Draft 2012 – Hunter Virant, Brandon Thomas, Mike Wisecarver, Byron Buxton, Duane Underwood

 Hunter Virant — 6’-4”, LHP, Camarillo HS (CA)  One of the top prep lefties in the draft, Virant is a freak athlete who excels at just about everything on the baseball field. He hit .446 as a junior and has elite speed. His pitching abilities are what will make him a first round pick, however. Has four pitches that all grade out to at least average, and with his 6’-4”, 180 lb frame, has a lot of room for improvement. His fastball is his best pitch, sitting in the low 90s, and his curveball has serious potential. He is a gamer who plays his best during the biggest events and is a member of the U18 Team USA baseball. http://www.throughthefencebaseball.com/top-50-draft-prospects-for-2012-25-thru-1/15694/

Brandon Thomas / Georgia Tech / OF:  The Georgia Tech outfielder really stood out for me on a Wareham team I got to see numerous times (It’s the shortest trip for me). Thomas has very good raw tools and athleticism for a college player. He is a switch hitter with a nice looking swing from each side and possesses a quick bat and has above average power. His glove may end up a little short for centerfield given his size, but he’s a quality defender with good instincts and actions in the outfield. Thomas has a mix of tools, athleticism and polish that should make him an early round pick. http://mlbdraftinsider.com/2012/01/scouting-the-cape/#more-720  

Mike Wisecarver  LHP  Waterloo Bucks--Nicholls State   Mike went a perfect 6-0 and had was third in the league with a 1.91 era in 56.2 innings pitched. He allowed just 46 hits, walked 19 and fanned 44 this summer. PG ranked him as the 32nd best prospect in the league. http://www.collegesummerbaseball.net/2012/01/top-35-pitchers-in-northwoods-league_20.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter  

Byron Buxton — 6’-1”, OF, Appling County HS (GA)  Georgia is a hotbed for baseball talent, and Buxton may be the best of the bunch this year. His elite speed and strong, accurate arm will allow him to stay in center field at the next level. Has extremely quick wrists and an easy, fluid swing. Mainly a pull hitter right now, the power should develop with time. Buxton is one of those players with so much talent that his body isn’t ready for it yet. Justin Upton comes to mind when watching him play. http://www.throughthefencebaseball.com/top-50-draft-prospects-for-2012-25-thru-1/15694

Duane Underwood is the top pitching prospect hailing from the state of Georgia, which has been a great source of talent for big-league clubs over the years. He doesn’t have a ceiling as high as some of the most recent, including 2009 first-rounder Zack Wheeler, but he has enough potential that he could sneak into the first-round. Underwood is a lithe, athletic right-hander with a power arm that at first glance reminds a bit of 2010 first-rounder Taijuan Walker. He has great velocity, capable of reaching 97-98 mph, and the makings of an above-average curveball. In the field, he’ll be an above-average defender. http://mlbdraftcountdown.wordpress.com/2012/01/19/duane-underwood-rhp-pope-hs-ga/

Draft 2012: - Brandon Thomas, Stryker Trahan, Ryan Stanek, Carlos Correa, Nathan Griep

7-19-11: - http://www.mlbbonusbaby.com/2011/6/29/2250656/early-look-at-2012#comments  - Brandon Thomas, Ga Tech, 6’3 210, R/R, tearing up the Cape this summer, has solid hitting tools and gap power, runs well for size and enough arm strength to play either OF corner. Could be 1-3 Rounder in 2012!

8-15-11: - http://www.draftsite.com/article/High-School-Names-to-Know/94  - Stryker Trahan – C/1B HT -6’1’’ WT – 215 Acadiana (LA) -Trahan was basically born into his position; both of his parents were catchers growing up. Coming into 2011 he was a bit of a sleeper but he has made himself known to everyone. His breakout came at the Area Code games this year. He squared up everything and showed impressive power. Behind the plate he shows off extremely quick feet and an impressive arm (1.87 pop time). Trahan is also an extremely impressive athlete as he is also a star quarterback (making the strong arm no surprise). Young catchers with both the defense and offense are hard to find, and with an impressive senior season it wouldn’t be a shock to see Stryker’s name soar up draft boards.

8-24-11: - diamondscapescouting.  - Ryne Stanek will be a draft-eligible sophomore in 2012, making this summer an important one as evaluators will only have his time with Team USA, fall workouts and his freshman year to draw upon when formulating spring follow lists. His outing against the 18U National Team showcased good raw stuff, if inconsistent in its placement. Stanek boasts a low-90s fastball with boring action and a change-up out of the same slot with arm speed deception and a 10-12 mph delta in velo. The result was a lot of empty hacks from the 18U players. Stanek mixed-in an 80-81 mph slider that showed some bite, but also manifested as a spinner in the 77-78 mph range from time to time. Stanek throws from a low three-quarters slot, adding to the life on his fastball and creating a tough angle, but taking away some from his slider as the pitch often sat on one plane. He's a live arm with projection and three pitches, though his command and low slot could point to a relief role down the line, where he could potentially hold down a late inning job.

8-27-11: - http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=6171  - Each year, Rawlings hands out the Rawlings Gold Glove Award to the 18 major-leaguers – nine in both the American and National leagues – who are deemed the best defensive player at their respective position. It is one of the most coveted individual awards in Major League Baseball. It is against that backdrop that the company became the title sponsor of the 2011 Rawlings Defensive Player of the Year Award, which was presented at the Perfect Game All-American Classic presented by Rawlings Awards Banquet in San Diego Aug. 13. The winner of the award was Puerto Rican standout Carlos Correa, Perfect Game’s top-ranked shortstop prospect in the nation and the No. 11 top prospect overall (class of 2012).

7-19-11: - http://www.mlbbonusbaby.com/2011/6/29/2250656/early-look-at-2012#comments  - Nathan Griep, Millard West HS, Omaha NE 6’2 185, loose righty from a great midwest program coached by former KC Royal, Frank Ryan, Nathan has loose arm that touches 91, most fb are upper 80’s with arm side run and sink and has makings of solid cb and change, still room left to grow. May excel once in college.

Christian Walker, Colby Holmers, Brandon Thomas, Hudson Randall, Jesse Winker

Christian Walker:


6-28-11: - http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/college/postseason/college-world-series/2011/2612014.html - The Hero: Christian Walker was not in the starting lineup South Carolina coach Ray Tanner turned in about an hour before game time because of a broken hamate bone in his left wrist, which was diagnosed Monday morning. But he got treatment from South Carolina doctors before the game, hit three home runs in batting practice and found his way into the final starting lineup. He proceeded to go 2-for-5 with a double, a single and the game-winning run in the 11th






Colby Holmes:


6-20-11: - http://bleacherreport.com/articles/740905-omaha-eye-openers-2012-mlb-draft-prospects-at-the-2011-college-world-series#/articles/740905-omaha-eye-openers-2012-mlb-draft-prospects-at-the-2011-college-world-series/page/9 - RHP Colby Holmes was the Gamecock’s Sunday starter this season, and he benefited from having one of the best defensive units in the country. He went 7-3 with a 3.78 ERA in 12 starts (17 total appearances) and posted a 70:20 K:BB ratio in 81 innings. Holmes has strung together a couple of gutsy efforts in the regionals and figures to get at least one more start before the season is through. Holmes throws in the low 90s and has always gotten rave reviews for his great command, but his breaking stuff isn’t all that impressive, as evidenced by the 12 home runs he surrendered this year. Holmes is also a former ’09 draft pick, in the 47th round by the Atlanta Braves.


Brandon Thomas


6-23-11: - http://baseballdraftreport.com - Georgia Tech SO OF Brandon Thomas
.322/.434/.449 – 38 BB/40 K – 20/23 SB – 205 AB - It’s easy to see why Thomas has drawn favorably comparisons (by me) to former Georgia Tech outfielders Charlie Blackmon and Danny Payne. A quick rundown of his biggest positives: above-average range in a corner spot, an arm strong enough for right field, good speed that he knows how to use, gap power with a chance for more, excellent athleticism, and a pro ready body (6-3, 205 pounds). It can sometimes be difficult to pinpoint a good prospect a year ahead of the draft, but tools like that combined with really strong production at an outstanding college program make this whole prognostication thing a lot easier.


Hudson Randall:


6-28-11: - http://baseballdraftreport.com - Randall’s upside isn’t in the same league as many of his sophomore year contemporaries, but his average across the board raw stuff is underrated by many. Maybe he is a sinker/slider reliever long-term, but there could be some teams that value his plus command and his ability to keep four different pitches at or below the knees consistently enough to keep him as a starter






Jesse Winker:


6-28-11: - http://mlbdraftguide.com/1/2011/06/26/jesse-winker-2012-draft-profile - You hear stories about players growing up with a batting cage in their backyards. Jesse Winker is one of those players. The work in the cage has paid off as Winker is one of the top high school hitters eligible for the 2012 draft. Winker is a patient hitter with a solid approach at the plate. He has good power and drives the ball to all fields. WInker’s bat speed is excellent. In the field, Winker has a strong accurate arm that will play in right field. He gets good jumps on balls when they come off the bat. Winker shows up ready to play at every event in which he takes part. With his hard work and dedication, he is sure to stay high on draft boards