PGCROSSCHECKER COLLEGE TEAM SCOUTING REPORT

38. MISSOURI STATE (33-22, did not qualify for NCAA post-season play).

Conference/Projected Finish: Missouri Valley/2^nd (15-8, 2^nd in 2006).

Coach: Keith Guttin (841-502, 24 years).

First Game: Feb. 22 vs. Dallas Baptist at Frisco, Texas .

OVERVIEW: Missouri State produced one first-round pitcher a year ago in Brett Sinkbeil (5-1, 2.45) and should produce another this year in junior LHP Ross Detwiler (7-4, 2.81), who’ll team with 6-foot-5, 220-pound junior RHP Scott Carroll (6-4, 3.73) and 6-foot-4, 230-pound junior RHP Jake Shafer (4-4, 4.88) to give the Bears a strong, intimidating three-man rotation. All throw in the low 90s and are capable of being drafted in the first 10 rounds. Pitching will be the team’s obvious strength, but the Bears also return their top three hitters: sophomore 3B Brayden Drake (.289-6-35), junior OF Nolan Keane (.331-6-34) and junior 2B Matt Lawson (.330-1-28).

X-Factor: Carroll was drafted in the 16^th round in 2006 as a draft-eligible sophomore, but decided to pass up an offer from the Angels. He also elected to forgo playing football in the fall after being the school’s starting quarterback a year earlier, preferring to concentrate solely on baseball. His decision to do that, combined with a 95 mph fastball, could elevate his stock for this year’s draft near Detwiler’s.

TOP FRESHMAN: Ben Carlson, 1b. At 6-foot-3 and 230 pounds, Carlson is built along the lines of his brother Chris, who hit .366-21-79 at New Mexico last year, and led the Mountain West Conference in homers and RBIs. Carlson will be the only freshman to start this spring for the Bears.

TOP SOPHOMORE: Matt Frevert, rhp. Frevert had an excellent fall after going 4-2, 4.15 with 49 strikeouts in 39 innings as a freshman. His fastball was in the upper 80s/low 90s range and his slider and changeup were improved offerings.

TOP JUNIOR: Ross Detwiler, lhp. Though he’s not as far along in his development as Vanderbilt’s David Price or Clemson’s Daniel Moskos, the 6-foot-4, 175-pound Detwiler has positioned himself as one of the top lefthanded pitching prospects for the 2007 draft. He has electric stuff. His fastball is in the 92-93 mph range and he could eventually throw harder than any lefthander in this year’s class once he fills out his slender frame. He throws a devastating breaking ball. His changeup, an improved pitch this fall, is difficult to hit because of the deception in his delivery.

TOP SENIOR: Tanner Mattson, ss. The lone senior scheduled to start this season for Missouri State hit .250-0-22 a year ago. His tools don’t jump out, but his steady, mature approach make him one of the team leaders.