| TAMPA BAY |
| Rank |
Player |
Pos. |
Class |
B-T |
HT |
WT |
College |
Hometown |
Prev. Drafted |
B’date |
| 413 |
Mike McKenna |
OF |
Sr. |
R-R |
6-0 |
195 |
Florida Atlantic |
Delray Beach, Fla. |
Never drafted |
2/13/1986 |
| SCOUTING REPORT: McKenna has quietly been one of
the most productive hitters in college baseball the past two years, hitting
.413-16-60 as a junior and .401-16-70 this season through mid-May. He’s a good
athlete who is a solid-average runner and has a playable pro-level arm in the
outfield. As a 6-foot, righthanded-hitting corner outfielder, McKenna will have
to prove he can hit at every level in pro ball, but he’s done that so far and
should be a solid senior draft.—DAVID RAWNSLEY |
| |
| PITTSBURGH |
| Rank |
Player |
Pos. |
Class |
B-T |
HT |
WT |
College |
Hometown |
Prev. Drafted |
B’date |
| 414 |
Mike Colla |
RHP |
Jr. |
R-R |
6-2 |
230 |
Arizona |
Fresno, Calif. |
Astros ’05 (38) |
12/23/1986 |
| SCOUTING REPORT (3/1): Colla has a big, strong
pro build and power stuff to match, but struggled to make inroads as a starting
pitcher in his first two seasons at Arizona, in large measure because of his
inability to master a softer pitch to give hitters a different look. Everything
he threw was hard, but the 6-foot-2, 230-pound righthander developed a changeup
last summer in the Cape Cod League to go with his 90-94 mph fastball and 79-82
mph slider. The result was an impressive 3-1, 1.67 season for Brewster with 13
walks and 40 strikeouts in 45 innings. He also showed good command and a feel
for pitching. For all his progress, Colla may still have a hard time finding
sufficient innings this spring on a deep Arizona pitching staff that returns
righthanders Preston Guilmet and Ryan Perry, and lefthanders Eric Berger and
Daniel Schlereth—all of whom are targeted to be drafted in the top three or
four rounds in 2008. Colla, however, has the raw ability to surge past all of
them, with the possible exception of Perry.—ALLAN SIMPSON |
| UPDATE (5/15): Any hopes of Colla surging into
the top five rounds, or even the first 10 rounds, of this year’s draft have
been dashed as the big righthander was just mediocre this season while being
used mainly as a midweek starter. He went just 4-2, 4.35 with 44 strikeouts in
50 innings. Colla generated a fastball that was consistently 90-92 mph, peaking
at 93, but he used a lot of effort in his delivery to reach that velocity. His
breaking stuff was also just average.–AS |
| |
| KANSAS CITY |
| Rank |
Player |
Pos. |
Class |
B-T |
HT |
WT |
High School |
Hometown |
Commitment |
B’date |
| 415 |
Chase Hentges |
RHP |
Sr. |
R-R |
6-5 |
200 |
Shakopee |
Shakopee, Minn. |
Iowa Western CC |
5/15/1990 |
| SCOUTING REPORT (3/1): Hentges was a 6-foot,
145-pound middle infielder/pitcher when he came to a couple of Perfect Game
regional events in 2005. He threw 75 mph and ran the 60 in 8.1 seconds at the
time, but in all fairness was 15 years old. He returned in February to the PG
pitcher/catcher Indoor showcase as a strapping 6-foot-5, 200-pound righthander
who threw 90-92 mph with little effort and a very smooth, easy delivery. Big
change! Hentges’ curveball and changeup are still developing, but he looks like
he could be a mid-90s-type of pitcher when he gets stronger and older. He
managed to escape the notice of most, if not all Division I programs last fall
and signed with Iowa Western CC, although his projectability and present stuff
might preclude him going to college altogether.—DAVID RAWNSLEY |
| UPDATE (5/15): Hentges showed both his ability
and his shortcomings this spring, and gave scouts a good read on his talent. He
has a pro-profile pitcher’s body that is long and projectable, and hasn’t
started getting strong yet. His fastball was frequently 90-93 mph early in his
starts, but he tended to lose velocity fairly quickly and was down to 82-84 mph
by the end of games. Hentges’ curve and changeup remain very much a work in
progress. Hentges went 4-0, 1.60 with 30 hits allowed and 40 K’s in 35 innings.
Those numbers shine a light on scouts’ evaluations of him, as Hentges’ hits
allowed and strikeout ratios aren’t indicative of a pitcher with a consistent
90-plus mph heater or a swing-and-miss breaking ball, even at the Minnesota
high school level. Lots of scouts will dream on Hentges with good reason,
though.—DR |
| |
| BALTIMORE |
| Rank |
Player |
Pos. |
Class |
B-T |
HT |
WT |
High School |
Hometown |
Commitment |
B’date |
| 416 |
Jesse Beal |
RHP |
Sr. |
R-R |
6-7 |
210 |
South County |
Lorton, Va. |
Maryland |
7/12/1990 |
| SCOUTING REPORT: Beal was an intimidating
presence on both the mound and at the plate this spring for South County High.
Though he launched a number of long home runs, his appeal continues to be on
the mound. His velocity has come on significantly since he was clocked in the
mid-80s last summer. He was inconsistent this spring, especially with his
command, but has an easy delivery and a good working knowledge of pitching.
Scouts can easily project on his 6-foot-7 frame.—ALLAN SIMPSON |
| |
| SAN FRANCISCO |
| Rank |
Player |
Pos. |
Class |
B-T |
HT |
WT |
College |
Hometown |
Prev. Drafted |
B’date |
| 417 |
Caleb Curry |
2B/OF |
Sr. |
R-R |
6-0 |
175 |
Iowa |
Alexandria, Minn. |
Never drafted |
4/23/1986 |
| SCOUTING REPORT: With Iowa’s unusually harsh
winter weather keeping scouts away until later in the spring, Curry quietly had
one of the best unrecognized seasons in college baseball this spring, hitting
.396-7-65 and stealing a school-record 45 stolen bases, despite batting third
or fourth most of the season. Curry’s background is just as obscure as he’s
originally from Minnesota and spent two seasons at Minnesota State Community
Technical College before transferring to Iowa. Curry’s best tool is his speed.
He’s a plus runner with 6.6 speed and a quick first step. He played both center
field and second base for Iowa, and is probably best suited for center field at
the next level.—DAVID RAWNSLEY |
| |
| FLORIDA |
| Rank |
Player |
Pos. |
Class |
B-T |
HT |
WT |
College |
Hometown |
Prev. Drafted |
B’date |
| 418 |
Bryan Evans |
RHP |
Jr. |
R-R |
6-3 |
205 |
UC Davis |
Tesoro, Calif. |
Never drafted |
2/25/1987 |
| SCOUTING REPORT: Evans didn’t perform as well as
righthanders Eddie Gamboa or Brad McAtee, the Nos. 1-2 starters in the UC Davis
rotation, but a number of scouts believe he will be the first UCD pitcher
drafted, possibly in the top 10 rounds. With a week remaining in the regular
season, he was just 3-3, 5.06 but had walked only 20 while striking out 62 in
69 innings. His record is a significant improvement from his first two years at
UC Davis, when he went a combined 8-15, 5.27. Evans has a long, loose arm and
gets good movement on a fastball that peaks at 93 mph. He also has an
acceptable slider, but has limited feel for a changeup.—ALLAN SIMPSON |
| |
| CINCINNATI |
| Rank |
Player |
Pos. |
Class |
B-T |
HT |
WT |
College |
Hometown |
Prev. Drafted |
B’date |
| 419 |
Lance Janke |
RHP |
Sr. |
R-R |
6-2 |
190 |
San Diego Christian |
San Diego |
Never drafted |
10/8/1986 |
| SCOUTING REPORT: Janke, along with lefthander
Clint Preisendorfer, has a chance to be the first player ever drafted out of
San Diego Christian College, a small NAIA school with an enrolment of 600. The
Hawks went just 19-26 this season and Janke was an acceptable 5-6, 3.20 with 26
walks and 79 strikeouts in 84 innings. Undrafted a year ago, Janke pitched in
the Great Lakes League during the summer and began to establish himself as a
prospect, although he failed to win a game all season on a 4-35 team. But his
1.35 ERA was the second-best in the league, and in 33 innings, he went 0-2 with
10 walks and 31 strikeouts. Janke projects as a set-up reliever with two solid
pitches, an 89-92 mph fastball with good arm-side sink and a hard 78-81 mph
slider. He also keeps hitters honest with an occasional curve and change. He’s
unafraid to challenge hitters inside and also gets good deception on his
pitches.—ALLAN SIMPSON |
| |
| CHICAGO-AL |
| Rank |
Player |
Pos. |
Class |
B-T |
HT |
WT |
College |
Hometown |
Prev. Drafted |
B’date |
| 420 |
Jordan Merry |
RHP |
Jr. |
R-R |
6-1 |
185 |
Washington |
Pasco, Wash. |
Never drafted |
6/30/1987 |
| SCOUTING REPORT: Merry topped Washington in wins
this season and generally was his team’s most consistent starter. Overall, he
went 8-2, 3.61 with 30 walks and 69 strikeouts in 82 innings. His success
stemmed mainly from his ability to command a fastball that would fluctuate from
88-92 mph and occasionally reach 93. He was able to work the pitch to all
quadrants of the strike zone with remarkable consistency. His slider and change
were also effective pitches, at times, but they lacked the consistency of his
fastball. Merry’s draft appeal will be somewhat limited as he falls in the
category of a generic college righthander with average size, average stuff.—ALLAN
SIMPSON |
| |
| WASHINGTON |
| Rank |
Player |
Pos. |
Class |
B-T |
HT |
WT |
College |
Hometown |
Prev. Drafted |
B’date |
| 421 |
Louis Coleman |
RHP |
Jr. |
R-R |
6-3 |
190 |
Louisiana State |
Schlater, Miss. |
Braves ’05 (28) |
4/4/1986 |
| SCOUTING REPORT: Coleman emerged as LSU’s
Friday-night starter in Southeastern Conference play as a freshman in 2006, but
struggled out of the bullpen as a sophomore (2-3, 5.59, 4 SV) when the LSU
coaching staff lowered his arm angle to sidearm from a standard three-quarters
slot to try to correct delivery flaws and add movement to his pitches. Coleman
insisted on returning to his more comfortable release point this spring, and
did so with very positive results. Coleman used an 88-92 mph fastball and
sharp, hard slider to fashion a 5-0, 1.73 record pitching in middle relief. He
has excellent command of both pitches and had walked only six hitters in 36
innings.—DAVID RAWNSLEY |
| |
| HOUSTON |
| Rank |
Player |
Pos. |
Class |
B-T |
HT |
WT |
College |
Hometown |
Prev. Drafted |
B’date |
| 422 |
Chris Hicks |
RHP |
Jr. |
R-R |
6-4 |
205 |
Georgia Tech |
Alpharetta, Ga. |
Rangers ’05 (35) |
2/17/1987 |
| SCOUTING REPORT (3/1): Hicks has an easy delivery
with a very quick, strong arm. He auditioned for the closer role at Georgia
Tech this season by going 0-1, 1.19 with eight saves and a .185 opponent
average for Wareham in the Cape Cod League last summer. In 23 innings, he
walked just five and struck out 25. He thrived in a late-inning, pressure role
after going 3-0, 7.29 with 64 base runners (44 hits, 20 walks) and only 22
strikeouts in 33 innings as a set-up man in 2007 for the Yellow Jackets. As a
closer, Hicks pumped his fastball consistently at 93-95 mph and stretched it
out to a season-best 96 in a one-inning stint at the Cape all-star game last
summer. He had a tendency, however, to lose velocity when he pitched on
consecutive days. His fastball has tailing action when he keeps it down in the
zone, but otherwise straightens out. He also throws a power curveball at 78-79
mph and a quality changeup at 83-84, but his control of those pitches tends to
wander. His second best pitch is a knuckleball that has hard splitter life.
Hicks normally has a quiet, calm demeanor, but a nasty streak on the mound.
He’s very confident and wants the ball in pressure situations.—ALLAN
SIMPSON |
| UPDATE (5/15): Hicks struggled most of the spring
despite showing quality stuff, including a fastball that frequently reached 95
mph. He tended to pitch up and over the plate, and hitters jumped on him to the
tune of a 0-3, 6.38 record with nine saves and 30 hits in 24 innings. While he
will likely no longer be a top 3-round pick, as had been speculated after the
summer, Hicks’ raw arm strength shouldn’t let him fall too far beyond that.—DR |
| |
| TEXAS |
| Rank |
Player |
Pos. |
Class |
B-T |
HT |
WT |
College |
Hometown |
Prev. Drafted |
B’date |
| 423 |
Justin Gutsie |
RHP |
Jr. |
R-R |
6-0 |
175 |
St. John’s |
Freeland, Pa. |
Never drafted |
1/7/1987 |
| SCOUTING REPORT (3/1): At 93-94 mph, Gutsie can
light up the radar guns with the best arms in college baseball. But his
fastball lacks the movement needed to be a dominant pitch and, as a six-footer
throwing on a flat plane, he can get hurt if he elevates his fastball. His best
pitch may be his slider, an often devastating offering thrown at 80-84 mph.
Gutsie controls both his primary pitches well from a high three-quarters
delivery. Last summer in a breakout season in the New England Collegiate
League, he walked just five in 18 innings while striking out 25 and going 0-1,
2.50 overall with eight saves. He missed the end of the season with an abductor
muscle pull. Gutsie has proven somewhat injury prone in his career as he was
sidelined for six weeks during his sophomore season at St. John’s because of
what was feared to be a stress fracture in his right elbow, though an MRI was
normal and no surgery was needed. He returned in time for the Big East
tournament, but was just 0-1, 3.94 in nine appearances on the season with 14
strikeouts in 16 innings. He pitched well in the early going this spring for
St. John’s while working in a setup role.—ALLAN SIMPSON |
| UPDATE (5/15): Relegated to a set-up role this
season on St. John’s deep and talented pitching staff, Gutsie rarely showed the
big fastball that had scouts projecting him to be the second St. John’s pitcher
drafted this year, not the fifth. His velocity was more in the 88-92 mph range,
his slider was wildly inconsistent, and he suffered from both control and
command issues as he walked too many (19 in 28 innings) and too many of his
strikes found the middle of the plate. He went 4-3, 4.50 with 35 strikeouts.
His lack of front-line stuff, control issues and insignificant role has pushed
him down in the draft, and may prompt him to return as a senior where he could
be the leader of an inexperienced St. John’s staff.—AS |
| |
| OAKLAND |
| Rank |
Player |
Pos. |
Class |
B-T |
HT |
WT |
College |
Hometown |
Prev. Drafted |
B’date |
| 424 |
David Thomas |
OF |
Sr. |
B-R |
6-0 |
185 |
Catawba |
Winston-Salem, N.C. |
Never drafted |
7/29/1986 |
| SCOUTING REPORT: As the leadoff hitter and
catalyst in the league’s best lineup, Thomas was selected the Coastal Plain
League offensive player of the year in 2007. He hit .335-9-35 and led the
league with 49 runs (second-most in league history). His 109 total bases, 17
doubles and .562 slugging average were also among the league leaders. Thomas
then hit .455 and scored eight runs as Thomasville won four of five playoff
games to win the Pettit Cup, the league’s championship trophy. Thomas followed
up his dominant summer-league performance with an equally-dominant senior
season at Catawba, hitting a team-best .435 with 22 homers and 64 RBIs. He also
stole 23 bases. A good athlete with power from both sides of the plate, Thomas
has been clocked in 4.05 seconds down the line and uses that speed to get
excellent jumps in center field.—ALLAN SIMPSON |
| |
| ST. LOUIS |
| Rank |
Player |
Pos. |
Class |
B-T |
HT |
WT |
College |
Hometown |
Prev. Drafted |
B’date |
| 425 |
Charlie Cutler |
OF/C |
Jr. |
R-R |
6-1 |
204 |
California |
San Francisco |
Never drafted |
7/29/1986 |
| SCOUTING REPORT: Cutler was scheduled to return
as the regular catcher this season at California, where he hit .310-2-27 in
2007, but those plans were short-circuited almost immediately when Cutler broke
his pinky diving back into first base and missed 14 games. By the time he
returned, sophomore Dylan Tonneson had claimed the starting catching job.
Cutler was installed in left field to get his bat in the lineup and felt right
at home there after spending a portion of last summer at that position for
Brewster of the Cape Cod League as Pac-10 Conference rival Ryan Babineau (UCLA)
handled a bulk of the catching duties. Babineau had the superior arm of the
two, but Cutler was considered the better receiver. He also is more athletic
and adapted better to being moved to another position. Cutler has a sound
approach to hitting with good bat speed and projectable power, but he has been
mainly just a contact hitter to this point in his development. He had only 13
extra-base hits in 273 at-bats in 2007 between college and summer ball, and had
just eight extra-base hits, including just two homers, in 144 at-bats this
spring. He’s been slow to live up to his considerable expectations as a hitter
in college after he set state career records for hits and RBIs at a San
Francisco high school. As a senior, he hit .614-7-59; as a junior, he batted
.636-6-71. Cutler is an ideal No. 2 hitter at the college level as he has a
good, disciplined approach to hitting and battles at the plate, fighting off
tough pitches. He walked 16 times this season, while striking out on 15
occasions—almost the same ratio he had a year ago.—ALLAN SIMPSON |
| |
| MINNESOTA |
| Rank |
Player |
Pos. |
Class |
B-T |
HT |
WT |
High School |
Hometown |
Commitment |
B’date |
| 426 |
Blayne Weller |
RHP |
Sr. |
R-R |
6-5 |
195 |
Key West |
Key West, Fla. |
|
1/30/1990 |
| SCOUTING REPORT: Despite its remote location at
the tip of the Florida keys, Key West High has a long and storied tradition,
and produced a succession of nationally-ranked teams and early-round draft
picks in the ‘90s and early part of this decade. But Weller is the school’s
first potential draft pick in three years. A long, lanky righthander with
significant upside, Weller came on as a senior with a fastball that was a
consistent 88-91 mph. He also had the makings of a decent breaking ball when he
stayed on top and could snap it, but he has a tendency to get under the pitch.
He has a clean arm action.—ALLAN SIMPSON |
| |
| LOS ANGELES-NL |
| Rank |
Player |
Pos. |
Class |
B-T |
HT |
WT |
College |
Hometown |
Prev. Drafted |
B’date |
| 427 |
Clay Calfee |
1B |
Jr. |
L-R |
6-6 |
220 |
Angelo State |
Conroe, Texas |
Never drafted |
6/2/1986 |
| SCOUTING REPORT (3/1): Calfee’s size, strength,
surprising athleticism and ability to punish a fastball from the left side make
him one of the nation’s best small-college prospects. As a draft-eligible
sophomore from Division II Angelo State, Calfee went undrafted a year ago after
batting .397-9-70 with 18 stolen bases. He also went 5-4, 5.97 as a starting
pitcher. His stock soared last summer in the Alaska League when he finished
among league leaders in hits, homers (4) and RBIs (31), while batting .305 and
drilled a league-best 16 doubles. He has continued his hot hitting this spring
with an average near .500 and a string of doubles. Calfee has holes in his
swing as he is long-armed and gets jammed at times, tying up his swing. But his
true power potential should emerge as he grows into his body. He has a smooth,
fluid, line-drive stroke and the ball jumps off his bat. His power should come
as he adds more arc and lift. He also fields his position smoothly, has an arm
that plays and is a big target around the first-base bag. Calfee missed the
2005 season, taking a medical red-shirt after undergoing labrum surgery on his
left shoulder. He has given up pitching this spring to concentrate all his
efforts on swinging the bat.—ALLAN SIMPSON |
| UPDATE (5/15): Calfee had a very productive
spring, hitting .418-13-63 with 24 doubles and 38 walks. He is a polished
defender around the first base bag who runs well for his size and has plus arm
strength for the position with his pitching past. Scouts are still concerned
about his long swing and the potential holes that it creates, but that isn’t an
unusual concern for a player of his size. Calfee is compared to a
lefthanded-hitting version of Seattle Mariners first baseman Richie Sexson,
pre-2007/2008 vintage.—DAVID RAWNSLEY |
| |
| MILWAUKEE |
| Rank |
Player |
Pos. |
Class |
B-T |
HT |
WT |
College |
Hometown |
Prev. Drafted |
B’date |
| 428 |
Corey Kemp |
C |
Sr. |
R-R |
6-0 |
241 |
East Carolina |
Franklin, Tenn. |
Pirates ’04 (45) |
2/24/1986 |
| SCOUTING REPORT: Kemp was a late-round pick of
the Pirates as a catcher out of a Tennessee high school in 2004, but virtually
fell off scouts’ radar the next three year as he moved from Tennessee Tech to
Young Harris (Ga.) JC to East Carolina. He spent most of his time prior to
joining ECU at third base, but transitioned back to catcher in 2007 while
hitting a modest .267-5-41. It all came together for him this season as he
experienced a significant turnaround, both at the plate and behind it, as he
hit .341-18-72. Not only did he lead the Pirates in homers and RBIs, but he was
selected the Conference USA player of the year for his all-around play. Kemp
led conference catchers in throwing out runners with an accurate arm of average
strength. His receiving and blocking skills were also better this season. With
his improved play, scouts were less inclined to see his large, heavy frame as
an obstacle in his development.—ALLAN SIMPSON |
| |
| TORONTO |
| Rank |
Player |
Pos. |
Class |
B-T |
HT |
WT |
College |
Hometown |
Prev. Drafted |
B’date |
| 429 |
Chris Holguin |
RHP |
Sr. |
R-R |
6-0 |
185 |
Lubbock Christian
|
Lubbock, Texas |
Never drafted |
4/25/1986 |
| SCOUTING REPORT: Lubbock Christian had both an
absurd record (53-4, including 38 straight wins) and a high-powered offense
averaging more than 10 runs per game, but its two best prospects, Holguin and
righthander Gary Poynter, are pitchers. Holquin, not surprisingly, had a
sterling 2008 record, going 11-1, 3.74 and striking out 107 in 89 innings. The
6-foot righthander throws from a low three-quarters release point and his
fastball is regularly 90-94 mph. He throws a slurve-type breaking ball that he
gets under often from his low release point, and a split-finger change.—DAVID
RAWNSLEY |
| |
| ATLANTA |
| Rank |
Player |
Pos. |
Class |
B-T |
HT |
WT |
High School |
Hometown |
Commitment |
B’date |
| 430 |
Jason Hanson |
SS/3B |
Sr. |
R-R |
6-0 |
180 |
Sabino |
Tucson, Ariz. |
Oklahoma State |
11/20/1989 |
| SCOUTING REPORT (3/1): Hanson is an athletic
middle infielder, whose bat makes him stand out at a premium position. He hits
from a spread stance and has very good bat speed and the ability to drive balls
hard to all fields with some power. His ability to hit the ball hard to the
opposite field especially stands out. Hanson is a 6.64 runner in the 60 with
plenty of arm strength for shortstop. He’s still a bit rough defensively but
his athletic tools will enable him to play all over the field, if necessary.—DAVID
RAWNSLEY |
| UPDATE (5/15): Seven years after Sabino High
produced current Brewers shortstop J.J. Hardy with a second-round pick, Hanson
did little to improve his draft stock as a senior as he did not display smooth,
consistent actions in the field and scouts noted that he took a longer time
getting rid of balls on his throws. But Hansen has power in his bat and arm,
and could end up at a number of different positions—even on the mound as a
closer, where his 95 mph fastball would be a dominant pitch.—ALLAN SIMPSON |
| |
| CHICAGO-NL |
| Rank |
Player |
Pos. |
Class |
B-T |
HT |
WT |
Junior College |
Hometown |
Prev. Drafted |
B’date |
| 431 |
Danny McDaniel |
RHP |
So. |
R-R |
6-3 |
215 |
Chabot |
San Ramon, Calif. |
Giants ’07 (28) |
4/18/1988 |
| SCOUTING REPORT: Big and strong with an electric
arm and an aggressive demeanor, McDaniel had just a mediocre 2008 season. He
pumped steady 92-93 mph fastballs but got hit hard as his secondary stuff is
below average and he struggled to command all his pitches. McDaniel, an
Oklahoma State recruit, was primarily a position player in high school and had
little inclination to develop a breaking ball or change, and they remain at an
elementary stage of development.—ALLAN SIMPSON |
| |
| SEATTLE |
| Rank |
Player |
Pos. |
Class |
B-T |
HT |
WT |
College |
Hometown |
Prev. Drafted |
B’date |
| 432 |
Luke Burnett |
RHP |
Jr. |
R-R |
6-8 |
260 |
Louisiana Tech |
Carthage, La. |
Royals ’05 (35) |
12/10/1986 |
| SCOUTING REPORT (3/1): The hulking, intimidating
Burnett went 5-8, 4.93 with 65 walks and 115 strikeouts in 91 innings as a
starting pitcher for Louisiana Tech in 2007, and may have found his true
calling during the summer as a closer in the Cape Cod League. Not only did he
save six games for the pitching-rich Falmouth Commodores but he struck out 41
in 24 innings while walking just seven. More impressive was his overpowering
stuff, which included a heavy fastball with great downhill leverage that sat at
94-96 mph and topped at 98, and a sharp-breaking but unrefined slider. He also
attacked hitters with a nasty 88-mph splitter, which was effective whether it
was thrown in or out of the strike zone. Burnett has made his greatest strides
with his slider, improving it from a sloppy, lazy curve in the spring to a
high-70s offering in the summer to a powerful 85-86 mph pitch last fall. He has
somewhat of a quirky arm action which impacts his command, but it’s not as much
of an issue as a closer as it is as a starter. Burnett is being used as a
Friday starter in his junior season at Louisiana Tech, but his long-term role
may already be determined.—ALLAN SIMPSON |
| UPDATE (5/15): Burnett’s spring, simply put, was
a disaster and he will be one of the draft wild cards. He began the season as
Louisiana Tech’s Friday starter but struggled to get hitters out and was
eventually removed from the rotation with a 0-4, 8.41 record, allowing 84 base
runners in 40 innings. Scouts say that Burnett adopted more of a drop-and-drive
delivery this spring and that negated his height while leaving all his pitches
flat and up in the strike zone. His velocity, an obvious strength last summer,
was only in the upper-80s. A team that had a good feel for Burnett, coming off
the Cape, will be tempted to take a flier on him at some point relatively early
in the draft, but the glut of college relievers in this draft may work against
the big righthander in that regard.—DAVID RAWNSLEY |
| |
| DETROIT |
| Rank |
Player |
Pos. |
Class |
B-T |
HT |
WT |
College |
Hometown |
Prev. Drafted |
B’date |
| 433 |
Tyler Conn |
LHP |
Sr. |
L-L |
5-11 |
180 |
Southern Mississippi |
Ocean Springs, Miss. |
D’backs ’07 (36) |
11/9/1985 |
| SCOUTING REPORT: Conn is one of four Southern
Miss pitchers selected in the 2007 draft who is eligible again this year, and
yet he is the only one of the quartet that has appreciably helped himself this
season. Righthander David Clark, a 13th-rounder a year ago, may have hurt
himself the most when he was hit by a line drive and suffered a broken femur
bone in his thigh. He was lost for the season. Conn dominated in a closer role
for the Golden Eagles, saving a national-best 16 games while going 1-0, 0.84.
He also struck out 41 in 32 innings while walking only 10. A year ago, he saved
just five games. Conn reminds scouts of Atlanta Braves oft-injured lefthander
Mike Hampton in both body and pitching style. He has two average pitches, an
88-92 mph fastball and changeup, and occasionally works in a curve. His
competitive spirit makes him ideally suited to be a closer. He should be one of
the few college seniors drafted in the first 10 rounds that will be picked on
merit.—ALLAN SIMPSON |
| |
| NEW YORK-NL |
| Rank |
Player |
Pos. |
Class |
B-T |
HT |
WT |
College |
Hometown |
Prev. Drafted |
B’date |
| 434 |
Brandon Moore |
RHP |
Sr. |
R-R |
6-4 |
190 |
Indiana Wesleyan |
Crawfordsville, Ind. |
Never drafted |
1/24/1986 |
| SCOUTING REPORT: Indiana Wesleyan is a member of
the NCCAA, the National Christian College Athletic Association, and lost in the
final game of this year’s NCCAA World Series to Ohio’s Mount Vernon Nazarene.
Moore didn’t get a chance to work in the deciding game as he had pitched a
117-pitch, 10-inning complete game earlier in the tournament. But he was an
instrumental factor in Indiana Wesleyan advancing to the final. He went 10-3,
1.51 this spring with 121 K’s and only 25 walks in 92 innings. He originally
came to the school as a skinny freshman topping out at 85 mph, but gradually
added weight and velocity to his pitches. A stint in the talent-laden Texas
Collegiate League last summer gave him the boost of confidence he needed after
going undrafted in 2007 as a junior, and Moore emerged as one of the more
attractive senior-sign pitchers in the Midwest this spring. Moore has a full
complement of pitches he can throw for strikes, including a two- and four-seam
fastball, curveball, slider and changeup. His works around 90 mph with his
fastball and will touch 93 occasionally. His slider, which can reach the
mid-80s, is probably his best pitch.--DAVID RAWNSLEY/ALLAN SIMPSON |
| |
| SAN DIEGO |
| Rank |
Player |
Pos. |
Class |
B-T |
HT |
WT |
College |
Hometown |
Prev. Drafted |
B’date |
| 435 |
Rob Musgrave |
LHP |
Sr. |
L-L |
6-2 |
195 |
Wichita State |
Carbondale, Kan. |
Never drafted |
8/26/1985 |
| SCOUTING REPORT (3/1): Along with Travis Banwart
and Aaron Shafer, Musgrave (10-2, 2.59 with 17 walks and 85 strikeouts in a
team-high 111 innings) was a stalwart on the Wichita State pitching staff in
2007. But while Banwart was a fourth-round pick in last year’s draft and Shafer
projects as a possible first-rounder in 2008, Musgrave was passed over last
June—in part because he is a 4.0 student. At 85-86 mph, his fastball was a
little short most of the spring. But Musgrave bumped his velocity to the high
80s, touching 91 during the summer in the Jayhawk League. It becomes an even
more effective pitch when he combines it with his best pitch, a dynamic
changeup which not only has excellent sinking action but he is able to locate
with precision in any count. Musgrave also mixes in a 12-6 breaking ball, an
inconsistent offering but a solid third pitch on days it is working. His stuff,
combined with an advanced approach to pitching, enabled Musgrave to keep
Jayhawk League hitters off balance all summer. He went 4-0 and led the league
with a 0.54 ERA. In 50 innings, he allowed just 10 walks and 32 hits (opponent
batting average: .180), while striking out 47. He spun 10 scoreless innings for
the Broncos at the NBC World Series, earning all-tournament honors, and ended
the season with a team-record 37-inning streak without allowing an earned run.
If he can continue to duplicate his new-found velocity this spring, Musgrave
could become a lot more than just a good senior sign in the 2008 draft.—ALLAN
SIMPSON |
| UPDATE (5/15): Musgrave was dominant again this
spring, going 10-1, 1.96 with five complete games, including three shutouts. He
also had 92 K’s vs. 18 walks in 96 innings. His fastball and curveball still
grade out as below-average pitches for scouts, but his changeup, his ability to
spot all his pitches and his savvy on the mound all compensate for his law of
raw stuff. He should be a prime target for a performance-oriented organization
to draft him well within the top 10 rounds.—DAVID RAWNSLEY |
| |
| PHILADELPHIA |
| Rank |
Player |
Pos. |
Class |
B-T |
HT |
WT |
College |
Hometown |
Prev. Drafted |
B’date |
| 436 |
Michael Schwimer |
RHP |
Sr. |
R-R |
6-8 |
240 |
Virginia |
Alexandria, Va. |
Never drafted |
2/19/1986 |
| SCOUTING REPORT (3/1): The big, powerful Schwimer
worked in a school-record 36 games as a set-up man in 2006 and has never
started a game in 75 appearances over three-plus years as a Virginia pitcher.
He was used exclusively as a starter last summer in the Cape Cod League,
however, going 2-2, 3.51 with 16 walks and 28 strikeouts in 33 innings in seven
starts for Orleans. He became a starter more to give him a better opportunity
to broaden his repertoire than to audition him for a starter’s job as a senior.
The Cavaliers planned to take full advantage of his intimidating mound presence
and herky-jerky delivery, and intended all along to turn over the closer’s job
to him in 2006. He got off to a strong start in that role, with seven saves in
his first eight appearances this spring. While starting last summer, Schwimer
developed a changeup to get lefthanded hitters out, to go along with a 90-92
mph fastball that has touched 95 and gets plenty of cut and run. He can also
mix in an 84-85 mph slider with good strike-zone bite and an 81-83 mph
splitter.—ALLAN SIMPSON |
| UPDATE (5/15): Schwimer was solid as a closer
this season, going 3-1, 1.84 with 13 saves in 24 appearances—a lighter workload
than when used in a set-up role in 2007. In 29 innings, he walked 10 and struck
out 36 while limiting hitters to a .188 average. His 88-92 mph fastball was
solid, but the difference-maker in his success was his new-found changeup and
his ability to command it at will to any part of the strike zone.—AS |
| |
| COLORADO |
| Rank |
Player |
Pos. |
Class |
B-T |
HT |
WT |
High School |
Hometown |
Commitment |
B’date |
| 437 |
Tyler Massey |
OF/1B |
Sr. |
L-L |
6-1 |
200 |
Baylor School |
Chattanooga, Tenn. |
Virginia |
7/21/1989 |
| SCOUTING REPORT: Massey’s best tool is his raw
power. He can drive balls to all fields with lift in a quick, short stroke, and
did so on a regular basis over the last two years in leading the Baylor School
to the Division II state title in 2007 and a trip to the finals again this
year. Massey is big, strong and athletic, and is a total package as the
remainder of his tools all play well. He’s an average runner with sound
base-running instincts. He’s also capable of reaching 90 mph off the mound and
contributed a 12-1 record to his team’s chase towards a second straight state
title. It’s unclear whether he’ll end up at first base or on an outfield corner
in the future, but he is well-equipped to play either position. Massey’s makeup
draws high praise. He has an old-school approach to the game and plays
exceptionally hard.—ALLAN SIMPSON |
| |
| ARIZONA |
| Rank |
Player |
Pos. |
Class |
B-T |
HT |
WT |
Junior College |
Hometown |
Prev. Drafted |
B’date |
| 438 |
Trevor Harden |
RHP |
So. |
R-R |
6-1 |
215 |
New Mexico |
Corinth, Texas |
Never drafted |
9/1/1987 |
| SCOUTING REPORT (3/1): Harden led New Mexico JC
to within a game of its second Junior College World Series title in three years
IN 2007, topping the 55-8 Thunderbirds in wins and strikeouts while going 13-1,
3.28 and fanning 102 in 104 innings. One of three starters with at least a
dozen wins last season, Harden assumed the role of unquestioned staff ace this
season. Through his first six starts, he had already lost more games than he
had all last year. Harden has been challenged to show more consistent command
of a fastball that has routinely reached 94-96 mph but was prone to dipping
into the high 80s as a freshman. He typically gets plenty of movement on the
pitch as he throws it from a low, three-quarters angle. His occasional loss of
velocity often causes him to resort to a 74-77 mph slider that lacks velocity
and tilt and a solid changeup with good sinking action as his primary pitches
on occasion. His stuff is probably better suited for a relief role at the pro
level. Though he wasn’t drafted in June, Harden should be a prime draft target
in 2008 and will have a scholarship offer from Miami to use as leverage.—ALLAN
SIMPSON |
| UPDATE (5/15): Harden didn’t build on his
freshman success, posting just a 5-2, 5.47 record with 58 strikeouts in 51
innings. He also gave up 60 hits. Harden missed six weeks of the 2008 season
with a pulled hamstring, injuring it in Arizona on March 15 with a large
delegation of scouts on hand to see him pitch. Though his record didn’t
indicate it, Harden continued to impress scouts with a solid three-pitch mix
that included a fastball in the 90-93 mph range and climbed to 95 on occasion.
He showed a feel for a true slider with hard, late tilt, but his best pitch was
his 77-78 mph sinking changeup. Had Harden been healthy all season and pitched
closer to his 2007 form, he might have inched close to the second or third
round, but he should still be the top draft in the state.—AS |
| |
| LOS ANGELES-AL |
| Rank |
Player |
Pos. |
Class |
B-T |
HT |
WT |
College |
Hometown |
Prev. Drafted |
B’date |
| 439 |
Reyes Dorado |
RHP |
Jr. |
R-R |
6-1 |
200 |
Arizona State |
Fontana, Calif. |
Pirates ’07 (46) |
1/10/1986 |
| SCOUTING REPORT: A transfer from California’s
Riverside CC where he helped that school to the 2007 state junior college
title, Dorado came to Arizona State with the reputation of being a power
pitcher with a quick, compact arm action. He was used almost strictly in relief
this season by the Sun Devils and excelled in that role—particularly early in
the season when the velocity on his fastball topped at 94 and his slider at 80.
His stuff came and went over the latter part of the season, but he generally
showed the ability to pound the strike zone with his two power pitches. In 32
innings spread over 20 appearances, he went 3-1, 5.62 with 48 strikeouts. A
fourth-year junior, Dorado red-shirted his freshman season at Cal State
Northridge after undergoing shoulder surgery, then spent his next two seasons
at Riverside CC.—ALLAN SIMPSON |
| |
| NEW YORK-AL |
| Rank |
Player |
Pos. |
Class |
B-T |
HT |
WT |
College |
Hometown |
Prev. Drafted |
B’date |
| 440 |
David Phelps |
RHP |
Jr. |
R-R |
6-3 |
185 |
Notre Dame |
Hazelwood, Mo. |
Never drafted |
10/9/1986 |
| SCOUTING REPORT (3/1): Phelps topped Notre Dame
in wins (8), ERA (1.88) and strikeouts (102 strikeouts in 110 innings) in 2007
and was easily the best pitcher on an Irish staff that could have as many as
five pitchers drafted in 2008. He sought to continue his success in the Cape
Cod League during the summer, but was shut down with a tired arm after two
ineffective starts for Falmouth. Phelps’ arm works well from a high
three-quarters slot, is quick through his release and the ball comes out clean.
He works at a fast tempo and goes right after hitters. He has command of three
pitches: an 88-92 mph fastball, a 77-78 mph breaking ball that acts like a
slurve and an effective changeup that he can throw in any count.—ALLAN
SIMPSON |
| UPDATE (5/15): Phelps was merely average this
spring, as opposed to his dominant sophomore season. He went 5-5, 4.65 and
allowed 102 hits in 93 innings, while striking out 75. His raw stuff was
consistent with the past as his fastball topped out at 92-93 mph and he pitched
at average velocity. His breaking ball took more of a slider-type break, but
was often flat in the strike zone and wasn’t the strikeout pitch it had been
previously. However, Phelps’ changeup did show progress. The issue with Phelps
is one of consistency with his mechanics and approach. Scouts say that he is a
tightly-wound personality who gets too excited on the mound for a starter,
which leads to an inconsistent delivery and overthrowing. In fact, one scout
said that Phelps was flying open the day he saw him, while another thought that
he had closed off his delivery too much.—DAVID RAWNSLEY |
| |
| CLEVELAND |
| Rank |
Player |
Pos. |
Class |
B-T |
HT |
WT |
Junior College |
Hometown |
Prev. Drafted |
B’date |
| 441 |
Carlos Moncrief |
RHP/OF |
Fr. |
L-R |
6-1 |
210 |
Chipola |
Jackson, Miss. |
Phillies ’07 (20) |
11/3/1988 |
| SCOUTING REPORT (3/1): Moncrief established a
reputation as a power hitter in the winter of 2006-07 by winning the state
title in the inaugural National High School Home Run Derby—launching 25 homers
in the competition, including a blast that measured roughly 500 feet. Scouts
always knew that Moncrief had legit two-way ability, but pursued him initially
as an everyday prospect, expecting his power to become an impact tool. It never
materialized last spring as a Mississippi high school senior, however,
primarily because he was pitched around extensively. He pitched sparingly at
first, mostly in a relief role, but soon began pitching with more regularity as
his velocity improved. When his fastball began topping out at 94-95 mph,
interest from scouts suddenly skyrocketed. Soon Moncrief’s name began flying up
draft boards but it cooled just as quickly as he indicated he would forgo all
overtures from big league clubs in favor of attending Chipola JC, the 2007
Junior College World Series champions, as a freshman. He wasn’t selected until
the 20th round of the 2007 draft, cementing his decision. While his velocity
was a steady 92-95 mph last fall, it peaked at 96 and may still go higher.
Moncrief is far from a finished pitching product, however, as he lacks
experience, isn’t in peak pitching shape yet and has little sense of the finer
points of pitching. But he repeats his delivery well and is mechanically sound.
He also has a good feel for a changeup, but must decide whether to continue
with a curve with good downward movement or focus on a slider that behaves like
a curve. With continued development on the mound, Carlos could outdo his father
Homer, who was a ninth-round selection of the Detroit Tigers in the 1980 draft
and played professionally in that organization. Teams will also continue to
pursue him closely as an outfielder as he makes hard contact, runs well for his
size and has obvious arm strength.--ALLAN SIMPSON |
| UPDATE (5/15): While he hit cleanup, played right
field and served as Chipola’s closer this spring, Moncrief’s season was
compromised by a sprained ankle (his push-off foot on the mound) that he
suffered at midseason, sliding into second base. The injury compromised his
velocity and his ability to drive balls at the plate. Still, he was 2-1, 1.59
with three saves and was hitting .319-5-32 as Chipola opened state tournament
play and successfully defended its 2007 title. While he needs more innings to
develop pitchability, his slider became his dominant strikeout pitch. He also
worked in a changeup—an impressive accomplishment for someone who has never
pitched much before. Extremely strong, athletic and powerful, Moncrief may have
more raw arm speed and power in his fastball than anyone who has ever played at
Chipola—2002 first-rounder Adam Loewen included. Moncrief doesn’t always play
with a sense of urgency and had always wanted to be a position player, but has
come to the realization that pitching is his meal ticket. It’s entirely
possible he could blow past most of the Florida junior college players listed
above him and surge in to the top 2-4 rounds, but is viewed more conservatively
as a fifth-sixth rounder.—AS |
| |
| BOSTON |
| Rank |
Player |
Pos. |
Class |
B-T |
HT |
WT |
High School |
Hometown |
Commitment |
B’date |
| 442. |
Tyler Yockey |
OF/LHP |
Sr. |
L-L |
6-2 |
205 |
Acadiana |
Duson, La. |
Chipola JC |
10-16-89 |
| SCOUTING REPORT (3/1): Ask a half-dozen scouts
who they think is the best 2008 high school prospect in Louisiana and you’ll
likely get that many different answers. Most will certainly consider the
6-foot-2, 205-pound Yockey near the top of the short list. He’s a powerful
lefthanded hitter who was more highly regarded as a pitcher a year ago before
his power blossomed more quickly than his fastball, after he added 20-plus
pounds to his broad-shouldered frame. Yockey has right-field skills with a
strong arm and 7.0-second speed in the 60, but his power will be his ticket. He
can hit the ball a long way with his extended, powerful swing. He got the
attention of scouts at the East Coast Pro Showcase in Lakeland, Fla., last
August with a long grand slam home run and played well at the World Wood Bat
Association fall championship in Jupiter, Fla., in October as well.—DAVID
RAWNSLEY |
| UPDATE (5/15): Yockey did little this spring to
change his perception among scouts, as some see a big and powerful lefthanded
home run hitter with solid athletic ability; others see a long, grooved swing
that will cause him to struggle to hit at the upper levels. Enough scouts
belong to the first group to believe that Yockey will be one of the first two
or three high school picks out of Louisiana. Yockey hit .365-10-35 this
spring.—DR |