Draft Notes 5-14-12 – Stephen Piscotty, Nolan Sanburn, Jeremy Baltz, Josh Elander, Travis Jankowski

Stamford OF-1B (31-14)  Stephen Piscotty –

6.1-IP, 6-H, 3-R, 1-ER, 3-K, 0-BB, 72-P vs. Washington State

Seasonal – 9-G, 1-ST, 2.49, 21.2-IP, 12-K, 5-BB

This was Piscotty’s first start ever which wasn’t that bad; however, if you’re going to draft him, it’s as an everyday hitter (.344/.431/.516, 186-AB, 5-HR, 50-RBI, 14-K, 24-BB).

Piscotty projects as a utility player, which is exactly what his role was in school. For that reason alone I can’t see him picked until around the 4^th round.

Arkansas (35-17) RHP Nolan Sanburn –

                        1.0-IP, 4-H, 3-R, 1-K, 2-BB, 44-P vs. Auburn

                        Seasonal – 17-G, 4-ST, 3.23, 30.2-IP, 38-K, 17-BB

Sandburn earned his prospect status as a closer, but may be drafted as a starter. He does have three pitches which includes a fastball that hits 98 and a nasty 82-85 slider. 98 gets you a first round pick though I see it in the 22-31 range.

St. John’s (32-18) OF Jeremy Baltz –

                        4-5, 3-R, HR, 1-RBI vs. Louisville

                        Seasonal - .337/.424/.513, 6-HR, 44-RBI, 193-AB, 16-K, 25-BB

Baltz started this season with the 1B tag; however, he has played 2012 as a corner outfielder. We all know how both the Yankees and Mets love a local boy and he should be around after the sup-one round is completed. I’d pass on him, but that’s just me.

TCU (31-16) C/OF Josh Elander –

3-5, 3-R, 2-2B, HR, 4-RBI vs. Air Force… Elander could use around ten more games like this leading up to the draft…

Seasonal - .319/.446/.515, 7-HR, 34-RBI, 163-AB, 32-K, 32-BB

The interesting thing here is he’s already trying to get out from behind the plate. Baseball needs catchers, not ex-ones. Elander will be picked somewhere in the top three rounds simply due to the lack of talent in this draft at that position. He projects out in my book as a career minor leaguer.

Stony Brook (38-11) OF Travis Jankowski –

4-9, 3-R, 2-2B, SB, 1-BB, 3-RBI vs. UMBC… again, we have to insert a caveat here due to the limited competition in this conference…

Seasonal:  .382/.455/.608, 3-HR, 33-RBI, 186-AB, 15-K, 18-BB

I would gladly draft Travis if he was still around in the 5^th round. I don’t like everyday players in small D1 schools. They would have transferred if they dominated the game. Jankowski looks to have a good eye. He does have plus speed and defense, but lacks pop. Where have I heard that lately? Projection: 3^rd round.

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  

2012 Draft: – Marcus Stroman, Teddy Stankiewicz, Stephen Piscotty, Peter O’Brien

Marcus Stroman — 5’-9”, RHP, Duke  Stroman could close for most major-league teams tomorrow if needed. With a fastball that touches 95 mph, and a tight slider that can be ridiculously mesmerizing at times, he is one of the most ready pitchers available in the draft. Went 8.1 scoreless innings for the collegiate Team USA, striking out 17, while walking just one. At the 2010 Cape Cod League, he tossed 25 scoreless innings, striking out 32 while walking just three, including registering 10 saves. http://www.throughthefencebaseball.com/top-50-draft-prospects-for-2012-50-thru-26/15621/

http://espn.go.com/blog/high-school/baseball/post/_/id/1009/mitchell-traver-highlights-2012-texas-class  6. Teddy Stankiewicz, RHP, Southwest Christian High School (Fort Worth, Texas)  Stankiewicz, who has signed on to play at Arkansas as part of their blue-chip class, offers projection thanks to a 6-foot-4, 200-pound frame and some athleticism. He sits in the 89-92 mph range with more velocity on the way. His best breaking ball is a firm slider that has flattened in games but has tilt and late break. The right-hander also offers a curveball with good shape. As with most prep arms, his changeup needs a lot of development.

Stephen Piscotty, 6’-3”, 3B, Stanford - After grabbing Appel with the second overall pick, the Twins grab his teammate in Piscotty. With his smooth swing and excellent bat speed, Piscotty is one of the purest hitters in the draft, able to spray the ball to all fields. He hit .364 with three home runs and 40 RBI over 57 games as a sophomore in 2011. He then led the Cape Cod League with a .349 average. His lack of power could force a move to left field where his strong and accurate arm could play well. http://www.throughthefencebaseball.com/2012-mlb-mock-draft-3-0-now-with-supplemental-picks/16253/

Miami catcher Peter O'Brien has finally been cleared to play in 2012 by the NCAA, according to Hurricanes coach Jim Morris. O'Brien slugged 34 homers over the last two years at Bethune-Cookman and was drafted by the Rockies in the third round last June. He did not sign, instead transferring to Miami for his senior year. He applied for an eligibility waiver from the NCAA on the grounds that the Miami Gardens native was transferring to be near his mother, who was battling health problems. It took several months and a lot of paperwork, but his request was eventually granted this morning  http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/college/2012/01/miamis-peter-obrien-cleared-to-play/

Draft 2012 – Kevin Gausman, Jeremy Baltz, Stephen Piscotty, Dane Phillips

Kevin Gausman / RHP / LSU – A draft-eligible sophomore, Gausman struggled with his command in 2011, but a fastball that sits in the 94 range with an above-average change and breaking ball puts the former Colorado high-school star in the second slot to start the campaign. There’s very little wasted motion in the delivery, and scouts rave about his makeup. There’s plenty of projection here, and if the command improves, he’ll be gone before the first ten picks are made. http://mlbdraftinsider.com/2011/12/top-twelve-college-pitchers/

Jeremy Baltz — 6’-3”, OF, St. John’s - Baltz has one of the most polished bats in the draft. He hit .396 with 24 home runs and 85 RBI as a freshman in 2011, earning him NCAA Freshman of the Year honors. He then tore up the Cape Cod League hitting .321 with two home runs and 23 RBI over 42 games, including a league-leading 13 doubles. He also showed off his advanced plate discipline by walking 25 times while only striking out 22 times over that span. With another impressive sophomore campaign, Baltz could shoot up draft boards come June. http://www.throughthefencebaseball.com/top-50-draft-prospects-for-2012-50-thru-26/15621/

Already on radars following a sophomore season that saw him hit .364, Stephen Piscotty certainly helped his status with a strong Cape League season, where he won the batting title with his .349 average. Piscotty has an easy swing with good bat speed, making consistent hard contact and hitting to all fields. He's shown raw power to all fields as well and with some added strength there could be more there. An average runner, Piscotty is a good defender at third, with an accurate arm, good hands and decent range. He also can play the outfield, giving him a little flexibility. He hasn't shown much in-game home run power to date, but a team that thinks it will come with maturity will jump at the chance to add his bat and excellent baseball instincts to its system. http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/prospects/watch/y2012/

Dane Phillips decided to change majors after his sophomore season at Oklahoma State University and he cited that is the reason for his transfer to the University of Arkansas, but he was denied eligibility and chose to transfer to Oklahoma City University an NAIA school where Phillips will be eligible to play. Phillips is a somewhat promising prospect. He has a quick swing that he uses to hit a good amount of line drives, and he uses the entire field. He has power potential that hasn’t really surfaced as a collegiate athlete as he hit just 7 home runs in two seasons at OSU, although he did show some nice gap power in 2011, hitting 16 doubles and 8 triples in 2011 for the Cowboys. Phillips has a decent eye at the plate, although he does strike out too much. A lot of Phillips’ draft stock has to do with whether his power potential comes into fruition. We’ll have to see if that happens at OKCU in 2012. http://rayscoloredglasses.com/2011/12/21/taking-an-early-look-at-the-catchers-in-the-2012-mlb-draft-part-1

Draft 2012: - Ryan Mathews, Nathan Kirby, Stephen Piscotty, Rio Ruiz, Kenny Diekroeger

11-3-11: - http://www.collegesummerbaseball.net/2011/11/top-30-position-players-from-coastal.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter  - Top 30 Position Players From the Coastal Plain League  4.   Ryan Mathews   OF   Wilson Tobs---North Carolina State   Ryan (6-4/200) led the league with 15 long balls this summer. He finished the year by hitting .283, having a sluggling % of .617 an driving in 41 runners. Despite his size, he also showed that he can run a bit (11 stolen bases). Baseball America ranked Ryan as the 3rd best prospect in the league, and Perfect Game has him as the 10th best in the league.

10-28-11: - http://orioles-nation.com/2011/10/26/wwba-2012-highlights - Nathan Kirby (Midlothian VA; James River HS) – A lot of projection left in the thin framed LHP, with a good deal of room to gain some strength in both the lower and upper body.  Kirby is a smooth left hander with some effort, but is long and loose.  He has an extended 3/4 release and collapses heavily towards the glove side, which could be a reason why he shows trouble commanding his arsenal at times.  The fastball has life and sits 88-90 mph, touching 91 mph.  His curve has some decent bite; flashes a potential slider and change up. Good feel for pitching, but simply needs to tighten up on a consistent basis.  Good deal of potential on the mound.

11-2-11: - http://www.collegesummerbaseball.net/2011/11/top-35-position-players-in-cape-cod.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter  - Top 35 Position Players in the Cape Cod League 2.   Stephen Piscotty   3B   Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox—Stanford  Stephen had a great 2011 for Stanford and this summer was more of the same as he won the leauges batting title by edging out Dane Phillips. Stephen, a 2009 Dodgers draft pick hit .349, scored 20 runs and drove in 21 this summer. He hit 8 doubles and smacked 3 home runs for the Sox this season. He went 2 for 4 in the All-Star Game and he was named to the All-League Team.  Perfect Game ranked him as the 7th best prospect in the league, and Baseball America ranked him as the 12th best prospect in the league.

11-5-11: - http://www.insidesocal.com/tribpreps/2011/11/rio-ruizs-mri-i.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter - Bishop Amat quarterback Rio Ruiz got his MRI results back Thursday and there was good news. It came back negative, leaving Ruiz with just a sprain, not any damage to his ACL or MCL. However, he is still sore, hasn't practiced this week and will sit out Friday's game at Notre Dame in the hope Amat wins and makes the playoffs. Sophomore Koa Haynes will get the start at QB for the Lancers Friday. If Amat wins and gets in, Ruiz will have two weeks off before the playoffs since the Lancers have a bye in week 10. From everything I hear, if healthy, Ruiz will return for the postseason run.

11-4-11: - http://www.throughthefencebaseball.com/chicago-cubs-2012-free-agent-and-draft-pick-possibilities/13157/# -  SS Kenny Diekroeger, 6’-2″, 200 lbs, Stanford — Diekroeger made his presence at the 2008 Area Code Games where he posted the highest testing scores at the event, even higher than Mike Trout. The Rays made him their second pick the following year, but he chose to attend Stanford instead. He hit .356 with 41 RBI his freshman year while becoming the first freshman to lead the team in RBI. He has an incredibly high baseball IQ and has remarkable athletic ability. Defensively, he can play anywhere on the field, but shortstop is his natural position. At the plate, he is a solid contact hitter with power to all fields, an advanced approach at the plate and the frame to develop some big time power.

Draft 2012: - Mike Lubanski, Daniel Robertson, Stephen Piscotty, Stryker Trahan, Rio Ruiz

Mike Lubanski:


7-19-11: - http://www.mlbbonusbaby.com/2011/6/29/2250656/early-look-at-2012#comments  - Mike Lubanski, Wake Forest, 5’11 185 R/R, limited playing time as a soph, has shown capable release and throwing arm strength, along with ability to run and has pop in his bat. Playing time needed to increase value.


Daniel Robertson:


8-12-11: - http://www.prospectwire.com/pw/article.php?id=290   - I think in time 3rd baseman Daniel Robertson (6'0" 185, R/R, Upland, CA) will develop into a pro 3rd baseman but that likely will happen during his college years. Robertson has the tools to be a plus defender and he has enough talent with the bat to suggest he can hit for some average and some power, enough to project him as an everyday 3rd baseman at the pro level. He just tends to lack consistency.


Stephen Piscotty:


8-14-11: - http://mlbdraftguide.com/1/2011/08/10/the-good-the-disappointing-from-the-cape  - Stephen Piscotty, 3B, Stanford- Already looked at as a top hitter, Piscotty went to the Cape and just kept hitting. His .349/.429/.509 line was one of the best in the league and he was named to the All-Star Team. Scouts came away impressed with his approach at the plate.


Stryker Trahan:


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 - 1. Stryker Trahan 2012 C 6'1 218 Scott, LA Acadiana - Trahan has power near the top of the scale. He is a catcher with 5 potential above average tools. That is about as good as it gets.


Rio Ruiz:


7-19-11: - http://www.mlbbonusbaby.com/2011/6/29/2250656/early-look-at-2012#comments  - Rio Ruiz, Bishop Amat HS, Covina CA, 6’2 195 L/R, smooth hitter with alley power, sound hitting approach and discipline, ML arm strength and good actions with glove to his left, runs well once underway, not a burner, but may steal a base on occasion, could be a 1-3 rounder in 2012.