David Dahl, Oak Mountain
(Birmingham, Ala.), Outfield, 6-2, L/R, Auburn The 2012 draft is strong on high
school outfielders and Dahl is one of the best when it comes to defense. He has
good speed with a strong arm. He batted .316 for Team USA 18U this fall at the Pan-American
Games. He only had three extra-base hits in the tournament and had just two
home runs in his junior year at Oak Mountain. More of a contact hitter, Dahl
rarely strikes out. He is expected to go anywhere between 15-25. http://www.maxpreps.com/news/-8V2A0MeEeGkPgAmVebEWg/maxpreps-top-10-mlb-draft-prospects.htm
Gavin Cecchini —
6’-1”, SS, Barbe HS (LA) An incredibly gifted athlete, Cecchini hit .402 with
six home runs, 43 RBI and stole 53 bases as a junior for Barbe last season. Was
the MVP of the Under Armour All-American game and is a regular on every major
summer team. His swing has few moving parts and his balance allows him to make
consistent contact. Has gap power and the potential to be a major run producer
to go along with elite speed. Has the arm, range and footwork to maintain the
position but could move to second or third because of his bat. Brother Garin
was a fourth-round draft pick by the Red Sox in 2010. Led U18 Team USA with a
.469 average at the Pan Am Championships, adding 10 RBIs and eight stolen bases
while playing a flawless second base. Extremely high understanding of the game.
Cecchini is the 12th member of the gold winning U18 Team USA to make the list,
showing just how impressive the assembled cast was. http://www.throughthefencebaseball.com/top-50-draft-prospects-for-2012-25-thru-1/15694/
SS Deven Marrero School:
Arizona State Cl.: Junior, Ht.: 6-1,
Wt.: 194 Hometown.: Davie, Fla. High school: American Heritage Marrero solidified himself as a top prospect
as a sophomore last season and could be the top pick in this summer’s MLB
draft. Marrero is an excellent defender and has a fantastic arm. Additionally,
he has a ton of upside at the plate. Hit .315 with two home runs and 20 RBIs
last season. http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=6498
Kyle Twomey is one of the
more interesting lefthanders eligible for the 2012 draft. At 6’4/165, he has a great deal of
projection. Twomey has a nice easy
delivery with a 3/4 arm slot and good arm speed. Twomey has a four pitch repertoire; two seam
fastball, circle change, slider, and curve.
His fastball has good sink, is comfortably 89-91 and can touch 92. More velocity should come as he matures. His change has the potential to be a true
plus pitch. His curve has good break and
shows plus potential. Twomey is a polished pitcher and knows what he is doing
on the mound. He pounds the strikezone
with three quality pitches. His
development in the spring will be watched closely. http://mlbdraftguide.com/
RP Marcus Stroman School:
Duke Cl.: Junior, Ht.: 5-9 Wt.: 185 Hometown.: Medford, N.Y. High school: Patchogue-Medford Stroman certainly isn’t the most intimidating
pitcher in college baseball with his smallish size, but his stuff is electric.
The righty dazzled observers at the Cape Cod League over the summer with his
95-98 mph fastball and outstanding slider. In 2011, Stroman had a 2.80 ERA in
64 1/3 innings. http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=6498
David Dahl — 6’-2”, OF, Oak Mountain HS (AL) Dahl is another member of U18 Team USA, and
his recent play has his stock soaring up draft boards. He hit .364 with 11
runs, nine RBI and seven stolen bases batting leadoff for Team USA, while also
playing stellar defense in the outfield at the Pan Am Championships. The lefty
is one of the purest hitters in the draft, and his short, level swing allows
for consistent contact, which projects to a high average hitter. Runs a 6.5/60
and should be a real threat on the base paths. Aside from his offensive prowess,
Dahl also has a plus arm, and coupled with his speed and high baseball IQ,
should be among the top 15 picks in the draft. http://www.throughthefencebaseball.com/top-50-draft-prospects-for-2012-25-thru-1/15694/
Lance McCullers,
Jesuit (Tampa, Fla.), Pitcher, 6-2, L/R, Florida If there's a high school
pitcher out there capable of breaking up the Harvard-Westlake monopoly it's
McCullers. Ranked by at least two services as the No. 1 overall pick in the
draft, the consensus is that the Jesuit standout will be the fifth overall
pitcher chosen and the third among the prep pitchers. McCullers is reported
with three plus pitches, including a changeup, a curve and a fastball that has
reportedly reached 100 but is consistently in the mid 90s. http://www.maxpreps.com/news/-8V2A0MeEeGkPgAmVebEWg/maxpreps-top-10-mlb-draft-prospects.htm
12-2-11: - http://mlbdraftcountdown.wordpress.com/2011/12/02/2012-mlb-mock-draft-updated-top-15-with-final-mlb-standings - 14) Cincinnati Reds: Jake Barrett, RHP, Arizona State The Reds have a large cache of position talent, but are severely lacking in the pitching department. Arizona State right-hander Jake Barrett can help shore that up, as well as reach the majors rather quickly. The Reds last dip into the Arizona State well with Mike Leake worked out pretty well. The Blue Jays selected Barrett back in 2009 in the third-round. Toronto was so high on him back in 2009 because he had a big-league body (6’3″, 225 lbs), a good fastball (90-94 mph) and two pitches (curveball and splitter) with above-average potential.
http://mlbdraftinsider.com/2011/12/top-twelve-high-school-position-players/#more-602 4.David Dahl / OF / Oak Mountain HS (AL): Dahl is sort of the anti-Willams — not to say that he isn’t a talented player — in that the upside isn’t as high as most of the players listed below him, but his makeup and IQ are in the upper-echelon of prospects. A plus runner who hits from the left-side, Dahl should hit plenty of doubles with his line drive stroke and may have the best approach of any prep player in the class. He reminds me of a poor mans Dustin Ackley, and you could do far worse than that.
Tom Murphy has nice speed for a catcher, running a 6.75 in the 60 (like a 4.47 in the 40), and he is quick behind the plate as well, but his arm is just solid-average and it has been inaccurate at times. He blocks balls well behind the plate, but he still needs a lot of work. Evaluation: Murphy’s power potential makes him an intriguing prospect, but his just solid plate discipline and tendency for strikeouts limit him a bit and so does his inconsistency behind the plate. Murphy is a second to third round prospect, and if he fails to stay behind the plate, the Rays will have to consider him with their second or third pick in the draft because of his power. http://rayscoloredglasses.com/2011/12/21/taking-an-early-look-at-the-catchers-in-the-2012-mlb-draft-part-1
12-2-11: - http://mlbdraftcountdown.wordpress.com/2011/12/02/2012-mlb-mock-draft-updated-top-15-with-final-mlb-standings - 15) Cleveland Indians: David Dahl, OF, Oak Mountain HS (AL) With Grady Sizemore on the outs, the Indians will be looking for a player capable of filling the very large space left in centerfield by the veteran outfielder. David Dahl isn’t going to get to Cleveland in two or three years, but he’s as talented an outfield prospect as there is next to Byron Buxton. Perfect Game calls his bat “of the highest level,” and even Baseball Americaconcedes that his bat right now is better than Buxton’s. The only reason Dahl isn’t considered the top overall high school position player isn’t because he’s lacking something; it’s because scouts are that in love with Buxton. Still, he would be an excellent pick up down here at pick 15.
10-28-11: - http://orioles-nation.com/2011/10/26/wwba-2012-highlights - Tanner Rahier (Indian Wells CA; Palm Desert HS) – Good frame and solid build. Borderline violent pull swing with solid bat speed, but still remains in control that he can square up at a high rate. Generates a lot of torque and can drive the ball with power, even with a line drive to ever so slight uplifting swing. He shows the arm to play at third base with nice footwork setting up for a balanced release. He will not wow defensively, but should be above average at the hot corner.
11-9-11: - http://diamondprospects.blogspot.com/2011/11/kevin-gausman-draft-profile.html - Kevin Gausman was one of the best prep prospects just two years ago, but he dropped to the 6th round of the 2010 draft and decided to go to LSU. He became the most reliable starter on the staff in his Freshman year and is now a potential Top-10 pick as a draft-eligible Sophomore. With a great K/BB ratio, Gausman shows great command of a mid-90's fastball that runs in on righties. Shaky secondary pitches are one reason Gausman dropped coming out of high school and he has worked hard to improve those pitches. His efforts are paying off as he now possesses a plus curveball and a developing change that projects as above-average. With LSU's talented roster ready to once again make a run at Omaha, a dominant year from Gausman should put him in the Top-5 on draft day.
11-12-11: - http://mlbdraftguide.com/1/2011/11/12/paxton-de-la-garza-2012-draft-profile - Paxton De La Garza is a shortstop from Coronado High School in Texas. Two traits that everyone I asked about De La Garza came back with were that he has great makeup and plays the game hard. De La Garza’s tools at the plate project well. He has quick hands and a short stroke with some extra base pop. De La Garza demonstrates good plate coverage. He has a recorded 60 time of 6.80. Most project De La Garza as a shortstop at the next level. He is steady in the field and shows good range with a strong arm. Had De La Garza not been injured in the final game of the State 5A Tournament, he would have had more chances to show his skills on the summer showcase circuit. His performance in the spring should be watched closely.
11-15-11: - http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=6369 - David Dahl (2012 OF, FTB Mizuno/Cardinals Scout Team)- Dahl's talents were obvious this summer, in spite of being sidelined for a portion of it with a bout of mononucleosis. Shortly before taking time off to rest and recover, Dahl was very impressive at the 2011 National Showcase in June. Dahl threw 95 mph from the outfield and posted a blazing 6.49 60-yard dash time, and went 3-for-5 against live pitching, earning a spot in the 2011 Perfect Game All-American Classic. The full extent of his abilities appeared likely to be very impressive based on what he was able to do at less than 100%, and in Jupiter Dahl lived up to expectations. Several member of the PG scouting staff in Jupiter expressed that they believe Dahl was the best prospect in attendance. A potential five-tool player, Dahl posted a team best .400 average and .571 on base percentage out of the second spot in a lineup that featured four 2011 PG All-Americans (including Dahl), with several underclassmen who look to be likely candidates for next year's game. The only tool of Dahl's that is not already plus is his power, though he has the bat speed and projectable strength to develop home run power down the road.
10-28-11: - http://orioles-nation.com/2011/10/26/wwba-2012-highlights - David Dahl (Birmingham AL; Oak Mountain) – A kid that has missed a good portion of the summer circuit is making it in these four days with a solid showcase solidifying himself as one of the better prep players. Easily showed the defensive skill set that makes him one of the better defensive outfielders. Outstanding arm and range should allow him to stick in centerfield down the road. His speed plays well in the game and on the paths. What has really set him a part is his patience at the plate. A selective hitter with a compact swing and impressive bat speed. His path is more of a line drive, but should still have high contact rate with the chance for above average power down the road.
11-4-11: - http://www.throughthefencebaseball.com/chicago-cubs-2012-free-agent-and-draft-pick-possibilities/13157/# - LHP Hunter Virant, 6’-3″, 175 lbs, Camarillo HS (CA) — The left-hander is shooting up draft boards, and the Cubs are always in need of some pitching. He went 6-1 with a 1.46 ERA and 0.97 WHIP this season and tossed a perfect game against rival Rio Mesa. Virant is super aggressive on the mound, not afraid to attack hitters inside. He is also one of the best athletes in the draft, hitting .446 this season, and he is one of the fastest players in the draft.
11-5-11: - http://mlbdraftguide.com/1 - Player: Matt Duffy - Scouting Report: At the Cape Cod League this summer, Matt Duffy went from afterthough to All-Star. He was also named All-League and team MVP. After posting averages of .244 and .266 in his two seasons at Long Beach State, Duffy placed third in the batting race on the Cape with a .346 average. He also showed a bit more extra base power over the summer. Duffy’s versatility defensivley is one of his strengths. He played second, short, and third for Orleans
11-8-11: - http://www.collegesummerbaseball.net/2011/11/top-25-position-players-in-west-coast.html - Top 25 Position Players In the West Coast League 1. Payden Cawley Lamb OF Wenatchee AppleSox---Gonzaga - In the WCL this summer, there were 4 or 5 players that really stood out, and all of them had a legitimate chance at being named the #1 player in the league. Payden is my choice as being the best player in the league. He is 5-10/175 pounds and is an outfielder for Gonzaga. This summer he led the league with a .350 batting average, had a .426 slg % and had an on base percentage of .429. He scored 34 runs, knocked in 24 and hit 12 doubles for the AppleSox. He led the league in batting average, was 5th in the in the league in slg %, was 2nd in the league in obp and was tied for 2nd in the league with 64 hits. He was named to the All-Star Team and he was named a First Team All-WCL player.
9-1-11: - http://xmlbscout.angelfire.com - Nick Williams, Ball HS, Galveston TX, 6'2 190, L/L, smooth hitting CF with very good actions and discipline as a hitter and fielder, ave to abv ave arm strength, room to fill out and get stronger, ran 4.2 from LH side, has power to alleys, definite top 5 for 2012 to follow.
9-29-11: - http://www.mlbbonusbaby.com/2011/9/28/2455532/all-questions-answered-thread#comments - Kenny Diekroeger - I saw quite a bit of him this year. He started the year showing a nice line drive inducing swing but that eventually devolved into a much less impressive offensive player. Defensively, he showed decent enough range, but his actions were pretty rough and I wasn’t impressed with his arm. I don’t see him sticking at SS, and I’m not sure if 3B is viable given his arm strength.
10-1-11: - http://www.tampabay.com/hometeam/blog/king-1b-keon-barnum-commits-miami/1100 - / King first baseman Keon Barnum, one of the Tampa Bay area's top senior baseball players, has verbally committed to the University of Miami. Barnum, who is also one of the area's top Class of 2012 MLB Draft prospects, committed to the 'Canes Thursday night after returning from a trip to Coral Gables last weekend.
10-1-11: - http://mlbdraftguide.com/1/2011/10/01/david-dahl-2012-draft-profile - David Dahl has above average tools across the board and can play the game. Even after missing time during the summer due to illness, Dahl remains highly ranked by every scouting service. Dahl is advanced offensively, with a balanced level swing and quick hands. He has good bat speed and makes consistent contact. A line drive hitter, Dahl should add more home runs as he matures. He is aggressive on the bases, and, with his 6.5 spped, always a threat to steal. Dahl is one of the top defensive outfielders eligible for the 2012 draft. He complements his speed with a legitimate plus arm. When draft day arrives, Dahl is likely to be one of the first 20 names off the board.
10-3-11: - http://ht.ly/1eXiUB - (Joe) Sclafani made an immediate impact into the Dartmouth Big Green lineup as a freshman as he appeared in 44 games hitting .339 with two homers and 35 RBI. At the midseason point of the season, he was moved up to the leadoff role for the Big Green. He ended up hitting .350 at the top of the order with 46 runs and 28 RBIs leading the squad to a 25-7 record when he led off. He was named the Ivy League Rookie of the Year and named First Team All-Ivy League at shortstop. Joe played the summer of 2009 in the NYCBL with the Amstredam Mohawks. Things didn’t go exactly as played with him struggling at the plate hitting .212 with two homers and 18 RBI in 35 games. He did walk 20 times while striking out on only eight times in 99 at bats.
Steven Rodriguez:
7-19-11: - http://www.mlbbonusbaby.com/2011/6/29/2250656/early-look-at-2012#comments - Steven Rodriguez, Florida, 6’2 220, bulldog lefty with fb up to 93 out of pen, may move into starter role this fall, but consensus is he’ll be a closer for the Gators. Hard slider lacks only consistency but has good dropping action in on RHH. Could be top 4-7 rounder.
Brent Suter:
8-9-11: - http://www.collegebaseballdaily.com/2011/08/09/cape-cod-baseball-league-players-of-the-week-august-9th - Brent Suter (Harvard) is this week’s Coca Cola Pitcher of the Week after recording what might be the defining clutch pitching performance of this year’s playoffs. In Game 1 of Wareham’s opening round series at Bourne, the southpaw went the distance and surrendered only two runs. Suter struck out eight Braves in the 12-3 win. In his other start this week, Suter threw five shutout innings in a no-decision versus Falmouth, scattering four hits and striking out five. Suter is a junior at Harvard, where he was named first team All-Ivy as a sophomore.
David Dahl:
8-9-11: - http://www.perfectgame.org/allamerican/News.aspx?num=6107 - Dahl, who will be a senior this fall at Oak Mountain High School in Birmingham, Ala., will be in San Diego from Thursday through Sunday with 45 other top prospects in the class of 2012 to take part in the Perfect Game All-American Classic presented by Rawlings. Dahl is ranked the No. 13 top prospect overall and No. 3 outfield prospect in the country. He is one of three Alabama prospects on the All-American Classic East Team roster, joining right-hander/outfielder Jameis Winston from Hueytown and right-hander Tucker Simpson from Oxford.
Dane Phillips:
8-9-11: - http://mlbdraftguide.com/1/2011/08/05/dane-phillips-2012-draft-profile - Dane Phillips followed up a successful sophomore season at Oklahoma State with an All-Star summer at the Cape. Phillips bat is the strength of his game. He has an easy swing with good bat speed. Phillips hits to all fields. There is pop in his bat and a jump in home runs could come. During his sophomore season, Phillips started 47 games at DH and just 4 at catcher. He received more time behind the plate at the Cape and reportedly showed improvement. He also showed off a strong arm from the outfield during the summer
Mikey White:
7-19-11: - http://www.mlbbonusbaby.com/2011/6/29/2250656/early-look-at-2012#comments - Mikey White, Spain Park HS, Hoover AL, 6’1 185, R/R, plays both 2b & SS, could play 3b if needed, puts the bat on the ball, solid ave runner, 4.3 runner out of box, shows the type of arm to improve with maturity, definitely must see again.
