The ninth WWBA World Championship in Jupiter, Florida begins this week, an event that is always well represented by the scouting and college recruiting communities. The focus, as David Rawnsley points out in the video preview of the event currently up on the homepage, is on the talent that takes the field. How the players perform with and against the best players in the nation will go a long way in creating a lasting impression in the minds of the scouts and recruiters in attendance.
And while the players at this year’s event will collectively represent the prep talent available for next year’s draft, it should be pointed out that many of these players will also form the talent that we will be following at the college level over the next several years.
We can get a taste for this talent by looking at the college players that are eligible for next June’s draft that participated at the 2004 WWBA World Championship. The players below add to what was an already talented 2005 prep class that included Justin Upton, Cameron Maybin, Jay Bruce, Andrew McCutchen, Colby Rasmus, Chris Volstad and Jordan Schafer, all of whom also participated at the 2004 WWBA World Championship.
The names as listed below represent an All-American team so to speak, and assemble an incredibly talented group of players that stand to represent the bulk of the college talent for the first several rounds of the draft.
Catcher
Buster Posey, Florida State (East Cobb Astros)
Posey played shortstop and pitched in high school, and his two-way success led to him being named to the second annual Aflac All-American Classic. His lateral quickness and cannon for an arm prompted a move to behind the dish, and he has hit extremely well both at Florida State and on the Cape the past two years.
Honorable Mention: Petey Paramore, Arizona State (Dallas Tigers)
First Base
Justin Smoak, South Carolina (Diamond Devils)
Smoak and teammate Reese Havens (described below) were popular names coming out of high school as the 2005 draft approached. Both decided that heading to South Carolina was the way to go, and Smoak in particular has made the most of his time, hitting .310 with 39 homers while slugging .609 in two years with the Gamecocks.
Honorable Mention: Yonder Alonso, Miami (Florida Bombers)
Second Base
Jemile Weeks, Miami (Chet Lemon’s Juice)
Weeks is unlike any other player on this list. While he is rather small, his electrifying approach to the game makes him an incredibly dangerous weapon. With a patient approach, pesky speed and surprising power potential, he could become a more prototypical lead-off hitting second baseman than his older brother Rickie is.
Honorable Mention: David Adams, Virginia (X-Team)
Third Base
Pedro Alvarez, Vanderbilt (Bayside Yankees)
Arguably the top talent for the 2008 draft, Alvarez has hit for both average and power ever since stepping onto Vanderbilt’s campus. He has added two impressive summer campaigns with Team USA, more than proving that his powerful lefty swing with a wood bat is ready for the next level.
Honorable Mention: James Darnell, South Carolina (NorCal)
Shortstop
Reese Havens, South Carolina (Diamond Devils)
The Gamecocks are well represented on this list, with an impressive trio of infielders. Havens hasn’t produced as much as many thought he would be as a potential first-round pick coming out of high school, but he slowly but surely is getting better, coming off of a very good summer spent on the Cape.
Honorable Mention: Danny Espinosa, Long Beach State (Ohio Warhawks)
Outfield
Jordan Danks, Texas (Austin Baseball Club)
Ike Davis, Arizona State (Baseball America)
Roger Kieschnick, Texas Tech (Dallas Tigers)
Danks and Kieschnick represented Team USA this past summer, while Danks and Davis were members of the 2004 Aflac All-American Classic, where Davis was named the game’s MVP. Kieschnick has the best numbers of the trio so far in college, with 39 doubles and 22 home runs during two years at Texas Tech.
Honorable Mention: Dennis Raben, Miami (X-Team)
Logan Forsythe, Arkansas (Dulins Dodgers)
Diallo Fon , Arizona (NorCal)
Utility
Zach Putnam, Michigan (Baseball America)
The sixth Aflac All-American listed, Putnam’s prowess as both a pitcher and as a hitter has continued at Michigan, serving as the team’s staff ace and one of the Wolverines’ better sluggers. His future at the next level will probably be on the mound given his power stuff and pitching savvy.
Honorable Mention: Tim Murphy, UCLA (Midwest Blazers)
Starting Pitcher
Jacob Thompson, Virginia (Tidewater White Sox)
Tyson Ross , California (NorCal)
Lance Lynn, Mississippi (Indiana Mustangs)
This trio represents the bulk of Team USA’s starting rotation for the first half of their summer schedule, and all three also have the chance to be selected in the first round of next June’s draft. Collectively they have posted a 55-26 record with a 2.62 ERA between their spring and summer campaigns the past two years, and will serve as the staff aces for three teams with big expectations for the 2008 season.
Honorable Mention: Aaron Shafer, Wichita State (Perfect Game Maroon)
Shooter Hunt, Tulane (New Jersey Twins)
David Duncan, Georgia Tech (Cincinnati Reds Scout Team)
Closer:
Bryan Shaw, Long Beach State (Davis Sports Academy)
Shaw has quietly put together a very solid career, serving as the Dirtbags closer the past two seasons with 11 saves last spring and another seven this past summer on the Cape. Shaw doesn’t get the same attention as some prospective college closers, but he has been one of the most successful the past several years given his ability to pound the strike zone.
Honorable Mention: Josh Lindblom, Purdue (Midwest Prospects)
I would like to extend a tip of the cap to everyone that is involved with this year’s Jupiter event.
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.