With less than two months until the June Amateur Free Agent Draft, there are some rising high school seniors that are generating quite a buzz in the scouting community. While the list of risers could be endless, just like any other subjective list, I'm going to limit this feature to 10 players that have created the most stir this spring and have made the biggest strides in an attempt to be selected early in the draft this June.
Reese Havens-SS-Bishop England HS (South Carolina)
Committed to play in-state for the South Carolina Gamecocks, Havens is soaring up draft charts this spring with a great baseball body and a smooth left-handed bat. There is intriguing power potential as he generates very good bat speed with some loft to his swing. Due to below average speed and range, Havens may move to third base down the road, whether it be at South Carolina or at the pro level, but he has the hands and arm strength to play anywhere on the diamond.
Tyler Herron-RHP-Wellington HS (Florida)
Herron, a right-handed pitcher, is also a talented shortstop. His projectable frame and increasing, consistent velocity makes Herron one of the more intriguing, rising young prep pitchers available for this June's draft. He flashes an improving curveball as well, and has a nice, easy arm stroke in which the ball explodes out of his hand. Herron is still growing into his body, and with increased velocity already, there's no reason to think that he won't be able to add a few more ticks to his low-90s heater. He has committed to play for Clemson.
Craig Italiano-RHP-Flower Mound HS (Texas)
Few, if any, pitchers from the prep ranks can match Italiano's 98 mile-per-hour fastball. He was already well established as a top three to five round pick entering the spring, but his consistent velocity may vault him into the first round of the draft. Italiano does have somewhat of a max-effort delivery, so there are some future injury concerns, and concerns about whether he'll remain as a starter or move to the bullpen. Regardless of those concerns, the Flower Mound, Texas resident is truly blessed with a golden arm, and that will cause him to receive an incredible amount of early interest. Italiano has committed to play for Texas Christian University.
Paul Kelly-SS-Flower Mound HS (Texas)
Italiano's teammates at Flower Mound High School, Kelly is a smaller yet rangy shortstop that resembles Texas A&M's Cliff Pennington in size, stature and the way he plays the game. He has very good bat control and covers the plate well, makes good contact and has decent power to the gaps. Defensively he has good range, soft hands and a well above average arm (throws 90+ from the mound) that should allow him to stay at shortstop. His body has plenty of room for him to add size and strength. Kelly, like his high school teammate Italiano, has committed to play for TCU.
Bryan Morris-RHP-Tullahoma HS (Tennessee)
Armed with a fastball that regularly clocks in the mid-90s, and a killer curveball, Morris has gone from virtually unknown to a possible first-round draft pick. He opened the season with consecutive no-hitters, and has been drawing bigger and bigger crowds from the scouting community in Tullahoma, Tennessee. Morris has committed to play locally at Motlow State Junior College.
Mark Pawelek-LHP-Springville HS (Utah)
No player had moved up as much as Mark Pawelek has. Pawelek has been bringing scouts in droves to Springville, Utah to watch him pitch. Like almost every other player on this list, Pawelek was well known about entering this spring, but he has pitched so well that he is being talked about as a player that could go as high as the top half of the first round of the draft. He's created that buzz with more consistent velocity on his fastball, which he throws easily in the low-90s and can touch the mid-90s. Pawelek maintains that velocity well into games. He also has a solid breaking ball and changeup, and has a nice, fluid delivery from a projectable frame. He has committed to play for Arizona State.
Colby Rasmus-OF-Russell County HS (Alabama)
Be sure to check the interview feature I conducted with Colby's father, Tony, a couple of weeks ago. The oldest of four sons, Colby has been drawing attention with his bat, with 15 home runs at last count so far in the young season. He makes consistent, solid contact that should translate well to hitting with a wood bat at the pro level, that is if he's swayed away from his commitment to play for Auburn. Rasmus is a fluid and talented, confident athlete that also closes games for the number one high school team in the country, Russell County High School in Phenix City, Alabama.
Drew Thompson-SS-Jupiter HS (Florida)
Drew Thompson is the son of former big-leaguer Robby Thompson, and he carries the big-league moxie on the field that scouts and coaches love. A natural leader, he shows graceful and natural actions in the infield, and he has the arm, hands and range to stay at shortstop. Thompson makes good contact at the plate, with a disciplined eye and he shows good power from gap to gap. He still has plenty of room to grow while getting bigger and stronger, and with his pedigree he could be a player to watch, either in the draft or at the University of Florida.
Josh Wall-RHP-Central Private HS (Louisiana)
Perfect Game USA broke a story on Josh Wall after the World Showcase in Ft. Meyers. It's not that Wall wasn't well known about, but no one had seen him throw in the mid-90s with an easy arm stroke and a dominating breaking ball. Before that he doubled as a talented and athletic shortstop prospect as well, but now with more consistency and velocity, his future without a doubt lies on the mound. A resident of Walker, Louisiana, Wall has committed to play close to home at in-state perennial powerhouse LSU.
Sean West-LHP-Captain Shreve HS (Louisiana)
West, at 6'8", 195 pounds, has one of the most intriguing and projectable of frames of any draft eligible prospect. Being a left-handed pitcher only adds to his interest. Previously a soft-tossing lefty that earned his keep by changing speeds and hitting his spots, West has started to pitch more consistently around 90 miles per hour, and he has plenty of room to add onto that as he continues to grow and hone his mechanics. Given his stature, he's always throwing on a downhill plane, and he keeps hitters honest with a big, sweeping curveball. West has committed to play for San Jacinto Junior College.
The thoughts and opinions listed here do not necessarily reflect those of Perfect Game USA. Patrick Ebert is affiliated with both Perfect Game USA and Brewerfan.net, and can be contacted via email at pebert@brewerfan.net.