Draft Notes 5-13-12 – Brian Johnson, Mathew Reckling, Spencer Kieboom, Ross Stripling

Keith Law –

Q - If healthy, you think Royals take Giolito over top three college arms?

A – “I would.

Florida LHP Brian Johnson –

5.0-IP, 4-H, 1-ER, 2-K, 1-BB, Loss (5-4) – season: 13-ST, 5-4, 4.29, 65.0-IP, 52-K, 13-BB – The 6-3 lefty started out the mock season as the top lefty in the draft. At times, GSU’s Chris Beck, Harvard-Westlake H.S. Max Fried, and Solon H.S. Matt Smoral have passed him, but, if the draft was right now, Oklahoma State’s Andrew Heaney would be the first lefty picked. Johnson has not had the banner year he had hoped for, especially for the banner team he plays for. Everybody loves a lefty, and a 6-3 lefty is like a 6-6 righty.  All the names mentioned will probably go in the first 31 picks, along with Camarillo HS Hunter Virant and Georgia’s Alex Wood. This is a pitchers draft. Projection: 25-31 range.

Rice RHP Matthew Reckling –

Reckling had an excellent outing Saturday, though there was a little wildness: 5.0-IP, 8H, 2-ER, 5-K, 4-BB, 8-1, 3-WP – vs. UAB  The talent pool in this draft falls off pretty quick past the top 90 and Reckling has worked himself back into contention for a first day pick. I see him going in the sup-1 round, even though a lot of scoutns are suspicious about the Rice jinx.    

Matt Grabusky –  Rice righthander Matthew Reckling has greatly improved his draft stock since being selected in the 22nd round last year.  He is a groundball pitcher who keeps the ball in the park. Reckling’s fastball sits in the low 90′s.  He throws primarily a 2 seam fastball that has good sink, using his 4 seam fastball sparingly.  He throws a 12/6 curve, 79-8,2 that is above average to plus.  His change is from 78-80

TAMU (36-14) Ross Stripling –

Can you think of a better day to throw a no-hitter than the day you graduate college? Stat line Saturday vs. San Diego State (22-29) - 9.0-IP, CG, 0-H, 0-R, 7-K, 1-BB, minimum 27 batters… it was interesting that he was drafted last year in the 9^th round but chose to return for his senior year in college. No one does that anymore. Seasonally: 12-ST, 8-2, 2.59, 94.0-IP, 90-K, 14-BB. It’s obvious that he won’t go before his teammate, Michael Wacha, though he’s right there stat-wise with Mike. The no-hitter will have people writing his name down again. Originally a reliever, he’s only  pitched for five years. Projection: 2^nd round.    

                   

Clemson C Spencer Kieboom –

Hitting a three-run homer against a D1 team is a big deal. Hitting one against the number one team in the nation is everything. Clemson junior C Spencer Kieboom may only be hitting .261 for the season, but he proved Saturday night that he can hit under pressure. He went 10-15 earlier this year in the weekend series with Georgia Tech. I guess you should draft this kid and just play him against teams leading their division. We all know that Florida’s Mike Zunino will go early on the first day, but the rest of the catcher situation is still undetermined. Miami’s Peter O’Brien, Union HS’s Clint Coulter, Accadania HS’s Stryker Trahan, Tcu’s Josh Elander, and Buffalo’s Tom Murphy could all go the first day of the draft.  This one game could elevate Spencer to a high second day pick. Projection:  4^th round

Draft 2012: Brian Johnson, Lance McCullers, Austin Dean, Mac Williamson

3. Brian Johnson, LHP/1B, Florida - Johnson is a guy that I think may have a shot at Danny Hultzen fever (a guy that catches fire and ends up  in the top-5 discussion). He’s a guy that has a few things going for him on the mound and again he may just really lighting up the compitition on his way to a June payday. But he’s always been a tweener, never really one way or another, in therms of pitcher or position player and he’s not been real consistent. He’s not got the bat to stick long term at first base. He’s just got too many question marks to sit  inside the top-10 for me. Again this is purely my opinion, based on statistics, seen on both TV/youtube and what I’ve read online.  http://sodomojo.com/2012/02/13/more-mlb-draft-talk-and-a-quick-little-top-5/

8. Lance McCullers, RHP, Jesuit HS, Tampa, FL - McCullers utilizes a classic, old fashioned "drop and drive" delivery, his right knee scraping the dirt as he follows through, a la Tom Seaver. His father, also named Lance, was a major league pitcher for seven seasons and the younger McCullers also possesses big time stuff: A heavy mid- to high-90's fastball coupled with a biting low-80's breaking ball. In his pitching motion, McCullers severely cocks his arm behind his back prior to releasing the pitch, raising concerns of a future shoulder injury. As a professional, McCullers could be a fine starter but he profiles best as an elite closer. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/highschool/02/13/baseball.top.10.prospects/index.html#ixzz1mJYi8Rky

 7. Austin Dean, 3B, Klein Collins (Spring, Texas)  I liked Dean more than most at the Area Code Games. He showed no glaring weaknesses despite the lack of a standout tool, but the power potential is apparent and he stings the ball consistently in batting practice. He's adept at going the other way and reminds some of a young Casey Blake. If he shows he can stick at third, he's a Day 2 pick. Dean is committed to the University of Texas. http://espn.go.com/blog/high-school/baseball/post/_/id/1108/joey-gallo-is-nation%e2%80%99s-top-corner-infielder  

Wake Forest JR OF Mac Williamson - Not exactly a banner year for ACC outfielders, but Thomas, Ramsey, and Williamson all do enough well to warrant early round draft consideration in 2012. Thomas, the most heralded outfielder in the conference by a long shot, comes by his high praise honestly. I’ve been told his tools have been consistently overrated by the national media (it is admittedly a minority view, but he’s been described to me as a “tweener” outfielder, i.e. not enough power for a corner, not enough speed for center), so I look forward to seeing him for myself this spring. Even as a tweener, he’s still worth mentioning as a great athlete who put up pretty darn impressive numbers last year as a sophomore. Ramsey’s best tool is easily his bat, though I’m not sure there is enough to it if he’s locked into left field always and forever. This is sort of the Devon Travis dilemma all over again: interesting prospect at one position only who is risky because of the unlikelihood of being able to transition to a utility role. Rumors of improved range (better jumps and increased mobility, most notably) and his forthcoming trial in center field for the Seminoles give some hope that he shows enough this spring to get pro teams believing he can at least hold down the fort at center and right. Williamson is another player who I’ve spent a disproportionate (compared to his prospect stock) amount of time writing about over the years. His tools, most notably the arm and power, continue to shine, and his improved approach in 2011, though not yet quite where you’d like to see in terms of BB/K numbers, is encouraging. Rumors of him being tried behind the plate at Wake Forest seem to be officially dead and buried, but I wonder if a pro team might see things differently.

Draft 2012: Nathan Kirby, Brian Johnson, Mac Williamson, Kayden Porter, Deven Marrero

Nathan Kirby, James River (Midlothian, Va.)   Kirby’s fastball--breaking ball combination is first-round worthy. And despite the lack of size at 6-foot-1 and 180 pounds, the southpaw sits in the 88-91 mph range with his heater. The development of a legitimate changeup could be the difference on draft day. Kirby has committed to Virginia. http://espn.go.com/blog/high-school/baseball/post/_/id/1086/max-fried-leads-class-of-2012-left-handers  

UT Brian Johnson School: Florida  Cl.: Junior, Ht.: 6-3, Wt.: 235  Hometown.: Cocoa Beach, Fla.  High school: Cocoa Beach  Johnson surely is expected to have an elite 2012 campaign. A talented prospect, Johnson is very talented as both a hitter and pitcher. In 2011, he batted .307 with 11 doubles, five home runs and 29 RBIs. On the mound, he had a 3.62 ERA in 79 2/3 innings.   http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=6498    

I can’t wait to see if Wake Forest OF Mac Williamson (Round 46) can put it all together in his redshirt junior season. He’s a legit five-tool prospect who has made great strides in his approach to hitting since arriving at Wake Forest. From a pure tools standpoint, I’m not sure there are five better outfielders in all of college baseball. The biggest strike against him for me is the fact he’ll almost be 22 years old by the time next June’s draft rolls around. Williamson, a potential catching conversion candidate at the pro level, has serious power upside and a plus arm, but his swing at everything approach could prevent him from ever getting the chance to put his crazy raw tools to use. He could very well be viewed as a potential late inning relief prospect because of the reported mid-90s heat to go along with a solid sinker/slider mix   http://baseballdraftreport.com/

Kayden Porter is the top 2012 draft prospect from the state of Utah.  The big righthander has power in his arm and his bat.  He has a strong build and looks like a future workhorse on the mound. Porter has an easy delivery with a high 3/4 arm slot.  He has a heavy mid-90′s fastball that gets up to 97.  His curve shows good potential and his change is a solid third offering. While many see Porter’s future on the mound, his bat is not to be overlooked.  In terms of raw power, he sits near the top of the list for 2012. http://mlbdraftguide.com/

Deven Marrero, SS, Arizona State - Overall, he is an above average defensive shortstop with the potential to have an above average bat for the position as well. Historically, he is a lock to be a major leaguer and with the skills he possesses, he should be a very good one. He is a safe pick and could go as early as the 1st overall pick or slide to the lower half of the top 10 but it would take a very poor season to see him slide more than that. http://www.minorleagueball.com/2012/2/9/2785340/2012-baseball-draft-college-prospects-1-5

Draft 2012 – Brian Johnson, James Ramsey, Andy Hunter, Deven Marrero, Nolan Fontana

 Brian Johnson — 6’-4”, LHP, Florida  Johnson is the best left handed college pitcher in the draft. Has a low-90s fastball with sink, an above average change-up and his slider projects to a plus pitch at the next level. At 6’-3” and 225 lbs, he has great mound presence and teams usually eat up left handed college pitchers come draft day. Also a tremendous hitter and could be drafted high as an outfielder. In 12 at bats for Collegiate Team USA, he smashed three home runs, drove in five runs and walked three times. He also picked up a win, giving up one run over four innings, striking out four, while walking none. http://www.throughthefencebaseball.com/top-50-draft-prospects-for-2012-25-thru-1/15694/

James Ramsey / Florida State / OF – Ramsey had a strong college season for the Seminoles in 2011 and built on that with an impressive performance on the Cape. He was drafted in the 22nd round by the Twins following his Junior season but decided to return to school as a Senior this year. There is some skepticism over how Ramsey’s game will play in pro ball. He often drops his back-end and takes an aggressive uppercut swing. While this leads to some long home runs (his six home runs tied him for second in the Cape) it also leads to more than a few strikeouts. The tools and athleticism are solid across the board and Ramsey is a max effort guy who plays the game the right way. He was named Cape League All Star Game MVP after hitting a looooong home run over the bullpens in right field. I also saw Ramsey in March, and while I still have questions about his bat I saw improvements in his ability to shorten up his swing and make adjustments. After a very good Cape campaign Ramsey is poised to be one of the more interesting Senior draftees. http://mlbdraftinsider.com/2012/01/scouting-the-cape/#more-720

Andy Hunter  RHP  Green Bay Bullfrogs—Gonzaga -  Andy went 5-2 and was fourth in the league with a 1.97 era this season. He pitched 59.1 innings and appeared in 17 games for the Bullfrogs. He allowed 42 hits, walked just 11 and was among the league leaders with a .195 BAA. PG ranked him as the 25th best prospect in the league this summer. In late November, I named him one of my top performers. http://www.collegesummerbaseball.net/2012/01/top-35-pitchers-in-northwoods-league_20.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

Deven Marrero — 6’-1”, SS, Arizona State Marrero excels on both sides of the field and could be the first shortstop taken in the draft. Was a 17th-round pick by the Reds in 2009 but chose to attend Arizona State. Hit .397 with six home runs, 42 RBIs and 11 stolen bases as a freshman, earning first-team, freshman All-American by collegiate baseball while setting an Arizona State freshman record for batting average. Won Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year honors as a sophomore as his defense caught up to his offense. Shows a great approach at the plate, as he has only struck out 54 times in 96 games at ASU. Has the ideal size (6’-1”, 190), range and footwork to be a gold-glove caliber shortstop down the road. Brother Chris was a first-round pick in 2009 and made his major-league debut for the Nationals this year. Led Collegiate Team USA with 19 hits, 14 RBI, five doubles and six stolen bases over 14 games during the summer. http://www.throughthefencebaseball.com/top-50-draft-prospects-for-2012-25-thru-1/15694/

A lefthanded hitter, Nolan Fontana excels at small ball, leading the SEC with 52 walks last year and drawing a total of 105 the past two seasons, while striking out just 59 times in his career. He also led the conference in sacrifice flies last season with nine and topped the Gators in total sacrifices (20).  He doesn't have blazing speed, but he is a smart, aggressive baserunner who led Florida with five triples as a sophomore.  In two years and 472 at-bats, Fontana is a .288/.426/.426 hitter with 27 doubles, seven triples, eight homers, 113 runs and 72 RBIs. Fontana said he gained five pounds of muscle over the summer, and O'Sullivan expects a bit more pop out of his shortstop this year. http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/college/season-preview/2012/2612858.html

Draft 2012 – Travis Jankowski, Brian Johnson, Rio Ruiz, Albert Almora, Kevin Gausman.

Travis Jankowski — 6’-3”, OF, Stony Brook Jankowski is the prototypical leadoff hitter. He hit .355 with three home runs, 38 RBI and 30 stolen bases last season. He also showed a great approach at the plate by taking 20 walks while only striking out 22 times over 54 games. The left-handed hitter is just as aggressive at the plate as he is on the base paths and will be an immediate fan favorite because of his hustle. Has great instincts in the outfield, and with his speed and strong arm, will be able to stay in center field. Hit .329 over 44 games at the Cape Cod League, ranking among the stolen base leaders with 15. http://www.throughthefencebaseball.com/top-50-draft-prospects-for-2012-50-thru-26/15621/

Brian Johnson / LHP / Florida – Hey a left-handed pitcher, how about that. Johnson has four pitches with a plus slider and low 90′s fastball with sink, and gets high marks for his poise and work ethic. He’s also the best hitting pitcher in baseball, maybe the best hitting college pitcher since Darren Dreifort. There’s not as much upside as most of the starters here, but a solid third-starter from the left side will be coveted come next June. http://mlbdraftinsider.com/2011/12/top-twelve-college-pitchers/

He's from SoCal. He hits left-handed. It's not a real shock Rio Ruiz gets Eric Chavez comps. Ruiz has the tools to be an every-day Major League third baseman. He has a terrific left-handed swing, a short stroke with good bat speed. He makes consistent hard contact and there's more than enough loft and leverage for him to have good power at the next level. He's a solid, instinctive defender at third, with good lateral movement and a strong arm. Ruiz doesn't run well, but given his other skills, that doesn't matter so much. He doesn't need to run if he's going to develop into a run-producing third baseman as a professional. That potential should put him in many beginning of the Draft conversations.http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/prospects/watch/y2012/

Albert Almora, OF, Mater Academy (Hialeah Gardens, Fla.)  - Almora brings plenty of upside to the table, including plus speed and a plus throwing arm. He’s committed to Miami, but his strong, quick wrists and a consistent swing may be too much to pass up on draft day. He runs good routes in the outfield and may be able to handle center in the big leagues. Almora was named tournament MVP after leading the USA Baseball 18U National Team to a gold medal this fall in the COPABE 18U/AAA Pan American Championships. http://espn.go.com/blog/high-school/baseball/post/_/id/940/mccullers-jr-is-top-florida-diamond-star

We continue the countdown today at number 27 with LSU sophomore RHP Kevin Gausman. The Centennial, Colorado native attended Grandview High School where he was a two-time All-State selection. As a senior, he went  9-2 with a 3.12 ERA while recording 88 strikeouts and 14 walks. His junior season saw him go 7-2 with a 2.15 ERA and 71 strikeouts in 48 innings pitched. As a freshman at LSU in 2011, he went  5-6 and a 3.51 ERA in 89.2 innings with 23 walks and 86 strikeouts in 14 starts. He improved as the season went on going 3-1 record with a 1.17 ERA in his final four starts, recording five walks and 32 strikeouts in 30.2 innings. http://ht.ly/1gsYLU 

Draft 2012 – Alex Bregman, Kyle Hansen, Brian Johnson, Ross Heffley, Addison Russell

 Alex Bregman — 5’-11”, C/INF, Albuquerque Academy (NM) - Bregman is an advanced hitter with an easy swing and power to all fields. As a junior, he hit .678 with 19 home runs, and his 6.8/60 speed allowed him to steal 23 bases as well. He is still raw as a catcher but has shown the ability to stay at the position at the next level. Hit .417 with seven RBI and five stolen bases for Team USA at the Pan Am Championships, coming up with clutch hit after clutch hit. Plays the game very hard and has a high understanding of the game. http://www.throughthefencebaseball.com/top-50-draft-prospects-for-2012-50-thru-26/15621/

Kyle Hansen / RHP / St. John’s – A 90-92 fastball from the 3/4 slot with good sink, Hansen has shown the ability to miss bats in his first two years in the Big East. There are some issues with his finish with the delivery, but Hansen is one of my sleepers to watch in 2012. http://mlbdraftinsider.com/2011/12/top-twelve-college-pitchers/

Brian Johnson has gotten looks as both a hitter and a pitcher with Florida and while he can hit a little, most feel he'll pitch at the next level. The left-hander has four pitches he can throw for strikes. His fastball sits mostly in the average range, though he can run it up to 92 mph, with pretty good sink to the arm side. His slider is his out pitch and should be an above-average offering in the big leagues. His changeup, which he doesn't always use, has the chance to be at least above-average. Johnson gets high marks for his mound presence and willingness to go right after hitters. College lefties are always a hot commodity and Johnson could be the first in this class to go off the board.http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/prospects/watch/y2012/

Ross Heffley   Position:  2B   School:  Western Carolina   Date of Birth:  1/21/1990   Height/Weight:  5’8/175   Bats/Throws:  R/R   Class Of:  2012   Previously Drafted:  Scouting Report:  Ross Heffley earned All-American Honors in 2011 and won Western Carolina’s triple crown.  He is a small second baseman, listed at 5’8, but that may be generous.  He handles the bat well.  He has some pop and could provide plenty of doubles at the next level.  Heffley is an average runner.  He provides solid defense at second and has a strong arm  http://mlbdraftguide.com/

Addison Russell, SS, Pace (Fla.)  - Like Romero, Russell appears to be a candidate to move to third base at the next levels, and there's enough arm strength and athleticism to warrant a shot in the outfield if necessary. He possesses well above-average bat speed that may turn into enticing power come draft day. Russell, who signed on to play at Auburn, starred with Almora on the USA Baseball National Team that won the Pan Am title. http://espn.go.com/blog/high-school/baseball/post/_/id/940/mccullers-jr-is-top-florida-diamond-star

Draft 2012: - Lucas Giolito, Brian Johnson, Jameis Winston, Mike Zunino, Kevin Gausman

7-19-11: - http://www.mlbbonusbaby.com/2011/6/29/2250656/early-look-at-2012#comments - Lucas Giolito, Harvard-Westlake HS, Santa Monica CA, 6’6 220, tall righty with definite arm strength, was up to 95 with FB, most fb were straight and at times would get arm side run in on RHH, front side opens early, some similarities to Mark Prior in delivery, also makings of a hard slider, slurvy action at present, should tighten up to be a plus pitch and makings of change up which he changes his delivery on, so lacks deception on breaking/off-speed pitches. Definitely worth early look next spring, potential top 40 selection.

9-8-11: - http://www.gacksports.com/65590/2012-mlb-mock-draft-update - 13. Los Angeles Dodgers Brian Johnson Pitcher Florida Anyone remember Brian Johnson the Florida pitcher who got hit in the head?  That was a brutal injury that Johnson suffered against Georgia.  True Gator baseball fans will tell you that brutal is not even close to describing what Johnson’s injury was in terms of severity.

9-21-11: - http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=6253 – Comment From Evan - Jameis Winston made quite an impression on me in the PGAAC, and it was as muc based on his build and obviosu tools as his wondrous trip around the bases. I've asked Patrick this before, but how likely is it that he ends up in baseball and how comparable is he to a talent like Bubba Starling?  - David Rawnsley: - Jameis is a freakishly good athlete and just as good a young man (he's a 4.0 student). His ability to balance football and baseball is impressive, he left straight from the All American Game to a major QB Camp in Malibu and was named the top prospect there. At this point I think he's a better football player than Starling but not as good of baseball prospect. Playing baseball comes very easy to Bubba, from his swing to defensive instincts to his throwing ability to just his gait on the field. He's a natural. Winston is going to have to commit himself to baseball to reach that point, he's further away.

9-22-11: - http://www.mlbbonusbaby.com/2011/9/18/2433708/2012-draft-profile-the-ups-and-downs-of-pick-projecting#comments - Dave Rawnsley was extremely high on (Mike) Zunino in the PG prospect chat yesterday as well. I asked him about Zunino and Trahan and he said Zunino was on another level, and projected him as a potential Top 5 pick. Not surprisingly, the opinion that college has less to offer this year is also held at PG, and extrapolating from various comments over there they see just a handful of current first round locks among college position players (Marrero, Zunino, Roache, Jankowski). If Yasmani Grandal was a legitimate option for KC at #4 in his draft, Zunino is absolutely in that range based on what I’ve seen. And I can attest that Jeff’s Zunino comments were the chief anecdotal source bolstering Zunino’s excellent performance stats for me.

9-23-11: - http://www.mlbbonusbaby.com/2011/9/22/2441104/top-50-draft-prospects-for-the-2012-mlb-draft#comments - Kevin Gausman throws two fb, 4 seamer he can cut and two seamer that has tail and sink, no slider and 1/7 would be a lefties’ breaking action, his breaking ball I call a slurve from 11/5 action from the hitters looking at his arm slot window, his straight change at times does have dive and fade, you pointed out the flaw, inconsistent, thus only giving him 2 pitches right now, if the change gets better this fall into next spring, that will be a plus. Beck has 3 plus pitches right now and 55 command/control, much like Drew Storen who made a quick leap to the ML for the Nationals. Gausman is a top 10 guy now, some other arms may pass him quickly next spring though, Renaudo was a top 5 candidate before arm woes in 2010

Draft 2012: - Mike Yazstremski, Brian Johnson, C J Hinojosa, Ryan Burr, Chris Harvey

7-19-11: - http://www.mlbbonusbaby.com/2011/6/29/2250656/early-look-at-2012#comments  - Mike Yazstremski, Vandy, 5’11 175, L/L, scrappy player with great bloodlines, makes solid contact and adjustments to be quality hitter at ML level, occ HR power, not a threat to hit HR, plays adequate defense and enough overall tools to be 4th OF at ML level.

8-24-11: - diamondscapescouting  - Brian Johnson (lhp/1b, Univ. of Florida) was dominant in relief of Stanek, overpowering the 18U hitters with four offerings showing distinct looks out of a similar arm slot. Johnson was 91-92 mph with his fastball and backed it up with an 80 mph change and two breaking balls -- an upper-70s curve and low-80s slider, each executed with precision.

8-30-11: - http://www.collegebaseballdaily.com/2011/08/30/cj-hinojosa-set-to-attend-texas-for-2012-season  - Several Internet sites have been reporting that CJ Hinojosa will skip his final year at Klein Collins to attend Texas for the 2011-2012 school year. CJ confirmed that the news on Twitter saying: Hahah it’s crazy what people talk about… Excited to be a HORN! I knew word got out fast.. But not that fast.. Lol #Hook’Em! Hinojosa also continued and spoke to critics of his saying that he turned down a high amount of money saying: money isn’t the reason I made my decisions though, made the decision cause I plan on being successful after baseball! #life

8-30-11: - http://mlbdraftguide.com/1/2011/08/28/ryan-burr-2012-draft-profile  - The term big strong righthander is probably used too often, but it applies in the case of Ryan Burr. He is aggressive on the mound and shows an ability to hit the corners on both sides of the plate. Burr throws in the low 90′s, usually from 91-93 and topping out at 94. His sharp curve should be a plus pitch at the next level. Burr’s third pitch is a change that he is still developing.

7-19-11: - http://www.mlbbonusbaby.com/2011/6/29/2250656/early-look-at-2012#comments -
Chris Harvey, Germantown Acad. HS, Norristown PA, 6’5 210, R/R, strong kid with lots of room to fill out, has ML arm, release is slow as he needs to stand to deliver to 2b, best pop times for me were 2.02 real time, has long swing with power potential, long term project but plays game right and appears to enjoy being out there.

2012 Draft: - Brian Johnson, Cody Keefer, Kenny Diekroeger, Cody Poteet, Corey Seager

Brian Johnson:


7-19-11: - http://www.mlbbonusbaby.com/2011/6/29/2250656/early-look-at-2012#comments  - Brian Johnson, Florida, 6’2 220, L/L, also good hitting first base type, two way player that will let pro ball help him make his choice. Fb in low 90’s, most are 88-89, also hard slider 81-83 with decent tilt. Command is ok, crosses body during delivery which hinders full extension. 4-7 rounder for me.


Cody Keefer:


8-9-11: - http://www.collegebaseballdaily.com/2011/08/09/cape-cod-baseball-league-players-of-the-week-august-9th  - 2011 Cape League All-Star Cody Keefer (UCLA) has been named this week’s Player of the Week. Ramsey has homered twice and driven in four runs in eight playoff at-bats to help Y-D sweep Orleans in the first round of the Cape League playoffs. In the week leading up to the playoffs, Keefer failed to record a hit in only one game, and recorded multiple hits in two out of the four games. Keefer is a sophomore at UCLA, where he batted over .300 in each of his two seasons as a Bruin. He was a 33rd round draft pick by the Detroit Tigers in the 2009 Major League Baseball Draft.


Kenny Diekroeger:


8-9-11: - http://mlbdraftguide.com/1/2011/08/07/kenny-diekroeger-2012-draft-profile  - Kenny Diekroeger is one of the top shortstops available for the 2012 draft. Likely to be drafted in the first round, possibly in the top 10, Diekroeger is a top athlete. At the 2008 Area Code Games, he put up the top SPARQ rating, finishing 1 spot ahead of Mike Trout. Diekroeger regressed a bit at the plate in 2011, but that was due to the new bats more than anything else. He has plus bat speed and a nice swing. Diekroeger also has good speed on the bases. Kenny played third during his freshman season before sliding over to his natural shortstop spot in 2011. He has improved defensively since arriving at Stanford. He has good range and an above average arm. While some view Diekroeger as a future outfielder, his athleticism and coninued improvement should allow him to remain at short.


Cody Poteet:


8-12-11: - http://www.prospectwire.com/pw/article.php?id=290  - The Brewers pitcher who was most impressive was RHP Cody Poteet (6'1" 178, Bonita, CA). I think he is actually a little shorter than 6'1" and a little heavier but that being said, I love his stuff and how he goes about his business. He reminds me in some ways of Astros RHP Bud Norris when he was younger, with his bulldog demeanor and good aggressive use of his stuff. Poteet was 88-91 mph with the fastball that comes out with good down angle from his overhand slot. He also has a hard 77-78 mph curveball that was about as good as any curveball I saw in Long Beach. At times it was a hammer and is a legitimate swing and miss pitch.


Corey Seager:


7-19-11: - http://www.mlbbonusbaby.com/2011/6/29/2250656/early-look-at-2012#comments  - Corey Seager, NW Cabarrus HS, Kannapolis NC, 6’3 195, L/R, smooth hitter, goes with pitch, squares up pitches well and has surprising power, uses all fields when hitting, runs better underway, runs easy, throws easy and has solid fielding mechanics, can play SS at pro level, long run position would be corner. Potential 1st rounder in 2012.

2012 Draft Profile: - LHP - Brian Johnson

 Brian Johnson



3-21-11: - bullpenbanter.  - Player: Brian Johnson College: University of Florida Position: Starting Pitcher Bats/Throws: L/L Height/Weight: 6'3" / 225 lbs. Class: Sophomore Tall with a solid lower half; no projection remaining 3/4 arm slot; repeats delivery well Firm fastball with some cut action; doesn't have bat missing abilities; wants hitters to put in play and few could square it up Sweeping breaking ball that work well as a chase pitch and can throw for strikes Straight change-up had some drop; good arm speed; threw with conviction Command was off in the first, but improved as the game went on Pitched hitters away and induced mostly weak contact Works quickly


Ranked #15 in the 2012 Prospects List compiled by the All-American Athletic Foundation http://allamericanfoundation.pointstreaksites.com/view/allamericanfoundation/news/mlb-2012-draft


6-10-11 from http://www.draftsite.com/mlb/mock-draft/2012  - 16 Toronto Brian Johnson LHP Florida


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/3  - The Gators are loaded with talent, and next year will be no different. Yes, they’ll lose Preston Tucker and Alex Panteliodis, but their star-studded roster will be led by their top draft prospect for 2012, LHP Brian Johnson. Johnson had a great season, posting a 3.66 ERA and a 70:15 K:BB ratio in 15 starts before an errant Mike Zunino throw plunked him in the head and sidelined him with a concussion (see above). He has yet to make an appearance in the NCAA tournament but is scheduled to return sometime during the CWS. Johnson has been excellent at keeping his low 90s fastball down but in the zone during his time with the Gators. He has shown a great curveball that got better as the 2011 season wore on.


7-9-11: - http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=6002  - Brian Johnson, LHP/1B, Florida - After suffering a concussion down the stretch as part of Florida's championship series run, Johnson was relegated to designated hitter duties, a role he continued with the Collegiate National Team. With a tall, physically mature frame, his upside remains higher on the mound, but he employs one of the more advanced approaches at the plate of any college hitter. He put an easy swing on the first pitch he saw in the bottom of the ninth inning on the home run mentioned above to drive a ball the opposite way over the left-field fence.


7-19-11: - http://www.mlbbonusbaby.com/2011/6/29/2250656/early-look-at-2012#comments  - Brian Johnson, Florida, 6’2 220, L/L, also good hitting first base type, two way player that will let pro ball help him make his choice. Fb in low 90’s, most are 88-89, also hard slider 81-83 with decent tilt. Command is ok, crosses body during delivery which hinders full extension. 4-7 rounder for me.

Aaron Stull, Brian Johnson, Colby Holmes, Nolan Fontana, Joshua Turley

Aaron Stull:


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/2  - Another interesting player should be LHP Aaron Stull, who logged only two innings on the mound this season. He has prototypical pitcher's size (6'6", 185) and is a former record-setting QB at Croatan HS, where he also won Jacksonville (NC) Daily News Player of the Year honors.

Brian Johnson:


7-9-11: - http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=6002  - Brian Johnson, LHP/1B, Florida - After suffering a concussion down the stretch as part of Florida's championship series run, Johnson was relegated to designated hitter duties, a role he continued with the Collegiate National Team. With a tall, physically mature frame, his upside remains higher on the mound, but he employs one of the more advanced approaches at the plate of any college hitter. He put an easy swing on the first pitch he saw in the bottom of the ninth inning on the home run mentioned above to drive a ball the opposite way over the left-field fence.

Colby Holmes:


7-15-11: - http://mlbdraftguide.com/1/2011/07/13/colby-holmes-2012-draft-profile   - Colby Holmes made good strides from 2010 to 2011. He is a short righthander with 3 pitches. Holmes throws a low 90′s fastball. 90-92 when I have seen him. He throws a slider with good move ment and also uses a changeup. Holmes has a high 3/4 arm slot and hides the ball well. He has been prone to giving up home runs since arriving at South Carolina.


Nolan Fontana:


7-15-11: - http://mlbdraftguide.com/1/2011/07/16/nolan-fontana-2012-draft-profile  - Nolan Fontana, a 2 time member of USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team, is one of the top defensive shortstops in college. Fontana was named to the SEC All-Defensive Team in both his freshman and sophomore years. He has great hands and a good arm at short. He also shows solid range for the position. Fontana has a good eye at the plate and takes alot of pitches. He is a good situational hitter with a bit of pop in his bat.


Joshua Turley:


7-19-11: - http://collegebaseball360.com/2011/07/19/roache-turley-take-weekly-cape-cod-league-honors  - Wareham southpaw Joshua Turley (Baylor) has recorded two masterful performances to capture this week’s Coca Cola Pitcher of the Week award. In his two starts this week, Turley surrendered just three hits and one run over 12 innings. He struck out more than a batter than inning, recording 13 strikeouts this week while walking only two. Turley has been the epitome of consistent this season. After bouncing back from a rocky first appearance, Turley has given up only two runs in four starts. His 1-1 record this week brings him to 3-1 on the season, with a 2.03 earned run average. Turley has finished his sophomore season at Baylor, where he continues to show great promise. He seamlessly transitioned from a reliever to starter this past year, and has clearly continued to the role of starter this summer.

2012 Draft: - Brian Johnson, Nolan Fontana, Mike Zunino, Deven Marrero, Connor Harrell

Brian Johnson:


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/3  - The Gators are loaded with talent, and next year will be no different. Yes, they’ll lose Preston Tucker and Alex Panteliodis, but their star-studded roster will be led by their top draft prospect for 2012, LHP Brian Johnson. Johnson had a great season, posting a 3.66 ERA and a 70:15 K:BB ratio in 15 starts before an errant Mike Zunino throw plunked him in the head and sidelined him with a concussion (see above). He has yet to make an appearance in the NCAA tournament but is scheduled to return sometime during the CWS. Johnson has been excellent at keeping his low 90s fastball down but in the zone during his time with the Gators. He has shown a great curveball that got better as the 2011 season wore on.



Nolan Fontana:


7-9-11: - http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=6002  - Nolan Fontana, SS, Florida - It was just over a week since Fontana's last appearance at TD Ameritrade Park playing in the championship series at the College World Series. His defensive prowess was on display at the 2008 National Showcase, as he continues to make playing the middle infield look easy. With a patient approach and a line drive swing, Fontana served as the catalyst atop the lineup for both the Gators and Team USA.


Mike Zunino:


7-15-11: -  http://mlbdraftguide.com/1/2011/07/12/mike-zunino-2012-draft-profile  - Mike Zunino plays catcher at a Major League level and is a likely first round choice in the 2012 draft. Zunino has a solid, disciplined approach at the plate. He has a quick bat and solid pull power. Many point to holes in Zunino’s swing and he is likely to have a high strikeout rate at the next level. His willingness to take a walk should help offset the strikeouts. Zunino truely shines defensively. He moves well and does a good job of blocking balls in the dirt. Zunino’s arm is strong and accurate. He has good hands. Zunino’s father, Greg, is a scout for the Reds which is one of the reasons he is such a good student of the game. Zunino received catching gear for Christmas when he was 6 years old and plays like he has been behind the plate since that day.


Deven Marrero:


7-15-11 from: - http://bullpenbanter.com/  Arizona State Sophomore SS Deven Marrero is projected to be a very early pick in the 2012 MLB Draft and it is easy to see why. The ball makes a different sound coming off his bat and he has some excellent pop for a middle infielder. I do see some strikeouts in his future... but they aren't a huge concern when you're getting this kind of overall offensive package. While the foot speed isn't top notch, I have little reservations about projecting him as a pro SS with his jumps and movements. He also possesses a very strong arm. Marrero is a high energy player who was a pleasure to watch play.


Connor Harrell:


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/5  - Of the players who will become draft-eligible next year, OF Connor Harrell leads the way. An incredible athlete that has a ton of raw power, Harrell got he chance to play regularly in 2011 and responded well, hitting seven home runs in 60 games. He struck out a good amount (43 in 185 ABs) but also showed great instincts on the basepaths, swiping seven bases in the same number of tries. Harrell made headlines last year with his 10th-inning suicide squeeze bunt that drove in the game-winning run in Vandy’s regional victory over Louisville. With Joe Loftus and Aaron Westlake moving on, the Commodores will have to find a way to get Harrell’s bat into the lineup.

Brian Johnson, Michael Morin, Stephen Perez, Hudson Randall, Marcus Stroman

Brian Johnson


6-28-11: - http://baseballdraftreport.com/  - It may be taking the whole left-handed pitching two-way prospect thing too far, but I think there are some similarities between the Danny Hultzen of last season and this year’s Brian Johnson. He’ll hit this weekend, but his ultimate home is on the mound. His ceiling as a pitcher does not compare to Hultzen’s (i.e. don’t go penciling in Johnson as the 2012 second overall pick now or ever), but I see first round stuff (88-92 fastball, good upper-70s curve that flashes plus, much improved low-80s change, and a raw but promising slider) in Johnson’s four-pitch mix

Michael Morin:


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/8  - Expect UNC’s closer RHP Michael Morin to get some looks as well. He hasn’t had the best year (4.71 ERA, .263 avg against), but he has locked down 10 saves for the Tar Heels. He has also posted a 65:18 K:BB ratio in 63 innings. He also shared duties as a weekday starter for UNC, making six starts, leading many to think he could be in line for an expanded role next season. Morin has great size (6'4", 180 lbs) and was already drafted once, by the Royals in the 40th round of the ’09 event.



Stephen Perez:


6-29-11: - http://www.mlbbonusbaby.com/2011/6/29/2250695/the-all-reese-team#storyjump  - SS: Stephen Perez, Sophomore from the University of Miami - I only had the opportunity to see him once this year, and he really make an impression on me defensively. It was a poor day by his standards as he committed a couple of errors on routine ground balls; yet, he showed silky smooth actions throughout the game. In one instance he ranged far into the hole, fielded the ball on a slider and made a strong throw to first in the same motion. It was MLB caliber and the best defensive play that I saw all season. The bat, especially when batting right handed, is a work in progress, but there is some wizardry in that glove. Honorable Mention: Nolan Fontana, Sophomore from the University of Florida


Hudson Randall:


7-1-11: - http://mlbdraftguide.com/1/2011/06/30/hudson-randall-2012-draft-profile  - Hudson Randall is one of the top pitchers in college baseball. The question with Randall is how much his lack of elite velocity will affect his success at the next level. Randall has great command. He walked just 10 batters in 102 innings during the 2011 season. Randall changes speeds and moves the ball around well. In games I have seen, his velocity has been between 87-90 and there are reports as high as 92. His change is a plus pitch, while both his curve and slider are quality offerings. Randall is tall and thin, giving some hope of added velocity still to come. If his fastball were to climb a few notches, he would be a truley elite pro prospect.


Marcus Stroman:


7-2-11: - http://www.draftsite.com/article/Quick-MLB-Draft-Hits/89  - Duke’s Marcus Stroman is basically Tom Gordon version 2.0. He packs a powerful 95 mph fastball for such a small package, at only 5’9’’ and 185 pounds. To go along with that fastball, that has hit the upper 90’s, potentially as high as 100 mph; he has a nasty slider that falls off with tremendous lateral movement. He is a starter for the Blue Devils now but with his size and stuff he has the makings of a fast moving reliever in someone’s system down the road, with the ceiling of a closer

2012 Draft: - Nolan Fontana, Robert Refsnyder, Kurt Heyer, Brian Johnson, Lance McCullers

Nolan Fontana:


6-10-11: - http://www.gatorzone.com/story.php?id=20869  Florida sophomore Nolan Fontana (Winter Garden, Fla.) was named as a semifinalist for the Brooks Wallace Shortstop of the Year Award on Friday by the College Baseball Hall of Fame. The list features 10 of the nation’s finest Division I shortstops. Fontana has started 63 games this season for the top-ranked Gators (48-16), is hitting .309 and boasts team highs in walks (45), sacrifice flies (eight) and triples (five). He has scored 52 runs, totaled 44 RBI, poked 12 doubles and stolen six bases in 10 attempts. Fontana was a second-team All-SEC recipient and a member of the league’s All-Defensive Team for the second-straight year.


Robert Refsnyder


Arizona sophomore OF Robert Refsnyder‘s batting average has not dipped below .318 since the opening week of the year; he has hovered in the .340+ range for most of that time; his weekly stat-line of 6-for-15 (.400) with 1 2B, 2 3B’s, 2 HR’s, and 8 RBI’s has been fairly typical for Refsnyder each week (minus the multiple dingers); this past week he showed emerging power that he has only flashed sporadically throughout the season; if the power continues to develop more consistently, Refsnyder will have to be talked about as a potential top 10 pick in the 2012 MLB Draft… http://www.prospectnation.com/blog/?p=695 


Kurt Heyer:


6-8-11: - http://thegoldensombrero.com/wordpress/archives/4056?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter  - With Whitney graduating from U of A a couple of weeks ago, I thought I should write up the ace of that staff, sophomore Kurt Heyer. Heyer had a truly remarkable season as the Friday-nighter for Arizona posting a 2.41 ERA in 130.2 IP with 128 K’s and only 25 BB. His numbers were stellar, and Heyer will be one of the top arms in the PAC-10 in 2012 as well. Heyer has terrific sink on his fastball, which allowed him to keep the ball in the yard quite well despite the thin Tucson air. He only allowed 5 homers and 25 XBH’s in his 19 2011 starts. Heyer’s fastball works in the low to mid-90’s with good arm-side run and sink. His slider has decent tilt and projects as a 60 pitch in the pro’s. His changeup is behind, but it still has a chance at a solid-average grading come next June. Heyer’s command and ability to keep the ball on the ground are terrific. His body projects well at 6’2” and 198 lbs. With an arm slot in the low to mid-3/4 range and a strong lower half, there are no obvious red flags in his delivery.



Brian Johnson:


6-10-11: - http://www.gatorzone.com/story.php?id=20870  - Sophomore Brian Johnson (Cocoa Beach, Fla.) was named as one of the 10 semifinalists for the John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Award announced by The College Baseball Hall of Fame on Friday. The winner of the Olerud Award will be announced in Lubbock, Texas, on July 3 as part of the College Baseball Hall of Fame’s Night of Champions. A first-team All-SEC selection, Johnson has compiled an 8-3 record with a 3.66 earned run average in 15 starts on the mound spanning 78.2 innings. The left-hander is second on the Orange and Blue with 70 strikeouts and has limited opponents to a .248 batting average. Johnson is hitting .312 with 27 RBI, 26 runs and 17 extra-base hits (10 doubles, five homers and two triples).



Lance McCullers:


6-10-11: - http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110608&content_id=20222396&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb&partnerId=rss_mlb  Lance McCullers, RHP, Tampa Jesuit HS, Fla.: McCullers has an electric arm. The son of the former big leaguer of the same name, he has the chance to be much better than his dad, with a fastball that can touch the upper 90s and signs of a plus slider.