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2004 WWBA 04 Grads/18U National Championship
18U NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP TOP PROSPECT LISTS
2004 C-RHP Matt Wieters: Pro Baseball’s lose is coach Danny Hall and Georgia Tech’s gain. The decision on whether Wieters’ 94 mph fastball or his superior hitting/catching skills play first will likely to be delayed as well.
SS Cale Iorg: Iorg’s bat has moved to a different level, as he hammered three home runs while still showing the type of shortstop actions and speed that made him a top prospect previously.
LHP Manny Miguelez: Miguelez may be the top left hander in the country after three years at Miami. He throws in the upper 80’s now with a plus curveball and a fluid, easy arm action. It comes very easy for Miguelez.
OF Dexter Fowler: The multi-tooled Fowler signed a big bucks contract with the Colorado Rockies shortly after the championship and surprisingly passed on a U Miami scholarship.
RHP Connor Graham: We’ll put Graham near the top of our list for potential first round picks in 2007. He’s 6-6 and has mature command of a 91 mph fastball that touches 93, a sharp slider and excellent change up.
RHP Andy Gale: Gale was an infield error in the final inning away from a perfect game in one start. He spotted his 89-91 mph fastball precisely and his 75 mph curveball was a nasty downer strikeout pitch. Gale touched 92 mph during another outing.
RHP Eamon Portice: Portice’s velocity has increased since the spring and he was consistently in the low 90’s and up to 93 mph. He has very good pitchability, too.
RHP Erik Davis: This Stanford signee was in complete command of his 87-91 mph fastball and very sharp 77 mph slider in two starts. He really knows how to pitch.
RHP Matt Walker: Walker was unhittable, striking out 11 in a complete game 1-hitter. He was still touching 90 mph in the 7th after pitching at 91-93 mph early.
RHP Josh Fields: Fields’ command was spotty at times but there was no mistaking his lightning quick arm, 94 mph fastball and sharp 78 mph curveball.
Others: RHP Bruce Billings RHP Clay Caufield SS Taylor Harbin RHP Will Jostock SS Mike Hollander C Ron Causey RHP David Kopp LHP Tim Ladd C Chris Kirkland RHP Josh Copeland LHP Mike Bohana LHP Chris Fidrych OF Antone DeJesus RHP Paul Cinder RHP William Jackel RHP Brian Futral RHP Austin Hyatt RHP Jaeger Good
2005 OF Cameron Maybin: Maybin showed his huge tools consistently, whether that be running sub 4.00 times to first base or hitting 450+ foot home runs. He keeps impressing us more each time we see him play and he’s already the #2 prospect in the country.
RHP-IF Zach Putnam: Putnam was on his game, both pitching and hitting. He has 91-93 on the mound with a plus change up, while collecting a couple of 3-hit games with a bat in his hand.
RHP Bradley Clark: This is the best we’ve ever seen Clark throw. He touched 93 mph while pitching consistently in the low 90’s for four innings with an 82-83 mph true curveball that was just nasty. More good news: no walks.
IF Brandon Snyder: Snyder moved quickly up to near the top of the 2005 prospect charts based on his performance. He combines excellent power potential with surprising athleticism for his size.
IF Justin Bristow: Bristow and Snyder are very similar athletes and prospects. Both project to third base in the future but both will surprise you with their agility at shortstop as well. Bristow also pitched better than we’ve ever seen him, sitting at 89-91 for 5 innings
RHP Steve Bowden: Bowden was overpowering in his start, rarely dropping below 90 mph for 7 innings with a power slider and excellent command.
RHP Buster Posey: Posey stayed at 89-92 mph for six innings and his 75 mph curveball was a plus present pitch at times. Posey’s athleticism is a big plus as well.
LHP Miers Quigley: This is the first time we’ve seen Quigley throw this summer and he still has the plus body and plus stuff. He topped out at 91 mph with three quality secondary pitches.
SS Nick Romero: Romero showed why he is considered the best all around high school defensive infielder in the country right now. He also excelled with the bat and showed some left handed power we hadn’t seen before.
OF-RHP Ryan DeLaughter: The more we see DeLaughter against good pitching the more we’re convinced he’s going to be a good hitter in addition to showing his power. DeLaughter also threw 91 mph off the mound.
C Landon Hernandez: Hernandez really opened some eyes with his power production, hitting three home runs, including a huge blast off a 90 mph fastball from top 2006 prospect Kasey Kiker.
RHP Jeff Lyman: Lyman has four quality pitches and the ability to throw strikes with all of them but depends on his 91 mph fastball and late breaking 74 mph curveball.
Others: OF Andrew McCutchen: RHP Shaun Garceau RHP Josh Zeid SS Josh Bell RHP Drew Griffith RHP Chas Spottswood OF Kieron Pope SS Ben Booker RHP Brett Graffy SS Carlos Heraund LHP Tom Stilson LHP David Duncan SS David Adams RHP Alex Wilson RHP Adam Warren OF David DiNatale SS Reese Havens SS P.J. Phillips C Jon Egan RHP Jimmy Marshall LHP Jordan Schafer RHP Matt Lea LHP Jeremy Bleich RHP Shane Funk OF Diallo Fon LHP-OF David Cooper RHP Tyson Ross SS Bobby Stevens
2006-2007 CF Jared Mitchell: Mitchell is a prime time quarterback with limited baseball experience but there can’t be more than a handful of better athletes playing baseball anywhere at the prep level. His skill level is almost shockingly good given his limited repetitions.
SS-OF Brent Brewer: Brewer and Mitchell give the Class of 2006 two excellent athletes at the top of the prospect lists. Brewer is a full time baseball player who figures to keep improving his skills quickly.
LHP Kasey Kiker: Kiker’s velocity is sitting around 90 mph more consistently this summer than previously. His change up and curveball are already top rate pitches.
LHP Josh Smoker: Smoker doesn’t throw as hard as Kiker, only topping out at 87, but he’s more polished and projectable, with a sharper curveball.
RHP Dean Weaver: Weaver is an early candidate to be the hardest thrower in the 2006 class. He’s 6-3, 185 lbs with excellent mechanics and touches 91-92 mph now.
LHP Chris Armstrong: Armstrong doesn’t have the experience or exposure that the two southpaws above him on the list have, but he throws a touch harder at 91 mph.
2B Mike Demperio: Demperio can control a game with his plus, plus speed and game savvy from the leadoff spot and defensively from second base, where he’s like having another shortstop on the field.
OF Devin Shepherd: Shepherd has a big league body right now at 6-4, 225 lbs and generates well above average raw bat speed. He has speed and arm strength in the outfield as well.
RHP Austin Evans: Evans is tall, slender and projectable and already pitches steadily in the 88-90 mph range.
CF Cedric Hunter: Hunter pairs with Demperio to give East Cobb two players at the top of their line up who are plus runners with above average defensive skills. Make that three with Brent Brewer, too.
Others: RHP Brandon Holden (87-88, 74, raw mechanics) OF Brian Adams (+ speed, defense, bat coming) RHP Joe Castaldi (86-87, 88 74/79, beat older team) SS Marcus Lemon 3B Marcus Rodriguez RHP Jonathan Bachanov (2007, 84-86, 71, 6-3, smooth and loose) OF Anthony Brown (L/L, plus speed, strong, athletic) C Robbie Alcombrack RHP Nick Fuller RHP T.J. Forrest (6-5, 175, 86 with + proj) LHP Chris Parmalee RHP Michael Jarry
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