Top Prospect List

2009 Prospects

RHP/SS Eric Whaley (Cardinal Gibbons HS, Pompano Beach, FL): The athletic 6-3, 180 lb Whaley could blossom on either side of the ball. He pounds the strike zone with a heavy upper 80’s fastball that projects well into the 90’s but is also a 6.5 runner with top level defensive skills. Adding strength will be key

SS Matt Bergquist (Eagles View Academy, Orange Park, FL): Bergquist earned an invite to the PG National from his performance, especially with the bat, where he shows bat speed and very good power for an infielder. Bergquist also has excellent skills as an infielder.

RHP Jacob Johnson (Trinity Christian Academy, Lake Worth, FL): Johnson has the size (6-4, 215), arm strength (up to 91 mph) and quality curveball to be a top prospect nationally. His mechanics are clean and simple, which should help him keep improving in the future.

SS Max Matra (Stoneman Douglas HS, Coconut Creek, FL): Matra’s athletic ability has really taken a step forward and now makes his plus fundamentals/actions on defense stand out even more. He also earned a PG National invite from the event.

2B Eric Acevedo (American Heritage HS, Miami, FL): Acevedo played a support role at consensus national champion American Heritage HS, but would be the star at many schools. He’s a very mature player with power in his bat and good defensive tools.

SS Luis Montesinos (Palmetto HS, Miami, FL): Montesinos run and throw skills are top level, he has a 90 mph cannon from shortstop and is a 6.7 runner. He has the bat speed to think that he’ll hit at a high level, too.

SS/RHP Edward Pidermann (Monsignor Pace HS, Miami Lakes, FL): The 5-11 Pidermann has very smooth, easy actions in everything he does on the baseball field. He could be an offensive oriented middle infielder, but might develop on the mound as well.

C Christian Torres (Miami Christian HS, Miami, FL): There were many good defensive catchers in Fort Myers but Torres swings the bat better and from the left side as well. He has excellent (81 mph in drills) arm strength from behind the plate.

SS/RHP Thomas Goodman (Cardinal Mooney HS, Bradenton FL): Goodman is a primary pitcher but looked like a high level infield prospect to us. All his actions defensively and with the bat are smooth and athletic and he really projects.

RHP/3B Grant Porter (All Saints Academy, Lakeland, FL): Porter was one of the more polished and mature pitchers at the event, with a very heavy and live 87 mph fastball and sharp slider. He can also hit at the prospect level and play a solid third base.

OF Daniel Iturrey (Palmetto HS, Miami, FL): There was some serious talent in Fort Myers from Palmetto HS in Miami. Here’s betting that the left handed Iturrey hits cleanup in that line up. He can really swing the bat and has run producing power.

C Zach Berger (Coral Gables HS, Coral Gables, FL): Berger is another good defensive catcher whose ability with the bat separates him. He has the strength (6-1, 200 lbs) to drive the ball and lots of natural lift in his swing. His approach to the game also impressed the PG scouts.

C Luis Arrizurieta (Monsignor Pace HS, Pembroke Pines, FL): Arrizurieta impressed with his very aggressive, high energy approach to the game along with his substantial tools. He squared up on every type of pitch he saw and might project better with the bat than we gave him credit for.

RHP Josh Lucas (Lakeland HS, Lakeland, FL): Lucas is more fluid and balanced than most young 6-5, 175 lb pitchers, which adds to his projection. He threw in the 84-87 mph range with an excellent change up.

OF Ryan Gawrych (Wharton HS, Tampa, FL): Gawrych and his younger brother Zach (see below) are very similar athletes, with plus speed (6.59) and quick twitch actions. Ryan has the advantage of better strength and better bat speed that comes with age.

OF Tyler Carday (Mandarin HS, Jacksonville, FL): Carday is a very athletic reverse platoon player (hits right, throws left) with tools across the board, especially as a centerfield on defense. The PG scouts wondered if he also pitched because of his easy arm strength.

RHP Matt Doyle (Flint Hill School, Vienna, VA): Doyle is a very athletic 6-3, 185 lb right hander who works in the mid-80’s with plus life at times. His change up is his best off speed pitch right now.

1B Christian Upchurch (Suffolk Academy, Suffolk, VA): Upchurch is big and strong (6-1, 210 lbs) first baseman who shows plus raw power. He has a good idea how to hit for a young power prospect and shows his best power to right centerfield, always a promising sign.

C Brandon Patterson (Auburndale HS, Polk City, FL): The 5-11, 175 lb Patterson comes from the quick twitch school of catching. He has very good arm strength and quick feet behind the plate and showed the ability to keep his swing short and hit line drives to all fields on offense.

RHP Jeremy Adel (St. Francis HS, Newberry, FL): Adel hasn’t started getting strong yet at 6-2, 170 lbs but was 84-87 mph from a straight over the top release point, along with a hard downer curveball.

OF/LHP Walker Rackley (T.C. Roberson HS, Asheville, NC): Rackley is a primary LHP who was shut down after the showcase with a tired arm, but he lit it up with the bat and warrants serious prospect attention as a power hitting outfielder.

RHP Andres Wiltz (Belen Jesuit Prep, Miami, FL): Wiltz has a strong, mature frame and a mature approach to pitching. His mid-80’s fastball, sharp curve and advanced pitchability enable him to work through a line up quickly.

2010 Prospects

RHP Luke Jackson (Westminster Academy, Ft. Lauderdale Florida): Jackson’s loose, whippy arm action produces easy velocity up to 91 mph and his mid 70’s curveball is a sharp downer pitch from a over the top release point.

OF/LHP C.T. Bradford (Pace HS, Pace, FL): Bradford is a clone of former Pace HS OF/LHP and Brewers 2007 5th round pick Caleb Gindl. The left hander throws 88 mph off the mound, can rake at the plate and may have been the top defensive player at the showcase.

1B Austen Smith (Pensacola Catholic HS, Pensacola, FL): Smith has the present size and strength (6-3, 225) to create outstanding bat speed. He has a power hitter’s approach to attacking pitches and can hit the ball a long way.

RHP Ryan Heuler (Cardinal Mooney HS, Bradenton, FL): Heuler passes the eye test for a top young pitching prospect, with a projectable 6-3, 190 lb build and loose actions. He topped at 90 mph with a 77 mph curveball that was nasty at times.

C Wade Wass (Tate HS, Pensacola, FL): Wass is big (5-11, 205) and exceptionally strong. He knows how to use his hands with the wood bat and the ball explodes off the barrel. Defense might be a future question, but he’ll remind people of Matt LaPorta at the same age offensively

RHP/3B Wes Mugarian (Pensacola Catholic HS, Pensacola, FL): Mugarian and fellow 2010 Austen Smith (see above) form a potent duo at Pensacola Catholic HS. Mugarian is a power player with a strong, square shouldered build. He throws a hard 89 mph fastball and has lots of juice in his bat.

OF Christopher Roglen (Rocky Mountain HS, Fort Collins, CO): Roglen got everyone’s attention immediately with his athletic, chiseled 6-3, 190 lb build and then showed that he had baseball tools has well. He looks like a prototypical right fielder with power potential.

OF Spencer Mumford (American Heritage HS, Boca Raton, FL): Powerhouse American Heritage HS has more talent on the way. Mumford’s bat looks like a big future weapon and the rest of his tools are solid.

LHP Jimmy Hodgskin (Bishop Moore HS, Windermere, FL): Hodgskin is a very polished 6-2 southpaw with all the makings of a top prospect. He pitched in the mid-80’s with plus movement and plus command. He didn’t throw a breaking ball or he’d grade out higher.

OF Eric Serra (Braddock HS, Miami, FL): The 5-8, 155 lb Serra will have to add strength but he’s a very quick twitch athlete who can already run (6.60) and throw and hits with surprising present power.

C Peter Torres (Coral Park HS, Coral Park, FL): Torres does everything well defensively, especially for a young catcher with his footwork and fundamentals. He shows power potential and the same maturity offensively.

OF Clay Holcomb (Huntsville HS, Owens Cross Roads, AL): Holcomb has size (6-2, 175), projectability and very good (6.69) present speed to build his game around. He has quick hands with the bat and will hit with power as he fills out.

OF Zach Gawrych (Wharton HS, Tampa, FL): The 6-1 Gawrych is already a plus runner at 6.52 in the 60 and should get even faster as he gets stronger. His approach at the plate isn’t a typical speed player’s, he has bat speed and gap power.

SS Noah Soven (Palmetto HS, Miami, FL): Soven had very sound and advanced hitting tools for a young middle infielder and his 6-0, 165 lb body projects well for more strength in the future.

2B Erik Lunde (Cardinal Gibbons HS, Pompano Beach, FL): Lunde is a compact 5-8 with a good combination of strength and quickness that should just keep getting better. He is an excellent defender with some pop in his bat.

SS Alex Viera (Golden Gate HS, Naples, FL/2011): Vierra has an outstanding athletic body for his age and very sound tools. He’ll be fun to watch grown and improve over the next three years.

RHP/IF Jacob Winicki (Brother Rice HS, Troy, MI): Winicki is a primary RHP who threw in the low 80’s with a smooth, effortless delivery, but we liked him better as a power hitting infielder. He has a polished approach and very good bat speed.