12-2-11: - http://mlbdraftcountdown.wordpress.com/2011/12/02/2012-mlb-mock-draft-updated-top-15-with-final-mlb-standings - 3) Seattle Mariners: Deven Marrero, SS, Arizona State The Mariners have somehow gotten worse every season since Jack Zduriencik took over as GM in October of 2008, and honestly, the future doesn’t appear to be too bright. Yes, they still have one of the top pitchers in baseball in Felix Hernandez and they have an burgeoning ace in Michael Pineda, but their offense has taken dramatic steps backward. Ichiro is half the player he used to be, and aside from Dustin Ackley, their lineup has very little excitement. It should be noted that 10 players who played in more than 50 games hit under the .250 mark. Justin Smoak (.234), Brendan Ryan (.248), Chone Figgins (.188) and Franklin Gutierrez (.224) all looked especially terrible at the plate. Defensively, the Mariners weren’t much better, posting a middle-of-the-pack fielding percentage. The M’s could kill two birds with one stone with the selection of Deven Marrero, a solid all-around player capable of hitting .300 at the big-league level while providing Gold Glove caliber defense. Marrero is hands down the top shortstop available regardless of draft class (high school or college). The Mariners flirted with the idea of taking Francisco Lindor last year, and in Marrero, they would be getting a more seasoned version.
12-9-11: - http://clickthepaper2.com/2011/12/09/former-dragon-is-no-8-mlb-prospect-for-2012-draft - former Jefferson High pitching standout Chris Beck had the opportunity to play professionally after he graduated from JHS in 2009, but decided to prolong the move by accepting a scholarship to play for Georgia Southern University. With a strong build and high potential coming out of high school, Beck was drafted in the 35th round (1,055 overall pick) of Major League Baseball’s First Year Players Draft by the Cleveland Indians. After two seasons with GSU, the 6-3, 220 pound right-hander was listed as the No. 8 prospect in the nation, according to MLB.com last week.
12-9-11: - http://www.collegesummerbaseball.net/2011/12/top-20-pitchers-in-perfect-game.html - Dominick Ruscitti RHP Newark Pilots---Kutztown - Dominick is a 6-2/230 right-hander from Washingtonville, NY. He was simply the best pitcher in the league this summer, and the league agrees with me as he was named the Pitcher of the Year in the PGCBL. He led the league with 6 wins and led the league with a 1.82 era in 59.1 innings pitched. He completed two games, made eight starts and held the opposition to just 42 hits allowed this summer. He walked 15 batters and he fanned 49 this summer. Dominick also held opponents to a .196 batting average this summer. Perfect Game ranked him as the 30th best prospect in the league.
12-12-11: - http://ht.ly/1g8auL - We continue the countdown today at number 44 with Jacksonville junior outfielder Adam Brett Walker. The Milwaukee, Wisconsin native attended Milwaukee Lutheran High School where he was a three year starter. His senior season saw him named all-state, all-area and all-conference. His junior season saw him earn multiple awards also being named all-state, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel All-Area and first team all-conference after batting a school-record .569 (33-58) with eight home runs and a 1.121 slugging percentage. Walker’s freshman season saw him become an everyday player with 51 appearances, including 49 starts (38 as the designated hitter, eight in right field, three at first base). He finished the season with the fourth highest batting average on the Dolphins squad at .313 with a team highs in homers (16) and RBI (58). He was named first team Freshman All-America by Louisville Slugger and NCBWA while picking up second team All-Atlantic Sun and All-Freshman Atlantic Sun.
12-13-11: - http://ht.ly/1g9nnf - We continue the countdown today at number 43 with Baylor junior first baseman Max Muncy. The Keller, Texas native attended Keller High School where he was a three year letterwinner for Rob Stramp. In his three year high school career, he hit 22 homers and 46 doubles while being named a two-time All-District 5-5A selection, 2009 Under Armour All-American, 2009 Class 5A all-state selection, and 2008 First-Pitch Classic all-tournament member. As a freshman in 2010, he saw action in 59 games with a .300 batting average with a team high in homers (11) and RBI (53) with 47 runs scored and 13 doubles. He was named a 2010 Freshman All-American by Collegiate Baseball and a Fort Worth Regional All-Tournament team member. He spent the 2010 summer in the Cape Cod Baseball League with the Wareham Gatemen. He played in 44 games hitting three homers and driving in 25 runs while having a batting average of .243.
