Draft Notes 5-21-12 – Kenny Diekroeger, Jamodrick McGruder , Taylor Dugas, Walker Buehler

Texas Tech (29-26)  head coach, Dan Spencer, has been fired. 

 Kenny Diekroeger

Diekroeger turned down $2 million as a Rays second-round pick out of Menlo School (Atherton, Calif.) in 2009, and looked liked he'd cash in for more than that after three years at Stanford. He ranked as the top college prospect for 2012 entering his sophomore season. But after hitting .356/.391/.491 as a freshman, he has produced just .289/.353/.376 numbers the last two years after the NCAA toned down its bats. Diekroeger also hasn't demonstrated the range to play shortstop in the major leagues, putting more pressure on him to produce offensively. He fits best at second base because he doesn't have the power to profile at third base, and he could wind up as a utilityman because his versatility stands out more than any of his individual tools. He ranks 118th on BA's list of draft prospects and figures to go in the third to fifth round.

Jamodrick McGruder

Jamodrick McGruder, 2B, Texas Tech - At 5’-7” and 170 pounds, McGruder is pound-for-pound one of the best players in the country. A slick defender with outstanding range and soft hands, he also excels at the plate. Through 50 games, he is hitting .374 with 52 runs, six doubles, eight triples, 23 RBI and is second in the nation in stolen bases with 37. His 45 walks also puts him among the leaders, as well as his .515 OBP. He had a recent 16-game stretch in which he went 30-for-68 (.441) with 20 runs, four doubles, five triples, 12 RBI and 10 stolen bases. Over his 147 career games, he is hitting .330 with 15 doubles, 15 triples, 10 home runs, 84 RBI, 88 stolen bases and a .473 OBP. High energy, confident player with the game to back it up.

 Taylor Dugas

The more I see of Taylor Dugas, the more I like him.  Dugas’ tools don’t stand out, but his approach to the game and competitiveness are exceptional. Dugas has a very good approach at the plate, with superior strike zone judgement.  He has a smooth line drive swing and more pop than you would expect given his size. Even with average arm strength, Dugas is a plus defender in the outfield.  He gets good jumps and takes good routes, which combined with above average speed, allow him to cover plenty of ground.

Walker Buehler

RHP Walker Buehler (Henry Clay HS, Kentucky): classic case of a plus pitchability arm who one day wakes up to big league quality stuff; his upper-80s FB (91-92 peak) has jumped to a steady 90-94, peaking 95-96; best off-speed pitch is an above-average 76-78 CB with plus upside, one of the best of its kind in the class – even more effective when he throws it a little harder (78-82); third pitch is a straight CU with tumble that at times is his best offering; hardly going out on a limb, but Buehler is one of my favorite prep arms in this year’s class: smarts, three big league pitches, and repeatable mechanics all add up to a potential quality big league starter; 6-1, 165 pounds

Draft 2012 – Kenny Diekroeger, Hunter Virant, Austin Aune, Joe Powell, Nick Lomascola

 

33. Kenny Diekroeger — 6’-2”, SS, Stanford  Diekroeger is an extremely intelligent baseball player. Able to play any position on the field, shortstop is his natural position, and he should be able to stay there at the next level due to his remarkable athleticism. Was a second-round pick by the Rays in 2009 after hitting .586 with a .688 OBP but chose to attend Stanford. Was Pac-10 freshman of the year as he hit .356 with 41 RBI, becoming the first freshman to lead the team in RBI. Average slipped to .293 this year as he was still adjusting to the new NCAA bats that favor pitchers. The team that drafts him will get a professional in every sense of the word, on and off the field. http://www.throughthefencebaseball.com/top-50-draft-prospects-for-2012-50-thru-26/15621/

It's maybe a little too early in the process to say this, but I'm going to say it anyway. Hunter Virant is probably my favourite player in the entire 2012 draft. Why? Well, partially because I think he's an outstanding prospect, and partially because his name sounds like a miniboss from a Metroid game. But mostly because I think he's an outstanding prospect. Virant's calling card is his raw athleticism, the same sort of athletic ability that made Tyrell Jenkins so attractive as a pitcher. He's long and loose, with natural actions that can't be taught. When scouts talk about looking for what you can't give a player, they're talking about Hunter Virant's gift for movement. At this time last year there was plenty of debate as to whether he would be more attractive as a pitcher or an OF/1B prospect, but as time has gone on it's becoming more and more clear Virant's future is on the mound. http://www.vivaelbirdos.com/2012/1/11/2699212/2012-draft-preview-ein-starting-off-sinisterly

http://espn.go.com/blog/high-school/baseball/post/_/id/1009/mitchell-traver-highlights-2012-texas-class  9. Austin Aune, SS, Argyle (Texas) Aune was among the more entertaining players at the Area Code Games in August and continued to impress over the rest of the summer. He's a natural shortstop but bats left-handed, a rarity in baseball. Defensively, he shows fluid actions, good hands and enough arm strength to stay at short. And if he outgrows the position, he possesses plenty of speed and arm strength to move to center field. Such skills suggest he's headed for consideration early on Day 2, if not sooner. Aune, who quarterbacked Argyle to the Class 3A, Division II state final this fall, has committed to TCU for football and baseball.

This is the way these things are supposed to work. Joe Powell is a 5-foot-10, 195-pound right-handed pitcher and third baseman in the class of 2012 who rolled into the Perfect Game World Open Uncommitted Showcase Jan. 7-8 at Terry Park unknown, unheralded and, basically, unloved. 

Now, less than a week removed from an eye-catching performance at the showcase, Joe Powell has several top NCAA Division I programs interested in him, including a couple near his Dallas, Texas, home. “Before I even went to Perfect Game, I’d never even been talked to by anybody,” Powell said in a telephone conversation with PG on Thursday (Jan. 12). “Once I went to the (World Open Uncommitted) … in the last three or four days I’ve been getting notes from all these Big 12 and other Division I schools. Just in the last four days I’ve been contacted by five or six different schools and they want me to come for a visit. So it was definitely a worthwhile experience.”

Nick Lomascola   Forest City Owls of the Coastal Plain League   Catawba College   Junior   Pitcher  Profile:   6-0/195 pounds   Throws Left   Bats Right   From Mooresville, NC   Attended Lake Norman High School  Synopsis of Summer Season:  I love consistency, and Nick was the epitome of that this summer. While not flashy, he was very consistent for the Forest City Owls. He went 5-2 and crafted a 2.40 era in 56.1 innings pitched this summer. He started 8 games and completed 3 of those games. He allowed just 43 hits, walked 26 (which is a bit high) and he fanned 43 this year. He also held the opposition to a .216 batting average this summer. During the CPL playoffs, Nick went 1-1 in 12.2 innings of work. http://www.collegesummerbaseball.net/2012/01/2011-top-performer-nick-lomascola.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+collegesummerbaseball%2FJiiy+%28Summer+Ball%29&utm_content=Google+Reader

Draft 2012: - Kenny Diekroeger, Tony Renda, Logan Vick, Tommy Coyle

12-2-11: - http://mlbdraftcountdown.wordpress.com/2011/12/02/2012-mlb-mock-draft-updated-top-15-with-final-mlb-standings - 8) Pittsburgh Pirates: Kenny Diekroeger, SS, Stanford  The Pirates farm system is loaded, no doubt, but the one thing they truly lack is a superstar shortstop prospect. Chase d’Arnaud is all fine and dandy, but he’s no Kenny Diekroeger. If Diekroeger can have a bounce-back season, he could jump up draft boards as we near closer to draft day, and with an impressive squad behind him, he’ll likely be playing well into June, giving teams an even better look. Once upon a time, scouts had doubts about his ability to stick at shortstop, but he looked strong there last year, even as he continued to struggle at the plate. He’s a big-bodied guy, but he’s also one of the most impressive athletes in this draft class, so don’t count him out. After all, this is the same guy who bested all of the numbers put up by Mike Trout at a scouting combine at the Area Code Games prior to the 2009 draft.

12-18-11: - Cal second baseman Tony Renda is a leader on and off the field.  He puts in the work to improve his game and is currently ranked number 36 on Baseball America’s Top 100 NCAA Prospects List. Renda led Cal in batting average in his first two college seasons.  He shows good bat speed and has a good swing.  Renda has gap power and should get plenty of doubles at the next level.  He also has good speed and recorded a 6.7 60 while in high school. http://mlbdraftguide.com/1

12-21-11: - http://ht.ly/1giGk6 -   We continue the countdown today at number 36 with Baylor junior Logan Vick. He went to Tivy High School in Kerrville, Texas for head coach Steve Rippee. As a freshman, he made 60 starts in left field batting leadoff in 58 games. He finished the season with a .329 (75-for-228) with 17 doubles, two triples, 10 home runs, 27 RBI and 59 runs scored. He also drew a school-record 59 walks while stealing 11 bases in 15 attempts. He was named a first-team Freshman All-American by Baseball America and Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American by Collegiate Baseball, Second-team All-Big 12, and Waco Tribune Herald’s Big 12 Conference Freshman of the Year.

12-21-11: - Tommy Coyle is an athletic second baseman who has shown solid improvement since arriving at North Carolina.  He is the brother of 2010 Red Sox draft pick Sean Coyle. Coyle has shown strong on base ability at North Carolina.  He brings a patient approach to the plate and has a nice line drive swing.  Coyle also has the ability to steal a base.  He had a recorded 60 time of 6.69 while in high school. Second base has been Coyle’s primary position at North Carolina.  He looks smooth in the field and has a good glove.  His arm is solid enough to make shortstop a possibility - http://mlbdraftguide.com/1/2011/12/18/tommy-coyle-2012-draft-profile

Draft 2012: - Kenny Diekroeger, Gavin Cecchini, Travis Jankowski, Nolan Fontana

12-15-11: - http://www.minorleaguerundown.com/2011/12/12/2012-draft-top-3-college-shortstopssecond-baseman - Kenny Diekroeger (Stanford): If you’re looking at pure tools, the Stanford talent might very well top this list. Diekroeger’s athleticism shows up in flashes, and when it does you can see the hitting and defensive talents that he is capable of playing with in time. He will be more of a bat-first prospect, as a move to second base sounds more and more likely, but he should have enough range and arm to stick there. Diekroeger’s bat speed is big and his swing looks nice and compact. With his strength and athleticism, he could be a very interesting (albeit raw) offense-first prospect up the middle.

12-2-11: - http://mlbdraftcountdown.wordpress.com/2011/12/02/2012-mlb-mock-draft-updated-top-15-with-final-mlb-standings - 7) San Diego Padres: Gavin Cecchini, SS, Barbe HS (LA) The Padres haven’t done too well in the draft over the past few seasons. First, there was the Donovan Tate debacle. Then, they missed a huge opportunity to add Karsten Whitson to a declining cache of pitching talent. This year, they went the safe route, tabbing Cory Spangenberg with their first pick and going after a projectable arm in Joe Ross later in the first-round. They also added some high-ceiling guys later in the draft, including catcher Austin Hedges (second), Michael Kelly (supplemental first) and Kyle Gaedele (sixth). That’s all fine and dandy, but that group of players does nothing to change the fact that the Padres have Jason Bartlett and his 31 career home runs occupying shortstop. Beyond Bartlett, there is no true heir to the shortstop position, making Gavin Cecchini an excellent choice. For starters, he has the footwoork and size to stick at shortstop long-term, an increasingly invaluable trait these days. He also has a special bat, with potential to hit for average and for power.

12-15-11: - http://mlbdraftguide.com/1/2011/12/12/vincent-jackson-2012-draft-profile - Stony Brook outfielder Travis Jankowski placed himself firmly on the radar with a stellar 2011 Cape League Season.  He led the league in hits, runs, and triples and finished 2nd in steals on his way to being named League MVP. Jankowski is good with the bat and should continue to get on base at a high rate when he moves to the next level.  Power is not a big part of his game.  Some project him to add power in the future, but I wouldn’t be looking for him to hit many out of the park.  Speed is one of Jankowski’s best assets and he has been recorded in the 60 at 6.4 according to Baseball America. Jankowski is a plus defender in centerfield.  He gets good jumps on balls and covers plenty of ground.  Jankowski also has a good arm. Jankowski may be one of the safer choices among college outfielders who are eligible for the 2012 draft.  In addition to his good baseball skills, he is an extremely coachable player.

12-15-11: - http://www.minorleaguerundown.com/2011/12/12/2012-draft-top-3-college-shortstopssecond-baseman - Nolan Fontana (Florida): The Gators middle infielder would be a much more interesting bat to follow this spring if either his power or speed tools were better. Unfortunately neither is all that loud. He’s mainly a doubles hitter, and though he is smart on the bases, the infielder is not a stolen-base threat. Fontana could hit for a decent average in the pro game, and can definitely get on base at a high clip. It remains to be seen if a team will start him at shortstop as a pro, but I would imagine he’ll at least get a shot at it.

Draft 2012: - Ryan Mathews, Nathan Kirby, Stephen Piscotty, Rio Ruiz, Kenny Diekroeger

11-3-11: - http://www.collegesummerbaseball.net/2011/11/top-30-position-players-from-coastal.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter  - Top 30 Position Players From the Coastal Plain League  4.   Ryan Mathews   OF   Wilson Tobs---North Carolina State   Ryan (6-4/200) led the league with 15 long balls this summer. He finished the year by hitting .283, having a sluggling % of .617 an driving in 41 runners. Despite his size, he also showed that he can run a bit (11 stolen bases). Baseball America ranked Ryan as the 3rd best prospect in the league, and Perfect Game has him as the 10th best in the league.

10-28-11: - http://orioles-nation.com/2011/10/26/wwba-2012-highlights - Nathan Kirby (Midlothian VA; James River HS) – A lot of projection left in the thin framed LHP, with a good deal of room to gain some strength in both the lower and upper body.  Kirby is a smooth left hander with some effort, but is long and loose.  He has an extended 3/4 release and collapses heavily towards the glove side, which could be a reason why he shows trouble commanding his arsenal at times.  The fastball has life and sits 88-90 mph, touching 91 mph.  His curve has some decent bite; flashes a potential slider and change up. Good feel for pitching, but simply needs to tighten up on a consistent basis.  Good deal of potential on the mound.

11-2-11: - http://www.collegesummerbaseball.net/2011/11/top-35-position-players-in-cape-cod.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter  - Top 35 Position Players in the Cape Cod League 2.   Stephen Piscotty   3B   Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox—Stanford  Stephen had a great 2011 for Stanford and this summer was more of the same as he won the leauges batting title by edging out Dane Phillips. Stephen, a 2009 Dodgers draft pick hit .349, scored 20 runs and drove in 21 this summer. He hit 8 doubles and smacked 3 home runs for the Sox this season. He went 2 for 4 in the All-Star Game and he was named to the All-League Team.  Perfect Game ranked him as the 7th best prospect in the league, and Baseball America ranked him as the 12th best prospect in the league.

11-5-11: - http://www.insidesocal.com/tribpreps/2011/11/rio-ruizs-mri-i.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter - Bishop Amat quarterback Rio Ruiz got his MRI results back Thursday and there was good news. It came back negative, leaving Ruiz with just a sprain, not any damage to his ACL or MCL. However, he is still sore, hasn't practiced this week and will sit out Friday's game at Notre Dame in the hope Amat wins and makes the playoffs. Sophomore Koa Haynes will get the start at QB for the Lancers Friday. If Amat wins and gets in, Ruiz will have two weeks off before the playoffs since the Lancers have a bye in week 10. From everything I hear, if healthy, Ruiz will return for the postseason run.

11-4-11: - http://www.throughthefencebaseball.com/chicago-cubs-2012-free-agent-and-draft-pick-possibilities/13157/# -  SS Kenny Diekroeger, 6’-2″, 200 lbs, Stanford — Diekroeger made his presence at the 2008 Area Code Games where he posted the highest testing scores at the event, even higher than Mike Trout. The Rays made him their second pick the following year, but he chose to attend Stanford instead. He hit .356 with 41 RBI his freshman year while becoming the first freshman to lead the team in RBI. He has an incredibly high baseball IQ and has remarkable athletic ability. Defensively, he can play anywhere on the field, but shortstop is his natural position. At the plate, he is a solid contact hitter with power to all fields, an advanced approach at the plate and the frame to develop some big time power.

Draft 2012: - Nick Williams, Kenny Diekroeger, Keon Barnum, David Dahl, Joe Sciafani

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.

Draft 2012: - Dario Pizzano, Kenny Diekroeger, Alex Cruz, Brandon Kuter, Kevin Gausman

7-19-11: - http://www.mlbbonusbaby.com/2011/6/29/2250656/early-look-at-2012#comments  - Dario Pizzano, Columbia, 5’11 L/R, solid hitter with occ power, gap type power for extra bases, 40 arm and 40 runner, gamer with good instincts and a baseball diamond rat, just enough ability to get to ML level perhaps, 13-20 round type guy.

9-8-11: - http://www.gacksports.com/65590/2012-mlb-mock-draft-update  - 10. Pittsburgh Pirates Kenny Diekroeger Short Stop Stanford The Pittsburgh Pirates could use a shortstop to solidify the infield. Pedro Alvarez at 3rd base and Neil Walker at 2nd base makes for a great infield, but adding that shortstop who can provide some pop at shortstop could give the Pirates one of the best infields in the MLB.

9-12-11: - http://www.collegesummerbaseball.net/2011/09/top-20-position-players-in-florida.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter  - In the six-team Florida Collegiate Summer League this summer, the Sanford River Rats downed the Winter Park Diamond Dawgs to earn them the title of FCSL Champions. Individually, there were at least 25 position players that turned in great seasons. Unfortunately, I had to narrow the list down to the top 20.- 7. Alex Cruz 3B Winter Park--Georgia Tech - Cruz is the first of two Georgia Tech players on my list. He hit .337 in 98 at-bats for Winter Park. He scored 20 runs, drove in 18 and hit 4 doubles this summer. He hit his stride in the playoffs, as he hit .333 in 12 at-bats. He scored 2 runs and drove in 2 during the Dawgs playoff run. Alex was rated as the 16th best prospect in the league by Perfect Game.

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The Westhampton Aviators had the most prospects (6), including No. 1 prospect Brandon Kuter, a rising junior righthander from George Mason, but managed to compile just a 21-19 record on the season, though finished first in its division and lost in the league championship game to Staten Island.It remains to be seen where this year’s top prospect, the 6-foot-7 Kuter, will be drafted in 2012, but he was hands-down the top-rated talent in the league and actually moved to the top spot after being ranked No. 7 a year ago. Kuter topped the league in saves with a fastball that peaked at 96 mph. - http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=6235  

9-16-11: - http://denver.sbnation.com/colorado-rockies/2011/9/16/2429660/2012-mlb-draft-top-50-kevin-gasuman  - Though he was selected by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the sixth round of the 2010 MLB Draft, Colorado native Kevin Gausman went to the Southeast and joined the LSU Tigers baseball team. The Grandview High School product had a solid debut for the Tigers, going 5-6 with a 3.51 ERA in 14 starts. He struck out 86 in 90 innings and held opposing batters to a .215 average. He will be a draft-eligible sophomore for the 2012 MLB Draft and is already receiving high praise from Baseball America in its early 2012 MLB Draft preview. The 6-foot-4 right-hander is the No. 7 prospect right now and is described thusly:

Draft 2012: - Joey Rickard, Kenny Diekroeger, Lucas Giolito, Kyle Hansen, Freddy Avis

7-19-11: - http://www.mlbbonusbaby.com/2011/6/29/2250656/early-look-at-2012#comments  - Joey Rickard, Arizona, 6’1 180, R/R, runs well underway, 6.55, 60 guy, throws adequate, solid range, makes contact, short stroke with occ alley power, doubles type guy, could be quality 4th OF in time, 8-12 round type.

9-1-11: - http://projectprospect.com/article/2011/08/31/2012-mlb-draft-top-prospects  - Kenny Diekroeger, SS, Stanford - Stanford shortstop Kenny Diekroeger can be a frustrating player to evaluate. The good is that he has a compact and hand-oriented swing that's very short to the ball. He has a smooth trigger and has the hand strength required to make a hands dominant swing work. However, Diekroeger doesn't get anywhere near the bat speed he could out of his swing, nor does he maintain optimum angles through the zone. Diekroeger has similar hand rhythm actions to Jason Bay, but also has a pull side dominant plane like Bay. Diekroeger's hand rhythm helps pull his front shoulder back to an angle that usually is conducive to hammering the pitch away, but he doesn't maintain that plane when he launches. His strong hands should allow him to still be quick inside yet still cover away with the angle of hip-shoulder separation he achieves, but due to a heavy rolling top hand, Diekroger pulls his barrel off the pitch away and consistently into a pull dominant plane.

9-8-11: - http://www.gacksports.com/65590/2012-mlb-mock-draft-update  - 2. Baltimore Orioles Lucas Giolito Pitcher Harvard Westlake High School California This was such a tough pick to make. I felt like Lance McCuller’s Jr. still deserves to be a top pick, but there are too many numbers working in Lucas Giolito’s favor. Giolito managed to strikout batting prospect Trey Williams. Giolito weighs 6 foot 6 220 pounds. Giolito was 9-1 with an ERA of 1.00 last season during his junior season of high school baseball. You get a 95 MPH 4 seamer and a 92 MPH 2 seamer with Giolito. Another plus pitch that Giolito has is his hard breaking curve ball that he manages to deliver into the lower corners of the strike out zone so effectively.

Pitcher Kyle Hansen and outfielder Jeremy Baltz have both been named Top-30 prospects in the Cape Cod Baseball League, as announced by Baseball America. Hansen, who played with the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox, checked in at No. 22, while Baltz was listed as the No. 27 prospect after his season with the Falmouth Commodores. Hansen made 13 appearances, including two starts, for the Red Sox and went 0-1 with a 3.63 ERA. The righty finished tied for tenth in the league with four saves and racked up 28 strikeouts, while issuing just nine walks in 22.1 innings of work. Hansen also limited the opposition to a .214 batting average. The righty also made one playoff appearance, striking out four in 4.0 innings of one-run relief. - http://www.redstormsports.com/sports/m-basebl/spec-rel/090811aaa.html  

8-16-11: - http://sancarlos.patch.com/articles/freddy-avis-suddenly-a-sizzling-mlb-prospect  Freddy Avis’s summer has been a blur. And that’s how many an opposing batter would describe his mid-90’s fastball. How much has changed for Avis since he completed his junior year at Menlo School? At the time of the MLB draft in early June, Avis would’ve gawked at the possibility of weighing a lucrative offer to play professional baseball in a year. That was about the furthest thing from his mind as he was narrowing his college choices and eying a full slate of travel-ball games with the California Smoke.

2012 Draft: - Brian Johnson, Cody Keefer, Kenny Diekroeger, Cody Poteet, Corey Seager

Brian Johnson:


7-19-11: - http://www.mlbbonusbaby.com/2011/6/29/2250656/early-look-at-2012#comments  - Brian Johnson, Florida, 6’2 220, L/L, also good hitting first base type, two way player that will let pro ball help him make his choice. Fb in low 90’s, most are 88-89, also hard slider 81-83 with decent tilt. Command is ok, crosses body during delivery which hinders full extension. 4-7 rounder for me.


Cody Keefer:


8-9-11: - http://www.collegebaseballdaily.com/2011/08/09/cape-cod-baseball-league-players-of-the-week-august-9th  - 2011 Cape League All-Star Cody Keefer (UCLA) has been named this week’s Player of the Week. Ramsey has homered twice and driven in four runs in eight playoff at-bats to help Y-D sweep Orleans in the first round of the Cape League playoffs. In the week leading up to the playoffs, Keefer failed to record a hit in only one game, and recorded multiple hits in two out of the four games. Keefer is a sophomore at UCLA, where he batted over .300 in each of his two seasons as a Bruin. He was a 33rd round draft pick by the Detroit Tigers in the 2009 Major League Baseball Draft.


Kenny Diekroeger:


8-9-11: - http://mlbdraftguide.com/1/2011/08/07/kenny-diekroeger-2012-draft-profile  - Kenny Diekroeger is one of the top shortstops available for the 2012 draft. Likely to be drafted in the first round, possibly in the top 10, Diekroeger is a top athlete. At the 2008 Area Code Games, he put up the top SPARQ rating, finishing 1 spot ahead of Mike Trout. Diekroeger regressed a bit at the plate in 2011, but that was due to the new bats more than anything else. He has plus bat speed and a nice swing. Diekroeger also has good speed on the bases. Kenny played third during his freshman season before sliding over to his natural shortstop spot in 2011. He has improved defensively since arriving at Stanford. He has good range and an above average arm. While some view Diekroeger as a future outfielder, his athleticism and coninued improvement should allow him to remain at short.


Cody Poteet:


8-12-11: - http://www.prospectwire.com/pw/article.php?id=290  - The Brewers pitcher who was most impressive was RHP Cody Poteet (6'1" 178, Bonita, CA). I think he is actually a little shorter than 6'1" and a little heavier but that being said, I love his stuff and how he goes about his business. He reminds me in some ways of Astros RHP Bud Norris when he was younger, with his bulldog demeanor and good aggressive use of his stuff. Poteet was 88-91 mph with the fastball that comes out with good down angle from his overhand slot. He also has a hard 77-78 mph curveball that was about as good as any curveball I saw in Long Beach. At times it was a hammer and is a legitimate swing and miss pitch.


Corey Seager:


7-19-11: - http://www.mlbbonusbaby.com/2011/6/29/2250656/early-look-at-2012#comments  - Corey Seager, NW Cabarrus HS, Kannapolis NC, 6’3 195, L/R, smooth hitter, goes with pitch, squares up pitches well and has surprising power, uses all fields when hitting, runs better underway, runs easy, throws easy and has solid fielding mechanics, can play SS at pro level, long run position would be corner. Potential 1st rounder in 2012.

2012 Draft Profile: - SS - Kenny Diekroeger

Kenny Diekroeger



10-11-10 – Top 10 2012 Prospects from Jim Callis/Baseball America - 1. Kenny Diekroeger, ss, Stanford


SS Kenny Diekroeger, Stanford: An unsigned 2009 second-rounder, Diekroeger has the whole package to emerge as an elite pick in the 2012 draft. He has excellent bat speed along with a polished plate approach; he also has smooth actions in the field to go with a smart, savvy approach and excellent instincts. Though his range is adequate by shortstop standards, Diekroeger’s quickness in the field makes him better suited for third base, and he could become a natural at that position as his raw power evolves. http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=5506  


Ranked #4 in the 2012 Prospects List compiled by the All-American Athletic Foundation - http://allamericanfoundation.pointstreaksites.com/view/allamericanfoundation/news/mlb-2012-draft

2-21-11: - http://bullpenbanter.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=387:college-baseball-weekend1&catid=18:articles&Itemid=11  Player: Kenny Diekroeger College: Stanford University Position: Short Stop Bats/Throws: R/R - Patient approach at the plate and worked the count well in order to get a pitch he could drive Hit several line drives up the middle Flew out a couple times near the warning track (left and center) Showed the ability to range to both his left and right A bit too much arc on his only throw from deep in the hole (only time his arm was tested)


4-25-11: - http://bullpenbanter.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=411:college-baseball-weekend-10-observations&catid=18:articles&Itemid=11  - Ugly, ugly swing at first Cole breaking ball


Rough game defensively, dropped easy popup in 8th and didn't range well (Game 1)


Did a good job charging soft ground ball and making accurate off-balance throw to first (Game 2)


Comment: I've seen 7 or 8 Stanford games this year and Diekroeger has yet to wow me. Early in the year he showed a knack for hitting line drives, but he has swung and missed a lot in recent looks. I've seen him range well to both sides and I've also seen balls that looked like they should have been fielded end up in the outfield. His actions are sloppy at times and his arm is just OK. The limitations of watching via webcast keeps me from making any definitive statements on that side of the ball. He's mentioned often as a top 5 pick for 2012 and I'm still waiting to see that player. At this point, I would take Mark Appel without hesitation over Kenny Diekroeger. I will see many Stanford games between now and June of 2012; I hope he shows me what he's got soon.


6-10-11 from http://www.draftsite.com/mlb/mock-draft/2012  - 2 Houston Kenny Diekroeger SS Stanford 6' 2" 200


6-12-11: - http://bleacherreport.com/articles/722354-2012-mlb-mock-draft-early-predictions-for-next-years-top-10-picks#/articles/722354-2012-mlb-mock-draft-early-predictions-for-next-years-top-10-picks/page/3  - Back in 2008, at the annual Area Code Games showcase, Mike Trout put up some ridiculous numbers in the miniature combine. The only player to post better numbers than him was high-schooler Kenny Diekroeger, who ended up as a second-round pick for the Rays that next year. Diekroeger, however, had a very strong commitment to Stanford and ended up on campus later that year. Two years later, he's starting to emerge as a strong candidate to go in the Top 10 of the 2012 draft. Since then, Diekroeger has refined his actions at shortstop. Now, many feel like he could continue at the position as a pro, despite his big size (6'2", 200 lbs). He has continued to shine in all facets of the game: at the plate, on defense and on the basepaths. He struggled to hit for power with the new bats, hitting only two home runs this season (after hitting five last year). His average also dipped to a career-low of .292, just one season after becoming the first Stanford freshman to lead the team in hitting (.342) since 1997. That season he also became the first freshman to lead the team in RBIs—ever. After his stellar freshman campaign, he headed off to the New England Collegiate League, where he won league batting honors and finished second to teammate Mark Appel as the top prospect in the league. He was noted for his athletic ability by scouts and coaches alike. If he can continue to improve on defense, and have a bounce-back year at the plate, there's no doubt that Diekroeger will go in the Top Ten.


7-8-11: - http://diamondprospects.blogspot.com/  - One of the top high school prospects in the 2009 draft Kenny Diekroeger stands out for his elite athleticism. He has plus speed and range at shortstop and has improved greatly at the position since his high school days. He should be able to remain there in the future as his slightly above-average arm is helped greatly by his superb athletic ability. Diekroeger has quick hands that allow him to have great bat speed. He projects to hit for solid power along with plus average. However he struggled at the plate this year for Stanford, which could partially be due to the new bats. If Diekroeger can return to his freshman year form at the plate and continue his excellent work in the field, he could be selected within the Top 5 picks in the 2012 draft. If his struggles remain, though, his stock could drop to the back end of the 1st round.


7-21-11: - http://www.mockdraftmania.com/  - 5. San Diego Padres Kenny Diekroeger SS Stanford The Padres need a shortstop. Diekroger had a breakout freshman campaign, but fell of the map as a sophomore with a batting average that fell from .342 to .292. Scouts said he would have to move to outfield straight out of high school. Diekroger has mastered his craft at shortstop and should remain a shortstop in the MLB despite his 6 foot 2 200 pound size. Kenny Diekroeger has the ability to be a complete shortstop prospect with the baseball IQ and high character that former Stanford baseball prospect Sam Fuld had coming out of college. I don’t see any reason why the Padres should not draft Kenny Diekrogger if he slips to #5 overall.


8-9-11: - http://mlbdraftguide.com/1/2011/08/07/kenny-diekroeger-2012-draft-profile   - Kenny Diekroeger is one of the top shortstops available for the 2012 draft. Likely to be drafted in the first round, possibly in the top 10, Diekroeger is a top athlete. At the 2008 Area Code Games, he put up the top SPARQ rating, finishing 1 spot ahead of Mike Trout. Diekroeger regressed a bit at the plate in 2011, but that was due to the new bats more than anything else. He has plus bat speed and a nice swing. Diekroeger also has good speed on the bases. Kenny played third during his freshman season before sliding over to his natural shortstop spot in 2011. He has improved defensively since arriving at Stanford. He has good range and an above average arm. While some view Diekroeger as a future outfielder, his athleticism and coninued improvement should allow him to remain at short.

2012 Draft: - Stephen Bruno, Kenny Diekroeger, Marcus Stroman, Victor Roache, Duane Underwood

Stephen Bruno:


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/2  - INF Stephen Bruno saw very little time this year after a breakout freshman season that saw him hit .388 in 36 games. A native of New Jersey, Bruno is a baseball rat, who can do a little of everything on the field. He is somewhat limited by his size (5'9", 165), but he was already drafted once by New York back in the 26th round of the '09 draft.


Kenny Diekroeger:


7-21-11: - http://www.mockdraftmania.com/  - 5. San Diego Padres Kenny Diekroeger SS Stanford The Padres need a shortstop. Diekroger had a breakout freshman campaign, but fell of the map as a sophomore with a batting average that fell from .342 to .292. Scouts said he would have to move to outfield straight out of high school. Diekroger has mastered his craft at shortstop and should remain a shortstop in the MLB despite his 6 foot 2 200 pound size. Kenny Diekroeger has the ability to be a complete shortstop prospect with the baseball IQ and high character that former Stanford baseball prospect Sam Fuld had coming out of college. I don’t see any reason why the Padres should not draft Kenny Diekrogger if he slips to #5 overall.


Marcus Stroman:


7-19-11: - http://www.mlbbonusbaby.com/2011/6/29/2250656/early-look-at-2012#comments  - Marcus Stroman, Duke, 5’9 185, one of the best arms I’ve seen in this area, starts mostly for Duke, but used as closer for Team USA this summer. Upper 90’s fb with hard slider, both pitches abv ave and yes, you can compare to former MLer Tom “Flash” Gordon. Definite early round guy!


Victor Roache:


Victor Roache (Georgia Southern)- He has dominated the Cape Cod Baseball League this summer as he has a .328 batting average while hitting six homers and driving in 28 runs. Roache is coming off an outstanding sophomore year with Georgia Southern which saw him hit .326 with 30 homers and 84 RBI. These numbers were off the charts as the new bat rules went into effect this season to help deaden the bats but Roache’s was far from it. - http://www.collegebaseballdaily.com/2011/07/29/2011-cape-cod-all-star-game-players-to-watch/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+CollegeBaseballDaily+%28College+Baseball+Daily%29&utm_content=Twitter  


Duane Underwood:


7-30-11: - http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=6082  - Duane Underwood (2012 RHP/OF, East Cobb Astros 16u)- PG was first introduced to Duane Underwood at the 16U National Championship in 2009. Underwood was a primary OF for the Georgia Blue Jays, and he made a mildly positive impression with his bat. The scouting notes on Underwood from that event read: “high hands, late start, athletic, quick hands, spins out on curveball, runs well.” The pitching notes were more positive on the secondary RHP who sat 82-84, topping out at 86, throwing all fastballs. Underwood showed enough raw talent to be invited to the 2010 Jr National Showcase, where he touched 89 mph on the radar gun and flashed potential with both his curveball and slider and a much improved swing. In 2011 Underwood absolutely blew us (and opposing hitters) away with his ability on the mound. With significantly improved mechanics Underwood’s live arm now routinely generates low-mid 90s velocity, touching 96 on the PG gun with sharp downhill plane. One of the best power arms in the country, Underwood’s bat is almost as impressive and he’s a big time two-way prospect who will be representing the East team at the PG All-American Game on August 14.

Kenny Diekroeger , Kyle Martin, Albert Almora, Kyle Hansen, Evan Marzilli

Kenny Diekroeger:


7-8-11: - http://diamondprospects.blogspot.com/  - One of the top high school prospects in the 2009 draft Kenny Diekroeger stands out for his elite athleticism. He has plus speed and range at shortstop and has improved greatly at the position since his high school days. He should be able to remain there in the future as his slightly above-average arm is helped greatly by his superb athletic ability. Diekroeger has quick hands that allow him to have great bat speed. He projects to hit for solid power along with plus average. However he struggled at the plate this year for Stanford, which could partially be due to the new bats. If Diekroeger can return to his freshman year form at the plate and continue his excellent work in the field, he could be selected within the Top 5 picks in the 2012 draft. If his struggles remain, though, his stock could drop to the back end of the 1st round.



Kyle Martin:


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/7  - RHP Kyle Martin was one of the Aggies’ most effective relievers this season, helping to fill the huge hole left by John Stilson who moved into the rotation. Martin finished with a 3.60 ERA in 30 appearances and notched 37 strikeouts in 40 innings. He also picked up one save and served up only one home run the entire season. Martin was a 39th-round pick of the Washington Nationals back in 2009.


Albert Almora:


7-5-11: - http://diamondscapescouting.com/articles_2011_summercircuit_prospectclassic_07042011.html  - Defensively, Albert Almora stood out among the high school outfielders, showing consistently impressive reads off of the bat. He has the foot speed to close on balls and utilizes his athleticism and body control to consistently finish, be it to the gaps, over his head or charging in. Addy Russell has a strong arm and soft hands, displaying both on a backhand stab on a one-hop linedrive to the third base line. An excellent athlete with a chance to play up the middle, he showed off his athleticism before game two of the series, performing standing backflips along the right field line during stretches


Kyle Hansen:


7-5-11: - http://mlbdraftguide.com/1/2011/07/05/kyle-hansen-2012-draft-profile  - Kyle Hansen, brother of 2005 first rounder Craig Hansen, is a tall, thin righthander from St. John’s. He shows flashes of dominance that could land him near the top of draft boards. Hansen throws his fastball from 89-92 and could add velocity as he fills out. His fastball has good sink. He throws a slider, at 79-80, that shows plus potential. Hansen also throws a change, at 81-82, and an occasional cutter. Hansen uses a 3/4 arm slot and sometimes has trouble with his command.


Evan Marzilli:


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  - OF Evan Marzilli exploded onto the scene as a freshman, hitting .385 in 91 at-bats. He came on strong as the season progressed and was named to the CWS All-Tournament Team after hitting .370 with seven runs scored in Omaha. And he was the Gamecock’s best hitter throughout the NCAA tournament, hitting .417. And in USC’s two-game sweep of UCLA, Marzilli went 4-for-9 with an RBI. Marzilli just about defines the term “spark-plug.” He was a central piece of USC’s SEC co-championship squad in 2011, hitting .299 with 12 doubles, two triples and 36 runs.

2012 Draft: - Tyler Naquin, Matt Whitehouse, Lucas Giolito, Kenny Diekroeger, Jayce Boyd

Tyler Naquin:


5-12-11: - .kbtx.  - The Big 12’s leading hitter is the newest selection to the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team as Thursday is was announced that Texas A&M sophomore outfielder Tyler Naquin would be a part of the team for the upcoming summer. Throughout the 2011 campaign, Naquin has been one of the nation’s top hitters and currently leads the Big 12 Conference and ranks in the top 15 nationally with a .414 batting average. Entering this weekend’s Nebraska series the A&M right fielder owns a 25-game hitting streak which is the third longest ever by an Aggie and just three games off the school record of 28 set in 1972 by R.J. Englert. The Spring, Texas, native has 23 multi-hit games this season while leading the Big 12 in runs scored with 49. Having started all but one of Texas A&M’s contests this spring, Naquin ranks first on the Aggies with 37 RBI and has also hit 16 doubles and six triples to rank among the top five in the Big 12 in both categories.



Matt Whitehouse:


6-13-11: - http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=5880  UC Irvine starting pitcher Matt Whitehouse allowed just one earned run in five innings of work, while reliever Andrew Thurman was fantastic, allowing just a run in four innings of work in a huge 6-4 win over Virginia to force a decisive third game in the Charlottesville Super Regional. While Whitehouse and Thurman led the way on the mound, Drew Hillman and Tommy Reyes each had two hits in the game. For Virginia, starting pitcher Tyler Wilson only allowed a run in six innings, but relievers Justin Thompson and Branden Kline were unable to take care of business.


Lucas Giolito:


http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110608&content_id=20222396&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb&partnerId=rss_mlb  Lucas Giolito, RHP, Harvard-Westlake HS, Calif.: Giolito is big and strong and can crank his fastball into the mid-90s with a low-effort delivery.


Kenny Diekroeger:


6-12-11: - http://bleacherreport.com/articles/722354-2012-mlb-mock-draft-early-predictions-for-next-years-top-10-picks#/articles/722354-2012-mlb-mock-draft-early-predictions-for-next-years-top-10-picks/page/3  - Back in 2008, at the annual Area Code Games showcase, Mike Trout put up some ridiculous numbers in the miniature combine. The only player to post better numbers than him was high-schooler Kenny Diekroeger, who ended up as a second-round pick for the Rays that next year. Diekroeger, however, had a very strong commitment to Stanford and ended up on campus later that year. Two years later, he's starting to emerge as a strong candidate to go in the Top 10 of the 2012 draft. Since then, Diekroeger has refined his actions at shortstop. Now, many feel like he could continue at the position as a pro, despite his big size (6'2", 200 lbs). He has continued to shine in all facets of the game: at the plate, on defense and on the basepaths. He struggled to hit for power with the new bats, hitting only two home runs this season (after hitting five last year). His average also dipped to a career-low of .292, just one season after becoming the first Stanford freshman to lead the team in hitting (.342) since 1997. That season he also became the first freshman to lead the team in RBIs—ever. After his stellar freshman campaign, he headed off to the New England Collegiate League, where he won league batting honors and finished second to teammate Mark Appel as the top prospect in the league. He was noted for his athletic ability by scouts and coaches alike. If he can continue to improve on defense, and have a bounce-back year at the plate, there's no doubt that Diekroeger will go in the Top Ten.


Jayce Boyd:


6-13-11: - http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=5880  - Player of the game: OF Jayce Boyd, Florida State – The Seminoles needed solid offensive production to stay alive on Sunday and got just that from Boyd and others. Boyd had a huge day at the plate, going a perfect 4-for-4 with a double, home run, five runs scored and three RBIs. It’s also worth noting shortstop Justin Gonzalez finished the contest with two hits and six RBIs, while Stuart Tapley slammed a pair of home runs and finished the afternoon with five RBIs.