2014 Perfect Game MLB Draft preview content
Top 500 Prospect Reports:
51-100 | 101-150 | 151-200
201-250 | 251-300 | 301-350
351-400 | 401-450 | 451-500
1.
Brady Aiken,
lhp, Cathedral Catholic HS
L-L,
6-4/205, Cardiff by the Sea, Calif.
College
Commitment: UCLA
Aiken's
continued development saw him separate himself from a crowded pack of
high level pitching talent in the 2014 class this spring. After
taking time off in the fall, Aiken came back bigger and stronger and
with improved stuff across the board this spring. He has taken a step
forward from sitting in the high-80 to low-90s last year to working in
the low- to mid-90s this spring with improvements to his curveball
and changeup, as well as working on adding an upper-80s cutter. He's
done all of this while maintaining the quality command that he's long
been known for.
Read
Aiken's detailed Draft Focus profile here.
2.
Carlos Rodon,
lhp, North Carolina State (JR)
L-L,
6-3/235, Holly Springs, N.C.
Previously
Drafted: Brewers ’11 (16)
Rodon
has struggled to live up to the lofty pre-season expectations that
were heaped on him as he has posted a sub-.500 record and not always
dominated his competition like he did a year ago when he easily led
the nation with 184 strikeouts in a mere 132 innings. His command has
often wavered, as well. But he still features a fastball that sits at
91-95 and peaks at 96, and his trademark wipeout slider has been a
dominant second pitch. If anything, Rodon has suffered from a classic
lack of run support as his team has scored just three times in his
seven losses. His 1.73 ERA is a sharp upgrade over his 2.99 mark in
2013, and all his secondary pitching numbers are superior.
Read
Rodon’s detailed Draft Focus profile here.
3.
Tyler Kolek,
rhp, Shepherd HS
R-R,
6-5/250, Shepherd, Texas
College
Commitment: Texas Christian
Kolek’s
spring high school season ended surprisingly early, albeit with
Astros manager Bo Porter and special advisor Nolan Ryan present. That
will give Kolek and his Ryan-esque fastball a chance for some
baseball rest and farm work before a short series of pre-draft
workouts, seemingly with the top four teams at most, that likely will
determine his draft position.
Read
Kolek's detailed Draft Focus profile here.
4.
Nick Gordon,
ss, Olympia HS
L-R,
6-2/185, Windemere, Fla.
College
Commitment: Florida State
The
additional upper body strength that Gordon gained during the
off-season has carried him to a .508-5-24 performance through mid-May
and has solidified his position among the top 10 picks, and perhaps
even the top 5. He’s seen as the surest thing among high school
players in the draft with his combination of elite level defense and
improved hitting tools.
Read
Gordon's detailed Draft Focus profile here.
5.
Aaron Nola,
rhp, Louisiana State (JR)
R-R,
6-2/185, Baton Rouge, La.
Previously
Drafted: Blue Jays ’11 (22)
Nola
has simply been the most dominant pitcher in college baseball this
season and has a 9-1, 1.42 record as LSU’s regular season winds down.
Scouts still worry about his low arm angle and lack of a dominant
breaking ball, but his pinpoint command and plus/plus changeup are
too good to ignore in the first 10 picks. An appropriate comp out of
college would be the Angels Jered Weaver.
Read
Nola's detailed Draft Focus profile here.
6.
Brad Zimmer,
of, University of San Francisco (JR)
R-R,
6-5/205, La Jolla, Calif.
Previously
Drafted: Never drafted
The
younger brother and teammate of former University of San Francisco –
as well as the fifth overall pick in the 2012 draft – Kyle Zimmer,
Brad has a chance to potentially be drafted as high as his brother.
Considered by many to own the best present hit tool in all of college
baseball, his long, slender frame has plenty of room for additional
strength gains, suggesting that his below average present power may
develop significantly to add value to his already attractive profile
highlighted by a plus hit tool.
Read
Zimmer's detailed Draft Focus profile here.
7.
Alex Jackson,
c/of, Rancho Bernardo HS
R-R,
6-2/220, San Diego, Calif.
College
Commitment: University of Oregon
Jackson
has been firmly established on the prospect radar for his entire high
school career after cracking the starting lineup at San Diego
powerhouse Rancho Bernardo High School as a freshman. His
plus-plus arm strength and plus power highlight an intriguing
prospect profile that gives him an elite ceiling. This also has led
him to be considered one of the top position prospects in the entire
draft, despite some debate about his future defensive home. Some
scouts drool over the potential value of a power hitting catcher,
others think his plus-plus arm is a best suited for right field,
which would allow him to keep his bat in the lineup for more plate
appearances each year.
Read
Jackson's detailed Draft Focus profile here.
8.
Grant Holmes, rhp, Conway HS
L-R,
6-2/210, Conway, S.C.
College
Commitment: University of Florida
Holmes
has been the model of consistency for two years now, and he seems to
improve incrementally with each outing. His velocity has reached
upwards of 98 mph this spring, and he has worked consistently at
93-96 with above average command. What sets him apart, however, is
his feel for his plus breaking ball and ability to throw it in almost
any count or situation.
Read
Holmes’ detailed Draft Focus profile here.
9.
Trea Turner,
ss, North Carolina State (JR)
R-R,
6-1/170, Lake Worth, Fla.
Previously
Drafted: Pirates ’11 (20)
Quality
college position players are at a premium in this year’s draft, and
the athletic Turner has been a marked man all spring. He has
alleviated early-season concerns scouts had over his inability to
drive balls consistently by going deep a team-leading eight times for
N.C. State, while also leading that club in runs, walks and stolen
bases. All other facets of his well-rounded game have been steady,
and he has continued to show off his superior speed, arm strength and
deft defensive actions at a premium position.
Read
Turner’s detailed Draft Focus profile here.
10.
Kyle Freeland, lhp, University of Evansville (JR)
L-L,
6-4/190, Denver, Colo.
Previously
Drafted: Phillies ’11 (35)
Freeland
impressed scouts with his low-90s fastball and plus slider in the
Cape Cod League last summer, but he has taken his game to new heights
in 2014. Working consistently now at 91-95 mph, Freeland has shown
better command and convinced scouts more thoroughly that he can
repeat his delivery well enough to be a starter in the big leagues.
He’s struck out 111 batters over his first 87 2/3 innings in 2014,
and has posted a 1.75 ERA.
Read
Freeland’s detailed Draft Focus profile here.
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