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 scouting reports on all Group 1 and 2
players as ranked in Perfect Game's state-by-state scouting lists.
Washington, D.C. State-by-State List
2011 Washington D.C. Overview
Washington,
D.C. Overview:
Georgetown
Monopolizes Talent in Lean D.C. Area
Most
of the local draft interest in Washington, D.C., stems from the two
Division I teams in town, Georgetown and George Washington, but it’s
been pretty hit-and-miss through the years as George Washington
hasn’t had a winning record since 2005, and Georgetown hasn’t had
a winning mark in more than 20 years.
Between
the schools, they produced three draft picks a year ago, but the top
selection overall from D.C., 6-foot-9 lefthander Stephen Lumpkins,
didn’t even play baseball in college as American University doesn’t
field a baseball program.
George
Washington posted a slightly better overall record this season at
22-33 (vs. 17-34 for Georgetown), but the Hoyas should impact the
draft in a greater way as they have three position players that are
expected to be taken in the middle rounds—junior shortstop Mike
Garza, junior center field Justin Leeson and senior right fielder
Reed Ravnass.
The
three players have been the dominant offensive players for Georgetown
for the better part of three seasons, with Garza leading the team in
batting (.393), homers (8) and RBIs (44) this season, and Ravnass
topping the team in batting as both a sophomore (.347) and junior
(.352). Together, Garza, Ravnass and Leeson ranked 1-2-3 in batting
and stolen bases for the Hoyas this season, and were 1-2-3 in homers,
RBIs and stolen bases a year ago.
The
6-foot-1, 210-pound Garza, who began his college career at Stanford,
is considered the best hitter and best defender of the trio, while
the 6-foot-2, 195-pound Ravnass has the best combination of speed and
power, and the 6-foot-3, 200-pound Leeson is regarded as the best
athlete and has the best overall tools. Ravnass and Leeson have both
been clocked around 6.5 seconds in the 60, while Garza stands out for
his superior strike-zone discipline. Leeson has the best arm.
Of
the three, only Ravnass has previously been drafted. He was selected
a year ago, in the 39th round by the Pittsburgh Pirates. As a senior, he is ready to go out;
as a fourth-year junior, Garza is essentially ready to go, too; as a
junior, Leeson may be drafted, but is more likely to return to
Georgetown as a senior.
Washington,
D.C. in a nutshell:
STRENGTH:
Georgetown University talent.
WEAKNESS:
High-school talent.
OVERALL
RATING
(1-to-5 scale): 2.
BEST
COLLEGE TEAM:
Georgetown.
BEST
HIGH SCHOOL TEAM:
St. John’s College Prep.
BEST
OUT-OF-STATE PROSPECT, Washington, D.C. Connection:
Francis Brooke, rhp, Northwestern University (Attended high school in
Washington, D.C.).
TOP
2013 PROSPECT:
Alex Baker, rhp, Georgetown University.
Top
2014
Prospect:
Will Brown, rhp, Georgetown University.
HIGHEST
DRAFT PICKS
Draft
History:
L.J. Hoes, of, St. John’s College Prep (2008, Orioles/3rd round).
2006
Draft: Derrik
Lutz, rhp, George Washington University (Reds/19th round).
2007
Draft: Matt
Bouchard, ss, Georgetown University (Mets/11th round).
2008
Draft: L.J.
Hoes, of, St. John’s College Prep (Orioles/3rd round).
2009
Draft: Pat
Lehman, rhp, George Washington University (Nationals/13th round).
2010
Draft: Eric
Cantrell, rhp, George Washington University (Royals/7th round).
2011
Draft: Stephen
Lumpkins, lhp, American University (Royals/13th round).
2011
DRAFT OVERVIEW
College
Players Drafted/Signed:
4/3.
High
School Players Drafted/Signed:
0/0.
TOP
PROSPECTS, GROUPS ONE and TWO
None
PROSPECT TO WATCH
MIKE
GARZA, 3b, Georgetown University (RS-Jr.)
Garza,
a fourth-year junior, has essentially made up for lost time the last
two years at Georgetown after he played sparingly as a freshman at
Stanford in 2009, and was forced to sit out the 2010 season while
transferring to another Division I program. He hit .306-4-39 as a
red-shirt sophomore for the Hoyas and greatly expanded on his
production at the plate this season by coming on strong towards the
end to lead his team in all three triple-crown categories. A
shortstop the last two seasons in college, Garza probably fits best at second best in the
grand scheme of things, and could have value as a versatile utility player.