Showing posts with label Touki Toussaint. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Touki Toussaint. Show all posts

5/30/14

Alex Faedo, Touki Toussaint, Carlos Rodon, Trea Turner, Matt Imhoff, Tyler Kolek



5-11-14  -  Alex Faedo, RHP, Alonso HS (FL) - Faedo has been rising all season and could go in the first three rounds of the 2014 MLB draft based on his size and upside. At 6’-5” and 210 pounds, the right-hander has a lot of projection and can touch 94 mph with his fastball. His slider shows plus potential and his easy delivery promises for more velocity. His change-up sits 77-80 mph, and he already has a good feel for it. He finished with 68 K/8 BB over 48 innings, allowing five runs on 27 hits. Committed to Florida. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-high-school-players-rise-final-edition/42853#cZ17mE5vsjiSvU18.99

3-20-14 – Cubs Insider - • Carlos Rodon, North Carolina State University left-hander: It’s difficult to picture him falling past the White Sox, though a good-but-not-great start (2-3, 2.45 ERA) may have opened up some possibilities for the odds-on favorite to go No. 1 overall. http://www.csnchicago.com/cubs/mlb-draft-cubs-identifying-targets-no-4-overall-pick

3-26-14 - One of the premier prospects at the National High School Invitational more than lived up to the hype, as Coral Springs (Fla.) Christian righthander Touki Toussaint pitched—and hit—his team to a 1-0 win against California’s Orange Lutheran High in the opening round of the tournament.
With a large audience of scouts packing the seats behind home plate, Toussaint was nearly untouchable from the outset. His fastball sat in the low 90s, and when the Lancers’ heat tried gearing up for the heat, Toussaint locked them up with a biting breaking ball in the mid-70s. He carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning and struck out 12. http://www.baseballamerica.com/high-school/nhsi-2014-toussaint-dazzles-in-coral-springs-win/ 

3-16-14 – Cubs Den – Trea Turner has struggled with the bat of late, hitting just .231 in 6 conference games and dropping to a .316/.386/.382 line overall this season.  He  has shown a good approach this year and his usual good defense, but Turner's calling card will be his speed.  I have mixed feelings on Turner, I like what he can bring in terms of top of the order skills, but nagging doubts about his hit tool temper my enthusiasm for now. http://www.chicagonow.com/cubs-den/2014/03/mlb-draft-update-arms-ahead-of-bats-early-on-but-questions-remain-at-the-top/

3-19-14 – TTF – Matt Imhof, LHP, Cal Poly (51) - The 6’-5”, 220 pound southpaw was at it again on March 14, striking out 14 to three walks over eight innings against Wagner. That gives him three starts (out of five) in which he has at least 14 strikeouts. He now has a 1.29 ERA, 0.91 WHIP and 55 K/12 BB over 35 innings for a 14.1 K/9 ratio. He is looking more and more like a first-round pick and has projection left as he will be one of the youngest college players available in the 2014 MLB draft. He features a low-90s fastball and solid secondary stuff, and he knows how to mix it up. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-10-college-players-rise-week-5/41905#JeRjl1lAwHFUPJlv.99

3-17-14 – TTF – 10 High School Players On The Rise – Tyler Kolek, RHP, Shepherd HS (TX) - With a no-hitter on March 14, in which he struck out 11 batters to no walks over five innings, Kolek now has 35 K/1 BB over 16 hitless innings. He also reportedly hit 102 mph on the radar gun — which would be the main takeaway from this as he obviously isn’t facing great competition. With Carlos Rodon and Jeff Hoffman not exactly dominating the way most thought, the 6’-5”, 240 pound right-hander is now in discussions for the top overall pick in the 2014 MLB draft. Committed to TCU. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-10-high-school-players-rise-second-edition/41810#OfV5L7GbWgi2Xqtf.99


5/14/14

Jacob Bukauskas, Touki Toussaint, Alex Verdugo, Max Pentecost, Aaron Nola, Michael Gettys



Jacob Bukauskas, RHP, Stone Bridge HS (VA) - Bukauskas has said he will forgo the 2014 MLB draft and honor his commitment to North Carolina. That is a huge coup for the Tar Heels as the 6’-1” right-hander can touch triple-digits with his fastball, and he adds a deceptive change-up with nice fade and a slider. Over 43.1 shutout innings this year, he has 98 K/5 BB, allowing just 11 hits. Will be a big name in the 2017 MLB draft.  http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-high-school-players-rise-final-edition/42853#cZ17mE5vsjiSvU18.99

3-6-14 – Prospect Insider - The high school season is now underway in most states, but it is really rolling in the South East. There are a lot of talented prep arms in the state of Florida making noise right now. Touki Toussaint possesses perhaps the best stuff of any pitcher in the high school ranks, but he doesn’t always know where the ball is going when he throws it. His electric fastball and silky curve give him two swing and miss pitches and the reports on the Haitian native’s control have been very encouraging so far. He’s doing a better job of repeating his delivery and he appears to have better command of his breaking ball. http://prospectinsider.com/category/2014-mlb-draft

3-26-14 – MaxiPreps – Alex Verdugo, Sahuaro (Tucson, Ariz.) - Another top two-way performer, Verdugo has been outstanding at the plate, batting .690 (20 for 29) with 16 runs, 19 RBIs, nine doubles, two triples and two home runs. In a 17-7 win over Cholla, Verdugo was 3-for-3 with a double and two home runs and seven RBIs. On the mound, Verdugo is 1-1 with 16 strikeouts and a 0.00 ERA in 11 innings pitched. http://www.maxpreps.com/news/kRbRSgP8z06XdyYf0_JnPg/tyler-kolek,-michael-gettys,-brady-aiken-among-senior-baseball-prospects-off-to-strong-starts.htm

3-9-14 – MLB Draft Insider - Max Pentecost- C Kennessaw State. – Pentecost played in a double header today and saw his mini-slump continue. He was zero for four with two strikeouts in game one while playing DH in a game that his team lost to Columbia. In game two Pentecost played catcher and was one for five with a walk, a run, a strikeout, and a stolen base. Kennesaw State exploded for 15 runs, but Pentecost still struggled a bit at the plate. http://mlbdraftinsider.com/2014/03/the-rundown-march-8/#more-3872

3-11-14 – TTF - Aaron Nola, RHP, LSU (11) - Nola has been the best pitcher in college this year. Through his first four starts, he is 4-0 and hasn’t allowed a run over 27 innings. He has 36 strikeouts to just two walks and has allowed 13 hits. Dating back to last season, he now has a streak of 53 innings without allowing an earned run. The 6’-1” right-hander features a plus, low-90s fastball with nasty sink to it. He offsets his fastball with a deceptive change-up that freezes hitters. An incredible control artist, he now has 247 K/27 BB over 242.2 career innings. He has a date with Tyler Beede and Vanderbilt on March 14 that is a can’t miss game. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-10-college-players-rise-week-4/41715#PjStmsQ7UB5h8BYU.99


3-12-14 – 10 High School Players on the Rise – Michael Gettys, OF/RHP, Gainesville HS (GA) - The 6’-2”, 200 pound right-hander has been shining at the plate and the mound. Over his first five games, his has gone 8-for-14 (.571) with a double, home run and five stolen bases. On the mound, he has shown off his plus/plus arm by striking out 18 over 9.2 innings. Along with the arm, he has plus speed and is starting to show in-game power this season. He has all the tools to be an impact player at the next level and could go in the top 10 picks if he continues to rake. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-10-high-school-players-rise/41773#oFu0m6JRyhOHXIwD.99

5/3/14

Draft 14 – Touki Toussaint, Ben Wetzler, JD Davis, Kyle Freeland, Brendan Illies



2-3-14 – MaxPreps - Top 10 MLB Draft Prospects in high school - 4. Touki Toussaint, Coral Springs Christian (Coral Springs, Fla.)  Toussaint might have been the hottest prospect right after last year's draft, as one mock draft in June listed him as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2014 draft. Mock drafts produced in the last few months have Toussaint slipping some, but that may be due more to the emergence of Kolek and Gatewood than any deficiency on Toussaint's part. Toussaint's best assets are his athletic ability, a 98 mph fastball and a hard-breaking curveball. Expect Toussaint to go somewhere in the top 12. http://www.maxpreps.com/news/B41AzcsA90iOL5xwFL8T7Q/top-10-major-league-baseball-draft-high-school-prospects.htm

3-25-14 – TTF 10 college players on the rise — week 6  - Ben Wetzler, LHP, Oregon State (NR) - If ever there was someone pitching with a chip on his shoulder, Wetzler is that guy. After another dominant performance against Arizona State on March 21, in which he allowed just two hits over seven shutout innings with eight strikeouts to one walk, the 6’-1” southpaw now has a 0.59 ERA, 0.49 WHIP over 30.2 innings with 28 K/6 BB and just nine hits. His fastball sits in the 89-91 mph range and he adds a slider and change-up — both quality offerings. He attacks hitters and mixes his pitches well, commanding all three. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-10-college-players-rise-week-6/42071#MDUXGtxd7YCtKt0X.99

3-9-14 – MLB Draft Insider - JD Davis – 1B Cal State Fullerton – Davis was held hitless in two at bats on Saturday. He did managed two walks on the day. Davis has shown a very good eye and excellent patience, averaging nearly a walk a game for Cal State Fullerton. It was a rough day for Cal State’s offense which was held to three hits and failed to score asingle run. http://mlbdraftinsider.com/2014/03/the-rundown-march-8/#more-3872

3-5-14 – TTF - 10 college players on the rise — week 3 Kyle Freeland, LHP, Evansville (29) - After getting roughed up a bit (4 IP, 4 ER, 7 H) in his last start, Freeland was masterful against Western Illinois on Friday. Over nine shutout innings, he allowed just two hits while striking out nine to no walks. He threw 98 pitches, 71 of them for strikes. He was one of the better pitchers at the Cape over the summer, striking out 48 to four walks over 40 innings while displaying a plus slider and low/mid-90s fastball. He isn’t going to face great competition this year but his stuff is first-round material. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-week-3/41478#ilZqhEaASo2Kkjik.99


UT - Brendan Illies, Jr., RHP/C, Puyallup (Wash.) - Illies' two-way ability allows him to maintain his spot in the Dream Team's Util position for a second consecutive season as an underclassman. Fellow junior SS/RHP Parker Kelly of Oregon has been progressing and is already breathing down Illies' neck for this spot after also just missing the cut in the middle infield and being considered for the pitching staff. Illies is the best player on the best team in the region and he's a multi-talented player who provides huge value to them. http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=9561

4/5/14

Draft 14 – Jacob Gatewood, Bradley Zimmer, Milton Ramos, Zach Shannon, Touki Toussaint



2-13-14 - Today we look at the rankings from Northern California. Strong crop for the Golden State and the No. 1 guy is Jacob Gatewood out of Clovis (Calif.) High School. Gatewood is a shortstop and can play at third and it will be interesting to see where his future position lies. Gatewood is headed off to Southern Cal next fall, that is if he doesn’t sign out of high school. The 6-foot-4, 190 pounder played two years in the Area Code Games (Athletics) and played in the 2013 Perfect Game All-American Classic in Petco Park.  - See more at: http://www.studentsports.com/baseball/2014/02/13/jacob-gatewood-norcals/#sthash.mjtZZxbN.dpuf

3-25-14 – MLB Draft Insider Mock –  09.  Bradley Zimmer   OF San Francisco - The more I study Zimmer the more I am impressed; he might be the only five-tool player in this entire class, and there’s a non-zero chance that he ends up in center-field despite being 6’5″. http://mlbdraftinsider.com/2014/03/the-board-2014-volume-ii/

2-11-14 – PG/Florida HS Dream Team – MIF – Milton Ramos, Sr. American Heritage - Ramos is one of the best defenders in the this years draft class and has drawn favorable comps to fellow Floridian and 2013 second round pick Oscar Mercado. His bat has made steady progression over the summer and into the fall and will be followed closely this spring, especially as he adds strength to his frame. http://perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=9372

1-3-14 – TTF Baseball - 64. Detroit Tigers — Zach Shannon, 3B/RHP, Moeller HS (OH) - A two-way prospect who may have more upside as a hitter, the 6’-3”, 220 pound right-hander has a canon arm (95 mph) and his power bat would play well at the hot corner. He has shown the ability to hit to all fields and has good bat speed. On the mound, he also has an upper-70s curveball that shows plus potential to go along with his plus fastball that hit 95 mph at the PG Classic. He hails from the same school that produced Ken Griffey Jr., Barry Larkin and Buddy Bell. Committed to Ohio State. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-2/40753#ppGUqI6CbWFvzsPf.99


2-11-14 – PG/Florida HS Dream Team – Best Off-speed Stuff: Touki Toussaint, Sr. Coral Springs Academy - Toussaint claims back-to-back categories as his breaking ball is the pitch that he is most known for on the national scene. A true knockout pitch, Toussaint varies the velocity on the curveball, with a power curveball up to 80 mph and a knee buckling, mid-70s pitch with outstanding depth and break. In Jupiter his curveball registered 2800 RPM (rotations per minute) on the TrackMan radar, surpassing the MLB average of 2500 RPM. http://perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=9372

4/4/14

Draft 14 – Brad Zimmer, Luis Ortiz, Touki Toussaint, Taylor Sparks, Zach Sullivan



2-5-14 - Bradley Zimmer, OF, San Francisco - The 6’-5”, 210 pound left-hander oozes potential and shows every tool except power right now. With his size, however, most think he can hit around 20-25 home runs a year down the line. He has a plus arm, much like his older brother, and Royals top prospect Kyle Zimmer, and mixed with his speed and instincts, should remain a legit center fielder. Over 58 games as a sophomore, he hit .320/.437/.512 with 12 doubles, seven home runs and 19 stolen bases. He also shows a great approach at the plate as he drew 29 walks to 31 strikeouts and was hit by a pitch a whopping 16 times, proving he’ll do whatever it takes to get on base. He showed off his wheels for the Collegiate National Team, swiping 11 of 12 bases over 21 games while also hitting an even .300. He hit .270 over 22 games with Cotuit of the Cape Cod League with eight extra-base hits and six stolen bases. He drew just three walks to 22 strikeouts but this was after a long season of baseball and fatigue may have been setting in. He’s a big, athletic left-hander who can play a premium position and there is still upside left. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-dark-horse-candidates-chicago-cubs-first-pick/41075#UeYBipV5rOuYd7xE.99  

3-25-14 – MLB Draft Insider Mock –  10  Luis Ortiz              RHP        Sanger HS (Calif.)  - Many scouts that I’ve talked to believe that Ortiz is as good — if not better — than every prep pitcher in the class, with two 60 pitches and a prototypical pitcher’s body. http://mlbdraftinsider.com/2014/03/the-board-2014-volume-ii/

2-11-14 – PG/Florida HS Dream Team – Best Fastball: Touki Toussaint, Sr. Coral Spring Academy - As impressive as the reading on the radar gun is when Toussaint’s fastball crosses the plate, there are other factors that put him to the front of this group. With such an easy and loose arm action, it is easy to envision a few more ticks being added to his fastball that already tops out at 97 mph. The pitch is very clean out of his hand and shows explosive life in the zone. http://perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=9372   

1-3-14 – TTF Baseball - 49. Toronto Blue Jays — Taylor Sparks, 3B/1B, UC Irvine - The Big West Conference Player of the Year as a sophomore, the 6’-4”, 210 pound right-hander hit .360/.388/.581 over 55 games with 10 home runs and 50 RBI. He only drew six walks to 40 strikeouts, showing needed work on his approach. Defensively, he has the arm and actions to stick at the hot corner where his plus power would play well. He led Collegiate Team USA with a .396 average over 19 games and was 7-for-7 in stolen bases, showing good speed on the base paths. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-2/40753#ppGUqI6CbWFvzsPf.99

11-21-13 – BA Top 100 High School Players - 94 Zach Sullivan OF R/R 6-2 175 Corning (N.Y.) Painted Post East Stony Brook http://www.baseballamerica.com/college/2014-high-school-top-100-with-commitments/

4/3/14

Draft 14 – Touki Toussaint, Nick Gordon, Michael Gettys, Michael Chavis, Raphael Ramirez



2-11-14 – PG/Florida HS Dream Team – P – Touki Toussaint, Sr. Coral Springs Christian - Toussaint shows both big velocity and a plus secondary offering on the mound on a consistent basis. When you take into consideration how relatively new he is to the mound, scouts dream on what Toussaint may look like as a finished product. The first thing you notice when he delivers a pitch is how loose and quick his arm action is and how easy the ball leaves his hand. The 6-foot-2 Vanderbilt commit frequently touches the mid-90s, with a high of 97, and has one of the best curveballs in this year’s draft class. http://perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=9372   

3-25-14 – MLB Draft Insider Mock –  08  Nick Gordon       SS           Olympia HS (Fla.) - Gordon has been outstanding all spring and has clearly separated himself from all the other shortstop prospects in the class; and he has a chance to be a dominating reliever if the whole hitting thing doesn’t work out for him. Which is nice. http://mlbdraftinsider.com/2014/03/the-board-2014-volume-ii/

2-5-14 - Michael Gettys, OF, Gainesville HS (GA) - Maybe my favorite prep player in the 2014 MLB draft, Gettys, like Zimmer, shows every tool except present power. Although, I did see him launch one deep into the bleachers in center field at Wrigley Field, so it is definitely there. His arm was clocked at 100 mph from the outfield, and he can run a 6.4/60, showing plus speed that does show up on the base paths. He swiped 38 bases over 32 games as a junior last season and has the instincts to be a threat at the next level. I also saw him make a throw to third from center field that was right on the money without a hop. The 6’-2”, 200 pound right-hander still has some work to do at the plate, but with a full year concentrating more on hitting than pitching, I fully expect him to answer his critics. A ton of upside and a high character kid. Committed to Georgia. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-dark-horse-candidates-chicago-cubs-first-pick/41075#UeYBipV5rOuYd7xE.99

1-3-14 – TTF Baseball - 39. Kansas City Royals — Michael Chavis, 3B, Sprayberry HS (GA) - The 5’-11” right-hander is one of the better hitters in the 2014 MLB draft. He has also shown some incredible power and won the home run derby at the PG Classic — his last a bomb that ended up in the trees over the left field wall. He runs a 6.68/60 and has the hands, arm and instincts to to stick at third. Should hear his name a lot in the next year. Committed to Clemson. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-2/40753#ppGUqI6CbWFvzsPf.99

11-21-13 – BA Top 100 High School Players - 57 Raphael Ramirez OF L/L 5-10 176 Pace Academy, Atlanta North Carolina State http://www.baseballamerica.com/college/2014-high-school-top-100-with-commitments/

3/18/14

Draft 14 – Touki Toussaint, Michael Rivera, Jakson Reetz, Juston Smith



1-24-14 – The New York Mets have a system with a number of starting pitching prospects close to the major leagues, so they may stay away from safer picks such as Vanderbilt’s Tyler Beede or LSU’s Aaron Nola. However, the organization may be enticed to add a pitcher with an incredibly high ceiling, such as Touki Toussaint. Toussaint is one of the riskier picks at the top of the draft, but he has as high a ceiling as any prospect out there. He has a live fastball that works in the mid- to high 90s and one of the best curveballs the draft has seen in recent memory (you can see for yourself in the above video). Also, he is still in high school and has a projectable frame, which allows scouts to dream about what this young man can become. http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1934895-4-prospects-the-new-york-mets-could-target-in-the-2014-mlb-draft/page/3

1-27-14 – BP - Positional Preview: High School Catchers - | C/3B | Venice (Venice, FL) | Commit: Florida  Height/Weight: 5-foot-10/180 pounds  B/T: R/R  Draft Day Age: 18y 6m  Michael Rivera is a well-rounded catcher, showing fluid actions behind the plate, a feel for blocking and deadening the ball, and relatively quiet hands. His arm is adequate, playing up some when the transfer is at its cleanest, and the profile appears to be that of a catcher long term, albeit one with limited impact. Offensively it’s not a sexy package, but the Florida commit shows an ability to find the ball with the barrel despite some hitchiness and a swing that’s often too geared to pull. A good spring could push Rivera up draft boards as someone who grades out solid at a premium position but lacks the ceiling of some of his contemporaries. http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=22662

1-3-14 – TTF Baseball - 46. Seattle Mariners — Jakson Reetz, C/OF, Norris HS (NE) - A terrific athlete and two-way player who was a star for U18 Team USA, the 6’-1”, 200 pound right-hander’s ability to stick behind the plate make him a highly touted prospect. More of a line-drive hitter now, more power should come as he matures, and he has the bat speed to back it up. Can hit the low 90s on the mound so his arm plays well behind the plate and he makes for a big target. Some believe he may be better suited for the outfield where his strong arm, speed and developing power would play well. Committed to Nebraska. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-2/40753#ppGUqI6CbWFvzsPf.99


11-21-13 – BA Top 100 High School Players - 43 Justin Smith OF R/R 6-3 196 Bartram Trail, St. Johns, Fla. Miami http://www.baseballamerica.com/college/2014-high-school-top-100-with-commitments/

3/12/14

Draft 14 – Touki Toussaint, Ross Kivett, Matt Imhoff, Michael Gettys



1-21-14 – Touki Toussaint is 6'2", 195 LBS, lean and athletic. He is one of the more projectable arms at the top of the draft. As a native of Haiti, he has only been playing baseball for four or five years and was more of a soccer player growing up. He burst on to the prospect seen in the fall of 2012 at the WWBA World Championship striking out 18 hitters in 6 innings. His fastball sits 92-95 MPH but can run up to 98. He kicks his front leg high, pushes off the rubber lunging forward causing variation in release points and causing command issues. On the good side, it creates incredible torque, velocity and movement on his fastball. It's something that should improve with repetition or maybe some minor tweaking. The delivery may not even need work, just reps to get his timing down. http://www.minorleagueball.com/2014/1/20/5325310/2014-mlb-draft-profile-touki-toussaint-rhp-coral-springs-fl-high

1-20-14 – PG Preseason College All-Americans - Second Base - Ross Kivett, Kansas State - 2013 Stats: - .360 AVG, 15 2B, 4 3B, 3 HR, 39 RBI, 29 BB, 27 SO, 26 SB - If there’s a Johnny Football in college football, Kivett might just be that guy in college baseball. The consummate dirtbag baseball player, the outstanding senior middle infielder surprised many when he turned down the Cleveland Indians as a 10th-round pick this past summer to return for another campaign. Kivett is a good defender and brings a consistent and productive offensive approach to the table. The senior also possesses some speed, as indicated by his 26 stolen bases last season. K-State needed this key piece back to make a run at the CWS in June. http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=9294       

1-3-14 – TTF Baseball - 44. Chicago Cubs  — Matt Imhof, LHP, Cal Poly - At 6’-5” and 220 pounds, the southpaw has the size you want in a workhorse. He will only be 20 years old come draft day, making him one of the youngest college players in the draft. His fastball sits in the 89-92 mph range and can touch 94 due to his smooth, effortless delivery. He adds solid secondary stuff and knows how to mix his pitches well. Posted a 2.73 ERA, 1.23 WHIP with 95 K/30 BB over 101.2 innings as a sophomore. Has very good command of his stuff and there is still some projection left due to his size, age and delivery. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-2/40753#ppGUqI6CbWFvzsPf.99

11-21-13 – BA Top 100 High School Players - 15 Michael Gettys OF/RHP R/R 6-1 203 Gainesville (Ga.) HS Georgia http://www.baseballamerica.com/college/2014-high-school-top-100-with-commitments/

2/11/14

Draft 14 - Touki Toussaint, Michael Gettys, Lukas Schiraldi, Christian Martinek, Jack Flaherty



1-3-14 – TTF Baseball - 12. Milwaukee Brewers — Touki Toussaint, RHP, Coral Springs HS (FL) - One of the most exciting prep pitchers in the 2014 MLB draft because his stuff  can be electric. His fastball can touch 97 mph with explosive life and his curveball is already a plus pitch — a mid-70s hammer that some consider the best in the class. He adds a lot of deception to his delivery, and at 6’-2”, 195 pounds, there is still room for projection. His command can get erratic at times but the stuff is special. Committed to Vanderbilt. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-2/40753#ppGUqI6CbWFvzsPf.99

1-9-14 - Nathan Rode ‏@NathanRode - Gainesville is perennial contender & has OF Michael Gettys, tooled up w/ power-speed combo, UGA recruit & No. 8 on my HS Top 50

12-9-13 – Pine Tar Press  -  37- RHP Lukas Schiraldi Texas- He pitched at Navarro College before moving onto the University of Texas. He is another pitcher who generated a lot of buzz on the Cape. He is the son of former UT star Calvin, and like his dad he is a pitcher who developed more “wow” stuff after high school. He works with a heavy fastball and has solid secondary offerings to work off of his fastball. (Out of first round-Royals selection around #35) http://pinetarpress.com/early-look-2014-mlb-draft/

11-21-13 – BA Top 100 High School Players - 78 Christian Martinek LHP L/L 6-3 234 Jesuit HS, Beaverton, Ore. Oregon State http://www.baseballamerica.com/college/2014-high-school-top-100-with-commitments/


12-10-13 – TTF – Top 50 HS Players - 19. Jack Flaherty, 3B/RHP, Harvard-Westlake HS (CA) - Flaherty is a 6’-4”, 200-pound right-hander with massive power potential. The ball jumps off his bat and his plus bat speed suggests he should hit for a high average, as well. His arm, instincts and power potential profile well at the hot corner. He has shown above-average speed but probably isn’t a guy who is going to steal many bases. Playing for a national powerhouse, he will get plenty of attention this year. He is a baseball player in every sense of the word. Committed to North Carolina. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-top-50/40532#zz88YJZTOG8iEa1Z.99

12/27/13

Draft 14 – Touki Toussaint, Michael Cederoth, Tyler Beede, AlexBlandino, Nick Gordon


11-6-13 – Todd Gold – WWBA World Championship – Touki Toussaint (2014 RHP, Atlanta Blue Jays) - Touki was one of the biggest stars of the 2012 edition of Jupiter, touching 97 mph with his fastball and tantalizing with his loose whippy arm action, if to say nothing of the depth on his curveball. He was back in 2013 with high expectations, and while he didn't light up the radar gun in quite the same way (sitting 91-94), he showed strides towards converting his raw potential into usable ability. In his first inning of work he struck out four batters and showed improved command of his fastball, thanks in large part to a slightly more streamlined delivery. After beginning his journey playing baseball late, Toussaint has never consistently shown good present command of his electric stuff. That began to change with an impressive first inning in Jupiter. Eventually his wildness caught up with him in the second inning, as his filthy curveball was not only devastating to opposing hitters, but also his catcher and the umpire....leading to dropped third strikes and missed strike calls. His short developmental history and underlying athleticism suggest that with a few years of work in a player development system Toussaint can learn to harness his high level stuff and conquer the many miles of development that stand between his present ability and that elite potential. His career line at the WWBA World Championship includes two earned runs on four hits over eight innings, with 13 walks and 23 strikeouts. He has developed the spin rate on his curveball even further giving the pitch more bite and velocity while maintaining the shoulder to ankles depth it featured a year ago. He has also added a devastating splitter to his arsenal. While some may shortsightedly refer to Touki's present command as a nightmare, he is a Pitching Coordinator's dream project and as such is likely to be a high draft pick come June. http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=9157


11-4-13 – MLB Draft Insider - Top 14 for ’14: College Pitchers - 8. Michael Cederoth / RHP / San Diego State — Cederoth’s fastball has hit 100 on scouts guns and features a slider that will flash above-average. He looks more like a high-leverage reliever at this point with a somewhat violent arm action and a lack of a quality third offering. http://mlbdraftinsider.com/2013/11/top-14-for-14-college-pitchers/


11-5-13 - When Tyler Beede was in high school, at Lawrence Academy in Groton, Massachusetts — which wasn’t that long ago – he had no idea he was going to be drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 2011 Major League Baseball Draft, and end up deciding not to sign. Instead he chose to attend Vanderbilt University. He was the only first round pick that year not to sign. As of now, it looks like that was a good decision. Beede’s draft stock has risen and he has been projected by many to be a top five pick in the 2014 MLB Draft. That’s a considerable jump up from the 21st overall pick in the 2011 draft. However, that’s not what his focus is moving towards spring. http://bigleaguefutures.net/1/2013/11/05/under-the-lights-with-vanderbilts-tyler-beede/


10-15-13 – Baseball America - 44. Alex Blandino, 3b, Stanford: Two-time Cape Cod League all-star struggled last spring but has the bat speed and athleticism to stay on the infield. http://www.baseballamerica.com/college/2014-draft-top-50-october-2013-carlos-rodon/

9-11-13 - Sully’s 2014 Top 100 MLB HS Draft Prospects – 15.Nicholas Gordon – SS/RHP, Olympia (FL) HS http://www.ninebaseball.org/Wordpress/sullys-2014-top-100-mlb-hs-draft-prospects/

12/11/13

Draft 14 – Luis Ortiz, Luke Weaver, Touki Toussaint, Justin Steele,Matt Chapman

draft - luis ortiz10-15-13 – Baseball America - 14. Luis Ortiz, rhp, Sanger (Calif.) HS: Strong-bodied power pitcher with an easy delivery was MVP of 18U World Cup with fastball up to 95 mph and a plus slider http://www.baseballamerica.com/college/2014-draft-top-50-october-2013-carlos-rodon/
 

10-15-13 – Baseball America - 32. Luke Weaver, rhp, Florida State: He draws Tim Hudson comparisons for the body and live arm that pumps fastballs up to 96 mph. http://www.baseballamerica.com/college/2014-draft-top-50-october-2013-carlos-rodon/


9-30-13 – TTF Mock 2.0 - 15. Los Angeles Angels — Touki Toussaint, RHP, Coral Springs Academy (FL) One of the most electric arms in the 2014 MLB draft (as well as this 2014 MLB mock draft too), the 6’-2”, 190-pound right-hander has touched 97 mph with his fastball and adds one of the best curveballs in the draft; a knee-buckling hammer that sits in the mid 70s. He adds a lot of deception to his delivery, making his stuff that much harder to pick up. The only knock on him right now is his command, which can get the best of him at times. He walked three and struck out three in one inning at the PG Classic. His stuff is outstanding.  http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-mock-draft-2-0-draft-order-set/38280#5E3F5j1jWOgE69bJ.99


9-11-13 - Sully’s 2014 Top 100 MLB HS Draft Prospects – 93. Justin Steele – LHP, George County (MS) HS http://www.ninebaseball.org/Wordpress/sullys-2014-top-100-mlb-hs-draft-prospects/


10-14-13 – Top ’14 College Hitters - 8. Matt Chapman / 3B / Cal-State Fullerton — Chapman is similar to his teammate Davis in that they both profile as corner-infielders with pitching as a fallback option, but Chapman is much more likely to stick at third base but doesn’t have near the offensive upside. http://mlbdraftinsider.com/2013/10/top-14-for-14-college-hitters/

11/21/13

Draft 14 – Touki Toussaint, Sean Newcomb, Greg Deichmann, Grant Holmes,Drew Lugbauer

draft - Touki Toussaint10-29-13 – Jim Callis – Top 10 World Wood Bat Association World Championship (WWBA) Jupiter, Fla - 3. Touki Toussaint, RHP, Atlanta Blue Jays (Coral Springs, Fla., Christian High/uncommitted) -  Possesses electric fastball/curveball combination, but still learning how to harness his pitches. http://ht.ly/qi5No


10-15-13 – Baseball America - 19. Sean Newcomb, lhp, Hartford: Breakout Cape Cod League performer has a durable 6-foot-5, 240-pound frame, and he flashes a four-pitch mix with mid-90s heat. http://www.baseballamerica.com/college/2014-draft-top-50-october-2013-carlos-rodon/


10-28-13 – Jim Callis - Marcucci Elite had a lineup laden with prospects, headlined by shortstop Gregory Deichmann (Brother Martin High, New Orleans). A 6-foot-2, 185-pounder, he had the lone hit against Burkholder, pulling a double inside the first-base bag in the fifth. Deichmann has a quick left-handed bat and solid speed, and he may have the arm and range to stay at shortstop. The Louisiana State recruit made a nice play on a grounder up the middle in the top of the third. http://ht.ly/qeYJz


10-25-13  - PG Showcase – The tournament’s first pool play time slot also put power arms on display with Grant Holmes (Conway, S.C. HS) and Alex Verdugo (Sahuaro HS, Tucson) throwing on opposite sides of the Marlins complex. Holmes, a strong-bodied righthander playing with the Evoshield Canes, worked between 91-93, peaking at 96 with two strikes on a hitter once, with excellent late life. He created lots of weak contact off the hands of righthanded hitters, and showed he could spot to both corners of the plate. He also spun a hard, late-breaking 80-81 curveball from his three-quarter slot. http://www.baseballamerica.com/draft/toussaint-wows-evaluators-at-jupiter/


9-11-13 - Sully’s 2014 Top 100 MLB HS Draft Prospects – 38. Drew Lugbauer – C, Arlington (NY) HS http://www.ninebaseball.org/Wordpress/sullys-2014-top-100-mlb-hs-draft-prospects/

11/7/13

Draft 14 - A Quick Look At - RHP - Touki Toussaint - Coral Springs (FL) HS

draft - Touki ToussaintTouki Toussaint

 

6-9-13  -   7.Touki Toussaint, RHP (Florida HS): One of the hardest throwers in this high school class, with a plus curve to boot. http://www.minorleaguerundown.com/2013/06/09/2014-mlb-draft-top-30-prospects/

 

6-9-13  - 4. New York Mets — Touki Toussaint, RHP, Coral Springs (FL) - The 6’-2” right-hander has an electric fastball which can touch 97 mph with late life and there is still room for more as he fills out. He has a deceptive delivery which makes his plus, mid-70s, knee-buckling curveball even harder to react to. His change-up is still developing, but with two plus pitches already, he will be one of the most talked about prep pitchers next season. Never has a prep RHP gone first overall in the draft. Touki could change that. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-mock-draft-1-0-no-time-like-the-present/34008#Vj5KQGPZZT1XUyhx.99

 

6-11-13 - 4. Touki Toussaint, RHP, Coral Springs Christian HS, Fla.: This Florida prepster is very athletic with a ton of arm strength, using a clean delivery to fire fastballs that can touch the mid-90s to go along with a hard downer curve. http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130611&content_id=50293726&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb&tcid=tw_article_50293726

 

6-13-13 - Touki Toussaint, Coral Springs Christian (Fla.), Right-Handed Pitcher - One of the fastest rising players in the class of 2014, Toussaint impressed last year on the mound as a sophomore and didn't do anything to diminish that assessment with a 5-2 record and 65 strikeouts with a 0.95 ERA. Fastball is reportedly up to 97 mph. http://www.maxpreps.com/news/article.aspx?articleid=7c0ad513-b5e1-4ac1-b57e-8dedcc72c783&page=2

 

6-13-13  -  4. New York Mets — Touki Toussaint, RHP, Coral Springs (FL) - The 6’-2” right-hander has an electric fastball which can touch 97 mph with late life and there is still room for more as he fills out. He has a deceptive delivery which makes his plus, mid-70s, knee-buckling curveball even harder to react to. His change-up is still developing, but with two plus pitches already, he will be one of the most talked about prep pitchers next season. Never has a prep RHP gone first-overall in the draft. Touki could change that. http://beforeitsnews.com/sports/2013/06/2014-mlb-mock-draft-1-0-no-time-like-the-present-2513748.html?currentSplittedPage=2

 

6-17-13  -  Touki Toussaint, RHP, Coral Springs (Fla.) Christian Academy - Toussaint (6-foot-2, 190), who won gold with the U16 national team, stands out as a prep arm in what Simpson said is a draft class whose strength is college pitchers. "His fastball is 96-97 and he has the makings of an above-average curve," Simpson said. "He's the best high school arm at this point." http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/mlb/news/20130610/draft-prospects-carlos-rodon/#ixzz2WWk0FqzU

 

6-28-13 - Dany "Touki" Toussaint, RHP, Coral Springs Christian Academy:  A fireballing 6'2" right handed pitcher with athleticism in spades, Toussaint has been on the radar for a long time thanks to his big velocity. Though a bit raw, Touki shows the framework of two plus to plus-plus pitches in the form of his high-90s fastball and big breaking curve. Toussaint's premium athleticism is on full display in his delivery which features plenty of leg drive and arm speed that he converts into his 98 MPH heat. His fastball has plenty of run and could be a 7 pitch down the line. http://www.crawfishboxes.com/2013/6/28/4450674/the-way-too-early-2014-tcb-astros-draft-board

 

7-2-13 - 2. Touki Toussaint- RHP, Coral Springs Christian Academy (FL) Best pitcher in the country, has touched 97 with a plus CB http://www.ninebaseball.org/Wordpress/jeff-sullivans-top-100-2014-prospects/

 

7-5-13 - Touki Toussaint, RHP, Coral Springs Academy (FL) - One of the most electric arms in the 2014 MLB draft, the 6’-2”, 190-pound right-hander has touched 97 mph with his fastball and adds one of the best curveballs in the draft; a knee-buckling, hammer that sits in the mid-70s. He adds a lot of deception to his delivery, making his stuff that much harder to pick up. There is still room for added velocity and, with continued work on his change-up, might not even be available when the Chicago Cubs pick. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/prep-arms-chicago-cubs/34856#Vp7zJ4JvRevfV1fR.99

 

7-25-13 – Top 30 High School Prospects For 2014 Draft - 10. Touki Toussaint, RHP, Coral Springs Christian HS (FL) - 6'3/185, Draft Day Age: 17.96, No college commitment, Full Report & Video - Quick Take: The most famous name in this class got considerable buzz when he sat 92-95 and hit 97 mph with a knockout plus-plus curveball last October and Toussaint is still young for the class but his stuff has backed up some this summer. His stuff has been more average to above average but it's still way too early to drop him that far. http://sbb.scout.com/2/1310090.html

 

8-6-13 - Top pitchers - East Coast Professional Showcase, Syracuse, NY -  3. Touki Toussaint, RHP, Coral Springs Christian Academy (Fla.): One of the more projectable pitchers at East Coast, Toussaint was up to 94 mph and showed a curve and a slider. He wasn't always consistent, though he did get better as his outing went on, and scouts love his arm and upside. http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130806&content_id=56048786&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb

 

8-6-13 - Nathan Rode ‏@NathanRode  - Touki Toussaint 90-93 w/ 73-75 CB. Trouble w/ Ks in 1st, but settled in 2nd. Walked 4 in 1st. CB is good, but lacks sharpness it had in Jupiter.

2013 East Coast Pro Showcase Top 50 Prospects    - 6. Touki Toussaint – RHP, Coral Springs Christian Academy (FL) - Sat 92-93, touched 94 and featured his outstanding curveball. Will battle Holmes all year for the best FB/CB mix. http://www.ninebaseball.org/Wordpress/sullys-top-50-ecp-prospects/

 

8-14-13 – Through The Fence – Top 50 Prospects – 9. Touki Toussaint, RHP, Coral Springs Academy (FL) - One of the most electric arms in the 2014 MLB draft, the 6’-2”, 190-pound right-hander has touched 97 mph with his fastball and adds one of the best curveballs in the draft; a knee-buckling hammer that sits in the mid 70s. He adds a lot of deception to his delivery, making his stuff that much harder to pick up. The only knock on him right now is his command, which can get the best of him at times. He walked three and struck out three in one inning at the PG Classic. His stuff is outstanding. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-top-50-prospects/36463#mwWwsFxSUZy7YC5V.99

 

8-13-13 - The Perfect Game All-American Classic in San Diego - * Touki Toussaint (Coral Springs High School, Fla.) hasn’t been as impressive this summer as he was last fall, but the overall stuff was pretty solid on Sunday; sitting in the mid 90′s and showing a better breaking ball than he has for most of the showcase events. Unfortunately, the command is still poor at best and there’s some mechanical stuff that has to be cleaned up. The talent is immense, but there’s a lot of work to be done. http://mlbdraftinsider.com/2013/08/thoughts-on-perfect-game-all-american-classic/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

 

8-16-13 - 11th All-American Classic -  Player Spotlight: Pitcher - Touki Toussaint | RHP | Coral Springs Christian (Coral Springs, FL) - Height/Weight: 6-foot-2/190 pounds  B/T: R/R  Draft Day Age: 17 years, 11 months  Commitment: N/A  The high-waisted righty struggled to command his offerings in game, but continues to flash some of the best, and most projectable, stuff in the draft class. Toussaint is a scout’s player, with athleticism, physical projection, loud stuff, and natural arm speed – all of which were on display throughout the weekend’s events. There are arms in this class producing more velocity, and bodies offering more projection, but you would be hard pressed to find a combination of present profile and projected upside to match Toussaint’s. Scouting Notes: Electric raw stuff; three-quarters slot; easy and lighting-fast arm; throws the ball downhill better than any pitcher at the event; lost his release early but showed the ability to make quick adjustments; fastball worked 92-94; touched 95; appears much faster; ball really jumps; impossible to touch when he spots it down; command was off in this showing; slow to the plate (1.65 seconds) with runners on; showed slide-step and held velocity; curve was poor early and then started to flash its promise; 72-75 mph with lots of bite; showed a cut-change offering in the mid-80s; more deliberate than curveball; arm speed and present fastball make me think a really, really good changeup is going to develop out of this arm; could end up as complete starter package; very inconsistent but power arm with very high upside. –Jason Parks  Summer Stock: The BP Prospect Team was huddled behind home plate last October for Touki’s big coming out party in Jupiter—a three-inning outing for the Atlanta Blue Jays against defending champs Marucci Elite in which Toussaint fanned nine and showed a plus curve and lively low- to mid-90s fastball, all as a 16-year-old. He finished the tournament with 18 strikeouts over six innings, standing out as one of the top arms at the event.   This summer, Toussaint’s carrying characteristic has been inconsistent command, though the “now” stuff and projection continue to impress evaluators at each step on the circuit. He’s generally been 89-93, touching 94/95 mph, while showing a hard curve that will flash plus, and a low-80s true change. This June he started mixing in a cut-change that runs from the mid- to upper-80s with cutter action, and the pitch has made regular appearances throughout his various outings. It hasn’t been a dominant summer, but for a player who has flashed front-end potential since the age of 16, Toussaint is doing what he needs to on the field to remain in consideration for early first round selection next June. –Nick J. Faleris  http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=21537

 

8-21-13 – Area Code Games - 8. Touki Toussaint, rhp, Coral Springs Christian (Fla.)/ Atlanta Blue Jays - Toussaint burst onto the scene as a 16-year-old last summer at Tournament of Stars before an otherworldly performance at the WWBA in Jupiter in October, when he struck out 18 in six innings and showed a mid-90s fastball and plus curveball. Toussaint, who was a soccer player until he started playing baseball four years ago and lived in Haiti for six years, offers rare athleticism for a pitcher and has one of the highest upsides of any high school pitcher. At 6-foot-1, 198-pounds, Toussaint has a wiry, athletic build with long limbs. He has loose, whip-like action from a three-quarter slot and gets extension out front. His fastball sat 90-94 mph and touched 95 with natural cut in Long Beach. Toussaint threw some above-average curveballs with depth but the low-to-mid 70s pitch was inconsistent. He is working a high-80s cutter/slider and low-80s changeup into his repertoire. With three walks in as many innings, Toussaint’s command was not sharp. His lower half has been leaking in his delivery this summer and he has a late hand break. But Toussiant,  once committed to Miami but currently uncommitted, has the athleticism necessary to improve his control. He will form one of the top batteries in the country with Benito Santiago, a lefthanded-hitting catcher who is one of the top catchers in the country, the son of the former big league by the same name. http://www.baseballamerica.com/draft/area-code-games-top-10-prospects/

 

 

8-25-13 - Touki Toussaint displayed the talent that scouts are dreaming on. However, Toussaint also continued to work on a new wrinkle to his game, which could set him apart from his peers by the time June rolls around.  The word that would best describe Touki Toussaint is projectable. Toussaint’s present stuff is already electric, as I’ll get into, but there may be no prep pitcher that possesses more upside than the athletic right-handed pitcher. It all starts with the loose, athletic body with a big frame that has scouts dreaming about what could be. Toussaint is one of the best athletes I saw this week, and that includes the positional players. http://rontrarianreport.com/2013/08/25/scouting-touki-toussaint-mlb-draft/

 

8-31-13 – Area Code Games - Touki Toussaint (RHP) 6’2″ 195; 2014 Sleek, slender look w/long, lean levers; good projection body. Compact delivery w/lighting quick arm. HTQ slot w/EZ gas 91-92 and will flash 7FB. Electric FB w/occ. tilt on outer third. More control vs command at the moment. FB plays CB up; will flash depth and downer action when right. Limited feel for spin. Mixes in firm CH85 works underneath and still a projection pitch. Cutter 87-88 will play. Strong follow: good athlete w/special FB and deeper projection secondary.  http://bigleaguefutures.net/1/2013/08/31/area-code-notes/

 

9-1-13 - Keith Law - Touki Toussaint showed his usual arm strength, although 89-94 is actually a little low for him. His curveball, at 72-73 mph, ranged from a 59-footer to an absolute hammer, but he had no command of anything. That has been the norm for him in showcases. He's lean and athletic with a quick arm and he's hit 97 mph lots of times, but I'd like to see Touki (pronounced TOO-key) show he can pitch too. www.baseballamerica.com

 

9-1-13 - Jim Callis – 8. Touki Toussaint, rhp, Coral Springs (Fla.) Christian HS - Has struggled with command this summer but his premium stuff is impossible to deny.

 

8-15-13 - Under Armour All-Star Game – Touki Toussaint, RHP:  Toussaint has perhaps the best prep arm in this draft and is considered a top 10 pick at this point with a chance to move up if he can improve his command.  He can touch 97 mph and complements that with a plus curve that already gives him a second swing and miss offering.  He's not quite as tall at 6'2" but has room to grow. As mentioned,  his command needs a lot of work, but his stuff is potentially top of the rotation. http://www.chicagonow.com/cubs-den/2013/08/2014-mlb-draft-ua-game-roster-and-preview-plus-more-tickets-and-meet-up-information/

 

9-4-13 – Mack’s Mock Draft v1.0 – 2 – Miami – RHSP Touki Toussaint – Coral Springs (FL) High School – The obvious ‘best player available’ here would have been RHP Tyler Beede out of Vanderbilt, but the Marlins do not want to get into a gigantic bonus negotiation with the college junior. They choose instead  a local high school senior they are banking on will sign for slot. It’s still a very good pick for a kid who is ranked in every top ten mock in the country. Very raw, but throws in the high 90s.

 

9-11-13 - Sully’s 2014 Top 100 MLB HS Draft Prospects - 10.Touki Toussaint – RHP, Coral Springs Christian (FL) http://www.ninebaseball.org/Wordpress/sullys-2014-top-100-mlb-hs-draft-prospects/

 

9-30-13 – TTF Mock 2.0 - 15. Los Angeles Angels — Touki Toussaint, RHP, Coral Springs Academy (FL) One of the most electric arms in the 2014 MLB draft (as well as this 2014 MLB mock draft too), the 6’-2”, 190-pound right-hander has touched 97 mph with his fastball and adds one of the best curveballs in the draft; a knee-buckling hammer that sits in the mid 70s. He adds a lot of deception to his delivery, making his stuff that much harder to pick up. The only knock on him right now is his command, which can get the best of him at times. He walked three and struck out three in one inning at the PG Classic. His stuff is outstanding.  http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-mock-draft-2-0-draft-order-set/38280#5E3F5j1jWOgE69bJ.99

 

10-15-13 – Baseball America - 8. Touki Toussaint, rhp, Coral Springs (Fla.) Christian HS: Like Beede, Toussaint shows premium stuff (mid-90s fastball, curve) but struggles to throw strikes at times. http://www.baseballamerica.com/college/2014-draft-top-50-october-2013-carlos-rodon/

 

10-25-13  - PG Showcase - Touki Toussaint (Coral Springs Christian Academy, Coral Springs, Fla.) took the hill for the Atlanta Blue Jays. Toussaint featured similar stuff to what he’s delivered since creating headlines in Jupiter a year ago when he showed off a fastball up to 97 and devastating curveball. This year, the athletic righthander showed off a 91-94 mph fastball, peaking at 95, while predominantly mixing in his plus curveball at 74-77. At its best, Toussaint’s wrinkle earned audible praise from the typically tight-lipped scouting community. The 6-foot-2, 195-pounder also threw an 85-86 changeup with deceptive arm speed, as well as an 84 mph slider. Compared to other national showcase events, Toussaint threw more strikes, though he was not always fine. His body and arm seemed to be working in better sync, allowing him to repeat his delivery. After getting squeezed on some close pitches, however, he had some wildness and ran up his pitch count, forcing his exit after two innings. http://www.baseballamerica.com/draft/toussaint-wows-evaluators-at-jupiter/

11/4/13

Draft 14 – Braxton Davidson, Lukas Schiraldi, Touki Toussaint, Mike Rivera, Tucker Baca

draft - braxton davidson10-28-13 – John Sickles - At the plate is where Braxton Davidson shines. His raw power is not the best in this draft class but his usable power is. Of all the players in this class that can put a charge into the ball, Davidson does it the most consistently and with the most ease. That's saying something. There are probably 10 guys with plus power projection or better in this draft. His hit tool allows for this. It could easily be plus and we are talking about a guy I wouldn't be scared to say will hit .300 in the majors. http://www.minorleagueball.com/2013/10/26/5029046/2014-mlb-draft-profile-braxton-davidson-1b-of-arden-nc-high-school


10-15-13 – Baseball America - 47. Lukas Schiraldi, rhp, Texas: Son of former big leaguer Calvin, he shined this summer while flashing a plus fastball and solid secondary repertoire. http://www.baseballamerica.com/college/2014-draft-top-50-october-2013-carlos-rodon/

10-25-13  - PG Showcase - Touki Toussaint (Coral Springs Christian Academy, Coral Springs, Fla.) took the hill for the Atlanta Blue Jays. Toussaint featured similar stuff to what he’s delivered since creating headlines in Jupiter a year ago when he showed off a fastball up to 97 and devastating curveball. This year, the athletic righthander showed off a 91-94 mph fastball, peaking at 95, while predominantly mixing in his plus curveball at 74-77. At its best, Toussaint’s wrinkle earned audible praise from the typically tight-lipped scouting community. The 6-foot-2, 195-pounder also threw an 85-86 changeup with deceptive arm speed, as well as an 84 mph slider. Compared to other national showcase events, Toussaint threw more strikes, though he was not always fine. His body and arm seemed to be working in better sync, allowing him to repeat his delivery. After getting squeezed on some close pitches, however, he had some wildness and ran up his pitch count, forcing his exit after two innings. http://www.baseballamerica.com/draft/toussaint-wows-evaluators-at-jupiter/

9-11-13 - Sully’s 2014 Top 100 MLB HS Draft Prospects – 70.Mike Rivera – C/INF, Venice (FL) HS http://www.ninebaseball.org/Wordpress/sullys-2014-top-100-mlb-hs-draft-prospects/

10-26-13 - Jim Callis ‏@jimcallisMLB  - Tucker Baca (HS/GA) creating a stir. Low angle LHP touched 94 in 1st, 90 in 3rd, killing LHB with his slider

9/29/13

Draft 14 – Touki Toussaint, James Monaghan, Brady Aiken, Luis Ortiz, Kyle Keller

draft - Touki Toussaint


8-21-13 – Area Code Games - 8. Touki Toussaint, rhp, Coral Springs Christian (Fla.)/ Atlanta Blue Jays - Toussaint burst onto the scene as a 16-year-old last summer at Tournament of Stars before an otherworldly performance at the WWBA in Jupiter in October, when he struck out 18 in six innings and showed a mid-90s fastball and plus curveball. Toussaint, who was a soccer player until he started playing baseball four years ago and lived in Haiti for six years, offers rare athleticism for a pitcher and has one of the highest upsides of any high school pitcher. At 6-foot-1, 198-pounds, Toussaint has a wiry, athletic build with long limbs. He has loose, whip-like action from a three-quarter slot and gets extension out front. His fastball sat 90-94 mph and touched 95 with natural cut in Long Beach. Toussaint threw some above-average curveballs with depth but the low-to-mid 70s pitch was inconsistent. He is working a high-80s cutter/slider and low-80s changeup into his repertoire. With three walks in as many innings, Toussaint’s command was not sharp. His lower half has been leaking in his delivery this summer and he has a late hand break. But Toussiant,  once committed to Miami but currently uncommitted, has the athleticism necessary to improve his control. He will form one of the top batteries in the country with Benito Santiago, a lefthanded-hitting catcher who is one of the top catchers in the country, the son of the former big league by the same name. http://www.baseballamerica.com/draft/area-code-games-top-10-prospects/

9-21-13 –  Team Maryland is staying in the same hotel as myself and they had some interesting players in their lineup, with one standing out above the rest, literally. At 6-foot-5, 187-pounds, 1B James Monaghan  is a projectable lefthanded hitting first basemen, showing bat speed, along with power potential, with more to come once he starts to fill out his frame. He is one of only three 2015 grads listed in the program on a strong team from Maryland. .  http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=9017

9-4-13 – Mack’s Mock Draft v1.0 – 16 –  LHP Brady Aiken – Cathedral Catholic (CA) HS – 6-4 frame, Aiken is going to be a great major league pitcher. Had a great summer at the 11th All-American Classic and the Area Code Games. Every scout was wowed by his control… 91-92 fastball… 73-74 curve. He also will be one of the youngest players in the 2014 draft. Could easily wind up a top 10 pick.

9-11-13 - Sully’s 2014 Top 100 MLB HS Draft Prospects – 12.Luis Ortiz – RHP, Sanger (CA) HS http://www.ninebaseball.org/Wordpress/sullys-2014-top-100-mlb-hs-draft-prospects/

9-23-13 - Southeastern Louisiana pitcher Kyle Keller, who pitched for the Victoria Generals of the Texas Collegiate League this past summer, was named Thursday to Baseball America's top prospects lists covering 21 college summer leagues.   BA ranked the top 30 prospects for the talent-rich Cape Cod League, the top 20 prospects for Team USA, the top 25 in the Northwoods League, and the top 10 prospects in 18 other summer college leagues, plus a top five in the New York Collegiate Baseball League.  Named the eighth-best prospect in the TCL earlier this week as well by Perfect Game, the 6-foot-4 right-hander turned some heads with a fastball reaching 95 mph.  http://www.sportsnola.com/sports/local-sports-news/slu-news/599678-keller-named-to-baseball-americas-top-prospect-lists.html

9/26/13

Draft 14 - Cameron Varga, Greg Kuhlman, Jared Miller, Jacob Gatewood, Touki Toussaint

draft - cameron varga9-4-13 – Mack’s Mock Draft v1.0 – 28 –  RHP Cameron Varga – Cincinnati Hills (OH) – High school stats were sick: 148 strikeouts and just 14 walks in 64 innings pitched. He was 8-2 with a 0.21 ERA. Fastball sits 92-95 (National Showcase). Was converted fro SS after showing the fastball. Also throws  up-70s change and curve which are still a work in progress. This is a fastball pitcher.


9-9-13 – Top 10 Far West League Prospects - 5. Greg Kuhlman, lhp, Top Speed (R-Jr., Indiana State)  - Kuhlman pushed his way into the Sycamores’ weekend rotation late in the spring, and he stood out this summer as a projectable southpaw with power stuff. His fastball ranges anywhere from 90-94 mph, and he flashed a plus breaking ball that was very tough on lefties. At 6-foot-3, 180 pounds, Kuhlman has room to add strength, and his whippy arm is fast. He’s battled through inconsistent release points in his first few years in college, leading to significant control problems. He walked 23 in 25 summer innings but also struck out 35.  He has swing-and-miss stuff and could be poised to take a leap forward if he can clean up his mechanics. http://www.baseballamerica.com/college/far-west-league-top-10-prospects/

 

9-10-13 – Top Arms in 2013 Cape Cod League - Jared Miller 6-6/235, Orleans Firebirds 31.1 IP, 24 K, 2.29 ERA: FB 85-91 SL 77-79 CH 82 -  The slider misses tons of bats and he floods the zone with all his pitches. He works 88-89 but turns up the velo when it matters. With his body and deceptive mechanics, he has a bright future on the hill. http://bullpenbanter.com/2013-all-cape-team-pitchers/

 

9-2-13 - My summation of Jacob Gatewood: He is going to be a top-10 pick in the 2014 MLB draft. His combination of size, bat speed and future plus power make him one of the most desirable players available. If teams believe he can stick in the infield, he could go top five. He still has some things to work on, but his “projection” and “raw” skills separate him from most - http://throughthefencebaseball.com/jacob-gatewood/37060#9QtAB4CCTxs1yGJM.99

 

9-11-13 - Sully’s 2014 Top 100 MLB HS Draft Prospects - 10.Touki Toussaint – RHP, Coral Springs Christian (FL) http://www.ninebaseball.org/Wordpress/sullys-2014-top-100-mlb-hs-draft-prospects/

9/21/13

Draft 14 – Derek Fisher, Tyler Kolek, Joseph Gatto, Touki Toussaint, Sean Newcomb

draft - derek fisher8-14-13 – Through The Fence – Top 50 Prospects – 24. Derek Fisher, OF, Virginia - A great athlete, the 6’-3”, 210-pound left-hander greatly improved his approach this season cutting down his strikeouts from 61 to 38 over roughly the same number of plate appearances while upping his walks from 22 to 28. Over 53 games, he hit .306 with 12 doubles, seven home runs, stole eight bases and had a .420 OBP/.505 SLG. His size suggests more power will come and, if it does, he will be one of the better all-around college bats available in the 2014 MLB draft. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-top-50-prospects/36463#mwWwsFxSUZy7YC5V.99


8-31-13 – Area Code Games - Tyler Kolek (RHP) 6’5″ 245; 2014 Big bodied and country strong w/XXL features. Jonathon Gray (COL) body comp. Power arm w/good rhythm to delivery; repeats. Lands closed and arm works across body at times but does not effect strikes. Boring FB gets on hitters in a hurry. In the starting role, its a fringy 7FB who can gear up to 8FB when needed. Shows the makings of a true, power 7SL. CB has late, softer wrinkle that adds different look to breaking ball. Still learning feel for CB spin. Heavy CH will play to contact. Big upside power pitcher w/4-pitch mix.    http://bigleaguefutures.net/1/2013/08/31/area-code-notes/

8-15-13 - Under Armour All-Star Game – Joseph Gatto, RHP: A chance to be a complete pitcher with a good arm that right now generates low 90s fastball while occasionally reaching the mid 90s.  He has  advanced feel and command for his age while also having enough room on his 6'5", 210 lbs frame to add some muscle and perhaps the velo increase that sometimes goes with it.  The height also gives him the advantage of being able to throw with some downward plane. http://www.chicagonow.com/cubs-den/2013/08/2014-mlb-draft-ua-game-roster-and-preview-plus-more-tickets-and-meet-up-information/

9-4-13 – Mack’s Mock Draft v1.0 – 2 – Miami – RHSP Touki Toussaint – Coral Springs (FL) High School – The obvious ‘best player available’ here would have been RHP Tyler Beede out of Vanderbilt, but the Marlins do not want to get into a gigantic bonus negotiation with the college junior. They choose instead  a local high school senior they are banking on will sign for slot. It’s still a very good pick for a kid who is ranked in every top ten mock in the country. Very raw, but throws in the high 90s.

9-10-13 – Top Arms in 2013 Cape Cod League - Sean Newcomb 6-5/240, Wareham Gatemen 22.1 IP, 28 K, 4.43 ERA: FB 88-94 CB 69 SL 76-79 CH 81-83 -  Spent most of the summer recovering from illness, and this led to some inconsistency (high ERA). Newcomb is a big lefty that uses little effort to throw in the mid-90s, with a lot of late dive. Most importantly, he improved every time I saw him pitch. http://bullpenbanter.com/2013-all-cape-team-pitchers/

9/18/13

Draft 14 – Brady Aiken, Carlos Rodon,, Chase Vallot, Carl Chester, Touki Toussaint

draft - brady aiken8-31-13 – Area Code Games - Brady Aiken (LHP) 6’4″ 205; 2014 Large frame w/strong, athletic build. Exceptional athlete also plays CF. Good projection body that looks the part on the mound. Simple delivery remains online for pinpoint command. Loose HTQ arm uses present 5/future 6FB w/future 60 command. Lives on top of BB w/confident arm side spot and downplane. Late breaking CB w/12:6 shape. Advanced feel for CH sells with same arm speed and tumbling effect; misses bats. Finishes all his pitches and lives down in the zone. Showed mound savvy where game came very EZ for him. Strong follow; 3-pitch mix starter material.  http://bigleaguefutures.net/1/2013/08/31/area-code-notes/

9-1-13 - Jim Callis – 1. Carlos Rodon, lhp, North Carolina State - Spectacular summer with Team USA cements him as clear top prospect for now.

8-14-13 – Through The Fence – Top 50 Prospects – 44. Chase Vallot, C, St. Thomas More HS (LA) - One of the youngest players in the draft, the 6’-0”, 205-pound right-hander generates a ton of raw power due to his bat speed and strong wrists. His strong arm, size and footwork should allow him to stick at a premium position and he also has pretty good speed. Committed to Mississippi State. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-top-50-prospects/36463#mwWwsFxSUZy7YC5V.99

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2013 East Coast Pro Showcase Top 50 Prospects    - 47. Carl Chester – OF, Lake Brantley (FL) HS - Has game changing speed and a plus arm from the OF. http://www.ninebaseball.org/Wordpress/sullys-top-50-ecp-prospects/

9-1-13 - Jim Callis – 8. Touki Toussaint, rhp, Coral Springs (Fla.) Christian HS - Has struggled with command this summer but his premium stuff is impossible to deny.

9/17/13

Draft 14 – Colton Hock, Jakson Reetz, Isan Diaz, Touki Toussaint, Jeff Hoffman

draft - colton hock


8-30-13 - Player:  Colton Hock   Primary Position:  RHP  Height/Weight:  6’5/215  Home Town:  Bloomsburg, PA  School:  Bloomsburg Area  Class of:  2014  - Committed To:  Stanford - Scouting Notes: -  2013 USA Baseball Tournament of Stars Notes from Don Olsen - Colton has a slightly sloped wide frame with decent lower half development in a Chris Tillman type mold.  He does show present development, but could fill out and gain a ton of additional strength; there is more velocity in the arm.  He throws from a high ¾ to OH delivery.  Delivery is fast, not effort best.  Good push and drive, gets weight over well, a good deal of things to like with it.  Arm action is sound, shows good arm speed.  Fastball is 88-90 and loses cursing speed early, point of maturation and projection.  Slider, 79-84 mph, was a bit inconsistent, but showed 11/4 glove side action went he snapped it off, flashes above average potential.  He throws a circle change, 78-80 mph, with the nice two-way hand side fade. Colton flashes three solid offerings with the frame an arm speed that is a high follow into next spring. http://bigleaguefutures.net/1/2013/08/28/2014-mlb-draft-profile-colton-hock/

8-14-13 – Through The Fence – Top 50 Prospects – 26. Jakson Reetz, C/RHP, Norris HS (NE) - A terrific athlete and two-way player, the 6’-1”, 200-pound right-hander’s ability to stick behind the plate make him a highly touted prospect. More of a line drive hitter now, more power should come as he matures, and he has the bat speed to back it up. Can hit the low-90s on the mound so his arm plays well behind the plate and he makes for a big target. Committed to Nebraska. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-top-50-prospects/36463#mwWwsFxSUZy7YC5V.99

2013 East Coast Pro Showcase Top 50 Prospects   40. Isan Diaz – SS, Springfield Central (MA) HS - 5’10, 175 SS who can really play defense and was swinging it well all week. http://www.ninebaseball.org/Wordpress/sullys-top-50-ecp-prospects/

9-1-13 - Keith Law - Touki Toussaint showed his usual arm strength, although 89-94 is actually a little low for him. His curveball, at 72-73 mph, ranged from a 59-footer to an absolute hammer, but he had no command of anything. That has been the norm for him in showcases. He's lean and athletic with a quick arm and he's hit 97 mph lots of times, but I'd like to see Touki (pronounced TOO-key) show he can pitch too. www.baseballamerica.com

9-1-13 - Jim Callis – 2. Jeff Hoffman, rhp, East Carolina - Starred in Cape Cod League last two summers with mid-90s fastball, big-breaking curve.

9/13/13

Draft 14 – Matt Chapman, Touki Toussaint, Tate Blackman, Aaron Nola, Cameron Varga

draft - matt chapman

9-3-13 - Kendall Rogers ‏@KendallRogersPG  - INJURY NEWS: CalStateFullerton 3B, top MLBDraft prospect Matt Chapman will have surgery to repair a torn ligament on ring finger. HC Rick Vanderhook said he played through it this summer and will miss the start of fall workouts. Will be back though.

8-31-13 – Area Code Games - Touki Toussaint (RHP) 6’2″ 195; 2014 Sleek, slender look w/long, lean levers; good projection body. Compact delivery w/lighting quick arm. HTQ slot w/EZ gas 91-92 and will flash 7FB. Electric FB w/occ. tilt on outer third. More control vs command at the moment. FB plays CB up; will flash depth and downer action when right. Limited feel for spin. Mixes in firm CH85 works underneath and still a projection pitch. Cutter 87-88 will play. Strong follow: good athlete w/special FB and deeper projection secondary.  http://bigleaguefutures.net/1/2013/08/31/area-code-notes/

2013 East Coast Pro Showcase Top 50 Prospects    - 46. Tate Blackman – SS, Lake Brantley (FL) HS - Very solid all around player and had a great week with the bat http://www.ninebaseball.org/Wordpress/sullys-top-50-ecp-prospects/

9-1-13 - Jim Callis – 10. Aaron Nola, rhp, Louisiana State - With his solid fastball, plus changeup and impressive pitchability, he’ll move quickly in pro ball."

8-15-13 - Under Armour All-Star Game – Cameron Varga, RHP: Varga already has a good pitchers build at 6'3", 205 lbs. and sits in the low 90s and can touch 95 mph.  His secondaries are developing.  http://www.chicagonow.com/cubs-den/2013/08/2014-mlb-draft-ua-game-roster-and-preview-plus-more-tickets-and-meet-up-information/