PERFECT GAME CROSSCHECKER'S TOP TEN LIST
WEEK 25: 6/30/08 - 7/6/08
 
2008 COLLEGE FRESHMEN: Top 10
Thursday July 3, 2008 - Part 2
Led by Georgia Tech’s Derek Dietrich and the high-quality shortstop crop, here’s how we saw the top 10 freshmen in the recently-completed 2008 college season:
Rank Player Position School Accomplishment
1 Derek Dietrich SS Georgia Tech .332-14-66
2 Chris Hernandez LHP Miami 11-0, 2.72, 113 IP, 18 BB/117 SO
3 *Kentrail Davis OF Tennessee .330-13-44
4 Rick Hague SS Rice .348-8-54
5 Scott Woodward 2B-3B Coastal Carolina .364-7-45, 42 SB
6 *Shane Davis LHP Canisius 12-1, 2.42, 98 IP, 20 BB/81 SO
7 Chance Ruffin RHP Texas 8-3, 1.96, 78 IP, 24 BB/82 SO
8 Bryce Brentz DH-RHP Middle Tennessee .329-18-68; 1-0, 2.20
9 Hunter Morris 1B Auburn .351-11-49
10 *D.J. Lemahieu SS Louisiana State .337-6-44, 56 R
* Eligible for 2009 draft
--ALLAN SIMPSON Top Ten List Archives
SHORTSTOPS TOP FRESHMEN CROP
Thursday July 3, 2008 - Part 1
There was no position that stuck out more in the 2008 college freshman crop than shortstop. At least 25 freshmen started regularly at shortstop this season for Division I teams, including four of the eight teams that reached the College World Series.

No shortstop stood out more than Georgia Tech’s Derek Dietrich, an unsigned third-round pick of the Houston Astros in the 2007 draft. Dietrich was the obvious talent in this year’s freshman shortstop class entering the season, but the 2008 crop of freshman shortstops extended well beyond Dietrich and proved to be an exceptionally talented and deep group—a blend of mid- to-late round draft picks and players that weren’t drafted at all.

While Dietrich, who led Georgia Tech in RBIs, spent all of 2008 at shortstop, his lack of raw speed could eventually push him to third base in the future, and he has spent most of his time this summer with Team USA at the hot corner. He has the easy plus arm strength and soft hands to play either position on the left side of the infield, but his lateral mobility and above-average power may make him better suited for third base.

Not only did Dietrich, grandson of former big league Steve Demeter, stand out among freshmen shortstops this season, but we ranked him No. 1 among the nation’s 10 best freshmen overall.

Another top talent from this year’s freshman shortstop crop, Cal State Fullerton’s Christian Colon, is also spending the summer with Team USA. But he has spent most of his time at second base to accommodate Miami’s slick-fielding sophomore shortstop Ryan Jackson, a potential first-rounder a year from now.

We’ve identified the 10 best freshmen shortstops on the accompanying list, but the pool of freshmen shortstops is so deep that we didn’t have room to include Utah’s Michael Beltran, whose .372 average topped all shortstops, or Stanford’s sure-handed Jake Schlander, who committed just seven errors. Beltran hurt his cause by committing 25 errors, while Schlander hit just .232. Neither player delivered a home run.

Here’s how we stack up the talent in this year’s impressive freshmen shortstop class:
Rank Player School Accomplishment
1 Derek Dietrich Georgia Tech .332-14-66
4 Rick Hague Rice .348-8-54
10 *D.J. Lemahieu Louisiana State .337-6-44, 56 R
4 Christian Colon Cal State Fullerton .329-4-39, 13 SB
5 Josh Rutledge Alabama .369-0-31, 62 R, 16 SB
6 Danny Muno Fresno State .332-3-30, 62 R, 55 BB
7 Chris Wade Kentucky .296-5-51
8 Mike Olt Connecticut .318-13-61, 18 SB
9 Clint Moore Army .350-6-39, 14 SB
10 Blake Kelso Houston .288-3-35, 58 R, 39 BB
--ALLAN SIMPSON Top Ten List Archives
SOPHOMORE CLASS: Top 10 Righthanders
Monday June 30, 2008 - Part 2
There is a strong indication at this point that the 2009 draft will begin with three college righthanders: San Diego State’s Stephen Strasburg, Missouri’s Kyle Gibson and North Carolina’s Alex White. All have the size, stuff, command, makeup and physical projection to be plucked right off the top.

Led by those three, the 2009 draft crop will have significant quality in college righthanders, but that demographic will be unusually deep, as well, with several other potential first-rounders. Here’s how we see the top 10 college righthanders stacking up with next year’s draft still 11 months away (2008 college performance noted):
Rank Player School Accomplishment
1 Stephen Strasburg San Diego State 8-3, 1.57, 97 IP, 16 BB/133 SO
2 Kyle Gibson Missouri 9-4, 3.84, 87 IP, 23 BB/96 SO
3 Alex White North Carolina 13-3, 2.83, 102 IP, 113 SO
4 Brad Stillings Kent State 4-7, 5.35, 79 IP, 28 BB/62 SO
5 Kendal Volz Baylor 4.20, 71 IP, 28 BB/85 SO
6 Jason Stoffel Arizona 4-2, 3.00, 13 SV, 48 IP/79 SO
7 Blake Smith California 3-0, 3.80, 21 IP, 11 BB/36 SO
8 Jeff Inman Stanford 7-2, 4.27, 72 IP, 29 BB/45 SO
9 A.J. Griffin San Diego 1-1, 1.96, 14 SV, 46 IP, 12 BB/49 SO
10 Mike Leake Arizona State 11-3, 3.49, 121 IP, 20 BB/104 SO
--ALLAN SIMPSON Top Ten List Archives
STRASBURG TOPS ’08 SOPH LIST
Monday June 30, 2008 - Part 1
Now that the 2008 college season is complete and we begin looking ahead to 2009, we thought it would be appropriate to take a close-up look at this year’s college sophomore crop—effectively, the players that will be the cornerstone of the 2009 draft.

We’ll do so in two parts. First, we’ll take a look at the 10 best 2008 sophomores, from a performance standpoint. Then we’ll highlight the top 10 righthanded pitching prospects in the sophomore class as there is every indication that will be the strongest, deepest position in next year’s draft.

Not coincidentally, San Diego State righthander Stephen Strasburg heads up both lists. The 6-foot-5, 215-pound righthander pitched the single, most dominant game of the 2008 college season in April, when he struck out 23 batters while beating Utah 1-0. He continued to perform at a high level the remainder of the season, going 8-3, 1.57 with 133 strikeouts in 97 innings.

Strasburg, who is pitching for USA Baseball’s college national team this summer, finished second nationally in strikeouts to crosstown rival Brian Matusz of the University of San Diego. Not coincidentally, Matusz was the first pitcher drafted this year, while Strasburg projects to be the first pitcher drafted in 2009.

Here’s our take on the Top 10 players in the sophomore class, from a performance standpoint:
Rank Player Pos. School Accomplishment
1 Stephen Strasburg RHP San Diego State 8-3, 1.57, 97 IP, 16 BB/133 SO
2 Josh Phegley C Indiana .438-15-80, 34 BB/22 SO
3 *Tim Fedroff OF North Carolina .404-12-71, 78 R, 22 2B
4 Dustin Ackley 1B North Carolina .417-7-51, 82 R, 53 BB/27 SO
5 *Jason Kipnis OF Arizona State .371-14-73, 76 R, 51 BB, 24 SB
6 A.J. Griffin RHP San Diego 1-1, 1.96, 14 SV, 46 IP/49 SO
7 Jason Stoffel RHP Arizona 4-2, 3.00, 13 SV, 48 IP/79 SO
8 *Chris Dominguez 3B Louisville .361-21-75
9 Alan Ahmady 1B Fresno State .386-13-92
10 Alex White RHP North Carolina 13-3, 2.83, 102 IP, 113 SO
* Drafted in 2008
--ALLAN SIMPSON Top Ten List Archives