Brady Aiken, Jackson Reetz, Forest Griffin, Carlos Rodon, A.J. Reed

5-12-14 - Brady Aiken, LHP, Cathedral Catholic HS (CA) - When you’re projected to be the first prep player off the board, and maybe first player off the board, you know you had an impressive year. At 6’-4” and 200 pounds, Aiken wowed scouts all year with his added velocity and has touched 96 mph this year. He adds two potential plus off-speed offerings and he has excellent command of his stuff. He is getting the Clayton Kershaw comp and, although unfair for any player, you can see the comparisons. He is as polished as any prep pitcher in recent memory and he is only going to get better. Through 43.2 innings, he has 80 K/7 BB, allowing five runs on 19 hits. Committed to UCLA. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-high-school-players-rise-final-edition/42853#cZ17mE5vsjiSvU18.99

3-26-14 – MaxiPreps – Jackson Reetz, Norris (Firth, Neb.) - You won't find many season-opening performances better than Reetz's. He went 3-for-3 with three runs scored, five RBIs, a triple and two home runs in leading his team to an 11-0 win over Lincoln. He went 1-for-2 against Waverly and is batting .667 (4 for 6) on the season. http://www.maxpreps.com/news/kRbRSgP8z06XdyYf0_JnPg/tyler-kolek,-michael-gettys,-brady-aiken-among-senior-baseball-prospects-off-to-strong-starts.htm

3-12-14 – 10 High School Players on the Rise – Foster Griffin, LHP, the First Academy HS (FL) - At 6’-5” and 190 pounds, the southpaw has a lot of projection due to his size and loose frame. He has been hitting 94 mph with his fastball recently and, along with a much improved breaking ball, is generating first-round buzz. Over 15.2 innings this season, he has 26 K/7 BB and has allowed eight hits. Committed to Mississippi. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-10-high-school-players-rise/41773#oFu0m6JRyhOHXIwD.99

3-9-14 – MLB Draft Insider - Carlos Rodon - LHP NC State – Rodon pitched a complete game today as part of a double header. He was reportedly throwing hard to the end of the game, but the numbers show he was not quite as dominant as he has shown in the past. He allowed ten hits, one walks, and three runs. He also struck out seven hitters; it was another good showing and he notched a win against Notre Dame. Rodon the likely top pick in the draft currently has the highest BA/against and ERA of the NC State starters, the pitching staff for NC State has been lights out all year. http://mlbdraftinsider.com/2014/03/the-rundown-march-8/#more-3872

3-11-14 – TTF -  A.J. Reed, 1B/LHP, Kentucky (NR) - Over his last six games, Reed has reached base 19 times. He has gone 7-for-15 (.467), has drawn eight walks and has been hit by a pitch four times. He has added two home runs and driven in 10 runs over that span. On the season, the 6’-4”, 240 pound left0hander is now hitting .436/.579/.945 (1.524 OPS) with eight home runs, 28 RBI and has drawn 15 walks to nine strikeouts. He has been the best offensive player in the nation and he can sling it on the mound, as well. Over four starts, he is 3-0 with a 1.38 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 14 K/9 BB over 26 innings. Some think he has more upside on the mound, but if he keeps hitting the way he has, he could be a first round pick due to his bat. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-10-college-players-rise-week-4/41715#PjStmsQ7UB5h8BYU.99

Draft 14 – Derek Fisher, Riley Moore, Tyler Beede, A.J. Reed, Forest Griffin

3-4-14 - When I first laid eyes on Derek Fisher he was an awkwardly muscular, acne ridden high-schooler wearing a jersey that was two sizes too big. This past weekend, I saw a body-beautiful outfielder who’s as tooled-up as any position player in college baseball. The physically striking Fisher currently patrols left field for the Cavaliers, not because his skill set relegates him to a corner, but rather because Virginia has superior options at other positions. A pro club will at least give the 6-foot-3, 210 pounds. Fisher a look in center field as he has the requisite speed and arm strength for the position. The legs grade out just beneath plus-plus –- I had Fisher timed at 4.03 and 4-flat down the line from the left side, albeit with a little bit of a jailbreak –- more than enough to run down balls in the gaps, while his arm grades out around average. There’s room to solidify that throwing grade if Fisher’s sometimes-awkward throwing mechanics are made to be more efficient. Despite Fisher’s up-the-middle physical capabilities, there are serious questions about his feel for defense. His reads don’t always come instantaneously and his routes to balls are often circuitous and inefficient. http://prospectinsider.com/scouting-derek-fisher-uva-prospects

3-25-14 – 9.  Riley Moore, Arizona Height 6'2" Weight 180 DOB: ? L/R - California kid!  Lefty bat!  Moore got a lot of hype as a prep from some of the draft blogs I follow.  Wildcats Link The UA site isn't giving enough info for me.  I bet he's filled in from that weight, that's his HS info.  Moore of course won a national championship his freshman year.  Big watch on this guy. http://www.yougottalikethesekids.com/2014/03/ten-catchers-in-2014-mlb-draft.html

2-21-14 – Project Insider - Tyler Beede, RHP — Vanderbilt  Beede was among the more disappointing arms from last week and will have a good shot to show better command and more consistent stuff versus Illinois-Chicago. http://prospectinsider.com/draft-prospect-watch-hoffman-vs-fisher

2-27-14 – TTF - 10 college players on the rise - A.J. Reed, LHP/1B, Kentucky (NR) - I asked Kendall Rogers — National college baseball writer for Perfect Game — on Twitter if Reed was a pitcher or hitter at the next level. He said he placed a higher premium on left-handed pitching and I agreed. Let’s just hope he gets drafted by a National League team so we get to watch him smack a baseball around. Over his first seven games, the 6’-4”, 240 pound left-hander has a silly six home runs, 17 RBI and a .433/.500/1.133 slash line. On the mound, he is 2-0 and has allowed two runs on nine hits over 12 innings. His fastball can touch the mid-90s and he adds a good slider, but his change-up needs refining. Reed is the type of player a team can draft, send him out there as a hitter, and if all else fails, could become a power arm out of the bullpen. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-10-college-players-rise-2/41299#ldBBF8hRKzmaiy5H.99

2-11-14 – PG/Florida HS Dream Team – P – Foster Griffin, Sr. The First Academy - The only lefty to crack this rotation, Griffin shows everything you’d want to see in a young pitcher: lefthanded, 6-foot-5 and projectable and a three-pitch mix. With a fastball topping out at 92 mph, Griffin is able to make that play up as he uses his long levers and creates excellent downhill plane. His curveball flashes potential and presently shows a very good changeup with fading action. Not only does he have a feel for three pitches, he knows how to use them with an advanced overall feel on the mound. http://perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=9372

Draft 14 – Aaron Nola, Trea Turner, Jacob Gatewood, Forest Griffin,Michael Cederoth

10-15-13 – Baseball America - 10. Aaron Nola, rhp, Louisiana State: Smallish, athletic college ace has excellent life on a low-90s fastball and plus changeup. http://www.baseballamerica.com/college/2014-draft-top-50-october-2013-carlos-rodon/

 

10-14-13 – Top ’14 College Hitters - 2. Trea Turner / SS / NC State — Turner was outstanding over his sophomore campaign, but an ankle injury essentially ruined his Team USA experience this summer. Turner’s speed is élite, and with above-average pitch recognition and hand-eye coordination, many scouts believe he is a future prototypical leadoff hitter. Defensively he was outstanding in 2013 as well, using his speed to make plays to his left and right with above-average arm strength for the position. Don’t be surprised to see Turner go off the board in the first five picks of the 2014 draft. http://mlbdraftinsider.com/2013/10/top-14-for-14-college-hitters/


9-30-13 – TTF Mock 2.0 - 3. Chicago White Sox — Jacob Gatewood, SS, Clovis HS (CA) With maybe the worst farm system in baseball, the White Sox have a chance to add a franchise player here and should go after the kid with perhaps the highest ceiling among the prep bats. Gatewood is a 6’-5”, 190 pound right-hander with some serious raw power, as well as excellent bat speed. He won the Junior Home Run Derby at Citi Field, slugging 13 home runs — three of them reaching the third deck. I also got to see him launch several bombs out of Wrigley Field as he won the home run derby at the 2013 Under Armour All American Game. He most likely will have to move off shortstop but his canon arm and instincts should play well at the hot corner or a corner outfield spot where his bat will more than justify the position. High character kid who is committed to USC.  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 – 46. Foster Griffin – LHP, The First Academy (FL) http://www.ninebaseball.org/Wordpress/sullys-2014-top-100-mlb-hs-draft-prospects/


10-15-13 – Baseball America - 21. Michael Cederoth, rhp, San Diego State: Physical 6-foot-6, 210-pounder rivals Aztecs great Stephen Strasburg in velocity with 94-98 mph fastball. http://www.baseballamerica.com/college/2014-draft-top-50-october-2013-carlos-rodon/

Draft 14 – David Peterson, Alex Lange , Carlos Rodon, Forest Griffin, Greg Deichmann

8-29-13 - Player:  David Peterson   Primary Position:  LHP  Secondary Position(s):  1B  Height/Weight:  6’6/220  Bats/Throws:  L/L  Home Town:  Denve. CO  School:  Regis Jesuit  Class of:  2014  Committed To:  Oregon  Scouting Notes:  2013 Tournament of Stars Notes from Don Olsen  - David is a long, lean, loose projectable arm with present arm speed in a Tyler Skaggs type mold.  He hides the ball well in a nice ¾ slot, angle is tough to pick up with his long arms and lateral two way plane.  David shows a bit of big man mechanics that could use minor ironing, but good arm action.  Fastball has a lot of life on it, 89-90 mph, with a bit more left in the tank.  Curve has a slurve type feel, 76-77 mph, and can be tough on LHH to square up.  He flashes a straight or split change that has a little depth and is projectable offering. Frame and ability are highly enticing; with a good chance for three pitch mix. http://bigleaguefutures.net/1/2013/08/28/2014-mlb-draft-profile-david-peterson/

 

8-31-13 - Nathan Rode ‏@NathanRode  31 Aug  - RHP Alex Lange strikes out the side in the 1st. 89-92, touched 93. Arm-side life. Low-80s SL is working again.

 

8-27-13 - 1. Carlos Rodon, LHP, North Carolina State (Draft eligible: 2014)  -  The exceptional 6-foot-3, 234-pound, junior left-handed pitcher has had quite a whirlwind past few months. Rodon entered his sophomore campaign with the Wolfpack with high hopes in the spring, but it took him a while to get going, as evidenced by some early command issues. Rodon only got better as the spring progressed, pitching exceptionally well down the stretch and in the College World Series with a fastball anywhere from 93-97 in Omaha.   Well, Rodon only continued his impressive ways this summer while pitching for the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team. Rodon didn’t allow a run in four starts and 17 innings of work, while also striking out 21 and walking four. From a prospect standpoint, Rodon is the clear-cut favorite to be the top pick in the 2014 MLB draft. In addition to having a durable frame, Rodon possesses a hard-nosed, come at you type of attitude, along with elite stuff. He pitched off his fastball quite a bit this summer, a pitch that has some late, exploding life on it at times. Rodon also utilized an 85-87 slider with two-plane break, while that pitch also was up to 89 at times. Last but not least, Rodon used a low-80s changeup, a pitch that many would like him to use more in the latter innings come spring. Overall, Rodon’s near impeccable fastball command reminded some close to USA Baseball to former Vanderbilt start left-handed pitcher David Price, while he showed much more confidence in his slider as the summer progressed.   Rodon’s freshman campaign in 2012 convinced many of us that he was clearly the top prospect in the 2014 MLB draft college class. Then, we had a second thought when he started slow out of the gate for the Wolfpack in the spring. But now, after such a dominance performance with Team USA, the gritty and durable lefty is right back where he started his collegiate career. http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=8927

 

8-14-13 – Through The Fence – Top 50 Prospects – 50. Foster Griffin, LHP, The First Academy (FL) - At 6’-5” and 190 pounds, the southpaw has a lot of projection and already has a great feel for pitching. His fastball can touch 92 mph and he adds a mid-70s change-up with nice fade. He has a loose and lanky frame, which bodes well for added velocity and mechanics. His size alone makes him an intriguing prospect. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-top-50-prospects/36463#mwWwsFxSUZy7YC5V.99

2013 East Coast Pro Showcase Top 50 Prospects    - 44. Greg Deichmann – INF, Brother Martin (LA) HS - Didn’t have a great week, but still has the tools and the big time power bat. http://www.ninebaseball.org/Wordpress/sullys-top-50-ecp-prospects/