Every year there is a state or region that boasts a few high profile high school prospects that typically doesn’t produce a high amount of impact baseball talent. At this point in time, Utah appears to be that state heading into the 2007 draft season. Left-handed pitcher and Aflac All-American Tanner Robles highlights the list of Utah players that could go very high in next June’s draft. In fact, Robles has been so impressive this past summer that he could be among the first three to five high school players selected overall.
Robles, who hails from Murray, Utah (Cottonwood High School) was named the third best pitching prospect at Perfect Game’s National Showcase in June, where he hit 95 with his fastball and showed a developing curveball and changeup. He has a tall and athletic build at 6’4”, 190 pounds, and shows a fair amount of moxie on the mound as well. At the Aflac All-American Classic, Robles’ fastball was more in the 88-92 range, but he spotted the pitch extremely well. His secondary pitches need to show more improvement and consistency, but what high school pitcher doesn’t need work in those areas?
Robles could be the second Utah prep lefty taken in the first round in three years, as Mark Pawelek was selected 20th overall by the Chicago Cubs in the 2005 draft. Pawelek was the first Utah prep player selected in the first round of the draft since Bruce Hurst was taken 22nd overall by the Red Sox back in 1976. There must be something about Utah that allows them to produce such talented left-handed pitching.
Right behind Robles in the rankings is Draper, Utah’s Garrett Nash (Jordan High School). Nash also attended Perfect Game’s 2006 National Showcase where he recorded the highest SPARQ Baseball Rating of any player in attendance (84.59). If you’re not familiar with the SPARQ ratings, it is a relatively new system used in all sports to try and quantify one’s overall athletic ability (in baseball, they test players in the vertical jump, the 30-yard dash, a rotational power ball throw and a shuttle run). Nash’s high rating is a tribute to his overall ability, as he easily is one of the top natural athletes available for next June’s draft.
At the National Showcase, Nash recorded one of the faster times in the more traditional 60-yard dash, checking in at 6.43 seconds. That speed may prompt some scouts and scouting directors to think about how he would look in centerfield where that speed may be better suited. For now, Nash will remain at shortstop, where he has the quickness, arm strength and overall natural ability to make all of the plays. At the plate, he’s a switch-hitter with exciting offensive potential from both sides of the plate. While Nash was not selected to participate at the Aflac All-American Classic, he did participate at Perfect Game’s Aflac showcase, where he continued to show his world-class athleticism and impact bat.
Rising up draft boards after an impressive showing at the PG National is towering right-handed pitcher James Mahler. Mahler’s father and uncle both pitched in the big leagues, and James attends the same high school (Jordan) as Nash does.
Checking in at 6’6”, 225 pounds, Mahler has the prototype workhorse build. He showed a sinking 90 mph fastball at the National, and has plenty of potential to add velocity as he continues to hone his craft. Mahler’s curveball is a very good 12-6 and his changeup also shows some polish, giving him three solid pitches that he throws for strikes, with movement, to add onto his impressive build.
Catcher Zach Jones also attends Jordan High School, and also participated at the PG National this past June. He will get plenty of long looks playing on the same team as Nash and Mahler, and could make Jordan High School one of the top schools in the nation. Jones is an extremely athletic catcher who can run. He has very good throwing mechanics from behind the plate with a quick transfer and an accurate arm. He shows good quickness behind the dish, and some offensive potential at the plate.
Another prep catcher from Utah that attended the 2006 Perfect Game National Showcase is bound to get some looks: Remington Wilson, who attends the same school as Robles (Cottonwood) which, similar to Jones, will allow him to get more than just a few looks this spring from scouts in attendance. A very good catcher and baseball player, Wilson has a very strong arm (can throw 90 from the mound) and can hit with some power. He could use improvement in some aspects of his game (who couldn’t?), but he also has a very good foundation in every aspect of his game.
One state. Two schools. Five prospects. Cottonwood and Jordan High Schools are only miles apart in suburban Salt Lake City, so while Utah may be off the usual beaten scouting path, their proximity will make for an exciting stop for any talent director in the region.
Idaho included
Since I covered one Rocky Mountain state that stands to have an above average collection of baseball talent available for the 2007 draft, I might as well add Idaho, who boasts three talented players of their own, all of whom also attended the 2006 Perfect Game National Showcase.
I’ll start with lefty Josh Osich (Bishop Kelly High School) from Boise. Osich is your prototypical polished prep lefty with a solid three-pitch repertoire. His fastball has been clocked as high as 91 at Perfect Game events, and he can make hitters look silly when he mixes in his curveball and changeup.
Nathan Robertson is a powerfully built outfielder from Twin Falls that shows power to all parts of the field. His power is generated from both his size and plus bat speed, and he also runs pretty well for such a large body.
Bill Buckner’s son Bobby rounds out the Idaho trio. A smaller yet scrappy middle infielder from Boise, Bobby has definitely learned a lot from his dad about the smaller yet important aspects of the game. As a switch-hitter he has a contact bat, and can make all of the plays in the middle of the infield.
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.