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. Please visit this page for all of the links to Perfect Game's 2013 Draft Preview content.
Connecticut State-by-State List
Connecticut
and its draft crops have long been mostly defined by the strength of
the UConn Huskies’ roster, as well as its best high school player.
For four consecutive years, the state’s highest drafted player has
been a Huskie. The last time a non-UConn player was the first taken
out of the state of Connecticut was Anthony Hewitt, who was taken by
the Philadelphia Phillies in the 1st round back in 2008.
There’s
a strong possibility that we’ll see the high school player return
to prominence in Connecticut this June. Thomas Milone, out of Masuk
High School, is the clear frontrunner at the moment to be the state’s
first player selected, but in keeping with tradition, a slew of UConn
stars should follow him in the later rounds. There is no Mike Olt or
George Springer among them, however, but, the rise of programs like
Hartford and New Haven will also give rise to them producing early
round talent, and we’ll begin to see that in this draft.
STRENGTH:
College
pitching
WEAKNESS:
College
hitters
OVERALL
RATING
(1-to-5 scale): 2
BEST
COLLEGE TEAM:
Connecticut
BEST
JUNIOR COLLEGE TEAM: University
of Connecticut at Avery Point
BEST
HIGH SCHOOL TEAM: Salisbury
Prep
Best
Out-of-State Prospect, Connecticut Connection: Andrew
Brockett, rhp, University of Richmond (attended North Haven HS)
Top
2014
Prospect: Sean
Newcomb, lhp, Hartford
Top
2015 Prospect: George
Hewitt, of, Salisbury School
HIGHEST
DRAFT PICKS
Draft
History:
Bobby Valentine, ss, Rippowam HS, Stamford (1968, Dodgers/1st round,
5th pick).
2008
Draft: Anthony
Hewitt, 3b, Salisbury Prep (Phillies/1st round, 24th pick)
2009
Draft: Dan
Mahoney, rhp, University of Connecticut (Marlins/4th round)
2010
Draft: Michael
Olt, 3b, University of Connecticut (Rangers/1st round,
49th pick)
2011
Draft: George
Springer, of, University of Connecticut (Astros/1st round,
11th pick)
2012
Draft: L.J.
Mazzilli, 2b, University of Connecticut (Twins/9th round, 280th pick)
2012
DRAFT OVERVIEW
College
Players Drafted/Signed:
7/6
Junior
College Players Drafted/Signed:
0/0
High
School Players Drafted/Signed:
2/0
TOP
PROSPECTS, GROUPS 1 and 2
GROUP
1 (rounds 1-3)
1. THOMAS
MILONE, of, Masuk HS
At
least in terms of statistical performance, Milone has not been
overwhelming in front of scouts this spring. His competition or lack
thereof also make the scouting conditions less than idea. But, scouts
have been attracted to his exciting raw tools since last summer. He
shows an above average bat, as well as an average arm in center
field, and 60 foot speed on the 20-80 scale. What might be the
difference maker for Milone, though, is his power. He’s quick to
the ball and has a lot of lift in his swing, and consistently
generates backspin on the baseball. With that said, he projects to
have at least average or a notch above average left-handed power at
the big league level. There are some mechanical issues that
professional coaches will likely want to tidy up in his swing, like
the twitch in his wrist during his load. Quieting his mechanics
somewhat may allow his very fast hands to go to work a little more
consistently. Right now, he also appears to have the tools to remain
in center, and gets a good first step on balls in the gap. There was
early spring buzz that he could go as high as the compensation round,
but it seems more likely now that the speedy center fielder goes off
the board between rounds three and five. Click here to read David Rawnsley's detailed Draft Focus report on Milone.
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