Draft 13 – Matthew Thaiss, Bryan Radziewski, Byron Buxton, Tyler Danish, Casey Shane

Matthew Thaiss, Jackson Memorial HS (NJ) - A left-handed hitter, the 6’-1”, 190-pound Thaiss has some power behind his swing, and he also has a good approach at the plate. Over 28 games as a junior, he hit seven home runs and drew 23 walks for a .481 OBP. He makes consistent contact and should develop even more power as he develops. Defensively, he has a strong, accurate arm with a quick release (1.87-1.91 pop times). He took on catching full time as a junior and threw out 11 base runners on throws that were barely four feet off the ground. He is a good athlete and a leader on the field. Committed to Virginia. link

Bryan Radziewski, LHP (Miami): Of all college lefties available, the Hurricane has quietly been one of the best. Radziewski may not be one of the most physically imposing starters (at 5’9″-10″, 195 lbs.), he has been outstanding through 56 innings. The left-hander has struck out 73 while allowing 16 walks and 28 hits, leading to a 0.95 ERA (2.70 FIP). He missed most of last year after having to go under the knife, which was a shame after a strong freshman year debut (92 K, 37 bb, 87 h in 91 IP). It’s funny how he is not spoken about as much in draft circles, aside from those that follow the college game closely. While I can’t say how well Radziewski’s stuff will translate to the minors, his ability to miss bats will certainly help him a lot. link

Dan Kirby‏  @DanMKirby

Byron Buxton goes 2-for-4 w HR, 2 RBI. Now hitting .388 over 24 G w/ 5 2B, 3 3B, 5 HR, 23 RBI, 21 BB, 10 SB, .510/.694

Durant HS (FL) Tyler Danish 7 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, 12 K/0 BB in a huge win. Has allowed zero ER over 76 IP w/ 127 K/12 BB, 26 H

Centennial HS (TX) RHP Casey Shane had 13 Ks over 7 IP in 3-1 win over Aledo HS. Now has 90 K/8 BB over 46.1 IP (17.5 K/9)

Draft Notes – Ty Hensley, Byron Buxton, Mark Johnson

Scouts are talking up RHSP Ty Hensley. Clocked last week at 93-96 into the 8^th inning and 77-79-CV.

One warning about drafting OF Byron Buxton. Buxton lives in rural Georgia and hits against inferior pitching in small high schools that are dominated by African-American players that have never been taught the fundamentals. I live in neighboring rural South Carolina and have scouted kids and schools like this. Most of the white kids go to “religious” schools, which is a parent’s excuse to not allow their sons to mix racially. This isn’t a racist statement; it’s just true. Moreover, baseball isn’t the sport of choice inside the African-American home and it is rare to see a father playing catch in the yard with their son. I have written about and followed kids that hit like this that were swinging at 75-mph straight fastballs. Just a warning.

Matt Grabusky/ MLB Draft Guide   and I both agreed on his site that Florida’s Mark Johnson just isn’t a first round pick in this draft. Matt felt that he should be an every day player instead, while my thoughts were based on scout chatter. The truth is others have simply passed Johnson by and there are only 31 slots in the first round. IMO, he is not one of the top 31 players in this draft.

Draft 2012: Byron Buxton, Devon Travis, Wilfredo Rodriguez, Christian Walker

3. Byron Buxton, OF, BR/TR, Appling County HS, Baxley, GA - Prior to each year's draft, baseball publications and websites shower the term "five plus-tools" on numerous prospects. In reality, a player who possesses five plus-tools is extremely rare. Buxton is an exception. Swift and graceful, he races down the line in a blazing 3.93 seconds. Buxton's exceptional speed and promising arm combine to make him an outstanding defensive centerfielder. Blessed with a loose, whippy swing, Buxton projects to hit for both average and power as he fills into his lanky, 6-foot-1, 175-pound frame. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/highschool/02/13/baseball.top.10.prospects/index.html#ixzz1mJYi8Rky  

Florida State JR 2B Devon Travis - Travis does everything well. Great athlete, excellent defensive instincts, plus speed, strong arm, and a pro-ready leadoff approach to hitting. I think his upside is that of a viable big league starter at second. The biggest concern I have comes down to what worries me about any second base prospect: in the event his bat isn’t strong enough to handle regular at bats, can he add value at any other position on the diamond? Florida State’s infield is excellent, so there hasn’t been the need to try Travis at anywhere besides second. If he can hold down the fort on the left side of the infield, his overall stock is upgraded due to the boost in his projected floor (utility infielder).  http://baseballdraftreport.com/

10. Wilfredo Rodriguez, Puerto Rico Baseball Academy (Gurabo, Puerto Rico) - Rodriguez has good feet, running many 60s in under seven seconds, which is good for a catcher. He has good arm strength, is very accurate and his footwork is also solid. His swing is simple and produces line drives, but he does bar his front arm and has a difficult time with good pitches on the outer half. He's signed on at Seminole State College. http://espn.go.com/blog/high-school/baseball/post/_/id/1148/stryker-trahan-is-nation%E2%80%99s-best-backstop

There were some lean moments in the middle of the season when Christian Walker struggled to get on base. He wasn’t striking out, though, but a few skeptics wanted to see Nick Ebert back in the lineup. Tanner had none of that and Walker’s average began to climb again against Ole Miss. He finished the season as the team’s third-leading hitter with a .327 average and nine home runs. The biggest of those nine came in Myrtle Beach in the Super Regional against Coastal Carolina. The blast, which traveled out of the stadium, helped propel the Gamecocks to the College World Series and eventually the first of two national titles. http://southcarolina.247sports.com/Article/Surpassing-Expectations-61859

Draft 2012: Mark Appel, Stryker Trahan, Michael Wacha, Ty Hensley, Byron Buxton

College Baseball Daily continues our countdown to the start of the 2012 College Baseball season by checking in on the Top 100 Players in the country. We will be providing one player per day until we reach number 1. We conclude the countdown today at number 1 with Stanford RHP Mark Appel. The San Ramon, California native attended Monte Vista High School. He was a two year letterwinner where as a senior he appeared in nine games with an ERA of 0.90 ERA in 31.0 innings. He gave up just 21 hits, striking out 45 and walking just six over five starts while going 4-0 with three saves. He was picked in the 15th round by the Detroit Tigers but decided to head to Stanford. http://www.collegebaseballdaily.com/2012/01/31/top-100-countdown-1-mark-appel-stanford/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+CollegeBaseballDaily+%28College+Baseball+Daily%29&utm_content=Google+Reader

Stryker Trahan, Acadiana (Lafayette, La.), Catcher, 6-1, L/R, Mississippi Mock drafts from last summer find Trahan near the bottom of the first round or nowhere at all. However a strong showing at the Area Code Games, where he was the event's leading hitter with a .600 average, has boosted Trahan into the mid-teens. Although he had just five home runs last season, Trahan is noted for his power. He also has a strong arm and is an athletic presence behind the plate. http://www.maxpreps.com/news/-8V2A0MeEeGkPgAmVebEWg/maxpreps-top-10-mlb-draft-prospects.htm

SP Michael Wacha  School: Texas A&M  Cl.: Junior, Ht.: 6-6, Wt.: 200  Hometown.: Texarkana, Texas  High school: Pleasant Grove The tallish and talented right-handed pitcher has had a pair of productive campaigns to begin his collegiate career. Now, as a junior, he’s a top prospect with a great changeup and fastball in the 92-94 mph range. In 2011, Wacha tallied a 2.29 ERA in 129 2/3 innings. Also struck out 123 and walked 30. http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=6498

Michael Wacha — 6’-6”, RHP, Texas A&M Wacha is a 6’-6”, 200 lb future workhorse at the next level. With an easy delivery, and sound mechanics, he should be able to eat up innings as a front of the rotation starter. His fastball can touch 95 mph, but not a lot of movement on it. His change has true plus potential and his curveball is still developing. Went 9-4 with a 2.29 ERA and 123 K/30 BB over 129.2 innings in 2011, allowing only three home runs. He also pitched for Collegiate Team USA, tossing 11.1 innings, allowing one run with 12 strikeouts to only three walks. http://www.throughthefencebaseball.com/top-50-draft-prospects-for-2012-25-thru-1/15694/

Ty Hensley, Santa Fe (Edmond, Okla.)  Hensley, an Ole Miss commit who was up to 94 mph at the Area Code Games in August, could pitch his way into the first round. Like McCullers, Hensley could end up pitching in relief, but he has a shot to start long term. http://espn.go.com/blog/high-school/baseball/post/_/id/1051/top-10-class-of-2012-right-handed-pitchers

A relative unknown until this summer, Byron Buxton was the star attraction at the WWBA National Championships and has been on a meteoric rise ever since. Baseball America even named him their top high school prospect for the 2012 MLB Draft. A talented quarterback on the gridiron, Buxton shows plus-plus speed, showing home-to-first times as fast as 3.96 seconds. He can pump it up to 94 MPH on the mound, giving him a plus arm in the outfield as well. But what scouts are really drooling over is his plus-plus bat speed. Buxton has extremely quick wrists and a fluid swing that should lead to him hitting for a high average and good power. He gets comparisons from every scout in America to Justin Upton and rightly so. Buxton has a legitimate shot to be the #1 pick in June and with a productive spring season certainly won't make it out of the top 5 http://diamondprospects.blogspot.com/2012/01/byron-buxton-draft-profile.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+DiamondProspects+%28Diamond+Prospects%29&utm_content=Google+Reader

Draft 2012: Byron Buxton, Trey Williams, Lucas Sims, LJ Mazzilli

Byron Buxton, Appling County (Baxley, Ga.), Outfield, 6-1, R/R, Georgia The only position player to get any consideration as the No. 1 pick so far among the mock drafts, Buxton's stock has risen considerably since last season. Regarded as a five-tool outfielder with great speed and a strong arm, he is also an outstanding all-around athlete, making the Georgia AA All-State Team as a defensive back. Most drafts have Buxton going among the top five picks. He is the top outfielder on the board and he will likely be the first or second position player chosen overall. http://www.maxpreps.com/news/-8V2A0MeEeGkPgAmVebEWg/maxpreps-top-10-mlb-draft-prospects.htm  

Trey Williams — 6’-1”, 3B, Valencia HS (CA) Williams is one of the best hitters in the draft, regardless of age. Has exceptional bat speed which allows the ball to jump off his bat. Tremendous power to all fields, he was once walked with the bases loaded as a sophomore. In 182 at bats over the last two seasons, he has hit 19 home runs, rarely getting a pitch to hit. Also a standout defensively at third where his strong arm and footwork will allow him to stay at the position in the major leagues. Without many holes to his game, he falls under the “can’t miss” category and is regarded as one of the safest picks in the draft. His father, Eddie Williams, played 10 season in the major leagues and was the fourth overall pick by the Mets in 1983. http://www.throughthefencebaseball.com/top-50-draft-prospects-for-2012-25-thru-1/15694/

 Lucas Sims, Brookwood (Snellville, Ga.)  Sims could head to Clemson, but he could also land in the top half of the first round of the draft thanks to a plus fastball and curveball. The breaking ball sits in the low-80s with good shape, depth and late break. http://espn.go.com/blog/high-school/baseball/post/_/id/1051/top-10-class-of-2012-right-handed-pitchers

2B LJ Mazzilli School: Connecticut   Cl.: Junior, Ht.: 6-1, Wt.: 190  Hometown.: Greenwich, Conn. High school: IMG Pendleton School  Mazzilli was hampered at times last season with an injury, but enters 2012 with a full head of steam and high expectations. The talented two-bagger is a solid defender and has a good bat. In 2011, he batted .338 with 23 doubles, three home runs and 32 RBIs. http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=6498

Draft 2012 – Hunter Virant, Brandon Thomas, Mike Wisecarver, Byron Buxton, Duane Underwood

 Hunter Virant — 6’-4”, LHP, Camarillo HS (CA)  One of the top prep lefties in the draft, Virant is a freak athlete who excels at just about everything on the baseball field. He hit .446 as a junior and has elite speed. His pitching abilities are what will make him a first round pick, however. Has four pitches that all grade out to at least average, and with his 6’-4”, 180 lb frame, has a lot of room for improvement. His fastball is his best pitch, sitting in the low 90s, and his curveball has serious potential. He is a gamer who plays his best during the biggest events and is a member of the U18 Team USA baseball. http://www.throughthefencebaseball.com/top-50-draft-prospects-for-2012-25-thru-1/15694/

Brandon Thomas / Georgia Tech / OF:  The Georgia Tech outfielder really stood out for me on a Wareham team I got to see numerous times (It’s the shortest trip for me). Thomas has very good raw tools and athleticism for a college player. He is a switch hitter with a nice looking swing from each side and possesses a quick bat and has above average power. His glove may end up a little short for centerfield given his size, but he’s a quality defender with good instincts and actions in the outfield. Thomas has a mix of tools, athleticism and polish that should make him an early round pick. http://mlbdraftinsider.com/2012/01/scouting-the-cape/#more-720  

Mike Wisecarver  LHP  Waterloo Bucks--Nicholls State   Mike went a perfect 6-0 and had was third in the league with a 1.91 era in 56.2 innings pitched. He allowed just 46 hits, walked 19 and fanned 44 this summer. PG ranked him as the 32nd best prospect in the league. http://www.collegesummerbaseball.net/2012/01/top-35-pitchers-in-northwoods-league_20.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter  

Byron Buxton — 6’-1”, OF, Appling County HS (GA)  Georgia is a hotbed for baseball talent, and Buxton may be the best of the bunch this year. His elite speed and strong, accurate arm will allow him to stay in center field at the next level. Has extremely quick wrists and an easy, fluid swing. Mainly a pull hitter right now, the power should develop with time. Buxton is one of those players with so much talent that his body isn’t ready for it yet. Justin Upton comes to mind when watching him play. http://www.throughthefencebaseball.com/top-50-draft-prospects-for-2012-25-thru-1/15694

Duane Underwood is the top pitching prospect hailing from the state of Georgia, which has been a great source of talent for big-league clubs over the years. He doesn’t have a ceiling as high as some of the most recent, including 2009 first-rounder Zack Wheeler, but he has enough potential that he could sneak into the first-round. Underwood is a lithe, athletic right-hander with a power arm that at first glance reminds a bit of 2010 first-rounder Taijuan Walker. He has great velocity, capable of reaching 97-98 mph, and the makings of an above-average curveball. In the field, he’ll be an above-average defender. http://mlbdraftcountdown.wordpress.com/2012/01/19/duane-underwood-rhp-pope-hs-ga/

Draft 2012: - Byron Buxton, Tyler Alexander, Addison Russell, Stryker Trahan

12-2-11: - http://mlbdraftcountdown.wordpress.com/2011/12/02/2012-mlb-mock-draft-updated-top-15-with-final-mlb-standings - 11) Oakland Athletics: Byron Buxton, OF, Appling County HS (GA) Baseball America’s top-ranked high school prospect heading into the 2012 season, Byron Buxton has already drawn comparisons to Justin Upton. That, and the track record of elite George prospects, including Brian McCann, Jeff Francoeur and Jason Heyward, should be enough to get him popped inside the top ten. Still, the 2012 draft is a long ways away, and there’s plenty of time for Buxton to either slide or for some other talented players to leapfrog him. The A’s would be incredibly pleased to get a player of his potential when their pick rolls around at No. 11. They would have loved to have had a shot at George Springer last year, so getting Buxton could easily be the next best thing. Or even better. Buxton is a veritable tool shed, possessing impressive hit and power tools, as well as having great speed and outstanding defensive range. It would be a shock if Buxton dropped out of the first round, and there’s even the chance that he could garner support for the No. 1 overall spot.

http://www.collegesummerbaseball.net/2011/12/top-25-pitchers-in-great-lakes-summer.html - 3.   Tyler Alexander   LHP   Hamilton---Hillsborough CC -  Tyler went 3-1 with a 1.71 era in 42 innings of work. He allowed just 26 hits, fanned 45 and held the opposition to a .178 batting average. He was named the leagues RHP of the Year. PG ranked him as their 2nd best prospect in the league, while BA ranked him #4 in the league.

http://mlbdraftinsider.com/2011/12/top-twelve-high-school-position-players/#more-602 11. Addison Russell / 3B / Pace HS (FL): Some will list Russell as a 3B/SS, but from what I saw in North Carolina, there’s no chance that he’s going to play in the middle infield. With that being said, he has above-average power with good bat speed, and should be a very good third-basemen at the professional level

Stryker Trahan’s athleticism at the catcher position is unparalleled now that Bryce Harper has moved to the outfield. He’s one of the few and far between five-tool catching prospects. At the plate, Trahan has some moving parts in his swing, but he has a quick bat that leads to a multitude of line drives. He possesses nice raw power from the left side of the plate. He also adds the speed dimension that you never see from a catcher. The best 60 yard dash that Perfect Game has seen from Trahan was 6.54, and that comes out to a 4.3 in the 40. He could be a legitimate 30 stolen base threat if he’s moved off catcher, but even if he stays at the position, his speed will certainly be an asset as it will allow him to not only swipe the occasional base, but also beat out infield hits and double plays balls because no one would expect a catcher to run as fast as he does. Trahan is still somewhat raw, especially in terms of his power, but he has superstar if not Harper-esque ability. http://rayscoloredglasses.com/2011/12/21/taking-an-early-look-at-the-catchers-in-the-2012-mlb-draft-part-1

Draft 2012: - Mike Zunino, Matt Price, Byron Buxton, Hamilton Joes

12-2-11: - http://mlbdraftcountdown.wordpress.com/2011/12/02/2012-mlb-mock-draft-updated-top-15-with-final-mlb-standings - 9) Miami Marlins: Mike Zunino, C, Florida  Last year’s draft broke the streak of having a catcher taken in the top 15 picks, but with Mike Zunino and several other talented catchers (Stryker Trahan, Clint Coulter, etc) on the board, it’s likely we’ll see a return to that trend. The 2012 draft would be the perfect time for a team like Miami, who has whiffed on every catching prospect since Charles Johnson, to finally fill the void that has been unsuccessfully filled for the better part of two decades. Doing it with a player from the state of Florida, and one who is deftly talented behind the plate and a force at it would be a perfect move.

We continue the countdown today at number 35 with South Carolina redshirt junior RHP Matt Price. The Sumter, South Carolina native attended Sumter High School where he had a solid senior year going 7-4 with a 0.40 ERA. He was listed by Baseball America as No. 3 best high school draft prospect out of state of South Carolina for 2008 as well as the No. 20 best overall draft prospect for the state of South Carolina. He had his freshman season (2009) cut short with a broken wrist suffered against The Citadel on March 31st. He finished the season with a record of 1-1 in seven appearances (one start) while collecting an ERA of 4.05 in 20 innings pitched. http://ht.ly/1gjNdz

http://mlbdraftinsider.com/2011/12/top-twelve-high-school-position-players/#more-602 - 1. Byron Buxton / OF / Appling County HS (GA): There are three players that are a candidate to rank first on the initial edition of the board, and Buxton is one of the candidates. The 6-2, 190 pound outfielder has lightening quick hands with gap power that should become plus as he grows, with a cannon for an arm and 70 speed. Of the many outstanding prospects I saw in Chicago at the Under-Armour All-American game, no one impressed me as much as this young man. The one concern at this point is that the level of competition he faces is sub-par, but that’s nitpicking, in my estimation. Buxton has the talent to be selected in the first half of the top ten, maybe even landing in Houston if things break the right way.

http://www.collegesummerbaseball.net/2011/12/top-25-pitchers-in-great-lakes-summer.html - 1.   Chuck Ghysels   RHP  Hamilton Joes---Maryland -  Chuck turned in a great summer while pitching for the Joes. He went 4-3, but had a great 1.98 era in 50 innings pitched. He allowed just 21 hits and he led the league with 62 strikeouts.  He was named the 7th best prospect in the league by PG and BA ranked him as the 10th best in the league.

Draft 2012: - Zeke DeVoss, Deven Marrero, Kyle Hansen, B J Zimmerman, Byron Buxton

7-19-11: - http://www.mlbbonusbaby.com/2011/6/29/2250656/early-look-at-2012#comments  - Zeke DeVoss, Miami, 5’9 1/2 170, L/L, gets on base, makes solid contact, 270 type hitter with fair power at best, good instincts and jumps in CF, enough arm to stick there, will goes as far as bat takes him. 4-7 round type guy at best for me.

9-8-11: - http://www.gacksports.com/65590/2012-mlb-mock-draft-update - 4. Seattle Mariners Deven Marrero Short Stop Arizona State You can make the case that Deven Marrero, Michael Wacha, or Nick Williams is worthy of being the #4 overall pick. Seattle usually takes college players over high school players. That leaves Devin Marrero and Michael Wacha by process of elimination. The Mariners are 17th in team ERA so you got to go with Marrero here.

http://www.redstormsports.com/sports/m-basebl/spec-rel/090811aaa.html   - Pitcher Kyle Hansen and outfielder Jeremy Baltz have both been named Top-30 prospects in the Cape Cod Baseball League, as announced by Baseball America. Hansen, who played with the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox, checked in at No. 22, while Baltz was listed as the No. 27 prospect after his season with the Falmouth Commodores. A Cape Cod All-League selection and a starter in the All-Star game at Fenway Park, Baltz (.321) was one of 15 players in the league that batted above .300 for the season. The outfielder had a league-best 13 doubles, and ranked third in RBI (23), fifth in on-base percentage (.434), tied for fifth in hits (45), seventh in slugging percentage (.457) and tied for eighth in runs scored (21). The outfielder also batted .393 (11-for-28) with two doubles and three RBI in seven playoff games as Falmouth, which finished fourth in the Western Division in the regular season, surged in the postseason and reached the Cape Cod Baseball League championship series. The Harwich Mariners, however, swept the Commodores in the best-of-three title series.

9-12-11: - http://www.collegesummerbaseball.net/2011/09/top-20-position-players-in-florida.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter  - In the six-team Florida Collegiate Summer League this summer, the Sanford River Rats downed the Winter Park Diamond Dawgs to earn them the title of FCSL Champions. Individually, there were at least 25 position players that turned in great seasons. Unfortunately, I had to narrow the list down to the top 20. - 2. B.J. Zimmerman 1B Winter Park—Tampa - Zimmerman, a big first baseman from the University of Tampa hit .355 in 110 at-bats this summer. A former Washington Nationals draft pick, B.J, led the league with 30 runs batted in and he also scored 20 for the Dawgs. He walked 21 times, stole 3 bases and smacked one double in the All-Star Game. He also hit .333, with 2 doubles in the playoffs. Perfect Game ranked him as the 18th best prospect in the league.

9-14-11: - http://mlbdraftguide.com/1/2011/09/12/byron-buxton-draft-profile  - Byron Buxton is the consensus top prospect from the state of Georgia. He shot up drafts boards over the summer and is now mentioned as a possible top 5 overall selection in the 2012 draft. Buxton is a two way prospect, pitching and playing the outfield. He shows promise as a hitter and pitcher, but his bat will be his ticket at the next level. He is a top athlete and plays quarterback for Appling County in the fall. His long frame will allow him to add strength as he matures. Buxton has quick hands and an easy swing. A pull hitter, he makes consistent solid contact. He has plus speed, clocked from 3.89 to 4.12 from the right side and at 3.18 on a steal. Buxton is solid in the field, aided greatly by his plus speed. With his speed and strong accurate arm, he should remain in centerfield longterm.

Draft 2012: - Travis Jankowski, Byron Buxton, Alex Bregman, Kevin Connolly, Walker Weickel

7-19-11: - http://www.mlbbonusbaby.com/2011/6/29/2250656/early-look-at-2012#comments  - Travis Jankowski, Stony Brook, 6’3 195 R/R, kind of player that grows on you, makes solid contact and runs very well, 6’5, 60 guy with plus arm strength, and raw strength to add more HR power once in pro ball. Sleeper to go in top 3 rounds in 2012.

8-15-11: - http://www.draftsite.com/article/High-School-Names-to-Know/94  - Byron Buxton – OF HT-6’3’’ WT-175 Appling County (GA) The 2012 class is showing itself to be slightly deeper than assumed and this is another sleeper in this class. Byron Buxton’s name has been shooting up boards towards the end of the summer. His breakout event was the East Coast Professional Showcase this year. He showed he could be a true five tool talent – he can also pitch and has hit 94 MPH, showcasing his strong arm. An outstanding athlete, his East Coast Showcase performance has made some scouts call Buxton a version of Justin Upton with more useable speed. That is high praise and makes Buxton a top name to watch.

8-24-11: - diamondscapescouting.  - Alex Bregman (mif, Albuquerque Acad., Albuquerque, N.M.) put together one of the more impressive at bats of the two-game series, working Ryne Stanek (rhp, Univ. of Arkansas) to a full count before squaring a lively fastball for a hard single. Bregman's at bat highlighted the utility of matching these top high school bats against college arms -- evaluators can get a look at how these prep talents approach more advanced arms.

8-28-11: - http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=6178  - It’s not often that a young prospect’s first experience with a Perfect Game event comes on what is arguably PG’s biggest stage. Guess it’s safe to say top outfield prospect Kevin Connolly doesn’t think small. Connolly, a 6-1, 185-pound senior at Omaha Creighton Prep, was at Perfect Game Field at Veterans Memorial Stadium – home of the Class A Midwest League Cedar Rapids Kernels – Saturday to participate in the 13th annual Perfect Game Midwest Top Prospect Showcase. The PG Midwest Underclass is being held in conjunction with the Midwest Top Saturday and Sunday. A right-handed hitter, Connolly is Perfect Game’s No. 1-ranked prospect in the state of Nebraska and the 285th nationally. He received a favorable scouting report and a 9.5 rating (out of a possible 10) at the National, and was hoping to ratchet his rating up to a perfect 10 this weekend. He took part in the outfield throw workout Saturday morning, and took BP and played in a game Saturday afternoon.

7-19-11: - http://www.mlbbonusbaby.com/2011/6/29/2250656/early-look-at-2012#comments  - Walker Weickel, Olympia HS, Orlando Fl, 6’6 195, top 15 candidate for 2012 MLB Draft, up to 93 this spring, not real overpowering but is deceptive and is unhittable when breaking ball is on, comes at you slightly cross his body from H 3/4 slow, can fill out to 220 in time.

Draft 2012: - Janzen Witte, Shane Watson, Stephen Perez, Byron Buxton, Cody Poteet

Janzen Witte:


7-19-11: - http://www.mlbbonusbaby.com/2011/6/29/2250656/early-look-at-2012#comments  - Janzen Witte, TCU, 6’1 195, R/R, quick bat with occ HR power, throws well, good glove to left and runs well once underway. Comes to play!


Shane Watson:


8-12-11: - http://www.prospectwire.com/pw/article.php?id=290  - RHP Shane Watson (6'4" 200, Bellflower, CA) also looked good, though is a tick below some of the other Brewers' pitching prospects. He could certainly come on though and emerge as a top five round type guy in the spring. He has a great frame, a good clean arm action and a patient delivery. His stuff looked to be in that 87-90 mph range, maybe a touch of 91 and he showed feel of the curveball.


Stephen Perez:


8-14-11: - http://mlbdraftguide.com/1/2011/08/10/the-good-the-disappointing-from-the-cape  - Stephen Perez, SS, Miami- Perez has the tools and has been mentioned as a possible pick towards the end of the first round in 2012, but his numbers haven’t lived up to his tools to this point. At the Cape, he put up a line of .233/.376/.300 with 44 strikeouts in 120 at bats. The walks are great, but the strikeouts and .233 average are discouraging.


Byron Buxton:


8-15-11: - http://www.mlbbonusbaby.com/2011/8/14/2362719/2011-under-armour-all-america-game-top-10-prospects  - 2011 Under Armour All America Game Top 10 Prospects - 6. Byron Buxton 2012 OF/RHP 6'2 170 Baxley, GA Appling County - Buxton is an impressive athlete. He is fast, has a great arm and can really hit. He could have 20-25 home run power. I'm not sure he can stay in CF. I haven't seen him enough to know, but if he can, he will be a very high pick.


Cody Poteet:


7-19-11: - http://www.mlbbonusbaby.com/2011/6/29/2250656/early-look-at-2012#comments  - Cody Poteet, Christian HS, Bonita Cal, 6’1 175, quick arm from 3/4 slot, touched 92, most were 89-90 with life in vs RHH, sink when down, cb was easy to read and very hittable, control was good, seemed to find bats however. Keep an eye on him.

2012 Draft: - Tyler Naquin, Jake Stewart, Jeremy Baltz, Byron Buxton, Anthony Bazanni

Tyler Naquin:


6-20-11: - http://bleacherreport.com/articles/740905-omaha-eye-openers-2012-mlb-draft-prospects-at-the-2011-college-world-series#/articles/740905-omaha-eye-openers-2012-mlb-draft-prospects-at-the-2011-college-world-series/page/ - Without a doubt, the Aggies top offensive player this season was OF Tyler Naquin, who could be a very interesting prospect on draft day next year. Naquin was a 33rd-round pick of Baltimore’s back in ’09, but honored his commitment to A&M, where he blossomed into one of the best hitters in the Big-12 this season. In 65 games, he hit .390 with a team-leading 23 doubles, seven triples and 65 runs. He also hit two home runs, drove in 44 runs, posted a 29:33 BB:K ratio and swiped six bases.


Jake Stewart:


7-21-11: - http://www.mockdraftmania.com/  - 26. San Francisco Giants Jake Stewart OF Stanford Jake Stewart is an outfielder for Stanford. His dad James played baseball at Virginia Tech before being a minor league player for the Minnesota Twins. His high school team won 3 straight state championships before being drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 14th round following high school. He won state championships in 2007 and 2008 while playing football and basketball in high school. Williams had a .511 batting average during his senior year of high school. Stewarts batting average peaked from .209 to .287 as a sophomore at Stanford. He should bat over .300 in 2012 possibly eclipsing the .350 batting average mark. Jake Stewart had 16 multi hit games and 5 consecutive multi hit games. Stewart got 3 hits against a Vanderbilt pitching rotation that was extremely deep with MLB talent in 2011.


Jeremy Baltz:


Jeremy Baltz (St. John’s)- He headed into the 2011 College Baseball season as one of the sophomores to watch. Jeremy got off to a slow start before settling in where he finished with a .311 average with six homers and 60 RBI. He has continued his hot hitting in the Cape this summer as he is hitting .310 with two homers and 21 RBI. - http://www.collegebaseballdaily.com/2011/07/29/2011-cape-cod-all-star-game-players-to-watch/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+CollegeBaseballDaily+%28College+Baseball+Daily%29&utm_content=Twitter  


Byron Buxton:


7-30-11: - http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=6082  - Byron Buxton (2012 OF/RHP, Round Trip Baseball)- From a town of 4,150 people, Buxton is a player that may have slipped through the cracks a couple of decades ago. The supremely athletic OF with plus plus speed is a two sport star for Appling County High School (also a star QB), preventing him from getting much exposure during the fall. When PG last saw Buxton he showed flashes of what he would become, in spite of going 2-for-14 as a RF the scouting notes suggested that he was capable of much more. In 2011 Buxton announced his presence as a big time prospect for the 2012 MLB Draft at the 18u and 17u WWBA National Championships. Buxton hit .393/.500/.675 and went a perfect 6-for-6 on stolen base attempts while also going 2-0 with a Save, allowing just three runs over 12 innings, striking out 16 and walking just three. Buxton’s fastball topped out at 94 mph, but his impressive arm strength is eclipsed by his blazing speed. Buxton posted phenomenal home-to-first times for a right handed hitter, with PG scouts clocking him between 3.96 and 4.12 seconds. With improving swing mechanics and quick hands, Buxton has a chance to develop into a legitimate 5-tool player and after his performance in Marietta, he will be followed very closely leading up to next year’s draft.


Anthony Bazanni:


7-19-11: - http://www.mlbbonusbaby.com/2011/6/29/2250656/early-look-at-2012#comments  - Anthony Bazzani, E Kentucky, 6’4 200, behemoth with good arm strength, low 90’s live sinker with hard 81-84 slider and throws strikes, a bit of a head jerk but it doesn’t hurt him. He’s pitching this summer in the Northwoods league for Mankato.