady diet of 95- and 96-mph fastballs in a very effective inning. His velocity dropped in his second and third innings, not typically an issue, and he did have trouble commanding his breaking ball a bit. Still, Cease had as big of an arm as anyone at the event. http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130806&content_id=56048786&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb  

2013 East Coast Pro Showcase Top 50 Prospects    - 2. Dylan Cease – RHP, Milton (GA) HS - Tough choice for 1 and 2, as Cease sat 95-96 in his first inning. His curve ball is a pitch in the works, which is why he is at 2. http://www.ninebaseball.org/Wordpress/sullys-top-50-ecp-prospects/ 

8-14-13 – Through The Fence – Top 50 Prospects – 19. Dylan Cease, RHP, Milton HS (GA) - With a fastball that sits in the 93-96 mph range, the 6’-2” right-hander is another hard throwing prepster in a class deep on them. He adds an above-average curveball and is a very athletic player who also shines on the offensive end. The mound is where he dominates, however, and he still has projection left. Plus, he plays in Georgia where they grow elite players on a farm somewhere. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-top-50-prospects/36463#mwWwsFxSUZy7YC5V.99

8-15-13 - Under Armour All-Star Game – Dylan Cease, RHP:  Per Baseball America, Cease is the 3rd pitcher on this list capable of hitting 96 mph, though he sits 92-93.  He has the type of athleticism the Cubs prefer in a pitcher.  He's loose and projectable with a clean, low effort delivery.  Like Touissant, he's a bit raw -- perhaps even more so as Cease has similar issues with command but his breaking stuff isn't quite as advanced.  His change, like that of most high schoolers, is still developing.  What you get with Cease is a great starter kit for a pitcher.  All the parts you need are there for him to become a front line pitcher. http://www.chicagonow.com/cubs-den/2013/08/2014-mlb-draft-ua-game-roster-and-preview-plus-more-tickets-and-meet-up-information/ 

8-27-13 - Dylan Cease, a right-hander from Milton High in Georgia, has impressed scouts all summer with his mid-90s fastball and his feel for the changeup and curveball. He said he will spend his offseason preparing for spring, when he and the rest of the high school seniors will make their final impressions before the Draft. "I had a pretty good summer," he said. "During the offseason I'll focus on putting on weight, getting stronger and improving my control."  http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130827&content_id=58571204&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb&tcid=tw_article_58571204

  9-4-13 – Mack’s Mock Draft v1.0 – 10 – Seattle – RHP  Dylan Cease – Milton (GA) HS – The second of four very talented high school righties that will go high in the first round.  Cease doesn’t throw as hard as the other two (92-95, 97), but he does project by most scouts to wind up being the most successful. Most of his other pitchers are still a work in progress.

9-11-13 - Sully’s 2014 Top 100 MLB HS Draft Prospects – 11.Dylan Cease – RHP, Milton (GA) HS http://www.ninebaseball.org/Wordpress/sullys-2014-top-100-mlb-hs-draft-prospects/

9-18-13 - CB Daily ‏@CB_Daily  - Good get "MT @johnmwhittle: #Vandy picks up HUGE baseball commitment from RHP Dylan Cease @NewDylancease7" One of the top in 2014 HS Class.

9-30-13 – TTF Mock 2.0 - 21. Cincinnati Reds — Dylan Cease, RHP, Milton HS (GA)  With a fastball that sits in the 93-96 mph range, the 6’-2” right-hander is another hard throwing prepster in a class deep on them. He adds an above-average curveball and is a very athletic player who also shines on the offensive end. The mound is where he dominates, however, and he still has projection left. Plus, he plays in Georgia where they grow elite players on a farm somewhere. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-mock-draft-2-0-draft-order-set/38280#5E3F5j1jWOgE69bJ.99

10-15-13 – Baseball America - 35. Dylan Cease, rhp, Milton (Ga.) HS: Athletic pitcher who produces easy velocity, with a fastball up to 97 mph; inconsistent breaking ball and command are knocks. http://www.baseballamerica.com/college/2014-draft-top-50-october-2013-carlos-rodon/

11-21-13 – BA Top 100 High School Players - 28 Dylan Cease RHP R/R 6-1 175 Milton (Ga.) HS Vanderbilt http://www.baseballamerica.com/college/2014-high-school-top-100-with-commitments/

   11-27-13 – Big League Futures Top 25 Poll –  18 Dylan Cease    RHP Milton (GA) http://bigleaguefutures.net/1/2013/11/26/mlb-draft-top-25-prospects-poll/

B/R – 11-21-13 - 19. Kansas City Royals: Dylan Cease, RHP, Milton HS (Ga.) - At 6’2”, 180 pounds, Dylan Cease doesn’t have a monster frame like Kolek, but demonstrates similar body control and balance throughout his delivery. The right-hander also boasts a big arm that pumps heavy, sinking fastballs consistently in the 92-95 mph range, topping out around 96-97 mph early in games. Cease has also opened eyes with a slurvey breaking ball in the low-70s featuring with impressive tilt and two-plane break.  http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1860341-2014-mlb-mock-draft-early-first-round-projections-for-all-30-teams/page/10

12-10-13 – TTF – Top 50 HS Players - 12. Dylan Cease, RHP, Milton HS (GA) - With a fastball that sits in the 93-96 mph range, the 6’-2” right-hander is another hard-throwing prepster in a class deep on them. His secondary stuff is still developing, but with his athleticism and loose delivery, they should come along quickly. He was one of the best arms over the summer. Committed to Vanderbilt. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-top-50/40532#zz88YJZTOG8iEa1Z.99

12-9-13 – Pine Tar Press  -  22- RHP Dylan Cease Milton HS (Vanderbilt Commit) He is the second hardest throwing arm in his HS class. Unlike the first (Tyler Kolek) he doesn’t have the big body one traditionally thinks of as having that much power. But, the 6’2 175 pounder has plenty of arm speed and a loose, easy arm that explodes towards the plate. He is one of several big time commits for Vanderbilt and they usually do not lose players to the MLB draft. He threw 94-96 at PG National with a change at 81 and hard slider at 77. ( Moves out of first round-signability, Red Sox selection) http://pinetarpress.com/early-look-2014-mlb-draft/

1-3-14 – TTF Baseball - 31. Atlanta Braves (Brian McCann) — Dylan Cease, RHP, Milton HS (GA) - With a fastball that sits in the 93-96 mph range, the 6’-2” right-hander is another hard-throwing prepster in a class deep on them. His secondary stuff is still developing, but with his athleticism and loose delivery, they should come along quickly. He was one of the best arms over the summer. Committed to Vanderbilt. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-2/40753#ppGUqI6CbWFvzsPf.99