| 232. |
Roberto Perez |
SS/RHP |
Sr. |
R-R |
6-2 |
175 |
Dorado Academy |
Toa Alta, P.R. |
Oklahoma State |
4/4/1991 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE (3/1): An angular 6-foot-2, 175-pound shortstop, Perez is a nephew of former major-league infielder Dickie Thon and long-time Rangers scout Frankie Thon, and cousin to potential top 2010 Puerto Rican prospect Dickie Thon Jr., so the baseball genes are on his side. Perez has very good defensive tools and skills in the middle infield. He's a 6.7 runner in the 60 with easy, gliding actions and balanced footwork around the ball. His throwing arm is among the best in the 2009 high-school class and his throws carry easily across the diamond. He's also a pitcher of some note with an upper-80s fastball. Perez's defensive game is ahead of his offense at this point. He shows very good bat speed at times and gap power, but has an aggressive, drifting approach at the plate that leaves him off balance frequently. Perez is a good student from an educated, professional family and has signed with Oklahoma State, so his signability may not be as automatic as it is with most top Puerto Rican prospects.--DAVID RAWNSLEY |
| UPDATE (5/15): Perez’ tools and skills have held up strongly this spring, although there have been questions raised about his hands at shortstop and his ability to stay at that position despite his cannon arm and overall athletic ability. Some scouts feel that Perez’ best future position is behind the plate, where his build, arm strength and baseball savvy all profile well. Other scouts feel that Perez’ best chance to reach the major leagues is as a pitcher, but Perez feels so strongly about playing in the field that he declined an opportunity to pitch at the Excellence Games. The most-likely scenario is a team picking Perez in the 4th-6th round area, and letting him gradually play his way off shortstop, knowing that there are multiple attractive options when that happens.—DR |
| |
| 233. |
Jimmy Gilheeney |
LHP |
Jr. |
L-L |
6-0 |
200 |
North Carolina State |
Johnston, R.I. |
Never drafted |
11/8/1987 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE: The 2009 season went down as one of the worst in North Carolina State’s long baseball history, but Gilheeney was one of the few bright spots. After being used in a split role as a freshman, then saving 10 games as a sophomore, Gilheeney was thrust into the Friday starting role for the Wolfpack as a junior and responded by leading the team in wins and strikeouts, while going 6-5, 3.86 with 34 walks and 75 strikeouts in 82 innings. He was dominant at times, especially when he threw his fastball, curve and changeup for strikes. But his fastball, normally in the upper-80s, would occasionally dip to the mid-80s and that, combined with a porous N.C. State defense behind him that committed 108 errors, would prove his undoing. Gilheeney is a polished lefthander with an excellent feel for pitching, and that should weigh more in his favor as a potential fifth- to seventh-round pick than his inconsistent velocity.—JEFF SIMPSON |
| |
| 234. |
Nate Freiman |
1B/C |
Sr. |
R-R |
6-8 |
240 |
Duke |
Wellesley, Mass. |
Rangers '08 (28) |
12/31/1986 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE (3/1): Freiman was drafted in the 28th round last year by the Texas Rangers, but elected to return to Duke for his senior year. Both his low draft position and his reluctance to ultimately sign had little to do with his baseball ability as Freiman is very academically-oriented and was determined all along to get his degree from Duke before embarking on a professional career. A truer test of Freiman's skill as a baseball player will come in this year's draft, and it would not be a surprise if he jumps into the first five rounds. Not only should he be one of the first college seniors selected, but at 6-foot-8 and 240 pounds, he should be one of the top power hitters available. His size and raw power have always instantly grabbed the attention of scouts. Though there is some length to his swing, Freiman has rare appeal as a power-hitting prospect. He can punish mistake pitches and hit them a mile. But he's not a one-dimensional threat at the plate as he has a sound overall approach to hitting, particularly with two strikes. He's a little unorthodox in his set-up and often bars his arm on his swings, but he still manages to get himself in position to hit. On an improving Duke team that won 37 games in 2008, Freiman played a major role in the turnaround by leading the team in average (.381), home runs (11), RBIs (46) and slugging (.671). At .369-7-49, he also led the Blue Devils in the same categories a year earlier. He gets the bat on the ball consistently, and struck out only 16 times in 179 plate appearances as a junior. The remainder of Freiman's tools are solid. He's a big target at first base, moves well around the bag for a big man and has plenty of arm strength as he originally enrolled at Duke as equal parts hitter and pitcher. Scouts have even envisioned Freiman as a 6-foot-8 catcher from time to time. He has professed a desire to catch, and displayed excellent hands behind the plate on the rare occasions he has caught a bullpen session or scouts have asked him to go behind the plate, but most teams have understandably expressed a reluctance to catch a player of his size.--ALLAN SIMPSON |
| UPDATE (5/15): On the best Duke team in nearly two decades, Freiman was a driving force as he led the Blue Devils in batting (.354), home runs (20) and RBIs (62). He continued to improve his power numbers, and his ability to hit for power at the professional level should never come into question as Freiman can hit the ball as far as anyone in the country, and his balls leave the park as quickly as anyone’s. His ability to hit for average sufficiently enough for him to remain in the lineup on an everyday basis, to fully utilize his power, will be the key. Freiman had a big weekend at the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament with his obvious raw power grabbing the attention of several high-profile scouts taking in the action.—JEFF SIMPSON |
| |
| 235. |
Colton Cain |
LHP/1B |
Sr. |
L-L |
6-3 |
225 |
Waxahachie |
Waxahachie, Texas |
Texas |
2/5/1991 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE (3/1): Should Cain slide through the 2009 draft and honor his college commitment to Texas, he will remind Longhorn faithful strongly of a lefthanded-throwing version of Brooks Kieschnick, possibly the greatest two-way player in school history. Cain's ability as a first baseman and lefthanded pitcher, and his combination of power and hitting skills, make him close to a sure thing as a high-performance player at the college level, just as Kieschnick was during an All-American career at Texas. As a prospect, Cain profiles best as a power-hitting first baseman. He is surprisingly agile for a player his size around the bag, and will impact a game defensively at first base. Cain doesn't have blazing bat speed or hand quickness, but is extremely polished with the bat and uses his natural strength well. His power comes when he's able to get his hands extended and pulls the ball, but he's comfortable driving the ball all over the field, as well. On the mound, Cain has a quick, compact arm action and some deception to his delivery. His fastball is usually in the 86-88 mph range, although he sat at 89-90 mph for an entire playoff game at the World Wood Bat Association fall championship last October in Jupiter, Fla. Cain's curveball has a tight, late break in the mid-70s and good downward shape. Like his defense and hitting, Cain's approach to pitching is mature and polished, and he competes hard. Cain's numbers as a junior at Waxahachie High reflect his skills; he hit .486-9-45 while going 12-1, 0.76 with 131 K's in 81 innings on the mound. Not surprisingly, Cain's versatility has made him a regular on USA Baseball's junior- and youth-national teams the past two years.--DAVID RAWNSLEY |
| UPDATE (5/15): Cain spent last summer on the showcase circuit highlighting his skills as a hitter/first baseman while downplaying his pitching ability, but that approach changed significantly this spring. The lefthander didn’t pitch at all at the Perfect Game National Showcase last June, and only took one short trip to the mound at the Area Code Games in August. But pitching is what attracted scouts’ attention this spring. Cain was consistently in the 92-94 mph area and showed his sharp-breaking curveball at the same time. There is no doubt now that Cain will be drafted as a pitcher, perhaps as early as late in the first round. One possible flaw in Cain’s package is that he is perceived by some scouts as overly-confident, perhaps a bi-product of being such a dominant player in so many ways. He led the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex in both home runs (10) and strikeouts (111) this spring.—DR |
| |
| 236. |
Devin Harris |
OF |
So. |
R-R |
6-3 |
220 |
East Carolina |
Gastonia, N.C. |
Never drafted |
4/23/1988 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE (3/1): Harris was so raw in his development prior to last summer that he was red-shirted in 2007 as a freshman at East Carolina and got only 12 at-bats for the Pirates in 2008. Even as he struck out a league-high 61 times in 149 at-bats last summer in the New England Collegiate Baseball League, his raw talent was unmistakable and he played a pivotal role as Sanford won six straight playoffs games to capture the league title. Harris was understandably rusty early in the NECBL season and he piled up a vast number of his strikeouts in the first half of the season, but his improvement in the second half was dramatic and he went on to hit an acceptable .293-4-15 overall. His late-season surge carried over to the playoffs, where he hit .346-2-7. His ability to foul off tough pitches that once ate him up was a sign of his progress, though he remained vulnerable throughout to letter-high fastballs. Big, fast and athletic, Harris has all the raw tools to excel in pro ball and just needs more consistent playing time for them to become functional. His most obvious tool is his massive power. He hits balls a long way to all fields in batting practice and is just learning to incorporate his power into game situations. In particular, he will need to continue to shorten his swing. Harris runs surprisingly well for his size and was perfect on nine stolen-base attempts in the regular season in the NECBL. His arm and right-field defensive skills are also strengths. As a draft-eligible sophomore in 2009, Harris should be one of the nation's most heavily-scouted college position players as scouts will be curious to see if his summer breakthrough was genuine.--ALLAN SIMPSON |
| UPDATE (5/15): Finally granted a chance to play regularly for East Carolina this spring, Harris responded by hitting .344-14-48. His two biggest hits of the season came in the third and deciding game of ECU’s regional series with South Carolina, when he blasted a dramatic three-round homer in the bottom of the ninth inning to tie the game 9-9, then singled home the winning run in a 10-9 ECU victory an inning later. While the physically-impressive Harris provided the Pirates with a big bat as their everyday right fielder, he struggled to make regular contact as he fanned a club-high 65 times in 212 at-bats. But he finally showed signs of unleashing his offensive potential at the plate, the missing link in an otherwise well-rounded game. If scouts are convinced he’s ready now for pro ball, he could easily go out as a possible fourth-to-sixth rounder. But as a draft-eligible sophomore, Harris might be better off with one more year in college to hone his considerable, albeit raw talent.—JEFF SIMPSON |
| |
| 237. |
Gus Benusa |
OF |
Sr. |
L-L |
6-0 |
180 |
Riverview |
Riverview, Pa. |
Duquesne |
1/30/1991 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE: Benusa was possibly the most-improved player in western Pennsylvania this spring, and attracted cross-checkers from a number of clubs, including Tampa Bay—no coincidence since Riverview High coach Rich Griser is a part-time scout for the Rays. Though he hit .577-4-27 as a junior and set school records with a .638 average and seven home runs this spring, scouts say Benusa’s bat may be a little light, that he has compiled his big offensive numbers against relatively weak competition. But others like his lefthanded swing, especially the bat speed he produces. There also seems to be some mixed opinion on his other tools, but some say his speed, clocked as low as 6.56 in the 60, will play, as will his arm strength and overall defensive skills. Though he has a mature frame, Benusa excelled in football and basketball in high school, and his athleticism is readily apparent.--ALLAN SIMPSON |
| |
| 238. |
Kyle Rose |
OF |
So. |
R-L |
6-0 |
175 |
Northwest Shoals |
Huntsville, Ala. |
Marlins '07 (49) |
5/24/1989 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE: Rose overcame serious injuries to his spleen and lungs in a 2006 bus accident to have a productive senior season at a Huntsville, Ala., high school, leading to his selection by the Florida Marlins in the '07 draft. He went unsigned and got passed over as a freshman at Alabama's Northwest Shoals CC, and his chances of being picked this year took a hit when he was let go by his team late in the 2009 season-though scouts interpreted his dismissal as more of an unfortunate misunderstanding. It's unclear how it might impact his draft standing, particularly since Rose has struggled in his development at the plate. He hit .366-3-30 this spring. His power and arm strength have shown modest improvement since high school, but the one tool that has always defined Rose is his blazing speed. He has consistently been clocked in the 60 in 6.3-6.4 seconds, and could be drafted in a decent round on the basis of his raw speed alone. He stole 22 bases in 26 attempts this spring. Should college still be in the equation in 2010, Rose will attend Division II North Alabama.--ALLAN SIMPSON |
| |
| 239. |
Juan Silva |
OF |
Sr. |
L-R |
6-1 |
180 |
PR Baseball Acad. |
Yabucoa, P.R. |
|
1/8/1991 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE (3/1): By Puerto Rican standards, the 2009 draft is considered above-average. The strength of the island's talent is most evident in the crop of young outfielders, particularly Reymond Fuentes and Ruben Sierra Jr. Though he plays at the renowned Puerto Rico Baseball Academy and is that school's top prospect in the Class of 2009, Silva has largely been overshadowed by the fleet-footed Fuentes and multi-talented Sierra. But Silva has made a lot of strides to close the gap in the last year, and he is a very athletic-looking and projectable talent in his own right. His run and throw tools are in the plus area. He has been timed at 6.5 seconds in the 60 and shows a right-field type arm. Silva's speed comes into play most prominently in the outfield, where he has outstanding range. His jumps and routes are advanced for a player his age. Offensively, the lefthanded-hitting Silva has a level, line-drive swing and the ability to drive balls to all fields. He has a slight uppercut with good acceleration through the ball, and should continue to add power as he gets stronger. Silva was impressive in a workout for top Puerto Rican players in early February that attracted a flock of scouts from the mainland, but another set of coordinated workouts in Puerto Rico in early May, a major stage for evaluating Puerto Rican players, will more firmly establish where he stands in relation to Fuentes and Sierra, and other prospects in this year's Puerto Rico crop.--DAVID RAWNSLEY |
| UPDATE (5/15): Silva did not stand out, as anticipated, at the Excellence Games in early May. His bat speed and arm strength were not what scouts had seen earlier in the spring. His speed and defense are still top-notch and his projectable body is worth dreaming on, but he probably lost a few rounds of draft value.—DR |
| |
| 240. |
Craig Fritsch |
RHP |
So. |
R-R |
6-4 |
180 |
Baylor |
Round Rock, Texas |
Never drafted |
12/29/1987 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE (3/1): To this point in his college career, Fritsch has been lost in the shuffle on a talent-laden Baylor team that could have a profound impact on the 2009 draft. He was red-shirted as a freshman, for non-medical reasons, and was little factor last spring, going 3-4, 4.80 with three saves as a part-time starter, part-time closer. In 54 innings, he walked 21 and struck out 49. And yet Fritsch could challenge righthander Kendal Volz, who starred last summer for Team USA's college national team, to become the first Baylor player drafted in June. Though his summer experience in the Cape Cod League was plagued by a rough stretch in the middle, Fritsch dominated early and late on those occasions when he threw his fastball, slider and changeup for strikes. At his best, his fastball sat at 93 mph and peaked at 94, and he got good sinking action on his two-seamer. His slider also showed flashes of being a dominant pitch. The extremely-projectable Fritsch is long, lean and wiry strong, and has plenty of room to add to his build-and his stuff. The velocity and movement he does get is aided by an aggressive approach and good deception in his delivery. But Fritsch's summer season was still plagued by inconsistency and he went 2-3, 3.43 in eight starts, with 18 walks and 44 strikeouts in 45 innings. Opponents found him tough to hit, though, and batted just .185 against him. Fritsch also enjoyed success in summer competition in 2007, when he went 5-1, 2.21 as a Northwoods League all-star, and his fate in the 2009 draft may rest on his ability to pitch in a regular, meaningful role on a deep Baylor pitching staff.--ALLAN SIMPSON |
| UPDATE (5/15): The inconsistency that has plagued Fritsch throughout his college career continued this spring, and was amplified by the heightened expectations placed on both Fritsch and the entire Baylor pitching staff this spring. Both went largely unfulfilled. While Fritsch continued to flash plus fastball velocity, he lost any feel he had for both his breaking ball and changeup, and was hit hard both as a starter and a reliever. While a team may take a chance in the draft on his raw stuff, Fritsch’s status as a draft-eligible sophomore with two seasons of eligibility remaining means it’s likely he’ll return to Baylor in 2010.—DR |
| |
| 241. |
Rob Scahill |
RHP |
Jr. |
L-R |
6-3 |
220 |
Bradley |
Lombard, Ill. |
Yankees '08 (48) |
2/15/1987 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE (3/1): Scahill and fellow Bradley righthander Collin Brennan (Indians, 34th round) were drafted last June, and both elected not to sign. The decision could pay off in a bigger way for Scahill, a red-shirt junior, as his stuff and command were more consistent in fall practice than they had been in the spring, and he was installed as Bradley's No. 1 starter to open the 2009 season. Scahill was selected in the 48th round by the New York Yankees last June as a draft-eligible sophomore after he had red-shirted in 2007 while recuperating from a torn labrum. He topped all Bradley pitchers with 84 innings last spring, and struck out 79 while walking 41. He went an unremarkable 4-6, 5.49 in the process. Scahill's fastball was a steady 89-93 mph, and the Yankees reportedly clocked him at 94. Though he struggled with his command, he got a high proportion of ground-ball outs with excellent sinking action on his fastball. His command was much better during the summer in the Great Lakes League as he went 1-2, 3.66 with only 12 walks and 35 strikeouts in 39 innings, and his slider became his predominant strikeout pitch. But his stuff, which also includes a developing changeup, was prone to being inconsistent as his fastball was no better than 91 and his slider was flat on occasion. All that changed last fall and with another year out from major arm surgery, scouts believe Scahill could make a big leap forward in 2009.--ALLAN SIMPSON |
| UPDATE (5/15): Though his 3-3, 4.05 record with 30 walks and 59 strikeouts in 60 innings was only marginally better than 2008, Scahill consistently topped out between 93 and 95 mph this spring, while maintaining low-90 velocity late into games. He got outstanding sink on his fastball and allowed just one home run all season. His low-80s slider and changeup flashed quality at times, as well. Despite his quality stuff, Scahill never has been a dominant pitcher at the college level, and for that reason often gets only lukewarm reviews from scouts. Still, he was heavily cross-checked this spring. Scouts seemed more occupied with Scahill’s unusually long, flat arm action and the labrum surgery he underwent in 2007, than in his pitches. But his raw stuff, thrown with more precise command, should move him quickly to the upper levels of the minor leagues as a middle reliever, which may be his future role.—DAVID RAWNSLEY |
| |
| 242. |
Dusty Odenbach |
RHP |
Jr. |
L-R |
6-3 |
220 |
Connecticut |
Rochester, N.Y. |
Never drafted |
9/3/1987 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE: Most Northeast scouts placed a higher priority this spring on seeing Odenbach's UConn teammate, righthander Daniel Mahoney, but ended up getting a lot more looks at Odenbach. Though neither pitcher was used as a closer by the Huskies, a role that both seem cut out for, Odenbach was at least used consistently as a set-up man to fifth-year senior David Erickson, who saved 12 games, while the hard-throwing but often ineffective Mahoney worked sporadically. Odenbach was solid, if unspectacular in his role most of the season, but elevated his game to another level late in the season, notably in the Big East Conference tournament when he pitched in all four UConn games, and his fastball, which was more commonly in the 87-90 mph range, topping at 91, suddenly jumped to 94. Almost overnight, he had scouts viewing him in a different light-possibly in the first 10-15 rounds as opposed to a senior sign in 2010. On the season, Odenbach went 2-3, 3.34 in 28 appearances, during which he walked 17 and struck out 48 in 35 innings-a marked improvement from his freshman (2-5, 4.78) and sophomore (3-3, 6.75) years, when he often worked as a starter. Odenbach, a New York high-school product whose given name is Gardner, comes from a low three-quarters arm slot and gets good sinking action on his fastball. With his low-80s slider, he also had the best breaking pitch on a deep Huskies staff that had the potential to have 4-5 pitchers drafted.--ALLAN SIMPSON |
| |
| 243. |
Rob Gilliam |
RHP |
Jr. |
R-R |
6-1 |
195 |
UNC Greensboro |
Chapel Hill, N.C. |
Never drafted |
11/29/1987 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE (3/1): Gilliam has potentially-dominant stuff, but has confused scouts and his own coaches throughout his career in college and summer ball over what role he should to be used in to realize his potential. He achieved limited success in his first two seasons at UNC Greensboro, working primarily in relief. As a freshman, Gilliam went 2-1, 6.91 in 21 appearances (six starts); as a sophomore, he was marginally better at 3-4, 6.23 with seven saves in 30 appearances (three starts). In 56 innings last spring, he struck out 54, but also walked 23 and was torched for a .305 average and a team-high 12 homers. Conversely, in summer ball, Gilliam has been used exclusively as a starter-with superior results. Following his freshman year at UNC-G, he topped the Valley League with a 1.26 ERA while going 7-1 and racking up 81 strikeouts in 57 innings. He was used as a starter for Brewster in the Cape Cod League last summer, with positive results initially, before tailing off to finish at 1-4, 4.89 with 21 walks and 42 strikeouts in 46 innings. But scouts say he had the best pure arm on the Whitecaps staff, and he routinely worked in the 93-94 mph range, topping at 95. Even when considering his checkered record working mostly out of the bullpen in his first two years in college, Brewster coach Bob Macaluso admitted he may have misused Gilliam by employing him strictly as a starter in the Cape. He said his raw stuff-notably his overpowering fastball and a plus changeup-is much better suited for a set-up or closer role, but that he was forced to use Gilliam as a starter based on need. As hard as Gilliam is capable of throwing, his fastball can be hittable because it lacks movement; his changeup is also inconsistent because he tends to leave it up in the hitting zone. Though his curve was mostly an inconsistent and ineffective third pitch at Brewster, scouts say Gilliam's slow, 12-to-6 bender has a chance to be an above-average pitch, too, and that he just needs to use it more often and locate it better. A lot of Gilliam's inconsistency stems from raw, unrefined mechanics. He comes from a high three-quarters angle and tends to rush his delivery, leaving his arm trailing the rest of his body, resulting in too many pitches being left up in the zone. Though Gilliam is a little undersized for a righthanded pitcher, he appears to have the durability to be used in any role as he has very strong, sturdy legs. He also has good bounce off the mound, fields his position well and is athletic to the degree that he caught and played shortstop in high school, in addition to pitching. Born in Virginia, Gilliam played his first three years of prep baseball in San Jose, Calif., before moving back east to North Carolina as a senior. His future, both where he'll be drafted in June and what his role will be as a college junior and ultimately in pro ball, could be all over the map, too, and will hinge largely on his ability to refine his command and develop his curve. If his breaking ball can evolve into a reliable third pitch, a career as a starter is in the offing; if it can't, he'll likely have to settle for being a set-up man or closer.--ALLAN SIMPSON |
| UPDATE (5/15): Gilliam’s unimpressive 4-6, 5.76 junior year at UNC Greensboro continued his pattern of underachieving for a player with significant raw stuff, who scouts continue to hold in high regard. He was often knocked around this spring in the offensive-oriented Southern Conference, and though he allowed just 54 hits in 62 innings overall, his inconsistent command was an issue. When he’s on his game, Gilliam shows a fastball that reaches 95 and the ability to spin a breaking ball.—JEFF SIMPSON |
| |
| 244. |
Braden Tullis |
RHP/OF |
Fr. |
R-R |
6-2 |
190 |
Skagit Valley (Wash.) |
Boise, Idaho |
Never drafted |
1/23/1990 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE: Tullis was among a number of new arms that surfaced this spring among the northwest schools in the surprisingly-deep Washington junior-college ranks, and by the time the dust settled he was the one that scouts zeroed in on most. Despite the presence of former Oregon State righthanders Alex Besaw (5-1, 4.09) and Tyrell Poggemeyer (8-2, 0.94) on the Skagit Valley staff, Tullis was clearly the pitcher that stood out in the eyes of scouts. He went 9-2, 1.56, and often showed command of three pitches. Tullis, a freshman, had the lowest profile of the three Skagit pitchers initially as he came to the area from Idaho, where he split his time in 2008 at Boise's Timberline High between first base and a closer's role, while also excelling in football. He focused on pitching only once he arrived at Skagit Valley, and he took off. His fastball was clocked at 88-91 mph this spring, while generating significant arm-side sink and run. Tullis' curve and change are still evolving, though his change clearly showed signs of being a plus pitch. He has more arm strength than arm speed at this point in his development, so it's possible he will throw much harder down the road as he incorporates some minor mechanical adjustments into his delivery.--ALLAN SIMPSON |
| |
| 245. |
Cory Burns |
RHP |
Sr. |
R-R |
6-1 |
195 |
Arizona |
Glendale, Ariz. |
Never drafted |
10/9/1987 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE: With a star-studded set-up tandem of righthander Ryan Perry and lefthander Daniel Schlereth, both first-rounders in the 2008 draft, Burns was all but lost in the shuffle on Arizona's deep and talented pitching staff a year ago. He worked in just 22 innings, producing a 3-0, 4.98 record. But with a revamped delivery and a renewed opportunity to contribute as a set-up man to returning all-star closer Jason Stoffel, Burns played a meaningful role for the Wildcats this spring. In a school-record 40 appearances, he went 2-0, 3.80, walking 21 and striking out 54 in 47 innings. The biggest factor in his turnaround stemmed from a change in his arm angle, from straight overhand to sidearm. He got much better movement and deception on his 88-90 mph fastball at the lower slot, while continuing to throw his slider and changeup. For a pitcher who went 31-4 in his high-school career at Glendale's Mountain Ridge High and faced the real prospect of going undrafted in his career at Arizona, Burns' new-found status and delivery provided him the chance of not only being drafted this year, but potentially in a reasonably-high round.--ALLAN SIMPSON |
| |
| 246. |
Paul Goldschmidt |
1B/3B |
Jr. |
R-R |
6-4 |
230 |
Texas State |
The Woodlands, Texas |
Dodgers '06 (49) |
9/10/1987 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE (3/1): Goldschmidt had a highly-productive sophomore season at Texas State, leading the Bobcats in average (.360), doubles (20), homers (17), RBIs (69) and walks (37), and his offensive prowess carried over to the summer as he batted .330-4-28 with a league-high 13 doubles as the Alaska League's all-star DH (and second-team first baseman). Strong and powerful in his 6-foot-4, 230-pound frame, Goldschmidt can put a charge in a ball. He has plus power potential, especially to the opposite field, but he isn't all about brute strength as he has a refined hitting touch. He keeps his hands inside balls extremely well and has a flat bat plane that produces a steady stream of line drives. He also is capable of making good adjustments at the plate and rarely chases pitches, even as he plays the game aggressively. He walked 22 times last summer, while striking out a like number. Goldschmidt lacks speed but is a solid defender at first, and may actually have the actions and aptitude to slide across the diamond to third base.--ALLAN SIMPSON |
| UPDATE (5/15): Goldschmidt put together a monster junior season for Texas State, hitting .353-17-85 with 54 walks and only 28 strikeouts as the Bobcats advanced to NCAA tournament play. His unusually polished approach to hitting impresses scouts. He has a plan at the plate and earns high marks for his aptitude and overall makeup. There are questions about Goldschmidt’s ability to hit against high-velocity pitching as he often has to cheat to get his bat started in time, and his power is based more on strength and pitch recognition than on pure bat speed/quickness. Goldschmidt has gotten progressively slower throughout college and is now seen as a first baseman exclusively, with limited range but soft, sure hands.—DAVID RAWNSLEY |
| |
| 247. |
Jonathan Garcia |
OF |
Sr. |
R-R |
5-11 |
185 |
Luis Munoz Marin |
Juana Diaz, P.R. |
|
11/11/1991 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE: The Major League Scouting Bureau placed a "56" OFP grade (on the standard 20-80 scouting scale) on Garcia this spring, and while that was seen as a bit excessive by Puerto Rican scouts (it ranked him higher than No. 1 prospect Reymond Fuentes, for instance), Garcia does have significant tools across the board. In fact, his balance of tools-with no one tool grading as outstanding-could be considered a strength, yet could also be considered his biggest downfall as he is a 5-foot-11, righthanded-hitting outfielder. Garcia is a very good defensive outfielder and that is the one area that he grades out as an obvious plus. His arm strength is second only to Ruben Sierra Jr.'s among Puerto Rican outfielders; however, his running speed is probably not sufficient to play center field everyday at the professional level. Garcia is an aggressive hitter who is prone to swinging and missing, but he has some juice in his bat and is capable of driving balls hard up the gaps or further, when he gets a pitch he can handle.--DAVID RAWNSLEY |
| |
| 248. |
Stephen Richards |
LHP |
Jr. |
L-L |
5-11 |
170 |
Arkansas |
Plano, Texas |
Never drafted |
8/10/1988 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE: Richards was outstanding this spring as Arkansas’ closer, going 5-1, 1.11 with nine saves and 46 strikeouts in 32 innings. He is a smaller, slender-bodied lefthander with a low-three-quarters, cross-fire delivery that is very deceptive. He works in the upper-80s with his fastball, and will occasionally touch 92 mph but his out-pitch is a big, sweeping slider in the low-80s that is very difficult for both lefthanded and righthanded hitters to square up. Richards has been used exclusively in relief in his three years in college, and profiles as a situational reliever in pro ball. It’s very possible he could sneak into the top 10 rounds, especially for a college/performance-oriented team.—DAVID RAWNSLEY |
| |
| 249. |
Jason Stidham |
2B/3B |
Jr. |
L-R |
5-11 |
180 |
Florida State |
Palm Bay, Fla. |
D'backs '06 (43) |
2/26/1988 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE: Since his freshman year at Florida State, Stidham has been productive with the bat despite a less than picturesque swing. As a junior, he was hitting .340-9-57 as the Seminoles embarked on Atlantic Coast Conference tournament action. There are defensive issues with Stidham as he’s played over the infield at FSU in search of a home, and had made 14 errors in 2009, mostly as a second baseman after starting the year at shortstop.—ANUP SINHA / ALLAN SIMPSON |
| |
| 250. |
Brian Slover |
RHP |
So. |
R-R |
6-3 |
230 |
Cal State Northridge |
Covina, Calif. |
Never drafted |
6/10/1988 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE: Cal State Northridge often gets lost in the shadows of some of its more-prominent opponents in the Big West Conference, but produces its share of early-round draft picks from time to time-though most surface late in the draft process. Exhibit A this year is Slover, who was a relative unknown to scouts entering the 2009 season as he missed all of last year while recuperating from Tommy John surgery. The big, burly righthander was dominant in a closer role this spring for the Matadors, going 4-3, 1.02 with nine saves. In 27 appearances/44 innings, he walked 14 while striking out 48 and limiting opponents to a .197 average. He pumped his fastball consistently in the 90-93 mph range, and not only touched 95 at times but did it on back-to-back days against Southern California, upstaging USC pitchers Brad Boxberger and Robert Stock (both projected to be drafted in the first 2-3 rounds) in the process. He supplemented his fastball with a small, tight 78-80 mph slider that he spotted well. Slover was actually recruited by Northridge as a catcher, but injured his elbow playing football and didn't play baseball as a high-school senior. He never has caught in college, but pitched sparingly in 2007 as a freshman for the Matadors and touched a reported 96 mph. He hurt his elbow that summer, however, and virtually disappeared for the next 18 months while in rehab until resurfacing this spring. Though scouts see little projectability in his maxed-out frame, Slover nonetheless showed impressive present stuff this spring while being used in an unconventional closer's role. He often worked 2-3 innings at a time to close a game, and even played in the outfield on occasion. With Slover's somewhat limited history as a pitcher, scouts may take a conservative approach to him in the draft, but it's entirely possible that someone could sneak up and grab him as early as the second or third round.--ALLAN SIMPSON |
| |
| 251. |
Brandt Walker |
RHP |
Jr. |
R-R |
6-2 |
190 |
Stanford |
Austin, Texas |
Rangers '06 (21) |
11/9/1987 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE: Walker has teased scouts with his electric arm and extraordinary stuff since he was at a Texas high school, but his inability to throw strikes consistently and remain completely healthy has significantly compromised his career. He has never won a game in three college seasons at Stanford, going 0-1, 6.38 in 18 combined innings as a freshman and sophomore, and a disheartening 0-1, 7.11 in 19 innings this spring. There were significant hopes last fall that Walker had finally turned the corner when his fastball settled in at 95-96 mph, his breaking ball was sharp and crisp, and his command was superior than it had ever been. But it was just more of the same this spring as he struggled to repeat his delivery, and his command suffered. Walker can flash four superior pitches-a fastball, cutter, curve and change-but invariably they never arrive at the same time, and he loses the trust of the Stanford staff, which is notorious for not using pitchers unless they demonstrate an ability to throw strikes. Walker is a wild card in this draft. He is ready to move on from Stanford-he's a brilliant student, and has nearly graduated-and it would not be a surprise for a team to buy into his stuff and give him a shot in an early round, particularly if it can give him 200 innings in the minor leagues.--ALLAN SIMPSON |
| |
| 252. |
Brian Dozier |
SS |
Sr. |
R-R |
5-11 |
180 |
Southern Mississippi |
Fulton, Miss. |
Never drafted |
5/15/1987 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE: One of the great players in Southern Miss baseball history, Dozier had missed only two games in his three-plus year career with the Golden Eagles when he broke his collarbone April 14 diving for a ball in the field. He underwent surgery shortly thereafter and was expected to miss the balance of the 2009 season. To his personal misfortune, he was on the sidelines when his school experienced the single-greatest moment in its modest baseball history by earning a berth in the College World Series, taking two straight NCAA super-regional games at Florida. Though he wouldn't be able to play in the field, it was expected that Dozier would suit up for the team's participation in Omaha. He was expected to be limited to DH duties or a pinch-hitting role, but just to have his presence in the Southern Miss dugout should give his team a lift as Dozier was the glue to the team's defense for four years and was enjoying his most-productive offensive season before getting hurt. Through 35 games, he was hitting .394-4-39 and had scored 44 runs. It was his steady defensive skills, however, that stood out. He has excellent hands and made all the routine plays at shortstop for the Golden Eagles for the better part of four years, but his 4.6-second speed down the line speaks to his somewhat limited range as a middle infielder, and there are doubts he'll remain at shortstop in the long haul. Second base seems to be a realistic destination in pro ball, but it's possible a team could draft him with the idea of moving him behind the plate as his lack of raw power will not play on a corner.--ALLAN SIMPSON |
| |
| 253. |
Ryan Buch |
RHP |
Jr. |
R-R |
6-3 |
190 |
Monmouth |
Yardley, Pa. |
Never drafted |
11/8/1987 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE (3/1): A year after ranking as the No. 1 prospect in the Atlantic Collegiate League, Buch went 4-0, 2.06 in 26 regular-season innings last summer in the Cal Ripken Sr. League, walking 17 hitters while striking out 26. His lack of command and consistent mechanics are what prevents Buch from becoming a top-level prospect as the arm strength and pitches are definitely there. Buch topped out at 94 during the summer and showed flashes of having a pro-level curveball and changeup, but his mechanics affected the consistency and location of his breaking ball. He did a much better job last summer, though, in shortening his stride to get on top of his curveball better. Buch’s performance as a sophomore at Monmouth reflected his summer. He went 6-1, 3.66 in 50 innings in the spring, striking out 66 hitters but also walking 30.—DAVID RAWNSLEY / ALLAN SIMPSON |
| UPDATE (5/15): Buch solidified his prospect status this spring, mainly by attacking hitters more with his heavy fastball and refining the command on his big-breaking, power curveball, his best pitch. He is one of the few pitchers in the 2009 draft class who will throw two legitimate plus big-league pitches during any one outing. He can create excellent spin on his curve, producing hard, biting 12-to-6 action in the mid- to upper-70s, and it is a true strikeout pitch when it's anywhere near the strike zone. His fastball sat consistently at 91-93 mph for six innings this spring, and he touched 95 now and again. The problem with Buch's package always has been his mechanics and command. He went 7-5, 4.31 this spring with 92 K's in 77 innings, but allowed 85 hits to mid-level Division I hitters. Though he walked 34 hitters, Buch's control was actually better this year than in the past and he was more economical with his pitch counts. But the more strikes he threw, the more his command suffered as more pitches caught the fatter part of the plate. Buch also had little or no feel for a changeup, leaving him without a third pitch to get hitters off balance.--DR |
| |
| 254. |
Taylor Freeman |
C |
Jr. |
L-R |
6-2 |
200 |
McNeese State |
Carney, Okla. |
Tigers '06 (41) |
8/24/1987 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE: Since hitting .610 with 23 homers as a high-school senior in Carney, Okla., Freeman’s ability to hit, and hit with power, has always been evident. After turning down an offer from the Detroit Tigers and enrolling at Oklahoma’s Seminole State JC as a freshman, Freeman has been a force in the McNeese State batting order—topping the Cowboys in batting (.372), doubles (20), homers (8) and RBIs (52) as a sophomore, while hitting .333-12-56 as a junior this season. His biggest areas of improvement have come behind the plate. He has solid catching skills and an above-average arm.--ALLAN SIMPSON |
| |
| 255. |
Sam Elam |
LHP |
Sr. |
L-L |
6-5 |
230 |
Notre Dame |
Mesquite, Texas |
Rockies '08 (23) |
6/16/1987 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE (3/1): Scouts don't have any idea what to do with Elam, who has top-round talent but is so prone to bouts of wildness that he rarely pitches. His closest comparison may be former Georgia Tech/Arizona Diamondbacks prospect Jason Neighborgall, who had a golden arm with two superior pitches (98-100 mph fastball, knee-buckling power curve) but hung it up after the 2007 season because he had little or no concept of throwing strikes, and no success. Elam has a similar big frame with a high three-quarters to overhand release, and a 90-93 mph downhill fastball that will touch 95. He has shown flashes of pitching ability in the past, notably in the Jayhawk League in the summer after his freshman year when he was the league pitcher of the year after going 5-0, 0.95 with only seven walks (and 42 strikeouts) in 28 innings. More often though, Elam hasn't come close to throwing strikes consistently. In 14 innings in the summer of 2007 in the Cape Cod League, he walked 26 while allowing just eight hits and striking out 17. Last year at Notre Dame, he was put on the mound for just one inning, and walked four hitters and threw four wild pitches before getting three outs. Elam threw a number of bullpens for scouts in the weeks leading up to the 2008 draft, and often sat in the low-90s with command of his pitches. But when a batter stepped in, his mechanics deteriorated quickly and he had no idea where the ball was going. While the Colorado Rockies took a stab at Elam in the 2008 draft, he didn't sign and found no answers to his ongoing control issues in the summer or fall.--DAVID RAWNSLEY / ALLAN SIMPSON |
| UPDATE (5/15): The large-framed lefty remained an enigma throughout his senior year at Notre Dame, though he at least won the first game of his four-year college career. Working mostly in relief in 2009, Elam went 1-1, 5.74, striking out 38 and walking 29 in 31 innings. He continued to throw in the mid-90s, but often struggled with the command of both his fastball and sharp curveball. He worked almost exclusively from the stretch in an effort to simplify his delivery, with the hope it would improve his mechanics and command. Throughout his constant struggles, Elam’s arm action continued to be loose and effortless, so it’s highly possible that a team might take him in the middle rounds this year—possibly even in the first 10 rounds—and make him an organizational pet project. Without doubt, he will be one of the more intriguing picks in this year’s draft.—ANUP SINHA |
| |
| 256. |
Chad Stang |
OF |
So. |
R-R |
6-2 |
180 |
Midland (Texas) |
Surrey, B.C. |
Never drafted |
3/26/1989 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE: One of numerous Canadians who has found his way to the west Texas junior-college ranks, Stang comes from Surrey, B.C.—a hotbed for producing baseball talent north of the border—and is a former batting champion in the Premier Baseball League, a greater Vancouver-based league that has sent more than its share of its former players to the big leagues. Stang can hit, and he had two productive seasons at Midland JC, batting .324-9-48 as a freshman and .370-6-48 this spring as a sophomore. He has considerable strength in his long swing. Stang’s speed (6.5 seconds in the 60) is also an asset and enables him to play center field when a below-average arm might normally relegate him to left field. Should the draft not intercede, Stang will find his way to Louisiana State in 2010.--ALLAN SIMPSON |
| |
| 257. |
Jonathan Singleton |
1B |
Sr. |
L-L |
6-2 |
218 |
Millikan |
Lakewood, Calif. |
Long Beach State |
9/18/1991 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE (3/1): Singleton hit .385-4-25 as a junior at Millikan High, but his prospect stock hit its peak in mid-June last year, when he won the home-run hitting contest at Perfect Game's National Showcase. He launched four balls into the upper deck at the Metrodome in Minneapolis, many of them measured at more than 450 feet. He immediately laid an early claim as the top power-hitting prospect in the 2009 high-school class. Singleton isn't just a home-run hitter, though, as his overall hitting skills and approach to hitting also stood out during games at that event. What Singleton did that most impressed scouts was his ability to wait on balls until they were deep in the hitting zone, and then use his enormous strength and leverage to drive them hard. He also has a good eye at the plate, as evidenced by 14 walks vs. seven strikeouts as a high-school junior. Singleton struggled to repeat that performance the rest of the summer and fall, however, as his mechanics and approach broke down. At both the Aflac All-American Game in August and the World Wood Bat Association fall championship in Jupiter, Fla., in October, Singleton was prone to opening up early on his swing and reaching out front for pitches, thus robbing him of bat speed and leverage. While so much of his prospect status rides on his ability to hit and hit with power, Singleton is a quality athlete as a first baseman, with light feet around the bag, good range and soft hands. It's worth noting that despite Singleton's strength, he's very young to be in the 2009 draft class, and could easily be a 2010 prospect had he not started school early. Yet he not only looks like a big leaguer already in his well-proportioned frame, but comes by his athletic genes naturally as his father Herb was a former quarterback at Oregon, and shared the QB duties for the Ducks in 1973 with Norv Turner, currently the coach of the NFL's San Diego Chargers.--DAVID RAWNSLEY |
| UPDATE (5/15): Singleton’s struggles from the late summer and fall continued this spring, and his swing was described as “long and loopy” by one scout. He hit .321-4-25, although in fairness he was pitched around to the tune of 28 walks vs. only six strikeouts. There remains a chance that a team that saw and appreciated the massive power he showed last June could draft him in a signable spot, but that team would have to have a long memory at this point. Singleton is scheduled to attend Long Beach State, a school whose home ball park (Blair Field) is one of the most difficult home-run parks in the country.—DR |
| |
| 258. |
Shannon Wilkerson |
OF |
Jr. |
R-R |
6-0 |
200 |
Augusta State |
Dacula, Ga. |
Never drafted |
7/20/1988 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE: Wilkerson was an offensive force for three years at the NCAA Division II level, and capped a three-year career at Augusta State by earning Peach Belt Conference player-of-the-year honors this season. He hit .441-24-82, and topped the conference in runs (82), hits (101), total bases (204) and homers, while also stealing 13 bases in 17 attempts. A year earlier, he hit .380-16-57 and stole 14 bases-all team-leading totals. He hit a more modest .291-2-30 as a freshman, but his season ended after just 26 games as he was forced to the sidelines while appealing an NCAA eligibility ruling. Wilkerson's impressive track record, along with his combination of strength and speed, makes him a candidate for the top 10 rounds in this year's draft. He has significant bat speed, but his swing is often geared to jerking fastballs on the inside half of the plate. He attacks mistake pitches, but there's effort in his swing and he often buckles and flinches on even mediocre breaking pitches on the outer half. His speed is a solid tool when underway, though it is compromised down the line at times because he doesn't get out of the box well because of the big hack he takes. There is some stiffness in his right-field actions, and his arm strength and accuracy need improvement, but Wilkerson projects solid tools across the board.--ALLAN SIMPSON |
| |
| 259. |
Brett Nommensen |
OF |
Sr. |
L-L |
5-11 |
190 |
Eastern Illinois |
Fox River Grove, Ill. |
Never drafted |
10/6/1986 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE (3/1): One of the biggest mysteries among scouts who covered the Coastal Plain League last summer was how a player like Nommensen went undrafted after his junior year at Eastern Illinois. He hit .402-5-36 with 18 stolen bases for the Panthers last spring, and responded by easily leading the CPL in hitting at .377-4-22, to go with 17 stolen bases. Not only did Nommensen perform to a high level at both the college and summer-league levels, but he showed a pretty complete array of physical tools in addition to his hitting ability. He is a plus runner (6.72 seconds in the 60) with a pro-level throwing arm in center field. He excels at bunting and slashing, and is a catalyst at the top of a lineup but is also not just a spray hitter as his ability to drive the ball to the gaps is consistent with the bat speed he generates. He also has a superior strike-zone discipline. If anything, Nommensen plays above his tools and just doesn't do it as smoothly as some of his peers. But he generally makes up for any shortcomings in his game with his high-energy approach. With a big senior season, he could easily emerge as one of the top seniors signs in the 2009 draft.--ALLAN SIMPSON / DAVID RAWNSLEY |
| UPDATE (5/15): Nommensen was hitting .521-11-26 with 22 walks and on pace to lead all Division-I hitters in batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage when he was sidelined for the remainder of the regular season after 28 games with a broken hamate bone in his right wrist. His sheer dominance and ability to square up balls hard virtually every at-bat had area scouts talking about him as a potential fourth- to sixth-round pick before the injury. Unfortunately, he couldn't have picked a worse time to get hurt as cross-checkers were just beginning to come north and many teams didn't have a chance to see Nommensen extensively enough by with multiple scouts, usually a prerequisite for being drafted in those rounds. Hamate injuries and the subsequent surgery usually don't adversely impact a player in the long run. Nommensen finally returned to the EIU lineup for the final game of the season, and went 3-for-5 in a 5-4 loss to Murray State in the Ohio Valley Conference tournament, a setback that eventually cost a deserving EIU team an NCAA regional berth.--DR |
| |
| 260. |
Robert Whitenack |
RHP |
Jr. |
R-R |
6-5 |
180 |
SUNY Old Westbury |
North Massapequa, N.Y. |
Never drafted |
11/20/1988 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE (3/1): How Whitenack, a Division III pitcher from Massapequa, N.Y., made it out to the Hawaii Collegiate Baseball League last summer would probably make a good story but the fledgling summer league is certainly glad the long and slender righthander did. You can imagine the Waikiki Surfers coaching staff wondering exactly what they were getting, although Whiteneck posted very respectable 4-4, 2.28 numbers in 71 innings as a sophomore on a 13-27 SUNY Old Westbury team. What they got was the No. 1-ranked prospect in the league, although Whitenack's 0-2, 2.15 record in 37 innings hardly was representative of his stature. Whitenack has a long, loose arm action that projects easily and he pitched at 88-90 mph, touching 92 during the summer. He showed command of a curveball and changeup, as well, along with an ability to throw first-pitch strikes. League coaches were generally in agreement that Whitenack was just scratching the surface of what he could do if he dedicates himself to becoming stronger. His slight frame can easily handle another 20-30 pounds. The baby-faced Whitenack also doesn't turn 21 until November, so he has plenty of time to grow into his body. No doubt, scouts will question the level of competition that Whitenack has faced in his college career-both at the D-III level and a bottom-rung summer college league.--DAVID RAWNSLEY / ALLAN SIMPSON |
| UPDATE (5/15): The big question with Whitenack remains how his stuff might fare against a faster-level of competition. But his fastball occasionally reached 95 mph this spring-and that was considered only his second-best pitch. Whitenack's knuckle-curve, which acts like a slider, is his No. 1 offering and he also showed glimpses of a solid changeup. In 67 innings this spring, he overmatched D-III hitters by striking out 79 in 67 innings while limiting them to a .190 average, but his primary numbers (5-2, 2.81) were merely ordinary. More often than not, Whitenack's fastball hovered round 90 and he didn't always command it. He didn't dominate in the manner that Adelphi righthander Bobby Lanigan, another New York small-college pitcher did a year ago on his way to being drafted in the third round by the Minnesota Twins. Despite his big, lanky frame, Whitenack does not use his height to his advantage to get downhill leverage on his pitches, and with narrow shoulders, scouts aren't certain he can add the weight needed to throw harder and become more durable.--AS |
| |
| 261. |
Carlos Ramirez |
C |
Jr. |
R-R |
6-0 |
210 |
Arizona State |
Tucson, Ariz. |
Angels '07 (34) |
3/19/1988 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE (3/1): Ramirez transferred to Arizona State for his junior year after hitting.386-8-45 with wood as a sophomore at Chandler-Gilbert (Ariz.) JC. He continued to swing a hot stick last summer in the Northwoods League, and was leading that league in nearly every major offensive category at the all-star break. His production cooled during the second half of the season as he hit only one home run and saw his batting average drop 40 points, but he still finished first in slugging (.560) and extra-base hits (29), tied for the league lead in home runs (10), was third in on-base percentage (.433) and seventh in batting (.315) on his way to being named the league's MVP. Ramirez made an easy transition to summer-league competition at the plate as he had swung a wood bat for two seasons in junior college. However, scouts have generally been more impressed with his defensive ability. He has solid catch-and-throw skills and won a national Gold Glove award in junior college for his defensive excellence. He has a quick release and a strong arm, and is active behind the plate. He has also earned praise for his leadership skills. If there's a knock on Ramirez, it's his bulky, non-athletic body and lack of speed-though both those weaknesses shouldn't be exposed at the position he plays.--ALLAN SIMPSON / PATRICK EBERT |
| UPDATE (5/15): Ramirez played a pivotal role this spring as a newcomer on an ASU roster badly depleted by the 2008 draft. He stepped in behind the plate and not only did an excellent job of bringing along a young pitching staff, but displayed steady, dependable receiving and blocking skills. He also provided a big bat in the heart of the order and topped the Sun Devils with 18 homers and 69 RBIs (entering NCAA super-regional play), while batting .341. Ramirez isn’t blessed with arm strength or an abundance of tools, nor is there a lot of life in his squatty frame. But his catching skills overall are solid and his performance at the plate both last summer and this spring has made him a viable candidate in the top 4-6 rounds.--AS |