Top
prospect reports provided by the Central Valley Collegiate League
Official
league website: http://cvclbaseball.webs.com/
2014 Summer Collegiate top prospect index
Central Valley Collegiate League top prospect list
Year
Established: 2013
State
Represented in League: California
No.
of Teams in League: 7
Regular
Season Champion (best overall record): California
Expos (21-3-1)
Most
Valuable Player: Baron
Bower, of, California Expos (Fresno Pacific University)
Most
Outstanding Pitcher: Connor
Brogdon, rhp, California Expos (Fresno City College)
BEST
TOOLS
Best
Athlete: Baron
Bower, of, California Expos
Best
Hitter: Nick
Pate, ut, California Expos
Best
Power: Kaohu
Gaspar, of, California Expos; Christian Funk, 2b, California Storm
Fastest
Base Runner: Baron
Bower, of, California Expos
Best
Defensive Player: Baron
Bower, of, California Expos
Best
Velocity: Connor
Brogdon, rhp, California Expos
Best
Breaking Ball: Jason
Woodard, RHP, California Storm (Fresno City College)
Best
Command: Garrett
Martin, RHP, South County Vipers
Top 10 Prospects
1.
Baron Bower, of, California Expos (Fresno Pacific University/JR in
2015)
Bower
caught the attention of many scouts this summer with a solid tool-set
across the board that includes an average arm in center field, plus
running ability, plus defense and the ability to drive the ball to
all fields. On the bases, he plays beyond his years by stealing bases
with ease and natural instincts. Bower is a hard-nosed player, and at
the plate he has the ability to leave the yard with some pull-side
pop. His swing can get stiff at times, but he's able to hit good
pitching, and when his swing is loose he has major bat speed. Look
for Bower to get drafted next year as he continues to improve.
2.
Connor Brogdon, rhp, California Expos (Fresno City College/SO in
2015)
Brogdon
was up to 92 this summer and uses his 6-foot-5 frame well to throw on
a downhill plane. His arm works free and easy and is very loose. His
delivery is whippy, and when he gets to his leg lift he snaps towards
the hitter to generate velocity. Brogdon's fastball comes out with
ease and can get up on a hitter quick, although he is still working
on improving his slider. Brogdon was drafted in 2013 by the Atlanta
Braves in the 40th round.
3.
J.J. Santa Cruz, lhp, California Expos (Bakersfield College/SO in
2015)
Santa
Cruz' fastball sat at 86-89 mph this summer and touched 90. The
6-foot-5 lefthander slings the ball in his delivery and he hides the
ball well when he lays his arm back, which creates a fair amount of
deception for opposing hitters.. Santa Cruz has increased his
velocity by five mph within a year, and he also throws a sweeping
slider that it very difficult for lefthanded hitters to track out of
the hand. Santa Cruz was runner-up to Brogdon for CVCL Pitcher of the
Year.
4.
McCarthy Tatum, 3b, California Storm (Fresno State/FR in 2015)
Tatum
is a smooth hitting third baseman who is headed to Fresno State. He
was drafted in 2014 by the Minnesota Twins in the 20th round and was
offered $200,000 to sign, but decided to go to college, using his
time in the CVCL as a tune-up. Tatum's projection is to become a
power hitting third baseman, and he's an average defender at the hot
corner with enough arm to stay at the position or even move to
shortstop at the college level. At the plate he sprays the ball to
all fields and drives the ball the other way, showing an approach
well beyond his 18-year old age.
5.
Kaohu Gaspar, of, California Expos (SIGNED/Roswell Invaders,
Independent League)
Gaspar
had a great career with the NCCA World Series Champions, Fresno
Pacific, but didn't get drafted. He ended up signing with a team out
of the Pecos League in Independent Ball, the Roswell Invaders. Kaohu
has a very smooth lefthanded swing and good balance. He also has plus
bat speed and can put on a show in batting practice.
6.
Alan Crowley, c, California Storm (Washington State/FR in 2015)
Crowley
was the best catcher in the league, routinely recording sub
2.0-second pop times in game situations. Crowley can shut down the
running game at any level, with soft hands and good receiving
abilities. At the plate he needs to develop more bat speed and
strength to handle a wood bat, but could make an impact early in his
college career with his defensive talents alone.
7.
Christian Funk, 2b, California Storm (Fresno City College/FR in 2015)
Funk
was considered to be a candidate to be drafted in the top 10 rounds
in the 2014 draft before he suffered a minor arm injury. He has
plenty of pull-side pop and isn't afraid to show it in batting
practice and in game situations, and was the winner of the 2014 CVCL
home run derby. Funk started out slow this summer, but showed
improvements as the summer progressed with the ability to drive the
ball to all parts of the field with authority. Funk will most likely
stay in the infield, but his plus arm could prompt a move to either
third base or right field.
8.
Nick Pate, of/ut, California Expos (Fresno Pacific University/JR in
2015)
Pate
is on this list strictly because of his ability to hit, as he
repeatedly showed the ability to hit good pitching this summer and
looks to be an advanced college bat. Pate doesn't have a lot of
over-the-fence pop, but he also doesn't swing-and-miss much, and was
able to barrel up a lot of balls this summer. Defensively, he offers
versatility with the ability play both corner outfield spots as well
as third and first base.
9.
Nick Stoll, ss, California Expos (North Carolina Central/JR in 2015)
Stoll
is a lefthanded hitting shortstop who sprays the ball the other way
well. He has enough arm to stay at short and makes the difficult
plays look routine, and he also has soft hands and is light on his
feet, although at times he can get erratic with his throws across the
diamond. Stoll had a great year at College of Sequoias last spring
and is headed to North Carolina Central at the D-I level for his
junior year.
10.
David Ruiz, rhp, Lightning Baseball (Porterville College/SO in 2015)
Ruiz
is a 6-foot-4 wiry built righthander who throws with tilt and a loose
arm. He works at 85-88 mph with his fastball and was up to 90 mph
this summer. Ruiz is a max-effort pitcher, and his leverage and high
three-quarters arm slot give him the ability to throw downhill and
induce a lot of groundballs. He also throws a 12-to-6 curveball which
needs some sharpening up to complement his fast arm. Ruiz' pause in
his delivery at his leg lift makes it difficult for hitters to get
timing down and can create uncomfortable at-bats.