Brady Aiken, Jackson Reetz, Forest Griffin, Carlos Rodon, A.J. Reed

5-12-14 - Brady Aiken, LHP, Cathedral Catholic HS (CA) - When you’re projected to be the first prep player off the board, and maybe first player off the board, you know you had an impressive year. At 6’-4” and 200 pounds, Aiken wowed scouts all year with his added velocity and has touched 96 mph this year. He adds two potential plus off-speed offerings and he has excellent command of his stuff. He is getting the Clayton Kershaw comp and, although unfair for any player, you can see the comparisons. He is as polished as any prep pitcher in recent memory and he is only going to get better. Through 43.2 innings, he has 80 K/7 BB, allowing five runs on 19 hits. Committed to UCLA. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-high-school-players-rise-final-edition/42853#cZ17mE5vsjiSvU18.99

3-26-14 – MaxiPreps – Jackson Reetz, Norris (Firth, Neb.) - You won't find many season-opening performances better than Reetz's. He went 3-for-3 with three runs scored, five RBIs, a triple and two home runs in leading his team to an 11-0 win over Lincoln. He went 1-for-2 against Waverly and is batting .667 (4 for 6) on the season. http://www.maxpreps.com/news/kRbRSgP8z06XdyYf0_JnPg/tyler-kolek,-michael-gettys,-brady-aiken-among-senior-baseball-prospects-off-to-strong-starts.htm

3-12-14 – 10 High School Players on the Rise – Foster Griffin, LHP, the First Academy HS (FL) - At 6’-5” and 190 pounds, the southpaw has a lot of projection due to his size and loose frame. He has been hitting 94 mph with his fastball recently and, along with a much improved breaking ball, is generating first-round buzz. Over 15.2 innings this season, he has 26 K/7 BB and has allowed eight hits. Committed to Mississippi. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-10-high-school-players-rise/41773#oFu0m6JRyhOHXIwD.99

3-9-14 – MLB Draft Insider - Carlos Rodon - LHP NC State – Rodon pitched a complete game today as part of a double header. He was reportedly throwing hard to the end of the game, but the numbers show he was not quite as dominant as he has shown in the past. He allowed ten hits, one walks, and three runs. He also struck out seven hitters; it was another good showing and he notched a win against Notre Dame. Rodon the likely top pick in the draft currently has the highest BA/against and ERA of the NC State starters, the pitching staff for NC State has been lights out all year. http://mlbdraftinsider.com/2014/03/the-rundown-march-8/#more-3872

3-11-14 – TTF -  A.J. Reed, 1B/LHP, Kentucky (NR) - Over his last six games, Reed has reached base 19 times. He has gone 7-for-15 (.467), has drawn eight walks and has been hit by a pitch four times. He has added two home runs and driven in 10 runs over that span. On the season, the 6’-4”, 240 pound left0hander is now hitting .436/.579/.945 (1.524 OPS) with eight home runs, 28 RBI and has drawn 15 walks to nine strikeouts. He has been the best offensive player in the nation and he can sling it on the mound, as well. Over four starts, he is 3-0 with a 1.38 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 14 K/9 BB over 26 innings. Some think he has more upside on the mound, but if he keeps hitting the way he has, he could be a first round pick due to his bat. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-10-college-players-rise-week-4/41715#PjStmsQ7UB5h8BYU.99

Draft 14 – Luis Ortiz, Jackson Reetz, Chris Ellis, Mike Papi, Brandon Downes

2-3-14 – MaxPreps - Top 10 MLB Draft Prospects in high school - 10. Luis Ortiz, Sanger (Calif.) When it comes to postseason awards, Ortiz did not win many last spring, earning honorable mention all-area by the Fresno Bee. However he made his presence felt during the summer. The 6-3, 210-pound pitcher was the tournament MVP for Team USA 18U at the World Cup and helped the United States win the gold medal. He also pitched well in the Breakthrough Series, pitching two no-hit innings with four strikeouts. The scouts like his fastball, that reaches 93-95 mph, and his slider, which is in the 80-83 range. Look for Ortiz to go late in the first round. http://www.maxpreps.com/news/B41AzcsA90iOL5xwFL8T7Q/top-10-major-league-baseball-draft-high-school-prospects.htm

3-25-14 – 10.  Jackson Reetz, Nebraska HS  Height 6'1 Weight 195 DOB: 1/3/1996 R/R - - Reetz might fade but he might pick up some hype.  Played well for Team USA, always a big plus in my book.  A good runner, there are doubts (like most HS kids) if he can stick behind the plate.  Good hitter, with plenty of bulk to power up.  Interesting guy, and for whatever reason Oklahoma has all the B-ball hype over Nebraska, nice to see a kid from NE get some love. http://www.yougottalikethesekids.com/2014/03/ten-catchers-in-2014-mlb-draft.html

2-27-14 – TTF - 10 college players on the rise - Chris Ellis, RHP, Ole Miss (65) - A breakout candidate by several draft experts, the 6’-5”, 210 pound right-hander didn’t come in with much of a track record. As a sophomore, he posted a 5.57 ERA, 2.00 WHIP and 16 K/11 BB over 21 innings. The stuff, however, has always been there, even if the results haven’t. He features a low/mid-90s fastball that he commands better in the low-90s. His change-up is much improved and he adds a solid curveball to round out a classic three-pitch mix. His size, stuff and command have him in talks for the first round and, this year, the results have been there. He tossed a five-hit shutout against Georgia State on Friday striking out four to no walks. He has now started the season with 15 shutout innings as he has become more of a pitcher then thrower. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-10-college-players-rise-2/41299#ldBBF8hRKzmaiy5H.99

3-5-14 – TTF - 10 college players on the rise — week 3  - Mike Papi, OF, Virginia (54) - You don’t see too many 6’-3”, 230 pound first basemen batting leadoff. Over his last four games at the top of the order, Papi has flourished in that spot. He has gone 5-for-9 with a home run, three RBI and has drawn seven walks to no strikeouts. For the season, he is now hitting .405/.560/.622 with two doubles, two home runs and he has drawn 12 walks to just three strikeouts. He put his name on the map after hitting .381/.517/.619 over 176 at-bats as a sophomore with 45 walks to just 25 strikeouts. Arguably one of the better hitters in the 2014 MLB draft, there will be a lot of pressure put on his bat if he is relegated to first base. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-week-3/41478#ilZqhEaASo2Kkjik.99

3-4-14 - Brandon Downes (CF) - The star of Friday’s game -– he ripped two homers off of Jeff Hoffman – is another guy to watch out for in the early rounds come June. The right-handed hitting Downes showed playable bat speed and impressed with his ability to drop and pull the bat head down and in and still spank velocity. Despite simple, toe-tapping footwork, Downes looks like he’s going to swing and miss some because of some hand-eye and head movement issues, something we saw more of on Saturday. He’s an average runner –- 4.27 from the right side – who plays a pretty good center field. If a club thinks he can stick –- I’m cautiously optimistic about it, though I don’t think he’s elite there or anything – then he’ll be an early draft pick. He has a fringe-average regular ceiling for me, likely a fourth outfielder type. http://prospectinsider.com/scouting-derek-fisher-uva-prospects

Draft 14 – Jeff Hoffman, Grant Holmes, Alex Verdugo, Jackson Reetz, Josh Ockimey

11-3-13 – Baseball America - East Carolina’s scout day was held Friday night, which gave in-state scouts a look at righthander Jeff Hoffman, who ranked as the No. 1 prospect in the Cape Cod League this summer. Hoffman dominated with Cape with sharpened stuff that produced 12 strikeouts per nine and a 6.6 strikeout-walk ratio. Hoffman sat 93-96 mph with his fastball through two innings and did not throw a fastball below 94 in his second inning. He has a loose, easy arm action and the ball jumps out of his hand with downhill plane and minimal effort from a three-quarters slot. Hoffman largely pitched off his fastball. http://www.baseballamerica.com/college/east-carolina-scout-day-jeff-hoffman/


10-30-13 - Clint Longenecker/BA – WWBA World Championship - Righthander Grant Holmes started the first game of the tournament on Thursday, which allowed him to come back for Sunday morning’s semi-final matchup against the Orlando Scorpions, who have won many of the national tournaments this year. The strong-bodied Holmes, a Perfect Game All-American, touched 95 mph and sat 89-94, striking out five and allowing one run over four innings. The Canes rallied to win 4-3 in dramatic fashion, scoring three runs in the seventh inning to advance to the championship game, as Lane delivered an opposite-field two-run single. . http://www.baseballamerica.com/draft/evoshield-canes-win-perfect-game-wwba-world-championship/


10-29-13 – Jim Callis – Top 10 World Wood Bat Association World Championship (WWBA) Jupiter, Fla - 10. Alex Verdugo, OF/LHP, Texas Scout Team Yankees (Sahuaro High, Tucson, Ariz.) -  Scouts are split on his future because he has a sweet left-handed swing and a strong arm. http://ht.ly/qi5No


10-15-13 – Baseball America - 49. Jackson Reetz, c/of/rhp, Hickman (Neb.) HS: An offensive star of the 18U USA Baseball squad that won a gold medal this summer, Reetz has shown the ability to hit in games, as well as the tools and athleticism to stick behind the plate. http://www.baseballamerica.com/college/2014-draft-top-50-october-2013-carlos-rodon/


9-11-13 - Sully’s 2014 Top 100 MLB HS Draft Prospects – 98. Josh Ockimey – 1B, Neumann-Goretti (PA) HS http://www.ninebaseball.org/Wordpress/sullys-2014-top-100-mlb-hs-draft-prospects/