| 112. |
A.J. Morris |
RHP |
Jr. |
R-R |
6-2 |
200 |
Kansas State |
Humble, Texas |
Never drafted |
12/1/1986 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE (3/1): After posting a combined 8-6, 4.95 record with 43 walks and only 60 strikeouts in three seasons at Kansas State, including a red-shirt year in 2006, Morris was one of the more pleasant surprises last summer in the West Coast League. He pitched considerably better than his 1-3, 3.21 record as he topped the circuit with 57 strikeouts in 53 innings, while walking 21 and allowing 41 hits. His fastball, only 86-87 mph in the spring as a mid-week starter for Kansas State, quickly moved to 89-92 mph at Moses Lake and was topping out at 93-94 late in the summer. A sharp-breaking curve gave him a solid second pitch, and his two-pitch assortment generally was sufficient enough that he rarely called on his changeup. He exerted little effort in his loose, lanky frame, and had an effective downhill trajectory in his delivery. If anything, Morris may just need to get bigger and stronger to maintain his velocity better deeper into games if he is to remain a starter. Morris had plenty of Northwest scouts scratching their heads last summer, wondering how a pitcher with his ability could have been passed over last June as a draft-eligible sophomore. Several made a concerted effort to try and sign him as a free agent before he returned to Kansas State, but Morris was determined not to sign for a chance to step in as the Friday starter in 2009 at Kansas State. He easily secured the Friday job in the fall with his 88-92 mph fastball, the best breaking ball on the Wildcats staff and his near-flawless delivery. After being mostly an afterthought in 2008, considerably grander things are expected of Morris in 2009.--ALLAN SIMPSON |
| UPDATE (5/15): If it weren't for San Diego State's Stephen Strasburg and possibly Arizona State's Mike Leake, Morris would be the leading candidate for national pitcher-of-the-year honors, especially after leading KSU to easily the best year in school history. Morris finished with a scintillating 14-1, 2.09 record, walking 30 and striking out 100 in 116 innings. Week-after-week, he matched up against elite arms in the Big 12, and ironically his only loss came against Texas Tech, one of the league's weaker clubs. A classic sinker/slider pitcher, Morris pounded the bottom of the strike zone with an 88-91 mph fastball that had consistent, hard, sinking action. Morris allowed only four home runs in his 16 starts this spring. His biggest area of improvement came in tightening his slider. It had a tighter, harder break in the zone and was especially effective against righthanded hitters. His command was also much better. Morris fields his position exceptionally well, a critical factor when he induces as many ground balls as he does. Morris rarely threw his changeup, his pitch to get lefthanded hitters out in the past, and often went whole games without using the pitch, so scouts have little feel for his ability to throw that pitch. Another concern was Morris' heavy workload. He threw three games with 139-141 pitch counts, and topped 115 pitches nine times. Morris also turns 23 in December, so his clock is ticking--DAVID RAWNSLEY |
| |
| 113. |
James Jones |
LHP |
Jr. |
L-L |
6-3 |
180 |
Long Island |
Brooklyn, N.Y. |
Never drafted |
9/9/1988 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE (3/1): After posting an uninspiring 4-4, 4.91 record with 83 base runners (54 hits, 29 walks) in 51 innings as a sophomore at Long Island, Jones ranked as somewhat of a surprise selection as the Northwoods League's top pitching prospect last summer. One scout compared Jones to veteran big-league lefty Darren Oliver for his size, stuff and easy delivery. Jones' fastball sat in the 90-93 mph range, and in some outings he touched 95. Not only is such velocity impressive for a lefty, but it was even more impressive for how easily he threw his fastball. While Jones also has good feel for a slider, he never threw it prior to 2008 and it needs to be tightened up significantly for it to become a legitimate pitch, for it to replace his changeup as a No. 2 offering. He also needs to work on his strike-zone command, although that isn't uncommon at this stage for a two-way player. In addition to his pitching duties in the Northwoods League, Jones also saw regular work in the outfield and hit .296-1-15. He pitched primarily out of the bullpen for Waterloo last summer, striking out 58 in 40 innings while walking 20. Overall, he went 5-2, 2.45 with two saves in 23 appearances. Given the way Jones can maintain his velocity deep into games and coupled with the looseness to his delivery, his future value probably lies in a starting role. Jones has improved by leaps and bounds, both as a pitcher and position player, since going undrafted and largely unrecruited out of a Brooklyn high school in 2006. Having worked fewer than 80 innings in high school, he started his college career with a very fresh arm. He also was a mere 140 pounds at the time, but has since added 50 pounds to his lanky athletic frame, and gotten much stronger-mainly through a strength and conditioning program, and a rigorous long-tossing regimen. Over his career, he has added 10-12 mph to his velocity. He has played both ways throughout his career at Long Island, and earned all-Northeast Conference honors as a sophomore outfielder by hitting .309-5-28. Remarkably, he led his team with 19 stolen bases and 61 strikeouts (as a pitcher), a sign of his wide range of athletic skills.--PATRICK EBERT / ALLAN SIMPSON |
| UPDATE (5/15): It may be a hard sell for a scout at any level in any organization to convince his general manager (and even ownership) to spend significant bonus money, possibly close to seven figures, on a player with Jones' resume. He went a woeful 1-9, 7.40 this spring for Long Island, allowing 122 base runners (94 H, 28 BB) in 60 innings, while fanning 64. He was all over the place with his delivery, working from multiple arm slots, and his stuff and velocity were wildly inconsistent. It was readily evident that he had not had a lot of pitching instruction. But as rough a spring as Jones had, he still showed flashes of his considerable upside. He had an exceptionally quick arm and his fastball would occasionally reach 94 mph-significant velocity for an athletic lefthander, no matter what the results might say. Jones also played center field for his college team, batted .364-9-32 as a leadoff hitter and stole 20 bases in 23 attempts, earning all-Northeast Conference honors as a position player. He showed projectable power, sound plate discipline and passable outfield skills. As a position player alone, he would project as a third- to fourth-round talent. But scouts see considerably more upside in his lively left arm, and predict he could begin to thrive in a pro environment as soon as he gets quality instruction and concentrates on pitching only. Jones would often come into games this spring directly from center field, and still heave his fastball at 92-93 mph without benefit of warming up. He also showed signs of a decent breaking ball and changeup, but both were below average. He lacked feel for pitching and his mechanics, in particular, were extremely raw and his command suffered noticeably. There's plenty to dream on with Jones, though, and as the most-obvious high-risk, high-reward talent in the entire draft, he will no doubt be a significant test case for scouts.--AS |
| |
| 114. |
Keyvius Sampson |
RHP |
Sr. |
R-R |
6-1 |
180 |
Ocala Forest |
Ocala, Fla. |
Florida State |
1/6/1991 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE (3/1): Sampson burst onto the national scene in the fall of 2006, as a young high-school sophomore, when he played in the World Wood Bat Association fall underclassman championship, his first WWBA event, and was the hands-down choice as Most Valuable Player. Sampson threw his fastball up to 92 mph at that event, and also stood out as an athletic center fielder and leadoff hitter. Sampson has not gained much velocity since then, consistently pitching in the 90-92 mph area at numerous events, but has shown the ability to bump up his velocity to 92-94 when given the opportunity to throw out of the bullpen, and not when coming in from center field, such as he did at the Aflac All-American Game last August. Sampson has a fast-paced delivery with a very quick arm stroke, and while he has some effort in his release, his athletic ability enables him to repeat his mechanics very well and throw consistent strikes. Sampson shows very good feel for both his mid-70s curveball and 80-mph changeup. The spin on his curveball is hard and tight, and he gets a big 10-to-4 type of break on the pitch. He doesn't throw his changeup much now but it has a chance to be a very good pitch for him in time. Getting more movement on his fastball will be one thing that Sampson will make a point of working on at the next level. Sampson threw 71 innings as a junior, posting a 10-2, 1.49 record with 123 strikeouts in 71 innings. He also hit .368-2-11. Sampson's enthusiasm for the game is readily apparent as he is the type of player who is emotionally into every game he plays; Perfect Game scouts fondly remember him on the occasions when he acted as his team's batboy and chief cheerleader, even when he's pitching and would normally be sitting on the bench resting.--DAVID RAWNSLEY |
| UPDATE (5/15): Sampson had a solid senior season (7-0, 1.00, 94 SO/12 BB in 49 IP), drawing a crowd of area scouts and cross-checkers to each of his games. Most teams consider him in the 2nd-3rd round area, but it’s possible someone may jump him earlier. Sampson has a very quick arm and continued to live in the 90-93 mph area this spring with good two-seam action on his fastball. He also showed the makings of a solid-average major-league curveball, as well, and good pitchability for a high schooler. Some scouts have expressed a concern with his frame. Sampson has a build more reminiscent of an NBA point guard than a pitcher. It’s athletic, but he’s small in the core and lower-half, which are what drive a pitcher and keep strain off the arm. Some have likened his body to an African-American version of Roy Oswalt, plus a couple inches in height.—ANUP SINHA |
| |
| 115. |
Zach Dodson |
LHP |
Sr. |
L-L |
6-2 |
180 |
Medina Valley |
Natalia, Texas |
Baylor |
7/23/1990 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE: Dodson received top-5 round interest this spring on the basis of his fast left arm, and a fastball that touched 93-94 mph frequently. He’s not close to being a polished product, and will have to make significant adjustments to his delivery in order to develop the command to succeed at the next level. Dodson lands on a hard front side on release, which contributed to 39 walks in 64 innings this spring, though he also had 129 strikeouts and posted a 10-0, 1.20 record with two 2 saves. In addition to his fastball, he throws a curve in the low- to mid-70s that has good shape and spin when he stays on top of it, and has the makings a decent changeup. Dodson is a very good athlete and also excelled at the plate. He was his team’s top hitter (.462-11-52). In time, he should be able to make many of the necessary adjustments to his mechanics to bring his command in line with his stuff. --DAVID RAWNSLEY |
| |
| 116. |
Randy Henry |
RHP/SS |
Fr. |
R-R |
6-1 |
170 |
South Mountain CC |
Arnett, Okla. |
Never drafted |
5/10/1990 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE (3/1): As a pitcher/shortstop at Oklahoma's Arnett High, Henry was a two-way prospect of some renown entering his senior season. He hit .633 with seven homers and 16 stolen bases as a junior, while going 7-1, 0.81 with 107 strikeouts. But he injured his elbow on a relay throw in a game in mid-September of 2007 and subsequently was forced to undergo Tommy John surgery. The injury significantly compromised his 2008 season as he spent most of the spring playing second base. It also took him out of draft consideration and prompted him to change direction in his pursuit of a career at the college level. Henry had initially committed to Texas Tech, but chose instead to attend South Mountain CC to make him eligible for this year's draft. Henry's primary contribution initially as a junior-college freshman was as an offensive-oriented second baseman, but he soon worked his way back to the mound in the fall and it was evident immediately that he had something special to offer as a pitcher. Even as he was brought slowly to start the 2009 season, working mostly in short bursts in relief, his fastball was a steady 94-95 mph and his mechanics were loose and easy. He was quickly run up draft boards in February and March to a point he had become the No. 1 must-see player for scouts in the rich Arizona juco ranks. Henry still holds some appeal as a position player because of his athletic actions in the field, but most scouts saw mechanical faults in his approach to hitting and viewed him as a good college-level hitter only. To scouts, it was all about the arm.--ALLAN SIMPSON |
| UPDATE (5/15): For all the buzz this spring about Henry, he worked in only 11 innings at the junior-college level—mainly in an inconsequential set-up role, but as a closer late in the season. It was apparent all along that he was just being brought back slowly, to get a feel again for pitching, but the limited exposure was plenty for scouts to draw conclusions about Henry’s potential upside on the mound. He seldom threw anything but his fastball, but the ball exploded out of his hand. Henry has a slider and change that are both in the low- to mid-80s a work in progress. His 0-0, 0.52 record with five walks and five hits allowed, vs. 11 strikeouts, was incidental to the stuff he displayed. He spent the bulk of the spring playing shortstop, and hit .364-1-31 while tying for the team lead with 12 stolen bases.--AS |
| |
| 117. |
Jason Stoffel |
RHP |
Jr. |
R-R |
6-2 |
215 |
Arizona |
Agoura, Calif. |
Never drafted |
9/15/1988 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE (3/1): The back-end of Arizona's pitching staff was so deep and talented in 2008 that it featured two first-rounders, lefthander Daniel Schlereth and righthander Ryan Perry, as set-up men. The closer role belonged to the dominating Stoffel-an even surer bet to be a first-rounder this year than Schlereth and Perry were a year ago. Between them, the trio worked in 99 games while striking out 227 in 178 innings and limiting opponents to a .193 average. Stoffel fanned 79 hitters in 48 innings on his own while going 4-2, 3.00 and saving 13 games. The 6-foot-2, 215-pound righthander is a true power-armed pitcher He is very intimidating on the mound with a fastball that sits in the mid-90s and has topped out to 98. He complements his fastball with a hard, downer curveball that projects to be a potential put-away pitch down the road as well. His changeup is also a plus pitch. Though he has a solid three-pitch mix normally found in a starter, Stoffel is ideally suited to close, both now and in the big leagues, because he has a nasty, aggressive demeanor on the mound and a no-fear, pressure-resistant makeup. He also has an exceptional feel for pitching. Though he wasn't drafted in 2006 out of a California high school and was overshadowed in the process by teammate Robert Stock, now at USC, Stoffel has made greater strides in college and more than likely will be the superior draft of the two. Though his body is fairly mature, he has a smooth, easy delivery and the ball comes out of his hand with little effort.--ALLAN SIMPSON |
| UPDATE (5/15): Of all the college players who seemed like sure bets to go in the first round this year, Stoffel may have taken the most-pronounced dip. Not only has the first round apparently passed him by, but it may be a push to pop him by the third round-and only by a team that saw him on the right day. Without Perry and Schlereth as his front men this year, Stoffel simply didn't perform to the same level or flash the same dominant stuff that was so evident in 2008. He made 39 appearances for the Wildcats and went 2-1, 4.67 with 11 saves, but he struck out only 55 in 54 innings, while walking 25. He showed flashes of his former stuff with a fastball that would occasionally reach 94-96 mph, but it was more commonly in the low-90s (especially on the second day of back-to-back outings) and flat as the sinking action that defined the pitch in 2008 was missing. His breaking pitch, a hard, power curve with depth and a true swing-and-miss pitch a year ago, became more of a loopy, run-of-the-mill breaking ball. Stoffel's command was not as crisp, either, as he made a habit of missing his target by 2-3 inches-and became more hittable. He often worked more than the standard one inning associated with the closer role as the Wildcats didn't have a reliable arm this spring to get to him, but the bottom line is he was nowhere near as dominant this season. --AS |
| |
| 118. |
Mycal Jones |
OF |
So. |
R-R |
5-10 |
175 |
Miami-Dade JC |
Jacksonville, Fla. |
Never drafted |
5/30/1987 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE (3/1): Jones wasn't on the radar at the start of the 2009 season, and was initially thought to be a speed- and defense-oriented player when he enrolled at Miami-Dade last fall. But he started off the 2009 season with a bang at the plate and on the bases, and quickly emerged as an early-round candidate for this year's draft. Jones is much older than the typical college sophomore as he'll turn 22 just before the draft. He went undrafted out of Jacksonville's Wolfson High in 2006, began his college career at the University of North Florida and showed promise as a freshman by hitting .273-3-33 in 216 at-bats. But he was academically ineligible and didn't play in 2008, prompting him to transfer to a junior college for the 2009 season. He was one of a number of significant transfers to end up at Miami-Dade-and may end up being the most prominent in this year's draft. Scouts took an immediate shine to him, even though some are not sure his impressive power display in the early going will translate to wood against professional pitching. Jones doesn't generate a lot of bat speed or raw power, but has shown the ability to make adjustments with his hands and lift the ball out of the park with aluminum with relative ease. He is small-framed and doesn't have much room for physical projection, but is a plus runner (65 on the standard 20-80 scouting scale) with a base-stealing gear. He also has the athletic ability and actions to play a number of positions on the field, including shortstop, second base, third base and the outfield. Scouts are torn where to profile him at the professional level, yet some believe that Jones has the actions to become a solid everyday shortstop. His feet are quick and he appears to have the range needed for the position. Though Jones' arm strength is a little shy, he has a short release and the ability to throw off-balance and from different positions. It is also easy to envision Jones as a plus defensive second baseman or outfielder. Some teams may look at him as early as the second round and there are reasons to believe Jones won't last much further than that, despite his somewhat advanced age.--ANUP SINHA / ALLAN SIMPSON |
| UPDATE (5/15): Jones finished the 2009 season with huge numbers, hitting .446-12-48. But Miami-Dade, Florida’s top team during the regular season, pulled up short of a trip to the Junior College World Series by losing at the Florida junior-college tournament. With Miami-Dade’s season over on May 10, it freed up Jones to work out with scouts for a full four weeks before the draft. He had already impressed them with his speed and instincts on the bases, and his bat speed. Some scouts even likened him to Los Angeles Angels utilityman Chone Figgins. Jones’ defense at shortstop has continued to improve, but some scouts still see him as a center fielder at the next level.--ANUP / AS |
| |
| 119. |
Mark Fleury |
C |
Jr. |
L-R |
6-1 |
200 |
North Carolina |
Roswell, Ga. |
Never drafted |
5/4/1988 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE (3/1): Fleury went to the Cape Cod League last summer as a backup catcher, and came off the bench to deliver two of the biggest hits of the 2008 Cape season. As a reserve for the Eastern Division team in the league's all-star game, Fleury drilled a game-winning, two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth inning to lift the East to an 8-6 win over the West. He outdid himself in the final game of the season when he came on as a pinch-hitter in the bottom of the ninth with Harwich trailing Cotuit 1-0 in Game Two of the league's championship series. With the bases loaded and none out, Fleury took two 95-mph fastballs for strikes from Cotuit's fireballing closer Drew Storen before drilling the next offering to the base of the wall in right-center field to drive in the tying and winning runs as Harwich rallied to win the league title, its first in 23 years. Fleury spent the early part of the summer as a backup to Santa Clara's Tommy Medica, who hit .352-0-16 vs. Fleury's .238-2-14. The righthanded-hitting Medica, who caught for Team USA's college-national squad a year earlier, earned most of the playing time initially, but Fleury was doing more of the catching by the end of the season. Generally, Medica caught whenever an opposing lefthander was working and, appropriately, he was behind the plate in the final game of the season against Cotuit lefty Nick Hernandez, the league's top winner. But Fleury got his chance to play when the Kettleers made a move to Storen in the ninth, and he made the most of it. Fleury also served as an understudy during the 2008 college season at North Carolina to Tar Heels regular catcher Tim Federowicz, who went on to become a seventh-round pick in the draft in June. Though he started only 16 games behind the plate, Fleury served as UNC's DH in 23 more contests and played in 61 games in all, hitting .275-3-25. A year earlier, he got just seven at-bats. Fleury has a short, direct stroke to the ball from the left side and generates above-average raw power. But he's vulnerable to good breaking stuff, and especially vulnerable against lefthanders as most of his at-bats in 2008 came against righthanded pitching. His arm strength is his best asset behind the plate, though his solidly-built frame is ideally suited to the physical demands of catching on a regular basis. Though Fleury got plenty of attention for his two big hits on the summer, and generally improved his value for the 2009 draft for his overall body of work, he'll need to convince scouts in the spring that his receiving and blocking skills are at a level that warrant his becoming a full-time catcher at the next level, and his ability to hit lefthanders isn't an obstacle to playing against all kinds of pitching. With the catching job for the Tar Heels finally all his, he'll get every opportunity to prove his worth.--ALLAN SIMPSON |
| UPDATE (5/15): A regular behind the plate for the first time in his career this spring, Fleury responded by hitting .315-12-59 as the Tar Heels advanced to the College World Series for the fourth straight year, and third in Fleury’s time with the team. He also handled a pitching staff that was in the process of leading the nation in strikeouts for the second year in a row. While Fleury’s offensive production was significant and he was a solid middle-of-the-order threat for the Tar Heels, it came at a cost as Fleury struck out a club-leading 63 times, a red flag. His arm strength proved to be a solid asset as the team’s regular catcher, but his receiving skills were called into question when he struggled, at times, in handling the superior stuff on the UNC pitching staff. Even though his inconsistency was evident, his raw tools at a premium position should insure him going in the first five rounds.—JEFF SIMPSON |
| |
| 120. |
Edwin Gomez |
SS |
Sr. |
B-R |
6-4 |
170 |
PR Baseball Academy |
Gurabo, P.R. |
|
8/26/1991 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE: Gomez has been the fastest-riser among Puerto Rican prospects in the last 2-3 months, especially as scouts have accepted the idea that he is not a shortstop. He is now seen more as an outfielder in the Alex Rios mold, though may be a little more raw at the same stage. Gomez is an excellent runner for his size (6.6 seconds in the 60 at the Excellence Games). His actions are not suited for the middle infield and his arm strength is fringy at present, but if he can maintain his speed as he fills out his long and lanky frame, he could easily move to center field or left field. Gomez’ most projectable tool is his bat. He has power from both sides of the plate—with a bit more from the left side at present—and even hit home runs from both sides of the plate at the Excellence Games. He does a good job of handling the bat head for a long-limbed hitter and can consistently drive the ball into the gaps.--DAVID RAWNSLEY |
| |
| 121. |
Kent Matthes |
OF |
Sr. |
R-R |
6-3 |
220 |
Alabama |
Orlando, Fla. |
Never drafted |
1/8/1987 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE (3/1): Through his junior year at Alabama, Matthes had never been drafted because he didn't have one tool that truly stood out. He didn't have a weakness, either-other than his tendency to swing and miss at an elevated pace. He hit an acceptable .303-11-52 in 2008, showing hard contact to all fields, but he also struck out 53 times while walking on just 15 occasions-an unacceptable ratio. When it's all clicking at the plate for Matthes, he can turn on balls consistently. He did so on a regular basis late in the 2008 season, and it was readily apparent early in the 2009 campaign that he was locked in as he went on a significant home-run barrage for the Crimson Tide. It was evident to scouts immediately that Matthes was on a mission this year to raise his profile, to finally get drafted. He changed his approach at the plate and was a more mature, disciplined hitter. He wasn't chasing balls like he had in the past, and he was staying back on breaking balls much better. More than anything, he finally appeared to have matured as a hitter as a senior. He seemed to understand his swing much better, though it still was a little long at times. The game seemed to slow down for Matthes more than it had in the past. He is strong and athletic, though he remains a little stiff and rigid in his actions. His speed, right-field arm strength and defensive actions are all acceptable tools.--ALLAN SIMPSON |
| UPDATE (5/15): Matthes started fast in 2009, and didn’t slow down. As Alabama entered NCAA regional play in late May, he was tied for the national lead with 27 homers. He also topped the Crimson Tide with a .365 average, 65 runs and 81 RBIs, and shared the club lead with 13 stolen bases. It was quite a turnaround for Matthes, who suddenly found himself the attention of national cross-checkers and a serious candidate to go in the first 3-4 rounds—possibly higher to a team that places a premium on performance. Without question, he was on the short list of the most attractive senior signs in the entire draft. There were some scouts who thought Matthes was the best hitter in the state when he was a freshman, and it was apparent to them that his power stroke returned after a two-year hiatus. He just learned to be more patient and disciplined this year, and looked for pitches he could drive—even against some of the best arms in the SEC.—AS |
| |
| 122. |
Chris Dwyer |
LHP |
Fr. |
R-L |
6-4 |
200 |
Clemson |
Swampscott, Mass. |
Yankees '08 (36) |
4/10/1988 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE (3/1): Dwyer is in the unique position of being eligible for the baseball draft as a college freshman. In the 44-year history of the event, no other known true freshman who played in the season leading up to the draft has ever been eligible. The trick for Dwyer will be in deciding the optimum time to come out since he would be eligible for every draft throughout his career at Clemson. It will give him leverage never previously afforded any player in college history. It's entirely possible that Dwyer may decide not to come out this year, no matter where he's drafted, and that scenario could leave teams in a quandary as they ascertain whether to risk an early-round pick-possibly even a valued first-round choice-and get burned in the process. Teams will have to get a clear indication he's signable before drafting him. Based on his performance in fall competition for the Tigers, when he was dominant with a solid three-pitch mix that included a steady 91-92 mph fastball which peaked at 94, and a hammer curveball, he should generate a considerable buzz in the scouting community as a freshman. Beyond his superior stuff and command, he's been praised as much for his poise and mental toughness. But to suggest that the 6-foot-4, 215-pound Dwyer may be capable of pitching at a level beyond his years as a freshman would only be partially correct as the Connecticut prep product began the 2009 season at 20 years old-and turns 21 on April 10. He's effectively the same age as most college juniors. Dwyer is in the unique position of being a draft-eligible freshman because he repeated two grades, ostensibly to bolster his athletic and academic credentials. Both his older sisters followed the same path, and earned athletic scholarships. Dwyer was held back a grade in elementary school and also repeated his junior year of high school while in the process of transferring from St. Mary's School near his hometown in Swampscott, Mass., to The Salisbury School in neighboring Connecticut. Dwyer thoroughly dominated subpar private-school competition in New England as a senior, registering a number of high-strikeout games with only an 88-91 mph fastball that peaked at 93, and his breaking ball that became a harder, tighter, better pitch as the spring progressed. He added 4-5 mph in velocity to his curveball from start to finish. Interestingly, it was ostensibly more for football purposes that the multi-talented Dwyer chose both to transfer and repeat his junior year of high school. He believed he would enhance his chances of securing a scholarship to a major Division I school by waiting a year, and he went on to earn all-New England honors for his quarterback play as a senior. Dwyer was hardly an unknown commodity to baseball scouts, though, as he went 7-0, 0.07 with 83 strikeouts in 41 innings as a senior last spring, and played alongside shortstop Anthony Hewitt, who was selected in the first round of last year's draft by the Philadelphia Phillies. Baseball became a greater priority for Dwyer at his new school, and he became a dynamic two-way player by hitting .470-5-45 as a center fielder in his final year, in addition to his prowess on the mound. Dwyer almost certainly would have been drafted as high as the fourth or fifth rounds last June had he been willing to accept a slot bonus in the $300,000 to $400,000 range. He might have gone even higher had scouts been able to establish a greater comfort level with his signability. But with a unique leverage opportunity hanging in the balance by attending Clemson for even one year, Dwyer knew a much larger payday might be in the works down the road. As a result, Dwyer fell to the 38th round, where he was drafted by the New York Yankees, who made little effort to sign him-especially after he didn't play at all during the summer because of a stress fracture in his left shin.--ALLAN SIMPSON |
| UPDATE (5/15): Because of his unique status as a draft-eligible freshman, Dwyer was under the microscope from the start this spring. He responded brilliantly initially in allowing only two hits in his first 12 innings. He came back to earth a little after that and his pitching line was a more modest 4-5, 5.30 with 29 walks and 75 strikeouts in 77 innings as Clemson entered NCAA tournament play. For the most part, Dwyer's fastball sat comfortably in the 88-92 range and peaked at 94-mostly in his earlier starts. The pitch that more excited scouts, though, was his dynamic high-70s curveball, which often dominated college hitters and clearly was one of the best breaking balls in the country when he commanded it. An average changeup gave him three quality big-league pitches. While Dwyer clearly has the talent to go late in the first round, though more likely in the sandwich area, questions about his signability persisted all spring. If teams ascertain he might be better off coming back to school for another year, if only to improve on his modest performance, he could plummet in the draft-only to possibly resurface as a legit first-rounder a year from now.--JEFF SIMPSON |
| |
| 123. |
Max Stassi |
C |
Sr. |
R-R |
5-10 |
190 |
Yuba City |
Yuba City, Calif. |
UCLA |
3/15/1991 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE (3/1): Stassi could easily lay claim to being the top performer in the high-school class of 2009 if his entire body of work in high school is considered. Along with starring for various USA Baseball national junior (18-and-under) and youth teams (16-and-under) over the past three summers, Stassi has put together three outstanding spring seasons: .580-9-44 (freshman), .461-5-35 (sophomore) and .471-15-45 (junior). His impact bat is his most obvious tool, but he is a very polished player overall who has grown up in a baseball environment, playing for his father Jim, the head coach at Yuba City High and a former pro who reached Triple-A, and alongside talented brothers Brock and Jake. Stassi's advanced ability to play the game and his lack of size tend to overshadow his otherwise outstanding tools. He's a 6.80 runner and has top-level arm strength capable of producing consistent 1.8-1.9 pop times in games. Stassi's hands work extremely well at the plate and he keeps his swing short and quick. Some scouts have compared Stassi to long-time big leaguer Jason Kendall as an overall catching prospect. The comparisons are appropriate as Kendall came from an intense baseball background, including a big-league dad, and was a California high-school player picked in the first round after a record-setting career. Stassi, however, appears to have more power potential at the plate.--DAVID RAWNSLEY |
| UPDATE (5/15): Stassi had his normal exceptional spring, leading a strong Yuba City High team to a 26-3 record, while hitting .539-10-36. He has gained about 15 pounds of muscle over the last year, which has solidified his bat speed and power potential. It may have also contributed to a persistent case of right shoulder tendonitis, which hampered Stassi's throwing all spring and caused him to DH for several games in the middle of the spring. Stassi is one of the ultimate baseball rats and can talk the baseball game like a veteran scout. One scout remarked recently that Stassi is as close to a sure thing as you will ever find in a high-school player because of his makeup, passion for baseball and ability to hit. The Boston Red Sox have the 27th pick this year, and are known to be extremely high on Stassi-to a point that GM Theo Epstein flew to the West Coast May 19, along with other Red Sox front office members, to watch Stassi play in person. The question may be, with such an unsettled first round this year, whether Stassi may even get to the 27th pick.--DAVID RAWNSLEY |
| |
| 124. |
Andrew Doyle |
RHP |
Jr. |
R-R |
6-3 |
210 |
Oklahoma |
Rock Island, Ill. |
Nationals '06 (39) |
11/12/1987 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE: Even though he had sound credentials from high school (14-1 as a senior), summer ball (4-1, 2.83 in the Cape Cod League in 2007) and his first two seasons at OU, Doyle never really seemed to register with scouts until this year. He steadily grew on them all spring to a point that he could be a surprisingly-high draft, perhaps by the third or fourth rounds. He became the type of pitcher that scouts comfortably wrote up as a "50" (in their on-field performance grade on the standard 20-80 scale), meaning that Doyle grades out at major-league average-and he does so across the board with his pitches, command and movement. Doyle's fastball showed more zip this spring than in the past, and regularly touched 93 mph. In his best outing of the 2009 season against Baylor, he even reached 95. Generally, he worked at 90-91 and maintained his velocity despite a heavy workload in an offensive-oriented OU environment. He went 8-4, 4.21 on the season, with 23 walks and 65 strikeouts in a staff-high 92 innings. His slider and changeup were both quality secondary pitches that project to average at the big-league level, and Doyle has the pitching aptitude to mix them up and throw them all for strikes. His biggest improvement this season, and the single biggest factor in his enhanced draft value came with his command. He walked 42 in 2008 (nearly double his total this season), while leading the Sooners staff in wins (9), innings (99) and strikeouts (72). --DAVID RAWNSLEY / ALLAN SIMPSON |
| |
| 125. |
Kyle Bellows |
3B |
Jr. |
R-R |
6-3 |
200 |
San Jose State |
San Jose, Calif. |
Never drafted |
8/19/1988 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE (3/1): Bellows showed all indications of being an early-round pick as early as 2007, when he started the college season at San Jose State as a first baseman and finished it by earning freshman All-America honors as a shortstop. He hit .343-6-47. He was also the best overall player in the New England Collegiate League that summer-he ranked No. 2 overall as a prospect to San Diego State righthander Stephen Strasburg, then at Torrington-and his versatility was seen as one of his main selling points, though most scouts who saw him play shortstop said he lacked the footwork and speed to remain there in the long run. His likely destination at the time appeared to be third base, or even the outfield, but he showed all indications of being a productive enough offensive player to handle a move to any position. He even won the Home Run Derby at the NECBL all-star game, and there were indications he would hit for even more power as he filled out his frame, though a long swing was a concern to some scouts. His career took an unexpected step back in 2008, however, when he divided his time between shortstop and third base at San Jose State, and hit just .276-4-42. His summer in the Cape Cod League was little better as he batted a soft .204-2-19, while dividing his time in the field between first and third. In 152 at-bats for Chatham, he fanned an alarming 41 times. Scouts saw more ability, though, especially in his power potential, and were willing to write off last summer as just a bad season. But on the heels of an unproductive spring and summer in 2008, Bellows clearly had something to prove in 2009.--ALLAN SIMPSON |
| UPDATE (5/15): Bellows was initially slated to play third this year, but spent the entire season at shortstop. He proved more than adequate there with good agility and arm strength, though scouts still say he profiles more as a third baseman. The most pronounced change in Bellows' game came at the plate. Not only did he regain the form he showed as a freshman, but he was much more productive as he hit a resounding .384-10-54 for a 41-win San Jose State team that won the Western Athletic Conference regular-season crown. He also curbed his strikeouts to 25 in 232 at-bats, and topped the Spartans with 10 stolen bases. It was apparent that he finally exhibited the skills and potential that were there all along. He was much more consistent, both in hitting for average and making contact, along with unleashing his raw power and run-producing potential. It's still a little unclear where he might play defensively in pro ball, but he has shown he can play any position on the diamond. Besides being a strong physical presence this spring at shortstop, his instincts and aptitude for the position were outstanding.--AS |
| |
| 126. |
David Nick |
SS |
Sr. |
R-R |
6-2 |
175 |
Cypress |
Cypress, Calif. |
UCLA |
2/3/1990 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE (3/1): Nick compares favorably to middle infielder Nick Noonan, a supplemental first-round pick of the San Francisco Giants in 2007 out of a southern California high school. The obvious difference is that Nick is a righthanded hitter. Neither player has a singular tool that stands out, but both players have exceptional makeup and feel for the game. Noonan's relatively modest arm strength quickly led to his moving to second base in the pros, and the same scenario will likely happen with Nick. Overall defensively, the only thing keeping Nick from being a high-level shortstop is his arm strength as he moves very easily to both sides and has soft, easy hands. He also has 6.56-second speed in the 60. Nick's hitting mechanics and swing plane are as smooth as you are likely to see in a righthanded hitter, and he almost looks at times like he should be lefthanded. He keeps his hands very quiet, yet has plenty of rhythm and load with his body, creating a quick and consistent cut that drives the ball all over the park. As a junior at Cypress High, he hit .453-6-38 and also drilled 12 doubles and six triples. He also played second base last summer for USA Baseball's junior national team, hitting .267-0-5 at the World Junior championship for the silver medalists. Nick doesn't have true home-run power right now in his slender, middle-infielder's frame, but that could come with time.--DAVID RAWNSLEY |
| UPDATE (5/15): Nick was seen extensively by scouts early in the spring, but the pressure slacked off by the middle of the spring and scouts indicated that Nick was rarely cross-checked in the second half of the spring—not a good sign for a potential top-5 round pick. There is continued concern over Nick’s future position. He doesn’t have the arm strength for shortstop and there are questions whether he will ever fill out his narrow frame and develop the power necessary to play other positions. Another factor is Nick’s age. He is only three months older, for instance, than USC junior Robert Stock, and will be draft-eligible again in 2011 if he was to attend UCLA.—DR |
| |
| 127. |
Angelo Songco |
OF |
Jr. |
L-R |
6-0 |
190 |
Loyola Marymount |
Granada Hills, Calif. |
Never drafted |
9/9/1988 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE (3/1): Songco made Cape Cod League headlines twice in 2008-symbolically in ways that his talent is sometimes defined in the eyes of scouts. He easily won the Home-Run Derby at the league's all-star game, impressing dozens of scouts in attendance with his easy raw power as he drove 13 balls out of the yard, clinching the event with several outs to spare. A couple of weeks later, he had a lazy fly ball clank off his glove, enabling the winning run to score in the 18th inning of an historic 1-0 playoff win by Harwich over Orleans, enabling Harwich to move on to the league's championship series. Though not physically imposing in his slender, wiry 6-foot frame, Songco is strong and athletic, and capable of generating tremendous power with his big hands and powerful wrists. He topped Loyola Marymount with a .356 average as a sophomore, and went on a home-run binge in the final month of the 2008 college season to finish with a team-best 15. He continued to hit with power during the summer, producing eight more long balls for Orleans to finish in a tie for second in the Cape, while hitting .261 overall. He did strike out 44 times in 138 at-bats, however, and may need to cut down on his big swing and develop a better two-strike approach to curb his strikeout total in the future-while also learning to drive balls more consistently the other way to become a more complete hitter. Despite his defensive miscue that led to a sudden, dramatic ending to Orleans' title hopes, Songco is an adequate outfielder-though fielding is the weakest part of his game. He lacks the raw speed to play center field and clearly seemed more comfortable in left when he moved there from center to accommodate speedy Gary Brown, but his defensive ability may have unfortunately been defined by the one play, when he, along with the shortstop and center fielder, converged on a catchable fly ball, only for Songco to call it late, stutter-step clumsily as he approached the ball and have it bounce off his glove as he appeared to have it fully in his grasp.--ALLAN SIMPSON |
| UPDATE (5/15): Songco's best tool is his bat, and he was one of the hottest hitters in the California collegiate ranks this spring. He led Loyola Marymount in virtually every offensive category-average (.362), runs (65), homers (15), RBIs (63), on-base-average (.485) and slugging (.681)-as the school entered the West Coast Conference championship series. In a draft that is thin on proficient, high-end bats, Songco's productive spring did nothing but elevate his stock to a point that he is considered a solid second-rounder. He has a quick, live bat with good extension and the ball jumps off his bat. He generates his power from a slightly-closed, upright stance with a high elbow and hands that are cocked near his helmet. It left him vulnerable to off-speed pitches off the plate, and he topped the Lions with 50 strikeouts in 210 at-bats, but he still made consistent, hard contact with good pop to all fields. His defense was also solid this spring as he routinely got goods jumps on balls in center field, showed solid instincts for outfield play and sure hands. But his arm strength and speed (4.4 seconds down the line) seemed to have slightly regressed from a year ago.--AS |
| |
| 128. |
Daniel Mahoney |
RHP |
So. |
R-R |
6-4 |
205 |
Connecticut |
Brighton, Mass. |
Yankees '07 (16) |
2/17/1988 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE (3/1): Mahoney came on by leaps and bounds last summer in the New England Collegiate League-and pitched much more in keeping with his stature as a 16th-round draft pick of the New York Yankees in 2007 out of a Massachusetts high school. Working strictly in relief for Newport, he went 1-1, 1.66 and saved seven games in 15 appearances. In 22 innings, he walked nine and struck out 36. He fanned seven more in three playoff innings. Mahoney was used exclusively in a starting role as a freshman at UConn and went 0-5, 7.91. In 46 innings, he had team highs of 36 walks, nine hit batters and 22 extra-base hits-and just 30 strikeouts. He thrived in his transition to the bullpen, and it was apparent to Northeast scouts who saw him in both the spring and summer that vastly improved control and an opportunity to air out his big fastball in short bursts were at the root of his turnaround. He didn't necessarily paint corners more consistently with any of his pitches, but did a much better job of getting ahead of hitters early in the count. His fastball was most frequently in the 92-93 mph range, but also topped out at 96 and scouts believe he will pitch at that velocity more often going forward as he fills out his athletic, 6-foot-4 frame and streamlines his mechanics. His fastball was so overpowering, at times, that he got a lot of swings-and-misses high in the strike zone. Mahoney was more than just a one-pitch pitcher, though, as his sharp-breaking, 76-77 mph curve was a solid second pitch. He was at his dominant-best when he had command of that pitch. Mahoney is eligible for the 2009 draft as a 21-year-old sophomore and could easily factor into the top 2-3 rounds if he can repeat his summer success, but teams will need to be wary of his financial demands as money was the primary reason he didn't sign out of high school.--ALLAN SIMPSON |
| UPDATE (5/15): Mahoney was the biggest enigma of any college pitcher (or player) in the Northeast this spring. While his raw stuff was easily the most electric on a UConn staff that could have 4-5 pitchers drafted, the big righthander wasn't used in a meaningful role all season, and worked in just 28 innings. It was apparent from the start that Huskies coaches didn't have faith in him in an end-of-game role as they did junior Dusty Odenbach (2-3, 3.34, 35 IP/48 SO), who was the primary set-up man, and senior David Erickson (0-2, 3.21, 12 SV, 28 IP/33 SO), who was almost exclusively the closer. The ability of Odenbach and Erickson to throw quality strikes consistently contributed to their playing time, while Mahoney's apparent inability to harness his command contributed to his lost season-at least from the standpoint of scouts, who wanted to evaluate him as a closer. Even in his marginalized role, Mahoney still unleashed his big fastball, which was clocked up to 94. His power curve was a second plus pitch. But the end result was an 0-1, 4.18 record in 23 relief appearances. Interestingly, Mahoney walked only 10 batters in 28 innings (while also striking out 26), and his walks-to-innings ratio was actually superior to Odenbach and Erickson, who combined on 28 walks in 63 innings. It was a command issue, though. Because of their inability to get a true read, it's unclear how teams will pursue Mahoney in the draft, particularly given his sophomore-eligible status, but a likely scenario will see someone take a run at him in the top 5-8 rounds and sit on him for the summer, and see how he progresses in the Cape Cod League, where he is scheduled to be a starter. If it all falls in place for Mahoney, working as a closer in the future, scouts say he has the kind of raw ability to become another Jonathan Papelbon.--AS |
| |
| 129. |
Scott Bittle |
RHP |
Sr. |
R-R |
6-2 |
195 |
Mississippi |
Texarkana, Texas |
Yankees '08 (2) |
8/27/1986 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE (3/1): On performance alone, there wasn't a pitcher in college baseball who dominated in 2008 quite like Bittle. He went 7-1, 1.78 with eight saves for the Rebels, but his other numbers were off the charts. In 71 innings, he allowed just 35 hits-resulting in a meager .145 opponent batting average-and his 130 strikeouts represented a nine-inning yield of 16.55, the best in Division I by a considerable margin. He dominated largely on the strength of one pitch-a cut fastball that area scouts regularly referred to as "nasty" and "unhittable", even as it topped out at 87-88 mph. The New York Yankees showed no hesitancy in drafting Bittle in the second round last year, but became reluctant to sign him as the summer dragged on because of concerns in a normal physical exam that revealed more wear and tear in his shoulder than they were comfortable with. Ultimately, they decided to pass on him altogether and he was left with no recourse but to return to Ole Miss for his senior year-effectively his fifth year in college, as Bittle red-shirted in 2006 because of shoulder pain while at Northeast Texas JC, prior to transferring to Ole Miss. His overall stuff improved significantly in 2008 from his first season at Ole Miss, when he went 2-5, 2.79 with seven saves and 59 strikeouts in 42 innings and was a late-round draft pick, also of the Yankees. His cut fastball, effective even at 80-84 mph in 2007, became a significant weapon a year ago when it topped out in the high 80s. Bittle's other stuff also showed a marked improvement, with his four-seam fastball improving 3-4 mph to 90-91. The greatest improvement in his stuff might have come with his changeup, which he only messed with in the bullpen initially but became an equalizer pitch in 2008, giving Bittle three legitimate pitches. While other teams indicated they might have lived with the results of the MRI that caused the Yankees to pass on Bittle at last summer's signing deadline, it may be a push for Bittle to resurface in June as a second-round pick again unless he can come close to duplicating his impressive 2008 results.--ALLAN SIMPSON |
| UPDATE (5/15): Bittle opened the 2009 in his customary closer role, but moved to the rotation when injuries and inconsistent performance on the part of a couple of Ole Miss starters necessitated him changing roles. It made little difference to Bittle in how he was used as he was every bit as good, if not even a little more dominant this season than he was in 2008. In 14 appearances (6 starts), he went 5-2, 2.17 with three saves and struck out 68 in 46 innings, while limiting hitters to a .175 average. His stuff was remarkably similar, too, as his slider/cutter (at 85-87 mph) and circle-change were again his primary pitches. Both pitches were equally effective against lefthanded and righthanded hitters, and it was readily apparent to scouts that his poise, stuff and pitchability had him on the cusp of being big-league ready. But Bittle's worst fears may have been realized with about three weeks remaining in the regular season when he was shut down with what was initially diagnosed as biceps tendonitis. An MRI came back clean, but the soreness in his arm persisted and would regularly flare up within 5-10 minutes of his warming up. Bittle wasn't even on the Ole Miss 25-man travel roster for the Southeastern Conference tournament and his situation has left teams in a quandary-especially if he isn't able to pitch again, or even work out before the draft.--AS |
| |
| 130. |
Ryan Goins |
SS |
Jr. |
L-R |
5-11 |
185 |
Dallas Baptist |
Round Rock, Texas |
Never drafted |
2/13/1988 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE: Goins put up some huge numbers this spring (.371-22-70, 46 BB) in an offensively-friendly environment at Dallas Baptist, but does not have the speed and agility to play shortstop at the professional level, and will have to move to second or third base. His arm strength is his best defensive tool. Hard-throwing righthander Victor Black was the obvious draw for scouts on the Dallas Baptist roster, but scouts saw a lot of offensive upside in Goins, particularly for a middle infielder. He substantially improved on his .357-10-44 season as a sophomore. Goins could easily sneak into the first 10 rounds if a team thinks he can become an offensive second baseman.—DAVID RAWNSLEY |
| |
| Rank |
Player |
Pos. |
Class |
B-T |
HT |
WT |
Junior College |
Hometown |
Commitment |
Birthdate |
| 131. |
B.J. Hyatt |
RHP |
So. |
L-R |
6-5 |
215 |
USC Sumter |
Greenville, S.C. |
Never drafted |
12/14/1988 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE: South Carolina had two nationally-prominent junior colleges this spring-the older, more-established Spartanburg Methodist JC and USC Sumter, the new kid on the block. Between them, they went 107-20 on the season. Despite being in only its second year of existence, USC Sumter (52-11) gave Spartanburg (55-9) all it could handle, before losing out to the Pionners in both regional and district play with a berth in the Junior College World Series on the line. Both schools were heavily scouted this spring, but none of the players on either team clearly established himself as a consensus pick in the first 10 rounds. Spartanburg Methodist sophomore outfielder Travis Witherspoon and the 6-foot-5 Hyatt are considered the two players with the best shot to be the first player from the state's juco ranks to go off the board first in the draft, though Hyatt generated very mixed interest this spring, working both as a starter and reliever, and going just 3-0, 7.24 with three saves in 33 innings. Though a consensus 15th-20th round pick, there are clearly some teams that are sold on his big, athletic frame and big fastball-and see considerable upside. Hyatt's fastball was often clocked this spring in the 93-95 mph range. While Hyatt did struggle with his consistency, he generally showed better command of his fastball and threw his breaking ball more consistently for strikes. He has always had a relatively good feel for his changeup. Hyatt was one of South Carolina's top prospects in 2007 at a Greenville high school, but had Tommy John surgery as a senior. Not only was he not drafted, but he decided to change his career path at the college level by enrolling in a brand-new two-year program at USC Sumter, rather than attend the University of South Carolina, where he had committed initially. Oddly, for all the immediate success that USC Sumter has enjoyed, Hyatt has enjoyed limited personal success-yet may be the first player from that schoold drafted.--ALLAN SIMPSON |
| |
| 132. |
Derek McCallum |
2B |
Jr. |
L-R |
6-0 |
190 |
Minnesota |
Shoreview, Minn. |
Twins '06 (50) |
3/22/1988 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE (3/1): McCallum struggled at the plate and in the field in 2008 on a disappointing Minnesota club, hitting .291-3-32 while committing 22 errors at shortstop. A solid summer season in the Northwoods League largely restored McCallum's prospect status, and he could emerge as an early-round pick in this year's draft as a junior if he puts together a big spring season. McCallum had a more polished, patient approach at the plate last summer and showed little problem adjusting to a wood bat, leading the Northwoods League in hits (81) while finishing third in batting (.328). He also had six homers and 42 RBIs, and finished second in league MVP voting. Scouts appreciated his loose, level, line-drive swing and middle-away approach with occasional pull-side power. McCallum also made a noteworthy advance in the field, all in the process of making the transition from shortstop to his more natural home across the bag at second base. He's a more confident fielder there with soft hands and works well around the bag. He has a quick release and his arm is more than playable for second base. McCallum gets high praise, as well, for his passion and hard-nosed approach to the game. He's a natural and instinctive ball player, and is the kind who should get the most out of his modest physical talent. The only real knock on McCallum is his lack of speed and range in the field. He's a 7.0 runner in the 60 and is slow out of the box, but is better going from first to third.--ALLAN SIMPSON / PATRICK EBERT |
| UPDATE (5/15): McCallum had an outstanding spring for the Gophers, and by hitting .409-16-86 showed scouts that he has more juice in his bat than they had previously thought. He also made a smooth transition to second base, and being at a more comfortable and natural defensive position undoubtedly help boost his offensive performance. McCallum’s running speed and arm strength are well below-average, for some scouts. But he’s an intriguing lefthanded hitter with a big-league approach at the plate, and his passion for the game, along with his bat and strong fundamentals should enable him to overcome his physical limitations.—DAVID RAWNSLEY |
| |
| 133. |
Matt Heidenreich |
RHP |
Sr. |
B-R |
6-6 |
200 |
Temescal Canyon |
Lake Elsinore, Calif. |
UC Riverside |
1/17/1991 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE: The 6-foot-6 Heidenreich showed some of the best raw arm strength in Southern California this spring, topping out at 95 mph and pitching steadily with a 90-91 mph fastball. His delivery and mechanics are still very raw and Heidenreich’s release point can be all over the map during an outing. His curveball is also very much a work in progress at the moment, although he flashes some feel with his changeup. A sore arm set back Heidenreich last fall and kept scouts from getting an early read on him, and a DUI conviction in February further complicated the evaluation process. Overall, he went 7-2, 3.14 with 14 walks and 56 strikeouts in 58 innings, while allowing 52 hits—all very modest numbers for a high-school arm—but it’s all about projection with Heidenriech, and his impressive pitching frame.—DAVID RAWNSLEY |
| |
| 134. |
Darrell Ceciliani |
OF |
Fr. |
L-L |
6-1 |
185 |
Columbia Basin JC |
Madras, Ore. |
Never drafted |
6/22/1990 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE: Ceciliani hails from Madras, Ore., which coincidentally, but perhaps appropriately is the same little town in rural central Oregon that produced former Oregon State first-rounder and current Boston Red Sox center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury. The resemblances between the two extend well beyond growing up just down the street from each other. When the Major League Scouting Bureau slapped an OFP grade of 55 on Ceciliani in early April, creating a rush among Northwest scouts to check out Ceciliani, a number immediately compared his style and tools to Ellsbury. Not only does he bat and throw from the left side, but his 6.5-second speed in the 60 plays like Ellsbury's, as down his loose, easy compact swing and line-drive, pap-to-gap power. Ceciliani has fast hands at the plate and his power is evolving. Though he spent most of his freshman season at the junior-college level in right field, scouts say Ceciliani profiles as a center fielder. He was a little shaky on his routes at times, but generally gets good jumps and may one day make highlight-reel catches as he masters that aspect of his game. He's scrappy and plays the game hard in all phases. Ceciliani might have followed in Ellsbury's footsteps at Oregon State had he been eligible academically, but he settled on Columbia Basin and largely went unnoticed last fall. But as he grew an inch and his power started to evolve, and he began to show signs of becoming a five-tool talent, word quickly spread. Ceciliani hit .374-4-40 (with wood) this spring as a freshman, and not only led his 44-7 team in homers and RBIs while stealing 13 bases in as many attempts, but he was the driving force as Columbia Basin won seven straight playoff games to reach the championship game of the Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges championship, only for the team to lose two straight games to Bellevue to place second.--ALLAN SIMPSON |
| |
| 135. |
Adam Warren |
RHP |
Sr. |
R-R |
6-1 |
200 |
North Carolina |
New Bern, N.C. |
Indians '08 (36) |
8/25/1987 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE (3/1): Sandwiched in a North Carolina pitching rotation between Alex White, a projected early first-round pick in 2009, and Matt Harvey, a projected early first-round pick in 2010, Warren often served as a perfect change-of-pace in 2008 to the two high-profile, hard-throwing righthanders. Though his fastball doesn't light the radar guns quite to the degree that White's and Harvey's do, Warren has pro-worthy stuff himself and often has upstaged his pitching mates at UNC. Before he finally lost the first game of his career last April 26, Warren had rolled off 19 straight wins-one shy of the record for most wins at the start of a career by a Tar Heels pitcher, set in 1983-84 by former first-rounder Scott Bankhead. Despite his impressive track record, Warren's fastball is considered just average. He has three other fringy-average pitches in a curve, cutter and changeup. Warren can throw any of his pitches in any count and generally throws strikes, but he did walk 46 in 83 innings as a junior while posting a 9-2, 4.23 record with 73 strikeouts. When weighed against Warren's significant prowess in the classroom and his modest stuff and command, that performance wasn't worthy of Warren being drafted before the 36th round of the 2008 draft and led him to return to the Cape Cod League last summer, where he posted a 3-1, 4.34 record with 14 walks and 29 strikeouts in 29 innings for Chatham. Though his fastball was customarily in the 90-92 mph range at UNC and frequently in the 88-91 mph range during the summer, he actually stretched out his velocity on occasion to 93 at times at Chatham. As a senior, he returns in 2009 to a Tar Heels rotation that again includes White and Harvey. Though he is not in their elite company as a prospect, he should improve his draft stock considerably.--ALLAN SIMPSON |
| UPDATE (5/15): Hall was rapidly in the process of fulfilling his potential as one of the top prep pitching prospects in the Carolinas, when he was shut down with an elbow/forearm injury after going 4-1, 1.74 with 11 walks and 33 strikeouts in his first 20 innings. It’s unclear how the injury may impact his draft status, but he was still able to play in the field and hit cleanup for T.L. Hanna High, and he batted .324 with 23 RBIs to earn state 4-A player of the year honors. The high point of his season came in late March when he pitched a perfect game in a 9-0 win over Greenwood High. None of his fastballs were clocked below 90, and he threw first-pitch strikes to 19 of the 21 hitters. His velocity continued to climb and peaked at 95 with good life to both sides of the plate. He also showed the feel for two potential average off-speed pitches in his slider and changeup. For a pitcher with limited experience, his arm worked very easy. If he should slide in this year’s draft because of signability or concerns about his injury, Hall could blossom in college into a top pick by the 2011 draft. He signed with South Carolina in April and would be age-eligible then as a sophomore.—JEFF SIMPSON |
| |
| 136. |
Brooks Hall |
RHP/SS |
Sr. |
R-R |
6-5 |
190 |
T.L. Hanna |
Anderson, S.C. |
South Carolina |
6/26/1990 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE (3/1): The 6-foot-5, 190-pound Hall has been primarily a shortstop/third baseman to this point in his career, but holds down this spot on the list of top prospects for the 2009 draft on the basis of his potential as a righthanded pitcher. Hall has college-level tools to play on the right side of the infield, with surprising athleticism for his size, including sub-7.0 speed in the 60 and a powerful throwing arm. He also has some power potential in his bat, although it's apparent that he would struggle initially against better stuff due to the length of his swing. On the mound, though, Hall has definite big-league potential-even as he's only been seen sporadically in relief by scouts. Along with a prototype projectable pitcher's body, Hall has an effortless arm action and very simple pitching mechanics capable of generating a consistent 91-92 mph fastball with excellent life at the plate. His off-speed pitches are understandably raw at this point, but he does show the potential to spin a mid-to-upper 70s slurve that could be tightened into a slider. Given the ease with which Hall throws in the low 90's and his projectability, it's not a stretch to see him throwing in the mid-90s as a full-time pitcher, with some more strength on his frame. It would not be a surprise if Hall ends up significantly higher on this list by the time the 2009 draft unfolds.--DAVID RAWNSLEY |
| UPDATE (5/15): Hall was rapidly in the process of fulfilling his potential as one of the top prep pitching prospects in the Carolinas, when he was shut down with an elbow/forearm injury after going 4-1, 1.74 with 11 walks and 33 strikeouts in his first 20 innings. It's unclear how the injury may impact his draft status, but he was still able to play in the field and hit cleanup for T.L. Hanna High, and he batted .324 with 23 RBIs to earn state 4-A player of the year honors. The high point of his season came in late March when he pitched a perfect game in a 9-0 win over Greenwood High. None of his fastballs were clocked below 90, and he threw first-pitch strikes to 19 of the 21 hitters. His velocity continued to climb and peaked at 95 with good life to both sides of the plate. He also showed the feel for two potential average off-speed pitches in his slider and changeup. For a pitcher with limited experience, his arm worked very easy. If he should slide in this year's draft because of signability or concerns about his injury, Hall could blossom in college into a top pick by the 2011 draft. He signed with South Carolina in April and would be age-eligible then as a sophomore.--JEFF SIMPSON |
| |
| 137. |
Adam Buschini |
2B/1B |
Jr. |
R-R |
6-2 |
210 |
Cal Poly |
San Ramon, Calif. |
Never drafted |
5/6/1987 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE: Buschini's older brother Shane was an 11th-round pick of the San Diego Padres in 2007 after winning West Coast Conference player-of-the-year honors that season while at the University of San Diego. His career never took off at the professional level, and he was soon released. He is spending this season with the Orange County Flyers of the independent Golden League. Buschini's own career was slow to evolve at the college level as he missed 2008 while recovering from Tommy John surgery. But fully healthy this year, Buschini responded with a big season, setting a Cal Poly school record (at the Division-I level) with his .422 batting average, and also topping the Mustangs in homers (11) and RBIs (67). He actually got off to a slow start at the plate this season as he was hit on the hand by a pitch from Rice's Ryan Berry on the opening weekend, and picked up his pace considerably in the second half, hitting .462 in his last 27 games as Cal Poly secured an at-large berth to the NCAA tournament. Buschini's value to his team's success was perhaps most underscored by his versatility. He saw service at five different positions this spring-19 games at first, 16 at second, seven at third, three in right field, one at DH. He even played shortstop earlier in his career. Buschini's versatility is viewed as an asset, and he may have impressed scouts most with his play at second base after taking over for standout freshman Matt Jensen, who was injured late in the year. But his power and advanced approach to hitting are his most significant assets.--ALLAN SIMPSON |
| |
| 138. |
Jeremy Hazelbaker |
OF |
Jr. |
L-R |
6-3 |
190 |
Ball State |
Selma, Ind. |
Never drafted |
8/14/1987 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE: After mediocre freshman and sophomore seasons at Ball State, where he hit a respective .244 and .248, Hazelbaker was understandably not high on the radar of area scouts entering his junior season. For the most part, his live, athletic body and above-average speed were his only qualities that stood out. His bat and defensive skills were too crude to even consider him a prospect. There were serious questions as a sophomore, both in college and summer-league competition, if he would ever hit. But after moving to center field last fall, everything suddenly clicked for Hazelbaker. He came into 2009 on a mission, and put together a tremendous season for Ball State, hitting .429-9-38. He stole 29 bases in 35 attempts, and drew 45 walks on his way to posting a healthy .550 on-base average. All areas of his game came alive. Raw speed has always been his best tool and scouts graded it at 70 on the 20-80 scale, though his long strides and slower jump on balls makes it a little bit less usable in the outfield. The lefthanded-hitting Hazelbaker made sound adjustments at the plate this year, and put the ball in play much more consistently. There are questions how his slashing stroke may translate to wood against high-level pro stuff, but his success this spring is at least encouraging. For all his speed, Hazelbaker must improve the jumps he gets and the routes he takes to fly balls, though that may have been a factor of his inexperience in the outfield. He also has just average arm strength, and it's possible he could end up in left field if he is unable to master outfield play. It's a relatively-loaded draft year for Indiana college players, and Hazelbaker projects to be the second outfielder taken from the Hoosier State behind Notre Dame's A.J. Pollock. A player in a 6-foot-3 frame with an average lefthanded bat and plus speed doesn't usually stay on the board for long, and Hazelbaker could be gone in the third round, though 2-3 rounds later may be more realistic.--ANUP SINHA |
| |
| 139. |
Luke Bailey |
C |
Sr. |
R-R |
6-0 |
200 |
Troup County |
LaGrange, Ga. |
Auburn |
3/11/1991 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE (3/1): Who the first high-school catcher picked in the 2009 draft will be is an open question between as many as a half-dozen talented receivers, but the prevailing favorite seems to be Bailey. If sub-7.0-second speed qualifies a catcher to be a five-tool prospect, then Bailey could be that player. He has surprising quickness and athleticism in his strong, powerful frame, which helps his shifting and agility behind the plate and also as a runner (6.89 seconds in the 60) when the catching gear is off, or when he's occasionally playing third base. Bailey has plus arm strength and has posted pop times as low as the 1.73 he recorded at Perfect Game's National Showcase last June. There is no question about his staying behind the plate at the highest levels of the game. Still, Bailey's best tool might be his power potential. He gets excellent load in his swing and has easy lift/pull power. His swing is pretty timing-intensive, which leads to some uncomfortable at-bats against predominantly off-speed pitchers, but he destroys high-velocity fastballs. Bailey was a dominant hitter at all the major events during the summer/fall showcase/tournament circuit and was one of the leading hitters for USA Baseball's 16-and-under team in the summer of 2007. He hit .505-13-61 as a high-school junior, despite starting the spring with a broken rib.--DAVID RAWNSLEY |
| UPDATE (5/15): Bailey was quietly positioning himself to be the first catcher drafted in 2009, probably late in the first round, when he took the mound in April in a rare pitching assignment for his high-school team. He hurt his elbow in the process and succumbed to Tommy John surgery. Prior to the injury, Bailey had progressed well, hitting .569-6-30 and impressing scouts even more with his arm strength, soft hands and agile actions behind the plate. Even with the surgery, which will sideline him the better part of a year, they still see him as a future plus receiver and plus thrower-providing his arm strength returns. Despite impressive offensive numbers at the high-school level, Bailey's bat isn't as advanced, though still has upside. The scouts who like him most believe he could become a middle-of-the-order hitter as he generates bat speed with his strength, and the ball jumps off his bat. Besides his elbow injury, Bailey's other drawback is a lack of physical projection. He appears nearly maxed-out with his well-manufactured body. Bailey's status for the 2009 draft is completely up in the air, but it's entirely possible a team could take a run at him in the top 3-6 rounds, sign him at a discounted rate and monitor his rehab over the next several months.--ANUP SINHA |
| |
| 140. |
Chris Rusin |
LHP |
Sr. |
L-L |
6-2 |
185 |
Kentucky |
Canton, Mich. |
Athletics '08 (23) |
10/22/1986 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE (3/1): Perhaps the most polished pitcher in the Southeastern Conference in 2008, Rusin went 6-3, 3.33 with 19 walks and 65 strikeouts in 84 innings. In all probability, he would have gone as early as the third round of last year's draft on the basis of his body of work as Kentucky's No. 1 starter, but he was hit around in his final start of the season and left the game early with a sore elbow. Teams appeared justified in letting him slide to the 23rd round as the soreness in his elbow lingered into the fall. Not only did Oakland not sign Rusin, but it was determined he had a minor tear in the tendon in his left elbow and had it repaired by a surgical procedure in late October. He was expected to be 100 percent by the start of the 2009 season. Though Rusin lacks physical stature and dominating stuff, he generally has command of three pitches. His fastball is a steady 88-90 mph, topping at 91, and his hard curve and cutter/slider are solid secondary pitches. He rarely uses his changeup. Rusin has taken measures to get bigger and stronger over the last two years, and his improved velocity has been a factor in how scouts have viewed him. He has a loose, quick arm and gets good deception from a three-quarters slot. While his fastball is now his bread-and-butter pitch, Rusin's 80-82 mph slider is often a nasty offering with good depth. He can be especially intimidating against lefthanded hitters.--ALLAN SIMPSON |
| UPDATE (5/15): Rusin was the soft-tossing complement in the KU rotation this spring to two mid-90s fireballers: lefthander James Paxton, a probable first-rounder this year, and righthander Alex Meyer, a probable first-rounder in 2011. Even with his fringy-average fastball, Rusin out-pitched Paxton and Meyer, posting a 7-4, 4.20 record with 108 strikeouts in 94 innings, while walking just 27. Paxton and Meyer went a combined 6-7, 5.62, though showed their superior stuff by striking out 183 in 133 innings. Rusin’s advanced sense of pitchability and two quality breaking balls enabled him to out-pitch the two high-round talents. Perhaps most important for his draft stock, Rusin proved his durability after undergoing off-season elbow surgery. If anything, he’ll have to improve his changeup in order to hold his own at the professional level. He rarely had to use that pitch in college ball.—DAVID RAWNSLEY |
| |
| 141. |
Wes Hatton |
RHP/OF |
Sr. |
R-R |
5-10 |
165 |
Norco |
Norco, Calif. |
Cal State Fullerton |
12/28/1990 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE: If Hatton was even 2-3 inches taller, he might well be listed as a Group 1 prospect and drawing comparisons to a young Mike Leake-the smallish Arizona State ace righthander projected to go in the first round in June. While Hatton has benefited from the presence of Matt Hobgood (another first-round prospect) on the Norco High team, both in hitting in front of him and pitching behind him, Hatton's athletic ability and versatility stand out on their own. On the mound, Hatton has a polished pitching approach with smooth mechanics and three solid pitches that he can control. His fastball has good life and stays mostly in the 88-92 mph range. He also throws a low- to mid-80s slider that has good tilt and sharpness, and will be a weapon at the next level. His changeup has some feel and deception, and is an acceptable third pitch. Hatton went 5-1, 1.27 with two saves this spring, while striking out 72 and walking only 10 in 44 innings. Although scouts like Hatton's present tools best as a pitcher, he could become a top two-way player if he attends Cal State Fullerton. His speed/strength tools are playable, but don't stand out enough on a 5-foot-10 outfielder to project professionally. Nonetheless, Hatton is an advanced hitter with some juice in his bat. He hit .530-6-22 with 43 runs scored for his 23-4 Norco team.--DAVID RAWNSLEY |