Cameron Varga,, Michael Gettys, Brady Aiken, Jeff Hoffman, Adam Haseley, Heath Dwyer

5-12-14 - Cameron Varga, RHP, Cincinnati Christian HS (OH) - Varga has been ridiculous this year. With a fastball that has been sitting 92-94 mph, along with an upper-70s curveball with great depth, he has absolutely blown away the competition this season. Over 39 innings, he has allowed just one run on 10 hits while striking out 94 to four walks. He has tossed three no-hitters and, in his last outing, struck out every batter he faced over five innings. At 6’-4” and 200 pounds, he has the size and stuff to be a TOR starter. Committed to North Carolina. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-high-school-players-rise-final-edition/42853#cZ17mE5vsjiSvU18.99

5-18-14  -  Michael Gettys  -  I talk about Gettys a lot, but I just believe in the kid and his abilities. He has tweaked his mechanics at the plate and the results over the past 18 games have been stellar. Over those 18 games, he is hitting .455/.565/1.000 with six doubles, eight home runs and 16 stolen bases. More importantly, he has drawn 10 walks to just five strikeouts, showing a much better approach at the plate and better pitch selection. He is now hitting .406/.509/.833 through 32 games with eight doubles, 11 home runs and 24 stolen bases.With his plus/plus arm and plus speed, he should be able to stick at center field at the next level. Add in his raw power and you have one of the highest upside players in the 2014 MLB draft. Committed to Georgia.
 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 – Brady Aiken, LHP, Cathedral Catholic HS (CA) - No one is rising faster than Aiken, and many now have him as their number-one prospect in the 2014 MLB draft. With two potential plus offspeed offerings, great command of his stuff , an easy delivery and his size (6’-4”, 200 pounds), the only thing scouts wanted to see was added velocity. After sitting 88-91 mph over the summer, he has been up to 97 mph this spring and sitting around 92-94 mph. With that kind of stuff from the left side, mixed with his extreme polish on the mound, everyone is salivating, especially Houston Astros fans. Over 8.2 innings this season, he has 20 strikeouts to two walks. Committed to UCLA. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-10-high-school-players-rise-third-edition/42098#CmrUPUJfBWKiV2MO.99

3-18-14 - Every time Jeff Hoffman digs his spikes into a dirt mound this spring there will be a sizeable contingent of individuals in lawn chairs armed with radar guns critiquing his every move. Such is life when you are widely considered to be among the elite pitching prospects in college baseball. Hoffman knows professional scouts will be there in droves this season, but he has pitched with watchful eyes fixated upon him for quite some time now. “It’s really not a big deal unless you let it get into your head. I’m pretty used to it by now,” Hoffman said. “I have always tried to keep my focus on the job I have to do. I need to go out there and pitch well enough to give my team a chance to win the game. That’s my priority. I can’t really worry about who’s there watching and things I can’t control. I think I’ve always done a pretty good job of tuning that stuff out and just pitching.” http://www.troyrecord.com/sports/20140318/high-hopes-for-hoffman

3-17-14 – TTF – 10 High School Players On The Rise – Adam Haseley, LHP, The First Academy HS (FL) - A teammate of Foster Griffin, who is gaining first-round attention, Haseley has a lot of upside himself as a left-handed starter and an outfielder. With a fastball that touches 92 mph, as well as a promising breaking ball, he has struck out 28 to just three walks over 13.1 innings this season. At the plate, he has gone 15-for-30 with three doubles, a triple, two home runs and three stolen bases. He runs a 6.51/60 and is a very good athlete — a great sign for projection on the mound. Haseley starred for U18 Team USA Baseball, leading the team with a .484/.515/.800 line. Committed to Virginia. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-10-high-school-players-rise-second-edition/41810#OfV5L7GbWgi2Xqtf.99

3-18-14 - The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) released its National Player of the Week awards for the period ending March 16 today. VCU’s junior left-handed pitcher Heath Dwyer was named National Pitcher of the Week. Dwyer went the distance, posting one of the most dominant pitching performances in recent VCU history, in a 1-0 two-hit win over Buffalo. The Chandler, Ariz., native’s day was highlighted by his 15 strikeouts, setting a new career-high. The final two strikeouts of the pitcher’s night came in the ninth inning to preserve the Rams’ 1-0 win and conclude his fifth career complete game.  http://www.collegebaseballdaily.com/2014/03/18/ncbwa-announces-players-of-the-week/

Trae Turner, Jeff Hoffman, Brady Aiken, Trea Turner, Aramis Garcia, Grant Holmes

5-12-14  -  Trea Turner, SS, North Carolina State - Turner has been showing all the tools that had him projected as a top-five pick before the season started. Over his last 15 games, he is hitting .407/.527/.678 with five doubles, a triple, three home runs and 15 walks. He also has stolen 10 bases, showing off his plus/plus speed and great instincts on the base paths. For the season, he is up to .330/.424/.523 with nine doubles, seven home runs, 21 stolen bases and 30 walks to 21 strikeouts. He has the speed, an advanced approach and now has started to show the power everyone has been waiting for. Some scouts still question his hit tool. I think a team is going to get a steal if he lands in the 8-12 range. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-20-college-players-rise-extended-version/42827#fT3rk0vlpqPHPiFi.99

3-15-14 - East Carolina’s Jeff Hoffman, struggled for the second straight week in a 7-2 loss to Tulane. I was on hand for that one getting my first look at Hoffman this year, and it was not a great look. Hoffman’s defense did him no favors, struggling in the outfield and behind the plate, but he was hardly overpowering anyway, allowing six runs (five earned) on seven hits and two walks over 6 1/3 innings, while striking out five. Hoffman did not have his best velocity, working mostly at 93-94 mph and reaching back for 97 in the first and once in the fifth. He did a good job jamming righthanded hitters with his 91-92 mph two-seamer, which had good arm-side run, but he left too many four-seamers out over the plate, and Tulane squared a handful of them up. His curveball ranged from 74-80 and showed some sharp bite, but it did not have the kind of power it had in the Cape Cod League, where we heard reports of it ranging from 79-84. Even in his season debut, he threw some curveballs at 80-83. He mixed in a short slider at 84-86, but his most impressive secondary pitch Friday was his 84-86 changeup, which he threw effectively against righthanded hitters to get multiple swing-throughs. http://www.baseballamerica.com/college/friday-roundup-nola-weaver-win-marquee-showdowns/

3-26-14 – MaxiPreps – Brady Aiken, Cathedral Catholic (San Diego) - In two outings, Aiken has given up just one hit and no runs in posting a 2-0 record. He has struck out 20 batters in 8.2 innings pitched while walking only two. He struck out 12 in 4.2 innings against La Costa Canyon. http://www.maxpreps.com/news/kRbRSgP8z06XdyYf0_JnPg/tyler-kolek,-michael-gettys,-brady-aiken-among-senior-baseball-prospects-off-to-strong-starts.htm 

3-11-14 – TTF -  Aramis Garcia, C, Florida International (NR) - Over his last five games, Garcia has gone 8-for-21 (.381) with two doubles, four home runs, nine RBI and has drawn four walks to one strikeout. Over 16 games, he is now hitting .424/.521/.763 with five home runs, ranking among the leaders in all four categories. At 6’-2” and 220 pounds, the right-hander has an easy swing with plenty of power behind it. As a sophomore, he hit .321/.378/.522 with 11 home runs. Scouts love the bat more than his defense right now, but with a canon arm and very good footwork, he has a chance to stick behind the plate. 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 –  Grant Holmes, RHP, Conway HS (SC) - In his first start of the season on March 7, Holmes struck out 12 to one walk over five innings. He has been reported to be hitting 97 mph with his fastball, and he adds a plus curveball to go with a change-up that projects to above-average. With three quality pitches in his arsenal, and that type of velocity, he doesn’t need much projection — the one knock on him as many believe he has maxed out physically at 6’-2” and 200 pounds. He has great mound presence and commands his stuff well. Should be a first-round pick and he seems to keep climbing draft boards. Committed to Florida. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-10-high-school-players-rise/41773#oFu0m6JRyhOHXIwD.99

Brady Aiken, Jackson Reetz, Forest Griffin, Carlos Rodon, A.J. Reed

5-12-14 - Brady Aiken, LHP, Cathedral Catholic HS (CA) - When you’re projected to be the first prep player off the board, and maybe first player off the board, you know you had an impressive year. At 6’-4” and 200 pounds, Aiken wowed scouts all year with his added velocity and has touched 96 mph this year. He adds two potential plus off-speed offerings and he has excellent command of his stuff. He is getting the Clayton Kershaw comp and, although unfair for any player, you can see the comparisons. He is as polished as any prep pitcher in recent memory and he is only going to get better. Through 43.2 innings, he has 80 K/7 BB, allowing five runs on 19 hits. Committed to UCLA. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-high-school-players-rise-final-edition/42853#cZ17mE5vsjiSvU18.99

3-26-14 – MaxiPreps – Jackson Reetz, Norris (Firth, Neb.) - You won't find many season-opening performances better than Reetz's. He went 3-for-3 with three runs scored, five RBIs, a triple and two home runs in leading his team to an 11-0 win over Lincoln. He went 1-for-2 against Waverly and is batting .667 (4 for 6) on the season. http://www.maxpreps.com/news/kRbRSgP8z06XdyYf0_JnPg/tyler-kolek,-michael-gettys,-brady-aiken-among-senior-baseball-prospects-off-to-strong-starts.htm

3-12-14 – 10 High School Players on the Rise – Foster Griffin, LHP, the First Academy HS (FL) - At 6’-5” and 190 pounds, the southpaw has a lot of projection due to his size and loose frame. He has been hitting 94 mph with his fastball recently and, along with a much improved breaking ball, is generating first-round buzz. Over 15.2 innings this season, he has 26 K/7 BB and has allowed eight hits. Committed to Mississippi. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-10-high-school-players-rise/41773#oFu0m6JRyhOHXIwD.99

3-9-14 – MLB Draft Insider - Carlos Rodon - LHP NC State – Rodon pitched a complete game today as part of a double header. He was reportedly throwing hard to the end of the game, but the numbers show he was not quite as dominant as he has shown in the past. He allowed ten hits, one walks, and three runs. He also struck out seven hitters; it was another good showing and he notched a win against Notre Dame. Rodon the likely top pick in the draft currently has the highest BA/against and ERA of the NC State starters, the pitching staff for NC State has been lights out all year. http://mlbdraftinsider.com/2014/03/the-rundown-march-8/#more-3872

3-11-14 – TTF -  A.J. Reed, 1B/LHP, Kentucky (NR) - Over his last six games, Reed has reached base 19 times. He has gone 7-for-15 (.467), has drawn eight walks and has been hit by a pitch four times. He has added two home runs and driven in 10 runs over that span. On the season, the 6’-4”, 240 pound left0hander is now hitting .436/.579/.945 (1.524 OPS) with eight home runs, 28 RBI and has drawn 15 walks to nine strikeouts. He has been the best offensive player in the nation and he can sling it on the mound, as well. Over four starts, he is 3-0 with a 1.38 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 14 K/9 BB over 26 innings. Some think he has more upside on the mound, but if he keeps hitting the way he has, he could be a first round pick due to his bat. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-10-college-players-rise-week-4/41715#PjStmsQ7UB5h8BYU.99

Draft 14 – Justus Sheffield, Zech Lemond, Brady Aiken, Brandon Downes, Matt Mercer

3-8-14 - While the large number of mid- to upper-90s righthanded pitchers have received more attention than the southpaws in the 2014 high school class, that doesn’t mean that the lefthanders don’t have a strong group of prospects, too. None of them may have the true plus to plus/plus fastball that a Tyler Kolek or a Grant Holmes throws on a regular basis, but the seven southpaws in the Perfect Game Top 50 all get into the low-90s comfortably and top out generally at 94 mph. What differentiates all seven from most of their righthanded peers is that all have polished secondary pitches and advanced pitchability for their ages. And none of the six – which also includes Kodi Medeiros, Mac Marshall, Foster Griffin, Brady Aiken, Alex Verdugo and Alex Destino – has a true four-pitch mix or has improved his pitchability more in the last year than Tennessee’s Justus Sheffield. http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=9503

3-25-14 – TTF 10 college players on the rise — week 6  - Zech Lemond, RHP, Rice (NR) - Since being inserted into the starting rotation as the team’s Friday night starter, the 6’-4”, 190 pound right-hander has allowed just two earned runs over 23 innings with 27 K/8 BB, allowing 16 hits. His fastball sits 92-95 mph and he has been able to maintain velocity deep into his starts — a great sign. He adds a slider and curveball — both in the low 80s — and both are quality offerings. His change-up still needs refining, but with his size and easy mechanics, there is a lot of upside. He could sneak into the first round if he continues to show that he can maintain velocity deep into games. 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 - 8. Brady Aiken, Cathedral Catholic (San Diego) At 6-4, 210 pounds, Aiken has the type of frame scouts like. Even better, he's consistently around the strike zone. While he doesn't have an overpowering fastball (91 mph), scouts expect it to improve. He proved himself to be a big-time pitcher with this performance at the Team USA 18U World Cup gold medal game. Look for him to go in the bottom third of the first round. 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 - Brandon Downes, OF, Virginia (NR) - Scouts may have been there primarily to see Virginia’s Derek Fisher and East Carolina’s ace Jeff Hoffman — both projected as high first round picks in the 2014 MLB draft — but Downes left the biggest impression after taking Hoffman deep twice in the game. The 6’-3”, 200 pound right-hander is a great athlete who could stick at center field at the next level. Through his first seven games, he is hitting .310/.393/.759 with two doubles and three home runs. Over 61 games as a sophomore, he hit .316/.393/.569 with 20 doubles and 10 home runs. He is projected as a 3-5 round guy now, but could go higher if he continues to rake. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-10-college-players-rise-2/41299#ldBBF8hRKzmaiy5H.99

P - Matt Mercer, RHP, Jr., Timberline (Wash.) - The lone underclassman to crack the pitching staff this year, Mercer has the highest ceiling of any pitcher in the region. He typically works in the upper 80s with his fastball, and has begun to scratch the 90s on occasion already, but he projects to add even more velocity as he gets stronger physically. He has a quick arm and he shows good feel for his hard spinning breaking ball. http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=9561

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/

Draft 14 – Brady Aiken, Jack Flaherty, Grant Holmes, Ti’Quan Forbes

1-3-14 – TTF Baseball - 9. Toronto Blue Jays — Brady Aiken, LHP, Cathedral Catholic HS (CA) - The Blue Jays have been burned twice in the last three years by prep pitchers in the first round of the draft so they might shy away from another one. Having said that, I like Aiken at this spot. Maybe the most polished prep pitcher available, the 6’-4” southpaw 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. His fastball sits in the low 90s, and both his curveball and change-up are above-average offerings with still room for more. He has great control of his pitches and dominated at The Tournament of Stars, striking out seven over three scoreless innings. Still has projection left and room for more velocity. Committed to UCLA. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-2/40753#ppGUqI6CbWFvzsPf.99

12-9-13 – Pine Tar Press  -  33- INF Jack Flaherty Harvard Westlake HS (North Carolina Commit) Fun baseball player to watch as he definitely passes the eye test and looks like a big leaguer. Good infielder who projects as a 3B while being a solid line drive hitter in the Chase Headley mold. (Cardinals @ 31) http://pinetarpress.com/early-look-2014-mlb-draft/

1-21-14 – Grant Holmes is a physically developed 6'2", 190 LB righty without a lot of physical projection remaining. He has an easy delivery with a waist high leg kick and a ¾ delivery. Grant has solid bloodlines as his brother Colby was a 4-year starter at South Carolina and recently signed with the Braves as a non-drafted Free Agent. While Colby was an excellent college pitcher but Grant is in a different class. His fastball is already impressive sitting 91-94 but can bump it up to 96. His fastball doesn't have a lot of movement but occasionally runs down and in to right handed hitters. His easy delivery and arm slot should allow him to manipulate the ball more with time. It's a great pitch and one of the best fastballs in the draft. http://www.minorleagueball.com/2014/1/21/5325358/2014-mlb-draft-grant-holmes-rhp-conway-sc-high-school

11-21-13 – BA Top 100 High School Players - 23 Ti’Quan Forbes SS/3B R/R 6-3 184 Columbia (Miss.) HS Mississippi http://www.baseballamerica.com/college/2014-high-school-top-100-with-commitments/

Draft 14 – Grant Holmes, Brady Aiken, Cole Tucker, Jakson Reetz

1-3-14 – TTF Baseball - 18. Kansas City Royals — Grant Holmes, RHP, Conway HS (SC) - One of the better performers over the summer, the 6’-2” right-hander wowed scouts with a plus fastball, plus curveball and great command. He sat in the mid-90s all summer with his fastball and showed an above-average change-up to round out a three-pitch mix. The one knock: Many believe he has maxed out physically and there isn’t much projection left. Still, he projects to a mid-rotation starter who should miss a lot of bats. Committed to Florida. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-2/40753#ppGUqI6CbWFvzsPf.99

12-9-13 – Pine Tar Press  -  9- LHP Brady Aiken Cathedral Catholic HS (UCLA Commit) 8/16/96- He is going to be 17 at the time of the draft, which is impressive considering many kids with his birthday, would be going into their junior year. The top high school lefty in the country working with 3 solid, not spectacular, pitches. He turns a lot of heads with his overall athleticism. He would be a potential 2-way player if he were to go to UCLA. He has a very deliberate arm and was 88-91 at PG national last June. He showed a change at 83 and a mid 70’s curve. (Blue Jays @ 9) http://pinetarpress.com/early-look-2014-mlb-draft/

12-10-13 – TTF – Top 50 HS Players - 45. Cole Tucker, SS, Mountain Pointe HS (AZ)  - A switch-hitting shortstop with crazy hair who does everything well on a baseball field, the 6′-3″, 175-pound Tucker is long and rangy with good actions to remain at a premium position. He was a leader for the gold-medal winning U18 USA Team. At the plate, he makes good contact with a loose swing and projects to a top-of-the-order hitter with decent speed (6.8/60). Committed to Arizona. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-top-50/40532#zz88YJZTOG8iEa1Z.99

11-21-13 – BA Top 100 High School Players - 33 Jakson Reetz C/OF R/R 6-0 206 Norris HS, Hickman, Neb. Nebraska http://www.baseballamerica.com/college/2014-high-school-top-100-with-commitments/

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 – Brady Aiken, Nick Burdi, Dylan Cease, Jakson Reetz, Bradley Zimmer

10-15-13 – Baseball America - 9. Brady Aiken, lhp, Cathedral Catholic HS, San Diego: Projectable lefty with an ideal pitcher’s body has a chance for three plus offerings with command. http://www.baseballamerica.com/college/2014-draft-top-50-october-2013-carlos-rodon/

10-15-13 – Baseball America - 27. Nick Burdi, rhp, Louisville: The biggest pure arm in the draft class with a 100 mph fastball and low-90s slider; strictly a reliever. http://www.baseballamerica.com/college/2014-draft-top-50-october-2013-carlos-rodon/

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

9-11-13 - Sully’s 2014 Top 100 MLB HS Draft Prospects – 14.Jakson Reetz – C/RHP, Norris (NE) HS http://www.ninebaseball.org/Wordpress/sullys-2014-top-100-mlb-hs-draft-prospects/

10-14-13 – Top ’14 College Hitters - 4. Bradley Zimmer / OF / San Francisco — The younger brother of Royal first-rounder Kyle, Zimmer is an impressive athlete who looks like he can play center field despite his size (6-5, 205). Right now the left-handed hitting outfielder is much more raw talent than finished product, but with some raw power and above-average tools across the board he will be a coveted prospect come June. http://mlbdraftinsider.com/2013/10/top-14-for-14-college-hitters/

Draft 14 – Brady Aiken, Tyler Kolek, Jake Nix, Derek Fisher, Tyler Beede

9-30-13 – TTF Mock 2.0 - 30. Boston Red Sox — Brady Aiken, RHP, Cathedral Catholic HS (CA) One of the youngest players in the 2014 MLB draft, the 6’-4” southpaw is an alumni of Team USA Baseball and is very polished on the mound. His fastball sits in the low 90s, and both his curveball and change-up are solid offerings. He has great control of his pitches and dominated at The Tournament of Stars, striking out seven over three scoreless innings. He then earned the win in the gold medal game against Japan at the World Cup Championships in Taiwan, striking out 10 over seven innings, allowing just one run. He had a 1.18 ERA and 80 K/25 BB over 53.1 innings as a junior for a team that included 2013 fourth-round pick Stephen Gonsalves. Committed to UCLA. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-mock-draft-2-0-draft-order-set/38280#5E3F5j1jWOgE69bJ.99

9-29-13 – XMLBScout – 3.)RHP, Tyler Kolek, 6'5 250, R/R, Shepard HS, Shepard TX, a big'un is all I can say, good arm strength, middle 90's with his FB, at times the fb explodes with tailing life in vs RHH and on occ cuts the fb, topped out at 96 on my gun, also threw some sharp breaking balls he calls a curveball, I won't argue there, he's got a good one when he leads with front elbow and keeps his arm arm and follows through properly, command of his pitches is good for his size and improving from what I was told by several of his team's followers at TOS, definite early round follow, could be in the top 10 for sure with his arm and projection, did have surgery a little while back and seems completely 100%.  http://xmlbscout.angelfire.com/

9-11-13 - Sully’s 2014 Top 100 MLB HS Draft Prospects – 71.Jake Nix – RHP, Los Alamitos (CA) HS http://www.ninebaseball.org/Wordpress/sullys-2014-top-100-mlb-hs-draft-prospects/

10-6-13 – Kendall Rogers/PG – College Prospects -  6. Derek Fisher, of, Virginia (Drafted: 2011, Rangers -- 6th round) - Last year, Hunter Renfroe was the guy we tabbed as someone who would take a big step forward. Fisher fits that bill for the 2014 campaign. Fisher is very athletic with a good frame. He has a smooth swing from the left side and has the tools and power to be a feared, elite hitter in college and at the next level. http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=9081

10-9-13 – Early Pick for Cubs - Tyler Beede, RHP, Vanderbilt - Here’s what you need to know about the 6’-4” right-hander from Vanderbilt: He has two plus pitches in a mid-90s fastball and knee-buckling curveball, and hitters can rarely touch him. He allowed just 64 hits more than 101 innings as a sophomore for a .187 BAA. He also added 103 strikeouts and a 2.32 ERA. He did allow 63 walks, however, and his control is the only knock on him. With three quality pitches in his arsenal, along with the size and make up of a future ace, his upside is special. Another reason to love this pick for the 2014 MLB draft is that former Vanderbilt pitching coach, Derek Johnson, is the current minor league pitching coordinator for the Cubs. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-early-targets-chicago-cubs-fourth-overall-pick/38723

Draft 14 – Jeff Hoffman, Tyler Kolek, Andrew Karp, Brady Aiken, Tyler Beede

10-9-13 – Early Pick for Cubs - Jeff Hoffman, RHP, East Carolina - Carlos Rodon is left off the 2014 MLB draft list because the only way he falls out of the top three is if he has an injury or decides to give up the sport altogether — neither of which I hope happens. Jeff Hoffman, a 6’-4” right-hander, impressed some scouts so much in the Cape Cod League that some have put him in the discussion for 1-1 with Rodon. With more than 24.1 innings, he had 33 K/5 BB and showed off his great stuff, headlined by a mid-90s fastball and the makings of a plus curveball that sits in the 80-84 mph range. Hoffman also adds an above-average change-up and solid slider, giving him a quality four-pitch mix. His command still needs to be a little more consistent but he shows a smooth, effortless delivery so the mechanics are there. At 185 pounds, there is still projection left and he could actually gain more velocity as he fills out. It is no secret that the Cubs organization lacks starting pitching depth and, if Hoffman is still on the board for the 2014 MLB draft, he could be a huge addition to one of the best farm systems in baseball. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-early-targets-chicago-cubs-fourth-overall-pick/38723

9-30-13 – TTF Mock 2.0 - 5. Minnesota Twins — Tyler Kolek, RHP, Sheppard HS (TX)  After selecting flamethrower Kohl Stewart fourth-overall this year, the Twins can add another power arm in Kolek, a 6’-6”, 240 pound right-hander who can touch triple-digits with his fastball. I got to see him throw at Wrigley and he was hitting 99 mph with ease. He also shows a good feel for a slider that has plus potential. His size suggests even more velocity could be coming, and he has great body control considering his frame. He has been timed at 4.8 in the 40, showing great athleticism. He is another in a long line of country strong, hard throwers from the state of Texas. 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 – 94.Andrew Karp – RHP, West Orange (FL) HS http://www.ninebaseball.org/Wordpress/sullys-2014-top-100-mlb-hs-draft-prospects/

9-29-13 – XMLBScout – 4.)LHP, Brady Aiken, Cathedral Catholic HS, Cardiff by the Sea, CA, 6'3 1/2 205, nice frame, long arms and legs, upper 3/4 arm slot has improved 2-3 mph on his fb and sharp downer type cb, most fb were 89-90, touched 93 a few times, cb nice bite and rotation which enticed hitters to chase, some deception, pitched up in zone rushing himself a few times, something here to work with, top 25 candidate for 2014 for sure, keep an eye on him, UCLA commit?  http://xmlbscout.angelfire.com/

10-6-13 – Kendall Rogers/PG – College Prospects -  5. Tyler Beede, rhp, Vanderbilt (Drafted: 2011, Blue Jays -- 1st round) - Beede’s past is well-documented after turning down the Blue Jays out of high school. The impressive 6-foot-4, 215-pounder, has an elite fastball that sits anywhere from 90-95, along with a sharp breaking curveball at 80-83 and a fast-developing changeup that made serious strides for the Commodores in the spring. Should Beede show improved command in the spring, he could rise a few spots. http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=9081

Draft 14 – Marcus Wilson,, Matt Chapman, Brady Aiken, Kel Johnson, Keith Weisenburg

9-30-13 – TTF Mock 2.0 - 29. Atlanta Braves — Marcus Wilson, OF, Serra HS (CA)  At 6’-3” and 180 pounds, the right-hander is raw in areas but has a lot of upside based on his plus speed and ability to drive the ball to all fields. His size implies more power will come. He also has a plus arm and is one of those players that gets better every time out. One of the youngest players in the 2014 MLB draft and one of those quick-twitch athletes that scouts love. Committed to Arizona State. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-mock-draft-2-0-draft-order-set/38280#5E3F5j1jWOgE69bJ.99

10-2-13 - Kevin Gallo ‏@kcmgallo905  - @JohnMackinAde Matt Chapman hit 97 on the mound for USA team over the summer.

8-21-13 – Area Code Games - 6. Brady Aiken, lhp, Cathedral Catholic, San Diego/San Diego Show - A 6-foot-3, 207-pound lefthander with broad shoulders, a trim waist and long legs, the athletic Aiken has a projectable pitcher’s build. His fastball sat 87-91 mph from a high three-quarter arm slot. The UCLA commit has a 71-75 mph curveball with 1-7 tilt that is one of the better breaking balls in the class. Aiken threw three innings in Long Beach, allowing one hit and striking out eight. http://www.baseballamerica.com/draft/area-code-games-top-10-prospects/

9-4-13 – Mack’s Mock Draft v1.0 – 19 –   OF Kel Johnson – Home School (GA) – This is easiest the most talented home schooled ballplayer in the history of the game. Plays for the legendary travel team, the East Coast Braves. As one scout said, ‘you go out just to see this guy hit batting practice’.  A ton of raw power.

9-11-13 - Sully’s 2014 Top 100 MLB HS Draft Prospects – 75.Keith Weisenberg – RHP, Osceola (FL) HS http://www.ninebaseball.org/Wordpress/sullys-2014-top-100-mlb-hs-draft-prospects/

Draft 14 – Touki Toussaint, James Monaghan, Brady Aiken, Luis Ortiz, Kyle Keller

8-21-13 – Area Code Games - 8. Touki Toussaint, rhp, Coral Springs Christian (Fla.)/ Atlanta Blue Jays - Toussaint burst onto the scene as a 16-year-old last summer at Tournament of Stars before an otherworldly performance at the WWBA in Jupiter in October, when he struck out 18 in six innings and showed a mid-90s fastball and plus curveball. Toussaint, who was a soccer player until he started playing baseball four years ago and lived in Haiti for six years, offers rare athleticism for a pitcher and has one of the highest upsides of any high school pitcher. At 6-foot-1, 198-pounds, Toussaint has a wiry, athletic build with long limbs. He has loose, whip-like action from a three-quarter slot and gets extension out front. His fastball sat 90-94 mph and touched 95 with natural cut in Long Beach. Toussaint threw some above-average curveballs with depth but the low-to-mid 70s pitch was inconsistent. He is working a high-80s cutter/slider and low-80s changeup into his repertoire. With three walks in as many innings, Toussaint’s command was not sharp. His lower half has been leaking in his delivery this summer and he has a late hand break. But Toussiant,  once committed to Miami but currently uncommitted, has the athleticism necessary to improve his control. He will form one of the top batteries in the country with Benito Santiago, a lefthanded-hitting catcher who is one of the top catchers in the country, the son of the former big league by the same name. http://www.baseballamerica.com/draft/area-code-games-top-10-prospects/

9-21-13 –  Team Maryland is staying in the same hotel as myself and they had some interesting players in their lineup, with one standing out above the rest, literally. At 6-foot-5, 187-pounds, 1B James Monaghan  is a projectable lefthanded hitting first basemen, showing bat speed, along with power potential, with more to come once he starts to fill out his frame. He is one of only three 2015 grads listed in the program on a strong team from Maryland. .  http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=9017

9-4-13 – Mack’s Mock Draft v1.0 – 16 –  LHP Brady Aiken – Cathedral Catholic (CA) HS – 6-4 frame, Aiken is going to be a great major league pitcher. Had a great summer at the 11th All-American Classic and the Area Code Games. Every scout was wowed by his control… 91-92 fastball… 73-74 curve. He also will be one of the youngest players in the 2014 draft. Could easily wind up a top 10 pick.

9-11-13 - Sully’s 2014 Top 100 MLB HS Draft Prospects – 12.Luis Ortiz – RHP, Sanger (CA) HS http://www.ninebaseball.org/Wordpress/sullys-2014-top-100-mlb-hs-draft-prospects/

9-23-13 - Southeastern Louisiana pitcher Kyle Keller, who pitched for the Victoria Generals of the Texas Collegiate League this past summer, was named Thursday to Baseball America's top prospects lists covering 21 college summer leagues.   BA ranked the top 30 prospects for the talent-rich Cape Cod League, the top 20 prospects for Team USA, the top 25 in the Northwoods League, and the top 10 prospects in 18 other summer college leagues, plus a top five in the New York Collegiate Baseball League.  Named the eighth-best prospect in the TCL earlier this week as well by Perfect Game, the 6-foot-4 right-hander turned some heads with a fastball reaching 95 mph.  http://www.sportsnola.com/sports/local-sports-news/slu-news/599678-keller-named-to-baseball-americas-top-prospect-lists.html

Draft 14 – Brady Aiken, Carlos Rodon,, Chase Vallot, Carl Chester, Touki Toussaint

8-31-13 – Area Code Games - Brady Aiken (LHP) 6’4″ 205; 2014 Large frame w/strong, athletic build. Exceptional athlete also plays CF. Good projection body that looks the part on the mound. Simple delivery remains online for pinpoint command. Loose HTQ arm uses present 5/future 6FB w/future 60 command. Lives on top of BB w/confident arm side spot and downplane. Late breaking CB w/12:6 shape. Advanced feel for CH sells with same arm speed and tumbling effect; misses bats. Finishes all his pitches and lives down in the zone. Showed mound savvy where game came very EZ for him. Strong follow; 3-pitch mix starter material.  http://bigleaguefutures.net/1/2013/08/31/area-code-notes/

9-1-13 - Jim Callis – 1. Carlos Rodon, lhp, North Carolina State - Spectacular summer with Team USA cements him as clear top prospect for now.

8-14-13 – Through The Fence – Top 50 Prospects – 44. Chase Vallot, C, 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 should allow him to stick at a premium position and he also has pretty good speed. Committed to Mississippi State. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-top-50-prospects/36463#mwWwsFxSUZy7YC5V.99

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2013 East Coast Pro Showcase Top 50 Prospects    - 47. Carl Chester – OF, Lake Brantley (FL) HS - Has game changing speed and a plus arm from the OF. http://www.ninebaseball.org/Wordpress/sullys-top-50-ecp-prospects/

9-1-13 - Jim Callis – 8. Touki Toussaint, rhp, Coral Springs (Fla.) Christian HS - Has struggled with command this summer but his premium stuff is impossible to deny.

Draft 14 – Alex Jackson, Jack Flaherty, Brady Aiken, Kevin Bryant Jr., Michael Kopesch

8-31-13 – Area Code Games - Alex Jackson (C) 6’2″ 215 (R/R); 2014 Physical body that separates himself. Athletic look w/combo strength from top to bottom. Swing works long w/lift and separation to finish; occ. misses. Sound approach at the plate w/explosive swing; different off bat. Damaging impact at contact; gaps/power hitter. Speed will back up in future and not a SB threat. Displays solid catching tools w/quick footwork and clean transfers. Arm works short and throws stay online to target; POP: 1.8, 1.9. Athletic enough to play OF and bat fitscorner power profile.  http://bigleaguefutures.net/1/2013/08/31/area-code-notes/

8-14-13 – Through The Fence – Top 50 Prospects – 21. 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-draft-top-50-prospects/36463#mwWwsFxSUZy7YC5V.99

9-1-13 - Jim Callis – 9. Brady Aiken, lhp/of, Cathedral Catholic HS, San Diego - Projectable athlete could have three plus pitches in time, reminds me of Trey Ball at same stage.

2013 East Coast Pro Showcase Top 50 Prospects    - 49. Kevin Bryant Jr. – OF, Wade Hampton (SC) HS - Has some big time tools, including a 6.58 60 at ECP. Mid 90s arm from the OF. http://www.ninebaseball.org/Wordpress/sullys-top-50-ecp-prospects/

8-15-13 - Under Armour All-Star Game – Michael Kopesch, RHP: 6'4", 190 lbs with a lot of athleticism and projection.  Some mechanical issues that a team should be able to fix, but the raw talent is there.  Throws a low 90s FB that can reach 94, a curve, and a developing change.  Some deception there too so a team that's going to take him will need to make sure they don't overhaul that part out of his delivery. 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 – Touki Toussaint, Luis Ortiz, Brady Aiken, Brian Gonzalez, Austin Cousino

8-25-13 - Touki Toussaint displayed the talent that scouts are dreaming on. However, Toussaint also continued to work on a new wrinkle to his game, which could set him apart from his peers by the time June rolls around.  The word that would best describe Touki Toussaint is projectable. Toussaint’s present stuff is already electric, as I’ll get into, but there may be no prep pitcher that possesses more upside than the athletic right-handed pitcher. It all starts with the loose, athletic body with a big frame that has scouts dreaming about what could be. Toussaint is one of the best athletes I saw this week, and that includes the positional players. http://rontrarianreport.com/2013/08/25/scouting-touki-toussaint-mlb-draft/

8-26-13 - Player:  Luis Ortiz   Primary Position:  RHP  Height/Weight:  6’3/220  Bats/Throws:  R/R  Home Town:  Fresno, CA  School:  Sanger  Travel Team(s):  San Diego Show  Class of:  2014  -  2013 Tournament of Stars notes from Don Olsen  - Good frame, cleaned up a ton, looks stronger and more athletic and starting to really fire on all cylinders in a Yovani Gallardo type mold now.  I am really impressed with the progress, showing the work ethic to play the game at a high level.  Good arm action with a nice lower half that tends to be a bit upright in the release, could be leave it up with fatigue, and want to see in fuller workloads.   Fastball was 91-93 (94) mph which is worked around, changed eye levels, and shows some backspin on it.  Slider had good tilt, 83-84 mph, depth to be buried glove side, solid shot for above average offering.  Change up, 83-84 mph, had some depth to it and arm showed good deception, solid projectable offering.  Clean three pitch mix and workhorse frame with dedication to match, intriguing arm. http://bigleaguefutures.net/1/2013/08/26/2014-mlb-draft-profile-luis-ortiz/

8-14-13 – Through The Fence – Top 50 Prospects – 31. Brady Aiken, LHP, Cathedral Catholic HS (CA) - One of the youngest players in the 2014 MLB draft, the 6’-4” southpaw is an alumni of Team USA Baseball and is very polished on the mound. His fastball sits in the low 90s, and both his curveball and change-up are solid offerings. He has great control of his pitches and dominated at The Tournament of Stars, striking out seven over three scoreless innings. He had a 1.18 ERA and 80 K/25 BB over 53.1 innings as a junior for a team that included 2013 fourth-round pick Stephen Gonsalves. Committed to UCLA. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-top-50-prospects/36463#mwWwsFxSUZy7YC5V.99

2013 East Coast Pro Showcase Top 50 Prospects    - 41. Brian Gonzalez – 1B/LHP, McCarthy (FL) HS - 6’3, 230 two-way player has big time power and touched 90 on the mound. http://www.ninebaseball.org/Wordpress/sullys-top-50-ecp-prospects/

7-17-13 –  Austin Cousino, CF, Kentucky - At just 5'10", 185 lbs, I thought this kid was going to slap the ball around but that was not the case at all.  He's one of these high energy, quick twitch athletes that generates good bat speed with quick hands through the zone.  He pulverized a double into the right-center field gap that could have easily went out had he gotten a little back spin on it.  He runs well and should have no problems sticking in CF. http://www.chicagonow.com/cubs-den/2013/07/looking-ahead-to-the-2014-and-2015-mlb-draft-notes-from-the-collegiate-national-team-games/

Draft 14 – Brady Aiken, Grant Hockin, Brandon Finnegan, Drew Carlton, Tyler Beed

8-16-13 - 11th All-American Classic - Brady Aiken (LHP, Cathedral Catholic HS (San Diego, CA): Excellent size; major-league body; high three-quarters slot with a high front side; deliberate with the leg lift and plant; pretty easy and repeatable; pace was inconsistent and he struggled with runners on; slow release around 1.50 seconds to plate with runners on; fastball comfortable at 91-92 with some sink; long, tumbling curve at 73-74; good feel for the offering; fastball command limited the pitch. —Jason Parks http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=21537

 

8-25-13 - Nathan Rode ‏@NathanRode  - I was also excited to see RHP Grant Hockin (CA) get an MVP nod in the #UAAllAmerica Game today

 

8-14-13 – Through The Fence – Top 50 Prospects – 34. Brandon Finnegan, LHP, TCU - He has reportedly hit triple-digits with his fastball. That alone will get you first-round attention. At 5-’11”, however, his size draws question marks for a frontline starter. He also features an upper-70s slurve and a decent change-up that has come a long way. He could end up a dominant closer in the mold of Billy Wagner. Had 86 K/35 BB over 79.1 innings as a sophomore. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-top-50-prospects/36463#mwWwsFxSUZy7YC5V.99

 

2013 East Coast Pro Showcase Top 50 Prospects    - 38. Drew Carlton – RHP, George W Jenkins (FL) HS - 6’2, 190 RHP sitting 88-90, touched 92 - http://www.ninebaseball.org/Wordpress/sullys-top-50-ecp-prospects/

 

7-17-13 –  Tyler Beede, RHP, Vanderbilt - Beede has an ideal, athletic pitchers build (6'4", 215 lbs) and was anywhere from 91-96 mph on his fastball, but mostly was working with a two seamer so it was often at the lower end of that range.  He also tried to work in curve but had some issues commanding it.  He didn't walk a batter but he did hit two of them and didn't seem to locate as well he would have liked.  You don't want to get trapped into scouting results here (3 IP, 3 R) because you'd miss the boat.  The talent is obvious and it appears Beede may have been working on a few things as he prepares to face Cuba. http://www.chicagonow.com/cubs-den/2013/07/looking-ahead-to-the-2014-and-2015-mlb-draft-notes-from-the-collegiate-national-team-games/

Draft 14 – Mac Marshall, Travis Jones, Carl Chester, Grant Holmes, Brady Aiken

8-6-13 - Top pitchers - East Coast Professional Showcase, Syracuse, NY -  2. Mac Marshall, LHP, Parkview HS (Ga.): Marshall had suffered a minor oblique injury at the Perfect Game showcase in Minneapolis, so this was his first time back on the mound. He clocked 90-92 mph, but typically throws much faster. But Marshall commanded his breaking stuff well and was very efficient. http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130806&content_id=56048786&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb

 

7-24-13  -  Travis Jones, of/3b, Atascocita, Humble, Texas/Columbia Angels - The 6-foot-5, 205-pound Jones is a tall, long and rangy athlete. He has long levers and room to fill his large frame. Jones, who is also a wide receiver on the football field, moves well laterally and is a long strider with plus straight-line speed. The Texas commit offers an interesting combination of hitting ability and power. He has some loft to his swing and has shown pull-side power. Jones has the athleticism to handle third or the outfield. http://www.baseballamerica.com/draft/tyler-koleks-heavy-fastball-among-tournament-of-stars-standouts/

 

7-25-13 – Top 30 High School Prospects For 2014 Draft - 15. Carl Chester, CF, Lake Brantley HS (FL) - 6'0/175, R/R, Draft Day Age: 18.48, Miami commit, Full Report & Video - Quick Take: Chester comes from the school that produced Mariners SS Nick Franklin and has another top round prospect for this year's draft, IF Tate Blackman, as one of the stronger teams in a completely loaded Orlando high school scene. Chester is a plus to plus-plus runner with great feel to hit in games and solid gap power. http://sbb.scout.com/2/1310090.html

 

2013 East Coast Pro Showcase Top 50 Prospects    - 1. Grant Holmes – RHP, Conway (SC) HS - Sitting 92-94 with one of the best breaking balls in the class. He was up to 96 at the National Showcase. http://www.ninebaseball.org/Wordpress/sullys-top-50-ecp-prospects/

 

8-11-14 - Jeff Sullivan ‏@JSully12 - Brady Aiken - LHP, Cathedral Catholic (CA) HS sitting 91-92, touched 93

Draft 14 – Brady Aiken, Michael Gettys, Justus Sheffield, Nick Gordon

7-24-13  -  5. Brady Aiken, lhp/of, Cathedral Catholic, San Diego/San Diego Show - At 6-foot-4, 205 pounds with broad shoulders and room to carry more weight, Aiken has an ideal pitcher’s build. He has a quick arm, clean arm action and hides the ball well from a high three-quarters arm slot. His fastball sits 89-92 mph and will touch 93 with downhill plane. Aiken has a curveball with tight 1-to-7 rotation, making it one of the best breaking balls in the class at its best. His low-80s with fade changeup shows the makings of an above-average offering. Aiken repeats his fluid delivery well and has good control. He is a two-way player as an outfielder. Aiken, a UCLA commit, is young for the class and will be 17 on draft day. http://www.baseballamerica.com/draft/tyler-koleks-heavy-fastball-among-tournament-of-stars-standouts/

 

8-1-13 - Jeff Sullivan ‏@JSully12  -  Michael Gettys - RHP, Gainesville (GA) HS sitting 90-91

 

7-25-13 – Top 30 High School Prospects For 2014 Draft - 25. Justus Sheffield, LHP, Tullahoma HS (TN) - 6'0/185, Draft Day Age: 18.06, Vanderbilt commit, Full Report & Video - Quick Take: Sheffield is very well-known as he worked 90-94 mph in a heavily-scouted outing last October in the same game that his older brother RHP Jordan (Red Sox draftee will be a freshman at Vandy this year) used as his coming out party, hitting 98 mph in relief of his little brother. Justus' upside is limited by his size but he's athletic with advanced command, typically working 89-92 mph with an above average 78-80 mph changeup and a solid average breaking ball. http://sbb.scout.com/2/1310090.html

 

8-2-13 – Matt Garrioch ‏- That is why I rarely read or watch news...now back to baseball. Nick Gordon is already in the cages at East Coast Pro.........    Dan Kirby ‏@DanMKirby  - See him as a SS or SP? ….  Matt Garrioch ‏@mattgarrioch  - @DanMKirby SS, no question.

2013 Draft-Notes - Brady Aiken, Robert Tyler, Dylan Munger, Ryne Stanek, Brian Bohman

Brady Aiken LHP  Cathedral Catholic HS, San Diego  Ht.: 6-3. Wt.: 210. B/T: L/L. - Aiken is a physical young lefty with a clean arm. His delivery and arm action are above-average and lead to his ability to command three pitches. His fastball sits comfortably in the 88-90 mph range, and he spins a tight curveball. A deceptive changeup rounds out his three-pitch arsenal. A 2014 graduate, he has already verbally committed to UCLA. http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/high-school/events/under-armour-all-america-game/2012/2613895.html

Crisp County pitcher Robert Tyler dreams of playing in the big leagues. He is getting a taste of big league baseball this summer.Robert Tyler will pitch at Wrigley Field this Saturday in the Under Armour All-American game. This after Tyler pitched an inning in the Perfect Game All-American game last weekend in San Diego's Petco Park. The senior at Crisp County High School is attracting scouts attention with his fastball, curveball and changeup  http://www.walb.com/story/19296897/crisps-tyler-pitching-at-wrigley-field-saturday

LHP Dylan Munger, Alabama-Birmingham -- Munger had a less than stellar spring for the Blazers, tallying a 5.98 ERA. However, he blossomed this summer with a 1.91 ERA in nine appearances and 37 2/3 innings of work. He also struck out 38 and walked nine, while teams hit him at a .209 clip. http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=7522

2-Ryne Stanek RHP Arkansas- I watched Stanek in HS and wrote about him here. Ryne has pushed himself way up the draft lists and enters the 2013 season as the 2nd best righty in the college game behind the return of Mark Appel of Stanford. Stanek has improved in several areas of his game since turning down the Mariners who took him in the 3rd round. He finished his 2012 campaign going 8-4 with a 2.82 e.r.a and 83 K in 93 IP. He has the potential to sit in the mid 9′s with a potentially plus curve. His achilles is the ability to work long into games as he seems to unravel in the mid to late innings. But, the arm is so intriguing with upside he would be an excellent pick for the Royals as a local kid. http://pinetarpress.com/top-11-2013-draft-august-15th-2012/

The Prep Baseball Report Western PA Top Prospect Showcase on August 15 included five catchers who showcased their abilities for college coaches at Pullman Park in Butler, PA. The top two catchers in the group were Brian Bohman (McDowell), ranked No. 54 in the Class of 2013, and Jake Kleindl (Shady Side Academy), ranked No. 38 in the Class of 2014. Bohman is a 5-foot-8, 170-pounder with an athletic frame and excellent receiving and blocking skills. Bohman had the top pop time of the day at 2.05, a number that will be improved significantly with some minor adjustments to his ball transfer. Bohman also exhibited the top catcher velocity of the day at 80mph out of the crouch. https://www.prepbaseballreport.com/news/PA/A-Look-3142708659

Prep Baseball Report‏ -  OH: West Holmes LHP/1B Gabe Snyder commits to Wright State… IL: Cody Sedlock, an athletic RHP from Rock Island Alleman HS, commits to Illinois. Sedlock led Alleman to 2nd place finish in 2A…

Frankie Piliere‏ -  Clay Chapman showed a live arm out of the Wareham pen tonight. 90-92 from 3/4 angle and a lot of life

Keith Law‏ -  Lexington KY prep RHP Clinton Hollon, who didn't pitch in PG game Sunday, also skipping Under Armour on Saturday due to flexor tendon strain