Jake Cosart —
6’-1”, RHP, Clear Creek HS (TX) When you
can throw 99 mph, you are going to get some attention. At 6’-1” and 165 lbs,
the power Cosart generates from his arm is scary. At the 2011 Perfect Game
National Showcase, he hit 99 mph on the radar gun, easily the fastest time at
the event. It must run in the family bloodline — his brother Jarred Cosart, a
top prospect for the Astros, hit 102 mph at the 2008 Perfect Game World
Showcase. Jake shows signs of a future devastating curve but is still
inconsistent with his command. A strong senior season, and added weight, could
see him sky rocket when the draft comes around. http://www.throughthefencebaseball.com/top-50-draft-prospects-for-2012-50-thru-26/15621/
We continue the
countdown today at number 23 with Purdue junior catch Kevin
Plawecki. The Carmel, Indiana native attended Westfield High School
where he was a four year letter winner. He was a two-time All-Indy North,
All-Hoosiers Crossroads and All-Hamilton County selection while leading his
team to the State semifinals as a senior. As a freshman in 2010, he made 54
appearances (52 starts) while hitting .343 with eight homers and a team high 53
RBI. He was excellent behind the plate throwing out 16 baserunners out of 46
attempts. He picked up several honors including being named a Louisville
Slugger Freshman All-American by Collegiate Baseball, NCBWA Freshman All-American,
and Big Ten All-Freshman Team member. http://ht.ly/1gyc28
We continue the
countdown today at number 22 with Florida junior RHP/infielder Austin Maddox. The Jacksonville Florida native
attended Eagle’s View Academy where in his four-year high school career, Maddox
led the Warriors to a 19-2 playoff record, a pair of state championships and
four final fours. He was picked by the
Tampa Bay Rays in the 37th round of the 2009 Major League Baseball Draft with
the 1,129th pick but decided to head to Gainesville to play for the Gators. As
a freshman, he started 63 games playing four different positions at third base
(29), designated hitter (19), first base (14) and catcher (1). He ended up
finishing second on the team with a .333 batting average while leading the
team in homers at 17 and RBI with 72.
Maddox picked up several honors including being named SEC’s Freshman of the
Year, third-team All-American by the NCBWA, Freshman All-America teams by
Baseball America, Louisville Slugger, NCBWA, second-team All-SEC recognition,
and was named to the league’s All-Freshman Team. http://ht.ly/1gAsQf
Lewis Brinson
has
the tools that scouts look for and the skills to put those tools to use on the
field. In a deep outfield class, he is
among those at the top. Brinson has above average bat speed and good
power. He has room to fill out and
should add more power as he matures.
Brinson shows good speed with recorded 60 times from 6.51-6.60. Brinson
projects as a centerfielder at the next level.
He has plenty of range and a plus arm. On draft day, Brinson is a likely
first round selection. If he slips, he
won’t slip far. http://mlbdraftguide.com/
Kyle Zimmer — 6’-3”, RHP,
San Francisco Zimmer is a power righty whose fastball has been clocked at 97
mph with late sink. He also features a power curve that projects to a wipe-out
pitch at the next level. His slider is above average, his change-up is still
developing, and he has excellent command of all four pitches. He had a 3.38 ERA
at the Cape Cod League with 37K/14 BB over 48 innings. At 6’-3”and 200 lbs, he
has the frame to be a workhorse. http://www.throughthefencebaseball.com/top-50-draft-prospects-for-2012-50-thru-26/15621/
Lewis Brinson,
OF, Coral Springs (Fla.) - Brinson brings mixed reviews at this stage of the
evaluation process, displaying plus athleticism and five-tool potential. At
6-foot-4, he may ultimately outgrow center field, but his arm should fit in
right, provided his raw power plays in pro ball, too. Brinson has been timed in
the 60 at 6.5 seconds, which is among the fastest in the entire draft class. http://espn.go.com/blog/high-school/baseball/post/_/id/940/mccullers-jr-is-top-florida-diamond-star
http://www.throughthefencebaseball.com/top-50-draft-prospects-for-2012-25-thru-1/15694/
- Stryker Trahan — 6’-2”, C, Arcadiana HS (LA) -
Left-handed hitting catchers are rare. Athletic ones who can hit for power are
even rarer. Trahan is the top prep catcher in the draft and should be able to
stay at the position at the major-league level. At 6’-2” and 215 lbs, he makes
for a good target and has a very strong arm. He runs a 6.6/60 and would play
well in right field, as well. Hit .460 with five home runs as a junior in 2011
with a 1.281 OPS.
We continue the countdown today at number 26 with
Texas A&M junior RHP Michael Wacha.The
Texarkana, Texas native attended Pleasant Grove High School where he was a
two-time All-State selection. As a senior,
he went 6-3 while leading the squad to a state semifinal appearance
while going 16-3 as a junior bringing the squad to the State Championship Game.
As a freshman in 2010, he made 25
appearances, 10 as a starter while having a 9-2 record and an ERA of 2.90 which
ranked him sixth in the league. He struck out 97 batters while walking just 22
in 105.2 innings pitched. He was selected a Freshman All-American by Louisville
Slugger/Collegiate Baseball as well as honorable mention All-Big 12 selection http://ht.ly/1guGrf
We continue the countdown today at number 25 with
Arkansas junior RHP DJ Baxendale. The
Jacksonville, Arkansas native attended Sylvan Hills High School where he went
25-1 as a junior and senior while being named State of Arkansas Gatorade Player
fo the Year, Arkansas Player of the Year by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette,
Louisville Slugger and MaxPreps following senior season. As a freshman in 2010,
he served as the team’s closer making appearances in a team-high 29 games with
a record of 0-2 record with a team-leading seven saves and a 3.58 ERA. He spent
the summer in the Cape Cod Baseball League with the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox
where he continued to work out of the bullpen with a 2-3 record with a
team-leading nine saves and a 2.57 ERA. He was able to hold opponents to a .187
batting average and striking out 14 in 21.0 innings of work We continue the countdown today at number 25
with Arkansas junior RHP DJ Baxendale. The Jacksonville, Arkansas native
attended Sylvan Hills High School where he went 25-1 as a junior and senior
while being named State of Arkansas Gatorade Player fo the Year, Arkansas
Player of the Year by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Louisville Slugger and
MaxPreps following senior season. http://ht.ly/1gvMoe
http://www.collegesummerbaseball.net/2011/12/top-25-pitchers-in-great-lakes-summer.html - 4. Dusty Isaacs RHP Hamilton---Georgia Tech - Dusty was tied for the league-lead with 5 wins this summer. He sported a 2.44 era in 44.1 innings pitched and allowed just 31 hits for the Joes. He was also second in the league with 50 strikeouts. In a rarity for both scouting services, PG and BA both ranked him as their #1 prospect in the league.
http://mlbdraftinsider.com/2011/12/top-twelve-high-school-position-players/#more-602 12. Lewis Brinson / OF / Coral Springs HS FL): I wasn’t familiar with Brinson until I saw him in Chicago, but after seeing him win the Home Run Derby (over Buxton), and talking to some scouts at the event, I saw enough to add him to this list. The Florida commit can also run, and should be an above-average outfielder as he progresses.
12-2-11: - http://mlbdraftcountdown.wordpress.com/2011/12/02/2012-mlb-mock-draft-updated-top-15-with-final-mlb-standings - 10) Colorado Rockies: Victor Roache, OF, Georgia Southern The Rockies have long been searching for a replacement for Todd Helton at first base. For a while, they thought that one of their top prospects, Nolan Arenado, would be that guy, but his play at third base has improved so much that he might stick there long term, leaving first base open. Victor Roache played some first base during high school and his first year at Georgia Southern, and would probably do well in a return to the position. He already has the bat that the Rockies love, one capable of leading all NCAA hitters in home runs in 2011.
Mike Zunino is the complete package as a catching prospect. He possesses a nice line drive swing with power, and he has very good plate discipline as well. He had a great season as a sophomore for the Gators in 2011, posting a .371/.442/.674 line with 23 doubles, 19 homers, and 74 RBI while also swiping 7 bases in 9 tries. His speed is above-average for a catcher. Zunino does have some holes in his swings, which could lead to a considerable amount of strikeouts as a pro, but his other tools mostly offset that. He projects as around a .280/.375/.450 hitter with 30 doubles and 20 homers in in the big leagues, which would be excellent for a catcher. Defensively, Zunino is a natural, having played the catcher position since he was six years old. He is extremely smooth behind the plate and is adept at blocking balls. He also possesses a very good arm for a catcher, able to hit the mid to high-80′s off the mound, and his arm strength along with his accuracy allows him to throw out a very good percentage of attempted basestealers. He is also known for calling a good game. http://rayscoloredglasses.com/2011/12/21/taking-an-early-look-at-the-catchers-in-the-2012-mlb-draft-part-1
10-25-11: - http://www.collegesummerbaseball.net/2011/10/top-20-pitchers-in-atlantic-collegiate.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter - Top 20 Pitchers in the Atlantic Collegiate Baseball League 3. Brandon Kuter RHP Westhampton Aviators--George Mason - Brandon (6-7/220 pounds) certainly has the body type the scouts love to see. He was simply the most dominant reliever in the league. He went 1-2, had a 0.40 era in 22.1 innings of work and he led the league with 10 saves. He also fanned 36 batters this summer. He was named the leagues Most Outstanding Reliever this summer. Both Perfect Game and Baseball America ranked Brandon as the #1 prospect in the league.
10-28-11: - http://orioles-nation.com/2011/10/26/wwba-2012-highlights - Ty Buttery (Matthews NC; Providence HS) – A tall and projectable right handed power pitcher. Shows an above average curveball with solid depth and tight bite that with time could become plus. Sits 91-94 mph late into an outing with solid movement, and will show a cut fastball that rides late into the left handed hitter. Flashes a change up that was late sinking, but was not consistent. Still very projectable four pitch arsenal. Little effort from the delivery with solid drive/push off the hill. Desirable stride and arm action should allow for a very repeatable delivery.
10-28-11: - http://espn.go.com/blog/high-school/baseball/post/_/id/667/brinson-has-bright-future - Raw athletic ability: every college coach dreams to mold it and every scout and front-office member prays to write it on his evaluation sheet. It can’t be taught, and even the most awkward swings or lackluster pitching mechanics will be put to the side – or all together ignored – with the simple thought that you can teach a kid to swing a bat, but you can’t teach a kid to run a 3.7 60-time. It’s a practice that often fails – especially at professional level – but the thought process that’s been in place for some time. Lewis Brinson has those athletic abilities, so the fact that he knows what he’s doing with the bat and in the field makes him all the more desirable.
10-17-11: - http://mlbdraftguide.com/1 - Austin Maddox, C/IF, Florida - Maddox came out of high school as a catcher with a big arm and power potential. He was one of my favorite prep prospects who made it to college. Arriving in Gainesville with Mike Zunino took catching away from Maddox’s profile, at least for the duration of his time in college. He has played primarily the corner infield spots for the Gators while also spending time at DH. The big bat remained for Maddux in 2010. He hit .333/.369/.587 with 17 home runs on his way to being named the SEC Freshman of the Year. Maddox experienced a drop-off at the plate in 2011, falling to .280/.327/.368 with 6 home runs. A return to catcher will have to wait until Maddox reaches the next level, but a return to his freshman form as a batter could shoot him up draft boards.
10-22-11: - http://ht.ly/1fglCb - We continue the countdown today at number 83 with Stony Brook’s Travis Jankowski. In his sophomore season in 2011, he finished second on the squad with a .355 batting average with two homers and 38 RBI in 54 games. He led the squad with 30 stolen bases in 34 attempts while also not committing a single error in the outfield. Jankowski had a breakout summer in the Cape Cod Baseball League with the Bourne Braves. He played in 47 games hitting .326 with seven triples and 22 RBI. He continued his prowess on the basepaths with 15 stolen bases. He was named the 2011 CCBL MVP for his play over the summer
10-23-11: - http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/draft/2011/10/smoral-stands-out-among-big-arms - The World Wood Bat Association World Championship has long been a place where high school prospects can establish themselves as elite players against high-level competition. Matt Smoral, a lefthander from Solon (Ohio) High has always been considered to be among the top pitchers in the country, but he may have solidified himself as the top southpaw with an impressive outing on Friday. Smoral took the hill for the Midland Redskins/Royals Scout Team and lit up radar guns immediately, sitting 90-92 mph and touching 94 twice in the first inning. He remained in the low 90s for the first three innings before settling in at 88-91 in his final inning. He throws from a three-quarter arm slot and has a fairly easily delivery. His second-best pitch is a hard tilting slider in the low 80s.
10-22-11: - http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=6347 - Having grown and matured into one of the nation’s top outfield prospects in the class of 2012, Lewis Brinson finds that he really isn’t overwhelmed by too much anymore. It’s just that there remain some scenes and situations that can be just a little bit more overwhelming than others, or at least trigger memories of the same. Brinson was at the Roger Dean Complex – the spring training home of the St. Louis Cardinals and the Florida Marlins – late Saturday morning in preparation of taking the field for the Red Sox Scout Team/Elite Squad at this year’s Perfect Game WWBA World Championship.
10-23-11: - http://ht.ly/1fhxpn - Dylan Floro will be the anchor for the Titan pitching staff. Having watched him several times over the summer on the Cape, I’m pretty comfortable saying that. In Game 1, the junior pitched four innings, allowing only one run, unearned, on one hit, and he struck out three. It wasn’t until he left the game that Vanderbilt managed to get their momentum in what turned out to be a 10-8 Fullerton win.
Josh Elander:
7-19-11: - http://www.mlbbonusbaby.com/2011/6/29/2250656/early-look-at-2012#comments - Josh “Jake” Elander, TCU, 6’2 1/2 210, R/R, have seen this young man since days at the TOS event in Cary. Strong arm and durable body with some pop in his bat and power to LF, runs decent for a catcher, could be a quality catcher or backup at the ML level quickly.
Trevor Megill:
8-12-11: - http://www.prospectwire.com/pw/article.php?id=290 - RHP Trevor Megill (6'7" 230, Huntington Beach, CA) was the one I like most for the long haul and with his body type, stuff (89-92 mph), arm action and easy fluid delivery, I can make a decent comparison to Marlins RHP Josh Johnson. What I also like about Megill is that he has feel for the breaking ball, a 76-77 mph curveball. I think Megill projects about as easily as you can fairly project any young pitcher.
Joey Rickard:
8-14-11: - http://mlbdraftguide.com/1/2011/08/10/the-good-the-disappointing-from-the-cape - Joey Rickard, OF, Arizona- Rickard was one of my personal favorites coming out of Bishop Gorman in 2009. He was an All-Star at the Cape this summer and put up a line of .311/.382/.392 with 14 steals in 17 attempts.
Lewis Brinson:
8-15-11: - http://www.mlbbonusbaby.com/2011/8/14/2362719/2011-under-armour-all-america-game-top-10-prospects - 2011 Under Armour All America Game Top 10 Prospects - 4. Lewis Brinson 2012 OF 6'4 180 Tamarac, FL Coral Springs - Brinson has a ton of tools. He is really skinny, but has a big frame and should be able to add some strength. He already has good batting practice power and it should come in games with time. He is raw but he was one of the best players at the game.
Kyle Funkhouser:
7-19-11: - http://www.mlbbonusbaby.com/2011/6/29/2250656/early-look-at-2012#comments - Kyle Funkhouser, Oak Forest HS, Ill, 6’3 200, nice build and arm looseness, not a real quick arm, will touch 91 on occ, most are 88-89, has proper rotation on breaking ball, still in development stage, might be one of those midwest kids that evolves once in college.
