I was in the Perfect Game data base this morning doing some background work for a Baseball Web TV project and got distracted by some old scouting notes on some of the top college players in the 2009 draft class.
So I decided to take a look at the PG Crosschecker college class rankings and see what the 2009 junior class top 10 looked like when they were high school as part of the 2006 class. Here’s a snapshot of what was in the data base.
The rankings noted were the player’s final ranking in the PG high school Class of 2006.
1. RHP Stephen Strasburg (San Diego State) Ranked #138
Strasburg’s issues as a high school pitcher (soft body, immature approach on the mound) were well known and noted elsewhere in his notes, so his Jupiter notes didn’t surprise me.
2005 Jupiter: “Hi ¾’s release, 91 mph FB, 71 mph CB, 80 mph Chg. 11/5 CB spin, arm action all over the place, herky jerky mechanics, 90 mph from the stretch.”
2. SS Grant Green (Southern Cal) Ranked #37
2004 West Coast Top Prospect Showcase: Pure shortstop with excellent defensive actions. Projectable physically. Plus arm strength. Unorthodox hitter but it works for him. Good bat speed, knows how to play baseball. Top level prospect with pro potential. PG Grade: 10
Green eventually became an Aflac All-American but this report was from prior to his junior season.
3. RHP Alex White (North Carolina) Ranked #98
No PG events, but notes in the data base: “touching 96 mph and steady 90-94, lots of scouts talking about Sandwich/2nd Rd on this guy.” “Pitching at 90 mph now, threw perfect game recently.” “Has had a muscle strain in his arm right now according to reports.”
4. 1B/OF Dustin Ackley (North Carolina) Ranked #280
Ackley played for the Dirtbags at a number of WWBA events but never played at a showcase.
2005 Jupiter: “slightly open stance, doesn’t close, pop on inside pitch, good player, good baserunner, 4.22 runner, big time athlete. Puts barrel on ball, good oppo approach, swing is long at times, good overall approach.”
5. RHP Kyle Gibson (Missouri) Ranked # 752
Gibson played in one PG event, the 2004 Kernels Foundation Championship at the beginning of his junior year, and was listed as a primary shortstop. His pitching notes were: “80 mph FB, 66 mph CB, 67 mph Chg, tall and slender , good mechanics, long limbs, clean delivery, projectable body, ¾’s release.”
It’s safe to say that he’s improved a bit since then.
6. LHP Andrew Oliver (Oklahoma State) Ranked # 42
2005 Jupiter: “FB 93 mph, CB 77 mph, Chg 79 mph. Good arm action/arm speed, good movement, occ cuts the ball, sound mechanics, excellent command, room to fill out (listed at 6-3, 200), polished, works both sides of the plate, throws K’s, good mound presence.”
I watched Oliver throw at the 2006 WWBA 18U Championship while he was auditioning for the Twins, who had picked him in 17th round of the draft after Oliver slid for signability reasons. He sat at 92 mph with plus command and looked like a sure fire future big leaguer.
7. LHP Mike Minor (Vanderbilt) Ranked #117
2005 PG National: “Lean athletic build, nice and easy fluid delivery, clan arm action, FB shows late run at 87 mph, nice sharp 1/7 CB with good depth, change shows sink and run with good deception, good pitchability, throws strikes, very good pitcher with big time potential, PG Grade 9.5.”
8. RHP Kendal Volz (Baylor) Ranked #96
I wrote the report on Volz from the 2005 South Top Prospect Showcase and had him as the #1 prospect at that event.
“Big and imposing 6-4, 210 build. Rotational delivery with extended mid to low ¾’s release point. Has deception and some intimidation, FB topped at 91, was effective at 88 mph with heavy power sink. Good rotation on CB up to 76 mph. Have heard of Volz up to 95 mph. Top level national prospect. Excellent student.”
9. OF/RHP Blake Smith (California) Ranked # 536
Smith was from the Central Valley farming community of Modesto and played for a summer team called the Modesto Pirates, which hasn’t participated in PG events to my knowledge. He was a 6-2, 190 lb RHP/SS at that point, but we have no scouting notes available on him, although he was nationally ranked.
10. RHP Jason Stoffel (Arizona) Ranked # 63
2005 PG National: “Strong 6-2, 195 lb frame. One of the top RHP’s in the country. Easy arm action, uses lower ½ well, quick delivery, works fast, FB to 93 mph with more projected, sharp breaking ball to 76 mph, keeps ball down, hits spots, tailing action on FB, CB is a strikeout pitch, carves hitters up in short order, great demeanor. Excellent student, hi