Draft 13 – Will Haynie, Corey Ray, Kyle Serrano, Collin Moran, Jonathan Gray

 

Will Haynie, C/3B, Brentwood Academy (TN) - The 6’-5”, 225-pound right-hander is a catcher now, but will most likely end up at third or a corner outfield position due to his size. He has very good power and has been showing a great approach at the plate this season. Over his last five games, he has gone 9-for-12 (.750) with two home runs, six walks and an .842 OBP. On the season, he is hitting .470/.613/.790 over 35 games with eight home runs, 31 walks and just 12 strikeouts. Committed to Alabama. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2013-mlb-draft-ten-high-school-players-on-the-rise/32935#ukjIhwu7UDCzZKTx.99

 

Corey Ray, OF, Simeon HS (IL) - The 5’-11” left-hander just keeps mashing the baseball. On Friday, he went 2-for-3 with a double, triple, two RBI, two walks and a stolen base as Simeon beat Lane Tech — my old stomping grounds — 10-5 in the Public League playoffs. Over his last 11 games, he is hitting .485 with four doubles, four triples, two home runs, 14 RBI and has stolen 12 bases. He has also drawn 12 walks for a .630 OBP/1.030 SLG. A quick-twitch athlete who can play all three outfield positions due to his strong arm and speed, Ray has been flashing his five-tool ability at the right time. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2013-mlb-draft-9/33241#WdxR2YIG1GzGdJCZ.99  

 

Kyle Serrano, P, Tennessee 50%- Serrano's Dad is the new coach at Tennessee and the SEC is growing all the time. It could be a good step for the elder Serrano's coaching career if his son came aboard and helped turn around Tennessee. http://www.minorleagueball.com/2013/5/20/4344286/2013-mlb-draft-players-with-signability-questions

 

Castle‏@TheACastle - IF Colin Moran goes to Astros, Cubs will surely be in war with Scott Boras for Appel, Gray, or Bryant.

 

The Cubs are finalizing prep work for the First-Year Player Draft, to be held June 6, and Theo Epstein, president of baseball operations, led a group of front office executives to Oklahoma to meet Wednesday with right-handed pitcher Jonathan Gray. http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130522&content_id=48302062&notebook_id=48323968&vkey=notebook_chc&c_id=chc&tcid=tw_article_48302062

Draft 13 – Austin Nicely, Trevor Clifton, J.B. Woodman, Will Haynie, J.C. Pena

Austin Nicely, LHP, Spotswood HS (VA) - A 6’-2” southpaw with a lot of projection left, Nicely has an easy, fluid delivery and features a low-90s fastball with movement. He has excellent command of his pitches and has great mound presence. Over 17 innings this season, he has 30 K/4 BB and has gotten better as the season goes on and the weather gets warmer. Over his last three appearances, he has tossed 12 shutout innings, striking out 20 to just one walk. A great make-up and a kid who just knows how to pitch. Committed to Virginia. link

Trevor Clifton, RHP, Heritage HS (TN) - It has been a tale of two halves for the 6’-6” right-hander. Over his first four starts, he had a 8.60 ERA, 2.21 WHIP and 21 K/9 BB over 13.2 innings. Then, something clicked. Over his last four starts, he has a 2.08 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 58 K/12 BB over 26 innings. His fastball has touched 95 mph this season and, with his size, has a ton of upside. Although he weighs 180 pounds, he has good control of his body and should add even more velocity as he fills out. Committed to Kentucky. link

J.B. Woodman has played quarterback and the outfield at his high school in Orlando, Florida. He is committed to play baseball at the University of Mississippi, and given the SEC's baseball reputation, you know he is a legitimate talent.  But that talent translates well to professional baseball, as well as college. Woodman has plus speed and a line-drive swing with the ability to pepper the ball all over the field. He isn't incredibly physical, so there likely isn't going to be more than fringe-average home run power in his swing. link

Dan Kirby ‏- @DanMKirby - Brentwood (TN) C/3B 6'-5", 220 (R) Will Haynie over last 5: 9-for-12 w/ 2B, 2 HR, 6 BB, .842 OBP. Hitting .462/.603/.807 over 32 G

J.C. Pena put on the kind of all-star performance that few players in the area are capable of today in a nine-inning, 3-2 Westhill victory over Bishop Grimes. The senior pitched nine innings, striking out 21 and allowing just one earned run on four hits. At the plate, Pena, an All-Central New York shortstop last year, went 3-for-4. link