Alex Verdugo, Tyler Beede, Michael Cederoth, Chad Sobotka, Mac James, Tyler Kolek

5-11-14  -  Alex Verdugo, LHP/OF, Sahuaro HS (AZ) - Like Destino, Verdugo is a terrific athlete and two-way player. His upside seems higher on the mound where the 6’-1”, 200 pound left-hander has one of the best curveballs in his class with late bite and power. His fastball sits 89-92 mph and he should add more velocity if he continues to work full time as a pitcher. He adds a solid change-up to round out a three-pitch mix. Offensively, he has an advanced approach at the plate and plus bat speed that generates a lot of power from the left side. Through 27 games, he is hitting .550/.608/.925 with 17 doubles, three home runs and 13 stolen bases. He has drawn 15 walks to just three strikeouts. On the mound, he has 86 K/25 BB over 48.1 innings, allowing 13 runs on 27 hits. Because of his upside, he could go on day one. Committed to Arizona State. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-high-school-players-rise-final-edition/42853#cZ17mE5vsjiSvU18.99

3-20-14 – Cubs Insider - • Tyler Beede, Vanderbilt University right-hander: His relationship with minor-league pitching coordinator Derek Johnson, a former Commodores assistant coach, will be overstated, but his stock is rising with a fast start (4-1, 0.84 ERA). http://www.csnchicago.com/cubs/mlb-draft-cubs-identifying-targets-no-4-overall-pick

3-27-14 - Michael Cederoth Perfect Game profile - Position:  RHP  Height:  6-6  Weight:  215  Bats/Throws:  R-R  Birthdate: Nov. 25, 1992  College:  San Diego State  Hometown:  San Diego, Calif.  Previously Drafted:  Diamondbacks '11 (41)  Projected Draft Round:  1-3  Some of the earliest names we learn about in particular draft classes seem to be the hardest throwers. They are the easiest to spot and word seems to get around. At this time last year, Michael Cederoth was one of those names we knew about it. While a still very powerful and high upside arm, we’ve learned that while he can hit triple digits with his fastball, he’s also going to be somewhat of a project at the professional level. http://perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=9625 

3-18-14 – Jonathan Mayo - 3-18-14 – Jonathan Mayo - Chad Sobotka, from the University of South Carolina-Upstate, will not pitch this season thanks to a fractured vertebra in his back. He'll make a full recovery, but not in time to pitch collegiate ball this spring. Upstate head coach Matt Fincher didn't sound like a guy who expected to have his ace back for another year. http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?

ymd=20140318&content_id=69552214&notebook_id=69553420&vkey=notebook_mlb&c_id=mlb

3-19-14 – TTF – Mac James, C, Oklahoma (NR) - The biggest surprise this year in college baseball has been James. After getting just nine at-bats as a sophomore, the 6’-1”, 200 pound right-hander has been taking advantage of every one this year by absolutely mashing the baseball. Over 20 games, he is hitting .459/.512/.662 with nine doubles and two home runs, and he has struck out only twice. He is drawing rave reviews for his receiving skills and is another guy who should benefit from this year’s lack of catching prospects. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-10-college-players-rise-week-5/41905#JeRjl1lAwHFUPJlv.99

3-22-14 - Dan Kirby ‏@DanMKirby  - Tyler Kolek with 13 K/0 BB last night. Now has 48 K/1 BB over 22.1 IP, allowing 2 hits

Draft 14 – Aaron Nola, Chad Sobotka, Mac Marshall, Shane Benes

1-20-14 – PG Preseason College All-Americans – Starting Pitcher - Aaron Nola, Louisiana State - 2013 Stats: 1.57 ERA, 126 IP, 122 K, 18 BB, .188 OPP BA] - The Tigers had one of the nation’s best teams and rotations last season, and it should be much of the same this spring with Nola and lefthanded pitcher Cody Glenn leading the charge. Nola, a 6-foot-1, 183-pounder, is Mr. Command out on the mound, as evidenced by his incredibly low walk total from last season. From a stuff standpoint, Nola has a fastball that typically sits in the low-90s. However, he can get up to 94 at times. Meanwhile, his curveball sits in the upper-70s, along with a low-80s changeup. http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=9294 

1-23-14 - Number 28 on our countdown is junior RHP Chad Sobotka from South Carolina-Upstate. The 6’6 righty was a four year letter winner at Riverview High School. As a senior, he went 4-2 with a 3.20 ERA with him named the team’s MVP. His freshman season with the Spartans saw him work out of the bullpen in all of his 25 appearances. He finished the year with a 3-0 record and an ERA of 1.72 while picking up 12 saves in 31.1 innings of work as he became the premier closer for the Spartans. He picked up several awards including being named to Atlantic Sun All-Freshman Team, Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American Honors, and NCBWA Freshman All-American. http://ht.ly/2DcZH4

1-3-14 – TTF Baseball - 22. Cleveland Indians — Mac Marshall, LHP, Parkview HS (GA) - One of the better southpaws in the 2014 MLB draft, Marshall’s fastball sits in the low/mid-90s and he has worked hard on his delivery and command over the past year. He also flashed a potential plus curveball at the Perfect Game Nationals. At 6’-2” and 185 pounds, he is a great athlete who has been clocked at 6.7 in the 60. As a junior, he had 80 K/32 BB over 46 innings for one of the premiere programs in the country. Committed to LSU. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-2/40753#ppGUqI6CbWFvzsPf.99 

11-21-13 – BA Top 100 High School Players - 37 Shane Benes 3B/RHP R/R 6-3* 200 Westminster Academy, Town and Country, Mo. Missouri http://www.baseballamerica.com/college/2014-high-school-top-100-with-commitments/

Draft 14 – Tyler Kolek, Chad Sobotka, Quinn Brody, Michael Chavis

1-3-14 – TTF Baseball - 5. Minnesota Twins — Tyler Kolek, RHP, Sheppard HS (TX) - I really like Kolek here. The 6’-5”, 240 pound right-hander is a power arm whose fastball can touch triple digits. I saw him at Wrigley Field for the Under Armour AA game and he was hitting the mid 90s with ease. He can get wild with it at times but the arm strength is there already. He does show a good feel for a slider that has plus potential but needs work on refining his secondaries. Has been timed at 4.8 in the 40, so he shows very good athleticism for his size. Lots of upside here. Committed to TCU. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-2/40753#ppGUqI6CbWFvzsPf.99

12-9-13 – Pine Tar Press  -  34- RHP Chad Sobotka USC-Upstate- Little know right hander who was a high school SS in Sarasota, Florida. He has been used as a reliever at small USC-Upstate but emerged as a “must look” guy this summer on the Cape pitching for Chatham. He has a long, muscular frame and throws 3 quality pitches. He will be coached this year by the son of Royals great Bret Saberhagen. Sobotka will be one to keep an eye on this spring. (Out of first round- Orioles selection) http://pinetarpress.com/early-look-2014-mlb-draft/

11-21-13 – BA Top 100 High School Players - 95 Quinn Brodey LHP/OF L/L 6-0 201 Loyola HS, Los Angeles Stanford http://www.baseballamerica.com/college/2014-high-school-top-100-with-commitments/

12-10-13 – TTF – Top 50 HS Players - 23. Michael Chavis, 3B, Sprayberry HS (GA) - The 5’-11” right-hander is one of the better hitters in the 2014 MLB draft. He has also shown some incredible power and won the home run derby at the PG Classic — his last a bomb that ended up in the trees over the left field wall. He runs a 6.68/60 and has the hands, arm and instincts to to stick at third. Should hear his name a lot in the next year. Committed to Clemson. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-top-50/40532#zz88YJZTOG8iEa1Z.99

Draft 14 – Chase Vallot, Carl Chester, Nick Gordon, Dylan Cease, Chad Sobotka

8-15-13 - Under Armour All-Star Game – Chase Vallot, C:  If the Cubs can't land Jackson or feel like he can't stick at catcher, Vallot is the next best prep option.  There's a lot to like about Vallot, starting with a strong arm and great pop times (1.92 seconds) though like most H.S. catchers, he still needs work on his receiving skills.  Vallot has a strong build and should hit for power and as a bonus, is a pretty good athlete.  He's someone the Cubs could certainly be interested in if he lasts to their second pick -- but Vallot also has a chance to shoot up higher into the first round with a good season. http://www.chicagonow.com/cubs-den/2013/08/2014-mlb-draft-ua-game-roster-and-preview-plus-more-tickets-and-meet-up-information/

8-14-13 – Through The Fence – Top 50 Prospects – 43. Carl Chester, OF, Lake Brantley HS (FL) - A plus/plus runner who has been times at 6.28 in the 60, the right-hander can wreak havoc on the base paths, as well as in the outfield where you’d be hard pressed to hit anything over his head. At 6’-0” and 170 pounds, he also shows some raw power in his swing and excellent bat speed. A quick-twitch athlete with a lot of upside. He stole 18 of 20 bases as a junior and struck out just 11 times over 110 plate appearances. Committed to Miami. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-top-50-prospects/36463#mwWwsFxSUZy7YC5V.99

9-1-13 – Petco Game - Nick Gordon (SS/RHP) (L/R) 6’2″ 170; Grad: 2014 Orlando, FL This was my first look at the SS so thought I would include him on my list. Tall, lean look with good projection to body. Two way athlete and EZ  to dream considering the bloodline: father is Flash Gordon and brother is Dee Gordon (LAD). Fast twitch swing geared for contact/LD at the moment; lives in middle part of diamond. /As body matures and strengthens, can project as LD/gaps hitter with BA power. Instinctive base runner and SB threat. Alert defender w/quick first step and smooth, fluid actions. Plenty of arm to stay at SS. Premium  defender and future GG candidate. Pending how the bat progresses this spring, Nick has a chance to go early in the first round 2014. http://bigleaguefutures.net/1/2013/09/01/aflac-game-wrap-up-better-late-than-never/

9-4-13 – Mack’s Mock Draft v1.0 – 10 – Seattle – RHP  Dylan Cease – Milton (GA) HS – The second of four very talented high school righties that will go high in the first round.  Cease doesn’t throw as hard as the other two (92-95, 97), but he does project by most scouts to wind up being the most successful. Most of his other pitchers are still a work in progress.

9-10-13 – Top Arms in 2013 Cape Cod League - Chad Sobotka  (USC-Upstate Jr. ) 6-7/200, Chatham Anglers 24 IP, 24 K, 2.25 ERA: FB 89-94 CB 76-78 SL 81-87 CH 83-86 -  I became enamored with Sobotka the first time I same him mowing guys down at Y-D. His over the top arm angle generates tons of downward plane, and he spins the ball really well. With room to add weight, his stuff will get even better. http://bullpenbanter.com/2013-all-cape-team-pitchers/