Draft 14 – Justus Sheffield, Zech Lemond, Brady Aiken, Brandon Downes, Matt Mercer

3-8-14 - While the large number of mid- to upper-90s righthanded pitchers have received more attention than the southpaws in the 2014 high school class, that doesn’t mean that the lefthanders don’t have a strong group of prospects, too. None of them may have the true plus to plus/plus fastball that a Tyler Kolek or a Grant Holmes throws on a regular basis, but the seven southpaws in the Perfect Game Top 50 all get into the low-90s comfortably and top out generally at 94 mph. What differentiates all seven from most of their righthanded peers is that all have polished secondary pitches and advanced pitchability for their ages. And none of the six – which also includes Kodi Medeiros, Mac Marshall, Foster Griffin, Brady Aiken, Alex Verdugo and Alex Destino – has a true four-pitch mix or has improved his pitchability more in the last year than Tennessee’s Justus Sheffield. http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=9503

3-25-14 – TTF 10 college players on the rise — week 6  - Zech Lemond, RHP, Rice (NR) - Since being inserted into the starting rotation as the team’s Friday night starter, the 6’-4”, 190 pound right-hander has allowed just two earned runs over 23 innings with 27 K/8 BB, allowing 16 hits. His fastball sits 92-95 mph and he has been able to maintain velocity deep into his starts — a great sign. He adds a slider and curveball — both in the low 80s — and both are quality offerings. His change-up still needs refining, but with his size and easy mechanics, there is a lot of upside. He could sneak into the first round if he continues to show that he can maintain velocity deep into games. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-10-college-players-rise-week-6/42071#MDUXGtxd7YCtKt0X.99

2-3-14 – MaxPreps - Top 10 MLB Draft Prospects in high school - 8. Brady Aiken, Cathedral Catholic (San Diego) At 6-4, 210 pounds, Aiken has the type of frame scouts like. Even better, he's consistently around the strike zone. While he doesn't have an overpowering fastball (91 mph), scouts expect it to improve. He proved himself to be a big-time pitcher with this performance at the Team USA 18U World Cup gold medal game. Look for him to go in the bottom third of the first round. http://www.maxpreps.com/news/B41AzcsA90iOL5xwFL8T7Q/top-10-major-league-baseball-draft-high-school-prospects.htm

2-27-14 – TTF - 10 college players on the rise - Brandon Downes, OF, Virginia (NR) - Scouts may have been there primarily to see Virginia’s Derek Fisher and East Carolina’s ace Jeff Hoffman — both projected as high first round picks in the 2014 MLB draft — but Downes left the biggest impression after taking Hoffman deep twice in the game. The 6’-3”, 200 pound right-hander is a great athlete who could stick at center field at the next level. Through his first seven games, he is hitting .310/.393/.759 with two doubles and three home runs. Over 61 games as a sophomore, he hit .316/.393/.569 with 20 doubles and 10 home runs. He is projected as a 3-5 round guy now, but could go higher if he continues to rake. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-10-college-players-rise-2/41299#ldBBF8hRKzmaiy5H.99

P - Matt Mercer, RHP, Jr., Timberline (Wash.) - The lone underclassman to crack the pitching staff this year, Mercer has the highest ceiling of any pitcher in the region. He typically works in the upper 80s with his fastball, and has begun to scratch the 90s on occasion already, but he projects to add even more velocity as he gets stronger physically. He has a quick arm and he shows good feel for his hard spinning breaking ball. http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=9561

Q and A with Mack and... RHP Zech Lemond - Univ. of Rice

Mack – Our next 2014 prospect is the latest in a legendary list of great Rice University starters, RHP Zech Lemond. Hey, Zech, thank you for spending some time with us here and I assume you’ll be hanging around the television starting tomorrow watching the College World Series?

Zech - I actually couldn't bring myself to watch any of it yet, due to the fact of what happened at NC State.

Mack – Those of us that do this for a living consider Rice University as the premier producer of quality Friday starters over the past two decades. What’s it going to be like for you to add your name to the list of all-time greats that have walked out to your mound?

Zech- Well if I become the Friday night next year it would be pretty amazing, but Stephens did such a great job this past year as Saturday he may be the guy next year, then I may be behind him on Saturday.  But being up there with names like Kenny Baugh and the big three with Neimann, Townsend, and Humber it would be pretty amazing to have my name mixed in with those Rice legends.

Mack – Zech, tomorrow is the first day of summer. Where are you playing this ‘off season’, if anywhere, or are you lying low?

Zech- I'll be playing for the Falmouth Commodores in the Cape Cod baseball league. I took a short break, I didn't pick up a baseball all last week but I started throwing again this week so I'm ready to go out and pitch some more.

Mack – Will you be working on anything new while you’re with Falmouth?

Zech- Just try to continue to get better, more accurate with every pitch, and better velocity with those pitches as well.

Mack – Last question, Zech. Is there anything you want to say to your fans and our readers out there?

Zech- I just want to thank everyone for their support and I hope to keep their support by playing well.