Bobby Bradley, Aaron Nola, Luke Weaver, David Peterson, Max Pentecost , Sean Newcomb

                                                                              

5-11-14  -  Bobby Bradley, 1B/OF, Harrison Central HS (MS) - Bradley hasn’t gotten a lot to swing at this season. When he has, however, he has taken advantage of it, displaying the huge power potential from his 6’-2”, 225 pound frame. Over 22 games, he has drawn 29 walks to eight strikeouts and has hit six home runs. He is hitting .340/.598/.880. He has a patient approach and his quick wrists allow him to wait on his pitch and drive it to all fields. He is attempting to play behind the plate this season but most feel he is likely a first baseman at the next level where the pressure will be on his bat. Not much physical projection left but has upside as a left-handed power hitter. Committed to LSU. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-high-school-players-rise-final-edition/42853#cZ17mE5vsjiSvU18.99

3-20-14 – Cubs Insider - • Aaron Nola, Louisiana State University right-hander: Probably a reach at No. 4, but last week a high-ranking team official traveled to Nashville, Tenn., to watch his Friday night matchup against Beede in the Southeastern Conference. http://www.csnchicago.com/cubs/mlb-draft-cubs-identifying-targets-no-4-overall-pick

3-29-14 - Luke Weaver — RHP Florida State — If I had to guess one place that wasn’t raining this weekend, Rhode Island would not be one of them but here we have Florida State and Boston College playing a gosh darned full baseball game in Kingston, Rhode Island. Pitching in said game was one Luke Weaver, who hurled a one-hit, complete game shutout against the Eagles. Weaver struck out just four and walked two but was incredibly efficient, needing just 105 pitches to complete his shutout. Unlike Carlos Rodon, Weaver has been one college arm who is steadily rising up draft boards with consistently great outings each week. http://mlbdraftinsider.com/2014/03/the-rundown-march-28/

3-18-14 – Jonathan Mayo - 3-18-14 – Jonathan Mayo - Colorado high school lefty David Peterson is hoping to be back on the mound at some point pre-Draft. The nearly 6-foot-7 southpaw from Regis High School suffered a broken fibula in his right leg and had surgery to put in a stainless-steel plate and nine screws two weeks ago. Peterson is currently in a boot and is only restricted by what he can tolerate, pain-wise. He's hoping to possibly pitch in the postseason at the end of the spring, though getting healthy will be his first order of business. http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20140318&content_id=69552214&notebook_id=69553420&vkey=notebook_mlb&c_id=mlb

codball ‏@codball  -  Kennesaw State's Max Pentecost is picking up where he left off after @Official_CCBL MVP season: .330 avg., 18 RBI, .403 OBP and a .894 OPS.

3-24-14 - While some of the top college pitchers struggled Friday night, one shone on Saturday. Hartford began its weekend series against Binghamton with a Saturday doubleheader, pushing ace Sean Newcomb's start back a day. Newcomb, ranked No. 17 on MLB.com's top 50 Draft prospects, pitched well in a 3-0 victory. In eight scoreless innings, he struck out seven batters and allowed four hits and three walks. Five starts into the season, he has yet to give up an earned run, and he has 38 strikeouts in 32 2/3 innings. Pitching at Hartford in the America East Conference, Newcomb doesn't face the same level of competition as some of the other top college pitchers. Regardless of his opponents, the big left-hander's stuff stacks up well with anyone in the country. He throws his fastball in the low- to mid-90s, and he mixes in a biting slider, curveball and changeup. All of his pitches have a chance to be average or better. http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20140324&content_id=70012354&notebook_id=70012456&vkey=notebook_mlb&c_id=mlb

Alex Destino, Derek Hill, Chase Vallot, Tyler Kolek, Aaron Nola, Greg Deichmann

5-11-14  -  Alex Destino, LHP, OF, North Buncombe HS (NC) - Maybe the best two-way player this year, Destino has done it all for the Blackhawks. On the mound, he has 94 K/31 BB over 58.1 innings, allowing 11 runs on 29 hits. At the plate, he is hitting .560/.623/1.179 over 24 games with 13 doubles, 13 home runs and just four strikeouts. At 6’-3” and 220 pounds, the left-hander has equal upside as both a pitcher and hitter. He is also a very good athlete which bodes well for projection. His fastball can touch 93 mph and he adds a mid-70s slider and low-80s change-up. With full-time focus on pitching, he should add velocity and he has great arm speed. Committed to South Carolina. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-high-school-players-rise-final-edition/42853#cZ17mE5vsjiSvU18.99

5-18-14  -  Derek Hill  -  One of my favorite players coming into the season, Hill has been rocketing up draft boards all spring and some have him going in the top 25 picks. The 6’-0”, 185 pound right-hander has plus speed (6.33/60), a strong, accurate arm, and is an extremely gifted route runner who should be an elite defender at the next level. Offensively, he has an advanced approach at the plate and his bat speed allows him to spray the ball to all fields. He doesn’t have much home run power, but his speed should make him a headache on the base paths. Through 25 games, he is hitting .500/.585/.774 with nine doubles, seven triples and 18 stolen bases. Committed to Oregon.
 http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-five-high-school-players/42931#BrqM3BlCZROcRBlE.99
3-26-14 – TTF – 10 high school players on the rise — third edition – Chase Vallot, C/OF, St. Thomas More HS (LA) - I don’t think anyone in the country is mashing the ball quite like Vallot is this season. Over 18 games, he is hitting .583/.672/1.270 (1.943 OPS) with 10 doubles, a triple, seven home runs and 36 RBI. He has also drawn 17 walks and I’m not really sure why he wouldn’t get a free pass every time going forward. 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 some believe a move to a corner outfield position is likely where the power would play well. 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-10-high-school-players-rise-third-edition/42098#CmrUPUJfBWKiV2MO.99

3-18-14 - This past summer, Baseball America dubbed Tyler Kolek the next great big-bodied, right-handed pitching prospect from Texas – following the footsteps of guys like Roger Clemens, Kerry Wood and Josh Beckett – and the Shepherd High senior is certainly living up to that billing on the mound this season. Three weeks into the Texas prep baseball season, Kolek has yet to allow a hit, according to MaxPreps. The 6-foot-5, 250-pounder has recorded 35 strikeouts against just one walk over 15 innings in his first three appearances for the Pirates. He's earned two of Shepherd's four wins in the team's first 13 games. http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/highschool-prep-rally/top-rated-pitching-prospect-tyler-kolek-has-yet-to-allow-a-hit-as-a-high-school-senior-170058989.html;_ylt=A0SO8zAMdihTKVQAt25XNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTB0cDAxNDRiBHNlYwNzYwRjb2xvA2dxMQR2dGlkA1ZJUDI5M18x

3-16-14 – Cubs Den – Aaron Nola is 4-0 with a 0.27 ERA this season in 33.2 innings.  He has walked just 4 batters and struck out 48.  But the question with Nola isn't his skill or even his stuff, which is plenty good enough to be at least a mid-rotation guy.  It's more about a low arm angle that scouts believe will make him susceptible to more advanced LH hitters. http://www.chicagonow.com/cubs-den/2014/03/mlb-draft-update-arms-ahead-of-bats-early-on-but-questions-remain-at-the-top/

 3-17-14 – TTF – 10 High School Players On The Rise – Greg Deichmann, SS/3B, Brother Martin HS (LA) - Left-handed hitting power shortstops are a nice commodity, and the 6’-2”, 190 pound Deichmann has a chance to stick at short due to his strong arm, speed and instincts in the field. He has excellent bat speed and can put on displays in the cage during batting practice. Even if he ends up at third, the power and arm will play well. Over 12 games, he is hitting .429/.565/1.086 with three doubles, a triple, six home runs and 10 stolen bases, showing off his speed (6.62/60) and athleticism. Committed to LSU. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-10-high-school-players-rise-second-edition/41810#OfV5L7GbWgi2Xqtf.99

Jacob Bukauskas, Touki Toussaint, Alex Verdugo, Max Pentecost, Aaron Nola, Michael Gettys

Jacob Bukauskas, RHP, Stone Bridge HS (VA) - Bukauskas has said he will forgo the 2014 MLB draft and honor his commitment to North Carolina. That is a huge coup for the Tar Heels as the 6’-1” right-hander can touch triple-digits with his fastball, and he adds a deceptive change-up with nice fade and a slider. Over 43.1 shutout innings this year, he has 98 K/5 BB, allowing just 11 hits. Will be a big name in the 2017 MLB draft.  http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-high-school-players-rise-final-edition/42853#cZ17mE5vsjiSvU18.99

3-6-14 – Prospect Insider - The high school season is now underway in most states, but it is really rolling in the South East. There are a lot of talented prep arms in the state of Florida making noise right now. Touki Toussaint possesses perhaps the best stuff of any pitcher in the high school ranks, but he doesn’t always know where the ball is going when he throws it. His electric fastball and silky curve give him two swing and miss pitches and the reports on the Haitian native’s control have been very encouraging so far. He’s doing a better job of repeating his delivery and he appears to have better command of his breaking ball. http://prospectinsider.com/category/2014-mlb-draft

3-26-14 – MaxiPreps – Alex Verdugo, Sahuaro (Tucson, Ariz.) - Another top two-way performer, Verdugo has been outstanding at the plate, batting .690 (20 for 29) with 16 runs, 19 RBIs, nine doubles, two triples and two home runs. In a 17-7 win over Cholla, Verdugo was 3-for-3 with a double and two home runs and seven RBIs. On the mound, Verdugo is 1-1 with 16 strikeouts and a 0.00 ERA in 11 innings pitched. http://www.maxpreps.com/news/kRbRSgP8z06XdyYf0_JnPg/tyler-kolek,-michael-gettys,-brady-aiken-among-senior-baseball-prospects-off-to-strong-starts.htm

3-9-14 – MLB Draft Insider - Max Pentecost- C Kennessaw State. – Pentecost played in a double header today and saw his mini-slump continue. He was zero for four with two strikeouts in game one while playing DH in a game that his team lost to Columbia. In game two Pentecost played catcher and was one for five with a walk, a run, a strikeout, and a stolen base. Kennesaw State exploded for 15 runs, but Pentecost still struggled a bit at the plate. http://mlbdraftinsider.com/2014/03/the-rundown-march-8/#more-3872

3-11-14 – TTF - Aaron Nola, RHP, LSU (11) - Nola has been the best pitcher in college this year. Through his first four starts, he is 4-0 and hasn’t allowed a run over 27 innings. He has 36 strikeouts to just two walks and has allowed 13 hits. Dating back to last season, he now has a streak of 53 innings without allowing an earned run. 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. An incredible control artist, he now has 247 K/27 BB over 242.2 career innings. He has a date with Tyler Beede and Vanderbilt on March 14 that is a can’t miss game. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-10-college-players-rise-week-4/41715#PjStmsQ7UB5h8BYU.99

3-12-14 – 10 High School Players on the Rise – Michael Gettys, OF/RHP, Gainesville HS (GA) - The 6’-2”, 200 pound right-hander has been shining at the plate and the mound. Over his first five games, his has gone 8-for-14 (.571) with a double, home run and five stolen bases. On the mound, he has shown off his plus/plus arm by striking out 18 over 9.2 innings. Along with the arm, he has plus speed and is starting to show in-game power this season. He has all the tools to be an impact player at the next level and could go in the top 10 picks if he continues to rake. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-10-high-school-players-rise/41773#oFu0m6JRyhOHXIwD.99

Draft 14 – Carlos Rodon, Bradley Zimmer, Nick Gordon, Aaron Nola, Christian Martinek

3-7-14 – PG - It’s good to be the king, and right now Carlos Rodon holds that title in the 2014 MLB Draft class. He has and will continue to have others nipping at his heels, namely Jeff Hoffman at ECU, but at this moment he is the man to beat for the top spot. But, that perch does not come without its more negative aspects. Rodon has been a known commodity for many years now, and as much as he’s lauded for his ability, he’s also been placed squarely under the microscope, as any potential No. 1 overall selection should be. http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=9501

3-25-14 – TTF 10 college players on the rise — week 6  - Bradley Zimmer, OF, San Francisco (12)  - Zimmer just keeps crushing the baseball and running wild on the base paths. Over his last five games, he has gone 11-for-21 (.524) with a double, triple, home run and five stolen bases. For the season, he is now hitting .427/.474/.697 over 21 games with five doubles, two triples, five home runs and 11 stolen bases. He has the best power/speed combination in the 2014 MLB draft and, at 6’-5” and 200 pounds, the left-handed hitter also has a plus arm and has a chance to stick at center field, although both the bat and arm would play well in right. He is playing like a top-10 pick. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-10-college-players-rise-week-6/42071#MDUXGtxd7YCtKt0X.99

2-3-14 – MaxPreps - Top 10 MLB Draft Prospects in high school - 9. Nick Gordon, Olympia (Orlando, Fla.) While his father Tom Gordon was a pitcher in the Major Leagues, Nick will likely be an everyday player thanks to his speed, fielding and hitting ability. The top middle infielder in the draft, according to some scouts, Gordon's arm is strong enough to hit 94 mph on the radar gun. http://www.maxpreps.com/news/B41AzcsA90iOL5xwFL8T7Q/top-10-major-league-baseball-draft-high-school-prospects.htm

2-27-14 – TTF - 10 college players on the rise - Aaron Nola, RHP, LSU (11) - I am still not sure which stands out more: The fact that Nola didn’t allow a hit over seven innings on Friday, or that he issued a walk. Against Virginia Tech on Friday, he had 8 K/1 BB over those seven no-hit innings and now has 14 K/1 BB over 13 shutout innings for the year. He now has 225 K/26 BB over 228.2 career innings with a 2.28 ERA. The 6’-1” right-hander features a low-90s fastball with heavy sing and a deceptive change-up that freezes hitters. One of the best pitchers in the 2014 MLB draft, he has a date with Tyler Beede and Vanderbilt on March 14. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-10-college-players-rise-2/41299#ldBBF8hRKzmaiy5H.99

P - Christian Martinek, LHP, Sr., Portland Jesuit (Ore.) - In a region with a severe lack of quality left handed pitching, Martinek is easily the top lefty. He's been on the radar for some time, which helps make up for the fact that he missed last season after undergoing Tommy John surgery. He looked healthy over the summer and a big year from him could make Jesuit a contender with he and one of the top third basemen in the region, Evan Haberle, on the same team. Others considered include: left hander Andrew Summerville, pitchability lefty Ryan Mets, sidearmer Dakody Clemmer and junior two-way player Parker Kelly. http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=9561  

Draft 14 – Aaron Nola, Greyson Greiner, Bradley Zimmer, Nick Howard, Brandon Finnegan

2-21-14 – Project Insider - Aaron Nola, RHP — LSU  Nola was efficient in six scoreless versus New Orleans last week — 81 pitches — but did manage to hit three batters, so there’s something to nag at if you’re like me. Nola will face Virginia Tech Friday. http://prospectinsider.com/draft-prospect-watch-hoffman-vs-fisher

3-25-14 – 7.  Greyson Greiner, South Carolina Height 6'5", Weight 220 DOB: 10/11/1992 R/R - Tall for a catcher with a glove first rep.  GameCocks Link Greiner might be one of those guys that drops some, maybe to the 5-8 area, I could see the Giants taking a shot while other teams are trying to game the draft. http://www.yougottalikethesekids.com/2014/03/ten-catchers-in-2014-mlb-draft.html

3-5-14 – TTF - 10 college players on the rise — week 3  - Bradley Zimmer, OF, San Francisco (12) - Zimmer just keeps impressing. Over his last three games, the 6’-5” left-handed hitter has gone 8-for-14 (.571) with a home run and three stolen bases. He is now hitting .420/.453/.640 over 11 games with three doubles, two home runs and four stolen bases. A gifted athlete, he has a chance to stick in center field and he is showing the power that many thought would be coming. Already a projected first-round pick, he has a chance to go in the upper half due to his size, canon arm, speed and power potential. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-week-3/41478#ilZqhEaASo2Kkjik.99

3-4-14 - Nick Howard (RHP) - The Hoo’s closer came in on Friday and sat 92-95 with the fastball and showed a curveball that had nice depth but noticeably slower arm speed than the heater. He’ll be drafted fairly high on arm strength alone by a team that thinks they can tighten up the curveball or get him to come around the side of it a bit and see if it’ll slide. http://prospectinsider.com/scouting-derek-fisher-uva-prospects

2-27-14 – TTF - 10 college players on the rise - Brandon Finnegan, LHP, TCU (18) - Another repeat performer, Finnegan was once again untouchable. This time, however, his command was also pinpoint. Over seven shutout innings against BYU, he allowed six hits and struck out nine to no walks. The 5’-11” southpaw has now tossed 14 scoreless innings to start the year with 22 K/ 3 BB. The power-armed southpaw who can hit the upper-90s, also adds a plus slider and is showing he has the ability to remain a starter at the next level. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-10-college-players-rise-2/41299#ldBBF8hRKzmaiy5H.99

Draft 14 – Michael Gettys, Aaron Nola, Alex Jackson, Derek Fisher, Nick Gordon

2-17-14 - Jim Callis ‏@jimcallisMLB  -  Michael Gettys, if he convinces scouts he'll hit. @NoToryousone1: of top 15 #mlbDraft Prospects, who can make biggest jump based on what they show

3-25-14 – MLB Draft Insider Mock –  11  Aaron Nola         RHP        LSU        -  Let me be clear; Nola is still fighting an uphill battle as a guy who doesn’t have an out-pitch and who throws from that low of slot, but his command and feel for pitching have been as good as any pitcher in baseball. http://mlbdraftinsider.com/2014/03/the-board-2014-volume-ii/

2-14-14 - The No. 1 player from the Southern part of the state is Alex Jackson a catcher/outfielder from Rancho Bernardo (Calif.). Jackson is a physical player, standing in at 6-foot-1, 225-pounds and is headed off to Oregon, if he doesn’t sign after the draft. At the Area Code workout last summer, Jackson showed his defensive skills from behind the plate, but it was in the outfield where you got an appreciated for his arm strength. At the plate, he has a good swing and solid approach. - See more at: http://www.studentsports.com/baseball/2014/02/13/alex-jackson-socals-no-1/#sthash.ZE8Fg86C.dpuf

1-3-14 – TTF Baseball - 13. San Diego Padres — Derek Fisher, OF, Virginia - The Padres always seem to need some offense in their system, and Fisher is one of the best all-around college players available. He made great strides last year in his approach at the plate dropping his strikeouts from 61 to 38 over roughly the same number of games. The 6’-3” right-hander is a great athlete with good speed on the base paths. Over 53 games as a sophomore, he hit .306 with 12 doubles, seven home runs, stole eight bases and had a .420 OBP/.505 SLG. He hit .333 in the Cape Cod League and drew 25 walks to just 19 strikeouts, again showing his improvement in his approach. I think a big year is coming. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-2/40753#ppGUqI6CbWFvzsPf.99

2-11-14 – PG/Florida HS Dream Team – UT – Nick Gordon, Sr. Olympia - Gordon has been in the national spotlight for some time and continues to show high level tools every time he steps on the field. The multi-position standout will stick at shortstop at the next level, thanks to his superb athleticism and smooth fielding actions, but he also has a strong feel with the bat from the left side. Gordon is also a top round talent on the mound, working comfortably with his fastball in the low-90s and also shows feel for a hammer breaking ball. He has the MLB bloodlines – his father is former big-league coser Tom “Flash” Gordon – but Gordon is his own player and has added noticeable muscle to his frame, helping to develop power and show all five tools at an elite level.  http://perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=9372

Draft 14 – Marcus Wilson, Grant Holmes, Aaron Nola, Brady Aiken, Austin Murphy

2-10-14 - Serra’s Marcus Wilson, an Arizona State commit, was the unofficial MVP of the game (there aren’t any official stats). Wilson had two doubles in three trips to the plate and added a stolen base. “Today you saw what Marcus is all about, and what he can be,” a National League scout said. “As he fills out and gains more strength, one of those balls gets out of here.” Of the players who attended, Wilson (No. 24) was the highest-ranked on Baseball America’s most recent Top 100 high schoolers  http://www.baseballamerica.com/draft/marcus-wilson-shines-at-southern-california-invitational/

3-25-14 – MLB Draft Insider Mock – 04   Grant Holmes    RHP        Conway HS (S.C.) - I second-guessed myself the moment I had Holmes outside of the top five last time, and I’m not going to let that happen to me this time. There’s just too much here (three quality pitches, good feel for pitching, ready-now body) to keep him out of the top five. http://mlbdraftinsider.com/2014/03/the-board-2014-volume-ii/

2-9-14 - Number 12 on our countdown is LSU junior RHP Aaron Nola. The 6’1 right-handed pitcher from Baton Rouge, Louisiana was selected in the 22nd round by the Toronto Blue Jays in 2011. During his freshman season, Nola made 19 appearances for the Tigers including 16 starts. He posted a 7-4 record with an ERA of 3.61. In his 89.2 innings pitched Nola struck out 89 while walking just seven—the fewest amount of walks allowed in the SEC. His success earned him a variety of awards including being named to the Freshman All-SEC team, NCAA Regional All-Tournament Team, and Freshman All-American honors. http://ht.ly/2DHAhD

2-5-14 - Brady Aiken, LHP, Cathedral Catholic HS (CA) - Arguably the most polished prep pitcher available in the 2014 MLB draft, Aiken is a 6’-4”, 205 pound southpaw with some upside left. His fastball can touch 94 mph but sits more in the 89-92 range with good tailing action. His curveball sits in the low 70s and looks like a future out-pitch with good rotation. His change-up has good depth and deception and sits in the low 80s. He is an alumni of Team USA Baseball and was the winning pitcher in the gold-medal game against Japan in the World Cup Championship in Taiwan, allowing just one run over seven innings while striking out 10. The Cubs also lack depth in left-handed starting pitching and Aiken is a mature kid with great mound presence. Committed to UCLA. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-dark-horse-candidates-chicago-cubs-first-pick/41075#UeYBipV5rOuYd7xE.99

11-21-13 – BA Top 100 High School Players - 77 Austin Murphy OF L/L 6-2* 210 Episcopal HS, Jacksonville Auburn http://www.baseballamerica.com/college/2014-high-school-top-100-with-commitments/

Marcus Wilson, Tyler Kolek, Aaron Nola, Ti’Quan Forbes, K.J. Bryant

2-8-14 - Todd Gold ‏@TGold_PG  -  2014 OF Marcus Wilson (Los Angeles, CA) hammered pair of 2Bs, 1 to CF 1 to LCF, ran 6.44 60 yard dash.

3-25-14 – MLB Draft Insider Mock – 03   Tyler Kolek          RHP        Shepherd HS (Tex.) - I actually considered putting Kolek ahead of Rodon, but at the end of the day I couldn’t pull the trigger. That being said, Kolek has been sensational this year, and has a legit chance of being the first prep right-hander to ever go No. 1. He throws hard. http://mlbdraftinsider.com/2014/03/the-board-2014-volume-ii/

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

1-3-14 – TTF Baseball - 36. Miami Marlins — Ti’Quan Forbes, SS, Columbia HS (MS) - At 6’-4” and 180 pounds, the right-hander oozes potential due to his defensive abilities, strong arm, plus speed (6.4/60) and developing raw power. He has shown a patient approach at the plate, driving the ball to all fields, and his size suggests more power will come. He hit .391/.447/.758 as a junior with only seven strikeouts over 103 plate appearances. If teams believe he can stick at shortstop, he could shoot up draft boards. Committed to Mississippi. 

http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-2/40753#ppGUqI6CbWFvzsPf.99

11-21-13 – BA Top 100 High School Players - 71 K.J. Bryant OF R/R 5-10 180 Wade Hampton HS, Taylors, S.C. Clemson http://www.baseballamerica.com/college/2014-high-school-top-100-with-commitments/

Draft 14 – Aaron Nola, Chad Sobotka, Mac Marshall, Shane Benes

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 

1-23-14 - Number 28 on our countdown is junior RHP Chad Sobotka from South Carolina-Upstate. The 6’6 righty was a four year letter winner at Riverview High School. As a senior, he went 4-2 with a 3.20 ERA with him named the team’s MVP. His freshman season with the Spartans saw him work out of the bullpen in all of his 25 appearances. He finished the year with a 3-0 record and an ERA of 1.72 while picking up 12 saves in 31.1 innings of work as he became the premier closer for the Spartans. He picked up several awards including being named to Atlantic Sun All-Freshman Team, Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American Honors, and NCBWA Freshman All-American. http://ht.ly/2DcZH4

1-3-14 – TTF Baseball - 22. Cleveland Indians — Mac Marshall, LHP, Parkview HS (GA) - One of the better southpaws in the 2014 MLB draft, Marshall’s fastball sits in the low/mid-90s and he has worked hard on his delivery and command over the past year. He also flashed a potential plus curveball at the Perfect Game Nationals. At 6’-2” and 185 pounds, he is a great athlete who has been clocked at 6.7 in the 60. As a junior, he had 80 K/32 BB over 46 innings for one of the premiere programs in the country. Committed to LSU. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-2/40753#ppGUqI6CbWFvzsPf.99 

11-21-13 – BA Top 100 High School Players - 37 Shane Benes 3B/RHP R/R 6-3* 200 Westminster Academy, Town and Country, Mo. Missouri http://www.baseballamerica.com/college/2014-high-school-top-100-with-commitments/

Draft 14 – Aaron Nola, Sean Newcomb, Michael Gettys, Devon Fisher

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

12-9-13 – Pine Tar Press  -  12- LHP Sean Newcomb Hartford 6/12/93- He looks to be the 2nd ever Hartford player to go in the first 10 rounds of the MLB draft (Jeff Bagwell, the other) He seems like a pretty safe bet to make that happen too with his mid 90’s fastball and very good slider. (Giants @ 14) http://pinetarpress.com/early-look-2014-mlb-draft/

12-10-13 – TTF – Top 50 HS Players - 4. Michael Gettys OF, Gainesville HS (GA) - The 6’-2”, 200-pound right-hander has all the tools, it’s just a matter of refining them a bit. His arm has been clocked at 100 mph from the outfield, he can run a 6.4/60, and I saw him crush a home run to dead center at Wrigley Field that went halfway up the bleachers, so the power is there. Focusing more on being a hitter this year than a pitcher should help his progress, and he could easily be the first prep player taken off the board. Committed to Georgia. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-top-50/40532#zz88YJZTOG8iEa1Z.99

11-21-13 – BA Top 100 High School Players - 73 Devon Fisher C R/R 6-0 206 Western Branch HS, Portsmouth, Va. Virginia http://www.baseballamerica.com/college/2014-high-school-top-100-with-commitments/

Draft 14 – Dylan Davis, Aaron Nola, Griffin Helms, Taylor Sparks,Tanner English

10-15-13 – Baseball America - 37. Dylan Davis, of/rhp, Oregon State: Similar to J.D. (no relation) with power both ways, he’s more advanced as a hitter and has more velocity on the mound. http://www.baseballamerica.com/college/2014-draft-top-50-october-2013-carlos-rodon/
 

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


9-11-13 - Sully’s 2014 Top 100 MLB HS Draft Prospects – 60.Griffin Helms – C, Norcross (GA) HS http://www.ninebaseball.org/Wordpress/sullys-2014-top-100-mlb-hs-draft-prospects/


10-14-13 – Top ’14 College Hitters - 9. Taylor Sparks / RF / UC-Irvine — Sparks has a smooth swing and should product above-average power numbers, but he’ll have to show better plate discipline and more consistency if he’s going to justify going in the top 2-3 rounds in June. http://mlbdraftinsider.com/2013/10/top-14-for-14-college-hitters/


10-18-13 – Matt Garroich – OF Tanner English at South Carolina is one of the remaining college hitters I haven't mentioned. He reminds me a little of Tyler Naquin a few years ago but Naquin was a better hitter at this point. English covers center field better and looks like he could be a 4th outfielder type of guy.http://www.minorleagueball.com/2013/10/18/4851030/2014-mlb-draft-atlantic-region-college-discussion

Draft 14 – Kodi Medeiros, Gabe Gonzalez, Aaron Nola, Nick Gordon, ColeTucker

11-11-13 – PG HS Rankings – 5  -   Kodi Medeiros LHP OF, 1B 6-0 185 L L Waiakea Hilo HI  Pepperdine Big League  -  Can flat out pitch! Unhittable and up to 95 at PG AA. Excellent breaking ball. Impressed at WWBA World Championship http://www.perfectgame.org/Rankings/Players/Default.aspx?gyear=2014&num=500


11-6-13 – Todd Gold – WWBA World Championship – Gabe Gonzalez (2014 RHP, Ohio Warhawks) - While most of the scouting world caught a glimpse of the power armed Las Vegas product in his first outing at the Area Code Games, most of that massive scouting contingent had left Long Beach before he took the mound for his second outing, in which he was far more comfortable. After topping out at 89 mph and finding himself behind in the count too frequently to show any of his offspeed pitches, most scouts didn't get to see the real Gonzalez. With his nerves calmed, his second outing of the Area Code Games was considerably better, and while he still battled some wildness, he sat 88-90 touching 91 and got to use his solid mid-70s curveball and low-80s changeup. In Jupiter he kicked it up another notch, hitting 94 mph in a relief outing. His fastball velocity also plays up due to the combination of a wingspan longer than that of a typical 6-foot-3 pitcher, with his very long arm action and long extension out front. He's still a bit of a mystery as a prospect, but scouts will be watching him closely next spring as they search for clues as to his future. One thing is certain, he has a live arm. http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=9157


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/


10-15-13 – Baseball America - 11. Nick Gordon, ss/rhp, Olympia HS, Orlando, Fla.: The son of former big leaguer Tom and brother of Dodgers infielder Dee has a chance to stick at short with a plus arm, good actions and a solid lefthanded swing. http://www.baseballamerica.com/college/2014-draft-top-50-october-2013-carlos-rodon/


9-11-13 - Sully’s 2014 Top 100 MLB HS Draft Prospects – 18.Cole Tucker – SS, Mountain Pointe (AZ) HS http://www.ninebaseball.org/Wordpress/sullys-2014-top-100-mlb-hs-draft-prospects/

Draft 14 – Aaron Nola, Trea Turner, Jacob Gatewood, Forest Griffin,Michael Cederoth

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/

 

10-14-13 – Top ’14 College Hitters - 2. Trea Turner / SS / NC State — Turner was outstanding over his sophomore campaign, but an ankle injury essentially ruined his Team USA experience this summer. Turner’s speed is élite, and with above-average pitch recognition and hand-eye coordination, many scouts believe he is a future prototypical leadoff hitter. Defensively he was outstanding in 2013 as well, using his speed to make plays to his left and right with above-average arm strength for the position. Don’t be surprised to see Turner go off the board in the first five picks of the 2014 draft. http://mlbdraftinsider.com/2013/10/top-14-for-14-college-hitters/


9-30-13 – TTF Mock 2.0 - 3. Chicago White Sox — Jacob Gatewood, SS, Clovis HS (CA) With maybe the worst farm system in baseball, the White Sox have a chance to add a franchise player here and should go after the kid with perhaps the highest ceiling among the prep bats. Gatewood is a 6’-5”, 190 pound right-hander with some serious raw power, as well as excellent bat speed. He won the Junior Home Run Derby at Citi Field, slugging 13 home runs — three of them reaching the third deck. I also got to see him launch several bombs out of Wrigley Field as he won the home run derby at the 2013 Under Armour All American Game. He most likely will have to move off shortstop but his canon arm and instincts should play well at the hot corner or a corner outfield spot where his bat will more than justify the position. High character kid who is committed to USC.  http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-mock-draft-2-0-draft-order-set/38280#5E3F5j1jWOgE69bJ.99


9-11-13 - Sully’s 2014 Top 100 MLB HS Draft Prospects – 46. Foster Griffin – LHP, The First Academy (FL) http://www.ninebaseball.org/Wordpress/sullys-2014-top-100-mlb-hs-draft-prospects/


10-15-13 – Baseball America - 21. Michael Cederoth, rhp, San Diego State: Physical 6-foot-6, 210-pounder rivals Aztecs great Stephen Strasburg in velocity with 94-98 mph fastball. http://www.baseballamerica.com/college/2014-draft-top-50-october-2013-carlos-rodon/

Draft 14 - A Quick Look At - 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/

 

Draft 14 – Brett Austin, Jack Flaherty, Brady Aiken, Aaron Nola, Jeff Hoffman

10-14-13 – Top ’14 College Hitters - 14. Brett Austin / C / NC State — Austin has done nothing over his first two seasons to remind anyone that he was a day-one pick in 2011, but a switch-hitting catcher with raw offensive ability is someone you have to keep an eye on. http://mlbdraftinsider.com/2013/10/top-14-for-14-college-hitters/

9-30-13 – TTF Mock 2.0 - 22. Tampa Bay Rays — Jack Flaherty, 3B/RHP, Harvard-Westlake HS (CA)  Like Gatewood, Flaherty is a 6’-4”, 200-pound right-hander with massive power potential. The ball jumps off his bat and his plus bat speed suggests he should hit for a high average, as well. He doesn’t have quite the arm of Gatewood, but he should be able to stick at third due to his range and instincts. He has shown above-average speed but probably isn’t a guy who is going to steal many bases. Playing for a national powerhouse, he will get plenty of attention this year. He is a baseball player in every sense of the word. Committed to North Carolina. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-mock-draft-2-0-draft-order-set/38280#5E3F5j1jWOgE69bJ.99

9-11-13 - Sully’s 2014 Top 100 MLB HS Draft Prospects – 26.Brady Aiken – LHP, Cathedral Catholic (CA) HS http://www.ninebaseball.org/Wordpress/sullys-2014-top-100-mlb-hs-draft-prospects/

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/

10-16-13 – Kevin Gallo on Jeff Hoffman - Fastball: Has a plus FB that sits in the mid-90s with excellent tailing action. Secondary Pitches: Hoffman has an above average to plus Curveball closer to plus. CB sits around 80mph with a 1 to 7 hard biting break. He looks to be an out pitch at the Major League Level. Change up: His Changeup is average but doesn’t use it very much. It sits in the high 80s but shows good tailing and arm action. I have been told his Changeup has improved but I can only go off what I have seen. Command: He works good command of his FB and CB but didn’t see enough of his CU to get an idea of it.  Summary: Hoffman as show the tools to be the #1 pick in next year’s draft but Rondon is going to be difficult to overtake. He also has room to gain muscle and develop. He has the pieces to be a pure #1 and if his changeup has improved he could become an elite pitcher http://www.chicagonow.com/cubs-den/2013/10/guest-post-scouting-report-on-jeff-hoffman/

Draft 14 – Michael Conforto, Logan Warmoth, Stone Garrett, Cobi Johnson, Aaron Nola

8-14-13 – Through The Fence – Top 50 Prospects – 11. Michael Conforto, OF, Oregon State - Maybe the best pure hitter available in the 2014 MLB draft, the 6’-2”, 215-pound right-hander uses the whole field and has a great approach at the plate. I got a chance to see him hit when the Collegiate National team played at Kane County, and I was extremely impressed by the way he handles himself at the plate — waiting for his pitch and driving it to the gaps with ease. He hit .328/.447/.526 over 65 games as a sophomore with 11 home runs and 41 walks. He’s not going to steal many bases, and he will most likely end up in left field. His bat is what will land him in the first round. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-top-50-prospects/36463#mwWwsFxSUZy7YC5V.99

 

9- 6-13 - Kendall Rogers ‏@KendallRogersPG  6 - More good news RT @PGPatrickEbert: Also found out earlier today that 2014 prep IF Logan Warmoth has committed to play for

 

8-31-13 – Area Code Games - Stone Garrett (CF) 6’2″ 195 (R/R); 2014 Interesting athlete w/lean, muscular build. Baby face; excellent projection and like where body is headed. EZ stroke in BP w/gaps, present pull power. Agg. approach in game mode; crude but competes. Slow out the gate but will show 6run (better 60-yard runner; 6.4). Plus range in OF and still developing reads and routes. 5arm w/on-line carry. Toolsy player w/athletic upside; quality make up.  http://bigleaguefutures.net/1/2013/08/31/area-code-notes/

 

8-15-13 - Under Armour All-Star Game – Cobi Johnson, RHP:  Johnson is also the son of a former MLB pitcher, Dane Johnson, and while he doesn't yet throw as hard as some of the top players on this list (tops out at 93), he's 6'4", 180 lbs. so there is plenty of room for growth and to add strength.  As you might expect from a son of a former MLB pitcher, Johnson has the feel and pitchability you want along with advanced command for a high school arm. http://www.chicagonow.com/cubs-den/2013/08/2014-mlb-draft-ua-game-roster-and-preview-plus-more-tickets-and-meet-up-information/

 

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.

Draft 14 – Matt Chapman, Touki Toussaint, Tate Blackman, Aaron Nola, Cameron Varga

9-3-13 - Kendall Rogers ‏@KendallRogersPG  - INJURY NEWS: CalStateFullerton 3B, top MLBDraft prospect Matt Chapman will have surgery to repair a torn ligament on ring finger. HC Rick Vanderhook said he played through it this summer and will miss the start of fall workouts. Will be back though.

8-31-13 – Area Code Games - Touki Toussaint (RHP) 6’2″ 195; 2014 Sleek, slender look w/long, lean levers; good projection body. Compact delivery w/lighting quick arm. HTQ slot w/EZ gas 91-92 and will flash 7FB. Electric FB w/occ. tilt on outer third. More control vs command at the moment. FB plays CB up; will flash depth and downer action when right. Limited feel for spin. Mixes in firm CH85 works underneath and still a projection pitch. Cutter 87-88 will play. Strong follow: good athlete w/special FB and deeper projection secondary.  http://bigleaguefutures.net/1/2013/08/31/area-code-notes/

2013 East Coast Pro Showcase Top 50 Prospects    - 46. Tate Blackman – SS, Lake Brantley (FL) HS - Very solid all around player and had a great week with the bat http://www.ninebaseball.org/Wordpress/sullys-top-50-ecp-prospects/

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."

8-15-13 - Under Armour All-Star Game – Cameron Varga, RHP: Varga already has a good pitchers build at 6'3", 205 lbs. and sits in the low 90s and can touch 95 mph.  His secondaries are developing.  http://www.chicagonow.com/cubs-den/2013/08/2014-mlb-draft-ua-game-roster-and-preview-plus-more-tickets-and-meet-up-information/

Draft 14 – Kodi Medeiros, Aaron Nola, David Burkhalter, Joe Gatto, Jonah Patton

 

8-13-13 - The Perfect Game All-American Classic in San Diego - Kodi Medeiros (Waikaea High School, Hawaii.) was very impressive with a low 90′s fastball and a slider that will give left-handed hitters fits, but the arm slot screams reliever.  http://mlbdraftinsider.com/2013/08/thoughts-on-perfect-game-all-american-classic/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

 

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

 

8-10-13 - New Balance Area Code games - Nationals’ right-hander, David Burkhalter (LA) has a lanky, projectable body and sat 86-88 MPH with his fastball. He mixed in a 76-79 MPH changeup that had deception with good action. Brigham Hill (TX) closed things out for the Nationals and the small righty was 88-90 MPH thanks to a quick, strong arm. He had a solid changeup at 78 MPH that he had a good feel for and got batters to chase. http://prospectinsider.com/view/2013-area-codes:-day-4-notes/

 

2013 East Coast Pro Showcase Top 50 Prospects    - 15. Joe Gatto – RHP, St. Augustine Prep (NJ)  - 6’5, 215 RHP has came a long way in a year. Came out sitting 92-93, touching 94. Top of the class arm. http://www.ninebaseball.org/Wordpress/sullys-top-50-ecp-prospects/

 

6-16-13  -  • • Jonah Patten, a 6-foot-3, 195-pound righthander from Norwell High in Ossian, Ind., sat 90-91 mph in his first inning of work. Patten comes from a low three-quarters arm slot and has slingy arm action. He threw different two breaking balls, a 75-77 mph curveball and 81-82 mph slider. The Arkansas commit struck out four in his three and one-third innings. http://www.baseballamerica.com/draft/tournament-of-stars-promising-power-outlook-for-2014/

Draft 14 – Jeff Hoffman, Nick Burdi, Aaron Nola, Carlos Rodon, Cameron Varga

6-10-13 -  Jeff Hoffman, RHP, East Carolina - Hoffman was one of the most impressive pitchers on the Cape last summer.  He has 3 pitches that all grade out above average.  His fastball gets above 95. LINK

6-11-13 - 9. Nick Burdi, RHP, Louisville: It's not often a college closer gets ranked this highly, but Burdi reportedly hit triple digits during the 2013 season, striking out 61 in 34 2/3 innings. LINK

6-13-13  -  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-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. LINK

6-17-13  -  Carlos Rodon, LHP, N.C. State - Last year Rodon (6-foot-3, 234) became the first Division I freshman to be finalist for the Golden Spikes Award as college baseball's best player. This year, he is the ace of a Wolfpack team that has advanced to the College World Series. He is a coveted power lefty whose fastball sits in the mid-90s and can reach the upper 90s. He has two obviously plus pitches "His fastball can be overwhelming and dominant," Simpson said, "and he has a wipeout slider." LINK

6-19-13  -  Castle ‏@TheACastle  -  My favorite HS pitcher of '13 Draft class was Clinton Hollon, the early favorite for 2014 is Cameron Varga from Cincinnati Hills.

Draft 14 – Grayson Greiner, Trea Turner, Luke Weaver, Aaron Nola, Jacob Gatewood

6-10-13 -  Grayson Greiner, C, South Carolina - The South Carolina catcher has a big frame and shows a strong arm.  He has a quick bat and projects to hit for more power than he has shown to this point. LINK

6-11-13 - 6. Trea Turner, SS, N.C. State: He's a shortstop who can stay there, a leadoff hitter extraordinaire with plus-plus speed that allowed him to steal 84 bases in his first two seasons of college ball. LINK

6-13-13  -  13. Minnesota Twins — Luke Weaver, RHP, Florida State - A 6’-2”, 180 pound right-hander, Weaver has enjoyed an outstanding season for the Seminoles this year. Over 15 starts, he has a 2.29 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 119 K/19 BB over 98.1 innings. His 10.9 K/9 and 6.3 K/BB ratios show the kind of power/command pitcher he is. His fastball sits in the low/mid-90s and he adds a change-up that shows plus potential. There is still room for projection and added velocity as he fills out. LINK

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.

1.  Jacob Gatewood, SS, Clovis (Calif.) High - Perkin likens Gatewood (6-foot-5, 190 pounds) to a young Troy Tulowitzki and calls him a "once-in-a-decade talent," noting his fastball reaches 92 mph on the mound, his "ballet-like fielding skills" and his prodigious power. LINK