2007 SPRING TOP PROSPECT SHOWCASE

Top Prospect List

1. SS Jon Gilmore (2007/City HS, Iowa City, IA): Gilmore was hampered by a sore hamstring but tons of scouts came out to see him swing the bat and show off his big league arm strength.

2. RHP B.J. Hermsen (2008/West Delaware HS, Masonville, IA): The 6-6, 235 lb Hermsen topped out at 91 mph and showed his usual consistency with command, curveball and pitching mechanics.

3. SS Brance Rivera (2008/Muscatine HS, IA): The fluid shortstop from Muscatine ran a 6.70 and hit a long game home run.

4. RHP/1B Nathan Woods (2007/Xavier HS, Cedar Rapids, IA): Woods keeps getting better and better and had the scouts talking about him as a potential draft pick. He topped out at 90 mph on the mound and a fluid and powerful swing at the plate.

5. SS Sam Munson (2008/Fond du Lac HS, WI): Munson runs (6.70) and throws (88 mph across the infield) at a high level and his bat keeps getting better each time we see him. Watch out when the power starts to come on.

6. RHP Zach Kenyon (2007/Davenport Central HS, Davenport, IA): The 6-5 Kenyon is starting fulfill the potential we’ve been watching develop for the past few years. He’s pitching consistently at 86-88 mph with a loose arm and sharp/quick curveball, with more still to come.

7. 3B/RHP Kyle Stewart (2008, Onalaska HS, WI): Stewart’s 6-5, 195 lb frame gets your attention right away and he has the developing tools to be a high ceiling talent. He threw 87 mph off the mound, ran 6.92 and showed projectable power with the bat.

8. OF Willie Argo (2008/Assumption HS, Davenport, IA): Argo has been better known as an Iowa football standout, but baseball might be his better sport. He can really swing the bat and shows surprisingly good baseball instincts both offensively and defensively.

9. RHP Patrick Lala (2008, Marion HS, IA): Lala didn’t throw quite as hard as this winter, pitching consistently at 86-87, but he’s a quality athlete with college level tools as a middle infielder to go with his pitching ability.

10. OF Cal Faul (2008/Jefferson HS, Cedar Rapids, IA): Faul and Willie Argo (see above) were similar athletes, with Faul having a speed advantage (6.65) and Argo being a bit more physical with more bat speed, although not much more.

11. OF Charles Epperson (2008/Washington HS, Cedar Rapids, IA): Epperson was a bit of a surprise as we didn’t expect to see his speed (6.8)/arm (89 mph outfield) combination. He swung the bat well and has a lean, projectable frame that should get stronger.

12. C Brad Lamberti (2009/Southeast Polk HS, Altoona, IA): Lamberti was the best catching prospect at the showcase and the best 2009 prospect. He’s quick and athletic at 5-10 but has big time arm strength and raw bat speed.

13. RHP Tim Barnum (2007/Xavier HS, Cedar Rapids, IA): When Barnum improves his command he could jump up the prospect lists. He throws a live 87-88 mph fastball and his upper 70’s slider is a swing and miss pitch.

14. RHP Tyler Bevard (2007/Bettendorf HS, IA): Brevard and Barnum are similar; when the command and delivery’s get consistent, the stuff is plenty good enough to win at a high level.

15. 3B Charlie Boring (2008/Kennesaw Mountain HS, Marietta, GA): The 6-4, 195 lb Boring came all the way from Georgia to showcase his skills. His bat projects big as he starts to fill out his frame and get stronger.

16. OF/RHP Mitchell Overstreet (2009/Bettendorf HS, IA): Overstreet doesn’t look like most 2009 prospects at 6-3, 225 lbs and solidly build. He has huge power potential and also throws 85 mph off the mound.

17. RHP: Tanner Neuberger (2007/Valley HS, West Des Moines, IA): Neuberger is 6-7, 225 and throws easily with solid, repeatable mechanics. It’s all a matter of when his mid 80’s fastball gets a little more juice to it.

18. RHP Adam Jung (2007/Lambrick Park SS, Sidney, BC): Jung is a Canadian with a high ceiling. He’s loose and athletic at 6-2, 170 and threw 86-87 mph.

19. IF/RHP Tyler Durant (2009/North Scott HS, Eldridge, IA): Durant is very young and has projectable tools both on the mound and as a position prospect. It looks like he’s going to be able to hit.

20. RHP Jordan Langel (2008/West Dubuque HS, Luxemborg, IA): Langel is raw mechanically but threw up to 86 mph and has the size (6-4, 210 lbs) and strength to keep developing.