65. ST. JOHN ’S

2008 RECORD. Overall: 42-16 (Advanced to NCAA regional). Conference: 20-7 / 1^st in Big East.

Coach: Ed Blankmeyer (438-267, 14^th season).

First Game, 2009: Feb. 20 vs. Penn State at Dunedin, Fla. (Big East-Big Ten Challenge).

 

OVERVIEW: St. John’s enjoyed possibly its most successful season in school history in 2008, winning the Big East regular-season title with a school-record 42 wins. While most of the everyday lineup is back with the return of seven of the team’s top eight hitters, the draft claimed the five best arms on the pitching staff.

 

PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP

C: Dan Benedetti, Sr. (.342-0-19).

1B: Tim Morris, Jr. (.283-3-27).

2B: Gino Matias, Sr. (.283-3-25).

3B: Greg Hopkins, So. (.304-5-34).

SS: Joe Panik, Fr. (HS—Hopewell Junction, N.Y.).

LF: Carlos del Rosario, Sr. (*.347-5-43).

CF: Brian Kemp (1), Jr. (.360-1-20, *16 SB).

RF: Jim Parque (3), Jr. (.384-8-34 at Skyline, Calif. , JC).

DH: Paul Karmas (4), So. (.312-3-*45).

1/Starter: Nick Cenatiempo, Jr. (0-0, 3.34, 37 IP/39 SO).

2/Starter: Bruce Kern, Jr. (Transfer—Suffolk County, N.Y., CC).

3/Starter: Brendan Lobban, Fr. (HS—Ramsey, N.J.).

Closer: Miguel Valcarcel, Jr. (2-1, 4.46, 1 SV, 36 IP/33 SO).

 

BEST TOOLS

Best Athlete: Brian Kemp.

Best Overall Hitter: Paul Karmas.

Best Power Hitter: Tim Morris.

Best Strike-Zone Discipline: Paul Karmas.

Fastest Base Runner (60 time): Brian Kemp (6.42 seconds).

Best Base Runner: Brian Kemp.

Best Defender: Jim Parque.

Best Infield Arm: Matt Wessinger.

Best Outfield Arm: Jim Parque.

Best Fastball (velocity): Ryan Cole (92 mph).

Best Breaking Ball: Bruce Kern.

Best Changeup: Miguel Valcarcel.

Best Command: Miguel Valcarcel.

 

TOP FRESHMAN PROSPECT: Brendan Lobban, lhp / Joe Panik, ss. Lobban, as a starting pitcher, and Panik, as the starting shortstop, will play prominent roles for the Red Storm as freshman. Both could be significant drafts by 2011—but only if the 6-foot-2, 215-pound Lobban, who was selected by the Cincinnati Reds last June in the 45^th round out of a New Jersey high school, can improve on his high-80s velocity, and Panik, an undrafted New York product, can substantially pick up his pace at the plate.

TOP SOPHOMORE PROSPECT: Paul Karmas, 1b-of. Karmas’ best tool is his bat—even though he hit a modest.317 with three homers as a freshman at St. John’s , and followed with a .288 average and only two homers during the summer in the New England Collegiate League. He slumped badly at the plate in the second half of the NECBL season and flashed little of his power potential even as he made a conscious attempt to add more lift to his swing to increase his power numbers; the move backfired as the homers never came and his average tumbled. Karmas’ power was primarily to the gaps in both spring and summer, but scouts say it should be just a matter of time before he begins taking balls out of the yard with regularity as he has the hands to hit and there is plenty of strength in his developing frame. The rest of Karmas’ tools fall short and he’s pretty much limited defensively to first base—and even that might be a stretch.

TOP JUNIOR PROSPECT: Brian Kemp, of. Kemp’s game revolves almost entirely around his superior raw speed, and it’s most evident at the top of the batting order and on the bases. He can create havoc on opposing defenses by simply putting the ball in play, although he’s learned to drive balls better as he has matured. Kemp’s best asset was silenced the latter part of his sophomore year at St. John’s and the start of the Cape Cod League when he blew out his hamstring and took an unduly long time to return to 100 percent. Oddly, Kemp seems more adept at tracking balls in left field than center, but his lack of power doesn’t play on a corner.

TOP SENIOR PROSPECT: Carlos Del Rosario, of. The 6-foot, 190-pound, lefthanded-hitting Del Rosario topped the Red Storm in batting a year ago at .347, but is considered just a marginal prospect by pro standards. His bat is his best tool, but even at that his swing path has lengthened and he has developed more of an uppercut in his goal to add more power.

--ALLAN SIMPSON