Draft 13 – Daniel Ayers, Reese McGuire, Ryan Boldt, Ryan Healy, Drew Ward

Daniel Ayers, LHP, Columbus HS (IN) - The 6’-3”, 205-pound southpaw has been dealing this season. On May 7, he tossed seven shutout innings, striking out a season-high 16 batters to two walks. Over six starts, he has a 0.73 ERA, 0.87 WHIP and 72 K/18 BB over 37 innings, allowing just 14 hits. His fastball sits in the 89-91 mph range with movement and both his curveball and slider are decent offerings, both sitting in the mid-70s. He has great mound presence and feel for pitching, and his size suggests there is still more in the tank. Committed to Western Michigan  LINK

Reese McGuire, C, Kentwood HS (WA) - The 6’-1” left-handed hitter has not struck out in his last 70 plate appearances. Over 25 games this season, he is hitting .419/.546/.770 and has drawn 21 walks to just two strikeouts. He has 11 doubles, three triples, three home runs and has added nine stolen bases. For all of the talk about his plus defensive abilities, including an arm that is becoming legendary, the kid can stroke it at the plate and has shown a great approach at the plate. Mix that with a high character and he should hear his name called in the first 15 picks in the 2013 MLB draft. LINK

Ryan Boldt, OF, Nebraska 40% - Boldt got hurt this spring and will play minimally, if at all, prior to the draft. That means a team will have to go out on a limb to take him in a signable area. That means he may end up at Nebraska. LINK

Ryon Healy, Oregon - There was a time not too long ago when Ryon Healy was a No. 1 prospect. That is, relative to all other prospects in the California Collegiate League back in 2010. Of all the youngsters he observed, John Manuel of Baseball America had Healy pegged as the best. He was even good enough at the time to invite comparisons to Scott Rolen and Evan Longoria. Those comps don't apply now. Healy was a third baseman, but has gone on to primarily play first base at Oregon. The folks at Baseball America (subscription) think there's at least a chance Healy could be given a shot to play third at the pros, but it sounds like first base is going to be his permanent home. LINK

Drew Ward, Leedey (Leedey, Okla.) - Re-classified as a senior, Ward was previously regarded as the top player in the Class of 2014. Playing against mostly small school competition, Leedey has dominated, batting .556 with 40 RBI, 55 runs scored, seven doubles, three triples and nine home runs. He also drew 56 walks during his senior season as few teams decided to pitch to Ward. A shortstop in high school, Ward has a strong enough arm to play third, but he could end up at first base, according to some reports. LINK

Draft 13 – Josh Hart, Ryan Boldt, Corey Ray, Kohl Stewart, Doinic Smith

Draft 13 – Josh Hart, Ryan Boldt, Corey Ray, Kohl Stewart, Doinic Smith

Josh Hart, OF, Parkview HS (GA) - Like many players on this list, Hart is a speedy outfielder with a nice stroke from the left side. A great athlete, he has been clocked at 6.49 in the 60. He has some of the best bat speed in the 2013 MLB draft which allows him to catch up to any pitch and drive it to all fields. Over 26 games this season, he is hitting .450 with five triples, three home runs, 20 RBI and has stolen 19 bases. He has drawn nine walks for a .536 OBP/.738 SLG playing for one of the top programs in the country. At 6’-2” and 190 pounds, he should hit for more power as he matures but may end up at a corner outfield spot if he fills out. Should be available at 41. Committed to Georgia Tech. draft

 With the recent injury to Ryan Boldt, due you think the Astros could pick him up in the second round, or might he even drop to the third round? Thanks = Jim Callis: Don’t think the knee is a major concern. There are some scouts who question how much power Boldt will really have, so he could be there at the top of round two.

Corey Ray, OF, Simeon HS (IL) - As the weather is warming up in Chicago, so is Ray, a 5’-11” left-hander with a lot of upside as he can play all three outfield positions and has excellent bat speed. Over his last four games, he has gone 6-for-13 with a double, three triples and has stolen six bases. He now has a .370/.517/.717 line over 16 games with 10 extra base hits, 11 stolen bases and 13 walks. Ray is a quick-twitch athlete with above-average speed and a strong arm. Committed to Louisville. draft

Kohl Stewart is the top high school pitcher in this year's MLB draft. He has plus fastball velocity, a potentially plus-plus slider and solid changeup. At 6'3", 190 pounds, Stewart does offer some projection. 

But a player of Stewart's age already showing that kind of velocity and potential with the off-speed stuff doesn't need to add much to be an elite talent. His delivery is a bit stiff, as he uses a lot of arm, loses his release point and doesn't incorporate his lower half enough, which will need to be corrected in pro ball. draft

Dan Kirby‏ @DanMKirby

Serra HS (CA) OF Dominic Smith drew 2 BB today. Has now reached base in 15 of his last 18 PAs w/ 2B, 3B, 3 HR, 7 BB, 3 HBP.

Draft 13 – Cody Thomas, Kohl Stewart, Kyle Serrano, Ivan Wilson, Ryan Boldt

Cody Thomas, OF, Heritage HS (TX) - Let me preface this one by saying the Cubs would most likely have to make a pretty sweet offer to the 6’-5”, 220-pound left-handed hitter with tremendous raw power. He has a commitment to play quarterback at Oklahoma and, with his size, rocket arm and athletic abilities, could be a great one. He passed for 4,221 yards and 46 touchdowns over 12 games his senior year and was also the team’s punter. On the diamond, he shows a lot of upside as he also has a good approach at the plate to go along with the massive power potential. Over 32 games this season for powerhouse Heritage, he has hit .485 with 12 doubles, 13 home runs, 45 RBI and has drawn 20 walks for a .579 OBP/1.061 SLG. He also has added 12 stolen bases, showing good speed for his size. link

Can you compare Kohl Stewart's current and potential to any HS pitchers from past few drafts? = Jim Callis: Talked to a scout who said he may be better than fellow Texan Jameson Taillon, who threw harder but couldn’t match the depth of Stewart’s repertoire. The same scout said on the Texas spectrum, he’d put Stewart behind Josh Beckett and ahead of Shelby Miller.

Kyle Serrano, RHP, Farragut HS (TN) - On Saturday, the 6’-1” right-hander allowed three hits over seven shutout innings, striking out 12 to two walks. Over his last seven games, he has a 0.49 ERA, 0.60 WHIP and 68 K/10 BB over 37 innings. He features a mid-90s fastball to go along with a plus curveball and is very polished on the mound. Committed to Tennessee. link

Unlike Kohl Stewart, there is no doubt that Ivan Wilson is going to end up playing baseball. An athletic 6'3", 220-pound wide receiver in high school, he doesn't project to play the position in college. Wilson brings that athleticism, solid speed, arm strength, bat speed and above-average power to this draft. He has a chance to stick in center field if his speed stays at the level it is at right now, though that seems unlikely since he isn't exactly a burner right now. link

Jim Callis - ‏@jimcallisBA

OF Ryan Boldt, possible 1st-rder, had arthroscopic surgery to repair small meniscus tear in rt knee. Not expected to play before 

2013 Draft-Notes - Eric Garza, Ryan Boldt, Austin Meadows, Chris Ellis, Elliot Caldwell

 

Player:  Eric Garza  Position:  SS   School:  San Antonio Reagan (TX)   Date of Birth:  12/19/1993   Height/Weight:  5’11/185   Bats/Throws:  S/R   2013 Class:  Senior   Committed To:  Texas Christian  Scouting Report:  Shortstop Eric Garza opened alot of eyes with his performance during the Area Code Games, earning good reviews in the field and at the plate. – the rest of the report… blf

Ryan Boldt notched USA an early hit, when the speedster raced down the line after hitting a ground ball towards the hole at first and getting in safe. He was credited with an infield single. He would be retired when Bryson Brigman hit into a fielder's choice. Brigman would get into scoring position with two outs, but Jeremy Martinez's fly ball to center was snagged on the run for the third out, keeping both teams scoreless in the first. usa= 

Austin Meadows  OF  Grayson HS, Loganville, Ga. Ht.: 6-3. Wt.: 200. B/T: L/L. Meadows is one of the top all-around players in the 2013 class with true five-tool potential. He is a polished lefthanded hitter with power to all fields. He is an above-average runner with excellent instincts. He has a plus arm from the outfield and is verbally committed to Clemson.

RHP Chris Ellis, Ole Miss -- Ellis tallied an impressive 2.84 ERA for the Rebels this past spring, but he looks to have an even bigger role in 2013. This summer, he made eight appearances (seven starts) and had a 4.93 ERA in 38 1/3 innings of work. He also struck out 44 and walked 21. http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=7564  

Elliot Caldwell, of, Butler (So., Spartanburg, S.C., Methodist JC): After playing sparingly as a freshman for Winthrop and hitting just .217/.294/.239 in 46 at-bats, Caldwell turned the Prospect League into his personal playground this summer, impressing more than his fair share of the league's coaches along the way. Caldwell—who will play at Spartanburg Methodist JC next season—used his compact, inside-out swing and good gap power to torch Prospect League pitching to the tune of a .388/.450/.592 line with seven home runs and 47 RBIs. A rock-solid 6-foot-2 and 190 pounds, Caldwell has present strength and physicality with the frame to add more muscle down the road. Coaches were impressed with his ability to control the bat and drive the ball to all fields. He still had a tendency to get caught swinging at pitches he shouldn't, but he should be able to refine his approach as he gets more opportunities to play. Caldwell has above-average speed and excellent instincts on the basepaths, helping him steal 27 bases this summer, and his defensive versatility allowed the Butler coaching staff to play him in the infield and the outfield. But he projects best at a corner outfield spot, where his above-average arm and outfield instincts should allow him to develop into a plus defender. And coaches raved about his makeup and work ethic.

Justin Hlubek‏  @PGJustinHlubek   Dalton Ewing (2014 OF) continues to impress me. Did I mention he ran a 6.60-60 and threw 93 from the OF

Prep Baseball Report‏ @prepbaseball   MO: Chase Young, the No. 37 ranked player in the Class of 2013, has committed to the Univ. of Tennessee-Martin

Todd Gold‏  @TGold_PG    2013 MIF Trevor Morrison (Bothell, WA) going off @ PG Northwest Showcase. 4-for-6 w HR, squared ball up everytime.

2013 Draft-Notes - Austin Davidson, Newport Gulls, Zak Blair, Ryan Boldt, Karsten Whitson

INF Austin Davidson, Pepperdine -- Davidson certainly didn't have a great spring for the Waves, but showed some promise this summer. He batted .290 with six doubles, a home run and 16 RBIs. He also had a .407 OBP with four stolen bases. PG

The Newport Gulls are the champions of the New England Collegiate Baseball League. The Gulls defeated the Danbury Westerners 8-1 in Game Two of the NECBL Championship Series to complete the series sweep and capture the Fay Vincent Sr. Cup for the first time since 2009 and the fifth time in franchise history csb

Outfielder Ryan Boldt (Red Wing, Minn., High) was named the game's MVP after going 2-for-3 with a triple. The West was down 6-5 in the seventh, but Rowdy Tellez (Elk Grove, Calif., High) put his team ahead when he smoked a line drive to left field that caught Ball off guard. It got past him and rolled to the wall giving Tellez a stand-up triple and the West a 7-6 lead. ba

Prep Baseball Report‏ -  MO: Jake Fromsom, a RHP from Lee's Summit HS, has committed to Kansas State… Logan Gray, a MIF from Rockhurst HS, has committed to Austin Peay University… Travis Able, a OF from Rockhurst HS, has committed to the University of Central Arkansas…

Karsten Whitson has done a tremendous job filling out over the years and looks the part of solid power pitcher.  His arsenal has top of the rotation potential.  He has the size and arm speed that can anchor most staffs.  There are not many pitchers that can hide the ball effectively to produce swing and miss offerings and force hitters to stretch the zone in all counts.   It will be his ability to turn the flash offerings into solid off speed secondary pitches, plus improving his location to really tap that massive potential he possesses that likely will dictate his role as he matures.  Karsten has shown some durability issues and many circles are weary about his long term health on the arm, including myself. Catching him in relief, he shows that ability to shut down and can go that two innings in bulldog fashion, if something limits him as a starter.  If all the cards fall in the right place, he could sit No. 1 on most staffs; he possesses that type of potential. http://bullpenbanter.com/karsten-whitson-scouting-report/

Kendall Rogers‏ - PG Classic - In terms of peak velos by pitchers, TAMU commit Kohl Stewart topped out at 95, UNC commit Chris Oakley/UF commit Brett Morales both 94

Billy McKinney‏ -  I'd like to thank Perfect Game USA for everything out in San Diego this weekend! An experience I will never forget!

Top Cape Cod League Players - Zak Blair of Yarmouth-Dennis and Mercyhurst College is the only shortstop on this list, but is also the only junior, as well, which should be taken into account alongside his numbers http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/top-prospects-of-the-cape-cod-league-by-the-numbers/

Perfect Game USA‏ -  6'6 2014 LHP David Peterson (CO) up to 88 MPH and has shown good off speed to go with it! PG Nat Games