In the weeks leading
up to the draft, Perfect Game will be providing a detailed overview
of each state in the U.S., including the District of Columbia, as
well as Canada and Puerto Rico. These overviews will list the
state's strengths, weaknesses and the players with the best tools, as
well as providing mini-scouting reports on all Group 1 and 2 players.
California State-by-State List
California
Overview:
UCLA Pair of Cole, Bauer
Stand Apart From Remaining California Talent
By
California’s lofty draft standards, this could be one of the
leanest years in history for the state. With the obvious exception of
high-profile UCLA righthanders Gerrit Cole and Trevor Bauer, it’s
possible that not a single other first-round pick might have come
from the Golden State this year.
Cole
and Bauer are both in the running to go first overall, and otherwise
in the top five picks. But the next selection, likely to be one of
four high-school prospects, isn’t expected to occur until late in
the late first round, and possibly not even until the sandwich round.
Should
that occur, it would mark draft history for California. In the
preceding 46 years of the draft, the latest that the initial
high-school pick from the state was taken occurred in 1987, when
Ocean View High (Huntington Beach) righthander David Holdridge was
selected with the 31st pick.
Seven
times in draft history, a California prep prospect has been taken
first overall, the last being the rather infamous 2004 selection of
Mission Bay High (San Diego) shortstop/righthander Matt Bush. But it
is entirely possible that no high-school player from the state will
hear his name called among the first 33 picks that make up the first
round this year.
The
four players who all have a reasonable, and perhaps, equal shot of
being picked about the time Tampa Bay calls out the 31st
pick are righthanders Joe Ross and Robert Stephenson from Northern
California, and catcher Austin Hedges and lefthander Henry Owens from
the southern half of the state. But none is close to a sure thing.
Hedges,
from Junipero Serra High, has outstanding defensive tools at a
premium position, but scouts aren’t sure about his bat and are even
less sure about being able to sway him from his strong commitment to
UCLA. Stephenson (Alhambra High) and Ross (Bishop O’Dowd HS) both
have late first-round credentials, but there is such a deep crop of
both high-school and college pitchers nationally that they could get
pushed downward. The same thought process applies to Owens (Edison
High).
The
California high-school crop differs from normal in another way this
year as there may actually be more premium talent in Northern
California than in Southern California. That is a rare occurrence,
considering all the talent that typically flows out of the prep
hotbeds in and around both Los Angeles and San Diego, notably in
Orange County (just south of Los Angeles), long acknowledged as the
single best talent area in the country.
This
year, there are only two sure things in the state and they play for
the same team, UCLA. The 6-foot-3, 215-pound Cole has been mentioned
prominently all spring in the discussion for No. 1 pick overall, but
he has actually been outpitched by a substantial margin by his
much-less physically imposing teammate Bauer, leading to almost daily
suggestions that Bauer, and not Cole, is the player that the
Pittsburgh Pirates should most seriously consider with the No. 1
pick.
Though
Cole and Bauer are both juniors at UCLA and have started for the
Bruins on weekends since they were freshmen, both come from
completely-different backgrounds and have radically-different
pitching styles.
Cole,
who rejected a first-round offer in 2008 from the New York Yankees
out of an Orange County high school, has impressed scouts all spring
with his raw stuff, which includes a mid- to upper-90s fastball, plus
slider and improving changeup, along with more consistent mechanics
and command. He has frustrated scouts, to an almost-equal degree,
with his spotty performance, though, as he is just 5-7, 3.27 with 19
walks and 99 strikeouts through 99 innings, very pedestrian numbers
in the pitching-dominated world of college baseball in 2011.
Bauer,
meanwhile, never went through the draft before enrolling at UCLA. He
graduated from a high school north of Los Angeles a semester early,
and joined the Bruins staff in 2009, just before that season began.
Technically, he should be only a college sophomore, but no pitcher in
the country has assembled a better resume over the last two years
than Bauer.
He
led the nation with 165 strikeouts a year ago, and has already blown
past that total this season with 167 through his first 109 innings.
His closest challenger was Virginia junior lefthander Danny Hultzen,
with 121.
Bauer,
who is 10-2, 1.40 overall and has allowed just 57 hits and 32, is on
such an accelerated strikeout pace that he could conceivably break
the NCAA single-season record of 234, set way back in 1979 by Hawaii
lefthander Derek Tatsuno.
Scouts
have been almost universally won over this spring by Bauer’s
impressive raw stuff, consistency and performance, even as they
remain somewhat cynical of his unconventional workout and warm-up
routines, and somewhat unorthodox max-effort delivery.
Despite
his unimposing 6-foot-1, 175-pound frame, Bauer can touch 97 mph,
when he rears back for a little extra on his fastball, but his
ultimate strikeout pitch is a hard curveball. He’ll also throw a
slider, changeup and screwball-like pitch that he refers to as a
“reverse slider.” He has near-impeccable command of each, and to
call Bauer only “competitive” would be a vast understatement.
Bauer
has become the most-dominant undersized pitcher in college baseball
since Washington’s Tim Lincecum in 2006. The reference to Lincecum,
the two-time National League Cy Young Award winner is somewhat apt as
Bauer has patterned his game, in many ways, along the lines of
Lincecum. He bears a striking similarity in style and approach.
Beyond
UCLA’s sterling duo, there is plenty of pitching depth in the
college ranks.
Stanford
lefthander Brett Mooneyham was in line to be the first lefthander
drafted heading into the year, but was lost for the season before
throwing even a pitch when he sliced a ligament in his pitching hand
opening a can of beans. The Cardinal should still provide the top
college lefty from California, though, as 6-foot-4 closer Chris Reed
has quietly replaced the injured Mooneyham as the state’s third
college arm after Cole and Bauer. Though he has been used as
Stanford’s closer, Reed has a starter’s mix and profile.
Long
Beach State righthander Drew Gagnon and California lefthander Erik
Johnson should also garner plenty of compensation-round interest, and
undersized Santa Clara righhander J.R. Graham factors into that mix,
as well, as he could be the hardest thrower in the entire draft. He
touched 100 mph frequently this spring, although he probably lacks
the physical profile and assortment of secondary pitches to be
considered anything more than a second-round pick.
Despite
the presence of Cole and Bauer at the front of its rotation, UCLA
(29-20) probably ranks as no better than the state’s fourth- or
fifth-best college team. Cole’s lack of dominance in his Friday
role and the team’s anemic offense has hindered the Bruins, who
finished second in last year’s College World Series.
Perennial
national power Cal State Fullerton (37-14) is the top-ranked team in
the state and has the talent to substantiate its high ranking, while
also making it an early favorite to reach the College World Series.
An especially-deep pitching staff includes junior righthanders Noe
Ramirez (8-2, 1.76) and Tyler Pill (5-1, 2.29), the team’s two best
starters and top prospects. They should be legitimate candidates for
the second round. Two-way standout Nick Ramirez (.296-9-43, 1-0,
0.84, 14 SV), no relation to Noe, should fall in line no more than a
round later, while less-heralded Titans pitchers Colin O’Connell,
Jake Floethe and Chris Devenski are all candidates for the top 10
rounds.
The
school that was expected to challenge Fullerton to be the top team in
the state, Stanford, survived a rugged early-season schedule that
included road series at Rice, Vanderbilt and Texas, but is a
pedestrian 28-18 overall. Reed is the only Cardinal player expected
to impact the early rounds of this draft, but Stanford’s influence
on the process could be profound over the next two years.
The
freshman- and sophomore-filled Cardinal roster should dominate the
upper rounds of both the 2012 and 2013 drafts, but the reality is
that most of the team’s young prospects still play like youngsters
with their free-swinging ways at the plate (135 BB vs. 338 SO),
limited impact base running (only 26 steals in 41 attempts as a team)
and inconsistent defense (.965 team fielding).
Powerful
sophomore righthander Mark Appel (4-6, 3.49) is a strong comparison
to UCLA’s Cole, both in terms of stuff and present performance,
while fellow Stanford sophomore shortstop Kenny Diekroeger
(.316-2-29, 15 errors) has early first-round tools but is still
learning how to use them.
Undoubtedly,
the feel-good story of the 2011 season in California at the college
level has been the unexpected reinstatement of the baseball program
at the University of California, which was initially axed under
controversial circumstances amidst the state’s huge on-going budget
crisis.
A
frantic fund-raising effort raised the necessary $10 million to save
the program. Despite the near-season long uncertainty and
distraction, the Golden Bears have been solid on the field all
spring, going 30-16. Johnson (6-2, 1.94, 84 IP/80 SO), the team’s
top prospect, heads a wave of potential California draft picks.
California’s
junior-college ranks, meanwhile, continue to try and fight back from
the fallout that resulted from the government-imposed,
across-the-board 20 percent roll back in games played, mandated in
2010 as a result of the state’s budget crunch.
While
Oxnard JC freshman Jesus Valdez, an unsigned fifth-round pick in
2010, was expected to command more than his share of attention
because of his lofty draft position, he has actually been upstaged
this spring by two other righthanded pitchers—Merced JC freshman
righthander Jake Sisco and Santa Barbara CC sophomore lefthander
Kylin Turnbull.
Like
Valdez, Sisco was drafted out of a California high school a year ago,
in the 34th round by the San Francisco Giants, and he has made a
meteoric rise up draft boards this spring with a surge in the
velocity on his fastball. Sisco has a realistic shot of being drafted
in the top 100 picks overall.
California in a
Nutshell:
STRENGTH: College
pitching.
WEAKNESS: Premium
high-school talent, especially in southern half of state.
OVERALL RATING
(1-to-5 scale): 3.
BEST COLLEGE TEAM:
Cal State Fullerton.
BEST JUNIOR-COLLEGE
TEAM: Santa Ana.
BEST HIGH-SCHOOL TEAM:
Edison HS, Huntington Beach.
PROSPECT ON THE RISE:
Trevor Bauer, rhp, UCLA. Bauer’s unconventional pre-game
routines and max-effort delivery are topics of discussion among
scouts more than his raw stuff and overwhelming dominance. But the
stuff and dominance finally appear to finally be winning over teams
at the top of the draft.
PROSPECT ON THE
DECLINE: Austin Wood, rhp, Southern California. The Florida
native was high on many potential first-round lists at the beginning
of the season, but has struggled to repeat the success he enjoyed
last summer in the Cape Cod League and seems miscast as a starter. He
lacks a reliable off-speed pitch and command to go with his mid-90s
fastball, and has gone just 4-6, 5.48 with 76 hits allowed and 42
strikeouts in 65 innings.
WILD CARD: Austin
Hedges, c, Junipero Serra HS, San Juan Capistrano. There are
big-league teams that believe Hedges is the only first-round worthy
high-school prospect in the state. But the defensive whiz is being
advised by the Scott Boras Corporation and his commitment to UCLA is
believed to be very strong, and it make take a significant
seven-figure bonus to lure him away from a college career.
BEST OUT-OF-STATE
PROSPECT, California Connection: Andrew Susac, c, Oregon State
University (attended high school in Roseville).
TOP 2012 PROSPECTS:
Mark Appel, rhp, Stanford; Kenny Diekroeger, ss, Stanford.
TOP 2013 PROSPECT:
Austin Wilson, of, Stanford University.
HIGHEST DRAFT PICKS
Draft History (all
1st round/1st pick): Steve Chilcott, c,
Antelope Valley HS, Lancaster (Mets, 1966); Tim Foli, ss, Notre Dame
HS, Canoga Park (Mets, 1968); Jeff Burroughs, of, Wilson HS, Long
Beach (Senators, 1969); Darryl Strawberry, of, Crenshaw HS, Los
Angeles (Mets, 1980); Phil Nevin, 3b, Cal State Fullerton (Astros,
1992); Adrian Gonzalez, 1b, Eastlake HS, Chula Vista (Marlins, 2000);
Delmon Young, of, Camarillo HS (Devil Rays, 2003); Matt Bush, ss/rhp,
Mission Bay HS, San Diego (Padres, 2004); Stephen Strasburg, rhp, San
Diego State University (Nationals, 2009).
2006 Draft: Greg
Reynolds, rhp, Stanford University (Rockies/1st round, 2nd pick).
2007 Draft: Mike
Moustakas, ss, Chatsworth HS (Royals/1st round, 2nd pick).
2008 Draft: Brian
Matusz, lhp, University of San Diego (Orioles/1st round,
4th pick).
2009 Draft: Stephen
Strasburg, rhp, San Diego State University (Nationals/1st round, 1st pick).
2010 Draft: Christian
Colon, ss, Cal State Fullerton (Royals/1st round, 4th pick).
BEST TOOLS
Best Hitter: Tyler
Goeddel, 3b, St. Francis HS, Mountain View.
Best Power: Travis
Harrison, of/1b, Tustin HS, Anaheim.
Best Speed: Desmond
Henry, of, Centennial HS, Compton.
Best Defender: Austin
Hedges, c, Junipero Serra HS, San Juan Capistrano.
Best Velocity: J.R.
Graham, rhp, Santa Clara University.
Best Breaking Stuff:
Trevor Bauer, rhp, UCLA.
TOP PROSPECTS, GROUPS
ONE and TWO
GROUP ONE (Projected
ELITE-Round Draft / Rounds 1-3)
1. GERRIT COLE, rhp,
UCLA (Jr.)
Potential No. 1 overall,
++ stuff (95-99 FB, + SL/CH), improved command, performance issues
(5-7, 3.27).
2. TREVOR BAUER, rhp,
UCLA (Jr.)
Overshadows Cole (10-2,
1.40, nation-leading 167 SO/109 IP), mid-90s FB, ++ nasty CU, unusual
routines.
3. ROBERT STEPHENSON,
rhp, Alhambra HS, Martinez
6-3/180, + loose/athletic
frame, + quick arm, velo up to steady 93-95/T-97, holds it, flashes +
CU/nice CH.
4. AUSTIN HEDGES, c,
Junipero Serra HS, San Juan Capistrano
Top defensive C
nationally, ++ arm strength, + agility/skills; bat speed, but fair
hitting skills; UCLA signee.
5. JOE ROSS, rhp,
Bishop O’Dowd HS, Oakland
Brother of A’s RHP
Tyson Ross; easy delivery, 91-94 FB/+ CU, projects + command, 4-4,
1.13, 55 IP/75 K.
6. HENRY OWENS, lhp,
Edison HS, Huntington Beach
6-7/200, long limbed; +
pitchability/+ performance; 88-92 FB/+ life, improving CU/CH,
projects physically.
7. CHRIS REED, lhp,
Stanford University (Jr.)
6-4 lefty closer (4-2,
3.15, 6 SV) with starter profile; 91-94 FB/T-96, flashes + SL/CH,
effort in delivery.
8. DREW GAGNON, rhp,
Long Beach State University (Jr.)
Workhorse 6-4 righty, low
90s FB/T-94, improving SL/CU/CH, + FB command, lacks + SO pitch,
4-8, 2.83.
9. ERIK JOHNSON, rhp,
University California (Jr.)
Thick 6-2/240 build;
primarily power sinker/slider (low 90s/T-95 mph), also CU/CH, 6-2,
1.94, 84 IP/80 SO.
10. TYLER GOEDDEL, 3b,
St. Francis HS, Hillsborough
6-4/175, + projects; 6.6
runner, quick RH swing, strong arm, CF may be in future, missed month
with mono.
11. RICKY OROPESA, 1b,
University of Southern California (Jr.)
6-3/225 LH hitter, ++ bat
speed/raw power, Cape 2010 HR leader(7), improved contact (.330-6-36,
27 BB).
12. BRANDON MARTIN,
ss, Santiago HS, Corona
Flown by other SS in
SoCal, + stronger; quick L-D swing/improved power; 6.8 speed/quick;
solid defender.
13. TRAVIS HARRISON,
of/1b, Tustin HS, Aliso Viejo
Power bat/aggressive
hitter, proven offensive performer, one-dimensional talent, arm
limits him to LF/1B.
14. NOE RAMIREZ, rhp,
Cal State Fullerton (Jr.)
Polished arm/+ competitor
(8-2, 1.78, 75 IP/15 BB/83 SO); commands 88-92 FB, solid CU, CH is
best pitch.
15. J.R. GRAHAM, rhp,
Santa Clara University (Jr.)
6-0 RHP, ex- SS; +++ arm,
FB sits 95-97, touches 100 mph out of pen, SL flat; strike thrower
(53 IP/4 BB).
16. JOE MUSGROVE, rhp,
Grossmont HS, El Cajon
XL athletic frame
(6-5/230), + FB improvement, now tops 95/heavy sink, upper 70s power
CU, easy delivery.
17. TYLER PILL,
rhp-of, Cal State Fullerton (Jr.)
++ 2-way athlete, top 2
rounds as RHP (5-1, 2.29), top 5 as OF (.321-0-22); ++ command/feel
for pitching.
18. JACOB ANDERSON,
1b/of, Chino HS
+ projectable 6-4 build,
projects + power, some stiffness in swing; + 1B defense, also 6.7
runner, corner OF.
19. JAKE SISCO, rhp,
Merced CC (Fr.)
Made major strides since
late-round 2010 draft (11-1, 1.66, 108 IP/124 SO); 6-3/200; 93 FB,
more in tank.
20. MATT SUMMERS, rhp,
UC Irvine (Jr.)
Converted OF, superior
athlete; power arm with 91-95 FB, improving SL/CU; first-year as
starter (8-2, 2.10).
21. DANIEL CAMARENA,
lhp/1b, Cathedral Catholic, Bonita
Velo + improved to steady
88-92, flashes + CU; 7-1, 0.67, 52 IP/5BB/78 SO, + competitor, also
1B prospect.
22. AUSTIN WOOD, rhp,
University of Southern California (Jr.)
A puzzle to scouts; +
frame, huge 2011 summer on Cape (95-96 FB, + SL), but regressed to
old college form.
23. BOBBY CROCKER, of,
Cal Poly (Jr.)
MLB body with all tools
(+ power/bat, + CF/speed) to progress; has to be more productive
(.333-3-18, 8 SB).
24. KYLIN TURNBULL,
lhp, Santa Barbara CC (So.)
6-5 LHP extremely raw as
2010 reliever; has made huge strides (5-2, 2.47, 80 IP/92 SO), +
92-93 FB, + SL.
25. MITCHELL WALDING,
ss, St. Mary’s HS, Stockton
6-3/190 frame with pure
SS actions, ++ arm strength; easy LH swing (.436-0-15), also pitches
(5-0, 0.40).
26. NICK RAMIREZ,
1b/lhp, Cal State Fullerton (Jr.)
2-way Titans standout
(.295-9-41; 0.84, 14 SV); polished bat/+ power are best pro tools,
also 87-90 mph, CU.
27. SHAWON DUNSTON
Jr., of, Valley Christian HS, Fremont
Son of 1982 No. 1 overall
pick; 6.58 runner, + defender in CF, LH bat, but needs to gain
strength as hitter.
28. ADAM McCREERY,
lhp, Bonita HS, La Verne
Projectable 6-8/200 LHP,
missed 2 months/tender elbow, stock slipped, pitching again, low 90s,
+ SL/CU.
GROUP
TWO (Projected HIGH-Round Draft /
Rounds 4-10)
29. MATT ANDRIESE,
rhp, UC Riverside (Jr.)
Quality college arm;
strike thrower with consistent stuff (91-94 FB, hard CU, + CH), +
feel/mixes pitches.
30. MATTHEW TROUPE,
rhp, Chaminade HS, West Hills
Ex-C with limited
pitching experience (4-2, 1.14, 49 IP/74 SO), FB to 94 mph, throws +
easy, solid SL/CH.
31. JAKE REED, rhp,
Helix Charter HS, La Mesa
Stock jumped with
improved velo (88-92), ++ CH/command; 6-0, 0.34, 56 IP/5BB/41 SO;
slender 6-2, 175.
32. RYAN GARVEY, of,
Palm Desert HS, Indian Wells
Son of Steve, scouts say
Dodgers draft; + strong, corner athlete, + power potential, can drive
ball to gaps.
33. BRETT MOONEYHAM,
lhp, Stanford University (Jr.)
Wild-card draft; skilled
6-5 LHP, + stuff/bloodlines, missed 2011 season with sliced
tendon/pitching hand.
34. JESUS VALDEZ, rhp,
Oxnard JC (Fr.)
2010 fifth-rounder
projects same draft spot; went 6-1, 2.80, 61 IP/66 SO; FB 89-91/T-94,
now has SL/CH.
35. BILLY FLAMION, of,
Central Catholic HS, Modesto
LH hitter, + bat speed,
ball jumps; stock way down this spring (.375-4-22); also 6.76 in 60,
upper 80s as LHP.
36. SCOTT LYMAN, rhp,
UC Davis (Jr.)
Disappointing year (3-5,
4.72), but 6-4/215, flashes + stuff (FB to 95, sharp SL), command
issues, also RF.
37. COLIN O’CONNELL,
rhp, Cal State Fullerton (Jr.)
6-6 RHP has quietly made
strides on ++ Titans staff; has sinking 90-93 FB, + SL, went 7-3,
2.49, 69 IP/6 BB.
38. DESMOND HENRY,
-of, Centennial HS, Compton
Slender 6-1, 170 athlete;
++ speed is best tool, + base-stealing threat; quick hands, can drive
balls, CF tools.
39. RASHARD HARLIN,
of, Helix HS, La Mesa
Late riser, gotten ++
stronger, now 6-1/180; ++ raw speed/powerful runner, + bat
improvement, + CF tools.
40. SCOTT SNODGRESS,
lhp, Stanford University (Jr.)
Struggles to throw
strikes (2-2, 4.11, 31 IP/26 BB), hot/cold, but 6-5 LHP with 95-96 FB
in fall, 92 in spring.
41. CODY ANDERSON,
rhp, Feather River JC (So.)
6-4/210 RHP, Rays’
17th-rounder in 2010, FB at 90-93, needs better off-speed;
went 6-1, 2.15, TCU recruit.
42. CHRIS JENSEN, rhp,
University of San Diego (Jr.)
Just 3-6, 3.98 as JR (72
IP/68 SO), but 6-4/200 RHP with 92-94 FB/T-95, break improving, can
be + at times.
43. KEVIN KRAMER,
ss/2b, Turlock HS
+ athlete, dual-threat
D-I QB, balanced BB tools (6.8 runner, solid arm, LH bat with pop,
polished), more 2B.
44. CHRISTIAN LOPES,
ss, Edison HS, Huntington Beach
Matured early, top HS
player in state as soph, tools peaked; flashy SS tools, pop in bat,
fringy average speed.
45. ROBERTO PADILLA,
lhp, San Jose State University (Jr.)
Led Ohlone JC to state
title in 2010, proven winner (8-5, 2.94 in 2011); +
movement/deception on 91-92 FB.
46. DUSTY ROBINSON,
of, Fresno State University (Jr.)
+ power at 6-0/195, big
season at plate (.326-13-45, 19 2B, also 40 SO), has 6.6 speed in 60,
+ arm strength.
47. PHILLIP EVANS, ss,
La Costa Canyon HS, Carlsbad
RH-hitting Tony Wolters;
+ skills/+polished; stock slipped, BA speed, 2B likely in future, +
bat (.375-7-23).
48. CALVIN DRUMMOND,
rhp, University of San Diego (So.)
SO-eligible RHP, DNP in
2010 (3-4, 3.27 in 2011); lacks experience, + arm, 91-94 FB, flashes
+ off-speed.
49. JAMES ZAMARIPPA,
of, Rancho Cucamonga HS
Natural comp to Gary
Brown (SF/first round, 2010); LH bat with ++ speed, CF tools, pop in
bat (.378-3-22).
50. JAMES HARRIS, of,
Oakland Tech, Oakland
Premium athlete, raw
skills; 6.58 runner, + bat speed from still/stiff start, ball jumps
off bat, CF range/tools.
51. J.D. DAVIS,
3b/rhp, Elk Grove HS
Legit 2-way prospect
(.506-8-43; 5-2, 1.68); agile for size (6-3/210), big RH power, 89-92
FB, good CU.
52. DANTE FLORES,
ss/2b, St. John Bosco HS, Norwalk
Deceiving strength in
5-11/170 frame; + bat/shows power, + polished; future 2B, 6.96/60,
tight USC commit.
53.
KENNY PEOPLES-WALLS, ss, Westchester HS, Los Angeles
Athletic
6-1/175 SS, late pop-up on draft boards; intriguing speed/power mix;
hit .414-5-23, stole 14 bags.
54. JESSE DARRAH, rhp,
Fresno Pacific University (Jr.)
Attracted ++ interest
last fall as Sacramento State transfer, FB at 95; more 90-93 this
spring, better CU/CH.
55. TAYLOR SPARKS, 3b,
St. John Bosco HS, Bellflower
Solid athlete for size
(6-3/200); 6.92/4.27 runner, quick 3B actions, playable arm, + raw
power/+ bat speed.
56. AARON BROWN,
of/lhp, Chatsworth HS, West Hills
6-2/200,
+ strong; 2-way standout as LH-hit OF/LHP; lift in swing, + power,
6.87 speed, upper-80s FB.
57. RILEY MOORE, c,
San Marcos HS, Santa Barbara
Long, lean projectable
build (6-2/180); switch-hitter, + bat speed/+ LH power potential, +
arm strength.
58. BRAD ZIMMER,
of/3b, La Jolla HS, San Diego
6-4/185, + LH bat/smooth
swing, easy speed, projects as CF, similar player to Brian Humphries
(see next).
59. BRIAN HUMPHRIES,
of, Pepperdine University (Jr.)
Tops Wave in BA (.307),
SB (11); solid CF in college, but below-average arm/power profiles
him as LF.
60. JAKE FLOETHE, rhp,
Cal State Fullerton (Jr.)
Pitching again (5-3,
3.45) after TJ surgery cost him most of 2009-10; 6-3 RHP, FB 93,
mostly sinker/SL type.
61. NICK GRIM, rhp,
Monterey Peninsula JC (So.)
FB peak at 95 in fall,
more steady 92-93 this spring; 3 pitches, also CH, + CU; in 83 IP, 53
H/42 BB/95 SO.
62. MICHAEL CEDEROTH,
rhp, Steele Canyon HS, Spring Valley
Lanky
6-5/180 frame, loose/fast arm, low-90s FB, tops 94-95; SL, off-speed
still developing, raw delivery.
63. ANDREW TRIGGS,
rhp, University of Southern California (Jr.)
USC Friday-night starter
(4-3, 3.68); fourth-year JR, TJ in past; has sinking 94-95 FB, + SL;
mixes pitches.
64. AARON BROOKS, rhp,
Cal State San Bernardino (Jr.)
6-4/220 RHP has fluid,
easy arm, nice 4-pitch mix, ++ pitchability; just 5-7 at D-II level,
92 IP/8 BB/78 SO.
65. CHRIS JOYCE, lhp,
Santa Barbara CC (So.)
Well-traveled
lefty continues to produce big numbers (6-0, 1.54, 70 IP/97 SO);
lively 91-93 FB, + tight CU.
66. SCOTT BARLOW, rhp,
Golden Valley HS, Santa Clarita
High ceiling in
projectable 6-3/165 frame; loose/easy arm, 89-92 FB, good CH, CU
developing, also a SS.
67. DANNY KELLER, rhp,
Newbury Park HS
Long limbs/long arm
action at projectable 6-5/185; 88-93 mph FB, flashes good CU spin,
raw mechanics.
68. DAVID SCHUKNECHT,
c, Palm Desert HS
Ryan Garvey HS teammate;
well-rounded C tools, 6-1/185, + RH bat (.456-3-24), quick defensive
actions.
69. ALEX BLANDINO, ss,
St. Francis HS, Mountain View
++
pure baseball player, does it all, just not easily; +
power/aggressive swing, arm strength, Stanford signee.
70. GABE SAQUILON,
rhp, Houston Christian Academy, San Diego
Stocky/strong
athlete at 6-0/175; 89-93 FB, hard/tight CU (5-1, 1.78, 51 IP/90 SO);
also a SS (.506-7-32).
71.
KYLE BARRACLOUGH, rhp, St. Mary’s University (Jr.)
6-3/180
RHP has produced so-so 5-5, 3.62 record (92 IP/29 BB/66 SO); should
be better pro with 93-94 FB.
72. MARCUS SEMIEN, ss,
University of California (Jr.)
Athletic MIF with speed,
power, contact skills (.256-4-28, 24 SB); + agility, + arm in field;
holes in his game.
73. MICHAEL JENSEN,
rhp, Hartnell JC (Fr.)
Salinas HS teammate of
Grim (No. 61); FB up to 95 in fall/92-93 this spring, ++ CU; 6-3,
2.00, 81 IP/76 SO.
74. AUSTIN DAVIDSON,
ss, Oxnard HS
LH-hitting 6-0/185 SS; +
pop, .456/10 HR as JR, pressed this spring, smooth defender, lacks
speed for SS.
75. BRANDON MEREDITH,
of/1b, San Diego State University (Jr.)
Better athlete than looks
in 6-2/220 frame; + hitter/power (.271-4-34), intense player, strives
under pressure.
76. DIXON ANDERSON,
rhp, University of California (Jr.)
Not same guy who threw
96, had 4 quality pitches, went in 6th round in 2010;
results (4-2, 4.28) tell it all.
77. NICK CARMICHAEL,
rhp, Palomar JC (Fr.)
Lacks power arm of
injured teammate Justin Bellez (95), pitchability of Ryan Wilkins,
but nice blend of both.
78. WYATT STRAHAN,
rhp, Villa Park HS
Stock up, late USC
commit; good athlete, projectable frame at 6-3/190, FB to 92 mph,
good CU; 6-4, 1.48.
79. TREVOR GRETZKY,
1b, Oaks Christian HS, Westlake Village
Son of the Great One;
6-4/190 LH bat, needs to add strength; smooth swing, but long;
athletic, also + HS QB.
80.
RYAN TELLA, of, Ohlone JC (So.)
Big
season (.425-3-35, 20 SB) for 2010 state JC champs in return to Final
4; + hitter, power only tool absent.
81. MATT JENSEN, 2b,
Cal Poly (Jr.)
10th-round out
of HS, hitting .212-0-10; injury-prone (broken collarbone/FR,
dislocated knee/SO, wrist/JR).
82. CHRIS DEVINSKI,
rhp, Cal State Fullerton (Jr.)
Ex-JC SS, just learning
to pitch; FB up to 96, best velo on ++ Fullerton staff; 2-0, 5.03, 2
SV, 20 IP/24 SO.
83. MATT KOCH, c,
Loyola Marymount University (Jr.)
Gets edge over 3 + LMU
arms (Gillingham, Viramontes, Wheeler); solid defender, + raw power
(.299-3-33).
84. JORDAN LEYLAND,
1b, UC Irvine (Jr.)
Red-hot bat keyed Cotuit
surge to 2010 Cape League title; + hitter/power (.292-3-31), runs
well for 6-4/230.
85.
RYAN KELLER, rhp, West Ranch HS, Castaic
Strong
6-3/210 build; cut FB up to 92 mph, mid-70s CU, OK CH, workhorse
type, 6-3, 2.58, 54 IP/61K.
86. STEVE RODRIGUEZ,
c, UCLA (Jr.)
3-year starter; ++
defensive skills/tools, handles Cole/Bauer ++ easy; weak bat/contact
only (.233-0-15).
87. ERIC SNYDER, of,
Edison HS, Irvine
Slender 6-0 build, LH bat
is + hitting tool, + bat speed, squares up everything; 6.74 runner,
fringy CF tools.
88.
NIC CUCKOVICH, ss, Riverside CC (So.)
Athletic
Canadian MIF, has come on fast after slow start; L-D swing, 6.7
speed, Latin flair at SS, + arm.
89.
KEVIN DAVIDSON, rhp/3b, Yucaipa HS
Younger
brother of Matt, ex-sandwich pick; 2-way talent, .500-2-34, but
coming on ++ as RHP (8-1, 2.13).