Draft 14 – Aaron Nola, Chad Sobotka, Mac Marshall, Shane Benes

1-20-14 – PG Preseason College All-Americans – Starting Pitcher - Aaron Nola, Louisiana State - 2013 Stats: 1.57 ERA, 126 IP, 122 K, 18 BB, .188 OPP BA] - The Tigers had one of the nation’s best teams and rotations last season, and it should be much of the same this spring with Nola and lefthanded pitcher Cody Glenn leading the charge. Nola, a 6-foot-1, 183-pounder, is Mr. Command out on the mound, as evidenced by his incredibly low walk total from last season. From a stuff standpoint, Nola has a fastball that typically sits in the low-90s. However, he can get up to 94 at times. Meanwhile, his curveball sits in the upper-70s, along with a low-80s changeup. http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=9294 

1-23-14 - Number 28 on our countdown is junior RHP Chad Sobotka from South Carolina-Upstate. The 6’6 righty was a four year letter winner at Riverview High School. As a senior, he went 4-2 with a 3.20 ERA with him named the team’s MVP. His freshman season with the Spartans saw him work out of the bullpen in all of his 25 appearances. He finished the year with a 3-0 record and an ERA of 1.72 while picking up 12 saves in 31.1 innings of work as he became the premier closer for the Spartans. He picked up several awards including being named to Atlantic Sun All-Freshman Team, Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American Honors, and NCBWA Freshman All-American. http://ht.ly/2DcZH4

1-3-14 – TTF Baseball - 22. Cleveland Indians — Mac Marshall, LHP, Parkview HS (GA) - One of the better southpaws in the 2014 MLB draft, Marshall’s fastball sits in the low/mid-90s and he has worked hard on his delivery and command over the past year. He also flashed a potential plus curveball at the Perfect Game Nationals. At 6’-2” and 185 pounds, he is a great athlete who has been clocked at 6.7 in the 60. As a junior, he had 80 K/32 BB over 46 innings for one of the premiere programs in the country. Committed to LSU. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-2/40753#ppGUqI6CbWFvzsPf.99 

11-21-13 – BA Top 100 High School Players - 37 Shane Benes 3B/RHP R/R 6-3* 200 Westminster Academy, Town and Country, Mo. Missouri http://www.baseballamerica.com/college/2014-high-school-top-100-with-commitments/

Draft 14 – Luke Weaver, Brandon Finnegan, Alex Jackson, Shane Benes

1-3-14 – TTF Baseball - 17. Baltimore Orioles — Luke Weaver, RHP, Florida State - A 6’-2”, 180 pound right-hander, Weaver enjoyed an outstanding season for the Seminoles this year. Over 15 starts, he had a 2.29 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 119 K/19 BB over 98.1 innings. His 10.9 K/9 and 6.3 K/BB ratios show the kind of power/command pitcher he is. His fastball sits in the low/mid 90s and he adds a change-up that shows plus potential. There is still room for projection and added velocity as he fills out. Over 21 innings for Team USA, he had 17 K/5 BB. 

http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-2/40753#ppGUqI6CbWFvzsPf.99

12-9-13 – Pine Tar Press  -  39- LHP Brandon Finnegan TCU 4/14/93- The win total for a pitcher we all know is a terrible statistic to define how good a pitcher is. Certainly, that case is proven with Brandon who went 0-8 as a sophomore at TCU. The power lefty sits under 6’0 but routinely dials his fastball at 95 plus. Some see him as a game changing 2-pitch reliever but he certainly has the repertoire to be a SP if his change develops. But, if I had to project him out I would suggest his future is out of the bullpen. (Out of first round- Rockies selection) 

http://pinetarpress.com/early-look-2014-mlb-draft/

11-21-13 – BA Top 100 High School Players - 2 Alex Jackson C/OF R/R 6-1 224 Rancho Bernardo, Escondido, Calif. Oregon http://www.baseballamerica.com/college/2014-high-school-top-100-with-commitments/

12-10-13 – TTF – Top 50 HS Players - 49. Shane Benes, SS, Westminster Christian Academy (MO) - The 6′-3″, 200-pound right-hander showed off his tremendous raw power in Jupiter by registering 108 mph on his exit velocity. His size may move him off short but he shows soft hands, enough range and an arm to at least make it interesting. Very good bloodlines as his dad, Andy Benes, was the first-overall pick by the Padres in the 1988 MLB draft and spent 14 seasons in the majors. Committed to Missouri. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-top-50/40532#zz88YJZTOG8iEa1Z.99