DRAFT NOTEBOOK
BY JERRY FORD, Perfect Game
Latest Comings and Goings in High School Baseball ...
This is the time of year when pitchers around the country are reaching that 100 percent production level. Of course, in some of the Northern states we are still waiting on a few to round into form. Here’s some of the latest news to hit our office . . .
By now, everyone should have heard about the last outing of Virginia RHP Jeremy Jeffress, who stayed in the mid to upper 90s for the complete 7-inning game the other night. There are reports of his fastball touching 100 mph more than one time. Jeffress was one of the top performers in the Perfect Game National Showcase last June, when he threw in the mid-90s at Turner Field in Atlanta. He’s far from an unknown commodity in the scouting community and a probable first-rounder in June . . .
Latest word has North Carolina RHP Alex White (D.H. Conley HS, Greenville) throwing in the mid-90s. White, who has signed with UNC and hasn’t been ranked among high school’s elite draft prospects, has been topping out at 96 mph lately and creating a buzz. He’s a possible second- or third-rounder. Other North Carolina pitchers being followed closely are RHP Chris Archer (Clayton HS), who signed with Miami, and LHP Josh Morris (South Mecklenburg HS, Charlotte), who signed with Clemson. RHP Josh Thrailkill (T.C. Roberson HS, Arden), who signed with Clemson, and RHP Jared Bard (Charlotte Christian HS), who signed with North Carolina, are also being heavily scouted, but neither is expected to be a premium pick. Thrailkill, the state’s top-rated pitching prospect entering the season, has not lived up to expectations. Bard is the younger brother of top draft prospect and UNC pitcher Daniel Bard . . .
Possibly the top two position prospects in North Carolina are OF Drew Poulk, who signed with North Carolina, and SS-RHP Lonnie Chisenhall, who signed with South Carolina. Both are teammates at West Carteret High in Morehead City. Poulk has been well known in the scouting community for some time. Chisenhall has really turned it on this spring and there are scouts who think he might be one of the top hitters in this year’s draft class . . .
Entering the year, scouts were well aware of outstanding Alabama teammates Kasey Kiker (signed with South Alabama) and Cory Rasmus (signed with Auburn), who led Russell County High to the national prep championship a year ago. Both have been followed for a long time and have been up into the 97 mph range at times this spring. RHP Taylor Thompson (St. James HS, Montgomery), who signed with Auburn, made quite a name for himself last June at the PG National in Atlanta. We’ve seen him touch the mid-90s and he really looks the part of a big league pitcher. LHP Del Howell (American Christian HS, Tuscaloosa), who signed with Alabama, was consistently in the low 90s a year ago. The new kid on the block who has caused scouting directors to change their travel plans is RHP-OF Caleb Clay (Cullman HS), who signed with Auburn. Clay, the least known of the five Alabama pitchers entering the season, has shown a lively 90-94 mph fastball . . .
In New Jersey, most of the early draft talk is about SS-3B Billy Rowell (Bishop Eustace Prep, Sewell), who signed with Alabama. RHP Jerry Sullivan (Mt. Olive HS, Budd Lake) might have been in the mix, but he underwent Tommy John surgery in November and missed the season. He has signed to Oral Roberts. OF Ryan Kalish (Red Bank Catholic HS, Shrewsbury), who signed with Virginia, has created a lot of draft interest. Other well-known players include OF Tim Fedroff (Hillsborough HS, Flaggtown), who signed with North Carolina, and C Mike Murray (Westfield HS), who signed with Wake Forest. The biggest surprise in New Jersey this spring has been RHP Sean Black (Lenape HS, Mt. Laurel), who previously was known as a very good shortstop. On the mound, Black has been throwing in the low to mid 90s. He is a bit raw, but projects nicely. It will be interesting to see where he’s at on draft lists, but he sounds like a top 3 round type, if considered signable. He’s committed to Seton Hall.
One last note for now… LHP Justin Marks (Owensboro Catholic, KY) has always intrigued us with his potential. Late reports have him up as high as 93 mph recently. Marks is a mega projection lefty! He’s committed to Louisville)
More to come . . .