Draft 13 – J.P. Crawford, Corey Ray, Denton Keys, Kevin Franklin, Colin Moran

J.P. Crawford, SS, - Arguably the best overall shortstop in the 2013 MLB draft, the 6’-2” left-hander has been showing off his great offensive upside as an on-base machine with a great approach at the plate and excellent bat speed. Over his last 12 games, he is hitting .571 with six extra-base hits, eight stolen bases and has drawn nine walks without a strikeout for a .667 OBP/.829 SLG. His strong arm, speed and instincts will allow him to remain at a premium position. Committed to USC. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2013-mlb-draft-ten-high-school-players-on-the-rise/32935#ukjIhwu7UDCzZKTx.99

Dan Kirby ‏@DanMKirby  - Over his last 11 games, Corey Ray has gone 16-for-33 (.485) w/ 4 2B, 4 3B, 2 HR, 14 RBI, 12 SB, 12 BB, .630 OBP/1.030 SLG.

Denton Keys, LHP, Rye HS (CO) - The ridiculous season of Denton Keys continued on Saturday as the 6’-3” southpaw struck out 12 more over five innings in an 11-1 win over Yuma HS. He did give up an earned run — his first of the year — and now has a 0.21 ERA, 0.44 WHIP and 109 K/9 BB over 43 innings for a 22.8 K/9 ratio. His team has outscored its opponents 237-22 over 19 games, so, apparently, everyone who can play baseball in Colorado plays for Rye high school. Nevertheless, the kid has talent, including a fastball in the 89-92 mph range. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2013-mlb-draft-9/33241#WdxR2YIG1GzGdJCZ.99

Kevin Franklin, Gahr (Cerritos, Calif.) - A third baseman in high school, Franklin would eventually move to the outfield, according to some scouting reports. He has enough power to land somewhere in the top 10 rounds. He batted .462 with 33 RBI, 10 doubles and eight home runs for Gahr this year. http://www.maxpreps.com/news/z2-sul7VukOjgmdQ7ZXW0g/mlb-draft--top-10-corner-infielders.htm

Collin Moran, the 2011 ACC Freshman of the Year, is the seventh UNC student-athlete to be named ACC Player of the Year. The Rye, N.Y., native leads in the nation in RBIs with 83 and ranks third among ACC batters with a .376 average.  Moran boasts a .504 on-base percentage and is a major reason UNC owns a 47-8 overall record and claimed the top seed for this week’s ACC Baseball Championship at Durham (N.C.) Bulls Athletic Park. http://www.theacc.com/sports/m-basebl/spec-rel/052013aaa.html

Draft 13 – Denton Keys, Hunter Renfroe, Marco Gonzales, Chris Kohler, Trey Michalczewski

Denton Keys, LHP, Rye HS (CO) - The 6’-3” southpaw tossed a five inning no-hitter on May 7 striking out 13 to no walks. He now has a ridiculous 85 K/5 BB over 33 scoreless innings, allowing just six hits. His 23.2 K/9 ratio shows how overpowering he is even if his competition has been very weak. His fastball sits in the 88-91 range and he adds solid breaking stuff. He will definitely get a lot of looks before the 2013 MLB draft by scouts to see how he projects. Committed to Kansas. LINK

Hunter Renfroe has all the tools to be an impact corner outfielder in professional baseball. He has bat speed, a clean swing with loft that helps him drive the ball, big raw power, above-average speed and plus arm strength. The one knock on Renfroe is track record, as this is the first year his tools have shown up in games. He struggled against SEC competition last year, and his approach left a lot to be desired. He hit just .252/.328/.374 with 51 strikeouts and just 21 walks in 61 games. link

Player:  Marco Gonzales - Position:  LHP - School:  Gonzaga - Height/Weight:  6’1/185 - Bats/Throws:  L/L  2013 Class:  College Junior - Previously Drafted:  2010, 29th rd, Rockies - Scouting Report: Good athlete, Polished lefthander, 3/4 arm slot, High leg raise delivery, Fastball 89-91, touches 92, with run  Locates fastball well.  Plus changeup. Curve, Cutter. Should progress quickly through the minors link

Dan Kirby - ‏@DanMKirby - Los Osos HS (CA) LHP Chris Kohler finishes w/ 13 K/2 BB over 5 IP. Now has 106 K/30 BB over 65 IP

Summary:   Trey Michalczewski is one of the must under the radar High School players.  He has shown power and the ability to hit for average.  He has the ability to have 4 to 5 above average tools.  .  For me, he is a sleeper on a national level, but the people in Oklahoma already know he can flat out play. link

Draft 13 – Denton Keys, Matt McPhearson, Nick Petree, Austin Kubitza, Terry McClure

Denton Keys, LHP, Rye HS (CO) - You know you are having a good season when you strike out 14 over seven innings and actually lower your K/9 ratio. The 6’-3”, 200 pound southpaw came into his last start with 44 K/3 BB over 16 innings (24.8 K/9). He now has 58 K/4 BB over 23 innings (22.7 K/9) and has yet to allow a run on five hits. His fastball sits in the 89-91 mph range and he has deception in his delivery. He also adds a mid-70s curve and change-up. Committed to Kansas. link

Outside of the usual warm-weather states like California, Arizona and Florida, the 2013 season has been brutal for baseball. Temperatures have barely sniffed normal levels and precipitation has jumbled schedules from the high school level to the low Class A Midwest League. The cold weather has also indirectly affected Matt McPhearson’s run at breaking his own record. An outfielder at Riverdale Baptist School in Upper Marlboro, Md., McPhearson set the Crusaders’ record for stolen bases in a season with 68. He set a goal of swiping 75 in his senior year, but that is in jeopardy after McPhearson has missed eight games this season with a nagging hamstring. link

Nick Petree, RHP, Missouri State - Over his last six starts, the 6’-1” right-hander has a 1.40 ERA, 0.89 WHIP and 52 K/6 BB over 45 innings. He led the nation in ERA as a sophomore (1.01) in a season that included an incredible run of 73 consecutive innings without allowing an earned run. He features a low-90s fastball, a plus change-up, a slurve and a cutter. He has a great feel for his pitches and commands all of them well. link

For Rice junior right-hander Austin Kubitza, the key has always been harnessing the extreme movement on his fastball well enough to throw strikes. There are times when his ball moves too much and his walks pile up: He has 37 walks in 67 innings this year, about as many as he threw in 80 innings last season. But extreme movement is a double-edged sword, and it also allows him to escape jams with strikeouts and weak contact. He ranks fourth in the nation with 90 strikeouts -- just five behind leader Carlos Rodon of North Carolina State -- and his 12.15 strikeouts per nine innings are second-most of any pitcher with at least 70 strikeouts, behind only Rodon's 14.9. link

Dan Kirby‏ @DanMKirby

Riverwood (GA) CF-Terry McClure 2-for-3 w/ 2B, HR, 5 RBI. Hitting .398 over 26 G w/ 7 2B, 8 HR, 40 RBI, 11 SB, .521 OBP/.795 SLG

Draft 13 – Mark Appel, Matthew Krook, Denton Keys, Vince Ceriale, Riley Unroe

Draft 13 – Mark Appel, Matthew Krook, Denton Keys, Vince Ceriale, Riley Unroe

Dan Kirby ‏@DanMKirby 

Mark Appel last 8: 1.38 ERA, 0.78 WHIP, 81 K/10 BB over 65.1 IP. Jonathan Gray last 7: 0.49 ERA, 0.62 WHIP, 72 K/6 BB over 55 IP.

        St. Ignatius HS (CA) LHP Matthew Krook: 6 IP, 1 ER, 5 H, 10 K/2 BB. Now has 40 K/14 BB over 24 IP (15 K/9)

        Rye HS (CO) LHP Denton Keys had an off day today: 6 IP, 0 ER, 4 H, 12 K/1 BB. Now has 56 K/4 BB, 4 H, 0 ER over 22 IP (22.9 K/9)

PA: '13 Vince Ceriale pitches (CG, 5 H, 0 BB, 10 K), hits (2-3, 2 R, HR, 2 RBI, BB, 2 SB) Shipley School to 9-2 win over Friends Select

Riley Unroe, SS, Desert Ridge HS (AZ) - With the defensive abilities to stick at shortstop, including plus speed and a strong arm, the 6’-1” switch-hitter is seeing his stock soar. His bat, however, remains his best tool. Over 29 games for one of the best programs in the country, he is hitting .565 with 14 doubles, five triples, 10 home runs and has driven in 59 runs. He has drawn 16 walks to just four strikeouts for a .642 OBP/1.200 SLG. He has also added 22 stolen bases. With his speed, advanced approach at the plate, above-average bat speed and ability to remain at shortstop, his name will be heard early in the 2013 MLB draft. Committed to USC.  link