Draft 14 – Dylan Davis, Aaron Nola, Griffin Helms, Taylor Sparks,Tanner English

10-15-13 – Baseball America - 37. Dylan Davis, of/rhp, Oregon State: Similar to J.D. (no relation) with power both ways, he’s more advanced as a hitter and has more velocity on the mound. http://www.baseballamerica.com/college/2014-draft-top-50-october-2013-carlos-rodon/
 

9-30-13 – TTF Mock 2.0 - 23. Texas Rangers — Aaron Nola, RHP, LSU  Maybe the best control artist available in the 2014 MLB draft, the 6’-1” right-hander features a plus, low-90s fastball with nasty sink to it. He offsets his fastball with a deceptive change-up that freezes hitters. As a freshman, he had 89 K/7 BB over 89.2 innings and 40 of those strikeouts were looking. He was lights-out as a sophomore for LSU, going 12-1 over 17 starts with a 1.57 ERA, 0.80 WHIP and 122 K/18 BB over 126 innings. His size limits his upside a bit, but you’d be hard pressed to find a better pitcher, in the true sense of the word, out there. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-mock-draft-2-0-draft-order-set/38280#5E3F5j1jWOgE69bJ.99


9-11-13 - Sully’s 2014 Top 100 MLB HS Draft Prospects – 60.Griffin Helms – C, Norcross (GA) HS http://www.ninebaseball.org/Wordpress/sullys-2014-top-100-mlb-hs-draft-prospects/


10-14-13 – Top ’14 College Hitters - 9. Taylor Sparks / RF / UC-Irvine — Sparks has a smooth swing and should product above-average power numbers, but he’ll have to show better plate discipline and more consistency if he’s going to justify going in the top 2-3 rounds in June. http://mlbdraftinsider.com/2013/10/top-14-for-14-college-hitters/


10-18-13 – Matt Garroich – OF Tanner English at South Carolina is one of the remaining college hitters I haven't mentioned. He reminds me a little of Tyler Naquin a few years ago but Naquin was a better hitter at this point. English covers center field better and looks like he could be a 4th outfielder type of guy.http://www.minorleagueball.com/2013/10/18/4851030/2014-mlb-draft-atlantic-region-college-discussion

Draft 14 – Nick Gordon, Alex Jackson, Sam Coonrod, Joey Pankake, JustinTwine

11-11-13 – PG HS Rankings – 2  -   Nicholas Gordon SS RHP 6-2 170 L R Olympia Windermere FL  Florida State FTB Chandler Team  -  Good athlete, really projects both ways, outstanding defensive SS stood out at WWBA, BCS and PG Nat., great bloodlines, up to 94 @ PG World, Very good at PG All American Game  http://www.perfectgame.org/Rankings/Players/Default.aspx?gyear=2014&num=500


11-6-13 – Todd Gold – WWBA World Championship – Alex Jackson (2014 C/OF Cardinals Scout Team/FTB Chandler, 2014 SS), Jacob Gatewood (Toronto Blue Jays Scout Team) - Jackson and Gatewood are the type of alluring high ceiling prospects that cause some scouts to dream on their upside, and others to dwell on their present flaws. Their big reward potential comes with big risk, but both are the type of draft day gambles that can change the fortunes of a franchise. If either reaches their ceiling, they have a chance to become cornerstone players for whichever organization selects them. Despite being below average straight away runners, both are good athletes. Gatewood has good present defensive actions at shortstop and an above average arm, Jackson's plus-plus present arm is a weapon behind the plate and is also well suited for right field. The raw power for both players is tremendous and if all goes right they each have a chance to hit 30-plus home runs a year while manning premium defensive positions. Both strike out a lot even at this level and make infrequent contact, causing a lot of scouts to hesitate despite their gamechanging ceiling. These are the types of prospects that put a lot of pressure on scouting directors holding picks between fifth and fifteenth overall. They will be fun players to follow not only leading up to draft day, but throughout their development as professionals. Work ethic and desire to learn and improve will go a long way to determining whether these two will fail to overcome the challenges of pro ball, or go on to achieve superstardom and leave their mark in the Major Leagues. http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=9157


11-4-13 – MLB Draft Insider - Top 14 for ’14: College Pitchers - 14. Sam Coonrod / RHP / Southern Illinois – Coonrod has touched 98 with his fastball and has shown an average breaking ball, though most I’ve talked to believe he’s a reliever at the next level unless his command improves considerably. http://mlbdraftinsider.com/2013/11/top-14-for-14-college-pitchers/


10-15-13 – Baseball America - 48. Joey Pankake, ss/3b/rhp, South Carolina: Powerfully built infielder controls the strike zone and has plus raw power to fit the profile at third base. http://www.baseballamerica.com/college/2014-draft-top-50-october-2013-carlos-rodon/


9-11-13 - Sully’s 2014 Top 100 MLB HS Draft Prospects – 85.Justin Twine – SS, Hemphill (TX) HS http://www.ninebaseball.org/Wordpress/sullys-2014-top-100-mlb-hs-draft-prospects/

Draft 14 – Keaton McKinney, Sean Reid-Foley, Trea Turner, Dillon Peters, JJ Schwartz

10-15-13 – Baseball America - 43. Keaton McKinney, rhp, Ankeny (Iowa) HS: Six-foot-5, 223-pounder has a low-90s fastball that has touched 94 and one of the better changeups in the class. http://www.baseballamerica.com/college/2014-draft-top-50-october-2013-carlos-rodon/
 

9-30-13 – TTF Mock 2.0 - 26. Detroit Tigers — Sean Reid-Foley, RHP, Sandalwood HS (FL)  The 6’-3”, 210-pound right-hander flashes a plus fastball that touches 94 mph with late life, thanks to his easy delivery and strong build. He also features a filthy, upper-70s curveball that may be one of the best in his class, as well as a slider that looked like a future plus pitch at The Tournament of Stars in North Carolina. He has put his name on the map over the last month and has huge upside due to his size, easy delivery and stuff. Committed to Florida State. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-mock-draft-2-0-draft-order-set/38280#5E3F5j1jWOgE69bJ.99


10-21-13 - Summary:  Trea Turner is going to be an impact player on both sides of the ball.  He would be an explosive leadoff man on any team.  He also has enough power that they can’t cheat in on him without him burning them.  He will be a game changer when he makes it to the next level. http://bigleaguefutures.net/1/2013/10/20/scouting-report-trea-turner-ss-north-carolina-state/


10-23-13 - College Baseball Daily kicks off our countdown to the start of the 2014 College Baseball season by checking in on the top 100 players in the country. We will be providing one player per day until we reach number 1.  We continue the list today at number 85 with University of Texas junior LHP Dillon Peters. In his sophomore season with the Longhorns, Peters went 6-3 with a 1.97 ERA; he finished the 2013 season with 86.2 IP and struck out 57 batters in the process. A second team All-Big 12 selection, Peters had an impressive .223 batting average against and during his 14 starts on the mound, the Longhorns were able to go 10-4. On top of his success on the field, Peters also shined in the classroom as he was named to the Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll for fall 2012. http://ht.ly/2AZ41K


9-11-13 - Sully’s 2014 Top 100 MLB HS Draft Prospects – 17. JJ Schwarz – C, Palm Beach Gardens (FL) HS http://www.ninebaseball.org/Wordpress/sullys-2014-top-100-mlb-hs-draft-prospects/

Draft 16 – Christopher Lincoln, Matt Krook, Zach Rice, Francis Christy,Anthony Molina

11-7-13 - 2013 California Underclass Showcase – Christopher Lincoln - RHP - 2016 - Moreno Valley, CA -  Very loose projectable arm action, easy low 80s velocity with more to come. High ceiling. http://www.perfectgame.org/events/Showcases/TopProspectList.aspx?event=1692


7-18-13 – Interview… Jeff (CA) - Was there ever any confirmation as to what the medical issue was with Matt Krook that led the Marlins to not sign him? …  Keith Law - No, not publicly (and I won't say if it's not public already). It sounds like a disagreement - the Marlins were concerned enough to offer him 40% of slot rather than full slot, but Krook felt like they were overplaying the injury to offer him less money and figured he was better off going to school. I'm not a doctor and haven't seen the medicals either, so I don't know what to think, other than that I hope the kid ends up staying healthy. http://espn.go.com/sportsnation/chat/_/id/48502


9-30-13 - Clint Longenecker ‏@Clint_BA  - UNC FR LHP Zach Rice, 6'2, 189, sat upper 80s and hit 91 with some deception to his delivery. Had feel for offspeed. Tough on lefty hitters


9-9-13 – Top 10 Far West League Prospects - 1. Francis Christy, c, California (Fr., Oregon) - Christy stands out mostly for his size, quick wrists and arm strength. A strong commitment to the Ducks led him to campus after slipping to Oakland in the 37th round in June. As a 17-year-old, Christy hit .309/.434/.509 this summer and actually led the league in triples (five) despite his below-average speed. The 6-foot-3, 180-pound backstop has a compact swing from the left side and raw power to all fields. He employs a slightly open stance and has plenty of bat speed to let the ball travel deep in the zone. While Christy has turned in sub-2.0 pop times and is by all accounts a hard worker, he will need to improve his footwork and receiving in order to stay behind the plate. http://www.baseballamerica.com/college/far-west-league-top-10-prospects/


10-13-13 - Todd Gold ‏@TGold_PG  - 2016 RHP Anthony Molina (Pembroke Pines, FL) has Kd 7 & allowed 1 hit through 3 scoreless IP. Settled @ 87-90, still touching 92

Draft 14 – Alex Jackson, Kodi Medeiros, Nick Burdi, Ti’Quan Forbes,Bryson Brigman

11-11-13 – PG HS Rankings – 3  -   Alex Jackson C OF, 3B 6-2 210 R R Rancho Bernardo Escondido CA  Oregon San Diego Show  -  Huge power, very good defensive catcher, Also play OF well. Has all the tools, outstanding at PG Nat. Games and Area Codes. Outstanding at PG National. PG All American  http://www.perfectgame.org/Rankings/Players/Default.aspx?gyear=2014&num=500


11-6-13 – Todd Gold – WWBA World Championship – Kodi Medeiros (2014 LHP, Ohio Warhawks) - Medeiros' start against Chandler Baseball was the main event of amateur baseball's main event. Hundreds of golf carts created a wall four plus rows deep behind the plate to get a glimpse at the 2014 class' most intrguiging prospect. The native of Hilo, a town of aprox. 45,000 on Hawaii's big island, was relatively unknown on the national scene prior to taking the mound at the PG National Showcase in June. His electric stuff took the scouting community by surprise and he continued to impress throughout the summer in one and two inning stints at the Area Code Games and PG All-American Classic. But with his small frame, unorthodox delivery and short track record there has been an ongoing debate amongst scouts as to whether he can maintain his high level stuff through the physical rigors of a role in the starting rotation. Simply put; there has never been a prospect quite like Medeiros. That fact should be viewed as a huge positive, though the lack of a viable comp does make him somewhat more difficult to evaluate. His fastball sits comfortably in the 90-92 range and has peaked as high as 95, but more than the velocity, his fastball features plus movement and life, seemingly accelerating after leaving his hand and darts hard to the arm side with sink. He has shown some feel for locating his fastball on the corners, which is impressive considering it's depth of run. His slider has plus bite and depth, but is a pitch that he's still developing feel for. This should come as no surprise given that very few catchers at this level are able to handle the pitch because of it's devastating late bite and huge depth. Subsequently, he is unable to use it with two strikes or a runner on third in game situations. With high-level catching, Medeiros will have an opportunity to develop better feel for using the pitch in-game situations and begin to realize the pitch's 80-grade potential. His changeup was inconsistent in his previous outings, flashing plus at the PG National before betraying him at the Area Code Games and in the PG All-American Classic. With that in mind he made a point to show it off in Jupiter and with very go od results, locating the first three for strikes. In Jupiter his changeup caused several ugly swings, and several of them were legitimate plus offerings, though he still has work to do to improve his consistency with it. His three inning outing was a Rorshach for scouts, as those who view him as a starter will point to his six pitch first inning and quality of changeup, while those who see a future in the bullpen will fixate on his velocity dipping to 88-90 in the third inning. Regardless of his future role, Medeiros is a special talent who has a chance to be among the best pitchers in baseball in that role, should he manage to stay healthy going forward and continue to develop. http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=9157


11-4-13 – MLB Draft Insider - Top 14 for ’14: College Pitchers - 12. Nick Burdi / RHP / Louisville — He’s strictly a reliever, but potentially a very good one with a fastball that has touched triple digits and a slider that will give right-handed hitters fits. http://mlbdraftinsider.com/2013/11/top-14-for-14-college-pitchers/


10-15-13 – Baseball America - 39. Ti’Quan Forbes, ss, Columbia (Miss.) HS: Young and spindly, the three-sport Forbes is a premium athlete and plus runner who will need time to develop with the bat. http://www.baseballamerica.com/college/2014-draft-top-50-october-2013-carlos-rodon/


9-11-13 - Sully’s 2014 Top 100 MLB HS Draft Prospects – 28.Bryson Brigman – SS, Valley Christian (CA) HS http://www.ninebaseball.org/Wordpress/sullys-2014-top-100-mlb-hs-draft-prospects/

Draft 14 – Ryan Avidano, Jacob Gatewood, Alex Jackson, Jeremiah Mohammed, Benito Santiago

10-30-13 - Clint Longenecker/BA – WWBA World Championship - Championship game starter LHP Ryan Avidano, 18, was named the event’s most valuable pitcher after throwing four scoreless innings and striking out seven versus three hits against the Burn, who entered the championship game undefeated and having scored nearly six runs a game. The 6-foot-7, 215-pound Avidano has an extra-large frame, lanky build and long limbs. Avidano (Starr’s Mill High, Fatetteville, Ga.) has a deceptive delivery and mid-to-high-80s fastball. He threw his fastball for strikes and relied on his breaking ball-changeup combination, throwing offspeed pitches on nearly half of his pitches. . http://www.baseballamerica.com/draft/evoshield-canes-win-perfect-game-wwba-world-championship/


10-29-13 – Jim Callis – Top 10 World Wood Bat Association World Championship (WWBA) Jupiter, Fla - 2. Jacob Gatewood, SS, Toronto Blue Jays Scout Team (Clovis, Calif., HS/Southern California) -  6-foot-5, 190-pound athlete can put on a show in batting practice, needs more consistent game production. http://ht.ly/qi5No


10-15-13 – Baseball America - 6. Alex Jackson, c/of, Rancho Bernardo HS, San Diego: Pairs plus power and arm strength with athleticism and a chance to stay behind the plate. http://www.baseballamerica.com/college/2014-draft-top-50-october-2013-carlos-rodon/


10-27-13 – PG Showcase – RHP Jeremiah Muhammad (Coral Springs Christian Academy, Somerset, N.J.) intrigued with his 6-foot-4, 200-pound frame and quick arm in two innings of relief with the Atlanta Blue Jays. Muhammad, who hails from the Garden State but attends school in the Sunshine State, worked in the 87-90 range and was around the zone. He coupled his heater with an 11-5 shaped, 75-76 mph curveball that flashed two-plane bite. At this point, the righthander is raw, more of a thrower who could stand to improve his angle and rhythm, but Muhammad’s physicality and speed of his arm are certainly attention-grabbers. http://www.baseballamerica.com/draft/projectable-righties-rule-as-playoff-push-begins-in-jupiter/


9-11-13 - Sully’s 2014 Top 100 MLB HS Draft Prospects – 47. Benito Santiago – C, Coral Springs Christian Academy (FL) http://www.ninebaseball.org/Wordpress/sullys-2014-top-100-mlb-hs-draft-prospects/

Draft 14 – Evan Skoug, Nick Gordon, Kyle Schwarber, Alex Jackson, Slade Heggen

10-30-13 - Clint Longenecker/BA – WWBA World Championship - Although he was not a part of the championship squad, Reds Scout Team catcher Evan Skoug won the tournament’s most valuable player award by hitting .636/.800/1.000 with a double and a home run. The lefthanded-hitting Texas Christian commit from Libertyville (Ill.) High had eight walks against one strikeout. Skoug is a physical beast with a powerful lower half, sloped shoulders and strength throughout his large frame at 5-foot-11, 200 pounds. He is a hard-nosed, high-intensity player with above-average raw power. http://www.baseballamerica.com/draft/evoshield-canes-win-perfect-game-wwba-world-championship/


10-29-13 – Jim Callis – Top 10 World Wood Bat Association World Championship (WWBA) Jupiter, Fla - 4. Nick Gordon, SS/RHP, Cardinals Scout Team/FTB Chandler (Olympia High, Orlando, Fla./Florida State)  Son of former All-Star Tom offers defensive ability, above-average speed and a low-90s fastball. http://ht.ly/qi5No


10-15-13 – Baseball America - 17. Kyle Schwarber, c/1b, Indiana: Physical lefthanded swing helps him hit for power and average; his best position is clearly the batter’s box. http://www.baseballamerica.com/college/2014-draft-top-50-october-2013-carlos-rodon/


10-29-13 – Jim Callis – Top 10 World Wood Bat Association World Championship (WWBA) Jupiter, Fla - 1. Alex Jackson, C, Cardinals Scout Team/FTB Chandler (Rancho Bernardo High, San Diego/Oregon) -  Plus right-handed power and arm strength are his two best tools; no reason he can't stay behind the plate. http://ht.ly/qi5No


9-11-13 - Sully’s 2014 Top 100 MLB HS Draft Prospects – 100. Slade Heggen – C, Loyala Sacred Heart (MT) HS http://www.ninebaseball.org/Wordpress/sullys-2014-top-100-mlb-hs-draft-prospects/

Draft 14 – Sean Newcomb, Michael Rivera, Braxton Davidson, Max Pentacost, Jeremy Vasquez

10-31-13 – TTF – Sean Newcomb shows a plus fastball that tops out at 96. He also features a cutter/slider, and a curveball. He’s also known to mix in a changeup. Not surprisingly, the fastball is easily his best pitch. The cutter/slider is solid. Improved command of his secondary pitches is a big key for Newcomb’s continued development. Mechanically, Newcomb features a relatively low effort delivery. He shows good arm speed, but occasionally struggles with maintaining his release point. He throws from a natural 3/4 arm slot, with clean, rather than whippy arm action. Pitchers are always injury risks to some extent, but Newcomb’s delivery doesn’t contain any red flags. At 6’5, he should get good downward plane, though he sometimes gets too low on his back leg, causing him to leave pitches up in the zone. Using an abbreviated leg lift, his mechanics stay consistent from the stretch. Sean Newcomb has the size and fastball velocity that teams covet.  In terms of delivery and frame, he is drawing comparisons to Boston Red Sox pitcher Jon Lester. Everything he has shown so far indicates he will continue to improve. With a solid junior year, he could go within the top twenty picks of the 2014 draft. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-sean-newcomb/39495#JdMvtKL1EPdg1xCE.99


10-30-13 - Clint Longenecker/BA – WWBA World Championship - The Florida Burn, made up exclusively of players from the Sunshine State, had a strong balance of run scoring and run prevention to advance to the championship game. Catcher Michael Rivera, an offensive star for Team USA committed to Florida, from Venice (Fla.) High hit four doubles and five walks against one walk, finishing with a .286/.423/.476 line.  http://www.baseballamerica.com/draft/evoshield-canes-win-perfect-game-wwba-world-championship/


10-29-13 – Jim Callis – Top 10 World Wood Bat Association World Championship (WWBA) Jupiter, Fla - 9. Braxton Davidson, OF, Dirtbags (Roberson High, Asheville, N.C.) -  Packs a lot of left-handed power in his 6-foot-3, 220-pound frame; pitchers rarely challenged him in Jupiter. http://ht.ly/qi5No


10-15-13 – Baseball America - 28. Max Pentecost, c, Kennesaw State: Athletic for the position if he can stick there, and coming off a boffo summer when he won Cape Cod League MVP. http://www.baseballamerica.com/college/2014-draft-top-50-october-2013-carlos-rodon/


9-11-13 - Sully’s 2014 Top 100 MLB HS Draft Prospects – 45. Jeremy Vasquez – 1B/OF, Martin County (FL) HS http://www.ninebaseball.org/Wordpress/sullys-2014-top-100-mlb-hs-draft-prospects/

Draft 14 – Mac Marshall, Brendan McKay, Kevin Steen, Lukas Schiraldi,Chase Vallot

10-15-13 – Baseball America - 15. Mac Marshall, lhp, Parkview HS, LiLburn, Ga.: Athletic lefthander with a low-90s fastball that touches 94 mph, a plus changeup and emerging curveball. http://www.baseballamerica.com/college/2014-draft-top-50-october-2013-carlos-rodon/


10-28-13 – Jim Callis - Left-hander Brendan McKay (Blackhawk High, Beaver Falls, Pa.) pitched very well in relief, striking out 10 in 4 2/3 innings as the DBacks rallied for a 4-3 victory. The 6-foot-2, 205-pounder topped out at 89 mph with his fastball and sat in the 84-86 mph range, and the Royals never seemed to get good swings against it. He fanned both Cooley and Railey on fastballs. http://ht.ly/qeYJz


10-25-13  - PG Showcase – In relief of Toussaint was righthander Kevin Steen (Oak Ridge, Tenn., HS) who threw three sterling innings, primarily with his fastball. At 6-foot-2 and 165 pounds, Steen has a long, loose, projectable body and whippy arm, allowing his fastball to sit 90-91 mph in his first inning. Though his fastball eventually settled in the 87-89 range, his late life allowed him to carve through the Elite’s lineup, racking up six swing-and-misses and two strikeouts in his final inning. Steen commanded the zone, thanks to his athletic, repeatable delivery and fluid arm action, and also showed a 74-77 curveball with 10-5 shape. http://www.baseballamerica.com/draft/toussaint-wows-evaluators-at-jupiter/


10-29-13 - College Baseball Daily kicks off our countdown to the start of the 2014 College Baseball season by checking in on the top 100 players in the country. We will be providing one player per day until we reach number 1.  We continue the list today at number 82 with University of Texas RHP Lukas Schiraldi. Before fully committing to the Longhorns staff, Schiraldi pitched at Navarro College where he dominated the Region XIV Athletic Conference in the NJCAA. Son of former Longhorn ace Calvin Schiraldi, Lukas has followed in his father’s footsteps and looks forward to potentially playing as a career. During his sophomore season with the Bulldogs, Schiraldi went 9-2 with a 2.84 ERA. In 76 IP the righty was able to strikeout 67 and quickly became a player to watch. http://ht.ly/2BaiSA


9-11-13 - Sully’s 2014 Top 100 MLB HS Draft Prospects – 16. Chase Vallot – C, St. Thomas More (LA) HS http://www.ninebaseball.org/Wordpress/sullys-2014-top-100-mlb-hs-draft-prospects/

Draft 14 – Joey Pankake, Sean Reid-Foley, Grant Holmes, Handsome Monica, Brandon Downes

10-18-13 – Matt Garroich – SS Joey Pankake, yep, like pancake, at South Carolina improved from a funny name and a decent defender as a freshman to an impact college bat as well. He won't be a superstar with the stick (well, Garciaparra) likely won't be a superstar with the stick but is a solid all around up the middle talent and should be a top pick this coming June. http://www.minorleagueball.com/2013/10/18/4851030/2014-mlb-draft-atlantic-region-college-discussion

10-15-13 – Baseball America - 31. Sean Reid-Foley, rhp, Sandalwood HS, Jacksonville: Athletic righthander with a fastball up to 95 mph, above-average slider and average changeup with good control. http://www.baseballamerica.com/college/2014-draft-top-50-october-2013-carlos-rodon/


9-30-13 – TTF Mock 2.0 - 10. New York Mets — Grant Holmes, RHP, Conway HS (SC) A Florida Gator commit, the 6’-2”, 190-pound right-hander hit 96 mph at the Perfect Game Nationals and flashed a plus curveball with excellent command. He also hit 95 mph at the PG Classic, showing one of the better fastballs in the prep class. He adds an above-average change-up, rounding out a solid three-pitch mix. Some scouts think he has maxed out physically, limiting his upside, but as it is, he profiles to a mid-rotation starter and possibly as high as a two. He is a very good athlete with a sound delivery and one of the best prep arms in the draft. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-mock-draft-2-0-draft-order-set/38280#5E3F5j1jWOgE69bJ.99


9-11-13 - Sully’s 2014 Top 100 MLB HS Draft Prospects – 78. Handsome Monica – C, St. Paul’s (LA) HS http://www.ninebaseball.org/Wordpress/sullys-2014-top-100-mlb-hs-draft-prospects/


10-14-13 – Top ’14 College Hitters - 12. Brandon Downes / OF / Virginia — Downes has average to above-average tools across the board, though some scouts I’ve talked to are concerned about the swing and miss in his game and didn’t have the most productive of summers. http://mlbdraftinsider.com/2013/10/top-14-for-14-college-hitters/

Draft 14 – Brett Austin, Jack Flaherty, Brady Aiken, Aaron Nola, Jeff Hoffman

10-14-13 – Top ’14 College Hitters - 14. Brett Austin / C / NC State — Austin has done nothing over his first two seasons to remind anyone that he was a day-one pick in 2011, but a switch-hitting catcher with raw offensive ability is someone you have to keep an eye on. http://mlbdraftinsider.com/2013/10/top-14-for-14-college-hitters/

9-30-13 – TTF Mock 2.0 - 22. Tampa Bay Rays — Jack Flaherty, 3B/RHP, Harvard-Westlake HS (CA)  Like Gatewood, Flaherty is a 6’-4”, 200-pound right-hander with massive power potential. The ball jumps off his bat and his plus bat speed suggests he should hit for a high average, as well. He doesn’t have quite the arm of Gatewood, but he should be able to stick at third due to his range and instincts. He has shown above-average speed but probably isn’t a guy who is going to steal many bases. Playing for a national powerhouse, he will get plenty of attention this year. He is a baseball player in every sense of the word. Committed to North Carolina. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-mock-draft-2-0-draft-order-set/38280#5E3F5j1jWOgE69bJ.99

9-11-13 - Sully’s 2014 Top 100 MLB HS Draft Prospects – 26.Brady Aiken – LHP, Cathedral Catholic (CA) HS http://www.ninebaseball.org/Wordpress/sullys-2014-top-100-mlb-hs-draft-prospects/

9-29-13 – XMLBScout – 17.)RHP, Aaron Nola, LSU, 6'1 185, R/R, classic quick arm and comparisons to Jake Peavy, arm side run and fb that tops 94 on occ, pitchability and a gamer, commands the strike zone, not real tall but gets good leverage and sink on his fb, hard slurvy breaking ball that will end up becoming a slider, also solid straight change that will be a 3rd pitch for him in pro ball. Early 1-3 round guy for 2014! http://xmlbscout.angelfire.com/

10-16-13 – Kevin Gallo on Jeff Hoffman - Fastball: Has a plus FB that sits in the mid-90s with excellent tailing action. Secondary Pitches: Hoffman has an above average to plus Curveball closer to plus. CB sits around 80mph with a 1 to 7 hard biting break. He looks to be an out pitch at the Major League Level. Change up: His Changeup is average but doesn’t use it very much. It sits in the high 80s but shows good tailing and arm action. I have been told his Changeup has improved but I can only go off what I have seen. Command: He works good command of his FB and CB but didn’t see enough of his CU to get an idea of it.  Summary: Hoffman as show the tools to be the #1 pick in next year’s draft but Rondon is going to be difficult to overtake. He also has room to gain muscle and develop. He has the pieces to be a pure #1 and if his changeup has improved he could become an elite pitcher http://www.chicagonow.com/cubs-den/2013/10/guest-post-scouting-report-on-jeff-hoffman/

Draft 14 – Christian Ibarra, Kyle Schwarber, Chase Vallot, Mac Marshall, Jeff Hoffman

10-17-13 - College Baseball Daily kicks off our countdown to the start of the 2014 College Baseball season by checking in on the top 100 players in the country. We will be providing one player per day until we reach number 1.  We continue the list today at number 89 with LSU’s third baseman Christian Ibarra. Before transferring to LSU for his junior season, Ibarra was a shortstop at Rio Hondo and earned All-State and All-Pacific Division Team recognition last season after batting .396 with 20 doubles, 6 HR, 40 runs and 50 RBIs in 45 games. The Marauders were 40-5 and made it to the California Final Four, the junior-college equivalent of a Super Regional. http://ht.ly/2AMUWG

10-14-13 – Top ’14 College Hitters - 5. Kyle Schwarber / C-1B / Indiana — The industry is higher on Schwarber than I am right now, with many believing the left-handed hitting backstop possesses 70 power and can stick behind the plate. I think his defensive position is more in question, however, and as a first baseman I don’t see a good enough bat to justify being a top ten pick. There’s plenty of time to prove me wrong, however. http://mlbdraftinsider.com/2013/10/top-14-for-14-college-hitters/

9-30-13 – TTF Mock 2.0 - 34. Cleveland Indians — Chase Vallot, C, St. Thomas More HS (LA) One of the youngest players in the draft, the 6’-0”, 205-pound right-hander generates a ton of raw power due to his bat speed and strong wrists. His strong arm, size and footwork should allow him to stick at a premium position and he also has pretty good speed. Another player I got to see at Wrigley, he hit a couple bombs out of the park with ease and showed a polished approach at the plate during the game. Committed to Mississippi State. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-mock-draft-2-0-draft-order-set/38280#5E3F5j1jWOgE69bJ.99

9-11-13 - Sully’s 2014 Top 100 MLB HS Draft Prospects – 25.Mac Marshall – LHP, Parkview (GA) HS http://www.ninebaseball.org/Wordpress/sullys-2014-top-100-mlb-hs-draft-prospects/

9-29-13 – XMLBScout – 10.)RHP, Jeff Hoffman, East Carolina, 6'4 190, nice easy delivery with fb that reaches 95, most are 91-92 with life and boring action in on RHH, cb and change still coming along, both could be used to get outs in pro ball currently but need improvement at the ML level to be effective, appears to have enough stamina and strength to be a starter but has a loose enough arm that he could be effective best out of the bullpen. Definite one to watch for 2014, 1-3 round projection, for me 4-7 round seems fair. http://xmlbscout.angelfire.com/

Draft 14 – Max Pentacost, Dylan Cease, Trea Turner, Justus Sheffield, Gregory Deichmann

10-14-13 – Top ’14 College Hitters - 3. Max Pentecost / C / Kennesaw State — Pentecost may not be a household name right now, but has drastically improved his draft stock with a very strong summer. Pentecost has average power from the right side (with potential for more) and shows good patience and pitch recognition. He isn’t a lock to stick behind the plate, but if a team believes he can catch due to his athleticism and arm strength he could be a top 15 candidate. http://mlbdraftinsider.com/2013/10/top-14-for-14-college-hitters/

8-27-13 - Dylan Cease, a right-hander from Milton High in Georgia, has impressed scouts all summer with his mid-90s fastball and his feel for the changeup and curveball. He said he will spend his offseason preparing for spring, when he and the rest of the high school seniors will make their final impressions before the Draft. "I had a pretty good summer," he said. "During the offseason I'll focus on putting on weight, getting stronger and improving my control."  http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130827&content_id=58571204&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb&tcid=tw_article_58571204

9-29-13 – XMLBScout – 11.)SS, Trea Turner, N C State, 6' 180, R/R, swift runner with a quick bat and occ power to the alleys, has enough glove and arm to be a starter at the ML level and contribute offensively with his 70 speed. Trea has a compact swing that generates alley power and he's getting better every year. Reminds me some of JJ Hardy. Definite early round guy for 2014! http://xmlbscout.angelfire.com/

9-11-13 - Sully’s 2014 Top 100 MLB HS Draft Prospects – 21.Justus Sheffield – LHP, Tullahoma (TN) HS http://www.ninebaseball.org/Wordpress/sullys-2014-top-100-mlb-hs-draft-prospects/

9-30-13 – TTF Mock 2.0 - 32. Colorado Rockies — Gregory Deichmann, SS, Brothers Martin HS (LA)  Left-handed hitting power shortstops are a nice commodity to have, and the 6’-2”, 190-pound Deichmann has a chance to stick at short due to his strong arm, speed and instincts in the field. He has excellent bat speed and can put on displays in the cage during batting practice. Even if he ends up at third, the power and arm will play well. Committed to USC. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-mock-draft-2-0-draft-order-set/38280#5E3F5j1jWOgE69bJ.99

Draft 14 – Carlos Rodon, Brian Gonzalez, Scott Blewett, Evan Skoug, Devon Fisher

10-15-13 – Baseball America - 1. Carlos Rodon, lhp, N.C. State: Could have ranked No. 1 in previous two draft classes with a 93-95 mph fastball and premium slider. http://www.baseballamerica.com/college/2014-draft-top-50-october-2013-carlos-rodon/

10-25-13  - PG Showcase – LHP Brian Gonzalez (Archbishop McCarthy HS, Miramar, Fla.) - Gonzalez threw three innings from a high three-quarter arm slot, creating good downhill angle on his 87-91 mph heater. He kept lefthanders off balance with a 74-76 curveball, as well as righthanders with his 79-80 changeup. Gonzalez’s changeup featured fastball arm speed and was a swing-and-miss offering when buried down in the zone.  http://www.baseballamerica.com/draft/toussaint-wows-evaluators-at-jupiter/

10-28-13 - There are dozens of future big leaguers playing in Perfect Game's 16th annual World Wood Bat Association World Championship. Of the roughly 1,700 players on the 85 teams, perhaps none looks more like a big leaguer than RHP Scott Blewett. He won't turn 18 until April, but Blewett (Baker High, Baldwinsville, N.Y.) already is a sturdy 6-foot-6 and 210 pounds. The Syracuse Sports Zone right-hander has a sound delivery, especially for a teenager with such a big frame, and the ball comes out of his hand well. Blewett opened the game by firing 91-94 mph fastballs and touched 96 one time in the first inning. Even when the St. John's recruit dipped to the upper 80s in the latter half of his outing, he still was able to get outs thanks to the riding life on the pitch. http://ht.ly/qeYJz

10-28-13 - Perfect Game USA ‏@PerfectGameUSA - Amazing #PGTourney by 2014 C Evan Skoug (IL) for the @RedsScoutTeam reached base 16 of 20 plate appearances 7-11 with a 2B and HR!

9-11-13 - Sully’s 2014 Top 100 MLB HS Draft Prospects – 39.Devon Fisher – C, Western Branch (VA) HS http://www.ninebaseball.org/Wordpress/sullys-2014-top-100-mlb-hs-draft-prospects/

Draft 14 – Braxton Davidson, Lukas Schiraldi, Touki Toussaint, Mike Rivera, Tucker Baca

10-28-13 – John Sickles - At the plate is where Braxton Davidson shines. His raw power is not the best in this draft class but his usable power is. Of all the players in this class that can put a charge into the ball, Davidson does it the most consistently and with the most ease. That's saying something. There are probably 10 guys with plus power projection or better in this draft. His hit tool allows for this. It could easily be plus and we are talking about a guy I wouldn't be scared to say will hit .300 in the majors. http://www.minorleagueball.com/2013/10/26/5029046/2014-mlb-draft-profile-braxton-davidson-1b-of-arden-nc-high-school

10-15-13 – Baseball America - 47. Lukas Schiraldi, rhp, Texas: Son of former big leaguer Calvin, he shined this summer while flashing a plus fastball and solid secondary repertoire. http://www.baseballamerica.com/college/2014-draft-top-50-october-2013-carlos-rodon/

10-25-13  - PG Showcase - Touki Toussaint (Coral Springs Christian Academy, Coral Springs, Fla.) took the hill for the Atlanta Blue Jays. Toussaint featured similar stuff to what he’s delivered since creating headlines in Jupiter a year ago when he showed off a fastball up to 97 and devastating curveball. This year, the athletic righthander showed off a 91-94 mph fastball, peaking at 95, while predominantly mixing in his plus curveball at 74-77. At its best, Toussaint’s wrinkle earned audible praise from the typically tight-lipped scouting community. The 6-foot-2, 195-pounder also threw an 85-86 changeup with deceptive arm speed, as well as an 84 mph slider. Compared to other national showcase events, Toussaint threw more strikes, though he was not always fine. His body and arm seemed to be working in better sync, allowing him to repeat his delivery. After getting squeezed on some close pitches, however, he had some wildness and ran up his pitch count, forcing his exit after two innings. http://www.baseballamerica.com/draft/toussaint-wows-evaluators-at-jupiter/

9-11-13 - Sully’s 2014 Top 100 MLB HS Draft Prospects – 70.Mike Rivera – C/INF, Venice (FL) HS http://www.ninebaseball.org/Wordpress/sullys-2014-top-100-mlb-hs-draft-prospects/

10-26-13 - Jim Callis ‏@jimcallisMLB  - Tucker Baca (HS/GA) creating a stir. Low angle LHP touched 94 in 1st, 90 in 3rd, killing LHB with his slider

Draft 14 – Luke Weaver, Derek Fisher, Cameron Varga, Cobi Johnson, John Jones

10-19 – BLF – Luke Weaver - Fastball:  Weaver shows a 91 to 94 mph Fastball with good tailing action. Secondary Pitches: Weaver throws a slider that shows flashes of plus potential and sits in the low 80s.  It sometimes shows a sweeping action and at times a harder break, once he is able to find a consistency in the slider it will be easier to grade.  But both have plus potential. Command: He shows excellent command and pounds the lower half of the strike zone.  He isn’t afraid  to pound the inner have of the  plate with all his pitches. Summary:   Luke Weaver is my dark horse in this draft.  He has a lot of good pieces and if he puts them together, Weaver will become a very good pitcher.  I see him as a #1/#2 type but could become a pure #1 if things go right.  I have heard comps on him like Brett Saberhagen and Tim Hudson. http://bigleaguefutures.net/1/2013/10/19/scouting-report-luke-weaver-rhp/

10-18-13 – Matt Garroich – Derek Fisher at Virginia was highly touted out of high school, I had him 20th overall in the draft, and he has done nothing to hurt his stock while a Cavalier. He still has some swing and miss issues, a balding head and big time power but his speed has maintained better than I expected. His toolset is that of a solid regular or better in the majors. http://www.minorleagueball.com/2013/10/18/4851030/2014-mlb-draft-atlantic-region-college-discussion

10-15-13 – Baseball America - 40. Cameron Varga, rhp, Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy, Loveland, Ohio: Nagging injuries sidelined Varga this summer, but the 19-year-old has touched 95 mph with his fastball in the past with a plus curveball, and he has an athletic build. http://www.baseballamerica.com/college/2014-draft-top-50-october-2013-carlos-rodon/

9-30-13 – TTF Mock 2.0 - 28. Oakland Athletics — Cobi Johnson, RHP, James Mitchell HS (FL) At 6’-4” and 180 pounds, the right-hander has the ideal size for a frontline starter. His fastball has touched 93 mph, and he adds a solid curveball. His change-up, like most prep pitchers, is still developing, but he shows a  good feel for pitching, and his athleticism will help with his progression. He has shown very good command of his stuff and had 103 K/14 BB over 71 innings as a junior. He also hit .426/.508/.703 over 30 games with 18 stolen bases. His velocity does drop off in later innings, but he should gain more stamina as he fills out his frame. He struck out three in one perfect inning at the PG Classic. Committed to Florida State. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-mock-draft-2-0-draft-order-set/38280#5E3F5j1jWOgE69bJ.99

9-11-13 - Sully’s 2014 Top 100 MLB HS Draft Prospects – 81.John Jones – C, East River (FL ) HS http://www.ninebaseball.org/Wordpress/sullys-2014-top-100-mlb-hs-draft-prospects/

Draft 14 – Michael Conforto, Luke Weaver, Alex Jackson, Dylan Cease, Carlos Rodon

10-14-13 – Top ’14 College Hitters - 13. Michael Conforto / LF-1B / Oregon State — He likely won’t provide much value with the glove or on the bases, but he’s been extremely productive for Oregon State and should hit enough to stick in left field someday. http://mlbdraftinsider.com/2013/10/top-14-for-14-college-hitters/

9-30-13 – TTF Mock 2.0 - 14. San Francisco Giants — Luke Weaver, RHP, Florida State  A 6’-2”, 180-pound right-hander, Weaver enjoyed an outstanding season for the Seminoles this year. Over 15 starts, he had a 2.29 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 119 K/19 BB over 98.1 innings. His 10.9 K/9 and 6.3 K/BB ratios show the kind of power/command pitcher he is. His fastball sits in the low/mid 90s and he adds a change-up that shows plus potential. There is still room for projection and added velocity as he fills out. Over 21 innings for Team USA, he had 17 K/5 BB. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-mock-draft-2-0-draft-order-set/38280#5E3F5j1jWOgE69bJ.99

9-11-13 - Sully’s 2014 Top 100 MLB HS Draft Prospects - 8.Alex Jackson – C, Rancho Bernardo (CA) HS http://www.ninebaseball.org/Wordpress/sullys-2014-top-100-mlb-hs-draft-prospects/

10-15-13 – Baseball America - 35. Dylan Cease, rhp, Milton (Ga.) HS: Athletic pitcher who produces easy velocity, with a fastball up to 97 mph; inconsistent breaking ball and command are knocks. http://www.baseballamerica.com/college/2014-draft-top-50-october-2013-carlos-rodon/

10-18-13 – Matt Garroich – Carlos Rodon is the best lefty in the country and, as it stands, the clear-cut favorite to go first overall. He is the ace of the N.C. State Wolfpack and has been since he came to campus. He will likely be the same on any team he pitches as long as he is healthy. On the same squad is one of the top college hitters, Trea Turner. He is an impressive athlete with 80 speed and solid defense at short while swinging the bat well enough to impact in the batters box as well. http://www.minorleagueball.com/2013/10/18/4851030/2014-mlb-draft-atlantic-region-college-discussion

Draft 14 - An Early Look At - C - Alex Jackson - Rancho Bernardo HS, Calif

Alex Jackson

 

6-6-13 - John (Minneapolis) - In 2014, Can Alex Jackson be the exception to the HS catcher history like Mauer was?  -  Keith Law - Maybe. I want to see him more, but was very impressed in a brief look last summer.

 

6-9-13  -  3.Alex Jackson, INF/C (California HS): The most complete high school player available. It seems likely that teams would prefer him at third once he goes pro, even though he’s quite good behind the plate. http://www.minorleaguerundown.com/2013/06/09/2014-mlb-draft-top-30-prospects/

 

6-11-13 - 3. Alex Jackson, C, Rancho Bernardo HS, Calif.: A two-time participant in the Under Armour game, Jackson has some serious raw power from the right side and is a good leader with an accurate arm. http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130611&content_id=50293726&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb&tcid=tw_article_50293726

 

6-12-13 - One of the top hitters at the Area Code Games as a sophomore, Alex Jackson was among the national leaders in home runs again this year with 14. He batted .343 with 33 RBIs while leading Rancho Bernardo to the San Diego Section Open Division championship. http://www.maxpreps.com/news/E9UKfOG1wUq1fo3tzHLHgw/top-10-high-school-baseball-players-to-watch-for-2014-mlb-draft.htm

 

6-13-13 - Clint Longenecker ‏@Clint_BA29m - Alex Jackson (CA) is showing why he is one of the best top players to watch for the 2014 after depositing a few homers into deep right center

 

6-13-13 - Perfect Game USA‏@PerfectGameUSA - Besides Gettys 100 mph OF throw, Alex Jackson (CA) threw 98 mph and Monte Harrison (MO) 97 mph from the outfield! #PGNational

 

6-13-13  -  6. Toronto Blue Jays — Alex Jackson, C, Rancho Bernardo HS (CA) - The 6’-2”, 210 pound right-hander will be one of the top power hitters in the 2014 MLB draft. Over 35 games as a junior, he hit .343 with 14 home runs and drew 29 walks for a .479 OBP/.806 SLG. Aside from the power potential, he also has a plus arm and is very athletic, making many believe he will stick at the premium position. Like Clint Frazier this year, Jackson may be the most talked about prep player next season. Committed to Oregon. http://beforeitsnews.com/sports/2013/06/2014-mlb-mock-draft-1-0-no-time-like-the-present-2513748.html?currentSplittedPage=2

 

6-17-13  -  3. Alex Jackson, C, Rancho Bernardo High in Poway, Calif. - Jackson (6-foot-2, 200) is a well-rounded backstop. "Catching prospects," Perkin noted, "normally appear in one of two forms: Throwers who can't hit or hitters who can't throw. Jackson is the rare backstop who does both at the highest level." Perkin also pointed out Jackson's tremendous power.

 

6-28-13 - Alex Jackson, C/OF, Rancho Bernardo HS (San Diego, CA): - Alex Jackson is so good, he got Gosuke Katoh drafted in the second round. As scouts poured into Rancho Bernardo HS to see Jackson, many caught wind of his teammate, Katoh, whose stock rose as a result, finally going to the Yankees at 66th overall. If Jackson is good enough to make a middle infielder with limited arm a 2nd-round pick, imagine what he can do for himself. At 6'2", 210 pounds, Jackson has a nice, loose catcher's build. A legitimate five-tool catcher, he combines outstanding defense with tremendous power, which he's shown to all fields. Pop times in the 1.7's, excellent blocking skills, and quick twitch athleticism will keep him behind the plate, though he also plays third base and the outfield http://www.crawfishboxes.com/2013/6/28/4450674/the-way-too-early-2014-tcb-astros-draft-board

 

7-2-13  - 2014 Top 100 High School Prospects   3. Alex Jackson- C, Rancho Bernardo (CA) HS - Huge raw power. Might have the best bat in the country. 1.75 pop time at National with a 91 MPH arm from behind the plate http://www.ninebaseball.org/Wordpress/jeff-sullivans-top-100-2014-prospects/

 

7-25-13 – Top 30 High School Prospects For 2014 Draft - 2. Alex Jackson, C/RF, Rancho Bernardo HS (CA) 6'2/215, R/R, Draft Day Age: 18.45, Oregon commit, Full Report & Video - Quick Take: Rumor is that this dynamic talent with a plus arm and lightning-quick release from behind the plate will move to the outfield long-term to save his health like Bryce Harper. Jackson isn't a Harper-level talent but has special bat speed and above average power: enough to go in the top 10 picks even as an outfielder, in the mold of Padres 2013 1st rounder Hunter Renfroe. http://sbb.scout.com/2/1310090.html

 

 

8-12-13 - Alex Jackson, C, Rancho Bernardo High School (Escondido, CA) -  It was an honor to join Joe Hamrahi on stage this weekend as we presented Alex Jackson with the first annual Baseball Prospectus Prospect of the Year Award, at the Perfect Game All-American Classic in San Diego. Jackson is a dual threat talent, with an easy plus-plus arm behind the plate, near elite pop times, and big power from the right side. It's a similar profile to high-ceiling prospect Jorge Alfaro, which should give you some indication how special this player could be. Getting to watch the talent on the field opened my eyes to his physical abilities, but the way he carried himself off the field, the natural leadership qualities and maturity he possesses, opened my eyes to the type of makeup that can make his ceiling more than just an exaggerated fantasy. When physical talent and makeup join forces, the end result can change the fortunes of an organization, and Jackson looks like a player well on his way to that reality. – http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=21504

 

8-14-13 – Through The Fence – Top 50 Prospects – 7. Alex Jackson, C, Rancho Bernardo HS (CA) - The best catching prospect in the draft, the 6’-2”, 210-pound right-hander has a plus arm and, mixed with his footwork and athleticism, should stick at the premium position. His power is some of the best in the class, and he should hit for a high average with his approach and plus bat speed. He hit .343/.479/.806 over 35 games as a junior with 14 home runs and 29 walks. Committed to Oregon. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-top-50-prospects/36463#mwWwsFxSUZy7YC5V.99

8-13-13 - The Perfect Game All-American Classic in San Diego - Rancho Bernardo’s Alex Jackson. Jackson was a bit more inconsistent over the weekend, but if you had to ask me which player I like better now, I’d take Jackson. He’s not a catcher, but he’s got the athleticism and arm strength to be a very good rightfielder, and the bat will certainly play there with plus bat speed and above-average power. There may not be as much upside in Jackson, but I think the overall package is just a little better. http://mlbdraftinsider.com/2013/08/thoughts-on-perfect-game-all-american-classic/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

 

8-16-13 - 11th All-American Classic - Alex Jackson | C/3B/OF | Rancho Bernardo HS (San Diego, CA)  Height/Weight: 6-foot-2, 210 pounds  B/T: R/R  Draft Day Age: 18 years, 5 months  Commitment: Oregon  Scouting Notes: Big talent; reminds me of Jorge Alfaro because of build and skill-set; arm is a 7; showed sub-1.9 pops; feel for catch-and-throw; shows leadership qualities behind the plate; moves better than expected; still new to the position but work ethic impressed; can stay behind the plate if he wants to; bat is highly projectable; both raw hit and power; good bat-to-ball skills; contact is easy and loud; power is going to be there; could be a 6/6 hit/power type if everything clicks; big makeup; potential to be a top-five pick in 2014. - http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=21537

 

 

8-21-13 – On defense, Alex Jackson could be a catcher or right fielder. But I don’t think he’ll be better than average at either position. Starting with catcher, I didn’t see the agility behind the plate for me to believe he could be an average or better defender. The strong hands are evident, though, as is a plus arm that can profile well in right field. Most people I’ve talked to think he’ll be in right, but there are some believers that he could stay behind the plate. It only takes one team to see the dream. (of course, it depends where they pick in the draft, but you get the point). http://rontrarianreport.com/2013/08/21/scouting-alex-jackson-mlb-draft/

 

 

Top 5 MLB Draft Prospects - #3. Alex Jackson, INF/C (California HS): The most comprehensive high school player existing. It seems to be expected that teams would choose to play him at third once he goes pro, even though he’s pretty good behind the plate. In fact- he is an accomplished backstop.  At 6’2″, 210 pounds, Jackson has a good, moveable catcher’s physique. A genuine five-tool catcher, he pools exceptional defense with incredible power, which he’s displayed to all fields. Pop times in the 1.7′s, first-rate blocking skills, and rapid twitch flexibility will keep him behind the plate.  http://bigleaguefutures.net/1/2013/08/30/top-5-mlb-draft-prospects/

 

8-15-13 - Under Armour All-Star Game – Alex Jackson, C/OF:  The best catching prospect in the draft and it's a position of great need for the Cubs, something they've admitted themselves.   Jackson has a tremendous arm behind the plate and Professor Parks called his pop times "near elite".  At the plate he shows the potential for plus power from the right side.  Jackson has the great makeup and leadership ability to go with his physical skills, of which Parks says, "When physical talent and makeup join forces, the end result can change the fortunes of an organization, and Jackson looks like a player well on his way to that reality."  Jackson sounds like he was tailor made for the Cubs and will undoubtedly become a fan favorite as we approach the draft, if he isn't already.  The one question, and it's a big one for Cubs fans, is that not everyone thinks he can stick behind the plate. http://www.chicagonow.com/cubs-den/2013/08/2014-mlb-draft-ua-game-roster-and-preview-plus-more-tickets-and-meet-up-information/

 

8-31-13 – Area Code Games - Alex Jackson (C) 6’2″ 215 (R/R); 2014 Physical body that separates himself. Athletic look w/combo strength from top to bottom. Swing works long w/lift and separation to finish; occ. misses. Sound approach at the plate w/explosive swing; different off bat. Damaging impact at contact; gaps/power hitter. Speed will back up in future and not a SB threat. Displays solid catching tools w/quick footwork and clean transfers. Arm works short and throws stay online to target; POP: 1.8, 1.9. Athletic enough to play OF and bat fitscorner power profile.  http://bigleaguefutures.net/1/2013/08/31/area-code-notes/

 

9-1-13 - Jim Callis – 5. Alex Jackson, c/of, Rancho Bernardo HS, San Diego - Plays a premium position, has some of the best power potential in the 2014 crop.

 

9-4-13 – Mack’s Mock Draft v1.0 – 5 – Brewers – C Alex Jackson – Rando Bernardo (CA) HS – We can talk all day about what a great catcher Jackson is, but this a future corner outfielder in the making. He probably will rate out as an average outfielder, but he does have a ++ arm that will work well out there. But, you’re drafting this guy for his bat. Is one of the top projected power hitters of the draft.

 

9-11-13 - Sully’s 2014 Top 100 MLB HS Draft Prospects - 8.Alex Jackson – C, Rancho Bernardo (CA) HS http://www.ninebaseball.org/Wordpress/sullys-2014-top-100-mlb-hs-draft-prospects/

 

Draft 14 - An Early Look At - C - Jakson Reetz - Norris (NE) HS

14th Cather in Draft - Jakson Reetz

 

6-16-13  - • Versatile Jakson Reetz stood out in many facets of the game. During Friday’s evaluations, he showed one of the strongest arms of any catcher and quick feet behind the plate. Then he made a tough play in right field on Saturday by chasing down a long fly ball to the warning track. The Nebraska commit sat 88-90 mph on the mound, touching 91. Yet Reetz, who attends Norris High in Hickman, Neb., saved his loudest performance for the plate. The 6-foot-1, 195-pounder took quality at-bats and made consistent, hard contact. He smacked a triple in the seventh inning. http://www.baseballamerica.com/draft/tournament-of-stars-promising-power-outlook-for-2014/

7-2-13  - 2014 Top 100 High School Prospects - 12. Jakson Reetz- C/RHP, Norris (NE) HS -  Top two-way player can really catch and throw, and hit everything hard at TOS http://www.ninebaseball.org/Wordpress/jeff-sullivans-top-100-2014-prospects/

 

 

7-24-13  -  Jakson Reetz, c/of/rhp, Norris, Hickman, Neb./Marucci Elite

At 6-foot-1, 195 pounds with a compact build and powerful lower half, the strong-bodied Reetz is an athletic backstop. Reetz is a three-sport athlete who also plays quarterback and point guard. He has advanced defensive skills behind the plate and a strong arm capable of 1.95-2.00 second pop times. Holding the bat close to his head and using an aggressive stride, Reetz has a quick, line-drive oriented swing and has hit well in games. His natural strength gives him gap power. He has enough speed and athleticism to play the outfield. On the mound, Reetz sits 88-90 mph and touches 91. He is committed to Nebraska, where his father played football. http://www.baseballamerica.com/draft/tyler-koleks-heavy-fastball-among-tournament-of-stars-standouts/

 

7-25-13 – Top 30 High School Prospects For 2014 Draft - 17. Jakson Reetz, C/RHP, Norris HS (NE) - 6'1/195, R/R, Draft Day Age: 18.43, Nebraska commit - Quick Take: Reetz is a great athlete with solid average speed and has a chance to stick behind the plate with an above average arm and very quick release. At the plate, he's more a contact hitter that is very productive in games though he flashes more power in BP that could find it's way into his game swing down the line. He's also not bad on the mound, sitting 88-91 with an above average 77-80 mph slider. http://sbb.scout.com/2/1310090.html

 

8-10-13 - New Balance Area Code games -  Jakson Reetz (NE) hit well today. He has squared up the ball each game and stroked a ball into left for a base hit in the first. http://prospectinsider.com/view/2013-area-codes:-day-4-notes/

 

8-14-13 – Through The Fence – Top 50 Prospects – 26. Jakson Reetz, C/RHP, Norris HS (NE) - A terrific athlete and two-way player, the 6’-1”, 200-pound right-hander’s ability to stick behind the plate make him a highly touted prospect. More of a line drive hitter now, more power should come as he matures, and he has the bat speed to back it up. Can hit the low-90s on the mound so his arm plays well behind the plate and he makes for a big target. Committed to Nebraska. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-top-50-prospects/36463#mwWwsFxSUZy7YC5V.99

 

8-16-13 - 11th All-American Classic - Jakson Reetz | C/ RHP/OF | Norris HS (Hickman, NE) - eight/Weight: 6-foot-1, 190 pounds B/T: R/R  Draft Day Age: 18 years, 5 months  Commitment: Nebraska - History: Reetz entered the summer as a talented but raw backstop, flashing big athleticism and almost casual actions on the field, belying his loud and impactful tools. In the Metrodome in June, Reetz stood out at the PG National Showcase for his catch-and-throw game, gunning down multiple baserunners and showing sub-2.0 pop times to second, in addition to a couple of hard hit balls, in game. He has built on that showcase throughout the summer, making loud contact with increasing regularity throughout his showcase and tournament stops. Like Reid-Foley and McKinney, Reetz’s Tournament of Stars performance at the end of June bought him a ticket to the USA Baseball 18U Team Trials, and the Nebraska commit continued a successful summer with impressive showings at both the Perfect Game 17U National Championship in July and the Area Code Games last week. - Development: Reetz added another impressing showing to his summer, earning MVP honors for the game. While he struggled some handling the arms while behind the plate, no player had a greater impact offensively. Reetz went 2-for-4 with a long opposite-field double off of hard-throwing Dylan Cease, and added three stolen bases to his output over the course of his four trips to the plate. There is simply no ignoring the growth in Reetz’s game over the past two months, and he’ll get a chance to add to his rapidly expanding resume should he earn a spot on the final USA Baseball 18U squad. His Marucci Elite travel club will be one of the favorites at the final event of the scouting circuit—the WWBA World Championship in Jupiter, Florida this October—and, should he attend, Reetz will be one of the most highly scouted catchers in the tournament. He’ll almost certainly enter the spring as the top draft prospect in the Cornhusker State. http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=21537

 

9-11-13 - Sully’s 2014 Top 100 MLB HS Draft Prospects – 14.Jakson Reetz – C/RHP, Norris (NE) HS http://www.ninebaseball.org/Wordpress/sullys-2014-top-100-mlb-hs-draft-prospects/

 

 

Draft 14 - An Early Look At - C - Max Pentacost - Kennesaw St.

13th C    -    Max Pentacost

7-17-13 - Max Pentecost (Kennesaw St.) - Catcher, Bourne Braves - .370 BA, 12 R, 18 RBI, 5 HR, 2 SB -      The toughest position in baseball to find elite talent at is catcher. But the Cape League has been lucky to have great young talent at catcher the past few years, and Pentecost may be the next in line. He is on fire. This past week, he batted a stunning .636, which vaulted him into second place in the batting race. He also drove in six runs, including two homers, and is tied for third in RBIs and tied for first in homers. Pentecost has flown under the radar up until this point, thanks mainly to the Braves’ poor performance. But if his individual numbers continue at this rate, the team’s numbers will seem less relevant. Pentecost has been steadily improving, and a repeat performance this coming week could go a long way in his MVP chances. http://capecodbaseball.org/news/league/index.html?article_id=1565

 

8-7-13 - Cape Cod Times CCBL ‏@CapeLeagueCCT  - Over in Bourne, catcher Max Pentecost (Kennesaw State) named CCBL Pat Sorrenti MVP.

 

8-7-13 - greg schaum ‏@Greg_Schaum  - Max Pentecost is a very good receiver, great arm, very fast, excellent drag bunter (rare to see these days) and has power to give.'

 

8-7-13 - Bourne Braves ‏@BourneBraves  -  Pentecost finished the regular season with a .338 average, 6 home runs, and 29 RBIs. He was top 5 in the @Official_CCBL in all 3 categories.

8-21-13 - Until now, it had been a couple of years since Kennesaw State catcher Max Pentecost experienced life in the limelight. Pentecost was quite the hot commodity coming out of high school in Georgia. He was ranked No. 203 nationally as a high school senior, and attended KSU despite heavy overtures from the Texas Rangers as a seventh-round pick in the Major League Baseball draft. Though some at the time felt Pentecost should’ve signed and skipped his collegiate career, it’s becoming more clear he made the right decision. Following a good college spring season as a sophomore, Pentecost traveled to the prestigious Cape Cod Baseball League this summer, where he put together a performance that had scouts buzzing, making major strides in all aspects of the game, particularly from an offensive standpoint. For that reason and more, Pentecost, one of the nation’s fastest-rising 2014 MLB draft prospects, is the Perfect Game College Summer Player of the Year. http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=8911

9-4-13 – Mack’s Mock Draft v1.0 – 30 – C Max Pentacost – Kennesaw State – Players earn their summer stripes in different ways and Pentacost earned his at the Cape Cod Games. He dominated offensively and was also named the Perfect Game College Summer Player of the Year. You can’t do better than that.