Draft Notes 5-31-12 – Kevin Gausman, Corey Seager, Tom Murphy, Mark Appel

Kevin Gausman

Kevin Gausman has been through this before. But this time, he's much more prepared, both physically and mentally.  Gausman was a fairly highly regarded prospect as a Colorado high schooler in 2010. But he was a fastball pitcher with poor command, below-average secondary stuff and a rail-thin build. In addition, a commitment to Louisiana State and the fact he'd be eligible for the Draft again in two years made it almost certain that he'd go on to college.

Corey Seager

Corey Seager, 3B, Northwest Cabarrus HS (NC) - Class: HS Senior -  Hometown: Kannapolis, North Carolina   Height/Weight: 6-4/190   Born: April 27, 1994  Seager is the younger brother of Kyle Seager, who is in the midst of a breakout season with the Seattle Mariners. Like his older brother, Corey, has the perfect combination of polish and impressive raw talent.

Kevin Goldstein –

Q - What is the main factor between Carlos Correa and Devin Marrero in your opinion?

A - WAY better hit/power.

                         

Tom Murphy  

The bar for being a productive catcher in the major leagues is low. It's not low in that it's still very, very hard to play baseball at that high a level, but it's lower for catchers than for lots of other positions. Which is why you can re-calibrate expectations for catchers. A guy who profiles with average power at other positions becomes above-average for a catcher. The flip side of that is that a guy who has to move off the position can go from being a great prospect to an average one with one small switch in positions. Why is this relevant? Because Tom Murphy could be one of the best catchers in the draft, but he's not really one of the best hitters. He's got good power, but may not be able to make great contact consistently in the majors. He's good defensively, and has a good chance at sticking with catching in the future.

Mark Appel  

4. Mark Appel, RHP, Stanford - Who he is: There are three big college arms in this draft, and Appel is generally seen as the best. He certainly passes the sniff test, due to a 6-foot-5 power frame and a 93-95 mph fastball that can touch 98. His breaking ball is a bit of a hybrid, but is effective and misses plenty of bats, and his changeup is average. He's excellent, but for some, he lacks the wow factor of a potential 1-1 pick. One scout commented, “The parts are greater than the sum,” as he can be surprisingly hittable at times. Draft skinny: Currently the favorite to go No. 1 to Houston, but not yet a lock. He should get through the minors quickly, but he's also the top prospect being advised by Scott Boras, and teams are unsure as to what those negotiations will be like under the new rules.

Draft 2012: Lance McCullers, Tom Murphy, Michael Roth, Lucas Giolito

Lance McCullers — 6’-2”, RHP, Jesuit HS (FL) McCullers has been a hot commodity since hitting 96 mph on the radar gun as a sophomore. Son of the former major leaguer with the same name, he has an electric arm and one of the most powerful arms in the draft. His fastball hits 97 mph with ease. He also has a knee-buckling curve to go along with a plus-slider. Has a feel and poise for the game not seen in many players his age. Also an outstanding hitter but the mound is where he belongs. http://www.throughthefencebaseball.com/top-50-draft-prospects-for-2012-25-thru-1/15694/

Tom Murphy opened eyes with a strong 2011 season that earned him the Mid-America Conference Player of the Year Award and continued impressing over the summer with an All-Star summer in the New England Collegiate Baseball League. Murphy has a short compact swing with plus raw power.  He also shows good speed for a catcher, recording a 60 time of 6.75 over the summer. His defense is not gold glove quality, but Murphy is solid behind the plate.  He has a slightly above average arm and he has consistent 1.9 pop times. In addition to his skills on the field, Murphy is known for good work ethic and makeup.   He is likely to be chosen in the 2nd or 3rd round of the 2012 MLB Draft. http://mlbdraftguide.com/

We continue the countdown today at number 4 with South Carolina senior LHP Michael Roth. The Greer, South Carolina native attended Riverside High School. He was a member of several teams including 2006 & 2008 South Carolina AAA All-State team, 2006 & 2007 Louisville Slugger High School All-American, 2006 South Carolina AAA Player of the Year, and a 2008 Rawlings Preseason third team All-American. As a freshman in 2009, he made 16 appearances (two starts) while going 1-1 with a 4.22 ERA in 32 innings of work. He held opponents to a .254 batting average against while striking out 28 batters while walking 13 batters http://ht.ly/1gXFxV

1. Lucas Giolito, Harvard-Westlake (Studio City, Calif.)  - Giolito, a UCLA recruit, is the top prep arm in the class and could land in the top five come June. His arsenal features a plus fastball that brushes the mid-90s, and the velocity comes easy. http://espn.go.com/blog/high-school/baseball/post/_/id/1051/top-10-class-of-2012-right-handed-pitchers

Draft 2012: Mike Zunino, Mitchel Traver, Walker Weickel, Pierce Johnson, Tom Murphy

Mike Zunino — 6’-2”, C, Florida  - Zunino hit .371 with 19 home runs, 67 RBIs and a .442 OBP as he was named the SEC Player of the Year in 2011. He has a patient approach at the plate and generates a ton of pull power. As great as he is offensively, defense is where he shines. With good hands, a strong and accurate arm and tremendous footwork, he fields his position like a major-league veteran. Will be a high pick and a fast riser to the big leagues. http://www.throughthefencebaseball.com/top-50-draft-prospects-for-2012-25-thru-1/15694/

Mitchell Traver, Houston Christian (Houston)  Traver, a TCU commit, offers size (6-foot-7, 250 pounds), easy velocity in the 91-95 mph range and the occasional above-average curveball that has some promise. His arm action isn't clean and he'll need to throw more strikes, but he could land late in the first round if he answers a few questions. http://espn.go.com/blog/high-school/baseball/post/_/id/1051/top-10-class-of-2012-right-handed-pitchers

Walker Weickel, Olympia (Orlando, Fla.), Pitcher, 6-6, R/R, Miami Like the duo from Harvard-Westlake, Weickel is part of a tandem of players from the same team that could go in the first round. Teammate Jess Winker, an outfielder, is also targeted as a potential first-round pick. Weickel could go somewhere in the late teens thanks to a fastball that is in the low 90s with a high of 94. He has three pitches, using a curve and a changeup to go along with the fastball. http://www.maxpreps.com/news/-8V2A0MeEeGkPgAmVebEWg/maxpreps-top-10-mlb-draft-prospects.htm  

As far as 2012 pitching prospects go, JR RHP Pierce Johnson’s velocity jump and four-pitch mix (including a nasty CB) should get him early round consideration while SO RHP Nick Petree’s two greatest strengths (FB movement and overall command) figure to improve even more another year removed from Tommy John. http://baseballdraftreport.com/

Tom Murphy opened eyes with a strong 2011 season that earned him the Mid-America Conference Player of the Year Award and continued impressing over the summer with an All-Star summer in the New England Collegiate Baseball League. Murphy has a short compact swing with plus raw power.  He also shows good speed for a catcher, recording a 60 time of 6.75 over the summer. His defense is not gold glove quality, but Murphy is solid behind the plate.  He has a slightly above average arm and he has consistent 1.9 pop times. In addition to his skills on the field, Murphy is known for good work ethic and makeup.   He is likely to be chosen in the 2nd or 3rd round of the 2012 MLB Draft. http://mlbdraftguide.com/

Draft 2012: - Jake Barrett, David Dahl, Tom Murphy, David Dahl

12-2-11: - http://mlbdraftcountdown.wordpress.com/2011/12/02/2012-mlb-mock-draft-updated-top-15-with-final-mlb-standings - 14) Cincinnati Reds: Jake Barrett, RHP, Arizona State The Reds have a large cache of position talent, but are severely lacking in the pitching department. Arizona State right-hander Jake Barrett can help shore that up, as well as reach the majors rather quickly. The Reds last dip into the Arizona State well with Mike Leake worked out pretty well. The Blue Jays selected Barrett back in 2009 in the third-round. Toronto was so high on him back in 2009 because he had a big-league body (6’3″, 225 lbs), a good fastball (90-94 mph) and two pitches (curveball and splitter) with above-average potential.

http://mlbdraftinsider.com/2011/12/top-twelve-high-school-position-players/#more-602 4.David Dahl / OF / Oak Mountain HS (AL): Dahl is sort of the anti-Willams — not to say that he isn’t a talented player — in that the upside isn’t as high as most of the players listed below him, but his makeup and IQ are in the upper-echelon of prospects. A plus runner who hits from the left-side, Dahl should hit plenty of doubles with his line drive stroke and may have the best approach of any prep player in the class. He reminds me of a poor mans Dustin Ackley, and you could do far worse than that.

Tom Murphy has nice speed for a catcher, running a 6.75 in the 60 (like a 4.47 in the 40), and he is quick behind the plate as well, but his arm is just solid-average and it has been inaccurate at times. He blocks balls well behind the plate, but he still needs a lot of work. Evaluation: Murphy’s power potential makes him an intriguing prospect, but his just solid plate discipline and tendency for strikeouts limit him a bit and so does his inconsistency behind the plate. Murphy is a second to third round prospect, and if he fails to stay behind the plate, the Rays will have to consider him with their second or third pick in the draft because of his power. http://rayscoloredglasses.com/2011/12/21/taking-an-early-look-at-the-catchers-in-the-2012-mlb-draft-part-1  

12-2-11: - http://mlbdraftcountdown.wordpress.com/2011/12/02/2012-mlb-mock-draft-updated-top-15-with-final-mlb-standings - 15) Cleveland Indians: David Dahl, OF, Oak Mountain HS (AL) With Grady Sizemore on the outs, the Indians will be looking for a player capable of filling the very large space left in centerfield by the veteran outfielder. David Dahl isn’t going to get to Cleveland in two or three years, but he’s as talented an outfield prospect as there is next to Byron Buxton. Perfect Game calls his bat “of the highest level,” and even Baseball Americaconcedes that his bat right now is better than Buxton’s. The only reason Dahl isn’t considered the top overall high school position player isn’t because he’s lacking something; it’s because scouts are that in love with Buxton. Still, he would be an excellent pick up down here at pick 15.

Draft 2012: - Edwin Diaz, Chris Phelan, Courtney Hawkins, Tom Murphy, Rio Ruiz

10-24-11: - http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/draft/2011/10/marucci-elite-and-rising-prospects-impress-in-jupiter - FIVE 2012 PLAYERS WHO IMPROVED THEIR STATUS - Edwin Diaz, rhp, Naguabo (P.R.) HS  Live arm with a fastball that touched 94 mph but needs to improve feel for secondary pitches.

10-25-11: - http://www.collegesummerbaseball.net/2011/10/top-20-pitchers-in-atlantic-collegiate.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter  - Top 20 Pitchers in the Atlantic Collegiate Baseball League  2.   Chris Phelan   RHP   Southampton Breakers---Farmingdale State -  Chris (6-0/210 pounds) led the league with a minuscule 0.68 era in 40 innings of work. He also went 4-0 and walked just 4 batters on the summer. for the Breakers. He started 5 games and completed 3 of them for Southampton.

10-28-11: - http://orioles-nation.com/2011/10/26/wwba-2012-highlights  - Courtney Hawkins (Corpus Christi TX; Carroll HS) – Simply a hitting machine.  He is another highly explosive athlete in this draft class that shows the power and speed that teams covet, running a clean 6.6 with almost little effort.  His stroke has improved and is showing plus power in game; solid chance for dual type threat bat with a good deal of pop in the stick.  He has really taken that next step, showing a cleaner approach to the plate. He continues to push his name to the top of the 2012 HS class and is the one player that no scout wanted to miss this weekend.

10-29-11: - http://ht.ly/1fnqBA  We continue the countdown today at number 77 with Buffalo junior catcher Tom Murphy. The West Monroe, New York native attended Central Square High School. He was a three year captain for coaches Kyle Brown and John Jefferies. As a senior, he batted .510 with eight home runs, eight doubles and three triples while being named First-Team All-CNY and CNY Athlete of the Year. As a freshman in 2010, he started 36 games and appearing in six other games. He finished the season with a .313 average while hitting four homers and driving in 25 runs. Murphy had a breakout season as a sophomore leading the Bulls in hitting with a .384 batting average while hitting ten homers and driving in 44 runs. He spent the summer mostly in the NECBL with the Holyoke Blue Sox hitting .285 with 10 homers and 28 RBI. He also played in the NECBL All-Star game against the USA Collegiate National Team. He ended up hitting a long homer off of LSU’s Kevin Gausman. (Video below) After the game, he was added to the USA Collegiate National Team roster. He played in four games (two starts) where he did not get a basehit in eight official at-bats.

10-29-11: - http://www.sgvtribune.com/preps/ci_19221416#ixzz1cBgKjdRI  - Bishop Amat High School quarterback Rio Ruiz suffered a knee injury in Friday's 14-3 loss to Loyola on homecoming, leaving Amat's playoff hopes in jeopardy and Ruiz's immediate future in doubt. Ruiz, named the CIF-Southern Section Division 4 player of the year in baseball after leading the Lancers to the championship last spring, injured his left knee after he was sacked with 5:33 left in the first half.

Draft 2012: - Tom Murphy, Kyle Twomey, Adam Brett Walker, Gavin Cecchini, Austin Goth

Tom Murphy:


7-19-11: - http://www.mlbbonusbaby.com/2011/6/29/2250656/early-look-at-2012#comments - Tom Murphy, Buffalo, 6’1 200, R/R, playing for Team USA over the summer, this sturdy backstop has surprising ower and a nice line drive stroke to RF and LF alleys, shows solid arm strength and sub 2.0 release times to 2b, shifts well and is alert, could be one of top catchers taken in 2012 MLB Draft. Love his attitude on the field.


Kyle Twomey:


8-12-11: - http://www.prospectwire.com/pw/article.php?id=290 - LHP Kyle Twomey (6'3" 165, Placentia, CA) also looked good, with a quick, loose, easy arm action and a body that is a long way from being physically mature. He mixed in his change-up very well, showed some pitchability and then consider he was in the 87-90 mph range, with a solid curveball too, and we have a prospect. I also liked that he holds runners and has an excellent pick-off move.


Adam Brett Walker:


8-14-11: - http://mlbdraftguide.com/1/2011/08/10/the-good-the-disappointing-from-the-cape - Adam Brett Walker, OF/1B, Jacksonville University- Fresh off an All-American season for Jacksonville, Walker arrived at the Cape with alot of momentum. He stalled out this summer, posting a .216/.271/.336 line and topping the league with 56 strikeouts.


Gavin Cecchini:


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 - 5. Gavin Cecchini 2012 SS 6'2 182 Lake Charles, LA Barbe - Gavin isn’t as good of a hitter as his brother, but he has a nice line drive stroke that should produce good average. He also can handle the middle infield better than Garin. He looks like he could stick at short. He has a good arm and good range with a very high baseball IQ.


Austin Goth:


7-19-11: - http://www.mlbbonusbaby.com/2011/6/29/2250656/early-look-at-2012#comments - Austin Goth, South Sioux City HS, Nebraska, 6’1 170, R/R, appeared at USA Trials in Sept. Austin is a good athlete, also runs well and has a nice arm that even translates on the mound. Was 84-87 on the bump with looseness out front, also showed bat speed with line drive alley doubles type power, frame to get bigger and stronger in time, will be a highly sought recruit for 2012, also now on the scouts’ radar for 2012 as well. Hopefully we’ll see him in Cary again next summer!

Tony Renda, Tom Murphy, Deven Marrero, Jake Barrett, Marcus Stroman

Tony Renda:


6-20-11: - http://bleacherreport.com/articles/740905-omaha-eye-openers-2012-mlb-draft-prospects-at-the-2011-college-world-series#/articles/740905-omaha-eye-openers-2012-mlb-draft-prospects-at-the-2011-college-world-series/page/6  - Cal’s top draft prospect for 2012 is 2B Tony Renda, the 2011 Pac-10 Player of the Year. Renda had a sensational season for the Bears, taking on the role of team leader, despite having sophomore status. He paced the squad with a .335 average, 85 hits, 112 total bases and nine steals. He also scored 37 runs and drove in 42. He was also an integral part of one of the best defensive units in the Pac-10. Renda made nine errors, good for a .967 fielding percentage. Renda isn’t likely to be a first-round guy, but he should most certainly improve upon his standing from the 2009 draft, when he was selected by the Dodgers in the 42nd round. Renda spurned their offer to head to Cal, where he made an immediate impact as a freshman, winning Pac-10 First-Team honors after hitting .373 with 21 doubles, four triples, three HR and 37 RBI. He also swiped 13 bases.


Tom Murphy:


7-9-11: - http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=6002  - Tom Murphy, C, Buffalo - A natural leader, Murphy is a good fit behind the plate at a position that is always in demand at every level of the game. Putting up big numbers in two years while hailing from a non-traditional baseball powerhouse, he had the opportunity to showcase his skills among the best college players in the nation, and made the most of that opportunity, albeit in limited duty.


Deven Marrero:


7-21-11: -  http://www.draftsite.com/article/College-Names-To-Know/92 Strengths    – Right away you notice his athletic stance at the plate, with his weight evenly distributed. He has a solid set up at the plate, with his hands at shoulder height allowing him to have a short path to the ball. There are not a lot of moving parts to his swing. He has solid hip rotation and a quiet foot plant; He gets his front side firm and gets tall on his back foot. He stands close to the plate, giving him excellent plate coverage. Marrero has very solid bat speed and shows a very good eye. He has a good high finish at the plate and can take pitches the other way, using a solid inside out swing on inside pitches. He should hit for a good average. In the field he is a plus defender, he won Pac-10 defensive player of the year. He is very smooth, with great range and plus actions. He also has a plus throwing arm.


Jake Barrett:


7-21-11: - http://www.mockdraftmania.com/  - 9. Minnesota Twins Jake Barrett P Arizona State Jake Barrett is the best player available. Barrett could go anywhere between picks 4 and 10. Barrett has the size to be a starting pitcher at 6 foot 3 225 pounds. There are some off the field concerns with Barrett’s character. Barrett posted a winning record, but had a bad ERA. The mechanics and pitching control are two areas he needs to work on. Barrett recorded 72 strike outs in 76 innings during the 2011 season. Barrett has a 4 seamer that is 94 miles per hour along with a 90 mile per hour 2 seamer. Barrett also has the curveball and splitter that could develop into complimentary pitches.


Marcus Stroman:


Duke rising junior RHP/infielder Marcus Stroman spent this summer as a member of the USA Collegiate National Team. He appeared in seven games totaling 8.1 innings of innings without giving up a single hit while walking one batter. This is the second straight summer that Stroman has impressed as in 2010, he played with the Orleans Firebirds in the Cape Cod League. He didn’t give up a run then either in 15 appearances (one start) in 25.0 innings pitched. He allowed 10 hits while striking out 32 batters. GoDuke.com recently caught up with Marcus to discuss his summer experience this year. - http://www.collegebaseballdaily.com/2011/07/20/dukes-marcus-stroman-continues-to-impress/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+CollegeBaseballDaily+%28College+Baseball+Daily%29