ARIZONA

2007 FOLLOW LIST  

OVERVIEW: This is not a marquee year forArizona , by its own standards. Only one player, high school righthander Tim Alderson, is assured of being selected in the first 100 picks. Arizona and Arizona State, the state’s only Division I programs, have been ranked consistently among the nation’s top 25 college teams all season, but their contribution to the draft, while impressive (12 players on the accompanying list), will yield little in the way of impact talent.

 

But 2008 could be a different story. The two schools could have as many as eight to 10 players in the first three rounds a year from now, including potential first-rounders like Arizona State first baseman Brett Wallace and outfielder Ike Davis. The Wildcats and Sun Devils have established programs and the ability to reach far and wide for talent, and a majority of their draftable prospects this year (and next) are from out-of-state.

 

By contrast, both schools have struggled in recent years to hang on to the best home-grown talent, and most of the best high school players have gone elsewhere. San Diego lefthander Brian Matusz, projected to be one of the top picks in 2008, is an Arizona high school product. So is Vanderbilt righthander Brett Jacobson, another potential early-rounder next year. A year ago, the top four Arizona high school prospects committed to out-of-state colleges. The trend has continued this year as Alderson is an Oregon State recruit.

 

 

STRENGTH: Pitching.

WEAKNESS: Power bats.

OVERALL RATING (1-to-5 scale): 2.

 

Best Out-of-State Prospect, Arizona Connection: Eric Farris, 2b, Loyola Marymount U. (Attended high school in Chandler ).

Top 2008 Prospect: Ike Davis, of, Arizona State U.

 

Highest Pick, Draft History: Rick Monday, of, Arizona State U. (1965, Athletics/1^st round, 1^st pick); Floyd Bannister, lhp, Arizona State U. (1976, Astros/1^st round, 1^st pick); Bob Horner, 3b, Arizona State U. (1978, Braves/1^st round, 1^st pick).

Highest Pick, 2006 Draft: Jason Donald, ss, U. of Arizona (Phillies/3^rd round)

 

BEST COLLEGE TEAM: Arizona State .
BEST JUNIOR COLLEGE TEAM: Central Arizona.
BEST HIGH SCHOOL TEAM: Horizon HS, Scottsdale .

 

TOP 35 PROSPECTS / By Allan Simpson

 

GROUPS (College, Junior College, High School)

      1   High-round draft (Rounds 1-3)

      2   Mid-round draft (Rounds 4-10)

      3   Late-round draft (Rounds 11-25)

      4   Chance draft / Player to follow

 

*Draft-and-follow; eligible to sign before 2007 draft

 

GROUP ONE

Rank  Player                                  Pos.       Yr     B-T      HT     WT     School                              Hometown                 Drafted/(Commit) B’date

     1.   Tim Alderson                     RHP      Sr.     R-R     6-7     208     Horizon HS                       Phoenix                       (Oregon State )  11-3-88

SCOUTING REPORT: Alderson has been a highly-visible arm since he was a sophomore, when he won the championship game as Horizon High captured the Arizona 5-A title. He duplicated the feat as a senior by beating Brophy Prep 9-6 in the final, as Horizon avenged a loss to its arch-rival in last year’s championship game and went on to win its second 5-A crown in three years. Alderson wasn’t at his best against Brophy in a game that matched the state’s best pitcher against the state’s best hitting team—and also two of the nation’s top five ranked teams. He allowed 13 hits, but he pushed his record on the year to 12-0, 0.77. But he struck out 12, to push his total on the season to 123 in 72 innings. Alderson is a tall righthander with an unorthodox, deceptive, high-effort delivery. He also pitches exclusively out of the stretch. But teams will be in no hurry to change his approach as he has outstanding stuff—notably a fastball that ranges from 92-96 mph and a hard, nasty slider. He is also athletic and coordinated on the mound, and repeats his delivery exceptionally well—rare for a pitcher his size. The upshot of it all is that Alderson is a strike-throwing machine. He has exceptional command of all his pitches, especially his slider, and walked only five batters on the year. Scouts also are quick to praise Alderson for his fiery, competitive nature on the mound.