In the past I have focused on some regional areas that every few years has a special class of draft-eligible players worth pointing out. The Pacific Northwest this year has such a class. The states that I am talking about are Washington and Oregon, neither of which is typically thought of as a hot bed for baseball talent, however, they have produced current big-leaguers such as Geoff Jenkins, Richie Sexson, Grady Sizemore, Jeremy Bonderman and Lyle Overbay. Some of the bigger names just before them include Dale Murphy, Ryne Sandberg and John Olerud. This list doesn’t even take native draft-eligible players from the Pacific Northwest playing elsewhere such as Colin Curtis of Arizona State into consideration.

Let’s take a peak at some of the players that make the 2006 class so special.

Washington

Tim Lincecum

Few players, if any, are soaring up draft charts as fast as Tim Lincecum is this spring. He currently (as of April 19) is leading the nation in strikeouts, with 129 in 79 innings of work. He also has allowed only 36 hits during that time, limiting opposing hitters to a .137 batting average. Lincecum is walking more than you would like to see, with 41 free passes, but given how hard he is to hit he still allows fewer than one baserunner per inning. Lincecum has always thrown hard, but this year he has worked hard to put on weight and to polish up his mechanics to be able to sustain his velocity late in games. You may have remembered that I added his name to my college closer list from a year ago, when he was eligible for the draft as a sophomore. Many are still projecting him as a late-inning reliever, the difference now is that Lincecum is drawing legitimate first-round interest.

Travis Snider

You can count the number of draft eligible players that have the kind of power potential that Snider has on one hand. Snider gets it done from the left-side of the plate, and his name is slowly but surely climbing up draft boards. Few had a better showing that him at the Area Code Games last year, and he currently is the driving force behind his nationally ranked high school team (Jackson). If Snider isn’t drafted high enough, he may take his big bat to Arizona State, a pilgrimage that many talented young Washington hitters seem to make (Colin Curtis, Travis Buck).

Jake Locker

It’s hard to match Locker’s athletic ability, but that ability may make it difficult for any team hoping to pry him away from a promising football career at the University of Washington. He is a strong-armed quarterback who uses his arm well both as an infielder and on the mound. As a pitcher Locker can dial it up in the 93 mph range, while he has exciting power potential as a hitter. Matt Tuiasosopo was signed away from a similar commitment two years ago by the home-state Mariners, but it took in excess of two million dollars as a third round pick to make that happen. The same goes for Grady Sizemore in 2000. Could Locker be next?

Stephen Englund

I brought up Englund’s name in a recent column when I discussed some of the more intriguing prep shortstop prospects eligible for this June’s draft. In that column I pointed out that it remains to be seen whether or not Englund would remain at shortstop, much less the infield, but given his powerful bat and exciting bat speed, it may not matter where he ends up on the field. Few players in the nation have his offensive potential, and he has signed his letter of intent to Washington State.

Cam Nobles

While Snider provides the thunder for Jackson High School, Nobles leads the pitching staff. A polished and refined pitcher that shows an advanced knowledge of how to pitch, Nobles carves up opposing batters with an aggressive approach. His fastball is around the 90 mph range right now, but his best pitch is a very good curveball that is a true strikeout pitch. His polish and repertoire should allow him to enjoy immediate success at the next level, whether that be as a professional or at the University of Washington.

Chad Arnold

Arnold’s projectable 6’4” 180 pound frame immediately makes him a player to watch. He can touch the low-90s presently with his fastball, and also shows a nice foundation on both his breaking pitch and his changeup. The key for Arnold, like so many other young pitchers, is to bring the entire package together. With his size he is expected to add velocity to his heater while refining his craft. He has committed to Washington State.

Jose Reyes

Built long and lithe, Reyes also has a very projectable frame, although more athletic and wiry than the two pitchers listed just above him. He has a very loose, whip-like arm that has allowed him to touch the low-90s on occasion, and he is expected to add more velocity as he matures. Reyes’ offspeed pitches are a work in progress, but there’s no reason to believe they can’t get better in time. Add an extremely competitive demeanor onto his profile, and a commitment to Oregon State, and you have yet another exciting prospect to watch.

Steven Marquardt

You may remember Marquardt’s name from the inaugural Aflac All-American Classic during the summer of 2003. A talented two-way player that has excelled both on the mound and at the plate, his power-power repertoire has put him on follow lists for several years now. Despite a commitment to the University of Washington, he decided to attend Columbia Basin Community College, and is draft eligible for the third year in a row. Marquardt currently is under the signing control of the Texas Rangers as a draft-and-follow candidate.

Oregon

Dallas Buck

Buck has been well known for quite some time, and was a top prospect coming out of high school. A dual-sport commitment to Oregon State was too good for him to pass up, and he started his college career as a defensive back for the Beavers. Buck now focuses solely on baseball, and he has enjoyed success at every collegiate stop, including an impressive campaign on the Cape Cod League during the summer of 2004. This spring he hasn’t been quite as dominant, as he’s walking too many batters and he’s lost a little velocity on his fastball. Buck still figures to factor prominently into the first or second round of the draft.

Jonah Nickerson

The second of three Oregon State players to start the Oregon list, Nickerson follows Buck in the Beavers rotation, and also played for Team USA last summer. Nickerson may not get the same national attention that Buck does, but he has pitched just as effectively the past few years. He doesn’t have the wicked repertoire that Buck owns, but he has very good control, and shows that he knows how to pitch each time he takes the mound.

Kevin Gunderson

Gunderson has the honor of closing the games that Buck and Nickerson starts, and joined Nickerson on Team USA last summer. The three juniors are a big reason why Oregon State has enjoyed so much success the past two seasons, as they seemed to have firmly put themselves back in the saddle as national contenders. Gunderson, a left-handed pitcher, pumps out low-90s fastballs and a wicked breaking pitch despite a smallish frame, and pitches very aggressively using a fearless approach tailor made for a closer.

Drew Rundle

I don’t feel right listing Rundle so far down on this list, as he has the pure, athletic talent that might draw a few Dale Murphy whispers. Rundle is the type of player that makes everything look easy. Just when you think you have found a weakness in his game, he goes out and proves you wrong with his play on the field. At the plate he has quick hands, good bat speed, and interesting power potential, and also shows the ability to make adjustments between at-bats. Defensively, Rundle has very good speed, a strong throwing arm and the ability to play any of the three outfield positions. Based on pure talent, he should be taken in the first two rounds, otherwise he may take his game to the University of Arizona.

Austin Pearce

Pearce, like Locker, is a talented quarterback that led his team (Jesuit High School) to a state championship. His future lies in baseball though, as he has committed to play baseball, not football, at the University of Notre Dame. Pearce is a left-handed throwing, switch-hitting outfielder that profiles the best in right field, where his arm strength would be a natural asset. His large frame gives him the power potential at the plate to match his arm.

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.