Draft 14 – Kodi Medeiros, Isiah Gilliam, Luke Weaver, Joey Pankake, Travis Jones

2-6-14 - Looks like pitching leads the way in the Four Corners region with Kodi Medeiros taking the top spot. (Check out his Day in the Life here and see how he spends the time in Hawaii.) He is a 6-foot-1, 190 pound lefty out of Waiakea (Hilo, Hawaii) and is headed to Pepperdine. At the Area Code Games, playing for the Reds, in August he was in the low 90′s and by the time he got to the Perfect Game All-American Classic later that week he touched 95.  - See more at: http://www.studentsports.com/baseball/2014/02/06/kodi-medeiros-leads-top-players-corners-hawaii/#sthash.qpfyJAOu.dpuf 

3-25-14 - Parkview (GA) High School junior Isiah Gilliam has been declared eligible for the 2014 MLB Draft according to several sources inside of MLB organizations. He started his high school career at Shiloh high school before transferring to a christian school and currently at Parkview. He received his GED this past December. He was determined to be eligible since it is now four years after entering high school as a freshman. Gilliam is expected to be a first round pick of the upcoming draft and this will be a developing story over the next couple of days.  http://www.collegebaseballdaily.com/2014/03/21/high-school-junior-isiah-gilliam-declared-eligible-for-2014-mlb-draft/ 

2-5-14 - Luke Weaver, RHP, Florida State - Like Nola, Weaver relies more on his ability to paint the corners and mix up his pitches rather than overpowering you. A groundball pitcher, his fastball can touch 96 mph and he uses a sinking change-up with great deception to baffle hitters. His slider is just average and a big progression in his breaking stuff would be needed for him to go this high. Over 15 starts, he had a 2.29 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 119 K/19 BB over 98.1 innings. His 10.9 K/9 and 6.3 K/BB ratios show the kind of command and stuff he has. Also like Nola, at 6’-2” and 170 pounds, his size can be a concern. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-dark-horse-candidates-chicago-cubs-first-pick/41075#UeYBipV5rOuYd7xE.99

1-3-14 – TTF Baseball - 43. Chicago White Sox — Joey Pankake, SS, South Carolina - Reports are Pankake is going to be playing all over the field this year. He will be the team’s closer, play some outfield and move around the infield — all in hopes of raising his draft stock. At 6’-1” and 200 pounds, he has an advanced approach at the plate, a canon arm and excellent bat speed. He showed developing power as a sophomore, hitting .311/.387/.496 over 62 games with 11 home runs and drew 29 walks to just 29 strikeouts. Even if he can’t stick at short, he should be bale to handle second base. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-2/40753#ppGUqI6CbWFvzsPf.99

11-21-13 – BA Top 100 High School Players - 82 Travis Jones OF R/R 6-3 205 Atascocita HS, Humble, Texas Texas http://www.baseballamerica.com/college/2014-high-school-top-100-with-commitments/

Draft 14 – Jeff Hoffman, Kodi Medeiros, Braxton Davidson, Milton Ramos

1-20-14 – PG Preseason College All-Americans - Starting Pitcher - Jeff Hoffman, East Carolina - 2013 Stats: 3.20 ERA, 109 2/3 IP, 84 K, 39 BB, .243 OPP BA - Though it remains a long shot in the eyes of many, Hoffman is one pitcher who could unseat Rodon as the top overall pick in next summer’s MLB draft. Hoffman, a 6-foot-4, 192-pounder, has elite stuff, and coach Billy Godwin feels like he has a chance to put all the puzzle pieces together once and for all this spring. Hoffman has a fastball anywhere from 94-97, with the ability to touch 98, while he possesses a good low-80s curveball and developing low-80s changeup. Perhaps no pitcher includes as much intrigue entering the spring as Hoffman. http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=9294

1-3-14 – TTF Baseball - 35. Houston Astros (From Orioles) — Kodi Medeiros, LHP, Waiakea HS (HI) - With two plus pitches already in his back pocket, the southpaw who throws from a low-three quarters slot has some of the filthiest stuff in the country — just ask anyone who faced him this year. His fastball can touch 96 mph with late movement and life and his slider is nasty and wipes out lefties. You don’t see many sidearm starters in the majors so it will be interesting to watch his development. Also, at 6’-0” and 185 pounds, his projection is limited. Still, he has established himself as one of best arms available in the 2014 MLB draft. Committed to Pepperdine. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-2/40753#ppGUqI6CbWFvzsPf.99

12-9-13 – Pine Tar Press  -  31- 1B Braxton Davidson T.C Roberson HS (UNC Commit) 6/18/96- the powerfully built LH swinger has a bit of a Justin Morneau comp in my opinion. He has a very good arm that will be wasted at 1B as he probably is not fleet enough to play RF. The top LH power hitter in his class. (Braves @ 29) http://pinetarpress.com/early-look-2014-mlb-draft/

11-21-13 – BA Top 100 High School Players - 25 Milton Ramos SS R/R 5-11 160 American Heritage, Hialeah Gardens, Fla. Florida Atlantic http://www.baseballamerica.com/college/2014-high-school-top-100-with-commitments/

Draft 14 – Dylan Cease, Kodi Medeiros, Braxton Davidson, JJ Schwartz

1-3-14 – TTF Baseball - 31. Atlanta Braves (Brian McCann) — Dylan Cease, RHP, Milton HS (GA) - With a fastball that sits in the 93-96 mph range, the 6’-2” right-hander is another hard-throwing prepster in a class deep on them. His secondary stuff is still developing, but with his athleticism and loose delivery, they should come along quickly. He was one of the best arms over the summer. Committed to Vanderbilt. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-2/40753#ppGUqI6CbWFvzsPf.99

12-9-13 – Pine Tar Press  -  20- LHP Kodi Medeiros Waikeka HS (Pepperdine Commit) Having seen him pitch twice this year I can say he is one of the most fun HS arms to watch in person. He has an advanced feel for his change and excellent command of 3 pitches. The Hawaiian southpaw is a relentless worker and has plenty of upside as a future mid rotation guy.(Rangers @ 22) http://pinetarpress.com/early-look-2014-mlb-draft/

12-10-13 – TTF – Top 50 HS Players - 11. Braxton Davidson, 1B/OF, TC Roberson HS (NC) - Power from the left side is always in demand, and at 6’-3” and 215 pounds, Davidson has plenty of it. He may be relegated to first base, in which case a lot of pressure will be put on his bat to produce. He has excellent bat speed and an advanced approach at the plate, with good pitch recognition and the ability to wait on pitches. Over 31 games as a junior, he hit .403 with seven doubles, eight home runs, and drew 30 walks for a .600 OBP/.831 SLG. Committed to North Carolina. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-top-50/40532#zz88YJZTOG8iEa1Z.99

11-21-13 – BA Top 100 High School Players - 38 JJ Schwarz C R/R 6-1 193 Palm Beach (Fla.) Gardens Florida http://www.baseballamerica.com/college/2014-high-school-top-100-with-commitments/

Draft 14 – Kodi Medeiros, Gabe Gonzalez, Aaron Nola, Nick Gordon, ColeTucker

11-11-13 – PG HS Rankings – 5  -   Kodi Medeiros LHP OF, 1B 6-0 185 L L Waiakea Hilo HI  Pepperdine Big League  -  Can flat out pitch! Unhittable and up to 95 at PG AA. Excellent breaking ball. Impressed at WWBA World Championship http://www.perfectgame.org/Rankings/Players/Default.aspx?gyear=2014&num=500


11-6-13 – Todd Gold – WWBA World Championship – Gabe Gonzalez (2014 RHP, Ohio Warhawks) - While most of the scouting world caught a glimpse of the power armed Las Vegas product in his first outing at the Area Code Games, most of that massive scouting contingent had left Long Beach before he took the mound for his second outing, in which he was far more comfortable. After topping out at 89 mph and finding himself behind in the count too frequently to show any of his offspeed pitches, most scouts didn't get to see the real Gonzalez. With his nerves calmed, his second outing of the Area Code Games was considerably better, and while he still battled some wildness, he sat 88-90 touching 91 and got to use his solid mid-70s curveball and low-80s changeup. In Jupiter he kicked it up another notch, hitting 94 mph in a relief outing. His fastball velocity also plays up due to the combination of a wingspan longer than that of a typical 6-foot-3 pitcher, with his very long arm action and long extension out front. He's still a bit of a mystery as a prospect, but scouts will be watching him closely next spring as they search for clues as to his future. One thing is certain, he has a live arm. http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=9157


11-4-13 – MLB Draft Insider - Top 14 for ’14: College Pitchers - 5. Aaron Nola / RHP / LSU – Nola was one of the best pitchers in the SEC last year, pounding the strike zone with a low 90′s fastball and above-average secondary offerings. His arm slot is a major concern from the scouts I’ve talked to, however. http://mlbdraftinsider.com/2013/11/top-14-for-14-college-pitchers/


10-15-13 – Baseball America - 11. Nick Gordon, ss/rhp, Olympia HS, Orlando, Fla.: The son of former big leaguer Tom and brother of Dodgers infielder Dee has a chance to stick at short with a plus arm, good actions and a solid lefthanded swing. 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 – 18.Cole Tucker – SS, Mountain Pointe (AZ) HS http://www.ninebaseball.org/Wordpress/sullys-2014-top-100-mlb-hs-draft-prospects/

Draft 14 – Alex Jackson, Kodi Medeiros, Nick Burdi, Ti’Quan Forbes,Bryson Brigman

11-11-13 – PG HS Rankings – 3  -   Alex Jackson C OF, 3B 6-2 210 R R Rancho Bernardo Escondido CA  Oregon San Diego Show  -  Huge power, very good defensive catcher, Also play OF well. Has all the tools, outstanding at PG Nat. Games and Area Codes. Outstanding at PG National. PG All American  http://www.perfectgame.org/Rankings/Players/Default.aspx?gyear=2014&num=500


11-6-13 – Todd Gold – WWBA World Championship – Kodi Medeiros (2014 LHP, Ohio Warhawks) - Medeiros' start against Chandler Baseball was the main event of amateur baseball's main event. Hundreds of golf carts created a wall four plus rows deep behind the plate to get a glimpse at the 2014 class' most intrguiging prospect. The native of Hilo, a town of aprox. 45,000 on Hawaii's big island, was relatively unknown on the national scene prior to taking the mound at the PG National Showcase in June. His electric stuff took the scouting community by surprise and he continued to impress throughout the summer in one and two inning stints at the Area Code Games and PG All-American Classic. But with his small frame, unorthodox delivery and short track record there has been an ongoing debate amongst scouts as to whether he can maintain his high level stuff through the physical rigors of a role in the starting rotation. Simply put; there has never been a prospect quite like Medeiros. That fact should be viewed as a huge positive, though the lack of a viable comp does make him somewhat more difficult to evaluate. His fastball sits comfortably in the 90-92 range and has peaked as high as 95, but more than the velocity, his fastball features plus movement and life, seemingly accelerating after leaving his hand and darts hard to the arm side with sink. He has shown some feel for locating his fastball on the corners, which is impressive considering it's depth of run. His slider has plus bite and depth, but is a pitch that he's still developing feel for. This should come as no surprise given that very few catchers at this level are able to handle the pitch because of it's devastating late bite and huge depth. Subsequently, he is unable to use it with two strikes or a runner on third in game situations. With high-level catching, Medeiros will have an opportunity to develop better feel for using the pitch in-game situations and begin to realize the pitch's 80-grade potential. His changeup was inconsistent in his previous outings, flashing plus at the PG National before betraying him at the Area Code Games and in the PG All-American Classic. With that in mind he made a point to show it off in Jupiter and with very go od results, locating the first three for strikes. In Jupiter his changeup caused several ugly swings, and several of them were legitimate plus offerings, though he still has work to do to improve his consistency with it. His three inning outing was a Rorshach for scouts, as those who view him as a starter will point to his six pitch first inning and quality of changeup, while those who see a future in the bullpen will fixate on his velocity dipping to 88-90 in the third inning. Regardless of his future role, Medeiros is a special talent who has a chance to be among the best pitchers in baseball in that role, should he manage to stay healthy going forward and continue to develop. http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=9157


11-4-13 – MLB Draft Insider - Top 14 for ’14: College Pitchers - 12. Nick Burdi / RHP / Louisville — He’s strictly a reliever, but potentially a very good one with a fastball that has touched triple digits and a slider that will give right-handed hitters fits. http://mlbdraftinsider.com/2013/11/top-14-for-14-college-pitchers/


10-15-13 – Baseball America - 39. Ti’Quan Forbes, ss, Columbia (Miss.) HS: Young and spindly, the three-sport Forbes is a premium athlete and plus runner who will need time to develop with the bat. 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 – 28.Bryson Brigman – SS, Valley Christian (CA) HS http://www.ninebaseball.org/Wordpress/sullys-2014-top-100-mlb-hs-draft-prospects/

Draft 14 – Sean Reid-Foley, Kodi Medeiros, Montrell Marshall, KelJohnson, Michael Chavis

10-29-13 – Jim Callis – Top 10 World Wood Bat Association World Championship (WWBA) Jupiter, Fla - 6. Sean Reid-Foley, RHP, Cardinals Scout Team/FTB Chandler (Sandalwood High, Jacksonville, Fla./Florida State) -  Inconsistent but has shown a quality fastball, breaking ball and command at different times during the summer. http://ht.ly/qi5No


10-15-13 – Baseball America - 30. Kodi Medeiros, lhp, Waiakea HS, Hilo, Hawaii: With a lively fastball up to 95 mph and a power slider, Medeiros pairs electric stuff with an unconventional low slot. http://www.baseballamerica.com/college/2014-draft-top-50-october-2013-carlos-rodon/


10-25-13  - PG Showcase – Among Team Elite’s hitters, third baseman Montrell Marshall (Snellville, Ga.) showed well on Day One, hitting several balls with authority on a line, including a line drive triple just short of the center-field warning track. Marshall has a projectable 6-foot-5, 200-pound build and looks the part at third, where he moves well and has plenty of arm strength. http://www.baseballamerica.com/draft/toussaint-wows-evaluators-at-jupiter/


10-28-13 – Jim Callis - East Cobb's top 2014 Draft prospect, left fielder Kel Johnson (home-schooled in Palmetto, Ga.), didn't do much on Saturday. He went 0-for-3, grounding out and striking out on a 77-mph breaking ball against Blewett. He has tremendous raw power, but the Georgia Tech recruit will have to show he'll hit enough to get to it consistently. http://ht.ly/qeYJz


9-11-13 - Sully’s 2014 Top 100 MLB HS Draft Prospects - 6. Michael Chavis – 3B, Sprayberry (GA) HS http://www.ninebaseball.org/Wordpress/sullys-2014-top-100-mlb-hs-draft-prospects/

Draft 14 – Michael Gettys, Benton Moss, Luis Ortiz, Kodi Medeiros, Trea Turner

10-9-13 – Early Pick for Cubs - Michael Gettys, OF, Gainesville HS (GA) - Theo Epstein and Co. have always made it clear that they will take the best available player in the 2014 MLB draft over need. Gettys, a 6’-2”, 200 pound right-hander, may be the best available player when the Cubs are on the clock. A plus runner with a plus arm, he has been timed at 6.43 in the 60 and his arm has been clocked at 100 mph from the outfield. I got a chance to see him at Wrigley for the Under Armour All American Game and, after seeing him deposit a home run to dead center field, the power is real, too. With excellent bat speed, he should be a high-average hitter, giving him all five tools. He has a strong, linebacker-type  build — similar to that of Mike Trout — and has added 50 pounds to his frame over the last two years without losing any of his explosiveness. I had the opportunity to interview Gettys and you can read it here. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-early-targets-chicago-cubs-fourth-overall-pick/38723

 

10-11-13 - Aaron Fitt ‏@aaronfitt  - I'm at @DiamondHeels fall world series. RHP Benton Moss looks strong - 90-93, locating well to arm side, nasty tight slider/cutter at 84-85.

 

9-29-13 – XMLBScout – 7.)RHP, Luis Ortiz, Hallmark Charter School, Sanger CA, 6'2 210, live arm, show quickness, all pitches from upper 3/4 slot, slider has proper spin, not the break and deception to be plus pitch, a work in progress still, fb has very good velo, pitch life however is fair, very straight - easy to read, also threw some straight changes with some deception, strong build, has some comps to Giovanni Gallardo, fb velo ranged from 90-94, most fb were 91-92, slider 80-82, change middle 70's, good looking arm for 2014, top 50 for sure. Fresno State commit. http://xmlbscout.angelfire.com/

 

9-11-13 - Sully’s 2014 Top 100 MLB HS Draft Prospects - 7.Kodi Medeiros – LHP, Waiakea (HI) HS http://www.ninebaseball.org/Wordpress/sullys-2014-top-100-mlb-hs-draft-prospects/

 

9-30-13 – TTF Mock 2.0 - 2. Miami Marlins — Trea Turner, SS, North Carolina State There are a lot of players who could go second-overall but I like Turner, a 6’-1” right-hander with plus/plus speed, an excellent approach at the plate and a kid who will remain at a premium position due to his silly range, strong arm and instincts on the field. Over 56 games as a sophomore, he hit .368/.455/.553 with 30 stolen bases and drew 38 walks to just 30 strikeouts. He also hit seven home runs, showing developing power. As a freshman, he led the nation in stolen bases with 57 and was only thrown out four times. An alumni of Team USA Baseball, he is a franchise-type player and should be a huge fan favorite. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-mock-draft-2-0-draft-order-set/38280#5E3F5j1jWOgE69bJ.99

Draft 14 – Tyler Beede, James Norwood, Joey Gatto, Kodi Medeiros, Bryce Carter

10-24-13 – John Sickles – Tyler Beede - Much of the potential in his three plus or better pitches is dependent on his command. As a freshman, Beede was the #3 starter, not because of lack of talent, but he didn't step up and command the game. As a sophomore, he took a step forward in the superficial stats (wins, ERA) even though his command was lacking. He walked 5.6 per 9 innings but the K rate was up at 9.2. From watching several starts each of his first two year, he looked like a much better pitcher as a sophomore. He commanded the mound more and his presence was stronger. There have been plenty of pitchers who have struggled with command when they were younger and turned out fine and Beede will likely be added to that list. But..if he struggles with command this spring, his stock could be very volatile. http://www.minorleagueball.com/2013/10/24/5008564/2014-mlb-draft-profile-tyler-beede-rhp-vanderbilt

-23-13 - Pitcher Name:  James Norwood - Ht:  6’2  Wt:  200  Position:  RHP  Draft Status:  2014 Draft Eligible  Physical:  Norwood has a big upper body that helps produce easy velocity out of his hand.  He has wide shoulders and room to add weight down the road.  Mechanics:  Norwood starts on the 1B side of the rubber and pitches with a downward style action.  He has an extremely easy and elusive delivery.  He uses a high 3/4 arm slot with a good stride.  Fastball:  94-97 MPH.  Norwood looks very comfortable and confident using his top tier fastball against any level of hitting.  He has a great deal of run on his two-seam fastball.  Secondary Pitches:  Norwood uses a variety of pitches to fill out his 4 pitch repertoire.  All 3 offspeed pitches Norwood uses are still developing, but his curveball and changeup are becoming legit 2 and 3 pitches. http://bigleaguefutures.net/1/2013/10/23/scouting-report-james-norwood/

10-15-13 – Baseball America - 46. Joey Gatto, rhp, St. Augustine Prep, Hammonton, N.J.: Gatto offers athleticism, projection and a fastball up to 94 mph from a big 6-foot-3, 204-pound frame. http://www.baseballamerica.com/college/2014-draft-top-50-october-2013-carlos-rodon/

9-30-13 – TTF Mock 2.0 - 31. St. Louis Cardinals — Kodi Medeiros, LHP, Waiakea HS (HI) Medeiros was the talk of the PG Classic. Some people described his stuff as filthy, nasty and some players tweeted he had some of the best stuff they have ever seen. He hit 95 mph with his fastball and added a nasty, filthy slider that sat in the low 80s. What really makes him nasty and filthy, however, is his delivery. He throws from low three-quarters — almost sidearm. You don’t see a lot of sidearm, frontline starters in the majors so it will be interesting to watch him his senior season.  Also, at 6’-0” and 185 pounds, his size may limit his upside. Nonetheless, he established himself as one of the most exciting players in the country and if any team can develop him, it’s the Cardinals. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-mock-draft-2-0-draft-order-set/38280#5E3F5j1jWOgE69bJ.99

9-11-13 - Sully’s 2014 Top 100 MLB HS Draft Prospects – 67.Bryce Carter- C, Cascia Hall Prep (OK) http://www.ninebaseball.org/Wordpress/sullys-2014-top-100-mlb-hs-draft-prospects/

Draft 14 – Carlos Rodon, Kodi Medeiros, Drew Weston, Chase Vellott, Cobi Johnson

9-27-13 - Carlos Rodon is the clear favorite to go No. 1 overall next June. He claimed that status during his 2012 freshman season with North Carolina State. He solidified it last spring, when he led NCAA Division I with 184 strikeouts in 132 1/3 innings and carried the Wolfpack to its first College World Series berth since 1968, and strengthened his case during a banner summer with Team USA. If Rodon already were an Astro, he'd face some stiff competition in what I consider baseball's best farm system (more on that in a second). Nevertheless, he'd fit somewhere between the last two No. 1 overall picks at the top of our Houston list, behind shortstop Carlos Correa and ahead of right-hander Mark Appel. http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130927&content_id=61864804&c_id=

8-21-13 – Area Code Games - 5. Kodi Medeiros, lhp, Waiakea, Hilo, Hawaii/Big Island Wood Bat League - The 6-foot-1, 191-pound Medeiros has a compact, muscular build with broad, sloped shoulders, a wide chest and strong lower half. He is one of the most interesting players in the class because although he is unconventional and he comes from a remote location, his stuff is electric. Medeiros has a leg kick that pushes toward center field, and his arm path is high in the back with a whip-like action before releasing at a slot just above sidearm. This angle gives all of his pitches tremendous movement. His 90-92 mph fastball that touched 93 has at least plus armside run and sink. Hitters were unable to lift the ball out of the infield in his two innings. His upper-70s slider is a plus pitch with abrupt movement, 3-to-7 lateral tilt and power. Medeiros also mixes in a 78-80 changeup with lots of armside fade that has above-average potential. He is currently uncommitted and will choose between Pepperdine, Oregon, Arizona and UCLA in the fall. If Medeiros is drafted in the first round, he will be the highest drafted Hawaiian high schooler ever, a title currently held by Bronson Sardinha, who was drafted 34th overall in the 2001 supplemental first round. http://www.baseballamerica.com/draft/area-code-games-top-10-prospects/

9-21-13 – RHP Drew Weston is an uncommitted righthander from San Marcos, Calif., who may not be uncommitted for much longer. Repeating his low three-quarters arm slot well on all pitches, Weston topped at 88 mph with consistent, hard arm-side run, never getting above the hitter's mid-thigh. With a balanced delivery and a loose, easy arm action, he gets nice fade on his changeup, which was up to 78 mph, and also throws a tight spinning curveball. When the ball was put in play, it wasn't barreled up, inducing routine ground balls for his fielders. And if his pitching wasn't enough, Weston showed off at the plate also, hitting a double to each gap in his first two at-bats. .  http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=9017

9-4-13 – Mack’s Mock Draft v1.0 – 22 – C Chase Vellott – St. Thomas More (LA) HS – There’s a lot of good catching in this draft and Vellott is one of them. Has a strong arm capable of pop times in the 1.9-2.0 second range. Vallot is one of the youngest players in the class and will not turn 18 until the end of the minor league season next year

9-11-13 - Sully’s 2014 Top 100 MLB HS Draft Prospects – 51.Cobi Johnson – RHP, James W Mitchell (FL) HS http://www.ninebaseball.org/Wordpress/sullys-2014-top-100-mlb-hs-draft-prospects/

Draft 14 – Kyle Freeland, Kodi Medeiros, Tyler Kolek, Greg Holmes, Dylan Cease

9-10-13 – Top Arms in 2013 Cape Cod League – LHP  Kyle Freeland (Evansville Jr.) 6-4/185, Hyannis Harborhawks 40 IP, 48 K, 2.25 ERA: FB 90-93 CB 78-81 SL 82-85 CH 82 -  His fastball has plus action and he walked 4 batters this entire CCBL season. The slider has the potential to turn into an MLB out-pitch, and he will improve in replicating his arm slot and arm action due to his athleticism. I think his ceiling is as high as any pitcher in the CCBL. http://bullpenbanter.com/2013-all-cape-team-pitchers/

9-4-13 – Mack’s Mock Draft v1.0 – 26 – LHP Kodi Medeiros - Waiakea (HI) HS – No one has come out of nowhere quicker this summer than Medeiros, who turned heads at June's PG National in Minnesota. Scouts said his stuff was ‘absolutely filthy’, aided by his strange deliver. FB: 90-93, 94… 78-80 breaking ball… throws from low three-quarters — almost sidearm.

9-11-13 - Sully’s 2014 Top 100 MLB HS Draft Prospects - 4.Tyler Kolek – RHP, Shepherd (TX) HS http://www.ninebaseball.org/Wordpress/sullys-2014-top-100-mlb-hs-draft-prospects/

9-11-13 – Keith Law - Right-hander Grant Holmes of Conway (S.C.) HS was solid yet again, sitting 92-94 with a strong breaking ball at 80-81 that had good two-plane break, flashing a future-average or better changeup as well. Holmes has impressed at every stop this summer and the fact that he's still showing above-average velocity at this late date, when most kids are already worn out and have lost a little off their fastballs, is a huge point in his favor when considering possible indicators of long-term durability. http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/mlb-draft/post/_/id/1131/top-prospects-flock-to-metropolitan-classic?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

9-18-13 - CB Daily ‏@CB_Daily  - Good get "MT @johnmwhittle: #Vandy picks up HUGE baseball commitment from RHP Dylan Cease @NewDylancease7" One of the top in 2014 HS Class.

Draft 14 - Justus Sheffield, Greg Dieschman, Luis Ortiz, Kodi Medeiros, Sam Coonrod

8-21-13 - Todd Gold ‏@TGold_PG  - 2014 LHP Justus Sheffield (Tullahoma, TN) just had 2 very impressive IP. K'd first 5, spotted up glove side very well, up to 92.

8-15-13 - Under Armour All-Star Game – Greg Dieschman, SS: Another power bat from the SS position, Dieschman does his thing fromt the left side.  He has good power, which he generates with very good bat speed.  He's not as prodiguous a power hitter as Gatewood, but he is faster, more athletic, and has a better shot of sticking at SS. http://www.chicagonow.com/cubs-den/2013/08/2014-mlb-draft-ua-game-roster-and-preview-plus-more-tickets-and-meet-up-information/

 

9-4-13 – Mack’s Mock Draft v1.0 – 21 –  RHP Luis Ortiz – Sanger (CA) HS – Ortiz burst on the scene in July when he traveled across the country and wowed scouts at the USA Baseball’s National Team Identification Series in Cary, N.C. with his 91-93 mph fastball and 80-82 mph slider. Hit 91-93, at the Tournament of Stars in August along with an 83-84 slider. Good height (6-3) and reportedly lost 35 pounds over the past year. Keep an eye on this one.

 

8-12-13 - Gichael Mettys ‏@Michaelgettys3  - The Hawaiian lefty (Kodi Medeiros) I faced was the best pitcher I've ever seen. Side arm, lefty, 94mph and the ball was moving like a snake! #nasty

 

9-10-13 – Top Arms in 2013 Cape Cod League - Sam Coonrod (Southern Illinois Jr.)  6-2/190, Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox 16.2 IP, 14 K, 4.86 ERA: FB 92-96 CB 75-81 SL 84-87 CH 81-84 -  Strong build and a power arm. He didn’t possess a lot of control, but the raw stuff is excellent. I think he is a work in progress, but will develop into a stud with professional seasoning. http://bullpenbanter.com/2013-all-cape-team-pitchers/

Draft 14 – Kodi Medeiros, Grant Hockin, Micah Miniard, Milton Ramos, Brandon Finnegan

8-16-13 - 11th All-American Classic - Kodi Medeiros | LHP | Waiakea (Hilo, HI)  Height/Weight: 6 feet/185 pounds  B/T: L/L  Draft Day Age: 18 years, 0 months  Commitment: N/A  Scouting Notes: Impressive; deception pitcher with stuff but not a gimmick guy; worked from extreme low three-quarters slot—basically a sidearmer; fastball worked 93-94 with plus movement; ball was diving under barrels; upper-70s to low-80s slider was filthy; fastball disguise and pure funk on the late two-plane break; showed mid-80s changeup as well; curious to see if he can hold velo and command the fastball to both sides of the plate; can’t wait to see him this spring.  http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=21537

 

8-14-13 – Through The Fence – Top 50 Prospects – 38. Grant Hockin, RHP, Damien HS (CA) - Hockin is an athletic 6’-2” right-hander whose fastball has touched 95 mph with late life and sits in the 89-92 mph range. He also adds two solid secondary offerings in a curveball and change-up, and he locates his pitches well. He repeats his delivery well and still has some projection left. He is the grandson of Hall of Famer Harmon Killebrew http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-top-50-prospects/36463#mwWwsFxSUZy7YC5V.99

 

2013 East Coast Pro Showcase Top 50 Prospects    - 50. Micah Miniard – RHP,  Boyle County (KY) HS - 6’7, 200 RHP worked 90-91. http://www.ninebaseball.org/Wordpress/sullys-top-50-ecp-prospects/

 

8-24-13 - Most of the top high school hitters in the 2014 draft class are on hand for the Under Armour All-America Game, powered by Baseball Factory. Friday’s workout at the University of Illinois-Chicago’s Miller Field featured batting practice, infield and outfield and a home run derby, winnowing the field for Saturday’s derby prior to the game at Wrigley Field. Of the 2014 players, shortstop Milton Ramos (Hialeah Gardens, Fla.) put on the best show Friday. Ramos, who played at Florida Christian High in 2013 and will attend American Heritage this upcoming academic year, entered the summer with a reputation as a flashy, at times brilliant defender, and he didn’t disappoint in the workout. http://www.baseballamerica.com/draft/under-armour-all-star-game-notebook/

 

7-17-13 –  Brandon Finnegan, LHP, TCU - The stadium gun was off on Monday night but it was easy to see Finnegan was throwing heat, blowing his fastball past hitters and recording two strikeouts in his one inning of work.  Kevin Gallo tells me he topped out at 96 mph.  I mention Finnegan because he's just 5'11", 185 lbs and generates much of that velocity with tremendous arm speed.  Obviously there's not a lot of downward plane here and you wonder if his size will relegate him to the bullpen, though I'm told he can sustain that velocity late in games and he has a hard slider and a solid change-up to go with the fastball -- so he does have the necessary tools/skills to stick as a starter.   Either way, he's an interesting prospect whether he sticks as a starter or becomes a Billy Wagner type closer. http://www.chicagonow.com/cubs-den/2013/07/looking-ahead-to-the-2014-and-2015-mlb-draft-notes-from-the-collegiate-national-team-games/

Draft 14 – Kodi Medeiros, Aaron Nola, David Burkhalter, Joe Gatto, Jonah Patton

 

8-13-13 - The Perfect Game All-American Classic in San Diego - Kodi Medeiros (Waikaea High School, Hawaii.) was very impressive with a low 90′s fastball and a slider that will give left-handed hitters fits, but the arm slot screams reliever.  http://mlbdraftinsider.com/2013/08/thoughts-on-perfect-game-all-american-classic/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

 

8-14-13 – Through The Fence – Top 50 Prospects – 20. Aaron Nola, RHP, LSU - Maybe the best control artist available in the 2014 MLB draft, the 6’-1” right-hander features a plus, low-90s fastball with nasty sink to it. He offsets his fastball with a deceptive change-up that freezes hitters. As a freshman, he had 89 K/7 BB over 89.2 innings and 40 of those strikeouts were looking. He was lights-out as a sophomore for LSU, going 12-1 over 17 starts with a 1.57 ERA, 0.80 WHIP and 122 K/18 BB over 126 innings. His size limits his upside a bit, but you’d be hard pressed to find a better pitcher, in the true sense of the word, out there. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-top-50-prospects/36463#mwWwsFxSUZy7YC5V.99

 

8-10-13 - New Balance Area Code games - Nationals’ right-hander, David Burkhalter (LA) has a lanky, projectable body and sat 86-88 MPH with his fastball. He mixed in a 76-79 MPH changeup that had deception with good action. Brigham Hill (TX) closed things out for the Nationals and the small righty was 88-90 MPH thanks to a quick, strong arm. He had a solid changeup at 78 MPH that he had a good feel for and got batters to chase. http://prospectinsider.com/view/2013-area-codes:-day-4-notes/

 

2013 East Coast Pro Showcase Top 50 Prospects    - 15. Joe Gatto – RHP, St. Augustine Prep (NJ)  - 6’5, 215 RHP has came a long way in a year. Came out sitting 92-93, touching 94. Top of the class arm. http://www.ninebaseball.org/Wordpress/sullys-top-50-ecp-prospects/

 

6-16-13  -  • • Jonah Patten, a 6-foot-3, 195-pound righthander from Norwell High in Ossian, Ind., sat 90-91 mph in his first inning of work. Patten comes from a low three-quarters arm slot and has slingy arm action. He threw different two breaking balls, a 75-77 mph curveball and 81-82 mph slider. The Arkansas commit struck out four in his three and one-third innings. http://www.baseballamerica.com/draft/tournament-of-stars-promising-power-outlook-for-2014/

Draft 14 – Sam Travis, Nick Burdi, Nick Gordon, Kodi Medeiros, Carlos Rodon

Sam Travis, 1B, Indiana - I need to show some love for the Midwest. Travis was named the Big 10 Freshman of the Year after hitting .319 over 60 games with 17 doubles, nine home runs, 50 RBI and a slash line of .397/.509/.906. The 6’-0”, 200-pound right-hander reached base in his first 30 games, including a 17-game hitting streak. This season, he has reached base in all eight of Indiana’s games to start the season. Over those eight games, he is 13-for-29 (.448) with five doubles, two home runs, 10 RBI and 10 walks for a ridiculous slash line of .600/.828/1.428 http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft/29840#fm24otWuYCEocLQZ.99

6-10-13 - Nick Burdi, RHP, Louisville - The Louisville closer has one of the best arms in the country and progressed well from his freshman to sophomore seasons.  His fastball is 95+ and touches 100.  His slider is also a nice pitch. http://bigleaguefutures.net/1/2013/06/10/2014-mlb-draft-early-college-names-to-know/

6-11-13 - 7. Nick Gordon, RHP/SS, Olympia HS, Fla.: The son of Tom and brother of Dee, Gordon is a legitimate two-way guy who can play shortstop and hit from the left side. He's athletic on the mound, too, with a low-90s fastball and a big curve. http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130611&content_id=50293726&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb&tcid=tw_article_50293726

6-13-13 - Todd Gold‏ @TGold_PG  - In 2nd IP 2014 LHP Kodi Medeiros (Hilo, HI) flashed couple quality changeups @ 80 & 82 after bumping 94 in 1st. at PG National

 

1-7-13 - Behold, Carlos Rodon, ace of the North Carolina State pitching staff.  Rodon, a 6-foot-2 left hander, took the college baseball world by storm as a true freshman in 2012 with his 9-0 record, 1.57 ERA, 135/41 strikeout to walk ratio and 71 hits allowed in 114 2/3 innings. The unfortunately-not-a-draft-eligible sophomore was a 16th round pick of the Brewers in 2011. At that time, he was around 30 pounds lighter, weighing around 200, and threw between 88-92 MPH with his fastball. He was coveted for his projectability and potential plus slider, but decided to attend college and it is clear now that he made the right call. http://www.crawfishboxes.com/2013/1/7/3846162/carlos-rodon-prize-of-the-2014-draft

Draft 14 – Austin Cousino, Dylan Cease, Kodi Medeiros, Touki Toussaint, Luis Ortiz

6-10-13 - Austin Cousino, OF, Kentucky - The 2013 season was somewhat disappointing for Cousino, but the first round tools are there.  He can run and provides exceptional defense in center.  At the plate, he has a line drive swing and should develop into a top of the order bat at the next level.

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6-11-13 - 10. Dylan Cease, RHP, Milton HS, Ga.: This year's Draft was partly about the outfielders in Georgia. Cease will make 2014 about pitching, as the right-hander has a loose, electric arm that touched 97 mph this past spring to go along with a good breaking ball and a feel for a changeup. LINK

6-13-13 - Todd Gold‏ @TGold_PG - 2014 LHP Kodi Medeiros (Hilo, HI) is sitting 90-92, touched 94 from low 3/4 slot with + tailing life, good 80 mph frisbee SL

6-13-13  -  4. New York Mets — Touki Toussaint, RHP, Coral Springs (FL) - The 6’-2” right-hander has an electric fastball which can touch 97 mph with late life and there is still room for more as he fills out. He has a deceptive delivery which makes his plus, mid-70s, knee-buckling curveball even harder to react to. His change-up is still developing, but with two plus pitches already, he will be one of the most talked about prep pitchers next season. Never has a prep RHP gone first-overall in the draft. Touki could change that. LINK

6-14-13  -  Luis Ortiz’s previous experience on the showcase circuit was at USA Baseball’s National Team Identification Series in Cary, N.C., where parents of other players on his summer team, Central Cal Baseball Academy, raised the necessary funds for the 6-foot-3 pitcher to travel cross country and attend the event. The 17-year-old Ortiz turned heads with his natural arm strength, showing a 91-93 mph fastball and 80-82 mph slider. LINK