| 262. |
Taylor Jordan |
RHP |
So. |
R-R |
6-3 |
190 |
Brevard (Fla.) |
Merritt Island, Fla. |
Reds '07 (18) |
1/17/1989 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE: An unsigned 18th-round draft pick of the Cincinnati Reds in 2007 out of Florida's Merritt Island High, Jordan enrolled at Indian River JC that fall but didn't pitch there as a freshman and fell off the radar until resurfacing this spring at Brevard JC. Despite pitching for one of the weaker junior-college teams in the state, Jordan excelled as a freshman, posting a 7-6 record and striking out 88 in 80 innings, while walking just 17. In his best outing of the season, he throttled No. 1-ranked Miami-Dade on a one-hitter through eight innings, striking out nine. Jordan has a strong resemblance to Atlanta Braves righthander Derek Lowe, both from the standpoint of his body type to his stuff. His fastball was consistently in the 87-92 mph range this spring, and got heavy sinking action when he kept it low in the strike zone, resulting in a lot of ground-ball outs. His 79-81 mph slider had late bite and was a solid second pitch. His changeup remains a work in progress. Jordan's command was generally sound, but it was erratic occasionally.--ALLAN SIMPSON |
| |
| 263. |
Trevor Coleman |
C |
Jr. |
B-R |
6-1 |
210 |
Missouri |
Dripping Springs, Texas |
Reds '06 (38) |
1/19/1988 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE (3/1): The three most immediate attributes that draw scouts to Coleman are his switch-hitting ability, his strong, durable body, and his exemplary catch-and-throw skills. He brings a lot to the table for a player at his position. As the primary catcher for Aaron Crow, Kyle Gibson and Nick Tepesch (a trio of hard-throwing righthanders who could give Missouri the potential to have first-round picks in consecutive drafts from 2009-11), and some of the best arms in the Cape Cod League last summer, Coleman has demonstrated an ability to handle pitchers with elite stuff throughout his college and summer-league career at Missouri. He also has excellent leadership skills behind the plate and pitchers have unhesitatingly said how much they enjoy working with a catcher with his savvy, take-charge approach. Coleman can slow a running game with his arm strength, and nabbed 16 of 35 base runners last spring-and five of the seven who tried during the summer. Though his home-run output fell from nine as a Missouri freshman, to four as a sophomore, to just one last summer for Falmouth, he has legitimate power from both sides of the plate. The thing that stands out most, though, for Coleman as a hitter is his plate discipline. In 190 at-bats as a Missouri sophomore, he drew 30 walks vs. 33 strikeouts. He improved on that fine ratio even more during the summer, drawing 39 walks while striking out 25 times. He's a better hitter than his .244 average last summer indicates. A 38th-round pick out of a Texas high school in 2006, Coleman has a chance to be a starting catcher in the big leagues and should be one of the first college catchers drafted in June. He comes by his athletic ability naturally as his father Brad was a former professional tennis player.--ALLAN SIMPSON |
| UPDATE (5/15): It was a tough spring for Coleman, who battled a sore elbow early in the season and a broken ankle in April that caused him to miss 12 games en route to a .260-6-32 year. Coleman did return to the Missouri lineup for the NCAA regionals and went 5-for-10 in his final two games behind the plate, including catching Kyle Gibson one last time. Coleman’s defensive credentials and reputation for outstanding makeup remain solid, but there are continuing concerns about his bat. Coleman’s bat speed is fringy-average, at best, and his swing plane tends to cause him to hit up on the ball, leading to a lot of easy fly-ball outs.—DAVID RAWNSLEY |
| |
| 264. |
Chris Fetter |
RHP |
Sr. |
R-R |
6-8 |
230 |
Michigan |
Carmel, Ind. |
Never drafted |
12/23/1985 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE (3/1): As a red-shirt junior, Fetter rebounded from a lackluster 2007 season (6-3, 4.71) to lead Michigan in the triple-crown pitching categories, going 10-2, 2.47 with 82 K's in 94 innings. Despite those impressive numbers and his superior command, he wasn't drafted for the second year in a row. Scouts cited his lack of a dominant fastball. The big righthander is primarily a slider pitcher-in fact, scouts say Fetter falls in love with the pitch and throws too many of them. His fastball sits in the upper 80s, though will occasionally creep over 90. Along with his slider, a key to Fetter's success is his deception. He comes at hitters from a variety of arm angles, even sidearm at times, and that can be disconcerting coming from a long and gangly 6-foot-8 pitcher. Fetter was red-shirted his freshman year at Michigan, and now as a 23-year-old is relatively old by prospect standards. There's little doubt he'll finally get his first crack at pro ball this summer if he can come close to duplicating his 2008 success, and could even become one of the draft's better senior signs if he can top it-or even add a tick or two to his velocity in the process. At best, he projects a set-up role.--DAVID RAWNSLEY / ALLAN SIMPSON |
| UPDATE (5/15): As a red-shirt senior, Fetter had his best year yet for Michigan, going 7-3, 3.26 with 103 strikeouts and 17 walks in 94 innings. He finished strong, showing average velocity and solid all-around stuff by the end of the year. After never being drafted, Fetter stands an excellent chance of going in the first 10 rounds, and would be a money-saver as a senior draft. But there are scouts who believe he belongs there are on merit after the big righthander pushed his velocity up to 92 mph, at times, this spring and showed a better breaking ball—though only when he dropped his arm angle, a long-standing issue. Most scouts envision Fetter as an organizational pitcher while others believe he has an outside chance to reach the big leagues as a middle reliever.—ANUP SINHA |
| |
| 265. |
Brock Holt |
2B/SS |
Jr. |
L-R |
5-9 |
170 |
Rice |
Stephenville, Texas |
Braves '06 (49) |
6/12/1987 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE (3/1): Holt is a throwback-type player with a high-intensity, scrappy approach to the game. Those intangibles were something that all managers in the Texas Collegiate League strongly noted last summer. But they also felt that Holt’s tools went beyond the standard “scrappy” stereotype, and believed he was the best defensive player in the league. His hands and actions at shortstop are very polished and smooth, and he had enough arm strength to play shortstop at Rice, after transferring there from Navarro JC, although he may move to second base in 2009 due to the presence of sophomore standout Rick Hague as Rice’ shortstop. The lefthanded-hitting Holt, a late draft pick of the Atlanta Braves in 2006, swings the bat effectively with wood, and hit .309-2-27 with 14 steals last summer in the TCL. He has an advanced ability to handle the bat head and hit to all fields.--DAVID RAWNSLEY / ALLAN SIMPSON |
| UPDATE (5/15): Holt had a very productive junior year at Rice, hitting .344-10-38 with a team-high 56 and fielding flawlessly at second base. He and Hague quickly became one of the best double-play combinations in the country. His power numbers are largely seen as an aluminum-bat mirage by scouts, but Holt handles the bat head well and will hit line drives to all fields. While his arm strength may be fringy by shortstop standards, Holt’s overall defensive actions at second base were outstanding and he often impacted a game at that position. Perhaps most important, scouts regard Holt’s makeup as exceptional, and he’s the kind of player who won’t leave anything behind in his efforts to become a big leaguer.—DR |
| |
| 266. |
Ryan Berry |
RHP |
Jr. |
R-R |
6-2 |
195 |
Rice |
Humble, Texas |
Never drafted |
8/3/1988 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE (3/1): Berry didn't quite duplicate his outstanding freshman season (11-3, 3.01, 122 IP/125 SO) as a sophomore at Rice (8-5, 3.63, 104 IP/86 SO), but he was still a workhorse and one of the premier Friday starters in college baseball. His immediate success at the college level was something of a revelation as Berry went undrafted out of a Texas high school in 2006, and doesn't possess overpowering stuff. Yet he still led all of the nation's freshmen in strikeouts in 2007, while topping Conference USA in ERA and opponent batting average (.248). Berry's strongest attributes are his mound savvy and acute sense of pitchability. He gets hitters off balance by masterfully changing the speed of his pitches and coming from a variety of arm angles. His fastball generally resides in the 88-92 mph range, and will occasionally reach 93. Yet it has a sneaky-quick quality to it, and he is able to mix it efficiently with three other pitches while spotting it with precision to all parts of the strike zone. Berry has two kinds of curveballs-a spike curve and a knuckle-curve-that are normally in the 80-84 mph range, and rate as above-average pitches when he can bury them on hitters deep in the strike zone. His changeup is a fourth pitch that he doesn't go to often. Of all the college pitchers with a chance to be drafted in the top three rounds this year, Berry may have the most mediocre stuff, but few can match his intangibles.--ALLAN SIMPSON |
| UPDATE (5/15): Berry started the 2009 season with a flourish, assembling three complete games and a shutout over Texas A&M in his first four starts, but developed a sore shoulder during his fifth start and missed five weeks before returning to post a 7-0, 1.89 record with 15 walks and 56 strikeouts as Rice entered NCAA regional play. Berry’s command and curveball were outstanding at the start of the season, and his fastball was consistently in the 90-92 mph range. His velocity returned quickly when he resumed pitching, but scouts have become increasingly wary of Rice pitchers and a series of arm injuries over the years—all the more so since Berry’s sidekick at the front of the Rice staff, righthander Mike Ojala, also missed time this spring.—DAVID RAWNSLEY |
| |
| 267. |
Evan Crawford |
OF |
Jr. |
R-R |
6-2 |
165 |
Indiana |
Trenton, Ohio |
Never drafted |
8/5/1988 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE (3/1): Crawford has obvious athletic ability in his lively 6-foot-2, 165-pound frame, but his baseball skills, both offensively and defensively, lag behind noticeably. He has little power with limited discipline at the plate, and he has yet to establish a home in the field. Crawford spent most of his first two years at Indiana at second base and while scouts say he appears to profile best in the middle infield, his hands and instincts are ill-suited for second base or shortstop, or anywhere but in the outfield. In that sense, he’s much like the Upton brothers (B.J. and Justin), who began their careers at shortstop but didn’t have a comfort level there, and soon moved to the outfield. Crawford’s lack of power, though, makes him difficult to profile there, either—even though his 6.5-second speed in the 60 and superior arm strength are clearly assets, and he spent most of last summer in the Cape Cod League in center field. He was also scheduled to move to center at Indiana as a junior—but that move was tentative as plans to install him at shortstop as a sophomore for the Hoosiers were quickly abandoned. Though Crawford does show occasional power in BP and has the wrists to drive balls, his power rarely translates to games. He just doesn’t use his legs enough in his swing to create the leverage needed to hit with power. At the stage, Crawford is mostly a singles hitter, but he does excel at bunting and putting the ball on the ground to utilize his speed. However, he has questionable pitch recognition, and is often fooled by good off-speed pitches or caught flat-footed on fastballs late in the count. Crawford’s speed is the one tool he is able to exploit. He has good base-stealing skills and is able to create havoc when he’s on the bases or simply puts the ball on the ground. Though he hit just .246-0-9 last summer in the Cape and struck out 29 times in 118 at-bats, he was successful on all 11 stolen-base attempts. He also stole 18 bases as both a freshman and sophomore at Indiana in what were otherwise remarkably similar seasons statististically. Not only did Crawford hit .333-1-30 with 18 stolen bases while committing 20 errors as a freshman, but he batted .335-1-30, stole 18 bases and committed 20 errors as a sophomore. The trick for Crawford will be to move off those numbers as a junior, and also settle into a regular position that best utilizes his tools.—ALLAN SIMPSON |
UPDATE (5/15): After his first two seasons at Indiana, it was apparent that national-level scouts were more intrigued by Crawford than were local area scouts. Crawford put together strong summers in the Great Lakes League (2007) and Cape Cod League (2008), though his success at IU was only fair. Playing primarily in the infield as a freshman and sophomore, Crawford had his struggles and may have taken those frustrations to the batter’s box. Crawford was moved to center field full-time this spring as a junior, and seemed to find a home, at least defensively. Scouts were intrigued by Crawford’s rangy, projectable body, his plus speed and his average arm. Despite an obvious lack of outfield experience, Crawford got decent jumps on balls hit in his direction and has a chance to become a good defensive center fielder. He showed bat-speed in batting practice, though struggled immensely with curveballs in game situations and may need a mechanical work-over to handle them in pro ball. Crawford still hit a respectable .323-2-29 with 27 stolen bases as a junior. There are a number of teams who don’t have Crawford on their board because of the holes in his bat, but it’s very possible that someone will grab him early, possibly in the first 10 rounds.—ANUP SINHA
|
| |
| 268. |
Matt Weaver |
SS |
Fr. |
R-R |
6-0 |
175 |
Burlington Co. (N.J.) |
Browns Mills, N.J. |
Never drafted |
1/27/1990 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE: Weaver went undrafted as a New Jersey high-school talent in 2008 and barely registered among area scouts entering his freshman season at a local junior college, but he made huge strides in his game this spring—particularly at the plate. Though he beat up weaker competition at the Division II level, Weaver nonetheless hit .452 with 13 homers and struck out just 14 times in 186 at-bats. He showed good buggy-whip in his swing, though was prone to getting pull-happy. His speed also played as he swiped 28 stolen bases. Scouts aren’t convinced Weaver will remain at shortstop in pro ball, but he has good middle-infield actions in his wiry frame, and solid arm strength. It was evident that Weaver has a passion for playing.—ALLAN SIMPSON |
| |
| 269. |
Brian Pearl |
RHP |
Jr. |
L-R |
6-1 |
190 |
Washington |
Everett, Wash. |
Never drafted |
5/17/1988 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE (3/1): A talented two-way player, Pearl spent most of his first two seasons at Washington on the left side of the infield. He hit .274-3-23 in 123 at-bats as a freshman, playing mostly at shortstop. As a sophomore, he saw most of his action at third, though an injury to start the 2008 season limited him to just 99 at-bats. Between the two seasons, he made only 12 pitching appearances for the Huskies, all in relief, and worked in just 12 innings. It became graphically apparent during a summer season in the Northwoods League, though, that Pearl's future is much brighter on the mound. As the closer for Green Bay, he went 2-0, 0.84 with nine saves. In 21 innings, he walked six while allowing 12 hits and striking out 32. Pearl displayed surprisingly smooth, easy mechanics for a conversion player, but his lightning-quick arm was so impressive that he soon became the premier power closer in the Northwoods League. His fastball sat in the low- to mid-90s and produced good movement, but it also topped out on occasion as high as 96 mph. Pearl's secondary stuff isn't as impressive or effective as his fastball, but his breaking ball has good, late movement and he commands it so well that he doesn't necessarily need a third pitch-especially if he continues in his role as a short reliever. Pearl also continued to play a position in the field during the summer, and his conversion to full-time closer only began in earnest last fall. With an opportunity to concentrate on pitching only, his fastball reached 97. But with only 12 innings as a college pitcher on his resume, Pearl still has plenty to prove to scouts this spring before he can be anointed as one of the better closer prospects for the 2009 draft.--ALLAN SIMPSON |
| UPDATE (5/15): At his best, Pearl has the kind of raw stuff that warrants being taken in the first round. His fastball has been up to 95 mph, and his slider can literally disappear on a hitter. But he was wildly inconsistent with all his pitches for Washington this spring, and he may be hard-pressed to squeeze into the fourth or fifth rounds as a result. Some scouts claim they never saw him throw a fastball anywhere near the mid-90s, and that his slider was often flat-and hittable. The Huskies weren't sure what to do with Pearl. They tried to start him, but that didn't work out. He did save eight games when installed as the team's closer, but he wore out his welcome in that role, too. In 23 appearances (2 starts), he worked 38 innings, walked 17 and struck out 40. A club that saw him at his best this spring (or last summer) could pop him by the third round, but others say that would be way too rich for a pitcher that didn't even demonstrate he was suitable for either a starting or closing role, and was little more than a set-up man.--ALLAN SIMPSON |
| |
| 270. |
John Murrian |
C |
Jr. |
R-R |
6-3 |
215 |
Winthrop |
Summerville, S.C. |
Never drafted |
6/15/1988 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE: As an undrafted player from a South Carolina high school, Murrian led Winthrop in batting with a .336 average as a freshman. He never topped that mark as a sophomore(.301) or junior (.327), but showed significant improvement in the rest of his game over his three-year career at Winthrop. He developed into a solid receiver with impressive raw arm strength. Murrian chose not to play last summer, and it may have been a turning point in his career as he worked out in the weight room, got bigger and stronger, and his improved strength was evident this spring at the plate as he had more raw power. He batted cleanup for the Eagles, and hit six homers while driving in a career-high 42 runs.—JEFF SIMPSON |
| |
| 271. |
Wes Musick |
LHP |
Jr. |
L-L |
6-0 |
190 |
Houston |
Lufkin, Texas |
Giants '08 (24) |
12/30/1986 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE (3/31): A once-promising prospect from a Texas high school, Musick has had somewhat of a checkered career at Houston—and returns to this year’s draft pool as a fourth-year junior seeking to restore his peak value. He was at his best as a red-shirt freshman in 2007, when he went 6-6, 3.00 as the ace pitcher on the Cougars staff, striking out 73 in 93 innings. He was expected to make that kind of a contribution out of the gates in 2006, but missed the season while undergoing both knee (December 2005) and Tommy John surgery (January 2006). He made a full recovery from both injuries and came up with a nice three-pitch mix a year later, with a fastball that was steadily in the 88-92 range, a plus circle changeup and solid-average curveball with 1-to-7 rotation. His hard-nosed, competitive approach and feel for pitching only added to his appeal. Musick continued to work with that repertoire and edge deep into the 2008 season. With an 8-4, 4.15 record in 82 innings, he appeared primed to be a solid early-round pick in last year’s draft but slipped to the 24th round as teams became increasingly wary of his sophomore-eligible status, and his option to return to Houston and still retain his leverage as a junior.—ALLAN SIMPSON |
| UPDATE (5/15): While Musick received significant upper-round talk a year ago before sliding amid signability concerns, he did not generate the same type of interest this spring. His fastball was in the same 88-91 mph range, but his stuff overall was flatter and his advanced sense of command that previously was evident in his performance suffered. He had his poorest performance in college to date, going just 5-7, 5.97 with 125 base runners (97 hits, 28 walks) in 75 innings, along with just 59 strikeouts.—DAVID RAWNSLEY / AS |
| |
| 272. |
Ben Theriot |
C |
Jr. |
L-R |
6-2 |
190 |
Texas State |
Houston |
Never drafted |
12/8/1987 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE: Theriot played a key role in leading his 41-15 Texas State team to one of its best seasons in school history and its first berth in the NCAA tournament in nine years. He hit .341-6-36, producing career-highs in average and home runs, but Theriot greatest value came in almost totally shutting down his opponents’ running game. He gunned down runners at a 75 percent clip, allowing only six steals in 24 attempts. His arm is easily his best tool. He has above-average arm strength with a quick release, and his throws are consistently on the bag. The rest of his defensive skills are more than adequate, though his lack of quickness limits his mobility. He profiles as a backup catcher, unless his bat comes on. There is some length in his swing and he has just fair bat speed. He has little or no speed.—ALLAN SIMPSON |
| |
| 273. |
Myrio Richard |
OF |
Jr. |
R-R |
6-2 |
190 |
Prairie View |
Lake Charles, La. |
Never drafted |
8/27/1988 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE (3/1): The very athletic Richard pulled off an admirable baseball double in 2008, being named the Southwestern Athletic Conference player of the year during the spring at Prairie View (.370-10-51, 15 SB) and the Texas Collegiate League player of the year during the summer with the McKinney Marshalls (.283-6-36, 21 SB). It was Richard's second year in the TCL and he came back much stronger and with a new position, center field, after bouncing around both the infield and outfield previously. Scouts and managers alike considered Richard the TCL's top position prospect "by far", noting that all five of his tools played at a high level. His six homers led the league and while he was edged out by one bag for the stolen-base leadership, Richard's 4.2-second speed down the line, his instincts and aggressiveness all enable him to cause havoc on the bases. Defensively, his inexperience in center field affected his routes, but he had the speed to outrun his mistakes and has a powerful throwing arm.--DAVID RAWNSLEY / ALLAN SIMPSON |
| UPDATE (5/15): Richard did not build off his strong 2008 summer season, hitting .310-6-33 with 20 steals this spring. Most disturbing, he showed scouts a long, wrapped swing that prevents him from making adjustments easily to different types of pitches, although Richard did show good late bat speed. He improved as a center fielder, where his plus speed underway plays well, although he is still adjusting his infield arm stroke to the longer outfield arm action and throws. Scouts will buy easily into his athletic ability and superb athletic build, but the team that drafts him will be the one that dreams most with his bat.—DR |
| |
| 274. |
Jabari Blash |
OF/RHP |
Fr. |
R-R |
6-5 |
215 |
Miami-Dade JC |
Charlotte Amalie, V.I. |
White Sox '07 (29) |
7/4/1989 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE (3/1): A product of the Virgin Islands, Blash had played only two years of organized baseball when the Chicago White Sox took a 29th-round flier on him in the 2007 draft. He didn't sign with the Sox, instead choosing to come to the United States to play baseball at Alcorn State. But Blash failed to qualify academically and virtually fell off the baseball map for a year before resurfacing last summer with the Athens Pirates of the Great South League. With a big-league body and intriguing athletic actions, Blash created a buzz around that league but he struggled to keep up as it was evident that his skill level was still at an elementary stage of development. Nonetheless, he flashed significant raw tools-especially power, speed and arm strength-and it was just a matter of Blash getting in a more structured baseball environment. He landed at Miami-Dade JC last fall, and the transformation of Blash into a legitimate prospect for the 2009 draft was soon underway. Though his swing is long and approach at the plate unrefined, he displayed significant power potential. He also displayed easy actions in all other phases of his game. Soon he began showcasing a strong arm from right field, with both carry and accuracy. He had soft hands with smooth actions, and began making all the routine plays. He even started making hard contact at the plate more consistently and began driving balls to the gaps more regularly. Though his arm action remained a little long, some scouts looked at his long, lean, athletic frame and superior arm strength, and even envisioned him as a pitcher. More than anything at this stage of his development, Blash just needs repetitions and the team that drafts him in June will need to be extremely patient with him. But Blash has a huge upside, and the number of suitors for his services should be plentiful.--ALLAN SIMPSON |
| UPDATE (5/15): Though very raw in his approach, Blash had a surprisingly good season at the plate for Miami-Dade, hitting .353-10-33. Some scouts were so impressed with his raw power, speed and arm strength that they thought they had seen the second coming of Hall of Famer Dave Winfield. Blash was soon getting legitimate top 3-5 round interest from clubs dreaming on his projectability. His swing still has a lot of holes and it will take time for him to develop as a hitter, but Blash could be something special if it all comes together for him.—ANUP SINHA / AS |
| |
| 275. |
Preston Guilmet |
RHP |
Sr. |
R-R |
6-2 |
200 |
Arizona |
Oakmont, Calif. |
Athletics '08 (22) |
7/27/1987 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE (3/1):Guilmet was the dominant starter on a talent-filled Arizona pitching staff as a sophomore 2007, going 12-2, 1.87 with 146 strikeouts in 135 innings. He also was the Friday-night starter in 2008 on a team that was ranked No. 1 in the country to start the year. Despite his presence at the top of the Wildcats rotation, Guilmet took a back seat in terms of raw stuff to the likes righthander Ryan Perry and lefthander Daniel Schlereth, who were both drafted in the first round a year ago, and righthander Jason Stoffel, a projected first-rounder this year. Guilmet's fastball was only 84-85 mph when he enrolled at Arizona in 2005 and is still only in the 87-88 mph range, topping at 90, with little meaningful movement. But he has succeeded at the college level because of his ability to come from an angle that enables him to get good two-plane action on his fastball. He complements it well with two above-average secondary pitches-a slider and a splitter-and generally has excellent command of all his pitches. At his peak, he can throw any pitch in any count and knows when to expand the strike zone. His splitter, his best pitch, is very deceptive out of his hand and gets a lot of late, tumbling action. Without a dominant fastball, Guilmet tends to pitch backwards and often falls in love with his splitter. But he hides the ball well and can generate a lot of poor swings as all his pitches come from a deceptive, unorthodox overhand slot. Guilmet falls in the category of a classic late developer and there is hope he can still add both more velocity and life to his fastball. It could happen as he has a quick, compact arm action. Scouts have been perplexed on Guilmet's true draft stock pretty much throughout his career at Arizona-even when he performed like a high-rounder in 2007. His stuff has always suggested he might be little more than a senior sign, and he pitched more to that level as a junior at Arizona, when he went a much more pedestrian 6-4, 4.38 with 93 strikeouts in 97 innings. Not only did he not perform as well as he did a year earlier, but his fastball was a tick slower and his secondary stuff wasn't as crisp or consistent. But by walking just 22, he continued to still be effective at times with a below-average fastball at 87-88 mph. The Oakland A's took a stab at Guilmet in the 22nd round of last year's draft, and while Guilmet had few expectations of improving his monetary value as a senior draft, he nonetheless returned to college to become the Arizona ace for one more year.--ALLAN SIMPSON |
| UPDATE (5/15): With a 6-5, 3.74 record that included 34 walks and 93 strikeouts in 91 innings, Guilmet had a better senior year than his junior season, but it was not close to the standard he set as a sophomore. His stuff also wasn’t vintage 2007. His fastball was fringy-average at 88-89 mph, and he continued to earn most of his success with deception and feel. It’s entirely possible he could go in the first 10 rounds, but it will be based more on his appeal as a cheap senior sign that on straight ability.—AS |
| |
| 276. |
Chase Anderson |
RHP |
Jr. |
R-R |
6-1 |
175 |
Oklahoma |
Wichita Falls, Texas |
Twins '07 (40) |
11/30/1987 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE: Anderson pitched in a long-relief this spring for Oklahoma, going 3-1, 4.97 with 60 strikeouts in 50 innings spread over a staff-high 26 appearances. He was somewhat lost in the shuffle in that role this spring on a deep Sooners staff that could have several draft picks, and may have even been somewhat miscast as a reliever. He has starter stuff with an often fringy-plus fastball that will touch 93 mph, a serviceable breaking ball and a very advanced changeup, and projects as a starter in pro ball. He worked as a starter at a Texas high school (12-1, 0.50, 65 IP/155 SO as a senior) and punched out 115 in 85 innings as a freshman starter at North Central Texas JC prior to transferring to Oklahoma as a sophomore.—DAVID RAWNSLEY / ALLAN SIMPSON |
| |
| 277. |
Bryant Hernandez |
SS |
Jr. |
R-R |
5-8 |
170 |
Oklahoma |
Oxnard, Calif. |
Never drafted |
3/5/1988 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE: Hernandez is a baseball rat and may get as much out of his limited tools as any player in the country. He hit .351-12-62 this spring for the Sooners, and earned constant praise for his approach to the game. It was his first chance to play regularly at the college level, and the more he played the better he got. His 6.6-second speed in the 60 is his best tool, though it was not always evident this season because he plays so hard that he often got beaten up in the process. He stole just 10 bases in 16 attempts. Hernandez also showed good range at shortstop with an acceptable arm, although he committed a team-high 21 errors and projects more as a second baseman at the next level. Hernandez has surprising strength and power in his small frame, but will need to shorten his swing at the next level and learn to lay off breaking pitches he can’t hit, as he is very much a free swinger (16 walks vs. 58 K’s this spring).—DAVID RAWNSLEY / ALLAN SIMPSON |
| |
| 278. |
Jobduan Morales |
C |
Sr. |
B-R |
5-11 |
180 |
Jose S. Alegria |
Dorado, P.R. |
|
6/7/1991 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE: Morales was not lumped initially with the better prospects in a surprisingly-strong Puerto Rico 2009 draft class because he played mostly first and third base, until recently moving behind the plate. He took quickly to the position defensively and impressed scouts getting their first chance to see him at the Excellence Games in early May—an important pre-draft showcase for Puerto Rico’s elite prospects. Morales’ bat was never a question, although it never profiled as a corner infielder because of his smaller frame. As a catcher, that no longer is an issue, though Morales has a somewhat thick frame that he will have to monitor as he progresses in pro ball.—ALLAN SIMPSON |
| |
| 279. |
Nick McCully |
RHP |
Jr. |
R-R |
5-11 |
195 |
Coastal Carolina |
Lakeland, Fla. |
Never drafted |
9/5/1988 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE: Though underappreciated Coastal Carolina has again rivaled Clemson and South Carolina as the best college team in the state this spring, the Chanticleers don't have an obvious early-round draft candidate like their higher-profile neighbors do. McCully may be the team's best bet to edge into the top 10 rounds. He has all the credentials to warrant being an early-round selection as he won 10 games for Coastal as a sophomore and was selected the Cape Cod League's outstanding pitcher last summer after going 5-0, 1.98 with 14 walks and 44 strikeouts in 50 innings for Bourne. McCully worked primarily as a starting pitcher on both occasions, even though it was apparent all along that his stuff and temperament would be better served in a closer role. He gradually moved into that role towards the end of the 2008 college season, and made the conversion this spring as a junior-though he still managed to start seven times in 28 appearances while going 8-1, 2.10 overall with eight saves. In 73 innings, he walked 26, struck out 64 and limited opponents to a staff-best .197 average. The knock on McCully, from a draft standpoint, is his size and maximum-effort delivery. He doesn't have overpowering stuff with a fastball in the 88-92 mph range, but has been clocked as high as 95 in short bursts as a closer. His highly-competitive approach also makes him ideally suited to close. His slider is a solid second pitch and he'll also work in an average curve and change-pitches that are unnecessary as a closer. McCully has an advanced feel for pitching, and it's possible his intangibles and ability to throws strikes consistently while dropping in an occasional 95 may prompt scouts to look past his smaller frame.--ALLAN SIMPSON |
| |
| 280. |
Aaron Loup |
LHP |
Jr. |
L-L |
6-0 |
175 |
Tulane |
Luling, La. |
Never drafted |
12/19/1987 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE: Loup has had difficulty winning with any degree of consistency in college, earning just two wins in each of his freshman, sophomore and junior seasons at Tulane, with progressively-escalating ERAs. He went just 2-4, 5.93 this season, working both as a starter and in long relief. He also struggled last summer for Falmouthe in the Cape Cod League, posting a 1-1, 6.07 record with 11 walks and 12 strikeouts in 13 innings. That is all in stark contrast to his summer of 2007, when he was the dominant pitcher for the Clark Griffith League champion Vienna Senators, posting an 8-0, 0.98 record with 63 strikeouts and only 14 walks in 55 innings. He topped the league in wins and ERA, but hasn’t pitched to that level since. Loup’s size has always been perceived as a drawback for professional baseball, but he has never fit the definition of a crafty lefthander, either. He has a very quick arm and runs his fastball consistently in the 90-92 mph range. The pitch also has good running action and gets on hitters quickly. He has a loose, resilient, mechanically-sound arm and could throw every day, if needed. When he’s on his game, Loup commands three pitches, including a big, sweeping curve from a cross-body delivery and a mid-three-quarters release point. He flashes the overall stuff to live on the inner half of the plate against righthanded hitters. He also has a good feel for a changeup, but tends to slow up his arm a bit to throw it. Being a lefthander, Loup has the type of stuff where he can succeed as a situational reliever at the professional level. He’s had trouble repeating his delivery and release point at Tulane, and elevates his pitches too much. While he walked only nine and walked 61 in 58 innings this spring, he gave up more than a hit an inning as his command fluctuated.—DAVID RAWNSLEY / ALLAN SIMPSON |
| |
| 281. |
Ben Orloff |
SS/2B |
Sr. |
R-R |
5-11 |
170 |
UC Irvine |
Simi Valley, Calif. |
Rockies '08 (19) |
4/25/1987 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE: Orloff will never be drafted on the basis of his raw tools, but his exceptional playability has won scouts over. Like overachieving David Eckstein before him, Orloff will go as far in professional baseball as someone gives him a chance. He was the heart and soul of an overachieving UC Irvine team that went 45-14 overall, ran away with the Big West Conference race and occupied the No. 1 spot in the national rankings much of the 2009 season. Orloff has excellent leadership skills, and while his tools don’t jump out he is he is an extremely intelligent player and rarely doesn’t do everything right on the field. Though his speed is average, at best, he has excellent footwork at shortstop and stellar base-running instincts. Orloff did not hit a single home run in four years in college, though his average rose each year, from .217, to .324, to .344, to .358 this year as a senior, second on the team. He also led the Anteaters with 62 runs scored and 18 stolen bases, and committed just seven errors all season—equating to a .976 fielding average, excellent by college-shortstop standards. There is an overriding question whether Orloff will ever hit enough at the professional level to earn his keep, but scouts were so glowing in their praise of his approach and intangibles that he should be an asset on a team even if his bat is a liability.—ALLAN SIMPSON |
| |
| 282. |
Nick Lockwood |
SS |
Sr. |
R-R |
5-11 |
175 |
Tampa Jesuit |
Tampa |
South Florida |
1/7/1991 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE: While his older brother Ryan saw his marginal draft status take a tumble this spring, Nick Lockwood improved his stock significantly. As the starting shortstop for a team that was ranked No. 1 nationally in various high-school polls this spring, Lockwood showed scouts a scrappy middle infielder with some strength in his swing and the ability to stay back on breaking balls. He was hitting .380-5-26 before injuring his ankle, and his team, 23-0 at the time, saw its chance at an unbeaten season quickly fall by the wayside when Lockwood, its star player, missed several games. Lockwood committed to South Florida when he was still a junior in high school, and while it seemed likely that the draft wouldn’t interefere with his commitment, that no longer seems a certainty after his superior performance this spring. Oddly, his brother, a red-shirt sophomore at USF with his own draft aspirations, now seems like a lock to return for his junior year after watching his average drop from .415 as a red-shirt freshman to a mere .289 this seasom, while more than doubling his strikeouts, from 26 to 55.—ALLAN SIMPSON |
| |
| 283. |
Matt Hopps |
RHP |
Sr. |
R-R |
6-5 |
230 |
CS Dominguez Hills |
Torrance, Calif. |
Never drafted |
10/8/1985 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE: Though he’s a fifth-year senior who turns 24 in October, Hobbs is relatively new to pitching. He began his college career in 2005 as a shortstop, earning all-conference honors in the California Collegiate Athletic Association, one of the nation’s strongest Division II leagues, and started his transition to pitching a year later. His career stalled in 2007 when he suffered a sprained flexor tendon in his right elbow after three starts, and was forced to take a red-shirt season. Even in his second full season of pitching this spring, working only as a starter, Hopps went just 3-2, 4.11 with 15 walks and 48 strikeouts in 50 innings. Despite his relative lack of success at his advanced age, scouts have remained enamored with Hopps’ big, strong, well-proportioned physique, along with his short, compact, easy arm action and a fastball that sat at 90-92 this spring, topping at 93. He also mixed in a curve with a tight rotation, and a late-breaking slider. To be successful, he just needs to keep the ball down in the strike zone more consistently. For a team looking for a bargain pick in the first 10 rounds, yet with value, Hopps would be an ideal selection.—ALLAN SIMPSON |
| |
| 284. |
Jeff Glenn |
C |
Sr. |
R-R |
6-3 |
185 |
Winter Haven |
Winter Haven, Fla. |
Santa Fe CC |
9/22/1991 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE: Winter Haven High has had its share of draft picks in recent years—with Atlanta Braves outfielder Jordan Shafer, a third-round pick in 2005, being the most graphic example—yet Glenn’s evolution as a prospect was not really evident until his senior year. He always had a solid approach to hitting, coupled with strong hands and wrists, and topped his high-scool team in homers (6) and RBIs (35) this spring. He has a good level, line-drive approach. The biggest advances in his game this spring came on defense, and came after working with ex-big leaguer Pat Borders on the finer points of catching. Glenn now has a solid-average arm with good carry and on-target accuracy, and his blocking ability has become a superior skill. He’s athletic and agile behind the plate, and plays the game aggressively. With a commitment to a junior college (Santa Fe CC, the runner-up team in the 2009 Junior College World Series), Glenn’s perceived signability status could be attractive to teams in rounds before his talent may warrant him being taken.—ALLAN SIMPSON |
| |
| 285. |
Gavin Brooks |
LHP |
Jr. |
L-L |
6-4 |
220 |
UCLA |
Vista, Calif. |
Never drafted |
10/27/1987 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE (3/1): Brooks showed every indication of becoming one of the nation's elite young arms in the fall of his junior year at a San Diego-area high school, when he was ranked the No. 3 pitching prospect in his class. With rare exceptions, it hasn't worked out as expected for the big, strong, loose-armed, hard-throwing lefthander. He's been beset by a number of injuries, and more recently by mechanical issues which have thrown his status for the 2009 draft up in the air. On the rare occasions that Brooks has been at his best, notably late in his freshman year at UCLA and a couple of starts right thereafter in the Cape Cod League, he's been dominant with a fastball at a steady 92-94 mph, topping at 96, and quality off-speed stuff to go with it. But those flashes of brilliance have been few and far between. He began encountering shoulder problems in 2005, during his junior season, and subsequently underwent arthroscopic shoulder surgery to repair what was determined to be a small tear of his super spanatis tendon. The belief persisted, though, when his shoulder issues persisted as a senior that he was allegedly misdiagnosed and what was supposed to be only tendonitis was a more serious rotator-cuff problem. Not only was he shut down as a senior, but it cost him a shot in the process of going in the first round of the 2006 draft, and even being drafted at all, as Brooks had Scott Boras as an agent and reportedly was asking for a very significant amount of bonus money, up to $2 million, to buy him away from a UCLA scholarship. As a freshman at UCLA, he went 6-7, 4.07 while striking out a school freshman record 98 in 111 innings, also the most by any first-year player in the country, and walked just 30. He was particularly effective down the stretch, when he threw three consecutive complete games while combining excellent stuff with consistent mechanics and outstanding command. His ability to spot his breaking ball and bury the pitch on hitters was especially impressive. But Brooks felt a twinge in his shoulder soon after joining Chatham in the Cape Cape Cod League that summer, and took the precautionary step of returning home. Brooks and those entrusted with his future have always been sensitive to injury issues and their diagnosis since his high-school days. Though he relied mostly on rest and rehabilitation to get him ready for the 2008 season, Brooks failed to respond, as hoped, and went just 6-3, 5.07. He struck out 62 in 71 innings, but also walked 53-resulting in a vastly inferior walk-to-strikeout ratio than a year earlier. He struggled, in particular, with the feel and action of his curveball, not uncommon for a pitcher coming off an extended period of inactivity. It was unclear how he would respond in 2009 after not pitching at all last summer, or what role he would be used in. There was a possibility he would be used as a closer by the Bruins. More than anything, scouts say Brooks just needs to re-establish his mechanics and everything-his stuff, his command and ultimately his confidence-will flow from there.--ALLAN SIMPSON |
| UPDATE (5/15): Brooks remains a mystery man. It’s possible he could go in the top 5-10 rounds in June just as easily as he might be passed over altogether. He got off to a rough start this season when he couldn’t repeat his velocity from one inning to the next and struggled to throw strikes with all his pitches—particularly his secondary pitches. There were times when his fastball dipped to the low-80s. But he was given a shot to be UCLA’s closer, and he generally responded favorably to the role—even as he went 0-4, 4.50 on the season and suffered a couple of excruciating losses. He did save eight games and struck out 36 in 36 innings, and more often than not restored his fastball into the 92-93 mph range. Even though a lot of scouts saw Brooks early and wrote him off on the spot, there’s still a lot to like about a big, powerful lefthander with a low- to mid-90s fastball.—AS |
| |
| 286. |
Jon Pokorny |
LHP |
Jr. |
L-L |
6-2 |
225 |
Kent State |
Seven Hills, Ohio |
Never drafted |
4/4/1988 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE: Teammates Kyle Smith and Brad Stillings had considerably more hype entering the 2009 season, but Pokorny outpitched both by a wide margin to not only become a candidate in the first 10 rounds himself, but he could possibly even challenge the pair to become the first Kent State.pitcher drafted. Pokorny worked almost exclusively out of the Golden Flashes bullpen for three years mainly because his path to a starting job was blocked by Smith and Stillings, and he made his only career start this season. The wide-bodied lefty has always had the arm strength for the rotation, but Kent State coach Scott Stricklin felt Pokorny would be more valuable and effective in relief-long relief initially, before settling in as a closer this spring. Stricklin actually gave Pokorny the chance to start this season, but it was evident immediately that he was more comfortable coming out of the bullpen. His two-pitch repertoire is better suited there, and he was dominant in the role this spring, posting a 5-2, 2.20 record with five saves, while walking 16 and striking out 53 in 41 innings. Almost all of Pokorny's runs came at the start of the season and he was dominant down the stretch, featuring a low-90s fastball with good sinking action and a big curve that is particularly tough on lefthanded hitters. Lefties with even average stuff are hard to come by, so Pokorny stands a good chance of being drafted in the initial 6-8 rounds.--ANUP SINHA |
| |
| 287. |
Aaron Altherr |
OF |
Sr. |
R-R |
6-3 |
185 |
Agua Fria |
Avondale, Ariz. |
Arizona |
1/14/1991 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE: Altherr hasn’t played a lot of baseball in his career. Consequently, his approach is crude and he doesn’t have a great feel for the game yet, but scouts are taken by his very athletic frame and his raw, but impressive tools. He flashes power, but his swing tends tgo get long and he is vulnerable to hard stuff on the inner half of the plate and breaking stuff away. He has above-average speed with long, easy strides, but hasn’t turned it into an asset yet because he has few instincts for the game. There isn’t an obvious weakness in his game that playing time and a heavy dose of quality instruction won’t cure, but a team will have to be patient with him if it decides to make a run at him out of high school. He has committed to both Paradise Valley CC and the University of Arizona, and college would appear to be his most realistic destination in 2010.—ALLAN SIMPSON |
| |
| 288. |
Kendal Volz |
RHP |
Jr. |
R-R |
6-5 |
225 |
Baylor |
Bulverde, Texas |
D'backs '06 (50) |
12/2/1987 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE (3/1): The physically-intimidating Volz could move close to the top of the 2009 draft class with a strong spring as his raw stuff-a 93-96 mph fastball, plus slider and plus changeup-ranks with any pitcher in the college ranks not named Stephen Strasburg. Volz will be the Friday starter for the Bears, though he didn't give up a run in 13 appearances, while saving eight games as a closer last summer for USA Baseball's undefeated college national team. He worked in 14 innings, struck out 16 and allowed just six hits. Volz got the final out of Team USA's perfect 24-0 season, inducing a game-ending, double-play ball with the tying runner on third base in a 1-0, 12-inning game. He thrived in an end-of-game role on the heels of an inconsistent sophomore year at Baylor, where he went 3-6, 4.20 as a starter. Volz also showed vast improvement from the previous summer, when he led the Cape Cod League in losses (7) and home runs allowed (7). As a closer, he worked primarily off his fastball, and commanded it extremely well in the strike zone. His slider, clocked at a steady 82 mph, has a late, sharp break. His big, durable frame and ability to use three pitches should give Volz a chance to start at the pro level. In addition to his big, physical, athletic frame, Volz earns high praise for his makeup.--ALLAN SIMPSON |
| UPDATE (5/15): Volz’ struggles this spring mirrored those of the Baylor team as a whole, which went 29-24, including 10-16 in Big 12 play after starting the season with serious College World Series ambitions. Volz made 12 starts in the Friday night slot but had only a 3-6, 4.54 mark to show for it, while allowing 89 hits, 10 home runs and 34 walks in 81 innings. His former above-average fastball was fringy-average most of the time and his slider looked more like a slurve in shape and appearance than a true strikeout pitch. Volz’ delivery also appeared less fluid than it was a year ago and scouts were often left shaking their collective heads at the changes. How far Volz falls, after being a solid bet to go in the first round, is anyone’s guess and the team that selects him will be making the pick based on what they saw prior to the spring, especially if they are thinking of Volz as a future closer/reliever instead of a starter.—DAVID RAWNSLEY |
| |
| 289. |
Kevin James |
LHP |
Sr. |
L-L |
6-4 |
185 |
Whitefish Bay |
Whitefish Bay, Wis. |
Boston College |
10/1/1990 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE: James' high-school season didn't even start until May 23 as his part of the state plays only a summer schedule, but he was still the talk of the state after the snow melted and he started working out for scouts. Word spread quickly that James had gained significant velocity from the 84-87 mph fastball he had shown at the World Wood Bat Association Kernels Tournament last fall. When James pitched at Perfect Game's Pre-Draft Showcase in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on May 18, he showed a large group of scouts what the talk was about, sitting at 90-92 mph with a sharp, 77-mph curveball and a nice changeup. James has an easy delivery and a slender, projectable build that promises more strength, and perhaps even more velocity in the future. How scouts handle his relatively-late rise to prospect status will be interesting to follow. James went 0-8, 3.66 as a high-school junior and pitched unevenly (1-1, 0.00 but 9 walks in 11 IP) in his first two high-school outings following the pre-draft without showing his 90-plus form.--DAVID RAWNSLEY |
| |
| 290. |
Richard Jones |
C |
Jr. |
L-R |
6-1 |
212 |
The Citadel |
Sumter, S.C. |
Never drafted |
1/31/1988 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE: Jones has been a starting catcher at The Citadel since he stepped foot on campus as a freshman and hit a resounding .335-15-61. With 11 homers as a sophomore and 17 more this season, Jones has 43 for his career. Power is without question his best tool and he is so strong and powerful physically in his compact frame that he doesn't always have to square up a ball for it to leave the yard, or even reach the gaps. He could run into trouble against higher-level pitching, however, as consistent contact has been an issue. He struck out 60 times as a freshman, 58 times as a sophomore and 52 more times this spring in 59 games. Jones split his 2008 summer season between the Cape Cod and Coastal Plain leagues. Though he got only 90 at-bats in the CPL after re-joining Thomasville, where he played in 2007, and became part of a three-catcher platoon, Jones made the most of his limited opportunity, hitting .300-8-24 and playing a pivotal role as the H-Toms ran away with their third straight league title. His best defensive tool is the power in his raw arm strength; his receiving skills are still developing.--JEFF SIMPSON |
| |
| 291. |
David Carpenter |
RHP |
So. |
R-R |
6-3 |
185 |
Paris (Texas) |
Grand Prairie, Texas |
Mariners '07 (49) |
9/1/1987 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE: After spending his first two years in college in New Mexico—in 2007 as a successful closer at New Mexico JC (6-1, 1.16, 6 SV, 47 IP/46) and last year as a red-shirt at New Mexico—Carpenter returned to his Texas and junior-college roots this year. As a starter at Paris JC with a heavy workload, he went 11-4, 2.88, striking out 133 while walking just 22 in 109 innings. Carpenter’s fastball was clocked from 89-94 mph at New Mexico JC, and while it was a more customary 90-91, topping at 92 this spring, he got the same late sinking movement as he throws it from a three-quarters slot, making him a groundball machine. Carpenter liked to establish his fastball early and then mix in an effective 82-84 mph slider that gets good deception with his low-angle delivery. Despite his fairly heavy workload this spring, Carpenter still has a fairly fresh arm as he was primarily a catcher in high school and didn’t overextend himself in his two-year sojorn to New Mexico.—ALLAN SIMPSON |