Draft 13 – Dane McFarland, Corey Simpson, Ryan McMahon, Daniel Ayes, Rowdy Tellez

Dane McFarland, OF, JSerra HS (CA) - The season didn’t turn out as expected for the 6’-4” right-hander, He broke his hand in a winter game, missed almost half of the season and saw his team go 10-13. He hit .281 over 12 games with a .425 OBP and stole five bases but didn’t record an extra-base hit as his power was limited recovering from the injury. When healthy, he is a quick-twitch athlete with excellent bat speed and raw power. He also is an above-average runner, timed at 6.5 in the 60. Without scouts getting a good look at him this year, he could slip in the 2013 MLB draft and be a great value pick in the third round. If he is still there when the Cubs pick at 77, he could be a nice pick up. Committed to Oregon. link

Corey Simpson, C, Sweeny HS (TX) - Over his last six games, the 6’-3”, 220-pound right-hander has gone a ridiculous 15-for-18 (.833) with two doubles, a triple, three home runs, 14 RBI and has drawn three walks for a .857 OBP/1.556 SLG. On the season, he is now hitting .578 with 11 doubles, 10 home runs, 39 RBI and has drawn 16 walks to just five strikeouts over 24 games for a .659 OBP/1.183 SLG. A very good defensive catcher, there is obviously a ton of offensive upside, as well, with his size, power and approach at the plate. He may, however, outgrow the position. Committed to Houston. link

Like most of the players on this list, Ryan McMahon enters the draft having split time between football and baseball in high school with designs on continuing just in baseball if he goes to college or in the pros.  McMahon is committed to USC for baseball, but considering that he has decided to focus on it exclusively, you can sense that he is hoping that he hears his name called soon enough to make things worth it for him, financially speaking, to forego the bright lights of Southern California. link

Dan Kirby ‏ - @DanMKirby  - Columbus HS (IN) 6'-3" LHP Daniel Ayers on Tuesday: 7 IP, 0 ER, 3 H, 16 K/2 BB. Now has 72 K/18 BB, 14 H over 37 IP (17.5 K/9)

Elk Grove HS (CA) 6'-4" (L) Rowdy Tellez' last 11: .621 w/ 9 2B, 3 HR, 18 RBI, 7 SB, 10 BB/0 K, .738 OBP/1.241 SLG

Draft 13 – Corey Simpson, Mikey Reynolds, Jarrett Arakawa, Jonathan Denny, Phillip Ervin

Corey Simpson, Sweeny HS (TX) - More offense than defense, the 6’-3”, 220-pound Simpson does make for a big target behind the plate and is solid enough defensively to be given a shot to stick behind the plate. Offense is where he shines, though, as he is hitting .578 over 24 games with 11 doubles, 10 home runs, 39 RBI and has drawn 16 walks for a .659 OBP/1.183 SLG. He has tremendous power from the right side and has a good understanding of the strike zone — as many catchers seem to possess. Committed to Houston. - link

Mikey Reynolds, SS (Texas A&M): While he might not have a ton of power, the 5’9″ senior has shown off a strong approach this year. After transferring over from Paradise Valley CC last year, Reynolds posted a .306/.417/.403 line in 58 games with 21 SB (2 caught). Reynolds did struggle a bit in the Northwoods League this past summer however, hitting .246/.362/.339. He’s made some noticeable adjustments this year, hitting .388/.453/.442 (.444 wOBA) in 33 games, with a 14:11 bb to k ratio (and 12 SB). If he can manage to keep it up (and be a capable defender), he should be an interest bat-first middle infielder on Day Two. link

JARRETT ARAKAWA, lhp, University of Hawaii. Following a strong sophomore season at the University of Hawaii, Arakawa earned all-Cape Cod League honors over the summer and appeared poised to become the top pick out of the Aloha State in this draft. But he suffered a torn labrum and missed his entire junior season. The nature and timing of that injury make him a longshot for this draft, but he's a player that organizations will keep tabs on as he attempts to make the arduous recovery.  link

Jon Denney | C | Yukon HS (Yukon, OK) - Height/Weight: 6-foot-2/200 pounds B/T: R/R Draft Day Age: 18y 8m - In a deep draft for high-school catchers, Denney boasts the highest offensive ceiling of the bunch. A strong and solid 6-foot-2, 200-pound frame and compact, powerful swing help Denney to produce legit plus power to all fields, which he taps into both during batting practice and in games. He shows solid balance throughout his swing and is generally quiet in his head and hands. A well below-average runner, Denney’s offensive game relies primarily on brute force, but the swing is controlled enough, and the feel genuine enough, for the hit tool to project to average or better, as well. link

I like Phillip Ervin a lot. Is it crazy to suggest that he’s a little teeny tiny bit like the college version of everybody’s favorite high school hitter, Clint Frazier? Both are praised for, in order, their 1) electric bat speed, 2) well-rounded overall skill sets, 3) above-average arm strength (pre-injury for Frazier), 4) picture perfect pro-ready swings, 5) above-average speed on the base paths, and 6) advanced pitch recognition skills. The main concern for both is that they are maxed-out physically. Additionally, both can hack it in center (Ervin more than Frazier), but profile best defensively in right field (again, assuming Frazier’s bum arm bounces back in time). This is all far too simplistic a comparison and I’m clearly not taking into account the crucially important differences in their hair, but you can kind of see how the two share some things if you keep an open mind, right? link

Draft 13 – Aaron Judge, Corey Simpson, Clint Frazier, Collin Moran

Aaron Judge, OF, Fresno State - Over his last 17 games, the 6’-7” right-hander has gone 28-for-66 (.424) with seven doubles, a triple, four home runs and has stolen five bases. He has also drawn 10 walks for a .500 OBP/.742 SLG. He is now hitting .347/.434/.597 over 37 games. His long swing leads to a lot of strikeouts but the power potential is scary with his size.  link

Dan Kirby  @DanMKirby 

Sweeny HS (TX) 6'-3" 220 lb C- Corey Simpson over 24 G: .578 w/ 11 2B, 10 HR, 16 BB/5 K, .659 OBP/1.183 SLG. Possible #Cubs target

The Player: Clint Frazier (OF, Loganville High School) – Hit .424 with 24 home runs, 55 runs scored, 58 RBI, 14 steals and 31 walks as a junior in 2012. Broke Brandon Moss’ single season school record for RBI and home runs and also set the school mark for runs scored. Already owns the career home run mark at Loganville and has almost doubled Moss’ previous school best. As of April 8th, Frazier was hitting .561 with 11 home runs so far this season. - link

Collin Moran - Contact/Approach - You won't see too many "grip and rip" hitters at North Carolina, and Moran is no exception. He has plus pitch recognition and a line drive swing that should allow him to hit for a high average as a professional. Power - Moran's power was a major question mark coming into the year, but he's turned it on this season. If he had to move to first, his power production would probably be below-average, but at the hot corner he should get enough extra-base hits. link

2013 Draft-Notes - Dominic Tiberi, Walter Wijas, Mark Appel, Corey Simpson, Cape Cod Results

Dominic Tiberi, OF, Dublin Coffman HS, Class of 2013 - 6-foot, 189-pound outfield prospect. Registered a 6.87 60-yard dash. From the outfield, the lefty uses long arm action through a high ¾ arm slot. Reaches a top velocity of 79 mph. Shows athletic actions in the field. At the plate, he hits from the right side. Uses a slightly open stance with a short stride. Uses a short, compact swing. Can be a little stiff at times, but generates solid contact with pull power. PBR

Walter Wijas, RHP, Hyannis Harbor Hawks (Kansas) - Reliever mechanics with effort. Long in back arm action and hitters get a good look at the ball early. Primary FB is a 2 seam with strong run and sink. 86-89. Shallow, power cut SL 77 that he showed some confidence in. CU had good drop 84. Kept the ball down well. BB

Player:  Mark Appel -  Position:  RHP   School:  Stanford   Date of Birth:  /15/1991  Height/Weight:  6’5/210  Bats/Throws:  R/R  2013 Class:  Senior  Drafted:  2012, 1st Rd, Pirates  Drafted:  2009, 15th Rd, Tigers Scouting Report: For the report, go to: BLF

Corey Simpson  a 6-foot-3, 220-pound righthanded slugger, stole the show at Blair Field in the first day of one of the premier events on the summer amateur circuit. In four trips to the plate, he went 2-for-3 with four RBIs, leading the Rangers (representing Texas and Louisiana) to a come-from-behind 5-4 win against the Reds (the Four Corners and Hawaii).A first baseman/catcher committed to Houston, Simpson lined a sacrifice fly to center field in the first inning, then drove a fastball into the right-center gap for an RBI double in the third. But he saved his best for last, crushing a towering two-run homer to dead-center on an 89 mph fastball from Ryan Castellani in the eighth. Even college players swinging metal bats seldom hit home runs in spacious Blair Field—to any part of the park—so Simpson's majestic shot to center field with wood drew plenty of oohs and ahhs. http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/draft/2012/08/area-code-games-notebook-day-one/  

Kendall Rogers‏ - TAMU commit  Kohl Stewart 92-93 early, 86-87 slider, 85 Chg. Everything hard…

David Rawnsley‏ - RHP Derek Beauprex  - 90-92 in 1st IP, 75 CB, HBP/BB to start but settled down nicely… Sweeny (TX) C/1B Corey Simpson very impressive, 2B to RCF, plus bat speed, very athletic for 6-3/220… reason why I don't like stats for low-level prospects is because how good of a season they are having is irrelevant. Scouts could care less if a player is hitting .350 at Low-A. Scouting is about projecting, not evaluating the current product… Hawaii OF Marcus Doi turns around 91 mph … RHP Casey Shane FB to LF, 101 mph off the bat. Very good hitting prospect… Marcus Doi continues to rake, 3B to RCF, 102 off the bat, serious bat speed.

Aaron Fitt‏ -  SS Eric Garza, a TCU recruit, has made strong 1st impression with speed, athleticism, base running, defense. Brilliant diving play up middle

Todd Gold‏ -  Impressive showing from 2013 RHP Kohl Stewart (Houston, TX). 3 shutout innings, allowed just 1 hit. FB up to 94, nasty SL, promising CH  

In perhaps the most exciting game of the season, featuring 5 lead changes, a homerun record and a dramatic 9th inning blast, the Wareham Gatemen outlasted the Falmouth Commodores; winning 9-8 in the final regular season matchup between the two Western Division rivals  - for all the results - http://www.gatemen.org/