Draft Notes 5-30-12 – Matt Garrioch, Christian Walker, Richie Shaffer, Tyler Heineman

Jim Callis‏ -

Q: Smart to take Lucas Giolito and sign him regardless of cost b/c of his talent?

A: Never smart to sign anyone regardless of cost.

http://www.minorleagueball.com/2012/5/29/3048855/the-talent-in-the-2012-mlb-draft

All we have been hearing this year is that there isn't a lot of talent in this years' draft. Anyone who says that is wrong. There isn't superstar level talent that is easily identified and it comes with more risk. It's not that it isn't there. Lucas Giolito could slide out of the top 10 or even not get drafted. He could be a #1 starter in the majors in 5-6 years. Carlos Correa could be a 25 HR hitting shortstop or a great defensive 3B with a very good bat. Byron Buxton could be a perennial all-star. Mike Zunino could be a top 10 catcher in the majors. Max Fried could be a Clayton Kershaw type of arm. Marcus Stroman, Mark Appel, Kevin Gausman, Andrew Heaney and Kyle Zimmer could all be in major league rotations. That is talent.

http://www.crawfishboxes.com/2012/5/28/3039399/2012-mlb-draft-profile-christian-walker-1b-university-of-south

If there's one thing South Carolina has done well the last few years it's produce very good hitters. Oh, and win National Championships. A Junior at South Carolina, Walker follows the likes of Justin Smoak, 11 overall 2008, and Jackie Bradley Jr., 40 overall 2011, into the draft. Like those two players Walker has shown power and a good approach at the plate. Coming out of high school, in 2009, Walker was ranked the number one high school player for the state of Pennsylvania. He also participated and won the 2009 Power Showcase High School Home Run Derby At Tropicana Field in Tampa, Florida. Normally I wouldn't mention something like that, but it's note worthy because Bryce Harper was another participant in that competition.

http://natsgm.com/2012/05/28/2012mlbdraftpreviewthehitters/

Richie Shaffer 3B/1B Clemson University -> A quality all-around hitter in a draft year void of solid bats, Shaffer has solid power in his athletic frame and possesses a strong throwing arm.  Questions linger if he will remain at third base as a professional, some speculate a move to right field or first base, but his productive bat with solid power should entice a team to gamble on his bat within the first 20 picks.

 http://mlbdraftguide.com/

Tyler Heineman, C, UCLA, Junior - Heineman is a strong defensive catcher who should have some on base skills at the next level.  A switch hitter, Heineman is a patient hitter who looks to go back up the middle.  Power is not a big part of his game.  He is above average defensively and has a very strong arm.

Draft Notes 5-25-12 – Conference Champ Games, Carlos Correa, Christian Walker, Ty Moore, Richie Shaffer

America East Tournament, Game 4, Stony Brook, NY - #30 Stony Brook 7, Binghamton 4 – Brandon McNitt 6.0-IP, 2-ER, 3-K, 1-BB… CF Travis Jankowski  3-5, 2-R, 1-RBI… C Mike Danaher  204 , 3-RBI

Carlos Correa

What to Love:  When Jeff and I visited the practice field preceding the Perfect Game All-American Game last summer, there was one player that we agreed was the most impressive prospect of the bunch.  His name: Carlos Correa.  It’s not often you see a shortstop with a refined line drive approach, strong defensive skills and enough power potential to raise an eyebrow, yet that’s exactly what Correa represents.  This native of Puerto Rico may be the most impressive high school position prospect this side of Byron Buxton.  Though just about every tool in his game is impressive, it’s Correa’s bat that makes him special.  Correa takes a very direct route to the ball, using his quick hands to stroke liners all over the field.  He’s not an uber power prospect by any means, but Correa’s power with wood is already materializing and there’s plenty more to dream on for the future.  Correa’s actions in the infield are excellent and are only outdone by his arm-strength, allowing him to have tremendous defensive upside no matter what position he ends up at.

 Christian Walker

Walker has improved since coming to Columbia. In his freshman year, he was a solid hitter who earned freshman All-America honors en route to helping the Gamecocks earn their first national title. In his sophomore season, he became the team's premier bat, hitting .358 with a .554 slugging percentage en route to helping Carolina repeat. This year, his average has taken a slight dip to .338, but his slugging percentage remains at .553. Walker has also been effective in drawing walks over the course of his career, and only rarely strikes out. As the numbers suggest, Walker is an all-around excellent hitter who can hit for average and on-base percentage as opposed to just power. He hits the ball where it is pitched and can use his wrists to adjust well to moving pitches. He's also a very good fielder who can play both first and third base. To top it all off, he's tough, having played his way through injury in last year's CWS, and making some key plays while hurt, to boot.

Ty Moore

Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) - RHP, Senior - Previous Spot: Not ranked - What he’s done: Moore has been outstanding for the FAB 50 No. 7 Monarchs. He’s 11-1 on the mound with a 0.81 ERA ad 65 strikeouts in 60.1 innings, fanning 14 in a 3-1 win over Rio Mesa (Oxnard, Calif.) in the first round of the CIF Southern Section Division I playoffs. He’s also hitting .415 with three homers and 23 RBIs.

Richie Shaffer

Richie Shaffer brings a big bat with him to the plate, but he also is extremely patient and shows the ability to be a high-average hitter at the next level with his ability to drive the ball to all fields. He is hitting .344 through 56 games with 18 doubles, 10 home runs, 45 RBI and a 1.060 OPS. His 51 walks ranks him among the leaders in the nation, as well. He is also an outstanding first baseman who has made the transition over to third this year and could play either position at the next level. Has put himself in first round talks with his play this season. 

Sam Selman  - 89-93, 94, 81-82 CH, 88 2-seam

Hudson Randall - 86-88, 80-81 CH

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: Max Fried, Walker Weickel, Christian Walker, Mike Zunino

Max Fried, Harvard-Westlake (North Hollywood, Calif.), Pitcher, 6-4, L/L, UCLA The top high school lefthander in the draft, Fried's top pitch is his curveball, however he can also reach 94 on his fastball. He was 7-3 with 100 strikeouts in 69.2 innings pitched at Montclair Prep. Several mock drafts have Fried as the second high school pitcher chosen and the fourth pitcher overall. Expect Fried to go among the Top 10 selections. http://www.maxpreps.com/news/-8V2A0MeEeGkPgAmVebEWg/maxpreps-top-10-mlb-draft-prospects.htm  

Walker Weickel — 6’-6”, RHP, Olympia HS (FL)  With his long frame and pitching over the top, Weickel’s delivery is downhill and deceptive. His fastball hits 94 mph and should generate more velocity as he matures. With both his low-70s curveball and low-80s change-up projecting as plus pitches, he is one of the top arms in the draft. Another standout performer at the Pan Am Championships, he went 2-0 0.66 ERA with 12 K/2 BB over 13.1 innings for gold medal winning Team USA. Could find his way in the top-10 with another strong senior season. http://www.throughthefencebaseball.com/top-50-draft-prospects-for-2012-25-thru-1/15694/

1B Christian Walker School: South Carolina  Cl.: Junior, Ht.: 6-0, Wt.: 220  Hometown.: Limerick, Pa. High school: Kennedy-Kenrick  Walker’s stock as a prospect continues to rise, but his status as a college baseball player has been excellent for the past couple of seasons. Walker is a solid defender at first base and has a consistent bat. In 2011, Walker hit .358 with 10 home runs and 62 RBIs. http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=6498

We continue the countdown today at number 2 with Florida junior catcher Mike Zunino. The 6’2 220 pound backstop from Cape Coral, Florida attended Mariner High School playing under Steve Larsen. As a senior, he hit .464 with 43 hits, 37 RBI, 12 home runs and nine doubles while leading the team to the district title. He was selected by Oakland Athletics in the 30th round but decided to attend Florida. Zunino’s freshman season saw him play in 52 games (51 behind the plate) while hitting .267 with 41 RBI, 31 runs, nine homers and seven doubles. He was selected to Baseball America’s Freshman All-American Team and was a member of the SEC’s All-Freshman Team http://ht.ly/1h12Zz

Draft 2012: - Lance McCullers Jr., Tyler Kane, Sam Stafford, Christian Walker

12-2-11: - http://mlbdraftcountdown.wordpress.com/2011/12/02/2012-mlb-mock-draft-updated-top-15-with-final-mlb-standings - 5) Kansas City Royals: Lance McCullers, RHP, Tampa Jesuit Prep (FL)  McCullers has all the tools of a potential top-overall selection.  His fastball is one of the best in the class, his command looked better than ever this past season and he’s made impressive strides with his secondary pitchers. The reason he ranks ninth overall on Baseball America’s high school top 100, and the same reason he’ll likely slide on draft day is due to the uncertainty surrounding how long he’s going to remain a starter.  Few teams feel comfortable taking chances on risky players like that, but the Royals aren’t one of them. They have consistently thrown caution to the wind and ended up reaping the benefits of the blossoming of some guys who were considered “risky.”

12-9-11: - http://www.collegesummerbaseball.net/2011/12/top-20-pitchers-in-perfect-game.html  -   Tyler Kane   RHP   Mohawk Valley Diamond Dawgs---Washington -  Tyler had a great summer, but his most outstanding stat was that he walked just one batter in his 28 innings of work. He went 1-1, had an era of 1.93 and fanned 33 batters for the Diamond Dawgs. He was named a rising star by the league and Baseball America ranked him as the 4th best prospect in the league.

12-14-11: - http://ht.ly/1gaHyz  - We continue the countdown today at number 42 with Texas senior LHP Sam Stafford. The 6’4 190 pounder is from Spring, Texas and attended Klein Collins High School. He was a three-year letterwinner as a pitcher for Coach Kent Meador. As a senior, he was named second-team All-District 16-5A , a preseason Louisville Slugger All-American, and ranked as the No. 6 recruit in the state on Inside Prep Baseball’s Texas Top 25 list. The Boston Red Sox selected him in the 40th round of the 2008 MLB First-Year Player Draft but he decided to head to college to play at Texas. He saw limited action as a freshman in 2009 appearing in only three games without recording a decision with an ERA of 10.12 and one strikeout in 2.2 innings. In 2010, he made eight appearances, including seven starts, where he didn’t record a decision with a 2.61 ERA and 29 strikeouts (13 walks) in 20.2 innings of work.

12-15-11: - http://ht.ly/1gbS1F  - We continue the countdown today at number 41 with South Carolina junior infielder Christian Walker. The Limerick, Pennsylvania native attended Kennedy-Kenrick High School. As a senior, he hit .588 while being named to the 2009 Philadelphia Inquirer All-S.E. Pennsylvania team. He ended up drafted in the 2009 MLB Draft in the 49th Round by the Los Angeles Dodgers. He decided to spurn the Dodgers offer and head to South Carolina. Walker stepped right into the South Carolina as a freshman becoming an everyday starter appearing in 61 games (51 starts) while hitting .327 with nine homers and 51 RBI. He was named a Freshman All-American by Baseball America, College World Series All-Tournament Team and to the SEC All-Freshman Team.

Draft 2012: - Clate Schmidt, Christian Walker, Brandon Kuter, Robert Alexander, Chris Harvey

9-26-11: - http://mlbdraftguide.com/1/2011/09/19/clate-scmidt-2012-draft-profile -

Player:  Clate Schmidt

 Position:  RHP/SS

 School:  Allatoona HS, GA

 Date of Birth:  12/10/1993

 Height/Weight:  6’2/175

 Bats/Throws:  S/R

 Class Of:  2012

 Committed To:  Clemson

Scouting Report:

Clate Schmidt is one of the fastest rising pitchers eligible for the 2012 draft.  A legitimate prospect at both shortstop and pitcher, Schmidt’s performance on the mound over the summer has him pegged as a pitcher at the next level.

Schmidt’s fastball sits comfortably from 92-94 and has been as high as 96.  His low 80′s curveball shows true plus potential.

Schmidt has a low 3/4 arm slot with an extremely fast arm.  His delivery does have a bit of effort in it.

The son of a marine, Schmidt has very good work ethic and is a good bet to make the most of his talent.

9-21-11: - http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=6253 – David Rawnsley:  I'm a big fan of Christian Walker and have been since he was a junior in high school. He's not the type who will get mentioned at the top of the draft as a 1B like C.J. Cron (Utah) did this year but I think he's in the next tier....2nd/3rd round.....if he hits like he's proven he can and stays healthy.

9-21-11: - http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=6253 – How high can/will George Mason RHP Brandon Kuter go in the 2012 draft?  - I think a lot of that is dependent on how he does against better competition than he faced at the Atlantic League this past summer. Kuter is a big kid at 6-foot-7, 220 pounds, however he hasn't been consistent at GMU. Still, he's a guy that was 92-94 with his fastball this summer with a good slider. A definite guy that could be on the move should he establish some consistency.

9-1-11: - http://xmlbscout.angelfire.com   - Robert Alexander, Holy Trinity HS, Bronx NY, 6'2 200, loose with high leg kick delivery from 3/4 slot, changes speeds well, threw mid to upper 80's, most fb were 86 with late life middle out vs RHH and snapping cb that has downer action and straight change he teased hitters with first night out, was hit hard in medal round. Needs to have command and control at all times, will not be a power arm, but more of a finess guy like Mark Buerhle, has shot to be a good one in time. 2012 grad, 13-20 round type from cold weather area. Good attitude and smart kid.

9-27-11: - http://www.maxpreps.com/news/CjudeOgLEeC-rAAmVebEWg/chris-harvey-skips-senior-year-of-high-school-to-play-college-baseball.htm - It's a different world Christopher Harvey finds himself in today. The massive 6-foot-6, 210-pound all-American catcher out of Germantown Academy (Fort Washington, Pa.) has a lot of time to sort through, a schedule to keep — on his own — and no one hovering to remind him about studying. It's what any typical college freshman athlete endures. The major difference is that Harvey should be enjoying his senior year at Germantown Academy, biding his time and working towards being drafted in next June's Major League Baseball Amateur Draft.

2012 Draft Profile: - 1B - Christian Walker

Christian Walker



3-7-11: - http://bullpenbanter.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=390:college-baseball-weekend-03-observations&catid=18:articles&Itemid=11  - Player: Christian Walker College: University of South Carolina Position: First Base Bats/Throws: R/R


Height/Weight: 6'0" / 220 lbs. Short path to the ball Good piece of hitting, going the other way with 2 strikes Turns on inside fastball that caught too much of the plate, HR to left field



Ranked #188 in the 2012 Prospects List compiled by the All-American Athletic Foundation - http://allamericanfoundation.pointstreaksites.com/view/allamericanfoundation/news/mlb-2012-draft



5-22-11: - http://www.wrdw.com/sports/headlines/USCs_Walker_named_to__122423709.html  - South Carolina sophomore first baseman Christian Walker has been selected to the 22-man roster for the 2011 USA Baseball Collegiate National Team, it was announced on Sunday evening. It is the 11th time in school history for a player to be selected to the collegiate team and it is the second straight season a Gamecock has been on the team as Jackie Bradley Jr. played for the Red, White & Blue last year. Walker is in the midst of a strong sophomore campaign as he leads the Gamecocks with a .358 batting average (78-for-218) as well as a team-high nine HR and 57 RBI. His .573 slugging percentage also tops the squad. Walker is one of two Gamecocks this year to start all 56 games. His 57 RBI are second highest in the SEC. He is also third in the league in hits (78), fourth in runs scored (53), fifth in slugging percentage, home runs and total bases (125) and ninth in batting average. In addition, Walker hit .316 (37-for-117) in 30 SEC games and had eight doubles, a pair of homers and 24 RBI vs. conference teams.


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/9  - The South Carolina 2012 draft class kicks off with 1B/3B Christian Walker. After a stellar freshman campaign that saw him earn Freshman First-Team honors from Baseball America, Walker took up the offensive burden left when Jackie Bradley Jr. started the season terribly and then was lost with an injury for most of the season. Walker had an incredible offensive year, leading the Gamecocks with a .359 average, 60 runs, 18 doubles, ten home runs, 60 RBI and a .560 slugging percentage. In addition to his light-tower power, he is also an incredible athlete. In addition to third base, he also played first and catcher in high-school. He was clocked in the low 80s off the mound at a few Perfect Game showcases and he has good enough range to handle either first or third as a pro.


6-28-11: - http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/college/postseason/college-world-series/2011/2612014.html   - The Hero: Christian Walker was not in the starting lineup South Carolina coach Ray Tanner turned in about an hour before game time because of a broken hamate bone in his left wrist, which was diagnosed Monday morning. But he got treatment from South Carolina doctors before the game, hit three home runs in batting practice and found his way into the final starting lineup. He proceeded to go 2-for-5 with a double, a single and the game-winning run in the 11th


7-19-11: - http://baseballdraftreport.com/  - Christian Walker
2012
ranked 27th
University of South Carolina - FR – .327/.384/.518 – 18 BB/18 K – 226 AB SO – .361/.442/.556 – 32 BB/26 K – 241 AB •“plus hit tool with enough strength and loft to hit 20+ homers at next level” •“currently a shaky defender, but upside to be average”

Mike Zunino, Deven Marrero, Christian Walker, Michael Wacha, Mark Appel

Mike Zunino:


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/3  - C Mike Zunino, the reigning SEC Hitter of the Year, should also get some love after a season that saw him pace the Gators with a .376 average and 18 home runs. He finished second on the squad with 66 RBI. Behind the plate, he was excellent, making only two errors, good for a fielding percentage of .996. He was so good in fact that he forced freshman sensation Austin Maddox off of the position. Zunino was a former 30th-round pick back in 2009.


Deven Marrero:


7-9-11: - http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=6002  - Deven Marrero, SS, Arizona State - The 2008 National Showcase is well represented among this group, which includes Marrero, who continues to add strength, and subsequent power potential, to his lean, athletic frame. He has put up big numbers at the plate with a knack for the big hit, for both Arizona State and Team USA, since his freshman year. It was no surprise that when faced with a tie-breaker in the 10th inning of the first game played in Omaha, in which runners were placed at first and second, that Marrero was the choice of Manager Tim Jamieson to lead off the inning. Marrero is currently considered to be among the prospects most likely to be selected among the top 10 overall picks in next year's draft.


Christian Walker:


7-19-11: - http://baseballdraftreport.com/  - Christian Walker
2012 - ranked 27th  - University of South Carolina - FR – .327/.384/.518 – 18 BB/18 K – 226 AB SO – .361/.442/.556 – 32 BB/26 K – 241 AB •“plus hit tool with enough strength and loft to hit 20+ homers at next level” •“currently a shaky defender, but upside to be average”


Michael Wacha:


7-21-11: - http://www.draftsite.com/article/College-Names-To-Know/92  - Strengths – Another arm with great size and, like Appel, has room to grow into his frame. He is a good athlete for a pitcher. He has good mechanics, which he repeats well. He has a balanced delivery, solid arm speed, and his arm action is loose, producing mid to high 90’s heat. He also has a plus change with good sink, along with a curve ball. He uses his frame for leverage, throwing from a good downhill plane. He turns his back slightly in his delivery which causes him to throw across his body from time to time. However, he makes it work for him, adding deception and hiding the ball well from the hitters.


Mark Appel:


7-21-11: - http://www.mockdraftmania.com/   - 3. Kansas City Royals Mark Appel P Stanford The Kansas City Royals are in the bottom 5 in only one category. That category is team ERA. The Royals have the lowest payroll in MLB and usually lean towards the best player available. Mark Appel is a 6 foot 5 190 pound pitcher who pitches for the Stanford Cardinal. Last year Mark Appel was the top starter in the schools rotation. Appel only surrendered 2 home runs all season. Appel struck out 86 batters and went 6-7 while posting a 3.02 ERA after posting a 5.92 ERA as a freshman. The fact that his ERA was lowered by 2 runs is very impressive. Appel pitched a minimum of 6 innings in all 15 of his starts so consistency is a non issue with Appel. Appel pitched over 100 innings pitching 104.1 innings as a sophomore.

Christian Walker, Matt Reynolds, Victor Roache, Max Muncy, Chaz Frank

Christian Walker:


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/9  - The South Carolina 2012 draft class kicks off with 1B/3B Christian Walker. After a stellar freshman campaign that saw him earn Freshman First-Team honors from Baseball America, Walker took up the offensive burden left when Jackie Bradley Jr. started the season terribly and then was lost with an injury for most of the season. Walker had an incredible offensive year, leading the Gamecocks with a .359 average, 60 runs, 18 doubles, ten home runs, 60 RBI and a .560 slugging percentage. In addition to his light-tower power, he is also an incredible athlete. In addition to third base, he also played first and catcher in high-school. He was clocked in the low 80s off the mound at a few Perfect Game showcases and he has good enough range to handle either first or third as a pro.


Matt Reynolds:


7-9-11: - http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=6002  - Matt Reynolds, 3B, Arkansas - Reynolds didn't enjoy the season that his teammate Dominic Ficociello did at the University of Arkansas statistically, but he still proved to be plenty productive at the plate. For Team USA, he showed good actions at third base with a strong arm, and making a nice charging, bare-handed play against Team Japan. Reynolds also showed good bat speed at the plate, drilling a long single to right-center in the first game played on Friday.


Victor Roache:


7-19-11: - http://collegebaseball360.com/2011/07/19/roache-turley-take-weekly-cape-cod-league -honors - Cotuit slugger Victor Roache (Georgia Southern) has captured his second Player of the Week honor of this young season. Roache is the Cape League’s most fearsome hitter, ranking second in the league in both batting average (.367) and home runs (five), while leading the league in runs batted in (24). Roache added a home run and eight runs batted in to his totals over the course of six games this week, and failed to record a hit only once. His week was highlighted by a 2-4 performance versus Y-D, in which he homered, drove in four runs and scored two. Roache has taken the Cape League by storm this season, and continues to put up gaudy all-around numbers at the plate. In addition to the triple crown categories, Roache’s 33 hits are good for third best in the league, and his 22 walks are best in the league.


Max Muncy:


7-19-11: - http://baseballdraftreport.com/  - Max Muncy - 2012  - ranked 69th
Baylor University - FR – .300/.374/.500 – 24 BB/48 K – 230 AB - SO – .322/.428/.511 – 37 BB/36 K – 227 AB •“far from the prototypical slugging first base prospect” •“good athlete, good defender, average runner” •“line drive machine who specializes in squaring up and making consistent solid contact” •“development of power will make or break him…bat currently profiles as much better at his high school position [catcher]“


Chaz Frank:


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/8  - While he is definitely undersized (5'10", 160 lbs), OF Chaz Frank might get some attention if he can put together a better season that he did this year. He hit .278 and finished tied for the team lead with three triples. Like most Tar Heels, he too posted more walks (41) than strikeouts (31) and also showed good speed on the basepaths, swiping 10 bases in 13 tries.

Christian Walker, Hoby Milner, Gavin Cecchini, Patrick Weathers, Trey Williams

Christian Walker:


7-8-11: - http://mlbdraftguide.com/1/2011/07/09/christian-walker-2012-draft-profile  - South Carolina games were must see in 2011 because of Jackie Bradley Jr. Tuning in to watch the Gamecocks, the first player that jumped out to me was first baseman Christian Walker. Walker’s bat stands out, but he is also a good all around player. Walker is not just a power hitter, he is a good hitter. He goes to the plate with a good approach, takes pitches, and hits the ball where it is pitched. He has quick hands and is able to turn on inside pitches. Walker also looks good defensively at first base. After breaking the hamate bone in his left wrist at the College World Series, Walker was expected to miss the finals against Florida. He was able to deal with the pain and play with the injury, adding toughness to his resume.



Hoby Milner:


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/4  - The Longhorns produce more big leaguers than almost any other NCAA program, and next year will be no different. While there won’t be any players of Taylor Jungmann’s caliber, there will be a decent group of veterans led by LHP Hoby Milner. Milner was one of the Longhorn’s hardest working players this season, making nine starts and 21 relief appearances. He finished third on the team with seven victories and notched an impressive 2.53 ERA and struck out 60 in 81.2 innings. Milner also excelled out of the bullpen in 2010, posting an ERA under 2.00 and about one strikeout per inning. The scrawny (6'2", 165) left-hander was drafted back in 2009 by the Nationals in the 44th round.


Gavin Cecchini:


7-7-11: - http://mlbdraftguide.com/1/2011/07/07/gavin-cecchini-2012-draft-profile  - Gavin Cecchini comes from a baseball family and it shows on the field. His father Glenn is the coach at Barbe and played in college, while his brother Garin was chosen in the fourth round of the 2010 draft by the Red Sox. Gavin’s mother is also a good athlete and played basketball in college. Cecchini is an athletic shortstop and good all around player. He has a nice, simple swing with good bat speed. He barrels the ball regularly and shows flashes of power. Cecchini has good range and a solid arm at short. He runs a 6.6 60.


Patrick Weathers:


6-30-11: - http://www.prospectwire.com/pw/article.php?id=268  - Patrick Walther, 2B/OF, 2013, Tequesta, FL - All-American Prospects (South FL Team) - The 6'0/175 pound Jupiter native has shown versatility on defense, bouncing between the infield and outfield. When you see a player bouncing around on defense, it's usually a good sign that the player's bat is too good to not have in the lineup. Coaches will usually find some kind of spot to put a player, whether that is 2B or the OF in Walther's case. And that theory holds true for Walther, who shows batspeed, pop, and some juice to all fields. Walther is an above average runner for his age, clocking in at 7.1 at last year's JOs as a freshman.


Trey Williams:


7-9-11: - http://diamondprospects.blogspot.com/  - The son of former first-round pick Ed Williams, Trey is a true 5-tool player at 3rd Base. He is as physically gifted a baseball player as there is and he compliments it with a great hitting approach at the plate. He already has a plus hit tool and shows monster power to all fields. Williams hit a towering opposite field home run in game action at PG National and he should have no trouble adjusting to wood bats as a pro. He has average speed but has quick reactions in the field and grades out as plus at the hot corner with at the very least an above-average arm. I believe he has the upside of a more athletic Mark Texeira when he was drafted and the Pepperdine commit should be drafted within the top 10 picks of the 2012 draft

Christian Walker, Colby Holmers, Brandon Thomas, Hudson Randall, Jesse Winker

Christian Walker:


6-28-11: - http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/college/postseason/college-world-series/2011/2612014.html - The Hero: Christian Walker was not in the starting lineup South Carolina coach Ray Tanner turned in about an hour before game time because of a broken hamate bone in his left wrist, which was diagnosed Monday morning. But he got treatment from South Carolina doctors before the game, hit three home runs in batting practice and found his way into the final starting lineup. He proceeded to go 2-for-5 with a double, a single and the game-winning run in the 11th






Colby Holmes:


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/9 - RHP Colby Holmes was the Gamecock’s Sunday starter this season, and he benefited from having one of the best defensive units in the country. He went 7-3 with a 3.78 ERA in 12 starts (17 total appearances) and posted a 70:20 K:BB ratio in 81 innings. Holmes has strung together a couple of gutsy efforts in the regionals and figures to get at least one more start before the season is through. Holmes throws in the low 90s and has always gotten rave reviews for his great command, but his breaking stuff isn’t all that impressive, as evidenced by the 12 home runs he surrendered this year. Holmes is also a former ’09 draft pick, in the 47th round by the Atlanta Braves.


Brandon Thomas


6-23-11: - http://baseballdraftreport.com - Georgia Tech SO OF Brandon Thomas
.322/.434/.449 – 38 BB/40 K – 20/23 SB – 205 AB - It’s easy to see why Thomas has drawn favorably comparisons (by me) to former Georgia Tech outfielders Charlie Blackmon and Danny Payne. A quick rundown of his biggest positives: above-average range in a corner spot, an arm strong enough for right field, good speed that he knows how to use, gap power with a chance for more, excellent athleticism, and a pro ready body (6-3, 205 pounds). It can sometimes be difficult to pinpoint a good prospect a year ahead of the draft, but tools like that combined with really strong production at an outstanding college program make this whole prognostication thing a lot easier.


Hudson Randall:


6-28-11: - http://baseballdraftreport.com - Randall’s upside isn’t in the same league as many of his sophomore year contemporaries, but his average across the board raw stuff is underrated by many. Maybe he is a sinker/slider reliever long-term, but there could be some teams that value his plus command and his ability to keep four different pitches at or below the knees consistently enough to keep him as a starter






Jesse Winker:


6-28-11: - http://mlbdraftguide.com/1/2011/06/26/jesse-winker-2012-draft-profile - You hear stories about players growing up with a batting cage in their backyards. Jesse Winker is one of those players. The work in the cage has paid off as Winker is one of the top high school hitters eligible for the 2012 draft. Winker is a patient hitter with a solid approach at the plate. He has good power and drives the ball to all fields. WInker’s bat speed is excellent. In the field, Winker has a strong accurate arm that will play in right field. He gets good jumps on balls when they come off the bat. Winker shows up ready to play at every event in which he takes part. With his hard work and dedication, he is sure to stay high on draft boards