Draft 2012 – Brian Johnson, James Ramsey, Andy Hunter, Deven Marrero, Nolan Fontana

 Brian Johnson — 6’-4”, LHP, Florida  Johnson is the best left handed college pitcher in the draft. Has a low-90s fastball with sink, an above average change-up and his slider projects to a plus pitch at the next level. At 6’-3” and 225 lbs, he has great mound presence and teams usually eat up left handed college pitchers come draft day. Also a tremendous hitter and could be drafted high as an outfielder. In 12 at bats for Collegiate Team USA, he smashed three home runs, drove in five runs and walked three times. He also picked up a win, giving up one run over four innings, striking out four, while walking none. http://www.throughthefencebaseball.com/top-50-draft-prospects-for-2012-25-thru-1/15694/

James Ramsey / Florida State / OF – Ramsey had a strong college season for the Seminoles in 2011 and built on that with an impressive performance on the Cape. He was drafted in the 22nd round by the Twins following his Junior season but decided to return to school as a Senior this year. There is some skepticism over how Ramsey’s game will play in pro ball. He often drops his back-end and takes an aggressive uppercut swing. While this leads to some long home runs (his six home runs tied him for second in the Cape) it also leads to more than a few strikeouts. The tools and athleticism are solid across the board and Ramsey is a max effort guy who plays the game the right way. He was named Cape League All Star Game MVP after hitting a looooong home run over the bullpens in right field. I also saw Ramsey in March, and while I still have questions about his bat I saw improvements in his ability to shorten up his swing and make adjustments. After a very good Cape campaign Ramsey is poised to be one of the more interesting Senior draftees. http://mlbdraftinsider.com/2012/01/scouting-the-cape/#more-720

Andy Hunter  RHP  Green Bay Bullfrogs—Gonzaga -  Andy went 5-2 and was fourth in the league with a 1.97 era this season. He pitched 59.1 innings and appeared in 17 games for the Bullfrogs. He allowed 42 hits, walked just 11 and was among the league leaders with a .195 BAA. PG ranked him as the 25th best prospect in the league this summer. In late November, I named him one of my top performers. http://www.collegesummerbaseball.net/2012/01/top-35-pitchers-in-northwoods-league_20.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

Deven Marrero — 6’-1”, SS, Arizona State Marrero excels on both sides of the field and could be the first shortstop taken in the draft. Was a 17th-round pick by the Reds in 2009 but chose to attend Arizona State. Hit .397 with six home runs, 42 RBIs and 11 stolen bases as a freshman, earning first-team, freshman All-American by collegiate baseball while setting an Arizona State freshman record for batting average. Won Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year honors as a sophomore as his defense caught up to his offense. Shows a great approach at the plate, as he has only struck out 54 times in 96 games at ASU. Has the ideal size (6’-1”, 190), range and footwork to be a gold-glove caliber shortstop down the road. Brother Chris was a first-round pick in 2009 and made his major-league debut for the Nationals this year. Led Collegiate Team USA with 19 hits, 14 RBI, five doubles and six stolen bases over 14 games during the summer. http://www.throughthefencebaseball.com/top-50-draft-prospects-for-2012-25-thru-1/15694/

A lefthanded hitter, Nolan Fontana excels at small ball, leading the SEC with 52 walks last year and drawing a total of 105 the past two seasons, while striking out just 59 times in his career. He also led the conference in sacrifice flies last season with nine and topped the Gators in total sacrifices (20).  He doesn't have blazing speed, but he is a smart, aggressive baserunner who led Florida with five triples as a sophomore.  In two years and 472 at-bats, Fontana is a .288/.426/.426 hitter with 27 doubles, seven triples, eight homers, 113 runs and 72 RBIs. Fontana said he gained five pounds of muscle over the summer, and O'Sullivan expects a bit more pop out of his shortstop this year. http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/college/season-preview/2012/2612858.html

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: - Tim Holmes, Gavin Cecchini, Tony Bryant, Alex Vargas, Nolan Fontana

10-28-11: - http://orioles-nation.com/2011/10/26/wwba-2012-highlights - Tim Holmes (Jacksonville FL) – A guy that was on the radar, but this weeks performance put him square on the map.  He throws in the 88-90 mph range and will touch 91 mph on occasion late into the outing.  He throws from a high arm slot and it allows his curve ball to show shape and depth, which given his mechanics could become an above average pitch down the road.  He flashed a change up that shows some nice life to it and could be a foundation pitch for at least a three pitch arsenal.

11-4-11: - http://www.throughthefencebaseball.com/chicago-cubs-2012-free-agent-and-draft-pick-possibilities/13157/#  -  SS Gavin Cecchini, 6’-1″, 180 lbs, Barbe HS (LA) — Cecchini is a great athlete with one of the better bats in the draft. A pure hitter from the right side, he sprays the ball all over the field and should develop more power as he matures. His brother Garin is a top-prospect for the Red Sox, and Gavin could be even better. Has 6.6 speed in the 60 and a strong enough arm to play either shortstop or third base.

11-11-11: - http://ht.ly/1fB7Jy  - We continue the countdown today at number 70 with Oregon State junior RHP Tony Bryant. The 6’7 210 pounder comes from Kennewick, Washington where he attended Kennewick High School. He was a three year letter winner under head coach AJ Marquard. He was named Pitcher of the Year twice and All-State twice. He was a 25th-round selection by the Minnesota Twins in the 2009 MLB First-Year Player Draft but decided to head to Corvallis to play for Oregon State. As a freshman, he pitched in 14 games, making one start while recording a record of 0-0 with a 4.64 ERA in 19 1/3 innings. In Pac-10 play, he appeared in six games going 0-0 with a 5.14 ERA. In his sophomore season, Bryant became the closer for the Beavers. He appeared in 28 games (all in relief) going 3-2 including 12 saves with a 1.52 ERA. He struck out 40 batters and walking 11 in 47.1 innings of work.

11-11-11: - http://mlbdraftguide.com/1/2011/11/10/alex-vargas-2012-draft-profile  - Alex Vargas is a two-way prospect from New York, possessing potential as a righthanded pitcher and as an infielder. He is a good athlete and plays football during the fall.Despite lacking an ideal pitcher’s stature, Vargas shows good potential on the mound. He is a strikethrower and throws a mid 80′s fastball, topping out at 88. His secondary pitches are a promising curve and change.While still somewhat raw, Vargas shows strong promise at the plate. He has good tools for the infield and has a good arm. He has a recorded 60 time of 6.91.Most who discuss Vargas are quick to mention his work ethic and his competitiveness

11-12-11: - http://ht.ly/1fC9j7  - We continue the countdown today at number 69 with Florida junior shortstop Nolan Fontana. He is from Winter Garden Florida and attended West Orange High School where he played for head coach Jesse Marlo. As a senior, he earned third-team all-state in Class 6A after batting .507 and leading the Warriors to a 22-3 mark and a Regional Final appearance. He was also named All-Area Central Florida by ESPN Rise Magazine, first-team all-district, first-team Central Florida Metro Conference and was named West Orange’s Most Valuable Player. Nolan continued his baseball career at Florida where he started in 63 games as a freshman. He ended up with a .287 batting average while hitting three homers and driving in 49 runs. He was also solid on the basepaths with 11 stolen bases in 16 attempts. He was fantastic in the 2010 NCAA Tourney hitting .360 with a homer and 3 RBI as he help lead the Gators to the College World Series.

Nolan Fontana, Taylor Naquin, Michael Wacha, Ron Miller, Austin Maddox

Nolan Fontana:


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/3  - There’s athletic 3B Nolan Fontana, the team’s first-ever Rawlings Gold Glove winner. Fontana was one of the Gators' most consistent hitters during this past season, despite finishing sixth on the team with a .301 average. He rapped 12 doubles, legged out five triples and slugged five home runs. He also drove in 47 runs, good for third on the squad. He also played sterling defense again, making only 10 errors in 66 games.


Taylor Naquin:


7-9-11: - http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=6002  - Tyler Naquin, OF, Texas A&M - Naquin and former Aflac All-American Krey Bratsen formed a formidable duo for the Aggies last spring, who like the Longhorns, were ushered out of the College World Series much more quickly than either team hailing from Texas would have liked to have seen. Naquin, a left-handed hitter, has very good bat speed and easy power potential, drilling one fastball earlier in the week the opposite way high off the wall at Durham Bulls Athletic Park for a double.


Michael Wacha:


7-21-11: - http://www.mockdraftmania.com/  - 14. Washington Nationals Michael Wacha P Texas A/M Wacha went 9-2 with a 2.90 ERA for Texas A/M as a freshman. Wacha would be another prospect that the Nationals could add to their system. Its scary to think what this Nationals rotation is capable of if Strasburg recovers while their 2011 draft picks like Alex Meyer and Matt Purke pan out. I really don’t think Purke will sign because he wants a major payday. Purke was a frontrunner to go #1 overall in 2011 before a major regression.


Ron Miller:


7-19-11: - http://www.mlbbonusbaby.com/2011/6/29/2250656/early-look-at-2012#comments  - Ron Miller, Serra HS, Los Angeles CA, 5’10 210 R/R, plays 3b, best shot to play LF at pro level, short compact power stroke with ability to go the other way, shows arm strength and fair running speed, enough ability offensively to get to pro level, will go as far as bat takes him. Kevin Mitchell type comp from the early 80’s.


Austin Maddox:


7-19-11: - http://www.mlbbonusbaby.com/2011/6/29/2250656/early-look-at-2012#comments  - Austin Maddox, Florida, 6’3 210, pure arm strength and decent mechanics, will touch 95 on occ, suited to be a closer, like him more behind the plate, but with Zunino there, he’s having a tough time showing scouts that is where he belongs. Will be interesting to see this fall.

Aaron Stull, Brian Johnson, Colby Holmes, Nolan Fontana, Joshua Turley

Aaron Stull:


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  - Another interesting player should be LHP Aaron Stull, who logged only two innings on the mound this season. He has prototypical pitcher's size (6'6", 185) and is a former record-setting QB at Croatan HS, where he also won Jacksonville (NC) Daily News Player of the Year honors.

Brian Johnson:


7-9-11: - http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=6002  - Brian Johnson, LHP/1B, Florida - After suffering a concussion down the stretch as part of Florida's championship series run, Johnson was relegated to designated hitter duties, a role he continued with the Collegiate National Team. With a tall, physically mature frame, his upside remains higher on the mound, but he employs one of the more advanced approaches at the plate of any college hitter. He put an easy swing on the first pitch he saw in the bottom of the ninth inning on the home run mentioned above to drive a ball the opposite way over the left-field fence.

Colby Holmes:


7-15-11: - http://mlbdraftguide.com/1/2011/07/13/colby-holmes-2012-draft-profile   - Colby Holmes made good strides from 2010 to 2011. He is a short righthander with 3 pitches. Holmes throws a low 90′s fastball. 90-92 when I have seen him. He throws a slider with good move ment and also uses a changeup. Holmes has a high 3/4 arm slot and hides the ball well. He has been prone to giving up home runs since arriving at South Carolina.


Nolan Fontana:


7-15-11: - http://mlbdraftguide.com/1/2011/07/16/nolan-fontana-2012-draft-profile  - Nolan Fontana, a 2 time member of USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team, is one of the top defensive shortstops in college. Fontana was named to the SEC All-Defensive Team in both his freshman and sophomore years. He has great hands and a good arm at short. He also shows solid range for the position. Fontana has a good eye at the plate and takes alot of pitches. He is a good situational hitter with a bit of pop in his bat.


Joshua Turley:


7-19-11: - http://collegebaseball360.com/2011/07/19/roache-turley-take-weekly-cape-cod-league-honors  - Wareham southpaw Joshua Turley (Baylor) has recorded two masterful performances to capture this week’s Coca Cola Pitcher of the Week award. In his two starts this week, Turley surrendered just three hits and one run over 12 innings. He struck out more than a batter than inning, recording 13 strikeouts this week while walking only two. Turley has been the epitome of consistent this season. After bouncing back from a rocky first appearance, Turley has given up only two runs in four starts. His 1-1 record this week brings him to 3-1 on the season, with a 2.03 earned run average. Turley has finished his sophomore season at Baylor, where he continues to show great promise. He seamlessly transitioned from a reliever to starter this past year, and has clearly continued to the role of starter this summer.

2012 Draft: - Brian Johnson, Nolan Fontana, Mike Zunino, Deven Marrero, Connor Harrell

Brian Johnson:


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/3  - The Gators are loaded with talent, and next year will be no different. Yes, they’ll lose Preston Tucker and Alex Panteliodis, but their star-studded roster will be led by their top draft prospect for 2012, LHP Brian Johnson. Johnson had a great season, posting a 3.66 ERA and a 70:15 K:BB ratio in 15 starts before an errant Mike Zunino throw plunked him in the head and sidelined him with a concussion (see above). He has yet to make an appearance in the NCAA tournament but is scheduled to return sometime during the CWS. Johnson has been excellent at keeping his low 90s fastball down but in the zone during his time with the Gators. He has shown a great curveball that got better as the 2011 season wore on.



Nolan Fontana:


7-9-11: - http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=6002  - Nolan Fontana, SS, Florida - It was just over a week since Fontana's last appearance at TD Ameritrade Park playing in the championship series at the College World Series. His defensive prowess was on display at the 2008 National Showcase, as he continues to make playing the middle infield look easy. With a patient approach and a line drive swing, Fontana served as the catalyst atop the lineup for both the Gators and Team USA.


Mike Zunino:


7-15-11: -  http://mlbdraftguide.com/1/2011/07/12/mike-zunino-2012-draft-profile  - Mike Zunino plays catcher at a Major League level and is a likely first round choice in the 2012 draft. Zunino has a solid, disciplined approach at the plate. He has a quick bat and solid pull power. Many point to holes in Zunino’s swing and he is likely to have a high strikeout rate at the next level. His willingness to take a walk should help offset the strikeouts. Zunino truely shines defensively. He moves well and does a good job of blocking balls in the dirt. Zunino’s arm is strong and accurate. He has good hands. Zunino’s father, Greg, is a scout for the Reds which is one of the reasons he is such a good student of the game. Zunino received catching gear for Christmas when he was 6 years old and plays like he has been behind the plate since that day.


Deven Marrero:


7-15-11 from: - http://bullpenbanter.com/  Arizona State Sophomore SS Deven Marrero is projected to be a very early pick in the 2012 MLB Draft and it is easy to see why. The ball makes a different sound coming off his bat and he has some excellent pop for a middle infielder. I do see some strikeouts in his future... but they aren't a huge concern when you're getting this kind of overall offensive package. While the foot speed isn't top notch, I have little reservations about projecting him as a pro SS with his jumps and movements. He also possesses a very strong arm. Marrero is a high energy player who was a pleasure to watch play.


Connor Harrell:


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/5  - Of the players who will become draft-eligible next year, OF Connor Harrell leads the way. An incredible athlete that has a ton of raw power, Harrell got he chance to play regularly in 2011 and responded well, hitting seven home runs in 60 games. He struck out a good amount (43 in 185 ABs) but also showed great instincts on the basepaths, swiping seven bases in the same number of tries. Harrell made headlines last year with his 10th-inning suicide squeeze bunt that drove in the game-winning run in Vandy’s regional victory over Louisville. With Joe Loftus and Aaron Westlake moving on, the Commodores will have to find a way to get Harrell’s bat into the lineup.

Nolan Fontana, Cody Stiles, Rock Rucker, Kavin Keyes, Wes Tranckino

Nolan Fontana:


6-28-11: - http://baseballdraftreport.com/  - Fontana plays the same kind of defense Mooney plays, but provides much more upside at the plate. Actually, that first part last sentence is a lie; Fontana plays really good defense, much like Mooney does, but goes about it in a totally different way. Mooney can seemingly make any play up the middle, but is far more erratic in his ability to do so. Fontana, on the other hand, won’t wow you with tremendous physical gifts in the field, but the guy just makes every darn play imaginable. My notes on him describe that pretty well: “really, really good defender without elite defense tools or athleticism.” I’m not sure Fontana has a clear plus physical tool — maybe the hit tool, but even that’s probably a stretch — but the sum of his parts far exceed the whole package here. I know I run the risk of overusing this already nebulous phrase, but, much like fellow sophomore Mike Zunino, Fontana already plays the game like a big league ballplayer.



Cody Stiles:


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/8  - RHP Cody Stiles should be a mid-round target for some teams. He was selected by the Yankees in the 39th round back in 2009, but spurned their offer to join the Tar Heels in the hopes that he would someday squeeze his way into the rotation. He made eight starts this season, in addition to four relief appearances and pitched very well, posting a 4-0 record, a 2.43 ERA and a 29:13 K:BB ratio in 37 innings. With the departure of Patrick Johnson, it looks like Stiles might get that chance.



Rock Rucker:


6-28-11: - http://mlbdraftguide.com/1/2011/06/27/rock-rucker-2012-draft-profile  - Rock Rucker is a legitimate 2 way prospect for the 2012 draft, a lefthander with a power arm and a power bat. He is a good athlete who has improved his game consistently. Rucker has a smooth swing with plus bat speed. He has plus raw power and good speed for his size (6.82-60). In the outfield, Rucker has solid range and a strong arm. He gets good jumps on contact and takes good routes. On the mound, Rucker’s fastball gets to 91 and he projects to add more velocity. His curveball is a potential plus pitch.



Kavin Keyes:


6-29-11: - http://www.mlbbonusbaby.com/2011/6/29/2250695/the-all-reese-team#storyjump  - 2B: Kavin Keyes, Freshman from Oregon State University - This might be cheating as Keyes played a few positions this year before settling in as Oregon State's DH. He was supposed to be a member of the 2011 draft class, but graduated early and took his talents to OSU. He made a few nice plays in games that I watched, ranging well, showcasing a strong arm for the position and showing good reactions (I'm thinking specifically of a play where he made a great leaping catch on a smoked line drive, doubling off the runner at first in the process). At the plate, he showed the ability to take pitches, and did a fantastic job extending his arms while making contact. Honorable Mention: Lonnie Kauppila, Freshamn from Stanford University



Wes Tranckino:


7-1-11: - http://mlbdraftguide.com/1/2011/06/30/wes-tranckino-2012-draft-profile  - Player: Wes Tranckino Position: 3B School: Edmond Memorial HS, OK Date Of Birth: 7/31/1993 Height/Weight: 6’2/195 Bats/Throws: R/R Class Of: 2012 Scouting Report: Wes Tranckino is one of the top high school hitters in Oklahoma. Tranckino has a smooth swing with good bat speed. He makes solid contact and has power to all fields. Tranckino is a solid defender at third. He moves well and has good hands

2012 Draft: - Nolan Fontana, Robert Refsnyder, Kurt Heyer, Brian Johnson, Lance McCullers

Nolan Fontana:


6-10-11: - http://www.gatorzone.com/story.php?id=20869  Florida sophomore Nolan Fontana (Winter Garden, Fla.) was named as a semifinalist for the Brooks Wallace Shortstop of the Year Award on Friday by the College Baseball Hall of Fame. The list features 10 of the nation’s finest Division I shortstops. Fontana has started 63 games this season for the top-ranked Gators (48-16), is hitting .309 and boasts team highs in walks (45), sacrifice flies (eight) and triples (five). He has scored 52 runs, totaled 44 RBI, poked 12 doubles and stolen six bases in 10 attempts. Fontana was a second-team All-SEC recipient and a member of the league’s All-Defensive Team for the second-straight year.


Robert Refsnyder


Arizona sophomore OF Robert Refsnyder‘s batting average has not dipped below .318 since the opening week of the year; he has hovered in the .340+ range for most of that time; his weekly stat-line of 6-for-15 (.400) with 1 2B, 2 3B’s, 2 HR’s, and 8 RBI’s has been fairly typical for Refsnyder each week (minus the multiple dingers); this past week he showed emerging power that he has only flashed sporadically throughout the season; if the power continues to develop more consistently, Refsnyder will have to be talked about as a potential top 10 pick in the 2012 MLB Draft… http://www.prospectnation.com/blog/?p=695 


Kurt Heyer:


6-8-11: - http://thegoldensombrero.com/wordpress/archives/4056?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter  - With Whitney graduating from U of A a couple of weeks ago, I thought I should write up the ace of that staff, sophomore Kurt Heyer. Heyer had a truly remarkable season as the Friday-nighter for Arizona posting a 2.41 ERA in 130.2 IP with 128 K’s and only 25 BB. His numbers were stellar, and Heyer will be one of the top arms in the PAC-10 in 2012 as well. Heyer has terrific sink on his fastball, which allowed him to keep the ball in the yard quite well despite the thin Tucson air. He only allowed 5 homers and 25 XBH’s in his 19 2011 starts. Heyer’s fastball works in the low to mid-90’s with good arm-side run and sink. His slider has decent tilt and projects as a 60 pitch in the pro’s. His changeup is behind, but it still has a chance at a solid-average grading come next June. Heyer’s command and ability to keep the ball on the ground are terrific. His body projects well at 6’2” and 198 lbs. With an arm slot in the low to mid-3/4 range and a strong lower half, there are no obvious red flags in his delivery.



Brian Johnson:


6-10-11: - http://www.gatorzone.com/story.php?id=20870  - Sophomore Brian Johnson (Cocoa Beach, Fla.) was named as one of the 10 semifinalists for the John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Award announced by The College Baseball Hall of Fame on Friday. The winner of the Olerud Award will be announced in Lubbock, Texas, on July 3 as part of the College Baseball Hall of Fame’s Night of Champions. A first-team All-SEC selection, Johnson has compiled an 8-3 record with a 3.66 earned run average in 15 starts on the mound spanning 78.2 innings. The left-hander is second on the Orange and Blue with 70 strikeouts and has limited opponents to a .248 batting average. Johnson is hitting .312 with 27 RBI, 26 runs and 17 extra-base hits (10 doubles, five homers and two triples).



Lance McCullers:


6-10-11: - http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110608&content_id=20222396&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb&partnerId=rss_mlb  Lance McCullers, RHP, Tampa Jesuit HS, Fla.: McCullers has an electric arm. The son of the former big leaguer of the same name, he has the chance to be much better than his dad, with a fastball that can touch the upper 90s and signs of a plus slider.