Draft Notes 5-29-12 – Patrick Biondi, Travis Jankowski, James Ramsey, Ty Buttrey

Patrick Biondi

Patrick Biondi, CF, Michigan, Junior - Patrick Biondi is Michigan’s centerfielder and leadoff hitter.  He is a contact hitter with enough pop to hit some doubles at the next level, but does not project to hit many home runs.  He has good speed and is a good baserunner.  Biondi gets good reads on flyballs in the outfield and covers plenty of ground.

Travis Jankowski

OF, Stony Brook   56 G, .411 AVG, 66 R, 16 2B, 9 3B, 4 HR, 40 RBI, 34 SB .476/.621/1.097 - The way Jankowski has been playing lately, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him go in the top 10 picks. The 6’-3”, 200-pound left-hander has very few holes in his game and should be a quick riser to the major leagues. He is hitting .544 (25-for-46) during his current 10-game hitting streak, and over his last 21, is a ridiculous 46-for-86 (.535) with 33 runs, five doubles, five triples, three home runs, 21 RBI and a slash line of .600/.814/1.414. Oh, and he has stolen 14 bases with just two strikeouts over that span. He gets on base, rarely strikes out and is a big-time threat on the base paths. He also is a very good defensive center fielder with a strong, accurate arm and speed to get to most anything hit his way.

 James Ramsey

Florida State SR OF James Ramsey: you’ll read lots of averages in his reports, which might not excite many, but those are actually a testament to the hard work he has put in since arriving on campus – Ramsey has come as far as any college player that I can remember in recent memory; above-average hit tool; average at best defender; average range; average at best speed; average arm; average power; was always considered a LF only professionally, but his range has improved a great deal in 2012 – can now play a decent enough CF to play there in a pinch; gets good jumps despite not having blazing speed; there were some rumors that he could be tried at 2B professionally, but I’m not sure the team that drafts him will want to mess with his bat that way; he now uses the whole field so much better than when I last saw him (100% pull-heavy) that he looks like a new player; still unsure of his pro ceiling, but I think his bat is good enough to find him a role in some capacity; 6-0, 200 pounds

 Ty Buttrey

Buttrey, an Arkansas commit, has garnered some national attention due to his ability to produce easy velocity from his large, athletic frame. Buttrey's motion features a high leg kick and surprisingly shows little effort as the ball jumps out of his hand. He has made significant strides in velocity recently, and still has room to fill out his frame. The pure arm strength and the frame present a dangerous combination that easily point toward future projection. If all goes according to plan, Buttrey profiles as the classic power arm who throws hard, challenges hitters and dares them to hit the fastball. Buttrey also throws a good curve that isn't particularly consistent, but is nasty when it is on. Shows a good feel for a changeup as well and could profile as having at least three average pitches if all goes well. In the words of one Baseball America game report, "He pitches like his car is parked next to a fire hydrant," and his quick, decisive mound presence is an effective tool for him in controlling the game. The team that takes Buttrey early in June will definitely try him out as a starter, and he has to much potential not to be tried there. If that experiment fails, however, he could easily slide into a bullpen and come out and throw 95-96 for an inning. His command, like almost every high school pitcher in existence, needs some refinement, but Buttrey has some of the highest upside of the prep arms in this class.

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 – Addison Russell, Travis Jankowski, Blake Schwartz, Lucas Giolito, Peter O’Brien

Addison Russell — 6’-1”, SS, Pace HS (GA)  Russell has soft hands and a strong throwing arm, but his size may end up forcing a move to third base where is power is better suited. Extremely quick wrists and a consistent, easy swing allow him to hit the ball to all fields with more power coming as he matures. Played for U18 Team USA at the Pan Am Championships hitting .393 with nine RBI, four stolen bases and he hit the team’s only home run of the tournament, a grand slam in the bottom of the first inning against Canada in the gold medal game that put the game away early for Team USA. Makes the game look easy. http://www.throughthefencebaseball.com/top-50-draft-prospects-for-2012-25-thru-1/15694/

Travis Jankowski / Stony Brook / OF: Jankowski was a lesser known name coming from Stony Brook but he exploded onto the scene and won the Cape MVP. He doesn’t possess real standout tools but he has a quality overall game and could fit as a major league center fielder who hits at the top or bottom of the order. Jankowski does have good speed and athleticism and those skills show up well in the field, too. He’s a max effort guy and plays the game hard. While he’s probably not an impact player as a pro, he is at least a four tool prospect who could still grow into more power. Jankowski could be a nice get for a team picking at the end of the first or in the supplemental round. http://mlbdraftinsider.com/2012/01/scouting-the-cape/#more-720

Blake Schwartz  RHP  Mankato MoonDogs--Oklahoma City   Blake is 6-3/210 pounds and hails from Minnesota. He was the best pitcher in the league and was named the leagues Pitcher of the Year. He went 6-1 and sported a league-low .171 era in 63 innings pitched. He made 10 starts, completed one game and allowed just 51 hits this summer. He walked just 15 batters and he was second in the league with 75 strikeouts. http://www.collegesummerbaseball.net/2012/01/top-35-pitchers-in-northwoods-league_20.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

Lucas Giolito — 6’-6”, RHP, Harvard Westlake HS (CA)  Giolito has everything you want in a future ace. At 6’-6” and 230 lbs, he has the size to be a workhorse already. He has five pitches in his arsenal and can command all of them. His fastball can hit 98 mph, and both his curve and slider are already plus-pitches. He has a slow and easy delivery and makes pitching look effortless. And he stays poised and has great mound presence. With another year of development and maturing, he could be the clear cut number-one pick come June 6. http://www.throughthefencebaseball.com/top-50-draft-prospects-for-2012-25-thru-1/15694/

Senior catcher Peter O’Brien has been approved by the NCAA to compete for the Hurricanes during the upcoming 2012 baseball season. “Needless to say, Peter is very excited, the players are excited, and the coaching staff is excited to have a guy of his quality,” Head Coach Jim Morris said. O’Brien transferred to Miami after an impressive three-year career with the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats. The Miami Gardens, Fla. native finished his junior campaign with a .304 batting average, 14 home runs and 69 runs batted in. O’Brien, who was named Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Player of the Year in 2010, earned Freshman All-American honors from Louisville Slugger in 2009. http://www.collegebaseballdaily.com/2012/01/20/ncaa-declares-miami-catcher-peter-obrien-eligible-for-2012-season/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+CollegeBaseballDaily+%28College+Baseball+Daily%29&utm_content=Google+Reader

Draft 2012 – Travis Jankowski, Brian Johnson, Rio Ruiz, Albert Almora, Kevin Gausman.

Travis Jankowski — 6’-3”, OF, Stony Brook Jankowski is the prototypical leadoff hitter. He hit .355 with three home runs, 38 RBI and 30 stolen bases last season. He also showed a great approach at the plate by taking 20 walks while only striking out 22 times over 54 games. The left-handed hitter is just as aggressive at the plate as he is on the base paths and will be an immediate fan favorite because of his hustle. Has great instincts in the outfield, and with his speed and strong arm, will be able to stay in center field. Hit .329 over 44 games at the Cape Cod League, ranking among the stolen base leaders with 15. http://www.throughthefencebaseball.com/top-50-draft-prospects-for-2012-50-thru-26/15621/

Brian Johnson / LHP / Florida – Hey a left-handed pitcher, how about that. Johnson has four pitches with a plus slider and low 90′s fastball with sink, and gets high marks for his poise and work ethic. He’s also the best hitting pitcher in baseball, maybe the best hitting college pitcher since Darren Dreifort. There’s not as much upside as most of the starters here, but a solid third-starter from the left side will be coveted come next June. http://mlbdraftinsider.com/2011/12/top-twelve-college-pitchers/

He's from SoCal. He hits left-handed. It's not a real shock Rio Ruiz gets Eric Chavez comps. Ruiz has the tools to be an every-day Major League third baseman. He has a terrific left-handed swing, a short stroke with good bat speed. He makes consistent hard contact and there's more than enough loft and leverage for him to have good power at the next level. He's a solid, instinctive defender at third, with good lateral movement and a strong arm. Ruiz doesn't run well, but given his other skills, that doesn't matter so much. He doesn't need to run if he's going to develop into a run-producing third baseman as a professional. That potential should put him in many beginning of the Draft conversations.http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/prospects/watch/y2012/

Albert Almora, OF, Mater Academy (Hialeah Gardens, Fla.)  - Almora brings plenty of upside to the table, including plus speed and a plus throwing arm. He’s committed to Miami, but his strong, quick wrists and a consistent swing may be too much to pass up on draft day. He runs good routes in the outfield and may be able to handle center in the big leagues. Almora was named tournament MVP after leading the USA Baseball 18U National Team to a gold medal this fall in the COPABE 18U/AAA Pan American Championships. http://espn.go.com/blog/high-school/baseball/post/_/id/940/mccullers-jr-is-top-florida-diamond-star

We continue the countdown today at number 27 with LSU sophomore RHP Kevin Gausman. The Centennial, Colorado native attended Grandview High School where he was a two-time All-State selection. As a senior, he went  9-2 with a 3.12 ERA while recording 88 strikeouts and 14 walks. His junior season saw him go 7-2 with a 2.15 ERA and 71 strikeouts in 48 innings pitched. As a freshman at LSU in 2011, he went  5-6 and a 3.51 ERA in 89.2 innings with 23 walks and 86 strikeouts in 14 starts. He improved as the season went on going 3-1 record with a 1.17 ERA in his final four starts, recording five walks and 32 strikeouts in 30.2 innings. http://ht.ly/1gsYLU 

Draft 2012: - Kenny Diekroeger, Gavin Cecchini, Travis Jankowski, Nolan Fontana

12-15-11: - http://www.minorleaguerundown.com/2011/12/12/2012-draft-top-3-college-shortstopssecond-baseman - Kenny Diekroeger (Stanford): If you’re looking at pure tools, the Stanford talent might very well top this list. Diekroeger’s athleticism shows up in flashes, and when it does you can see the hitting and defensive talents that he is capable of playing with in time. He will be more of a bat-first prospect, as a move to second base sounds more and more likely, but he should have enough range and arm to stick there. Diekroeger’s bat speed is big and his swing looks nice and compact. With his strength and athleticism, he could be a very interesting (albeit raw) offense-first prospect up the middle.

12-2-11: - http://mlbdraftcountdown.wordpress.com/2011/12/02/2012-mlb-mock-draft-updated-top-15-with-final-mlb-standings - 7) San Diego Padres: Gavin Cecchini, SS, Barbe HS (LA) The Padres haven’t done too well in the draft over the past few seasons. First, there was the Donovan Tate debacle. Then, they missed a huge opportunity to add Karsten Whitson to a declining cache of pitching talent. This year, they went the safe route, tabbing Cory Spangenberg with their first pick and going after a projectable arm in Joe Ross later in the first-round. They also added some high-ceiling guys later in the draft, including catcher Austin Hedges (second), Michael Kelly (supplemental first) and Kyle Gaedele (sixth). That’s all fine and dandy, but that group of players does nothing to change the fact that the Padres have Jason Bartlett and his 31 career home runs occupying shortstop. Beyond Bartlett, there is no true heir to the shortstop position, making Gavin Cecchini an excellent choice. For starters, he has the footwoork and size to stick at shortstop long-term, an increasingly invaluable trait these days. He also has a special bat, with potential to hit for average and for power.

12-15-11: - http://mlbdraftguide.com/1/2011/12/12/vincent-jackson-2012-draft-profile - Stony Brook outfielder Travis Jankowski placed himself firmly on the radar with a stellar 2011 Cape League Season.  He led the league in hits, runs, and triples and finished 2nd in steals on his way to being named League MVP. Jankowski is good with the bat and should continue to get on base at a high rate when he moves to the next level.  Power is not a big part of his game.  Some project him to add power in the future, but I wouldn’t be looking for him to hit many out of the park.  Speed is one of Jankowski’s best assets and he has been recorded in the 60 at 6.4 according to Baseball America. Jankowski is a plus defender in centerfield.  He gets good jumps on balls and covers plenty of ground.  Jankowski also has a good arm. Jankowski may be one of the safer choices among college outfielders who are eligible for the 2012 draft.  In addition to his good baseball skills, he is an extremely coachable player.

12-15-11: - http://www.minorleaguerundown.com/2011/12/12/2012-draft-top-3-college-shortstopssecond-baseman - Nolan Fontana (Florida): The Gators middle infielder would be a much more interesting bat to follow this spring if either his power or speed tools were better. Unfortunately neither is all that loud. He’s mainly a doubles hitter, and though he is smart on the bases, the infielder is not a stolen-base threat. Fontana could hit for a decent average in the pro game, and can definitely get on base at a high clip. It remains to be seen if a team will start him at shortstop as a pro, but I would imagine he’ll at least get a shot at it.

Draft 2012: - Mitchell Traver, Travis Jankowski, Kevin Gausman, Shayne Houck, Joey Rickard

10-28-11: - http://orioles-nation.com/2011/10/26/wwba-2012-highlights - Mitchell Traver (Sugar Land TX; Houston Christian HS) – A big frame and solid build that with added strength should raise his game a notch.  Very limited compact delivery with some minor wrinkles that will need to be ironed out as he matures, but sound foundation at the present moment.  A real heavy fastball that sits 89-92 mph.  The slider has some serious potential and at its best has tight lateral drop that could be tough to adjust for hitters.  He has a decent change up that he will need to throw more often to increase its effectiveness, but shows a solid three pitch arsenal.

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 4.   Travis Jankowski   OF   Bourne Braves---Stony Brook   Travis had an outstanding summer for the Braves and was rewarded by being named the leagues MVP. He hit .329, led the league with 57 hits and led the league with 31 runs scored. He also led the league with 7 triples. He went 1 for 4 in the All Star Game and he was the 10th ranked prospect in the league according to Baseball America. Perfect Game ranked him as the 20th best prospect in the league.

11-4-11: - http://www.throughthefencebaseball.com/chicago-cubs-2012-free-agent-and-draft-pick-possibilities/13157/#  -  RHP Kevin Gausman, 6’-4″, 190 lbs, LSU — Gausman is one of the most major-league ready pitchers in the draft, mostly because of his outstanding mound presence. Has great command of his fastball, change-up and slider, and all are above-average pitches already. Held opponents to a .213 average while posting 86 K/23 BB over 89 innings this past season.

11-5-11: - http://www.collegesummerbaseball.net/2011/11/2011-top-performer-shayne-houck.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter  - Shayne Houck -  Butler BlueSox of the Prospect League  Kutztown University  Senior  Third Basemen  6-0/205 pounds  Bats Right  Throws Right  Born on 5-29-1990  From Boyertown, PA  Attended Boyertown High School - Synopsis of Summer Season:  Shayne might not be your prototypical third basemen, but according to several scouts, "no player in the league plays harder" than Shayne. He was the best player on his team, and he was one of the best in the league. He led his team with a .347 batting average and he was tied for third in the league with 10 home runs. He found a way to get on base, and when he did, he scored. He finished the season with 33 runs scored and 44 runs batted in.

11-7-11: - http://ht.ly/1fwsQx  - We continue the countdown today at number 74 with Arizona junior outfielder Joey Rickard. The Las Vegas, Nevada native attended Bishop Gorman High School where he was a member of four straight state championship squads. As a senior, he hit .554 with 23 doubles, seven home runs, 62 RBI and 29 stolen bases. He was also an accomplished pitcher as he accumulated 53 strikeouts in 49 innings pitched with an ERA of 1.92. Rickard stepped right into the Wildcats lineup as a freshman playing in all 58 games (57 starts) hitting .307 with eight homers and 51 RBI. He also led the squad with 13 stolen bases in 21 attempts. He continued his strong college career as a sophomore finishing second on the squad with a .347 batting average while hitting four homers and driving in 37 runs. He finished second on the team with 16 stolen bases in 24 attempts.

Draft 2012: - Austin Maddox, Travis Jankowski, Matt Smoral, Lewis Brinson, Dylan Floro

10-17-11: - http://mlbdraftguide.com/1  - Austin Maddox, C/IF, Florida - Maddox came out of high school as a catcher with a big arm and power potential.  He was one of my favorite prep prospects who made it to college. Arriving in Gainesville with Mike Zunino took catching away from Maddox’s profile, at least for the duration of his time in college.  He has played primarily the corner infield spots for the Gators while also spending time at DH. The big bat remained for Maddux in 2010.  He hit .333/.369/.587 with 17 home runs on his way to being named the SEC Freshman of the Year.  Maddox experienced a drop-off at the plate in 2011, falling to .280/.327/.368 with 6 home runs. A return to catcher will have to wait until Maddox reaches the next level, but a return to his freshman form as a batter could shoot him up draft boards.

10-22-11: - http://ht.ly/1fglCb - We continue the countdown today at number 83 with Stony Brook’s Travis Jankowski. In his sophomore season in 2011, he finished second on the squad with a .355 batting average with two homers and 38 RBI in 54 games. He led the squad with 30 stolen bases in 34 attempts while also not committing a single error in the outfield. Jankowski had a breakout summer in the Cape Cod Baseball League with the Bourne Braves. He played in 47 games hitting .326 with seven triples and 22 RBI. He continued his prowess on the basepaths with 15 stolen bases. He was named the 2011 CCBL MVP for his play over the summer

10-23-11: - http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/draft/2011/10/smoral-stands-out-among-big-arms  - The World Wood Bat Association World Championship has long been a place where high school prospects can establish themselves as elite players against high-level competition. Matt Smoral, a lefthander from Solon (Ohio) High has always been considered to be among the top pitchers in the country, but he may have solidified himself as the top southpaw with an impressive outing on Friday. Smoral took the hill for the Midland Redskins/Royals Scout Team and lit up radar guns immediately, sitting 90-92 mph and touching 94 twice in the first inning. He remained in the low 90s for the first three innings before settling in at 88-91 in his final inning. He throws from a three-quarter arm slot and has a fairly easily delivery. His second-best pitch is a hard tilting slider in the low 80s.

10-22-11: - http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=6347  - Having grown and matured into one of the nation’s top outfield prospects in the class of 2012, Lewis Brinson finds that he really isn’t overwhelmed by too much anymore. It’s just that there remain some scenes and situations that can be just a little bit more overwhelming than others, or at least trigger memories of the same. Brinson was at the Roger Dean Complex – the spring training home of the St. Louis Cardinals and the Florida Marlins – late Saturday morning in preparation of taking the field for the Red Sox Scout Team/Elite Squad at this year’s Perfect Game WWBA World Championship.

10-23-11: - http://ht.ly/1fhxpn  - Dylan Floro will be the anchor for the Titan pitching staff. Having watched him several times over the summer on the Cape, I’m pretty comfortable saying that. In Game 1, the junior pitched four innings, allowing only one run, unearned, on one hit, and he struck out three. It wasn’t until he left the game that Vanderbilt managed to get their momentum in what turned out to be a 10-8 Fullerton win.

Draft 2012: - Travis Jankowski, Byron Buxton, Alex Bregman, Kevin Connolly, Walker Weickel

7-19-11: - http://www.mlbbonusbaby.com/2011/6/29/2250656/early-look-at-2012#comments  - Travis Jankowski, Stony Brook, 6’3 195 R/R, kind of player that grows on you, makes solid contact and runs very well, 6’5, 60 guy with plus arm strength, and raw strength to add more HR power once in pro ball. Sleeper to go in top 3 rounds in 2012.

8-15-11: - http://www.draftsite.com/article/High-School-Names-to-Know/94  - Byron Buxton – OF HT-6’3’’ WT-175 Appling County (GA) The 2012 class is showing itself to be slightly deeper than assumed and this is another sleeper in this class. Byron Buxton’s name has been shooting up boards towards the end of the summer. His breakout event was the East Coast Professional Showcase this year. He showed he could be a true five tool talent – he can also pitch and has hit 94 MPH, showcasing his strong arm. An outstanding athlete, his East Coast Showcase performance has made some scouts call Buxton a version of Justin Upton with more useable speed. That is high praise and makes Buxton a top name to watch.

8-24-11: - diamondscapescouting.  - Alex Bregman (mif, Albuquerque Acad., Albuquerque, N.M.) put together one of the more impressive at bats of the two-game series, working Ryne Stanek (rhp, Univ. of Arkansas) to a full count before squaring a lively fastball for a hard single. Bregman's at bat highlighted the utility of matching these top high school bats against college arms -- evaluators can get a look at how these prep talents approach more advanced arms.

8-28-11: - http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=6178  - It’s not often that a young prospect’s first experience with a Perfect Game event comes on what is arguably PG’s biggest stage. Guess it’s safe to say top outfield prospect Kevin Connolly doesn’t think small. Connolly, a 6-1, 185-pound senior at Omaha Creighton Prep, was at Perfect Game Field at Veterans Memorial Stadium – home of the Class A Midwest League Cedar Rapids Kernels – Saturday to participate in the 13th annual Perfect Game Midwest Top Prospect Showcase. The PG Midwest Underclass is being held in conjunction with the Midwest Top Saturday and Sunday. A right-handed hitter, Connolly is Perfect Game’s No. 1-ranked prospect in the state of Nebraska and the 285th nationally. He received a favorable scouting report and a 9.5 rating (out of a possible 10) at the National, and was hoping to ratchet his rating up to a perfect 10 this weekend. He took part in the outfield throw workout Saturday morning, and took BP and played in a game Saturday afternoon.

7-19-11: - http://www.mlbbonusbaby.com/2011/6/29/2250656/early-look-at-2012#comments  - Walker Weickel, Olympia HS, Orlando Fl, 6’6 195, top 15 candidate for 2012 MLB Draft, up to 93 this spring, not real overpowering but is deceptive and is unhittable when breaking ball is on, comes at you slightly cross his body from H 3/4 slow, can fill out to 220 in time.

Draft Profile: - OF - Travis Jankowski

I’m starting a series of prospect updates and checking in with the players regarding their preparation for the upcoming season.


We start with Stony Brook’s outfield prospect Travis Jankowski.


Some stuff:


2011: All-America East first team selection ... named to ABCA All-Northeast Region second team ... started 53 games in centerfield ... did not make an error in 115 chances ... set Stony Brook single season record for steals in a season (30-for-34) ... was 14th in the nation in stolen bases ... ranked second in the America East with .355 batting average ... scored 39 runs and drove in 38 ... had 19 multi-hit games and 10 multi-RBI games ... went 5-for-11 (.455) in three-game series against No. 17 North Carolina (3/4-3/5) ... had career-high four hits in five at-bats against NJIT (3/18) ... drove in a then career-high three runs on March 22 against New York Tech ... went 2-for-5 with career-high four RBI against UMBC (4/23) ... went 4-for-5 with three RBI in season finale against Albany (5/25). - http://www.goseawolves.org/sports/m-basebl/mtt/jankowski_travis00.html  


7-19-11: - http://www.mlbbonusbaby.com/2011/6/29/2250656/early-look-at-2012#comments  - Travis Jankowski, Stony Brook, 6’3 195 R/R, kind of player that grows on you, makes solid contact and runs very well, 6’5, 60 guy with plus arm strength, and raw strength to add more HR power once in pro ball. Sleeper to go in top 3 rounds in 2012.


8-17-11: - http://collegebaseball360.com/2011/08/16/jankowski-named-cape-cod-baseball-mvp  - - Bourne’s General Manager Mike Carrier said thankfully Jankowski scored a chance on the Cape because a former Brave’s assistant was working with Jankowski at Stony Brook. When current field manager, Harvey Shapiro, started calling around looking for good players, he found the 6-2, 190 pound outfielder. The ballplayer from Lancaster, Penn., played well from start to finish. The numbers do not lie. He was made a Cape League All-Star for the Western Division because of it. Jankowski finished one of the top ten hitters and base stealers in the league. He batted .326 with 22 RBIs, 60 hits, 35 runs and a .444 OBP.


I asked Travis what’s he’s up to this off-season:

“Hey Mack, let me start off by saying I think it is great what you are doing for us college/high school prospects. Getting our name out to the scouts and getting all of us publicized like this is an awesome idea. Thank you.


As for my workouts in the off season what I am focusing on is getting bigger, stronger, faster. Im really focusing on core and lower body strength in the weight room. As for conditioning I do explosive exercises 2 days a week to help with my speed and I do distance 2 days to keep my cardio and endurance at a high level. With my swing Ive been working on getting my hand into the hitting zone as quickly as possible and keeping them through that zone as long as possible. Also Ive been working on using my back hip and core alot more than I was previously to generate more power. As for off the field in my free time I like to approach the mental side of baseball. I watch alot of baseball on TV to get a feel for how pitchers at the next level pitch and how they attack batters.


Thank you again for contacting me and I hope all is well” -Travis


Right now, I have him in the 2nd or 3rd round come June.

Draft 2012: - Seth Mejias-Bream, Fernelys Sanchez, Kayden Porter, Travis Jankowski, Lucas Sims

Seth Mejias-Bream:


7-19-11: - http://www.mlbbonusbaby.com/2011/6/29/2250656/early-look-at-2012#comments  - Seth Mejias-Bream, Arizona, 6’2 205, R/R, solid hitter, puts the ball in play, has strength for HR power once he learns to lift the ball to LF alley, playable arm, 45, and glove 45, runs fair, 4.4 runner at best straight away.


Fernelys Sanchez:


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 - 9. Fernelys Sanchez 2012 OF 6'3 192 New York, NY George Washington - Sanchez got hit in the back to end the game but did very much to impress me in the game. He is very fast, top of the scale speed. He has a very good arm and has a projectable bat. He could be the best prospect in this game if he fulfills his potential.


Kayden Porter:


8-15-11: - http://www.draftsite.com/article/High-School-Names-to-Know/94  - Kayden Porter –RHP/1B - HT – 6’5’’ WT – 240 LBS Spanish fork HS (UT) -Porter is ridiculously built for a high school kid and an impressive athlete. On the mound he uses his intimidating presence to blast mid 90’s heat. But his real potential may lie at the plate. This summer Porter was invited to compete at the Triple A All-Star game homerun derby and he didn’t just do it for a story. In the first round he blasted 13 bombs and hit one 474 feet; eventually he would make it all the way to the finals falling short but he showed what he could do. His performance got everyone so amped up that one publication asked if he was the next Bryce Harper. He used a metal bat in the event but the talent is true and he has shown himself as someone to watch.


Travis Jankowski


8-17-11: - http://collegebaseball360.com/2011/08/16/jankowski-named-cape-cod-baseball-mvp  - - Bourne’s General Manager Mike Carrier said thankfully Jankowski scored a chance on the Cape because a former Brave’s assistant was working with Jankowski at Stony Brook. When current field manager, Harvey Shapiro, started calling around looking for good players, he found the 6-2, 190 pound outfielder. The ballplayer from Lancaster, Penn., played well from start to finish. The numbers do not lie. He was made a Cape League All-Star for the Western Division because of it. Jankowski finished one of the top ten hitters and base stealers in the league. He batted .326 with 22 RBIs, 60 hits, 35 runs and a .444 OBP.


Lucas Sims:


7-19-11: - http://www.mlbbonusbaby.com/2011/6/29/2250656/early-look-at-2012#comments  - Lucas Sims, Brookwood HS, Lawrenceville GA, 6’2 195, strong bodied righty with arm strength, ran fb up to 92, most were 89-90, some middle in life, most were straight and hittable from H 3/4 slot, crosses body, showed bite on slide/cb piece that still in development stage, control was ok, some ability to develop at the next level.