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

Draft 14 – Michael Cederoth, Carlos Rodon, Devin Smeltzer, Zach Shannon

1-3-14 – TTF Baseball - 19. Washington Nationals — Michael Cederoth, RHP, San Diego State - The Nationals love tall, power arms and Cederoth definitely fit’s the bill. At 6’-6” and 210 pounds, the right-hander can sling it up to 99 mph and sits in the mid 90s. He also adds a mid-80s slider, as well as a mid-80s change-up that is more of an out pitch. His command can be shaky at times as he is still learning how to be a pitcher instead of just running his overpowering fastball. Over 15 starts this year, he had a 4.25 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 109 K/48 BB over 95.1 innings. If he works on his command the way Jonathan Gray did last year, as well as refine his off-speed stuff, he should be one of the first college pitchers off the board. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-2/40753#ppGUqI6CbWFvzsPf.99

12-9-13 – Pine Tar Press  -  1- LHP Carlos Rodon NC State 12/10/92: Clear-cut #1 player in the 2014 MLB draft. The lefty has dominated college baseball with a plus fastball and slider. (Astros @ 1) http://pinetarpress.com/early-look-2014-mlb-draft/

11-21-13 – BA Top 100 High School Players - 100 Devin Smeltzer LHP R/L 6-1 171 Bishop Eustace Prep, Voorhees, N.J. Florida Gulf Coast http://www.baseballamerica.com/college/2014-high-school-top-100-with-commitments/

12-10-13 – TTF – Top 50 HS Players - 36. 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-top-50/40532#zz88YJZTOG8iEa1Z.99

Draft 14 J.D. Davis, Zach Shannon, Willie Rios, Nick Budi, Tyler Beede

10-14-13 – Top ’14 College Hitters - 6. J.D. Davis / 1B-3B / Cal-State Fullerton — Davis doesn’t have the ‘fame’ of some of the names on this list, but a solid summer made him one of the first names brought up by scouts when asked about the Cape Cod season.  Davis has above-average power to all parts of the field, with a good approach and enough bat speed to hit for power and average. A lack of athleticism likely keeps him at first base, but a team could try to stick him at the hot corner where he’s got plenty of arm strength and decent hands. http://mlbdraftinsider.com/2013/10/top-14-for-14-college-hitters/

9-30-13 – TTF Mock 2.0 - 24. Cleveland Indians — 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., Batty Larkin and Buddy Bell. 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 – 34.Willie Rios – LHP, St. Bernard (CT) HS http://www.ninebaseball.org/Wordpress/sullys-2014-top-100-mlb-hs-draft-prospects/

9-29-13 – XMLBScout – 9.)RHP, Nick Burdi, Louisville, 6'4 220, R/R, one of my favorite pitchers in the TOS event a couple years back, this guy has an electric arm and is destined to finish games as a closer if he can command his secondary pitches, right now he possesses a fb that reaches 98, most fb with boring/sinking life are 94-95 and he hardly gets touched as he's deceptive with his slight across the body delivery from 3/4 slot. Slide piece can be a plus pitch when he has it all together and he's got a straight change that he needs to use more. Top 8-10 pick for 2014! http://xmlbscout.angelfire.com/

10-15-13 – Baseball America - 7. Tyler Beede, rhp, Vanderbilt: Unsigned 2011 first-round pick has three above-average or better pitches, but command has become an issue for him. http://www.baseballamerica.com/college/2014-draft-top-50-october-2013-carlos-rodon/

Draft 14 – Zach Shannon, Reese Cooley, Alex Jackson, Jacob Gatewood, Grant Holmes

8-14-13 – Through The Fence – Top 50 Prospects – 36. 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. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-top-50-prospects/36463#mwWwsFxSUZy7YC5V.99

2013 East Coast Pro Showcase Top 50 Prospects    - 30. Reese Cooley – OF, Fleming Island (FL) HS - Cooley has some big time tools, running sub 6.7 60s and mid 90s from the OF. Hit really well at ECP too. http://www.ninebaseball.org/Wordpress/sullys-top-50-ecp-prospects/

Top 5 MLB Draft Prospects - #3. Alex Jackson, INF/C (California HS): The most comprehensive high school player existing. It seems to be expected that teams would choose to play him at third once he goes pro, even though he’s pretty good behind the plate. In fact- he is an accomplished backstop.  At 6’2″, 210 pounds, Jackson has a good, moveable catcher’s physique. A genuine five-tool catcher, he pools exceptional defense with incredible power, which he’s displayed to all fields. Pop times in the 1.7′s, first-rate blocking skills, and rapid twitch flexibility will keep him behind the plate.  http://bigleaguefutures.net/1/2013/08/30/top-5-mlb-draft-prospects/

9-1-13 - Jim Callis – 6. Jacob Gatewood, ss, Clovis (Calif.) HS - Put on a show during Home Run Derby at Citi Field, may wind up at third base down the road.

8-15-13 - Under Armour All-Star Game – Grant Holmes, RHP:  Another pitcher who can hit 96 mph, Holmes is about the same size as Toussaint but perhaps a smaller frame and he may not project quite as well.  The alternative is that his change-up and his command are more advanced.  He adds a good curve to the mix but the limits on physical projection may also limit his ceiling. http://www.chicagonow.com/cubs-den/2013/08/2014-mlb-draft-ua-game-roster-and-preview-plus-more-tickets-and-meet-up-information/

Draft 14 – Ben Moore, Zach Shannon, Austin Fisher, Virginia

6-20-13  Ben Moore – Alabama -  from Don Olson on 6/18/2013 - Ben has a proportional athletic build with ideal muscular development who throws off a bit of BJ Surhoff. He shows good range and first step, tracks the ball well off the bat.  He flashes more accuracy than arm strength, but enough to profile at either corner.  He has the ideal path with a touch of lift in it, gets a good amount of backspin and can drive it too all fields at 5 O’ clock.  He has more of pull power swing in game; it should round out with maturation.  Contact should be at least average down the road.  High follow into next spring; he has the tools that you cannot teach. LINK

6-13-13  -  27. Atlanta Braves — Zach Shannon, 3B, 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 (93 mph) and his power bat would play well in right. 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 above-average fastball. He hails from the same school that produced Ken Griffey Jr., Barry Larkin and Buddy Bell. LINK

6-22-13  -  Player:  Austin Fisher   Position:  SS   School:  Kansas State   Date of Birth:  1/8/1993   Height/Weight:  6’1/195   Bats/Throws:  L/R   2014 Class:  College Junior   Scouting Report:  from Don Olson on 6/18/2013 - Lean athletic gives off a bit of Scott Spiezio, with a bit more athletic ability.  Approach is solid, good bat speed and shows the ability to find the barrel to ball well at this stage.  He shows solid plate coverage.  He shows some nice gap power pull swing, turns on quality fastballs.  Austin is more of a spray gap to gap ceiling.  Range is enough and shows the arm to cover short, clearly an up the middle player, who could fit better at the next level as a second baseman. LINK

6-27-13  -  VIRGINIA  -  The Cavaliers entered the 2013 campaign unranked, but coach Brian O'Connor and his coaching staff did a terrific job and almost guided UVa. back to the College World Series, dropping a tough NCAA Super Regional series to national runner-up Mississippi State. Now, the Cavaliers have a chance in '14 to be the team that wins their first national championship. The Cavaliers welcome back an outstanding offensive lineup, many key contributors from a lineup that finished last season with a .312 batting average, including Mike Papi, Brandon Cogswell, Joe McCarthy, Nick Howard, Brandon Downes, Derek Fisher, Kenny Towns, among others. The Cavaliers also should have a solid pitching staff despite losing left-handed specialist Kyle Crockett and Scott Silverstein. The staff returns lefty Brandon Waddell, Nick Howard, Josh Sborz, Austin Young, Nathan Kirby, and others. I'd also keep an eye on talented freshman right-handed pitcher Connor Jones, who opted to attend college instead of being a high draft pick, while Artie Lewicki is expected to return from an injury that sidelined him throughout the 2013 campaign. This club will have national title aspirations, and rightfully so.  http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=8705