Draft 14 – Justus Sheffield, Zech Lemond, Brady Aiken, Brandon Downes, Matt Mercer

3-8-14 - While the large number of mid- to upper-90s righthanded pitchers have received more attention than the southpaws in the 2014 high school class, that doesn’t mean that the lefthanders don’t have a strong group of prospects, too. None of them may have the true plus to plus/plus fastball that a Tyler Kolek or a Grant Holmes throws on a regular basis, but the seven southpaws in the Perfect Game Top 50 all get into the low-90s comfortably and top out generally at 94 mph. What differentiates all seven from most of their righthanded peers is that all have polished secondary pitches and advanced pitchability for their ages. And none of the six – which also includes Kodi Medeiros, Mac Marshall, Foster Griffin, Brady Aiken, Alex Verdugo and Alex Destino – has a true four-pitch mix or has improved his pitchability more in the last year than Tennessee’s Justus Sheffield. http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=9503

3-25-14 – TTF 10 college players on the rise — week 6  - Zech Lemond, RHP, Rice (NR) - Since being inserted into the starting rotation as the team’s Friday night starter, the 6’-4”, 190 pound right-hander has allowed just two earned runs over 23 innings with 27 K/8 BB, allowing 16 hits. His fastball sits 92-95 mph and he has been able to maintain velocity deep into his starts — a great sign. He adds a slider and curveball — both in the low 80s — and both are quality offerings. His change-up still needs refining, but with his size and easy mechanics, there is a lot of upside. He could sneak into the first round if he continues to show that he can maintain velocity deep into games. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-10-college-players-rise-week-6/42071#MDUXGtxd7YCtKt0X.99

2-3-14 – MaxPreps - Top 10 MLB Draft Prospects in high school - 8. Brady Aiken, Cathedral Catholic (San Diego) At 6-4, 210 pounds, Aiken has the type of frame scouts like. Even better, he's consistently around the strike zone. While he doesn't have an overpowering fastball (91 mph), scouts expect it to improve. He proved himself to be a big-time pitcher with this performance at the Team USA 18U World Cup gold medal game. Look for him to go in the bottom third of the first round. http://www.maxpreps.com/news/B41AzcsA90iOL5xwFL8T7Q/top-10-major-league-baseball-draft-high-school-prospects.htm

2-27-14 – TTF - 10 college players on the rise - Brandon Downes, OF, Virginia (NR) - Scouts may have been there primarily to see Virginia’s Derek Fisher and East Carolina’s ace Jeff Hoffman — both projected as high first round picks in the 2014 MLB draft — but Downes left the biggest impression after taking Hoffman deep twice in the game. The 6’-3”, 200 pound right-hander is a great athlete who could stick at center field at the next level. Through his first seven games, he is hitting .310/.393/.759 with two doubles and three home runs. Over 61 games as a sophomore, he hit .316/.393/.569 with 20 doubles and 10 home runs. He is projected as a 3-5 round guy now, but could go higher if he continues to rake. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-10-college-players-rise-2/41299#ldBBF8hRKzmaiy5H.99

P - Matt Mercer, RHP, Jr., Timberline (Wash.) - The lone underclassman to crack the pitching staff this year, Mercer has the highest ceiling of any pitcher in the region. He typically works in the upper 80s with his fastball, and has begun to scratch the 90s on occasion already, but he projects to add even more velocity as he gets stronger physically. He has a quick arm and he shows good feel for his hard spinning breaking ball. http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=9561

B-Mets Game Notes

LAST GAME: The Binghamton Mets mustered just four hits in a 4-0 loss to the Akron RubberDucks in the series opener on Monday night at Canal Park. Matt Reynolds supplied three of Binghamton’s hits in their second shutout loss of the season. Akron jumped on the board in the first on a Giovanny Urshela RBI single. They cashed in on two B-Mets errors in the eighth with three runs. Tyler Pill allowed just one run over five innings in the hard-luck loss. Will Roberts matched a career-high with seven strikeouts over six shutout innings for his third win. Three Akron relievers combined for three shutout innings of relief.

BINGHAMTON STARTER: RHP Hansel Robles takes the mound for his fourth start of the season and second against the RubberDucks. In his most recent start against the Portland Sea Dogs on April 22, Robles issued a career-high seven walks in a no-decision. He allowed three runs (two earned) on four hits over 4.2 innings. The Dominican Republic native tossed five shutout innings in a no-decision against the RubberDucks in his Double-A debut on April 6. Signed as a non-drafted free agent by the Mets, he is in his sixth season in the Mets organization.

AKRON STARTER: RHP Kyle Davies makes his fifth start of the season and first against the B-Mets. The Georgia native has gone at least six innings in each of his previous four starts. He defeated the Trenton Thunder in his last start on April 24. The righty allowed one run on three hits and struck out nine over 6.2 innings. Davies made 144 starts in the Major Leagues from 2005 to 2011 with the Braves and Royals. He signed a Minor League contract with the Indians  in February.

REYNOLDS STILL ROLLING: B-Mets middle infielder Matt Reynolds extended his hitting streak to fourteen games with three hits on Monday. He has hit .481 (25-for-52) during the stretch and collected six multiple-hit games. It is the second-longest active streak in the league. He has raised his batting average to .389 to open the season, the second-highest average in the Eastern League.

SHAKY DEFENSE: The B-Mets have made six errors in their last two games. It is the most defensive miscues committed in back-to-back games since they made seven errors against the Trenton Thunder on June 18 & 19, 2011.

WHERE’S THE OFFENSE?: In all three loses to the Akron RubberDucks this season, the B-Mets have been held to four hits. In their two wins versus Akron, Binghamton has racked up 20 total hits. Both of Binghamton’s shutout losses this year have come against the Double-A Indians. They are hitting .221 as a team against Akron.

LEGGING IT OUT: B-Mets shortstop Matt Reynolds  ran for his first triple of the season in the sixth inning on Monday night. It was the B-Mets’ third triple of the season and first since Wilfredo Tovar collected a three-bagger against the Erie SeaWolves on April 8. Reynolds tripled six times last year with St. Lucie.

AND THE WHIFF: The B-Mets have struck out 24 times in the last two games, including a season-high 14 whiffs on Monday night. It is the most strikeouts for the club in consecutive games since they fanned 25 times against the Altoona Curve on July 31-August 1, 2013.

A BRIGHT SPOT: B-Mets reliever TJ Chism set a season-high by tossing two shutout innings of relief on Monday night against the RubberDucks.

HOLE AT THE BOTTOM: The bottom four hitters of the B-Mets batting order went 0-for-12 on Monday night with eight strikeouts.

Top 10 LHP In 2014 MLB Draft - Updated 4-23-14

   

     1.       Carlos Rodon – North Carolina State –

                 (same)

9-4-13 – Mack’s Mock Draft v1.0 –  1 – Houston – LHSP Carlos Rodon – North Carolina State – This might be the last year that the Astros gets the first pick in the draft, though it is the third in the row. It’s close to impossible… no, I take that back… it’s literally impossible for them to pass on picking Rodon, who is so far more taleted than anyone in this draft. He has a five- pitch arsenal that includes a mid-90s fastball, a wipeout slider, a lethal cutter, an above-average curveball and a change-up with nice fade. He could be in the majors by late 2015.

1-20-14 – PG Preseason College All-Americans - Starting Pitcher - Carlos Rodon, NC State - 2013 Stats: 2.99 ERA, 132 1/3 IP, 184 K, 45 BB, .200 OPP BA - It really doesn’t get any better than Rodon in college baseball. Rodon has a physical frame at 6-foot-3, 234 pounds, and is incredibly difficult to hit, especially when he has the slider working from the left side. Rodon has a fastball into the mid-90s, a solid slider in the mid- to upper-80s, and a low-80s changeup that continues to develop. Assuming he has a good 2014 campaign, look for Rodon to be the top overall pick in the MLB draft next summer. http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=9294

     

      2.       Brady Aiken – Cathedral Catholic (CA) HS –

            (same)

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.

2-5-14 - Brady Aiken, LHP, Cathedral Catholic HS (CA) - Arguably the most polished prep pitcher available in the 2014 MLB draft, Aiken is a 6’-4”, 205 pound southpaw with some upside left. His fastball can touch 94 mph but sits more in the 89-92 range with good tailing action. His curveball sits in the low 70s and looks like a future out-pitch with good rotation. His change-up has good depth and deception and sits in the low 80s. He is an alumni of Team USA Baseball and was the winning pitcher in the gold-medal game against Japan in the World Cup Championship in Taiwan, allowing just one run over seven innings while striking out 10. The Cubs also lack depth in left-handed starting pitching and Aiken is a mature kid with great mound presence. Committed to UCLA. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-dark-horse-candidates-chicago-cubs-first-pick/41075#UeYBipV5rOuYd7xE.99

      3.  Brandon Finnegan – TCU –

            (up from #4)
      

9-4-13 – Mack’s Mock Draft v1.0 – 27 –  LHP Brandon Finnegan – TCU – In any other year Finnegan would be easily ranked as the top college lefty in the draft.  Fastball: 93-96, 97…  slider: 85-85... change 82-85… Very polished pitcher who mixes pitches well. Some project him out as an eventual closer.

2-1-14 - Brandon Finnegan - Texas Christian University  - Standing under 6', listed at 5'11", 190 LBS, Finnegan wouldn't be as big of a prospect as a righty but he is blessed to be throwing from the left side. He is mature physically and likely won't add any velocity. He has a solid delivery with a ¾ arm slot and long arm action in back but he repeats it fairly well. His fastball sits 90-95 but I have seen it up to 101 on a TV gun, which I'm sure was a little hot. I've heard reports up to 98. His command has improved since he was a freshman as has his stamina and ability to hold his velocity deeper into games. As a freshman, I thought I was watching a future closer. As a sophomore, he looked like there was a good chance to start and I think that remains. http://www.minorleagueball.com/2014/2/1/5365036/2014-mlb-draft-profile-brandon-finnegan-lhp-texas-christian-university

      4.       Sean Newcomb – Hartford –

               (down from #3)

2-5-14 - Sean Newcomb, LHP, Hartford - He has the size and power arm you want in a frontline starter. At 6’-5” and 240 pounds, the southpaw can dial his fastball up to 95 mph. His secondary stuff stills needs some refining, although his slider shows plus potential. His change-up is still developing and continued progress this year could shoot him up draft boards. Over 13 starts, he had a 3.75 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 92 K/37 BB over 72 innings while holding hitters to a .213 batting average. There is a lot to like about a pitcher of his size, arm strength and possible four-pitch mix from the left side. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-dark-horse-candidates-chicago-cubs-first-pick/41075#UeYBipV5rOuYd7xE.99

     5.  Kyle Freeland – Evansville –

            (up from #7)

2-5-14 - Kyle Freeland, LHP, Evansville - The southpaw was extremely impressive at the Cape Cod League, posting a 2.25 ERA and 48 K/4 BB over 40 innings. He seemed to get better as the season went on, and his last start was his best outing — he allowed three hits over seven shutout innings while striking out 10 to no walks. His slider is already a plus pitch, and his fastball can touch 96 mph and sits in the 91-94 mph range. His change-up is still developing, and there is some effort in his delivery, but with his size (6’-4”, 185 pounds) and athleticism, there is a lot to like as a possible number-two starter. Projected as a mid-to-late first-round pick, he would have to show a lot this year to be considered at four. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-dark-horse-candidates-chicago-cubs-first-pick/41075#UeYBipV5rOuYd7xE.99     uf      

      6.       Mac Marshall – Parkview (GA) HS –

              (down from #5)

1-3-14 – TTF Baseball - 22. Cleveland Indians — Mac Marshall, LHP, Parkview HS (GA) - One of the better southpaws in the 2014 MLB draft, Marshall’s fastball sits in the low/mid-90s and he has worked hard on his delivery and command over the past year. He also flashed a potential plus curveball at the Perfect Game Nationals. At 6’-2” and 185 pounds, he is a great athlete who has been clocked at 6.7 in the 60. As a junior, he had 80 K/32 BB over 46 innings for one of the premiere programs in the country. Committed to LSU. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-2/40753#ppGUqI6CbWFvzsPf.99

    

                           

      7.       Kodi Medeiros - Waiakea (HI) HS –

                                              (down from #6)

      9-4-13 – Mack’s Mock Draft v1.0 – 26 – LHP Kodi Medeiros - Waiakea (HI) HS – No one has come out of nowhere quicker this summer than Medeiros, who turned heads at June's PG National in Minnesota. Scouts said his stuff was ‘absolutely filthy’, aided by his strange deliver. FB: 90-93, 94… 78-80 breaking ball… throws from low three-quarters — almost sidearm.

2-6-14 - Looks like pitching leads the way in the Four Corners region with Kodi Medeiros taking the top spot. (Check out his Day in the Life here and see how he spends the time in Hawaii.) He is a 6-foot-1, 190 pound lefty out of Waiakea (Hilo, Hawaii) and is headed to Pepperdine. At the Area Code Games, playing for the Reds, in August he was in the low 90′s and by the time he got to the Perfect Game All-American Classic later that week he touched 95.  - See more at: http://www.studentsports.com/baseball/2014/02/06/kodi-medeiros-leads-top-players-corners-hawaii/#sthash.qpfyJAOu.dpuf     

     

8.  Matt Inhoff

     (same)

2-19-14 – TTF - 10 college players on the rise - Matt Imhof, LHP, Cal Poly (51) - A guy I was hoping the Chicago Cubs could potentially target with their second-round pick, the 6’-5”, 220 pound southpaw may not last past the first round if he pitches the way he did against 18th ranked Kansas State on Friday. Over seven shutout innings, he allowed just two hits while striking out a career high 14 to three walks. 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. Imhof will be just 20 years old come draft day, making him one of the youngest collegiate players available. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-10-college-players-rise/41224#Brkvtc4VfkP16udZ.99   

9.  Forest Griffin

       (up from #10)

2-11-14 – PG/Florida HS Dream Team – P – Foster Griffin, Sr. The First Academy - The only lefty to crack this rotation, Griffin shows everything you’d want to see in a young pitcher: lefthanded, 6-foot-5 and projectable and a three-pitch mix. With a fastball topping out at 92 mph, Griffin is able to make that play up as he uses his long levers and creates excellent downhill plane. His curveball flashes potential and presently shows a very good changeup with fading action. Not only does he have a feel for three pitches, he knows how to use them with an advanced overall feel on the mound. http://perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=9372

     

10. Justus Sheffield – Tullahoma (TN) –

           (down from #9)

1-3-14 – TTF Baseball - 32. Boston Red Sox (Jacoby Ellsbury) — Justus Sheffield, LHP, Tullahoma HS (TN) - Much like his older brother Jordan, who was considered first-round material until Tommy John surgery all but made him honor his commitment to Vanderbilt, Justus has a plus fastball that can touch 94 mph. The 6’-0” southpaw is a great athlete and also adds an above-average, mid-70s change, as well as a mid-70s curve that still needs refining. Committed to Vanderbilt. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-2/40753#ppGUqI6CbWFvzsPf.99

MY MLB DRAFT - MOCK

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

The rest....  http://www.mymlbdraft.com/MLB-Mock-Draft 

Draft#:1

Brady Aiken

Ht/Wt:6' 3"/210 lbs
Position: LHP
School: Cathedral Catholic HS (GA)

Draft#:2

Carlos Rodon

Ht/Wt:6' 3"/234 lbs
Position: LHP
School: N. Carolina St.

Draft#:3

Tyler Kolek

Ht/Wt:6' 5"/250 lbs
Position: RHP
School: Shepherd HS (TX)

Draft#:4

Jeff Hoffman

Ht/Wt:6' 4"/185 lbs
Position: RHP
School: East Carolina

Draft#:5

Tyler Beede

Ht/Wt:6' 4"/215 lbs
Position: RHP
School: Vanderbilt

Draft#:6

Alex Jackson

Ht/Wt:6' 2"/210 lbs
Position: C
School: Rancho Bernardo HS (CA)

Draft#:7

Luke Weaver

Ht/Wt:6' 2"/170 lbs
Position: RHP
School: Florida St.

Draft#:8

Luis Ortiz

Ht/Wt:6' 3"/205 lbs
Position: RHP
School: Sanger HS (CA)

Draft#:9

Grant Holmes

Ht/Wt:6' 2"/190 lbs
Position: RHP
School: Conway HS (SC)

Draft#:10

Aaron Nola

Ht/Wt:6' 1"/185 lbs
Position: RHP
School: Louisiana St.

Hard Luck Hitting

The Mets have surprised early. A 14-11 start to the season has brought up the possibility of a more successful season than most previously anticipated. Well, except for maybe Sandy Alderson. Over the last two days, it has been said quite often that if their winning percentage was extrapolated over an entire season, the Mets would make that 90 win mark that was scoffed at in spring training. However, their winning percentage isn't the most important number to be focusing on so early in the season.

It is true that the Mets have outdone themselves, but they have somehow succeeded in spite of an atrocious offensive effort. Right now, this team is being held together by their starting rotation and at times, their helter-skelter bullpen. So the question becomes, how long can this last? What needs to come together for this lineup to supplement their pitching? Let us begin with the always interesting stat, BABIP.

Batting Average on Balls in Play has become a popular advanced statistic that is being heavily utilized to try and find diamonds in the rough or even to see who is due for an uptick in bating average. It basically determines how lucky you are as a hitter. Mets players are short on luck lately, as their BABIP differential is tied for the 3rd highest in the league with their rival Philadelphia Phillies at .061. This is to go along with a true batting average of .218, which is only above the Houston Astros' .210.

One of the biggest BABIP surprises on the Mets has been Juan Lagares, who should be returning soon from his hamstring injury. Before the DL stint, Lagares was arguably the Mets' best hitter. His BABIP? .395, which is the 15th highest in the league. Now let's get this out of the way, he is not going to hit .400 the rest of the year. Juan has received a fair bit of luck in his 55 plate appearances. That is not to take away from some improvements he has made. His swing rate at pitches outside the strike zone has taken a slight drop and sometimes, little improvements can pay dividends. His return to the lineup, should he continue to hit, will be a boon to the outfield.

The polar opposite of Lagares is poor Curtis Granderson. His glacial start in the first 25 games has been troubling to say the least. His .179 BABIP is easily the worst in his career. Now, his career lowest was .260 in 2012, one of his best counting stat years. Granderson has been making better contact lately after a strikeout filled first week, but even a game winner and a lefty vs lefty hit still hasn't brought about any change. Pitchers are throwing either chest high or simply throwing in the dirt, hoping for swings, and they are getting them. Hopefully soon, the luck will start to come Granderson's way.

Here's hoping the power comes back to Citi Field as well. The Mets sport the worst slugging percentage in the league at .310. And I'm not simply asking for home runs. I have given up on potential power numbers in that sense, I'm talking about can we maybe have a couple of doubles? Curtis Granderson is basically Mr. Mendoza, but even he has more doubles than David Wright and only one less than Wright and Lucas Duda combined. The Mets only have 50 extra base hits as a team. Hard to believe, yet here we are.

The Mets have scored 100 runs on the season, which is only 20th in the league, but we can only polish a turd so much. Producing 100 runs with only 185 team hits is impressive. This has been a tribute to the base stealing, which has been a strength for the Mets as well as their ability to move runners over. With 20 sacrifices, 89 walks and 24 stolen bases the Mets remain among the leaders in the majors in both categories. The hope is to compound that with some livelier bats.

The pitching has been effective, but soon, someone will get injured or start to falter. It will be the hitter's turn to pick up the rotation and make this a more complete team.

Mets Minor League Report: April 28, 2014

MMLR Player of the Day: St. Lucie CF Brandon Nimmo



As I go to press, Reno (12-12) leads Las Vegas (18-6) 3-0 after 8 innings.

Dana Eveland had a decent start: 5.2 IP, R, 6 H, BB, 8 K.
Buddy Carlyle: 1.1 IP, R, H, (HR) BB, 2 K.
Vic Black: 1.0 IP, R, 0 ER, H, 2 BB.

Through 8 innings:
Juan Lagares, rehabbing: 1-4.
Andrew Brown: 1-3, 2B.

　

Akron (13-11) blanks Binghamton (12-9) 4-0.

Tyler Pill should sue his offense for non-support: He should have won a game like this: 5.0 IP, R, 3 H, 2 BB, 4 K.
Following Pill, T.J. Chism was very solid: 2.0 IP, 0 R, H, 0 BB, K.
Adam Kolarek wasn’t: 1.0 IP, 3 R, 0 ER, 2 H, BB.

I said it last night, and I’ll say it again tonight. SS Matt Reynolds continued his assault on Eastern League pitching. Tonight: 3-4, 3B. Reynolds hitting .389.
Too bad there weren’t a few more Reynolds in the lineup. The B-Mets might have scored some runs.

　

St. Lucie (14-10) sinks Charlotte (10-4) 7-3.

A very good night for starter, Matthew Koch: (W, 2-0)  6.0 IP, 2 R, 4 H, 2 BB, 5 K.
Jake Kuebler followed Koch: 2.0 IP, 0 R, H, K.
Randy Fontanez pitched an inning, gave a run: 1.0 IP, R, H.

Brandon Nimmo is putting together an unforgettable season: 4-4, HR, 2B, 2 RBI, 2 R. Nimmo’s avg. is now 407.
Not to be surpassed, T.J. Rivera did his best to keep pace: 2-4, 2B, RBI, R. T,J’s avg. is an identical .407.
Aderlin Rodriguez: 1-4, HR, RBI, R.
Eudy Pina: 1-2, HR, 2 BB, RBI, R.

　

Savannah (14-8) - not scheduled.

A Quick Look - RHP - Grant Holmes - Conway (SC) HS

      Grant Holmes

7-2-13 - 8. Grant Holmes- RHP, Conway (SC) HS -  RHP who sat 94-96 in his first inning at the National Showcase with a plus slider http://www.ninebaseball.org/Wordpress/jeff-sullivans-top-100-2014-prospects/    

7-5-13 - Grant Holmes, RHP, Conway HS (SC) - A Florida Gator commit, the 6’-2”, 190-pound right-hander hit 96 mph at the Perfect Game Nationals and flashed a plus curveball with excellent command. He adds an above-average change-up, rounding out a solid three-pitch mix. Some scouts think he has maxed out physically, limiting his upside, but as it is, he profiles to a mid-rotation starter and possibly as high as a two. He is a very good athlete with a sound delivery. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/prep-arms-chicago-cubs/34856#Vp7zJ4JvRevfV1fR.99    

7-23-13 - Justin Hlubek ‏@PGJustinHlubek  - Grant Holmes night is done K'd 8 of 9 batters he faced. FB 93-95 touched 96 CB was 84 mph

7-25-13 – Top 30 High School Prospects For 2014 Draft - 5. Grant Holmes, RHP, Conway HS (SC) - 6'1/205, Draft Day Age: 18.21, Florida commit, Full Report & Video - Quick Take: Holmes is another righty that isn't that big and doesn't have any projection but is athletic and strongly-built with big time stuff: he sits 93-95 and hits 96 mph with a wicked 82-85 mph plus curveball and a solid changeup. http://sbb.scout.com/2/1310090.html    

8-6-13 - Top pitchers - East Coast Professional Showcase, Syracuse, NY -  9. Grant Holmes, RHP, Conway HS (SC): Holmes faced Sheffield and more than kept up. The 6-foot-2 right-hander reached 94 mph and showed a very good breaking ball. http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130806&content_id=56048786&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb    

2013 East Coast Pro Showcase Top 50 Prospects    - 1. Grant Holmes – RHP, Conway (SC) HS - Sitting 92-94 with one of the best breaking balls in the class. He was up to 96 at the National Showcase. http://www.ninebaseball.org/Wordpress/sullys-top-50-ecp-prospects/    

8-14-13 – Through The Fence – Top 50 Prospects – 14. Grant Holmes, RHP, Conway HS (SC) - A Florida Gator commit, the 6’-2”, 190-pound right-hander hit 96 mph at the Perfect Game Nationals and flashed a plus curveball with excellent command. He also hit 95 mph at the PG Classic, showing one of the better fastballs in the prep class. He adds an above-average change-up, rounding out a solid three-pitch mix. Some scouts think he has maxed out physically, limiting his upside, but as it is, he profiles to a mid-rotation starter and possibly as high as a two. He is a very good athlete with a sound delivery and one of the best prep arms in the draft. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-top-50-prospects/36463#mwWwsFxSUZy7YC5V.99   

8-13-13 - The Perfect Game All-American Classic in San Diego - * I’ve heard nothing but good things about Grant Holmes (Conway High School, S.C.), and he was very good on Sunday for me, hitting 93 on his first seven fastballs, and showing a good change and breaking ball. The arm action isn’t the cleanest, but I think he’s one of the safer arms in this year’s class. 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 - Grant Holmes (RHP, Conway HS (Conway, SC)): strong build; three-quarters slot; some deception in the arm swing and the high front side in the delivery; brings up a high leg and breaks hands late; arm-heavy delivery with some sling; good arm speed; fastball was meaty at 92-93, touching 94; showed good sink; slider at 82 mph with some bite; attacked and showed poise. —Jason Parks http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=21537   

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/   

9-4-13 – Mack’s Mock Draft v1.0 – 14 – RHP Grant Holmes – Conway (SC) HS – The last of the ‘big 4’ high school right handers. Holmes  sits 93-95 and has an above average chamge-up. He’s only 6-1 which could lead him in the direction of the pen someday.

9-11-13 - Sully’s 2014 Top 100 MLB HS Draft Prospects - 2.Grant Holmes – RHP, Conway (SC) HS http://www.ninebaseball.org/Wordpress/sullys-2014-top-100-mlb-hs-draft-prospects/   

9-11-13 – Keith Law - Right-hander Grant Holmes of Conway (S.C.) HS was solid yet again, sitting 92-94 with a strong breaking ball at 80-81 that had good two-plane break, flashing a future-average or better changeup as well. Holmes has impressed at every stop this summer and the fact that he's still showing above-average velocity at this late date, when most kids are already worn out and have lost a little off their fastballs, is a huge point in his favor when considering possible indicators of long-term durability. http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/mlb-draft/post/_/id/1131/top-prospects-flock-to-metropolitan-classic?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter  

9-30-13 – TTF Mock 2.0 - 10. New York Mets — Grant Holmes, RHP, Conway HS (SC) A Florida Gator commit, the 6’-2”, 190-pound right-hander hit 96 mph at the Perfect Game Nationals and flashed a plus curveball with excellent command. He also hit 95 mph at the PG Classic, showing one of the better fastballs in the prep class. He adds an above-average change-up, rounding out a solid three-pitch mix. Some scouts think he has maxed out physically, limiting his upside, but as it is, he profiles to a mid-rotation starter and possibly as high as a two. He is a very good athlete with a sound delivery and one of the best prep arms in the draft. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-mock-draft-2-0-draft-order-set/38280#5E3F5j1jWOgE69bJ.99

10-15-13 – Baseball America - 24. Grant Holmes, rhp, Conway (S.C.) HS: Powerfully built but undersized, the 6-foot Holmes has a fastball that reaches 96 mph with power and depth to his curveball. http://www.baseballamerica.com/college/2014-draft-top-50-october-2013-carlos-rodon/

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/

10-29-13 – Jim Callis – Top 10 World Wood Bat Association World Championship (WWBA) Jupiter, Florida - 8. Grant Holmes, RHP, Evoshield Canes (Conway, S.C., High/Florida) -  Averaged 92 mph and reached 97 with his fastball in Jupiter, showing nice life and control with the pitch.  http://ht.ly/qi5No

10-30-13 - Clint Longenecker/BA – WWBA World Championship - Righthander Grant Holmes started the first game of the tournament on Thursday, which allowed him to come back for Sunday morning’s semi-final matchup against the Orlando Scorpions, who have won many of the national tournaments this year. The strong-bodied Holmes, a Perfect Game All-American, touched 95 mph and sat 89-94, striking out five and allowing one run over four innings. The Canes rallied to win 4-3 in dramatic fashion, scoring three runs in the seventh inning to advance to the championship game, as Lane delivered an opposite-field two-run single. . http://www.baseballamerica.com/draft/evoshield-canes-win-perfect-game-wwba-world-championship/

11-6-13 – Todd Gold – WWBA World Championship – Grant Holmes (2014 RHP, EvoShield Canes) - It doesn't come as a big surprise that Holmes registered the tournament's highest velocity, touching 97 mph with his fastball in the opening game for the champion EvoShield Canes. His velocity has frequently sat in the mid-90s in showcase settings, and low- to mid-90s in a starting role. Just as importantly, in Jupiter he showed the ability to command that heat well. While his command in the semifinal start against the loaded Mets Scout Team doesn't look impressive in the box score with three walks and 59-percent strikes, he was making a noticeable effort to hit the corners of the strike zone. After pounding the zone in the opener, Holmes stayed out of the middle of the plate effectively in the semifinals and his command was good for the majority of that critical game while sitting 91-95 on fairly short rest. That command is key for his draft stock, as his thick stocky build doesn't neatly fit the mold of a classic starting pitching prospect. But in Jupiter he proved that he can command his fastball well and incorporate his hammer curveball effectively over multiple innings while knowing how and when to work in the changeup. That combination puts him in position to become a top 50 pick. His effort in the semifinals gave his team a chance to win against one of the best lineups in the tournament, and he was rewarded with a championship ring. http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=9157

11-21-13 – BA Top 100 High School Players - 13 Grant Holmes RHP L/R 6-0 216 Conway (S.C.) HS Florida http://www.baseballamerica.com/college/2014-high-school-top-100-with-commitments/

11-27-13 – Big League Futures Top 25 Poll –   14 Grant Holmes    RHP Conway (SC) http://bigleaguefutures.net/1/2013/11/26/mlb-draft-top-25-prospects-poll/

B/R – 11-21-13 - 12. Milwaukee Brewers: Grant Holmes, RHP, Conway HS (S.C.) - Grant Holmes has a thick, durable build at 6’2”, 210 pounds with broad shoulders and strong lower half. Even though he has impressive present athleticism for his size, the right-hander is seemingly maxed out physically. However, that doesn’t make his pure stuff any less impressive, as he already showcases two plus pitches in a 93-96 mph fastball with late life and wipeout curveball with sharp break in the low- to mid-80s. http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1860341-2014-mlb-mock-draft-early-first-round-projections-for-all-30-teams/page/10

12-10-13 – TTF – Top 50 HS Players - 10. Grant Holmes, RHP, Conway HS (SC) - One of the better performers over the summer, the 6’-2” right-hander wowed scouts with a plus fastball, plus curveball and great command. He sat in the mid-90s all summer with his fastball and showed an above-average change-up to round out a three-pitch mix. The one knock: Many believe he has maxed out physically and there isn’t much projection left. Still, he projects to a mid-rotation starter who should miss a lot of bats. Committed to Florida. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-top-50/40532#zz88YJZTOG8iEa1Z.99

12-9-13 – Pine Tar Press  -  13- RHP Grant Holmes Conway HS (Florida Commit) 3/22/96- He is the younger brother of former South Carolina hurler and current Braves minor leaguer Colby. Grant is a solid 2-pitch guy right now with plenty of power in his arm. He has touched 97 but does not have that classic pitchers body that several organizations covet. (Padres @ 13) http://pinetarpress.com/early-look-2014-mlb-draft/

1-3-14 – TTF Baseball - 18. Kansas City Royals — Grant Holmes, RHP, Conway HS (SC) - One of the better performers over the summer, the 6’-2” right-hander wowed scouts with a plus fastball, plus curveball and great command. He sat in the mid-90s all summer with his fastball and showed an above-average change-up to round out a three-pitch mix. The one knock: Many believe he has maxed out physically and there isn’t much projection left. Still, he projects to a mid-rotation starter who should miss a lot of bats. Committed to Florida. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-2/40753#ppGUqI6CbWFvzsPf.99

1-21-14 – Grant Holmes is a physically developed 6'2", 190 LB righty without a lot of physical projection remaining. He has an easy delivery with a waist high leg kick and a ¾ delivery. Grant has solid bloodlines as his brother Colby was a 4-year starter at South Carolina and recently signed with the Braves as a non-drafted Free Agent. While Colby was an excellent college pitcher but Grant is in a different class. His fastball is already impressive sitting 91-94 but can bump it up to 96. His fastball doesn't have a lot of movement but occasionally runs down and in to right handed hitters. His easy delivery and arm slot should allow him to manipulate the ball more with time. It's a great pitch and one of the best fastballs in the draft. http://www.minorleagueball.com/2014/1/21/5325358/2014-mlb-draft-grant-holmes-rhp-conway-sc-high-school

Update - Mack Ade

I will be offline for possibly the remainder of the week.

The other writers will keep things going.

LGM

Mack

Draft 14 – Carlos Rodon, Bradley Zimmer, Nick Gordon, Aaron Nola, Christian Martinek

3-7-14 – PG - It’s good to be the king, and right now Carlos Rodon holds that title in the 2014 MLB Draft class. He has and will continue to have others nipping at his heels, namely Jeff Hoffman at ECU, but at this moment he is the man to beat for the top spot. But, that perch does not come without its more negative aspects. Rodon has been a known commodity for many years now, and as much as he’s lauded for his ability, he’s also been placed squarely under the microscope, as any potential No. 1 overall selection should be. http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=9501

3-25-14 – TTF 10 college players on the rise — week 6  - Bradley Zimmer, OF, San Francisco (12)  - Zimmer just keeps crushing the baseball and running wild on the base paths. Over his last five games, he has gone 11-for-21 (.524) with a double, triple, home run and five stolen bases. For the season, he is now hitting .427/.474/.697 over 21 games with five doubles, two triples, five home runs and 11 stolen bases. He has the best power/speed combination in the 2014 MLB draft and, at 6’-5” and 200 pounds, the left-handed hitter also has a plus arm and has a chance to stick at center field, although both the bat and arm would play well in right. He is playing like a top-10 pick. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-10-college-players-rise-week-6/42071#MDUXGtxd7YCtKt0X.99

2-3-14 – MaxPreps - Top 10 MLB Draft Prospects in high school - 9. Nick Gordon, Olympia (Orlando, Fla.) While his father Tom Gordon was a pitcher in the Major Leagues, Nick will likely be an everyday player thanks to his speed, fielding and hitting ability. The top middle infielder in the draft, according to some scouts, Gordon's arm is strong enough to hit 94 mph on the radar gun. http://www.maxpreps.com/news/B41AzcsA90iOL5xwFL8T7Q/top-10-major-league-baseball-draft-high-school-prospects.htm

2-27-14 – TTF - 10 college players on the rise - Aaron Nola, RHP, LSU (11) - I am still not sure which stands out more: The fact that Nola didn’t allow a hit over seven innings on Friday, or that he issued a walk. Against Virginia Tech on Friday, he had 8 K/1 BB over those seven no-hit innings and now has 14 K/1 BB over 13 shutout innings for the year. He now has 225 K/26 BB over 228.2 career innings with a 2.28 ERA. The 6’-1” right-hander features a low-90s fastball with heavy sing and a deceptive change-up that freezes hitters. One of the best pitchers in the 2014 MLB draft, he has a date with Tyler Beede and Vanderbilt on March 14. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-10-college-players-rise-2/41299#ldBBF8hRKzmaiy5H.99

P - Christian Martinek, LHP, Sr., Portland Jesuit (Ore.) - In a region with a severe lack of quality left handed pitching, Martinek is easily the top lefty. He's been on the radar for some time, which helps make up for the fact that he missed last season after undergoing Tommy John surgery. He looked healthy over the summer and a big year from him could make Jesuit a contender with he and one of the top third basemen in the region, Evan Haberle, on the same team. Others considered include: left hander Andrew Summerville, pitchability lefty Ryan Mets, sidearmer Dakody Clemmer and junior two-way player Parker Kelly. http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=9561