Draft 2012: Joey Rickard, Albert Amora, Tyler Naquin, Matt Smoral, Carlos Correa

Joey Rickard, Arizona’s leadoff hitter and centerfielder, had a strong season at the Cape and earned a spot in the league’s All-Star game. Rickard profiles as a leadoff hitter or number 2 hitter at the going forward.  He is a contact hitter with a short quick swing.  He won’t be hitting many home runs at the next level, but he should hit his share of doubles.  While Rickard has above average speed, he has yet to have great success stealing bases at the college level. Rickard has good range in the outfield and should be able to remain in centerfield. On draft day, Rickard’s speed and ability to get on base should get him drafted between rounds 6-8.  http://mlbdraftguide.com/

Albert Amora, Mater Academy Charter (Hialeah Gardens, Fla.), Outfield, R/R, Miami A veteran of the Team USA since he was 13, Amora was recently named the 18U Most Valuable Player after leading the squad to the gold medal at the Pan-American Games. Almora has a strong arm and good speed and he is also expected to hit for a high average in the big leagues. He could land somewhere between No. 20-25. http://www.maxpreps.com/news/-8V2A0MeEeGkPgAmVebEWg/maxpreps-top-10-mlb-draft-prospects.htm

OF Tyler Naquin School: Texas A&M  Cl.: Junior, Ht.: 6-2, Wt.: 170  Hometown.: Spring, Texas High school: Klein Collins  Naquin evolved into an elite player last season, and is expected to have an even better 2012 campaign. The speedy outfielder is a good defender with an excellent arm. He also has an impressive offensive skill set, expected to hit for more power this spring. In 2011, hit .381 with 23 doubles and 44 RBIs. http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=6498  

Matt Smoral, Solon (Ohio)   Smoral is interchangeable with Fried for the top spot. While Fried is further along in his development, Smoral brings more upside. At 6-foot-8, Smoral's 90-94 mph fastball comes easy and his slider works well from his three-quarters arm slot. He's a North Carolina commit but could go in the top 10 come June. http://espn.go.com/blog/high-school/baseball/post/_/id/1086/max-fried-leads-class-of-2012-left-handers

Carlos Correa, SS, PR Baseball Academy Correa is a 6'4", 190 pound Shortstop that is extremely athletic. He is long and agile but his height and size may make him move off short at some point simply due to outgrowing it. He has very good actions at the position as well as a strong arm. It's an outside shot he can stick at the position but it is possible. A lot will depend on how much he grows in the next 2-3 years. If he does move over to 3B, he could be a well above average defender.  At the plate, Correa displays a ton of potential. He is long with big levers and a pretty short swing considering that. He generates big power potential. His hit tool isn't the greatest right now and needs work. He tones down his swing in games and has some contact issues as well as discipline issues at the plate, but that is nothing unusual for a young kid out of Puerto Rico.  Whoever chooses Correa will get a very projectable, potentially elite talent that is one of the youngest players available in this years' draft. I can't see him sliding out of the top 10 unless the bat totally fails him this spring. If he were to attend college, he is committed to Miami. http://www.minorleagueball.com/2012/2/6/2773435/2012-baseball-draft-high-school-prospects-1-5

Draft 2012 – Tyler Horan, Troy Conyers, Matt Smoral, Jordan Ebert, Mitchell Traver

http://www.collegesummerbaseball.net/2012/01/top-30-position-players-in-necbl.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter   2.  Tyler Horan  OF   Danbury Westerners---Virginia Tech   Tyler was among the league-leaders with a hefty .341 batting average. He scored 26 runs, led the league with 35 rbi's and was the home run champ with 11. He also led the league with a .651 slugging percentage this summer.  PG ranked him as the 6th best prospect in the league while BA has him ranked at #10 this summer. On December 9th, I named him one of my 2011 Top Performers.

Troy Conyers is a big, well built lefthander with the look of a future workhorse.  He has been on the national stage for a while now, having played for the 2010 16 U National Team and the 2011 18U National Team. Conyers throws a high 80′s fastball with sink.  He should be able to add some more velocity in the future.  His change is a plus pitch and also throws a quality curveball.  Conyers has a low 3/4 release and his delivery creates some deception. Conyers will be one of the more interesting pitchers to watch leading up to the draft.  http://mlbdraftguide.com/

Matt Smoral is a monster. He's huge. Not only does he stand 6'8", he's got a big frame as well. Broad shoulders, long limbs, just a physically large human being. As you can probably imagine, that extra-large frame comes with some pretty hefty projection, as he has plenty of room to fill out and add on to his body. I think the projection card is often overplayed with young pitchers, particularly in regards to their peak velocities, but Smoral is just the sort of player the term was invented for. http://www.vivaelbirdos.com/2012/1/11/2699212/2012-draft-preview-ein-starting-off-sinisterly

 Having spent the 2011 summer season playing with the powerhouse East Cobb Braves 17u squad, Jordan Ebert now feels like he’s ready to confront any challenges playing at the next level may present. And it doesn’t matter if that next level is playing for Auburn in the Southeastern Conference or playing  professionally –that depends on how the 2012 MLB First-Year Player Draft plays out in June. Ebert was at Terry Park Jan. 7-8 for the 2012 Perfect Game World Showcase, eager to show the overflow gathering of professional scouts in attendance that he deserves their consideration come draft day. He wanted to show them that he is rejuvenated, feeling good, far from burned-out and perhaps in the best shape he’s been in for months. http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=6457  

http://espn.go.com/blog/high-school/baseball/post/_/id/1009/mitchell-traver-highlights-2012-texas-class 1. Mitchell Traver, RHP, Houston Christian (Houston) Traver has hit 95 mph on the radar gun and pitches at 92-93 with a curveball and developing changeup. His size -- 6-foot-7, 250 pounds -- may concern some clubs, but he's far from soft and the velocity is easy. His arm action is another concern, and his control and command need significant improvement, but the upside outweighs those worries and Traver projects as a first-round pick. He's also considered a potential tough sign, however, as he's committed to TCU. Traver fanned 61 batters in 42.1 innings last season and posted an ERA of 2.31.

Draft 2012 – Mark Appel, . Jesmuel Valentin-Diaz, Matt Smoral, Ryan Garvey

1. Mark Appel / RHP / Stanford — Appel is candidate No.2 — after Byron Buxton and a player who will be revealed next week — to start the year on top of the board, and with good reason. The 6-4 right-hander has two plus pitches — a mid 90′s fastball and a hard-slider with tilt — and a circle change that projects as average.  There’s some mechanical issues that need ironing out at the beginning of the delivery, and if he can do that, Appel has a chance to be the first pick come next June. http://mlbdraftinsider.com/2011/12/top-twelve-college-pitchers/

47. Jesmuel Valentin-Diaz — 5’-11”, SS, Puerto Rico Baseball Academy (PR) - Jesmuel has a strong knowledge of the game having grown up around it. His father, Jose Valentin, was a 16-year, major-league veteran and taught his son well. He is also built like his dad — 5’-11” and 180 lbs — and he’s a switch hitter. Has the range, soft hands and strong arm to be a very good defensive shortstop in the majors. At the plate, his short stroke generates gap-to-gap power and could develop more when he matures. Timed at 6.68/60, so should steal some bases as well. Gained a reputation as a clutch hitter throughout summer-league tournaments and his stock is soaring right now. http://www.throughthefencebaseball.com/top-50-draft-prospects-for-2012-50-thru-26/15621/

There's a lot to like about this prep lefty, from his size to his arm strength to his delivery. How high he is on Draft boards might depend on how teams feel he will develop in the future. Right now, Matt Smoral uses an easy arm action to deliver an above-average fastball that sits in the 91-92 mph range. He'll occasionally show a plus heater. He has a very good feel for a sinking changeup and can throw both for strikes. Smoral does throw a slider, but it's a below-average offering right now that doesn't have enough depth. He's poised on the mound and goes right after hitters, but he will have to improve that breaking ball if he wants to be a starter at the next level. If he can sharpen that slider, he does have the other tools to pitch in that role. The team that takes him will be banking on his very high ceiling http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/prospects/watch/y2012/

Ryan Garvey, son of Dodger and Padre all-star Steve Garvey, won't be playing baseball at USC after all. Despite attending one semester there on a baseball scholarship, the former Palm Desert High School star transferred to Riverside Community College for the spring semester earlier this month. He plans to play baseball for RCC in the spring and enter the Major League draft in June. Ryan Garvey said his goal is to spend more time developing his baseball skill.

Draft 2012: - Matt Smoral, Alex Radon. Trey Williams, C.J. Saylor

12-2-11: - http://mlbdraftcountdown.wordpress.com/2011/12/02/2012-mlb-mock-draft-updated-top-15-with-final-mlb-standings - 12) New York Mets: Matt Smoral, LHP, Solon HS (OH)  The Mets took a giant step forward in the way that they draft when they selected talented but raw outfielder Brandon Nimmo from East HS in Wyoming. For years, they had been content to simply take the most polished college pitcher, and that approach has netted them Brad Holt, Eddie Kunz, Kevin Mulvey and, most recently, Matt Harvey. With a new GM on board and a new drafting philosophy installed, the Mets are prepared to take the next step, one in which they go after a high-ceiling pitching prospect. Lefty Matt Smoral would be just that. As one of the top pitchers from the high school crop and arguably the top left-hander, Smoral would be a welcomed addition to the Mets organization, one that is particularly lacking in high-ceiling starting pitching depth. Smoral is committed to UNC, where the Mets just so happened to find their most recent first-round pitcher, Harvey.

http://www.collegesummerbaseball.net/2011/12/top-25-pitchers-in-great-lakes-summer.html - 2.   Alex Radon   RHP   Lake Erie Monarchs---Toledo -  Alex was named the Pitcher of the Year in the league after going 4-1 and leading the league with a 0.81 era in 44.2 innings of work for the Monarchs.   He allowed 33 hits, walked just 13 batters and fanned 33 this summer. PG ranked him as the 12th best prospect in the league.

http://mlbdraftinsider.com/2011/12/top-twelve-high-school-position-players/#more-602 2. Trey Williams /3B / Valencia HS (CA): Williams has a lot of things going for him that scouts crave — strength, plate awareness, and lineage (he’s the son of Eddie Williams, a former big-leaguer for ten-plus years). Like Buxton, he generates plenty of bat speed, but because he’s developed physically the power is easier to project. He’s also a well above-average third-basemen at this point, though his foot speed could cause a switch to first down the road. A solid 2012 campaign could put Williams in the top ten of the draft, assuming he doesn’t honor his commitment to Pepperdine.

 C.J. Saylor is easily the best defensive catching prospect in this high school class. At the plate, Saylor is pretty good. He has a short line drive swing with some gap power, and he is adept at making contact, although that comes at the cost of some plate discipline. He doesn’t project as more than a 10 home run hitter going forward, but he hits enough line drives to be a .300 hitter in the big leagues. Defensively, Saylor is as good defensively as any high school catcher I’ve seen. Saylor is so smooth behind the plate that he glides effortlessly through the motions, whether to block balls in the dirt or get the ball out of his hands to throw out an attempted basestealer. He also has an incredible arm for a catcher as he was able to 90 MPH off the mound. Saylor is in another class defensively compared to these other high school catching prospects. http://rayscoloredglasses.com/2011/12/21/taking-an-early-look-at-the-catchers-in-the-2012-mlb-draft-part-1

Draft 2012: - Matt Smoral, Stryker Trahan, Carson Kelly, Daniel Garner, Max Fried

10-28-11: - http://orioles-nation.com/2011/10/26/wwba-2012-highlights - Matt Smoral (Solon OH) – Left handed pitcher that will run it to 94 mph and easily stay in the low 90s late into innings.  The slider shows solid bite and when on it has a crisp spin and could be difficult for lefties to hit when he learns to pound it inside to them.  His change up is a little better than “show me” stage, but needs some refinements.  Displays some late life sinking action on two seam fastball.  Loose and low effort for a 6’8” frame pitcher that is less mechanical driven and maintains decent balance.  Nice boring plane, even if the slot is closer to ¾ delivery. He still places his foot to third – mid rubber – and someone his size should try to work off the first base side to ride the arm angle and plane.

11-4-11: - http://www.throughthefencebaseball.com/chicago-cubs-2012-free-agent-and-draft-pick-possibilities/13157/#  -  C Stryker Trahan, 6’-2″, 220 lbs, Arcadiana HS (LA) — Catchers seem to be all the rage these days, and Trahan is an offensive machine. He hit .600 at last week’s Area Code Games, leading everyone in that category. His short, quick swing generates a ton of power, and he hits left-handed, a rarity for a catcher. At 6’-2”, 220 lbs, he has the perfect build to hold down the position and shows great instincts and a feel behind the plate.

11-11-11: - http://espn.go.com/blog/high-school/baseball/post/_/id/739/carson-kelly-is-one-of-the-northwests-best  - Carson Kelly was so impressive this year that he was one of the few selected to participate for Team USA, the Under-Armour All-American Game – where he was also selected to participate in the home-run derby prior to the game -- and the Area Code Games. “We saw a lot of him this summer” an AL-scout said. “Each time we saw him we were impressed with the bat speed and swing mechanics, and the ball just seems to jump off the barrel. We think he can be a plus-fielder at third base as well, he’s certainly got the arm and lateral quickness to play there”  It’s not just with the bat or in the field that Kelly has excited scouts, either. “He’s a pretty exciting two-way player” an NL-Cross-checker told ESPNHS. “We’ve had him at 88-92, with a 74-77 mph curveball, pitches inside well and he gets people out.”

11-10-11: - http://highschoolsports.al.com/news/article/-8503693760714170960/sparkmans-daniel-garner-signs-baseball-scholarship-with-mississippi-state - Sparkman catcher Daniel Garner signed a baseball scholarship with Mississippi State at the high school Friday. Garner, who is entering his third season as the varsity catcher this spring, was named to The Times Elite team last season after batting .357 with 45 RBIs and posting a team-high 15 doubles, seven home runs and 29 walks. He played in the North-South All-Star Game over the summer and was a Perfect Game Underclass All-American and played in the Area Code Baseball Games in Long Beach and in Florida the East Coast Pro Showcase and Perfect Game National Showcase.

11-10-11: - http://diamondprospects.blogspot.com - Max Fried impressed scouts with his combination of stuff and pitchability at the Perfect Game All-American Classic and is now considered the best prep lefty in the 2012 draft. A fantastic athlete, Fried's best pitch is his dynamic curveball that high school hitters have no shot at hitting. He throws it in the mid-70's with a sharp break on it that drops off the table. Couple that with a plus fastball that Fried can run up to 94 and he has the potential to be a top-of-the-rotation starter. Opponents of Harvard-Westlake High School are going to be in trouble this year as they will be facing arguably the best righty and lefty prep pitchers in the nation in Lucas Giolito and now Fried after he transferred from Montclair Prep. Both are committed to UCLA and they both will probably never pitch for the Bruins as they should be locks for the first round.

Draft 2012: - Austin Maddox, Travis Jankowski, Matt Smoral, Lewis Brinson, Dylan Floro

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.

Draft 2012: - Matt Smoral, Alex Bregman, Lance McCullers Jr,, Eric Anderson, Carlos Correa

10-11-11: - http://espn.go.com/blog/high-school/baseball/post/_/id/455/prep-arms-the-difference-in-class-of-2012  - Matt Smoral, LHP -- Solon (Solon, Ohio) Smoral may be the pitching prospect with the most room to climb up the charts thanks to his 6-foot-8, 230-pound frame and low-90s fastball. Scouts believe there is more in the tank in terms of velocity and he also uses a fringe-average slider and is becoming more comfortable with his changeup. Smoral, a North Carolina commit, isn't likely to see Chapel Hill since left-handers with plus heaters and projectable bodies don't last long in the draft. Smoral could land in the top 10.

10-16-11: - http://mlbdraftguide.com/1/2011/10/16/alex-bregman-2012-draft-profile  - Alex Bregman has been on the 2012 draft radar for quite a while.  In 2010, Bregman became the first youth player ever named the USA Baseball Player of the Year.  Past recipients of the award include Stephen Strasburg, Ryan Zimmerman, and Ben Sheets.  He followed up his strong showing in 2010, by participating in the Perfect Game All-American Classic and being named to the USA Baseball 18U National Team in 2011. Bregman is an extremely advanced hitter for his age.  He has a good approach and shows good plate discipline.  He is relaxed at the plate and has an easy line drive swing.  Bregman has plus bat speed.  He squares up the ball well.  He has surprising power and hits to all fields.  60 times for Bregman range from 6.8 to 7.0.

10-18-11: - http://www.rantsports.com/blog/2011/10/18/2012-mlb-mock-draft-update-heading-into-the-world-series  - 4. Baltimore Orioles Lance McCullers Jr. Pitcher Tampa Jesuit High School Florida The Orioles need to add another pitching prospect.  Their rotation has no identity.  Lance McCullers Jr. could develop into a #1 pitcher. When most 2012 MLB Mock Drafts started Lance McCullers Jr. was the clear cut #1 overall pick.  This changed because McCuller’s lacked the size.  McCuller’s has pinpoint accuracy on his pitches along with deadly velocity for a starter.  Lance McCullers Jr. still looks like a stone cold lock to get drafted in the top 5 even if he took himself out of contention for that top pick.

10-20-11: - http://www.collegebaseballdaily.com/2011/10/20/top-100-countdown-85-eric-anderson-missouri  - We continue the countdown today at number 85 with Missouri junior righthanded pitcher Eric Anderson. The Highlands Ranch, Colorado native attended Mountain Vista High School where he was a perfect 10-0 with an ERA of 1.71 and 89 strikeouts as a senior. In his high school career, he went 15-1 with an era of 2.80 while striking out 122 batters. As a freshman in 2010, he made 10 appearances (nine starts) while going 1-4 with a 5.74 ERA in 42.1 innings. He struck out 31 batters while walking 16 before having his season cut short due to an injury. Anderson’s sophomore season saw him go 3-0 with a 4.93 ERA in eleven appearances (nine starts). He walked 16 batters and struck out 26 on the year. He made two appearances with the USA Collegiate National Team in the summer of 2011. He went a perfect 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA. He struck out 7 batters while walking two. He also made two starts with the Falmouth Commodores giving up two runs in 12 innings.

10-21-11: - http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=6343  - Rodriguez is encouraged by the number of top-notch Puerto Rican pitching prospects that are here this weekend, including right-handers Edwin Diaz on Team Mizuno Puerto Rico and Jose Orlando Berrios on the Florida Legends Scout Team.  Middle infielders Carlos Correa (PRBAHS) and Jesmuel Valentin Diaz (PRBAHS) and catchers Tomas Nido (Cardinal Scout Team/FTB Mizuno) and Wilfredo Rodriguez (PRBAHS) are the top-ranked position players. Correa stands a rung ahead of the rest. A student at PRBAHS, the primary shortstop is ranked the nation’s No. 7 overall prospect and No. 1 at his position. He has entertained collegiate offers from Miami, Florida State, Liberty and Vanderbilt, among others, but is yet to verbally commit. It seems certain he will be a first round draft pick. Outfielder Reymond Fuentes was the last player selected in the first round of the draft to come straight out of a Puerto Rico high school when he was taken 28th overall by the Red Sox in 2009.