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Draft  | State Preview  | 5/22/2014

State Snapshots: Great Plains

Patrick Ebert     
Photo: Wichita State

2014 Perfect Game draft preview content

New England
– CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT
Mid-Atlantic – DE, DC, MD, NJ, NY, PA, VA, WV
South Atlantic – FL, GA, NC, SC
Southeast – AL, KY, MS, TN
South Central – AR, LA, OK, TX
Great Lakes – IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, WI
Great Plains – IA, KS, MO, NE, ND, SD
Mountain – AZ, CO, ID, MT, NV, NM, UT, WY
Pacific – AK, CA, HI, OR, WA
Canada and Puerto Rico



Iowa

Iowa State-by-State List

STRENGTH:
Two premium HS arms, depth in JC ranks
WEAKNESS: College talent, overall depth
OVERALL RATING (1-to-5 scale): 4

BEST COLLEGE TEAM:
Iowa
BEST JUNIOR-COLLEGE TEAM: Iowa Western
BEST HIGH SCHOOL TEAM: Des Moines East

PROSPECT ON THE RISE:
Mitch Keller, rhp, Xavier HS, Cedar Rapids
WILD CARD: Ryan Lillard, 2b/ss, Urbandale HS

Best Out-of-State Prospect, Iowa Connection:
Jacob Peter, 2b/rhp, Creighton University (attended high school in Mason City)
Top 2015 Prospect: Blake Hickman, rhp, University of Iowa
Top 2016 Prospect: Spencer Van Scoyoc, lhp, Jefferson HS, Cedar Rapids

HIGHEST DRAFT PICKS

Draft History:
Mike King, lhp, Morningside College (1980, Athletics/1st round, 4th pick)
2009 Draft: Steve Turnbull, rhp, University of Iowa (Blue Jays/17th round)
2010 Draft: Kellen Sweeney, 3b, Jefferson HS, Cedar Rapids (Blue Jays/2nd round)
2011 Draft: Brandon Platts, rhp, Mason City HS. (Pirates/13th round)
2012 Draft: Alec Rash, rhp, Adel-Desoto HS (Phillies/2nd round)
2013 Draft: Dakota Freese, rhp, Des Moines Area CC (Athletics/12th round)

2013 DRAFT OVERVIEW

College Players Drafted/Signed:
2/2
Junior College Players Drafted/Signed: 3/2
High School Players Drafted/Signed: 2/0

PROSPECTS IN THE TOP 500:

Keaton McKinney, rhp, Ankeny Centennial HS (82)
Mitch Keller, rhp, Xavier HS, Cedar Rapids (90)
Nick Green, rhp, Indian Hills JC (289)
Joel Booker, of, Indian Hills JC (357)
Dom Thompson-Williams, of, Iowa Western JC (377)
Ryan Lillard, 2b/ss, Urbandale HS (418)
Taylor Zeutenhorst, of/rhp, University of Iowa (487)



Kansas

Kansas State-by-State List

STRENGTH:
Casey Gillaspie, Bryce Montes de Oca
WEAKNESS: Pitching depth
OVERALL RATING (1-to-5 scale): 3

BEST COLLEGE TEAM:
Kansas
BEST JUNIOR-COLLEGE TEAM: Johnson County
BEST HIGH SCHOOL TEAM: Blue Valley West

PROSPECT ON THE RISE:
Casey Gillaspie, 1b, Wichita State University
WILD CARD: Bryce Montes de Oca, rhp, Lawrence HS

Best Out-of-State Prospect, Kansas Connection:
John Means, lhp, West Virginia University (attended high school in Gardner)
Top 2015 Prospect: Garrett Hutson, rhp, Augusta HS, El Dorado
Top 2016 Prospect: Riley Pint, rhp, St. Thomas Aquinas HS, Lenexa

HIGHEST DRAFT PICKS

Draft History:
Joe Carter, of, Wichita State University (1981, Cubs/1st round, 2nd pick); Darren Dreifort, rhp, Wichita State University (1993, Dodgers/1st round, 2nd pick)
2009 Draft: Garrett Gould, rhp, Maize HS (Dodgers/2nd round)
2010 Draft: Ryne Stanek, rhp, Blue Valley HS (Mariners/3rd round)
2011 Draft: Bubba Starling, of, Gardner-Edgerton HS (Royals/1st round, 5th pick)
2012 Draft: Collin Wiles, rhp, Blue Valley West HS (Rangers/1st round, 53rd pick)
2013 Draft: Jared King, of, Kansas State University (Mets, 5th round)

2013 DRAFT OVERVIEW

College Players Drafted/Signed:
11/8
Junior College Players Drafted/Signed: 3/1
High School Players Drafted/Signed: 2/0

PROSPECTS IN THE TOP 500:

Casey Gillaspie, 1b, Wichita State University (23)
Bryce Montes de Oca, rhp, Lawrence HS (76)
Connor McKay, of, University of Kansas (261)
Wes Benjamin, lhp, University of Kansas (307)
Chase Simpson, 3b, Wichita State University (382)
Ross Kivett, 2b/of Kansas State University (455)
Connor Goedert, 3b, Neosho County JC (497)



Missouri

Missouri State-by-State List

STRENGTH:
Impact high school hitters, college arms
WEAKNESS: College depth
OVERALL RATING (1-to-5 scale): 3

BEST COLLEGE TEAM:
Missouri
BEST JUNIOR-COLLEGE TEAM: Crowder
BEST HIGH SCHOOL TEAM: Lee's Summit West

PROSPECT ON THE RISE: Sam Hilliard, 1b/lhp, Crowder JC
WILD CARD: Shane Benes, ss, Westminster Christian Academy, Town and Country

Best Out-of-State Prospect, Missouri Connection:
David Schmidt, rhp, Stanford (attended high school in St. Louis)
Top 2015 Prospect: Matt Vierling, ss/rhp, Christian Brothers HS, St. Louis
Top 2016 Prospect: Jacob Ring, of, University of Missouri

HIGHEST DRAFT PICKS

Draft History:
Roy Branch, rhp, Beaumont HS, St. Louis (1971, Royals/1st round, 5th pick)
2009 Draft: Jacob Turner, rhp, Westminster Christian Academy, St. Louis (Tigers/1st round, 9th pick)
2010 Draft: Bret Nicholas, c, University of Missouri (Rangers/6th round)
2011 Draft: Johnny Eierman, of, Warsaw HS (Rays/3rd round)
2012 Draft: Pierce Johnson, rhp, Missouri State University (Cubs/1st round, 43rd pick)
2013 Draft: Rob Zastryzny, lhp, University of Missouri (Cubs/2nd round)

2013 DRAFT OVERVIEW

College Players Drafted/Signed:
10/9
Junior College Players Drafted/Signed: 2/1
High School Players Drafted/Signed: 8/5

PROSPECTS IN THE TOP 500:

Monte Harrison, of, Lee's Summit West HS (24)
Brett Graves, rhp, University of Missouri (58)
James Norwood, rhp, St Louis University (121)
Shane Benes, ss, Westminster Christian HS, Town and Country (404)
Alex Lange, rhp, Lee's Summit West HS (413)
• Sam Hilliard, lhp/1b, Crowder JC (415)
Keaton Steele, rhp/1b, University of Missouri (428)



Nebraska

Nebraska State-by-State List

STRENGTH:
Jakson Reetz
WEAKNESS: Impact college players
OVERALL RATING (1-to-5 scale): 2

BEST COLLEGE TEAM:
Nebraska
BEST JUNIOR-COLLEGE TEAM: Southeast
BEST HIGH SCHOOL TEAM: Norris HS, Hickman

PROSPECT ON THE RISE:
Jacob Peter, 2b/rhp, Creighton University

Best Out-of-State Prospect, Nebraska Connection:
Casey Gillaspie, 1b, Wichita State University (attended high school in Omaha)
Top 2015 Prospect: Matt Waldron, ss, Westside HS, Omaha
Top 2016 Prospect: Ryan Boldt, of, University of Nebraska

HIGHEST DRAFT PICKS

Draft History:
Darin Erstad, of, University of Nebraska (1995, Angels/1st round, 1st pick)
2009 Draft: Mike Nesseth, rhp, University of Nebraska (Angels/15th round)
2010 Draft: Michael Mariot, rhp, University of Nebraska (Royals/8th round)
2011 Draft: Corey Asche, 3b, University of Nebraska (Phillies, 4th round)
2012 Draft: Ty Blach, lhp, Creighton University (Giants/5th round)
2013 Draft: Sam Tewes, rhp, Waverly HS, Lincoln (Blue Jays/22nd round)

2013 DRAFT OVERVIEW

College Players Drafted/Signed:
2/2
Junior College Players Drafted/Signed: None
High School Players Drafted/Signed: 1/0

PROSPECTS IN THE TOP 500:

Jakson Reetz, c, Norris HS, Hickman (46)
Jacob Peter, ss/rhp, Creighton University (86)
Austin Darby, of, University of Nebraska (437)



North Dakota

North Dakota State-by-State List

OVERALL RATING
(1-to-5 scale): 2

BEST COLLEGE TEAM:
 Jamestown
BEST JUNIOR-COLLEGE TEAM: Williston State
BEST HIGH SCHOOL TEAM: Fargo North

Best Out-of-State Prospect, North Dakota Connection:
Andy Young, ss, Neosho County (Kan.) JC (attended high school in Fargo)
Top 2014 Prospect: Andrew Thorne, rhp, University of North Dakota
Top 2015 Prospect: Daniel Lockhart, ss, University of North Dakota
Top 2016 Prospect: Zach Muckenhirn, lhp, University of North Dakota

HIGHEST DRAFT PICKS

Draft History:
Zac Elgie, 1b, Minot HS (2008, Athletics/12th round)
2009 Draft: Ryan Bollinger, 1b, Magic City HS, Minot (Phillies/47th round)
2010 Draft: Andy Leer, ss, Mary University (Twins/25th round)
2011 Draft: Alex Kreis, rhp, Jamestown University (Nationals/35th round)
2012 Draft: Nick Anderson, rhp, Mayville State University (Brewers/35th round)
2013 Draft: John Straka, rhp, North Dakota State University (Rangers/32nd round)

2013 DRAFT OVERVIEW

College Players Drafted/Signed:
1/1
Junior College Players Drafted/Signed: None
High School Players Drafted/Signed: None



South Dakota

South Dakota State-by-State List

OVERALL RATING
(1-to-5 scale): 1

BEST COLLEGE TEAM:
Augustana
BEST HIGH SCHOOL TEAM: Brandon Valley

Best Out-of-State Prospect, South Dakota Connection:
Tanner Chleborad, rhp, Washington State University (attended high school in Rapid City)
Top 2014 Prospect: Scott Splett, of, South Dakota State University
Top 2015 Prospect: Michael Letkewicz, rhp, Augustana College
Top 2016 Prospect: Ethan Kenkel, rhp, South Dakota State University

HIGHEST DRAFT PICKS

Draft History:
Wade Adamson, rhp, South Dakota State University (1978, Reds/4th round)
2009 Draft: Cale Thielbar, lhp, South Dakota State University (Brewers/18th round)
2010 Draft: Blake Treinen, rhp, South Dakota State University (Marlins/23rd round)
2011 Draft: Blake Treinen, rhp, South Dakota State University (A’s/7th round)
2012 Draft: Derek Hansen, rhp, Augustana College (A’s/23rd round)
2013 Draft: Layne Somsen, rhp, South Dakota State University (Reds/22nd round)

2013 DRAFT OVERVIEW

College Players Drafted/Signed:
2/2
High School Players Drafted/Signed: 0/0