Draft 13 – Dominic Smith, Matt McPhearson, Zack Collins, Rowdy Tellez

Dominic Smith, Serra HS in Gardena, CA - We've looked at some fine prospects, but we haven't looked at a guy who has the goods to be a great offensive and defensive first baseman in the bigs. Until now. There's no doubting Smith's pure hitting ability. The experts love it, and it doesn't have a whole lot of trouble showing through on videos like the one on your right. Smith has a nice, easy swing, and the consensus is that the power is going to be there. Baseball America (subscription) says he just needs to hit the weight room. http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1648635-2013-mlb-draft-prospects-5-best-first-basemen-in-the-2013-draft-class  

Matt McPhearson, OF, Riverdale Baptist HS (MD) - Maybe the best leadoff-type hitter in the 2013 MLB draft, the 5’-10” left-hander has blazing speed (6.19/60) and knows how to steal bases. As a junior, he went 68-for-72 in stolen bases attempts over 39 games. This year, he hasn’t quite swiped bases at the rate he did last year as he has battled a nagging hamstring, but he still has gone 26-for-29 over 23 games. He also has improved his swing and is hitting .484 with seven extra-base hits, 23 RBI and has drawn 19 walks for a .602 OBP/.613 SLG. He isn’t going to hit for a lot of power but he can get on base and wreak havoc once he gets on. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2013-mlb-draft-9/33241#WdxR2YIG1GzGdJCZ.99  

Zack Collins, American Heritage (Plantation, Fla.) - Although a catcher for the Patriots, scouts project Collins as a first baseman at the next level. He has enough power to be a middle of the order type of hitter thanks to his bat speed. He batted .394 with 33 RBI, eight doubles and five home runs for the Patriots this year. Seen as a first rounder on a few mock drafts a few months ago, Collins is now seen more as a second or third round selection. http://www.maxpreps.com/news/z2-sul7VukOjgmdQ7ZXW0g/mlb-draft--top-10-corner-infielders.htm

When you think of power-hitting first basemen who swing from the left side of the plate, you tend to think of guys like Prince Fielder, Ryan Howard and, to a somewhat lesser extent, San Diego-era Adrian Gonzalez. That's the kind of fraternity Rowdy Tellez could join somewhere down the line. Baseball America has Tellez down as the best left-handed power bat in this year's draft class, and their reasoning doesn't require much of an explanation. Just listen to the sound of the ball coming off his bat in the video on your right  http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1648635-2013-mlb-draft-prospects-5-best-first-basemen-in-the-2013-draft-class

2013 Draft-Notes - Will Cox, Bobby Wahl, Zack Collins, Chad Kuhl

 

RHP Will Cox, Mississippi State -- Cox had a 4.64 ERA in 21 1/3 innings for the Bulldogs this past spring. He hopes to establish an even larger role for himself in 2013 after having a good summer. He made 11 appearances and had a 2.56 ERA in 45 2/3 innings of work. He also struck out 46 and walked 10. http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=7522

Bobby Wahl RHP Mississippi- Had a big season for Ole Miss striking out 104 and walking just 32 in 99 IP. He was 7-4 with a 2.55 e.r.a.. Fastball, slider, change guy with low to mid 90′s heat and solid movement and command. He was used out of the pen for Cotuit on the Cape in 2011 and scouts saw a live fastball in the shorter bursts touching 97 (but he is a starter) where he was 1-1 with a .91 e.r.a in 17 games with 39K and 11 BB in 23 IP. http://pinetarpress.com/top-11-2013-draft-august-15th-2012/

Zack Collins  C/1B  American Heritage HS, Plantation, Fla. Ht.: 6-3. Wt.: 215. B/T: L/R. Collins has one of the best bats in the 2013 class and consistently drives balls both in batting practice sessions and game play. His lefthanded swing gets the barrel through the zone with authority. He also shows arm strength and is a solid receiver. He is verbally committed to Miami

.Kendall Rogers‏@KendallRogersPG

Awful news: #TCU prized freshman RHP, @PGAllAmerican Mitchell Traver (@Mitchell_Traver), to miss 2013 w/ TJ Surgery next week

Mitchell Traver‏@Mitchell_Traver

Friends, I'll make this short: Next Friday I'll be undergoing TJ Surgery to repair a ligament that was injured because of throwing with TOS.

Chad Kuhl, rhp, New Market, (Jr., Delaware): Kuhl showed average to above-average velocity this summer with his four-seam fastball, working in the 90-93 range. His fastball is sometimes flat and straight, and he'll need to improve that pitch to enhance his draft potential next June. Kuhl employs a short, quick delivery and a three-quarters slot. His second pitch is a 79-82 curve with late 11-to-5 break. He also shows an 82-84 changeup with below-average depth. Kuhl's control for New Market was greatly improved over his spring season for Delaware, when he went 5-5, 4.42 with 64 strikeouts and 36 walks in 77 innings. In 41 Valley innings, he went 4-0, 1.11 with 39 strikeouts and 17 walks, holding hitters to a .167 average. http://ht.ly/1m4q1n

Prep Baseball Report‏ -  IN: Ryan Thurston from Madison HS committed to become a Hilltopper last night. Western KY is getting a crafty LHP from the 2012 class… IL: Andrew Reisinger, a physical RHP from McHenry HS, commits to Parkland College…

Kendall Rogers‏-  Just got word that Arizona State has promoted pitching coach Ken Knutson to associate head coach/recruiting coord.

There no longer is a Rosenblatt Stadium.

2013 Draft/D1 Notes – CWS, Tyler Herb, Daniel Palka, Zack Collins

CWS – Florida State vs. Stony Brook

FSU - C – Stephen McGee – 2012:    .237, 0-HR, 40-RBI, 30-K, 58-BB… drew a walk and scored…

SB – 1B – Kevin Courtney – 2012:  .292, 4-HR, 38-RBI, 25-BB… once again, Courtney’s defense at first looks very good… comes in .320 in post season… struck out looking on a nasty inside curve… great gap double in the 5^th, followed by poor running on a single and an errand throw where he should have scored…

SB – SP – Brandon McNitt – 2012: 8-3, 2.50, 100.2-IP, 61-K... Only 5-9… fastball sits in the 84-90 range…  known for pounding the zone… + pitch is the sinker and, if it’s on, there will be bunches of ground balls… 78-slider to end the 2^nd… FSU James Ramsey owned him early… got a little rattled in the 3^rd after a 2-run error that should have been the 3^rd out…  put a high fastball right down the high pipe for a 3-run HR by Justin Gonzalez (0-7). Final line 3.2 IP, 6 H, 9 R 4 ER, 3 BB, 2 K.

SB – RP – Joshua Mason – 2012:  3-1, 3.47 ,36.1-IP, 31-K (.300)… got Ramsey to hit into a double-play to get out of the 6^th inning (2-P inning)…   

Tyler Herb

Player:  Tyler Herb   Position:  RHP   School:  Coastal Carolina   Date of Birth:  4/28/1992   Height/Weight:  6’4/185   Bats/Throws:  R/R   2013 Class:  Junior   Scouting Report:   •Low 90′s fastball, touches 94   •Solid secondary pitches   •3/4 arm slot   •Sometimes struggles with command   •Tendency to miss with fastball up & armside

Kendall Rogers‏ -

Somewhere in Baton Rouge, LSU is requesting a re-do on the Super Regional last weekend.

John Manuel‏ -

Wonder if Kent State is watching this and taking notes ... felt like both Cinderellas belonged here, but neither has played like it yet

Todd Gold‏ -

RHP Jordan Sheffield (Tullahoma, TN) little guy with lightning quick arm. 90-93 in 1st with explosive late life

 

Wareham Gatemen 6, Brewster Whitecaps 4 - Clay Champman (Florida Southern) got the win as the Wareham Gatemen beat the Brewster Whitecaps 6-4 at Spillane Field. Kyle Schwarber (Indiana University) gave the Gatemen an initial lead with an RBI double in the first inning followed by an RBI double by Daniel Palka (Georgia Tech) to increase the lead to 2-0 and the Gatemen never lost the advantage. http://www.collegebaseballdaily.com/2012/06/15/cape-cod-baseball-league-recap-for-june-15th/

Zack Collins

Zack Collins is a 6-foot-2, 205-pound catcher and general utility player who swings from the left side of the plate and throws right-handed. At the 16u National Championship, he almost single-handedly led the South Florida Elite Squad 16u Black to the tournament championship. After a loss in the pool-play opener, Collins helped SFES 16u Black to 10 straight wins, including four straight on the final day of the tournament. He was 18-for-29 (.621) with seven doubles, two home runs and 16 RBI for the tournament and an even more incredible 13-for-17 (.765) with all seven of his doubles and both home runs coming in the five playoff games. He was named the tournament MVP.

D1 Notes 6-11-12 –Jeremy Martinez, Baylor-ARK, FLA-NCST, Zack Collins, Connor Doyle

Jeremy Martinez

Class: HS Senior -  Hometown: Fountain Valley, California   Height/Weight: 5-11/195  Baseball (and football) powerhouse Mater Dei catcher Jeremy Martinez has all the tools to be a standout catcher at the professional level. His defensive ability is off the charts. His pop-time (1.87) stands out and compares to some of the best backstops playing in the big-leagues today, who average around 1.80. His arm is plenty strong and he has incredibly soft hands. At 5’11” and 195 pounds he has the size to stay behind the plate for the long-haul.

Waco Super Regional, Game 1 - #4 Baylor 8, Arkansas 1 – SP Trent Black 8.0-IP, 7-H, 1-R, 5-K, 1-BB… 1B Mike Muncy 3-4, 2-R… CF Logan Vick 2-4, 2-R, 3-RBI 

Gainesville Super Regional, Game 1 - #1 Florida (46-18) 7, NC State (43-19) 1 – SP Hudson Randall 7.0-IP, 6-H, 0-R, 4-K, 0-BB… RF Preston Tucker 2-3, 3-R, 1-RBI… C Mike Zunino 2-4, 2-R, 3-RBI

Zack Collins

Class: HS Senior   Hometown: Pembroke Pines, Florida   Height/Weight: 6-2/200  If the performance of Jeremy Martinez and Zack Collins are any indication, the catching crop of the 2013 high school draft class is going to be the best we’ve seen in quite some time.  Like Martinez, Collins has a realistic shot at sticking behind the plate. At 6’2” and 200 pounds he should be able to withstand the rigors of catching everyday, and he also has the athleticism to be a agile defender.

Connor Doyle

Just transferred to Cardozo from Townsend Harris, (Townsend Harris is a B division baseball school so he wasn't getting much competition). Connor is 6'1 and weighs 165. He's a junior right now and next year will be a senior. He still has a lot of room to grow. Connor was also basketball player and is very athletic. According to some of my friends who played with Connor at Townsend all he does is train. His parents have invested a ton of money into him, he travels all over the world and his life is centered around Sports. Connor is a Pitcher and plays CF. Very fast, legs singles to doubles easily. He is more known for his pitching though. He's a righty who throws a fastball, curve and change. He doesn't use his changeup too much so it's a below average pitch for him. His fastball sits in the mid 80's but he can touch the upper 80's with it at times. When he starts to grow into his frame he'll probably easily sit in the high 80's. His curveball is more so a 1-7 curve if you know what i mean. He always used to throw BP at Townsend and always used to tell everyone to watch at a pitch might get away from him so what he did is he broke his curve from the hands of a righty to the low outside corner. The pitch can get a bit flat at times the more he works into a game. He has a pretty good bat. Not too much power but he has great pitch recognition and walks a ton. Doesn't strike out a ton. The only thing that people complain about him is his attitude. Can be a bit egotistical but once he steps onto the mound he's all business. The biggest weakness in his game is his control. There's some games he can't command any of his pitches and will throw a ton of balls. This year at Cardozo the coach lowered Connor's innings and he didn't pitch too much, according to a friend from Cardozo the coach wanted to showcase Connor and Adrian next year and will allow them to throw a lot more then. From what I know about Connor he will probably sign because he seems like the kind who will go for the money instead of college, but he is already getting some D1 offers.