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 – Luis Ortiz, Jackson Reetz, Chris Ellis, Mike Papi, Brandon Downes

2-3-14 – MaxPreps - Top 10 MLB Draft Prospects in high school - 10. Luis Ortiz, Sanger (Calif.) When it comes to postseason awards, Ortiz did not win many last spring, earning honorable mention all-area by the Fresno Bee. However he made his presence felt during the summer. The 6-3, 210-pound pitcher was the tournament MVP for Team USA 18U at the World Cup and helped the United States win the gold medal. He also pitched well in the Breakthrough Series, pitching two no-hit innings with four strikeouts. The scouts like his fastball, that reaches 93-95 mph, and his slider, which is in the 80-83 range. Look for Ortiz to go late in the first round. http://www.maxpreps.com/news/B41AzcsA90iOL5xwFL8T7Q/top-10-major-league-baseball-draft-high-school-prospects.htm

3-25-14 – 10.  Jackson Reetz, Nebraska HS  Height 6'1 Weight 195 DOB: 1/3/1996 R/R - - Reetz might fade but he might pick up some hype.  Played well for Team USA, always a big plus in my book.  A good runner, there are doubts (like most HS kids) if he can stick behind the plate.  Good hitter, with plenty of bulk to power up.  Interesting guy, and for whatever reason Oklahoma has all the B-ball hype over Nebraska, nice to see a kid from NE get some love. http://www.yougottalikethesekids.com/2014/03/ten-catchers-in-2014-mlb-draft.html

2-27-14 – TTF - 10 college players on the rise - Chris Ellis, RHP, Ole Miss (65) - A breakout candidate by several draft experts, the 6’-5”, 210 pound right-hander didn’t come in with much of a track record. As a sophomore, he posted a 5.57 ERA, 2.00 WHIP and 16 K/11 BB over 21 innings. The stuff, however, has always been there, even if the results haven’t. He features a low/mid-90s fastball that he commands better in the low-90s. His change-up is much improved and he adds a solid curveball to round out a classic three-pitch mix. His size, stuff and command have him in talks for the first round and, this year, the results have been there. He tossed a five-hit shutout against Georgia State on Friday striking out four to no walks. He has now started the season with 15 shutout innings as he has become more of a pitcher then thrower. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-10-college-players-rise-2/41299#ldBBF8hRKzmaiy5H.99

3-5-14 – TTF - 10 college players on the rise — week 3  - Mike Papi, OF, Virginia (54) - You don’t see too many 6’-3”, 230 pound first basemen batting leadoff. Over his last four games at the top of the order, Papi has flourished in that spot. He has gone 5-for-9 with a home run, three RBI and has drawn seven walks to no strikeouts. For the season, he is now hitting .405/.560/.622 with two doubles, two home runs and he has drawn 12 walks to just three strikeouts. He put his name on the map after hitting .381/.517/.619 over 176 at-bats as a sophomore with 45 walks to just 25 strikeouts. Arguably one of the better hitters in the 2014 MLB draft, there will be a lot of pressure put on his bat if he is relegated to first base. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-week-3/41478#ilZqhEaASo2Kkjik.99

3-4-14 - Brandon Downes (CF) - The star of Friday’s game -– he ripped two homers off of Jeff Hoffman – is another guy to watch out for in the early rounds come June. The right-handed hitting Downes showed playable bat speed and impressed with his ability to drop and pull the bat head down and in and still spank velocity. Despite simple, toe-tapping footwork, Downes looks like he’s going to swing and miss some because of some hand-eye and head movement issues, something we saw more of on Saturday. He’s an average runner –- 4.27 from the right side – who plays a pretty good center field. If a club thinks he can stick –- I’m cautiously optimistic about it, though I don’t think he’s elite there or anything – then he’ll be an early draft pick. He has a fringe-average regular ceiling for me, likely a fourth outfielder type. http://prospectinsider.com/scouting-derek-fisher-uva-prospects

Draft 14 – Luke Weaver, Chris Harvey, Brandon Downes, Mike Papi, Andrew Daniel

2-21-14 – Project Insider - Luke Weaver, RHP — Florida State  Weaver tossed six no-hit frames at Niagara a week ago and has been lights out in his sessions all winter. He’ll face Georgia Friday night. http://prospectinsider.com/draft-prospect-watch-hoffman-vs-fisher

3-25-14 – 8.  Chris Harvey, Vanderbilt Height 6'5", Weight 220 DOB: 3/10/1993 R/R  - The other tall catcher who might drop.  Commodores Link  I gotta put in the Vandy guy!  This is the type of player the Giants seem to gravitate towards.  Good character, good defense, the bat will mature enough later. http://www.yougottalikethesekids.com/2014/03/ten-catchers-in-2014-mlb-draft.html    

3-5-14 - It’s difficult to hide a player with tools, especially a player that plays for arguably the best college team in the nation and a player that just spent a summer in the Cape Cod League with the eyes of the scouting world on him. But, although no one has missed on evaluating Brandon Downes, you could make the case that entering this spring, as part of a prospect laden Virginia roster, maybe the Cavaliers’ center fielder wasn’t talked about quite as much as he should have been. Just in case anyone had underestimated Downes, he made sure to remind everyone of just what kind of next level skill-set he had just two weeks into the college season and on the largest of stages. http://perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=9500

3-4-14 - Mike Papi (1B/OF) - Papi doesn’t really look the part until he gets in the cage and shows the smoothest, most polished, left-handed stroke on the team. He has excellent control over the bat and sneaky, fringe-average pull power. His weight will be a tad heavy on the front foot at times but the bat has a solid average ceiling. He’s stuck at first base right now — where a 55 bat and 45 power don’t quite profile — thanks to an embarrassment of riches in UVA’s outfield but he has the arm and legs to play right field in pro ball. Whether he has the feel for the position is unbeknownst to me as I have yet to see him play there. It’s his best shot at an everyday role. He may get popped in round two or three this June. http://prospectinsider.com/scouting-derek-fisher-uva-prospects

2-27-14 – TTF - 10 college players on the rise - Andrew Daniel, INF, San Diego (NR) - Few have been better offensively than the 6’-1”, 200 pound right-hander. Over his first seven games, he has gone 15-for-28 (.536) with a double, two home runs and has driven in 10 runs. He has drawn four walks to just one strikeout and has swiped a whopping eight bases — equaling his total as a sophomore over 60 games. I asked Aaron Fitt at Baseball America what was up with him this year and he said that he always liked him as a hitter but the stolen bases were surprising. I chalked it up to baseball just being weird sometimes and he may only steal two more the rest of the way. Whatever the case, his aggressiveness and approach at the plate have been noticed in the early going. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-10-college-players-rise-2/41299#ldBBF8hRKzmaiy5H.99

Draft 14 – Joey Pankake, Sean Reid-Foley, Grant Holmes, Handsome Monica, Brandon Downes

10-18-13 – Matt Garroich – SS Joey Pankake, yep, like pancake, at South Carolina improved from a funny name and a decent defender as a freshman to an impact college bat as well. He won't be a superstar with the stick (well, Garciaparra) likely won't be a superstar with the stick but is a solid all around up the middle talent and should be a top pick this coming June. http://www.minorleagueball.com/2013/10/18/4851030/2014-mlb-draft-atlantic-region-college-discussion

10-15-13 – Baseball America - 31. Sean Reid-Foley, rhp, Sandalwood HS, Jacksonville: Athletic righthander with a fastball up to 95 mph, above-average slider and average changeup with good control. http://www.baseballamerica.com/college/2014-draft-top-50-october-2013-carlos-rodon/


9-30-13 – TTF Mock 2.0 - 10. New York Mets — Grant Holmes, RHP, Conway HS (SC) A Florida Gator commit, the 6’-2”, 190-pound right-hander hit 96 mph at the Perfect Game Nationals and flashed a plus curveball with excellent command. He also hit 95 mph at the PG Classic, showing one of the better fastballs in the prep class. He adds an above-average change-up, rounding out a solid three-pitch mix. Some scouts think he has maxed out physically, limiting his upside, but as it is, he profiles to a mid-rotation starter and possibly as high as a two. He is a very good athlete with a sound delivery and one of the best prep arms in the draft. 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 – 78. Handsome Monica – C, St. Paul’s (LA) HS http://www.ninebaseball.org/Wordpress/sullys-2014-top-100-mlb-hs-draft-prospects/


10-14-13 – Top ’14 College Hitters - 12. Brandon Downes / OF / Virginia — Downes has average to above-average tools across the board, though some scouts I’ve talked to are concerned about the swing and miss in his game and didn’t have the most productive of summers. http://mlbdraftinsider.com/2013/10/top-14-for-14-college-hitters/

Draft Wednesday Game Notes

·         We talked to 1B Jared King yesterday after his #27 Virginia (7-4-1) produced 17 hits in their 14-6 victory at James Madison Tuesday. Well, we ran into CF/RF Brandon Downes (2-5, 1-R, 4-RBI) had his own spin on the game:

“The team came out with a fire today. We came out ready to hit. The dugout was full of life and we were ready to go. We were finally playing UVA baseball. It was my first start in center field. After my first at bat I saw the ball very well. When I came up with King on third I was just trying to see something up in the zone and I got my pitch and cut it in half. After that, I came up with the bases loaded and I just waited for the right pitch and cut it in half for a 2-rbi single. Lastly, i came up with Bruno on second with one out. I was sticking with my same approach of getting a good pitch to hit and got it and hit a ball to left center scoring Bruno. Our team came ready to play today like they always do and it will continue to happen for the rest of the year.”

For the season, King is: .457/.527/.761.  Downes: .450/.500/.750.  Any questions?

·         The recent developments of both OF Victor Roach and P Lucas Giolito have really thrown the mock draft people into a dizzy. Both were locks to be in the top 10 picks overall and neither will now. Roach’s wrist looks to be more of an annoyance and I expect his game not to be affected, but Gio’s is much more. You don’t want to screw with anything in your pitching arm that uses the word “ulner”.

It really doesn’t matter to me who drafts him when. I can’t see any road for him to take now than to go to college, heal, and spend three years getting back to where he was two days ago. Jeez, life is weird.

Off the top of my head, the top 11 picks would now be:

1.     RHP Kevin Gausman

2.    C Mike Zunino

3.    OF Byron Buxton

4.    RHP Mark Appel

5.    SS Deven Merrero

6.    LHP Max Fried

7.    SS Carlos Correa

8.    OF David Dahl

9.    C Stryler Trahan

10.  RHP Walker Weickel

11.  RHP Kyle Zimmer

This would leave the Mets a number of ways to go… Roache, Lance McCullers, Brian Johnson, Hunter Virant, Albert Amora. Peter O’Brien, Matt Reynolds.

·         Speaking of… 3^rd team All-American Indiana 2B Micah Johnson, out for season with elbow surgery.

·         100 mph+ phenom, Oklahoma’s Damien Magnifico, had another bad outing on Wednesday. He faced one batter, gave up a hit, and was pulled for Jordan John to close it out. Magnifico’s seasonal ERA stands at 7.50

·         10 College Bats To Follow:

These are the guys that are lit up during the early part of the season:

Jayce Boyd -  Florida – junior – 1B - 38 AB, 18 H, 5 2B, 1 HR, 8 BB, 4 K, 2 SB, .474/.542/.684

Joey DiMichele -   Arizona State – junior – 2B - 38 AB, 21 H, 6 2B, 2 3B, 2 HR, 8 BB, 2 K, 2 SB, .553/.617/.974

Tyler Naquin - Texas A&M – junior – OF -  44 AB, 22 H, 4 2B, 1 3B, 9 BB, 5 K, 7 SB, 1 CS, .500/.569/.636

Peter O’Brien -   Miami – senior – C - 39 AB, 17 H, 4 2B, 4 HR, 4 BB, 8 K, .436/.500/.846

James Ramsey -  Florida State – senior – OF -  29 AB, 16 H, 2 2B, 1 3B, 4 HR, 16 BB, 4 K, 1 SB, 1 CS, .552/.729/1.103

Matt Reynolds -  Arkansas – junior – 3B -  44 AB, 18 H, 5 2B, 2 HR, 11 BB, 3 K, 4 SB, .409/.526/.659

Richie Shaffer – Clemson – junior – 3B/1B - 31 AB, 14 H, 4 2B, 4 HR, 10 BB, 5 K, .452/.585/.968

Cody Stubbs – Tennessee – sophomore – 1B -  40 AB, 18 H, 10 2B, 1 HR, 5 BB, 6 K, 1 SB, .450/.532/.775

Matt Wessinger – St. John’s – senior – SS/2B - 33 AB, 15 H, 5 2B, 1 HR, 5 BB, 4 K, 11 SB, .455/.526/.697

Mike Zunino – Florida – junior – C - 40 AB, 17 H, 5 2B, 3 HR, 6 BB, 6 K, 2 SB, .425/.489/.775

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