PENNSYLVANIA

2007 FOLLOW LIST  

OVERVIEW:Pennsylvania’s college talent is the weakest in years, with only Penn State sophomore-eligible righthander Drew O’Neil given a shot at cracking the top 10 rounds. At that, O’Neil didn’t surface as a legitimate prospect until late in the year.

 

The state’s high school talent more than makes up for the dearth of college players—though how many are signable remains to be seen. Most are heavily committed to out-of-state colleges.

 

Like the college class, the high school ranks also had their own late bloomer in catcher Devin Mesoraco. In fact, it’s almost safe to say that no player in the country improved his stock more. Mesoraco surged past every high school catcher in the draft and is a probable mid-first round selection.

 

STRENGTH: High-school talent.

WEAKNESS: Signable high-school talent.

OVERALL RATING (1-to-5 scale): 4.

 

Best Out-of-State Proespect, Pennsylvania Connection: Kellen Kulbacki, of, James Madison U. (Attended high school in Palmyra ).

Top 2008 Prospect: Zak Sinclair, rhp-3b, West Allegheny HS, McDonald.

 

Highest Pick, Draft History: Al Chambers, 1b, John Harris HS, Harrisburg (1979, Mariners/1^st round, 1^st pick); Shawn Abner, of, Mechanicsburg HS (1984, Mets/1^st round, 1^st pick).

Highest Pick, 2006 Draft: Kevin Mulvey, rhp, Villanova U. (Mets/2^nd round).

 

Best College Team: Penn State .
Best College Team: Germantown Academy, Port Washington.

 

TOP 20 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

 

GROUP ONE

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

     1.   Devin Mesoraco                     C      Sr.     R-R     6-1     200     Punxsutawney Area HS   Punxsutawney (Virginia )                       6-19-88

SCOUTING REPORT: Mesoraco was just another good, solid high school catcher last fall, a potential 7^th- to 10^th-round pick, according to scouts. His improvement this spring came by leaps and bounds, to a point where he is now considered a lock to be drafted in the first round—maybe even in the top 12-20 picks. Area scouts compared him to Neil Walker, the 11^th overall pick in 2004 and the last Pennsylvania high school catcher to be drafted in the first round—and were emphatic that Mesoraco is superior. He’ll also become the second catcher drafted in the first round out of his high school; John Mizerock was the eighth overall pick in 1979 and went on to play four years in the big leagues and later briefly managed the Kansas City Royals. Mesoraco grades out as average or above in every tool, but his powerful throwing arm is his biggest asset. After undergoing Tommy John surgery in August 2005, Mesoraco was able to DH only as a high school junior. But his arm was 100 percent healthy again this season—and it was a rocket. He loved to show it off and made it a matter of habit to pick off straying base runners. His overall skills behind the plate, hitting ability and power potential also earn high praise. He has strength and lift in his swing to project above-average power. While everything came easy to him on the field this spring, Mesoraco also demonstrated superior leadership qualities and the ability to take charge of a team.