5/19/13

Draft 13 – Riley Unroe, Dominic Smith, Clinton Hollon, Ryan Eades, Braden Shipley




Riley Unroe, SS, Desert Ridge HS (AZ) - With the defensive abilities to stick at shortstop, including plus speed (6.4/60) and a strong arm (91 mph), the 6’-1” switch-hitter is seeing his stock soar. His bat, however, remains his best tool. Over 31 games for one of the best programs in the country, he is hitting .565 with 14 doubles, five triples, 10 home runs and has driven in 59 runs. He has drawn 17 walks to just four strikeouts for a .642 OBP/1.152 SLG. He has also added 25 stolen bases. His father, Tim Unroe, spent five years in the majors with three different teams. Riley is an impressive talent who could be available at 77. Committed to USC. LINK


Dominic Smith, OF, Serra HS (CA) - The owner of one of the prettiest swings in the draft, Smith is a 6’-1” left-hander with an advanced approach at the plate. Over his last four games, he has gone 5-for-7 with a double, triple, three home runs and seven RBI. He has also drawn five walks and has been hit by a pitch three times, meaning he has reached base 15 of his last 17 plate appearances. On the season, he is now hitting .490/.614/1.059 over 20 games with five doubles, six home runs, 27 RBI and has drawn 14 walks to just five strikeouts. Aside from his hitting abilities, he also has a canon arm and can touch 94 mph on the mound. Committed to USC. LINK


Dan Kirby @DanMKirby
Woodford County HS (KY) RHP Clinton Hollon: 7 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 13 K/3 BB. Has allowed just 19 H over 54 IP w/ 80 K/14 BB


           The rise of right-handed starting pitcher Ryan Eades might just be the difference for LSU as the NCAA postseason draws nearer. Eades has always had the potential to be a dominant weekend starting pitcher. He showed glimpses of greatness last season. But he also showed glimpses of a pitcher who had much work to do in terms of refining his stuff becoming more consistent. Even with those two things holding him back last season, he still managed to tally a respectable 3.83 ERA in 94 innings of work, along with 63 strikeouts and 28 walks. LINK


Perhaps I am overstating just how much Braden Shipley has moved, because he was already one of the top college pitchers on the board, but it is also a testament to how high I am on him. Shipley has added a half-grade to his fastball, which now sits in the 92-95 mph range, and his command of the pitch has gotten much better. He can spot it where he wants and it explodes out of his hand. He complements that with a changeup that is above-average right now and has the potential to be plus if he can consistently command it. Shipley also throws a hard slider that projects as an above-average pitch. LINK

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