2014 Perfect Game MLB Draft preview content
Top 500 Prospect Reports:
1-50 | 51-100 | 151-200
201-250 | 251-300 | 301-350
351-400 | 401-450 | 451-500
101.
AJ Vanegas, rhp, Stanford (SR)
R-R,
6-3/215, Alameda, Calif.
Previously
Drafted: Padres '10 (7), Athletics '13 (19)
Selected
to the 2009 PG All-American Classic, Vanegas went in the seventh
round of the 2010 draft coming out of high school despite being a
Stanford commit, which often comes with the expectation of being a
difficult sign. That expectation proved to be correct and he went to
Stanford where he had a promising freshman campaign and followed it
up with a strong showing in the Cape Cod League. Vanegas had another
promising season as a sophomore in 2012, going 4-0 with five saves
and a 2.62 ERA, and he also made five starts. An injury plagued
junior season limited him to just 8 1/3 innings and his draft stock
suffered as a result when he lasted all the way until the 19th round
last year. He chose not to sign and came back for senior year, and
continues to flash two plus pitches with a fastball reaching the
mid-90s and a low- to mid-80s slider. Vanegas has worked primarily as
a reliever throughout his collegiate career and scouts seem to think
that's where he profiles best at the next level as well.
102.
Jake Cosart,
rhp, Seminole State (Fla.) CC (R/S FR)
R-R,
6-2/210, League City, Texas
Previously
Drafted: Never – College Commitment: None
The
Cosart family is quickly becoming renown for producing pitchers with
lively arms as Jake’s older brother Jarred, now a second-year
starter with the Houston Astros, has been clocked at 94-97 mph,
topping at 99. Jake has already peaked at 98 in his limited time on
the mound, and also has the same kind of quick, electric arm capable
of providing high-end velocity along with exceptional life on his
pitches. He is still at a rudimentary stage of development as a
pitching prospect after red-shirting in 2013 at Duke, where he was
viewed more as an outfielder, before transferring to a Florida junior
college. He immediately caught the attention of scouts at Seminole
State with his superior velocity, but still was very much a work in
progress this spring after showing little feel for pitching and
limited command. He produced a 5-3, 5.34 record in 11 starts despite
regularly serving up a fastball at 93-97. There’s no mistaking
Cosart’s considerable upside, but more than anything he just needs
innings and time to develop his secondary pitches.
103.
Daniel Mengden,
rhp, Texas A&M (JR)
R-R,
6-1/215, Houston, Texas
Previously
Drafted: Never
Mengden
was a Perfect Game All-American as a catcher out of high school but
2014 marks the first year he has exclusively pitched and not caught
or hit. He’s been impacted by nagging back pain throughout the
spring but battled through it and made all 14 starts (4-7, 3.41 with
93 strikeouts in 95 innings) as the Aggies Friday starter,
highlighting what scouts consider to be his plus makeup. Mengden
relies on a potent fastball/slider combination, although his velocity
is down some this season as he's been hitting 94-95 mph less
frequently than he has in the past.
Read Mengden's detailed Draft Focus profile here.
104.
Michael Mader,
lhp, Chipola (Fla.) CC (SO)
L-L,
6-2/195, Marianna, Fla.
Previously
Drafted: Never – College Commitment: Florida State
Mader
leads a contingent of as many as four players from Chipola JC that
could be tabbed in the first 10-12 rounds of this year’s draft,
though that club, ranked No. 1 nationally at the time, unexpectedly
fizzled in post-season without winning a game. Mader’s own season
also fell a little short of expectations as he went 7-3, 3.18, while
walking 46 and striking out 74 in 74 innings. His fastball was a
steady 89-93 mph with tailing action, occasionally topping out at 95,
but scouts believed he tried too hard to pitch to the multitude of
radar guns that were trained on him, and his command suffered. Mader
did make strides in developing his breaking ball, now a quick, biting
curve at 77-79, and his changeup is a solid offering that should give
him the requisite three pitches to start at the next level. He also
has an exceptional pickoff move. Mader rejected significant overtures
to sign a year ago in favor of returning to junior college, and teams
will need to be mindful of his commitment to Florida State.
105.
Evan Skoug,
c, Libertyville HS
L-R,
5-11/205, Libertyville, Ill.
College
Commitment: Texas Christian
Skoug
parlayed a strong East Coast Pro Showcase performance and his MVP
honors at the WWBA World Championship last October into status as the
top catching prospect in what is a deep and talented group of
Illinois backstops. He’s generously listed at 5-foot-11, but is
deceptively athletic for his stout build and has surprised scouts
with his overall defensive ability. Skoug’s carrying tool is his
lefthanded bat, though. His swing has some violence in it but his bat
speed is outstanding and he has shown the consistent ability to
square the ball up hard to all fields. One area scout commented, “If
you combined Skoug and his strength and bat with Mitch Trees’
(another top Illinois receiver) body and defensive skills you’d
have a sure-fire first round draft choice.”
106.
Michael Cantu,
c, Moody HS
R-R,
6-4/215, Corpus Christi, Texas
College
Commitment: Texas
Cantu
is a favorite of the Texas scouting community, a rarity for a player
from south Texas, due as much to his outstanding makeup and character
as for his physical tools. But his tools are what will eventually get
him drafted, perhaps in the first five rounds. Cantu’s swing is
long and fluid with plus strength at contact and big power to all
fields. The determining factor in whether he will be picked early or
end up at the University of Texas revolves around his future
defensive position, as his relative lack of quickness and size are
determents to his remaining at catcher. Many scouts think he has the
bat and the ability to make adjustments and improve that will carry
him even if he has to eventually switch to first base as he gets
older.
107.
Nick Torres, of, Cal Poly (JR)
R-R,
6-1/210, Lakewood, Calif.
Previously
Drafted: Never
Physically
mature power hitter, Torres combines plus present strength with solid
bat speed. He has a good track record at the college level, hitting
.333/.376/.520 as a sophomore in 2013 and is currently hitting
.323/.375/478 through 54 games this season. Torres profiles as a
corner outfielder, and while he could play some in right field, his
overall profile is best suited for left field long-term. Although
he's a below average runner who may slow down further with age, his
overall game is not heavily dependent on speed and athleticism, but
more based on a strength oriented tool-set.
109.
Alexis Pantojas,
ss, Puerto Rico Baseball Academy
L-R,
6-1/160, Vega Alta, Puerto Rico
College
Commitment: Alabama State
Pantojas
has defensive tools and skills at shortstop that rival Florida’s
Nick Gordon and Milton Ramos for the best in the 2014 high school
class. His narrow build and slashing lefthanded swing have left a
doubt in scout’s minds about his ability to hit higher level
pitching, although he has always hit very well at Perfect Game events
and has shown some line drive power extending from foul pole to foul
pole. One other thing that Pantojas does have in his favor is that he
is a baseball rat with a number of extended family members who play
or have played professionally and he plays the game hard and fast.
Read
Pantojoas' detailed Draft Focus profile here.
110.
Taylor Gushue,
c, University of Florida (JR)
B-R,
6-2/210, Boca Raton, Fla.
Previously
Drafted: Never
Gushue
graduated from high school a semester early, enrolled at Florida in
the spring of 2012 and was thrown right into SEC baseball, starting
39 games at a time when he should have been a high school senior. He
has always been a polished hitter with power from both sides of the
plate and his performance this spring in leading the Gators in the
triple crown categories at .335-6-46 bears that out. Gushue’s
biggest area of improvement has been on defense, as there was some
question as to whether he could even stay behind the plate three
years ago. Although his footwork still needs quickening and refining,
he has evolved into a solid receiver and a strong handler of
Florida’s hard throwing and deep pitching staff. Switch-hitting
catchers with some pop in their bat are a rare breed at the higher
levels of the game, which marks Gushue as a potential third round
pick.
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