From The Desk – Andrew Vaughn, T.J. Rivera, Top 11-15, Hunter Barco, Matt Wallner

Good morning.

Andrew Vaughn   is MLB Pipeline’s 3rd best 2019 MLB Draft prospect

          

  Scouting grades: Hit: 60 | Power: 60 | Run: 30 | Arm: 50 | Field: 50 | Overall: 60

Relatively unheralded out of high school, Vaughn put himself on the map as a freshman by tying for the Cal lead in home runs and winning PAC-12 Freshman of the Year honors. He made that season look pedestrian by hitting .402 with 23 home runs in 2018 and became one of the few underclassmen to win the Golden Spikes Award.

The argument can be made that Vaughn is the best all-around hitter in this Draft class. He has a very advanced approach at the plate, one that has allowed him to walk much more than he has struck out over his first two years at Cal, with a knack for barreling up the baseball. He doesn’t sacrifice power as a result, showing the ability to hit the ball out to all fields, profiling as a true middle-of-the-order run producer in the future. He’s a first baseman only, but should be fine there, with decent hands and a solid arm that allowed him to pitch as a freshman.

Mack – Sounds like a first baseman we drafted in the 2^nd round a few years ago.

Where in the World is T.J. Rivera? -

          

    During the 2017 season, Rivera continued to show that he is a capable Major League hitter. The utilityman hit five home runs, drove in 27 RBIs and slashed .290/.330/.430.

The righty seemed ready to be a significant piece of the 2018 Mets, until his ulnar collateral ligament decided otherwise.

T.J. Rivera underwent Tommy-John surgery late in the 2017 season and has yet to return to a big league field. Rivera was initially slated to return in May but later saw his rehab pushed back to July.

Mack – Strangely, you aren’t going to find any definitive answer in this article. so I have no idea why it was written.

Word I have received is he is far from ready and we need to find an alternative as a UT-IFer come opening day.

                      

Perfect Game  Top 10-15 Draft Prospects –

                 

      10        Tyler Callihan   

6-1  200  L/R  3B       Neptune Beach, FL   South Carolina          Providence    Elite Squad           

Houston Astros Scout Team/Elite Squad

Showed big power in his bat this summer with 400+ foot HRs

11        Matthew Allan

6-3  210  R/R  RHP     Sanford, FL    Florida            Seminole       Canes 17U National 

Canes National 17U

Up to 95 mph and very good at PGNational. Dominant at PG All American Classic

12        Quinn Priester

6-3  190  R/R  RHP     Cary, IL           TCU    Cary-Grove Community       Blackhawks National         

Blackhawks National

Up to 93 mph at PG National with a lot of life with an outstanding breaking ball

13        Judson Fabian

6-1  190  R/L  OF       Ocala, FL        Florida            Trinity Catholic         Orlando Scorpions    

 

Padres Scout Team (Scorpions/Team GA)

Can flat out mash. Bat stood out at PG National and WWBA. Lots of HRs in PG Tournaments

14        JJ Goss

6-3  185  R/R  RHP     Cypress, TX   Texas A&M    Cypress Ranch          Hunter Pence Baseball - Danielson

Hunter Pence Baseball - Danielson

Showed big time stuff at 17u WWBA Playoffs up to 96 mph. Up to 94 mph at PG National and very good at PG All Americal Classic.

15        Jack Leiter

6-1  195  R/R  Summit, NJ    Vanderbilt      Delbarton       Tri State Arsenal      

Tri-State Arsenal 17U National

Very good at Area Codes and PG All American Classic. Up to 94 mph at PG National. Lows 90s RHP who showed outstanding pitchability at PG Underclass AA Games

Hunter Barco  –

                

      

                   Hunter Barco, LHP, The Bolles School (Jacksonville, Fla.): Barco is starting to look like a bit of a polarizing prospect, as some weren't in love with his arm slot, which seemed to lower as the summer progressed. But he was still up to 93 mph and throwing his breaking ball for strikes at the end of the showcase circuit.

Matt Wallner  –

                  

     

                    Matt Wallner, OF, Southern Miss: Wallner had a brief stint with Team USA, hitting just .154 over four games. He continued his summer on the Cape and hit four homers while driving in 11 over 23 regular-season games before going 5-for-15 in the playoffs. He didn't pitch this summer, but he closes for Southern Miss with a fastball that touches the upper-90s.