| |
| 81. |
Trevor Holder |
RHP |
Sr. |
R-R |
6-3 |
195 |
Georgia |
Birmingham, Ala. |
Marlins '08 (10) |
1/8/1987 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE (3/1): Holder was drafted in the 10th round in 2008 after spending the spring as Georgia's No. 1 starter. Though he subsequently went on to pitch the Bulldogs to a runner-up finish at the College World Series, he chose not to sign with the Florida Marlins and, with a year of eligibility remaining, elected to return to Georgia for his senior year. He quickly resumed his role as the team's ace. Holder had realistic expectations of being drafted 4-6 rounds earlier in 2008 after a solid season in the Cape Cod League in the summer of 2007. He went 4-1, 0.89 with eight walks and 28 strikeouts in 30 innings while used as both a starter and in relief. He saved his best outing for last, pitching the first eight innings of a 2-0 Yarmouth-Dennis win over Falmouth in the deciding game of the Cape League's championship series. He allowed one hit, walked two and struck out 10. With a number of scouts watching his every step, he thoroughly dominated Falmouth with a fastball that had tailing action and slight sink and got increasingly stronger as the game moved along, peaking at 93 mph. He also worked in an 80-84 mph slider that he learned during the summer and a filthy changeup-his best pitch. He showed excellent command of all his pitches, along with an aggressive, attacking style and an ability to mix all his pitches-and did so with little effort. He threw strikes consistently to both sides of the plate with Greg Maddux-like precision, and worked at a fast tempo. He returned to Georgia, intent on building off that signature pitching performance-especially after going just 2-3, 4.50 in 20 appearances (10 starts) for the Bulldogs as a sophomore. Though he played a key role in Georgia's aborted run to a national title, Holder wasn't overly dominant in 2008 as he posted an 8-4, 4.41 record, along with 31 walks and just 68 strikeouts in 98 innings-and his disappointing showing in the draft reflected his performance. He demonstrated a greater ability to add and subtract on his fastball last year as the pitch ranged between 86 and 92 mph, with sneaky-quick velocity at the higher level. He also showed better feel for his slider and changeup, but he simply didn't produce the kind of results he or scouts expected after his exceptional performance on the Cape a year earlier.--ALLAN SIMPSON |
| UPDATE (5/15): Holder was Georgia's Friday starter again this spring, but really did little to enhance his draft value. He may be drafted 2-3 rounds higher than a year ago, though, for a team looking to select a senior as a money saver in the first 10 rounds. Holder led Georgia with seven wins, but he also lost more games (5) than any Bulldogs pitcher and posted a 4.48 ERA, along with 30 walks and 72 strikeouts in a staff-high 92 innings. His fastball ranged from 87-93 mph, and he generally threw both his two-seamer and four-seamer for strikes. His slider was in the low- to mid-80s range, but the break was inconsistent. He maintained good arm speed on his change and created the deception desired, but struggled to locate it consistently.--AS |
| |
| 82. |
Kyle Seager |
3B/2B |
Jr. |
L-R |
6-1 |
194 |
North Carolina |
Kannapolis, N.C. |
Never drafted |
11/3/1987 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE (3/1): Seager's best tool is his lefthanded bat. While he doesn't profile as a clean-up hitter because he lacks the true raw power normally desired in a No. 4 hitter, he nonetheless was effective in that role as a sophomore for North Carolina, topping the Tar Heels with 75 RBIs, while batting .347 with nine homers. He also banged a school-record 30 doubles, a total that is reflective of his gap power and approach at the plate. His performance with wood in two summers in the Cape Cod League was considerably more modest as he hit just .274-1-9 in the summer after his freshman year at UNC, and .288-1-16 last summer-and his lack of pull power was apparent. Seager is a blue-collar player who does all the little things well at the plate, from bunting to hitting behind runners. He spent his first two seasons in college at second base, but split time between second and third in his second go-around on the Cape, and was slated to spend most of the 2009 college season at third. He can also fill in admirably at shortstop and in the outfield, and in the eyes of some scouts projects more as a utility type. At this juncture of his career, Seager appears most comfortable at second. Though he lacks the range suited for the position, the ball tends to find his glove and he excels at turning the double play. Seager also runs better and has a stronger arm than his tools indicate. In short, he's a gamer. He's not flashy and scouts may find just enough things wrong with his overall game to drop him into the fourth or fifth rounds, but his performance over three years at Carolina warrants him going 2-3 rounds earlier.--ALLAN SIMPSON. |
| UPDATE (5/15): A true baseball player in every sense of the word, Seager had another strong year at the plate for North Carolina, hitting .379-4-55 with a team-best 24 doubles. He was a tough out, making steady contact and filling the gaps with line drives. All the while, he held down third base and was adequate in his first day-to-day exposure to the position. His lack of range in the field wasn't as noticeable there as it was at second, and his hands, footwork and arm strength were acceptable. But scouts were split on his future position. His lack of raw power won't play well on an infield corner, and some believe he would be best off returning to second. But there are some who would toy with the idea of moving Seager behind the plate. Seager is pretty solid across the board, but it's clear that he is one of those players whose performance outweighs his tools.--JEFF SIMPSON |
| |
| 83. |
Jerry Sullivan |
RHP |
Jr. |
R-R |
6-4 |
210 |
Oral Roberts |
Budd Lake, N.J. |
Never drafted |
1/18/1988 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE (3/1): Sullivan still is playing catch-up, to a degree, after missing his senior season at a New Jersey high school and being brought along on a cautionary workload as a freshman at Oral Roberts, all while recuperating from Tommy John surgery. He had an electric fastball that touched 95 mph before his surgery, but has been a more customary 89-92 mph since, and his changeup has actually become his best and most dependable pitch. He abandoned a curve last summer in the Cape Cod League, in favor of a slider. Sullivan went 9-2, 3.38 as a sophomore at ORU, striking out 108 in 104 innings, and was solid in all six of his starts on the Cape, with one exception, while assembling a 3-1, 4.05 ledger, striking out 30 while walking just 11 in 30 innings. When he stays focused, Sullivan can be dominant. He's especially effective when he keeps the ball low in the strike zone. His pitches can also flatten out when his mechanics desert him from time to time, especially when he opens up too soon.--ALLAN SIMPSON |
| UPDATE (5/15): Sullivan had another dominant college season, going 8-3, 3.12 with 116 strikeouts in 98 innings. He didn't have a dominant pitch this spring as his fastball was fringy-average in the 88-91 mph area, and his slider and changeup were good but not plus pitches. What Sullivan does best is throw all three pitches for strikes. He walked only 27 walks, and repeatedly kept his pitches down in the strike zone. The durability he has shown over the last two years has proven that he has fully recovered from his teen-age, TJ experience, but it doesn't look likely he will ever fully regain the power stuff he showed as a high-school junior.--DAVID RAWNSLEY |
| |
| 84. |
Evan Chambers |
OF |
So. |
R-R |
5-9 |
220 |
Hillsborough |
Tampa |
Never drafted |
3/24/1989 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE (3/1): Chambers had a wasted freshman season at Florida in 2008, getting only eight at-bats after being a heavily-recruited player from an in-state high school. A summer season in the New England Collegiate League provided him the repetitions he badly need at the plate and in the field, and he responded after a rusty start to hit .276-7-20, though still struck out 37 times in 123 at-bats as off-speed pitches often handcuffed him. But he also walked 28 times and showed surprisingly good plate discipline. Chambers has strong hands and wrists, and generates good raw bat speed in his thick, somewhat unprojectable frame and is a fearless, aggressive hitter. His power is more line-drive power, but he has a tendency to get around balls and wants to pull most pitches. Chambers is deceivingly athletic for his build and has 6.7-second speed in the 60, along with a solid throwing arm. He also has a solid approach to the game. The one obvious flaw in Chambers' repertoire last summer was a need to improve on his defensive ability in left field, but it was apparent that he had made strides in that area in the fall after transferring to Hillsborough (Fla.) CC, near his Tampa home, for his sophomore year and in practices leading up to the 2009 season. Chambers' small, but powerfully-built frame has scouts comparing him to former big leaguers Kirby Puckett and Lenny Harris.--ALLAN SIMPSON |
| UPDATE (5/15): Though he faded a bit down the stretch, Chambers had a big spring season for Hillsborough, hitting .324-11-39 in 188 at-bats. It was quickly evident that he might be one of the state's top junior-college drafts, if not the top one. The 5-foot-9 Chambers always took impressive BP sessions, but this year he turned it all into production by just getting a chance to play for HCC. Powerfully-built, he has above-average raw power with wood. With a short stroke and good bat speed, Chambers has a chance to hit for average, as well. In particular, he made big strides defensively to where he can become a solid corner outfielder with a solid-average arm. The big knock on Chambers is simply a lack of projectability. His body is at risk for excess weight and unlikely to get much stronger.--ANUP SINHA |
| |
| 85. |
Tyler Townsend |
OF/1B |
Jr. |
L-R |
6-3 |
215 |
Florida International |
Lewes, Del. |
Never drafted |
5/14/1988 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE (3/1): A big, lefthanded hitter with the best power stroke in the league, Townsend earned Valley League MVP honors last summer by topping the league with a .387 average and 40 runs scored. He was second in home runs (12) and slugging percentage (.739), and third in RBIs (36) and walks (29). He also had a strong sophomore season at Florida International, hitting .323-14-55. Townsend, a Delaware high-school product, has excellent bat speed and can put a charge in a ball, with power to all fields. He punishes mistake pitches, yet is patient enough to lay off pitches outside the zone or ones he can't handle. The remainder of Townsend's tools are average, at best. He's a marginal defender at first base and spent a majority of the 2008 season in a DH role. His lack of speed and arm strength prevents him from playing regularly on an outfield corner, and he is limited to first base. Even though he stole 14 bases last summer and is considered a savvy base runner, all but one of Townsend's steals came on the back-end of double steals.--ALLAN SIMPSON |
| UPDATE (5/15): Townsend had a monster junior season at FIU, leading the Golden Panthers with a .433-24-76 line. He emerged as a likely pick in the first three rounds on the strength of his powerful lefthanded bat. Townsend generated major-league bat speed with late lift in his swing, and showed the ability to hit balls over the fence to the opposite field. He still doesn't offer much defensively; but he saw significant time in the outfield this spring for FIU. His lack of range and a well below-average arm, however, will limit him to a first base or DH role in pro ball. Townsend has a pear-shaped body, and he'll have to work hard to keep from getting too heavy around the middle.--ANUP SINHA |
| |
| 86. |
Chris Dominguez |
3B |
Jr. |
R-R |
6-5 |
235 |
Louisville |
Miami |
Rockies '08 (5) |
11/22/1986 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE (3/1): Over the last two summers, no Cape Cod League player intrigued scouts with his raw tools more than Dominguez. But his ability to use them efficiently left them equally befuddled. That was particularly so in 2007, when Dominguez hit .266-15-61 and struck out a national-high 86 times as a red-shirt freshman at Louisville, and followed by hitting a feeble .216-3-8 in the Cape, with 38 more strikeouts in 97 at-bats. But Dominguez began to tap into his considerable talent more consistently last year as he batted a robust .365-21-78 at Louisville, and shaved his strikeout count to 47. His improvement in the Cape was equally dramatic as he earned all-star honors at third base by topping the league with 10 homers (including three in one game) and 22 extra-base hits, although he hit a modest .262 and posted just a 10-51 walk-to-strikeout ratio. Dominguez is still playing catch-up, to a degree, after breaking his arm three games into his freshman season at Louisville, and missing a critical year of development. As a draft-eligible sophomore, he elected to return to the Cape last summer rather than sign with the Colorado Rockies, who selected him in the fifth round in June. His decision could pay off handsomely in the 2009 draft as his raw power and arm strength are first-round quality tools, and his surprising mobility at third for a player his size is an asset. Dominguez has a fluid stroke and easy power in his 6-foot-5, 235-pound frame, though his tendency to swing-and-miss at a high rate is a definite red flag. He has a long, often wild swing and remains prone to chasing first-pitch breaking balls and becoming an easy strikeout victim in the process as he has a poor two-strike approach. But he has good hand-eye coordination, which has enabled him to recognize pitches a lot better and take greater advantage of his power. He still needs to modify his plate approach, however, especially his pitch recognition. He can punish mistake pitches, but needs to figure out which pitches he can hit, and those which he can't-notably pitches on his hands. Dominguez also has exceptional arm strength and has been clocked at 95 mph across the diamond. His range on the hot corner is somewhat limited because he lacks first-step quickness, but he moves surprisingly well for a player his size, has good hands and displays surprisingly fluid actions around the bag. He is especially adept at handling the slow roller as his huge hands enable him to barehand most balls cleanly. He could become an exceptional defender at first, if a team is still inclined to move him there, though his arm would be wasted in that role. A team that values raw tools will look seriously at Dominguez in the first round next June, especially since he has finally come close to playing up to his considerable potential, but his inconsistent past may cause others to be more cautious.--ALLAN SIMPSON |
| UPDATE (5/15): Dominguez has been one of the most-analyzed prospects in the country over the last seven years-or ever since he was a man-child high-school prospect down in the Miami area. That hasn't always served Dominguez well as he is a player with flaws in his actions and approach-despite his huge tools. But those tools seem to play more and more every year, and his massive production speaks towards it. Dominguez hit .348-23-80 with 19 stolen bases this spring (as Louisville entered NCAA super-regional play) despite being pitched around consistently. He's done a better job of shortening up his swing and learning how to lay off breaking balls outside the zone, and yet still hits the ball out of the park from foul line to foul line. Dominguez' defense wasn't as steady this year as he made 23 errors, despite playing on Louisville's all-turf field, but the tools remain strong. Pinning down a draft round on Dominguez is more difficult than most players; but it wouldn't be surprising if he went as high as the compensation round (or even late in the first round) to a tools-oriented team, but he could also have to wait until the second day (4th round and beyond) to hear his name called.--DAVID RAWNSLEY |
| |
| 87. |
David Hale |
RHP |
Jr. |
R-R |
6-2 |
200 |
Princeton |
Marietta, Ga. |
Never drafted |
9/27/1987 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE (3/1): Hale's prowess as a pitching prospect has been slow to evolve-in large measure because he hasn't pitched much to this point in his career. He was a position player in his first three years at the high-school level, and only took up pitching in earnest as a senior. He actually gained more acclaim at The Walker School in Marietta for hitting 10 homers as a junior and batting .532 as a senior, than anything he ever did on the mound. Even in his first two years at Princeton, Hale has worked less than 100 innings overall, while seeing extensive time in the outfield and at DH. He even enjoyed greater success at the plate as a sophomore, hitting .339-5-29 in 118 at-bats, while going just 2-4, 5.04 in nine starts on the mound. In 45 innings, he walked 23 and struck out 47. Even in the Cape Cod League during the summer, he split time between two roles and accomplished little appreciable success in either, going 0-1, 6.95 as a pitcher, working mostly in relief, while contributing just two hits in 25 ABs. His bat and center-field skills are more than adequate by college standards. Make no mistake, though, Hale is a pitcher, first and foremost, and scouts say it will be just a matter of time before he blossoms. At the same time, they say a lot of patience will be necessary as Hale is very much a project at this stage in his development. He's much more thrower than pitcher. Raw as he is, Hale has significant arm strength with a heavy fastball that regularly reaches 95-96 mph. He also has the makings of a significant second pitch-a power breaking ball that has slider speed and curveball action. With two plus pitches, along with a quick arm and obvious athleticism, Hale can be dominant in flashes (even against advanced hitters), but his downfall is inconsistent command. More than anything, Hale needs innings to work out some of the kinks in his mechanics. All his issues, though, are minor in nature, and fixable. He'll also need to master a changeup if he aspires to be a starter at the next level. The upshot of Hale's relative lack of pitching experience is he still has a relatively fresh arm, but he'll need to focus on pitching only going forward to maximize his potential. He has a chance to evolve into a front-line starter or closer if it all comes together for him, and could surge close to the first round of this year's draft if a team is totally sold on his ability to fulfill his potential.--ALLAN SIMPSON |
| UPDATE (5/15): Hale's junior season was very much in sync with the flashes he's shown as a collegian. He went 2-3, 4.43 while walking 24, allowing 43 hits and striking out 47 in 40 innings. That a pitcher who regularly throws in the 94-96 mph range, and will touch 97 can allow more than a hit an inning while pitching in the Ivy League is a mystery to many, but Hale is still a very raw product. He is very athletic and his arm works with little effort, but he has still shown little ability to spot his fastball and tends to overthrow his slider on most occasions, leaving it up and hittable over the plate. He showed some promise with his changeup, but that is still a definite third pitch for him now. Hale's arm strength and fresh arm will undoubtedly get him attention in the second- or third-round area, and he has had some very good workouts for teams after Princeton's weather-hampered season concluded. It's both ironic and unusual when a high-risk/high-return player comes from a school like Princeton, but that seems to be the case with Hale.--DAVID RAWNSLEY |
| |
| 88. |
Donnie Joseph |
LHP |
Jr. |
L-L |
6-3 |
185 |
Houston |
Buda, Texas |
Never drafted |
11/1/1987 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE (3/1): Used primarily as a mid-week starter and long reliever in his first two seasons at Houston, Joseph produced just a 3-2, 6.06 record in 43 appearances, along with 50 walks and 63 strikeouts in 112 innings. Though his fastball was typically in the 89-91 mph range, he had a suspect arm action and a poor breaking ball, and a history of command issues because of it. Understandably, Joseph wasn't on the radar from a draft perspective as he returned to Houston for his junior year. But he underwent a transformation in the fall as he junked his curveball in favor of a slider and refined his delivery. The improvement in his stuff and command was dramatic, and he was quickly installed in a role as the Cougars closer to open the 2009 season. Initially, there was optimism that a new-and-improved Joseph might emerge as a sleeper pick in the first 10-12 rounds of this year's draft, but those hopes may prove overly conservative as Joseph was dominant in the early going. Not only did he show better raw arm strength with a fastball that peaked at 93 mph and showed good arm-side run, but his big, sharp slider, clocked at 82-85 mph, became a dominant second pitch. He went aggressively after hitters in his new closer's role. Joseph has a lean, wiry frame and his athleticism on the mound is readily apparent as he was a significant three-sport athlete in high school, earning 10 letters altogether in three sports.--ALLAN SIMPSON |
| UPDATE (5/15): As a starter in his first two seasons at Houston, Joseph generally worked in the 87-90 mph range. Shifted to the bullpen full-time this spring, Joseph saw his velocity jump to 90-94 mph with good lefthander's running life. More importantly, his slider became his go-to pitch. He became a dominant closer on a losing Houston team, finishing the season with a 3-1, 2.16 record, 11 saves and 75 K's in just 50 innings. Joseph is somewhat of a max-effort thrower and will never have pinpoint control, but he won't need to be precise with his location with two above-average pitches out of the bullpen. Joseph has been mentioned as high as the second round in some scouting discussions, although that would seem very high for a reliever without true closer stuff.--DAVID RAWNSLEY |
| |
| 89. |
Wade Gaynor |
3B |
Jr. |
R-R |
6-4 |
215 |
Western Kentucky |
Hawesville, Ky. |
Never drafted |
4/19/1988 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE: Gaynor was a mild follow, at best, on most scouting follow lists entering the 2009 season-somewhat surprising after he hit .347 with 13 home runs and 24 doubles as a sophomore for Western Kentucky. His profile gradually changed throughout the spring, though, as some of those doubles from a year ago became home runs and his power matured into a significant tool. Gaynor hit a loud .371-25-79 in leading Western Kentucky to an NCAA regional berth. He also proved to be much more of a complete offensive player as he drew 35 walks and stole 21 bases in 25 attempts. Gaynor has a long, smooth swing and has developed increasing bat speed as he has matured physically. He feasted on fastballs this spring, while learning to lay off breaking balls on the outside half that he couldn't handle. Gaynor's third-base tools are playable, but nothing special. He's fairly agile in his big frame, but his impressive stolen-base numbers came more from his base-running instincts and opportunity than raw speed. Gaynor played an outfield corner and first base as a freshman for the Hilltoppers, and could see time at those positions down the road, depending on an organization's needs.--DAVID RAWNSLEY |
| |
| 90. |
Ben Paulsen |
1B |
Jr. |
L-R |
6-4 |
210 |
Clemson |
Norcross, Ga. |
Never drafted |
10/27/1987 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE (3/1): Paulsen's emergence as a top prospect will almost assuredly make his storyline one of the most compelling in the 2009 draft. He's the natural son of Clemson assistant coach Tom Riginos, and the two have developed a close bond in Paulsen's two-plus year career at Clemson after Riginos was not a part of Paulsen's life in his first six years and saw him infrequently until he enrolled in college. Riginos had dated Paulsen's mother briefly when they were freshmen at Stetson, and she unexpectedly became pregnant. They never married, and drifted apart with Paulsen's mother raising her son on her own. Riginos subsequently married and had two children of his own, and his son came back into his life when he was recruited to play at Clemson. Paulsen, who was born in Wisconsin but later moved to suburban Atlanta, had initially committed to play baseball at Georgia's Young Harris JC, but he was convinced to switch to a faster level of competition when his game progressed dramatically as a high-school senior. When Young Harris coach Rick Robinson was hired to coach at Hyannis last summer, the first player he recruited was Paulsen, whose career started slowly at Clemson. He hit just .257-5-20 as a freshman, mostly as a DH, but picked up his pace considerably as a sophomore, hitting .310-13-49 with team-bests of 18 doubles and a .571 slugging average. He struggled again in the first half of the Cape Cod League season while adapting to wood, but made adjustments in his approach at the plate through extra work and it all came together for him in the second half of the season. He closed fast to finish at .290-8-33 and earn all-star honors at first base. He finished second in the league in home runs behind teammate Chris Dominguez, and actually became a more dangerous threat at the plate down the stretch. Paulsen's swing mechanics and balanced approach at the plate were the equal of any hitter in the league by the end of the season, and he consistently got the bat head on the ball, no matter where in the zone it was pitched. He figured out which pitches he could hit out of the park and which to take the other way, and he drove pitches with authority to all fields. Though he had an overall 12-43 walk-to-strikeout ratio, he developed a much better two-strike approach as the season wore on-though he remained vulnerable to lefthanders and to pitches up and away, late in the count. His play in the field at first base was steady from start to finish, and he set a league record for most chances handled by a first baseman without committing an error. He excelled in all phases of first-base play, and handled the position with the graceful actions of a center fielder. Speed is not part of his game, but he compensates by handling a lot of the more subtle parts of the game extremely well. Paulsen has gotten bigger and stronger since high school, yet still has room to add another 15-20 pounds to his frame and could evolve into one of the top power hitters in the 2009 draft.--ALLAN SIMPSON |
| UPDATE (5/15): Paulsen entered his junior season at Clemson with expectations of becoming a possible late first-rounder or sandwich pick, but now seems more likely to go in the 2-4 round range. He had a solid year for the Tigers, hitting .371-11-55 (entering NCAA tournament play), but scouts questioned his hitting approach and whether he has the quickness to handle top-level pitching. He didn't hit the long ball with as much regularity as they expected. Paulsen still has room to fill out, and that may ultimately improve his raw power potential. He proved to be an adequate defender at first, with better hands than feet, but it became apparent that his playing options are limited to first base, where his power must play.--JEFF SIMPSON. |
| |
| 91. |
Wil Myers |
C/3B |
Sr. |
R-R |
6-3 |
190 |
Wesleyan Christian |
Thomasville, N.C. |
South Carolina |
12/10/1990 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE (3/1): Myers would be on any short list of the most versatile and athletic prospects in the 2009 class. That versatility may be a mixed blessing in some ways, as Myers plays so many positions with skill and top-level tools that it will be difficult for scouts to see him play much at his best position-or even determine what that position is. In fact, Myers has played mostly as an outfielder and pitcher during the spring, arguably his third- and fourth-best positions. He could well be the top high-school third-base prospect in this year's draft class, and yet his most intriguing future position may be catcher, the position he has played the least. Myers has consistent tools across the board. He's a 6.7 runner in the 60 with 91-mph arm strength on the mound. He consistently popped times in the low 1.80-seconds at Perfect Game's National Showcase last summer and made it look easy. Myers' offensive package is not as polished as his defensive skills, but he has plus bat speed and easy power, especially against high-velocity stuff. He routinely turns around the best fastball pitchers he sees. Scouts will dream about a power-hitting catcher with above-average athletic ability and projection when they see Myers this spring, but they'll know they have options if catching doesn't work out.--DAVID RAWNSLEY |
| UPDATE (5/15): Myers settled in as a catcher this spring, and not coincidentally steadily moved up draft boards. There were even reports that teams in the middle of the first round were seriously entertaining taking him (undoubtedly making him the first catcher drafted), though the consensus had him going late in the first round or in the sandwich area. His athletic ability and superior arm strength were readily apparent behind the plate, though he understandably struggled with some of the finer points of the position. He was prone to boxing a lot of balls and his throw-throughs to second were often very scatter-arm. He also didn't handle superior stuff this spring, raising more questions whether he is truly cut out for the position. The early reviews on Myers, however, were generally positive. But it's his bat that is what really gets scouts excited. He hit .532-14-41 this spring-albeit against weak, private-school competition-and often showcased his massive raw power potential. He had serious bat speed, and good balance throughout his swing path. The most appealing part of scouting Myers as a catcher was knowing his explosive bat will play at any position on the field if he is unable to handle the everyday demands and responsibilities of the most-challenging position to master.--JEFF SIMPSON |
| |
| 92. |
Justin Marks |
LHP |
Jr. |
L-L |
6-3 |
195 |
Louisville |
Owensboro, Ky. |
Red Sox '06 (37) |
1/12/1988 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE (3/1): Marks posted near-identical seasons in his first two years at Louisville, going 9-2, 2.67 with 38 walks and 87 strikeouts as a freshman, and 9-2, 2.37 with 39 walks and 89 strikeouts as a sophomore. He burst on the scene in 2007 as an unsigned draft pick of the Boston Red Sox out of an Owensboro high school, leading the Big East Conference with 18 starts and a .189 opponent batting average while playing a key role in leading Louisville to its first-ever appearance in the College World Series. A year ago, he topped the Cardinals in wins, ERA and strikeouts. Going back to his high-school days, the 6-foot-3, 195-pound Marks has always had the projectable body and arm to warrant being an early-round draft pick. His stuff and mechanics were more of an issue when he entered college, but he achieved much of his success in his first two years at Louisville on the strength of a fastball at 88-92 mph and an often-nasty slider, his best pitch. But his stuff came into question again last summer. After being dropped from Team USA's college-national squad in the final round of cuts, Marks moved on to Chatham of the Cape Cod League and was nowhere near the pitcher in five starts that he was advertised to be. His fastball was typically in the 87-89 mph range, topping at 91, his slider and curve were inconsistent and his command was poor. His pitches were routinely up in the zone, and he got knocked around as his 0-1, 6.33 record with 18 walks and 27 hits allowed in 21 innings attests. Not only were his stuff and command inconsistent, but long-standing concerns about his arm action and mechanics resurfaced. Marks has always had a pronounced head whip, but he wasn't fluid all the way through his delivery, either. His disappointing summer caused scouts to pause when evaluating Marks for the 2009 draft, but it may well be expunged from his record if he performs as a junior like he did his first two years in college. Though there has always been some effort in his delivery and a tendency to overthow, he also is athletic, fields his position well, has a good pickoff move and generally has a good feel for all his pitches, particularly his slider. Though none of his pitches is considered outstanding, he gets good tailing action on his fastball against lefthanded hitters coming from a high three-quarters arm angle. His slow, sweeping curve is also effective and he gets good sinking action on a 76-78 mph change. --ALLAN SIMPSON |
| UPDATE (5/15): Marks emerged this spring as a dominant Friday starter for Louisville, going 11-2, 3.40 while striking out 125 and walking just 32 in 100 innings. He also allowed just 79 hits. He was especially strong late in the season for a Cardinals team that advanced to the NCAA super-regionals, and plenty of cross-checkers were there May 14 when he struck out 12 in 7-2/3 innings in a 2-1 Big East Conference win over South Florida, his most impressive outing of the season. He carved up the Bulls with a fastball that peaked at 93, and the outing did nothing but cement his chances of being picked in the top 2-3 rounds. Two things, in particular, that Marks did better in 2009 were holding his velocity better late into games, often pitching in the 90-92 mph range up to the end of his pitch count; and commanding his curveball better to work ahead in counts. Marks' delivery will never be smooth and he still likes to drop down his arm slot on occasion to give hitters different looks. He will also have to use his changeup more at the next level, but those are relatively minor adjustments.--DAVID RAWNSLEY / AS |
| |
| 93. |
Robbie Erlin |
LHP |
Sr. |
R-L |
5-11 |
170 |
Scotts Valley |
Santa Cruz, Calif. |
Cal Poly |
10/8/1990 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE (3/1): Erlin is an undersized lefthander who caught the attention of northern California scouts right out of the gate this spring with his increased velocity and incredible consistency. His fastball was just 84-87 mph at the Area Code Games last August, but he showed a clean, athletic delivery, good command and two quality off-speed pitches. At the time, he looked like a very solid upper-level college prospect and ended up commiting to Cal Poly, where his brother Tommy is a pitcher. In his first three seasons at Scott Valley High, Erlin went 15-7, 1.12 overall with a combined 40 walks and 207 strikeouts in 150 innings. He underwent a transformation, of sorts, leading up to his senior year as his fastball bumped up to 92 mph and yet he still maintained his same fluid mechanics. His big, sharp-breaking, mid-70s curveball is still his best pitch and his changeup continues to be a potential plus pitch. He earns high praise from scouts for his competitive approach.--DAVID RAWNSLEY |
| UPDATE (5/15): Erlin's consistent 89-90 mph fastball this spring, coupled with his sharp breaking ball and fluid mechanics, brought in cross-checkers in significant numbers all spring. Teams that normally avoid slender high school pitchers are probably not among the those who will pay much attention to Erlin in the draft, but his raw stuff and the way he uses it warrant strong top-5 round consideration. Though he didn't pitch against the highest level of competition, his performance this spring matched his stuff as Erlin ran off a 46-inning scoreless streak that was finally broken in the second week of May.--DR |
| |
| 94. |
Joe Gardner |
RHP |
Jr. |
R-R |
6-5 |
210 |
UC Santa Barbara |
Fremont, Calif. |
Never drafted |
3/18/1988 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE (3/1): Expected to be one of the top arms in the California junior-college ranks in 2008, Gardner went a disappointing 5-6, 5.20 in a swing role for Ohlone JC and ended up going undrafted. But the 6-foot-5, 210-pound righthander made amends with an all-star season last summer in Alaska, significantly restoring his prospect status in the process. Gardner not only went 6-0, 0.92 for the Kenai Peninsula Oilers while the team was in Alaska, but went 2-0, 0.69 for the Oilers at the National Baseball Congress World Series in Wichita, Kan. Overall, he fanned 51 in 62 innings. Gardner has good command of an 89-92 mph fastball, but is not considered a true strikeout pitcher. His success stems more from his ability to locate his fastball down in the zone and get excellent movement on his heavy two-seamer, which induces a steady stream of ground balls. His slider and changeup are also effective weapons, especially the slider. Though he wasn't drafted last June, all was not lost for Gardner last summer as his coach with the Oilers, UC Santa Barbara pitching coach and recruiting coordinator Tom Myers, signed him to play for the Gauchos in 2009. Gardner is expected to take a spot in the UCSB rotation alongside righthander Mike Ford and lefthander Mario Hollands, who should also be solid drafts in 2009.--ALLAN SIMPSON |
| UPDATE (5/15): Gardner was expected to fill the Sunday slot in the UCSB rotation this spring, but quickly emerged as the Gauchos ace and went 7-1, 3.40 in 13 starts/85 innings this spring for the Gauchos. He threw a complete-game shutout against Long Beach State on May 9, but went down with a strained oblique muscle in his side and after two innings in his next start against UC Riverside on May 15, and missed his last start of the season. The injury is not thought to be serious and shouldn't affect his draft status. Gardner's big pitch all spring was his fastball, which he threw about 85 percent of the time. It combines consistent low-90s velocity (though would often peak at 94 mph) with some of the best hard-boring life of any fastball in the 2009 draft class. Gardner works extensively off his fastball by design as his secondary pitches, a slider and changeup, are no better than average big-league pitches. He often gets beat with his slider and will need to tighten it up; his changeup is generally too hard. Gardner is especially effective against righthanded hitters as he loves to bust his fastball inside, something that should make him even more effective against wood bats as a professional. Two numbers on his pitching line this spring amplify Gardner's approach to pitching: 19 hit by pitches and only three home runs allowed.--DAVID RAWNSLEY / AS |
| |
| 95. |
Keon Broxton |
OF |
Fr. |
R-R |
6-3 |
185 |
Santa Fe (Fla.) |
Lakeland, Fla. |
Phillies '08 (29) |
5/7/1990 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE: Pure center fielders are always at a premium and Broxton has the potential to be a good one. He's made significant strides since graduating from Lakeland High in 2008, when he was a mid-round draft pick of the Philadelphia Phillies. Broxton was also a very good wide receiver in high school and originally signed a letter of intent to play football at Florida Atlantic, though his intentions were to play both sports. Academic issues forced him to change course and he subsequently ended up at Santa Fe CC, where he decided to focus on baseball alone. His skills across the board have improved significantly since he became a one-sport athlete. He struggled at the plate initially, especially with pitch recognition, but his speed/power package was evident and he excelled defensively in center field. Broxton has a good glide and takes direct routes to balls. His off-the-bat reads are not up to major-league par yet, but when he figures it out he'll have plus range. He also has a solid-average arm that projects to become another plus tool. Broxton has a way to go at the plate as he has length to his swing and is still working on his approach. He often gets pull-happy and leaves himself vulnerable to pitches on the outer half. He also needs to wait better on off-speed pitches. Broxton really turned it on, though, at the Florida junior-college state tournament, where his hot bat led an underdog Santa Fe team to the championship and an unexpected trip to the Junior College World Series. Overall, Broxton hit .313-3-19 in 112 at-bats and went 10-for-10 in stolen bases. His home-to-first times are slightly above-average at 4.25 seconds; as a long strider, his speed is more evident going two or more bases at a time. With width to his shoulders and a sturdy lower-half, Broxton's body has excellent projectability. He's likely to gain a lot of muscle and minimal fat by the time he's 23. It was initially thought that Broxton needed another year of junior college to refine his skills and grow into his tall, wiry build, but his post-season performance had scouts re-evaluating him and he now stands a real chance to go in the top 10 rounds to a team that feels his bat will continue to make strides with repetitions.--ANUP SINHA / ALLAN SIMPSON |
| |
| 96. |
Brett Wallach |
RHP |
So. |
R-R |
6-2 |
185 |
Orange Coast |
Orange, Calif. |
Never drafted |
|
| SCOUTING PROFILE (3/1): While his father Tim was a 17-year big leaguer who drove in 1,125 runs and was a three-time Gold Glover at third base and his older brother Matt is a catcher in the Los Angeles Dodgers system, Wallach's value for the 2009 draft lies on the mound. He was one of the most effective closers in the California junior-college ranks as a freshman, saving 10 games (second in the state) while posting a 3-2, 3.13 record in 24 appearances. In 30 innings, he walked 17 and struck out 30. Wallach also took a regular turn in the field in 2008, alternating between first and third base, but by hitting .288-0-19 in 138 at-bats, he showed little power for a corner infielder. Though Wallach's fastball was generally in the 88-91 mph range, scouts look to his live, athletic frame and say there's plenty more velocity in the tank. His slider is a solid second pitch, and he has good command of both. It was unclear whether Wallach would remain in a closer role for 2009 or move into the rotation on one of California's most-talented junior-college teams, but he clearly is well-adjusted and versatile enough to excel in either role. Unlike his father, who was a first-round pick in 1979 out of Cal State Fullerton and currently manages in the Dodgers system at Triple-A Albuquerque, and his brother Matt, who was a 22nd-round pick out of the same school in 2007, Brett has made a college commitment to Big West Conference rival Long Beach State-though his performance this spring could steer him directly into pro ball.--ALLAN SIMPSON |
| UPDATE (5/15): Wallach earned Southern California JC player-of-the-year honors and an all-state nod at first base this spring as Orange Coast advanced to the state final four, but it was readily apparent to scouts that his two-way value was and is much greater on the mound. While he hit an acceptable .352-3-46 and generally hit cleanup for a 34-13 OCC team, Wallach was more dominant as a pitcher, going 9-1, 2.23 with 102 strikeouts in 97 innings. He made a seamless transition from a closer to starter role, and maintained his velocity better than a year ago. His fastball was regularly in the 90-91 mph range, topping at 92-93, and his slider was a quality breaking ball. His changeup, though, not only became a solid third pitch as a starter but was often considered his best, most-refined pitch. His athleticism and easy, fluid delivery were easily in evidence, too. Led by elder statesman Tommy Lasorda, the Dodgers were much in evidence at his games and it would not be a surprise to see that club pop him as early as the second round.--AS |
| |
| 97. |
Marquise Cooper |
OF |
Sr. |
R-R |
5-10 |
175 |
Edison |
Fresno, Calif. |
|
10/16/1991 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE: Cooper is a very athletic outfielder who has emerged as a baseball talent after being better known for his exploits as a running-back prospect at football powerhouse Edison High. He has two present plus tools in his running speed and arm strength, with his speed a potential impact tool. Cooper runs a consistent 4.1 to first base, which could make him a strong 5th-7th round prospect in this year's draft. Like many football players trying to play baseball, Cooper's swing is still on the raw and inconsistent side, but it is more sound that most and he hit .479 this spring with 31 stolen bases. Cooper has played some second base in the past and there is speculation that he could move back to that position in the future, although his actions and hands seem to indicate that might be a stretch. In addition to Cooper, scouts would like to get their hands on Cooper's teammate, T.J. McDonald, a five-star football recruit (defensive back) who signed with USC and is the son of Edison football coach and former NFL all-pro Tim McDonald.--DAVID RAWNSLEY |
| |
| 98. |
Joe Kelly |
RHP |
Jr. |
R-R |
6-1 |
170 |
UC Riverside |
Corona, Calif. |
Never drafted |
6/9/1988 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE (3/1): Kelly, a converted outfielder who went undrafted out of high school, failed to capitalize on a breakthrough season as a freshman at UC Riverside that resulted in his selection to Team USA that summer. He regressed as a sophomore as command issues and the lack of a reliable breaking ball hampered him. In 17 innings for the Highlanders, he went 2-1, 9.35 while allowing 24 hits and walking 10, and striking out only eight. His summer showing in the Cape Cod League was little better as he went 0-1, 7.31 and gave up 22 hits in 16 innings. He at least reversed his walk-strikeout quotient by giving up seven free passes vs. 17 punchouts. But there is no denying that Kelly, for all his struggles, has electric stuff with a fastball that he can juice up to 96-97 mph to go with a wicked slider. His fastball tends to be straight at peak velocity, but he gets good sinking action on the pitch when he dials his two-seamer back to the 90-93 mph range. His slider gets good rotation, though it can be flat and very inconsistent at times. He has an improving changeup, but it needs a lot of work. Even as he struggled to find consistency both in the spring and summer, Kelly still led both UC Riverside (6) and Yarmouth-Dennis (4) in saves, and it remained apparent throughout that his optimum role is as a closer. In particular, he needs to develop better command of his fastball while working on the finer points of pitching, like getting a better feel for hitters and controlling the running game. His mound presence also can be an issue, though he will show more of a willingness to challenge hitters when he has confidence in his stuff. Kelly's status in the 2009 draft will all hinge on how he performs as a junior at UC Riverside. He could slip into the first round just as easily as he could slide beyond the fifth.--ALLAN SIMPSON |
| UPDATE (5/15): Kelly continued to puzzle scouts this spring, some of whom were mesmerized with his superior arm strength and had him climbing solidly into the first round. Others looked at the results, and weren't nearly so sure. It was apparent that he was more effective than a year ago as he saved 10 games in 21 appearances, and walked just six batters in 27 innings. But he also struck out only 19 while allowing 31 hits. The net result was a 1-1, 5.74 record. The numbers are hardly dominating for a pitcher with a very quick, live arm who can run his fastball consistently into the upper-90s. Coming from a three-quarters slot, he also gets good boring action on the pitch into righthanded hitters, and it should be a bat-breaker at the next level. His 83-85 mph slider is no less dominating when he keeps it around the knees. Kelly's fastball, however, is often firm and straight-and hittable. More often than not, the success of his fastball is tied to the quality of his breaking pitch, which can often be a flat, side-to-side pitch. Kelly may well go as early as the sandwich round, but it's clear there is no consensus where he fits.--AS |
| |
| 99. |
Jake Barrett |
RHP |
Sr. |
R-R |
6-4 |
235 |
Desert Ridge |
Mesa, Ariz. |
Arizona State |
7/22/1991 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE (3/1): Barrett is a strong-armed righthander who may have one of the smoothest 90-plus fastballs in the 2009 high-school class. The ball comes out of his hand very easily at 90-93 mph, and despite his big build it is very easy to project him becoming a mid-90s power pitcher in time. Barrett also throws an upper-70s curveball that flashes a hard, tight spin. His fastball and curve are his primary pitches, but he is working on a changeup. Barrett enjoyed equal success as a pitcher and hitter as a high-school junior, posting an 8-2, 2.33 record on the mound while batting .480 with 46 RBIs. The Arizona native was very successful in a closer role for Team USA at the World Junior (18-and-under) championship last summer, going 1-0, 0.00 with two saves and 11 K's in 6 2/3 innings. The big question with Barrett is going to be how he handles his body over the next few years. He is big and burly, but soft and non-athletic looking right now with lots of his weight concentrated in his lower body. If he gets much heavier, it could lead to problems with durability. In that sense, Barrett resembles former Baylor first-rounder Jason Jennings, although he doesn't appear to have Jennings' athleticism. But Barrett does use his intimidating size to an advantage as he goes right after hitters and isn't afraid to back them off the plate.--DAVID RAWNSLEY |
| UPDATE (5/15): Barrett was the unquestioned star in the Arizona high-school ranks this spring, and he appeared to solidify himself as the state's top prep prospect for the draft. Though he continued to be scouted almost exclusively as a pitcher, his more-noteworthy accomplishments may actually have come at the plate. He led Arizona high-school hitters with 20 home runs, while also hitting .510 with 66 RBIs. He also contributed a 9-3, 1.90 record with 96 strikeouts in 63 innings to the cause as Desert Ridge High won its first state title in any sport by dethroning perennial-power Horizon High in the 5-A II championship game, hanging on to win 9-8 after squandering a 7-0 lead. Horizon was making its sixth straight appearance in the state final. Barrett's signature effort on the mound in 2009 probably came in a 6-0 win over Pinnacle High in early April in a game that matched the state's No. 1 and 2-ranked teams. He blanked Pinnacle on a route-going three-hitter with 14 strikeouts. Barrett impressed scouts with a fastball that routinely reached 90-91 mph and would touch 93-94, and an improving power slurve. He threw strikes consistently with a balanced delivery and good downhill plane to his pitches, and showed his competitive approach by knocking hitters off the plate when they tried to get too comfortable. Despite all his offensive exploits, Barrett does not have the type of swing that would match up against superior pitching.--ALLAN SIMPSON |
| |
| 100. |
Telvin Nash |
1B/OF |
Sr. |
R-R |
6-1 |
237 |
Griffin |
Griffin, Ga. |
Kennesaw State |
2/20/1991 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE: Nash garnered a lot of attention from scouts a year ago when his Griffin High teammate Tim Beckham went on to become the No. 1 pick in the draft. The powerfully-built Nash is a completely-different type of player than the flashy, athletic Beckham. He can generate significant raw power already, and yet there's still projection in his body to get even bigger and stronger. Nash entered the spring season as a light follow, but has since jumped up draft boards of many teams. He takes a vicious cut in generating his power, but some scouts believe his power will translate easily to wood, and do so quickly as he has a short path to the ball. The pitching he has faced in high school, admittedly, is not close to the caliber he'll face in even the lowest rung of the minor leagues, so there will likely be an adjustment period ahead of him. Scouts may not even have been aware of Nash were it not for Beckham as Griffin High was long representative of the high schools in the southern suburbs of Atlanta. For years, it was a powerhouse in football and sent many athletes to the NFL, but there was very little production in baseball. But Beckham may have changed all that in becoming the top pick of the Tampa Bay Rays a year ago. Now, the first baseman Beckham used to throw to growing up is in line to go in the 5th-7th rounds. Nash also has a solid-average arm and he played both first base and the outfield in high school. It's possible he will be sent out to play right field in pro ball, but that may be problematical as Nash is already a well below-average runner who figures to get even slower as he gets bigger. Surely a factor in his favor that will encourage a team to draft him early is that Nash has indicated he is very signable.--ANUP SINHA |
| |
| 101. |
Ben Tootle |
RHP |
Jr. |
R-R |
6-0 |
170 |
Jacksonville State |
Oxford, Ala. |
Never drafted |
1/9/1988 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE (3/1): Tootle went 10-2, 3.87 with 79 strikeouts in 86 innings as an all-Ohio Valley Conference starting pitcher as a sophomore. He was a relative unknown at the time of his arrival in the Cape Cod League last summer, but his stature changed overnight as he immediately began pumping mid-90s fastballs consistently in his new role as a closer. He routinely worked in the 96-97 mph range, occasionally touched 98 and even hit a 99. Despite his modest 6-foot-1, 170-pound frame, Tootle possessed the most explosive arm on the Cape. He wasn't just a one-trick pony, either, as he also buckled the knees of righthanded hitters with his hard, dynamic breaking ball-a pitch that was a cross between a slider and curve. On the strength of the most-consistently dominating stuff in the league, Tootle went 3-3, 1.97 with five saves in 22 relief appearances for Falmouth. He struck out 44 in 32 innings, while opponents hit just .183 against him. But Tootle wasn't always invincible as his fastball was frequently straight and in the middle of the plate, and his arm action tended to be a little long at times, enabling hitters to pick up the ball with relative ease coming out of his hand. While Tootle took and ran with his new role as a closer, he is expected to return to the Friday slot in Jacksonville State's rotation-though he'll begin the 2009 season with a considerably-higher profile than he finished the 2008 campaign. He'll need to concentrate on improving his fastball life and command, and tighten his breaking ball for it to become a more effective weapon consistently against lefthanded hitters.--ALLAN SIMPSON |
| UPDATE (5/15): Dominant as he was last summer on the Cape, facing some of the elite hitters in the college ranks, Tootle was merely mortal this spring in the Ohio Valley Conference. He generated a lot of early interest when 30-plus scouts showed up for a pre-season intrasquad game, but he ended up going an unimpressive 3-4, 4.56 in 12 starts as Jacksonville State's Friday starter, and walked 35 while striking out 58 in 51 innings. He did show rare dominance in one start against Austin Peay State, when he spun a shutout, allowed three hits and struck out 10-all the while pumping a fastball at 98 mph deep into the contest, and complementing it with an 86-mph slider. But Tootle's bright spots in 2009 were few and far between. In fairness, he battled a stomach virus that wiped him out for the better part of a month, and led to his losing about 10 pounds. In his first couple of appearances after returning, his velocity was clearly not in its customary mid- to high-90s range. He didn't finish on a high note, either, as he lost his last two starts, though he gave up a combined three hits in the two outings. In many ways, Tootle reminded area scouts of another Alabama product, San Diego Padres righthander Jake Peavy-right down to the slight build, the big leg kick, the loose, quick arm out front and the fiercely-competitive approach. It's unclear how far Tootle will slip based on his uneven spring, but it's safe to say he won't go late in the first round, where he was projected after his big summer season on the Cape. And it was doubly apparent this spring that his future lies in the bullpen.--AS |
| |
| 102. |
Brian Morgado |
LHP |
So. |
L-L |
6-3 |
205 |
Tennessee |
Miami |
Red Sox '06 (34) |
12/8/1988 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE (3/1): Morgado might have been one of the first 100 players drafted in 2006, but he did not pitch as well that spring at a Miami high school as he had the previous fall and summer, and the Boston Red Sox ended up taking a flier on him in the 34th round once his signability became an issue. His career unraveled further that fall, shortly after enrolling at Tennessee, when a sore elbow led to Tommy John surgery, causing him to miss his freshman season. Healthy again in 2008 as a red-shirt freshman, Morgado responded with a 5-5, 4.59 record, along with 104 strikeouts in 80 innings, becoming just the second freshman in UT history to scale the century mark in strikeouts. His fastball was a steady low-90s offering, peaking at 95 mph, and his power slurve was a second strikeout pitch, though it continues to be more of a work-in-progress because it lacks consistency. Morgado is physically strong at 6-foot-3 and 205 pounds, and yet has plenty of projection left in his loose, athletic frame. The key will be his ability to repeat his delivery more consistently and refine his command after walking 37-nearly a batter every two innings-a year ago. He was invited to play for Team USA's college national team last summer, but didn't make the final cut, and chose not to pitch again the remainder of the summer. With the best fastball on the pitching staff, Morgado was slated to take over the No. 1 spot in the Tennessee rotation this spring.--ALLAN SIMPSON |
| UPDATE (5/15): Not only did a talent-laden Tennessee team underachieve this season by going just 26-29, but Morgado performed far below expectations, as well. He produced just a 4-2, 6.36 record, and in 52 innings walked 36 and struck out 75-numbers that point to both his dominant stuff and lack of control. Though he was slated to be the Friday starter for the Volunteers, Morgado started only five times as he had a tendency to run out of gas by the time he reached the fifth inning and/or 100 pitches, and was sent to the bullpen. The move was deemed to be in the best interests of the team, but in the end it may have been best for his career as he projects as a reliever anyway. Though Morgado has an explosive arm, his max-effort delivery, inconsistent release and inability to define a third pitch may make him better suited for a short role. Morgado's fastball was a steady mid-90s pitch that topped at 97 mph. While he was occasionally dominant with that pitch and his power slider, his inability to add movement or command his fastball consistently proved his downfall. As yet another sophomore-eligible player in this draft, Morgado's signability could be a tricky issue.--AS |
| |
| 103. |
Robbie Shields |
SS |
Jr. |
R-R |
6-1 |
195 |
Florida Southern |
Dade City, Fla. |
Never drafted |
|
| SCOUTING PROFILE (3/1): Shields played in just 12 games in the Cape Cod League last summer, but it was readily apparent that he measured up with any shortstop in the league-even No. 1 prospect Grant Green. Green was the more athletic of the two and his tools were more obvious, but Shields may have been Green's equal as a player. He was the glue to the Cotuit roster, and the Kettleers struggled when Shields was lost for the season after he broke a bone at the top of his wrist on a head-first slide. He was hitting .349-2-11 with six extra-base hits at the time, and had not committed an error at shortstop. Shields displayed solid, all-around tools-at the plate, in the field and on the bases. He has good bat speed and deceptive power for a middle infielder, and can drive balls to all fields. His defensive actions are just average by shortstop standards, but more than adequate if a move to second or third might be in the works. His arm is strong and accurate, and definitely plays on the left side of the infield. He gets particularly good backspin on his throws, resulting in good carry. Though his speed (6.75 in the 60) is slightly above-average, he knows how to use it to advantage on the bases, though will not be a base stealer of any significance. Shields' makeup is one of his strong points and it was not lost on scouts that he remained with Cotuit the balance of the summer-working camps, taking ground balls, cheering on his teammates-rather than return home. Shields showed no hesitancy playing on a big stage last summer, but his limited time on the Cape and the Division II competition he plays against during the school year may prompt scouts to put him under a little closer scrutiny this spring. He hit .348-9-36, stole six bases in nine attempts and committed 18 errors as a sophomore at Florida Southern. Scouts say if it all comes together for Shields, he could be a player in the mould of big leaguer Aaron Hill, a former first-rounder.--ALLAN SIMPSON |
| UPDATE (5/15): The Aaron Hill comparisons are still valid, though Shields is more likely a second- or third-round pick after an indifferent spring. He hit .345-5-37, similar to what he did as a sophomore but short of what scouts were expecting. He played a good shortstop, but it was apparent that he lacked the quick feet for the position. If anything, he showed he has the first step needed to become a very good third baseman. At the plate, Shields handled the outer-half well, but scouts had concerns over how he'll handle inside pitches with wood. If it all turns out well for him, Shields could become a solid all-around third baseman in the big leagues.--ANUP SINHA |
| |
| 104. |
Jake Marisnick |
OF |
Sr. |
R-R |
6-4 |
200 |
Poly |
Riverside, Calif. |
Oregon |
3/30/1991 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE (3/1): The 6-foot-4, 200-pound Marisnick passes the eye test for scouts as well as any position player in the 2009 high-school class. He has a long, slender build, with wide shoulders and excellent physical projection. The tools and athletic ability are all there to be a five-tool prospect, as well. Marisnick has the speed (6.7 in the 60, but better game speed) and easy gliding actions to play center field. He also has an impact-level big-league arm and probably profiles better in right field as he fills out. With his long arms and excellent extension out front, Marisnick's swing looks long at times and often is, but he has hitter's hands that enable him to make adjustments with the barrel. But he probably will need to shorten his swing in order to make better contact against top competition. He has very good raw bat speed and projects easy plus power; and should be able to hit the ball out of any part of the ball park as he fills out his frame. His speed, in particular, will make him a multi-dimensional offensive player. As a tall, athletic, righthanded-hitting outfielder, Marisnick has been compared favorably to former first-rounder Rocco Baldelli. As a high-school junior, he hit .495-5-22 with 17 stolen bases. Besides his obvious ability on the baseball field, his well-rounded athletic package has made him proficient in football, as well. He was a strong Division I prospect as a wide receiver after catching 56 passes for 866 yards as a junior, but he chose to not play football as a senior to concentrate on baseball.--DAVID RAWNSLEY |
| UPDATE (5/15): Marisnick's defining moment this spring came when he was overmatched by Norco High righthander Matt Hobgood in a heavily-scouted matchup on March 24, but then Hobgood overmatched virtually every hitter he faced this spring. Marisnick's physical tools stood out as they always have, but scouts expressed a concern about his ability to handle quality pitching right now without being strictly a guess hitter. He was fed a steady diet of breaking balls this spring and hit .397-5-26 with 21 stolen bases. His speed, defense and arm strength are all high-round quality, and few hitters in the California prep ranks put on a better BP show this spring Marisnick.--DR |
| |
| 105. |
Josh Prince |
SS |
Jr. |
R-R |
6-3 |
195 |
Tulane |
Lake Charles, La. |
Never drafted |
1/26/1988 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE (3/1): Prince starred at national power Barbe High in nearby Lake Charles and hit a resounding .371 as a freshman at Texas, so expectations were understandably high when he transferred back home to Tulane for his sophomore year. But Prince underwent elbow surgery in the fall, started the 2008 season slowly and never got untracked at the plate as he hit a disappointing .236-1-10 with just five extra-base hits in 148 at-bats. He eventually saw his playing time diminished at shortstop. Prince spent last summer in the Northwoods League and while he got off to another slow start, he soon showed off his power-speed potential by hitting seven triples by the all-star break, stealing 20 bases in 25 attempts and finishing ninth overall in batting at .312. His power was slower to develop as he hit only one home run over the summer, but he showed off his raw power in the all-star game by crushing a high fastball over the left-center field fence in his first at-bat. Scouts made it clear that San Diego State outfielder Cory Vaughn and Prince had the best all-around package of tools in the league. While Vaughn's power potential made him a more exciting prospect down the road, Prince's value as a prospect may actually be higher because he plays a more premium position. With a strong, arm, a steady glove, soft hands, good range and 6.5-speed in the 60, Prince has it all defensively. He also has gap power at the plate. Package that in a 6-foot-3, 195-pound frame and you have a middle-infield prospect worth getting excited about. While Prince struggled to hit as a sophomore at Tulane, there were strong indications in the fall that Prince was primed for a breakout season at the plate, in the field and on the bases as a junior.--ALLAN SIMPSON / PATRICK EBERT |
| UPDATE (5/15): Prince quietly had one of the more impressive seasons of any player in the country this spring, hitting .353-6-31, drawing 45 walks and stealing an NCAA-leading 48 bases. His coaches at Tulane credit his dramatic improvement at the plate from his sophomore season to something seemingly very simple; Prince started wearing glasses full-time late last summer in the Northwoods League, and instantly began seeing the ball much more clearly. He especially had trouble picking up pitches in night games. For a player whose game is based around defense and speed, Prince shows the ability to drive the ball into the gaps when he gets his arms extended.--DAVID RAWNSLEY / AS |
| |
| 106. |
Kyrell Hudson |
OF |
Sr. |
R-R |
6-2 |
185 |
Evergreen |
Vancouver, Wash. |
Oregon State (FB) |
12/6/1990 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE (3/1): Hudson is one of the top athletes in the 2009 draft class. He was ranked the No. 1 baseball prospect and the No. 2 football prospect in the state of Washington. Not surprisingly, he had his choice of just about any college in the country to play both sports, and he decided on Oregon State. Though he officially signed with the Beavers to play football, he did so with the understanding that he will play baseball as well. Hudson excelled as a quarterback, wide receiver and safety at Evergreen High, but has always maintained that baseball is his favorite sport. His speed, center-field skills and arm strength are all superior tools in the eyes of scouts, and it's entirely possible that he will never end up in college if the right offer comes along in June in the baseball draft. Hudson's speed is his most obvious tool, and the one that plays equally well in either baseball or football. He ran "only" a 6.50-second 60 at Perfect Game's National Showcase in Minneapolis last June, but blazed a 6.33 at the Area Code Games on a slower surface two months later. That's game-changing speed, both on the bases and in center field. He has an easy plus throwing arm from center field, as well, and has been clocked in the 90s off the mound. Hudson lists his favorite baseball player as Milwaukee Brewers center fielder Mike Cameron, and it is easy to see the similarities athletically, particularly in the Gold-Glove defensive potential. The big question with Hudson is his bat. He has obvious quick-twitch actions and some late bat speed, but his hands are soft at contact and he's consistently late getting the bat started against quality pitching. It could be just a matter of experience and repetitions, especially given his two-sport background, or it might be a lack of present hitting tools. There's little doubt he will benefit from minor adjustments in his hitting mechanics. Hudson could be one of those players who could be either very, very good or struggle to find his game quickly at the next level. It all depends on the bat.--DAVID RAWNSLEY |
| UPDATE (5/15): Few players confused scouts this spring more than Hudson-and it's appropriate when one Northwest scout said that half the teams that came to see him scouted him as a legitimate third-round pick, or better, and the other half didn't care for him at all. That assessment only speaks to Hudson's talent; there's also the significant issue of signability. Hudson sent out a lot of mixed messages this spring-whether he wants to honor his football commitment to Oregon State, whether he would prefer to take a significant amount of bonus money and commit to baseball, or whether he really even likes baseball that much. If he does choose to pursue a professional baseball career, he won't come cheap as seven-figure bonus numbers have been floated with his name. Hudson's raw speed, center-field skills and superior arm strength all grade out universally as high-round tools. His bat is the tool that scouts have a vast difference of opinion on. He needs a lot of work at the plate, and was often overmatched this spring against mediocre high-school pitching. A team will have to be totally sold on his hitting ability to warrant spending an early-round pick on him-and then spending big-bonus money on top of it.--ALLAN SIMPSON |
| |
| 107. |
David Renfroe |
SS/RHP |
Sr. |
R-R |
6-3 |
200 |
South Panola |
Batesville, Miss. |
Mississippi |
11/16/1990 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE (3/1): Renfroe is better known in Mississippi for his exploits on the football field but his future is clearly in baseball. In fact, Renfroe briefly quit football last summer to dedicate himself solely to baseball but reconsidered that decision and quarterbacked national power South Panola High his senior season as the school ran its winning streak to 89 consecutive games, the third-highest total ever in high-school football annals, before losing in the 5-A state championship game in overtime to Meridian High, 26-20. South Panola was gunning for its sixth straight state title, the second with Renfroe as the starting QB. In addition, Renfroe handled the place-kicking and punting duties for the football team. Renfroe's baseball pedigree is pretty strong, though. His father, Laddie, a four-year letterman at Ole Miss from 1981-84, was a side-arming reliever in the Chicago Cubs organization for eight years and made the big leagues for four games in 1991. Interestingly, Renfroe had one of the most unusual seasons ever for a reliever at the minor- or major-league levels, as he led the minors in wins in 1989 while pitching strictly out of the bullpen. He went 19-7, 3.14 with 15 saves in 78 games. Just as the younger Renfroe had more apparent success in football than baseball in his last two seasons at South Panola, he also stood out more as a shortstop than as a pitcher as a junior, hitting .500-4-26. On the mound, he went 5-4, 1.66. But his greatest upside in all his athletic endeavors is as a pitcher. He has a very quick arm in his live, athletic frame, and has two solid pitches: a fastball that sits in the 88-92 mph range and a power slider. He just needs to refine a straight change to complete his arsenal. Renfroe has a fairly clean delivery for a young high-school pitcher, and all his minor mechanical flaws are considered correctable.--DAVID RAWNSLEY / ALLAN SIMPSON |
| UPDATE (5/15): There's little question that Renfroe would be a two-way player in college, in the increasingly-unlikely event that he even ends up there. That would probably silence the pitcher vs. player debate for potentially three years. That debate has raged most of the spring as Renfroe began the 2009 season as primarily a pitcher and ended it as primarily a shortstop/hitter. Renfroe himself prefers becoming an everyday player, and enjoyed more success this spring in that role, hitting .507. As a pitcher, he went just 3-3 and was beaten convincingly in his final outing as South Panola fell far short of its recent football success by losing its only two playoff games. Renfroe's fastball peaked at 94 mph and he flashed all the other ingredients to develop into a front-line starter at the big-league level, but his secondary stuff and command were inconsistent. His superior arm strength is an obvious asset at shortstop and he displays soft, sure hands along with the ability to make all the plays required of a regular shortstop. For the most part, he showed balance at the plate, with good swing mechanics and extension through the ball, but his swing was a little long and loopy, at times. He just needs time to work out of some of his kinks at the plate. Whether Renfroe becomes a pitcher or player in the short term at the next level will probably boil down to money, and which team is willing to step up to the plate first and what it's preference is for Renfroe.--AS |
| |
| 108. |
Todd Glaesmann |
OF |
Sr. |
R-R |
6-4 |
205 |
Midway |
Hewitt, Texas |
Texas A&M |
10/24/1990 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE (3/1): At 6-foot-4 and 205 pounds, the righthanded-hitting Glaesmann is on the short list of high-school position prospects in the 2009 draft class who immediately get scouts' attention for the combination of build, projection and athletic ability. Glaesman has solid tools across the board, from prototypical right-field skills on defense, to solid-average running speed (6.9 in the 60/4.2 in the 40), to an ability to hit for both average and power. Glaesmann batted a resounding .472-11-56 as a high-school junior, and hits from a balanced stance with tight hands and a still start. When Glaesmann keeps his hands tight and quick, he has a short swing for his size and squares up balls hard consistently. He's prone to casting his hands out to start his swing though, which creates length and slows his swing. But when things are in sync, he drives the ball hard to the gaps and has significant loft power potential. In the end, his bat will be the tool that carries him. Glaesmann brings a football-toughness to baseball, and not surprisingly was a top football player throughout his high-school career, as both a quarterback and wide receiver. His competitive approach has always been something of a curse, however, as he was injury-prone on the football field, breaking an ankle as a freshman, breaking his right wrist as a junior and tearing ligaments in his non-throwing thumb last fall, which caused him to undergo surgery after the 2008 football season ended. Out of respect to his blossoming baseball career, Glaesmann initially elected not to play football as a senior, but relented and ended up sharing the QB duties with junior Corey Holmes, who also is a significant football-baseball talent. Thumb/hand injuries take significant time to fully recover from for a hitter, so that's something scouts might have to work around this spring when tracking Glaesmann's progress.--DAVID RAWNSLEY |
| UPDATE (5/15): Glaesmann's recovery from pre-season thumb surgery was more successful than anyone could have hoped for, and he put himself firmly into top-5 round draft consideration-possibly even in the first 2-3 rounds. In fact, the surgery and rehab might have even factored into Glaesman's improved swing, which was shorter and crisper this spring than previously. He hit .398-9-37.--DR |
| |
| 109. |
Austin Kirk |
LHP |
Sr. |
L-L |
6-1 |
200 |
Owasso |
Owasso, Okla. |
Oklahoma |
5/22/1990 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE (3/1): Kirk, a strong and very athletic lefthander, is the latest prospect to come from long-time Oklahoma powerhouse Owasso High. With Kirk as their No. 1 arm, the two-time defending 6-A state champion will be looking to go to the state finals this spring for the 11th time in 12 seasons. With seven seniors on the team committed to play college baseball, Kirk didn't have to throw as much leading up to his senior year as most other top pitching prospects. He throws from a well-balanced, easy-paced delivery with a high three-quarters to overhand release point that involves some late head movement off the plate. His fastball is routinely in the 88-92 mph range with good late life. A key for Kirk this spring lies in the improvement in his curveball, an upper-70s pitch that can be sharp and nasty, at times, with very good two-plane break. Kirk's changeup is also a nice pitch, but he doesn't have to use it much at the high-school level. It should be a weapon at the next level, however. Kirk also plays right field for Owasso and has prospect tools with the bat, and might even be a two-way player at Oklahoma in the event he does not sign first.--DAVID RAWNSLEY |
| UPDATE (5/15): Kirk led Owasso to yet another Oklahoma state title this spring, and was the winning pitcher in three of the team's six playoff victories, including the championship game. On the season, he went 9-1, 0.45 with 21 walks and 111 strikeouts in 62 innings. Kirk pitched at 88-90 mph all spring and had a quality three-pitch mix. He doesn't project to have a plus fastball at the next level as he lacks projection in his strong, mature body.--DR |
| |
| 110. |
Josh Spence |
LHP |
Jr. |
L-L |
6-1 |
170 |
Arizona State |
Victoria, Australia |
D'backs '08 (25) |
1/22/1988 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE (3/1): Scouts were reluctant to buy into Spence as a legitimate prospect, even as he was thoroughly dominant in two years as a starter at Central Arizona JC. With a fastball that was customarily in the 80-84 mph range, he simply didn’t profile as a big-league prospect. But now that he has achieved success at the major Division I level and bumped up his velocity 3-4 mph, the realization has set in that Spence is the real deal, that he can pitch at a high level—that he could even become one of the first 100 players drafted this year. With excellent feel and command, a relentless, never-give-in approach, and his ability to throw any pitch in any count, Spence has become the college version of Philadelphia Phillies aging lefthander Jamie Moyer. His pitchability and uncanny knack for commanding his secondary stuff may be the equal of, or better than any college southpaw in the 2009 draft. To scouts and college coaches who have seen Spence for three years, his dominating performance to start the 2009 at ASU was nothing new. Central Arizona won the Arizona junior-college title for the second year in a row in 2008 and no one was more responsible for the team’s success both years than the slightly-built Spence, who posted near-identical numbers both seasons. As a sophomore, he was 14-4, 1.69 with seven saves, eight shutouts, and 16 complete games in 17 starts. In 139 innings, he allowed 109 hits and 19 walks while striking out 178. A year earlier, the Australian lefthander also spun eight shutouts with 16 complete games in fashioning a 13-3, 1.10 record with 149 strikeouts in 130 innings, while allowing just 86 hits and 24 walks. Even though he assembled those numbers in wood-bat competition, he made a seamless transition to aluminum once he moved on to Arizona State for his junior year. While Spence may not be a legitimate prospect in the true sense of the word because of his below-average fastball, the crafty southpaw more than makes up for his lack of velocity with exquisite command of four pitches to any part of the plate, along with the savvy mindset of a veteran pitcher. He is a master at getting hitters off balance, and few square him up consistently. He further upsets hitters’ timing with an unconventional pause in his delivery. Base runners are also vulnerable to Spence’s deceptive tactics as he has an outstanding pickoff move. Scouts and opposing coaches routinely praise Spence’s makeup and character, saying he will do everything he can to be successful. Almost no one gave the little lefty a chance to play pro ball when he arrived in the United States with a mission to do just that, and he is in the process of proving almost everyone wrong.—ALLAN SIMPSON |
| UPDATE (5/15): Spence not only got off to a fast start this spring in his transition to Division I competition, but he settled in quickly as ASU's No. 2 starter behind ace righthander Mike Leake. As the Sun Devils moved to within a step of a berth in the 2009 College World Series, Spence was a solid 8-1, 2.37 with 24 walks and 99 strikeouts in 80 innings. Even at a faster level of competition and facing aluminum bats for the first time, the crafty little lefthander showed, once and for all, that he belonged. He was masterful in keeping hitters off balance by throwing backwards, by throwing at different angles with a different tempo, by adding and subtracting on all his pitches. Scouts said there wasn't a pitcher in the country this spring who could match Spence's combination of pitchability and the ability to command his secondary pitches. All that's left now is to prove his unassuming style works at the major-league level.--AS |
| |
| |
| 111. |
Jonathan Meyer |
RHP/SS |
Sr. |
R-R |
6-1 |
195 |
Simi Valley |
Simi Valley, Calif. |
Cal State Fullerton |
11/1/1990 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE (3/1): Southern California scouts are sure to be confused on occasion this spring as there are two high-school seniors named Jonathan Meyer that have hopes of being drafted. One is a righthander/shortstop at Simi Valley High; the other a righthander at Cathedral Catholic High in San Diego. The former is considered the superior talent, but the confusion doesn't end there. Scouts believe that Meyer's greater value is on the mound and say he would be ranked significantly higher if Meyer viewed himself more as a pitcher. However, Meyer is a multi-position prospect who plays shortstop for his high-school team, was primarily an infielder for USA Baseball's junior-national team last summer and is projected as a potential third baseman or catcher as a position player. Moreover, Meyer has clearly stated that he will not sign as a pitcher out of high school and will honor his commitment to Cal State Fullerton if drafted in that role. As a position player, Meyer is a switch-hitter with a much more advanced swing from his natural right side. He has gap power from the right side with the promise of more to come. His best defensive tool is his arm strength, which plays above average at any position-even on the mound. His weakest tool, which is what keeps scouts from considering him primarily a position prospect at this time, is his running speed, which is well below-average. On the mound, Meyer pounds the strike zone with a 90-93 mph fastball and has a smooth, easy delivery and arm action that enables him to keep the ball down in the zone. He throws an 80-mph power curveball with a sharp, late break that is nasty at times, and a strikeout pitch.--DAVID RAWNSLEY |
| UPDATE (5/15): Scouts warmed up to Meyer this spring as they grew comfortable with the fact that Meyer (a.) has no interest in pitching, and (b.) profiles very well at either third base or catcher, and grades out as a potential top-5 round pick at those positions. Meyer is a polished defender with plus arm strength from shortstop and soft, sure hands, but his well-below average speed will necessitate a position switch from shortstop. He continued to switch-hit this spring and made progress from the left side, although he still has significantly more power righthanded. Meyer also gets high marks for his baseball instincts and overall approach to the game.--DR |