| TAMPA BAY |
| Rank |
Player |
Pos. |
Class |
B-T |
HT |
WT |
High School |
Hometown |
Commitment |
B’date |
| 323 |
Brad Furdal |
RHP |
Sr. |
R-R |
6-2 |
175 |
Ancaster |
Ancaster, Ontario |
High Point |
10/21/1990 |
| SCOUTING REPORT: Furdal is representative of the
decided lack of pitching talent coming out of Canada this year. At one point,
he ranked right with or close to righthander Stosh Wawrzasek (No. 2 above), but
he regressed this season with a fastball that went from a solid 90-91 mph in
2007 to the low-80s this season, with a drop in command, to boot. He was one of
several Ontario pitchers to experience a drop in velocity, resulting in a
corresponding dip in their draft standing.—ALLAN SIMPSON |
| |
| PITTSBURGH |
| Rank |
Player |
Pos. |
Class |
B-T |
HT |
WT |
College |
Hometown |
Prev. Drafted |
B’date |
| 324 |
David Rubinstein |
OF |
Jr. |
R-R |
6-2 |
185 |
Appalachian State |
Charlotte, N.C. |
Never drafted |
5/18/1987 |
| SCOUTING REPORT (3/1): Rubinstein hit .361-3-43
in 2007. He also set school records with 30 doubles and 67 runs scored as
Appalachian State won 33 games to post its best record in two decades. With
more loft in his swing, Rubinstein is expected to add legitimate power to his
game this season as he has the strength, bat speed and leverage to drive balls
out of the park. His hands work well at the plate and there’s fluidity and
flexibility in his swing. The remainder of his tools are solid and he has a
chance to evolve into a five-tool talent. He’s a slightly above-average runner
at 6.75 seconds in the 60 and his arm is average now with a chance of becoming
an above-average weapon. He’s played primarily right field in college but
center field is a definite option in the future. The main thing he lacks is
inexperience at a high level of competition.—ALLAN SIMPSON |
| UPDATE (5/15): Rubenstein showed scouts pretty
much what they expected to see this spring—athleticism, solid tools, speed and
developing power. He hit .332-9-48 with 19 doubles, comparable numbers to 2007
but more of the balls he drove to the gaps a year ago went over the fence this
year. He’s still growing into his power. His hitting mechanics are in need of
reworking as he wraps his bat high and often doesn’t get his swing started soon
enough. Rubenstein dazzled area scouts on Scout Day in the fall, but he didn’t
show the same tools this spring, especially arm strength. His speed improved,
however, and one clocking had him at 6.50 seconds in the 60. Rubenstein has
solid tools and could blossom in pro ball if everything comes together for him.—AS |
| |
| KANSAS CITY |
| Rank |
Player |
Pos. |
Class |
B-T |
HT |
WT |
High School |
Hometown |
Commitment |
B’date |
| 325 |
Malcolm Bronson |
OF |
Sr. |
L-R |
6-0 |
185 |
Jasper |
Jasper, Texas |
McNeese State (FB) |
5/11/1990 |
| SCOUTING REPORT: With several cousins and uncles
who have played in the NFL, run hurdles in the Olympics and played minor league
baseball, Bronson is hardly the best-known athlete in his family. Current
14-year NFL defensive lineman Sam Adams, who played with the Denver Broncos in
2007, and eight-year nose tackle Casey Hampton, who was with the Pittsburgh
Steelers last fall, are Bronson’s cousins. Another cousin, Bryan Bronson, won a
bronze medal in the 400-meter hurdles at the 1997 World Track & Field
championships, and Bryan’s twin brother Ben played a year in the NFL in 1995 as
a kick returner and two years in the Royals organization in 1996-97 as an
outfielder. Bronson’s uncle Zack Bronson, a seven-year NFL veteran, is the
defensive backs coach at McNeese State, and Malcolm has committed to play
football there as a defensive back after intercepting 10 passes last fall for
Jasper High, while rushing for more than 1,800 yards and 22 touchdowns. Until
this spring, baseball was always more of an afterthought for Bronson, who did
little more than pinch-run as a high school sophomore. His speed enabled him to
become a factor on the baseball field in 2007, and he blossomed into an
all-around baseball talent this spring as a senior when he hit .442-12-46 while
stealing 12 bases in 12 attempts. Both his speed and power are legitimate
tools, but Bronson still has work to do defensively. He played right field this
season and projects a corner position at the next level. Bronson has indicated
he will not combine a college football career with a minor league baseball
career, but would walk-on to the baseball team at McNeese State if he ends up
in college.—ALLAN SIMPSON |
| |
| BALTIMORE |
| Rank |
Player |
Pos. |
Class |
B-T |
HT |
WT |
College |
Hometown |
Prev. Drafted |
B’date |
| 326 |
Nathan Moreau |
LHP |
Jr. |
L-L |
6-4 |
205 |
Georgia |
Lilburn, Ga. |
Never drafted |
9/15/1986 |
| SCOUTING REPORT (3/1): Moreau led Georgia in wins
as both a freshman (8-1, 5.50) and sophomore (6-2, 4.65), but wasn’t exactly
dominant in the process as he surrendered 153 hits in a combined 141 innings,
while striking out just 89. He struggled more than any point in his career last
summer in the Cape Cod League, going just 0-1, 10.80 amidst concerns on the
part of scouts who noted that he had significantly changed his arm angle from
the previous summer and was throwing more across his body with little back-side
extension. Moreau is a big-bodied, power lefthander whose fastball ranged from
88-91 mph last fall. He likes to pitch off his fastball, which he can work in
effectively on righthanded hitters and away from lefthanders. But he also shows
an acute ability to mix three pitches effectively. His breaking ball, a true
curve, was more consistent last fall than it’s been in the past.—ALLAN
SIMPSON |
| UPDATE (5/15): Moreau didn’t pitch well early in
the 2008 season but was much better in the second half. He was on a short leash
by the Georgia coaching staff, averaging only 4.5 innings per start (3-2, 5.06,
58 IP/45 entering the SEC tournament) as he was not efficient with his pitch
counts. Moreau maintains his velocity well in the upper 80s and throws a heavy
fastball.—DAVID RAWNSLEY |
| |
| SAN FRANCISCO |
| Rank |
Player |
Pos. |
Class |
B-T |
HT |
WT |
College |
Hometown |
Prev. Drafted |
B’date |
| 327 |
Justin Fitzgerald |
RHP |
Sr. |
R-R |
6-4 |
220 |
UC Davis |
Cloverdale, Calif. |
Never drafted |
3/3/1986 |
| SCOUTING REPORT: Fitzgerald went just 1-4, 4.96
with three saves as a draft-eligible sophomore in 2007, but made a huge
statement on the opening weekend of the 2008 season when he came out firing a
fastball that topped out at 94-95 mph. Almost overnight, he became a legitimate
prospect. Fitzgerald continued to flash velocity in the 91-93 mph range with
late life the rest of the season, and mixed in a solid 79-81 mph slider. He
also tinkered with a curve and changeup. The upshot was a dominating season as
the closer for UC Davis. He went 3-1, 2.90 with 13 saves. In 31 innings, he
walked five and struck out 34. Fitzgerald, who took a medical red-shirt in
2006, looks the part in a uniform at a strapping 6-foot-4 and 220 pounds.—ALLAN
SIMPSON |
| |
| FLORIDA |
| Rank |
Player |
Pos. |
Class |
B-T |
HT |
WT |
High School |
Hometown |
Commitment |
B’date |
| 328 |
Blake Brewer |
RHP |
Sr. |
R-R |
6-5 |
180 |
Sandy Creek |
Fairburn, Ga. |
Kentucky |
3/2/1990 |
| SCOUTING REPORT: Brewer is the younger brother of
Brent Brewer, the Milwaukee Brewers’ second-round draft choice in 2006,
although there isn’t much physical resemblance between them. At 6-foot-5 and
180 pounds, Blake is long and lean. Brent is more muscular. Brewer is a
projection-pitcher with a long, loose and easy arm action and a present 86-90
mph fastball. His mid-70s curveball gets proper rotation and occasional hard
spin and is a potential strikeout pitch in the future.—DAVID RAWNSLEY |
| |
| CINCINNATI |
| Rank |
Player |
Pos. |
Class |
B-T |
HT |
WT |
College |
Hometown |
Prev. Drafted |
B’date |
| 329 |
Andrew Means |
OF |
Jr. |
R-R |
6-1 |
215 |
Indiana |
Avon Lake, Ohio |
Never drafted |
9/11/1986 |
| SCOUTING REPORT: Along with Illinois’ Kyle Hudson
and Minnesota’s Eric Decker, Means was one of three center fielders in the Big
Ten Conference who doubled as wide receivers and led their respective football
teams in receiving yardage last fall. Means topped Indiana with 48 receptions
for 559 yards. Speed is easily his best tool and he used it atop the Indiana
batting order to lead the Big Ten in runs (72) and triples (8), while finishing
third with 33 stolen bases. He also hit .357-2-32. As he progresses in
baseball, he’ll need to use the strength in his powerful, athletic frame to
drive balls better and more consistently, and improve his approach at the
plate. Means intends to sign a pro contract in baseball and return in the fall
to play his senior year of football at Indiana, before determining which sport
to pursue on a full-time basis.—ALLAN SIMPSON |
| |
| CHICAGO-AL |
| Rank |
Player |
Pos. |
Class |
B-T |
HT |
WT |
College |
Hometown |
Prev. Drafted |
B’date |
| 330 |
Charlie Leesman |
LHP |
Jr. |
L-L |
6-4 |
210 |
Xavier |
Cincinnati |
Twins ’05 (40) |
3/10/1987 |
| SCOUTING REPORT (3/1): Leesman has a live arm
from a high three-quarters slot with a fastball that is a consistent 88-90 mph
and peaked at 93 last summer in the Great Lakes League. He may need to throw
more strikes with the pitch as he progresses, but scouts say he is effectively
wild and has a chance to be a solid big league starter. He complements his
fastball with a slurvy slider that he is able to throw more consistently for
strikes, and he gets good sinking action on his changeup. He went 2-1, 2.61 for
the Cincinnati Steam last summer, with 13 walks and 28 strikeouts in 31
innings. He limited opponents to a .190 average. As a sophomore at Xavier, he
went 4-3, 4.22 with only 47 strikeouts in 81 innings. Leesman, a 40th-round
draft pick of the Minnesota Twins out of high school, had labrum surgery on his
shoulder in September 2005 but never took a red-shirt and shows no lingering
effects from the injury.—ALLAN SIMPSON |
| UPDATE (5/15): Projected to be the No. 2 draft in
the state behind Kent State righthander Chris Carpenter at the start of the
2008 season, Leesman did not pitch particularly well all year as Xavier’s
Friday starter, going 2-6, 5.32 with 29 walks and 48 strikeouts in 66 innings.
Most damning was his .338 opponent batting average. His stuff—an 89-90 mph
fastball that touched 92-93, a improving breaking ball with better bite and a
developing cut fastball—was solid, but he didn’t mix it up well enough to keep
hitters off balance and keep them in doubt what pitch was coming. The command
and sharpness of his breaking stuff, in particular, also came and went. Still,
he’s lefthanded and there is plenty of upside in his big frame.—AS |
| |
| WASHINGTON |
| Rank |
Player |
Pos. |
Class |
B-T |
HT |
WT |
College |
Hometown |
Prev. Drafted |
B’date |
| 331 |
Marcus Jones |
OF |
Jr. |
R-R |
6-2 |
195 |
North Carolina State |
Washington, D.C. |
Nationals ’05 (38) |
9/9/1986 |
| SCOUTING REPORT (3/1): One of the best pure
athletes in the 2008 college class, Jones shows the makings of five-tool
ability but is still more of an athlete than a baseball player and remains a
little short in all areas of his game. He runs especially well, though is not
an accomplished base stealer. His gap power should evolve into legitimate
over-the-fence, double-digit home run power as he grows into his frame and adds
experience. He has the tools to hit but doesn’t use them consistently, and
batted .321-4-33 with 40 strikeouts as an N.C. State sophomore. He’s an
adequate defender in center field with sufficient arm strength to remain there,
but can be better. He already shows acute baseball awareness and leadership
skills, but his ability to elevate into the top three or four rounds will all
depend on his having a breakthrough season with the bat and on the bases in
2008.—ALLAN SIMPSON |
| UPDATE (5/15): Jones had a solid junior year, but
not the great year needed to put him over the top as a prospect. He hit
.327-7-46 and stole 12 bases, and led the Wolfpack in RBIs and stolen bases as
it entered post-season play. But his swing was often long, he didn’t drive
balls consistently and his speed didn’t develop into a game-changing tool. He
was still primarily the same player he was three years ago in high school, and
there are strong indications he’ll return for his senior year.—AS |
| |
| HOUSTON |
| Rank |
Player |
Pos. |
Class |
B-T |
HT |
WT |
College |
Hometown |
Prev. Drafted |
B’date |
| 332 |
Jacob Priday |
OF |
Sr. |
R-R |
6-0 |
207 |
Missouri |
Sikeston, Mo. |
Never drafted |
10/2/1985 |
| SCOUTING REPORT: Priday established himself as
the model of consistency as a college power hitter, starting with his 9 HR/67
RBI freshman year in 2005, and continuing through his .343-16-62 senior season.
He is Missouri’s all-time leader in home runs (49) and RBIs (238), along with
extra-base hits and total bases. His April 11 game against Texas was the stuff
of legends: 5-for-5, four home runs, six runs scored and 9 RBIs. It was
actually Priday’s third five-hit game of his career; he also had five hits in a
game against then No. 1-ranked Florida as a sophomore. He is an extra strong
hitter who more overpowers the ball than anything else. Priday is not a
graceful outfielder and has often DH’d during his college career. He will be
limited to a DH/left field-role in professional ball.—DAVID RAWNSLEY |
| |
| TEXAS |
| Rank |
Player |
Pos. |
Class |
B-T |
HT |
WT |
College |
Hometown |
Prev. Drafted |
B’date |
| 333 |
Cliff Springston |
LHP |
Jr. |
L-L |
6-3 |
216 |
Arkansas |
Lorena, Texas |
Never drafted |
11/13/1986 |
| SCOUTING REPORT (3/1): Springston had limited
success in two years at Baylor, pitching mostly in relief. As a sophomore for
the Bears, he went just 3-3, 6.92 and averaged nearly two base runners an
inning while striking out only 29 in 40 innings. Most of his success in college
has come in summer league competition—in 2006 in the Jayhawk League, last
summer in the Cape Cod League. In 25 innings as a starter for Chatham, he went
1-2, 2.88. With a fastball in the 89-92 mph range and a plus slider, scouts
have always believed Springston has the raw stuff to succeed but he has rarely
gotten the most out of his ability. They may all change in 2008, however, after
Springston’s transfer to Arkansas. He’s been used in a combined starting/long
relief role by the Razorbacks and was the team’s most effective pitcher early
in the season. If he can keep it up and his performance continues to come close
to matching his stuff, he could surge into the top five rounds in June.—ALLAN
SIMPSON |
| UPDATE (5/15): Springston enjoyed a strong spring
for the young Arkansas team, going 5-2, 3.83 with 24 walks and 59 strikeouts in
82 innings. He was consistent in keeping his 90-mph fastball low in the strike
zone and spotting his slider effectively. Springston still isn’t a strikeout
pitcher but he “pitched” much better this spring than he ever has in the past.
His size, lefthanded-ness, athleticism and basic stuff should ensure a top
10-round slot.—DAVID RAWNSLEY |
| |
| OAKLAND |
| Rank |
Player |
Pos. |
Class |
B-T |
HT |
WT |
Junior College |
Hometown |
Prev. Drafted |
B’date |
| 334 |
Chris Berroa |
OF |
Fr. |
R-R |
6-1 |
175 |
Chipola |
Pennsauken, N.J. |
Nationals ’07 (25) |
2/3/1989 |
| SCOUTING REPORT: Berroa has a very thin, long,
loose athletic build and all the tools to be an early-round draft pick, but
just needs to learn how to use them. His most obvious tool is his speed. He’s
been clocked consistently in the 6.3-6.4 range in the 60, has very good
first-step quickness and is an aggressive base runner. But he doesn’t get good
jumps and his instincts on the bases are below average. He profiles as a
natural center fielder with lots of range and average arm strength, but needs
to take better routes on balls hit to the gaps. As with many raw athletes, the
biggest question with Berroa is his bat. He has a slashing, singles/doubles
approach at the plate with a lot of bat drag through the zone and an extended
finish to his swing. The ball comes off his bat hard on contact, but he often
overswings and struggles to square up balls. He made a lot of strides with the
bat this season but still needs to make adjustments with his overall approach
to hitting. He hit .389-3-28 during the regular season with 17 stolen bases in
23 attempts. Berroa was originally scheduled to attend UNC Greensboro out of a
New Jersey high school but instead ended up at Chipola JC, the defending Junior
College World Series champion and 2008 state champion. With numerous other top
prospects on the roster, he’s been heavily exposed to scouts this spring.—ALLAN
SIMPSON |
| |
| ST. LOUIS |
| Rank |
Player |
Pos. |
Class |
B-T |
HT |
WT |
Junior College |
Hometown |
Prev. Drafted |
B’date |
| 335 |
Devin Shepherd |
OF |
So. |
R-R |
6-3 |
225 |
Southern Nevada |
Oxnard, Calif. |
Twins ’06 (5) |
9/9/1987 |
| SCOUTING REPORT (3/1): Shepherd was one of the
most heavily-scouted high school players in the country in 2006. He was
selected by the Minnesota Twins in the fifth round but chose to accept a
scholarship offer to Oklahoma as one of the highest unsigned picks in that
draft. He lasted only a year with the Sooners, however, as he struggled
academically, hit a disappointing .235-1-7 in 115 at-bats and rode the bench
much of the season. But Shepherd went a long way to getting his career back on
track last summer as he hit .366-6-48 for the Santa Barbara Foresters of the
California Collegiate League and earned all-tournament honors at the NBC World
Series by driving in a tournament-high 10 runs. Though he has barely tapped
into it, the physically-mature Shepherd has exceptional power potential—an easy
70, maybe 75, on the standard 20-to-80 scouting scale. He has big upside as an
offensive player overall and can be a dangerous hitter, but still is largely an
all-or-nothing performer with the bat. His bat speed is an issue for some
scouts. The rest of his tools all play. He runs well for his size and has a
slightly above-average arm. Shepherd looked around for other four-year schools
to transfer to after making a decision to leave Oklahoma, but settled on the
College of Southern Nevada, a decision which makes him eligible for the 2008
draft.—ALLAN SIMPSON |
| UPDATE (5/15): As the nation’s No. 1-ranked
junior college player on the nation’s No. 1 team, Shepherd was under a
microscope from the start of the 2008 season. He did little to live up to the
hype initially, as he tried to knock the ball out of the park with every swing
and played the game with little intensity. He was exposed at the plate in his
transition to wood, particularly on off-speed stuff, and he swung-and-missed at
an alarming rate. Even the bat speed that went hand-in-hand with his enormous
power potential was unimpressive and he struggled to get the bat through the
hitting zone. But just when it looked like scouts might write off Shepherd’s
chances of going in the early rounds, he adopted a more team-oriented approach
and stopped trying to hit home runs. While he still showed his impressive raw
power in BP sessions, he began letting his hitting ability happen naturally. As
he began taking quality at-bats, he began putting balls in play more often and
his strikeouts dropped. Other areas of his game picked up, too, as his speed
began playing better on the bases and he took better routes on balls in the
outfield. Even though he hit only a single home run, had just nine extra-base
hits and struck out 33 times in 140 at-bats, he topped Southern Nevada in
hitting at .343. It’s unlikely that he’ll be drafted in the first two or three
rounds as once projected, but he appears to have settled in as a solid fifth-
to eighth-round selection.—AS |
| |
| MINNESOTA |
| Rank |
Player |
Pos. |
Class |
B-T |
HT |
WT |
College |
Hometown |
Prev. Drafted |
B’date |
| 336 |
Dominic de la Osa |
OF |
Sr. |
R-R |
6-0 |
205 |
Vanderbilt |
Coral Gables, Fla. |
Tigers ’07 (10) |
1/13/1986 |
| SCOUTING REPORT (3/1): De la Osa wasn’t
considered a premium draft at the start of the 2007 season—based in equal parts
on ability and signability. But his stock steadily rose all season as he hit a
resounding .378-20-62 for the Commodores. He was viewed as a potential third-
to fifth-rounder but slid to the 10th round as teams became scared off by his
bonus demands. But just as quickly as his stock rose, it slipped during the
summer as he hit a meager .119-1-9 in 37 games in a return engagement to
Wareham of the Cape Cod League and he will have to re-establish himself as a
college senior. De la Osa spent his first two years at Vanderbilt at shortstop,
and his move to the outfield last spring coincided with his breakout season at
the plate. He played mostly at third base in summer ball. Through his work in
the weight room, he was much stronger than he was in 2006, when he hit a
pedestrian .319-9-46, and his improved bat speed resulted in a surge in power.
A streaky hitter, he needs to make more consistent contact and not chase
pitches as frequently as he does. The remainder of de la Osa’s tools are
intriguing. He runs above-average, 6.7 in the 60, and led Vanderbilt with 20
stolen bases in 2007. His arm has been clocked at 95 mph from the outfield. He
is also extremely versatile—perhaps his greatest strength. He is capable of
playing almost every position on the field, and it’s possible he will end up at
second base down the road.—ALLAN SIMPSON |
| UPDATE (5/15): By returning to college for his
senior year, de la Osa was determined to match or even improve on his breakout
junior season. His chances were slim as he had set the bar so high, but he was
determined to give it try. The harder he tried, though, the more anxious he
became at the plate and ended up chasing pitches out of the strike zone. As
Vanderbilt entered SEC tournament play, de la Osa led the Commodores with 47
strikeouts while his .312-10-46 numbers were a significant dip from 2007. But
de la Osa is a streaky hitter and a hot stretch in post-season play could give
his numbers a significant boost. All was not lost this season for de la Osa’s
as his 24 stolen bases topped last season’s total of 20. Conceivably, de la Osa
could be drafted several rounds earlier this year than he was picked in 2007
because, as a senior, he has little or none of the leverage he had a year ago.—AS |
| |
| LOS ANGELES-NL |
| Rank |
Player |
Pos. |
Class |
B-T |
HT |
WT |
High School |
Hometown |
Commitment |
B’date |
| 337 |
Nathan Eovaldi |
RHP |
Sr. |
R-R |
6-2 |
185 |
Alvin
|
Alvin, Texas |
Texas A&M |
2/13/1990 |
| SCOUTING REPORT (3/1): Eovaldi has one of the
strongest arms in the 2008 high school class but has been unable to show it
much as he is coming off Tommy John surgery in the spring of 2007. The
6-foot-2, 185-pound righthander was reportedly up to 97 mph before the surgery
and has been seen between 90-95 mph this spring. Eovaldi threw a hard slider
before his surgery but has been working almost exclusively with just his
fastball this spring while his elbow recovers. He’s been hesitant to throw a
breaking ball of any kind. If he continues to throw in the mid-90s and
potentially higher, there will be inevitable Nolan Ryan comparisons, as Eovaldi
and Ryan both hail from Alvin, Texas.—DAVID RAWNSLEY |
| UPDATE (5/15): Considering that Eovaldi was only
nine months off TJ surgery when he started throwing in games this spring, he
made a remarkable comeback. He was part of an Alvin High team that was
nationally-ranked most of the spring and was still alive in the Texas state
playoffs late in May. Eovaldi was healthy all spring and compiled a 10-1 record
while showing excellent velocity on his fastball.—DR |
| |
| MILWAUKEE |
| Rank |
Player |
Pos. |
Class |
B-T |
HT |
WT |
College |
Hometown |
Prev. Drafted |
B’date |
| 338 |
Mikey Marseco |
SS |
Jr. |
B-R |
5-9 |
140 |
Samford |
Miami |
Never drafted |
1/7/1987 |
| SCOUTING REPORT (3/1): Pound for pound, Marseco
might be the best college player in the country. He’s painfully small by pro
standards with pencil-thin legs and arms, but ranks with the elite shortstops
in the nation defensively. In fact, he may not have an equal. He has
lightning-quick hands, handles in-between hops with ease, has above-average arm
strength and can make every play in the field almost as a matter of routine. He
just needs to work on positioning his feet. He may need to get stronger, as
well, to play shortstop at the pro level on an everyday basis but has started
every game of his college career at shortstop to date. Though he has limited
physical upside in his frail 140-pound frame, he has surprising pop for his
size and hits in the 3-hole for Samford. He led his team with a .350 average
and drilled three homers as a sophomore.—ALLAN SIMPSON |
| UPDATE (5/15): The switch-hitting Marseco
continued to showcase his superior defensive skills this season, all the while
raising his average to a team-best .404 (through mid-May) with five homers and
46 RBIs. He is more of a threat offensively than he appears as his actions in
the field have a way of translating to the plate, and he finds a way to get the
barrel on the bat consistently. But with wood, his bat likely won’t be an asset
at the pro level. His speed also is just average by pro standards.—AS |
| |
| TORONTO |
| Rank |
Player |
Pos. |
Class |
B-T |
HT |
WT |
High School |
Hometown |
Commitment |
B’date |
| 339 |
Dustin Antolin |
RHP/OF |
Sr. |
R-R |
6-2 |
190 |
Mililani |
Honolulu, Hawaii |
Central Arizona JC |
8/9/1989 |
| SCOUTING REPORT: With a four-pitch mix, including
a fastball in the 88-92 mph range that touched 93 this spring, Antolin ranks as
the top prospect in the Hawaii prep ranks. But he’s not at the level of Brandon
League (2001), Justin Wayne (1997) or Jerome Williams (1999), all former
high-round picks from the past who reached the big leagues and continue to be
the standard by which Hawaii prep pitchers are measured. Antolin has a quick,
fluid, easy arm action but lacks consistency with all his pitches. His nasty,
late-sinking splitter is a potentially dominant pitch, but he struggles to
command it. He would normally be the kind of home-grown prospect that the
University of Hawaii would target, but Antolin is a non-qualifier and will
attend junior college on the mainland if he goes unsigned.—ALLAN SIMPSON |
| |
| ATLANTA |
| Rank |
Player |
Pos. |
Class |
B-T |
HT |
WT |
College |
Hometown |
Prev. Drafted |
B’date |
| 340 |
Richard Sullivan |
LHP |
Jr. |
L-L |
6-3 |
235 |
Savannah Art/Design |
Louisville, Ky. |
Never drafted |
4/14/1987 |
| SCOUTING REPORT: Sullivan comes from the same
small NAIA school that produced righthander Ryan Pope, the Yankees third-round
pick in 2007. He should be the second high pick from Savannah School of Art
& Design in two years after the school’s baseball program produced no
professional players in 17 years. He’s a big-bodied southpaw who has gone from
throwing 85 mph as a high school senior to topping out at 92-93 mph this
spring. Sullivan has a funky cross-body release that provides plenty of
deception to hitters and a big-breaking curveball that will freeze lefthanded
hitters, along with a developing changeup. Sullivan didn’t post gaudy numbers
quite like Pope did last year (14 complete games in 14 starts, among them) but
still went 7-4, 2.36 with 122 strikeouts in 107 innings.—DAVID RAWNSLEY |
| |
| CHICAGO-NL |
| Rank |
Player |
Pos. |
Class |
B-T |
HT |
WT |
Junior College |
Hometown |
Prev. Drafted |
B’date |
| 341 |
Toby Matchulat |
RHP |
Fr. |
R-R |
6-5 |
190 |
Wabash Valley |
Redford, Mich. |
Tigers ’07 (37) |
2/7/1989 |
| SCOUTING REPORT: White his teammate Aaron Barrett
(No. 6 above) is much further ahead in his development, scouts believe the
6-foot-5 Matchulat may have the higher upside. He struggled with his mechanics
and command as a freshman, but flashed three impressive pitches, including an
89-93 mph and an outstanding tight curve with sharp bite and a strong finish.
He got just limited exposure, working both as a starter and closer, and went
4-1, 3.00. In 30 innings, he walked 27 but allowed just 18 hits while striking
out 33. He lacks control of his tall, gangly frame, and it will take time
before it all comes together for him.—ALLAN SIMPSON |
| |
| SEATTLE |
| Rank |
Player |
Pos. |
Class |
B-T |
HT |
WT |
High School |
Hometown |
Commitment |
B’date |
| 342 |
Matt Jensen |
2B/RHP |
Sr. |
R-R |
5-11 |
180 |
Clovis East |
Clovis, Calif. |
Cal Poly |
2/20/1990 |
| SCOUTING REPORT: Jensen showed legitimate
potential this spring as both a second baseman and righthanded pitcher, hitting
.458-8-21 with eight stolen bases while going 5-3, 2.29 on the mound with 30
walks and 55 strikeouts in 52 innings. Scouts were split on his future worth,
but a slight majority seemed to favor him more as an everyday player. He has a
strong, compact body with average power at the plate, and solid hands with
above-average arm strength in the field. He also has been clocked at 89-91 mph
off the mound with good snap to his curveball. He battled some arm soreness
this spring, missing a month with a shoulder strain. Jensen showed mark
improvement in all areas of his game this year after batting just .239 with 10
RBIs while going 2-4, 2.69 on the mound in 2007.—ALLAN SIMPSON |
| |
| DETROIT |
| Rank |
Player |
Pos. |
Class |
B-T |
HT |
WT |
College |
Hometown |
Prev. Drafted |
B’date |
| 343 |
Brandon Douglas |
SS |
Jr. |
R-R |
6-0 |
185 |
Northern Iowa |
St. Charles, Iowa |
Reds ’07 (32) |
8/27/1985 |
| SCOUTING REPORT (3/1): Douglas and his twin
brother Brett are red-shirt juniors who teamed up as UNI’s double-play
combination in 2008. Brandon returns as a two-time all-Missouri Valley
Conference shortstop, while Brett, who sat out the 2007 season, has stepped in
at second. Brandon was on the board as a potential top 10 pick in 2007 after
hitting .339-3-29, but teams were concerned about his sophomore-eligible status
and the 27 errors he made at shortstop. He’s a very good all-around athlete who
was a 2,000-plus yards rusher in football as a high school senior. Douglas’
best tool is his bat. He has a crisp line-drive swing with some gap-to-gap
power, projects to get stronger in the future and has good plate discipline. He
has average running speed and arm strength, but has struggled making the
routine play in the past and might be better suited for second base in the
future. He is the son of a college coach, so his fundamentals and approach to
the game are very sound.—ALLAN SIMPSON |
| UPDATE (5/15): Douglas enjoyed a bounce-back
season this spring and was one of the top players in the Missouri Valley
Conference, hitting .396-10-60 with 25 doubles, while making only 13 errors at
shortstop—less than half his 2007 total. Less worry about the draft and perhaps
having his twin brother Brett by his side contributed to Douglas’ success.—DAVID
RAWNSLEY |
| |
| NEW YORK-NL |
| Rank |
Player |
Pos. |
Class |
B-T |
HT |
WT |
College |
Hometown |
Prev. Drafted |
B’date |
| 344 |
Jeff Kaplan |
RHP |
5/Sr. |
R-R |
6-0 |
195 |
Cal State Fullerton |
Dana Point, Calif. |
Never drafted |
7/9/1985 |
| SCOUTING REPORT: Kaplan and junior righthander
Wes Roemer each won 11 games in 2007 for the Titans. While Roemer was a
supplemental first-rounder in last year’s draft, the 6-foot, 195-pound Kaplan
was passed over altogether. Not unexpectedly, Kaplan went 10-1 in a return
engagement this spring but he didn’t dominate with a 4.13 ERA. His 89-91 mph
fastball is a little short by pro standards, but he gets good late life on the
pitch, has command of three pitches and is an excellent competitor. His slider
is an above-average pitch. A solid senior-sign draft this year, he profiles in
a setup role at the pro level.—ALLAN SIMPSON |
| |
| SAN DIEGO |
| Rank |
Player |
Pos. |
Class |
B-T |
HT |
WT |
Junior College |
Hometown |
Prev. Drafted |
B’date |
| 345 |
Jamie Bagley |
RHP |
So. |
R-R |
6-3 |
235 |
San Jacinto |
Huffman, Texas |
Cubs ’06 (25) |
7/16/1987 |
| SCOUTING REPORT: Bagley has a better, more
durable pitcher’s frame and better velocity than Chris Corrigan, the
acknowledged ace of the vaunted San Jac pitching staff, but he projects as a
later-round pick because he lacks polish and has trouble repeating his
delivery. On the season, the Lamar recruit went 5-1, 4.94 with 19 walks and 39
strikeouts in 55 innings. His fastball is the best of his three pitches and he
spotted it up better in 2008, but his command overall is still below average.—ALLAN
SIMPSON |
| |
| PHILADELPHIA |
| Rank |
Player |
Pos. |
Class |
B-T |
HT |
WT |
College |
Hometown |
Prev. Drafted |
B’date |
| 346 |
Mike Stutes |
RHP |
Sr. |
R-R |
6-1 |
185 |
Oregon State |
Lake Oswego, Ore. |
Cardinals ’07 (8) |
8/4/1986 |
| SCOUTING REPORT (3/1): The No. 3 starter on OSU’s
2006 national championship team, Stutes ascended to the No. 1 role for much of
2007 as the Beavers repeated as improbable College World Series champions. He
topped the Beavers with 12 wins and 129 strikeouts, but was bumped from the
front of the rotation during the stretch run by freshman sensation Jorge Reyes,
who earned CWS outstanding player honors. Though Stutes was selected in the
eighth round of the 2007 draft, he unexpectedly turned down an offer from the
Cardinals and returned for his senior year. His chances of improving his draft
position are considered slim as he is a short, unimposing righthander, though
he has a quick arm, a good three-pitch mix that includes a 91-92 mph fastball
with sink and run, and is a good competitor with a proven track record. The
biggest knock on Stutes has been the inconsistency of his curveball, though it
has good downward bite when he stays on top of it. He walked 60 in 133 innings
last spring and has a history of walking nearly a batter every two innings.—ALLAN
SIMPSON |
| UPDATE (5/15): Stutes’ gamble to return for his
senior year, hoping to improve his draft position, did not pay off. He went
just 4-7, 5.32 with 42 walks and 81 strikeouts in 88 innings. He rarely
dominated a game, like he had in OSU’s run to consecutive national titles, and
suffered from inconsistent command. A fastball/curveball pitcher a year ago, he
added a slider and changeup to his repertoire this year, and he tended to work
more off his breaking ball than his fastball, which was his dominant pitch a
year ago. His fastball was customarily in the 89-92 mph range. Scouts see
little upside in Stutes, believing what they saw this year is what he’ll be
down the road.—AS |
| |
| COLORADO |
| Rank |
Player |
Pos. |
Class |
B-T |
HT |
WT |
College |
Hometown |
Prev. Drafted |
B’date |
| 347 |
Kyle Walker |
LHP |
Jr. |
L-L |
6-1 |
190 |
Texas |
The Woodlands, Texas |
Never drafted |
6/9/1987 |
| SCOUTING REPORT (3/1): Walker had the best raw
stuff of any pitcher in the Texas Collegiate League last summer by a
considerable margin, but he was again derailed by serious command issues. In
2007 at Texas, he went 1-0, 10.80 with 19 walks in 13 innings; in the summer at
Coppell, he was 2-2, 6.08 with 26 walks in 40 innings. On the rare times he
throws strikes and control is not an issue, Walker is virtually unhittable. His
fastball is normally in the 88-91 mph range, and touches 92-93 with slight
arm-side tail. His hammer curve, his best pitch, runs from 79-84 mph and has
tight rotation with late, sharp, strike-zone bite. His 82-83 mph changeup can
also be an above-average offering. But he has trouble throwing strikes
consistently, routinely pitches from behind and can often lose it all quickly
and a steady stream of walks follow. Though Walker has a great arm, he tends to
exert more effort in his stiff, upright delivery than is necessary. His
mechanical flaws will be tough to correct. He was scheduled to be used as the
Longhorns primary mid-week starter this spring, and in middle relief and at the
end of games on weekends. If it all comes together for Walker this spring, he
could zoom up draft boards. But he’s the kind of pitcher who could just as
easily be drafted in the 15th round as the second.—ALLAN SIMPSON |
| UPDATE (5/15): It was status quo for Walker this
spring as his inability to throw strikes (14 walks in 16 innings through the
regular season) prevented him from using his plus stuff, even on a Texas
pitching staff that struggled mightily for depth this spring. On occasions he
was seen, his velocity was in the mid- to high-80s. Still, scouts are enamored
with Walker’s raw stuff and he still could be a top 10-round pick for the right
club that thinks it can fix him.—DAVID RAWNSLEY |
| |
| ARIZONA |
| Rank |
Player |
Pos. |
Class |
B-T |
HT |
WT |
College |
Hometown |
Prev. Drafted |
B’date |
| 348 |
Kyle Greene |
1B/3B |
Sr. |
L-R |
6-2 |
210 |
Lewis-Clark State |
Lewiston, Idaho |
Never drafted |
5/26/1986 |
| SCOUTING REPORT: Greene, a local high school
product, didn’t post quite the numbers of his predecessor at third base, Brad
Mills, who hit .458-38-126 in his record-breaking 2007 season. But Greene was
the Warriors leader by a substantial margin in every significant offensive
category as Lewis-Clark tried to nail down yet another NAIA World Series crown.
He was hitting .442 with 30 doubles, 18 homers and 89 RBIs. A year ago, he hit
just .324-7-51. Greene became a stronger, more physical presence this season
and he showed significantly more pop in his lefthanded bat. He also made the
transition at mid-season from first base to third, further enhancing his value
for this year’s draft as he handled the position at least as well as Mills did.—ALLAN
SIMPSON |
| |
| LOS ANGELES-AL |
| Rank |
Player |
Pos. |
Class |
B-T |
HT |
WT |
High School |
Hometown |
College Commit |
B’date |
| 349 |
Rolando Gomez |
SS |
Sr. |
L-R |
5-9 |
160 |
Flanagan |
Pembroke Pines, Fla. |
Miami |
6/18/1989 |
| SCOUTING REPORT (3/1): Gomez is one of the top
pure “baseball” players in the country. He’s listed at 5-foot-9 and 160 pounds,
but was measured in front of the national scouting community at the East Coast
Pro Showcase last summer at 5-7, 145. Despite his diminutive size, Gomez should
still be a high pick in June; he’s that good a player. At the high school
level, Gomez plays third base for 2006 Florida 6-A state champion Flanagan
High, where he hit .520-11-44 as a sophomore and .455-9-29 as a junior. Anyone
who has watched the lefthanded-hitting Gomez with the bat knows that he has
legit power that translates to wood; the talk last fall out of Miami was that
Gomez put on a power show. Gomez was the MVP of the 2006 World Wood Bat
Association 17-and-under national championship as a 16-year-old for
All-American Prospects and has consistently performed at a high level with wood
during the summer. Defensively, Gomez can play any infield position, including
shortstop, and has tools and flair to his game. Scouts will be tempted to move
him to second base in their minds but he should get an extended shot at
shortstop first.—DAVID RAWNSLEY |
| UPDATE (5/15): Although Flanagan High was not in
the national and state title picture this spring, Gomez had another strong
year, hitting .455-8-23. There really are no questions about either Gomez’
hitting ability or his defensive skills in the middle infield; it’s all about
his size, which is the first thing that scouts always mention. There are teams
that really like Gomez, though, and he could go surprisingly high in this
year’s draft.—DR |
| |
| NEW YORK-AL |
| Rank |
Player |
Pos. |
Class |
B-T |
HT |
WT |
College |
Hometown |
Prev. Drafted |
B’date |
| 350. |
Ray Kruml |
OF |
Sr. |
L-R |
6-0 |
175 |
South Alabama |
Lisle, Ill. |
D’backs ’05 (36) |
8-5-85 |
| SCOUTING REPORT: A 2006 junior college
All-American who hit .461 with 35 stolen bases at Indian Hills (Iowa) JC, Kruml
struggled adapting to Division I pitching last year and hit only .276-3-15 with
18 stolen bases. He developed a much better comfort level at the plate this
season, hitting a team-best .350 while stealing 36 bases. He did a much better
job of bunting and incorporating small ball into his offensive approach to take
advantage of his speed (6.5 seconds in the 60). With a more compact swing, he
cut down on his high number of strikeouts, though still fanned 32 times in 226
at-bats. Kruml has the physical look of ex-big league center fielder Steve
Finley and excels defensively. He should be a quality senior sign.—ALLAN
SIMPSON |
| |
| CLEVELAND |
| Rank |
Player |
Pos. |
Class |
B-T |
HT |
WT |
College |
Hometown |
Prev. Drafted |
B’date |
| 351. |
Matt Langwell |
RHP |
Jr. |
R-R |
6-2 |
225 |
Rice |
College Station, Texas |
Never drafted |
5-6-86 |
| SCOUTING REPORT (3/1): Rice had eight pitchers
drafted last June (part of a record-tying 14 overall by one college team), but
Langwell was not one of them. He was passed over as a sophomore-eligible
righthander, despite going 8-2 and leading the Owls with a 2.35 ERA. In 84
innings as a part-time starter and part-time set-up man, he allowed only 63
hits (.206 opponent average) while striking out 57 hits. Langwell is very
steady, has above-average stuff and commands the strike zone well with a
fastball in the 88-93 mph range that has hard sinking action—resulting in most
of his outs coming on ground balls, not strikeouts. His slider is considered
his out pitch, but his changeup is also an effective weapon. He is an excellent
competitor. Langwell began his college career at Sam Houston State, going 1-3,
6.40 as a freshman in 2005, before sitting out 2006 while undergoing Tommy John
surgery. He then transferred to Rice, where he has blossomed.—ALLAN SIMPSON |
| UPDATE (5/15): While Langwell’s raw velocity was
consistent with what he’s shown in the past, his command of his pitches and the
sharpness of his slider were not as good as they were in 2007. He put together
a 5-0, 4.21 season. Langwell turned 22 in early May, so this is the time to go
out for the fourth-year junior.—DAVID RAWNSLEY |
| |
| BOSTON |
| Rank |
Player |
Pos. |
Class |
B-T |
HT |
WT |
High School |
Hometown |
Commitment |
B’date |
| 352. |
Bryan Peterson |
OF |
Sr. |
L-R |
6-3 |
195 |
West Valley |
Spokane, Wash. |
Washington State |
3-21-90 |
| SCOUTING REPORT (3/1): The highly-athletic
Peterson is better known for his exploits as a quarterback on the football
field, where he was second-team all-state in Washington last fall and broke
most of the Spokane-area passing records held by former NFL quarterback Mark
Rypien. Peterson has a sweet swing and power potential in his lefthanded bat.
He has signed with Washington State to play strictly baseball. Spokane will be
a frequent destination for scouts this spring as Ferris High’s Beau Brett and
Andrew Kittredge are also ranked among the top 500 prospects for the draft.—DAVID
RAWNSLEY |
| UPDATE (5/15): Peterson showed a somewhat crude,
football-intensive approach to the game this spring, but there was no mistaking
his lefthanded power potential. His speed, arm strength and athleticism that
played to his advantage on the football field were obvious strengths on the
baseballdiamond, as well. He has expressed an eagerness to play baseball, above
all else, and has stated he would prefer to begin his pro career immediately.—ALLAN
SIMPSON |
| |