Draft 13 – Stephen Wrenn, Chad Pinder, Kent Emmanuel, Kris Bryant, Derek Burkamper

Stephen Wrenn, OF, Walton HS (GA) - The 6’-2”, 190-pound right-hander has plus speed (6.4/60) and an advanced approach at the plate. He has a strong enough arm (85 mph) to hold down centerfield, and his speed and instincts will play well there. He may need to retool his swing a bit but has been destroying prep pitching this year to the tune of a .513/.649/.833 line. Over 27 games, he has 19 extra-base hits, 25 walks and has swiped 25 bases. A very toolsy player who is committed to Georgia. link

Evolution is the biggest thing that you look for in a player leading up to the draft. You want to look and see that someone is getting better month after month and year after year. Chad Pinder is that kind of player, going from afterthought as a freshman to one of the better college bats available in this year's draft. He hit .317/.368/.510 in 2011, improved to .325/.380/.538 in 2012 and now is at .365/.450/.511 through 34 games. link

Kent Emmanuel, North Carolina - Like the previous two pitchers, Emmanuel is an athletic pitcher with a big frame (6'4, 225 lbs).  He doesn't throw as hard as you would think, however, sitting at 87-89 and topping out at about 91.  He actually relies more on a deceptive delivery than pure power but his athleticism allows him to repeat it well, and so there is that potential for plus command.  Both of his breaking pitchers are average right now though his change-up is an above-average offering. link

Kris Bryant | 3B/OF, San Diego - It’s true that college pitchers tend to push toward the bigs a bit more quickly than hitters, but there are always exceptions.  Take Mike Zunino, for instance.  Drafted third overall last June, Zunino has climbed through the minors with haste, and will almost certainly surface in Seattle this summer.  Kris Bryant is the top college bat in the 2013 draft class, perhaps the best overall bat in the class, regardless of age.  Huge power is his best asset (28 HR through 191 AB in 2013), but the rest of his tools at the plate are quite good, too.  His career AVG at San Diego sits north of .350, he draws plenty of walks (.506 OBP), and he seldom strikes out.  Bryant’s advanced skillset could draw top 5 interest, and it’s extremely doubtful he’ll slip past pick 10.  He should be the quickest moving bat in this year’s crop. link

PROSPECT ON THE RISE: Derek Burkamper, rhp, Muscatine HS. Burkamper gave notice that he had taken a step up as a prospect at the PG Pitcher/Catcher Indoor Showcase in February, and has followed up on it with a very strong spring. There’s no reason with his age, build and delivery not to assume he has another level to improve to with additional strength and maturity. link

Draft 13 – Matt McPhearson, Kris Bryant, DJ Snelton, Carlos Salazar, Mark Appel

Matt McPhearson, OF, Riverdale Baptist HS (MD) - The 6’-0” left-hander has plus/plus speed and should develop at least gap power with a chance for more. He has very good bat speed and an advanced approach at the plate. Over 17 games this season, he has stolen 20 bases while battling a nagging hamstring injury. He has also posted a .603 OBP, drawing 14 walks to six strikeouts. His speed is his best asset, however, and he has the defensive skill set to remain in centerfield and be a table-setter on offense. If he is available when the Cubs pick at 41, he could be a nice sign as the Cubs don’t have much depth at leadoff-type burners in their system. Committed to Miami. link

Dan Kirby‏ @DanMKirby

San Diego 3B Kris Bryant has more HR (22) and BB (55) than the Minnesota Twins (16 HR, 54 BB) ... in far less at-bats.

Any reports in DJ Snelton and where he could be drafted?  - Jim Callis: I think Snelton, a Minnesota LHP, he’ll go in the 5th-10th round range. He strained his elbow and got a late start to the season, but he’s a 6-foot-7 lefty who gets good extension in his delivery. He can touch 95 mph, throws a decent slider and changeup. Scouts don’t love his arm action. link

Carlos Salazar, RHP, Kerman HS (CA) - Salazar put on quite the show Friday, allowing just one hit over seven shutout innings. He also struck out a career-high 19 batters and didn’t issue a walk. He now has 44 K/3 BB over his last 20 innings and, for the season, has yet to allow a run over 62 innings with 123 K/21 BB and just 16 hits allowed. The 6’-3” right-hander has a plus fastball that sits in the 91-93 range with late life. The most impressive thing about him, however, may be his continued work on his command. After allowing 6.4 BB/9 as a junior, he has cut that number down to 2.9 this season. Committed to Fresno State. link

 

Mark Appel has been here before. The Stanford ace was the potential top pick a year ago, but he ended up sliding to the Pirates at No. 8. He opted to return to school for his senior year and has arguably been the most consistent performer in this year's Draft class. After his win against Arizona State on Friday, he's 8-3 with a 1.56 ERA in 11 starts. In 86 1/3 innings, he has held opponents to a .195 batting average while allowing just 15 walks and striking out 106. link

Draft 13 – Adam Plutko, Brian Navarreto, Kris Bryant, Mark Appel, Akeem Bostick

Adam Plutko, RHP, UCLA - Over his last three starts, the 6’-3” right-hander has tossed 21 scoreless innings, allowing just eight hits. He has also struck out 22 to eight walks over that span. Over 10 starts, he now has a 2.34 ERA, 0.90 WHIP and 53 K/18 BB over 65.1 innings. He features an 88-92 mph fastball, a low-80s change that looks plus at times and an upper-70s curveball with nice tailing action.  link

Brian Navarreto, Arlington Country Day HS (FL) - Playing for the same high school as Cubs top prospect Javier Baez, the 6’-4”, 220-pound Navarreto also shares the same fiery personality. A very good defensive catcher, Navarreto has a lot of offensive potential due to his size. He has a very strong, accurate arm with a quick release and has great footwork behind the plate due to his above-average athleticism — he has been clocked at 6.88 in the 60. He hit .512 as a junior with 16 doubles and 12 home runs, showing raw power from the right side. Not as polished as Okey or Martinez, he may have the higher ceiling of the two, but there may be some make up concerns as he recently punched a player in the face during a bench-clearing brawl. Committed to Jacksonville. link

With each retelling, the tale of Kris Bryant’s mammoth home run becomes more Ruthian and Bunyanesque. The ball either cleared the 80-foot light tower in left field at the University of San Diego’s Fowler Park, or was at least even with them before sailing deep into the drizzly, foggy night, probably landing on the football practice field down the hill. Whether it went 500 or 600 feet depends, again, on who was speaking. link

Mark Appel (RHP, Stanford University) - Information: 6’5″, 215 pounds, turns 22 in July, previously selected 1st round (8th overall) by Pirates in 2012 and 15th round by Tigers in 2009. 2013 Stats: 7-3, 1.49 ERA, 10.6 K/9, 1.6 BB/9, and 4 CG in 10 starts and 78.2 IP = Scouting Overview: Appel took a huge risk last summer, declining $3.8MM from the Pittsburgh Pirates after they selected him 8th overall to return to Stanford for his senior season. Appel had been a favorite to go first overall to the Astros last year, but they had instead decided on shortstop Carlos Correa, sending Appel into free-fall thanks to his bonus demands. Bud Selig finally called his name when the Pirates’ selection came around, but Appel refused to accept anything less than the $4.8MM Correa received and he could not agree to terms with Pittsburgh link

Akeem Bostick has plenty of options when it comes to the next step in his athletic career.  The West Florence pitcher draws a large number of Major League scouts every time he takes the hill for the Knights.  With the MLB Amateur Draft coming up this June, Bostick has all the bases covered when it comes to options.  Bostick is expected to be a high selection in the draft link

Draft 13 – Kyle McGowin, Brandon Trinkwon, Rob Kaminsky, Kris Bryant

Kyle McGowin, RHP, Savannah State - The 6’-4” right-hander is second in the nation in strikeouts this season and is one of the best control pitchers around. Over 10 starts, he is 9-0 with a 1.70 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 95 K/14 BB over 79.1 innings. His 10.8 K/9 and 1.6 BB/9 ratios show the kind of power/control pitcher he is. He ranked sixth in the nation in K/BB as  a sophomore with a 6.5 mark, and currently sits 6.8 this season. link

Aaron Fitt‏  @aaronfitt

UCSB preseason A-A Brandon Trinkwon has been rock solid at SS this year, but I agree w/ scouts who say his below-avg arm will move him to 2B

Dan Kirby  ‏@DanMKirby

St. Joseph HS (NJ) LHP Rob Kaminsky: 7 IP, 0 ER, 3 H, 10 K. Now 5-0 over 5 starts w/ 64 K/4 BB over 33 scoreless IP (17.5 K/9)

San Diego 3B Kris Bryant has 8 HR, 11 BB and a .424/.578/1.212 line over his last 9 games. Leads nation in HR (21) and walks (50

Draft 13 – Jonah Wesely, Kris Bryant, Casey Shane, Brett Morales, Clint Frazier

Jonah Wesely, LHP, Tracy HS (CA) - On April 18, the 6’-2” southpaw tossed a no-hitter, striking out 18 over seven innings. He had struck out 11 to no walks over five shutout innings in his previous start and is hitting his stride as the season goes on. Overall, he now has 80 K/16 BB over 44 innings, allowing 23 hits. He features a low/mid-90s fastball with late life and one of the best curveballs in the 2013 MLB draft. A high baseball IQ and great mound presence make him one of the better prep arms available. Committed to UCLA. link

Dan Kirby ‏@DanMKirby

San Diego 3B Kris Bryant has 5 HR and 10 BB over his last 6 games, mostly from the leadoff spot. Leads nation with 20 HR

Centennial HS (TX) 6'-4" RHP Casey Shane had 7 K over 3 shutout IP on Saturday. Now has 67 K/6 BB (18.7 K/9), 17 H over 32.1 IP

King HS (FL) RHP Brett Morales' last start: 6 IP, 0 ER, 1H, 13 K/1 BB. Now has 0.62 ERA, 83 K/18 BB, 27 H over 58 IP.

Clint Frazier 2-for-4 w/ SB. Now hitting .520 over 25 games w/ 3 2B, 3 3B, 13 HR, 37 RBI, 16 SB, .611 OBP/1.143 SLG

2013 Draft-Notes – Wade Wass, Kris Bryant, Ryne Stanke, Bourne (not Jason)

Mich #1 Ranked Player: Jackson Lamb, OF/RHP, 2013, Bedford HS commits to the University of Michigan

Zack Brown, Seymour HS, commits to Kentucky

Three Offensive Stars of the Night in the NWL are all catchers. (You know it doesn't take a lot to amuse me these days though) Wade Wass (Duluth--Alabama) had a monster game for the Huskies. He went 5 for 5, with a double and two homers. He scored four times and drove in a remarkable 7 runs. CSB

Team USA topped Chinese Tapei, 2-0

 •Kris Bryant went 1-2 with a walk

 •Adam Plutko pitched 4 no-hit innings, giving up 2 walks and striking out 4

 •Jake Reed added 3 1/3 shutout innings - BLF  

Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn on Ryne Stanek - -   ”I think he was a little more under control with his mechanics.  It just seemed easy, smooth.  The fastball was jumping out of his hands, it was easy.  Wasn’t like he was overthrowing.  He’d go 2‑0, and he was able to throw a strike.  That was huge.  He just looked like a polished pitcher tonight.  I thought he did a great job on a tough stage.  I was just real proud of him.” - BLF  

Cape League‏ -  Bourne won today over YD in 13th inning a walk-off, 2-out, nobody-on-base, inside the park home run

Baseball and softball federations say to merge for 2020 Olympic bid - @Reuters

2013 Draft-Notes – Kris Bryant, Joseph Odom, USA Baseball Highlights

Nathan Rode - Kris Bryant and D.J. Peterson put on a show in batting practice, hitting in the same group and blasting balls over the Durham Bulls Athletic Park Blue Monster. Bryant easily cleared the signature bull sign and Peterson hit a window on the second floor of the building in left field. No one matched their power, but North Carolina State lefthander Carlos Rodon (2014) took his own rounds of BP and arguably displayed the best lefthanded power on the day, easily depositing a couple balls into the right field seats. 

OH: CHCA RHP Jacob Banks commits to Miami University.

The Phillies have signed No. 20 international prospect Jose Albert Pujols

Two more stolen bases for Billy Hamilton last night. Gives him 98 Stolen Bases on the season

FINAL 2012 USA College Player Stats Posted - http://www.prospectnation.com/blog/?page_id=1147

Blue Jays Sign No. 1 International Prospect Franklin Barreto

Red Sox Sign No. 17 International Prospect Jose Almonte

Blue Jays Sign No. 9 International Prospect Luis Castro

The Astros & Dodgers agreed to a trade but Carlos Lee wasn't interested

Anthony Hamlin  named one of the Player of the Week in the Florida Collegiate Wood Bat League. 6 for 11, 2 2B, and 5 RBI 

Peter Gammons‏- On this date each year, my late father's birthday, I am reminded that kindness, civility and the least among us matter

Prospect Classic Game 2, Stars 15, Stripes 3 

           •Marco Gonzales went 3-3 with a double

           •Jose Trevino went 2-3 with a home run

           •Ro Coleman and  Cavan Biggio each went 2-2

           •Ryne Stanek went 3 2/3 scoreless innings, 2-H, 2-BB, 4-K

           •Kevin Davis pitched 1 scoreless inning, walking 1 and striking out 2

          •Drew Ward went 1-2 with a home run

          •Johnny Field went 2-2 with a double

          •Michael Lorenzen went 1-2 with a stolen base

          •Marco Gonzalez pitched 4 shutout innings, 1-H, 3-K

          •David Berg struck out the side in his one inning of work

          •John Kilichowski pitched 1 scoreless inning with a strike out 

From the Valley Baseball League . Players of the Week, Week Four   Players of the Week North - Joseph Odom (2014), Winchester. The Huntington College product led the VBL last week in hits, runs, home runs and total bases as he helped Winchester to a 5-2 week.  Odom hit .448 on the week with 13 hits in 29 at-bats along with four doubles, four home runs and nine RBI. He also had a 1.000 slugging percentage on the week.