Before I continue with more columns relating to this year’s draft, I wanted to talk a little bit about some of the talent available for 2007, particularly from the college ranks. There are some interesting groupings already evolving that make the 2007 draft class look as though it will be filled with talent. An exciting ’07 high school class filled with names like Robert Stock, Michael Main, John Tolisano, Erik Goeddel, Greg Peavy and Josh Smoker will help complement that talent, but that will be another topic for another time, particularly when we get closer to the summer showcase circuit in which the prep ’07 class truly starts to evolve from the Perfect Game National to the Aflac All-American Classic.

SEC Southpaws

This is probably the most exciting grouping to follow, headlined by Vanderbilt ace David Price. Price didn’t waste any time and made an impression at Vandy early in his college career. That success carried over to the summer of 2005, where he pitched extremely well for Team USA leading the team in strikeouts (39) and the regular starters in ERA (1.26). He is off to an even better start this year leading Vanderbilt to a rising spot in the national rankings. Price will carry fanfare with him very similar to the attention Mark Prior garnered leading up to the 2001 draft, and it starts right here, right now.

Tennessee’s James Adkins is next up, and like Price Adkins enjoyed immediate success in college pitching for SEC and in-state rival Tennessee. Price and Adkins are also similar in stature, both measuring 6’6” in height and weighing in at 215 and 225 pounds respectively. With their size, stuff and success so far, they may rival Andrew Miller as the top draft-eligible prospect this year if either were eligible.

Arkansas chimes in with Nick Schmidt, who also is of similar stature (6’5”, 220) to Price and Adkins and has also enjoyed immediate success upon reaching college. All three are off to very good starts this season as each one assumed the role as Friday starter for their respective teams, and be sure to follow their progression through next year as well as they approach their equally bright professional careers.

Talented Two-ways

You could toss two more talented, well-built southpaws onto the above list in Rice’s Joe Savery and Virginia’s Sean Doolittle, but of course neither plays in the SEC, and even if they did that would assume their careers will continue as pitchers. Both Savery and Doolittle own equally sweet strokes at the plate, both from the left-side, and they have continued to build on their initial success as freshmen. If you recall, Savery and Doolittle were both in contention for my Perfect Game preseason All-American list in a previous Crack of the Bat column, in which Savery barely edged out Doolittle. Based on their success so far this season, Doolittle would get the nod over Savery, but the season is still young.

Matt Wieters is the third talented two-way talent, although I think Wieters career as a big, imposing switch-hitting catcher is already starting to win over his ability on the mound. He has been catching more regularly for the Ramblin’ Wreck, and carries a very impressive quiet yet confident presence on the field. Wieters’ numbers aren’t quite as eye-popping as they were a year ago, but they’re still quite good, and I would expect them to only get better between now and a year from June.

Catching On

Wieters carries over onto this list, where he joins James Adkins’ battery-mate at Tennessee and the representative at catcher on my preseason Perfect Game All-American list, J.P. Arencibia. Wieters and Arencibia both are just as talented offensively as they are defensively, attributes that are extremely hard to find at the next level. Prepare yourself for endless comparisons to former Georgia Tech backstop Jason Varitek when it comes to Wieters, while Arencibia should once again help lead Team USA after leading the team in batting (.404) after his freshman season last summer.

To add another name to the list, keep an eye on Ed Easley’s bat at Mississippi State. He isn’t quite the well-rounded catcher that Wieters and Arencibia are, but he should continue to carry a high batting average with a very good gap-to-gap contact approach that will remind observers of Brian Harper. Easley is a good enough athlete to steal a few bases when he’s on which will help make up for the fact that he’s probably never going to neutralize the opposing running game when he’s behind the dish.

Big Bats, Hot Corner

NC State’s Matt Mangini has followed an eye-opening performance in the Northwoods League last summer with an impressive start to the 2006 season. With a powerful left-handed swing that matches his powerful frame, and more than enough athleticism to stick at the hot corner, Mangini could evolve much like Alex Gordon did at Nebraska a year ago.

Joining Mangini in this grouping is Fresno State’s Beau Mills, who like Mangini has a big frame and a powerful left-handed bat. Keep an eye on both of these young sluggers as they attempt to make the 2007 draft class just as talented at the hot corner as the 2005 one was.

Tulane Trio

Three players from Tulane will vie for first-round contention next June, including a pair of former Aflac All-Americans: Outfielder Warren McFadden and infielder Brad Emaus. Right-handed pitcher Sean Morgan rounds out the trio, and has the most talent of the three with a power arsenal that matches his powerful frame. Emaus was a freshman All-American, while McFadden red-shirted his freshman season due to injury. All three are a big reason why the Green Wave continues to roll in 2006, success that should carry over to 2007 as well.

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.