Draft Notes - 5-19-12 - Prep Pitcher Stats, Barrett Barnes, Max Fried

Entire List -

Player	W	L	ERA	IP	H	BB	SO
Troy Conyers	7	1	0.70	60.1	28	15	98
Chase DeJong	4	3	0.82	76.2	35	21	103
Austin Fairchild	6	0	0.47	60	31	26	108
Max Foody	4	1	2.65	39.2	22	28	37
Carson Fulmer	9	0	0.27	77	27	19	161
Justin Garza	9	1	0.65	65	43	8	74
Hayden Hurst	6	1	1.53	36.2	12	27	58
Zach Irwin	4	2	2.10	40	19	16	83
Kieran Lovegrove	7	3	1.62	69	43	38	83
Ryan McNeil	4	4	1.10	57.1	35	21	94

St. Edward's HS RHP Stephen Johnson -  98

LSU RHP Kevin Gausman – 95,  1^st inning… 

 Scout -

“The most impressive hitter I have seen this year is probably Barrett Barnes of Texas Tech from an overall standpoint. I'd pay to watch him take batting practice. He didn't perform to well in the series that I saw him though, missed at least 4-5 pitches that were big mistake pitches. However the two hits he had in the three-game series were absolutely smoked. He is the best overall hitter from this year I have seen when you combine the power and hit tools. Not as sold on him as other scouts about being able to hit for a very high average at the next level though.” 

Jonathan Mayo on Max Fried –

If Thursday’s start was any indication, reports of Fried’s demise were greatly exaggerated. With a ton of scouts in attendance — every team picking in the first half of the first round was there in some fashion — Fried was back to his old self. He threw a complete-game shutout, striking out 10 and walking just one. More importantly was the bounce back of his stuff. His fastball was 90-95 mph throughout the outing. His 12-to-6 curve (72-78 mph) was sharp and he commanded it extremely well. He mixed in an effective changeup (82-84 mph). In other words, lights out.

Draft 2012: Max Fried, Adam Brett Walker, Hunter Virant, Avery Romero

Max Fried, LHP, Harvard-Westlake, CA  Max Fried should make scouts happy. He pitches as the same high school as Giolito and is a crazy good prospect. He is 6'3", 170 LBS and is the definition of projectable. He is thin and loose in his delivery and can already touch 95. He may even gain a couple MPH as he gains strength. That is scary from a lefty.  That isn't even to mention his impressive secondary pitches. He almost floats through his delivery. His breaking ball is a bit loopy and inconsistent as well but we are talking about an 18 year old here. It could be a 70 pitch, as he commands it well. His change also flashes plus potential.  A lefty with 3 average to well above average pitches projects as a #3 starter all the way up to an Ace. There are a variety of outcomes that could happen here but the potential for a top of the rotation lefty shouldn't last long. I would be surprised if he isn't taken in the top 10 picks. If he opts for college, UCLA is his destination. http://www.minorleagueball.com/2012/2/6/2773435/2012-baseball-draft-high-school-prospects-1-5

DH Adam Brett Walker  School: Jacksonville  Cl.: Junior, Ht.: 6-5, Wt.: 222  Hometown.: Milwaukee, Wis.  High school: Milwaukee Lutheran Walker is having an exceptional collegiate career. He had a good freshman campaign and went a step further last season with an amazing sophomore campaign. He has involved into an elite hitting prospect. In 2011, he batted .409 with 23 doubles, 13 home runs and 75 RBIs.  http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=6498  

Hunter Virant, Camarillo (Calif.)   Virant, who could join Fried and right-hander Giolito at UCLA next season, is a first-round talent heading into the spring schedule. He sits in the 88-92 mph range and has topped out at 93, and the pitch carries some late life. He has good arm speed, which bodes well for his changeup. http://espn.go.com/blog/high-school/baseball/post/_/id/1086/max-fried-leads-class-of-2012-left-handers  

Avery Romero is one of the top prep prospects from talent rich Florida.  Romero has a smooth balanced swing that produces power to all fields.  He has good bat speed and makes consistent hard contact.  Pitch recognition is another strength for Romero. Romero shows good actions in the infield.  He has soft hands to go along with a strong accurate arm.  Some see a move to third base in the future due to Romero lacking ideal quickness for a middle infield spot. Romero is a competitive player with a very strong work ethic.  He looks to be a high round selection in the 2012 draft. http://mlbdraftguide.com/

Draft 2012: Stephen Piscotty, Jesse Winker, Max Fried, Kevin Gausman, Lucas Giolito

3B Stephen Piscotty School: Stanford  Cl.: Junior, Ht.: 6-3, Wt.: 215 Hometown.: Pleasanton, Calif. High school: Amador Valley  There’s a lot to like about the Stanford third baseman. He has an impressive frame and plenty of overall upside. His offensive skills also are advanced, as he led the Cardinal in hitting last season. In 2011, Piscotty batted .364 with three home runs and 40 RBIs. Also had a .423 OBP. http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=6498

You hear stories about players growing up with a batting cage in their backyards.  Jesse Winker is one of those players.  The work in the cage has paid off as Winker is one of the top high school hitters eligible for the 2012 draft. Winker is a patient hitter with a solid approach at the plate.  He has good power and drives the ball to all fields.  WInker’s bat speed is excellent. In the field, Winker has a strong accurate arm that will play in right field.  He gets good jumps on balls when they come off the bat. Winker shows up ready to play at every event in which he takes part.  With his hard work and dedication, he is sure to stay high on draft boards. http://mlbdraftguide.com/

Max Fried, Harvard-Westlake (Studio City, Calif.)  Fried is a fastball—curveball--changeup southpaw with projection in his 6-foot-4, 170-pound frame and a present fastball that has hit 94 mph. He's part of UCLA's tremendous recruiting class but is a good bet to go in the top half of the first round. http://espn.go.com/blog/high-school/baseball/post/_/id/1086/max-fried-leads-class-of-2012-left-handers

While a six-inning scrimmage between the likely LSU starters and the reserves ended with the reserves on top 3-2, the Tigers still had to feel encouraged after a dominating performance by sophomore pitcher Kevin Gausman. Gausman, who LSU coach Paul Mainieri pegged as his probable opening night starter, did not allow the LSU starters to reach base in four masterful innings. The Colorado native needed only 42 pitches — 30 of which were strikes — and made the starting hitters look dumbfounded at times. http://www.lsureveille.com/sports/baseball-gausman-shines-in-lsu-intersquad-scrimmage-1.2694975#.TyyF4m4V1iQ.twitter

Lucas Giolito, RHP, Harvard Westlake, CA - The 6'6" righty has been at the top of the 2012 prep list for quite a while. Giolito could be on his way to breaking the streak of never having a Prep right hander taken 1st overall. Giolito has the highest ceiling of anyone in the 2012 draft. The amazing thing is that his floor is very high as well. As long as he doesn't have injury issues, he could have a floor of a #2 starter with the ceiling of an ace. His fastball reaches as high as 99 MPH but is usually a 94-96 MPH well commanded pitch. It has late movement and good sink.  His breaking ball is truly a plus pitch right now with potential to be a 70 pitch or better. He commands it well. It has tight spin and is more consistent than you would expect from a 17 year old. He looks more like a player who has spent 2-3 years in college or pro ball. His change is the third-best pitch but is still a very good pitch. His mechanics are smooth and clean. He uses his full body in his delivery and has a big durable frame. When the draft rolls around, I can't see him sliding out of the top five and has a shot at being the 1st overall pick. If by some chance he slides down and opts for college, he will head to UCLA. http://www.minorleagueball.com/2012/2/6/2773435/2012-baseball-draft-high-school-prospects-1-5  

Draft 2012: Max Fried, Walker Weickel, Christian Walker, Mike Zunino

Max Fried, Harvard-Westlake (North Hollywood, Calif.), Pitcher, 6-4, L/L, UCLA The top high school lefthander in the draft, Fried's top pitch is his curveball, however he can also reach 94 on his fastball. He was 7-3 with 100 strikeouts in 69.2 innings pitched at Montclair Prep. Several mock drafts have Fried as the second high school pitcher chosen and the fourth pitcher overall. Expect Fried to go among the Top 10 selections. http://www.maxpreps.com/news/-8V2A0MeEeGkPgAmVebEWg/maxpreps-top-10-mlb-draft-prospects.htm  

Walker Weickel — 6’-6”, RHP, Olympia HS (FL)  With his long frame and pitching over the top, Weickel’s delivery is downhill and deceptive. His fastball hits 94 mph and should generate more velocity as he matures. With both his low-70s curveball and low-80s change-up projecting as plus pitches, he is one of the top arms in the draft. Another standout performer at the Pan Am Championships, he went 2-0 0.66 ERA with 12 K/2 BB over 13.1 innings for gold medal winning Team USA. Could find his way in the top-10 with another strong senior season. http://www.throughthefencebaseball.com/top-50-draft-prospects-for-2012-25-thru-1/15694/

1B Christian Walker School: South Carolina  Cl.: Junior, Ht.: 6-0, Wt.: 220  Hometown.: Limerick, Pa. High school: Kennedy-Kenrick  Walker’s stock as a prospect continues to rise, but his status as a college baseball player has been excellent for the past couple of seasons. Walker is a solid defender at first base and has a consistent bat. In 2011, Walker hit .358 with 10 home runs and 62 RBIs. http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=6498

We continue the countdown today at number 2 with Florida junior catcher Mike Zunino. The 6’2 220 pound backstop from Cape Coral, Florida attended Mariner High School playing under Steve Larsen. As a senior, he hit .464 with 43 hits, 37 RBI, 12 home runs and nine doubles while leading the team to the district title. He was selected by Oakland Athletics in the 30th round but decided to attend Florida. Zunino’s freshman season saw him play in 52 games (51 behind the plate) while hitting .267 with 41 RBI, 31 runs, nine homers and seven doubles. He was selected to Baseball America’s Freshman All-American Team and was a member of the SEC’s All-Freshman Team http://ht.ly/1h12Zz

Draft 2012: Hudson Randall, Freddie Avis, Max Fried, Trey Williams

SP Hudson Randall  School: Florida   Cl.: Junior, Ht.: 6-3, Wt.: 180  Hometown.: Atlanta, Ga.  High school: Dunwoody Randall isn’t quite the prospect of weekend rotation counterparts Karsten Whitson and Brian Johnson, but is expected to be a top three-to-four rounder. Randall clearly is the most efficient pitcher on the Gators’ talented pitching staff. In 2011, tallied a 2.17 ERA in 124 1/3 innings and teams hit him at a .227 clip. http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=6498

Freddy Avis, Menlo School (Atherton, Calif.)  Avis was among the more impressive arms on the summer circuit, but he isn't being discussed much because his commitment to Stanford is considered extremely strong. His delivery is smooth and clean and he sat 90-93 in Long Beach. His curveball is among the better breaking pitches in the class. http://espn.go.com/blog/high-school/baseball/post/_/id/1051/top-10-class-of-2012-right-handed-pitchers  

Max Fried — 6’-4”, LHP, Harvard Westlake HS (CA) When Fried was 12, he started honing his curveball. He modeled it after Sandy Koufax, and six years later, he now owns arguably the best one in the country. He also has a sinking fastball that touches 94 mph and a change-up that projects to a plus pitch in the future. At 6’-4” and 180 lbs, he has the frame to add more velocity as he matures. And being a lefty, he is a hot commodity, especially after impressing throughout summer league events. He is teaming up with possible number one pick, Lucas Giolito, at Harvard Westlake High School this year and both of them will get plenty of attention their senior seasons. Very high ceiling. http://www.throughthefencebaseball.com/top-50-draft-prospects-for-2012-25-thru-1/15694/

Trey Williams, Valencia (Calif.), Third Base, 6-1, R/R, Pepperdine Teams needing a hard-hitting third baseman will fill their need with Williams, who has 26 home runs in his career at Valencia. While his junior season didn't quite match up to his sophomore year, Williams had a strong summer with some strong defensive plays in the Perfect Game All-American Classic. Look for Williams to go somewhere between picks 10-20. http://www.maxpreps.com/news/-8V2A0MeEeGkPgAmVebEWg/maxpreps-top-10-mlb-draft-prospects.htm

Draft 2012 – Jake Thompson, Andrew Garner, Max Fried, J.C. Aguayo, Ryne Combs

http://espn.go.com/blog/high-school/baseball/post/_/id/1009/mitchell-traver-highlights-2012-texas-class  10. Jake Thompson, RHP/1B, Rockwall-Heath (Heath, Texas) Thompson, a TCU recruit, is a physical, power arm from the mound and has touched 93 mph with his fastball. He's at least dabbled with a slider, changeup and curveball, and is future will be on the mound if he can improve his secondary stuff and overall control. He swings a power stick in the batter's box, too, but is limited to first base, as he's not likely to hang on to enough athleticism to play the outfield regularly.

http://www.collegesummerbaseball.net/2012/01/top-30-position-players-in-necbl.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter    3.  Andrew Garner  OF  Danbury---Tulane   Andrew led the league with a mighty .384 batting average. He had 43 hits, drove in 27 and scored 28 runs this summer. He hit 9 doubles and hit 5 home runs as well. He was second in the league with a .616 slugging percentage.  PG ranked him as the 12th best prospect in the league. On Oct. 26th, I named him on of my 2011 Top Performers.

Max Fried is one of the very few guys whose name is already somewhat known in this draft class. (Actually, known might be too strong a word; he's 'known' to draftniks more than most other potential high school draftees are in January.) If you're looking for the Clayton Kershaw of this year's draft, the smart money is probably on Fried to be it. Fried has the same projection label as Smoral, and actually has even more room to grow. He's gangly and could easily add 25 pounds without a second thought. And then he could have a second thought and decide to add 15 or 20 more.http://www.vivaelbirdos.com/2012/1/11/2699212/2012-draft-preview-ein-starting-off-sinisterly

1.  J.C. Aguayo  RHP  Conejo Oaks--Azusa Pacific   In a league dominated by D1 prospects, J.C. was by far the best pitcher in the league. He led the league with 7 wins and he sported a 1.78 era in a league-high 55.2 innings pitched. He appeared in 10 games, made 8 starts and allowed just 33 hits this summer. He walked 19 and he led the league with 84 strikeouts. He also held the opposition to a .171 batting average. For his work this summer, the CCL named him their Most Valuable Pitcher.  http://www.collegesummerbaseball.net/2012/01/top-20-pitchers-in-california.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

Ryne Combs is one of the top high school pitchers in the state of Kentucky and a player who deserves more attention than he has been given.  Combs throws a high 80′s fastball and has hit 90.  He still has room to fill out and should add more velocity in the future.  His slider is his best offering, though he hasn’t had to use it much in high school.  His change has sink and shows plus potential.  He commands all of his pitches well. Combs has an easy, low effort delivery and a high 3/4 release.  He has a very good pickoff move that really affects the oppoistion’s running game.  Coach Kevin Clary, of Kentucky Baseball, referred to Combs as “an absolute bulldog on the mound”. http://mlbdraftguide.com/

Draft 2012: - Duane Underwood, Freddy Avis, Carson Kelly, Connor Harrell, Max Fried

11-15-11: - http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=6369  - Duane Underwood (2012 RHP, East Cobb Baseball)- The live armed righty made the leap to high level prospect status this summer when he ran his fastball up to 97 mph during the 17u WWBA National Championship. He cemented his lofty reputation by touching 98 at East Coast Pro and 96 at the PG All-American Game. Given the ball on possibly the biggest stage in amateur baseball, Underwood started the Opening Night matchup between East Cobb and Palm Beach PAL in Roger Dean Stadium. Underwood did not disappoint, limiting PAL's talented lineup to one (unearned) run on four hits, while striking out nine without issuing a walk in 4 1/3 innings. Underwood topped out at 95 with his fastball in the victory, using his secondary stuff sparingly. Underwood flashed a quality curveball at 75 with sharp biting action, but had little need to mix his pitches much given how dominant his fastball is, even against good competition.

11-22-11: - http://espn.go.com/blog/high-school/baseball/post/_/id/814/lucas-giolito-leads-loaded-cali-senior-class  - Here’s a look at the Top 10 California high school prospects in the Class of 2012. 3. Freddy Avis, RHP, Menlo School (Atherton, Calif.)  Despite lacking the physical frame of some of his in-state rivals at 6-foot-2 and 180 pounds, Avis has good arm speed and a fluid delivery, producing easy velocity in the 90 to 93 mph range and also holstering a curveball. He's believed to be a strong commit to Stanford, but is also likely to be considered in Round 1.

11-24-11: - http://mlbdraftguide.com/1  - The top 2012 prospect from Oregon in the 2012 class, Carson Kelly has high upside at the plate and on the mound.  He is an athletic player who has who has been a member of the 18U National Team in 2010 and 2011. Kelly has a line drive swing with power to all fields.  He has above average bat speed.  His recorded 60 time is 7.12. Kelly should be at least average defensively at third.  He has good quickness and a plus arm. On the mound, Kelly has an easy delivery with a high 3/4 release.  He throws a fastball from 88-92.  He has a change with sink that shows good potential.  Kelly’s 74-77 curve is also a quality pitch. While Kelly has the ability to pitch at the next level, most see his future at third base due to his offensive potential.

11-26-11: - http://ht.ly/1fPzwd  - We continue the countdown today at number 58 with Vanderbilt junior Connor Harrell. The Houston, Texas native spent his high school career at Kinkaid High School where he was a four year letterwinner in baseball while picking up two in football. He was named a three-time first-team all-conference and first-team All-South zone selection. He decided to continue his baseball career at Vanderbilt under head coach Tim Corbin. He ended up appearing in 58 games .300 with 15 doubles, 3 home runs and 39 RBI as a freshman. He played the summer of 2010 in the NECBL with the Newport Gulls. Harrell hit .265 with three homers and 10 RBI in 31 games. Harrell ended up sliding back a little as a sophomore with a .289 batting average with nine homers and 36 RBI. He spent the summer in the Cape Cod Baseball League with the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox. He ended up hitting .244 with two RBI in 20 games totaling 45 at bats

11-26-11: - Tweet: - eric sondheimer - Just saw lefty Max Fried throw a 95 mph fastball in his first winter outing. Pretty impressive. Could be top 10 pick in June

Draft 2012: - Mitchell Traver, Max Fried, LJ Mazzili, Trevor Gott, Corey Oswalt

11-15-11: - http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=6369  - Mitchell Traver (2012 RHP, Houston Heat)- Big, powerful and imposing. Traver is an intimidating mound presence at 6-foot-7, 235 pounds, and he uses his size and strength to overpower hitters. Traver uses his long frame to release the ball closer to the plate than most pitchers and with a sharp downhill plane, allowing his 90-94 mph fastball to play up several miles an hour. His 80 mph slider is a quality No. 2 pitch and has shown improved command since the summer, though he still tips it by slowing his arm down. But the biggest adjustment Traver has made is going from throwing his fastball toward the heart of the plate at 90-92 this summer, to working in the bottom of the zone at 92-94 in Jupiter. While he still has some things to improve upon, the progress that the PG All-American showed throughout the fall is encouraging for a player with so much upside.

11-22-11: - http://espn.go.com/blog/high-school/baseball/post/_/id/814/lucas-giolito-leads-loaded-cali-senior-class  - Here’s a look at the Top 10 California high school prospects in the Class of 2012. 2. Max Fried, LHP, Harvard-Westlake (Studio City, Calif.) Fried, who inked with UCLA along with his high school teammate Giolito, stands a projectable 6-foot-4 and combines consistent mechanics with above-average velocity that reaches 92 miles per hour. Fried, who will pitch in the same rotation as Giolito in 2012, stands a projectable 6-foot-4 and combines consistent mechanics with athleticism and above-average velocity that reaches 92 miles per hour. His changeup and curveball each figure to be average or better offerings, and when the smoke clears, Fried could hear his name called shortly after Giolito somewhere in the top half of the first round.

11-23-11: - http://ht.ly/1fNsWX - We continue the countdown today at number 60 with UConn junior LJ Mazzilli. He won three letters in high school between Greenwich (CT) High School and Iona Prep while graduating from IMG Pendelton School in Florida. As a freshman in 2010, he appeared in 36 games with 93 at-bats batting .312 with 29 hits and eight walks. He was able to record an on-base percentage of .373 and a slugging percentage of .548 as he helped lead the squad to the 2010 NCAA Tournament. He spent the summer of 2010 in the Cape Cod Baseball League with the Wareham Gatemen hitting .227 with a homer and five RBI in 30 games.

11-24-11: -  http://ht.ly/1fOAUP   - We continue the countdown today at number 59 with Kentucky sophomore RHP Trevor Gott. The Lexington, Kentucky native attended Tates Creek High School where he was a five year letter winner under coach Dom Fucci. As a senior, he posted a 6-0 record and a 1.12 ERA with 76 strikeouts in 47.1 innings. He was named all-state as a junior and senior, earning regional player of the year accolades while being named first-team all-city for three seasons. “Trevor Gott is one of the best high school pitchers I have ever seen,” Fucci said. “He only gave up one earned run all season. You can’t ask for any more than he has given our team.” Trevor decided to continue his baseball career at Kentucky under head coach Gary Henderson. As a freshman in 2011, he made 23 relief appearances going 2-4 including two saves with a 3.62 ERA in 27.1 innings. He struck out 34 batters while walking 16 on the year.

11-24-11: - http://mlbdraftguide.com/1/2011/11/23/corey-oswalt-2012-draft-profile  -  Corey Oswalt is one of the top third base projects eligible for the 2012 draft.  He has good tools and a large frame with projection.  Oswalt has been consistently productive on the field.  Oswalt has a spread stance at the plate.  He has very good bat speed and drives the ball consistently.  There is strong power potential in his bat.  Recorded 60 times for Oswalt range from 7.07 to 7.24. Oswalt shows good actions in the field.  He has soft hands and a strong arm.

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: - Vahn Bozoian, Brian Holmes, Luke Shearrow, Stryker Trahan, Max Fried

9-1-11: - http://xmlbscout.angelfire.com - Vahn Bozoian, Ayala HS, Chino Hills CA, 6'4 200, R/R, gamer with great baseball actions, runs well underway, just ave stop watch times, throws well from RF, has type of slashing power to hit 15-20 HR at pro level. Sets up and fields well. Gets most out of his ability. Potential early rounder in 2012.

10-6-11: - http://ht.ly/1f0wJA  - We continue the countdown today with number 97 junior Wake Forest LHP Brian Holmes. He is from Lawrenceville, Georgia and was a two year letterwinner at Mill Creek High School. As a senior, he went 4-1 with a 1.89 ERA and 43 strikeouts while leading the team to the state playoffs both years. Holmes spent his freshman season at one of the top junior colleges in the country at Young Harris Junior College. He pitched in 13 games including eight starts. He finished the season with a 4-2 record and an 8.16 ERA while striking out 43 batters in 43 innings pitched. Holmes transferred over to Wake Forest for the 2011 season where he was inserted into the weekend rotation. He appeared in 15 games (11 starts) serving as the Demon Deacons top starting pitcher by the end of the year. He finished the year with a 3-4 record while having an ERA of 3.00 in 69 innings pitched. He struggled some with his walks with 28 on the year but struck out 68 batters.

10-12- 11:- http://www.mlbbonusbaby.com/2011/10/5/2466822/2012-mlb-mock-draft#comments - RHP w/ sick slider Luke Shearrow out of John A. Logan College - Prediction: This kid out of John A. Logan College in southern Illinois, Luke Shearrow, will go high in the draft. He is under the radar right now, but not for long, and he has “It”. He that swagger about him and real mound presence and of course, Talent. This kid is 6’ 4" 190# RHP with a 92 mph two seam and a nice change-up to back it up. But his real bread and butter is a sick slider! I saw him a few weeks ago at a scout day and he looked great. All of the scouts there, both MLB and D-1, were talking about him. I don’t expect a kid of this caliber to take a D-1 scholarship anywhere but to go in the draft and start his professional pitching career.

10-5-11: - http://mlbdraftguide.com/1/2011/10/05/stryker-trahan-2012-draft-profile - Stryker Trahan is a catcher with legitimate lefthanded power.  One of the things that jumps out about Stryker is the amount of athleticism he brings to the position. Trahan is known for his power and overall hitting ability.  He has a short stroke with excellent bat speed.  Trahan has good plate discipline and makes solid contact consistently.  He also brings good speed to the table, running 60′s from 6.54 to 6.67. Offense is Trahan’s calling card, but he has the tools needed to succeed at catcher, as well.  He moves well behind the plate and has a strong arm.  Reported pop times for Trahan range from 1.85 to 2.01.  Should he be needed to move from catcher in the future, right field would be his most likely landing spot. Trahan’s combination of lefthanded power and athleticism should land him in the upped half of the first round of the draft.

10-11-11: - http://espn.go.com/blog/high-school/baseball/post/_/id/455/prep-arms-the-difference-in-class-of-2012  - Max Fried, LHP -- Harvard-Westlake (North Hollywood, Calif.) Fried, who transferred from Montclair Prep (Van Nuys, Calif.) to join forces with Giolito, offers a fastball in the 89-92 mph range and a potentially plus curveball and changeup. He stays over the rubber well and is a good athlete, running sub seven-second 60 times over the summer. He's hit 94 on the gun in the past and his 6-foot-4, 175-pound frame offers plenty of projection to suggest he could sit in the 93-96 mph range down the road. Fried is committed to UCLA, but could perform his way into the Top 10 where the bonus money exceeds $2 million.

Draft 2012: - Jesse Winkler, Walker Weickel, Peter Cantwell, Hunter Virant, Max Fried

9-1-11: - http://xmlbscout.angelfire.com - Jesse Winker, Olympia HS, Orlando FL, 6'2 200 L/L, good approach to game as hitter and fielder, shows plus arm strength from RF, fair runner, 6.95, 60, has power in his bat, tends to be tentative in pitch selection, but when he squares up his has power to RF and LF alleys, needs to be more aggressive in his hitting approach.

10-1-11: - http://mlbdraftguide.com/1/2011/10/01/walker-weickel-2012-draft-profile - Prep righthander Walker Weickel is one of the top arms eligible for the 2012 draft.  He is big, athletic, and projectable. Weickel has a high 3/4 to over the top delivery.  He does an excellent job of pitching downhill.  His delivery creates some deception. Weickel throws a low 90′s fastball that has hit 94.  Some additional velocity should come as he matures.  He has a low 70′s curve that is a potential plus pitch but is still somewhat inconsistent.  His low 80′s change also shows flashes of plus potential. Weickel is almost assured of being selected in the first round and could land among the top 10 selections

10-4-11: - http://ht.ly/1eYnA5 - We continue the countdown today with Stony Brook senior catcher Patrick Cantwell. The senior has had an outstanding career with the Seawolves which has seen him win multiple conference awards. He played three years of varsity baseball at West Islip HS and was a three-time captain. As a senior, he hit .477 with 31 runs, eight triples, two home runs and 33 RBIs. Cantwell continued with his strong college career as a junior when he became the everyday catcher. He started 54 games with a .308 batting average with 14 doubles and 46 runs scored from the leadoff spot. He played the summer of 2011 in the Cape Cod Baseball League with the Bourne Braves. He hit .279 with 18 runs scored and nine RBI in 35 games including the postseason. He was named a CCBL All-Star where he went 0-2.

10-6-11: - http://www.mlbbonusbaby.com/2011/10/5/2466822/2012-mlb-mock-draft#comments - Virant is extremely athletic. He’s only a year into concentrating on pitching and crosses his body on delivery at times. I’m guessing that’s what people mean by “project”. He does have a really good feel for pitching in the looks I’ve seen. His CB is not yet at the same level as Fried (who throws two versions) but Virant might have the better Changeup. Fried throws a bit harder. Virant just pitched out in Cali (following the USA 18u Trials) a week ago. Sat 86-88 touching 90. He needs to shut down. He was sick coming into the Area Codes, showed up late and pitched just OK. PGAA was pretty much a mess. Now he’s getting ready for a trip to Colombia with the 18u’s. Looks like he’s lost a lot of weight since the start of the summer which speaks to the drop in velo. Somebody needs to step in and advise him to take a rest and recover.

10-10-11: - (Max) Fried is a specimen to watch for sure. As far as his 60 time, I’m not sold on that, he ran a 6.95 in Cary in June at TOS, Virant ran a 7.2, and both had fb that topped 92 on the stalker pro. One of the better specimens in Cary was RHP, 2012, Keiran Lovegrove of Mission Viejo, 6’4 180, ran 6.65 and topped 93 on stalker pro, great body projection much like Mike Mussina was Muss was in HS in Pa. I agree on the top 2 lefty talk for HS, there aren’t as many good HS lefties in 2012 as their were when Purke & Matzek were graduating. But it’s early!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOL Fried for me threw 1 inning, so just a pocket follow, Virant threw 3 innings, very crude but there is something there, not first round based on what I saw though. I saw Kyle Lobstein from Arizona a few years back, and to be fair, Kyle was better at this stage than the two Fried & Virant at the same stage going into their SR years. Just my opinion however -  http://www.mlbbonusbaby.com/2011/10/5/2466822/2012-mlb-mock-draft#comments

Draft 2012: - Dan Gulbransen, Michael Wacha, James Ramsey, Max Fried

7-19-11: - http://www.mlbbonusbaby.com/2011/6/29/2250656/early-look-at-2012#comments  - Dan Gulbransen, Jacksonville, 5’11 200, L/L, short compact swing as hitter with HR power to RF alley, can go the other way for extra base hits, throws adequate to be solid LF corner guy or 4th utility OF, runs well enough but not a threat to steal many bases, good base running ability however.

9-8-11: - http://www.gacksports.com/65590/2012-mlb-mock-draft-update  - 6. Chicago Cubs Michael Wacha Pitcher Texas A&M Wacha is 6 foot 6 220 pounds. The Cubs have 6 pitching prospects ranked in the top ten of their farm system. Hayden Simpson has struggled and none of the pitching prospects have made significant progress in AAA to the point where their close to playing in the MLB. The Cubs may have 5 farm prospects top 10 prospects at pitcher ready to arrive in the Pro’s in 2012. The Cubs have to add Wacha to their farm system. None of their farm prospects have managed to stand out in development and pitching is a serious issue in Chicago with the teams ERA.

9-12-11: - http://www.collegesummerbaseball.net/2011/09/top-20-position-players-in-florida.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter  - In the six-team Florida Collegiate Summer League this summer, the Sanford River Rats downed the Winter Park Diamond Dawgs to earn them the title of FCSL Champions. Individually, there were at least 25 position players that turned in great seasons. Unfortunately, I had to narrow the list down to the top 20. - 5. James Ramsey OF Sanford--South Florida - James was drafted by the Yankees in 2010. He hit .326 in 92 at-bats this summer. He scored 13 runs, drove in 11 and hit one home run this summer. He was selected to play in the All-Star Game and he hit one double in said game. During the playoffs, James led all hitters with 8 runs batted in.

7-19-11: - http://www.mlbbonusbaby.com/2011/6/29/2250656/early-look-at-2012#comments  - Max Fried, Montclair Prep HS, Encino CA, 6’3 170, string bean with loose arm from 3/4 slot, up to 90 most fb were 88-89 with late life and decent control and cb is more of a slider, side ways break that gets loopy on occ when he slows down his delivery. Definite watch for improvement in 2012.

2012 Draft: - R C Orlan, Max Fried, Shane Watson, Lucas Giolito, James Callahan

R C Orlan:


7-19-11: - http://www.mlbbonusbaby.com/2011/6/29/2250656/early-look-at-2012#comments   - R C Orlan, UNC-Chapel Hill, 5’11 190, hard thrower with pin straight fb, some tail way vs RHH up and away, also downer type cb that still in development stage, fb up to 91, most are 88-91, and he’s around the zone. Not very tall, best suited for relief.


Max Fried:


8-7-11: - Command is what sets Fried apart as well, armed with a nasty fastball-curveball one-two punch that gives him a similar power profile to Virant. Fried's fastball velocity was a tick below Virant's at 88-92 at the National, but Fried showed more consistent diving movement on his heavy fastball, with a similar overall combination of size, stuff and control. Ranked 27th overall in the 2012 class, Fried also is a good all-around athlete, with above average speed and a smooth left-handed swing that could give him some value as a two-way player at the collegiate level.


Shane Watson:


8-8-11: - Per Twitter - Shane Watson (rhp, Lakewood HS, Calif.) also solid, showing 90-1 FB, topped 92. Flashed plus two-plane CB @ 77-78. #MLBDraft #AreaCodeGames


Lucas Giolito:


8-8-11: - http://insider.espn.go.com/mlb/blog?name=mlb_draft&id=6843405&action=login&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fmlb%2fblog%3fname%3dmlb_draft%26id%3d6843405  - The best high school pitcher in this draft class is Luc Giolito of Harvard-Westlake HS. The right-hander is committed to UCLA but would likely be the first prep arm off the board if the draft was held right now with his combination of stuff and size. The 6-foot-6, 230-pounder's fastball was up to 96 mph on Sunday, sitting at 93, and he showed a solid changeup at 83-84 as well as two speeds on his breaking ball. The velocity is easy to him and his delivery is built for starting; his command isn't there and he needs more consistency on each of his secondary pitches. But I don't think there's a better overall package among prep arms in the 2012 class yet.


James Callahan:


7-19-11: - http://www.mlbbonusbaby.com/2011/6/29/2250656/early-look-at-2012#comments  - Jamie Callahan, Dillon HS, SC, 6’3 190, loose arm that touches 92 on occ, most fb were 90 with middle in life vs RHH and downward tilt to cb that needs a bit more polish. Threw strikes and delivery is workable.