Perfect Game’s National Showcase was held this
past weekend at the Metrodome, home of the Minnesota Twins, and most of the top
players in the 2009 high school class were in attendance. In all, the showcase
attracted about 250 players.
The strength of the 2009 class looks like it will be catchers. Although there
is only one catcher listed below in my version of the Top 10 Prospects from the
event, there are a half-dozen more who are on the cusp of the Top 10 and would
likely be listed if this were a Top 30. Aside from Austin Maddox (Jacksonville,
Fla.), the No. 4 prospect below, you’ll be hearing plenty about Luke Bailey
(LaGrange, Ga.), Dane Phillips (Nacogdoches, Texas), Max Stassi (Yuba City,
Calif.), Andrew Susac (Roseville, Calif.), Jonathan Walsh (Coppell, Texas) and
Michael Zunino (Cape Coral, Fla.), among others.
The top prospect in attendance, righthander/shortstop Mychal Givens (Tampa),
will create the same type of dilemma for scouts next spring as 2008 first
rounders Aaron Hicks, Ethan Martin and Casey Kelly did this spring.
Givens is viewed primarily as a shortstop with excellent athleticism and
high-level defensive tools. Based on his showing in Minneapolis, however,
Givens grades out better as a righthanded pitcher with an effortless mid-90s
fastball and two quality off-speed pitches. What side of the ball he plays on
will be debated frequently over the next 11-plus months.
Another apparent strength of the 2009 high school class appears to be
lefthanded pitching. Matthew Purke (Spring, Texas) and Tyler Matzek (Mission
Viejo, Calif.) stand out at the top of the class and could be high first-round
draft picks next June. But there is a whole roster full of quality southpaws
who pitch around 90 mph and a number of those are sure to step forward between
now and next June. Other names to remember include Forrest Garrett (Norcross,
Ga.), Kris Hobson (Bakersfield, Calif.), Chad James (Yukon, Okla.), Ian Krol
(Naperville, Ill.) and Steven Matz (Stony Brook, N.Y.).
We will be doing a more complete notebook on the 2008 National Showcase later
in the week, detailing all the highlights of the three days of play. We also
intended to post a list of the top 10 high school prospects in the 2009 class
entering the showcase, along with a general preview of the ’08 National
Showcase, but massive flooding in the Cedar Rapids, Iowa., area, which shut
down everything at PG national headquarters for several days, prevented us from
doing so. You can access what was written then by clicking on
Thursday's Daily Top 10.
David Rawnsley's top 10 prospects at the 2008 PG National Showcase:
|
| Rank |
Player |
Pos. |
High School |
Hometown |
| 1 |
Mychal Givens |
RHP/SS |
H.B. Plant |
Tampa, Fla. |
| |
Easy mid-90s off the mound with a sharp curve; also an athletic
shortstop who can hit. |
| 2 |
Matthew Purke |
LHP |
Klein |
Spring, Texas |
| |
Extremely loose and projectable, this 6-3, 170 southpaw sits at 93
mph with much more to come. |
| 3 |
Tyler Matzek |
LHP |
Capistrano Valley |
Mission Viejo, Calif. |
| |
Six-foot-3, 185-pounder has all the pitches now, including a 91-93
fastball and nasty 82-mph slider. |
| 4 |
Austin Maddox |
C/RHP |
Eagle’s View Academy |
Jacksonville, Fla. |
| |
Unparalleled arm strength and impressive quickness for his size;
also 94 mph off the mound. |
| 5 |
Jonathan Singleton |
1B |
Millikan |
Lakewood, Calif. |
| |
Huge lefthanded power and surprising athletic agility; looks like a
young Ryan Howard. |
| 6 |
Donovan Tate |
OF |
Cartersville |
Cartersville, Ga. |
| |
Huge athletic tools, potential No. 1 if the bat comes; football
(WR) will be in the picture as well. |
| 7 |
Jacob Turner |
RHP |
Westminster Academy |
St. Charles, Mo. |
| |
Minimal effort 92-93 mph sinker with plenty more to come for the
6-foot-4, 205-pound righthander. |
| 8 |
LeVon Washington |
OF/SS |
Gainesville |
Gainesville, Fla. |
| |
Fastest player at the showcase (6.21 in the 60) also has lefthanded
bat speed and 90-mph arm strength. |
| 9 |
Zack Wheeler |
RHP |
East Paulding |
Dallas, Ga. |
| |
Doesn’t need much projection with present 90-93 mph FB, 76 mph
hammer, but just scratching surface. |
| 10 |
Chad Thompson |
RHP |
El Toro |
Trabuco Canyon, Calif. |
| |
Six-foot-8, 215-pounder is very loose and projectable; tops at 94
and has good present command. |
|
| --DAVID RAWNSLEY |
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