Jayce Boyd, Travis Harrison, Julius Gains, Marquis Riley, Xavier Macklin, Kyle McMyne

Jayce Boyd - I also caught a mid-week game between Florida State and Jacksonville that allowed me to watch a pair of potential 2012 first-round picks in FSU’s Jayce Boyd and Jacksonville’s Adam Brett Walker. I caught Boyd several times last year, and he looks pretty much the same this year. He has a great approach at the plate with a level, line-drive swing. He reminds me a little of a young Edgar Martinez, prior to Martinez bulking up, with long, wiry strong limbs. Most of his power is gap-to-gap, but there is some good extension and bat speed to his swing that will lead to his fair share of homers. He would serve himself well if he could continue to play third base or even a corner outfield spot. He drilled a hanging curveball to left-centerfield in this contest for a double, something he seems to do every time I watch him play. He is somewhat of a ‘tweener since he doesn’t have the ideal power potential for first and may not have the lateral movement necessary for third. http://www.5tooltalk.com/2011-notes-2-26-11.html  







Travis Harrison, 1B, Tustin (Calif.) HS - Skinny: Harrison does not run, throw or field particularly well, so the power potential in his bat must carry him. Given his shortcomings, Harrison's defensive home figures to be first base. In the offseason, Harrison has shortened his stride at the plate and refined his hitting mechanics. Still, something just seems to be missing. Prior to swinging, Harrison needs to achieve more "separation" (more space between his arms and body) and would benefit from cocking his wrists, which would allow him to generate more bat speed. Committed to: USC http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/highschool/02/21/top.prospects.mlb.showcase/index.html#ixzz1 FAb22OhT  






Julius Gaines, ss, Luella HS, Locust Grove, Ga. I consider Gaines the best defensive player in the 2011 class and have no doubt that he will play shortstop in the major leagues for a long time. His bat will be the difference maker. I believe the hitting tools are there, and I was most encouraged by his swing at the end of last summer. It was a different swing mechanically than he had either in early June or just this last January. He figured things out swinging wood every day last summer, and should do so again even as he has a tendency to regress to a stiffer, contact-oriented approach the rest of the year. It’s just a matter of getting into a routine. http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=5302  






Two players caught my eye on Saturday &; Sunday. One I've already commented on, infielder, Marquis Riley from near by Hillsborough NC where he attended Orange HS. Marquis is slightly over 5'9 and weighs a solid 190 with a smooth lefty swing that is flat and drives the ball where it's pitched. He's not a burner out of the box, but he is solid average as a runner with a playable arm for either the corner or second and he has enough tracking ability to play the Outfield if needed there. Marquis lined up a few mid to upper 80's fb from the Camels pitchers to all fields. In BP he has 8-10 type HR power. He loves the game and he comes to play and while he may not go in the first two rounds of the MLB Draft, he's definitely someone who will get some strong looks by area crosscheckers and scouting directors along the way, due in part to the emergence of RF, Xavier Macklin, a sturdy built, 6'0 190 right fielder, Right/Right with legit alley power to LF. X runs 4.3 straight away which is solid average to 1b and he has an average arm for RF. X has carry on his throws and he tracks the ball well enough to the gap. X hit a bomb to the RF alley that carried over the way day 1 and the second day hit the ball hard 4 times with two hits, one was a one hopper to the LF alley wall off a 88 mph fb. X stays in there on the breaking ball but will get out front a bit with his front side and his hands stay back. X is a potential 20 HR guy with 20 plus SBs in the making. Both kids have good presence on the diamond as well. For me right now if I couldn't go back to see Xavier play again, I'd say he's a 2nd maybe 3rd rounder, but that's just me! - http://xmlbscout.angelfire.com/  






Overall, though, that was all (Kyle) McMyne allowed and his stuff generally looked very good on the day. Over his six innings of work, he gave up six runs on six hits with four walks and six strikeouts. His fastball sat in the 93-95 mph range and he touched 96 several times. He threw a 12-6 curveball in the 75-78 mph range, a slider between 82-84 mph and mixed in a couple changeups. - http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/draft/?p=3129