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Southern California Collegiate League top 15 prospects (list)

The Palm Springs Power has dominated the Southern California Collegiate League in its five-year existence, posting a 177-36 record overall in that period. But the Power never had a season quite like it did in 2011, when it went a stunning 41-4 (21-1 in league play), set a team record for wins and handily beat the Southern California A’s in the championship series for its third league title.

No summer college team assembled a more impressive record or ran roughshod over its competition quite like the Power, though the emerging SCCBL hardly stacks up as one of the nation’s stronger leagues. The Power not only won on the field, but dominated the accompanying list of the league’s top prospects, with eight of 15 selections. Of significance, four of the league’s top five prospects were selected in this year’s draft, with a familiar name at the top of the list.

Power outfielder Ryan Garvey is the son of former big-league star Ryan Garvey, and will be furthering his career at Southern California after spurning a mid-round draft offer from the Philadelphia Phillies. Garvey stood out as the only high-school graduate on the Palm Springs roster. A large number of the 15 highlighted players, meanwhile, were California junior-college products who used the SCCBL season to get themselves ready for the transition to the four-year college level.

FAST FACTS

Year League Established: 2007.
States Represented in League: California.
No. of Teams in League: 6.
Regular-Season Champion: Palm Springs Power.
Post-Season Champion: Palm Springs Power.
Teams, PG CrossChecker Summer 18/Final Ranking: No. 16 Palm Springs Power.

NOTE: Statistics/leaders unavailable.

BEST TOOLS

Best Athlete: Brent Warren, of, Azusa Pirates.
Best Hitter: Andrew Mistone, 3b, Southern California A’s.
Best Power: Ryan Garvey, of, Palm Springs Power.
Fastest Base Runner: Chris Ramirez, of, Southern California A’s.
Best Defensive Player: Andrew Mistone, 3b, Southern California A’s.
Best Velocity: Matt Anderson, rhp, Azusa Pirates.
Best Breaking Ball: Matt Anderson, rhp, Azusa Pirates.
Best Command: Nick Baker, rhp, Palm Springs Power.

TOP 15 PROSPECTS

1. RYAN GARVEY, of/1b, Palm Springs Power (Southern California/FR in 2012)
SCOUTING PROFILE: A product of nearby Palm Desert High, Garvey hit .372-9-44 as a prep senior on his way to being drafted in the 15^th round by the Phillies. Though it was expected all along that he would forego turning pro immediately and attend USC, he didn’t make a final decision on his immediate career path until making a trip to Philadelphia just prior to the signing deadline to make one final push on trying to get a deal done. With the Power, Garvey played all three outfield positions and first base, and is expected to be given an extended trial at both corner-outfield positions, and possibly first base with the Trojans. At 6-feet, Garvey is a bigger model than his father, but has the same strong, compact frame and his best tool is also his powerful bat. Though he struggled early at the plate for the Power and played only an abbreviated schedule with the team, he eventually got comfortable and went on to hit .379-3-21 while posting a team-high .773 slugging average. Balls began to jump off his bat, and his raw power was most prominently on display during the league’s Home Run Derby, where he led all comers with 10 long blasts. His speed and arm strength are playable tools, and it’s just a matter of identifying a regular position—an issue that his father had to deal with early in his distinguished career with the Los Angeles Dodgers before finally settling in as a Gold Glove-caliber first baseman.