Spent most of today at the ACC tourney checking out out of state teams, Va Tech, UVA, Ga Tech and Florida St. It was nice to see a GM in the stands and several crosscheckers and scouting directors in the stands. Standout player on the day, keep an eye on Murray from Ga Tech, I reported on him from New Jersey, he's got some pop in his bat and definitely enough defense prowess to make an impact at the next level. He's young, but he's got discipline and a good head on his shoulders. Also keep an eye on Jameis Winston, big OFer for Fla St, he's 6'5 240 and has a rocket of an arm, some power and needs work at the plate on disciple and pitch recognition, but he has tools to excite folks.
My draft list below that was reported last fall is pretty much the same other than Ohio State righty, Dresze, who's battled back problems on the season, he's dropped out of the first round and probably headed back to Ohio State for 2014, unless someone over drafts him based on his 2012 performances. He's got a great arm, but injury bugs tend to creep up on folks and many clubs are weary about drafting damaged goods. Stay tuned.
Update: Thursday, May 2, 2013
Howdy everyone!! Well seems like the job I've been doing part-time is on a hiatus at this point, no pay, no assignments for anyone, but I've been out to see a few players in the ACC, local high schools and tournaments.
Scouted UNC a couple of series this spring and covered a day in the NHSI, missing many of the pitchers I wanted to see, but I'm sure I'll see them again this summer at the Tournament of Stars.
3B, Colin Moran, UNC-Chapel Hill, L/R, solid bat, ave power, will be a nice 5-6 man in the ML lineup, plays solid "D" and enough speed to take extra bases and be a productive hitter with a quick, level stroke with alley power to left and RF. Graded him out at a 54 this spring, he'll probably be a first rounder, where in the first round, I'm not sure, but he's got tools and good bloodlines to go far and do it quickly.
LHP, Kent Emannuel, UNC-Chapell Hill, 6'2 1/2 190, lefty with some pop with his live fb, runs middle out vs RHH, cross body action with upper 3/4 to 3/4 arm slot, backup type slider and solid straight change with some sink effect down in the zone, average move to 1st, fb velo 88-93, mostly 89-90 with life, graded him out as a 50, wseems destined to be a starter in the ML 4 man in the rotation or good middle innings eat up guy, will go as far aas his breaking ball command and control improve up the ladder.
RHP, Scott Firth, Clemson, 6'0 1/2 175, quick, live arm, fb fairly true with some arm side run on occ, hard/deceptive change up and at times shows a solid downer type curve, uses fb and change mostly, reliever/closer for Clemson this spring, senior sign, graded him out as a 48, may be one of those guys that gets to the ML and jjust gets the job done.
3B, Ryan McMahon, 6'3 185, L/R, Mater Dei HS, Cal, just loves this kids game and intangibles, reminds me a lot of a lefty hitting Casey Blake who played many years in the majors, not flashy, just a guts and gritty kid, he showed a knack for eating up grounders at the corner with some range and arm strength, shows quick bat at the plate from tall stance, some raw strength to add future power, can project to get a bit bigger and stronger naturally. Graded him out at a 55, solid early round projection and future ML for 2015-16 debut in Majors. I really feel this kid will hit and hit for average and drive in clutch runs from the 3-6 hole in a lineup and play stellar defense.
I will post more info on other players I see in the next few days as I gather my reports and information.
Be back soon ya'll!
My projected first round forecast was first posted on August 27, 2012. My updated list is below.
2013 MLB Free-Agent Draft First Round Projections
1.)RHP, Ryne Stanek, Arkansas, 6'4 185, R/R, live arm with 3 plus pitches and determination to succeed.
2.)RHP, Jonathan Gray, Oklahoma, 6'4 255, R/R, a horse on the bump with plus fb and hard slider, command at present effective enough to pitch at ML level, will go as far as 3rd pitch develops, evokes comp to Curt Schilling, fb touches 96 on occ, most fb 90-92.
3.)RHP, Mark Appel, Stanford, 6'4 210, R/R, stuff wise and velocity, all there, the mental part of the game we'll see.
4.)OF, Clint Frazier, Loganville HS, Ga, 5'11 1/2 190 R/R, fleet footed with comparable tools to Mike Trout at the same stage of their careers. Had an outstanding Under Armour game to put his stock on the rise.
5.)OF, Aaron Judge, Fresno St, 6'6 1/2 230, R/R, raw power with surprising running ability and arm strength, better days ahead for sure for this behemoth who's got comps to Giancarlo "Mike" Stanton.
6.)OF, Austin Wilson, Stanford, 6'3 1/2 230, R/R, very strong with power, runs well underway, not a base stealing threat but will on occasion, throws well and prototype RF, better plate discipline will be needed in pro ball, but the sky is the limit for this kid.
7.)LHP, Stephen Gonsalves, Cathedral Cath HS, San Diego CA, 6'5 185, live arm with improving mechanics over the course of one summer, fb will touch 90-91, most are upper 80's with fade away from RHH, also loopiness in cb got tighter and better over the summer 2012 and also has straight change. Great upside, some throwback comps to Candy Man, John Candelaria of the old Pirates.
8.)3b, Colin Moran, North Carolina, 6'2 190, L/R, one of the better hitters in the collegiate ranks and has raw power, but known for contact and spraying the ball around the park, shows ave ML arm strength and range to left, solid ML arm, may end up moving to the other corner later in his baseball career, can fit at 3b in ML, not a base stealer but not a clogger either.
9.)OF, Austin Meadows, Grayson HS, Loganville Ga, 6'2 210, L/L, combination of speed and arm strength with raw upper body strength and bat speed to be ave or better hitter, comps to Jay Bruce (Reds), runs well underway, 4.2 out of the box from LH side.
10.)LHP, Sean Manaea, Indiana St, 6'5 220, L/L, smooth lefty with 3 plus pitches and still improving. Had a great summer in the Cape from reports.
11.)RHP, Bobby Wahl, Mississippi, 6'2 190 R/R, has gotten a bit stronger and cleaned up his delivery some since in HS days in Springfield, Va and TOS, will touch 97 out of pen, most fb are 91-93 as a starter, wtih late arm side run on occ, most fb true, shows hard cb that can be a bit sloppy, competes and just needs to be consistent with his stuff and control to move up to ML level.
12.)3B-1b-OF, Kris Bryant, 6'5 220, R/R, San Diego, first saw this specimen in TOS in Cary, lots of swings and misses, but off the chart POWER, he's got a legit ML arm, solid fielding ability, range is fair and glove range is fair, destined to be first sacker or move to RF, this young man needs to get more plate discipline, but since 2010 to now, there has been steady progress it seems and he's a legit power threat.
13.)OF, Phillip Ervin, Samford, 5'9 1/2 190, R/R, pocket rocket with power, speed and arm strength, also good instincts in the field and improving each year out. Potential to be 15-20 HR guy with 30 SB and hit for 280 average. Lots of upside left even playing at the lower D1 level.
14.)LHP/OF, Trey Ball, New Castle HS, Indiana 6'6 180, L/L, live arm with fb that touches 91 on occ, not a real quick arm but he gets good arm side run on his FB and also proper spin and rotation on cb that at times is solid ave and also has fade away change that is deceptive, good athlete, runs well underway and has bat speed and raw strength, should grow to 6'7 and 220 in time. Verbal to Texas U.
15.)RHP, John Simms, Rice, 6'4 210, R/R, pitched one of best HS matchups I've seen vs former 1st rounder, Jameson Taillon in 2010, this kid has the stamina and arm strength to be a stud at ML level, only a 2 pitch guy, hard downer type power cb and fb that touches 94-95, most are 90-91 with sink and arm side run. Command and control are better than most prospects headed into 2013 Draft eligibility. Scary upside.
16.)C, Jonathan Denney, 6'3 210, R/R, Yukon HS, OK, one of the better arms for next year's MLB 2013 Free-Agent Draft, this kid brings it, shows solid strength in line drive stroke at the plate with good pitch recognition, maybe a bit too aggressive as a hitter, he'll learn as he matures, throwing and receiving skills are excellent for his age, shifts well and is alert and he's not afraid to throw to 2b with runners on base. Shows enough ability to be considered early round consideration for 2013. Potential ave hitter with plus HR power. Keep an eye on him. First seen at TOS in Cary in 2012 and has steadily made some adjustments since then. Gamer!!
17.)RHP, Scott Frazier, Pepperdine, 6'6 220, R/R, live arm with fb in low to mid 90's, most fb are 93-94 with some run in vs RHH, and hard slider 81-85 with bite and throws strikes, gets lots of grounders and pop ups because of trajectory and hiding the baseball.
18.)RHP, Brett Morales, King HS, Tampa FL, 6'1 1/2 185, R/R, smooth righty with live fb, touches 93, most fb 90-91 with hard downer type cb and deceptive change, should move up the ladder in pro ball quickly and more experience. Great upside here.
19.)LHP, Ian Clarkin (PONY), 6'2 185, L/L, loose and lean, strong 2013 follow, touched 90 a few times, showed good action on breaking ball and around zone enough to be in the show in the future, from James Madison HS, San Diego CA.
20.)3b/UT, Cavan Biggio, St Thomas HS, Houston Tx, 6'1 180, L/R, one of the purest hitters going into 2013 with good bloodlines to boot, throws solid and good glove actions to stick at 3b, possible move to 2b, runs fair, not a burner but good instincts to steal bases on occ. Has linedrive type alley power and should develop more power as he learns to loft the baseball.
21.)3b, Jan Hernandez, Beltran Baseball Academy, Puerto Rico, 6'2 190, R/R, sweet swinging hitter with raw strength and potential line drive type power to alleys, runs well underway, not a straight away guy or base stealer, throws solid ML ave and good actions to left and right, may end up moving to 2b or 1b in pro ball or even OF.
22.)LHP, Dillon Overton, Oklahoma, 6'2 170, L/L, slender lefty with deceptive arm strength, good arm speed, fb touches 93, most are 88-91 with arm side run vs RHH, also 2 plane cb that will dive in vs RHH and backdoor on the corner. Command is good, also good move to hold runners at bay. Stamina is of concern, solid for 5 innings, drops velo after 80 pitches, may be middle man in the future.
23.)RHP, Austin Kubitza, Rice, 6'5 200, R/R, live fb down on the knees will touch 95, most fb are 91-93 with heavy sink, also hard slider, will need to improve his change up to be in 4 man rotation at ML level, otherwise best shot in middle relief.
24.)RHP, Conor Jones, Great Bridge HS, Chesapeake Va, 6'2 185, Live arm with sharp downer type cb, command and control very good for his age, should develop quickly and add more pop to his fb, tops out at 93, most are 88-91 with run and sink, also straight change, upside here to move quickly.
25.)RHP, Andrew Mitchell, TCU, 6'3 220, R/R, live heavy sinker with hard slider, two pitch guy who profiles as a closer but could be in 4 man ML rotation depending on 3rd pitch (change up) development, competes and must stay ahead in counts, tends to be too fine when he should challege hitters with his fb.
26.)C, Brian Navaretto, Arlington Country Day School, Fla, 6'3 210, R/R, raw but improving ever so quickly specimen, with plus arm strength and quickness behind the dish, sub 2.0 pop time to 2b, is not afraid to show off arm and is accurate, has power and bat speed at the plate with adjustment ability to be ave ML hitter with plus power, will move quickly with the right organization.
27.)3B, Ryan McMahon, 6'3 185, L/R, Mater Dei HS, Cal, just loves this kids game and intangibles, reminds me a lot of a lefty hitting Casey Blake who played many years in the majors, not flashy, just a guts and gritty kid, he showed a knack for eating up grounders at the corner with some range and arm strength, shows quick bat at the plate from tall stance, some raw strength to add future power, can project to get a bit bigger and stronger naturally. Graded him out at a 55, solid early round projection and future ML for 2015-16 debut in Majors. I really feel this kid will hit and hit for average and drive in clutch runs from the 3-6 hole in a lineup and play stellar defense.
28.)LHP, Hunter Green, 6'4 170, L/L, Warren East HS, Bowling Green, KY, whippett build, 3/4 arm slot with deception across the body, 87-93, most fb are 90-91 with some late tail action middle out vs RHH, breaking ball we'll call a slurve at present, he may tighten it up in pro ball and it will be a sweeping cb, with makings of solid straight change with fade, repeating command will be key here, lots of upside left and room to fill out, potential to be as good as former ML, Steve Avery who was a HS phenom out of Michigan years back and stellar starter for the Braves.
29.)C-1b, Nick Ciuffo (shoe-fo) (American Legion) 6'1 190, L/R, one of better hitters in tourney, shows good presence as a fielder, idea as receiver, with arm strength, also pop in his bat, with some power, had some trouble vs LHP, but there is something there to work with, Lexington HS, Lexington SC, watch him in 2013, has gotten a bit better last 3 yrs I've seen him. This kid will hit enough and be a contributor at the ML level in time.
Update: Saturday, August 25, 2012, 6:30 pm EST
Went to Chapel Hill today and took in the 2013 vs 2014 North Carolina stars for Impact Baseball. Decent set up but I think due to NCAA regs, the host school could not stripe, nor prepare the ball field? Any how, a couple of interesting players to follow up on for 2013 and 2014. Koch, the catcher from Meck throws well and reminds me a little of former Blue Jay catcher, Greg Zaun. 1b/RF, Braxton Davidson of TC Roberson HS, near Asheville, 6'3 210, L/L, has a sweet swing with some dead pull power and the ball jumps off the wood with carry, lower half of body is not very active, ran a 4.6 on a worm killer to the pitcher his second AB. Interesting to see Ryder Jones transfer in to Watauga HS, from Stillwater HS, Oklahoma, he played this summer in the Tournament of Stars, he has arm strength and some bat speed, but that's about all, also commit to Stanford. Best of luck to these kids!
2013 Follow List, in no particular order.
Top HS Kids for 2013
C, Jeremy Martinez (PONY)Mater Dei HS, Ca, 5'10 195 R/R, can still rake, has enough defensive presence and skills to keep an eye on for 2013, ball jumps off his bat, good discipline at the plate, throwing arm is at least average and knows what he's doing overall as a receiver, lifted on some low pitches causing a couple of skipped passed balls on Wednesday 3/28, not a great runner, but not a clogger either, reminds me of a poor man's Yadier Molina. Good bat speed and pop. Didn't sting ball as he has in past during TOS, but you can tell he was pressing and still very interesting to watch for 2013.
RHP, Adrian DeHorta, South Hills HS, Cal, 6'3 175, R/R, slender build and good arm speed from 3/4 slot, looks like a decent follow for 2013. (AABC)
C, Jonathan Denney, 6'3 210, R/R, Yukon HS, OK, one of the better arms for next year's MLB 2013 Free-Agent Draft, this kid brings it, shows solid strength in line drive stroke at the plate with good pitch recognition, maybe a bit too aggressive as a hitter, he'll learn as he matures, throwing and receiving skills are excellent for his age, shifts well and is alert and he's not afraid to throw to 2b with runners on base. Shows enough ability to be considered early round consideration for 2013. Potential ave hitter with plus HR power. Keep an eye on him. First seen at TOS in Cary in 2012 and has steadily made some adjustments since then. Gamer!!
RHP, Chris Oakley (AABC), 6'8 220, R/R, clean delivery, a bit deliberate and has arm strength, up to 91, good size and is around the plate, St Augie Prep, Egg Harbor NJ, definitely need to see again for 2013.
CF, Eugene Vazquez (AABC), 6'1 185, L/L, athletic build, runs well, better underway, decent arm strength and range in OF, shows enough bat speed and hitting presence to make impact at next level. Definite watch for 2013.
C-1b, Nick Ciuffo (shoe-fo) (American Legion) 6'1 190, L/R, one of better hitters in tourney, shows good presence as a fielder, idea as receiver, with arm strength, also pop in his bat, with some power, had some trouble vs LHP, but there is something there to work with, Lexington HS, Lexington SC, watch him in 2013, has gotten a bit better last 3 yrs I've seen him.
LHP, Chris Kohler (Am Legion), 6'2 190, L/L, lefty with some pop and late movement on fb away from RHH, makings of decent breaking pitch and control was ok, worth a good look for 2013, from, Los Osos HS, Rancho Cucamonga CA.
23.)OUT FOR THE SEASON: SS, Andy McGuire, Madison HS, Vienna Va, 6'1 190 R/R, smooth fielder with good instincts, glove actions to either side of glove, runs well underway, not quick out of box, line drive hitter with occ power to LF.
OF, Kort Peterson, (Am Legion), 6'1 180, L/R, clean hitting mechanics, bat went to the ball each time AB, throws well enough to play in the OF, was in RF on the two days, on the way runner and comes to play, definitely watch him in 2013 from St Francis HS, Mountain View, Cally.
RHP, Jack Roberts, (Am Legion) 6'4 210, R/R, one of better righties in tourney thus far, clean full windup from upper 3/4 slot, fb with run down in zone, up to 92, also good bite and rotation on breaking ball and was around the plate, kept ball down, will be a good one for 2013 to see.
3B, Logan Shore, (Am Legion) 6'1 200, R/R, strong arm and good hitting mechanics, worth taking a strong look at him in 2013, didn't see him pitch just yet, runs ok, better on the way guy, Coon Rapids HS, Minnesota, Minnesota appears on the map for 2013 with decent class coming up.
C-1b, Tyler Alamo, (Babe Ruth), 6'3 200, R/R, reminds me some of Pauly with Pale Hose, good game face, sound mechanics as hitter and receiver, also did good job handling first sack. Cypress HS, Buena Park, Cally for 2013, one of better kids in Tourney for sure.
RHP, Dustin Driver, (Babe Ruth) 6'2 220, R/R, strong arm, up to 93, needs some work still, strong durable pitchers body, must see again in 2013, Wenatchee HS, Washington.
LHP, Stephen Gonsalves, (Babe Ruth), 6'5 180, L/L, loose and limber with arm speed and arm strength, up to 90 on the day with proper spin on cb, a bit of a loop in cb, but workable, wants to hit, plays the field with instincts in OF and 1b, need to see again in 2013, Cathedral Catholic HS, San Marcos, CA.
OF, Willie Abreu (Dixie), 6'2 195, L/L, interesting player with decent mechanics as hitter and fielder, better speed on the way, ran 4.4 from LH side, shows arm strength and some pop in his bat, worth a look in 2013, Mater Academy, Hialeah FL.
RHP, Shaun Anderson (Dixie), 6'5 220, R/R, some sink to fb with good size and presence, up to 91, most were 87-88, worth good look, from good HS program that will be watched next spring, 2013. American Heritage HS, Plantation, FL.
RHP, Kevin Davis (Dixie), 6'1 190, R/R, set the record for the number of times his hat fell off during pitches to the plate that I've seen in my lifetime! up to 93 with challenging nature, h 3/4 slot with no fear! Good dixie kid to follow for 2013 @ T R Miller HS, Brewton AL.
LHP, John Kilichowski (Dixie), 6'5 185, L/L, smooth lefty with decent arm speed and arm strength, can reach back when he needs to, worked in stretch, has enough to watch for 2013, will be a good one in college for sure, was up to 89, most fb were 86 with some late sink when down in the zone. Tampa Jesuit HS, Tampa FL, 2013.
C, Chris Okey (Dixie), 6' 180, R/R, fearless competitor, showed one of better overall mechanics as a catcher thus far in tourney, accurate throws with arm strength to 2b, bat goes to the ball, has some pop in the bat and definitely the game face you want, would love to see him again, have seen him now for 3 years, Eustis HS, Mt Dora, FL. 2013
LHP, Garrett Williams (Dixie), 6'2 190, L/L, one of my favorite arms in the tourney thus far, athletic build and projectible frame to get better, was up to 91, showed hammer type cb, also puts the bat on the ball and good fielder in OF and 1b, from Calvary Baptist HS, Shreveport LA, 2013.
RF, Justin Williams (Dixie), 6'2 210, L/R, interesting, nice size, has some on the way running speed and arm strength, top hand at plate lagged some for me, some raw strength to work with, 2013, will be strong college player if he goes that route over pro ball, Terrebonne HS, Houma LA.
SS-3B, Cavan Biggio (NABF), 6'1 180, L/R, sound hitting mechanics with bat speed and raw strength, not afraid to take extra base, has decent running speed and arm strength, comes to play with good game face, worth good look in 2013 at St Thomas HS, Houston TX.
RHP, Mark Ecker (NABF) 6'0 180, R/R, strong arm, long armer, slight hook in back swing, was up to 92, worth look in 2013, Sandra Day O'Connor HS, Helotes Tx.
LHP, Josh Rogers (NABF) 6'3 195, L/L, nice lefty with some arm strength and life on fb down and away vs RHH, up to 88 with fb, most 84-86, front side needs some work in delivery, will get better with further development and instruction at next level, 2013, New Albany HS, New Albany IN.
RHP, Kyle Serrano (NABF) 6'0 180, R/R, good bloodlines, quick arm from h 3/4 slot, some run in vs RHH, up to 91, most fb were 87-89, no fear, has bite on breaking ball and makings of solid change, around the plate, worth a good look in 2013 fo show!
OF, Ryan Boldt, (PONY), 6'1 185, L/R, one of better hitters to follow for 2013, another Minnesota boy to see, has enough arm, leg speed and strong hitting skills, knows how to play the game, you can see he likes being out there, Red Wing HS, Red Wing, Minnesota!!!!
LHP, Ian Clarkin (PONY), 6'2 185, L/L, loose and lean, strong 2013 follow, touched 90 a few times, showed good action on breaking ball and around zone enough to be in the show in the future, from James Madison HS, San Diego CA.
SS-OF, Anfernee Grier (PONY), 6' 170 R/R, good bat speed and on the way running speed, solid ML arm strength with carry, and good glove range and actions in the infield, worth good look in 2013, Russell County HS, Seale AL, first saw him during NHSI in Cary this spring.
CF, Corey Ray (RBI), 6' 175, L/L, one of many kids to come from a great school, Simeon Career in Chi-Town, Illy, gamer, with tools, runs well on the bases, fearless, loves the game, 2013.
C/1b, Zack Collins (USA), 6'1 220, L/R, solid bat strength, throws well enough to stay behind the dish or play the sack, has some thunder in his bat, hands a lil too close to body, shows good glove skills and throws accurately for most part to 2b, from good program too, saw him this spring as well at NHSI, American Heritage HS, Plantation, FL, 2013.
CF, Josh Hart, L/L, 6'0 180, Parkview HS, Georgia, runs, shows bat speed, slap type hitter, good range and instincts in OF with arm strength.
C, Logan Koch, S Mecklenberg HS, Charlotte NC, 6'0 180 S/R, decent lil arm and fielder, shows some bat speed, not a physical guy, so room to grow, likely will be one that develops further in a very good college program and future prospect to watch. Does switch hit, have only seen him hit right handed mostly. Has some sting to the alleys.
RHP, Michael Shawaryn, 6'2 190, R/R, Gloucester Catholic, Carneys Point, NJ, lean build with arm strength and some ability on the bump, verbal college commitment, will have to watch him next couple of years.
LHP, Williams Durruthy, 6'2 195, L/L, Hialeah Gardens HS, Fla, another lean build, lefty with arm strength, upper 80's and good spin on the breaking ball to develop further, needs to be more consistent with release points and front side of his delivery.
C, Zack Moon, Brookwood HS, Georgia, 6'4 205, R/R, tall receiver with arm strength and good frame, gets rid of the ball, 1.97 pop to 2b, needs to be more aggressive and better selection as a hitter.
C, Arden Pabst, 6'0 205 R/R, Harvard-Westlake HS, Cal, got to see him a lot in the spring 2013 and this summer thus far in Cary, he's interesting, handled some good quality HS pitchers when he's in the lineup, has short compact swing, makes contact, still waiting on seeing the power and consistency as a hitter in a game, have seen some pop in his bat during BP, shows near ave quickness and arm strength as a catcher, worth a look.
3B, Ryan McMahon, 6'3 185, L/R, Mater Dei HS, Cal, on same club as J Mart, so this kid's going to get some exposure, he showed a knack for eating up grounders at the corner with some range and arm strength, shows quick bat at the plate from tall stance, some raw strength to add future power, can project to get a bit bigger and stronger naturally.
OF, Austin Meadows, 6'2 210, L/L, Grayson HS, Loganville GA, pure strength and running speed, best tools, shows good wrists and strength at the plate, a little bit out front as a hitter with front side but keeps hands back, showed some loft power for HR threat, also runs well, once underway and throws close to ML average. Made adjustments vs the pitching staff during the UA event. Definite early round watch here!
OF, Clint Frazier, 5'11 190, R/R, Loganville HS, Loganville, GA, strong, very good runner once underway, shows ave ML arm strength and strength in his swing at the plate with loft power to LF alley and foul line, should hit well at the next level, has good extension in his swing, had some leg problems on the field, running bases and even in the OF, he may have been dehydrated, but who knows. Worth a good look for potential 1st round in 2013.
OF, Ivan Wilson, Ruston HS, La, 6'3 220, R/R, very strong, physical specimen, throws ave when sets up to throw to bases, has good hand speed and strength in his swing, bat goes to the ball, runs very well once underway, 4.27 out of the box from RH side, tracked the ball well in the OF, best suited for either corner, projects to hit for HR power, Some Joe Carter comparisons for me. 4-7 round type follow for 2013. Showed much better confidence then he did during the Breakthrough Series in Durham.
C, Brian Navaretto, 6'3 210, R/R, Arlington Country Day HS, Jacksonville FL, very strong, good balance behind the plate with plus accurate arm, shows good bat speed with HR strength, best catching prospect to come out of Florida in a long time, potential to be a 20 HR and 80 rbi guy and hit for average at the ML level. Early round possibility here for 2013.
2b/SS, JP Crawford, 6'2 180, L/R, Lakewood HS, CA, shows good balance at the plate with strength in his swing and frame to fill out and get stronger in time, throws ave and runs ML average, showed good range and hands in the field and turns DP well enough. Early round follow for sure in 2013!
3B, Jan Hernandez, 6'2 190, R/R, Beltran Academy, Puerto Rico, this kid has very good instincts and shows balance at the plate with very strong hands and some power at the plate in BP, more of a contact guy with strong throwing arm and quick hands in the field.
1b/OF, Lewin Diaz, 6'3 195, L/L, this kid shows very quick hands at the plate with decent balance and has hitter written on him, the rest will come in time, very young, will be 16 for 2013 free-agent International signing period, throwing arm is 40/50 with potential to be much better and has good hands in the field, runs well on the bases, not out of the box.
2B, Lucas Tirado, 6'2 175, S/R, nice throwing arm and turns DP, good hands and range in the field, runs ok, not a burner, better on the base paths, shows good balance and eye at the plate with some pop in his bat, another DR kid who will be eligible for 2013 International free-agent signing.
1b/OF, Dominic Smith, 6'1 190 L/L, Serra HS, Gardena CA, reminds me some of Singleton kid that the Phillies drafted and traded to the Astros. Good balance and quick hands with level swing at the plate with alley power, throws well, knows how around the bag at first and may be best suited for the corner OF, runs ok, not a burner, 4.3 from LH side to 1st at best, 6.95, 60 guy, some similarities to Al Oliver, former Bucco from the late 70's.
SS, Chris Rivera, 6'1 180, R/R, El Dorado HS, Placentia CA, good arm and hands at SS, with range to left and turns DP very well, good glove, steady player, shows quick hands at the plate, can drive the ball, occ HR type power, may get a bit bigger and stronger in pro ball. Strong follow for 2013.
3b/OF, Joey Martarano, 6'3 230, R/R, a beast from Idaho, has commitment to play football at Boise St, this kid shows very good strength, runs well, especially once underway, has light tower power, level upper cut stroke with ave to plus arm strength, may have to move to 1b or corner OF in time. Will have to decide on football or baseball as career choice. Definitely will get strong early looks in spring 2013.
RHP, Derik Beauprez, 6'5 220, L/R, Cherry Creek HS, Greenwood Village CO, nice downhill delivery from upper 3/4 slot with deceptive change and live fb down and in vs RHH, also spins the ball well enough to have a developing 3rd pitch to go with fb that ranges 87-92 mph, most fb are 89-90, loose and is aggressive, also shot to hit if the pitching doesn't work out for him. One of better kids to come from this area in a long while, even Gausman!
RHP, Kacy Clemens, Memorial High School, Houston TX, 6'2 200, L/R, a chip off the ol' block from his father, Roger the Rocket, similar delivery that his father had, and frame to get a bit bigger and stronger in time, has verbal to U of Texas, fb mostly straight with good sharp break on the curveball and will throw a straight change at times, shows command of fb and cb, fb velo mostly 88-90, will touch 91-92 on occ, bulldog and aggressive, will only get better in pro ball in time.
LHP, Hunter Green, Warren East HS, Bowling Green KY, 6'4 170, L/L, quick arm from 3/4 to low 3/4 arm slot, fb with late tail vs RHH, fb velo mostly 85-87, will touch 89 on occ, also roundhouse type cb, easy to read, not much downer action during event, will need some work for a few years in pro ball, but type of frame and arm action to work with, should develop further in pro ball.
OF, Matthew McPhearson, Riverdale Bapt HS, Maryland, 5'10 170, L/L, a flyer, runs very well once underway and shows quick slashing type hitting mechanics at the plate, Mickey Rivers/Juan Pierre type hitter, with plus plus speed and throws well enough to stick in CF in pro ball, has plus range to either side, did show some problems with balls hit straight at him in the air with some authority, so game exposure at pro level with wood should help him adapt in time. 4-7 round type follow.
RHP, Conor Jones, Great Bridge HS, Chesapeake VA, 6'2 185, R/R, quick arm from 3/4 arm slot, tucks delivery with good extension out front, collapses some in back not allowing full leverage at times, fb will touch 92 at times, mostly 89-90 with run, also proper spin and break on the cb and also deceptive fade change, throws strikes and keeps pitches down. UVA verbal commitment, shows early round potential for 2013.
OF, Billy McKinney, Plano West HS, Tx, 6'1 190, L/L, runs well, especially between the bases, has level stroke with some occ gap power, extra base type power, throws well enough to play any OF position. Some similarities to Josh Reddick in build, frame and mannerisms.
RHP, Jared Brasher, Pell City HS, AL, 6'1 200, R/R, good build and frame, throws from 3/4 arm slot with arm side run and changes speeds well, knows what he's doing on the bump, velo was 85-88, touched 89 a few times, more in that tank, will have to show solid command with pitches and be fine with fb or he'll get beat up in pro ball. Type of kid to get a good look in spring of 2013.
RHP, Brett Morales, King HS, Tampa FL, 6'1 185, R/R, quick arm with very good arm strength, touched 93 on occ with FB, good sharpness on cb with proper tilt and arm speed, also showed some plus changes, keeps ball down in zone, fb movement pretty true, should develop further in pro ball, worth early look in 2013.
RHP, Robert Tyler, Crisp County HS, Cordele GA, 6'5 200, R/R, good frame and downhill delivery, fb touched 90 on occ, most were 87-88 with run and sink when down, also showed some flashes of straight change and cb with potential plus command/control, frame to get bigger and stronger in time, will benefit from pro instruction for sure. Worth 4-7 round follow consideration for 2013.
OF, Terry McClure, Riverwood Int'l Charter, Sandy Springs, GA, 6'1 185, R/R, good actions and throwing arm in the OF, also runs well, glides, ability to steal bases in the future, balance at the plate and hands to generate good bat speed and hit for average down the road, some comps to Austin Jackson-Tigers.
SS/2b, Oscar Mercado, 6'1 170, R/R, Gaither HS, Tampa FL, smooth fielder with some offensive ability to hit for average and occ power, plus throwing arm at present and ave fielding skills and range to start out at SS in pro ball, type of frame that should get bigger and stronger, project to 190 pounds in time, 1-3 round type follow for 2013!
RHP, Hunter Harvey, Bandys HS, Catawba NC, 6'2 1/2 170, R/R, quick arm with sharp break on the cb, fb velo mostly 87-88, will touch 90-91 on occ, good bloodlines, showed a bit more velo in 2012 than he had in 2011, should get bigger and stronger as he fully matures in 3-4 years, project to 6'4 200 lbs and throw mid to upper 90's in time, arm strength is there with breaking ball. Worth early 1-3 round follow in 2013. School possibly in picture.
1b/OF, Kevin "KJ" Woods, Fort Mill HS, Fort Mill SC, 6'4 210, L/R, has improve last 2 yrs I've seen him, bat squares up the ball much better and has some upper power to RF and can go the opp field for power as well, throws well from OF, runs ok, better on the way guy. Tools are there to develop further in pro ball.
LHP/OF, Trey Ball, New Castle HS, Ind 6'6 180, L/L, tall lefty with ability to hit, runs well for his size, athletic type frame to get bigger and stronger in time, some similarities to former ML pitcher Mark Mulder, will touch 90 on occ, most fb 86-88 with some run away from RHH, cb has back door action with proper spin and also will flash a straight change to tease on occ, command is not there just yet, control is decent, has verbal agreement to attend U of Texas, will be looked at strongly for early round consideration in 2013.
RHP, A J Bogucki, Boyertown HS, Pa, 6'3 200, R/R, nice frame and arm action, looseness out from, from upper 3/4, showed some nice straight changes up to 82, not afraid to challenge hitters, verbal to UNC-CH for 2013, will be strong follow for spring 2013. FB ranges 86-92, most fb were 88-89.
College guys for 2013 -
7.)RHP, Josh Dezse, Ohio St, 6'5 225 OUT FOR THE SEASON, R/R, awesome fb, will touch 98-99 on occ, fb has live movement, arm side run and sink when down and also hard slider that is a bit eratic but will improve, overall command is solid and working with straight change that's effective at this level and should improve further in pro ball.
8.)RHP, Karsten Whitson,OUT FOR THE SEASON Florida, 6'2 220, R/R, still has that great arm, even with the quirky funk in the arm action, fb will touch 97 on occ, hard plus slider that disappears when he's ahead with lead elbow, command at present will get him to ML and he should improve with experience.
RHP, Ryne Stanek, Arkansas, 6'4 190, R/R, smooth righty with arm speed and arm strength, up to 96, pitches in low 90's, has some late tail life in vs RHH and sharp slurve type breaking ball, can see him filling out and adding a lil more velo in the future, front side rushes at times, causing eratic command, otherwise, good feel for pitching and could be one of top 5 MLB Prospects for 2013 DRAFT.
SS, Dom Ficociello, Arkansas, 6'4 190 S/R, a decent fielder who played mostly first for the hogs this year, he's best suited for the other corner or 2b, could fill in capably at SS, but range may keep him from SS, has arm strength and has a knack for hitting the ball where it's pitched, not much power, even during BP he will hit the ball the other way and occasional pull the ball down the foul line. Worth a good look for 2013, utility type of guy who does enough things to get to the ML in time.
RHP, Barrett Astin, Arkansas, 6'2 210, R/R, strong armed righty with plus slider at times, fb hits low 90's, occ will touch 94, throws strikes but can be a bit of a nibbler. Two pitch guy who has a shot at being a short man or middle man on a ML club.
RHP, Colby Suggs, Arkansas, 5'11 220, R/R, pure power, quick arm from 3/4, mostly upper 3/4 arm slot with live arm, fb down is heavy and up to 96 a few times at CWS and then again this summer he's been electric in the Cape from reports. Hard downer type slurve, will end up a slider or power curveball, throws strikes, will have to keep his pitches down and in on hands vs hitters. Potential first three rounder in 2013 for sure!
RHP, Karsten Whitson, Florida, 6'2 220, R/R, good quick arm and arm strength, hard slide piece, arm action a bit rigid for me, was shut down as a precaution earlier in 2013, was up to 95-96 in early March. Has filled out in college thus far and is on the radar as a top prospect for 2013, just have to be wary about potential arm woes.
RHP, Jonathan Crawford, Florida, 6'1 205, R/R, got on the map with his no-no in the post season, has low 90's fb with good command, throws strikes, breaking pitch and off-speed improving, but still need work. Must watch in 2013.
LHP, Daniel Gibson, Florida, 6'2 220, L/L, a bit under-rated perhaps, also shut down his senior summer season in HS, this kid has a live arm when healthy and will throw strikes and competes, up to 94 early this spring, has big breaking and will need to tighten it up some in 2013. Worth good look!
RHP, Bobby Wahl, Mississippi, 6'2 190, R/R, saw first in TOS in Cary his jr year to be sr, has improved overall velo to 96, fb still fairly true, easy to see, hard slider/cb is the out pitch, when he has it all together, some similarities to Kip Wells with Padres, when Kip was younger and at Baylor U.
OF, Austin Wilson, Stanford, 6'3 220, R/R, arm strength, fair speed and plus power, best three tools, actions are a bit stiff for me, but he looks great in a uniform and has improved his pitch selection in college, but still a way to go before he gets to the show.
RHP, AJ Vanegas, Stanford, 6'3 205, R/R, has gotten a lil better each year since his Jr yr in HS, up to 93 with some arm side run in vs RHH and sharp breaking ball that still needs fine tuning to be solid out pitch, throws strikes, a bit too fine at times, will go as far as 3rd pitch and command improve.
1b-OF-UT, Brian Ragira, Stanford, 6'3 200, R/R, long neck, arms and legs, first saw as a jr during TOS events in 2010, shows bat speed and uncanny ability for getting on base, also throws well enough to play corner OF positions or fill in utility role at either IF corner, runs well on the bases, 4.4 out of the box from RH side, 6.8, 60 guy, occ power to LF and RF alleys.
C, Andrew Knapp, Cal, 6'1 200, R/R, first saw in Northwoods League 2 years ago, this kid is a gamer with strong receiving skills and some bat speed to work with, definite ability to be one of top catchers in 2013 MLB Draft.
1B, Conrad Gregor, Vandy, 6'2 220 L/R, strong bat with power potential, also not a bad runner on the way and can field position, could be role player in the OF if needed, needs to leave low breaking pitches alone and be more selective as a hitter.
LHP, Kevin Ziomek, Vandy, 6'2 205, L/L, starting to come into his own in college, his fb has improve a smidge in velo and overall control has improved, breaking pitch consistency and release point consistency needs the most attention, potential short man in a ML bullpen, don't see the stamina here to be a 4-5 man in a big league rotation, so that is an area of opp that this kid needs to improve on to improve his stock.
RHP, John Simms, Rice, 6'4 210, R/R, long and loose with fb that has run and sink, also hard slider, change still in development stage but has made improvement with release and command of this pitch, low 90's fb, will be remembered by me for beating #1 draft of the Pirates, Jameson Taillon, in a game where Simms dominated and Taillon had a poor outing.
RHP, Austin Kubitzka, Rice, 6'5 200, R/R, long and lean, good arm speed and arm strength, low 90's guy with hard breaking ball that is sloppy at times and other times unhittable, also arm has some rigidness that could lead to a problem down the road. Stamina appears good through 6 innings, have seen him up to 94, mostly 90-91, could be a 4-5 man in ML rotation in time, a lot will depend on durability and consistency.
RHP, Andrew Mitchell, TCU, 6'3 210, R/R, came onto the college scene last year as a frosh phenom, this yr he settled in as the frogs best pitcher, the jury is still out on him as he's basically a two pitch guy who can change speeds and spots his fb well for his age, fb tops out at 93 with good life and hard cb that hits 81. Definite early round potential for 2013, will have to see how far he improves over the course of the summer and fall into next spring.
RHP, Jeff Thompson, Louisville, 6'5 255, R/R, a big one to say the least with a heavy two seamer and lively 4 seamer that will touch 95 on occasion and he comes down hill fairly well, but biggest knock is he's around the plate a bit too much and tries to aim his breaking ball which is still developing and shows slurvy action, it should end up a power cb or hard slider, keeps the ball down for the most part, some people say he is like former Cub and current Yankee bullpen coach, Mike Harkey.
3B, Colin Moran, North Carolina, 6'2 190 L/R, pure hitter, will spray the ball around and can drive the ball out of the park in the alley, throws well enough to stay at 3rd with good range, glove at times is eratic, will lift on occasion and get a poor read on balls to his left. Runs just ok, not a flyer, 4.35 from LH side a touch below ave, better on the way.
LHP, Hobbs Johnson, North Carolina, 5'11 200, L/L, a gamer with good arm speed and change of speeds, lively arm and hard breaking ball 72-76, fb tops at 92, most fb are 87-89 with late life down in zone. Has enough control and movement on his pitches to be a set up man in a ML bullpen.
LHP, Kent Emanuel, North Carolina, 6'3 190, L/L, lively arm with potential, will touch 92-93 on occasion, crosses right side some during delivery and is sneaky quick, with downward action on the cb, throws strikes and has good pickoff move to 1b, has chance to be a 4-5 man in ML rotation, still developing.
LHP, Sean Manaea, Indiana St, 6'5 220, L/L, pure pitcher with late action on riding FB up to 94, most fb are 90-91, has increased velo from mid to upper 80's in HS and has gotten smarter and improved his delivery to get good deception. Potential to be top 10 pick in 2013.
LHP, Bryan Radziewski, U of Miami, 6'1 190, L/L, deceptive lefty with hammer cb, fb touches 92 at times, with late tailing life, shows ability to pitch in and up vs RHH. Potential 1-3 round prospect for 2013.
OF, Dale Carey, U of Miami, 6'1 1/2 185, R/R, CF for Miami, good follow for 2013, has arm strength, plus runner, average power, still needs to improve eye at plate and balance, plays plus "D".
RHP, Ben Lively, UCF, 6'3 195, R/R, strong armed righty with slightly abv ave velo, also shows cutter and slider, both capable ML pitches, fb touches 92-93 on occ, most fb are 89-90 with some sink when down.
RHP, Conner Wade, Arizona, 6'2 1/2 190, smooth righty, knows how to pitch can cut and turnover his fb for sink effect, 2 seamer and 4 seamer with hard cb that is a ML 2nd pitch, also throws straight change which still is in development stage to be a solid 3rd pitch. FB mostly 87-89, will touch 92-93 on occ. Lean build, has enough stamina to be a 4-5 man in a ML rotation or set up man in bullpen.
OF, Jason Monda, Washington St, 6'4 185 L/L, Shawn Green comp, long and lean build with bat speed and slashing power to alleys, can turn on a fb for HR foul line power, runs well, better on the way, 6.7, 60 guy with solid ML arm, best suited for LF can play either corner well and occ CF.
3b-2b, Kavin Keyes, Oregon St, 5'9 175, S/R, gamer with solid running speed, 4.3 to 1b from RH side, makes solid contact, not a power can, can occ turn on a fb for foul line/gap alley power to LF, has ave arm strength and enough range and glove to be competent as utility infielder or move to OF if needed. Extra guy on a ML roster type.
C, Jake Rodriguez, Oregon St, 5'8 185, R/R, pocket rocket of an arm and quick, 1.86 release to 2b, also makes solid contact, not much power, can drive ball to LF alley, solid range and hands, also can play 2b or the OF, runs ave at best.
OF, Spencer O'Neil, Oregon St, 6'4 170, L/R, bat is biggest opportunity, has bat speed, tends to be too tentative and shows barely any power, good arm and speed and defensive skills, will go as far as bat comes.
OF, Daniel Palka, Georgia Tech, 6'2 220 L/L, strong bat with power to alleys, throws well, capable of playing 1b, best suited for 1b or LF, enough arm for the OF corners, runs ok, not a burner or sb threat. Also could be closer type if the bat fails. Plus power should keep him from pitching!!
RHP, Matt Grimes, Georgia Tech, 6'5 210, R/R, live arm, fb low 90's, mostly 91-92 with arm side run in vs RHH, also developing solid CB which is eratic still, delivery from upper 3/4 slot and lands on heel at times, command and control are ok, can use some improvement to be solid 3-4 Man in ML rotation, still young, potential early rounder in 2013.
RHP, Scott Frazier, Pepperdine, 6'7 220, R/R, tall with loose arm from H 3/4, fb has late life in vs RHH and also slider which is ave ML pitch, best suited for closer or short man role in ML, has stamina through 5 innings, delivery is not easy and puts a lil effort into his pitches, but good size and downward plane help him get deception vs hitters, not a power arm, throws upper 80's mostly will touch 92 at times. Potential early rounder.
OF-LHP, Aaron Brown, Pepperdine, 6'1 200, L/L, contact hitter with occ alley power, aggressive, doesn't get many walks, runs better underway, plus arm from the OF, also will show 91-92 on the bump from left side with deception and movement down in zone, best shot as LF or RF if the offensive ability can be consistent, has problems vs LHP.
OF, Aaron Judge, Fresno St, 6'6 230, R/R, some comps to Giancarlo Stanton, Judge has good straight away speed, 4.3 out of the box from RH side, plus power, needs to make consistent contact and better discipline as a hitter although he walked 48 times in 58 games, can steal a base on occ, had 13 steals in 16 attemps, shows corner OF ability with ave arm strength, could be capable at 1b if needed, potential early rounder in 2013.
LHP, Tyler Linehan, Fresno St, 6' 220, L/L, power arm with low 90's fb, touches 93 with late life, must pitch down in count to be effective, tends to challenge and be fine too much, breaking ball is big and needs to tighten it up some and change speeds to be effective at next level, shot at ML reliever or closer in time.
RHP, Justin Haley, Fresno St, 6'5 220, R/R, smooth righty with easy delivery, 3/4 arm slot with some sink and hard slider 80-81, fb touches 92-93, most are 89-90, throws strikes, has enough stamina to be starter at ML level, will go as far as 3rd pitch develops. 4-7 round type projection currently.
LHP, Cole Swanson, San Diego St, 6'5 195, L/L, lean lefty with arm strength, has yet to put it all together, fb will touch 92 on occ, pitches at 87-89 mostly, has big breaking ball that needs to tighten up some, not real deceptive, long look at his fb from hitters view, 3/4 arm slot with cross body delivery, gets on side of breaking pitch, a work in progress, but great size and ability to work with.
RHP, Jonathan Gray, Oklahoma, 6'4 250, R/R, a horse with good arm strength, pitches at 89-91, can touch 95-96 when he wants, also hard cb that has downward tilt and control, also will tease with straight change and cutter action on fb 89-91 at times, poor man's Curt Schilling type, could be early rounder.
LHP, Dillon Overton, Oklahoma, 6'2 170, L/L, slender lefty with deceptive arm strength, good arm speed, fb touches 93, most are 88-91 with arm side run vs RHH, also 2 plane cb that will dive in vs RHH and backdoor on the corner. Command is good, also good move to hold runners at bay. Stamina is of concern, solid for 5 innings, drops velo after 80 pitches, may be middle man in the future.
RHP, Tyler Skulina, Kent St, 6'5 240, R/R, transfered in from Virginia, strong arm with durable body, fb touches 94, ability to be set up or closer in bullpen, depends on improvement of overall command and development of solid breaking pitch a bit slurvy, also throws cut action fb, most fb are 90-91. Has size and arm to work with in future.
RHP, Josh Dezse, Ohio St, 6'5 225, R/R, good size and body for starter, live fb down in zone, fb runs up to 95 on occ, most are 90-92 with sink in vs RHH, breaking ball at times explosive, other times flat and readable, crosses body during delivery which hinders his stamina makes him work, control and command should improve with more pitching exposure at the next level, possible early rounder.
SS, Zach Alford, Auburn, 6'0 180, R/R, gamer with solid tools across the board, 8-10 type HR power, runs well, better between bases, has solid ML arm with range to his right, can be good utility middle IF at next level, can steal a base on occ, still needs work on breaks and leads to be threat on bases. Top 3 rounder projection for 2013.
RHP, Randy LeBlanc, Tulane, 6'4 195, R/R, tall righty with arm strength, up to 92, most fb are 89-90 with some sink down in zone, breaking ball (cb) a bit loopy at times, also makings of straight change, shows decent control and command at present, but nothing to put you away consistently at present, will go as far as 2nd and 3rd pitch develop. Has season ending surgery in 2011, draft eligible in 2013 due to age, turns 21 March 2013.
3B-1B, RF, Sam Koenig, UW-Milwaukee, 6'4 210 R/R, nice size and ability, runs well for his size, has long stroke at plate makes lots of noise with hands, needs to keep bat quiet and set trigger better, has power ability but doesn't translate in games, contact guy at present but can drive the ball, throws well, has decent quickness to his left to stay at hot corner, may end up moving to 1B or RF eventually. Will go as far as bat takes him. Physically intriguing.
RHP, Josh Uhen, UW-Milwaukee, 6'4 205, R/R, soph eligible in 2013, tall with H 3/4 arm slot, rushes body some and crosses front leg, fb will touch low 90's, most are straight, fb down on knees with sink depending on release point, cb still slurvy break, must keep pitches down in zone and get ahead in counts more, still developing, could be good with further pro development. Strong follow for 2013.
OF, Philip Ervin, Samford, 5'9 190 R/R, plugger with power and speed, throwback version of toy cannon Jimmy Wynne, this kid has a strong arm from the OF, plays, runs 4.18 from RH side and can steal bases, pure speed, 6.55, 60 guy, can touch low 90's with FB on bump, only struck out 39 times in 260 abs in 2012 spring, puts the bat on the ball for the most part, will chase fb up at times, pull power, has ave range in OF with decent hands, makes up for poor jumps with speed. Could be top 25 guy for 2013.
3B/RHP, CK Irby, Samford, 6'1 190, R/R, dual threat for Sammie program, makes solid contact with occ power as a hitter with short level stroke from RH side, runs well underway, not a flyer, 4.35 runner home to 1b, arm strength is solid, will touch 92-93 on bump that is relatively straight, shows cutter type break on slider, flat, but useful in closer role he's been used for thus far. Enough overall ability here to make impact at the next level.
RHP, Tyler Barnette, UNC-Charlotte, 6'3 210, R/R, max effort guy will touch 94 on occ with FB, gets away with fb up in zone early, not real deceptive, breaking ball flat plane break, throws strikes, loses steam after 4-5 innings, will end up a set up or closer at next level unless stamina improves and development of solid breaking ball improves up the ladder. Very good size and arm to work with at next level.
RHP, David Whitehead, Elon, 6'5 240, R/R, tall righty with 3/4 arm slot, true fb, touches 93 on occ, most are 88-90, must keep fb down in zone, breaking pitch still in development stage, but effective enough at this level to get hitters out, will have to improve overall command and breaking ball to excel at pro level, has proper spin and break on cb, battler, will go as far as development improves.
RHP, Kevin McCarthy, Marist, 6'3 185, R/R, lean build with decent arm speed, fb runs up to 92 on occ, most are 88-90 with middle in run vs RHH, used in relief, closer roles mostly, competitor and throws strikes, will show occ hard slider, 80 with bite and late break vs RHH, needs to work on consistency with release point and landing with balance towards home plate, rushes on occ causing fb to stay up in zone-flattens out. Something to work with here though!
RHP, Andrew Brockett, U of Richmond, 5'11 185, may be touching 6'0, little righty with big league arm, hard downer type cb that to me is more of a power slider 80-84 velo on the jugs gun, fb touched 95 a few times for me, most fb were 90-94, consistently 92, throws strikes, challenging nature, had a very good summer pitching in the Coastal Plain League this summer, made into a short man and has some comps to Braves ace closer and solid arm in Craig Kimbrel. Solid shot at going in top 7 rounds next spring, this young arm should get plenty of looks this fall and next spring, 2013!
2014 Follow Reports
LHP, Justus Sheffield, Tullahoma HS, Tenn, 5'11 180, L/L, live arm, lean build, brother of Jordan Sheffield, same HS program, seen in Breathrough Series game on 7/25/12, was up to 92 on the jugs, most fb were up and out of strike zone but got the kids to swing the bat at his fb, rushes some, has good tilt and spin on the breaking ball which will aid in further development of a potential ave arsenal of two pitches, needs to improve command and control, throws from upper 3/4 slot and high leg kick delivery, a bit off balance but workable, will be one of top arms to see in spring of 2012
SS-RHP, Nick Gordon (DIXIE) from Olympia HS, Orlando FL, 6' 140, S/R, up to 90 with FB on bump with idea on the hill for sure, son of Flash Gordon, this kid has a dynamite arm and very good speed just like his brother and is a 2014 so time to wait on him. 5'10 150, 4.2 out of the box, 55/60 arm, some bail out on the cb at the plate, solid glove and range in the field with first step quickness.
C, Jarrett Freeland, tall one, 6'5 1/2 200, R/R for Parkview HS, Georgia, has nice solid arm strength for a big kid got rid of the ball decently and pegged a runner off 1st in the 4th inning vs Westlake on 3/29,
IF, Bryson Brigman, (Babe Ruth), 5'11 170, R/R, gamer with good instincts, runs smooth, bat goes to the ball well, throws with carry, 2014 kid to keep an eye on, have seen him now for 3 years, Valley Christian HS, San Jose, Ca. Swung the bat better during Breakthrough Series, runs sub 7, 60 which is excellent, also good quickness between the base paths
LHP, Mac Marshall, 2014, Parkview HS, Georgia, was up to 88 with FB only 16 years old, loose with decent delivery, fb pretty true for most part, a bit long with delivery, but worth a follow next couple of years.
RHP, Ryan Castellani (USA), 6'4 190, R/R, live body with arm strength, up to 88, easy delivery and good arm action, projectible, 2014, Brophy Prep HS, Phoenix AZ.
RHP, Cameron Varga (PONY), 6'3 185, R/R, nice lean frame, one of better arms in tourney, fearless and aggressive with fb, 3/4 arm slot, touched 93, IMG Academy HS, Bradenton FL, watch him next 2 yrs, 2014.
SS-2B, Tate Blackman (Dixie), 6 175, R/R, projectible frame to get stronger in time, has good glove and instincts for middle infielder and enuf bat speed to hit at next level, only a 2014, so time to watch him at Lake Brantley HS, Altamonte Springs, FL.
C-OF, Alex Jackson, (Babe Ruth), 6'2 220, R/R, strong, durable, has pop in his bat, needs mechanic work with approach as hitter, throws well from OF and behind dish, interesting to follow next 2 years, 2014, Rancho Bernardo HS, Ca.
LHP, Christian Martinek, (Babe Ruth), 6'5 210, L/L, interesting lefty from 3/4 slot, was up to 88, most fb were 84-86, 2014 kid to watch, Jesuit HS, Portland OR.
LHP, Carson Sands, (Babe Ruth), 6'4 190, L/L, nice build and trajectory of pitches, was up to 91, young with high ceiling left, 2014, North Florida Christian, Tallahassee FL.
RHP, Jack Flaherty, (AABC), 6'3 190, R/R, didn't see him pitch yet in this event, saw him during spring at NHSI, still worth a follow for 2014, clean delivery and arm action, was 84-88 this spring, most fb were 86 with some arm side movement in vs RHH, love his competitiveness.
RHP, Touki Toussaint (USA), 6'1 180, R/R, one of favorite names in the event, was up to 91, most fb were 88, worth good look in 2014 for sure, attends, Coral Springs Christian HS, Coral Springs FL.
OF/LHP, Tanner Allison, Portland HS, Michigan, 6'1 175, L/L, runs close to ave, shows near ave velocity with a nice loose arm and sound mechanics as a lefty on the bumps, throws ave from the OF, decent instincts, has slight upper cut swing with some loft, will be highly recruited in the state of Michigan for sure. Definite name to keep on the follow list next two years.
LHP, Brady Aiken, Cathedral Catholic HS, San Diego, CA, 6'2 200, L/L, smooth lefty with good break on cb and some arm strength to go with loose arm, chops off extension out front at times, most fb were 84-87, will touch 88 on occ, cb has proper spin and action to be solid pitch in time. Worth good look in 2014.
1B/RF, Braxton Davidson, TC Roberson HS, Asheville NC, 6'3 210, L/L, 45 arm, solid glove, not much range, good baseball instincts, strong thick legs, not a good runner, knows how on bases, has some loft potential in his dead pull hitting arsenal with good bat speed. Verbal commit I guess to UNC-Chapel Hill. Very interesting player.
C, Dominick Cammarata, TC Roberson HS, Asheville NC, 6'1 190, R/R, quick and accurate arm with arm strength to all bases, shows strength in his upper body and handles bat well enough (wood) at present to be at least an average hitter in pro ball, has quick level swing, a bit overly aggressive as a hitter, needs to be more selective at the plate, has dead pull/foul line power to LF, runs fair, decent hands and range behind the dish, definitely worth following next couple of years.
RHP, Sean Collins, Weddington HS, 6'3 185, R/R, easy arm action, rushes delivery, has some arm side run and sink on fb when down in the zone, most fb mid 80's at present, lazy breaking ball with proper spin at present, should improve with more exposure and experience, verbal to Virginia. Saw at State Tourney in Zebulon and he was 86-88, best fb today was 86, arm was late during follow through. Interesting to watch next couple of years.
C, Spencer Holcomb, Reagan HS, 6' 195, R/R, fearless hitter with some pop down the foul line, strength in wrists and upper body to produce power down the line, shows accurate throwing arm with 40/45 present strength, should improve as he physically matures, runs fair, mechanics a bit rough behind the plate, should improve with more experience. Worth a look next couple of years.
This page is dedicated to the memory of some great mentors in my life, baseball people who are still in the game or once were before joining the "Angels in the Heavens".
A very good friend of mine I just found out last evening passed away from complications of bladder cancer surgery on April 23 of this year, Larry Chase, one of the nicest men you would ever meet in your lifetime and a great baseball man, mentor, father, grandfather, husband, and older brother/father figure!!! Larry was inducted into the National Baseball Congress & Midwest Scouts Hall of Fame and signed current ML Pitcher AJ Burnett when he was with the Mets, along with Mike Pelfrey. I'm truly going to miss talking with Larry and I wish his son, daughter and wife, Linda, all the best and my condolences to those who met Larry through their days on the road!!
Larry and I signed Donald White Jr, from Southeastern Comm College, Burlington Iowa back in 1991 on my recommendation when I was a part-timer working for Larry and two other supervisors at the time. Larry did all the negotiating and let me learn under his direction, a lesson I will take with me when it's my time to meet the Lord! I will be forever thankful for having made the acquaintance and working for such a great person in Larry Chase! I will greatly miss him! Rest in peace Larry!!
Marti Wolever, a great friend of mine, current Scouting Director for the Phillies, Marti and I shared many good stories and ran into each other in the field many times, Marti is always very classy and willing to share family stories and memories. One of the smartest baseball men in the game, you will never meet a better evaluator in the game like Marti!
Congratulations to the man who gave me my first shot as a bird dog in April 1983 with the Padres, Mr Brad Sloan. Brad was inducted a couple years back into "Professional Baseball Scouts Hall of Fame", an honor very worthy of this gentle "BEAR" as we call him. Brad still works as a pro scout and is known for his stint as Scouting Director for the Padres when they drafted and signed Jake Peavy some years back. Not too shabby!!
Gene Baker, late former Pirates scout among several teams Gene either played for or worked for along the way, one of his best friends was "Buck" O'Neil. Living near the Quad Cities, Gene was another man who was always kind to me and often shared great stories of his years playing baseball before the Civil Rights movement, Gene signed former ML pitcher, Bill Sampen, among several players for the Pirates years ago.
Elmer Gray, last seen still working as a scout, Elmer ran paths with me scouting former Northwest Omaha HS star, Gregg Olson in 1985, when Elmer was the scouting boss with the Pirates at the time. Elmer also worked for the Reds and is one of the sharpest men you will ever meet!
Dale McReynolds, a long time scout with several ML Teams and at one time was also a scouting director, Dale always had the time to talk with me and share some wisdom from time to time. Among Dale's former ML players he signed was Steve Howe and Bob Welch, both from Michigan universities. We miss you Mac!
Bill is still around and he was inducted into a scouting hall of fame, Bill currently writes columns for his local paper back in Columbia, Missouri. "Clarkie" always was able to speak his mind and has been a great influence on me over the years and we stay in touch every year! Clarkie, is also known as the "world traveler" and he lifts weights for competition even after some hip and knee surgeries along the way!
"Buck" O'Neil, one of the finest gentlemen who was ever in the game of baseball, "Buck" played and managed in the Negro Leagues and he shared some great memories and stories with me one day in my first year as a "bird dog", when he came to Ralston, Nebraska for a HS baseball tourney which featured future ML relieve, Gregg Olson formerly of the Orioles. Buck is in the Hall of Fame!
Dave Karaff, a great guy who is responsible for the finding of Albert Pujols from Maplewoods College in Lee's Summit, Missouri. Dave was always nice to me and shared some great stories with me about his former years as a coach too!
Ellsworth Brown, known to us as "Brownie", great man who worked until his 90's with the Twins of all ML teams, he signed former ML stars, Kirby Puckett and Bill Madlock. Brownie was a great mentor to many of us when we were just cutting our teeth as scouts back in the day, so to speak! Often bringing his wife, Mabel with him to ball games, she would crochet or knit while Brownie sat back in his lawn chair to catch a HS game somewhere is rural Illinois where I often ran into him.
Tony Lucadello, former ML scout with the Phillies, Tony "Luc" was another great mentor to many scouts back when and he was responsible for signing over 30 former ML players, some who are now in the Hall of Fame, Mike Schmidt for one and he also signed Fergie Jenkins once upon a time ago! I first met Tony in 1988 at a Great Lakes All-Star game in South Bend, Indiana and I shared with him my late father's love for the Phillies, whom Tony had worked for, and how it was an honor to have met one of the greatest baseball scouts of all time. Tony was a very modest man and he loved working in the field as a scout!
A very good friend of mine I just found out last evening passed away from complications of bladder cancer surgery on April 23 of this year, Larry Chase, one of the nicest men you would ever meet in your lifetime and a great baseball man, mentor, father, grandfather, husband, and older brother/father figure!!! Larry was inducted into the National Baseball Congress & Midwest Scouts Hall of Fame and signed current ML Pitcher AJ Burnett when he was with the Mets, along with Mike Pelfrey. I'm truly going to miss talking with Larry and I wish his son, daughter and wife, Linda, all the best and my condolences to those who met Larry through their days on the road!!
Marti Wolever, a great friend of mine, current Scouting Director for the Phillies, Marti and I shared many good stories and ran into each other in the field many times, Marti is always very classy and willing to share family stories and memories. One of the smartest baseball men in the game, you will never meet a better evaluator in the game like Marti!
Gene Baker, late former Pirates scout among several teams Gene either played for or worked for along the way, one of his best friends was "Buck" O'Neil. Living near the Quad Cities, Gene was another man who was always kind to me and often shared great stories of his years playing baseball before the Civil Rights movement, Gene signed former ML pitcher, Bill Sampen, among several players for the Pirates years ago.
Elmer Gray, last seen still working as a scout, Elmer ran paths with me scouting former Northwest Omaha HS star, Gregg Olson in 1985, when Elmer was the scouting boss with the Pirates at the time. Elmer also worked for the Reds and is one of the sharpest men you will ever meet!
Dale McReynolds, a long time scout with several ML Teams and at one time was also a scouting director, Dale always had the time to talk with me and share some wisdom from time to time. Among Dale's former ML players he signed was Steve Howe and Bob Welch, both from Michigan universities. We miss you Mac!
Bill is still around and he was inducted into a scouting hall of fame, Bill currently writes columns for his local paper back in Columbia, Missouri. "Clarkie" always was able to speak his mind and has been a great influence on me over the years and we stay in touch every year! Clarkie, is also known as the "world traveler" and he lifts weights for competition even after some hip and knee surgeries along the way!
"Buck" O'Neil, one of the finest gentlemen who was ever in the game of baseball, "Buck" played and managed in the Negro Leagues and he shared some great memories and stories with me one day in my first year as a "bird dog", when he came to Ralston, Nebraska for a HS baseball tourney which featured future ML relieve, Gregg Olson formerly of the Orioles. Buck is in the Hall of Fame!
Dave Karaff, a great guy who is responsible for the finding of Albert Pujols from Maplewoods College in Lee's Summit, Missouri. Dave was always nice to me and shared some great stories with me about his former years as a coach too!
Ellsworth Brown, known to us as "Brownie", great man who worked until his 90's with the Twins of all ML teams, he signed former ML stars, Kirby Puckett and Bill Madlock. Brownie was a great mentor to many of us when we were just cutting our teeth as scouts back in the day, so to speak! Often bringing his wife, Mabel with him to ball games, she would crochet or knit while Brownie sat back in his lawn chair to catch a HS game somewhere is rural Illinois where I often ran into him.
Tony Lucadello, former ML scout with the Phillies, Tony "Luc" was another great mentor to many scouts back when and he was responsible for signing over 30 former ML players, some who are now in the Hall of Fame, Mike Schmidt for one and he also signed Fergie Jenkins once upon a time ago! I first met Tony in 1988 at a Great Lakes All-Star game in South Bend, Indiana and I shared with him my late father's love for the Phillies, whom Tony had worked for, and how it was an honor to have met one of the greatest baseball scouts of all time. Tony was a very modest man and he loved working in the field as a scout!
