To get an
idea of just how much talent is going to be assembled in Jupiter this week, be
sure to read the recent features on the homepage, including David Rawnsley’s
National League dream team. Each and every
year the impact that players at all levels of the sport who have participated
at Perfect Game events becomes more and more apparent.
Each year I
look at the players that have played in Jupiter, but have yet to begin their
professional careers, still performing as amateurs at the college level. With a glance towards the 2011 draft, I’m
going to list college players that are draft eligible, as almost all of these
players as listed below participated at the 2007 WWBA World Championship.
It probably
isn’t a surprise that the tournament champions that year, the Braves Scout
Team, is well represented on this list.
Catcher
Andrew Susac, Oregon State (Braves Scout Team, 2008)
Susac and
Bryce Harper were the catchers on the ’08 Braves Scout Team. Harper of course has already begun his
professional career, while Susac is draft-eligible next June as a
sophomore. Susac’s strong arm and quick
feet behind the plate makes him a rock at the position defensively. Experience will help round out whatever rough
edges he may have. He didn’t have a huge
year at the plate as a freshman, but did have an impressive output of power on
the Cape last summer, finishing first in the circuit in slugging (.500) and
tied for the second most home runs with five.
Should that production continue into the coming season, he has the
talent to sneak into the first round.
First Base
Nick Ramirez, Cal State Fullerton (Ohio Warhawks)
Ramirez
quietly finished last year with 28 doubles and 16 home runs for the Titans,
leading his team in RBI and total bases.
He’s an aggressive left-handed hitter that doesn’t get cheated at the
plate, and also shows a fairly slick glove at first base. Also a left-handed thrower, Ramirez has added
value in that he could come into the game out of the bullpen and get hitters
out with his upper-80s fastball and polished, fading changeup.
Second Base
Brad Miller, Clemson (Chet Lemon’s Juice)
Miller served
as a utility infielder for Team USA last summer, leading the team in batting
with a .441 average. He hit .357 for the
Tigers last spring with eight home runs and 31 extra-base hits overall, but
also committed 32 errors at shortstop.
Even without those numbers, most expect Miller to slide over to second
base, and he is versatile enough to play anywhere on the infield if
needed. As a left-handed hitter he has
shown a disciplined eye at the plate and improved power production.
Third Base
Anthony Rendon, Rice (Houston Heat)
Third base
offered a wealth of talent, including Jason Esposito, Riccio Torrez and Matt
Skole, but none of those players were going to keep Rendon from getting a
starting nod on this team. As one of the
top prospects available for next year’s draft, it’s no surprise that he is this
team’s best hitter, and would bat either third or fourth in a proposed lineup.
Shortstop
Levi Michael, North Carolina (Dirtbags)
Miller,
Michael and B.A. Vollmuth were all in consideration for the two infield
positions, and I don’t think any of them are shortstops long-term. I went with Michael here because I think he’s
the most likely to stick at the position.
Miller fits best at second base while Vollmuth may have to slider over
to third base or even at outfield corner at the next level. Michael isn’t flashy, but he’s steady as they
come, and does all of the little things well.
He exhibits a patient eye and line drive bat at the plate with some over
the fence pop.
Outfield
Nick Martini, Kansas State (Hitters Baseball)
Jackie Bradley, Jr., South Carolina (Richmond
Braves)
Zach Cone, Georgia (Ohio Warhawks)
Martini’s
name may not be as recognizable as Bradley’s and Cone’s, but all he did a year
ago was hit .416 on his way to achieving All-American status and the Big 12
player of the year. He’s a shorter,
scrappy top of the order table-setter that would look nice batting leadoff
among this group. Bradley finished his
breakout season last year by being named the MVP of the College World Series
and spent the summer patrolling centerfield for Team USA. He is a dynamic player with five-tool
potential. Cone is the best physical specimen of this group, built like a
running back with exciting power potential at the plate and a cannon for an arm
in the outfield. He plays center for the
Bulldogs, but may be best suited in right at the next level.
Utility
Danny Hultzen, Virginia (Richmond Braves)
It appears
that for the most part that Hultzen’s days as a hitter are over, but he showed
a very sound approach and sweet left-handed swing during his freshman year for
the Cavaliers. He was named the ACC
freshman of the year that season, and last year was named the ACC pitcher of
the year after posting a 11-1 record with a 2.78 ERA. If you were to include him to the group
below, he offers the most polished approach even if his stuff isn’t quite as
electric as that trio. On this team he
provides a valuable bat to DH, and could be the staff ace.
Starting Pitcher
Gerrit Cole, UCLA (Braves Scout Team)
Austin Wood, USC (Braves Scout Team)
Brett Mooneyham, Stanford (Braves Scout Team)
Leave it up
to the Braves to assemble a pitching staff like this, which very well be
Jupiter’s version of Maddux, Glavine and Smoltz. Cole once again was the co-ace of the Team
USA staff along with Sonny Gray (who didn’t participate in Jupiter due to his
prep football career), and is one of the favorites to go first overall next
June. He truly has a special arm with
the ability to sit 94-98 from game-to-game.
Now at USC, Wood’s stock is rising thanks to a very impressive summer
pitching on the Cape. He started the
game for the West squad and showcased a power one-two punch including a
low-to-mid-90s fastball and a sharp and still improving slider. Mooneyham is blessed with a big body and
equally big stuff which alone makes him a candidate to be selected in the first
round. However, he has been unable to
consistently throw strikes, leading to a lot of free passes and shorter
outings.
Matt Barnes
and Alex Meyer both participated in 2006 but not ’07, while Grayson Garvin,
Kyle Winkler and Jack Armstrong would represent a second trio of talented
starters.
Closer
Tony Zych, Louisville (Cangelosi Baseball White)
Zych could
have been the utility option on this as well, but no one else is better suited
to close for this proposed team. There
is some exaggerated effort to Zych’s delivery, but it helps him generate
mid-90s heat with the ability to touch 97-98.
He also throws a very violent slider and has a changeup in his arsenal,
but doesn’t really need it in his current role.
A good overall athlete, his role has changed a little during his first
two years for the Cardinals, and seems poised for a huge year taking the closer
reigns from Neil Holland.
The
thoughts and opinions listed here do not necessarily reflect those of Perfect
Game USA. Patrick Ebert is affiliated with both Perfect Game USA and 5
Tool Talk, and can be contacted via email at pebert@5tooltalk.com.