SCOUTING REPORT / Jacob Turner, rhp

Westminster Christian Academy, St. Charles, Mo.

While Turner isn’t the hardest thrower in the 2009 draft class, he probably fits the “power pitcher” profile better than any other hurler. The 6-foot-4, 205-pound Turner has trimmed down over the last year, mostly in his lower half, and has a square-framed build that should continue to get stronger. He has an effortless delivery with very good gather over the rubber and smooth explosion to the plate. Turner’s fastball is “only” 91-94 mph at present, but it jumps on hitters due to the ease of Turner’s delivery and has excellent heavy life at the plate. Turner can pitch to top-level hitters right now using just his fastball with his combination of velocity, life and deception. His curveball is a solid second offering in the upper 70s with good spin and big, sweeping break. He also has the workings of a solid changeup. Turner has dominated at every level during the past year, including striking out five out of the six hitters he faced at last summer’s Aflac All-American Game. He also struck out 19 in 10 innings with USA Baseball’s junior national team during the summer. As a junior at Westminster Christian Academy, he went 8-1, 1.45. He signed with North Carolina. Interestingly, the top 2008 prospect from Missouri, righthander Tim Melville, was a very similar pitcher and prospect and also committed to the Tar Heels before eventually signing a $1.25 million contract with the Royals.

--DAVID RAWNSLEY

MISSOURI : A HISTORICAL DRAFT PERSPECTIVE

The state’s 10 highest picks in the draft’s 44-year history:

NOTE: We have not included four Missouri high-school products who became first-round picks after attending out-of state colleges. The four are LHP Bryan Oelkers (Wichita State/1982, 4^th pick overall), RHP Jim Winn (John Brown College, Ark./1981, 14^th pick), 1B John Mayberry (Stanford/2005, 19^th pick), LHP Nick Schmidt (Arkansas/2007, 23^rd pick).