Draft Notes 5-20-12 – Chris Beck, Kurt Heyer, Mark Appel, Trent Black, Brian Johnson

Chris Beck:

A meh outing for a supposed blue chipper: 6.0-IP, 6-H, 4-R, 2-ER, 7-K, 1-BB. From team recap: “The runs gave Chris Beck (Jefferson, Ga.) his first win since April 6th at Davidson. Beck (5-7) allowed four runs - two earned runs - on six hits over six strong frames. Beck gave up three runs over the first three frames but settled down to strike out six batters over the final three frames.”

Mack Projection: I’m just not high on this kid. He pitches against inferior teams. I have him in the sup-1 round.

Kurt Heyer:

This one was for the draft boards:  8.0-IP, 6-H, 1-ER, 4-K, 2-BB. From team recap: “Heyer improved to 10-2 on the season and lowered his earned run average to 2.20 with eight strong innings. The right-hander allowed just one run on six hits, struck out four and walked only two.”

Mack projection:  Kurt will be picked on the first day in the sup-1 round.

Mark Appel:

Perfect timing for the scouts Friday night: 9.0-IP, CH- 0-R, 4-H, 13-K, 1-BB. This should lock up the first pitcher taken in the draft. From team recap: “Appel retired 12 in a row until in the middle innings-- five by strikeout, until back-to-back singles in the sixth. Appel twice struck out the side after giving up hits, in the second and sixth innings.”

Mack projection: Hmm.. 4^th pick behind Zunino, Buxton, and Zimmer

Trent Black:

Who the heck is Trent Black? I don’t think I ever typed his name before. The 6-2 RHP Baylor (42-13) senior put seven scoreless inning on Texas (29-20) Friday night, raising his seasonal record to 10-1. From team recap: “With the win, Blank (10-1) posted the 15th double-digit wins total in a single season in program history. He allowed only five singles, struck out five, walked one and threw 96 pitches in 7.0 shutout innings to lower his season ERA to 2.11.”

Mack projection: I have no idea. Seniors usually are third day picks.

Brian Johnson:

Florida (40-15) LHSP Brian Johnson waited for the right moment to show his best Friday against Auburn (29-26). From site: “Johnson (6-4) matched his season and career high with a seven-inning stint in which he allowed just two singles and an unearned run, with seven strikeouts and two walks.

Mack projection: This outing alone returns him to a late first round pick.

Mets Signing Bonus Money Per Round:

            Total-   $7,151,400 - 12 $2,550,000  - 35 $1,467,400 - 71 $723,600  - 75 $680,400 - 107 $445,400 - 140 $323,900 - 170 $242,600 - 200 $181,700 - 230 $146,600 - 260 $136,900 - 290 $127,900 - 320 $125,000

Jonathan Mayo –

            1. Houston Astros: Mark Appel, RHP, Stanford

2. Minnesota Twins: Byron Buxton, OF, Appling County HS (Ga.)

3. Seattle Mariners: Mike Zunino, C, Florida

4. Baltimore Orioles: Kevin Gausman, RHP, Louisiana State

5. Kansas City Royals: Kyle Zimmer, RHP, San Francisco

6. Chicago Cubs: Albert Almora, OF, Mater Academy (Fla.)

7. San Diego Padres: Carlos Correa, SS, Puerto Rico Baseball Academy

8. Pittsburgh Pirates: Deven Marrero, SS, Arizona State

9. Miami Marlins: Courtney Hawkins, OF, Carroll HS (Texas)

10. Colorado Rockies: Max Fried, LHP, Harvard-Westlake HS, (Calif.)

Draft Notes 5-12-12 – Lance McCullers, Chris Beck, Martin Acosta, Dylan Florio

LHP Chris Beck and OF Victor Roache graduate today. Hopefully, Vic can accept the diploma with his healing wing. 

Nathan Rode -

Lance McCullers' 130-pitch effort Friday advanced No. 1 Tampa Jesuit to the 5-A state semi-finals to face No. 14 American Heritage.

           

A few of us writers here at MMs keep going around and around on Lance. None of us things he sucks but none of us agree what he’s worth to a major league team. We all assumed when the first mock drafts came out that this kid was the best kid in the draft. He definitely dominated all the press before the 2011 draft and there seemed to be no question that he was the next in the line of super picks. It just was wrong. He’s great, but he’s not Harper or Strasburg. I’ve read some of the best pundits and most project him as a middle reliever. It’s amazing how somebody can do that when the kid is still in high school. Look, God gives you the velo and this kid has it. Isn’t everything else teachable? Whatever.  In my book, he’s not worth a #12 and he won’t be around by the Mets sup-1 pick. Back-end first rounder at worst or one of the West Coast teams will pick him early.

Courtney Hawkins‏ -

John Mackin Ade  - good then I want to thank you for all the encouragement and dedication you give me through your site all the bad I read helps”

Kendall Rogers‏ -

TAMU RHP Ross Stripling tosses a no-hitter against SDSU on the same day he graduates

Adam Foster -

Mark Appel (8.0-IP, 6-H, 2-R, 10-K, 1-BB, 121-P) threw some really good changeups. Mostly used it outside to lefties, though…

If I were to retroactively rank Stanford RHP Mark Appel in Project Prospect 's 2012 Top 100, he'd be in the 25-50 range.

Kyle Zimmer -

Time to go win a series

GSU LHP Chris Beck – 4.3-IP, 10-H, 3-R, 3-K, 3-BB, 91-P – Beck graduated with questionable outings against inferior competition. Where do you draft this kid?  14-G, 13-ST, 4-6, 3.86, 99-K, 24-BB, 86.2-IP. I don’t know… right now I’d say sup-1.

St. Mary’s Martin Acosta – 8.0-IP, 6-H, 1-R, 12-K, 1-BB, 104-P – we know the competition is suspect, but stat line is impressive:  12-G, 12-ST, 8-2, 2.37, 87.1-IP, 74-K, 24-BB. A few too many walks at this level and a few too little strikeouts… 3^rd round?

CSF Dylan Florio – 6.3-IP, 9-H, 7-R, 2-K, 1-BB, W – so, do you go home happy after getting accredited for a win when you gave up seven runs? Florio has bee dominant all season long so we’re going to give him a pass on this one. I still see him being drafted on the first day, but probably as a sup-pick.

Draft Notes – Matthew Grabusky, Matthew Reckling, Mark Appel, Chris Beck

Matthew Grabusky of MLB Draft Guide joined me on Friday to discuss ten of the guys that will probably go in the first round come June. I tossed the names around, created some either-or questions, and here’s where Matt went:

Mack:                 Appel or Giolito?

Matt:                 Easier choice before the injury, but still Giolito.

Mack:                 Dahl or Hawkins? 

Matt:                  I'm high on both, but Dahl seems like the safer choice.

Mack:                 Correa or Marrero? 

Matt:                  Correa, over anyone.

Mack:                 Fried or Johnson? 

Matt:                  Fried and easily.

Mack:                 Shaffer or Gallo? 

Matt:                  Love Gallo's power, but that might be all there is to love with him, so Shaffer. 

Rice hasn’t had the best of baseball times. It used to be a lock that the Owls would turn out at least one MLB quality starter every year. Legendary poster, Walt Greenburg, would always keep us informed about his alma mater back on NYFS when all of us original Mets posters all got along.  

Well, they got a good one this year. 

RHP Matthew Reckling has, as Kendall Rogers said, been ‘insanely good this season’. He struck out ten East Carolina batters Friday night and increased his seasonal stat line to: 7-0, 1.44, 68.2-IP, 80-K. No one has mocked Reckling into the first round yet, but ya never know.

Stanford RHP Mark Appel showed he was human again Friday night, going only six innings, giving up two earned runs, while striking out only three and walking two. These are not the kind of numbers a number one overall draft pick throws. I keep moving Appel down the list, who just might be falling out of the top ten. 

Re: GSU Chris Beck… the good news was the 11-Ks in 8.0-innings Friday night. The bad news was the seven runs, four earned. I mean, aren’t all  pitchers partially responsible for runs? I mean, just because your shortstop boot a play doesn’t mean you should be off the hook if the next three batters single. Regarding Beck, against this inferior competition, he’s a sup-1 pick at best, probably a 2.

Draft 2012 – Carson Kelly, Branden Kline, Chris Beck, Corey Seager, Josh Elander

Carson Kelly — 6’-2”, 3B/RHP, Westview HS (OR) - Kelly, the top prep player in Oregon, is an athlete who excels both on the mound and at the plate. He hit .473 with 14 home runs as a junior and is a line-drive hitter with power to all fields. Has very good bat speed and a solid approach at the plate. His strong arm and athleticism should allow him to stick at third base, if he chooses. As a pitcher, his curve, sinker and 93 mph fastball are all quality pitches with the ability to get better with more time and focus on the mound. Was outstanding at the Pan Am Championships for Team USA, going 2-0 1.29 ERA and 12 K/1 BB over 14 innings. http://www.throughthefencebaseball.com/top-50-draft-prospects-for-2012-50-thru-26/15621/

Branden Kline / RHP / Virginia – A plus fastball and breaking ball, Kline would be the first reliever off the board if not for Stroman. He won’t dominate hitters, but a solid set up man with the potential for more if he can add a tick or two on his heater. http://mlbdraftinsider.com/2011/12/top-twelve-college-pitchers/

Chris Beck is a strong right-hander who may not be the first college arm to come off Draft boards, but a strong junior season could have him in the top of the first-round discussion. The Georgia native has the chance to have three pitches that will be Major League average or better. He can run his fastball up to 94 mph, sitting comfortably at 92-93 mph, and he maintains his velocity deep into starts. When he stays on top of his slider, it's a sharp breaking ball with late tilt. His changeup is above-average with late sink and a lot of deception. He can throw all three pitches for strikes and has a very good feel for pitching. For a guy with his size and stuff -- think a Kyle Davies type with more power -- he doesn't always throw like a power arm. His fastball will flatten out at times and his slider isn't always crisp, but if he would pitch off of his fastball more, he could be even better, a frontline starter with three weapons to choose from. http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/prospects/watch/y2012/

http://mlbdraftinsider.com/2011/12/top-twelve-high-school-position-players/#more-602  10. Corey Seager / 2B / NW Carrabus HS (NC): This is another aggressive ranking, but just watch the kid take batting practice and you’ll understand why I’m high on the South Carolina commit. The ball jumps off his bat to all parts of the field, and his bat speed is as good as any infielder in the class. He might have to move to third-base, but there’s plenty of arm strength to play the hot corner.

Josh Elander is a good catching prospect, but he the potential to be a high-riser in the months before the 2012 MLB Draft if he can show more flashes of the ability scouts have seen in him. Elander has shown good bat speed with an ability to spray line drives all over the field, but he has been primarily a singles hitter thus far in his career. Scouts have seen the power potential in Elander, but maybe his swing is too short for him to display it in games. He does have pretty good plate discipline, but he strikes out too much, especially for a player who’s a singles hitter at this point. He is fast for a catcher, able to run a 6.78 in the 60 (4.5 in the 40), and he was a perfect 9 for 9 in stolen bases in 2011. If Elander can ever bring his power out, he’ll be a good offensive prospect. Right now, he’s a decent hitting prospect at best. Defensively, Elander has a very strong arm and he is smooth behind the plate. He has the makings of a good defensive catcher.  http://rayscoloredglasses.com/2011/12/21/taking-an-early-look-at-the-catchers-in-the-2012-mlb-draft-part-1

Draft 2012 – Eric Grabe , Stephen Piscott, Chris Beck, Josh Elander, Kris Hall

Eric Grabe has made alot of stops since high school.  He has played for three colleges and also played in the Coastal Plains League for three straight summers.  One thing that has remained constant is Grabe’s production.  Grabe has hit everywhere he has been.  He has good bat speed and is willing to take a walk.  While in high school, his 60 time was 6.98. Grabe is a versatile defender, which should help him at the next level.  He moves well in the infield and has a good arm.  He can handle either third or second. While his name is not likely to be called early in the draft, Grabe’s play merits being chosen at some point http://mlbdraftguide.com/

Stephen Piscotty — 6’-3”, 3B, Stanford - With his smooth swing and excellent bat speed, Piscotty is one of the purest hitters in the draft, able to spray the ball to all fields. He hit .364 with three home runs and 40 RBI over 57 games as a sophomore in 2011. He then led the Cape Cod League with a .349 average. His lack of power could force a move to left field where his strong and accurate arm could play well. http://www.throughthefencebaseball.com/top-50-draft-prospects-for-2012-50-thru-26/15621/

Chris Beck / RHP / Georgia Southern – If you’re curious why Beck is ranked so low, it’s simple — I haven’t seen him yet, and I have a hard time putting someone in the top three that I haven’t seen with my own eyes (another argument against putting these top twelve up so early, I know). The reports say that the Beck has a low 90′s fastball with a change-up that ranges from above-average to plus and a slider in that same grade range. I’ll  see Beck very early next year, and don’t be surprised if he’s fast riser in the early editions of The Board. http://mlbdraftinsider.com/2011/12/top-twelve-college-pitchers  

A solid prospect coming out of high school, teams knew Josh Elander would be a tough sign, so he slid and went on to TCU as planned. He's emerging as a very interesting backstop option. Strong and athletic, Elander has a lot of strength and will flash excellent bat speed at the plate, though he does try to muscle up at times. He has the power to hit the ball out anywhere, but it's especially apparent to his pull side. He runs well, especially for a catcher, and also can play the outfield. His defense is a work in progress, but he has a solid-average arm and moves fairly well behind the plate. He has very good instincts and is an intense competitor. Elander's overall status might hinge on how he looks behind the plate as 2012 unfolds. His bat and power potential will get him drafted, but if he continues to show improvement behind the plate, he'll move up boards as a potential everyday backstop from the college ranks. http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/prospects/watch/y2012/

Kris Hall, a 2009 graduate of Strongsville High School, is a top college baseball pitching prospect who is now honing his skills year-round in the warm Cleveland weather. Cleveland, Tennessee, that is. After attending Cleveland State University his freshman year, Hall transferred to Lee University where the slightly sunnier climate will allow him to practice throughout the winter. Hall, a 6-foot-3, 220-pound right-handed pitcher, was recently ranked 80th on Baseball America’s national list of top 100 college players eligible for the 2012 draft http://highschoolsports.cleveland.com/news/article/8667157097217668852/strongsville-high-school-graduate-kris-hall-ranked-as-one-of-colleges-top-baseball-prospects

Draft 2012: - Lucas Giolito, Vincent Jackson, Chris Beck, Deven Marrero

12-2-11: - http://mlbdraftcountdown.wordpress.com/2011/12/02/2012-mlb-mock-draft-updated-top-15-with-final-mlb-standings - 6) Chicago Cubs: Lucas Giolito, RHP, Harvard-Westlake HS (CA) It was refreshing to see the Cubs stop trying to outsmart everyone in the 2011 draft. Instead of pulling a “Hayden Simpson,” the club simply went with the best available hitter, Javier Baez, a player of such great talent that will hopefully rid the organization of the taste of failure that was Josh Vitters. And while the Cubs picked up one of the top players in the draft, they did nothing to combat the lack of quality starting pitching in their farm system. Their top pitching prospect, Trey McNutt, had a terrible campaign in 2011, and there were few, if any, pitchers who had breakout seasons for Chicago. They did add a few arms in the mid-to-late rounds of the draft, but they currently lack a true elite talent on the mound. Lucas Giolito is just that. He’s been on team’s radar since the beginning of his junior season, during which he showed not only improved velocity (he’s up to 93-97 mph), but also greatly improved command of all of his pitches. If Theo Epstein could start off his first draft as the head honcho in Chicago with Giolito, you would have to call it a success.

12-15-11: - http://mlbdraftguide.com/1/2011/12/12/vincent-jackson-2012-draft-profile - Vincent Jackson is one of the top prospects from the state of Georgia.  He has a tall, athletic build with plenty of projection. Jackon does not have the prettiest swing, but he gets good results with it.  He could incorporate his lower half better.  He has quick hands and good bat speed.  Jackson has good power potential.  His 60 time is 6.77. Reports are positive on Jackson’s defense, both in the outfield and at first base.  He has the speed to play in the outfield.  He also has a solid, accurate arm. Jackson also shows potential on the mound, but his future at the next level will be as a position player.

12-15-11: - http://www.gainesvilletimes.com/section/28/article/60482 - Former Jefferson High pitching standout Chris Beck had the opportunity to play professionally after he graduated from in 2009, but decided to prolong the move by accepting a scholarship to play for Georgia Southern University. With a strong build and high potential coming out of high school, Beck was drafted in the 35th round (1,055 overall pick) by the Cleveland Indians. After two seasons at Georgia Southern, the 6-3, 220 pound right-hander was listed as the No. 8 prospect in the nation by MLB.com recently. Talk about the difference a couple of years can make. The list includes the top 50 draft-eligible high school and college players for the 2012 MLB draft. Beck is one of five pitchers to make the top 10 and one of just three college pitchers, coming in behind No. 6 Kevin Gausman from LSU and No. 1 Mark Appel from Stanford.

12-15-11: - http://www.minorleaguerundown.com/2011/12/12/2012-draft-top-3-college-shortstopssecond-baseman - Deven Marrero (Arizona State): The 17th round pick of the 2009 draft is much more than the best college shortstop prospect. He’s arguably one of the top overall players available this June. His work ethic seems to play up his tools a bit, not to say that plenty of natural talent isn’t there. Even though it looks as if he’ll have more inherent value with his glove than his bat, don’t sleep on Marrero’s offensive potential. His offensive tools will never be huge, but he’s a smart hitter who can walk a fair amount, make quality contact, and steal a base.

Draft 2012: - Deven Marrero, Chris Beck, Dominick Ruscitti, Adam Brett Walker, Max Muncy

12-2-11: - http://mlbdraftcountdown.wordpress.com/2011/12/02/2012-mlb-mock-draft-updated-top-15-with-final-mlb-standings - 3) Seattle Mariners: Deven Marrero, SS, Arizona State  The Mariners have somehow gotten worse every season since Jack Zduriencik took over as GM in October of 2008, and honestly, the future doesn’t appear to be too bright. Yes, they still have one of the top pitchers in baseball in Felix Hernandez and they have an burgeoning ace in Michael Pineda, but their offense has taken dramatic steps backward. Ichiro is half the player he used to be, and aside from Dustin Ackley, their lineup has very little excitement. It should be noted that 10 players who played in more than 50 games hit under the .250 mark. Justin Smoak (.234), Brendan Ryan (.248), Chone Figgins (.188) and Franklin Gutierrez (.224) all looked especially terrible at the plate. Defensively, the Mariners weren’t much better, posting a middle-of-the-pack fielding percentage. The M’s could kill two birds with one stone with the selection of Deven Marrero, a solid all-around player capable of hitting .300 at the big-league level while providing Gold Glove caliber defense. Marrero is hands down the top shortstop available regardless of draft class (high school or college). The Mariners flirted with the idea of taking Francisco Lindor last year, and in Marrero, they would be getting a more seasoned version.

12-9-11: - http://clickthepaper2.com/2011/12/09/former-dragon-is-no-8-mlb-prospect-for-2012-draft  - former Jefferson High pitching standout Chris Beck had the opportunity to play professionally after he graduated from JHS in 2009, but decided to prolong the move by accepting a scholarship to play for Georgia Southern University. With a strong build and high potential coming out of high school, Beck was drafted in the 35th round (1,055 overall pick) of Major League Baseball’s First Year Players Draft by the Cleveland Indians. After two seasons with GSU, the 6-3, 220 pound right-hander was listed as the No. 8 prospect in the nation, according to MLB.com last week.

12-9-11: - http://www.collegesummerbaseball.net/2011/12/top-20-pitchers-in-perfect-game.html  -    Dominick Ruscitti   RHP   Newark Pilots---Kutztown -  Dominick is a 6-2/230 right-hander from Washingtonville, NY. He was simply the best pitcher in the league this summer, and the league agrees with me as he was named the Pitcher of the Year in the PGCBL.  He led the league with 6 wins and led the league with a 1.82 era in 59.1 innings pitched. He completed two games, made eight starts and held the opposition to just 42 hits allowed this summer. He walked 15 batters and he fanned 49 this summer. Dominick also held opponents to a .196 batting average this summer. Perfect Game ranked him as the 30th best prospect in the league. 

12-12-11: - http://ht.ly/1g8auL  - We continue the countdown today at number 44 with Jacksonville junior outfielder Adam Brett Walker. The Milwaukee, Wisconsin native attended Milwaukee Lutheran High School where he was a three year starter. His senior season saw him named all-state, all-area and all-conference. His junior season saw him earn multiple awards also being named all-state, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel All-Area and first team all-conference after batting a school-record .569 (33-58) with eight home runs and a 1.121 slugging percentage. Walker’s freshman season saw him become an everyday player with 51 appearances, including 49 starts (38 as the designated hitter, eight in right field, three at first base). He finished the season with the fourth highest batting average on the Dolphins squad at .313 with a team highs in homers (16) and RBI (58). He was named first team Freshman All-America by Louisville Slugger and NCBWA while picking up second team All-Atlantic Sun and All-Freshman Atlantic Sun.

12-13-11: - http://ht.ly/1g9nnf     - We continue the countdown today at number 43 with Baylor junior first baseman Max Muncy. The Keller, Texas native attended Keller High School where he was a three year letterwinner for Rob Stramp. In his three year high school career, he hit 22 homers and 46 doubles while being named a two-time All-District 5-5A selection, 2009 Under Armour All-American, 2009 Class 5A all-state selection, and 2008 First-Pitch Classic all-tournament member. As a freshman in 2010, he saw action in 59 games with a .300 batting average with a team high in homers (11) and RBI (53) with 47 runs scored and 13 doubles. He was named a 2010 Freshman All-American by Collegiate Baseball and a Fort Worth Regional All-Tournament team member. He spent the 2010 summer in the Cape Cod Baseball League with the Wareham Gatemen. He played in 44 games hitting three homers and driving in 25 runs while having a batting average of .243.

2012 Draft: - Gavin Cecchini, Jeffrey Gibbs, Trevor Gott, Chris Beck, Jake Drossner

Gavin Cecchini:


7-21-11: - http://www.mockdraftmania.com/  - 10. Chicago White Sox Gavin Cecchini SS Barbe High School Louisiana Cecchini will commit to Ole Miss if he doesn’t like the salary he is being offered. The White Sox have a higher payroll then any AL Central team so they should take Cecchini. Cecchini could rival the 2 Pac 10 shortstops that are competing for the top pick.


Jeffrey Gibbs:


7-19-11: - http://www.mlbbonusbaby.com/2011/6/29/2250656/early-look-at-2012#comments  – Jeffrey Gibbs, Maine, 6’3 1/2 200, have had the opportunity to see this young man 2 times in last 2 years and he has a very good arm, fb that touches 93 and seems to get people out and he competes, never shows emotion and has command of his pitches. Could be best pitcher to come out of Maine’s program since Billy Swift or Scott Morse.


Trevor Gott:


8-2-11: - http://www.collegebaseballdaily.com/2011/08/02/cape-cod-baseball-league-all-star-pitchers-trevor-gott-carter-capps-bobby-wahl-ryan-eades-austin-voth/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+CollegeBaseballDaily+%28College+Baseball+Daily%29&utm_content=Twitter  - Trevor Gott (Kentucky)- The Wildcats RHP worked a quick ninth inning pounding the strikezone with 1o strikes out of 13 pitches while striking out two batters in a perfect inning of work. Gott was mediocre in the collegiate season as he went 0-2 with a 4.72 ERA in 13.1 innings. He walked five batters and struck out 14 during the season. He has been better this summer in 17 appearances recording 11 saves with an ERA of 1.35. He has struck out 24 batters in his 20 innings pitched.


Chris Beck:


8-3-11: - http://mlbdraftguide.com/1/2011/08/02/chris-beck-2012-draft-profile  - When people think of the 2012 draft and Georgia Southern, Victor Roache is the player that immediately comes to mind. Georgia Southern does have another quality draft prospect in Chris Beck. He put up good numbers during the 2011 season and finished strong, being named the Southern Conference Tournament Most Outstanding Player. In the tournament, Beck won both of his starts and recorded 22 strikeouts. He has capitalized upon that success by putting together an All-Star season at the Cape. Beck throws a mid-90′s fastball, from 92-96. He also throws a slider 81-84 and a change 80-83. Playing on the same team as Roache will give Beck plenty of opportunities to impress scouts in the spring.


Jake Drossner:


7-19-11: - http://www.mlbbonusbaby.com/2011/6/29/2250656/early-look-at-2012#comments  - Jake Drossner, Council Rock North HS, Newtown PA, 6’3 190, loose lefty crosses body some during land, fb up to 90, most were upper 80’ and had downer type cb that got hitters out front and looking, was around the plate, has good move to 1b for age, could be 1-3 rounder, on paper is a 4-7 round follow, but could come on next year.

Draft 2012 – Eric Grabe , Stephen Piscott, Chris Beck, Josh Elander, Kris Hall

Eric Grabe has made alot of stops since high school.  He has played for three colleges and also played in the Coastal Plains League for three straight summers.  One thing that has remained constant is Grabe’s production.  Grabe has hit everywhere he has been.  He has good bat speed and is willing to take a walk.  While in high school, his 60 time was 6.98. Grabe is a versatile defender, which should help him at the next level.  He moves well in the infield and has a good arm.  He can handle either third or second. While his name is not likely to be called early in the draft, Grabe’s play merits being chosen at some point http://mlbdraftguide.com/

Stephen Piscotty — 6’-3”, 3B, Stanford - With his smooth swing and excellent bat speed, Piscotty is one of the purest hitters in the draft, able to spray the ball to all fields. He hit .364 with three home runs and 40 RBI over 57 games as a sophomore in 2011. He then led the Cape Cod League with a .349 average. His lack of power could force a move to left field where his strong and accurate arm could play well. http://www.throughthefencebaseball.com/top-50-draft-prospects-for-2012-50-thru-26/15621/

Chris Beck / RHP / Georgia Southern – If you’re curious why Beck is ranked so low, it’s simple — I haven’t seen him yet, and I have a hard time putting someone in the top three that I haven’t seen with my own eyes (another argument against putting these top twelve up so early, I know). The reports say that the Beck has a low 90′s fastball with a change-up that ranges from above-average to plus and a slider in that same grade range. I’ll  see Beck very early next year, and don’t be surprised if he’s fast riser in the early editions of The Board. http://mlbdraftinsider.com/2011/12/top-twelve-college-pitchers  

A solid prospect coming out of high school, teams knew Josh Elander would be a tough sign, so he slid and went on to TCU as planned. He's emerging as a very interesting backstop option. Strong and athletic, Elander has a lot of strength and will flash excellent bat speed at the plate, though he does try to muscle up at times. He has the power to hit the ball out anywhere, but it's especially apparent to his pull side. He runs well, especially for a catcher, and also can play the outfield. His defense is a work in progress, but he has a solid-average arm and moves fairly well behind the plate. He has very good instincts and is an intense competitor. Elander's overall status might hinge on how he looks behind the plate as 2012 unfolds. His bat and power potential will get him drafted, but if he continues to show improvement behind the plate, he'll move up boards as a potential everyday backstop from the college ranks. http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/prospects/watch/y2012/

Kris Hall, a 2009 graduate of Strongsville High School, is a top college baseball pitching prospect who is now honing his skills year-round in the warm Cleveland weather. Cleveland, Tennessee, that is. After attending Cleveland State University his freshman year, Hall transferred to Lee University where the slightly sunnier climate will allow him to practice throughout the winter. Hall, a 6-foot-3, 220-pound right-handed pitcher, was recently ranked 80th on Baseball America’s national list of top 100 college players eligible for the 2012 draft http://highschoolsports.cleveland.com/news/article/8667157097217668852/strongsville-high-school-graduate-kris-hall-ranked-as-one-of-colleges-top-baseball-prospects