Scouting a showcase in Omaha for the Corn Belt League and Strike Zone Elite 18U team! 2018!!
Me coaching the All-Stars from out of state, July 3, 2018 at Seymour JJ Isaacson Field in Omaha, we wont 16-4!!
Wednesday, October 17, 2024
Dan Radcliff is friend of mine, who I recruited through recommendations from some great baseball ppl in the KCMO area, most notably, Danny's late brother, Mike Radcliff, who's not only a Hall of Fame Scout but Hall of Fame person. Also Mike Hankins and Artie Gaillon both put in great words about Danny's ability as a lil RHP, he pitched for me when I was the pitching coach at nationally acclaimed JUCO IOWA WESTERN COMMUNITY COLLEGE - COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa, then coached by Mike "Wully" Wulbecker and myself and Danny had the tenacity as well as the great character Danny's possesses today. DRad as ppl call him, has been battling cancer, so all our prayers are supporting him and we wish him and his family all the best during this bump in the road so to speak. God Bless you Danny. Dan signed the late Nick Adenhart who was an up and coming ML RHP for the Angels, Dan signed out of high school, Nick was taken from us way too quickly by a drunk driver, a heartbreaking event that is still felt today!! Danny currently scouts for the Pittsburgh Pirates in a region where he's well known. He's also in the Hall of Fame, in the Mid Atlantic Scouts Association.
Gerad Gast, was one of my first recruits when I was named first ever Head Baseball Coach at John Wood Community College in Quincy, Illinois. Gerad was known for being a good hitter who never pulled the baseball from the left side of the plate until the fall of 1991 when I started working with his hand position and stance yet leaving alone his ability to swing the bat with above average bat speed, the rest was additional strength, reading pitches and having trust in himself. His father Dan, made comment to me that he was amazed that in just 2 short months, the progress Gerad made as a person and baseball player, which I knew, Gerad had in him. It was a short relationship as his coach and I will never forget Gerad and even today, I look for players with his makeup, tenacity, character and work ethic, you wouldn't find a better young man than G G, he went onto play OF for Northern Illinois University in Dekalb, Illinois. He is the father of 4 and was born in Colorado Springs, CO. He later attended Appleton West HS, in Appleton WIS where I first saw him play as a junior in a tournament in Fon du lac, WIS and West Bend, WIS. Gerad will be forever missed!
Sunday, July 21, 2024
Wednesday, July 17, 2024
Team USA 18U trials in Cary, NC, showed today a few names to follow for 2025 MLB Draft, including another Halliday, Ethan Halliday, Stillwater OK, SS/3B, lefty pop with solid throwing skills, ave runner, wants to hit wraps the bat, bat is late on hard breaking stuff & + fb velo, other names, LHP/1B Kruz Schoolcraft from Oregon, 6'8 230 L/L, solid arm strength, plus at that, has pop in his bat, OF/IF Xavier Neyens, L/R 6'4 205, has pop in his bat qk to the ball, good feel for the barrel, hit a 400+ HR dead red, also showed solid arm strength and on the way running ability. OF, L/R, Ty Peoples from Livonia, GA, 6'2 175 frame to get bigger/stronger, has a solid wood bat feel had plus power pull alley power and enuf run/throw skills to warrant early round talk for 2025. Has a commit to Georgia.
Sunday, July 14, 2024
MLB DRAFT DAY and with a trade on Saturday, July 13 between the Nationals and KC Royals for the 39th pick in the compensatory part of the first round. So I have a change as to the team selecting 39th.
It's been a minute since I last updated my page and I've since moved to the Birmingham area in North Central Alabama this February. I love it here and there's plenty of baseball to see at any level and I'm not far from many major outlets to see showcases and so forth. With now 41 years working as a scout in some capacity, I've been helping a couple former players who've become legal advisors in sports to evaluate prospects and through that I've been able to run into some old friends and meet some new ones in MLB and amateur baseball.
Below is the order of the MLB Draft 2024 - Mock Draft (Bill Yates) this is my version based on whom I've seen in person in the past 3-6 years or through video tape and TV scouting. These projections will be based on team needs, their tendencies selecting players and who's signable for the money pool they clubs have been allotted this year.
1. Cleveland Guardians: 2B Travis Bazzana, Oregon State, can move quickly and be a fixture in the middle of lineup
2. Cincinnati Reds: OF Charlie Condon, Georgia - fits what Cincy needs
3. Colorado Rockies: SS/OF, Konnor Griffin, Jackson Prep, Mississippi - live body, bat strength, toolsy
4. Oakland Athletics: 1B/LHP Jac Caglianone, Florida - makes sense for the A's, they could copy the Ohtani work as a 2 way, Pitch/Hit model, a scary elbow lock torque and past injury is worrisome but his ability to pitch and be a middle of the lineup guy ya can't pass up.
5. Chicago White Sox: 1B, Nick Kurtz, Wake Forest - Sox always take bats, in this case, best available player
6. Kansas City Royals: LHP, Hagen Smith, Arkansas - Royals could use another lefty starter or a closer, Smith has ability to fit that mold, scary delivery however
7. St. Louis Cardinals: RHP Chase Burns, Wake Forest - lively body, solid arm strength, taller version of Jordan Hicks
8. Los Angeles Angels: OF Braden Montgomery, Texas A&M - excellent athlete who'll hit, Trout's injury plague will push him to DH, Montgomery can be fixture in the OF for Angels
9. Pittsburgh Pirates: IF, JJ Wetherholt, West Virginia - one he's local area kid they've scouted heavily, he's gonna hit and he can play solid enough "D" to be a ML for a long time in Pittsburgh.
10. Washington Nationals: 3B, Tommy White, LSU - Nats really miss Rendon & Zimmerman, Rizzo likes bats and difference makers and White can help the young Nationals make a move.
11. Detroit Tigers: SS Seaver King, Wake Forest - fire plug with hit tool, finds way to get on base
12. Boston Red Sox: 3B, Cam Smith, Florida State - hit tool has gotten better with better pitch selection
13. San Francisco Giants: OF, James Tibbs, Florida St - back to back Seminoles is how it could go, likely not but Tibbs profiles for the ball park and should hit enuf to make impact at the ML level quickly.
14. Chicago Cubs: MIF, Bryce Rainer, Harvard-Westlake High School (CA) - Cubs with youth movement mindset, this kid could reach ML quickly ala Crow-Armstrong & Jack Flaherty
15. Seattle Mariners: LHP Kash Mayfield, Elk City High School (OK)
16. Miami Marlins: LHP, Cam Caminiti moved him up herem LHP Cam Caminiti, Saguaro HS, Arizona - kin's name played for Padres and this would be a great story, Cam has great upside and Padres can use lefty pitching., with last minute telling MLB he's not wanting to be drafted and will attend LSU in RHP, William Schmidt, Cathloic HS, Louisiana, hard to pass on an arm like this or they could go with Brecht from Iowa.
17. Milwaukee Brewers: SS Kaelen Culpepper, Kansas State
18. Tampa Bay Rays: SS Kellon Lindsey, Hardee High School (FL)
19. New York Mets: RHP Brody Brecht, Iowa - makes sense here as the Mets miss having studs like DeGrom and Wheeler back in the day - Brecht can be a closer or in the rotation
20. Toronto Blue Jays: SWP - Jurrangelo Cijntje, Mississippi St - intriguing arm from lefty or right, could be used as a closer due to this once in a lifetime ability which can change the game some.
21. Minnesota Twins: 2B, Christian Moore, Tennessee - live bat and can produce runs, could move quickly in a development minded organization
22. Baltimore Orioles: OF/RHP Carson Benge, Oklahoma State
23. Los Angeles Dodgers: 3B, Billy Amick, Tennessee - vastly improved, however I feel his bat will need to get him there, all else is there, bat's a question for me
24. Atlanta Braves: SS, Carter Johnson, Oxford HS, Alabama - live bat, room to get bigger, he'll hit and there's not hurry to move him, could fill in at 3B if Riley moves on in free-agency
25. San Diego Padres: LHP Johnathan Santucci, Duke - lefty that has all the ability, consistency has plagued him some, but most lefties can be a bit quirky and Yankees can use pitching.
26. New York Yankees: OF/1B, PJ Morlando, Summerville HS, Summerville SC, 6'3 200, L/R, plus raw power w/qk whip level stroke, on the way runner can play either corner OF spot, best spot probably 1B in the long run, showed his power in the HR Derby on All-Star week. Showed plus skills at PDP in Cary.
27. Philadelphia Phillies: LHP, David Shields, Mount Lebanon HS, Penn - young lefty with upside, a local state kid and Phillies can allow him to develop for a couple years, ETA would be 2028 and he'd be 21 years old.
28. Houston Astros: C, Caleb Lomavita, Cal - plugger who can play "D", hits enuf to make a difference and Astros need to be strong up the middle, also talk Caleb could go much earlier than #28 overall.
29. Arizona Diamondbacks: OF Ryan, Waldschmidt, Kentucky - type of athleticism Arizona loves, I worry about his bat vs good ML pitching, he hits mediocre pitchers hard, he's dead red fastball guy and he's improved but the bat will be the question
30. Texas Rangers: SS Tyson Lewis, Millard West High School (NE) - yeah the club has scouted this kid but also a number of college players in Texas including, Janek at Sam Houston State and MIF, Kyle DeBarge of Louisiana, MIF, Calen Culpepper of Kansas State who could move to OF or play 2B/3B, bat needs to carry him.
Extra 1st Round Picks
31.Arizona Diamondbacks - RHP Trey Yesavage, East Carolina - solid arm strength and 2 pitch arsenal, lots of rewrap and rushes front side, could get stronger in pro ball
32.Baltimore Orioles - LHP Kash Mayfield, Elk City HS, Oklahoma - projecting up the boards, filling out, live arm with upside, Orioles in no hurry can develop him more
33.Minnesota Twins - C, Walker Janek, Sam Houston State U - catch and throw guy with pop in the bat!
34. Milwaukee Brewers - OF, Dakota Jordan, Mississippi State - raw talent is all I hear about, what I see is raw ability definitely and that scares me, he's projected earlier, but he needs better pitch selection and tone down to be a complete hitter, has power, speed and plays solid enuf "D"
35. Arizona Diamondbacks - 2B/SS, Theo Gillen, Westlake HS, Texas, live body who'll get stronger, shows hit tools and enuf "D" to stick at SS for some time, has improved over last year based on hearsay, from video he has skills
36. Cleveland Guardians - SS, Griff O'Ferrall, Virginia - solid bat w/enuf "D" to make a difference quickly in Cleveland system
37. Pittsburgh Pirates - RHP Bryce Cunningham, Vanderbilt - prototype build and arm the Pirates love, keeping him healthy and added deception will only help this arm that has touched 100 mph w/FB. Pirates loading up with pitchers probably won't pass on him here.
38. Colorado Rockies - RHP Luke Holman, LSU - tremendous upside left, he's a pitcher who has to rely on control, has 3 pitch arsenal and hides the ball, he'll need to improve that some, however he fits the mold and Rockies can use pitching
39. Washington Nationals via trade with Kansas City Royals: OF Mike Sirota, Northeastern - bat came to life after a few solid wood bat league years, can run and better on the way, plays "D" and has pop to hit in a ML lineup, covers lots of ground in OF which the Royals love.
Sunday, June 30, 2024
Here's a sneak peek of what 2025 beholds for potential MLB Draft Prospects. It's not loaded like this year as far as hitters go but there will be some difference makers possibly.
2025 MLB Draft Follow-List
High Profile 1-3 Round potential
OF, Jace LaVoilette, (PORTAL) Texas A&M, 6'6 230, L/L, long wiry strong body, similarities to current ML'er Cody Bellinger, Jace runs well, better underway, he's has length in his swing with strength to have alley power and pull side power, his instincts are solid and has the arm strength to play any OF position and 1B above average.
RHP, Nate Snead, Tennessee, 6'2 200, R/R, Vols reliever with better than average stuff, FB touches 100 with a hard slide piece that is considered a power curveball by many ol' timer scouts, he throws strikes and competes.
LHP, Jamie Arnold, Florida St, 6'2 180, smooth lefty who knows how to pitch, not overpowering and needs to allow his stuff to keep hitters off-balance, has better than average control, his FB is mostly 89-92 with ASR, competes.
OF, Devin Taylor, Indiana, 6' 210 L/R, quality hitter with excellent eye at the plate, feel for wood, can drive the ball to all fields, glides as an OF with enuf arm for any OF position, will go as far as bat goes right now 30/60 hit, 40/50 PW, 50 run, 40 arm, 50 fld, could be in the Top 10 picks in 2025. Playing for Team USA this summer.
RHP, Matt Scott, Stanford, 6'6 230, big righty with plus arm strength, fb touches mid 90's regularly, off-speed and deception need work in a conference which is pretty strong and next year will face even more formidable opponents as Stanford moves conferences.
OF/1B, Nolan Schubart, Oklahoma St, L/R, 6'5 220, hit tool w/power is his calling, he has no real position, he's a liability in LF and his hands are just adequate as a fielder, needs reps to play the first sack, worth a watch though.
RHP, Miguel Sine, Poly Prep HS, 6'2 210, LSU commit, fb touches 100, upper 90's guy, will tend to fly open, arm is loose & qk front high 3/4 slot to OH slot and pitches downhill some, reminds some of, Luis Severino in build and arm strength. Shows flashes of solid breaking ball, over matches hitters currently, could be in top 10 picks in 2025.
RHP, Colten Smith, Georgia, 6'3 200, solid pitcher with 3 pitches and improving, pitching for Team USA this summer, has a chance to be a 4-5 man in ML rotation, FB mid 90's with hard downer type curveball that at times works as a sweeper.
UT, Gavin Grahovac, (PORTAL) Texas A&M, 6'2 220 R/R, power bat with enuf fielding ability to be a contributor at the ML level, plus power, hits pitchers mistakes hard, on the way runner with solid arm strength.
LHP, Ben Jacobs, Arizona State, 6'1 190, lefty with plus stuff, fb in low 90's with hard biting sweeper he uses as an out pitch, had good numbers for the Sun Devils and pitching for Team USA this summer.
RHP, Tyler Bremner, U Cal Santa Barbara, 6'2 180, solid ML change up, throws strikes with qk loose arm from 3/4 slot, deceptive, gets hitter off balance, could be a big surprise come next spring.
RHP, Brett Crossland, Mountain Pointe HS, AZ, 6'5 225, mature looking RHP with solid arm strength, touches 97 with ease, long levers, has spin and feel for solid breaking ball, tweener slider/curve, gets out over front leg, needs work keeping front side closed and get out over front leg consistently. Also position player if pitching doesn't work out, fair runner, college type hitter.
RHP, Seth Hernandez, Corona HS, Corona CA, 6'4 190, loose lean righty with plus fb, 94-98 range, has feel for slider/curve and makings of change up, H 3/4 slot, will rush and be a lil hyper, needs to stay closed a tad bit but more here to develop for sure.
RHP, Josh Hammond, Wesleyan Christian Academy, High Point NC, 6'1 205, strong build with pure arm strength, also position player, has commit to Wake Forest, currently best shot is as a pitcher, but good enuf athlete to continue in college as a two way type.
OF, Brandon Logan, Fort Wayne Snyder HS, Ind, 6' 170 R/R wiry strong build, football receiver who can really run, 70 runner, has qk twitch actions and covers ground in the OF with ease, 40/50 arm strength, should get stronger as he matures.
added follows 7/21/2024
RHP, Angel Cervantes, Lynwood CA, 6'2 190, pitchability here with loose qk arm upper 3/4 slot, fb touches 94 mostly 91-92 ASR run/sink, proper shape & mechanics of solid cb with feel for change, throws strikes needs to hit his spots with command/control, worth a strong follow.
OF/1B, Quentin Young, Camarillo CA, 6'5 210, R/R, strong build, frame to get bigger, has bat speed & strength w/plus power potential, swings from heals some, shows arm strength & fundamentals to field, not flashy by any means, has solid bloodlines as he's nephew of former ML talent Dmitri & Delmon Young.
LHP, Kruz Schoolcraft, Beaverton OR, 6'8 215, L/L, smooth delivery, fb will jump out of his hand, touches 97, mostly 92-93 with sink when down away from RHH, proper bite on slurve type cb, projectible and still very young, just 17 currently, comp to MLP AJ Puk.
IF/OF, Tre Phelps, Georgia 6'1 205 R/R, short compact swing with power to pull side, reminds me some of Tyler O'Neil, throws ave with some agility to stay in the field, most likely 1B or LF in pro ball, on the way runner and decent hands, range is fair. Will go as far as bat takes him.
3B/OF, Murf Gray, Fresno St, 6'3 210, R/R, live body, strong, can run and has solid arm strength, hitting tools w/power potential are this kids strengths, he could be talked about in top 10 picks in 2025 MLB Draft.
OF, Ethan Conrad, 6'3 210, L/L, Marist transfering to Wake Forest, live bat w/balance and strength to hit and for future power, can field his position and throws well enuf to play either OF corner, OTW runner, will go as far as bat takes him, comp to Anthony Rizzo w/more power.
OF/1B, Ethan Petry, South Carolina, 6'3 235, R/R, live bat with power to all fields, slight upper cut swing could be problematic in pro ball, will adjust, can play the corner, OTW runner, not a burner by no means, best tools are offensively.
ROUNDS 4+
SS, Billy Carlson, Corona HS, Corona CA, 6'1 170, R/R, qk twitch player who can really run and has 70 arm strength, coming into his own still young, long swing w/power, type of frame to get bigger and stronger, reminds some of Bryson Stott for UNLV/current Phillie in the field and body frame, also a pitcher, will touch upper 90's with hard downer cb.
1B, Ethan Conrad, Marist, 6'3 205, L/L, solid college hitter who shows power to pull side and can handle the bag, may not get the publicity many D1 players receive but this kid can hit, playing summer in the Cape.
OF/IF, Chasen Swain, West Virginia via Manhattan College, 6' 195, utility guy who can swing it, shows power to pull side, runs underway and plays the game right.
OF, Josiah Ragsdale, Iona, 6'0 180, L/L, runs well underway, can pick it in the OF and has enuf bat to get in the ML lineup, 50 runner, 30/50 hit, 30/40 power, "D" will help him, keep an eye on this one, will go as far as his bat takes him.
OF, Harrison Dinawik, Virginia, 6'4 215, L/L, long lean strong body with loft power to pull side and uses all fields as a hitter, corner OF type with enuf arm for RF, could move up to early list.
RHP, Aidan Knack, Clemson, 6'1 190, one of best changeups in college baseball, ave fb at best with fair life, throws strikes and competes, calling card will most likely be as a set-up or bullpen guy, stamina in question and can tend to tip pitches.
RHP, Callan Fang, Harvard, 6'3 210, 2 way guy in Ivy League, has fb that touches mid 90's, throws strikes, strong K to walk ratio and competes. One of top ranked pitchers in Cape Cod League 2024, live arm, hard downer slurve that gets outs, wants the ball, could move into day 1 talk easily.
RHP, Trevor Moore, Stanford, 6'1 210, throws strikes, competes, can be deceptive, quirky delivery from 3/4 slot, hard slide piece can get RHH out, keeps ball in zone where it needs to be, uses control to advantage can change speeds.
RHP, Trent McGuire, Arkansas, 6'3 210, a bit hyper delivery w/plus fb velo, hard slide piece needs to be more deceptive, should improve with more exposure next spring for Arkansas.
MIF, Caden Kent, Texas A&M 6'1 190, R/R, can hit, comes from solid link to ML, Jeff Kent is his father known for hitting, Caden has a short direct swing w/alley power, runs OTW, solid field skills fair arm strength will go as far as bat takes him.
DRAFTED 2024-Eligible RHP, Peyton Olejnik, Miami-Ohio U, 6'10 210, tall righty with some deception pitching downhill, fb touches low to mid 90's with slurvy breaking ball, transfered in from Oklahoma, most pitching is out of bullpen, building on his stamina, will end up a bullpen guy most likely in pro ball, interesting to see.
C, Grant Jay, Dallas Baptist U, 5'11 220, R/R, solid hitter with power, can handle pitchers and 2.0 to sub 2.0 pops.
Draft Eligible & drafted 2024OF, Zack Stewart, Missouri State, 6'2 220, L/R, strong build with power, a bit stiff, shows ability to drive the ball as a hitter, fair fielder who can run on the way.
LHP, Myles Patton, Long Beach St, 6'3 200, lefty with enuf stuff to follow, fb in low 90's with sharp downer/slurve type breaking pitch and straight change, can change speeds which helps him succeed in college at present, could be one to hear about in the ML eventually, currently pitching in Cape Cod.
RHP, Elijah Foster, Sacred Heart U, 6'0 210, righty with solid fb touching low 90's consistently, throws strikes and has sharp slider that needs to tighten up some, definite arm to follow.
1B, Tanner Thach, UNC-Wilmington, 6'4 220, L/L, solid bat with loft power pull side, drafted out of HS, shows enuf ability to warrant early round consideration in 2025, right now for me he's a solid Class A type draft who will go as far as his bat takes him.
OF, Max Belyeu, Texas, 6'2 210, L/R, strong build with on the way speed, has power to pull side, can go oppo drives ball where it's pitched, good enuf athlete who may make a ML roster in the future, competes, loves game, working with Team USA this summer.
1B, Ty Dalley, Mercer, 6'4 215, R/R, one of quiet names in the college circuit, has power to all fields and can play sack well enuf to stay there at ML level, pull side power with strength, shows ability to get there, 30/50 hit, 50/60 power, on the way runner 40, 45 arm/45 glove which will improve.
C, Caden Bodine, Coastal Carolina U, 5'10 195, S/R, scrappy solid sincere ball player who knows how to play the game, short stroke with occ power, can catch n throw, will go as far as bat contributes in pro ball, sub 2.0 pop times, also on Team USA workouts this summer.
C, Brooks Bryan, Troy, 6'1 215, L/R, local college guy who can swing it w/power, best shot is his defense, does things fundamentally well and loves game, also competing with Team USA this summer.
RHP, Gabe Davis, Oklahoma State, 6'9 225, will be utilized most likely as a starter next spring for Cowboys, Gabe throws downhill from H 3/4 with a fb that touches 97 regularly, fb is true w/occ ASR, hard slider that lacks consistentcy, may end up a closer or bullpen guy at the ML level.
added 7/21/24
LHP, David Ramirez, 5'11 160 L/L, Kemah TX, smooth lefty with sneaky fb that touches 92 mostly upper 80's with late movement, proper spin & break on cb which may become a solid out pitch, frame to fill out, reminds me of current MLP Romero, will turn 18 in December.
OF/IF, Sean Gamble, 6'2 185, L/R, from Des Moines IA, moving onto IMG Academy, shows feel for barrel and has loft power w/simple easy swing w/strength, throws have carry and runs well once underway. Worth a follow!
OF, Slater deBrun, 5'9 180, L/L, Bend OR, this kid can fly OTW w/plus speed, qk hands at the plate with ability to drive the baseball, not much power now is strong enuf to develop foul line type power, can set up top of the lineup, plays "D" w/arm strength & quickness w/range. Plays the game right!
SS, Xavier Neyens, Mount Vernon WA, 6'4 205, L/R, solid elite power, has a hole in his swing, needs to relax & level swing to allow natural strength to become a solid ave ML hitter, throws have carry, may end up at the corner in the IF or the OF in time, still growing, frame to get bigger in time.
OF, Ty Peeples, Lavonia GA, 6'2 175, L/R, sweet swing w/pull side power, can go oppo, throws well enuf from OF w/range to cover CF or corner OF, runs OTW well enuf.
OF, Dean Moss, Antherton CA, 6'0 180, L/R, LSU early commit, shows qk bat with pop to all fields, runs well once out of the box, covers OF well enuf to stick in CF, mature already 18, will fill out, interesting to follow due to bat.
RHP, Zach Strickland, 6'2 210, R/R, Arcadia CA, smooth ez delivery from H 3/4 slot, fb touches 94 with late life when down, has true CB rotation & bite, feel for change, UCLA commit, has pitchability will need to be fine with his command & control, fb fairly true & ez to read.
OF/IF/C, Brayden Jaksa, 6'6 210, R/R, Fremont CA, loves the game, shows when he's in the field, will play multiple positions, best shot as 1B in long run, has power in an easy swing, trouble with breaking ball, just 17 currently, worth strong follow for 2025.
OF/1B, Callan Moss, North Florida, three time transfer starting out at Seton Hall then a year at St Leo, can flat out rake w/plus power, enuf "D" and arm to stick to corner OF or 1B in pro ball, OTW runner, slightly below average, will go as far as the bat develops in pro ball.
RHP, Sean Youngerman, Westmont in transfer portal, 6'3 235, strong build with plus fb movement ave velo, had solid run in NAIA at Westmont, throws strikes has hard slider that can be a wipe out pitch, will need to be consistent to get past just pro ball to get to ML. Could end up a long man in the bullpen.
2026 MLB Draft Early Prospect list:
RHP, Deven Sheerin, LSU via Mount St Mary's College, MD, 6'5 245, power arm who'll probably end up a closer in college for LSU, FB touches mid 90's, touching 98 has been verified with ASR and hard slide piece at times is solid average, worth a strong follow for 2026.
OF, Brady Harris, Saint Augustine FL, 6'2 180, R/R, qk bat with feel of the barrel to square up pitches, drives the ball, OTW runner, shows arm strength & fielding skills for the next level, can project to grow more naturally, interesting to follow.
C, Andrew Costello, Fairview PA, 5'10 195, R/R, plugger with fair arm strength & release presently, shows qk level plane bat speed w/pop, goes with the pitch, hustler, has feel for the game to advance to a D1 program, definitely worth a follow, will go as far as release and catch n throw skills improve, throws are eratic & rushed at present.
RHP, James Guyette, Kansas State 6'3 220, live arm, can touch mid 90's on occ, hard slide piece and competes, throws strikes with no fear, definte follow, shut down Team USA CNT 3 up and 3 strikeouts in an exhibition in July 2024.
Wednesday, September 20, 2023
MLB DRAFT FOLLOWS 2024
I've made my lists over the years yet only posted them sparingly. I'm hoping to land an Area Scout or Cross-checker position, we'll see how it goes, if not, I may work for an Agency as a sub-Agent.
How my list works is broken into tiers, a tier 1 player has a chance to go in the first 3 rounds (100 picks in the MLB Draft), tier 2 (4th to 7th round, up to 250 picks), and tier 3 would be (8th to 20th rounds). The signing bonus and pool money is something I'm not real familiar with right now, but Baseball America does do credence with listing it as does mlb.com on their site at times.
Tier 1 (1-3 round)
RHP Chase Burns, Tennessee(Since transfered to Wake Forest), 6'3 190, very qk arm, will touch 100 mph on occasion, out of the pen, slinger arm action with hard slider that misses bats, said to be in the transfer portal, as of today I do not have that confirmed as to where he's headed
LHP Hagen Smith, Arkansas, 6'3 215, on team USA for summer, solid breaking stuff and ASR on a plus fb
RHP Brody Brecht, Iowa, 6'4 220, concentrating solely on baseball now, Brecht can run his FB up to 100+ mph, effective mostly down in the zone and has a hard slider with good feel and misses bats
IF/2B, J.J. Wetherholt, West Virginia, 5'10 190, L/R, best player to come out of West Virginia in some time since Gyorko, this kid plays the game the old school way, puts the ball in play and has surprising power to the gap pull side, will go oppo and have a step better than average speed
OF, Derek Curiel, West Covina HS, Cal, 6'2 180, L/L, qk live bat with surprising power, can run, better underway throw and has "D" skills with ave arm and abv ave range in OF
IF, Travis Bazzana, 6' 200, L/R, came to the US from Australia, Oregon State U, has bat skills, strong eye hand coordination, power to alleys, runs better on the way, has solid arm strength, not a burner, not a flashy player, just gets it done for a solid college program, early round talk, for me he's end of round 1 at the best on paper now.
OF, Connor Griffin, Florence HS, Miss, 6'4 205, R/R, young athletic body, frame to get bigger in time, plus raw power, qk bat, some length to it, shows plus accurate arm with on the way speed, early talk for '24, reminds me a lot of a young Dale Murphy with the Braves, can see Connor growing a bit more to 6'5 240 lbs eventually, moving to 1B, or stay in RF.
RHP, Drew Beam, Tennessee, 6'4 210, R/R, had a solid year at Tennessee, shows flashes of top of the rotation stuff for MLB, FB T96, true hard slider with tilt and at least average to slightly above ave command, could be top 10 for '24.
SS, Bryce Rainer, Harvard-Westlake HS, Cal, 6'1 190 L/R, smooth fielder best suited for the corner in time, solid average out of the box runner with plus arm strength, his best tools are at the plate, head down and leverage w/balance, knowledge of strike zone, has frame to get bigger and stronger in pro ball
OF/1B, P.J. Morlando, Summerville HS, Summerville SC, 6'3 200, L/R, plus raw power w/qk whip level stroke, on the way runner can play either corner OF spot, best spot probably 1B in the long run, showed his power in the HR Derby on All-Star week. Showed plus skills at PDP in Cary.
1B/OF, Charlie Condon, Georgia, 6'6 210, R/R, young bat with raw power and puts the bat on the ball, on Team USA for summer '23
1B/LHP, Jac Caglianone, Florida, 6'5 245, L/L, built like a power guy, at the plate and on the mound, he rushes his delivery, tough to repeat consistently, a bit stiff at times, will touch 100 w/FB, hard slider with feel and bite, command and control very eratic, he needs to devote to 1 position once in pro ball - stiffness in his delivery which is really rigid could end up an injury risk, his best shot is as a MLB 1B, however there's a huge hole in that swing and he's a dead red poor velocity hitter right now for me.
If, Gavin Kash, Texas Tech,L/L, 6'3 240, solid bat to see again for '24
IF, Colby Shelton, Alabama, 6'1 205, L/R, eligible by age in '24, one of better power hitters in SEC
OF, Nick Kurtz, Wake Forest, 6'5 220 L/L, one of best hitters for ACC next spring, has plus power, huge size, lefty version of Kris Bryant?
SS/3B, Owen Paino, Roy Ketcham HS, Poughkeepsie NY, 6'3 200, L/R, room to grow more to 6'5 230 in time, has solid arm strength and excellent hitting mechanics, goes straight to the ball, has line drive alley power, may outgrow SS in pro ball, some similarities in his game to Mike Pagliarulo years ago with the Yankees, will go as far as his bat takes him, and he's one of the best hitting prospects on the board right now.
OF/RHP, Braden Montgomery, Stanford (transfered to Texas A&M), 6'2 220, S/R, excellent athlete and bloodlines, shows plus arm from OF, on the hill he's very eratic, he's got the tools, he just needs to put it all together, he'll get that test in the SEC come spring time '24
C, Cade Arrambide, Tomball HS, Tomball TX, 6'3 210, R/R, solid arm strength, release is less than <2.0 mostly, but he's not real fluid as most catchers are throwing, his hit tools are just ok, he likes the ball dead red BP type middle of the plate and he'll get eaten up if he doesn't adjust at the next level, he's going to hit HS pitching ok, he's not an average hitting prospect, mostly below average, w/plus raw power.
RHP, Ben Hess, Alabama, 6'5 250, power righty destined to be a front line starter or closer in MLB, FB approaches upper 90's, most are 93-94 with life, hard slider 86-91 with late break, H 3/4 slot with some rigidity is worrisome here but as a short reliever he should be able to have enough durability/stamina to continue for some time in the ML.
3B, Tommy White, LSU, 6'1 215, R/R, can handle corner enough to stick here, shows short compact power to gaps and pull side
RHP, Thatcher Hurd, LSU, 6'4 215, one of the better pitchers in the CWS '23, will have to watch how he bounces back from the innings he pitched in '23, has live fb to 96-97 early, holds 93 mostly with down/in life vs RHH, hard slide piece 87-90 late break middle out, has a straight change but has barely used it in game action, could be a plus pitch in time, he'll need it at the ML level
CF/OF, Mike Sirota, Northeastern U, 6'3 190, R/R, athletic build, springy CF with range and solid arm, should stick in CF in pro ball, has frame to get stronger in time, exposure to wood bats helped him some, still figuring it all out as a hitter, best known for "D" first, shows 30/55 hit, 45/55 power, 60 run, 50 arm, 55 fld, will go as far as his bat goes, ala., Travis Jankowski did coming out of Stony Brook.
RHP, Carson Messina, Summerville HS, Summerville, SC, 6'3 215, loose projectible arm FB T 96 on occasion, low 90's mostly, lacks repeating delivery to be effective, hard slider and feel for change, definite day 1 type follow
RHP, Levi Sterling, Los Angeles HS, Calif, 6'4 195, R/R, loose projectible arm, T94, most 90-91, ASR show hard cb with late break, feel for change, threw strikes, fb true, should only get better, solid follow.
2B, Seaver King, Wake Forest, 6' 190, R/R, solid "D" with sneaky speed, puts the bat on the ball, scrappy, will be a day 2 guy, also with Team USA this summer
IF, Duce Gourson, UCLA, L/R, 6'1 190, on Team USA, showed solid hit skills in PAC12, can stick at the corner or play OF, definite follow for '24 day 2
OF, Rodney Green Jr, Cal, 6'3 190, L/L, good athlete with raw skills, shows power to pull side, can go oppo, tends to lunge on occasion, runs well underway
RHP, Luke Holman, Alabama (transfered to LSU), 6'4 195, R/R one of best arms for Team USA, late developer with FB T96 with ASR and hard slurve with bite down, locates pitches well, should be a day 1 guy
Tier 2 (4-7 round)
OF, Vance Honeycutt, UNC-Chapel Hill, 6'3 205, R/R, good athletic body, plus runner & arm strength with raw power, a lot of swing n miss and taking too many good strike threes, he's a 30 hitter, 50 power, 60 run, 60 arm, 50 field guy for me, so a 2nd day MLB draft, many have him listed in their first round of top 5-10 players overall, for me that's a reach for a players who's had 2 years to adjust to wood bats in summer ball and play competitive D1 ACC bbaseball.
RHP Trey Yesavage, East Carolina, 6'4 220, pitching for team USA this summer, one of best arms out of ECU in some time, has command of 3 pitches, should be an early day 1 pick in '24
LHP Josh Hartle, Wake Forest, 6'5 220, stud in HS in Carolina ranks, ran out of gas towards the end of '23 spring season, definitely has the skills and pitch set to be day 1 pick in '24
RHP, Ryan Johnson, Dallas Baptist, 6'6 220, loose qk arm from upper 3/4 slot, touches 98, most fb with ASR and hard slider with effective downward tilt
RHP, Darin Horn, Coastal Carolina, 6'4 180, slender build with qk arm from 3/4 slot, fb with plus life, can get his breaking stuff over anytime in the count
RHP, Ryan Dombrowski, Penn, 6'2 205, showed his skill set during sub regionals for CWS in '23, intriguing package from Ivy League
RHP, Luke Sinnard, Indiana, 6'8 230, former transfer from WKU when they changed HC, Luke is one of the tallest pitchers from the Big10 who could excel in '24, had a solid stat campaign in '23, touches mid 90's with FB, effective when he has his pitches down and in vs RHH
LHP, Garrett Horn, Liberty, 6'2 195, one of better lefties to see for '24, this year not many LHP went in the draft which was alarming but it is what it is, you won't miss this one
RHP, Alex Logusch, Winthrop, 6'2 195, solid arm with late action on the slider, also feel for change, throws strikes
LHP, Gavin Bruni, Ohio State, 6'3 225, live arm T95 needs to keep pitches down, will rush some, max effort at times, hard slider effective in on RHH
SS, Griff Oferrall, Virginia, 6'1 185, one of quickest bats to follow for '24, has gap power and contact type after 2 strikes, can play "D", project to 3B or 2B at MLB level
OF, Ryan Cesarini, Saint Joseph, one of better hitters in '23, need to follow closely, day 2 projection here
C, Ryan Campos, Arizona State, catch and throw guy with plus hit skills, has power to gap, 2.0 pop times mostly
OF, Treyson Hughes, Mercer, live bat with athleticism, must watch for '24, day 2 type
IF, Hunter Hines, Mississippi State, another raw power guy who needs to be seen early for '24
1B, Jeremiah Jenkins, Maine, 6'4 240, L/R, raw power and raw skills, he's on the map and has the size and aptitude to be a next level contributor
C, Austin Kelly, Lipscomb, L/R, older mature player, solid backstop with lefty pop, will be a day 2-3 guy in '23 unless he signs a FA offer soon
IF, Andrew Patrick, Wright State, 6'4 185, solid follow with power in the Horizon League
RHP, Matt Ager, UC-Santa Barbara, 6'5 210, on team USA, had solid spring '23, name worth following for day 1
3B, Kaelen Culpepper, Kansas State, 6'0 185, R/R, solid bat and puts the bat on the ball with 2 strikes, can drive to alleys for power, average glove with solid arm, ave at best runner, solid follow for day 2
LHP, Carter Holton, Vanderbilt, 5'11 200, durable little lefty with command, deceptive, bulldog nature
RHP, Michael Massey, Wake Forest, 6'5 230, solid righty with loose arm, some effort, FB T95, most low 90's will end up possible middle BP guy in MLB or back of rotation starter, day 2 guy
LHP Omar Melendez, Alabama State, 6'6 230, put himself on the map with HBCU workouts and schedule, dominated in the SWAC and has shown flashes of big league stuff, now needs to put it all together, inconsistent with release from H 3/4, long armer with slurvy breaking ball that sweeps
IF/2B, Christian Moore, Tennessee, 6'1 210, R/R, solid fielder and hit tool w/power to alleys, tends to take pitchers pitches way too much, on the way runner, enough here to see on day 3 for sure in '24
C, Malcolm Moore, Stanford, 6'1 214, L/R, raw power, catch n throw skills are solid, handles velo from pitchers fine can be solid backstop in a short time at MLB level
RHP, Brandon Neely, Florida, 6'3 210, closer for the Gators and for team USA this summer, has mid 90's fb with occ ASR, most are true, location key to his chances of moving up, hard slider that's a tad eratic will be definite D1 thought for '24, will depend on consistency with delivery
RHP, Tyson Neighbors, Kansas State, 6'2 220, low to mid 90's fb with ASR, hard slider and shows average command, on team USA this summer, has a chance to be day 1 guy
RHP, Fran Oschell III, Duke, 6'7 230, direct approach NWU guy from H 3/4, shows fb that touches 97 on occ, good projection left, will go as far as command of slider and feel for change develop
RHP, Kyle Robinson, Texas Tech, 6'6 210, live arm with fb in low to mid 90's, hard slurve with near ave control, tends to rush delivery, definite early round follow for '24
C, Ryan Stafford, Cal Poly, 5'10 180, R/R, handles staff well and shows qk setup skill set to throw out runners, keeps balls in front w/lateral range, has short compact swing with alley power on occasion
RHP, Jay Woolfolk, Virginia, 6'0 200, R/R, used primarily as a reliever in college and for Team USA this year, shows low 90's fb with ASR and hard slider he can throw behind in the count, will go as far as control/command develop consistently
3B/2B, Carter Johnson, Oxford HS, Ala, 6'2 180, L/R, solid bat with power to pull side, throws with carry and qk hands lateral, can stick at 3B at the next level, runs ave on the way
C, Sir Jamison Jones, Chicago HS, IL, 6'2 225, R/R, athletic strong build with plus arm strength and plus raw power, a bit hyper in his approach, said to have grown a lot in past couple years, reminds me some of Charles Johnson Jr, former Marlin.
RHP, Marcus Morgan, Iowa, 6'2 200, R/R, live arm, most fb low 90's can T96 on occ, hard slider, throws strikes, aggressive, solid control to be ML starter in time, not real deceptive, needs to locate pitches a tad better
LHP, David Shields, Pittsburgh HS, PA, 6'2 210, S/L, solid loose arm with ASR, changes speeds, change can be a plus pitch, depth and feel for slider, fb touches low 90's more left there, young, 9/9/06, not 17 just yet
RHP, Trey Gregory-Alford, Colorado Springs HS, CO, 6'5 235, a bit of effort, shows 95+ fb with ASR most are true, hard slider when on top with depth, enough to develop further, needs to improve and repeat delivery more
RHP, William Schmidt, Baton Rouge HS, LA, 6'4 180, loose qk arm T95 on occ, fb true, easy to read, hard down CB one of best I've seen since Carter Stewart, throws strikes will tend to rush delivery, could be day 1 name.
LHP, Boston Bateman, Camarillo HS, Calif, 6'7 250, R/L, tall projectible lefty with sweeping slurve, fb touches 94 on occ, most are low 90's, throws strikes from upper 3/4 slot, repeats enough to be solid prospect, reminds me of former NYY pitcher Dennis Rasmussen.
RHP, Monte Christo, Nebraska, 6'4 230, R/R, as a rising HS Senior, Monte had one of the best FB in the 2020 summer, FB touching 95 with a downer type slide piece, he's been used sparingly with minor arm problems while at UNL and looking forward him to take a giant step forward for 2024.
LHP, Mason Molina, formerly of Texas Tech, portal transfer to Arkansas, 6'2 200, hard slider that's a 60, fb command and control can be eratic fb low 90's, tops 94, SU finish on his pitches from upper 3/4 slot.
Tier 3 (Round 8-20)
RHP, Eli Jerzembeck, South Carolina, 6'2 185, live arm, fb touches mid 90's on occ, mostly groundball, pop up guy, not over powering, will go as far as he can keep hitters off base paths, shows are slurvy pitch and change, must keep pitches down and gain more strength for stamina to be an everyday ML pitcher.
RHP, Bryce Cunningham, Vanderbilt, 6'5 235, power arm, a bit rigid, can touch upper 90's on occ, hard slide piece throws strikes some violence in his delivery, could be an arm ailment guy in the future
3B, Casey, Saucke II, Virginia, 6'3 200, R/R, can swing it, has average fielding instincts and arm, enough here to get to ML as he makes more contact, has good feel for wood bat and strong enough for pull side power
1B, Blake Burke, Tennessee, 6'3 240, L/L, plus power and ability to get on base, 30/40 hitter, 60 power, 40 run, 40 arm, 50 fld, must stay at the first sack/DH type, will go as far as bat takes him
RHP, Gage Ziehl, U Miami-Fla, 5'11 220, power righty out of the pen, has hard slider, a split and fb that touches upper 90's, keeps pitches down and away from bats, could excel quickly up the ladder once drafted
OF, Dakota Jordan, Mississippi St, 6' 220, R/R, power bat with enough feel and balace at the plate to hit at the ML level, will go as far as his bat takes him, will have to play the LF corner/DH in future, just a fair fielder with on the way running speed
2B/SS, Davis Diaz, Vanderbilt, 5'11 185, R/R, field and throw guy with enuf juice in his bat to hit, fair power, could be utility guy at ML level, will go as far as his bat takes him
RHP, Christopher Cortez, Texas A&M, 6'1 205, knows how to pitch, has enuf velo and break on his slider with command to get to the ML, end of rotation to middle man in relief type.
OF, Dylan Dreiling, Tennessee, 5'11 200, L/L, bat tool guy with enuf fielding ability to play at the ML level, adequate arm and range, will go as far as bat takes him
SS, Kyle DeBarge, U Louisiana-Lafayette, 5'9 175, R/R, scrappy player with solid tools, nothing that stand outs except hustle and instincts and ability to get the bat on the ball, some comparisons to Dustin Pedroia.
2B/3B, Carson DeMartini, Virginia Tech, 6' 195, L/R, solid bat tool with pull side power can go oppo, should hit for average, has feel for wood, runs on the way, has solid arm strength with enuf fielding ability to be contributor at the ML level
C, Jacob Cozart, N C State, 6'3 215, L/R, catch n throw guy with power in his bat, pull side guy, shows enuf bat speed and know how to hit at the ML level, solid backup to every day guy, will all depend on his bat, defensively he's sound
C, Caleb Lomavita, Cal, 5'11 200, R/R, solid power with enuf hitting ability to hit at ML level, throws are strong and accurate, 2.0 pop times some sub 2.0's, will be quality backup ML catcher at worse, has solid makeup and hustles, controls game behind the plate
Wednesday, July 12, 2023
Well the 2023 MLB Draft is now behind us and now it's time to look forward to seeing 2024 MLB Draft prospects and beyond. Below is a small sample list of prospects who project in the top 3-4 rounds for 2024 based on the skill sets I've seen over the past 4-5 years. Players are in no particular order at this time.
2024 MLB Draft Prospects
RHP Chase Burns, Tennessee, 6'3 190, very qk arm, will touch 100 mph on occasion, out of the pen, slinger arm action with hard slider that misses bats, said to be in the transfer portal, as of today I do not have that confirmed as to where he's headed
LHP Hagen Smith, Arkansas, 6'3 215, on team USA for summer, solid breaking stuff and ASR on a plus fb
RHP Brody Brecht, Iowa, 6'4 220, concentrating solely on baseball now, Brecht can run his FB up to 100+ mph, effective mostly down in the zone and has a hard slider with good feel and misses bats
IF/2B, J.J. Wetherholt, West Virginia, 5'10 190, L/R, best player to come out of West Virginia in some time since Gyorko, this kid plays the game the old school way, puts the ball in play and has surprising power to the gap pull side, will go oppo and have a step better than average speed
OF/1B, P.J. Morlando, Summerville HS, Summerville SC, 6'3 200, L/R, plus raw power w/qk whip level stroke, on the way runner can play either corner OF spot, best spot probably 1B in the long run, showed his power in the HR Derby on All-Star week. Showed plus skills at PDP in Cary.
RHP Trey Yesavage, East Carolina, 6'4 220, pitching for team USA this summer, one of best arms out of ECU in some time, has command of 3 pitches, should be an early day 1 pick in '24
LHP Josh Hartle, Wake Forest, 6'5 220, stud in HS in Carolina ranks, ran out of gas towards the end of '23 spring season, definitely has the skills and pitch set to be day 1 pick in '24
RHP, Ryan Johnson, Dallas Baptist, 6'6 220, loose qk arm from upper 3/4 slot, touches 98, most fb with ASR and hard slider with effective downward tilt
RHP, Darin Horn, Coastal Carolina, 6'4 180, slender build with qk arm from 3/4 slot, fb with plus life, can get his breaking stuff over anytime in the count
RHP, Ryan Dombrowski, Penn, 6'2 205, showed his skill set during sub regionals for CWS in '23, intriguing package from Ivy League
RHP, Luke Sinnard, Indiana, 6'8 230, former transfer from WKU when they changed HC, Luke is one of the tallest pitchers from the Big10 who could excel in '24, had a solid stat campaign in '23, touches mid 90's with FB, effective when he has his pitches down and in vs RHH
LHP, Garrett Horn, Liberty, 6'2 195, one of better lefties to see for '24, this year not many LHP went in the draft which was alarming but it is what it is, you won't miss this one
RHP, Alex Logusch, Winthrop, 6'2 195, solid arm with late action on the slider, also feel for change, throws strikes
LHP, Gavin Bruni, Ohio State, 6'3 225, live arm T95 needs to keep pitches down, will rush some, max effort at times, hard slider effective in on RHH
SS, Griff Oferrall, Virginia, 6'1 185, one of quickest bats to follow for '24, has gap power and contact type after 2 strikes, can play "D", project to 3B or 2B at MLB level
OF, Ryan Cesarini, Saint Joseph, one of better hitters in '23, need to follow closely, day 2 projection here
C, Ryan Campos, Arizona State, catch and throw guy with plus hit skills, has power to gap, 2.0 pop times mostly
OF, Treyson Hughes, Mercer, live bat with athleticism, must watch for '24, day 2 type
1B/OF, Charlie Condon, Georgia, 6'6 210, R/R, young bat with raw power and puts the bat on the ball, on Team USA for summer '23
1B/LHP, Jac Caglianone, Florida, 6'5 245, L/L, built like a power guy, at the plate and on the mound, he rushes his delivery, tough to repeat consistently, a bit stiff at times, will touch 100 w/FB, hard slider with feel and bite, command and control very eratic, he needs to devote to 1 position once in pro ball
If, Gavin Kash, Texas Tech, solid bat to see again for '24
IF, Colby Shelton, Alabama, 6'1 205, L/R, eligible by age in '24, one of better power hitters in SEC
OF, Nick Kurtz, Wake Forest, 6'5 220 L/L, one of best hitters for ACC next spring, has plus power, huge size, lefty version of Kris Bryant?
3B, Tommy White, LSU, 6'1 215, R/R, can handle corner enough to stick here, shows short compact power to gaps and pull side
IF, Hunter Hines, Mississippi State, another raw power guy who needs to be seen early for '24
1B, Jeremiah Jenkins, Maine, 6'4 240, L/R, raw power and raw skills, he's on the map and has the size and aptitude to be a next level contributor
C, Austin Kelly, Lipscomb, L/R, older mature player, solid backstop with lefty pop, will be a day 2-3 guy in '23 unless he signs a FA offer soon
OF, Jace Laviolette, Texas A&M, 6'6 230, L/L, solid hitter with great size, playing CF for team USA, runs well for his size, ball jumps off his bat with power to alleys, best shot at the corner OF or 1B in time, projects as a day 1 guy.
IF, Andrew Patrick, Wright State, 6'4 185, solid follow with power in the Horizon League
RHP, Matt Ager, UC-Santa Barbara, 6'5 210, on team USA, had solid spring '23, name worth following for day 1
RHP, Drew Beam, Tennessee, 6'4 210, R/R, had a solid year at Tennessee, shows flashes of top of the rotation stuff for MLB, FB T96, true hard slider with tilt and at least average to slightly above ave command, could be top 10 for '24.
3B, Kaelen Culpepper, Kansas State, 6'0 185, R/R, solid bat and puts the bat on the ball with 2 strikes, can drive to alleys for power, average glove with solid arm, ave at best runner, solid follow for day 2
IF, Duce Gourson, UCLA, L/R, 6'1 190, on Team USA, showed solid hit skills in PAC12, can stick at the corner or play OF, definite follow for '24 day 2
OF, Rodney Green Jr, Cal, 6'3 190, L/L, good athlete with raw skills, shows power to pull side, can go oppo, tends to lunge on occasion, runs well underway
RHP, Luke Holman, Alabama, 6'4 195, R/R one of best arms for Team USA, late developer with FB T96 with ASR and hard slurve with bite down, locates pitches well, should be a day 1 guy
LHP, Carter Holton, Vanderbilt, 5'11 200, durable little lefty with command, deceptive, bulldog nature
2B, Seaver King, Wake Forest, 6' 190, R/R, solid "D" with sneaky speed, puts the bat on the ball, scrappy, will be a day 2 guy, also with Team USA this summer
RHP, Michael Massey, Wake Forest, 6'5 230, solid righty with loose arm, some effort, FB T95, most low 90's will end up possible middle BP guy in MLB or back of rotation starter, day 2 guy
LHP Omar Melendez, Alabama State, 6'6 230, put himself on the map with HBCU workouts and schedule, dominated in the SWAC and has shown flashes of big league stuff, now needs to put it all together, inconsistent with release from H 3/4, long armer with slurvy breaking ball that sweeps
OF/RHP, Braden Montgomery, Stanford, 6'2 220, S/R, excellent athlete and bloodlines, shows plus arm from OF, on the hill he's very eratic, not much time on the hill, will be counted on more, said to be in transfer pool for '24, scouts will be gambling on this one, he's got the tools, he just needs to put it all together
IF/2B, Christian Moore, Tennessee, 6'1 210, R/R, solid fielder and hit tool w/power to alleys, tends to take pitchers pitches way too much, on the way runner, enough here to see on day 3 for sure in '24
C, Malcolm Moore, Stanford, 6'1 214, L/R, raw power, catch n throw skills are solid, handles velo from pitchers fine can be solid backstop in a short time at MLB level
RHP, Brandon Neely, Florida, 6'3 210, closer for the Gators and for team USA this summer, has mid 90's fb with occ ASR, most are true, location key to his chances of moving up, hard slider that's a tad eratic will be definite D1 thought for '24, will depend on consistency with delivery
RHP, Tyson Neighbors, Kansas State, 6'2 220, low to mid 90's fb with ASR, hard slider and shows average command, on team USA this summer, has a chance to be day 1 guy
RHP, Fran Oschell III, Duke, 6'7 230, direct approach NWU guy from H 3/4, shows fb that touches 97 on occ, good projection left, will go as far as command of slider and feel for change develop
RHP, Kyle Robinson, Texas Tech, 6'6 210, live arm with fb in low to mid 90's, hard slurve with near ave control, tends to rush delivery, definite early round follow for '24
C, Ryan Stafford, Cal Poly, 5'10 180, R/R, handles staff well and shows qk setup skill set to throw out runners, keeps balls in front w/lateral range, has short compact swing with alley power on occasion
RHP, Jay Woolfolk, Virginia, 6'0 200, R/R, used primarily as a reliever in college and for Team USA this year, shows low 90's fb with ASR and hard slider he can throw behind in the count, will go as far as control/command develop consistently
OF, Derek Curiel, West Covina HS, Cal, 6'2 180, L/L, qk live bat with surprising power, can run, better underway throw and has "D" skills with ave arm and abv ave range in OF
OF, Connor Griffin, Florence HS, Miss, 6'4 205, R/R, young athletic body, frame to get bigger in time, plus raw power, qk bat, some length to it, shows plus accurate arm with on the way speed, early talk for '24
3B/2B, Carter Johnson, Oxford HS, Ala, 6'2 180, L/R, solid bat with power to pull side, throws with carry and qk hands lateral, can stick at 3B at the next level, runs ave on the way
C, Sir Jamison Jones, Chicago HS, IL, 6'2 225, R/R, athletic strong build with plus arm strength and plus raw power, a bit hyper in his approach, said to have grown a lot in past couple years, reminds me some of Charles Johnson Jr, former Marlin.
RHP, Marcus Morgan, Iowa, 6'2 200, R/R, live arm, most fb low 90's can T96 on occ, hard slider, throws strikes, aggressive, solid control to be ML starter in time, not real deceptive, needs to locate pitches a tad better
LHP, David Shields, Pittsburgh HS, PA, 6'2 210, S/L, solid loose arm with ASR, changes speeds, change can be a plus pitch, depth and feel for slider, fb touches low 90's more left there, young, 9/9/06, not 17 just yet
RHP, Trey Gregory-Alford, Colorado Springs HS, CO, 6'5 235, a bit of effort, shows 95+ fb with ASR most are true, hard slider when on top with depth, enough to develop further, needs to improve and repeat delivery more
RHP, William Schmidt, Baton Rouge HS, LA, 6'4 180, loose qk arm T95 on occ, fb true, easy to read, hard down CB one of best I've seen since Carter Stewart, throws strikes will tend to rush delivery, could be day 1 name.
LHP, Boston Bateman, Camarillo HS, Calif, 6'7 250, R/L, tall projectible lefty with sweeping slurve, fb touches 94 on occ, most are low 90's, throws strikes from upper 3/4 slot, repeats enough to be solid prospect, reminds me of former NYY pitcher Dennis Rasmussen.
RHP, Carson Messina, Summerville HS, Summerville, SC, 6'3 215, loose projectible arm FB T 96 on occasion, low 90's mostly, lacks repeating delivery to be effective, hard slider and feel for change, definite day 1 type follow
RHP, Levi Sterling, Los Angeles HS, Calif, 6'4 195, R/R, loose projectible arm, T94, most 90-91, ASR show hard cb with late break, feel for change, threw strikes, fb true, should only get better, solid follow.
RHP, Monte Christo, Nebraska, 6'4 230, R/R, as a rising HS Senior, Monte had one of the best FB in the 2020 summer, FB touching 95 with a downer type slide piece, he's been used sparingly with minor arm problems while at UNL and looking forward him to take a giant step forward for 2024.
LHP, Mason Molina, formerly of Texas Tech, portal transfer to Arkansas, 6'2 200, hard slider that's a 60, fb command and control can be eratic fb low 90's, tops 94, SU finish on his pitches from upper 3/4 slot.
IF, Travis Bazzana, 6' 200, L/R, came to the US from Australia, Oregon State U, has bat skills, strong eye hand coordination, power to alleys, runs better on the way, has solid arm strength, not a burner, not a flashy player, just gets it done for a solid college program, early round talk, for me he's end of round 1 at the best on paper now.
Tuesday, June 20, 2023 - My 2023 MLB MOCK DRAFT All Editions (ONLY ONE, LOL :) ) These selections based on conversations, observations and signability information through my network I've assembled the past 40 years in the business.
1. Pirates - RHP Paul Skenes, LSU, Pirates need pitching, starting pitching, and how can you pass this up?
2. Nationals - OF Wyatt Langford, Florida, complete package and he's not far from the ML, quick mover
3. Tigers - C, Kyle Teel, Virginia, complete receiver with upside left and he can hit, quick mover
4. Rangers - OF, Dylan Crews, LSU, I'm not totally sold on this guy however, those in the know think he's legit
5. Twins - 3B, Blake Taylor, TCU, sweet stroke and can glove it, exactly what the Twins need if not pitching
6. Athletics -SS/3B, Jacob Wilson, Grand Canyon, good signable player for this franchise, and he can rake
7. Reds - OF, Walker Jenkins, South Brunswick HS, Southport NC, strong, mature body, will only get bigger
8. Royals - OF, Max Clark, Franklin HS, Indiana, sweet swing for a young player who loves the game
9. Rockies - RHP, Rhett Lowder, Wake Forest, best of remaining college arms imho, needs to keep on top of pitches
10. Marlins - RHP, Chase Dollander, Tennessee, Marlins need pitching still, best arm available
11. Angels -RHP, Noble Meyer, Jesuit HS, Portland OR, solid pitcher with upside left, Angels need arms
12. D-backs - RHP, Hurston Waldrep, Florida, solid righty with 3 legit ML pitches, bulldog on hill
13. Cubs - OF, Enrique Bradfield, Vanderbilt, legit CF with speed to burn, top of the order guy Cubs need speed
14. Red Sox - SS/2B, Matt Shaw, Maryland, solid college hitter who's a gamer and plays in mold Pedroia played
15. White Sox - OF, Dillon Head, Homewood-Flossmoor HS, Homewood ILL, speedy with legit hit tool, from the mold of Juan Pierre, not far from ML level will gain strength in pro ball, backyard grown.
16. Giants - SS/2B, Tommy Troy, Stanford, solid hitter with glove work to fill in for aging Crawford, eta 2 years
17. Orioles - 1b/RHP, Bryce Eldridge, Madison HS, Vienna VA, big and strong, legit 2 way guy, however his upside is on the hill with solid stuff to get better in pro ball
18. Brewers - SS, Jacob Gonzalez, Mississippi, run on shortstops, I'm not sold on this guys bat but those in the know think different, he can field and throw so if he hits, that's a bonus
19. Rays - 3B, Aidan Miller, Mitchell HS, Port Richey FL, Rays like youth and growing their own and this young man has more upside than many hitters and could be the next version of Evan Longoria who succeeded in Tampa
20. Blue Jays - LHP, Thomas White, Philips Academy, Andover MA, solid lefty with upside left, Jays need pitching as they have a solid IF and bats for a few years, they don't have depth on the hill, this is my take
21. Cardinals - 3B, Brock Wilken, Wake Forest, legit bat and run producer, Arenado is not getting younger nor is Goldie, and this seems like a great spot for the Cards to get a solid bat/run producer.
22. Mets (could see pick drop by 10 spots based on $230m dollar luxury tax threshold by more than $40m)- LHP, Joe Whitman, Kent State, Mets need arms and Whitman is a capable lefty who's improved each year and Mets like this
23. Mariners - 3B, Yohandy Morales, Miami, solid glove and run producer type here who's still getting better and adding strength.
24. Guardians - IF, Colt Emerson, Glenn HS, New Concord OH, backyard grown with legit tools, Indians not afraid to sign/draft HS players, he fits their mold.
25. Braves - SS/3B, Collin Houck, Parkview HS, Lilburn GA, another homegrown talent who fits what the Braves are looking forward, they could take an arm, but a bat like this is intriguing to say the least, they have Olson and Riley, my guess is Riley can move over to DH/1B and Houck stick at the corner or stay at SS unless his range doesn't keep up with lateral grounders.
26. Dodgers(could see pick drop by 10 spots based on $230m dollar luxury tax threshold by more than $40m) - OF, Chase Davis, Arizona, solid college bat who's not far from ML, could fill a void here as the Dodgers are aging and depth in youth isn't where it had been in the past with some of their recent trades and losses in free-agency, Davis fits the bit
27. Padres - C/1B, Ralphy Velazquez, Huntington Beach HS, CA, solid catch and throw guy who has power and a local grown player, Padres like sticking with youth early and Ralphy fits it
28. Yankees - lB/OF, Nolan Schnauel, Florida Atlantic, strong bat with run producing qualities, could move quickly and Yankees can use depth in the infield for sure.
29. Phillies - C, Blake Mitchell, Sinton HS, Texas, solid young receiver with enough tools to get to the show, no hurry but Phils will need depth to replace Realmuto someday.
30. Astros - OF, Jack Hurley, Virginia Tech, solid bat who'd be a great addition to the Astros' run producers
Tuesday, May 2, 2023
First update in a while!! I've actually had some free-time to see some prospects in person in this crazy spring season and some on video tape thanks to MLB baseball, personal contacts and players submitting their video's via youtube or other media sources.
As the 2023 MLB Draft gets ready to launch in late June, here are some players that are ranked by media cogs, MLB.com, PG, SBNation and other sources. I may be a bit more critical of players and may consider some not to even be a MLB prospect based on my instincts of how a player may break down in the near to not so near future health/ability wise or they may have max'd their talents or are likely a high injury risk which will limit any typle of MLB career moving forward, with that said here are those I like that I've scouted since February 1, 2023 to present. I'll add names as I see more players wind down with their HS seasons and college tourneys that are underway soon.
OF, Dylan Crews, LSU, 6'0 205, R/R, feisty player with raw tools, can run better underway and has a very quick balanced bat, my concern is how he comes off his back foot before making contact at times which power pitchers and those with excellent off-speed stuff will exploit in MLB. Dylan can play CF adequatley enough and should be a platoon fill in at the ML level. The only comparison I can give you here, is a throw back to former Indians/Yankees MLB player - Clint Frazier, Crews shows an accurate arm which is slightly BA but with carry and gets decent jumps on balls hit towards the gaps, I see a .240 hitter with 8-10 HR type power numbers, bottom of the order guy who has enough speed to steal some bags on occasion, graded out as a 44 OFP, 4/4 hit, 4/4 power, 5/5 run, 4/4 arm, 5/5 field.
RHP, Paul Skenes, LSU, 6'6 235, R/R, power type arm can touch 99 on occasion and has a hard biting slide piece and feel for the change, he finishes straight up and bit stiff front landing, chopping off extension, will end up in the BP or have a short lived pitching career in pro ball, 65 FB with late MI life vs RHH, 50 SL a bit sloppy at times other times with late break, 40 con, 40 comm, 40 chang, comes out to an OFP of a late first rounder at best, 51 OFP, needs pro help with delivery or he'll burn out quickly.
OF, Wyatt Langford, Florida, 6'1 225, R/R, strong, durable frame, reminds me some of a shorter version of Castellanos of the Phils, has quick bat with balance and the ball jumps off his bat, can go to all fields, shows an accurate ML arm with carry, best suited for either corner OF, possible 1B, had caught in the past, footwork is just meh, but offensively can't go wrong with this kid, 60 hit, 60 power, 45 run, 50 arm, 50 fld, should be a top 10 pick in the 1st round, graded out OFP, 51, will contribute at ML level, not an elite player ala Machado or Harper, but steady enough to get to the show.
OF, Walker Jenkins, South Brunswick HS, Bolivar NC, 6'3 205, L/R, phyiscal specimen who'll only fill out and gain more strength as he matures fully, project to 230 pounds, a tick above ave runner with ave arm with carry, shows loft power to pull side, susceptible off-speed and lefty can give him trouble, 50 hit, 60 power, 50 run, 50 arm, 50 fld, 51 OFP, should go in top 10 picks based on tools.
RHP, Chase Dollander, Tennessee, 6'2 200, R/R, have loved seeing this kid pitch since 2018, he's climbed the ladder in velo, body strength and throwing strikes even more efficiently than as a teenager, Dolly will touch 100 on occ most fb are true occ arm side up ride in on RHH, has a sharp slurve and straight change with dive action to get hitters out front, solid average to abv ave command, can get hitters to chase and swing with deception on arm slot occasionally, 65 fb, 55 sl, 50 cb, 55 change, 55 comm, graded out as a 55 OFP, front line starter, should get to the ML within 2, 3 years max., Top 5 pick forecasted!
SS, Jacob Wilson, Grand Canyon U, 6'3 190, R/R, Willy projects as a 3B or 1B in the long run, quick twitch is just meh, gets there but lateral instincts not that of a Shea Turner or Stott, more like a Casey Blake former ML'er, Willy has a solid approach to hitting with 15+ power, pull side, 4.3 out of the box runner, solid ave ML arm and 45 glove for lack of range, graded out is a 52 OFP, should go in top 10, has solid bloodline in his dad who's a former ML and Kansas State alum.
OF, Enrique Bradfield, Vanderbilt, 6'1 170, L/L, started following this kid as a freshman for American Heritage HS in NHSI in Cary a few years back, Bradfield can pure FLY, has bat control to hit for at least ave, occ gap power, plays above ave "D" with plus range, grades out 60 hit, 30 power, 70 run, 40 arm, 60 fld, 52 OFP, can add more strength in the future, reminds me a bit of Juan Pierre except faster.
C, Kyle Teel, Virginia, 6'1 190 L/R, has solid skills package with pop in his bat, as he fully matures and reads pitchers more he should add more power to pull side, projects as a ML backstop or backup, 50 hit, 50 pow, 40 run, 60 arm, 50 field, most pop times are <2.0, most are 1.9's, chance to be competent ML catcher for some time, should go in top 25 picks on day 1.
RHP, Travis Sykora, Round Rock Lake HS TX, 6'6 220, R/R, excellent pure arm strength, stiff front side and landing bother me, as far as pure stuff his pitches and velo are there, he can touch 98 on occ, all depends on release point and landing spots, all correctible but you can't make a player less stiff on the front side, you can help lengthen stride and break hands a bit sooner, but that's very risky for the habits he's had so far, he's got a solid college offer to Texas. Hyped as an early first rounder, not for me!! Sorry.
OF, Dillon Head, Homewood-Flossmoor HS, ILL, 5'11 180, L/L, this kid can run and has quick twitch actions to be a solid CF in ML in 4 years as he matures physically, has strenght in his swing, comes out grade wise as a 50 hit, 30 power, 70 run, 40 arm, 50 field, 52 OFP, has offer to attend Clemson, a ML with patience and wanting youth may take him based on 3-4 year ETA. Top 30 pick for sure here otherwise.
LHP, Hunter Owen, Vanderbilt, 6'6 260, R/L, large lefty with OH delivery, cross body land on stiff front on occ bothersome, otherwise, fb explodes down and away vs RHH, has hard downer action on slurve type breaker, and good fell for change up, throws strikes, tends to pitch middle up too much, FB will touch 97-98, most fb are 93, durable frame, max effort may put him in BP in long run. Top 25? YES
3B, Jake Gelof, Virginia, 6'1 195, R/R, solid hitter with glove to be ML 3B quickly, has foul line power with ability to go with pitch the other way, ave ML arm and actions, quick on his feet, will tend to lift glove at times causing inconsistencies in the field, runs fair, not a burner but not a clogger, 60 hit, 50 power, 45 run, 50 arm, 40 glove, grades out to a 50, could be an end of 1st round guy. ETA 3 years.
RHP, Zander Mueth, Belleville East HS, Ill, 6'6 190, R/R, whippett type body with loose easy arm action much comparable to former Mizzou and current Red Sox pitcher, Houch, Mueth has the frame to fill out in time and easy arm action with deceptive velo, touches 97, most fb have late sink and has biting slide piece and good feel for change, throws from 3/4 slot, around the plate and projectible, could be day 1 pick, has offer for Mississippi, ETA 4 years.
RHP, Blake Wohlters, Mahomet-Seymour HS, Ill, 6'4 215, R/R, max effort, crosses body some, arm length not as long as most proto-type pitchers, the effort bothers me for future injury, shows velo up to 98, most are 94-95 with arm side, slide piece is sloppy at times and feel there for off-speed change, has offer for school, I don't want the investment now, let him go to school and see what happens in 3-4 years.
LHP, Alexander Clemmey, Bishop Hendrickensen HS, Rhode Island, 6'6 205, L/L, lengthy arms and limbs, frame to fill out naturally, throws easy down hill, from H3/4 slot, fb velo 92-93 mostly with arm side will touch 96 on occ, as he matures, watch out, bite on H3/4 downer in vs RHH and feel for change, competes and don't have to mess with much, ETA 4 years.
RHP, Will Sanders, South Carolina, 6'6 230, L/R, power arm used in starter role, pitches better at 91-92 he'll get sink and arm side run on fb on hitters knees, pitches too much to middle of plate and will overthrow causing eratic command, FB touches 96-97 and has hard slider with feel for change, will go as far as command takes him, looks like end of rotation to BP type, 48 OFP.
SS, Brice Matthews, Nebraska, 6' 175, R/R, gamer with running plus speed can take extra base on routine hits to gaps, throws are solid with qk release to stay at SS, range slightly abv ave, shows 50 hit, 40 pow, 70 run, 60 arm 50 fld, 50 OFP, ranked a tad low with this skill set for a former football player, ETA 4 years.
2B, Max Anderson, Nebraska, 6'0 205, R/R, have followed since his soph year at Millard West HS, shows bat tool which will get him there, has surprising pull gap power, pull side mostly, will end up at 1B or DH or move to LF, lacks foot agility, speed to make that type of contribution, but is a gamer and baseball rat! Have bat will travel is the M-O here.
OF, Will Gasparino, Westlake Harvard HS, Cal, 6'6 200, R/R, was fun to watch him in 2022 and recently on film, he's got the frame and instincts to get there quickly, compare better at this point than Kris Bryant, from good bloodlines and program that's produced current ML talent, Will could end up in RF or 1B in long run, has surprising power with quick bat to hit for average, grades out solid 50 OFP across the board, now just needs time, 4 years ETA!
3B, Mike Boeve, U Neb-Omaha, 6'3 200, L/R, gamer I've seen since his HS days, his father coached at Hastings College and defintely the skill set is there and has solid hitting approach, power has been the question, he's a spray hitter, hit it where it's pitched guy, and enough glove skills to stick at corner, perhaps move to 2B or 1B, but lacking power, may put him as a utility guy in the ML. Graded out as a 48 OFP!! Chance prospect!
OF, Homer Bush Jr, Grand Canyon U, 6'3 200, R/R, son of one of the most fun to watch kid in any of my tryout camps when I was with the Mets in Cobden, Illinois in 1993, Bush Jr has the bat skills with ability to run flat out straight away, has solid arm with good glove skills and range, question is the power he's not shown yet, but with time comes power, and I believe Homer will develop that as he learns pitches more and gains more strength. Grades out, 50 hit, 50 power, 50 run, 50 arm, 40 fld, 48 OFP, should be a 2-3 round guy with ETA of 3-4 years.
3B/OF, Mac Horvath, North Carolina, 6'1 195, R/R, another kid I've followed since his HS days when I first saw him in Cary, NC, Mac has a qk bat with gap power and can go to all fields, shows solid glove skills, best suited for 1B, and has 20-25 type power numbers, middle of the order guy, ETA 3 years.
RHP, Parker Detmers, Glenwood-Chatham HS, Ill, 6'5 215, R/R, younger brother to Kris and son of Kristen, both big leagues, Parker has frame to get better and stronger in time, shows true downer uncle charlie with FB up to 96 most are low 90's with sink when down and in on RHH, has college offer but ML investment could take him and give him needed time to develop, ETA 4 years, one of best breaking balls in ML draft with good upside.
RHP, George Klassen, Minnesota, 6'1 170, R/R, qk arm with easy delivery H3/4 slot, most fb 91-93 with arm side will touch 97, has hard slider and decent straight change, aggressive and throws strikes, could end up 2-3 round guy and move quickly in the right ML system, 3 years ETA.
2B/SS, Camden Kozeal, Millard South HS, 5'11 195, L/R, Vanderbilt off, solid HS QB in Nebraska who shows strength and leg speed to help his bat tools get him to the ML, best suited for 2B or move to OF, runs above ave and displays arm to play the IF with no worries, offer will be weighing moment on whether he goes out in 2023 to pro ball or wait 3-4 years, good enough athlete to was on for the investment it'll take.
C, Calvin Harris, Mississippi, 6'0 210, L/R, seen since his sophomore year in HS in Iowa, has not progressed much other than he's smarter and more experienced, grades out 50 hit, 50 power, 40 run, 50 arm, 45 field, at a premium position he could be a solid ML backup or everyday catcher who handles velo Mississippi pitchers have shown, OFP of 46 makes him a 3-4 round type guy, but he'll get there. Loves the game and it shows.
RHP, Cameron Flukey, Egg Harbor Township, NJ, 6'6 205, R/R, wiry frame long strider has a chance to gain more strength and develop into a solid ML pitcher, has college offer, Flukey shows a fb that will touch 97, most are 91-93 after 4 innings and has hard depth biting cb, slurvy type with change and feel for pitching, competes and throws strikes, make the investment ML, he's a 2-3 round with OFP at 50.
Monday, July 11, 2022
It's been a while since I posted anything on MLB Draft prospects and/or players I've scouted since last summer, but work and personal biz put baseball on the backburner for now. I do however have my thoughts on where the First Round is going to shape up for the 2022 MLB Free Agent Draft.
First round
1. Baltimore Orioles - Druw Jones, OF, Wesleyan HS (GA), best upside and quick mover, eta 2025.
2. Arizona Diamondbacks - Brooks Lee, SS,Cal Poly, toolsy and will move quick, have to be strong up the middle
3. Texas Rangers - Jackson Holliday, SS, Stillwater HS (OK), solid blood lines, has tools, eta 2025
4. Pittsburgh Pirates - Gavin Cross, OF, Virginia Tech, lefty bat legit ML run producer
5. Washington Nationals - Jacob Berry, 3B/OF, LSU, Nats need bats, they missed Rendon
6. Miami Marlins - Cam Collier, 3B, Chipola JC, good blood lines, plays the game right, young w/upside
7. Chicago Cubs - Jace Jung, 2B, Texas Tech, banking on the bat here & signability, quick mover too
8. Minnesota Twins - Zach Neto, SS, Campbell, small market team with steady player w/solid skills, average at best
9. Kansas City Royals - Kevin Parada, C, Georgia Tech, solid receiver handles duties defensively, hits ok
10. Colorado Rockies - Chase DeLauter, OF, James Madison, lefty bat w/clout, signable helps, moves quick
11. New York Mets - Elijah Green, OF,IMG Academy (FL), good athlete, power bat, could slip further, signability
12. Detroit Tigers - RHP, Brock Porter, Orchard Lake HS, MI, in-state dream arm, signable in this spot
13. Los Angeles Angels - Drew Gilbert, OF, Tennessee, signability, top of the order guy
14. New York Mets - Termarr Johnson, 2B, Mays HS (GA), move to OF could be possible in future
15. San Diego Padres - Daniel Susac, C, Arizona, good bloodlines, defense is his calling, can hit enough
16. Cleveland Guardians - Dylan Beavers, OF, California, his bat is his calling, can play defense too
17. Philadelphia Phillies - Robby Snelling, LHP, McQuee HS (NV), power stuff lefty w/upside, signable
18. Cincinnati Reds - Cole Young, SS, North Allegheny HS (PA), a baseball rat, not far from home either
19. Oakland Athletics - Cade Horton, RHP, Oklahoma, fully healed from TJ, a fighter and competitive, can pitch
20. Atlanta Braves - Dylan Lesko, RHP, Buford HS (GA), showed home squad the right stuff before injury, solid pick
21. Seattle Mariners - Justin Crawford, OF, Bishop Gorman HS (NV), Mariners love athletes, no rush here
22. St. Louis Cardinals - Connor Prielipp, LHP, Alabama,solid arm with aresenal, can move quickly here
23. Toronto Blue Jays - Sterlin Thompson, OF, Florida, up and comking bat, plays defense, could move quickly up
24. Boston Red Sox - Blade Tidwell, RHP, Tennessee, could be steal of the draft here,meets team needs
25. New York Yankees - Gabriel Hughes, RHP, Gonzaga, solid prospect, can pitch, could be there fast
26. Chicago White Sox - Brandon Barriera, LHP, American Heritage HS (FL), decent arm, no hurry with him
27. Milwaukee Brewers - Peyton Graham, SS, Oklahoma, has the skills, adding strength, solid player
28. Houston Astros - Jett Williams, SS, Rockwall-Heath HS (TX), scrappy fits the mold instate player
29. Tampa Bay Rays - Jordan Beck, OF, Tennessee, power is his calling and steady defense, 2025 eta
30. San Francisco Giants - Carson Whisenhunt, LHP, East Carolina, improving still, upside here to be rotation guy
Compensation picks
31. Rockies (Trevor Story) - Jackson Ferris, LHP, IMG Academy (FL), talent is here, signability in question
32. Reds (Nick Castellanos) - Cayden Wallace, 3B, Arkansas, solid bat, can play defense, quick mover
Competitive balance round A
33. Baltimore Orioles - Cooper Hjerpe, LHP, Oregon State, Birds need pitching, this is a steal here
34. Arizona Diamondbacks - Kumar Rocker, RHP, Frontier League, seems sound, can get there quickly, No School
35. Kansas City Royals - Brock Jones, OF, Stanford, strong player with tools, should adjust in pro ball
36. Pittsburgh Pirates - Justin Campbell, RHP, Oklahoma State, upside here, has 3 pitches and durable
37. Cleveland Guardians - Landon Sims, RHP, Mississippi State, power arm with decent control, quick mover
38. Colorado Rockies - Tucker Toman, 3B, Hammond (SC), solid skills here and should hit like Arrenado did.
39. San Diego Padres - Noah Schultz, LHP, Oswego East HS (IL), a big one with upside and he's a lefty folks
Saturday, October 9, 2021
So I was actually paid for working 2 under 14 tournaments this summer in Omaha, working for Don Reynolds and Triple Crown Prospects dba Triple Crown Sports out of Ft. Collins, Colorado. There were some decent young players to follow their progress over the next 4 school years. Please go to Triple Crown's web site for further infomration. I will post my evaluations on some players I evaluated in those events. It was very good to see and finally meet, Rene Gayo former Cleveland Indian scout and Pirates farm director, Mike Toomey who scouted on the same club with me in 1988 in the Texas Rangers, Sean Murphy, Danny Bates, Rusty Gerhardt, Marty Esposito and Dennis Sheehan. All great gentlemen and scouts who truly love this game we are so blessed to be part of!
Sunday, June 14, 2020
The MLB Draft 2020 is complete, all 5 rounds, not many surprises except I felt more seniors would be drafted however MLB teams made the right choice to take the best overall, signable talent as ranked by their scouting departments. To say 2020 has been a typical year, it has not been for sure!
My 2021 MLB Draft Projection grouping style is now up below, some players may move up a bit from but from what I've seen the past few years and tracking the progress of these players, this is about where I see them and project them for next year. Again I may add as some of the Showcase events late this summer may still be on and they'll have some kids who'll shot up the chart for sure. It happens ever year.
MLB Draft 2021 Projections (1-3 round) FOLLOW LIST
RHP Kumar Rocker, Vanderbilt, 6'4 255, established himself in HS and showing more pitchability
RHP Jack Leiter, Vanderbilt, 6'0 195, will be draft eligible by age, good bloodlines and KHTP
RHP Gunnar Hoglund, Mississippi, 6'4 220, drafted out of HS, all he's done is continue to grow into his body & improve
RHP Ryan Cusick, Wake Forest, 6'6 220, decent stuff for a big guy, ave 17 KPG in his brief 2020 yr
SS/RHP Brady House, Winder-Barrow HS, Barrow Ga, 6'3 210, R/R, has all the tools, may get bigger, best shot as a RHP? he hits
RHP Christian Little, Christian Brothers HS, St Louis MO, 6'4 210, R/R, lively body & arm, touches 95 w/sharp deuce
RHP, Chase Petty, 6'1 185, R/R, Mainland HS, Somers Point NJ, qk arm from H 3/4, mid 90's early, also SS, ability to elevate fb, breaking stuff still in development stage, has bite & downward tilt on slurve
OF, Benny Montgomery, Redland HS, Lewisberry PA, 6'4 200, R/R, runs well w/excellent arm strength, has some hit tools
RHP, Sean Burke, Maryland, 6'6 230, R/R, had decent 2020 early, opponents hit .183 this spring, coming back from injury
OF, Colton Cowser, Sam Houston St, 6'4 200, L/R, had a terrific 2019, 2020 was below par, shows plus hit tools & can play "D"
RHP, Cooper Stinson, Duke 6'6 245, hulk type w/downhill pitchability, fb up to 95, most are 92 w/late hope, hard SL piece he can control, throws strikes, has chance to be in ML rotation
RHP, Mason Black, Lehigh, 6'3 210, plus fb w/pitchability, has made strides since HS & mentality to be a decent starter at ML level
RHP, Ryan Olds, Oklahoma, 6'1 180, a bulldog w/hammer breaking ball, competed early in 2020, ave 14 KPG
OF, Grant Richardson, Indiana, 6'2 185, L/L, all this kid does is hit and he can play "D" with ave to abv arm, runs well, better OTW
3B, Zack Gelof, Virginia, 6'3 205, R/R, had decent early spring, has legit HR power & glove to stick at 3B, more to come here
C, Hunter Goodman, Memphis U, 6' 210, R/R, legit power stroke & should hit enuf, his "D" is improving w/plus arm strength
C, Connor Pavolony, Tennessee, 6'1 195, R/R, solid "D" package, 70 arm w/qk release, will hit enuf to be impact at ML level
RHP, Ryan Berget, West Virginia, 6'2 200, qk arm with plus fb w/sink, hard sl 81-84 with late break, pitchability here
2B, David Bedgood, Tulane, 5'11 185, R/R, can hit w/power, shows enuf "D" actions to make impact at ML level
OF, Maxwell Costes, Maryland, 6'1 215, R/R, plus power w/hit tool, balance at dish, eye hand coordination, plays enuf "D"
LHP, Seth Lonsway, Ohio St, 6'2 200, pull out of MLB draft this yr, is improving overall command, has legit shot at next level
C, Wes Clarke, South Carolina, 62 225, R/R, power stroke w/ability to drive the ball, has solid arm & will stick there, BU MLB C
C, Sam Prater, Alabama, 5'10 205, R/R, can hit w/power pull side, enuf arm/hands to stick behind dish his only shot, strong follow
RHP, Brannon Jordan, South Carolina 6'2 190,solid early 2020, held hitters to .104 batting ave with ave ML stuff & plus control
RHP, Mike Vasil, Virginia, 6'4 220, solid HS career, has been ok so far, will touch 96 w/fb, not as dominant as in HS but it's there
OF, Braylon Bishop, Arkansas HS, Texarkana TX, 6'1 195, L/L, runs well w/solid arm strength shows qk wrists & wiry strength
OF, Tyler Reed, American Canyon HS, Vallejo CA, 6'2 180, L/L fringe offense tools, projection type, runs well, adequate arm
SS/RHP, Luke Leto, Portage Central HS, Michigan, 6'2 190, L/R, fb touches low 90's, shows EZ stroke w/pull side power
RHP, Andrew Painter, Calvary Christian Academy, FL, 6'6 220, plus fb w/decent command, can get under w/elbow, feel for SL/CH
SS, Isaac Pacheco, Friendswood HS, TX, 6'4 220, L/R, strong build, power, arm, runs OTW, could be solid at next level, 3B type
C-1B/OF, Haydn McGeary, Colorado-Mesa U, 6'5 235 R/R, D-2 stud, power w/strong balanced swing, ML arm & runs ok
1B, Tracye Tammaro, Portland U, 6'3 220, L/L, power bat w/eye hand coordination, plays 1b well enuf to stick, late developer
OF, Jacob Young, Florida, 6' 175, R/R, flyer w/contact ability to be leadoff type, not much power, can steal bases & range "D"
RHP, David Luethje, Florida, 6'5 220, R/R, steady performer, never has dominated, projects and now is the time to elevate
RHP, Jack Leftwich, Florida, 6'3 200, signability took him out of top 5 rounds this year, has something to offer ML, middle guy rot
SS, Marcelo Mayer, Eastlake HS, Chula Vista CA, 6'3 185, L/R, nice arm w/fluid actions IF, still filling out, flat swing w/strength
C/RHP, Jackson Baumeister, The Bolles HS, Jacksonville FL, 6'3 215, R/R solid arm w/qk release hands, has pop, also 94 on bump
RHP/UT, Jay Woolfolk, Benedictine HS, Midlothian VA, 6'1 200, R/R, 3/4 slot w/hard SL & split, fb touches low 90's, has actions to play IF
SS, Aries Samek, Teaneck HS, NJ, 6'2 200 R/R, a tool shed type player, runs well for his size, shows bat strength & elite arm
LHP Philip Abner, Charlotte Christian HS, Charlotte NC, 6'1 220, power arm with power SL, natural cut to his fb, w/touch 94, most are low 90's with 84 mph SL with depth & break, finishes SU
RHP, C J Hood, Norris-Hickman HS, Norris NE, 6'4 190, loose qk arm from H 3/4, fb touches 91, fb has jumped 5 mph since 2019, frame w/wide shoulders, high legs to develop further, shows proper spin/snap on slurve and makings of change up, has easy upside to project, has many offers for D1 coming
Group 2 (rounds 4-7)
OF, Jake Holcroft, Portland U, 5'11 165 L/L, qk bat, solid contact guy, ave tools, arm is accurate shows range & instincts, some comps to Jacob Ellsbury
Zack Raabe, Minnesota, 5'10 180, R/R, qk wrists w/strength to hit, ave at best runner, qk actions & sure hands, glove & range to play 2B at ML level someday.
OF, Jason Coules, Fordham, 6'1 205, R/R, strong build w/level qk bat, balance is good, OTW runner, 4.44 home to 1st quicker on bases, shows ave arm w/accuracy, LF/RF type, could also play 1B, will go as far as bat takes him, 50 power, 15-20 HR type.
RHP, Benton McGill, Kentucky Wesleyan U, 6'4 235, strong build w/H 3/4 arm slot, fb fairly true will touch 93, most are 90-92, hard curve ball w/depth, change in development stage, there's something to work w/here, ave 14 KPG at D-2 level
C, Brett McGee, Southern Arkansas U, 5'10 185, L/R, gamer w/qk release behind the dish, 50 arm, qk bat w/pull side power, room to fill out his frame, some comp to Brad Ausmus body wise, has a chance to be BU ML receiver in time
OF, Tanner Tredaway, Oklahoma, 5'11 180, R/R, qk runner, 4.2 out of box, runs better on the base paths, has foul line power pull side and plays solid "D", w/accurate arm, fringy gamer type, will go as far as bat takes him
C, Ian Moller, Wahlert HS, Dubuque IA, 6'1 205, R/R, solid performer, ave arm w/ave release, durable frame, should fill out and improve overall strength, has LSU offer, chance to be a good one in time
LHP, Bubba Horton, Minnesota, 6'3 195, smooth lefty, KHTP, touches 92 w/sink ASR, slurvy breaking ball, back door type, aggressive in getting ahead in the count, tough to square up, definite follow, could move up
IF, Alex Ulloa, Miami Christian HS, FL, 5'11 180, R/R, 4.4 out of box, quicker OTW runner, ave arm w/qk release & carry, steady hands, glove side range, has pop in his bat, gap type power, will get bigger & stronger in time
C, Rene Lastres, Miami Christian HS, FL, 6'3 205, R/R, nice build w/abv ave arm, ave release to plus, 1.9 to 2B, has some length in his swing w/pull side 50 power, could move up as the bat develops, will get bigger & stronger, needs time
RHP/OF, Thomas Dilandri, Home School, Las Vegas NV, 6'3 195, R/R, high leg kick w/qk arm from H 3/4, fb touches 94, spins the SL/CB, fair command, something to work with on the bump, runs well underway, 4.25 home to 1B, ball jumps off the bat, alley power pull side, shows AA ML arm from OF, TCU offer
RHP/SS, John Rizzo, St Thomas HS, The Woodlands TX, 6'2 195, R/R, athletic build w/plus arm strength from OF, runs well on the way, 6.7, 60 runner, 4.28 out of box, easy arm action on the bump w/fb up to 92, delivery all over the place, needs refinement, will needs time to develop.
C/UT, Harry Ford, North Cobb HS, Kennesaw GA, 5'10 200, R/R, durable frame, compact build, offer to GT, shows ability to stick behind the plate w/plus release & 60 arm, runs OTW, 4.38 out of box, pop in his bat w/strength, qk wrists, foul line to alley pull side power, definite ability to watch develop
C/1B/OF, Ivan Brethowr, St Thomas Aquinas HS, Olathe KS, 6'5 230, R/R, strong body w/frame to fill out in time, shows plus arm strength from OF, has bat speed & raw strength for power, bat is a bit late, BP type hitter at present, could develop in time, hass offer to Arizona State
RHP/2B, Luke Hayden, Edgewood HS, Bloomington IN, 6'1 205, qk arm w/plus fb, touches mid 90's, sits 91-92 w/ASR, hard downer type cb 11/6 break action, could be a good one in time
C, Casey Opitz, Arkansas, 5'11 200, S/R, catch n throw guy, 1.9 pop times, can turn on fb, better LH hitter w/foul line power pull side, chance to be BU at ML level
SS, Wyatt Young, Pepperdine, 5'7 165, L/R, plugger, puts the bat on the ball, 60 runner w/instincts and know how, steady glove w/qk actions in the field, lack of power may keep him to extra man on the team at ML level
LHP, Andrew Abbott, Virginia, 6'0 180, L/L, agg lefty w/plus fb w/ASR, smaller version of Sean Doolittle, hard downer type CB with depth, ideal shot as reliever, could be contributor in the pen at ML level
LHP, Doug Nikhazy, Mississippi, 5'10 200, hard CB & CH with pitchability, fb low 90's at best, chance to be bullpen contributor at ML level
RHP, Kolby Kubichek, Texas, 6'0 180, qk arm with ASR, FB will touch 95 on occ, some effort to delivery, some comps to Sonny Gray, hard SL piece with late break, chance to be ML pitcher in time
RHP, Aidan Maldonado, Illinois, 6'0 180, R/R, from Minnesota HS days, still has fb that touches 97 on occ, most are 93-94 with sink when down in the zone, breaking ball easy to read, needs development still should improve in pro ball, long range will be in the bullpen
2B, Darren Baker, Cal, 6'0 175, L/R, son of Dusty Baker, qk bat with direct bat path to hit for average, ave runner, quicker on the base paths, can play steady "D" to be contributor at ML level in time
RHP, Trey Dillard, Missouri, 6'2 230, reliever w/big arm, fb touches upper 90's, effective when delivery is in synch, chance to be closer at ML level, consistency needs help with H 3/4 slot delivery, tends to rush delivery power type cb w/fair command
RHP, Madison Jeffrey, West Virginia, 6'0 185, max effort guy out of pen, fb touches 96, most are 93, fb down has heavy movement, allowed just .174 batting ave this spring, needs to be more consistent w/delivery to get to ML
2B/UT, Noah Campbell, South Carolina, 6'0 200, S/R, plays the game right, has strength in his hands at the plate, ave ML arm w/range to play 2B at ML level, will go as far as bat takes him MILWAUKEE UDFA
RHP, Mason Bryant, Texas, 6'5 225, long armer w/plus fb from H 3/4 slot, release points vary, tends to rush front side, has hard slurve type cb w/depth at times, will benefit from pro instruction down the road.
SS/2B, Matt McClain, UCLA, 5'9 175, R/R, ave tools w/qk bat, plugger, some comps to Dustin Pedroia, had good wood bat experience w/chance to be extra player at ML level or fill in type.
RHP, Elijah Trest, Arkansas, 6'3 205, bullpen guy w/plus arm and hard slider, ability to close, should become ML reliever w/present stuff
OF, Christian Franklin, Arkansas, 5'11 190 R/R, plus runner w/ability to steal bases, gap power, drives the ball, can play CF w/accurate arm w/solid strength, will go as far as bat takes him
LHP, Caden Monke, Arkansas, 6'2 175, L/L, smooth lefty with late hop on fb, touches 92-93, most 89-90, keeps the ball down in the zone, pitchability there to get to ML
RHP, Logan Workman, Lee U, 6'4 200, max effort guy w/H 3/4 slot, fb low 90's, touches 93, has 3 pitch mix to go develop further
LHP, Nick Zwack, Xavier, 6'3 220, KHTP
OF/RHP, Allbry Major, Xavier, 6'6 215, S/R, an enigma with tools across the board, had a decent CAPE in '19, no playing time this spring, runs well for size, handles the bat well enuf w/power to get to ML in time
SS, Ben Ramirez, USC, 6'3 195, L/R, has power & actions to play MIF, lacks foot speed but knows how on base path
RHP, Ty Madden, Texas, 6'3 210, 90-94 fb w/agg demeanor, developing secondary stuff improving could be a solid middle guy
LHP, Luke Bartnicki, Georgia Tech, 6'4 220, strong body w/ability to spin hard downer slurve, fb touches 95, most 91-92 with occ sink, bullpen type in time
OF/1B, Jamal O'Guinn, USC, 6'4 220, R/R, power calling card, 70 power, has some swing n miss issues, from heels, has enuf raw ability to develop further in pro ball, on the way runner
2B, Cody Morissette, Boston College, 6'0 175, L/R, solid fielder w/plus ability as a defender, not much power, has solid bat to ball skills, will go as far as bat takes him
OF, Jud Fabian, Florida, 6'4 190, R/L, turnaround guy who can run well and has solid arm strength, will have to prove he can hit consistently to make his mark, a lot of swing n misses, but athletic to overcome.
RHP, Zack Brzkcy, Virginia Tech, 6'2 225, power arm out of the pen, fb touched 100 a few times, sits 95-97, hard slider w/eratic command, if he harnesses his control/command, could be a solid BP performer at the MLB level UDFA Washington Nationals
RHP, Sean Sullivan, Cal, 6'1 175, easy delivery w/lively arm from 3/4 slot, fb in low 90's, secondary stuff still coming along, effective change up
C, Brady Smith, Florida, 6' 200, R/R, can n throw skills are average w/some bat skills UDFA Texas
RHP, Franco Alleman, Florida, 6'6 220, transfered from JUCO via FIU, has ideal pitchers frame and fb that will touch 95, most are true & 91-93, feel for slide piece but it's easy to read, raw ability here
RHP, Tyler Mattison, Bryant U, 6'4 230, low 90's with big CB, shows the change w/ave control, definite follow who could move up
RHP, Nick Nastrini, UCLA, 6'3 200, had a decent CAPE in '19, has lively arm, low 90's fb w/fair command of SL & CH
1B, T T Bowens, Central Connecticut St, 6'4 230, plus power & fair glove, handled wood fine in CAPE, worth a good look SIGNED UDFA w/BALTIMORE 6/17/2020
RHP, Trey McLaughllin, Fairfield U, 6'1 200, bulldog w/fb up to 94, most are 92, opportunity to be a solid BP guy at the ML level
OF, Elijah Dunham, Indiana, 6'0 220, L/L, compact hitter w/pop in his swing, OTW runner, plays enuf "D" to stick in LF or RF, backup type at ML level NY Yankees UDFA
RHP, Ian Villers, Cal, 6'5 220, big arm, 92-95 fb, most fb true w/occ ASR, H 3/4 slot with hard SL 85-87 pitches downhill well, out of stretch, could end up at back of rotation or long man in the pen
RHP, Hunter Breault, Oregon, 6'2 225, power arm w/fb up to 96, most are 93, slurve type SL with late break, perfect for end of BP at the next level
OF, Eric Kennedy, Texas, 5'11 200, L/R, solid runner w/short compact swing w/pull side power, 4.2 out of box, OTW quicker, fair glove & defense, could be extra OF at ML level
RHP, Davis Palermo, North Carolina, 6'3 195, live bodied righty, easy arm action fb 88-93, late developer, more here to build on, hard cb w/fair command at present, projects to improve at the next level
RHP, Ethan Smith, Vanderbilt, 6'3 200, KHTP, throws strikes, FB in low 90's mostly, SL a bit wide, when on top it's a solid out pitch
RHP, Kyle Mott, North Carolina, 6'4 170, loose, qk arm from 3/4 slot, fb runs w/life, frame to get stronger, fb up to 93, slurvy CB 11/5 type break, competes
RHP, Cort Roedig, Georgia Tech, 6'2 190, low 90's w/lively fb on the knees, up tempo type delivery from H 3/4, doesn't hide ball well, still developing, could be a sleeper if stuff develops further
LHP, Dustin Saenz, Texas A&M, 5'11 190, smooth lefty KHTP, changes speeds, could be a surprise at the next level, fb up to 92, sinker fb w/command
Group 3 (Rounds 8-12)
LHP, Nick Jones, Georgia Southern U, 6'6 195, used out of pen mostly this year, fb touches 93, most are 89-90, live arm, throws strikes
RHP, Drew Christo, Elkhorn HS, Elkhorn NE, 6'4 210, easy delivery w/arm speed, velo up to 91, mostly upper 80's with ASR, breaking ball still developing, has size & frame to develop further, 3/4 arm slot, cb better of his breaking stuff, also makings of CU, has Nebraska offer
OF, Kendall McGowan, Appalachian St, 5'11 190, ave runner w/hit tool occ power, ability to make contact & play enuf "D" to get a look at the next level, extra OF type at ML level
LHP, Jimmy Burnette, Illinois, 6'2 195, lefty w/arm strength flashes fb up to 93, slider & change command lacking, could improve with more consistency with delivery, tends to rush w/effort
UT, Drew Benefield, Louisville, 6'4 195, R/R, athletic build w/plus makeup, has raw power and ability to drive the baseball, worth a look and could move up
OF, Randy Bednar, Maryland, 5'9 195, R/R, strong build w/pop in his bat, lacks power to be definite ML prospect but does enuf things to be an extra OF in time, OTW runner w/adequate arm & defense
C, Adrian Del Castillo, Miami Florida U, 5'11 195, L/R, fair defender w/acc arm to 2B, has some pop in his bat, marginal tools, backup type at next level at best
LHP, Thomas Spinelli, Florida Southern U, 6' 215, funky delivery w/fb touching low 90's w/sink, slurve type cb & effective change
3B, Justyn-Henry Malloy, Vanderbilt, 6'2 210, R/R tuff spring but showed some skills w/wood & has tools here, arm strength w/enuf speed to take extra bases, marginal type but worth look
OF, T J Reeves, Alabama, 5'10 210, R/R, strong build w/ability to get on base, has pull side power, OTW runner w/fair arm strength, will go as far as bat takes him, agg at plate, tends to overswing
SS, Nander DeSedas, Florida St, 6'2 195, R/R, hit .150 this year, hyped up talen, he has tools but has yet to show them at this D1 level thus far, needs to refine his swing or make a move to the bump to use his plus arm strength
LHP, Will Dion, McNeese St, 5'9 175, crafty lefty with ability to get outs, hard breaking ball is plus w/command, KHTP, may be a decent pro in time in the BP
RHP, Joey Kosowsky, Fairleigh Dickinson U, 5'11 190, decent reliever w/fb in low 90's w/run, competes, has made progress since HS days, chance in the BP at the next level
IF, Kyle Manzardo, Washington St, 6'1 195, L/R, qk bat w/strength in his swing, quiet stance w/qk trigger, attacks, shows enuf tools on "D" to be a solid pro in time, will go as far as bat takes him, mostly DH, can play 1B well enuf to stick there, 50 power at best
OF, Elijah Cabell, Florida St, 6'2 200, R/R, struggled as most hitter did in 2020 for the Noles, there is ability here having seen him in HS till now, ave to plus arm strength & ability to drive baseball to all fields to produce runs, needs to fine tune his approach as a hitter to make jump to ML
LHP, Brandon Knarr, Tampa U, 5'11 205, crafty lefty w/hammer type cb, lacks top velo though shows fb up to 93 early in game, change up is better than average, has a shot to pitch in the ML, ave 16 KPG this spring for TU. SIGNED UDFA w/Milwaukee June 20,2020.
Sunday, May 31, 2020
Troubling times in some of our major cities as rebels with nothing better on their mind decide to take advantage of using their masks to destroy property, steal from business owners and disrespect their own community and they are being used by negative forces that only perpetrates chaos and self-destruction. Those caught will serve time and for what? What did they accomplish?
The MLB Draft is 10 days away and hopefully MLB will decide soon to agree on playing a season albeit, it's cut short and hoping their is some calm and normalcy to come soon!
If you are looking for a qualified Baseball Coach to teach any skill,recruit and develop student athletes into leaders and potential professional baseball players, while building a perennial winner and competitive baseball program, email me. I'm willing to relocate.
Friday, April 17, 2020
Well there is certainly a different world we live in today than we ever have and all spring sports were shut down abruptly due to the coronavirus pandemic and I hope this article finds you all well and safe. I've done my Mock drafts a few times in the past and with a lot of time on my hands, I'm going to project where I feel the top 37 MLB Draft picks will be based on not only what each MLB team needs, but who are best fits for their needs, who are closest to the ML and who are signable and profile to make an impact at the ML level in the next 3-4 years.
Detroit - LHP Asa Lacy, 6'2 220, Texas A&M, a fireballing lefty with a plus slider and starter ability, he'll take a quick pathway to the ML and Tigers can't pass on quality LHP as you don't see many lefties in the ML, especially front line starters and seeing enough of this kid in the past and on tv this spring, the pick makes sense.
Baltimore - RHP Emerson Hancock, 6'3 220, Georgia, 2 above ave pitches with ave command put this pick in the right slot with where their front office made their mark with the Astros' drafts, this pick makes sense for a team trying to get back to their yesteryear prominence as AL Pennant and World Series contenders.
Miami - 2B Nick Gonzales, New Mexico St, 6'0 190 R/R, best offensive run producer in the amateur ranks the past 3 years and it's Nick's ticket to the ML, he's a 2-5 hole hitter who can take the extra base and he plays enuf D to move over to 3B or stick at 2B, his defense is solid and he'll be a quick mover as well.
Kansas City - Utility, Austin Martin, Vanderbilt, 6'0 180, 1st saw this young man at the NHSI in Cary for Trinity Christian HS, Austin can play any infield position adequately or move to CF, he has 1st step quickness and a step above average speed, he has qk wrists and can spray liners all over the field, the ball jumps off the barrel of the bat so there is the ability to hit 15-20 HR in pro ball, so a top of the order type guy, he can steal bases on occasion and knows how and he's a gamer, something the Royals love in their DNA as a team.
Toronto - LHP Reid Detmers, 6'2 210, Louisville, from the rural Illinois HS ranks where I scouted his dad years ago, Kris, Reid has a 3 pitch mix with an above ave curveball and better than average command/control, putting him at the top 5 quotia and he's close to the ML, Jays need lefties and he has a chance to make an immediate impact and join the rotation as early as 2021/2022.
Seattle - 1B Spencer Torkelson, Arizona St, 6'2 220, R/R, one of the top run producing bats some comps to him include Paul Goldschmidt, lack of foot speed is a concern but he's not a clogger, his D tools are solid ave so he'll stick at the sack and he'll be an All-Star run producer someday soon.
Pittsburgh - RHP Max Meyer, Minnesota, 6'0 185, R/R, power RHP with legit shot to be a stopper out of the pen quickly, Max has shown a FB that will touch 98 on occasion, he pitches better at 93-95 with late hop on the arm side vs RHH and his 70 sweep slider in the 86-90 range will keep hitters honest, a starter in 4 appearances this spring, he's moved himself up with 46 K's in just 27.2 innings and he throws strikes and is signable for a team with a new front office, and same ol' scouting boss.
San Diego - C, Patrick Bailey, North Carolina St, 6'1 185 S/R, seen this kid since he was 16 and he's grown into a solid prospect with ability to show some offense making him a hot commodity with the lack thereof solid 5 tool catchers in the ML who can throw out runners and maintain holding a pitching staff together with his hands, range and overall "D". He profiles for this spot too.
Colorado - LHP Garrett Crochet, Tennessee, 6'4 210, seen 4 years now and he just grows on you and again, lack of premium lefties and there is still upside here, Crochet's slider can be a wipeout pitch when he doesn't rush his delivery, hi 3rd pitch, vulcan change can be a solid ML out pitch as well, strong and competitive, he fits the bill here.
Los Angeles Angels - RHP Mick Abel, Jesuit HS, Oregon, 6'4 185, Mick fits the profile as he's advanced for his age and he has the ideal frame to mature into a front of the line starter in the ML. His fb with sink will touch 98 on occasion and he has a 70 cb with downward trajectory and high spin rate to get hitters chasing, he throws strikes and he's a gamer, so why not build your staff here?
White Sox - OF, Robert Hassell, 6'3 185 L/L, Independence HS, Tenn, quick bat that sprays the ball around the field and has pull side power, the physical frame to fill out and add strength, defensively he is sound with a ML arm, corner OF projection and middle of the order run producer here.
Cincinnati - OF, Austin Kendrick, West Allegheny HS, PA, all this kid does is hit with a qk bat with strength and can drive the ball to opp field with power, would love to see him vs more quality LHP to see how he stays in the box vs LHP but he just rakes vs RHP who he'll see more of in the ML, a solid ML arm and average defensive tools to get him to the ML for the Reds.
San Francisco - C, Tyler Soderstrom, Turlock HS CA, 6'2 200, L/R, a blast from the past perhaps as Tyler's father was drafted as a RHP out of Fresno years ago, '93, and the Giants want to build the middle of their field and this kid projects with his bat and improving defensive package with a 60 arm and 2.0 to sub pop times, hands and shifting will only get better and pro instruction helps that.
Texas - RHP, Jared Kelley, Refugio HS, Texas, 6'3 210, Rangers could use more pitching and they don't want to let the best in their backyard leave, Jared has a FB that has touched 99, he pitches better downhill when he doesn't rush and fly open on a locked front leg, has a power slider with depth and throws strikes, he'll need to be brought along slowly but we could see him in the ML in 2023/24.
Philadelphia - SS Casey Martin, Arkansas, 5'11 175 R/R, quick feet and able to stick at SS with a solid arm and qk release, Martin shows plus speed on the bases and a short quick bat to hit to all fields with foul line pull side power, his ticket to ML will be his defense and Phils need to shore up the middle and this slot pick makes sense.
Cubs - SS Ed Howard, Mount Carmel HS ILL, 6'1 185 R/R, defensive tools are there including a qk release, he's a local kid who's signable and should develop quickly in the Cubs farm system to make an impact in 3-4 years.
Boston - C, Drew Romo, The Woodlands HS Texas, 6'2 200, S/R, solid tools here with release that is consistent sub 2.0, has range and instincts, something that will keep him behind the dish at the ML level, he profiles due to attitude, leadership and tenacity as a catcher and there is no rush on him to get to the ML and he should get there in 3-4 years, his bat path is direct and he has strength, he's at best probably a 220-240 hitter with 8-12 HR type power based on contact, bottom of the order guy.
Arizona - RHP Carmen Mlodzinski, South Carolina, 6'2 220, power slider with a lively fb in the mid 90's w/sink, throws strikes and competes, has a 3-4 man in a rotation projection, biggest worry is injury prone last 3 years, when healthy this RHP has it all to be a MLB RHP.
New York Mets - C, Dillon Dingler, Ohio St, 6'2 220, R/R, this cat can run for a catcher, however, that's not the selling point, overall "D" skills in 3 yrs at Buckeye U is he's improved, his catch n throw skills jump up, sub 2.0 pop times with actual game pop on attempted bandit bag 1.87 which is above ave, not many ML catchers do that currently, Dillon has a compact qk bat with legit pull side power, he'll get to the ML based #1 on his "D" and his bat should carry him, high riser in 2020 talk. (originally had LHP Ian Seymour, Virginia Tech, 6'0 190, power lefty who competes and gets outs, fb is lively with high spin rate and plus slider, profiles as a short man in the pen where the Mets could use help especially from a lefty.)
Milwaukee - OF Garrett Mitchell, UCLA, 6'2 215, L/R, projected to go much higher in this round, some concerns on health, has type 1 diabetes and also had injury last fall, raw tools are off the chart, putting them all together and doing it consistently is what's the $64,000 question. I would not be surprised if he drops out of the 1st round, but he profiles here for the Brewers who like strong athletes with plus tools and let their development people do their jobs.
St Louis - RHP Bobby Miller, Louisville, 6'5 220, power RHP with a fb that's touched 99 many times and he has the proto type build the Cards love and he's got a 3 pitch mix, when he keeps it all together and doesn't rush, he can dominate hitters as a short man or starter, Cards can develop pitchers so this pick slot makes sense.
Washington - RHP CJ Van Eyck, Florida St 6'1 205, Fiesty competitor with ability to dominate RHH, has plus cb and fb with movement down on the knees, velo 91-93 is where he's most effective will touch 95 on occasion, has some body comps to current Nats pitcher, Max Scherzer, slot fits what Nats need.
Cleveland - OF Pete Crow-Armstrong, Harvard Westlake HS CA, 6'0 185 L/L, love his attitude and how his bat works, he can drive the ball to all fields and he's going to get stronger, some comps to former Indian, Brantley, tools across the board and don't need to rush him, Indians like youth and that's their movement right now.
Tampa Bay - RHP Slade Cecconi, Miami-Fla, 6'4 210, power arm with ability to close or be back of rotation guy, fb lacks movement but he features a wipe out slider and his delivery is easy to the plate, Rays tend to develop pitching and this arm could rise quickly in their system.
Atlanta - RHP Cole Wilcox, Georgia, 6'5 230, R/R, power type stuff and he's from the Braves' backyard so why would they pass on this one? You can never have enough pitching and Cole could develop into a closer in the pen or back of rotation, his fb touches upper 90's to 100 mph and has a hard slider to keep hitters at bay, future stopper? I believe so.
Oakland - RHP Chris McMahon, Miami-Fla, 6'2 200, classic build and smooth delivery, ball jumps out of his hand, has a plus change and competes, fb touches 97 on occ, most fb are 93 with ASR, hard cb with downward break he'll be a front line starter in a short time.
Minnesota - SS Jordan Westburg, Mississippi St, 6'3 190, R/R, 5 tool guy who may be compared to Troy Tulo former Rockies stud, Westy has a qk bat with power to the alleys and he's improved up the ladder since his HS days in Mississippi to put him where he is today and he's signable in this slot and safe bet with his glove and "D".
New York Yankees - OF Zac Veen, Spruce Creek HS FL, L/L, 6'4 190, another late comer who showed a power stroke and ability to let the bat put the ball where it's pitched, a 5 tool player, he has time to fill out his frame and in time could be an All-Star type player and the Yankees love athletic builds and projectability, Zac shows all those qualities.
Los Angeles Dodgers - LHP Seth Lonsway, Ohio St, 6'2 200, all this guy does his strike out hitters and improve his ability to pitch out of jams and again, lefty pitchers are in high demand, the Dodgers love the quality of his hammer cb with downward high spin rate, key will be to repeat his delivery consistently and he'll learn that in pro ball and he's improved since his HS days, when he was 6'1 160 going into his senior year, he's not talked about in publications but among scouts I know who've seen Seth, this would not be a surprise pick one iota.
Competitive Balance 1st round picks - Baltimore - OF Heston Kjerstad, Arkansas, 6'2 200, L/R, Orioles betting on the bat that put Heston on the map last year in the College World Series, his numbers don't put him in 1st round talk normally, but he has bat strength and speed with ability to adjust in game, he's a 240-260 type hitter with 20-25 type HR power w/ability to drive in runs a 5-6 hole type lineup hitter, his defense is sound with an ave ML arm, he can play either corner and he's signable in this slot.
Pittsburgh - OF, Daniel Cabrera, LSU, 6'0 200, L/L, an offensive tool chest with sound "D", he fits what the Pirates need, he's strong and has the ability to be a 3-6 order type hitter with defensive ability to be solid LF with ave arm strength and he's a straight away runner which would add another dimension to his offensive ability to take extra bases.
Kansas City - LHP Jake Eder, Vanderbilt, 6'4 210, L/L, another lefty with quality stuff however his arch style delivery pitching up hill at times causes his erratic command, he features a fb that will touch 97 out of the pen and on occ early in starts, a snap dragon slider that is plus, those 2 pitches could get him into the bullpen as a closer or middle innings eater and if the change up comes along that will dictate how far he climbs as a ML starter.
Arizona - RHP Carson Montgomery, Windemere HS FLA, 6'2 200, a power arm who will only add to his arsenal in the future, he's just 17 and shown a fb that touches 97, most are 94 and he has decent control from his H 3/4 arm slot, he's loose and his body frame will gain strength, his slurve will end up a power cb and he shows an ave change up when he does throw it.
San Diego - RHP Cade Cavalli, Oklahoma, 6'4 230, strong competitor who has a chance to be a front line starter at the ML level, Padres can use arms for sure and Cavalli has the stuff to prove he can do it, a fb that sits 93-94 early in games he'll touch 97 on occ with a power slider and he has decent command for a big guy and he'll only get better in pro ball.
Colorado - RHP Cole Henry, LSU, 6'4 200, eligible by 3 year rule, his cb has improved to be an out pitch to add to a fb he can take deeper into games at 93 mph, he'll touch 96 early on occasion, but the CB drops off the table and if he proves more consistent with his delivery he'll climb levels quickly. Rockies can always use more pitching and this pick fits.
Cleveland - LHP Burl Carraway, Dallas Baptist, 6'0 175 L/L, a late developer who has a fierce nature on the bump and competes like a ML already, his fb and cb are both plus and the only thing he's lacking is pitching experience and he's amassed success pitching for DBU and Team USA, Indians need lefty pitching and Carraway fits the slot and he's signable in this spot, so don't be surprised if he goes here.
Tampa Bay - OF Isaiah Greene, Corona HS CA, 6'1 180, L/L, a speed merchant with lots of upside and a whippet build that will get stronger, he has a flat bat path with deceptive strength so adding power won't be a problem, he run 4.1 out of the box and better on the bases, another youth movement type pick for the Indians and he could be the best CF since the days of Kenny Lofton.
Again this MOCK Draft is early and with the likelihood of no more college or high school baseball being played before the 2020 MLB Draft, from the reports I wrote on each player I've seen in person the past 4-5 years and from video up through March 15, 2020.
Best of luck to all the Area Scout, Players and MLB!
March 19, 2020
It's been a quiet time as the "coronavirus" has disrupted our way of life in many ways, especially in the baseball world yet we can keep compiling future names of potential prospects and I wanted to announce I have not stopped my scouting network, however, the name will change and more than baseball will be covered for young men across the United States and abroad. We will include women amateur sports at the high school and JUCO levels to aid them in keeping their playing careers at the next level. We will include men's basketball and football as well to expand with the purpose to give all deserving athletes the exposure necessary to be scouted/recruited by colleges they never thought possible.
Congratulations to a former player I was privileged to have coached in 2018 in the Corn Belt League, he was a red-shirt freshman at NW Miss JC from Lake Cormorant Mississippi and has continued to develop along the way, he played in the MINK league in Nevada MO in 2019 where I saw him and his twin brother, Bryland last summer, he's currently a sophomore at NW Mississippi JC, OF Brayland Skinner, 5'9 1/2 170 L/L, a speed on demon the bases, he' ran 6.55, 60, 4.1 home to 1b, plus OF instincts and range with a ML accurate arm from CF, the bat has potential as he has feel for the barrel and needs just to read pitches a bit better and trust his ability and continue to work to become a ML outfielder in time, he's now committed to Mississippi State University.
Stay tuned! And stay safe during this temporary change in our lifetimes!
February 9, 2020
My Early 2020 MLB Draft Top Prospects
These players I've personally seen while living in North Carolina or in the midwest the last 2 years.
1B, Spencer Torkelson, Arizona St 6'4 210, strength is his ability to hit and w/power, some comps to Castellanos/Rhys Hoskins, this man will play in the ML!
LHP, Asa Lacy, Texas A&M, 6'3 220, loose arm w/velo, has hammer type CB with depth and throws strikes with competitive nature, he'll be first lefty off the board and be a front line starter or solid closer in the ML.
2B, Nick Gonzales, New Mex State, 6'0 195, R/R, quick bat with line drive stroke, ability to hit for gap power and drive in runs, reminds me some of Sean Rodriguez who' been a journeyman in the ML, Nick has the feel for the game and instincts to be a solid contributor in the ML. Runs ave and knows how, shows enuf arm and glove to stick at 2B at ML level.
OF, Garrett Mitchell, UCLA, 6'2 210, L/R, saw him in HS 2 years and one year at UCLA, there are tools present here, including strength in his bat to hit for average and raw power, however, he's not much of a HR hitter, he's going to play "D" and utilize his speed, if the bat plays up, he'll contribute as a solid 4th OF in the ML, otherwise, he could be a long time organizational guy. This year the bat has to dominate.
RHP, Carmen Mlodzinski, South Carolina, 6'2 210, first time seen was at the South Atlantic Scouts Border Battle in Holly Springs, there is bite on the breaking ball and enough stuff to be solid ML prospect, he doesn't do anything easy or domineering, he just seems to get people out.
RHP, J T Ginn, Mississippi St, 6'1 215, first seen at TOS in Cary, he's got plenty of arm but doesn't dominate, he just gets pop ups and ground outs with a fb that touches 97, he's a late innings eater without blow away stuff, feel for the change and slider are there, they are just ok pitches and have been, draft eligible for 2020, he'll go early based on what scouts have seen the last 3-4 years.
LHP, Garrett Crochet, Tennessee, 6'4 210, smooth lefty with a big arm, fb in low 90's with sink on the knees, must keep pitches down and up/in vs RHH, has hard slider with depth which could be a wipeout pitch in the ML. Shows enuf stuff to be front line starter in ML, could go in top 10 picks based on what I've seen until this year.
C, Patrick Bailey, N C State, 6'0 175, S/R, have seen for 5 years, defensive package with qk release are his calling cards along with ability to handle pitchers, his bat is a singles occ doubles hitter, below ave hitter, will be solid backup at ML level or good org guy unless the bat comes.
LHP, Reid Detmers, Louisville, 6'2 210, saw his dad in HS, Reid has a solid ML cb with control, fb is solid ave, his change still needs work, enough ability here to be back of rotation ML starter or short man in the bullpen. Intriguing.
RHP, Tanner Burns, Auburn, 6'0 200, strong armed pitcher with enuf ability to be a bullpen ace or back of the rotation starter, fb touches 95-96, most are 92-93, competes, shows hard slider at times is ave other times flat and easy to read.
C/1B, Austin Wells, Arizona, 6'3 210, L/R, love his size and competitiveness, handles pitchers however catch and throw skills are inconsistent, has length in throwing to 2B, pop times in game are not going to get ML runners and his bat will be adequate with occ HR threat from the left side, could play some fill in 1B at the ML level, not a front line starter for me, could be able backup at ML level.
RHP, Nick Bitsko, Central Bucks East HS, PA, 6'2 195, has a bowling ball fb that has abv ave velo, up to 95, most are 92-93 with sink, bulldog on the bump with hard slide piece that could be key to keep him as a front line ML starter, could go in first 10 picks in the first based on future projection.
RHP, Cole Wilcox, Georgia, 6'4 235, first saw at TOS, has the ability to be a closer or 4-5 man in ML rotation, fb touches 96-97 but pitches better at 93 with fb down on knees, slider has flashes to be ML capable, control is fair, if he puts it all together, could be a solid ML pitcher, ability is there, pro instruction will help.
OF, Pete Crow-Armstrong, Harvard-Westlake HS, CA, 6'0 180, L/L, qk bat with ability to spray the ball around with occ foul line power on pull side, gets out of the box quick and can take the extra base, solid arm strength with defensive prowess, will be solid ML OF in time as he matures physically.
January 1, 2020
A new year and hoping to have some short reports on players I see this year who may be future Major Leaguers. I will also be working on putting together a promotional page to help give high school players an avenue to gain exposure for possible college and/or pro baseball offers. Stay tuned!
June 15, 2019
Well I'm going to continue to scout baseball however, I'm seeking a return as a Head Baseball Coach so I am actively applying for college openings in hope of continuing to help develop and mentor baseball players who wish to further their educational and baseball playing careers.
May 11, 2019
Not much going on. Caught a few JC and DII games the past week but nothing striking me as a "prospect" at the moment, other than Crowder College has a couple arms and a hitter to continue to follow their progress. A couple weeks ago I caught RHP Jensen Elliott from Oklahoma St, a 6'4 RHP with some lively stuff and changes speeds and knows how to pitch, he might be a guy like Trevor Cahill who's made a living pitching in the bigs in spot starts and the bullpen, so not a bad prospect to watch this coming draft.
Friday, April 26, 2019
The MLB Draft is just over a month away folks and the past week, I went to Lubbock, Texas to check out C, Shea Langeliers, ending up liking a LHP who will probably pitch in the ML as a 4-5 man in a rotation or middle guy, and also saw highly talked about, 3B Jung for Tech and I wasn't totally sold on his hyper hitting approach at all. Before that game went to Stillwater, Oklahoma and checked out the Cowboys vs Texas and came away impressed with RHP, Jensen Elliott, a horse with a delivery featuring a moving fb that is heavy on the knees in the k-zone and enough stuff to get to ML in a spot starter, middle guy for a MLB team, also came away impressed with the arm speed and savvy of freshman RHP Dallas from Tech as well.
Also been catching some film since I can't be every where to see the top prospects, haha, but I was intrigued to get several clips about hyped OF, Corbin Carroll from Seattle, Washington Lakeside HS, on paper, he's 5'10 160, L/L, I was impressed he has break away speed and he plays with vigor and has range w/an accurate arm to stick in CF, there are comps to former Oregon State Beaver, New York Yankee/Boston Red Sox OF, Jacoby Ellsbury, but what I see here is a guy who's balanced at the plate, but a stiff right arm during his swing so most of this young man's power with be as a punch and judy type hitter, he's going to have to rely on spray the ball to the opposite field because I didn't see a pull side dominance, even on good stuff on the inner half of the plate, he grades out to me on film as 20/40 hit, 30/30 power, 70/70 runner, 40/40 arm and 50/60 field, which comes out to an Overall Future Projection grade of, 44 which is a 4th OF at best, he'll go as far as his bat takes him for sure and some club will bet on that but for me, I see a very light hitting guy who can play "D".
Thursday, April 5, 2019
Back from Cary, NC seeing a few games and running into some ol' friends in the ML front offices to check out the NHSI. A very neat event that showcases some of the best high school baseball teams in the nation as well as prospects.
Volpe, Rivera going to be solid D1 guys in 19-20, top '20 follow may end up changing positions in pro ball, Bowser same school produced Flaherty for STL, Armstrong interesting instincts R+, C Emilio Morales nice arm '20 may end up on bump if bat doesn't improve.
1st reported on Christian Rodriguez of Orange Lutheran HS CAL, 2 yrs ago w/his x-body H 3/4 del, fb up to 88 then, now up to 92 so some improvement, solid D1 guy, 44 OFP follow for '20 from Orange Luth, CA, was 6'5 180 last I saw about same now.
No real blow me away types at NHSI, Brennan Malone, IMG (transfered from Porter Ridge NC) same guy w/same stuff 3 yrs later, Jared Jones re-wrap slight built but qk arm, some solid D1 guys, best athlete = Abrams 4 sure.
My early 2019 MLB Draft "MOCK STYLE" is below of where I rank those I've seen in the past 3-4 years as well as what I've learned verbally talking to some of the top decision makers and their thoughts of what kind of feel and round some players will go, so with all that said here are my top 32 MLB 2019 DRAFT Prospects in no particular order and less than 32 names:
C, Adley Rutschman, Oregon St, 6'1 210 S/R, sturdy frame, comps to present ML catcher, Buster Posey, Adley has a solid ML arm, frames pitches well, is alert, has fundamental approach defensively to move up the ladder quickly, shows power to the alleys from both sides of the plate, more raw strength from the right side from what I've seen in game BP, pop times 1.91, 1.94, 1.96 on 3 steal attemps, should hit for ave and 15-20 HR in the ML hitting in the 3-6 hole lineup. Appears to be a lock to go in top 4 picks.
1B/OF, Andrew Vaughn, Cal, 6' 215, R/R, comps to current ML Justin Turner, Vaughn has short swing with solid eye and pitch recognition, has alley power to LF to hit 15-20 HR in ML, 3-6 hole type hitter who'll drive in runs, has adequate arm strength, not a ML arm but enuf to play defensively, running times for me on turns were 4.46, 4.48, 4.44, straight away 4.3, so solid ave runner but not a base stealing threat, runs bases and knows how, has the short quick swing with strength to hit in a ML lineup so put him in the top 5 talk.
SS/2B, Bobby Witt Jr., 6'1 185, R/R, Colleyville Heritage HS, TX, outstanding straight line speed and abv ave arm strength w/qk bat at the tools, currently leads nation in HR and hitting .585 in the lineup, can steal bases currently and is aggressive in his approach to the game, dad former ML pitcher and also advising his son so the take is he'll go in top 5 picks, signability no problem as long as there is a fit for Bobby Jr with the ML team who takes him?
SS, C J Abrams, Blessed Trinity HS, Roswell GA, 6'2 185, L/R, qk twitch player with well abv ave speed and ML throwing arm from the hole, quick hands at the plate with some raw strength, enuf power to project to hit at least ave and 10-15 HR in a ML lineup, top of the order guy so long as his pitch recognition and aggressive approach remain in tune at each level he plays and adapts to, definite top 5 talent, has college offer but he should sign.
LHP, Nick Lodolo, TCU, 6'6 185, lefty with aggressive approach and fb that touches 94 mph and throws strikes downhill plane, doesn't have blow away stuff but enough on the spinner to get LHH out and keep RHH honest at the plate, lack of LHP at the ML level for starters, this young man could rise quickly, some feel his physique is questionable when it comes to durability? Chris Sale has done pretty well in the ML although Sale's violent delivery compared to Nick Lodolo's isn't comparable, Nick is more like a throwback LHP to Mark Mulder except with more fluidity. Lodolo is a top 8 guy for sure peeps!
OF, Hunter Bishop, Arizona State, 6'4 210, L/R, quick riser, many baseball pundit writers didn't have him in their top 50 before the season started and this kid can swing the wood w/plus power to opp and pull side alleys, plays enough "D" to stick at the corners or move eventually to 1b? Runs well underway, solid ave runner with ave to plus arm strength, hitting .417 currently and leading nation in HRs with 16 in just 27 games played. I'd say those are solid performance numbers, but from what I've seen personally, he plays like he leaves it all on the field which could be special in a short time.
LHP, Zach Thompson, Kentucky, 6'2 220, L/L, live arm with running fb that gets grounders and front side appears stiff, however, you can say same about former high MLB Draft pick and fast riser, Carlos Rodon, Zach's stuff is pure and from what I've seen on TV games and in person, defensive lapses from his team has hurt him causing him to throw more pitches and that should go away in pro ball, fb touches 96 most are 92-93 with middle out life and a hard sharp down tilt slider that will wipe out LHH or get RHH on their front foot.
RHP, Matthew Allan, Seminole HS, FL, 6'3 195, lively build and arm, fb has jumped some since last time I saw him 2 years ago, going from 87-90 to 90-94 with late jump in vs RHH, also harder bite and drop on his CB and he throws strikes and competes.
RHP, Jackson Rutledge, San Jacinto TX JC, 6'8 260, has improved tremendously since his HS days in the STL Metro, fb has jumped from touching 91 to touching 96, most fb now with late life and range 92-94 early, dominates and punches out hitters with FB which impresses the brass of scouting staffs, Jacksons hard cb is more like a slider but improving and teases with a change up, from H 3/4 slot, he's loose enough in 57 innings he's struck out 95 hitters while giving up just 29 hits in a competitive Texas JC and only 0.95 ERA, so numbers are there and upside galore.
RHP, Carter Stewart, East Florida State JC, 6'6 200, everyone knows he decided to go to school after being a top 10 pick last year, due to a medical question and non-tender contract? Ok, well Carter has the best CB in baseball and he'll use it to get good hitters out w/enough fb up to 96, only saw him up to 93 in my outing recently but his arm is quick and he has middle in life vs RHH and a straight change that will be a solid 3rd pitch, he throws strikes and competes, just needs to stay healthy!
OF, Riley Greene, Oviedo HS, FL, 6'2 195, L/L, speedy OF w/qk twitch actions, shows ave arm strength w/carry and speed to run down alley LD defensively, at the plate has sound approach will occasionally get out front on slow stuff has raw hand strength w/level swing, needs to put the ball in play to take advantage of plus plus speed out of the box, makes adjustments can turn on FB w/plus velo, enuf skills to be top of the order guy and be a strong defender with time to develop w/pro instruction, OFP 55, chance to go in top 15 picks.
SS/2B/, Will Wilson, N C State, 6'0 175, R/R, hitting ability is key to get to ML, has LD swing w/alley power on pull side, arm strength and leg speed keep him from having ave tools across the board, this kid is a baseball player, 4.4 runner all out from home to 1b, has soft hands and ave range to be competent 2B, bat is his calling card, 50 OFP due to hitting tools being above ave, 15 HR type ability due to raw strength and qk bat w/carry off the bat.
RHP, Daniel Espino, Georgia P Academy, 6'0 195, qk arm with better than ave velo, will touch 97 on occ, pitches at 93-94, fb occ middle in life vs RHH, hard slide piece lacks consistency at present, from 3/4 arm slot has potential to be a short man to close the door or 4-5 man in ML rotation, will need time to develop in pro ball, upside is here, body is mature, should get a bit bigger as well.
SS, Logan Davidson, Clemson, 6'3 185 S/R, have followed him since HS days in Charlotte NC at Providence Catholic HS, this kid was drafted out of HS and has good blood lines, the difference here is he is still growing into his body and learning the game, he'll make adjustments and he's his own worst critic, has ML arm w/carry and acc from the hole and hands to stick at SS w/range, is a solid ave runner and knows how on the bases, knock has been his bat since HS, he has qk wrists with balance as a hitter, needs to keep his stroke short and flat and drive the baseball and power will come to hit 14-20 HR in ML, will advance with pro instruction and patience in any organization, 55 OFP, betting on his bat to come around.
RHP, J J Goss, Cypress Ranch HS, TX, 6'3 190, loose arm from H 3/4 slot w/electric fb, touches 95 on occ, most are low 90's with sink down on knees, has proper rotation and spin on cb to be plus pitch in time, throws strikes and is aggressive to his approach, should get bigger and stronger in time, has college offer but should go high enough in 1st round to sign and get his pro career going, 55 OFP.
RHP, Ryne Nelson, Oregon, 6'4 190, closer mentality, used as starter in college, best shot in the BP eventually, fb touches 98, most are 94, will get cutting action on occ, hard slider is inconsistent due to rushing and falling off 1b side of rubber too quickly, will benefit from pro ball, ceiling is unlimited, love his durability and from 3/4 slot, he's loose and limber and room to fill out his angular frame.
RHP, Ryan Zeferjahn, Kansas, 6'3 230, used in the BP last year, a starter in college this year, he hasn't shown his 97 MPH fb this spring yet, but he'll approach 95 many times early in game, maintains velo thru 5 full, fb with MIM vs RHH, hard slide piece chance to improve to be shut down pitch vs hitters, aggressive and not afraid to pitch inside, love his makeup, should advance quickly in pro ball, 52 OFP.
C/1B, Jaxx Groshans, Kansas, 6' 210, R/R, senior draft with a yr to go if he wants, showing he can throw out runners who challenge him with plus arm strength behind dish, alert and has range, qk hands, still learning to frame pitches, has pop in his bat with LD swing will loft for alley pull side power and can go oppo with the pitch on outer half, love his tenacity and makeup, probably not a top 4 round guy, but who knows, as catchers are at a premium in any MLB Draft.
More info to come!
From: Lenny Torres Sr (lennytorres75@gmail.com)
Date: February 2, 2018 at 5:51:35 PM CST
To: byates27609@aol.com
Subject: Testimony
I met Mr. Yates in 2016 while my son was pitching down in Cary, NC for NTIS. This was the first time he had been out of our local area and I was curious about what a professional scout thought of him. Right away Mr Yates began to break my sons mechanics down and give me his opinions on where he was at the time and where he could be if he worked towards certain goals. Well I'm proud to say my son has worked hard and has improved tremendously and everything that Mr Yates talked to me about that day and until now has come true, he was dead on. He was the first one to educate me on what scouts look for and continued his guidance. Whenever I had a question or concern I would reach out to him and without hesitation he would always reply. He has been a great person to have on my side and would recommend his service to anyone who needs it.
Lenny Torres Sr
Sunday, August 19, 2018
Not much going on as the summer months wind down. Finished up coaching in the Corn Belt League, our team, the Filthballers went 14-13-1 on the season, finishing 3rd place overall and it was by far my best coaching experience working with young men who hail from the Omaha metro area as well as Mississippi, Kentucky and Tennessee. I helped place 4 players into college programs so they can continue to get their degree and play baseball at the college level.
The Corn Belt League had a couple of follows for 2019, 1B Christian Kapeleila of Hawaii Pacific University, a hitting machine who can play "D", he'll be a 5th year senior this fall. Also CF Brayland Skinner who's attending NW Mississippi CC, OF Aaron Beck who be returning to Olney Central CC and Utility player Gunner Bundrick, a rising sophomore at Yavapai CC, he's 6'3 220 R/R with arm strength and raw power with bat speed.
We had our 2018 Exposure Showcase at Millard North HS on Sunday, August 5, a couple nice college prospects to keep an eye on. The midwest always has players who develop late and end up in pro ball down the line, yet, those types of players always show a couple of tools to intrigue us scouts.
Monday, July 9, 2018
Coached my first All-Star game in the Corn Belt League in Omaha on Friday, July 6. My team the In-State Stars beat the Out State Stars, 14-6.
Sunday, June 17, 2018
My updated 2019 MLB Draft Follow List:
Group 1
SS, Logan Davidson, Clemson, 6'3 190 S/R, smooth in the field, range and arm to stick at SS, has pull side power and runs straight away average, not a base stealing threat will on occ, defense and ability to hit to drive in runs from the 3 hole or 6 hole potential makes him an intriguing early pick in '19.
2B/SS, Braden Shewmake, Texas A&M, 6'3 1/2 190, L/R, qk level plane stroke with pull side foul line power, plus on the way runner and ave arm strength, may end up moving to OF in pro ball, strength and speed should get him there with ability to make contact.
LHP, Jeff Belge, St John's U, 6'4 235, L/L, lefty w/plus velo 92-94 early and hard downer type cb and effective straight change, challenging nature on the bump.
C, Adley Rutschman, Oregon St, 6'2 210 S/R, catch n throw guy, best tools on the offensive side w/pull side power, 2.0 pop to 2b w/actions to stick behind the plate, grades come out to a 55 w/raised OFP due to premium position.
RHP Cody Morris, South Carolina, 6'5 220, R/R, plus velo with solid slider, H 3/4 slot w/downhill plane, fb T95, most are 91-92 with sink down in k-zone, hard slide piece 84-86 w/tilt, feel for straight change, needs to get ahead in counts more often and challenging nature makes him a 3-4 man in the ML rotation type.
RHP, Daniel Davis, Auburn, 6'1 190, R/R, has plus velo T96 most fb 92-93 but straight, has hard slide piece with occ teaser change, has decent leverage on the bump downhill, may end up in the BP in ML, has the qk arm and savvy to be a solid ML pitcher.
1B/OF, Andrew Vaughn, Cal, 6' 215 R/R, one of the best pure hitters, has power to alleys can square up the fb, has arm strength and know how to stick at 1b, size may be of concern to stick at 1b, has LF type arm to move there and runs well enough to stick out there, not a base stealing threat, ability and know how though.
OF, Zach Watson, LSU, 6'1 170, R/R, solid skill set in OF w/plus speed, ability to square up pitches and get on base are keys to his development in the ML, will go as far as his bat takes him.
3B/SS Rece Hinds, Niceville HS, FL, 6'3 200 R/R, has offer to LSU, plus runner straight away and arm strength.
2B/SS, Bobby Witt Jr, Colleyville Heritage HS, TX, 6'1 175 R/R, has offer to Oklahoma, one of the fastest out of the box runners, qk bat and plus arm strength.
Group 2
RHP, Todd Peterson, LSU, 6'5 225, R/R, power arm with pitch-ability, H 3/4 slot and could come on quickly in pro ball, slider has tilt and depth to be solid out pitch, fb touches 97, most are 93, could be day 1 guy with good summer and next spring.
RHP, Luca Dalatri, UNC, 6'6 260, R/R, had minor set back early in spring '18, seems to be coming along now, fb T 95, pitches at 91-92 downhill, consistency in release points from H 3/4 slot are keys to development and success to get to ML, hard downer cb and occ straight change, feel for pitching, will probably end up a BP guy but a 4-5 man in ML rotation is not out of the question.
LHP, Graeme Stinson, Duke, 6'5 255, power lefty arm from 3/4 slot and hard breaking slider w/ability to overpower hitters as a short man out of the pen, fb touches 95 on occ w/deception.
LHP, Adam Laskey, Duke, 6'3 205, another lefty for the Blue Devils with ability to throw strikes and competes, ability to repeat delivery and maintain velo keys to be ML pitcher in time, fb touches 92 most are 89-90 w/occ late run away from RHH, can spin the breaking ball and changes speeds, chance to be a good one in time.
IF, Will Wilson, N C State 6'0 175 R/R, qk bat with ability to drive in runs, ave runner at best, his hit tool and ability to play any IF position w/enough arm, solid instincts and aggressiveness, chance to be ML.
RHP, Greg Veliz, Miami, 6'2 205, R/R, potential power arm out of the pen or back of the rotation starter at ML level, fb will touch 94-95 on occ, doesn't go deep into games however, has proper feel to spin hard slider w/big break, may end up as a cb, H 3/4 slot, will need to show stamina and ability to repeat delivery to get to the ML.
1B/OF, Bryant Packard, ECU, 6'3 210, L/R, solid power bat with ability to drive in runs, has enough defensive ability to stick at 1B at ML level in time, will go as far as the bat takes him, loves the game and plays with passion.
1B, Spencer Brickhouse, ECU, 6'4 225, L/R, Plus power on the pull side, can square up the fb, late start w/bat in pre-launch worrisome, will need to adapt vs better pitching to get to the next level, enough here overall to be top level prospect, has enough arm and glove to stick at 1B.
RHP, Trey Benton, ECU, 6'4 205, loose arm w/live fb, T 94 most are 90-91, needs to keep his pitches down and challenge in vs RHH, has bite and feel for slider and can change speeds, needs to repeat and be consistent w/stuff to reach ML, ability to be 4-7 round guy in '19.
LHP, Mitchell Senger, Stetson, 6'6 240, tall lefty with arm speed and velo, T94 from H 3/4 to intrigue, can spin hard SL piece in vs RHH and competes, throws strikes, needs to cut down pitch counts, premium lefty arm who could come on to be a day 1 guy, right now, still a day two type on paper.
RHP, Tyler Dyson, Florida, 6'3 220, power arm w/versatile ability to be a back end of rotation guy or BP arm, fb touches 95 but straight and can spin the hard slider, will go as far as control/command improve, from H 3/4 slot, loose and qk arm.
1B/OF, Matt Wallner, Southern Miss, 6'4 220, L/R, power and ability to square up fb are his strengths w/ave arm, also pitches, best bet as a hitter at present, will go as far as bat takes him, runs on the way, not a burner by any means but can take extra base.
OF, Will Dalton, Florida, 6'1 190, R/R, enough arm strength to play an OF position, has bat speed w/strength and could add more power as he improves his pitch selection, runs on the way.
LHP, Ken Waldichuk, St Mary's U, 6'4 220, easy arm action and deceptive from 3/4 slot, throws strikes, is not afraid to challenge, fb T 92, most are 89 with arm side run/sink, solid control/command, will pitch in Cape this summer.
RHP, Evan McKendry, Miami, 6'3 210, aggressive pitcher with qk arm, fb T 93, most are 90-91 with arm side run, competes and will end up in BP in long run, chance to move up with ability to repeat and show command of secondary stuff.
OF, Austin Langworthy, Florida, 5'10 190, L/L, gutsy player w/pull side power, runs well underway, 4.2 ave times out of the box, near ave ML arm w/accuracy and speed to track down balls in the ally, will go as far as bat develops, comp to Cole Calhoun.
2B/CF, Greg Jones, UNC-Wilmington, 6'0 175, S/R, very qk twitch guy w/solid arm strength and plus runner, has pull side foul line power, ability to get on base and steal a bag makes him a top of the order candidate, will go as far as bat takes him, eligible in '19 due to age.
C, Drew Millas, Missouri St, 6'2 205, S/R, qk bat w/alley power, shows arm strength and know how behind the plate, pop times vary 1.96-2.08, may end up being better in pro ball, size and strength to get to the ML, will be highly sought due to premium position, playing in Cape this summer.
RHP Kenyon Yovan, Oregon, 6'1 210, power arm, better out of the BP, fb T 95, hard power slider and competes, ability to throw strikes consistently will be key to reaching ML, type of arm to keep an eye on for further development, has improved since HS days.
OF, JJ Bleday, Vandy, 6'2 205 L/L, has some sting in his swing, LD type, drives the ball, could be run producer in the middle of the order, has enough arm and speed to be 4th OF, will go as far as bat takes him.
RHP, Zach Hess, LSU, 6'6 215, drafted twice, '16 & '18, max effort w/head jerk flaws to be of concern, has power stuff when right, fb w/late run in on RHH T 96 most fb 92, hard slider needs to tighten up more, ability to pitch downhill and compete are his strengths, may end up a closer at the ML level.
RHP, Austin Pace, Currituck HS, NC, 6'10 200, R/R, long stringbean w/qk arm and arm strength FB touches 92, has feel for cb and throws strikes down hill, key is repeating from 3/4 slot, has offer to N C State, could be a late developer, also hoops in picture, has yet to fill out his body, may add more velo in time.
LHP, John Doxahis, Texas A&M 6'4 205, power type fb, touches 94, fb true, needs to rely on location and repeat delivery to get breaking ball over for control/command, type of frame and pitching ability to get better in time, could move to group 1.
SS, David Hamilton, Texas, 5'11 175, L/R, solid defender with ave arm strength, qk lateral movement and range to stick at SS, may end up at 2B, has qk bat w/strength, occ foul line power, runs ave at best, 4.3 to 4.18 from LHS, will go as far as bat and glove take him.
RHP, Zach Lingenfelter, Tennessee, 6'5 220, R/R, eligible by age, has arm strength and downhill plane from H 3/4 arm slot, fb T 94-95, most are 91 w/sink down on knees, consistency of breaking ball and command are keys here to advance further in time.
C, Hunter Coleman, Texas A&M, 6' 195, R/R, solid frame and arm strength, pop times a bit eratic, from 1.98 to 2.12, handles pitchers well enough, shows plus power and ability to drive the baseball, plus strength at the plate, overswings and over aggressive nature lead to punch outs, needs to shorten swing and better plate discipline to advance further.
Group 3
C, Brandon Mantorano, UNC, 6'2 190 L/R, still a bit raw, has arm strength and know how behind the plate, keep is stamina and strength to stick in ML, has bat speed and pull side power, can go opp field, frame to add more strength in time.
1B, Michael Busch, UNC, 6'0 210 L/R, ability to drive the baseball and pull side power, has enough speed and arm to move to corner OF, ave at the 1st sack, will go as far as bat takes him.
RHP, Austin Bergner, UNC, 6'3 190, R/R, lanky loose arm, fb touches 94 but true, secondary stuff just adequate will need to improve to get to ML, is young enough to develop further, repeating delivery and commanding slider and change will be keys.
RHP, Bo Weiss, UNC, 6'3 180, premium arm strength, needs to repeat delivery from H 3/4 slot, and add depth to slide piece, type of arm to get to ML, may be best suited in long term as a closer, still has rough edges to smooth out but arm to intrigue.
RHP, Dalton Feeney, N C State, 6'4 220, sat out due to TJ, has type of arm to get to ML, FB has touched 95 in past, feel for hard slider and occ straight change, will need to see again in the fall to see his recovery, may end up a BP guy in long run from North Dakota.
LHP, Kent Klyman, N C State, 6'7 230, premium position lefty w/arm strength FB T 94, most are 88-90, pitches effectively w/downhill plane from 3/4 slot, needs to stand tall and finish out front and repeat release point w/breaking stuff to get to ML level, could move up to Group 1 status with improvement in repitoire.
LHP, Bill Chillari, Duke, 6'2 215, arm strength and lefty slot from 3/4 enough to excite, will need solid out pitch to get to the next level however, fb T92, most are upper 80's, keep an eye on him.
RHP, Noah Murdock, Virginia, 6'8 190, long and tall, ave arm speed and velo touches 93, feel to spin the breaking ball, a work in progress still, size and ability keys to development.
RHP, Bobby Nicholson, Virginia, 6'3 215, potential power arm, needs to repeat and dominate in key situations consistently to be effective ML BP guy, FB T 94, fair breaking stuff due to inability to repeat and command the slider.
RHP, Xzavion Curry, Georgia Tech, 5'9 180, qk arm w/ability to throw strikes, FB T 94 with arm side run, keeps pitches down, can elevate for the K, hard slide piece or power cb a bit inconsistent at present but projects to out pitch, may end up a BP guy, but the arm to get him there is there.
C, Kyle McCann, Georgia Tech, 6'2 215, L/R, pull side power and ability to square up fb, adequate catch and throw skills, release is qk arm w/carry, needs consistency w/release point and will go as far as bat takes him, at present a BU type at ML level.
RHP, Andy Archer, Georgia Tech, 6'4 220, size and arm strength, fb touches low 90's, chance to improve big time with good summer.
RHP, Kyle Brnovich, Elon, 6'2 180, one of the nations leaders in strikeouts, need to see more, dominated his competition however, has qk arm from 3/4 slot with late tailing life and hard downer type cb some will call a slider, competes and not afraid to take the ball.
RHP, Ryan Pepiot, Butler, 6'3 205, solid performer w/arm strength and slider to get outs, needs to repeat consistently from 3/4 slot and could end up a back of the rotation guy.
LHP, Jake Agnos, ECU, 5'11 190, pitching ability and savvy are his strengths, fb T92, most are upper 80's w/know how to pitch mentality, can change speeds and will get out with sweeping downer cb and change up, love his drive.
RHP, Ryan Zefernan, Kansas, 6'4 215, aggressive with FB and hard slider, not afraid to take the rock, some stiffness to worry about, but pure arm strength and moxy to be a BP stud in time w/H 3/4 slot.
1B, Andrew Daschbach, Stanford, 6'3 220, R/R, some comp here to former Cardinal, Piscotty, ability to drive the baseball w/power is his strength, can field the position or move to corner OF, not a bad runner, on the way guy w/arm strength, will go as far as bat takes him.
LHP, Ethan Small, Mississippi St, 6'3 210, long loose arm from H 3/4 slot, fb w/touch 92 on occ, pitches at upper 80's with hard spin cb, stiff front side on occ causes him to spin on his heel and not square up as a fielder, may end up a BP guy, another lefty who shows to ability, the rest in stamina and consistency to get him to ML.
RHP, John Baker, Ball St, 6'3 210, another leader in K's in NCAA, fb touches 94, most are low 90's with run in on RHH, slows a bit on cb, knows how and aggressive from 3/4 slot, will see in Cape this summer.
RHP, Matt Canterino, Rice, 6'3 205, solid arm strength and ability to punch out hitters, may be best as a long term BP guy, has had slider, keys are repeating delivery and showing more consistency from 3/4 slot to get him to ML.
SS, Brady McConnell, Florida, 6'2 180, R/R, draft eligible speedster, will need to show bat speed and strength to get him to the next level, have seen him in the past show the skills, however he's not been as consistent since his rising senior HS season at TOS, plus runner w/plus arm strength, bat is the biggest concern.
OF, J C Flowers, Florida State, 6'1 180 R/R, arm strength, speed and bat speed are there, putting it all together is still a work in progress, projection wise he's got skills, time will tell however.
RHP, Isaiah Bennett, Pine Forest HS, Fayetteville NC, 6' 190, qk arm with ability to pitch, FB touches 92 most are upper 80's has college commitment, needs polish and repeat his delivery to get to the next level, arm strength is his selling point from upper 3/4 slot and he's loose.
RHP, Brennan Malone, Porter Ridge HS, NC, 6'4 205, R/R, one of the top arms in NC, FB will touch mid 90's, repeating delivery and getting command of sloppy slider are keys to his development, he's a work in progress and will need a patient organization to develop him, all the ability is there to be a good one in time, some comps to Robert Stephenson (REDS).
C/1B, Blake Sabol, USC, 6'3 205, L/R, raw skills package, runs well for size, has arm strength and power in his swing, a bit of loop in his swing hurts ability to consistently make solid contact, 30 hitter at present, will be a Cape player this summer, need to see more.
RHP, Connor Lund, USC, 6'3 215, power reliever type potential, pitching in the Cape, will see more.
RHP, Sean Mooney, St John's U, 6'1 200, qk arm and aggressive demeanor, fb touches low 90's, has ability to spin the cb, fair change, chance to be solid ML pitcher in time.
SS Zachary Waters, Dana Point HS, Dana Hills CA, 6'1 160 R/R, 2019 grad, shows actions and arm strength to stick at SS in future, worth a follow next year, will go as far as bat develops.
LHP, Eric Miller, Stanford, 6'5 220, lefty with down hill plane from 3/4 slot, fb reaches low 90's, out pitch is slider with inconsistent release point, key to development is repeating delivery, will have summer to improve his stock.
Group 4 (13-40 round type)
RHP, Parker Caracci, Mississippi, 6' 200, qk power arm w/fb up to 94, hard cb and aggressive demeanor may end up being a solid ML BP guy.
OF, Dominic Fletcher, Arkansas, 5'9 190, L/L, skills package is here, needs to work on better pitch selection, some similarities to ML comp Cole Calhoun, arm is adequate however, pull side power with leverage as a hitter, on the way runner.
LHP, Logan Van Treeck, Lincoln SE HS, Lincoln, NE, 6'4 205, tall and lanky, loose arm w/ave arm speed, fb will jump out of his hand fb is true however T89 most are mid 80's, hard bite and proper spin on cb and occ straight change, a work in progress will benefit from pro instruction for sure, could be a good one in time.
LHP, A J Wilson, East Surry HS, NC, 6'2 190, lefty with qk arm and arm strength, touches 92 w/fb, has commit to ECU, repeating delivery and command of breaking pitch keys to get him to next level.
LHP, Chris Villaman, Ledford HS, High Point NC, 6'2 185, loose arm with arm strength, touches 91, most are upper 80's type of build to get stronger in time to add more velo, can spin it but it's inconsistent, slurve type break at present, will be one to watch in 2019, has commitment to college as well.
RHP, Sam Wibbles, Hastings HS, Nebraska, 6'1 210, R/R, full effort guy from H 3/4 slot, Kentucky commitment, has pure strength and arm speed, lacks deception and stamina at present, fb touches 93, most are 88-90 and true, feel for spinning it, needs to repeat delivery and get fb to move and command of breaking ball.
1B/RHP Dylan Simmons, Trinity Christian Academy, Jacksonville, FL, 6'3 205, R/R, can pick it and shows arm strength, ran ave out of box, has length to his swing w/strength, 2019 grad so 2 more years to watch develop, has verbal to Florida State, would like to see pitch some day, bat path and strength not there just yet, but enuf to keep an eye on.
UT, Ashton McGee, UNC, 6'2 215, L/R, early grad out of HS, has some ability to hit w/power to get him to ML, decent field and throw skills, works at it, late round potential guy in '19.
RHP, Connor Gillispie, VCU, 5'11 185, R/R, qk loose arm from H 3/4, has hard downer slider with break away vs RHH, aggressive and competes, will end up in BP in time.
RHP, Caleb Bly, Oklahoma Baptist U, 6'3 190, some wrap/hook in arm swing, loose out front, competes, fb touches low 90's and feel for slider, consistent release point and finish keys here, he works at it though.
1B, Drew Mendoza, Florida St, 6'5 220, L/R, power ability and size are pluses, has arm strength and ability to stay at 1B, path from his swing to contact is not consistent at present, some loop which strong pitchers will exploit, needs to firm up swing and discipline at the plate to get to ML level.
LHP, Jackson Gillis, Vandy, 6'3 220, L/L, stiff front land/side worrisome but arm strength and arm speed are there out of the pen to get him to ML in time, has bite/tilt on slider to be effective in relief role, the rest is consistency.
OF/1B, Todd Lott, U of Louisiana-Lafayette, 6'3 240 R/R, power potential here with enough arm and glove to play RF or move to 1B in pro ball, ability to hit consistency and catch up to plus stuff worrisome, raw ability here to watch however.
LHP, Jake Mulholland, Oregon State, 6'2 205, type of arm to come on next year, fb touches low 90's and has proper feel for slider and loose from 3/4 slot, could move into starter role FT for Beavers next year.
RHP, Ryne Nelson, Oregon, 6'4 195, loose qk arm with arm strength, fb in low 90's and hard slider 79-84, command and consistency in release points keys here in development, could move into group 2 with good summer and spring to come.
1B, T J Callett, Kentucky, 6'1 230, L/R, power stroke with ability to square up fb, fair fielder and BA speed, will go as far as bat takes him.
RHP, Chris Machamer, Kentucky, 6'2 210, R/R, good arm with slider as out pitch, will end up a BP guy and could rise quickly, needs polish and time.
IF/OF, Andre Lipcius, Tennessee, 6'1 190, R/R, good athlete with ability, will need to put it all together to move up a group.
RHP, Zac Kristofak, Georgia, 5'9 180, power arm from a little guy, hard cb and straight change, repeats delivery, bulldog mentality, will go as far as command takes him.
RHP, Aaron Shunk, Georgia, 6'2 205, H 3/4 slot with fb that touches low 90's, proper feel/spin on slider but it needs consistency in his release point, will go as command/control improves.
SS, Kohl Abrams, Green Hope HS, 5'11 160 R/R, can pick it, smooth actions at SS with arm strength, shows bat speed, some loop in swing, will get stronger in time, has D1 offer, will be one to watch.
LHP, T J Sikkema, Missouri, 6' 220, qk arm with enough ability to be BP guy at the next level, fb touches low 90's, repeating and showing consistency are keys here, could move up in group 3 with solid summer and spring.
OF, Brayland Skinner, L/L, NW Mississippi CC, 5'10 175 L/L, plus runner with arm strength and range to stick in CF, has bat speed with hand strength to hit enough to be complete CF in time, 18 years old, chance to be a good one with pro instruction.
Wednesday, June 6, 2018
Our summer team is 2-0, the Omaha Filthballers!! We have some talent to display for D1 coaches and ML Scouts. I'm also elated to see Lineras "Lenny" Torres, Jr went in the 1st round #41 to the Cleveland Indians. I know his family is very proud of how far Lenny has come in just 2 short years since 2016 to where he is today and there is so much ahead of him, he's still just 17 years old. I'm excited to track his professional career!
Starting my 2019 MLB Prospect follow list which will start out with the players I've seen through now and going back 2-3 years. More to come.
3B/SS Rece Hinds, Niceville HS, FL, 6'3 200 R/R, turns 17 late this summer, follow for 2019 shows bat speed with aggressive swing and strength, runs well underway, 4.36 out of box, throws w/carry at 3B and SS, know how, may end up in the OF in time, type of frame to get bigger and stronger with maturity, has offer to LSU, keep an eye on him.
2B/SS, Bobby Witt Jr, Colleyville Heritage HS, TX, 6'1 175 R/R, plus runner with ML arm strength for MIF, shows bat speed with slight loop, ball jumps off bat when he squares up pitches, feel for barrel tends to be over aggressive, needs time to develop, 4.0 run time out of box, quick on the base paths to steal bases, arm and glove to stick at SS or 2B at ML level, will go as far as bat improves, son of former ML RHP Bobby Witt-Rangers, 2019 grad, has offer to Oklahoma.
1b/RHP/C Caleb Cozart, Wesleyan Christian Academy, High Point NC, 6'4 240 R/R, 2019 grad, ran 8.2, 60, brute strength with solid ML arm strength, a bit stiff in his actions, shows bat speed w/power stroke, ball jumps off bat, arm works well enough to see when pitching or catching, has offer to D1, 2 years to follow.
SS Zachary Waters, Dana Point HS, Dana Hills CA, 6'1 160 R/R, 2019 grad, shows actions and arm strength to stick at SS in future, worth a follow next 2 years, will go as far as bat develops, was DH'd for during game.
1B/RHP Dylan Simmons, Trinity Christian Academy, Jacksonville, FL, 6'3 205, R/R, can pick it and shows arm strength, ran ave out of box, has length to his swing w/strength, 2019 grad so 2 more years to watch develop, has verbal to Florida State, would like to see pitch some day, bat path and strength not there just yet, but enuf to keep an eye on.
Monday, May 21, 2018
Not much going on really, caught a few collegiate games and the Class A/B State tournament in Nebraska. Some interesting follows. I will also be the Head Baseball Coach for the Omaha Filthballers in the Corn Belt League this season. I'm going to check out day 1 of the BIG10 tournament in Omaha as well. I believe Baseball America has around 10 players in their Top 500 Draft Prospects list and a few of them were on my follow list for this spring in Neustrom and Feltner from the Cape Cod League last July.
Ran into old friend, former Phillie Scouting Director, Marti Wolever and several old school scouts and a new area guy I've never met in JJ Lally.
Iowa Western CC won the area Regional and now heads to Grand Junction, Colorado for the NJCAA World Series. They have probably 7 players who have an opportunity to be drafted, I like 2 of them personally, both RHP who have a shot going in the top 13-20 rounds in Chandler & Winn.
Two weeks from today is the June MLB Free-Agent Draft and I can't wait to see who goes where and anxious as all get outs once again. I'm also ready to see what players land with which clubs from my MOCK Draft.
Best of luck to all the eligible players to be drafted this year. While I probably won't get to TOS or the NTIS this year in Cary since I'm in the Midwest now, I'll catch quite a few American Legion and Midwest Showcase events for sure!
Tuesday, May 8, 2018
So I've been out and about having moved to Bellevue, Nebraska in December 2017 and through the unpleasant weather, I've found myself at several baseball diamonds to see some names of prospects from the midwest region, seeing Creighton, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota State, Iowa Western, Southwestern Community College-Creston, Millard West HS, Millard South HS, Papillion LaVista, Papillion LaVista South, Bellevue East, Bellevue West, Lincoln SE, Lincoln Pius X, Westside, Bryan, Central, Burke, Millard North, Creighton Prep, among the teams I've seen thoroughly.
RHP Colby Gomes, 6'6 220 R/R, Millard West HS, shows a pitchers frame and build with arm strength and proper spin on a slurvy type breaking ball with a slinger arm action from 3/4 arm slot, delivery needs work as he lacks deception and hitters get a long look at his arm through the long arm reach out of his hand in the back swing, his velocity varies and he loses 3 mph in the stretch, cutting off his front extension, his fb will touch 95 on occ, most are 90-91 and his second outing he topped out at 92 and sat at 88-89. He's got a commitment to attend Nebraska-Lincoln and if signable will probably be a late round type pick, 21 plus round, I broke his down as a FAIR Delivery, FAIR arm action, 40/50 fb, 30/40 slider, 40/50 control/command, 30/40 change, he fields his position however often out of position as he rushes his delivery, OFP of 42, he needs pro instruction and needs time to develop.
RHP Sean Chandler, Iowa Western, 6'5 200 R/R, 2018/20 a late bloomer out of HS, Sean shows a lean build with raw strength and ave arm speed from upper 3/4 slot, fb touches 95 most are 92-93, his SL 81-83 turned into a CB at 76-78 by the 2nd inning and it showed depth and bite w/downward tilt, he also teased a couple straight changes, this young man needs time to develop further and is projectible, graded him out at 50/60 FB, 30/50 CB, 30/40 SL, 40/50 control, 30/40 change, OFP of 47, has a chance to be a short man or back of the rotation guy as he maintained his velo for 5 full innings, there is more there as he's still maturity physically. 6th Rd - Texas Rangers
RHP Keaton Winn, Iowa Western, 6'4 210, R/R, 2018/20 out of Ollie, Iowa, this arm typically closes for the Reiver program and he had a start a couple weeks back where he went 4 innings, his arm action is loose and quick from 3/4 slot using both the 2 seamer and 4 seamer, 2 seamer gets sink and velo ranges 90-94, sits at 91 mostly, hard slider with late break 81-83 and straight change at 80-82 which he slows delivery/arm on, something here to work with for sure, graded him out at 50/50 fb 30/40 SL 30/40 change, 40/50 control, 44 OFP late round type who could blossom with time into a long man or back of the rotation starter, room still to grow and fill out, 21 plus rounder. 5th Rd - SF Giants
C, Nathan Torres, Southwestern CC, 6'1 195 R/R, 2019/21, first year player from Puerto Rico (Beltran Academy), this young man shows a quick level bat w/slightly open stance and slight upper cut and bat strength to project to hit enough to get into a ML lineup in time, his defensive skills are still improving and he shows a plus/solid ML arm, graded out at 50/60 with quick feet and alert at the plate, 1.9 pop time on an attempted steal, mechanically there is enough here to develop and he'll need time to get there, graded him out at 20/40 hit, 30/40 power, 40 run, 50/60 arm, 40/50 field, enough here to work with, OFP of 46 will not raise points here, reminds me some of ML Catcher Tanaka (Twins/A's).
Southwestern CC also started a RHP who is worth following in college, Oscar Rivera, listed at 6'3 190, R/R, out of Puerto Rico, he's 2018/20, loose arm from 3/4 to L 3/4 slot, loose out front, delivery has some hesitation and varies release points and arm slots, fb touches 90 most are 88-89, also hard bite on slurve type breaking ball, has some arm side run vs LHH, fair command/control, frame to improve, out of Dr. Manuel de la Pila Iglesias HS, would suggest he work from the strength position and stay in the 3/4 arm slot in a reliever role, which could take him to the ML in time, solid D1 type pitcher at present, 20 yrs old.
RHP Ryan Tapani, Creighton U, 6'1 190, R/R, 2018, senior draft RHP with good bloodlines and knows how to pitch, fb will touch 91 on occ 87-91 range, turns fb over, can sink it, uses both 2/4 seamers, hard breaking ball with depth and downward break and straight change, all 3 pitches are effective enough to make him a fringe ML prospect, cheap sign and will go as far as his determination/talent take him, graded out at 40/40 fb, 40/50 SL, 40/50 cb, 40/50 change, 50/60 control, OFP of 50, would take in the 13-20 round.
C, Michael Emodi, Creighton U, 6'4 210 R/R, strong, durable frame, chance to get bigger, has plus power and ave arm strength, mechanically as a hitter he's strong stance is closed, he collapses on back leg, has full strength extension and bat speed, will get out front on solid off-speed stuff but takes advantages of mistakes and can drive them over the LF alley with plus power, defensively will show 2.0 or sub pop times, at times has trouble transfering ball from the glove to hand as he rushes to throw to bases, has range with frame to be solid blocking poor pitches, handles pitchers adequately, still developing, Sophomore/Eligible, graded out at 20/40 hit, 50/60 power, 30/30 run, 50/50 arm, 40/50 field, no adjustment for OFP at 46, 13-20 round type, backup at ML level unless the bat comes through, could be pleasant surprise with continued development, no rush.
Published on LinkedIn on May 5, 2018
With the 2018 Major League Baseball Draft coming up on June 4-6, teams are bearing down on signability as well as getting last minute physical releases and last looks at the top eligible High School and Collegiate Baseball Players nationwide, especially in areas where the weather made it difficult to get in game situational looks in the Upper Midwest, Northeast/New England Area as well as waiting on players who started late due to injury.
My Mock Draft is my opinion only and it' on players I've seen to date one time or another while I attended showcase, high school, college and summer college baseball events. Also knowing the tendency of what MLB teams have been selecting (which types of prospects) and what needs the teams' may have is how I base where players may go in this year's MLB Draft! My opinion is not to dissuade or demean any player, team, coach, I'm analyzing what I see in the players and in 3-4 years we'll all know how these players have done in professional baseball, providing they sign and stay healthy once in professional baseball.
On the Clock will be the Detroit Tigers who have many needs, mostly pitching and a top flight run producing bat as the Tigers look to replenish their farm system and big league team. The Kansas City Royals will have 3 picks in the first round, 2 came from losing top free-agent players and the Tampa Ray will follow suit as well with 3 first round picks.
The bonus slots will vary from $8,000,000 for the 1st pick projection wise down to $2,000,000 for the last pick in the first round, with Cleveland making that pick which gives the Indians 2 first round picks.
1.Detroit Tigers - I see the Tigers taking established RHP Casey Mize from Auburn, Casey produces in one of the best conferences this year in college baseball, he's strong, durable and shows a plus out pitch in his splitter and a fastball that touches 97 on occ, he dominates early and keeps his pitches in on hitters' hands and can finish off hitters with his split or fastball with his command/location from the 3/4 arm slot.
#1 OVERALL DETROIT
2.San Francisco - The Giants have needs ranging from pitching to catching and in this spot value wise they could go for a top college arm, but there is a catcher who's rising on boards due to the fact he's an established hitter with raw power and has catch and throw tools to help immediately in the Giants lineup in a year or two and that's Joey Bart, a R/R guy from Georgia Tech, with plus raw power to the alley pull side and he'll go the other way on occasion to keep fielders honest, he also has a 2.0 or sub pop time to 2B and shows hands and range to handle big league pitchers. #2 OVERALL SF
3. Philadelphia - Phillies have been improving as they stocked their system in trades for Hamels a few years back and hitting it big with signings in Latin America, but there is always room for growth and building depth, and you can never have enough pitching and without a top notch lefty in their system, I see the Phils going for high energy, loose armed and competitive, Matthew Liberatore from Mountain Ridge HS, Arizona, who had most clubs seeing him early dominate in February, touching 95 with his fastball, his off the table breaking ball and ability to locate pitches away from the hitters' sweet spots help Matthew though there is always room for improvement, he should move quickly in the Phils system and with 3 ML pitches and enough command at present, you could see this young lefty in the Majors in the next 3-4 years.
4. Chicago White Sox - a team constantly on the rebuild, the White Sox could go for a top college arm or power bat and I'm split on what they'll take so I'll go pitching route here with RHP Brady Singer, U of Florida, who's closest to the ML at this time and he has the presence and pitch-a-bility to get to the Majors faster that Carson Fulmer did out of Vanderbilt. Singer has 3 polished pitches and touches 95 on occ with his fastball, his strength is repeating his delivery from 3/4 slot and locating his pitches away from hitter and bust them in when he wants.
5. Cincinnati Reds - a team in need of a lot have just not improved much over the past 3 years and even with two high profile players in Hammy and Votto, the lineup offensively doesn't compete enough yet and their pitching could use some depth as well, so with this pick I see them going with LHP Shane McClanahan out of U of South Florida, Mac shows a better than ave plus velo fastball with late tail away from RHH and a hard breaking slider in on RHH hands, he could move to the pen to be a dominant 1 inning closer or be a 6 inning starter who could rise quickly in the Reds system.
6. New York Mets - The Mets stockpiled on pitching only to see many of them go down with untimely injuries the past 3 years and their system hasn't developed enough depth for them to repeat as possible contenders in their division let alone the NL. There are some intriguing available arms as well as a power bat available here, but the Mets want a player who will move quickly and has enough polish now to make an impact and that player is 3B Jonathan India, who I saw from Heritage HS, Plantation, Florida a few years back, he's made steady progress over the years and this year has made leaps with his strength and improved hitting approach, the only knock on him would be he's a dead red fastball guy but he'll make pitching mistakes look bad and drive the ball into the gap, with enough arm to play either corner in the ML, this young man could move to a corner OF position as well yet the Mets need a solid hot corner guy and this young man fits the bit at present.
7. San Diego Padres - a team with many needs in a division that's on the verge of being dominated by Arizona and Colorado with their revamped systems and top notch bats, the Padres need to get a producer that's close to the ML and the best on paper at this spot currently would be LHP Ryan Rolison of Mississippi, Ryan showed his savvy and tenacity last year in the Cape Cod League and this spring has held his own in the SEC and non-conference schedule and his 3 solid average pitches, fastball, change and slider as well as his ability to locate and elevate when he needs to get outs will help him rise quickly in the Padres system.
8. Atlanta Braves - a team vastly improving with a new GM in the ranks in A.A. the Braves could go many directions with the 8th pick here and with the bevy of High School talent coming out of Georgia this year they could go with Kumar Rocker, from North Oconee HS, Watkinsville GA, Kumar for the past 3 years has shown a fastball that's touched 98 MPH but holds around 93-94 and an improving hard curveball and straight change, the Braves do not have to rush him and if he stays on his pace he's been on the past 2 years, he could rise in 3-4 years to the ML in the Braves rotation.
9. Oakland A's- RHP, Logan Gilbert, Stetson University, Gilbert is my favorite RHP in the college ranks from what I've seen the past 4 years and even by being in a conference that gets little love, Stetson has produced stellar RHP's in Corey Kluber a future Hall of Famer and former shortstop turned RHP for the Hatters in Jacob deGrom, this young man at 6'6 and 220 pounds has room to grow still and is close to making an impact at the ML level with a fb that touches 96-97, he pitches best at 92-93 and showing his hard slider in counts to get hitters out with it and an improving change up, loose from the H 3/4 slot pitching downhill, Logan Gilbert can make an impact for the A's quickly.
10. Pittsburgh Pirates - rebuilding year after year, the Pirates can go any direction but with the amount of young arms out there, there is a college bat the Pirates can't pass up on in Travis Swaggerty who can play any OF position, U of South Alabama Jaguar, Travis squares up pitches and drives the ball where it's pitched, he reminds me a lot of Andrew Benetendi when he was at U of Arkansas, Travis may have better on the way speed however and his arm profiles better in the long run, Swaggs has 20/20 type top of the order pop and hit for high average to make an impact in the Pirates lineup. #10 OVERALL to PITTSBURGH
11. Baltimore - a system that is in need of building depth, especially on the mound, the Orioles should be able to lick their chops here for a solid collegiate arm or quick moving HS pitcher and RHP Jackson Kowar out of the U of Florida displays a quick, loose H 3/4 arm slot with a plus fastball and slider as well as able to change speeds and he's got a third pitch and he's still growing into his body. Jackson has a fb that will touch 98, he sits at 94 with occ arm side run, he needs to locate his pitches down and away from hitters as his fastball straightens out when he reaches back for more. He could rise quickly in the Orioles staff!
12. Toronto Blue Jays - RHP, Carter Stewart, Eau Gallie HS, Melbourne FL seems to be the type of arm the Jays can build their staff with, on similar body lines as Aaron Sanchez when Sanchez came out of HS, Carter has the best breaking ball and we've all heard of the spin rate and such, but this kid can pitch and he's aggressive and will rise quickly in the Jays system, but don't rush him, let him learn and dominate in the minors first but by the year 2021 we'll hear his name on the ML roster perhaps???
13. Miami Marlins - first draft pick for Derek Jeter's administration and holdover scouting boss likes pitching arms, Miami could go with a local product in Tristan Casas but I feel they'll go pitching as you can never have enough and HS first basemen don't typically do well in the first round, albeit don't tell Hosmer & Adrian Gonzalez that, they've done just fine in the ML. Here they take RHP,Cole Winn, Orange Lutheran HS, CA who moved last fall from Colorado after setting the showcase events over 2017's summer on fire with his pitching ability. Cole has improved over the course of less than a year and will only improve up the ladder. Solid pick here that the Marlins won't have to rush and he'll pay dividends.
14. Seattle - SS Jeremy Eierman, Missouri State, a strong armed SS with some pop in his bat, he profiles to stick at SS in the ML and he can be a top of the lineup or end of the lineup run producer with his short qk balanced bat stroke with pull side power and the ability to run on the way to take the extra base.
15. Texas - Rangers need to get stronger on the mound as they have some solid hitters with youth at the ML level, so here they take RHP Mason Denaburg from Merritt Island HS, Florida, Mason is a solid catcher as well, but it seems his catching days are probably over with the showings he's shown on the mound over last summer and this spring. His fastball has a late hop and touches 96 on occ and he pitches at 92-93 with a hammer curveball he can locate, his only drawback is consistency and he's improved in that area over the course of the last year and he'll continue to do so, there is no rush here even with a commitment to U of Florida, Denaburg has the feel to pitch and the Rangers need arms.
16. Tampa Bay Rays - Rays have 3 picks in this round so they could go for a slot money bargain here with their first pick and a big college bat could go here in 3B Alec Bohm from Wichita State, I've seen Alec for 3 years and his plus power and ability to barrel up the baseball and drive it will be the key to his development into the ML. He has the arm and glove to play the corner, but that corner may be 1B as his range and foot quickness is just fair and he'd be an imposing target at 1B.
17. LA Angels - Angels need arms, and they'll go here with RHP, Ethan Hankins, Forsyth Central HS, Cumming GA, though he had an early scare this season, Ethan has the type of projectibility to get bigger and stronger, he has a quick arm and delivery lacks forward momentum however his fastball gets on hitters quick from the 3/4 slot and length in his body delivering to the plate, he has proper bite and spin on the slurve and a straight change, a solid chance to be a ML starter quickly, we could hear his name in the ML in 2022.
18. Kansas City Royals - Royals have 3 picks in the first and slot money will have to be budgeted well here, the Royals need pitching and the best name on the board here for them would be RHP Sean Hjelle from Kentucky, at 6'10 plus and 220 pounds, this loose RHP has enough arm and pitching ability to move quickly in the Royals system, with a fastball that sits 91-93, he locates his fb well from the 3/4 slot and he has bite on a hard slider at 80-82 with depth/tilt.
19. St Louis - RHP Cole Wilcox, Heritage HS, Chickamauga GA would be an ideal pick for Cards as they need pitching and Cole has the type of stuff to develop in the Cards' system and they don't have to rush him but he'll move quickly if he continues to dominate and improve as he has over the past year.
20. Minnesota - OF Jarred Kelenic, Waukesha West HS, WIS, Jarred has a 5 tool mix though the numbers don't always appear consistent as far as out of the box times home to 1st and throwing wise from the OF. Jarred has strength in his swing and he's been compared to former ML OF Mark Kotsay out of Cal State Fullerton, that's a likely comp but for me I see more of a combination of Jacoby Ellsbury/Jay Bruce, there is power in his swing on the pull side and he profiles as a corner OF. The Twins don't need to rush him as they are stockpiled with youth positionally if they go this route.
21. Milwaukee Brewers - Brewers are building for the future and they have depth in the system, they lack quality left handers in their system and have been in to see LHP Ryan Weathers out of Loretto HS, Tenn quite a bit even with his commit to Vanderbilt, the Brewers should be able to persuade the younger Weathers to take a path to the ML with a young team that will compete for years to come. Ryan lacks the movement to his FB to dominate with but the velo is there touching 95 and sits 91-93 mostly, a hard downer w/sweep breaking ball helps him get outs and keeps hitters honest.
22. Colorado Rockies - Rockies have always gone for the best available talent and left on the board is a RHP who could move back to the pen to be a closer in time for the Rockies or a 3-4 man in their rotation in Griffin Roberts, who was drafted last year but decided to return to school, he has the best slider and consistent control in this spot for the Rockies and his fb has touched 97 in the past, mostly 93-94 this spring but the slider and ability to get outs is what the Rockies want here.
23. New York Yankees - LHP Steven Gingery, 6'2 210 Texas Tech, lefty had TJ in HS but shows the ability now to be a starter in the ML, with a fb that touches 94 on occ, he's a pitcher with a hammer breaking ball and in being a lefty with some polish, the Yankees don't have to rush him and he'll blend in nicely in time with their starting staff.
24. Chicago Cubs - OF Steele Walker, Oklahoma, strong with a blend of speed and ability to play either corner in the OF, Steele could move into a lineup that produces runs and he profiles with the Cubs need and have used in their ML lineup.
25. Arizona D-Backs - D-Backs can get a local kid here who could be a dynamite corner guy with more work and they don't have to rush him in Nolan Gorman. A blend of power and ability to drive the ball, he profiles to be a run producer at the ML level in time.
26. Boston - 1B, Tristan Casas out of American Heritage HS, Plantation FL at 6'4 235 pounds with a lefty power stroke, his bat projects in Fenway and he has enough ability defensively to be a solid sacker for years and they don't have to rush him either. U of Miami commit would look good in Fenway and produce some runs. #26 OVERALL to BOSTON
27. Washington - Nationals need some position player depth having signed free-agents for their OF for the past few years and they could use some arms as well, where they go here is anyone's guess but for me seeing what the Nationals have drafted in the Rizzo era, they go OF/1B Greyson Jenista out of Wichita State who profiles to have a blend of speed and power potential to add to a lineup that has some pop and he could replace any holes the Nats may have over the next year or two.
28. Houston Astros - LHP Konnor Pilkington of Mississippi State is a pitcher folks and he's a lefty, so premium here to be an eventual ML starter and no real rush to move him up, with a fastball that sits 88-91 with arm side run and touches 94 on occ, Konnor has enough pitching ability and stuff to make an impact with the Astros, he has a late breaking slider and his straight change is solid, he throws strikes and competes.
29. Cleveland Indians - OF Trevor Larnach of Oregon State has been moving up the boards as gossip would say and after seeing him in the NTIS trials a few years back, the power and stroke for this large sized lefty bat could profile here with the Indians who love power and lefty bats when they are available and this pick makes sense for them.
30. Los Angeles Dodgers - SS/2B Brice Turang, lefty qk bat comps favorable to steady ML player, former Phillie and Dodger Chase Utley, Brice is a tick above ave runner and his qk twitch actions and range make him a solid candidate to reach the ML in time just as has Corey Seager.
31. Tampa Bay - with their 2nd pick the Rays go pitching depth and take RHP Lineras Torres Jr from Beacon HS, Beacon NY, a fast riser who was just 6' 160 pounds in 2016 when I first saw him at the NTIS trials in Cary, NC touching 91 with his fb then to touching 95-96 last summer and reported touching 98 this spring, giving up a handful of hits and dominating the competition with a smart pitch/inning count by their head coach this year, Lenny has the pitchability to rise in the Rays system quickly. His slider is an out pitch and though he doesn't use his change up much in his arsenal he has the feel to use the third pitch if need be in a starting role, he could project as a closer at the ML level just as has Craig Kimbrell and Kelvim Herrera have done the past few years though Lenny is 6'2, he has the aggressive demeanor to shut the door!
32. Tampa Bay - pick #3 the Rays can take C, Will Banfield from the Georgia HS ranks, Will has catch and throw skills with a 70 arm and quick release, the only knock on him is his inconsistency as a hitter with pitch selection and how he stops his hands in his hitting approach, timing things can be changed with a pro instructor and experience and the Rays will allow him time to develop into a quality ML Catcher.
33. Kansas City - with the 2nd pick in the first round the Royals go pitching depth with J.T. Ginn out of the Mississippi HS ranks, JT has a fb that touches 97 with life and a hard slider, the knock is his lack of deception and listed taller than his actual size, he's just above 6'0 tall but he competes and has the type of arm the Royals covet and they don't have to rush him.
34. Kansas City - 3rd pick in the first round, OF Mike Siani out of Penn Charter HS, Pennsylvania, an athletic blend of speed with some pull side power and accurate plus throwing arm, Mike has a chance to be an impact type CF for the Royals quickly.
35. Cleveland Indians - 2nd pick in this round the Indians can go with 3B, Jordan Groshans who has the tools to be a complete corner player and add more power as he gains experience facing better pitching.
April 19: My preliminary 2018 MLB 1st Round list is not a mock draft but a forecast of whom I feel are worthy of first round selections for the 2018 MLB Draft. Last summer I put together my list with projections where I felt players fell in the MLB Draft for 2018 based on round projections based on the players' overall future potential grade with any adjustment for the position they currently play or project to play at.
My 2018 MLB Mock Draft 1st Round Projections (Not necessarily in order projected)
RHP, Logan Gilbert, Stetson University
RHP, Brady Singer, U of Florida
RHP, Jackson Kowar, U of Florida
LHP, Adam Liberatore, Mountain Ridge HS, AZ
C/RHP, Mason Denaburg, Merritt Island HS, FL
LHP, Konnor Pilkington, Mississippi State
RHP, Casey Mize, Auburn -HIGH RISER
OF, Travis Swaggerty, U of South Alabama
RHP, Kumar Rocker, North Oconee HS, Watkinsville GA
RHP, Carter Stewart, Eau Gallie HS, Melbourne FL
RHP, Ryan Bradish, New Mexico State - HIGH RISER
LHP, Ryan Rolison, Mississippi
RHP,Cole Winn, Orange Lutheran HS, CA - HIGH RISER
3B/1B, Alec Bohn, Wichita State
RHP, Lenny Torres, Beacon HS, NY - HIGH RISER
IF, Brice Turang, Santiago HS, Corono CA
RHP, Cole Wilcox, Heritage HS, Chickamauga GA
OF, Steele Walker, U of Oklahoma
1B/OF, Greyson Jenista, Wichita St
IF, Nolan Gorman, Sandra Day O'Connor HS, AZ
IF, Nick Madrigal, Oregon State - INJURED EARLY
RHP, Ethan Hankins, Forsyth Central HS, Cumming GA
C, Will Banfield IV, Brookwood HS, Lawrenceville GA - BAT?????
RHP, Mike Vasil, Boston College HS, MASS - HIGH RISER
January 2018: Sad to learn over the holidays, a good friend from the past had passed away, Ken Bracey, he was 80 years young from Dunlap, Illinois. I met Ken in 1983 while he was doing pro coverage in Omaha for the Padres when I was a bird dog for Brad Sloan. Ken was always cordial and willing to offer advice to answer questions. He was a vital part of the success that the Padres had in the '80's and most recently his role with the Los Angeles Dodgers as one of their top scouts. Ken battled cancer and worked until his passing. We'll miss Ken.
OVERALL FUTURE POTENTIAL or OFP is the number grade that many Major League Teams use as a scale to compare a players overall graded tool set to how that player will contribute at the Major League Level.
Here is the OFP Scale for Position players and Pitchers with a thumbnail sketch of what type of player they will be. Many clubs allow for a 5 point adjustment up on an OFP # as the player may be a premium positional type player, say a Catcher or Left handed starter or a closer that is unhittable.
OFP -POSITION PLAYERS
70+ - Premium franchise type, Best in the game, Superstar, MVP Type
60-69 - Impact type player, frequently an All-Star
54-59 - Quality every day type, Occasional All-Star
50-53 - Regular every day player at the ML level
46-49 - Utility, fill in type player, extra man on the bench, a specialist
41-45 - Fringe type, back up type player, hard to fit tools
40 - Organization type player, emergency call up at the ML level, solid contributor at the Minor League level, many of these players often play many years at the AAA level with a taste at the ML level.
OFP - PITCHERS
70+ - Premium type #1 man in a Major League rotation, franchise type, difference maker, best in the game, MVP/CY Young type
60-69 - Impact type, #1 or #2 starter at the Major League level or closer, Frequent All-Star
54-59 - Quality #2 starter or #3 starter, set up type or closer in the bullpen, occasionally an All-Star
50-53 - Regular ML Starter, usually #3 or #4 type or end of rotation #5 starter, solid bullpen man
46-49 - Fringe #5 Starter or Spot Starter, Long reliever type or situational type reliever.
41-45 - Emergency starter or extra bull pen guy
40 - Organizational type, lacks that 2nd or 3rd pitch to get ML hitters out, often a long time starter at the AAA level
An example of an OFP grade on a current MLB player:
OF, Bryce Harper - Nationals - 50 hit, 70 power, 50 run, 60 arm 50 fld, = 28 now divide by 5 you get 56 OFP, adjusted his grade 4 points making him a 60, because he impacts the game at several levels, offensively can drive in runs, has power to change a game and defensively can save you runs. A 60 would put Bryce in the Impact player type grade and a frequent All-Star selection, thus far he's done that in his brief time at the Major League level.
My follow list was projected last fall 10/20/2017, 2017 based on OFP or Overall Future Potential grades.
My 2018 MLB Draft Follow List - Group 1 (1st round projections)
RHP, Brady Singer, U of Florida
RHP, Jackson Kowar, U of Florida
RHP, Logan Gilbert, Stetson University
C/RHP, Mason Denaburg, Merritt Island HS, FL
LHP, Konnor Pilkington, Mississippi State
RHP, Ethan Hankins, Forsyth Central HS, Cumming GA
OF, Travis Swaggerty, U of South Alabama
IF, Nick Madrigal, Oregon State
C, Will Banfield IV, Brookwood HS, Lawrenceville GA
RHP, Kumar Rocker, North Oconee HS, Watkinsville GA
RHP,Cole Winn, Silver Creek HS, Longmont CO - Transfering to California HS
RHP, Lenny Torres, Beacon HS, NY
IF, Brice Turang, Santiago HS, Corono CA
OF, Steele Walker, U of Oklahoma
LHP, Adam Liberatore, Mountain Ridge HS, AZ
IF, Nolan Gorman, Sandra Day O'Connor HS, AZ
HIGH "A" Type (rounds 2-5) Group 2 - capable of moving into group 1
OF, Tristan Pompey, U of Kentucky
RHP, Sean Hjelle, U of Kentucky
OF/1B, Griffin Conine, Duke
RHP, Casey Mize, Auburn
RHP, Michael Byrne, Florida
OF, Jared Kelenic, Waukesha West HS, WIS
3B/UT, Kyle Datres, U of North Carolina
RHP Griffin Roberts, Wake Forest
IF, Nico Hoerner, Stanford
RHP, Ryan Feltner, Ohio State
RHP, Jack DeGroat, Liberty
RHP, David Luethje, Vero Beach HS, FL
RHP, Braxton Ashcraft, Robinson HS, TX
RHP, Zach Hess, LSU
LHP, Ryan Weathers, Loretto HS, TN
OF, Joe Gray, Hattiesburg HS, MISS
C, Adrian Del Castillo, Gulliver Prep, Miami FL
RHP, Jack Perkins, Kokomo HS, IN
C, Austin Wells, Bishop Gorman HS, Las Vegas NV
RHP, Austin Becker, Big Walnut HS, Sunbury OH
RHP, Chandler Champlain, Santa Margarita HS, Coto De Caza CA
RHP, Simeon Richardson, H Kempner HS, Houston TX
RHP, Adam Kloffenstein, Magnolia HS, TX
OF, Alek Thomas, Mount Carmel HS, Chicago ILL
OF, Elijah Cabell, Winter Park HS, FL
RHP, John Ginn, Brandon HS, MISS
3B, Jordan Groshans, Magnolia HS, TX
OF, Michael Siani, Penn Charter HS, PA
RHP, Carter Stewart, Eau Gallie HS, Melbourne FL
RHP, Mike Vasil, Boston College HS, MASS
RHP, Cole Wilcox, Heritage HS, Chickamauga GA
RHP, Slade Cecconi, Trinity Prep, Oviedo FL
LHP, Joseph Menefee, George Ranch HS, Richmond TX
MIDDLE "A" type drafts (rounds 6-12)Group 3 capable of moving into Group 2
OF, Jimmy Herron, Duke
3B/1B, John Aiello, Wake Forest
RHP, Christian Tripp, U of New Mexico
3B/1B, Alec Bohn, Wichita State
RHP, Ryan Weiss, Wright State
RHP, Ryan Bradish, New Mexico State
LHP, Ryan Rolison, Mississippi
IF, Ethan Paul, Vanderbilt
C/UT, Willie MacIver, U of Washington
RHP, Jason Bilous, Coastal Carolina U
OF, Jake McCarthy, U of Virginia
OF, Cameron Simmons, U of Virginia
LHP, Jonathan Gates, Nature Coast Tech, Brooksville FL
LHP, Luke Little, E Mecklenburg HS, NC
Weak "A" Drafts (rounds projected 13-40) -Group 4, capable of moving into group 3.
RHP Ryley Gilliam, Clemson
LHP, Mitchell Miller, Clemson
RHP, Patrick Raby, Vanderbilt
RHP, Riley McCauley, Michigan State
LHP, Dan Lynch, Virginia
RHP, Luis Alvarado, Nebraska
OF, Alex McKenna, Cal Poly SLO
1B/OF, Robert Neustrom, Iowa
RHP, Justin Jarvis, Lake Norman HS, NC
RHP, Owen White, Jesse Carson HS, Mt Ulla NC
IF, Brooks Baldwin, Whiteville HS, NC
OF, Dalton Williams, North Gaston HS, NC
OF, Jordyn Adams, Green Hope HS, Cary NC
IF, Nick Podkul, Notre Dame
OF, Parker Meadows, Grayson HS, GA
SS, Blaze Alexander, Bishop Verot HS, FL
IF, Raynel Delgado, Calgary Christian Academy, Ft Lauderdale FL
RHP, Alex Royalty, U of North Carolina-Wilmington
RHP, Clark Cota, U of North Carolina-Wilmington
C, Ryan Jeffers, U of North Carolina-Wilmington
IF, Jeremiah Jackson, St Luke's Episcopal, Mobile AL
C, Kameron Ojeda, St John Bosco HS, La Mirada CA
RHP, Landon Marceaux, Destrehan HS, LA
OF, Christian Jayne, Terry Sanford HS, Fayetteville NC
OF, Jaden Bobbitt, JA Holmes HS, Edenton NC
IF, Brandon Dieter, South Hills HS, Covina CA
C, Anthony Siegler, Cartersville HS, GA
OF, Dwanya Williams-Sutton, East Carolina U
RHP, Sam Lanier, East Carolina U
2017 Cape Cod All-Star Game, July 23 - Wareham MA
1B/OF, Griffin Conine, Duke (Cotuit), 6'2 215 L/L, qk bat with plus power and strength in his swing, son of former ML'er Jeff Conine, Griffin shows balance and proper mechanics to be an above ave hitter with abv average power/run production, can play the corner in RF or 1B equally well, on the way runner, 4.38 from LH side, quicker on the base paths, chance to go in top 2 rounds in 2018 MLB Draft, 54 OFP, 2019 grad.
OF, Jimmy Herron, Duke (Orleans), 6'0 205 R/L, turnaround hitter, has bat speed and direct path w/bat w/strength to drive the baseball, has trouble adjusting to off speed stuff, on the way runner, 4.2 from RH side, quicker on the bases, has fair arm strength and ave range in OF, suited for LF w/his arm, chance to be 4th OF at ML level in time, 2019 grad, 45 OFP.
1B/3B, Alec Bohm, Wichita St (Falmouth) 6'5 230 R/R, saw in Coastal Plain League last yr, big and strong w/qk bat and level LD stroke straight away stance can loft for plus power, pull side plus power, runs underway 4.42 from RH side, sure handed, has enough instincts and range to play the corner IF spots or corner OF spots, has ave arm strength w/carry and accuracy, 50 OFP, chance to go in top 4 rounds in 2018, 2019 grad.
1B/DH Greyson Jenista, Wichita St (Cotuit), 6'4 220 L/R, a physical specimen who can run and has plus power at the plate, qk bat speed with strength, ran 4.3 hm to 1b, throws are acc w/near ave strength, will go as far as bat takes him, graded him out at 30/50 hit, 50/60 power, 50 run 40/40 arm, 40/50 fld, 52 OFP, chance to go in top 3-4 rounds in '18, grad 2019.
2b/UT, Ethan Paul, Vanderbilt (Orleans), 5'10 175 L/R, scrappy player with qk bat w/balance and strength, runs on the way better than out of the box, 4.25 from LH side, acc arm w/ qk release, ranges laterally well enough to play any iF position, will go as far as bat takes him, lacks power at present, has raw strength for pull side power, 47 OFP, 2018 MLB, 2019 grad.
SS/3B/2B Nico Hoerner, Stanford (Y-D), 6'1 195 R/R, strong w/qk bat and balance, some loop in swing, has foul line power, can take extra bases on hits to alleys, 4.25 out of box, throws are acc and online, lateral range to play any IF position, hard nosed and aggressive, will go as far as bat takes him, 48 OFP 4-7 round type, 2019 grad.
LHP Ryan Rolison, Mississippi (Orleans), 6'3 205 L/L, loose arm from H 3/4 slot, fb touches 93 most are 90 with late life, hard sweeping type cb with location and repeats from same arm slot, can turn over fb for straight change, has made some improvement since HS, graded out at 50 OFP, chance to be ML starter, early 1-3 round type for '18, 2019 grad.
RHP Jack DeGroat, Liberty (Chatham), 6'4 190 R/R, loose arm w/plus velo, short arm arc in back, has some deception in his delivery, demeanor to be closer or back of rotation man in ML, 50 OFP, fb touches 94, most are 90-91, spins the breaking ball w/slurve effect, 2019 grad.
LHP Brendan Nail, Western Carolina (Y-D), 6'1 190, loose lefty with command of the plate with near ave stuff, can change speeds to keep hitters off balance, undrafted senior, has enough there to be fringe ML pitcher, long man or short man in the pen, graded out at 40/40 fb, 40/40 SL 50/60 control 40/50 change, 50 fld, can hold runners well enough, 48 OFP, 2018 grad, will need to be fine with his pitches, knows how to pitch.
C Willie MacIver, Washington (Wareham), 6'2 200 R/R, strong durable frame, chance to get bigger in time, has long swing w/strength and bat speed to be at least 3-5 hole type hitter in ML lineup, can drive the baseball to alley gaps, better pull side power, best chance at catcher, has played other positions in the past, 3B/1B and OF, has ave arm strength w/plus release, still learning/developing as a receiver, will be 7-12 round type draft in 2018, 47 OFP, could come on.
OF/1B, Robert Neustrom, Iowa (Hyannis), 6'2 210 L/L, has level swing w/strength, chance for pull side power, runs underway, shows near ave arm strength and feel for the corner OF, gamer with ability to drive the baseball where it's pitched, graded out at 45 OFP, 8-12 round type in '18, 2019 grad.
RHP Luis Alvarado, Nebraska (Bourne), 6'3 195 R/R, loose long arm from 3/4 slot, fb touches 94 most are 90-91 with sink down on knees, wide sweeping slider and effective change up, will be senior for '18, chance to be 4-7 round guy when he devotes to 100% pitching, still developing, has chance to be long man or starter at the ML level.
RHP Kyle Bradish, New Mexico St (Falmouth) 6'5 195 R/R, qk arm from H 3/4 slot, fb touches 93 most are 90 with occ sink down on knees, has proper bite and tilt on cb and feel for change, still maturity and could be long range ML starter or long man in bullpen at ML level, 48 OFP, 5-8 round type.
RHP, Christian Tripp, New Mexico (Hyannis) 6'7 220, R/R, brief stint out of pen, showed plus arm strength and feel as short man out of the pen, fb touched 97 most were 95, would like to see more, projectible frame and repeats delivery, slightly across his body, used in pen in role at present school, could be 3-7 round type, 2019 grad.
RHP Ryan Feltner, Ohio St (Bourne), 6'4 195, loose durable arm w/frame that will be get bigger and stronger naturally, fb touches 94 most were 91-92, feel for hard cb and straight change, chance to come on in '18 to move up in draft status, 47 OFP at present, needs improvement on command and ability to get his breaking pitch over for strikes, 4-7 round potential 49 OFP.
RHP Ryan Weiss, Wright St (Hyannis), 6'4 195, loose qk arm from 3/4 slot, fb has late arm side life, shows proper spin and break on slider w/feel for change, threw strikes, not afraid to challenge, chance to be top 3 round pick '18, 2019 grad.
Coast Plain All-Stars, July 10, 2017, Holly Springs NC
IF/2B, Nick Podkuhl, Notre Dame (Morehead City), 6'1 185, '19, R/R, some pop in his bat, quiet approach, has strength w/level qk bat pull side power, ave ML arm, best suited for 2B, has lateral range ave hands to stay there, will go as far as bat takes him, 4.48 all out home to 1b quicker on bases, 44 OFP, 13-20 round type, 2018.
2B, Christian Holle, UT-Arlington (Savannah), 6'0 180, R/R, '19, plays hard showing ave speed, quicker on bases, ave bat speed w/contact feel for barrel, doubles power, throws are acc w/near ave arm, 21+ rounder, weak follow from solid program, will go as far as bat takes him.
RHP, Devin Sweet, N Carolina Central (Asheboro), 5'10 190, R/R, '19, qk arm from H 3/4 slot, fb touches 90, most upper 80's, deceptive, hides ball well, also spins it with some depth, makings of straight change, on the small side, will end up in the pen, must see again, +21 round type, 40 OFP at best, competitor on the hill!!
2017 Tournament of Stars
BRAVE
C, Will Banfield IV, Brookwood HS, Lawrenceville GA, 6'1 200, R/R, strong durable frame, plus arm strength w/plus release, defensively sound, tends to be overly aggressive, stumbled on a couple straight up foul balls, as a hitter shows bat speed w/feel for barrel w/wood, tends to chase pitches out of zone and not attack fb he should hit, fair hitter at present w/power to pull side, will be catch n throw guy with enough there to get to ML in time, throwback comp to Jason Kendall-Pirates, 2018 follow, could go in 1-3 rounds.
1B, Triston Casas, American Heritage HS, FL, see NHSI report from March - solid build and frame to get stronger in time, 2018 grad.
C, Adrian Del Castillo, Gulliver Prep, Miami FL, 5'11 195 L/R, catch n throw guy with plus release, 1.9 to 2b w/acc & carry, shows direct bat path w/bat speed, goes the other way, pull side power, on the way runner, has enough here to develop further, offer to U of Miami, defensively sound to follow, 48 OFP.
OF, Joe Gray, Hattiesburg HS, MISS, 6'1 195 R/R, strong build w/plus power and arm strength, has bat speed to make adjustments and hit for HR power pull side, ran 4.38 best time, can throw runners out from corner OF, knows how, has offer to U of Mississippi, 45 OFP, will go as far as bat takes him.
RHP Ethan Hankins, Forsyth Central HS, Cumming GA, 6'6 198, R/R, loose very qk arm from 3/4 arm slot, set windup fb gets on hitters in a hurry, touched 96, most fb were 92-93 with occ sink on knees, spins the slurve chance to be ave pitch once he tightens it up some and straight change feel, keeps pitches down and in the zone, type of frame to add further strength, has offer to Vanderbilt, could be one of top 25 picks in 2018 MLB Draft.
OF, Parker Meadows, Grayson HS, GA, 6'5 190 L/R, lean build with wiry frame, can cover ground in OF, shows near ave arm strength and on the way speed, at the plate feel for barrel w/wood, fair power and strength, can turn on inner half fb, projection type of college offer, needs time to develop, good stuff eats him up, performance scouts like him, tools are there to follow for certain, 44 OFP for me, 2018.
LHP Ryan Weathers, Loretto HS, Loretto TN, 6'1 225 L/L, son of former ML David Weathers - shows loose qk arm with strength, fb is true touching 94 most fb are 91-92, not much life, hard cb w/bite and break in vs RHH, feel for change, throws strikes, closes off front side at times, has offer to Vanderbilt, will benefit from trimming body some and increasing stamina, "A" follow for 2018.
RHP Cole Wilcox, Heritage HS, Chickamauga Ga, 6'5 215 R/R, long and loose from H 3/4 slot, fb gets on your in hurry, fb touches 95, most are 92 w/occ sink down on knees, shows feel for hard cb/slider, type of frame to increase strength and fill out in time, has offer to Georgia, 2018, could go in top 3 rounds in 2018.
FREE
IF/OF, Cory Acton, American Heritage HS, FL, see report from NHSI from March - 2018 follow has college offer, worth another look, 2018 grad.
RHP Slade Cecconi, Trinity Prep HS, Oviedo FL, 6'4 195, loose qk arm from H 3/4, fb touches 96 most are 93 and true, spins cb w/proper bite and action, throws strikes, crosses body some, will benefit from pro instruction, has grown and added to frame since 2015 NHSI as a freshman, chance to be 1-3 round type in 2018, 54 OFP.
3B/SS Rece Hinds, Niceville HS, FL, 6'3 200 R/R, turns 17 late this summer, follow for 2019 shows bat speed with aggressive swing and strength, runs well underway, 4.36 out of box, throws w/carry at 3B and SS, know how, may end up in the OF in time, type of frame to get bigger and stronger with maturity, has offer to LSU, keep an eye on him.
OF Jarred Kelenic, Waukesha West HS, Waukesha WI, 6'1 190 L/L, lean athletic build, has grown a bit since LY event, still shows ave to plus arm strength and straight line speed, qk bat with LD power to pull side, can play any OF position, best suited for corner OF, some comp to Brett Gardner, OFP of 48 for 2018, 4-7 round type, has offer to Louisville.
RHP Lineras "Lenny" Torres, Beacon HS, Beacon NY, 6'2 185, R/R, turns 17 late this year, has improved velo and delivery since last summer during 16 U NTIS tourney in Cary, fb touched 96 most were 93 with occ ASR, spun the slider with proper bite and action to be effective 2ndary pitch, has offer to St John's, clean arm stroke has chance to be short man out of pen or back of rotation starter, still a bit more there to work with and will benefit from pro ball, 2018 grad, possible day 1 draft, 54 OFP.
2B/SS, Brice Turang, Santiago HS, Corona CA, 6' 160 L/R, saw last yr during TOS, shows qk bat w/strength at the plate, goes opp field often late trigger, runs well out of box, shows ave arm strength, chance to be 4-7 round type pick in 2018, has offer to TCU to compete with.
C, Austin Wells, Bishop Gorman HS, Las Vegas NV, 6'3 190 L/R, strong frame with arm strength and carry 2.0 or sub release times, knows how, good face, lefty stroke w/strength slight loop upper cut, attacks the fb and can drive to pull side for power, has offer to U of Arizona, chance to fill out naturally, reminds me of throwback comp to Darrel Porter- Cards/Brewers days, 47 OFP for 2018.
2B/SS, Bobby Witt Jr, Colleyville Heritage HS, TX, 6'1 175 R/R, plus runner with ML arm strength for MIF, shows bat speed with slight loop, ball jumps off bat when he squares up pitches, feel for barrel tends to be over aggressive, needs time to develop, 4.0 run time out of box, quick on the base paths to steal bases, arm and glove to stick at SS or 2B at ML level, will go as far as bat improves, son of former ML RHP Bobby Witt-Rangers, 2019 grad, has offer to Oklahoma.
PRIDE
RHP Austin Becker, Big Walnut HS, Sunbury OH, 6'6 175 R/R, loose righty with H 3/4 arm slot, some hyper extension with lead elbow, can spin hard downer type cb with bite and tilt to get hitters to chase, fb touches 93, most are 88-90, wiry strong frame to get bigger and stronger in time, has offer to Vanderbilt, 2018 grad has chance to go in 4-7 rounds or earlier, depending on off season development.
RHP Chandler Champlain, Santa Margarita HS, Coto De Caza CA, 6'4 215, R/R, similar build and frame to former ML RHP Rick Helling-Rangers, shows loose arm from H 3/4 slot, durable strong body, chance to fill out frame and add stamina, fb touches 93, most are 90, also feel for downer cb and straight change, pitches down hill for most part, has offer to USC, should be 4-7 round capable in 2018.
C/RHP, Mason Denaburg, Merritt Island HS, Merritt Island FL, 6'4 195, R/R - see NHSI write up from this spring, showed more pitchability in this event than earlier in March, touched 95 - 2018 strong follow.
3B Nolan Gorman, Sandra Day O'Connor HS, Glendale AZ, 6'1 205 L/R, strong durable frame, chance to hit for power at ML level, showed deep power in BP sessions and in game, throws with ave arm strength from corner, anticipates well, has range to left, throws are acc, runs underway, 4.4 from LH side, better on the bases, chance to hit for ave and power making him a potential day 1 pick in 2018 Draft, offer to U of Arizona.
RHP Adam Kloffenstein, Magnolia HS, TX, 6'5 230, R/R, young for grad class, 2018, turns 17 in August, has loose strong arm from H 3/4 arm slot, fb touches 95, most are 91-93, spins breaking ball and keeps pitches down in zone, gets ahead of hitters, no fear, fields position, has offer to TCU, shows 4-7 round projection for 2018, keep an eye on his progress.
LHP, Matthew Liberatore, Mountain Ridge HS, Peoria AZ, 6'5 185, lean and loose w/qk arm from 3/4 slot, also qk pitches, fb touches 93 most are 90 with sink down, spins cb and feel for change up, chance to develop further and extra large frame to add more s
C Anthony Siegler, Cartersville HS, GA, 5'11 185 S/S, ambidextrious player with ability to catch and throw, has bat speed with ability to barrel up pitches and drive it where it's pitched, 2.08 pop time, range is solid behind dish and alert, has offer to D1, fringe prospect, 8-12/13-20 round type for 2018.
C, Kameron Ojeda, St John Bosco, La Mirada, CA, 6'1 175 L/R, catch and throw guy with solid pop time 1.90, quick hands behind the plate, has feel for barrel as hitter, hitting needs help, fair bat speed, right now defensive type who'll be solid college player, has offer to Cal St-Fullerton, 2018 grad, mild follow.
RHP Simeon Richardson, IH Kempner HS, Houston TX, 6'2 200, strong body with loose arm, qk arm action w/fb that sneaks up on you, touches 93, most are 89-90, bite and feel for cb and decent command though he rushes front side at times, worth strong follow 13-20 round consideration for 2018, has offer to Texas, 2018 grad.
OF Alek Thomas, Mount Carmel HS, Chicago IL, 5'10 170 L/L, football offer to TCU, saw last summer at TOS, shows same skill set and raw strength, no power threat, puts the ball in place, pesky type player at lead off or top of lineup, can play "D", runs down balls in gaps, 8-12 round type for 2018.
OF, Elijah Cabell, Winter Park HS, FL, 6'1 190 R/R, very qk bat w/strength to drive the ball where pitched, some length to swing, runs underway, has plus arm strength from OF with know how, fair range but instincts to make up for it, has offer to LSU, strong follow for 2018.
RHP John JT Ginn, Brandon HS, MISS, 6'1 210, loose arm from 3/4 arm slot, fb has life, rushes front side at times, fb touched 97, most were 93-94, not much heaviness to his fb in middle of zone, has hard breaking cb at 78-80 with downer action, has some pitchability and no fear, throws strikes, type to be innings eater in pen or back of rotation starter, offer to Mississippi State, 2018 chance to go in top 7 rounds.
3B Jordan Groshans, Magnolia HS, TX, 6'3 190 R/R, strong arm from 3B with carry and range to play 3b and stick there, has power off a qk line drive stroke and feel for hitting w/barrel getting thru the zone, runs well underway, 4.35 runner, graded out at 54, could move to group 1, 1st round talk, right now 4-7 round but worth strong look again, has offer to U of Kansas, 2018 grad.
RHP Landon Marceaux, Destrehan HS, LA, 5'11 175 R/R, qk arm with easy delivery, competes, fb jumps out of his hand, touches 92 most are 88-89, reaches back when he needs it, spins the cb with fair change up and throws strikes, gets ahead of hitters, no fear, full effort some, arm is loose from 3/4 slot, chance to be late innings guy or back of rotation ML starter, has offer to LSU, 2018.
LHP Joseph Menefee, George Ranch HS, Richmond TX, 6'1 220 L/L, lefty w/loose qk arm, fb sneaks up on you, got stronger in 2nd inning of work touching 93 often, most fb 90 on knees with back door action cb with depth and tilt at 77-78, repeats delivery from 3/4 slot, chance to get stronger, needs to shed some baby fat, has offer to Texas A&M, 2018 grad, 13-20 round type follow.
RHP Kumar Rocker, North Oconee HS, Wakinsville GA, 6'5 260 R/R, some baby fat around lower torso, big rear end, long arms and legs, built like TE in football, good bloodlines, father was former NFL D'lineman, fb touches 95 most are 93 has hard cb 80-83 and fair change at 88 with hyper elbow extension, delivery repeats for most part, needs to keep balance over back leg when going forward to plate on line to catcher, has offer to Vanderbilt should be day 1 ML Draft 2018, more in the tank here with added maturity no idea how good how he could become.
OF, Mike Siani, William Penn Charter, Glenside PA, 6'0 190 L/L, fluid athlete with hit and run tools and plus arm from CF w/range and instincts to stick there, has offer to U of Virgnia, showed better hit tool last year, seemed to be muscled up this year, tools are there to follow for next spring, 4-7/8-12 round type if signable, 2018 grad.
RHP Carter Stewart, Eau gallie HS, Melbourne FL, 6'5 185, R/R loose qk arm from H 3/4, fb jumps out of his hand touches 93 most are 91, hard downer cb with proper bite to be plus out pitch and feel for fade change he can get over for strikes, has lean frame to fill out and get bigger in time, offer to Mississippi State, could move into day 1 discussion with solid spring, 2018.
RHP Cole Winn, Silver Creek HS, Longmont CO, 6'2 180, R/R, loose qk arm from H 3/4 slot, touches 93 most fb 90, has downer cb with feel and downer break, straight change has fade and keeps his pitches down, strike machine, frame to get bigger and stronger in time, has offer to Mississippi State, could be day 1 pick, 2-3 rounds at the least, 2018 grad.
2017 North Carolina State Games, UNC Greensboro, June 14-18
Slow track on this day for 60's in the OF at UNCG. A few follows for 2018 and beyond in this event however, didn't see 2 squads perform late in the afternoon.
C Trent Harris, Wake Forest Heritage HS, NC, 6' 175 R/R, attacks the fb during BP, throws full out from IF with ave arm strength, 1.9-2.05 pop times behind the plate, has lean frame to get bigger and stronger in time, 2018 grad, weak follow, ran 7.5, 60.
OF Christian Jayne, Terry Sanford HS, Fayetteville NC, 6'4 180 L/L, twin brother of Andrew, HS football QB with verbal to attend ECU, has arm strength w/carry and acc from the OF during workouts, 6.85,60 on wet track, showed qk bat w/strength to hit, direct path swing, lean athletic frame, projects to get bigger and stronger in time, fluid arm action to watch, also LHP, didn't see him pitch, will try hard next spring, weak "A" follow for 2018.
C Seth Thorndyke, 6'2 220 R/R, Fairmont HS, Lumberton NC, solid build with chance to get bigger, shows qk bat with upper body strength, not much leg drive into swing, throws w/acc to 2b, 2.08 pop time, college player who has a chance to improve his skill package to keep an eye on in the future, 2018 grad.
3B Brooks Baldwin, Whiteville HS, NC, 6'1 160 S/R, smooth hitting mechanics, more pop from RH side, ran 7.1, 60, has ave arm strength from hole w/know how and qk glove, has offer to D1 school, has started varsity for 3 years, has enough bat tool to see again in 2018, grad.
1b/RHP/C Caleb Cozart, Wesleyan Christian Academy, High Point NC, 6'4 240 R/R, 2019 grad, ran 8.2, 60, brute strength with solid ML arm strength, a bit stiff in his actions, shows bat speed w/power stroke, ball jumps off bat, arm works well enough to see when pitching or catching, has offer to D1, 2 years to follow.
RHP Owen White, Jesse Carson HS, Mount Ulla NC, 6'3 180 R/R, a bit bigger and stronger since LY seen in this same event, showed fb up to 93 - will see more at Tournament of Stars in a week, has offer to U of South Carolina, strong follow for 2018.
OF Dalton Williams, North Gaston HS, Dallas NC, 6'1 195 L/R, strong lean build, ball jumps off his bat, short qk stroke with alley type power, shows ave arm strength and moves well in OF, ran 7.0, 60, has 4 yr offer, weak follow for 2018.
OF, Cam Brantley, Ardrey Kell HS, Charlotte NC, 5'11 190 L/L, 6.85,60, showed arm strength during workouts and short qk stroke with bat speed as a hitter, football type build, has chance to develop further in time, weak follow right now for 2018.
SS Carson Lowder, North Stanly HS, New London NC, 6' 175 R/R, has arm strength and glove to watch at SS, 2019 grad, so 2 years to watch, bat path is qk and direct to attack baseball, vulnerable to off speed stuff, type of frame to get bigger and stronger in time, large feel, 2019.
1B/LHP Luke Little, East Mecklenburg HS, Matthews NC, 6'8 230 L/L, smooth throwing motion at 1B with arm strength, loose arm w/carry on throws, solid glove not much gets by him w/his reach, also basketball player, offer to Gardner-Webb, also pitches, saw limited frame, touches 91 when he's in sync, raw mechanics but a feel for pitching, could be something with instruction and further development, 2018 grad.
North Carolina State Tourney June 2-3, 2017
CF Jaden Bobbitt, JA Holmes HS, Edenton NC, 6'1 165 R/R, 2018 grad, shows plus running speed with strong arm from CF w/carry and accuracy, range to go deep under control for well hit fly balls in alleys, shows short qk swing w/strength to hit at the next level, type of lean build to get stronger in time and project to hit, 2018 follow.
SS Nick Melton, Shelby-Crest HS, Shelby NC, 6' 165 R/R, qk swing w/strength at the plate, makes solid contact, feel for barrel, ran ave 4.3 from RH side, arm w/strength from hole, enough to stick there, 2018 grad, chance to improve with added strength/maturity. Weak follow.
2017 NHSI, March 29 - April 1
SS Mark Vientos, American Heritage HS, FL, 6'4 190 R/R, grew a bit since 2016 at NHSI & TOS event, transferred schools from Flanagan to AHHS, has the same quick bat w/strength, 4.4 runner and plus arm strength and instincts to stick at SS, chance to go in top 2 rounds this year, 2018 MLB Draft, 55 OFP.
3B/2B Cory Acton, American Heritage HS, FL, 6'1 165 L/R, strong arm from corner with qk glove and actions, has flat bat w/bat speed can turn on inner half, runs 4.25 from LH side to 1b, tends to be overmatched on breaking ball, has enough defensive ability and bat speed to warrant strong follow for 2018, has offer to U of Florida.
CF Enrique Bradfield, American Heritage HS, FL, 5'11 140 L/L, can really run and has qk bat with short bat path keeps hands active, makes contact, 4.1 runner out of box, shows range and arm strength in CF to stick there, arm should improve over next 3 years, just a freshman currently, 16 yrs old 12/2/2001, uncommitted thus far, follow for 2020.
RHP Christian Santana, American Heritage HS, FL, 6'3 210, has offer to FIU, loose easy arm action from H 3/4 almost overhand, fb is true w/sink down on knees, fb touches 92 most are 89, downer cb from 12/6 with late break, also straight change w/feel, repeats delivery, will rush front side on occ, type of frame to get bigger and stronger in time, should add more velo as well, 4-7 round type if signabile, 2017 grad.
1B, Triston Casas, American Heritage HS, FL, 6'4 235 L/R, offer to U of Miami, tall w/actions to stick at corner w/arm strength, accuracy is fair, runs all out, 4.4 from LH side, knows how on bases, has pull side power and can drive to gap when he keeps his hands back and thru the zone, tends to be overly aggressive and at times passive taking good pitches he should crush, still in development stage, chance to be at least an ave hitter w/plus power and drive in runs in the future, 2018 grad, 48 OFP.
LHP Bailey Mantilla, American Heritage HS, FL, 6'2 220, U of Miami offer, has arm speed with loose ness out front, can spin cb with downer effect, from 3/4 arm slot locks front leg crossing body on land causing eratic command/control, enough here to keep an eye on for 2018, weak follow.
1b Alex Toral, Archbishop McCarthy HS - 2017 grad, see TOS write up for 2016, has added arm strength and toned up his body some since last summer, hit tool is key to development, has offer to U of Miami to compete with 47 OFP.
RHP Joe Perez, Archbishop McCarthy HS - 2017 grad, see TOS write up for 2016, has arm strength w/qk arm from 3/4 arm slot w/sling action at times locking elbow/straining shoulder, fb touched 95 most were 91-92 occ arm side run, hard spinner cb/slurve with late break with lead elbow out front, command is fair, should improve with pro instruction, also IF w/fair hit tool, offer to U of Miami, 47 OFP, 2017, 8-12 round type.
SS Tate Kolwyck, Arlington HS, TENN 6'1 195 R/R, strong arm from SS with fair actions and glove, suited for corner or 2B, lacks pure speed and quickness to stick at SS, shows short qk bat bath w/strength in his swing, late trigger gets him overmatched with plus velo, has enough here to follow for 2018 grad year, offer to Vandy, weak follow.
LHP Jacob Heatherly, Cullman HS, AL 6'2 210 L/L, similar body comp to John Lester-Cubs, has qk arm from 3/4 arm slot tends to get on side of breaking ball, rushes front side, fb will touch 94 most are 90 with occ sink and run, lands slightly cross his body chopping off extension, some softness around the middle of his body, chance to be ML starter or long man in the pen, has offer to U of Alabama, enough here to work with, no need to rush, 4-7 round type, 48 OFP, 2 solid pitches, 2017 grad.
RHP Hans Crouse, Dana Point HS, Dana Hills CA, 6'5 180 R/R - see 2016 TOS write up, hasn't changed much since last year, added a bit to velocity and sustains for 5 innings, touched 98 most fb were 94 with occ arm side run in vs RHH, hard cb 78-81 with late dive, keeps pitches down in zone, competes w/high energy, some recoil action, offer to UCLA, will go in 1st round - likeable, good face, competes, 2017 grad, 55 OFP.
SS Zachary Waters, Dana Point HS, Dana Hills CA, 6'1 160 R/R, 2019 grad, shows actions and arm strength to stick at SS in future, worth a follow next 2 years, will go as far as bat develops, was DH'd for during game.
OF Joe McLaughlin, Hamilton HS, Chandler AZ, 6'3 200 R/R, 2019 grad, has verbal to Oregon St, shows know how in the OF w/arm strength, has power and short compact swing at plate, generates power w/lower half, enough here to keep an eye on for next 2 yrs.
LHP Nic Swiney, Hough HS, Cornelius NC, 6'4 170, L/L, loose lefty with easy delivery fb up to 88 most are 85 on knees, thin body w/strength to develop further, has offer to N C State, 2017 grad, weak follow, 21+ round type draft, will be strong follow in college, chance to develop into a good one in time.
C/RHP, Hagen Danner, Huntington Beach HS, CA, 6'1 195 R/R - have seen now for 4 years, chance to be day 1 pick in ML Draft 2017, has offer to UCLA, loves the game, making improvements at C which could get him to ML, can fall back on pitching if bat tool doesn't come thru, 2017.
1B Nick Pratto, Huntington Beach HS, CA, 6'2 205 L/L, strong build w/arm strength and near ave running speed, 4.3 from LH side, ran 7.0 60 last summer during workouts, pure hitter with LD ability, similar skill set to ML Comp Adrian Gonzalez of Dodgers, chance to be day 1 pick, 55 OFP based on hitting ability and defense, 2017 grad, has offer to USC to fall back on.
SS Brady McConnell, Merritt Island HS, FL, 6'3 185, R/R, arm and speed are best two tools, bat lagged a bit today, a bit stiffer though stronger, lacked extension and aggressiveness seen last summer in his swing, spread stance with slightly closed stance got jammed and had trouble picking up breaking ball, throws with carry from hole, enough here to work with, has U of Florida offer, graded out today backed up from LY, 8--12 round type for me this year due to regression in hit tool and body stiffness shown.
RHP/C Mason Denaburg, Merritt Island HS, FL, 6'4 190 R/R, strongest follow out of the bunch today for 2018, showed ML arm strength w/accuracy to 2B, qk behind the dish w/alert actions, throws w/carry, 1.9 pop time, at the plate has feel for barrel w/bat speed and raw strength, can drive the ball, also RHP with fb up to 93 w/loose arm even after catching a full game, name to keep an eye on for 2018 for sure, 55 OFP, has offer to U of Florida, 2018 grad.
RHP Christian Rodriguez, Orange Lutheran HS, Corona CA, 6'5 170, loose projectible arm, crosses his body to 3b side from H 3/4 arm slot, fb touches 86 easy, most fb 83, feel for spinning cb and is around the plate, thin build w/raw strength, can project a bit more for 15 yr old, 2020 grad, chance to have solid ML fb or plus in time, depending on added strength and working on mechanics to open front side and direction to the plate.
CF Garrett Mitchell, Orange Lutheran HS, Corona CA, 6'3 205 L/R, didn't show the bat speed or swing I saw in 2016 at TOS, runs well out of the box and displays arm strength w/carry from CF best suited for corner OF, displayed 5 O'clock BP swing then had trouble getting extension and feel during game action, has offer to UCLA, has taken a step back since LY, worrisome, keep an eye in college, 8-12 round best shot in 2017, doubtful he would be signable, would need time in low "A" ball.
LHP Karlos Morales, South Hills HS, West Covina CA, 6'3 185 L/L, loose lefty w/arm speed from H 3/4 slot touches 91 most are 87-88 w/occ arm side run and sink, spins the cb, easy to read though feel is there to improve more, throws downhill for most part, has offer to Long Beach State, would be 21+ round type prospect number, keep an eye on him, 2017 grad.
SS/RHP, Brandon Dieter, South Hills HS, West Covina CA, 6'1 170, R/R, gamer with aggressive actions, smooth glove with range and ave arm strength from hole, also pitches, knows how with feel has offer to Stanford, 2018 grad to be, pocket follow, fb touches 89-90 on occ out of pen.
RHP A J Labas, Trinity Christian Academy, Jacksonville FL, 6'2 225 R/R, max effort RHP with 3/4 arm slot, turns fb over range is 88-93 most are 89-90, has deceptive straight change w/is his best pitch and throws strikes, keeps hitters off balance, chance to develop further in pro ball, has offer to D1 North Florida, graded OFP at 45, back of rotation guy or long man in pen, KHTP, 2017 grad, reclassified last yr.
1B/RHP Dylan Simmons, Trinity Christian Academy, Jacksonville, FL, 6'3 205, R/R, can pick it and shows arm strength, ran ave out of box, has length to his swing w/strength, 2019 grad so 2 more years to watch develop, has verbal to Florida State, would like to see pitch some day, bat path and strength not there just yet, but enuf to keep an eye on.
South Atlantic Border Battle, Sept 24-25, 2016 Holly Springs NC
RHP Carmen Mlodzinski, Hilton Head HS, SC, 6'3 185, H 3/4 arm slot, pitches across his body, fb touches 91, most are 88 with ASR, spins the breaking ball, slurve effect, throws strikes, tends to push his pitches, type of frame to get better in time, has 4 year offer, 2017 follow, Mets Scout team.
OF Ward Hacklen, 6'4 200, R/R, Dutch Fork HS, Irmo SC, interesting player with raw strength and running speed, 7.0, 60, has strength in his swing w/power potential, weak follow, will go JC route, 2017 grad, Mets Scout team.
RHP Gavin Williams, Cape Fear HS, Fayetteville NC, 6'6 205, R/R, loose qk arm from H 3/4 arm slot, fb touches 93, most are 89 w/occ ASR and sink down in zone, rushes front side, big feet and extra large frame to fill out in time, has offer to ECU, grad 2017, Braves Scout Team, 13-20 round type, will need time to develop and repeat his mechanics to be starter at ML level.
MIF, Noah Campbell, Cardinal Gibbons HS, Durham NC, 6'1 185 S/R, switch hitter, seen at TOS event, seems to have better feel as RHH, direct bat path w/bat speed, not much power, hits down on baseball, should develop further strength in time, shows ave arm strength and ave defensive ability, on the way runner, 4.3 from RH side and 4.2 from LH hm to 1b, has U of South Carolina offer, weak follow for 2017, 44 OFP, Braves Scout team.
C Spencer Smith, Northern Durham HS - previous report below from N C State Games in Cary in June, Braves Scout team, showed ability to drive the baseball, 2017 grad, weak follow.
RHP Chris McMahon, West Chester Rustin HS, PA, 6'2 185, U of Miami offer, loose RHP w/qk arm from H 3/4 arm slot, fb will touch 93 on occ when delivery is in sync, range 90-93, spins hard cb w/bite, has feel for pitching, will need time to develop, solid 46 OFP follow for 2017, frame/build to get bigger and stronger, Texas Scout Team.
NTIS 16 U & 17 U, August 20, 2016
LHP Mitchell Parker, 6'3 190, 2018, Manzano HS, Albuquerque NM, loose qk arm from 3/4 arm slot, semi-windup, fb touches 87 most are 84-85 with ASR, bite and feel on cb to be solid pitch in time, projectible body to get stronger and add velo as he repeats his delivery, have 2 yrs to follow this one, could be special player come 2018.
CF, Christian Franklin, Rockhurst HS, Overland Park KS, 5'11 165 R/R, 2018 grad, moves around in CF easy and shows arm strength and ave speed, chance to get bigger and stronger, 2 years to watch, has qk bat w/strength, puts the ball in play, 4.28 run time, also plays for Royals Scout team, intriguing follow next 2 yrs.
RHP Ethan Clough, Temecula Valley HS, CA, 5'11 165 R/R, loose qk arm from H 3/4 slot w/easy semi-windup, fb touches 88 most fb are 84-86, can sink it down on hitters knees, spin and feel for cb and throws strikes, aggressive, no fear approach, chance to get bigger and stronger, 2018 grad year, need to follow for improvement for sure.
RHP, Lineras "Lenny Torres, Beacon HS, Beacon NY, 6'0 165 R/R, loose qk arm from set position delivery pitches from H 3/4 slot, crosses front side chopping extension at times, fb touched 91 with ease, pure arm strength, has feel for slider/cb and repeats delivery, chance to develop further, graduates in 2018, on 16 under team from North Atlantic, more in the tank in his arm, will watch, uncommited at this time.
C, Zach Morgan, Lincoln HS, Stockton CA, 5'11 165 R/R, qk feet and arm strength w/ave release, 2.0 pop time, shows bat speed w/direct bat path to hit, runs near ave, interesting skill set to follow for 16U team Northern California, 2018 grad, follow next 2 years.
LHP Titus Groeneweg, Will C Wood HS, Vacaville CA, 6'4 165, L/L, loose lefty with short arm arc in back swing from 3/4 slot, fb touches 86, most 83-84 with ASR, type of frame/build to get stronger in time, has 2 years to develop further, definite college ability, interesting to follow. 2018,on Nor Cal 16 U team.
Cape Cod All-Star Game 2016 - July 23, Chatham MA
C Riley Adams U of San Diego (Orleans) 6'4 220 R/R, strong durable frame, long arms and legs, strength in his swing from straight away stance, feel for barrel w/wood, can drive the baseball to gaps on pull side, shows plus throwing arm strength with ave to plus release times 1.88-1.95 warmups, shows soft hands and range behind the dish, will hit enough to be everyday ML catcher, 54 OFP, 2018 grad.
3B, Joe Dunand, N C State (Harwich) 6'2 200 R/R, strong arm w/lateral range to left, also has played 2B/SS in summer ball and at NCSU, shows qk bat w/strength, ability to turn on fb for pull side power, on the way runner, 4.5 out of the box, defensively solid will go as far as his bat takes him, 4-7 round type in 2017, 50 OFP.
OF Adam Haseley, U of Virginia (Orleans) 6'0 190 L/L, smooth hitting stroke with alley power on the pull side, runs well underway, 4.25 out of the box, has fluid throwing arm w/strength and accuracy, enough range and feel to stick in CF, may end up in LF in time, comp to Brett Gardner NYY, chance to go early in 2017 MLB Draft 51 OFP for me.
RHP B J Myers, West Virginia, 6'1 215 (Harwich), R/R, funky delivery with deception, gets most out of his ability, fb touches 93 most are 89-90 with arm side run and sink down on knees, shows slurvy breaking ball w/decent command and repeats delivery, will vary arm slots from H 3/4 to L 3/4, may end up in pen at ML level, knows how to pitch, 45 OFP, 13-20 round type, 2018 grad.
RHP Brandon Bielak, Notre Dame (Orleans), 6'3 200, R/R, loose qk arm from H 3/4 slot, fb touches 93 most are 90 and mostly true, will sink fb when down on knees and spins the hard slider w/late break, a bit on same plane as the bat, may end up in bull pen at ML level, 47 OFP, will be older junior, 2018 grad.
LHP Hunter Williams, U of North Carolina (Harwich), 6'3 220 L/L, fb has come on since his freshman year, touched 95 today, most fb usually are 91 with late m/o life vs RHH, hard cb w/downer break, lands on stiff front side and slightly across his body, also feel for straight change and will throw slider as well, chance to be set up man or closer, if stamina is proven, could be end of rotation guy, 2018 grad, 48 OFP for 2017, 8-12 round type.
LHP Zach Lowther, Xavier (Brewster), 6'2 230 L/L, showed best velocity I've seen from him in 3 appearances now, touched 95 most fb were 91-92 with late arm side run/sink, hard slurvy downer action breaking pitch, we'll call it a slider for now and can turn over the change up to induce weak swings, normally a starter, should be back of rotation starter at ML level or long man in the pen, 55 OFP based on this day and increased in velocity in last 2 years.
RHP Peter Solomon, Notre Dame (Harwich) 6'4 200, R/R, long loose arm from H 3/4 slot, fb touches 96, release slot varies due to rushing front side and lower half, when delivery is together has electric fb, other times hittable or struggles to find the plate, best chance as long man or short man in a ML bullpen, may need time to get there, 48 OFP.
RHP Zach Schellenger, Seton Hall (Harwich), 6'4 205, R/R, a bit of funk in his delivery, has loose arm with quickness and fb w/arm side run and sink down on knees, wide sloppy breaking ball, at times unhittable other times flat and easy to read, fringe prospect with type of arm that may develop late, 45 OFP, 8-12 round type.
LHP Packy Naughton, Virginia Tech (Harwich), 6'1 190 L/L, loose qk arm from 3/4 slot, fb touches 92, competes and aggressive, throws strikes, has proper bite and break on hard cb 75-78 with late dive, demeanor to be a closer, could be spot starter, similar comp to ML LHP Travis Wood, has upside left, 47 OFP, 4-7 round type, 2018 grad.
SS Zach Rutherford, Old Dominion (Hyannis), 6'1 190 R/R, qk bat with line drive swing, can find gaps, pull side power down LF, underway runner, 4.35 out of box, shows instincts and know how at SS to stick there, has solid arm strength, will go as far as bat develops at the next level, 47 OFP, 4-7 round type.
RHP Brady Puckett, David Lipscomb (Falmouth) 6'7 220 R/R, loose qk arm from H 3/4 slot, repeats delivery well for a big man, fb touches 97 most were 94-95 with sink down on knees, only time seeing pitch, showed proper feel and bite on slider, chance to be end of rotation ML Starter or bullpen closer, 48 OFP, 2018 grad, should go in top 7 rounds.
RHP Michael Dibrell, Kennessaw St (Bourne), 6'3 200 R/R, loose qk arm from H 3/4 slot, fb touches 94, most were 91-92 with sink down on knees, sharp downer slurve and feel for change up, only 1 inning pitched, type of arm to be long man or back of rotation guy, 48 OFP, 4-7 round type.
LHP Brendon Little, U of North Carolina (Bourne), 6'3 205 L/L, said to be transfering to Florida JC route in 2017, has strong qk arm from H 3/4 slot, fb touches 96 most were 94-95 with arm side sink and hard downer type cb with late break, competes and showed good feel for putting hitters away, aggressive with fb and slider, chance to be day 1 pick in 2017, has 3 yrs left, 2019 grad.
RHP Garrett Cave, Fla Int'l U (Hyannis), 6'3 200, R/R, R/R best arm seen on the day, fb touched 98 most were 96, no fear wanted the baseball, fb with late arm side run in on RHH, hard slider, only pitched an inning but was dominant, will be transfering to U of Tampa for 2017, chance to be top 4 round prospect in 2017, 55 OFP for me.
Breakthrough Series, June 28-30, Cary NC
C, Jethro Hurt, Norman Thomas HS, NY, 6'2 210 R/R, 2018 grad, interesting skill set, has arm strength, 2.1 pop time, shows bat speed and strength as hitter, seems to know how to catch, definite college material to develop in time, pocket follow.
C, David Duarte, Alhambra HS, Phoenix AZ, 5'11 210 R/R, catch n throw guy, 2.0 or less pop times, doesn't get back side into his throws and direct path to 2B causing inconsistent throw path, is alert and knows how as catcher, at the plate has bat speed w/short swing and bat path is level, chance to hit at the next level, fringe follow, graded out at 42, is a catcher worth following, 2017 grad.
Tournament of Stars, 2016, June
BRAVE
LHP DL Hall, Houston County HS, Warner Robins, GA, 6'1 180, L/L, loose lefty with short arm arc, qk out front with fb touching 94, most fb 90, will sink it on occ, hard downer type cb, tends to get on side of it, H 3/4 arm slot, rushing front side causing arm to lag at times, will need time to develop, enough here to warrant early round consideration for 2017 MLB Draft, Florida State offer, 52 OFP, 2017 grad.
SS, Mark Vientos, report below from NHSI from March of this year - showed same ability even facing better velo had same qk bat path w/pop to add more power in time.
OF, Mike Siani, William Penn Charter HS, Glenside PA, 2018 grad, 6'0 180 L/L, qk twitch w/qk bat w/strength in his swing, can turn on fb in on hands, runs well, better underway, 4.2 from LH hm to 1b, shows plus range and ML arm w/acc from CF, chance to be a good one, strong 2018 follow, has offer to U of Virginia.
RHP Alex Scherff, Prestonwood HS, TX, 6'1 205, R/R, qk strong arm from 3/4 slot, some hype extension locking elbow in delivery affecting his release points, crosses front side, fb touches 97 most are 93-94 with ASR, spins the breaking ball so in development stage, raw specimen with type of arm to develop further in pro ball, has offer to Arizona State, 47 OFP, 2017 grad.
OF/RHP Jordon "Jo" Adell, Ballard HS, Louisville KY, 6'3 195 R/R, athletic body with strength, shows plus arm from RF with range and charges hit balls well, at the plate has bat speed w/strength, tends to swing at out of zone pitches, will need better discipline, direct bat path helps, strength for power, as RHP has fb up to 93, most fb are 90, also hard downer type CB, might be better pitching prospect than hitter, grades out as 52 as RHP and 50 OFP as OF, chance to go in top 3 rounds in 2017, has offer to Louisville.
RHP Justin Bullock, South Granville HS, Creedmoor, NC, 6'1 185 R/R, saw in spring vs Bunn HS at Doak Field, has loose arm w/arm strength, tends to rush delivery from H 3/4 slot, fb will touch 93, most are 89-91, spins hard breaking ball with late break, some upside here to develop further, has big feet and lean frame to get bigger and stronger in time, N C State offer, follow for 2017.
SS/2B, Noah Campbell, Cardinal Gibbons HS, Durham NC, 6'1 185 S/R, toolsy player with ability to take the extra base w/speed, has pop in his bat from LH side, only hit left handed in 6 ab's, has offer to U of South Carolina, need to follow, 2017 grad.
OF, Leugim Castillo, Lancaster Central HS, Lancaster NY, 6'2 215, R/R, physical specimen with plus running ability straight away, fair arm strength, has bat speed w/strength, raw open stance hitting mechanics with hitch in swing, worth weak follow in 2017, 40 OFP.
FREE
2B/SS, Brice Turang, Santiago HS, Corona CA, 6' 160 L/R, saw last yr during TOS, shows qk bat w/strength at the plate, goes opp field often late trigger, runs well out of box, shows ave arm strength, chance to be 4-7 round type pick in 2018, has offer to TCU to compete with.
OF Alek Thomas, Mount Carmel HS, Chicago IL, 5'9 160 L/L fluid athletic body with bat speed and range in OF, shows qk bat w/direct bat path to hit, has speed to take extra bases, shows defensive skills w/arm strength w/carry although arm is BA, has qk accurate release, 2 more years to follow, 2018 grad, has verbal offer to play football @ TCU.
SS Nick Allen, Francis Parker HS, San Diego, CA, 5'9 155 R/R, qk twitch player with high energy, runs 4.18 to 1b has ave arm w/qk release and range to either glove side, short qk bat w/strength to drive the ball for extra base hits, not much power, defense is his ticket and ability to get on base, top of the order or end of the in ML lineup, 52 OFP, has college offer to USC, could go in top 4-5 rounds in 2017 draft.
3B/OF Jayson Gonzalez, Bishop Amat HS, Covina CA, 6'0 215 R/R, qk bat w/strength and strong wrists, runs well underway, 4.4 out of box, shows arm strength w/carry on throws from 3B, fair range and qk glove, may be destined to 1B or move to corner OF where his arm plays, will need time to develop, has offer to Vanderbilt, 2017 grad.
RHP Blayne Enlow, St Amant HS, LA, 6'4 170, R/R, qk easy arm from H 3/4 arm slot, fb jumps out of his hand, will touch 94 on occ w/fb, type of wiry strong frame to get bigger and stronger in time, as he learns to repeat his delivery may increase more velo, has sharp cb with tilt/dive, throws strikes, is aggressive to challenge hitters, 54 OFP, offer to LSU, 2017, early 3 rounds projected.
RHP Joe Perez Archbishop McCarthy HS, Pembroke Pines FL, 6'2 205 R/R, loose arm w/slight sling action from 3/4 arm slot, touches 93 on occ, spins breaking ball w/some tilt, needs to balance over back leg and drive to the hitters, in development stage, should improve with pro instruction, also position player, has offer to U of South Florida, 2017 grad.
RHP Shane Baz, Concordia Lutheran HS, Cypress TX, 6'2 185, electric arm from 3/4 slot, loose and qk with fb touching 95 most are 92-93 with occ sink down on knees, has hard SL 80-82 with proper bite and late break to be plus pitch in time, also cb from same slot 74-78 with downward bite, competes and repeats delivery, should add more strength to wiry lean frame and more velocity as he matures, just 17, has offer to TCU.
RHP Jeremiah Estrada, Palm Desert HS, CA, has qk arm for 6'0 185 frame, R/R, offer to UCLA, his arm works well in semi-windup delivery will touch 93 on occ most fb are true 90-91, hard downer type cb with bite and chance to be ave out pitch, aggressive and fields position, may develop more velocity as he physically matures, 2017 follow.
RHP Hans Crouse, Dana Hills HS, Dana Point CA, 6'5 185, electric arm w/high energy delivery, some recoil with limbs, aggressive and not afraid to challenge hitters, shows plus velo on fb to 96 most are 93, also has proper spin and some dive on cb, may end up a SL, also fields position, wants the ball, no fear, has offer to USC, chance to go in top 2 rounds in 2017 ML Draft.
PRIDE
OF Kyle Jacobsen Allatoona HS, Ackworth GA - write up during NHSI, has college offer, what you see is what you get, should get stronger as he matures, follow for 2017.
SS/OF Royce Lewis, JSerra Catholic HS, Aliso Viejo CA, 6'0 185 R/R, have seen for 2 yrs now, first at NHSI in 2015, has electric bat speed w/level swing and strong for his size, bat jumps off his bat, can drive the baseball for alley power to LCF, has plus range and instincts in the field w/60 arm strength, ran 4.12 hm to 1st, grades out as 1st round type Draft, top 5 type pick, 30/50 hit, 40/60 power, 60 run, 60 arm, 60 fld, 60 OFP, has offer to UC-Irvine, doubt he sees college after next spring season, 2017 grad.
RHP/SS, Hunter Green, Notre Dame HS, CA, 6'3 195, have seen for 2 yrs now, has added velo and strength since last summer during TOS. Showed fb up to 97 most were 94 with occ sink/run in vs RHH, hard downer type cb that is plus and plus command/control as he repeats his H 3/4 slot delivery, with very qk arm and easy delivery mechanics, can hold runners, 60 OFP as a RHP, as a hitter, has qk bat w/strength in upper body and legs to drive the baseball, abv ave arm strength and can field either side of glove w/instincts to stick at SS, project to top 5 picks in 2017 MLB Draft, has offer to UCLA, one of best players I've scouted in several years, no chance for college, could be a special one in time, 2017 grad.
LHP Mitchell Stone, Deer Creek HS, Edmond OK, 6'10 245, L/L, transfered schools since LY during TOS event, arm was a bit quicker, still loose and sound mechanics for a big kid, large feet, fb touches 92, most are 90 with better break and dive on CB and throws strikes, works at it, has offer to Oklahoma St, may be tough sign if not taken early in draft, projects as a 8-12 round type who'll need time to develop, 2017 grad.
STARS
1B/LHP Nick Pratto Huntington Beach HS, CA, 6'2 200 L/L, did not see play this spring during NHSI due to transfering schools, he later played after sitting required games, showed easy hitting tools and arm strength w/ability to stick at 1b at next level, also LHP with ability to get hitters out with 88 fb and solid change up w/depth and deception, has offer to USC, fluid hitter who'll only get better in pro ball, OFP 52 offensively, 2017 grad, should go in top 3 rounds in 2017.
OF Jarred Kelenic, Waukesha West HS, Waukesha WI, 5'11 195 L/L, plus arm strength and qk bat with level swing and strength to hit line drives where ball is pitched, pull side power, ran 4.2 from LH side, from OF has plus arm with carry and accuracy to stick there, for what he lacks in size, he provides in ability to hit the ball and play sound "D", 2018 follow with offer to U of Louisville, graded out as a 50 OFP.
LHP Jake Eder, Atlantic HS, Ocean Ridge FL, 6'4 215, loose lefty with stiff front side, tends to rush delivery, H 3/4 slot fb touches 92 most are 88-89, spins the cb, needs further development, worth good look again in 2017, has offer to Vanderbilt, may be tough sign unless taken early in MLB Draft.
C, Luis Campusano, Cross Creek HS, Augusta GA, 5'10 215 R/R, strong acc arm to 2b, 1.9 pop time when not rushed, sound mechanics, works at it, has qk level stroke with bat speed and LD strength to alleys to hit w/HR power in time, work in progress, needs to tone up his body some, has offer to Missouri, chance to be 4-7 type round MLB Draft, 2017 grad.
STRIPES
C MJ Melendez, Saint James HS, Montgomery AL, 6' 175 L/R, strong arm to 2b w/qk release 1.8, plus defensive skills, will throw from knees, doesn't need to, at the plate feel for the barrel w/wood w/bat speed and leverage as hitter, raw strength, frame to get stronger in time, should hit enough to get into ML lineup in time with 8-12 HR type power, must bring along slowly, defensive skills plenty enough to getting there, bat needs help to get him there, 48 OFP, 2017 grad.
1B, Alex Toral, Archbishop McCarthy HS, Pembroke Pines, FL, 6'0 231 L/L, has qk swing w/plus strength, short path to the ball, has pull side power to hit the ball a long way, has arm strength w/qk enough feet and range to stick at corner, also can play LF, fair runner at best, will go as far as bat takes him, has offer to U of Miami, 47 OFP, betting on the bat to get him there, 2017 grad.
UNITED
RHP/C Hagen Danner Huntington Beach HS, CA, 6'1 195 R/R - see NHSI write up and previous write ups, this kid is a baseball rat who wants it and has the instincts and love for game to get him there, 2017 grad.
SS Brady McConnell, Merritt Island HS, Merrit Island FL, 6'2 170 R/R, qk actions with plus speed and arm strength, has range and hands defensively to be everyday ML SS in time, has bat speed with feel for barrel, is aggressive with bat, has a bit of a loop in the path, fair strength to drive the ball for extra base power, 4.15 runner, has offer to U of Florida, older 2017 grad to be, 48 OFP, chance to be 4-7 round type draft, should increase strength in time w/maturity.
CF, Quentin Holmes, Msgr McClancy HS, East Elmhurst NY, 6' 175 R/R, very qk on the base paths, 4.0 runner out of box, shows short qk swing with strength, more of a singles hitter w/enough speed to leg out balls hit to the alleys, shows plus range and know how in CF, instincts are there, BA arm strength w/carry and accuracy on throws, grades out to 52 OFP, will get bigger and stronger, reminds me some of Gary Pettis former ML CF, has offer to Mississippi State, 2017 grad.
RHP Sam Carlson, Burnsville HS, MINN 6'3 195, R/R, easy loose arm action from H 3/4 slot, touches 93 most fb are 90, goes after hitters, delivery with little effort at all, repeats, should add more velo in time as he gains strength and maturity, spins the cb and feel for change up, will be worth a strong follow again in 2017, 4-7 round type, could move up on boards as he gets stronger next year, offer to U of Florida, 48 OFP.
RHP Tanner Burns, Decatur HS, AL, 6 210 R/R, loose arm qk from 3/4 slot, fb touches 95, some effort to delivery, stays t 92 w/hard downer cb, tends to get on side of it and cross body some to 3b side, should improve delivery some to get most out of arm speed/strength, has offer to Auburn, comp to Craig Kimbrell, chance to go in top 3 rounds if signable next year, 2017.
Powerade North Carolina State Games, Cary NC, June 15-19, 2016
LHP David Harrison, Rocky Mount HS, NC, 6'3 185 L/L, loose lefty from L 3/4 arm slot, fb touches 86 most are 81-83, effortless delivery w/fair arm speed, has proper spin and feel for cb and change, has early commit to N C State, will need to keep an eye on him as he develops more strength and repeats his delivery, 2017 grad.
SS, Greg Jones, Cary HS, Cary NC, 5'10 160, S/R, qk twitch player, ran 6.55, 60, throws w/acc and arm strength from the hole, qk bat path w/strength in his swing, attacks fb, no fear at plate, older rising HS senior, worth follow in 2017, graded out 20/30 hit, 30/40 power, 60/60 run, 50/50 arm, 50/60 fld, 42 OFP, has offer to U of North Carolina-Wilmington now, 2017 grad.
RHP Jordan Montgomery, Green Hope HS, Cary NC, 6'3 185, L/R, saw in state tourney, has loose arm w/strength with easy semi-windup delivery from H 3/4 slot, best shot as RHP to follow touches 87 most fb are 84-85, tends to fall forward w/arm lagging in back swing, should develop further in college program, 2017 grad, worth a weak follow.
C/OF Spencer Smith, Northern Durham HS, Bahama NC, 6'1 205 R/R, strong build and frame, has power in his swing w/quickness and strength, will show ave arm at times with quick release, tends not to get legs into motion to 2B, has offer to East Carolina U, must follow for 2017, will go as far as bat improves, rough mechanics to develop further as a catcher.
RHP Logan Jarosz, Eastern Alamance HS, Mebane NC, 6' 165 R/R, qk arm w/full windup from H 3/4 slot, touches 91 most are 88, will sink it down in zone, feel for breaking pitch and repeats arm slot/delivery to get better in time, will attract 4 yr offers, weak follow with enough arm for 2018 to see.
RHP Owen White, Jesse Carson HS, Mt Ulla NC, 6'2 165 R/R, 2018 grad, has loose qk arm from 3/4 arm slot, crosses body, delivery is workable, feel for pitching, cb has bite w/proper rotation, fb touches 90 most are 85-87, cb 72, clean arm stroke, has offer to U of South Carolina, follow for 2018, type of build/frame to add more strength and weight.
OF, Hunter Baker, Hough HS, Huntersville NC, 6'1 180 L/R, hard nosed player, aggressive at the plate, shows bat speed w/strength, slight loop in swing w/ Upper cut, runs well underway, 4.35 on turn, 6.9, 60, shows arm strength in corner OF/RF, definite college player and weak follow for 2017, has offer to D1.
RHP Nick Jodway, Draughn HS, Morganton NC, 6' 200 R/R, thick strong body, may get bigger, large feet, has solid arm strength during warmups in OF, saw pitch 1 inning, touching 92, most are 89, rushes front side w/short arm arc in backswing, proper spin and feel for breaking ball, will need time to develop further, weak follow for 2017, ran 6.8,60 gave plus arm strength in warmups.
NHSI, March 2016, Cary NC
LHP, Braxton "Brax" Garrett, Florence HS AL, 6'3 190 L/L, fluid LHP with 3 ave to plus pitches from Semi-windeup H 3/4 arm slot, fb touches 94 most are 90-91, misses bats, hard 1/6 cb with downer hammer action and deceptive straight change with fade, strike thrower with solid move to 1b to keep runners honest, chance to be ML starter quickly, should get stronger and fill out with time, has Vanderbilt offer, 55 OFP, should go in top 10-15 picks in 2016 MLB Draft.
RHP Cole Henry, Florence HS AL, 6'4 180, loose RHP w/qk arm from H 3/4, fb is true, easy to see out of deliberate semi-windup delivery, fb touches 93 most are 88-91, has bite and proper spin on cb which is flat, inconsistent delivery flaws are correctible, has offer to LSU already, 2018 grad, interesting follow, should get bigger and stronger in time, just 16 yrs old.
CF Blake Rutherford, Chaminade Collegiate Prep, Simi Valley CA, 6'2 195 L/R, mature senior with sound hitting approach and level swing w/strength as a hitter, pull side power, ball jumps off his bat, makes adjustments needed to square up pitches, feel for barrel, on the way runner, 4.2 hm to 1b, has ave arm w/carry and acc from CF and know how to stick there at ML level, graded out 30/50 hit, 40/50 power 50 run 50 arm 50 fld, 50 OFP, day 1 type ML draft, has offer to school, 19 yrs old, 2016.
SS Mark Vientos, Flanagan HS, FL, 6'3 185 R/R, smooth fielder with plus arm strength w/carry and range laterally to stick at SS, shows qk direct bat swing w/power, chance to be plus hitter in time, type of frame to get bigger and stronger, large feet, strong hands, ran 4.42 hm to 1b, appears quicker on bases, not a burner but can steal bases, strong 2017 follow 54 OFP for his age, 16 yrs old, chance to be a good ML player.
lB, Nick Pratto, Huntington Beach HS, CA, 6'2 195 L/L, not eligible to play in the event, shows same tools to follow for 2017 as seen in past reports - TOS in 2015, fluid actions and bat path during BP, has offer to USC, needs to be watched.
C/RHP Hagen Danner, Huntington Beach HS, CA, 6'1 195 R/R, have seen 2 yrs in past, has arm strength and fundamentals to be solid 2 way threat at collegiate level, just moving over to C and has ability there as well as a RHP, has downer type cb and control to be effective RHP, short man or back of rotation starter, has the stamina and strength to excel, room to grow, 2017 grad, UCLA offer, 50 OFP.
RHP Zach Hess, Liberty Christian Academy, VA, 6'6 205, R/R, a bit of a head wacker w/effort in delivery, arm is qk and loose out front, will touch 95 w/fb most are 91-92, sweeping slurve with bite on occ, throws strikes, knows how to pitch, keeps runners honest at 1b w/qk move, has LSU offer, graded out as a 50 OFP due to velocity and control, should improve in a patient system, older HS senior, 8-12 round projection due to effort/head wack potential elbow strain in delivery.
OF Josh Stephen, Mater Dei HS, Santa Ana CA, 6'0 180 L/L, smooth hitter with qk hands, bat path flows w/strength to hit, can turn on fb, goes with pitch, has arm strength and instincts in CF, enough arm to stick in CF or any OF position, has USC offer, 47 OFP, will go as far as bat develops, some similarities to Gardner/NYY, 2016 grad.
3B, Daniel Bakst, Poly Prep HS, NY, 6'2 195 R/R, strong frame with bat speed, chance to get bigger and stronger, moved over from SS, best shot as corner IF, short qk swing w/strength, a bit of a loop, has offer to Stanford, needs work with stance and pitch recognition, 45 OFP, 2016 grad.
RHP, Nick Storz, Poly Prep HS, NY, 6'6 255, R/R, big and strong athletic built RHP, fb touches 92, most are 88 and straight, occ ASR in vs RHH, H 3/4 arm slot loose out front, short arm arc in back swing, needs to repeat delivery keep weight over back leg to get maximum use of arm speed and strength, has LSU offer, worth follow for 2017.
SS, Sam Hall, Topsail Beach HS, NC, 6'1 185 R/R, solid arm strength w/carry on throws from hole at SS, best suited range wise for 3B or 2B, has strength in his swing w/qk wrists, level bat path to the ball, has chance to hit at the next level, 4.35 runner, has offer to Clemson, fringe type draft, 2017 grad, follow.
OF, Kyle Jacobsen, Allatoona HS, Ackworth GA, 6'0 185 R/L, easy swing w/qk bat at plate with ability to square up pitches w/feel for barrel, runs ave out of box, knows how in CF w/instincts w/acc arm with near ave arm strength qk release, will go as far as bat takes him, lacks power, however ball jumps off his bat when he squares up pitches, has offer to U of South Carolina, turnaround hitters, righty hitter w/lefty arm, as pitcher lacks pure stuff, seems to want to play OF, 2017 follow.
OF/RHP J C Flowers, Trinity Christian Academy, Jacksonville FL, 6'2 185 R/R, very qk twitch runs 4.2 to 1b w/qk direct path to the ball as hitter w/strength to drive the ball into gaps, better speed on base paths w/instincts in OF to cover CF, plus arm strength w/accuracy, also RHP, appears intimidated as RHP, aggressive w/fb but direction and delivery flaws, rushes, release points vary, doesn't seem to like being out on the mound, best chance as OF in time, needs further development, 8-12 round ability 2016 MLB Draft, 48 OFP.
OF Todd Lott, Trinity Christian Academy, Jacksonville Fl, 6'3 230 R/R, big and strong, powerful upper body, has strength in his swing w/direct bat path and feel for hitting, plus power projection, on the way runner, 4.5 all out hm to 1b, has arm strength and can play corner OF, size and hands to move to 1B possibly in time, has offer to Louisiana-Lafayette, late round type if signable, will need time to develop bat, 45 OFP, 2016 grad.
SS Carter Kieboom, Walton HS, GA, 6'2 190 R/R, ave fielding ability w/ave ML arm strength, on the way runner, 4.45 hm to 1b, tools are there at SS however better to move to 3B or 2B in time, as a hitter has qk bat w/strength and handsy swing, awareness of zone and discipline w/direct bat path, 50 OFP, has offer to Clemson, 4-7 round projection type, will go as far as bat tool develops, 2016 grad.
2016 Coastal Plain All-Star Game, Fayetteville NC
3B, Alec Bohm, Wichita State U, 6'5 225 R/R, strong build w/qk hands and strength in his LD type swing, zone awareness w/feel for barrel w/wood, has ave arm strength and know how at 3B, range laterally is adequate for corner position, may end up in OF or 1B in future at ML level, 2019 grad, should be strong follow for 2018 ML Draft, 48 OFP, chance to be power hitter w/run producing ability.
RHP Connor Riley, USC-Aiken, 6'0 190 R/R, undrafted free-agent, grad 2017, has chance to be solid senior draft, shows slightly better than ave velo on fb, touches 93, most are 90-91, hard qk cb with late break and dive action, also straight change, throws strikes, all pitches from 3/4 arm slot and easy delivery downhill towards hitter, command/control chance to be average as he repeats his delivery well enough, short man in the pen or back of rotation ML starter, 46 OFP, good face, have seen in 7 inning stints before still will touch 93 in 7th inning when he needs it, KHTP!
OF, Jameson Hannah, Dallas Baptist U, 5'10 185 L/L, young player, 2019 grad, just 18, has feel for barrel w/wood w/qk hands and slightly open stance as hitter, bat goes to ball, plus runner on the way, has enough instincts and arm strength for OF, lacks power threat, fringe type ML follow 42 OFP, will go as far as bat takes him, could add more strength to his athletic build, keep an eye on him.
C Zach Almond, High Point U, 6'3 205 R/R, strong durable frame with plus arm strength and ave pop times to 2b, 1.9, knows how as a receiver, shows fair bat speed w/strength, tends to chase poor pitches as hitter, enough ability to follow for 2017, 2018 grad, fringe type w/OFP of 42, 13-20 round type projection.
2015 Tournament of Stars, June 23-27
BRAVE
LHP Jordan Butler, Braulio Alonso HS, Odessa FL, 6'1 180 L/L, lean build w/qk arm from L 3/4 arm slot, hides the ball well and pitches to spots, fb touches 88 most are 84-87 with sink and run away from RHH, spins the breaking ball and takes something off his fb for change up effect, 2017 grad w/offer to Florida, keep an eye on him, knows how to pitch.
LHP Braxton "Brax" Garrett, Florence HS, Florence AL, 6'3 190 R/L, athletic pitchers body, lean, pitches w/semi windup from H 3/4 arm slot, 3 pitch arsenal, fb touches 93 most are 88-90 with ASR, deception on straight change at 76-79 with late fade, 1/6 cb with late bite and dive 75-78, a pitcher with strength and stamina, has chance to be a good one in time, 2016 grad, has Vanderbilt offer, 54 OFP.
OF Mickey Moniak Encinitas HS, CA, 6'2 185 L/R, speedy OF w/range and instincts in CF, has near ave ML arm w/carry and acc, high energy guy, runs 4.18 from hm to 1b from LH side, qk bat w/strength in hands can drive the ball to all fields, ball jumps off his bat, has feel for barrel and should hit at the next level, type of frame to get stronger and bigger in time, 17 years old at present, offer to UCLA, could go in first 2 rounds in 2016, 52 OFP.
C Ben Rortvedt Verona Area HS, New Glarus WI, 5'10 190 L/R, solid receiver with plus pop time, 1.89 w/acc and strong on line throws, shifts well behind plate, handled pitchers velocity and breaking pitches in the dirt, alert, as a hitter, sound hitters approach with short line drive flat stroke with strength and feel for the barrel, foul line type power on pull side, can drive the ball on inner half, chance to be at least a 230-250 hitter at ML level, will go as far as bat takes him, defensively he's there to compete at the next level, 50 OFP, offer to Arkansas, 2016 grad.
3B Cole Stobbe Millard West HS, Omaha NE 6'1 180 R/R, strong durable frame, long arms and legs, chance to fill out frame in time, strong hands at the plate w/bat speed and extension thru the zone, feel for barrel, is aggressive as a hitter, doesn't take many pitches, throws w/carry from corner w/qk glove and range laterally, should be able to handle 3B, also plays SS in HS, offer to Arkansas, chance to be 4-7 round guy in 2016.
FREE
RHP Ian Anderson, Shenendehowa East HS, Rexford NY 6'3 170, R/R, easy delivery w/semi windup from H 3/4 slot, fb touches 93 most are 90 w/occ sink and ASR run, spins the breaking pitch w/feel for change, ability to repeat delivery and frame to get stronger, chance to add more velocity in time, has offer to Vanderbilt, projection type, 50 OFP, 2016 grad.
RHP Hans Crouse Dana Hills HS, Dana Point CA, 6'4 175, L/R, long and lean build, broad shoulders, built like former ML RHP Jack McDowell, high energy guy w/semi windup, all business, from 3/4 arm slot, fb touches 95 most are 92 with occ ASR, keeps fb down, can challenge up, spins the breaking ball, not much depth but effective at this level, ability to repeat delivery with some recoil action and whips his leg back after follow thru, has qk move to 1b, has chance to get better and add more velocity, 2017 grad, strong follow.
2B Austin James, Bloomingdale Senior, Valrico FL, 6'1 180 R/R qk bat with strength, ability to drive the ball on pull side, qk out of the box, 4.35 on a turn, shows arm strength from the hole and ability to range either side to be sound MIF prospect, best suited for 2B, could move to OF w/range, chance to fill out and get stronger, has offer to Fla International, 2016 grad.
LHP/1B Joey Wentz Shawnee Mission East HS, Leawood KS, 6'6 205, L/L, tall, athletic build, football player as well, shows arm strength at 1b and know how, has long swing at plate, vulnerable to off speed, attacks fb, has strength for power at the plate, wide stance straight away style hitter, pull side power, on the hill shows easy delivery, crosses front side some w/semi windup from H 3/4 arm slot, fb touches 91 most are 87-88 with ASR, bite and proper spin on cb, is around the plate, no fear, has offer to Virginia, 47 OFP, chance to get better with concentration on one position, follow, another Vanderbilt commit?
RHP Charles Whitley, Alamo Heights HS, San Antonio TX, 6'7 240 R/R, Florida St commit, tall and lean build, chance to get bigger, has large feet and long limbs, good pitchers frame, qk durable arm from H 3/4 slot, does rush delivery from set position, touches 95, most fb 92 w/occ sink down on knees, spins the breaking ball which has chance to be plus out pitch, something to work with here, will need time, lost velocity 3-4 mph after 3 innings, chance to be early draft in 2016.
PRIDE
LHP Jeffrey Belge, Anthony Henninger HS, Syracuse NY, 6'4 235 L/L, strong armed lefty w/semi windup from 3/4 arm slot, some recoil in delivery, fb touches 92 most are 89-90 with sink and run vs RHH, spins the breaking ball and keeps pitches in the strike zone, extra large durable frame, chance to be short man or ML starter in time, has offer to St John's, 2016 grad.
RHP/SS, Hunter Greene, Notre Dame HS, Stevenson Ranch CA, 6'3 195, 2017 grad, good instincts and awareness as a fielder with strong arm from hole, runs a tad BA, 4.45 from box, shows qk long swing keeps hands back in straight away stance, can drive the ball on inner half, has easy arm action from H 3/4, fb jumps out of his hand, touches 93 most fb are 91, spins the breaking ball w/downer effect, repeats delivery, chance to be very good ML prospect, 54 OFP.
SS, Gavin Lux, Indian Trail Academy, Kenosha WI, 6'2 170 L/R, strong durable frame with chance to add more strength and get bigger in time, shows feel for barrel with qk bat thru zone w/extension and balance, drives the ball on inner half pull side, runs ave out of box 4.2, has ave arm strength, may end up moving to 2B or 3B in pro ball, range is adequate for SS, alert in the field, aggressive player, has offer to Va Tech, 2016, 4-7 round type, will go as far as bat takes him.
1B/LHP Nick Pratto Mater Dei HS, Huntington Beach CA, 6'2 200 L/L, strong frame w/long legs, strength in his swing w/fundamental approach, gets good extension thru the zone w/feel for the barrel, hits the ball where it's pitched, runs a tad BA, has arm strength at 1b and know how around the bag to be solid 1B prospect, has 2 years left, 2017 grad, on the mound has feel for pitching with solid change up, fb touches 87-88, most are 85-86 can sink it down, has offer to USC.
RHP Alex Speas, McEachern HS, Powder Springs GA, 6'4 185, R/R, qk arm from H 3/4 arm slot, some sling in the arm swing, fb is electric out of his hand, needs to keep weight back over the rubber, tends to drift to home plate early causing arm to lag, touches 95, most fb are 92, feel and proper spin on cb and fb has life to get grounders, can over power up and out of zone w/fb, has offer to Mississippi State, 2016 grad, 48 OFP.
LHP, Mitchell Stone, Shawnee HS, OK, 6'9 235 L/L, long and loose arm from 3/4 arm slot, fb touches 90 most are 87-89 with occ ASR, spins the cb, not a very qk arm, deliberate though in delivery and repeats it, older for a HS junior/senior to be, has offer to Oklahoma State, interesting to follow in 2017, big feet and chance to be short man or ML starter in time.
STARS
CF Will Benson, Westminster School, Atlanta GA, 6'5 220 L/L, smooth athletic body, runs well better underway, 4.2 out of box, shows qk bat w/strength as a hitter, open spread out stance w/power on pull side, has a loop and slight hitch in swing, aggressive w/feel for the barrel, bat path consistency worrisome but something to work with, shows plus arm from OF w/instincts to play CF probably best suited for RF or LF in time, will go as far as bat develops, will need time, 2016 4-7 round type follow w/Duke offer for school.
LHP Jason Groome IMG Academy, Barnegat NJ, 6'6 220 L/L, loose lefty with know how on the mound, strong presence, throws 3 pitches all from same 3/4 arm slot, change up with fade and deception, fb touches 96 most are 93 with sink down on hitters knees, spins the breaking ball with 1/6 break in on RHH, chance to be a front line ML starter in time, has Vanderbilt offer, should be one of top 5 picks in 2016 MLB Draft, 60 OFP.
OF Blake Rutherford Chaminade College Prep, Simi Valley CA 6'2 190 L/R, athletic frame w/chance to get stronger in time, mature for grade, already 18, 2016 grad, strong hands and wrists as a hitter with bat speed, barrels up most pitches, some length in his swing and makes adjustments, pull side launch power is there, runs well underway, 4.2 out of box, shows arm strength w/carry and range in CF, hands to stick there w/instincts, chance to be solid ML player in time, 54 OFP, could go in top 30 picks in 2016 MLB Draft.
STRIPES
RHP Reggie Lawson, Victor Valley HS, Adealnto CA, 6'4 185, R/R, loose righty with electric arm, fb jumps out of his hand from 3/4 arm slot, will touch 94 at times, most are 91 on knees, does rush front side at times, has bite and feel for cb and chance to add 3rd pitch, teases with straight change, frame to get bigger and stronger in time, stamina a question, needs time to develop, 2016 grad w/Arizona State offer, 47 OFP.
SS Nolan Williams, Home School/Kansas City KS, 6'1 190 R/R, strong ML arm from hole w/qk hands, range is better to left, at the plate has straight away stance w/pull side power, gets extension thru the zone w/bat speed and strength, graded out as 20/40 hitter, 40/50 power, 50 run, 50 arm and 50 fld, 47 OFP, 4-7 round type of 2016, uncommited?
UNITED
C/RHP, Hagen Danner Huntington Beach HS, CA, 6'2 185 R/R, seen for 3 years now, has the tools to be ML hitter or RHP in time, shows bat strength w/qk hands, long swing, gets extension thru the zone for pull side power, runs a tad below ave, ave arm strength w/instincts as catcher 1.9 pop time, RHP has feel w/downer 12/6 cb with late bite, fb touches 93 most are 90, throws strikes and repeats with long easy loose arm action from H 3/4 slot, chance to go in top 3 rounds, 2017 follow, UCLA offer.
1B/OF, Alex Kiriloff Plum Senor HS, New Kensington PA, 6'2 195 L/L, smooth swing w/strength in his hands, open wide stance, pull side power, on the way runner, 4.22 run time w/arm strength and know how around 1B, could move to corner OF to take advantage of arm strength or stick at 1B, projection type, will go as far as bat takes him, 2016 grad w/Liberty offer, 45 OFP.
LHP Kyle Stowers Christian HS, El Cajon CA, 6'3 200 L/L, Stanford commit for 2016 grad, shows arm strength from 3/4 arm slot a bit of a wrapper in back swing, crosses front side, fb 87-88, proper bite and feel on cb, release points very causing inconsistency in command/control, chance to develop further, 2016 follow, 45 lefty.
North Carolina State 1A & 4A Baseball Championships, Zebulon NC June 5-6, 2015
LHP, Mackenzie Gore, Whiteville HS, 6'2 170, L/L, lean athletic build, quick twitch actions in the field, shows discipline and zone awareness at the plate, 4.14 runner hm to 1b, best tools are on the mound, started and showed qk electric arm, velocity of FB 84-87, touched 89, from 3/4 arm slot, high leg kick delivery with a bit of pitching up hill as his front side gets ahead of his arm release, spins the breaking ball though he gets on the side of it, competes and throws strikes, challenging nature, chance to fill out and get bigger, arm action repeats and with the strength should add more velocity in future, 2017 grad, strong follow for next 2 years.
RHP Brooks Baldwin, Whiteville HS, 6'0 155 S/R, lean build with know how on the hill, semi windup from 3/4 arm slot, fb jumps out of hand, 81-82 tops velo however it's easy, at the plate swings it from both sides with feel for the barrel and k-zone knowledge, runs underway, shows ability to pick it at 3B and SS, best suited for 3B in future, 2018 grad, 3 years to follow.
SS Logan Davidson Providence HS, Charlotte NC, 6'3 180 L/R, long lean frame with strong throwing arm from hole, moves well laterally each side, ran 4.2 from LH side, feel for the barrel with bat speed and strength to hit the ball where it's pitched, has commit to Clemson, 2015 grad, has ability to follow next couple of years, "A" type draft 21+ rounder, should add strength and weight as he matures.
RHP Alex Royalty Millbrook HS, Raleigh NC, 6'3 165 R/R, loose arm w/semi windup from H 3/4 slot, fb touches 85-87 most are 83 with arm side run, spins the breaking pitch and is around the plate, repeats delivery mostly, chance to fill out and get more strength as he attends college has offer to U North Carolina-Wilmington, 2015 grad.
2014 NHSI, March 2014, Cary NC
SS/3B/OF, Jacob Gatewood, Clovis HS, CA, 6'5 205 R/R, lean muscular build with long limbs, runs on the way, 4.3 out of the box, shows qk bat with strength to alleys, solid ave arm strength w/carry on his throws, lacks first step quickness and range to stick at SS, may end up moving to OF or corner in time, best shot at 1B or LF, will go as far as bat tools take him, has feel for barrel and plate discipline, frame to get bigger and stronger, graded out 20/40 hit, 40/50 power, 50 run, 50 arm, 40/50 fld, 46 OFP, 2014 grad, may end up going early in draft with amount of action today, projects as an extra bench player who'll go as far as bat takes him.
RHP Touki Toussaint, Coral Springs HS, FL, 6'2 190, R/R, seen at TOS last year, has Vandy offer, loose qk arm from 3/4 arm slot, rushes front side dragging arm during delivery, fb jumps out of his hand will touch 95 most fb are 91-92 with sink down in zone, spins the cb, gets on the side of it, needs work on delivery to become ML starter, aggressive and shows no fear, should go in top 3 rounds, 2014 grad.
OF/LHP, Adam Haseley, First Academy, Orlando FL, 6'1 180 L/L, qk bat with handsy swing, can drive the ball, has pull side foul line power, runs better on the way, 4.2 from LH side, acc arm from CF w/carry and range and instincts to stick in CF, chance to be 4th OF at the ML level, has college offer to UVA, 2014 8-12 round type for me, 20/40 hit, 30/40 power, 50 run, 50 arm, 50 field, 44 OFP.
LHP, Foster Griffin, First Academy, Orlando FL, 6'5 220 R/L, lefty w/loose arm out front from 3/4 arm slot, fb jumps out of his hand, late M/O life touches 92, most fb 89-90 sinks on knees, spins the breaking ball and not afraid to use it anytime in count, has idea and aggressive, chance to be end of rotation guy or long man in bullpen, has offer to Mississippi, projects as a 4-7 round lefty, 2014.
OF, Michael Gettys, Gainesville HS, GA, 6'2 210, R/R, plus runner with ML arm strength from the OF, touched 95 on the bump, best suited for corner OF, has power in his swing w/strong hands and bat speed, range in OF is abv ave, not real instinctive as a fielder however, chance to be early rounder in MLB Draft this year, 2014, will go as far as bat takes him, raw tools to work with.
C, Michael Curry, Gainesville HS, GA, 6'1 205, R/R, 2015 grad, worth a follow, has arm strength and power at the plate, straight away stance w/handsy swing with power to pull side, runs underway, solid arm strength and feel for catching, tends to lift on pitches in the dirt, has offer to Georgia, worth following.
RHP Dylan Cease, Milton HS, GA, 6'2 175, R/R, electric arm with fb up to 95 from 3/4 arm slot, semi windup delivery, keeps pitches down for most part, can get hitters to chase stuff out of zone, spins the slider with late break and command has chance to be solid average, projects as a short man out of the pen, tends to lose velo after 4 innings, type of frame to fill out in time, has offer to Vanderbilt, chance to go in top 4 rounds this year, 2014 grad.
SS, Cole Tucker, Mountain Pointe HS, AZ, 6'3 185 S/R, has offer to Arizona State, shows ML tools across the board w/no fear approach at the plate, feel for barrel, hits the ball w/authority to all fields, has pull side power, top of lineup hitter at present, runs underway, 4.2 from LH side, so solid ave speed and has ave arm with qk release at SS, laterally moves well either side, should go in top 3 rounds, type of frame/build to add more strength and get bigger, 2014 grad.
SS/C, Josh Morgan, Orange Lutheran HS, Orange CA, 5'10 190 R/R, steady hitter with short compact swing with strength and bat speed, runs ave at best from RH side, 4.35 out of box, has arm strength and qk glove, range as MIF is suspect, projects at 2B or move to LF, also catches, has offer to UCLA, should go in top 7 rounds of draft, 2014 grad.
LHP Mac Marshall, Parkview HS, GA, 6'2 185, L/L, smooth delivery pitches from 3/4 arm slot, fb is sneaky quick will touch 92 mostly 88-90 w/ASR, spins the cb and throws strikes, no fear on hill, has college offer and should go in top 7 rounds, has type of frame and delivery to get better in time, end of rotation type guy or long man out of pen, 45 OFP for me, 2014 grad, LSU commit.
LHP David Peterson, Regis Jesuit HS, CO, 6'6 220, L/L, has offer to Oregon, tall and lean build frame to add more strength, arm slot from H 3/4 will touch 92-93 on occ most fb are 89 with late tail down on knees w/sink, shows proper bite on slurve type breaking ball and pitches downhill, tends to rush front side dragging arm putting strain on elbow, will gain from pro instruction, top 7 round type for 2014 MLB Draft.
1B/OF, Braxton Davidson, TC Roberson HS, Asheville NC, 6'2 210, L/L, qk bat with hand hitch, has strength in his swing, pull side power, has plate awareness and feel for hitting, below ave runner w/near ave arm strength and carry from OF, will go as far as bat takes him, saw 2 years ago at Impact All-Stars in Chapel Hill, has gotten stronger and bigger in his body, 20/40 hitter 40/50 power, 40/40 run, 40/50 arm, 40/50 fld, 44 OFP, chance to be 4th OF or play 1B eventually, 2014 13-20 round type draft.
2013 NHSI, Cary NC
LHP Stephen Gonsalves Cathedral Catholic HS, San Marcos CA, 6'5 190 L/L, smooth lefty w/qk arm and looseness from 3/4 arm slot, throws 3 pitches from same slot, fb touches 92 most are 90 with ASR, hard back door type cb w/slurve effect and straight change with fade and late dive down on hitters knees or out of zone to get hitters to chase, throws strikes, chance to be long man in pen or 4th starter on ML roster, graded out as 52 OFP. Scouted for 3 years.
OF Austin Meadows Grayson HS, GA, 6'3 210 L/L, strong bodied lefty hitter with strength in his swing, qk bat, not real fluid in upper body, runs well underway, 4.3 run time home to 1b, throws are acc w/carry from OF, ave arm, best suited for corner OF, instincts are fair, will go as far as bat takes him, likely early rounder from talk for 2013, grades out at 47 for me, 4-7 type round, offer to Clemson.
C Chris Okey, 6'1 190 R/R, Eustis HS, FL, has Clemson offer, 2013 grad, solid catch and throw skills, 1.9 pop time w/qk release, acc to bags, shows qk swing w/aggressive plate approach and zone awareness, runs fair, 4.5 to 1b, extra base type power, not a threat as HR hitter, may hit 5-8 in ML in time, best shot as a defensive backstop at the ML level or backup, 47 OFP.
RHP/3B/SS, Jack Flaherty Harvard-Westlake HS, North Hollywood CA, 6'4 205 R/R, smooth RHP with qk arm and plus arm strength, 3 pitches, all have chance to be average or better ML pitches, easy delivery with proper take back and follow through, chance to be early rounder in 2014, fb touches 90 most are 86-88 with ASR, projectible frame, 2nd yr scouting him.
1b/OF, Braxton Davidson, 6'3 215 L/L TC Roberson HS, Asheville NC, strong player with strength in his swing, hand hitch slows trigger to ave fb, mistake type hitter w/plus raw power, BA runner, has arm strength for corner OF and enough range to handle the bag, 4.48 runner all out, 2014 grad, have seen now for 2 years, must keep an eye on him, will go as far as bat takes him, 43 OFP.
C Jeremy Martinez, Mater Dei HS, Santa Ana CA, 5'11 195 R/R, seen now for 3 years, has short compact swing from wide stance ala Albert Pujols, can drive fb to pull side alley, fair runner, 2.0 pop time with fair defensive skills and quickness, has offer to USC, chance to be decent backup at the ML level in time, 44 OFP.
3B, Ryan McMahon, Mater Dei HS, Santa Ana CA, 6'3 190 L/R, a hitter with idea and feel for strike zone w/barrel, can drive the ball, instinctive fielder with ave arm strength, 4.3 runner from LH Side, type of actions and frame to get better in time, chance to be 4-7 round type guy, 50 OFP, will go as far as bat takes him, 2013 grad.
RHP Jordan Sheffield, Tullahoma HS, TN, 6'0 185 R/R, qk arm from H 3/4 slot rushes front side and lands slightly across his body, fb touches 95-96 most are 91-92 and straight, rides up and in vs RHH, hard sweeping slurve with chance to be ave SL in time, has offer to Vanderbilt, chance to be 4-7 rounder in MLB Draft.
LHP Justus Sheffield, Tullahoma HS, TN, 5'11 190 L/L, 2015 grad, strong follow, saw last summer at RBI/Breakthrough series, has verbal to Vanderbilt as well, qk arm from 3/4 slot has hard downer type cb with late break down, fb touches 94 on occ most fb are 91 and feel for straight change, chance to be 1-3 type rounder next year in MLB Draft, 54 OFP.
Coastal Plain All-Star Game, July 23, 2012 (Huge Thunderstorm)
RHP, Layne Somsen, South Dakota St, '13, 6'0 185, R/R, electric arm with live fb 88-93, runs/sinks, commands it, hard slider late break 83-84 with makings of straight change, starter currently best suited for middle innings in pro ball or set up man, may be the spot for him in pro ball, NDFA now, 2013 senior draft type, 21+, 44 OFP.
OF, Mike Tauchman, Bradley Univ '13, 6'2 205, L/L, qk bat with strength, pull side power, has ave arm strength corner type, could move to 1B, shows eye/hand coordination, drives ball where it's pitched, 13-20 round type, will go as far as bat comes, 44 OFP.
2012 Tournament of Stars, June 18-21
BABE RUTH
RHP Phillip Bickford, Oaks Christian HS, Westlake Village, CA, 6'4 195, loose qk arm from 3/4 arm slot, rushes front side landing on heel causes release points to vary, fb touched 90 most were 85-88, type of frame to gain strength and fill out in time, a bit of a head wacker, showed hard bite on slider 78 w/tilt and fair command, 2013 grad.
LHP Stephen Gonsalves, Cathedral Catholic, San Marcos CA, 6'5 180, loose lefty w/qk arm from 3/4 arm slot fb has ASR and sink vs RHH touches 90 most are 88, hard slider/cutter 77-80, throws strikes, easy semi-windup, type of frame and build to get stronger and bigger, reminds me of throw back years to John Candelaria, chance to be high draft in 2013.
C/1B Alex Jackson, Rancho Bernardo HS, San Diego CA, 6'2 215 R/R, good size and strength, has arm strength behind the plate, a bit stiff in upper body, shifts a bit slow as well, pop time at 2.0 to 2.2, shows bat strength w/strong hands, power to pull side, fair runner, will go as far as bat takes him, grades out as a 13-20 round type for me in 2014.
C Reese McGuire, Kentwood HS, Covington WA, 6'1 190 L/R, smooth receiver with qk release and acc arm to 2b, shifts and receives the ball well, shows short qk stroke w/balance and keeps hands back, slightly open stance, has pull side power, hits mostly to opp field, bat lags some, chance to improve with added strength and starting trigger quicker as a hitter, graded out at 45 OFP, 2013 13-20 round type.
AABC
RHP/SS/OF Jack Flaherty, Harvard-Westlake HS, North Hollywood CA, 6'3 185 R/R, seen at NHSI and has fluid arm action and easy delivery from semi windup H 3/4 arm slot, touches 92, most fb 88-90 with occ sink and ASR, has proper bite and feel for hard cb and straight change, competes, repeats delivery easy, frame to gain added strength and more velo in time, has chance to hit and play 3B at ML level, best shot as RHP, could get into ML rotation, has stamina and loves being out there, 50 OFP, has college offer, should go in Top 3 rounds in 2014.
RHP, Thomas Hatch, Jenks HS, Jenks OK, 6'1 195, R/R, some effort to delivery but has arm strength touches 93 on occ most fb are 90-91 w/occ ASR most fb are true, hard slurve type pitch should turn into cb in time and feel for change up, competes, has offer to Oklahoma St, 2013 grad, should be 4-7 round type draft, bring along slowly, throws strikes and is aggressive.
DIXIE
SS, Nicholas Gordon, Olympia HS, Orlando FL, 6'1 155, R/R, lithe built MIF w/arm strength and at least ave foot speed, 4.25 out of box from RH side, shows bat speed and enough strength to leg out extra base hits, from baseball family, can field position and stick at SS w/lateral movement, will go as far as bat takes him, chance to be 4-7 type round pick in 2014.
LHP Garrett Williams, Calvary Baptist HS, Shreveport LA, 6'3 185, loose lefty qk arm from H 3/4 slot fb touches 92 most are 88-90 with ASR, hard downer type cb with sweep effect 74-78, has offer to Oklahoma State, chance to be 4-7 type draft and be ML starter or long man out of the pen in time, 2013 grad.
NABF
SS/2B, Cavan Biggio, St Thomas HS, Houston TX, 6'1 80 L/R, son of Craig Biggio, shows qk swing w/strength in his wrists, balanced as hitter, can drive the ball to all fields, fair power at present, should get stronger in time, 2013 grad, has commit to Notre Dame, enough arm to play any IF position, lacks foot speed to be base stealing threat, 4.35 from LH side, will go as far as bat takes him, chance to be 8-12 type round draft, 2013.
RHP Kyle Serrano, Farragut HS, Knoxville TN, 6'1 190, R/R, loose qk arm from H 3/4 slot, touches 92 on occ with fb, fb has some ASR, hard downer type cb with bite and sweep action, competes, will rush front side on occ, has offer to pitch for his father, dad is Head Coach at U of Tennessee, project as bullpen guy or back of rotation guy, 8-12 round type, 2013 grad.
OF, Ryan Boldt, Red Wing HS, Red Wing MINN, 6'1 185 L/R, smooth fielder with ave speed and near ave arm strength w/carry and acc from CF, shows bat speed with handsy swing and raw strength, keeps hands back and has good zone awareness, has offer to Nebraska, could be late round guy in 2013, chance to get bigger and stronger in time, 46 OFP.
LHP Ian Clarkin, James Madison HS, San Diego CA, 6'2 185, loose lefty with qk arm from 3/4 slot, has ASR and sink on fb, locks front leg across body during delivery, fb touches 91-92 on occ most are 89, has bite and feel for cb w/shape and is around the zone for fair control/command, delivery needs help, has college offer, chance to go in top 7 rounds in 2013 being a lefty with feel for pitching.
SS/3B/RHP Ryder Jones, Stillwater HS, Stillwater OK, 6'3 195 L/R, moving to Watauga HS this fall, Ryder shows feel for the barrel w/wood and strength to drive the baseball, good plate discipline and awareness of zone, shows ave arm strength with acc from IF, best suited for 3B or 2B, at least an ave runner, home to 1b time of 4.3 from LH side, should get bigger and stronger in time, fundamentally sound, 2013 grad, 8-12 round type.
LHP Robert Kaminsky, St Joseph HS, Englewood Cliffs NJ, 6' 190 L/L, bulldog type lefty with very qk arm and loose out front, short arc in backswing, generates velo up to 93 most are 90-91 w/late ASR down on knees, hard downer type cb 1/6 break action 77-80 and feel for change, competes and aggressive, throws strikes, has offer to U of North Carolina, chance to be top 7 rounder in 2013.
C Jeremy Martinez, Mater Dei HS, Santa Ana CA, 5'11 190 R/R, third year seeing him, has sound hitting approach with handsy type swing and strength, can drive the ball on pull side, fair runner with qk arm and near ave arm strength, pop times 1.9 to 2.1, has offer to USC, chance to be late rounder 13-20 in 2013.
RBI
CF, Corey Ray, Simeon Career Voc HS, Chicago IL, 6' 180 L/L, qk bat with bat strength and balance as a hitter, tends to chase, aggressive early in count, runs on the way, 4.14 home to 1b, has offer to Louisville, enough arm and range to be CF or corner OF, type of build/frame to get bigger and stronger, needs time to develop, will go as far as bat takes him, 45 OFP, 8-12 type 2013.
AMERICAN LEGION
LHP AJ Puk, Washington HS, Cedar Rapids IA, 6'6 195, L/L, loose long arm lefty with arm strength and feel for pitching, pitches down hill with semi windup from H 3/4 slot, has occ ASR, fb touches 93 most are 89-90, hard slurve break w/proper bite and feel, coordinated does cross front side some in follow through, has offer to Florida, can project to get bigger, has large feet and long arms and legs, repeats delivery so should add more velocity as he physically matures, 4-7 round type 2013.
C, Nick Ciuffo, Lexington HS, SC, 6'2 190 L/R, has offer to college, gamer w/qk bat and LD stroke w/strength in his swing, goes opp field, late trigger but aggressive, runs fair, has qk arm release 1.88 to 2.0 and ave arm strength, throws can sink as he rushes to throw when gathering ball from glove hand, will need time to develop, 8-12 round type 2013 pick.
2011 South Atlantic All-Star Game, Ocean City MD
NORTH
SS/3B, Manny Machado, Delmarva (Orioles) 6'2 180 R/R, strong wrists and strength in his LD swing, can loft for pull side power and go opp field, plus arm strength from hole and lateral range to stick at SS or play the corner, still filling out his frame, chance to be ML All-Star for years, graded out as 40/60 hitter 50/60 power, 50 run, 60 arm, 50/50 fld, 58 OFP, ETA 2013.
OF Bryce Harper, Hagerstown (Nationals) 6'3 225 L/R, slightly open stance with strong hands and strength in his swing for loft type pull side power, runs well underway, at least an ave runner with plus arm strength from CF, best suited for the corner, was a catcher in HS and scouted him at TOS as a 16 yr old, grades out as 30/50 hitter, 60/70 power, 50 run, 60 arm and 50 FLD, 58 OFP, All-Star type player who can drive in runs 3-5 hole lineup guy, ETA 2013.
LF Christian Yelich, Greensboro (Marlins), 6'4 190 L/R, smooth LD swing with strong wrists and strength to add more power in time, has strong acc arm from LF with instincts and sure hands, runs on the way, 4.4 on turn on 2b in gap, can take extra bases with little effort, enough speed to steal bases on occ, will go as far as bat takes him, graded him out, 30/60 hit, 40/50 power, 50 run, 50 arm, 50 FLD, 50 OFP, ETA 2013-14, chance to be 3-5 man in a ML lineup, has bat control to hit for better than average.
OF Trayce Thompson, Kannapolis (White Sox), 6'3 195 R/R, center fielder w/range and fair arm strength, quicker on bases than out of the box, 4.2 from RH Side, shows strength in his swing, tends to have a loop in his swing w/strength, aggressive, vulnerable to breaking stuff, graded him out as 20/40 hit, 40/50 power, 50 run, 40 arm, 50 fld, 45 OFP chance to be 4th OF or emergency call up guy at ML level, ETA 2015.
RHP David Buchanan, Lakewood (Phillies), 6'3 190, loose righty with qk arm and ASR on fb that touches 93, keeps pitches down in zone w/bite on cb and location, not afraid to pitch inside, chance to be back of rotation starter or long man in time, ETA 2014.
SOUTH
OF Kyle Parker, Asheville (Rockies), 6'1 200, R/R, strong durable body with strength in his swing, swing is a bit tentative, gets overpowered in on hands, runs ave and shows at least ave arm strength to plus, corner OF type will go as far as bat takes him, graded out as 20/40 hit, 50/50 power, 50 run, 60 arm, 40/50 fld, OFP 45 for fringe 4th OF at ML level or emergency call up guy.
3B/OF Adam Duvall, Augusta (Giants), 6'1 205 R/R, strong durable build with qk bat and strength for HR power, pull side, aggressive hitter, tends to overswing some, ball jumps off his bat, has solid arm strength at the corner w/adequate range to stick there or move to corner OF, graded out as 30/40 hitter, 50/60 power, 50 run, 50 arm, 40/50 fld for 50 OFP, 3-5 hole type hitter who can drive in runs and hit for power, ETA, 2014.
2011 Coastal Plain All-Star Game, Fayetteville NC
DH/1B, Chase McDonald, East Carolina, 6'4 265 R/R, '14, Morehead City, power type build and has strength, loop in swing may be exposed in pro ball, can pull for plus power, runs fair for a big man with near ave arm strength, best shot as a late rounder for 1B in pro ball, 39 OFP, could develop with more instruction, follow, has 3 yrs left, must watch weight.
OF/1B, Jake Cave, (NYY-Control 6th round) Hampton Christian/Kecoughtan HS, Hampton VA, 6'1 190 L/L (LSU commit), Peninsula 18 years old, shows, qk bat with quiet approach and strength, ball jumps off the bat, shows pull side gap power, can run, 4.18 better on base paths, plus ML arm from OF to play the corner, ok in CF, instincts are ave, not a plus defender in CF, best suited for RF at ML level, will be strong follow after school, mature with frame to gain more strength and add weight, 48 OFP.
2B/IF, Joey Wendle, W Chester St Pa (Edenton), 6'1 190, L/R, gamer with compact swing w/strength, lets the ball travel w/contact to where pitch is, can pull for power, runs well on the way, shows ave arm with qk release and steady hands, can turn it, can play corner or 2B at the next level, NDFA at worst a 13-20 round type who leaves it all on the field, worker, follow again 2012? 45 OFP
RHP Cody Davis, U of Tampa, Fayetteville, '12, 5'9 170, R/R, little righty used as closer in league, ave fb at best, T95 but straight, most are 91-92, hard downer cb a bit inconsistent, 3/4 arm slot, will rush open, land on front heel, twist to 1b side, command occasionally suffers, worth a late pick, keep in pen as a middle or set up guy, 21+ round type, 42 OFP.
RHP, Jordan Jankowski, 6'1 210, Catawba '12, (Thomasville), strike thrower, has above ave control/command, fb below ave mostly 88-90, T92 on occ, sharp spinner he can command, uses it as out pitch, also straight change, could be late innings eater at ML level, 21+ round type senior draft 2012, 40 OFP.
SS/2B, Joe Sclafani, Dartmouth '12, 5'11 185, R/R, Morehead City, another game with steady IF instincts, ave arm from hole, best suited at 2B in pro ball, bat is not real qk, makes barrel contact, pushes bat, some strength to keep an eye on for 2012, 38 OFP, possible 21+ organizational guy, plays the game right.
2011 Tournament of Stars, Cary NC
BABE RUTH
CF Albert Almora, Mater Academy, Hialeah FL, 6'1 170, R/R, 2012 grad, has qk bat w/strength and contact ability, tracks the ball well as a hitter, runs at least ave 4.25 out of box from RH side, level stroke and can hit the ball the opp way, throws are acc w/carry and chance to be ave ML arm, enough foot speed to stick in CF w/range and instincts, graded out as 20/50 hit, 40/50 power, 50 run, 40/50 arm, 50 fld, 48 OFP, chance to be top 7 round pick in 2012.
LHP Stephen Gonsalves, Cathedral Catholic HS, San Marcos CA, 6'5 180, 2013 grad, has loose qk arm from 3/4 arm slot, semi windup, fb upper 80's touches 90 on occ, shape and feel for slurve and change, throws strikes smooth operator on the hill, follow for 2013.
3B Rio Ruiz, Bishop Amat HS, Covina CA, 6'2 195, L/R 2012 grad, strong durable body, chance to fill out and gain strength in time, shows at least ave arm strength from corner with enough lateral movement to stick at corner or move to 1B, runs 4.28 from LH side, quicker on bases, qk bat w/strength and handsy swing, can square up pitches and drive the ball, should add more power in time, has college offer, also football player.
NABF
OF/RHP Courtney Hawkins, Corpus Christi Carroll HS, TX, 6'3 220 R/R, 2012 grad, strong durable body, build like a football player, has bat speed and strength in hands to drive the baseball, late trigger and poor plate discipline need work in order to hit and make adjustments, runs at least ave 4.25 home to 1B, enough arm to stick in CF or move to corner OF, will go as far as bat takes him, 8-12 type draft for 2012, has college offer.
IF/RHP, Carson Kelly, Westview HS, Portland OR, 6'2 200 R/R, strong build with arm strength and sure hands in the field, ran 4.45 home to 1b shows qk bat w/strength in his swing to drive the baseball and feel for barrel, made adjustments as hitter, chance to get bigger and stronger in time, should be corner man or move to LF, 48 OFP, 2012 grad.
PONY
IF/C, Alex Bregman, Albuquerque Academy, Albuquerque NM, 5'11 180 R/R, 2012 grad, has offer to LSU, qk twitch guy with feel for the barrel and can hit, shows LD power to alleys, pull side better power, ran 4.3 full effort out of box, plays with effort and drive, should be able to adapt to 3B or 2B at ML level, will go as far as bat takes him, graded out 30/50 hit, 30/50 power, 50 run, 40/50 arm, 50 fld, 50 OFP, love his makeup.
C Jeremy Martinez, Mater Dei HS, Santa Ana CA, 5'11 190 R/R, saw in spring at NHSI, has arm strength and know how behind the plate, alert, has range, at the plate, qk hands and strength in his swing, pull side power, similar stance to Albert Pujols, should add more strength as he matures, 2013 grad has offer to USC.
RHP Mitchell Traver, Houston Christian HS, Houston TX, 6'7 245, 2012 grad, offer to TCU, semi windup from H 3/4 slot fb touches 93 most are 89-90 and pitches downhill, proper bite on slurve type cb and is around the plate when he doesn't over throw, chance to be ML starter or short man in time, needs time to develop, 8-12 round type.
CF Nick Williams, Galveston Ball HS, Galveston Tx, 6'2 185, L/L, toolsy player who runs well out of the box, 4.14 from LH side, aggressive, doesn't take many pitches puts the ball in play has pull side deep power w/type of frame and build to get stronger in time and add more power, throws with carry and acc in CF to stick there, w/enuf instincts, chance to be early round pick in 2012, like his approach and makeup.
USA STARS
OF Byron Buxton, Apping HS, Baxley GA, 6'1 175, R/R, lean body with strength and plus running speed, has type of frame to get bigger and stronger in time, 2012 grad, throws w/carry and arm strength and range in OF, live build, should grow more, big feet, graded out as 20/50 hitter, 40/50 power, 70 runner, 50/50 arm and 60 fld, 55 OFP chance to ML OF in time and early round pick in 2012.
RHP Kyle Funkhouser, Oak Forest HS, Oak Forest IL, 6'3 195, R/R, long arms and legs, strong frame to develop further, loose arm from H 3/4 arm slot fb down has sink touches 92 on occ most fb are 88-90, shows bite on Slurve type breaking pitch and competes, has offer to U of Louisville, project to get bigger in time and add more velo, arm works well with good arm speed, 2012, should go in top 7 rounds in 2012.
AMERICAN LEGION
SS Corey Seager Northwest Cabarrus HS, Kannapolis NC, 6'3 195 L/R, qk wrists and strength in his swing to hit for average and for power, on the way runner, 4.25 from LH side, shows plus arm strength from hole and range to stick at SS for his size, moves well on the base paths, a baseball rat, have seen for 3 years now chance to be early round pick in 2012, 55 OFP, could be special player in time.
AABC
LHP Max Fried, Montclair Prep HS, Encino CA, 6'3 170, L/L, loose lefty with qk arm from 3/4 slot, thin build/lean should get bigger and stronger in time, large feet long arms and legs, fb jumps out of his hand, said to transfer schools for 2012 Harvard-Westlake HS, has bite and feel on cb and straight change, chance to be early pick in 2012, fb touches 93, most are 89-90 with sink down on knees when he doesn't rush front side.
3B/RHP Joey Gallo, Bishop Gorman HS, Las Vegas, NV 6'5 205, L/R, tall and strong build, long arms and legs, type of frame to get bigger and stronger, shows plus arm strength from corner with sure hands, range is a step slow, best suited for 1b in long run, has long power stroke with strength in his swing, strong hands and bat plane is level to hit for average in time, also RHP touches low 90's on the bump with idea on hill and feel for hard slider and throws strikes from H 3/4 slot, will rush on occ making it tough to repeat arm slot and keep command, chance either way as ML prospect, like him more on the hill due to arm strength and the way his arm works, has the power to change a game however too, 2012, early round projection guy.
DIXIE
SS Gavin Cecchini, Barbe HS, Lake Charles LA, 6'1 180 R/R, hard nosed player with plus running ability and arm strength from SS, sure handed w/above ave range, shows qk bat with strength to hit for average and enough power to drive in runs in time, top of lineup type hitter, will go as far as bat develops, good baseball family, loves the game, has college offer, chance to go in top 3 rounds in 2012.
OF David Dahl, Oak Mountain HS, Birmingham AL, 6'2 185 L/R, coming off of mono illness shows plus running speed and type of bat to hit and w/power as he learns zone discipline better, has good feel with barrel, 4.1 runner from LH side and knows how in the OF with range, chance to be top 3 rounder in 2012.
RHP, Lucas Sims, Brookwood HS, Lawrenceville GA, 6'2 195, R/R, loose qk arm from H 3/4 slot, tends to rush front side causing eratic release points and repeating delivery, fb touches 94 most are 90-91, can reach back when he wants, hard downer cb and hard sl both pitches have chance to be out pitches and teases with straight change on occ, saw at NHSI, type of arm to be ML starter or short man out of the pen, 52 OFP, 2012 grad.
RBI
C Blake Hickman, Simeon HS, Chicago IL, 6'4 200 R/R, strong lanky build with plus arm strength sub 2.0 pop times, also the looseness in his arm to eventually pitch should bat tool not develop, right now as a hitter, shows bat speed with late trigger in spread out straight away stance, makes contact not much power for his size, tends to get overmatched, defensively strong however, has offer to Iowa, 2012 grad, chance to be late round guy 13-20 rounder.
2010 Coastal Plain All-Star Game, Forest City NC
RHP, Carter Capps (Mount Olive Col), 6'6 220, R/R, Fayetteville, strong durable frame, long levers, former catcher, wraps the baseball in backswing in delivery, H 3/4 angle, shows plus velocity with occasional late hop vs RHH, hard slider 83-88 with depth, entices swing and misses w/the unorthodox delivery, shows decent command/control for a big man, strong follow for 2011, will be early look for many teams, concerning arm action, but gets it done.
2B/OF Marquis Riley, N C A&T, 5'10 170, Asheboro, shows qk level swing from closed stance, 4.2 runner, qk between bases, near ave arm strength, agg on the base paths, late round type guy who could develop into a competent 2B in ML, will need time, better discipline at the plate, not much power, follow for 2011.
OF, Brian Billigen, Cornell, 6'0 180 L/L, Edenton, qk bat with foul line power, near ave runner, 4.28 home to 1st, quicker on the bases, acc arm from OF with instincts, jumps were so-so but got there, could be decent senior sign, late rounder 2011.
RHP, Shawn Armstrong, East Carolina, 6'3 195, R/R, Morehead City, live arm with downhill drive H 3/4 guy, agg on the hill, shows sink and middle in life on ave fb, 89-92, T94 early, hard slider with late break/tilt, commands it, wants the ball, could be 4-7 round guy in time, will have to see again next spring, 2 years left at ECU.
2010 Tournament of Stars
BABE RUTH
CF Albert Almora, Mater Academy, Hialeah FL, 6'1 180 R/R, young player with tools, shows bat speed with strength in his swing, makes solid contact, enough strength to add power in time, 2012 grad so 2 years to follow, can play "D" with solid arm strength and acc.
RHP Tyler Beede, Lawrence Academy, Auburn MA 6'4 200, loose arm from H 3/4 slot, fb touches 93 most are 89-90 with occ sink down on zone, hard breaking ball w/slurve effect and throws strikes, repeats delivery on occasion rushes causing command inconsistency, has offer to Vanderbilt, type of arm to be ML starter in time, bring along slowly, type of frame to add more velo and get stronger, add durability 2011 grad.
C Austin Hedges, JSerra HS, San Juan Capistrano CA, 5'10 160 R/R, long arms and legs, big feet, gamer with plus throwing arm and release, 1.85 pop time, shifts feet well and alert behind dish, handles velo with no problem with glove hand, has qk wrists w/strength as a hitter, LD type hitter, should get stronger and add more bat speed in time, 2011 grad, could go in top 3 rounds in 2011.
LHP Henry Owens, Edison HS, Huntington Beach CA, 6'5 185 L/L, long and loose, pitches across his body some from 3/4 arm slot, natural ASR fb touches 91 most are upper 80's, has bite and feel for cb and aggressive, has straight change that's effective at this stage, chance to be middle of rotation ML starter in time type of frame to add more strength as he matures, 2011 grad, 1-3 type round draft.
DIXIE
SS Gavin Cecchini, Barbe HS, Lake Charles LA, 6' 165 R/R, toolsy player with ability to make contact w/balanced swing, throws with carry and arm strength at SS, chance to be special player at the next level, has 2 more years to follow, 2012 grad.
RHP Max Povse, Green Hope HS, Apex NC, 6'8 190 R/R, loose righty with arm speed, fb touches 90-91 on occ, thin build but wiry strong, chance to add more to his frame as he matures, has bite and feel for cb and change up, pitches all from 3/4 arm slot, has offer to UNC-Greensboro, 2011 grad.
NABF
IF, Dante Bichette, Orangewood Christian HS, Orlando FL, 6'1 215, strong build and frame to get stronger, has pull side power w/strength in his swing, swing is long and tends to chase, has arm strength and know how at 3B, runs on the way, will go as far as bat develops, graded out as 20/40 hit, 50/50 power, 40/40 run, 50 arm, 40/50 fld 45 OFP, long range prospect, 13-20 round type fo 2011.
RHP Nick Burdi, Downers Grove South HS, Downers Grove IL, 6'3 175, loose qk arm from 3/4 slot, live fb with natural ASR, touches 95, most fb are 91-92, feel for spinning SL and keeps pitches down in zone, has offer to U of Louisville, chance to get bigger and stronger in time, extra large frame, durable body.
RHP Christian Montgomery, Lawrence Central HS, Indianapolis IN, 6'1 240, strong body and loose arm, tends to rush front side and cross body some in delivery from H 3/4 slot, fb touches 93-94 on occ most are straight at 91-92, spins cb with slurve effect and fair command, will need time to develop 2011 grad.
SS Deion Williams, Redan HS, Stone Mountain GA, 6'3 180 R/R, long and loose frame, show ML arm strength with range at SS, ave runner, 4.3 out of the box, has bat speed, raw strength as a hitter, tends to swing at everything plate discipline needs work, have seen for 2 years now last year at Breakthrough Series, will need to follow progress, 13-20 round type for 2011, will go as far as bat develops.
USA STARS
RHP Joe Ross, Bishop O'Dowd HS, Oakland CA, 6'2 170, R/R, loose qk arm from H 3/4 slot, fb touches 92 most are 89-90, easy delivery to work with repeats it well, has shape and feel for cb and straight change, frame to add more strength, big feet, could grow a touch more, 50 OFP, 2011 grad, chance to be early 1-4 round pick in 2011.
AABC
3B/RHP Joey Gallo, Bishop Gorman HS, Las Vegas NV, 6'4 200, L/R, raw specimen with power in his swing and strength and runs on the way, 4.4 out of the box, shows ML arm strength, has ability as RHP with idea w/H 3/4 arm slot semi windup fb touches 92, is a 2012 grad so follow for next 2 years.
C/IF Tony Wolters, Rancho Buena Vista HS, Vista CA, 5'10 165 L/R, gamer with ave throwing arm w/qk release, pop time sub 2.0, gets most of out his ability, strong hands and quick bat w/level swing at the plate, balance, can drive the ball where it's pitched should add more strength as he matures, pull side power down the foul line, 2011, 13-20 round type draft.
AMERICAN LEGION
OF Brandon Nimmo, East HS, Cheyenne WY, 6'3 185 L/R, athletic frame w/bat speed and foot speed, shows arm strength in the OF with range and sure hands, at the plate has length in his swing with bat speed and strength to add power in the future, no spring program, definite follow for 2011, chance to go in top 10 rounds.
PONY
OF Jesse Winker, Olympia HS, Windemere FL, 6'2 180 L/L, 2012 grad shows bat strength w/line drive stroke, hits the ball where pitched can pull for loft power, step below ave runner, 4.35 from LH side and shows arm strength to play corner OF or 1B in ML, 2 more years to follow.
SS, Francisco Lindor, Monteverde HS, Clermont FL, 5'11 175, S/R, smooth fielder with plus arm strength and qk release, moves well either side laterally to stick at SS, has short compact swing w/strength, hits to all fields from both sides at the plate and feel for barrel to hit for average, 4.2 from RH side and 4.1 from LH side, has quickness to steal bases, chance to be special defensive player with enough bat to hit at the top of the lineup 1-2 hole type, graded out at 55 OFP.
RHP Lance McCullers, Tampa Jesuit HS, Tampa FL, 6'1 180 L/R, qk durable arm from 3/4 arm slot, fb touches 95 most are 92-93, has hammer cb with hard break and depth 11/6 break, both pitches from same arm slot, will rush on occ causing arm to lag some, chance to be special pitcher in time, 2012 grad, dominated hitters at this event chance to go in top 2-3 rounds in 2012.
RHP Robert Stephenson, Alhambra HS, Martinez CA 6'2 1805, R/R, loose qk arm from 3/4 arm slot, fb touches 94 most are 91-92 with occ ASR, proper bite and feel on cb and when his delivery is together from semi windup, overpowers hitters, type of build and frame to get bigger in time, chance to be early pick in 2011.
RHP AJ Vanegas, Redwood Christian HS, Alameda CA, 6'3 205 R/R, live loose qk arm from H 3/4 slot, most fb are true touches 93 most fb 90-91, has college offer, feel for breaking ball and throws strikes when he doesn't rush himself, 2011 grad chance to go in 13-20 rounds.
RBI
C Taylor Gushue, Calvary Christian HS, Boca Raton FL, 6'2 190 S/R, long durable frame with strong legs, has bat speed with strength, can drive the ball where pitched, as a receiver has arm strength w/qk hands to receive velo, 1.9-2.1 pop times and moves well behind the dish, 2012 grad, solid follow for 2 years.
LHP Carlos Rodon, Holly Springs HS, NC, 6'2 210 L/L, have seen for 3 yrs now, has grown and added to his frame, fb touches 93 most are 89-90 when he doesn't rush front side, also hard slider 77-83 with command, can overpower hitters at times, has offer to N C State, should be early round type in 2011.
2009 Tournament of Stars, Cary NC
AABC
RHP Kevin Gausman, Grandview Aurora HS, Centennial CO, 6'4 185, loose qk arm from 3/4 slot with ASR, fb touches low 90's with sink on knees, shape and feel for hard slider and enough control to be ML starter in time or long man in the pen, has room to fill out with maturity, has LSU offer, 2010 grad, potential early rounder.
SS, Manny Machado, Brito Miami Private, Hialeah FL, 6'3 190 R/R, sweet swing with very qk bat and line drive stroke, can launch for power, on the way runner, ran 4.28 from RH side, quicker on the base paths, has plus arm strength and ave lateral movement and glove to stick at SS or move to corner if needed, chance to be big time player in time, 2010 early round pick, could go in top 5.
C/IF Tony Wolters, Rancho Buena Vista HS, Vista CA, 5'10 165, L/R, gamer with good face, works hard, has ave arm strength and qk release, as hitter, squares up w/feel for the barrel and can rake, hits to all fields, not much power can add some with more added strength in time.
BABE RUTH
OF/1B, Travis Harrison, Tustin HS, Aliso Viejo CA, 6'2 210 R/R, big and strong, runs well underway, shows below ave arm w/qk release in the OF, knows how, has enough range and instincts to play 1B or LF at ML level in time, key is his bat, strong hands and qk bat, a bit long in his swing, ball jumps off his bat, 2011 grad, so 2 years to watch.
RHP Luke Jackson, Calvary Christian HS, Southwest Ranches, FL, 6'2 170, qk arm with head snap in his delivery from H 3/4, touches low 90's fb is fairly true, occ cuts and sinks fb on knees, sharp cb w/feel to use it in any count, has type of frame to add more strength and fill out in time, 2010 grad, chance to be in 4-7 round talk in 2010.
DIXIE
RHP AJ Cole, Oviedo HS, Winter Springs FL, 6'5 190, loose arm from H 3/4 arm slot, fb is true, touches low 90's, tops 93, shape and feel for cb and has ave command of fb, type of frame that needs added strength and stamina to be starter at ML level in time, 2010 grad chance to go in top 4 rounds in 2010.
C/3B Nick Delmonico, Farragut HS, Knoxville TN, 6'3 195 L/R, from good bloodlines, shows ave arm strength with know how as a catcher, sub 2.0 pop times, has qk LD stroke with strength on pull side and can drive the ball to opp field gap, keeps head down on the ball as a hitter, strength is as a hitter, adequate at catcher and is working on it, chance to be everyday player at ML level, graded out at 48 OFP, should go in top 4 rounds in 2011, strong follow.
LHP Robbie Ray, Brentwood HS, TN, 6'3 175, L/L easy arm action fb explodes out of his hand, touches 93-94 on occ most are 91 with arm side run, sharp downer type cb with sweep action and feel for change up, type of frame to get stronger and bigger in time, should be middle of the rotation guy at ML level in time, 55 OFP for me, should go in top 3 rounds, 2010 grad.
AMERICAN LEGION
OF/3B Kris Bryant, 6'5 200 R/R, Bonanza HS, Las Vegas NV, R/R big kid with plus bat speed and raw strength for plus power, can loft for HR power, runs well for his size, 4.3 home to 1b, sure handed at 3B with quickness to either side, length helps him with range, throws are accurate, also can play corner OF, chance to be special player in time, U of San Diego commit, graded out at 52, chance to be All-Star at ML level with his hit tools, 2010 grad, top 3 round projection.
LHP Logan Ehlers, Nebraska City HS, NE, 6'1 190, 2010 grad, has commit to Nebraska, best pitch is H 3/4 slot cb with 1/6 break action down, gets hitters to commit early, fb touches 92 on occ most are 88-89 with occ sink and run away from RHH, needs time to develop 3rd pitch, type of frame to get bigger, 8-12 type round projection, 2010 grad.
C/OF, Bryce Harper, Las Vegas HS, Las Vegas NV, 6'3 205 L/R, listed as 2011 HS grad, said to be going to JC to get his GED to be eligible for 2010 MLB Draft, has plus arm strength, wears sleeve to protect elbow, shifts and is alert behind the plate, sub 2.0 pop times with 60/70 arm strength, hit tools are best attributes, has qk hands thru the zone with power and extension, should add more power as he gains more strength naturally, only 16 years old, chance to be very special player in time, 1st round projection whichever year he comes out, 60 OFP, 30/50 hit, 50/60 power, 50 run, 60 arm, 50 FLD, raised 5 pts due to raw power and bat speed, feel for using wood bat.
RHP Michael Wacha, Pleasant Grove HS, Texarkana TX, 6'5 195, R/R, loose long limbs and legs, arm works well from H 3/4 arm slot, fb touches 92, most are 88-90, sinks down in zone with 2 seamer and has hard bite and feel on cb and change, offer to Texas A&M, type of frame to get better in time as he repeats his delivery and gains strength naturally, could be ML starter, graduated already 2009.
2B, JD Williams, Brooks-DeBartalo HS, Tampa FL, 6'2 185 S/R, qk hands at the plate, hands drift during launch to hit, doesn't keep head down, tends to pull off, has bat speed and strength there to drive the baseball, ave runner, shows arm strength and range, best shot at 2B or move to OF, 21+ round draft potential 2010.
NABF
RHP Bobby Wahl, West Springfield HS, Springfield VA, 6'3 195, qk arm from 3/4 slot fb touches 93 most are 90-91 with sink down on knees, crosses body some in follow thru, shows short breaking ball with depth and keeps pitches down, has offer to Mississippi, chance to be short man in the pen or end of rotation ML starter, has time to develop further, 2010 grad.
PONY
RHP Jameson Taillon, The Woodlands HS, The Woodlands TX, 6'6 225 R/R, long loose arm, slight wrap in back swing, fb touches 93 with ASR from H 3/4 arm slot, hard downer type cb 11/6 break action, keeps pitches down for most part, chance to be front of the end ML Starter, has offer to 4 yr school, projects as day 1 pick in 2010 MLB Draft, 54 OFP.
RHP AJ Vanegas, Redwood Christian HS, Alameda CA, 6'3 200, has 4 yr offer, plus arm strength with loose qk arm off H 3/4 arm slot, semi windup fb touches 92 most are 90 and straight, has bite and feel for cb and change up, best shot as a short man or late reliever at ML level, type of frame to get bigger and stronger in time, projectible.
OF, Christian Yelich, Rancho Bernardo HS, San Diego CA, 6'4 190 L/R, qk bat with strength in his swing, hits the ball where pitched, on the way runner 4.2 from LH side, quicker on bases, has arm strength from OF or 1B, can play Corner OF or even CF, straight line speed to chase down hits in gaps, chance to be starter at ML level in time, type of frame to get stronger as well, 52 OFP, 2010 follow.
RBI
RHP Aaron Sanchez, Barstow HS, Barstow CA, 6'3 175, R/R, slender lean build with long arms and legs, qk arm from H 3/4 arm slot, tends to cross body some during semi windup delivery, fb jumps out of his hand, touches 93 on occ, most fb are 90-91, bite and feel for cb w/sweeping action from 11/5, competes, type of frame to get bigger and stronger in time, project to 4-7 rounder for 2010.
STARS
LHP Matt Boyd, Eastside Catholic HS, Mercer Island WA, 2009 grad, shows arm strength w/qk arm from H 3/4 slot, fb has sink down on knees up to 91, hard bite on 1/7 breaking ball, throws strikes, has chance to be starter at ML level or short man out of pen, strong frame to build on, good face, works hard in pen, has school in picture.
3B, Nick Castellanos, Archbishop McCarthy HS, Davie FL, 6'4 210, long powerful swing with balance, shows power to both alleys, solid ML arm, has accuracy and able to move laterally with footwork to be competent 3B in pro ball best suited for the other corner or RF, will hit enough, has a step below ave speed but can steal a bag on occasion, gamer, gives what he has, OFP of 50, will be a ML'er in time.
AFLAC All-American Classic/Perfect Game
RHP Jack Armstrong, Jupiter HS, FL, 6'7 200, loose arm from H 3/4 fb touches 93 most are 90-91 with sink down on knees, proper feel for cb, rushes front side causing arm to lag, has D1 offer, son of former ML pitcher Jack Armstrong, chance to be long man in bullpen at ML level in time, 45 OFP.
OF Xavier Avery, Cedar Grove HS, Ellenwood GA, 6'0 185 L/L, qk bat with plus speed, quicker on bases, shows enough arm strength to stick in CF, instincts are fair on jumps on balls hit in the alleys, will go as far as bat takes him, 45 OFP, 2008 grad.
lB, Eric Hosmer, American Heritage HS, Davie FL, 6'4 210 L/L, listed taller than he was at TOS event this summer, chance to be ML hitter, showed plus power potential in BP, knows how as fielder, chance to be ML player for a long time, 55 OFP, should go day 1 in MLB Draft 2008.
3B/RHP Ethan Martin, Stephens County HS, Toccoa GA, 6'3 200 R/R, plus arm strength and some pitchability with hard downer cb that has a chance to be plus, best shot as RHP, from 3/4 arm slot, gets full extension in follow through, enough there to be ML pitcher in time, has ability as hitter with power, tracks the baseball will need to make adjustments, overswings and takes a lot of good pitches as a hitter, 4-7 round type draft in 2008.
RHP, Gerrit Cole, Orange Lutheran HS, Santa CA, 6'3 190, R/R, listed bigger than at TOS, live arm, fb touched 94 today, showed hard slider with sweep action and enough command to have 2 solid ML pitches, has offer to UCLA, chance to be day 1 pick in 2008.
RHP Jarred Cosart, Clear Creek HS, TX, 6'3 175, R/R, live strong arm from H 3/4 slot, delivery needs work as he rushes and crosses front side chopping off extension during follow thru, enough velo to get it by hitters, long range prospect, could be day 1 pick in 2008.
OF Isaac Galloway, Los Osos HS, Rancho Cucamonga CA, 6'3 190 R/R, live body, can run, shows bat speed w/strength, projection type who'll need time to develop in pro ball to get to ML level, 50 OFP.
RHP/CF Aaron Hicks, Wilson HS, Long Beach CA, 6'1 160 S/R, live body w/strength, loose plus arm in OF and on the mound, potential two way guy in 2008, fb touches 95, most fb are 92 with late life up/in vs RHH, hard slider and shows enough control to be ML starter on the bump, as a hitter, shows strength from both sides of the plate, a loop in his swing but feel for barrel and makes adjustments, runs well, better on the way, chance to go early in 2008 MLB Draft, 55 OFP. Saw at TOS as well, solid prospect
OF Robbie Grossman, Cy-Fair HS, Cypress Tx, 6'1 195 S/L - see TOS scouting report from this summer. Showed feel for the barrel and made contact vs top notch velo.
RHP Tim Melville, Holt HS, Wentzville MO, 6'5 205, R/R - another TOS participant, see previous write up.
RHP Alex Meyer, Greensburg HS, IN, 6'7 200, R/R, U of Kentucky offer, has strong loose arm from H 3/4 slot, touches 93, most fb are 90, spins hard breaking ball, had trouble locating his pitches rushes front side mostly, enough arm here to project, 4-7 type round MLB Draft in 2008, 48 OFP.
C, Kyle Skipworth, Patriot HS, Riverside CA - see writeup from TOS event this summer.
C/RHP, Jordan Swagerty, Prestonwood Christian HS, TX, - see writeup from TOS event this summer.
2007 USA National Collegians
3B Pedro Alvarez, Vanderbilt, 6'2 210 L/R, strong body w/plus bat speed and power, on the way runner, 4.3 at best hm to 1b, shows LD stroke to all fields, goes with pitch, has enough arm strength to stay at 3B w/range to his left, can play either corner, will go as far as bat takes him, chance to be early draft in 2008, 2009 grad.
2B, Jemile Weeks, U of Miami, 5'9 155 S/R, plus runner with catch and throw skills at 2B, plus range, at the plate he's shows feel for barrel and can take extra base w/speed, not much power, brother of Rickie Weeks, enough here to be ML 2b in time, 50 OFP.
MIF, Danny Espinosa, Long Beach St, 6'0 185 S/R, strong durable frame with qk hands at the plate w/strength to hit and hit w/foul line power, can drive the ball to gaps, shows ave to plus arm strength w/range to play any IF position, on the way runner, ran 4.3 from LH side, chance to be solid ML player, 1-3 round type projection, 2009 grad.
IF/OF Logan Forsythe, Arkansas, 6'0 195 R/R, 2009 grad, shows ability to drive the ball where it's pithed, has alley power on pull side, ran solid ave hm to 1st 4.3, has arm strength and hands to play corner IF or 2B in time, also fill in corner OF, 48 OFP, chance to be ML hitter, needs to find a position.
RHP Lance Lynn, Mississippi, 6'5 260 R/R, 2009 grad, loose strong arm from 3/4 slot, fb touches 95, most are 92 in relief role, big body, will have to watch his weight, arm works easy repeats delivery, falls on 1b side, fb down w/run and sink, spins hard slurvy breaking ball and occ straight change, chance to be 1-3 round draft in 2008, 2009 Grad.
SS/RHP Jordy Mercer, Oklahoma St, 6'3 190 R/R, plus arm strength from hole with steady hands and range to stick at SS, has qk bat with strength, not a power threat, can drive ball to alley on pull side, 4.3 runner, also relief pitcher with plus fb, shows hard downer cb and feel for pitching, 2009 grad, could go in top 3 rounds in 2008.
RHP Tyson Ross, U of Cal, 6'5 215, R/R, loose arm from 3/4 arm slot, fb has late sink down on knees, also shows hard slider with tilt, throws strikes, chance to be front line starter or long man out of pen, 55 OFP, could go in 1st round in 2008, 2009 grad.
1B, Justin Smoak, U of South Carolina, 6'3 200 S/L, big and strong, knows how around 1b as fielder with arm strength, BA runner, best tools are power and ability to drive the baseball, has light tower power during BP and in game, graded out 20/40 hitter, 60/60 power, 40 run, 50 arm, 50 fld, 50 OFP, chance to be day 1 pick in 2008, 2009 grad.
3B/DH Brett Wallace, Arizona St, 6'1 245 L/R, a hitter with short compact swing w/LD ability to all fields, short arms and thick legs, has enough ability to contribute at 3B or 1B in a ML lineup, will go as far as bat takes him, well BA runner, not a clogger but not a threat to steal bases either, a hitter for sure, 50 OFP, 2008 4-7 round type, 2009 grad.
2007 Tournament of Stars
AABC
3B/P, Matt Davidson, Yucaipa HS, CA, 6'3 210 R/R, big and strong, shows ML arm strength w/carry on throws, not real nimble as defensive player, may have to move across the IF or to LF, runs fair, ticket to ML is hit tool with plus raw power and strength as a hitter, w/feel for wood bat barrel, can drive the ball a long way, chases poor pitches being too aggressive, has good face, graded out to 50 OFP, 2009 grad.
SS, Deven Marrero, American Heritage HS, Davie FL, 6'1 185 R/R, smooth fielder with acc arm from hole, has bat speed and raw strength as a hitter, feel for barrel, fair hit tool w/strength for power, runs on the way, 4.35 all out, chance to be ML backup MIF or starter in time, needs time to develop, 4 yr offer to Arizona State, 2009 grad.
LHP, Tyler Matzek, Capistrano Valley HS, Mission Viejo CA, 6'3 185 L/L, strong armed lefty from H 3/4, a bit stiff in lower body, pitches against the grain crossing body, chopping extension, fb touches 94, most are 91, hard breaking ball with fair command, enough here to work with, needs help w/delivery as he rushes, fb is true, chance to be early draft in 2009.
CF, Mike Trout, Millville HS, Millville NJ, 6'1 190 R/R, strong and qk, has 4.08 run time out of box, strong wrists and qk bat w/strength to drive the ball to alleys, very quick on base paths, throws are acc from CF with instincts and range to stick in CF, frame to add more strength, strong follow for 2009.
RHP Jacob Turner, Westminster Christian Academy, St Charles MO, 6'4 205, loose arm with arm speed and easy delivery, fb touches 93, most are 90, has proper bite on cb with control, chance to be early 3 round pick in 2009, frame to get bigger and stronger.
BABE RUTH
RHP Trevor Bauer, Hart HS, Valencia CA, 6'1 175 R/R, 2009 grad, has offer to UCLA, qk arm from H 3/4 slot some length to arm swing in back, touches 94 on occ, most fb 91-92 on knees, also hard downer cb w/backup effect, also feel for straight change, frame to get bigger and stronger, some similar comp to throwback, RHP Brett Saberhagen, KC-Royals, 4-7 round type 2009.
NABF
C, Tucker Barnhart, Brownsburg HS, IN, 2009 grad, 5'11 175, S/R, quick twitch, plus throwing release to 2b with accuracy and ML arm strength, aware at all times, receives velo well, has qk path with bat both sides of plate, pull side foul line power, should hit enough to get into ML lineup, frame to add more strength, 2009 grad.
OF Jacob Marisnick, Riverside Poly HS, CA, 6'4 200 R/R, runs well underway and show ave arm strength w/range in OF due to length and instincts/jumps on balls, has bat speed with strength, chops extension at times jamming right elbow into ribs, when he has full extension ball jumps off his bat, has feel for wood and barrel, chance to hit for 15 HR type power at ML level, will need time to develop, 2009 grad.
C/OF, Dane Phillips, Nacogdoches Central HS, TX, 6'1 195 L/R, ave throwing arm with raw defensive skills, may be best suited to 1b in future, has bat speed w/strength to drive the baseball where it's pitched, has 4 yr offer, change to be 8-12 type round pick in 2009.
RHP Adam Plutko, Glendora HS, Upland CA, 6'3 175, R/R, loose RHP with arm speed from H 3/4 slot, gets full extension, type of frame to get bigger, has offer to UCLA, 2010 grad, so two more years to follow fb touches 90 on occ, most are 88 with proper depth and bite on cb and throws strikes, repeats delivery, interesting follow 48 OFP.
USA STARS
RHP Jake Barrett, Desert Ridge HS, Mesa AZ, 6'4 235 R/R, power arm from H 3/4 fb touches 93-94 on occ, most fb are 91 and true, some sink when down on knees, spins the breaking ball, falls off 1b side of mound often, needs work with delivery, has offer to Arizona State, 2009 grad, chance to be 8-12 round type.
OF, Randal Grichuk, Lamar HS, Rosenburg TX, 6'1 195 R/R, strong body with qk bat and strength as a hitter, can drive the ball to alleys, on the way runner, 4.28 out of box much quicker on base paths, shows arm strength and know how w/range in CF, can play any OF position, sure handed, chance to hit enough to be everyday ML OF in time, 2009 grad, 4-7 round ability.
LHP Matthew Purke, Klein HS, Spring TX, 6'3 180 L/L, easy delivery tends to pitch uphill at times, fb touches 93 most are 90 on the knees spins the cb with depth and command, chance to be long man in pen or ML starter in time, small frame for a tall kid, has offer to TCU to compete with, chance to go in top 4 rounds if signable, 2009 grad, seen 2 yrs now.
IF, Robert Refsnyder, Laguna Hills HS, CA, 6'1 190 R/R, has bat speed with pop from closed stance w/balance at the plate, on the way runner, 4.3 to 1b, shows arm strength and feel for playing any IF position, type of frame to get stronger, 2009 follow/grad.
AMERICAN LEGION
C/RHP Austin Maddox, Eagles View Academy, Jacksonville FL, 6'2 220 R/R, power arm on mound, as a catcher shows plus arm strength a bit stiff in his actions and receiving skills, 2.0 or sub pop times due to arm strength, has fair bat strength w/loop in his swing, interesting tools, has offer to U of Florida, best shot as RHP, only saw for 1/3 of an inning touching 93 w/effort, arm works well, needs time to develop, 2009 grad.
DIXIE
MIF, Nick Franklin, Lake Brantley HS, Longwood FL, 6'1 170 S/R, smooth fielder with plus arm strength, on the way runner, 4.3 out of box, shows flat bat with strength in his wrists to hit, smooth actions, chance to be MIF in ML as extra IF or spot starter, will go as far as bat develops, 4-7 round type for 2009.
RHP, Jameson Taillon, The Woodlands HS, Woodlands TX, 6'5 230 R/R, 2010 grad long loose arm with length in back swing, potential strain, H 3/4 slot fb touches 93, most are 89-90, sinks down on knees, hard downer type cb and feel for change, feel for knowing how to pitch, no fear, aggressive demeanor, another year to follow, chance to be early round pick in 2010, has offer to D1.
RBI
1B, Jonathan Singleton, Milliken HS, Lakewood CA, 6'2 215 L/L, young for his age, 2009 grad, 9/18/91 birthdate, has simple easy swing thru zone w/extension and bat speed, ball jumps off the barrel, on the way runner, has ability to drive the ball to gaps, plate zone awareness, throws w/acc from 1B and feel for playing the bag to be competent fielder at ML level someday, 48 OFP, 2009, chance to be a good one if bat develops further.
LHP, Tyler Skaggs, Santa Monica HS, Los Angeles CA, 6'4 175, loose lefty with some length in arm swing, fb touches 92, most are 89, lean frame to fill out in time, has qk arm to increase velo with added strength, feel for hard downer type cb and keeps pitches down, slightly across his body, has D1 offer, chance to be 4-7 round type draft in 2009.
RHP/CF Aaron Hicks, Wilson HS, Long Beach CA, 6'1 160 S/R, live body w/strength, loose plus arm in OF and on the mound, potential two way guy in 2008, fb touches 95, most fb are 92 with late life up/in vs RHH, hard slider and shows enough control to be ML starter on the bump, as a hitter, shows strength from both sides of the plate, a loop in his swing but feel for barrel and makes adjustments, runs well, better on the way, chance to go early in 2008 MLB Draft, 55 OFP.
AABC
C/RHP Jordan Swagerty, S/R, 6'1 170, Prestonwood Christian Acad., Sachse TX, 2008 grad, live strong arm from H 3/4 slot as RHP, also qk release w/strong arm to 2B, shows bat speed and fair strength to hit, has offer to Arizona St, weak follow who plays the game the right way, chance to get bigger and stronger in time.
C Kyle Skipworth, L/R, 6'3 190, Rubidoux HS, Riverside CA, 2008 grad, tall and possesses a strong acc arm to 2b, throws online, 1.95 pop time, at the plate shows loopy swing w/bat speed from straight away stance, can drive the ball to opp field, feel for barrel, chance to hit enough to be everyday ML player in time, will need time to develop, 4-7 round type.
LHP T.J. House, Picayune HS, MISS, 6'2 190 R/L, loose armed lefty pitches from 3/4 slot across his body, hides the ball well, gets run and sink vs RHH down in zone, fb touches 92 most are 89 with life to get grounders and pop ups, back door type breaking ball with break and late down action, repeats delivery, chance to be long man or back of rotation ML starter in time, 8-12 round type, 47 OFP.
1B/LHP Eric Hosmer, American Heritage HS, Davie FL, 6'3 205 L/L, tall and strong, has straight away stance w/balance and confidence as a hitter, hits the ball where it's pitched w/strength and qk bat speed, has foul line deep power, can drive the ball the other way for power, solid arm strength and feel to field his position at 1B, chance to be everyday ML contributor 3-5 man in a lineup, runs underway, 55 OFP, day 1 type pick in 2008.
RHP/OF, Gerrit Cole, Orange Lutheran HS, Sana Ana CA, 2008 grad, 6'2 175, saw last yr in OF and relief, displays easy arm action from H 3/4 slot, fb will touch 95 most are 91-92 with arm side run vs RHH, sinks it down on knees, spins hard sweeping slider, needs to keep weight balanced over rubber as he rushes his front side, type of durable frame to get bigger and stronger in time, will add more velocity as he matures, has offer to UCLA to compete with 54 OFP, ML starter or short man in the pen to close the door.
AMERICAN LEGION
RHP Tyler Chatwood, Redlands East Valley HS, Yucaipa CA, 6'0 175, R/R, loose qk arm from 3/4 slot to H 3/4 slot, fb touches 93 most are 90-91 with late life, hard cb w/downer action and feel for straight change, has D 1 offer, big feet and long arms, chance to get a little bigger and stronger, back of rotation guy or closer in ML pitching lineup, 50 OFP, 2008 grad.
BABE RUTH
RHP Anthony DeSclafani, Colts Neck HS, Freehold NJ, 6'2 165, R/R, loose qk arm from 3/4 arm slot, fb touches 93 on occ, most are 89 with sink down in zone, fb up is straight, spins the breaking ball w/feel for it, has offer to U of Florida to compete with, projectible frame to get better in time, 47 OFP.
LHP Kyle Lobstein, Coconino HS, Flagstaff AZ, 6'3 185 L/L, loose lefty with easy delivery from H 3/4 slot, fb touches 91, most are 88, has downer type cb with late action to get hitters looking, keeps pitches down and misses bats or gets grounders and pop ups, type of frame to get bigger and stronger, front of line ML starter prospect with chance to get better, has D 1 offer, 3-4 round type pick 2008.
DIXIE
IF Jace Peterson, Hamilton Christian Academy, Lake Charles LA, 6'0 190 L/R, qk twitch player with bat speed and strength in his swing to drive the ball to all fields, runs on the way, 4.2 out of box, has enough arm strength, heady player with high energy, chance to be productive ML player in time, 48 OFP, 2008 grad.
RHP/SS Mychal Givens, H B Plant HS, Tampa FL, 6'1 170 R/R, 2009 grad, has a very strong arm from SS with hands/range to stick there, ran 4.3 from RH side, sweeping swing at the plate with bat speed, a bit stiff with swing, came in relief, shows fb touching 94 with feel and idea how to pitch from 3/4 slot, fb jumps out of his hand, spins the breaking ball w/feel and break, chance as a prospect as RHP, definite follow for 2009, could be early round type.
3B/RHP, Mac Williamson, Wake Forest-Rolesville HS, NC, 6'4 205 R/R, strong durable frame, chance to get bigger and stronger, has long swing with power, ball jumps off his bat, feel for barrel, has ML arm strength and decent hands at 3B, lacks range to stick there, also catches and can play the OF, on the bump has arm strength from H 3/4 arm slot, touches 92, some lower body stiffness on the hill restricting full extension and chance to improve, wants to hit, has offer to Wake Forest, 2008 grad, fringe ML prospect.
NABF
OF L J Hoes, St John's College Prep, Bowie MD, 6'0 190 R/R, qk swing with strength, runs underway, 4.3 out of box, fair arm strength w/range in CF, can play either corner, lacks power, to be front line starter in ML, 4th OF type, 44 OFP, has offer to D1, 2008 grad.
LHP Robbie Ross, Lexington Christian Academy, KY, 5'11 180 L/L, easy delivery from 3/4 slot, no fear, loose qk arm, fb touches 92 most are 88-89 with late run away from RHH, hard cb with bite and feel for straight change, came in relief role and also started, long range prospect as a back of rotation guy or long reliever, 48 OFP, 2008 grad.
IF, Jason Esposito. Amity HS, Bethany CT, 6'2 185, R/R, has offer to Vanderbilt, shows feel for barrel as hitter with strength, straight away stance, runs BA with arm strength at SS and 3B, best suited for 3B in future, chance to get bigger and stronger, 45 OFP, fringe type ML prospect, 2008 grad.
OF/1B Preston Tucker, H B Plant HS, Tampa FL, 6'1 190 L/L, slightly open stance shows bat speed with feel for barrel with strength to hit the ball to all fields with alley power, BA runner, shows arm strength and know how in the field, lacks foot speed to stick in OF, best suited for LF or 1B, should hit enough to be 3-6 man in lineup, will go as far as bat takes him, 47 OFP, 2008 grad.
RHP Tim Melville, Holt HS, Wentzville MO, 6'5 210 R/R, long loose arm from H 3/4 slot, fb touches 93, most are 90, shows feel and spin on slurve type breaking ball, keeps pitches down, fb up straightens out, has D1 offer, chance to be ML starter or short man out of pen, 2008 grad, 48 OFP.
OF/IF, Casey Kelly, Sarasota HS, FL, 6'3 190 R/R, live body with plus arm strength, has bat speed straight away stance, strength in his swing, a bit of a loop, tends to miss pitches he should crush, enough to keep an eye on as a hitter, arm works well and is his best tool, played SS or CF, 2008 grad, 47 OFP.
PONY
OF Robbie Grossman, Cy-Fair HS, Cypress TX, 6'1 200 S/L, hard nosed player, aggressive on the base paths, runs ave with quickness on bases, has arm strength from CF w/range, best suited for corner OF, shows short qk swing at the plate with raw power, pull side power from LH side is there, chance to go in top 3 rounds in 2008, has D1 offer, 50 OFP.
RHP Jarred Cosart, Clear Creek HS, League City TX, 6'3 180, live arm from H 3/4 slot, fb touches 93, most fb are 91, rushes delivery at times causing eratic command/control, spins the breaking ball with proper bite and feel to develop further, should become ML starter or closer at ML level, will need time to develop, 2008 grad, 52 OFP.
USA STARS
LHP Matthew Purke, Klein HS, Spring TX, 6'2 165 L/L, 2009 grad, have seen now for 2 years, loose arm, tends to rush front side causing lead arm to push his pitches, fb has life touching 93 most are 89, slurvy breaking ball, occ straight change, has verbal to TCU, 50 OFP, chance to be ML starter in time, 2009, have 2 more years to follow.
LHP, Hunter Cervenka, Ross Sterling HS, Baytown TX, 6'2 190 L/L, live arm, qk with arm strength from 3/4 slot, crosses body some with lower body stiffness, chops extension, pure arm strength with heavy fb down on knees touches 92, most are 89-90, has D1 offer, spins the breaking ball w/sweeping action, need to keep an eye on him, 2008 grad.
LHP Nick Maronde, Lexington Catholic HS, KY, 6'3 190 S/L, has offer to U of Florida, loose long arm action from H 3/4 to OH slot, fb touches 92 most are 88-89 late middle out life, spins the downer type cb, chance to be solid out pitch, repeats delivery, chance to be long man or back of rotation guy in time, will have to compete with college, 45 OFP, 2008 grad.
3B, Abe Ruiz, Pacific Grove HS, CA, 6'3 210 L/R, strong body with plus arm strength and range to stick at 3B or move to 1b at ML level, has strength in his swing from slightly open stance, drives the ball where it's pitched, also football player, chance to hit in 3-5 hole to be productive ML player in time, 50 OFP, 2008 grad, has D1 offer to contend with.
RBI
OF/LHP Anthony Gose, Bellflower HS, CA, 6'0 170, strong loose qk arm w/range in CF, runs well underway, 4.1 out of box, has bat speed, slap and run type hitter, loop in his swing, will need help there, as LHP has loose qk arm from 3/4 slot fb touches 93 most are 90-91 with sink, spins the cb w/bite and enough there to develop in time, bring along slowly, 47 OFP.
OF Isaac Galloway, Los Osos HS, Rancho Cucamonga CA, 6'2 190 R/R, live body, runs well underway, shows arm strength w/accuracy from corner OF spots, runs 4.3 out of box, quicker on bases, has bat speed w/strength and type of build to get stronger, will go as far as bat takes him, 50 OFP, 2008 grad.
1B Ricky Oropesa, Etiwanda HS, Rancho Cucamonga CA, 6'2 210 L/R, strong arm and know how around the bag, has loop in his swing w/bat speed and pull side power, 4.35 runner at best, better on bases, also pitches, best shot as 1B, will go as far as bat develops, has D 1 offer to content with, 44 OFP, 2008 grad.
CAPE COD CLASSIC 2006, Boston MA - Baseball Factory
3B/C Joey Terdoslavich, Sarasota HS, FL, 6'2 180 S/R, has offer to Fresno St, live body with chance to get bigger/stronger in time, shows pop from both sides of plate during BP, can drive inner half pitch to foul line/pull side power, runs better on the way, 4.3 out of box from LH side, has arm strength with some stiffness, best suited for corner OF or 1B in time, 2007 grad, 44 OFP.
RHP Kevin Quackenbush, Jesuit HS, Tampa FL, 6'4 200, big and strong, shows loose arm w/downhill drive to plate, fb touches 93, most are 90-91, sinks when down, spins the breaking ball, some effort in delivery, durable enough to become long man in bullpen or end of rotation guy so long as breaking ball and command improve, 2007 grad, 8-12 round type, 45 OFP.
OF, Cory Vaughn, Jesuit HS, Elk Grove CA, 6'3 215, R/R, athletic frame with chance to get bigger, has bat speed with loop in his swing, pull side power, plus runner hm to 1b, better on bases, ability to steal a base, not instinctive in OF but has range, hands and arm to play any OF position, will go as far as bat develops, 48 OFP.
OF, Mark Canha, Bellarmine Prep, San Jose CA, 6'2 185 R/R, strong frame, room to fill out, has raw power to opp field and pull side to the alley, runs well underway, 4.35 out of box, strong throwing arm w/accuracy, best suited for LF or RF or 1B in time. chance to hit. 47 OFP.
Scouts I have met in the past 34 plus years in the game. Many have passed on to the "Angels in the Outfield" or "Field of Dreams"
My former supervisor for the New York Mets, Larry Chase, scouted for many years with the Mets and signed major leaguers, AJ Burnett, Bob Koeppel and Mike Pelfrey. Larry was a good friend of mine who passed away from complications after bladder surgery in 2011. We will all miss Larry. What a great man he was!
Hank Krause from Akron, Iowa, Hank's scouted for years for several ML Clubs and continues to work today. Most recently with the Marlins. Hank is/was an auctioneer as well and helped run tryout camps for years at Ida Grove, Iowa. One of the better tryout camps in the midwest during the early summer months.
Bob Fontaine is the scouting director for what is left of the Major League Scouting Bureau. Bob has been a scout for nearly 50 years. His late father was one of the best scouting directors of all time. Bob is one of the last of the known Ivory Hunters. He could tell you stories of scouts incognito at games, hiding in the woods watching with binoculars or coming into a game on a helicopter. Bob is great people and fun to talk with.
Brad was the one who gave me my first shot as a bird dog in '83 fresh out of college at Bellevue University. Brad scouted the midwest for years as an Area Scout for several clubs, the club he hired me for was the San Diego Padres. Brad was inducted into the Midwest Scouts Hall of Fame in Minneapolis a few years back and is seen with his wife Cindy, a retired school teacher. Brad is great people and works currently for the Boston Red Sox.
Marti Wolever, one of the best scouting directors the Phillies have ever had in their existence. He is now a National Crosschecker with the Chicago Cubs. Marti is a great friend of mine. He was my assistant coach during the fall one season before he was offered an opportunity to coach at Paul IV high school in Omaha and then he became a scout for the Detroit Tigers. Marti founded and directed the Nebraska Professional Baseball Camp which ran for many years in Omaha and had many players drafted by Major League Teams as well as many players gaining exposure to college baseball opportunities. Marti scouts for the Detroit Tigers again today.
Bill Clark, the great world traveler was a scout for many years with the Cincinnati Reds where he signed Lloyd McClendon and Bruce Berenyi for the Reds and he was the international scout who helped sign Andruw Jones for the Atlanta Braves. Bill is often outspoken as many of us can be and he continues to write a column or two back in his hometown of Columbia, Missouri. Bill is an avid bird watcher as well. We didn't hit it off right away in the scouting world but once Bill got to know me, we became good writing buddies and talked on occasion. Bill still lives in Columbia, Missouri with his wife of many years.
Gene Baker was a very good professional baseball player and a better scout. Gene was very good friends with John "BUCK" O'Neil for years and Gene scouted for the Pirates. He and I became friends in 1985 and he recommended me to work for his team when he was getting ready to retire due to failed health. Gene lived in the Quad Cities area of Iowa. We all miss you Gene!
John "Buck" O'Neil was one of the best scouts in all of baseball for many years. He signed Lou Brock and Lee Smith of all players when he was with the Cubs. Buck helped found the Negro Leagues Hall of Fame in Kansas City, Missouri. Buck and I met in '84 when I was a bird dog, at a tournament in Ralston, Nebraska. He had some amazing stories during his days scouting in the south. He's a legend and Hall of Famer! We miss you "BUCK"!
Ellworth Brownie Brown, lived in Beason, Illinois and if you had a reason, you'd visit him at home on occasion. Brownie worked into his 90's before passing away. He worked for the Minnesota Twins most famously signing Bill Madlock and Kirby Puckett. There wasn't a player that Brownie didn't know about. Often you would see him at games with his wife of many years, Mabel. The two were inseparable. We miss you Brownie!
Angelo Giuliani was a scout for the Minnesota Twins living in the Twin Cities area. He signed Kent Hrbeck and Tim Laudner. Angey was always cordial to me and we'd stay in touch on occasion when he visited Omaha or he was covering the College World Series. Angey is well loved and missed by us all.
Emil Belich worked for the Major League Scouting Bureau when I was a rookie scout and he helped me find some really good places to eat in the upper midwest in Minnesota and Wisconsin and how to conduct myself and he was really a great father figure. Emil later worked for the Phillies before he passed way. Living in West Allis, Wisconsin, you'd often find him talking about the old timers and his old baseball days.
A very good read about what Tony Lucadello and other scouts look for in finding ball players.
Nick Kamzic & Chuck Koney, two of the best area scouts in the Chicago land area for years. Nick knew about all the players and was well respected through out the baseball world. Chuck was a former professional player and worked for the Red Sox as a scout after an accident disabled Chuck's leg. Chuck was a riot to be around and he loved the game. We miss these two guys deeply.
Chris Fye attended Bellevue East High School, the University of Nebraska-Omaha and Iowa Western Community College. Chris pitched for me one summer after a great fall year in '87 for IWCC and then was academically ineligible. I worked diligently trying to get scouts to sign him as an undrafted free-agent and finally the Giants signed him, Bill Parese and Bill Olson after a tournament in Schuyler, Nebraska. Chris was a little lefty with a fb that touched the low 90's on the jugs gun and he loved the game, he just lacked that extra motivation to make it to the big leagues but he did make it to the AAA roster of the Giants. Chris lives in Bellevue still and works for UPS.
Free-agent report on Darin Erstad while he was at Nebraska. He was #1 MLB Draft pick by the Angels in 1995. When I was with the Mets part-time I put a follow in on him that was a 60 and we drafted him in the 13th round but never tendered him an offer so he went onto Nebraska where he committed to for college baseball and football. Darin is now Head Baseball Coach at the U of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Elmer Gray recently passed away and he was the scouting director for the Pittsburgh Pirates and worked for the Cincinnati Reds. Elmer was gracious and he remembered me at a game in April 1985 while we were scouting RHP Gregg Olson of Omaha Northwest High School at Bryan High School. Elmer worked into his late 80's before he passed way at his home in Pennsylvania.
Gene Bennett, recently passed away, he was one of the Hall Of Fame scouts for the Cincinnati Reds up until his passing this summer. I met Gene in '88 at the Great Lakes League All-Star game where we talked about a future ML Player, Matt Mieske. Gene introduced me to Dick Groch who still scouts today, Dick signed Derek Jeter, and Tony Lucadello, Tony signed many former ML Players including Fergie Jenkins and Mike Schmidt among others for the Phillies. Gene was diligent in his work and he always had time to shake your hand while passing by.
Jon Lieber pitched for Iowa Western CC and also Abraham Lincoln HS in Council Bluffs, Iowa. I tried to get my supervisor to draft Jon after a pre-draft workout in 1990 only to hear, we didn't have room for him and instead took his team mate from Veenan Dahl Holland, Caspar Van Rynbach who pitched for 4 years in the Mets system. Jon got a scholarship offer soon after I got on the phone with Steve Kittrell and Ronnie Powell of South Alabama and Jon was later drafted twice, by the Cubs and Kansas City Royals. Ken Gonzalez signed Jon and Jon pitched for many years in the ML with several ML teams. Jon lives in Council Bluffs, Iowa today.
Mike Arbuckle is the Assistant GM with the Kansas City Royals. Mike at one time was an area scout with the Atlanta Braves, then a crosschecker for the Braves then the Scouting Director for the Phillies and he was passed over as the GM candidate to replace Pat Gillick and instead the Phils promoted Ruben Amaro Jr. Mike is very gracious and remembers people. I finally after 26 years ran into him again on the road in Cary this past spring, 2017.
Dale McReynolds was an area scout for many years in the upper Midwest and he signed such big leaguers as Bob Welch and Steve Howe for the Dodgers. Dale was also a supervisor and one time a scouting director. Dale worked for many years before passing away near his home in Walworth, Wisconsin. Dale wrote a manual on scouting and once you got to know him, he'd tell you like it is and was. Dale didn't like talkers or goof offs as far as scouts go and he stayed in touch with me by phone or snail mail through the years. I miss Dale!
Marv Olson scouted for the Minnesota Twins but was one heck of a professional baseball player. He hailed from Gayville, South Dakota and signed Dick Green for the Oakland A's. Marv scouted for many years and he grew a liking to me when I was a bird dog for the Padres and Marv tried to get then scouting director Terry Ryan to hire me in 1987, but Terry couldn't pull the trigger. I miss Marv!
Old time scouts for many clubs through the years as saved by Roberta Mazur and the Scouts foundation.
Hall of fame scouts, Rosey Gilhousen, Tony Lucadello and Ralph Dilullo. All signed players who are/will be Hall of Famers. Rosey scouted in the west coast, Tony in the midwest and Ralph the North East parts of the US.
Ted Brzenk, I met Ted in '88 at a game in Madison, Wisconsin between U of Wisconsin and Northwestern. Tom Fischer was pitching for Wisconsin and he was projected to be a high draft that year, a bit stiff but being left handed, Tommy pitched up to Double A. Ted still scouts today part-time and is one of the nicest men around in the game.
Bob Oldis scouts for the Marlins and he was a life time scout with the Expos before they moved. Bob also caught in the big leagues and is one of the nicest men I ever met in the midwest. Bob lives near Iowa City, Iowa where he's been for ages. I miss Bob and hope to run into him again in the midwest someday.
Follow report on Rick Helling for '89 scouted him in New Ulm, Minnesota and legion tournament at Seymour Smith Field, Omaha, NE.
Nice story on a once in a lifetime group of potential ML arms from Omaha, led by RHP Gregg Olson from Omaha Northwest HS who I first saw as a 14 yr old in a Pony League tournament in Omaha. Gregg pitched in the ML for the Baltimore Orioles as their closer and had one of the best "yellow hammers" I've ever scouted. True grit and the son of a Hall of Fame HS Baseball Coach, Bill Olson.
This story is about an Independent League Idea I threw around with a few scouts and minor league personnel a couple years before it's fruition, later the Northern League was founded by Miles Woolf with help from Bill Freitas who called me in '86 just before his passing.
This is my follow report on Casey Blake, from Indianola HS, Iowa who attended our pre-draft camp at the U of Northern Iowa. Casey ended up playing over 14 years in the ML with several ML teams and was a true hard nosed player who gave 100% game in and game out. One of the hardest working and nicest young man I have ever had the pleasure to meet.
My 1st report which was never sent in by my supervisor when I was a rookie scout for the Texas Rangers, the reason being, "we don't need any third basemen or slow shortstops!" Really? How about hitters? I turned in 2 reports on Jim only to be told, he can't play by my supervisor.
Jerry Lafferty, from Trenton, MO, and one of the nicest scouts I have ever met. Jerry was a part-time scout with the Phillies when I first met him in 1984 at a tournament in Ralston, Nebraska. Jerry signed a few ML players including Ryan Howard out of SW Missouri State which is now Missouri State. Jerry works PT now for the KC Royals with his good friend, Mike Arbuckle.
This is JR Richard, who pitched briefly in the ML with the Houston Astros and he had a legendary type of career happening before a stroke took his ability to pitch, at 6'8 240 pounds, JR touched 100 mph on the slower radar gun and jugs radar gun in the early 1980's for the Astros. His delivery was easy and fluid for a big man.
One of the best players I've scouted in HS in many years, this report was in 1991 at Battle Creek MI Connie Mack tourney. Met Derek, his mother and little sister then.
Scouting combine at Millard North HS, Omaha NE with Charlie Wilbur, looking at Norfolk HS RHP, Carter Faltys, who's showing his circle change grip here in the snapshot, thanks to KC Siwa. Charlie Wilbur is a dandy, he is a deciple of Augie Garrido and knows his stuff.
Jay HankinsJay Hankins was a former Major League Scout and Scouting Director of the Philadelphia Phillies, a great human, father, grandfather and played in the professional baseball ranks as well.
Jeff Cornell was a MLB pitcher for the Giants and Cubs before becoming a Major League Scout with the MLSB in the 80's then going over to the Tampa Bay Rays some years later where he's been instrumental for the acquistions of many of their current and former MLB players. Jeff resides in the KC MO area!
It's a sad day for baseball and for me as I lost a friend and confidant in Mike Radcliff, "Cliffy" as many called him, I met Mike his first year as a Bureau scout in 1983 at a highschool baseball tournament in Ralston, Nebraska. He shared a lot of his free time with me over the phone or in person and answered questions he was allowed to elaborate on. His brother Danny, I recruited at the urgency of Mike, in 1984 and Danny pitched for me when I was a volunteer pitching coach/recruiter at Iowa Western Community College - Council Bluffs. Danny is a scout for the Pittsburgh Pirates. I pray for Sherry and Mike's children and grand children as well as the Radcliff family far and wide! RIP, Mike!!!
Tim Osborne is a classic scout, he worked for the Major League Scouting Bureau for years, beginning as a film guy who took video and recorded information on players and many times was in more than 2 cities at one time covering prospects. He's the son of former Major Leaguer and scout, "Bo" Osborne, who was a burly big man with a great eye for talent and true gentleman. I had the pleasure to meet both and worked for Timmy as a bird dog, covering talent in South Carolina for him for 2 years until some snob front office ass***e decided I wasn't needed since I didn't live in South Carolina anymore! Timmy still does some evaluations on players and last worked for the Giants, one of his big leaguers is Joey Bart, catcher from Georgia Tech.
BILL YATES, email: BillYates0513@gmail.com
COACHING RESUME:
MY FORMER PLAYERS DRAFTED BY MLB OR SIGNED TO PROFESSIONAL CONTRACTS:
Catcher, Mike Valla, Omaha South HS, Iowa Western CC -Mary Hardin Baylor, Pirates
LHP, Chris Fye, Bellevue East HS, Iowa Western CC, UNO, SF Giants (Bill Parese/Bill Olson)
3B, Billy Vosik, Kearney HS, U of Nebraska, Cleveland Indians
2b/RHP, Chad Lindamon, Windom HS Minn, Iowa Western CC, St Andrews College, Minnesota Twins
RHP, Jimmy Wynne, Bemidji HS Minn, Iowa Western CC, Oklahoma City U, Montreal Expos
OF, Mike Jones, Omaha South HS, Miami-Dade North CC, Chicago Cubs
RHP, Lance Davis, Hastings HS NE, Iowa Western CC, Connors State CC, Oklahoma, SF Giants, Texas Rangers
LHP, Chris Shanahan, Omaha Cathedral HS, Iowa Western CC, U of Neb-Omaha, NY Mets
RHP, Rick Dunnum, Janesville Parker HS WIS, Iowa Western CC, William Penn College, Houston Astros
OF, Wayne Kirby, Tabb HS VA, Cleveland Indians
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Became a 'bird dog' in 1983 following my senior year in college starting with the San Diego Padres & Area Scout, Brad Sloan, became an Area Scout for Texas in the fall of '87-'88, part-time scout after a year with Texas from '89-'93 for the NY Mets, former supervisors were Marti Harvat, Phil Favia and Larry Chase, became a bird dog again for Texas, then the Cleveland Indians for Steve Abney, then Pro Scouts LLC as East Coast Crosschecker for 2 years, then was a bird dog for the Pirates & area scout Tim Osborne, assisting him in South Carolina. I currently am an advisor for a couple sports agent firms I'll leave anonymous at this time.
I started as a little league coach at the age of 18 in '78 at Langley AFB, Virginia, then in '79-80 at Offutt AFB, Nebraska, then Bellevue East Legion & Colt league, then South Omaha Legion, then founded my own summer collegiate baseball team in '85-89 with 9 players signing pro contracts and getting D1 school offers, coach first ever program at John Wood Community College in Quincy ILL, then came back in a fill in role in the Corn Belt Collegiate League of Omaha in 2018, coaching a player who's a twin, Brayland Skinner, eventually he went onto Mississippi State and won the 2021 CWS as a Bulldog scoring the winning run!!
I've been super blessed in my career!
