10-28-11: - http://orioles-nation.com/2011/10/26/wwba-2012-highlights - Duane Underwood (Marietta GA; Pope HS) – An absolute flame thrower that can maintain the speed that ran up to 93-95 mph (touched 98 mph at East Coast Showcase). Does display a bit of effort on the hill leading to thoughts of power relief pitcher. He throws a curveball that sometimes flashes potential, but is not very consistent offering. Other than the effort in the throw, there is not much worry about pressure mechanically. It will depend on his ability to throw three consistent pitches. One of the better fastballs out of the high school rank.
11-15-11: - http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=6369 - Tanner Rahier (2012 SS, ABD Bulldogs)- The 6-foot-2, 210 pound shortstop really stood out during his third tour of duty at the WWBA World Championship. Rahier not only stood out defensively, but as per usual, put on a show with the bat. Rahier hit .429/.467/1.000 with a pair of triples, a double and a Home Run in 15 plate appearances. The oversized SoCal shortstop invokes the obvious physical comparison to another California product, Troy Tulowitzki. With the size and arm strength that Rahier possesses it would be easy to peg him as a future third basemen. But his speed and athleticism combined with his aggressive high effort fielding actions give him plus range at short in spite of playing at over 200 pounds. Rahier showed his athleticism off by posting a 6.62 60-yard dash time at the 2011 National Showcase. It was no fluke either, as Rahier ran a 6.67 at the California Underclass Showcase in January, a 6.63 at the 2010 West Coast Top Prospect Showcase and a 6.94 at the 2010 California Underclass as a sophomore. Even though he clearly possesses the arm strength to play third (93 mph in the workout at the National Showcase), there is no reason to believe that he will need to move off of shortstop. The only imminent position change for Rahier is that he will give up pitching to become a full-time position player. Rahier's combination of size, speed and power are extremely rare and he compliments his tools with an impressive makeup, hard nosed competitive approach and an obvious passion for the game.
11-15-11: - http://www.collegesummerbaseball.net/2011/11/top-50-position-players-in-northwoods.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter - Shaun Cooper OF Mankato MoonDogs---Utah Shaun was, hands down, the best player in all of summer ball this season. He absolutely crushed the ball from day one this summer. He was named the Northwoods League Most Valuable Player and Perfect Game named him as their Summer League Player of the Year. He hit .335/.641/.444 for the MoonDogs. He scored 55 runs, knocked in an amazing 61 rbi's and most impressively, hit 20 home runs. He also managed to steal 15 bases. He was just about the most amazing home run hitter in all of summer league baseball. He won the home run derby and hit an amazing 33 home runs in three rounds. He also hit .333, with 1 home run in the playoffs for Mankato. All in all, he was first in the league in home runs, first in runs batted in and tied for first in runs scored. He also placed third in the league in hits with 81. He was ranked as the 8th best prospect in the league by PG and Baseball America ranked him as the 15th best prospect in the league.
11-16-11: - http://ht.ly/1fGaJz - We continue the countdown today at number 66 with Louisville redshirt junior RHP Justin Amlung. The 6’0 175 pound righthander comes from Louisville, Kentucky and St. Xavier High School. He was a two year letter winner for coach John Jefferson going 7-1 with a 1.55 ERA and 50 strikeouts as a senior and was 6-3 with a 2.09 ERA and 45 strikeouts during his junior season. After taking a redshirt in 2009, he made 20 appearances (10 starts) going 5-2 with a 4.27 ERA in 65.1 innings during the 2010 season. He ended up striking out 55 batters while walking only 14 and holding opponents to a .286 batting average against.
http://www.collegebaseballdaily.com/2011/11/16/uncs-cody-stiles-dismissed-from-team - Cody Stiles was dismissed from UNC baseball team according to multiple media reports in the Chapel Hill area. Stiles was expected to be a key contributor to the UNC pitching staff in 2012. Last season, he went 4-0 in 12 appearances including eight starts while having an ERA of 2.43. As a freshman, he had seven appearances with one start while posting a 4.50 ERA without recording a decision. He was drafted by the New York Yankees in the 39th round out of J.P. Taravella High School but decided to head to Chapel Hill.
Nolan Fontana:
6-28-11: - http://baseballdraftreport.com/ - Fontana plays the same kind of defense Mooney plays, but provides much more upside at the plate. Actually, that first part last sentence is a lie; Fontana plays really good defense, much like Mooney does, but goes about it in a totally different way. Mooney can seemingly make any play up the middle, but is far more erratic in his ability to do so. Fontana, on the other hand, won’t wow you with tremendous physical gifts in the field, but the guy just makes every darn play imaginable. My notes on him describe that pretty well: “really, really good defender without elite defense tools or athleticism.” I’m not sure Fontana has a clear plus physical tool — maybe the hit tool, but even that’s probably a stretch — but the sum of his parts far exceed the whole package here. I know I run the risk of overusing this already nebulous phrase, but, much like fellow sophomore Mike Zunino, Fontana already plays the game like a big league ballplayer.
Cody Stiles:
6-20-11: - http://bleacherreport.com/articles/740905-omaha-eye-openers-2012-mlb-draft-prospects-at-the-2011-college-world-series#/articles/740905-omaha-eye-openers-2012-mlb-draft-prospects-at-the-2011-college-world-series/page/8 - RHP Cody Stiles should be a mid-round target for some teams. He was selected by the Yankees in the 39th round back in 2009, but spurned their offer to join the Tar Heels in the hopes that he would someday squeeze his way into the rotation. He made eight starts this season, in addition to four relief appearances and pitched very well, posting a 4-0 record, a 2.43 ERA and a 29:13 K:BB ratio in 37 innings. With the departure of Patrick Johnson, it looks like Stiles might get that chance.
Rock Rucker:
6-28-11: - http://mlbdraftguide.com/1/2011/06/27/rock-rucker-2012-draft-profile - Rock Rucker is a legitimate 2 way prospect for the 2012 draft, a lefthander with a power arm and a power bat. He is a good athlete who has improved his game consistently. Rucker has a smooth swing with plus bat speed. He has plus raw power and good speed for his size (6.82-60). In the outfield, Rucker has solid range and a strong arm. He gets good jumps on contact and takes good routes. On the mound, Rucker’s fastball gets to 91 and he projects to add more velocity. His curveball is a potential plus pitch.
Kavin Keyes:
6-29-11: - http://www.mlbbonusbaby.com/2011/6/29/2250695/the-all-reese-team#storyjump - 2B: Kavin Keyes, Freshman from Oregon State University - This might be cheating as Keyes played a few positions this year before settling in as Oregon State's DH. He was supposed to be a member of the 2011 draft class, but graduated early and took his talents to OSU. He made a few nice plays in games that I watched, ranging well, showcasing a strong arm for the position and showing good reactions (I'm thinking specifically of a play where he made a great leaping catch on a smoked line drive, doubling off the runner at first in the process). At the plate, he showed the ability to take pitches, and did a fantastic job extending his arms while making contact. Honorable Mention: Lonnie Kauppila, Freshamn from Stanford University
Wes Tranckino:
7-1-11: - http://mlbdraftguide.com/1/2011/06/30/wes-tranckino-2012-draft-profile - Player: Wes Tranckino Position: 3B School: Edmond Memorial HS, OK Date Of Birth: 7/31/1993 Height/Weight: 6’2/195 Bats/Throws: R/R Class Of: 2012 Scouting Report: Wes Tranckino is one of the top high school hitters in Oklahoma. Tranckino has a smooth swing with good bat speed. He makes solid contact and has power to all fields. Tranckino is a solid defender at third. He moves well and has good hands
Davis Hall:
6-14-11: - http://www.collegesummerbaseball.net/2011/06/pitcher-of-night-in-prospect-league_14.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter My Hitter of the Night in the Prospect League from June 10th is Davis Hall of the Vienna River Dogs by way of the University of Memphis. Davis picked up the win by throwing seven quality innings. He allowed just one run on three hits and he walked just one batter. He also fanned four batters in the game
Michael Wacha:
http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110608&content_id=20222396&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb&partnerId=rss_mlb Michael Wacha, RHP, Texas A&M: Wacha stepped up with John Stilson on the shelf to pitch A&M to a Super Regional. He'll be the staff ace in 2012.
Devin Marrero:
6-11-11: - http://bleacherreport.com/articles/722354-2012-mlb-mock-draft-early-predictions-for-next-years-top-10-picks#/articles/722354-2012-mlb-mock-draft-early-predictions-for-next-years-top-10-picks/page/7 - Having two teammates (Gerrit Cole and Trevor Bauer) drafted in the Top Three this past draft is a pretty rare feat. The 2012 draft might feature two such duos selected in the Top Five, with (Devin) Marrero ranking as the top defensive shortstop in this class. Marrero famously played on the same high school squad that won a national championship a few years ago behind the bat of Eric Hosmer. Now, he's a draft prospect in his own right. And he's actually been one before. Marrero was drafted by the Reds in the 17th-round back in 2009, but his commitment to ASU was too strong for him to leave. Two-an-a-half seasons later, he's on the verge of being talked about as one of the top college prospects for the 2012 draft. Marrero had an amazing freshman campaign last year, finishing on a tear, hitting .397 with 12 doubles, three triples, six homers and 42 RBIs. He also scored 31 runs and stole 11 bases. And for a freshman, he sure didn't strike out a lot (only 24 K's in 156 at-bats). This season he regressed a bit, most likely because of the new college bats, but he still had a solid year. He hit .319 in 51 games, rapped 14 doubles and three triples and drove in 20 runs, while scoring 30 of his own. The power all but disappeared (only two HRs in 207 ABs) and he didn't steal as many bases (10-for-15) as expected. Still, Marrero continued to provide solid defense at the most challenging position and projects to be a slightly above-average hitter as a pro. He likely won't hit for too much power, but he should be a doubles machine and a threat to hit five to 10 triples each year. Think of Marrero as a more polished version of this year's first-round pick, Francisco Lindor
Cody Stiles:
6-14-11: - http://baseballdraftreport.com/ - SO RHP Cody Stiles (2012)
7.54 K/9 – 2.92 BB/9 – 3.91 FIP – 37 IP- With two breaking balls with above-average upside, Stiles heads into his junior campaign with a chance to shoot up draft boards. This isn’t a realistic comp for a sophomore coming off a 37 inning regular season, but there is something about Stiles’ repertoire (94 peak FB, promising SL and CB, CU with sink) that reads a little like 2011 first round pick Matt Barnes.
Mike Zunino:
6-15-11: - http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=5887 - 1. C Mike Zunino, Florida -- The outstanding sophomore has had an incredible campaign for the Gators and hopes to continue his consistent ways in Omaha. Zunino is hitting .376 with 22 doubles, 18 home runs and 66 RBIs. He also has a .686 slugging percentage and a solid .444 OBP. Additionally, Zunino has induced 29 walks this season
