The Mack Draft Report - Dec. 6, 2010 - Buechele, Vollmuth, Gilmartin, Cape Cod, LaStella, and Michael Kelly

The Mack Draft Report - Dec. 6, 2010

Garrett Buechele: - 12-6-10 from: - http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=5130  - Oklahoma: The top returnee is junior third baseman Garrett Buechele, who batted a team-high .359 with team-highs of 17 home runs, 65 RBIs and 55 runs scored. He was selected in the 18th round by the Texas Rangers in the 2010 MLB Amateur Draft but chose to stay in Norman. Buechele was named an All-American just one year after being named the Big 12 Conference Freshman of the Year.

B.A. Vollmuth: 12-6-10 from: http://www.collegebaseballdaily.com/2010/12/06/ba-vollmuth/#more-31684  - As a sophomore in 2010, BA led the Golden Eagles with a .386 batting average with 20 homers and 76 RBI. His batting average was the sixth best in Conference USA while his 20 homers were good enough for fourth. He did end up finishing second in the conference with 72 runs scored. He did struggle on defense as he made 25 errors with a .924 fielding percentage. He spent the summer of 2010 in the Cape Cod Baseball League for the second time. He continued to struggle with the wood bat hitting .175 with a homer and seven RBI. He struggled with a transition to third base as he made five errors for a fielding percentage of .926.

Sean Gilmartin: - 12-6-10 from: http://baseballdraftreport.com/  - The biggest sure thing on Florida State’s roster heading into 2011 is JR LHP Sean Gilmartin, a four-pitch Friday night starter that I can’t help but consistently underrate. Even though he has a very good mid-70s changeup and an above-average low-70s curveball, his inconsistent fastball, both in terms of velocity (sits mid- to upper-80s, peaks at 91-92) and command, worries me against professional hitters. Does a so-so fastball really undo the positives that three other potentially average or better (his low-80s slider isn’t great presently, but has the upside as a usable fourth pitch) secondary pitches bring to the table? As a guy who championed the pre-velocity spike Mike Minor, I’m inclined to say no, yet my instincts keep me away from endorsing Gilmartin as a potential top three round prospect

Cape Cod League: - link  - A continuation of the expanded playoff format and 10 seven-inning doubleheaders highlight the 2011 Cape Cod Baseball League schedule, announced this week by league commissioner Paul Galop. The season begins on June 10 with a full slate of five games, and the league will feature five seven-inning doubleheaders on June 12 and June 19, with all 10 teams hosting one twin-bill before the start of the busy summer season in late June. The annual Frank Finn/CCBL Invitational pre-season tryout will be held on May 30 at Spillane Field in Wareham.

Tommy LaStella: - CBD   - We continue the countdown today at number 47 with redshirt junior 2B Tommy La Stella from Coastal Carolina. La Stella is from Closter, N.J. attended St. Joes Montvale High School. He was an All-State selection during his senior season, hitting .525 with 6 homeruns and 38 RBI. He hit .542 with 5 home runs during his junior season. La Stella began his college career at St. John’s University, hitting .320 while seeing action in 20 games in 2008. He sat out the 2009 season adhering to NCAA transfer rules before beginning his playing career at Coastal Carolina. He did play the summer of the 2009 season with the Haymarket Senators in the Valley League. He finished with a .303 batting average with six homers and 37 RBI in 51 games (49 starts). Even without seeing much college game action for 2 seasons, La Stella played in 64 games for the Chanticleers in 2010, leading the team in batting average (.378) and hits (93), with 14 doubles, 2 triples, 14 homeruns and 66 RBI. Out of all those stats, possibly most impressive for the Chanticleers cleanup hitter was the fact that he only struck out 15 times in 246 ABs. He posted a .977 fielding percentage at 2B, leading the Chanticleers to a Super Regional berth, losing to eventual champion South Carolina.

Retro: - Josh Wall was an outstanding HS pitcher in high school, albeit he dominated at a lower level of competition so to speak in HS, but the Dodgers, like a lot of clubs, loved him as did/do I. I have found his statistics and viewed a video clip of Josh from 2009 when he was at Inland Empire a Cal League affiliate of the Dodgers, which is considered "HIGH A" competition. In watching the video, I see a kid with a tremendous arm, great frame and some minor flaws in his delivery, that if they were corrected, either by him or his professional pitching coach, could help him get a little more deception on his pitches, thus helping him not show the ball as early as he does in his delivery. Josh's fb ranges in velocity from his release points and how his front side opens, which is from 88-98 mph on the jugs gun and he's consistently 90-92. Not overpowering by any sense just yet, but that's not because he doesn't have velocity, it's because he's so easy to read as a hitter. Even from the rear view I've seen of Josh in the video, which is listed on the bottom of this page, you can see what I am talking about. His curveball's break is also inconsistent, sometimes it breaks true-downwards and sometimes it appears to be a slider. Perhaps he is throwing both, a cb and sl? That's quite possible. He also has a straight change but for me, it's very easy to read and as a hitter, I know it's coming and I can sit on his pitches. What would I do with this kid, if he's not protected on the 40 man roster? - http://xmlbscout.angelfire.com

12-1-10 from: - http://www.5tooltalk.com/dandydozen.html  - SP Michael Kelly West Boca HS (FL) 6’5”, 195, R/R The sky is the limit with Kelly, who reminded me of Rick Porcello the first time I saw him pitch due to his tall, projectable, athletic frame. Kelly also possesses a pretty polished three-pitch repertoire that could allow him to soar through the lower levels of the minor leagues and/or college should he pursue his commitment to play for the Florida Gators. He has a smooth and repeatable delivery that seemingly effortlessly produces low-to-mid-90s fastballs. Given his size, he very well may be pitching regularly in the mid-90s while touching the upper-90s before long, and he also has the ability to ad some sinking movement to his heater. He shows both a nice slow curveball and a polished changeup that he can pull the string on. He’s at his best when he is getting both his two-seamer and change over for strikes, inducing weakly hit ground balls and getting outs early in the count.