2014 Perfect Game MLB Draft preview content
Top 500 Prospect Reports:
1-50 | 51-100 | 101-150
151-200 | 201-250 | 251-300
301-350 | 351-400 | 401-450
451.
Brock Burke,
lhp, Evergreen HS
L-L,
6-4/180, Evergreen, Colo.
College
Commitment: Oregon
Burke
enjoyed an impresive season, posting a 5-1, 1.05 record with 79
strikeouts in 40 innings for Evergreen High, before his season ended
in the opening round of the Colorado 4-A playoffs. Brock’s season
began with a flourish as he spun a 15-strikeout, six-inning,
no-hitter, but the signature outing of his senior year came April 28,
when he tossed a 4-0, one-hit shutout with 20 strikeouts. His
improvement this season was noteworthy as he threw only in the
low-80s as recently as two years ago, was up to 87-89 mph at last
summer’s Area Code Games and often was clocked up to 91-92 this
spring as he continues to grow into his lean 6-foot-4 frame. There
should be more in the tank as he won’t be 18 until August, but
Brock's game continues to be a work in progress, especially the
quality and command of his secondary stuff.
452.
Jesse McCord,
rhp, Spanish Fort HS
R-R,
6-1/175, Spanish Fort Estates, Ala.
College
Commitment: Mississippi State
Although
McCord shows solid stuff presently, should he go to school to develop
and refine his overall game he could come out in three years from
Mississippi State higher in the draft. The Spanish Fort High School
product shows a fast, loose arm on the mound and showed a similar
offering and arm action at the East Coast Pro as New Jersey native
Joshua Pennington. He works his fastball in the upper-80s to
lower-90s, and with solid extension out front is able to create nice
sinking action on the pitch. His changeup is his best present
off-speed pitch, showing late splitting action, and he also flashes a
curveball with hard, slurvy action.
453.
Nathan Thornhill,
rhp, University of Texas
R-R,
6-1/185, Cedar Park, Texas
Previously
Drafted: Astros ’13 (24)
Thornhill
has been a four-year standout for the Longhorns swinging between
relief and starting roles. He’s started 11 games this year and
relieved in five others while going 6-2, 1.62, with two saves in 77
total innings. Thornhill would work occasionally in the low-90s early
in his college career but is more an upper-80s command pitcher now
who spots the ball extremely well and works in a solid slider and
changeup combination.
454.
Sean Godfrey, of, Ball State (SR)
R-R,
6-2/185, New Albany, Ill.
Previously
Drafted: Never
Godfrey
has burst onto the scene as one of the more intriguing college
seniors in the class with a strong showing this spring. He’s a plus
runner who has speed that plays in game action both in center field
and on the basepaths. He runs a 6.59 60-yard dash and has an
athletic, 6-foot-2 frame. His outstanding defense has stood out, as
has his increased power. He hit nine home runs and hit .333 in 237
at-bats this spring.
455.
Ross Kivett,
2b/of, Kansas State (SR)
R-R,
6-1/190, Cincinnati, Ohio
Previously
Drafted: Indians ’13 (10)
Kivett
chose to return to Kansas State after being picked in the 10th round by the Indians as a junior and has virtually duplicated his
2013 performance, hitting .330-4-31 with 33 walks while stealing 19
bases in 20 attempts. He hit .360-3-39 with 26 steals last year as
Kansas State fell one inning short of making the College World
Series. Kivett is a solid player across the board, with a leadoff
hitter’s mentality and skills, enough speed to be disruptive on the
bases and the ability to play both second base and center field on
defense. He could move up a couple of rounds this draft with the
increased emphasis on drafting seniors in rounds 6-10.
456.
Blake Drake,
of, Concordia (Ore.) University (JR)
R-R,
6-1/170, Ramona, Calif.
Previously
Drafted: Never
Drake
hails from a small Christian college in Oregon, but put himself on
the map by playing a pivotal role last summer in leading the
Corvallis Knights to a West Coast League championship. He showcased a
well-rounded skill-set on both sides of the ball, and stood out for
his high-energy approach. He was an offensive catalyst with his
combination of fast-twitch actions, raw speed and base-running
acumen, small-ball skills and ability to put balls into play
consistently with a steady, line-drive approach. He also stood out
defensively in center field with his exemplary ball-tracking ability
and solid-average arm strength. Drake’s upside in pro ball may be
somewhat limited because of his small, wiry frame and lack of raw
power, and it’s evident that he’ll have to hit to make his mark.
He had a solid junior season with a .320 average and team-highs in
doubles (14), homers (4) and stolen bases (21).
457.
Alex McRae,
rhp, Jacksonville University (JR)
R-R,
6-4/200, New Berlin, Wis.
Previously
Drafted: Never
McRae
stepped into the starting rotation the first week of his freshman
season, and the Wisconsin native has developed into a polished
college product despite posting a 5-7, 6.06 record in 87 innings this
spring. His fastball works in the low-90s and still has some
projection in it due to McRae’s lean and lanky build. His slider
has improved tremendously during his three years and is now a
potential swing-and-miss pitch. McRae also throws a curveball and a
changeup.
458.
Tanner Houck,
rhp, Collinsville HS
R-R,
6-5/210, Collinsville, Ill.
College
Commitment: Missouri
Houck
has a long-limbed pitcher’s build that is very loose and
projectable. He has some mechanical issues, including a cross-body
delivery that has him landing on his heal and falling off balance,
but his arm stroke is clean and fast. Houck has topped out at 92-93
mph in short bursts this year and pitches in the 88-91 mph range when
extended. He throws a mid-70s curveball that shows good bite and
depth at times along with a low-80s changeup.
459.
Dusty Isaacs,
rhp, Georgia Tech
R-R,
6-1/205, Lebanon, Ohio
Previously
Drafted: Pirates '10 (50)
Isaacs
decided to return to Georgia Tech for his senior season and has been
a valuable piece to the Yellow Jackets bullpen this spring. Splitting
time with Sam Clay as the team's closer, Isaacs holds a 1.81 ERA with
eight saves, second in both categories on the team, each behind Clay.
Isaacs' fastball works in the 92-93 mph range and shows a feel for a
slider as his secondary offering. His arm action is clean and easy
and occasionally generates arm-side run on his fastball. He maintains
his arm speed on his changeup that shows sinking action and gives him
three pitches to use out of the bullpen at the next level.
460.
Jake Jarvis,
rhp/2b, Klein Collins HS
R-R,
6-0/180, Spring, Texas
Commitment:
Texas A&M
Jarvis
has been a dominant player on the Houston high school scene ever
since his freshman year and has excelled both as a pitcher and a
position player. In fact, it is difficult to tell even at this point
which is his best position. He tops out in the low-90s off the mound
with a hard breaking ball he throws for strikes, but he also has a
crisp righthanded swing with good power to the gaps. Texas A&M
has had plenty of success with players with Jarvis’ profile in
recent years and will surely use him on both sides of the ball should
he make it to campus.
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