11-22-11: - http://espn.go.com/blog/high-school/baseball/post/_/id/814/lucas-giolito-leads-loaded-cali-senior-class - Here’s a look at the Top 10 California high school prospects in the Class of 2012. 10. Ryan McNeil, RHP, Nipomo (Nipomo, Calif.) One could argue that McNeil belongs as high as No. 7 on this lists — the last four players on this are all worthy adversaries. He’s got an aggressive arm with upside, and he’s touched 94 mph with his fastball. He also employs a slider. McNeil has committed to Long Beach State, but he could perform his way into the top 50 of the draft come June. Marina (Marina, Calif.) pitcher Trevor Megill — all 6-foot-7 of him — would have ranked here, but he decided to enroll early at Loyola Marymount.
12-2-11: - http://mlbdraftcountdown.wordpress.com/2011/12/02/2012-mlb-mock-draft-updated-top-15-with-final-mlb-standings - 1) Houston Astros: Mark Appel, RHP, Stanford Unlike the past three seasons, where there have been consensus top picks (Stephen Strasburg, Bryce Harper and Anthony Rendon), the 2012 draft holds very little certainty. As of right now, there are very few “experts” who could even pinpoint a No. 1 overall player. Still, somebody has to go first, and with that being said, it wouldn’t surprise me if the Astros went with Stanford right-hander Mark Appel. Appel doesn’t have the frontline stuff that last year’s No. 1, Gerrit Cole, has, but he’s got as much potential as any arm in this draft class. The only thing preventing Appel from being declared the consensus No. 1 pick right now is results. If he produces in 2012, he’s going to be a virtual shoe-in for a team (Houston) in dire need of elite talent.
12-6-11: - http://ht.ly/1g1lg8 - We continue the countdown today at number 49 with NC State junior RHP Chris Overman. The Charlotte, North Carolina native attended Myers Park High School. As a senior, he was named to The Charlotte Observer’s All-Mecklenburg team. He also brough the team to a Myers Park to a 19-9 record and the Southwestern 4-A Conference tournament championship, pitching a complete game in the tournament championship game. Overman saw limited action as a freshman appearing in eight games (two starts) going 1-0 with a 5.40 ERA. He struck out 12 batters while walking five in 11.2 innings pitched. He made two appearances in the Coastal Plains League with the Forest City Owls going a total of two innings with a 13.50 ERA.
10-28-11: - http://orioles-nation.com/2011/10/26/wwba-2012-highlights - Ryan McNeil (Nipomo CA) – Solid frame and athletic build that should greatly improve lower half strength as he matures. He has an approach on the hill with solid pitchability. Nice solid repeatable delivery that will need to iron out the wrinkles to improve the plane. His foot tends to land slanted and being more inline would allow his hips to rotate into a better slot; it would improve command and increase effectiveness of his arsenal. Shows a nice heavy fastball with solid sink that is mainly 90-92 mph, but touched 93 mph. His power curve/slider in the 80-82 mph range is better over any other offering because of his arm slot, and the tight style will play better in the future. Foundation for the changeup is present, but will need to continue to improve this pitch in the winter/spring.
10-30-11: - http://mlbdraftguide.com/1/2011/10/30/jesmuel-valentin-2012-draft-profile - Player: Jesmuel Valentin Position: SS School: Puerto Rico Baseball Academy Date of Birth: 5/12/1994 Height/Weight: 5’10/180 Bats/Throws: S/R Class Of: 2012 Committed To: LSU Scouting Report: Jesmuel Valentin is the son of long time Major Leaguer, Jose Valentin. He rose quickly up draft rankings after a stellar performance at the Under Armour All-American Game. Valentin is a legitimate switch hitter, though he looks a bit better righthanded. A line drive hitter with some pop, he has a short stroke with some lift. He has recorded 60 times of 6.68 to 6.88. Valentin should have no problem sticking at shortstop in the future. He has good range, sure hands, and a strong arm. Valentin has quick feet and looks good on the double play. Valentin is a tough player who hustles on the field. With his pedigree and tools, he figures to go high in the 2012 MLB draft.
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 1. Dane Phillips C Chatham Anglers—Arkansas Dane (6-1/200) spent his first two collegiate seasons at Oklahoma State. All he did this summer was hit. He second in the league with a .349 batting average in 129 at-bats. He found a way to get on base (.446 OBP) and he found a way to score runs (23). He also led the league with 34 runs batted in. Dane, a 2009 Seattle Mariners draft pick, finished the summer out by hitting 7 doubles, 2 triples and hitting 4 home runs. He was named both an All-Star and he was selected to the Cape Cod All-League team. Perfect Game ranked him as the 28th best prospect in the league, while Baseball America ranked him as the 29th best prospect in the league. Back on October 4th, I profiled Dane as one of my 2011 Top Performers.
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 3. Joe Wendle 2B Edenton Steamers---West Chester University Joe, a Senior at West Chester broke the CPL single season hit record with 81. He finished the summer by hitting .377 and leading the league with 46 runs scored. He also had a .448 on base percentage this summer. Joe went 1 for 1 in the All-Star Game and Perfect Game ranked him as the 19th best prospect in the league. Baseball America ranked him as the 7th best in the league. On September 6th, I named Joe as one of my Top Performers from this season.
11-4-11: - http://ht.ly/1ftJsu - We continue the countdown today at number 76 with Ryan Dalton from UT San Antonio. The 6’1 185 pound infielder from Sugar Land, Texas has had an outstanding career at UT San Antonio. As a freshman, he appeared in 50 games hitting .305 batting average with team bests of 17 home runs and 51 RBI. He was named the 2010 Southland Conference Freshman of the Year while being named a NCBWA and Collegiate Baseball Freshman All-American. Hutson’s sophomore season saw him have a dropoff in stats with a .280 with seven doubles, three triples, 10 home runs, 49 RBIs, and 30 runs scored. He was named a Third Team All Southland Conference after the season was over.
9-21-11: - http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=6253 – Ryan McNeil is a solid guy, a physical innings eater 3rd starter type with good present stuff and command. I just got an update on him this morning saying that he's been 90-94 early this fall pitching for scout teams and is smoothing out his mechanics (he tends to fly open early). I don't think he's a first round guy but he doesn't fall much after that.
9-8-11: - http://www.gacksports.com/65590/2012-mlb-mock-draft-update - 16. Toronto Blue Jays Gavin Cecchini Short Stop Barbe High School Louisiana People are saying Cecchini is a top ten pick. My top baseball source who gives me helpful advice that I apply to future MLB Mock drafts has Cecchini listed as a 2nd to 3rd round pick.
9-19-11: - http://xmlbscout.angelfire.com - LHP, John Kilichowski, Jesuit HS, Tampa FL, 6'5 180, smooth lefty from stretch, 3/4 slot, some lower 3/4 slot with good 7/1 cb action and fb that touches 90 on occ, most are 87-88 with late life when middle out vs RHH. Show good command for his size and must keep his body back some to allow arm to catch up with front side during delivery. A work in progress, reminds me of Chris Sale some, but not quite that arm speed Sale possesses. 2013 hopeful!!
9-26-11: - http://www.mlbbonusbaby.com/2011/9/24/2446224/sullys-2012-mlb-draft-top-70-prospects#comments - I liked what I've seen of (Chris) Taylor. Saw him for UVA against BC in the spring and then again on the Cape. I’m not all that confident in the bat, but he has a nice broad skillset… no real major flaws in his game and a nice body for a (big) middle infielder (or possibly 3B). Could still add more strength and I think he’ll hit for more pop than he is now, too. I thought “major leaguer” when I saw him, but probably not an impact guy. A lot could change with how he does this spring but I think 2nd to 3rd round makes sense.
7-19-11: - http://www.mlbbonusbaby.com/2011/6/29/2250656/early-look-at-2012#comments - Ryan McNeil, Nipomo HS, Calif, 6’3 205, strong bodied righty from High 3/4, some effort to delivery, shows fb up to 93, most are 89-90, tailing life in on RHH, breaking ball has proper rotation and downward tilt to be an ave ML pitch, command is fair currently, should improve with keeping head still and leveling off shoulders with hips during follow thru. 9-8-11: - http://www.gacksports.com/65590/2012-mlb-mock-draft-update - 15. New York Mets Taylore Cherry Pitcher Vandalia Butler High School Ohio Cherry is 6 foot 9 260 pounds and throws a mid 90′s fastball that can clock up to 98 miles per hour. Cherry is rising up draft boards as a potential sleeper. I am beginning to ask myself if this is too high to place Cherry.
9-21-11: - http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=6253 – Comment From Biff Pocoroba - What flaw do you find in Mark Appel? I don't see it, but then again, I'm just a lowly utility guy. - A guy with Mark's stuff should be dominating opponents on a weekly basis, or at least a bi-weekly basis. He doesn't do that .... yet. Appel throws in the mid to upper 90s. I know he was working hard last season to refine/work on his changeup. We'll see how that work progresses as the spring begins. - Appel needs more consistency pretty much across the board. His command in particular needs to be brushed up, as does the ability to throw his secondary stuff for strikes consistently. I was happy to see him add some late diving life to his fastball this summer, as he seemed to add a 2-seam fastball to his repertoire, as for as good as his stuff is, he's far from unhittable as Kendall noted. Many people seem to think he may not even be a top-10 overall pick in a strong year. 
9-23-11: - http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_18966525 - When Stanford's baseball team lost to North Carolina in the NCAA super regionals this summer, (Tyler) Gaffney was riding a 22-game hitting streak—the program's fifth-longest since 1988—and it will carry into the 2012 season. The left fielder batted .327 with three home runs and 35 RBIs, and was second on the team with 42 runs scored. He drew a team-leading 29 walks and hit 10 doubles and five triples. As soon as Stanford was eliminated, it immediately became time to switch gears to football.
JJ Altobelli:
7-19-11: - http://www.mlbbonusbaby.com/2011/6/29/2250656/early-look-at-2012#comments - JJ Altobelli, Oregon, 6’1 190, R/R, good bloodlines, good hitting approach, contact guy with occ power the other way, throws well, ave ML arm with carry and good insincts as fielder. 4-7 round type guy.
Ryan McNeil:
8-12-11: - http://www.prospectwire.com/pw/article.php?id=290 - The other day I failed to mention a pitcher, RHP Ryan McNeil (6'3" 210, Nipomo, CA) who was 89-91 mph and showed a 78-80 slider that is an occasional swing and miss pitch. McNeil has nice stuff but lacks some deception. I think his stuff can keep coming on but would like to see him add a nice change-up to keep hitters off his fastball
Ty Hensley:
8-15-11: - http://www.mlbbonusbaby.com/2011/8/14/2362719/2011-under-armour-all-america-game-top-10-prospects - 2011 Under Armour All America Game Top 10 Prospects - 7. Ty Hensley 2012 RHP 6'4 215 Edmond, OK Santa Fe - Hensley is a massive kid who had one of the best breaking balls in the game. Pitchers weren't on the same level as the hitting in this game. Maybe it was the weather, but no one blew me away. Hensley was the best of the bunch though.
Eric Erickson:
8-17-11: - http://www.collegebaseballdaily.com/2011/08/17/tyler-beede-going-to-vanderbilt-good-or-bad - A player that I look at who actually has hurt himself by going to college is Miami (FL) lefthander Eric Erickson who was a 43rd round selection in the 2006 MLB Draft by the New York Yankees. He decided to head to college where he had a great freshman season in 2007 going 10-4 with a 2.50 ERA and 63 strikeouts in 90 innings. His sophomore season in 2008 saw him drop off somewhat to a 9-1 record and a 4.15 ERA. He ended up suffering an injury in fall practice in 2008 making him miss the 2009 season with “Tommy-John” surgery. He returned in 2010 to the diamond 4-1 record and a 2.52 ERA in ten starts missing his last few of the years as his arm flared up. He ended up having another “Tommy-John” surgery after the season. He did not attend Miami in 2011 and will be back in the mix in 2012 for his sixth year of eligibility.
Jesse Winkler:
7-19-11: - http://www.mlbbonusbaby.com/2011/6/29/2250656/early-look-at-2012#comments - Jesse Winker, Olympia HS, Orlando FL, 6’2 200 L/L, good approach to game as hitter and fielder, shows plus arm strength from RF, fair runner, 6.95, 60, has power in his bat, tends to be tentative in pitch selection, but when he squares up his has power to RF and LF alleys, needs to be more aggressive in his hitting approach.
