Official
League Website: www.cvscl.com
2013 Summer Collegiate Top Prospect coverage
Carolina-Virginia League Top Prospect list (free)
The
Carolina-Virginia League began operating in 2005, and has been
dominated throughout most of its existence by the Kernersville
Bulldogs, who joined the league two years after its inception. The
Bulldogs nailed down their fifth league championship this
season—winning four straight playoff games on the heels of running
away with another regular-season title.
Kernersville
thrived, despite fielding a younger, more-inexperienced team than
normal, and getting just six innings out of righthander Dallas
Newton, the league’s top prospect who signed with the Arizona
Diamondbacks early in the season. Corner infielder Brandon Burkes
almost singlehandedly made up for any of the team’s shortcomings,
including Newton’s early departure, though, by easily winning the
league’s triple crown, while also earning MVP honors in both the
regular season and playoffs.
Burkes’
emergence as a prospect is particularly noteworthy as he missed two
seasons of baseball (and all sports) while in high school after
breaking his neck in a football mishap as a sophomore that almost
left him paralyzed. Not only did Burkes make huge strides at the
plate this summer in his first extended opportunity to play baseball,
but the former shortstop also appeared to find a home in the field at
third base.
FAST
FACTS
Year
League Established: 2005
States
Represented in League: North
Carolina, Virginia
No.
of Teams in League: 8
Regular-Season
Champion: Kernersville Bulldogs
(29-10, 36-15 overall)
Post-Season
Champion: Kernersville Bulldogs
Most
Valuable Player: Brandon Burkes, 3b,
Kernersville Bulldogs (Guilford Tech, N.C.)
Pitcher
of the Year: Carter Brown, rhp,
Roanoke Rails (Virginia Tech/graduate)
BATTING
LEADERS (all games)
Batting
Average: Brandon Burkes, 3b,
Kernersville Bulldogs (.408)
Home
Runs: Brandon Burkes, 3b,
Kernersville Bulldogs (9)
RBIs:
Brandon Burkes, 3b, Kernersville Bulldogs (41)
Stolen
Bases: Chris Mitko, of, Roanoke
Rails (17)
PITCHING
LEADERS (all games)
Wins:
Tyler Leguire, rhp, Winston-Salem Crushers (9)
ERA:
Justin Morrison, rhp, Kernersville Bulldogs (1.15)
Saves:
Steven Ball, rhp, Roanoke Rails (10)
Strikeouts:
Tyler Leguire, rhp, Winston-Salem Crushers (102)
TOP
5 PROSPECTS
1.
DALLAS NEWTON, rhp, Kernersville Bulldogs (SIGNED / Diamondbacks)
A
6-foot-5, 215-pound righthander from Greensboro, N.C., Newton was
better known in high school as an athletic center fielder, though
most scouts believed at the time that his greater upside was on the
mound. He had designs on a college career at North Carolina, but
failed to make the team’s 35-man roster out of fall practice in
2012 as a freshman, and ended up transferring to Pitt (N.C.)
Community College, where he went 3-1, 1.56 last spring, working both
as a starter and in relief. In just 35 innings, he struck out a staff
best 50. Signed on to pitch during the summer for Kernersville,
Newton worked in just three games for the Bulldogs (0-1, 6.00 in 6
IP) before signing with the Diamondbacks, who drafted him in June in
the 32nd round. Newton definitely has the size and looks the part of a future
major leaguer, and also has the makings of two future big-league
pitches in a 90-93 mph fastball and low-80s slider with good late
tilt, but has work to do in refining a changeup. In his brief time in
Kernersville, he did a lot to eliminate extra pitches in his
repertoire while also focusing on a consistent release, and cleaner
mechanics overall should eventually lead to improved velocity and
command of all his pitches. In his pro debut with the D-backs entry
in the Rookie-level Arizona League, Newton went 1-6, 5.64 in 14
appearances (eight starts), while walking 16 and striking out 39 in
53 innings.
This is PG 'DiamondKast' Level content.
You must be either an DiamondKast, Crosschecker Rankings & Scouting Reports, or Scout subscriber to read the rest.
Sign in
DiamondKast