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.
Vermont Overview:
Vermont
Continues to Bring Up The Rear; Unlikely to Produce a Draft Pick
With the University of
Vermont having disbanded its baseball program following the 2009
season, Vermont has become almost dead in the water as a producer of
draftable baseball talent. It ranked last among the 50 states, even
with a Division I team that would turn out the odd player.
The state had no
players drafted in 2010, and none is expected to be selected this
year. No high-school player from Vermont has been drafted since 2002.
Over the 46-year history of the baseball draft, only 38 players have
ever been selected out of Vermont colleges or high schools.
The most-significant
potential draft this year with any ties to the state is former
University of Vermont third baseman Matt Duffy, who transferred to
Tennessee when Vermont eliminated baseball. A solid defender with an
improving bat, Duffy, now a senior, could be drafted between the 10th and 20th rounds.
The best player to come
from a Vermont high school last year was righthander Buddy Lamothe,
who pitched this spring for San Jacinto (Texas) Junior College.
Lamothe was making solid strides for San Jac with a 0.86 ERA and a
fastball that touched 93-94 mph, when he was seriously injured in a
white-water rafting accident that left him paralyzed from the neck
down.
Vermont in a
Nutshell:
STRENGTH: None.
WEAKNESS:
Draftable talent.
OVERALL RATING
(1-to-5 scale): 1.
BEST HIGH SCHOOL
TEAM: Rice Memorial, South Burlington.
BEST OUT-OF-STATE
PROSPECT, Vermont Connection: Matt Duffy, 3b, University of
Tennessee (previously played baseball at the University of Vermont).
TOP 2011 PROSPECT:
No candidate.
TOP 2012 PROSPECT:
No candidate.
HIGHEST DRAFT PICKS
Draft History:
Kirk McCaskill, rhp, U. of Vermont (1982, Angels/4th round).
2006 Draft: None
selected.
2007 Draft: None
selected.
2008 Draft: None
selected.
2009 Draft: Joe
Serafin, lhp, U. of Vermont (White Sox/37th round).
2010 Draft: None
selected.
TOP PROSPECTS,
GROUPS ONE and TWO
NONE