The Dust Has Settled
It's over. After two months of watching, evaluating and
negotiating, the 2009 draft is officially in the books. The Tigers
took it to the wire, but they were able to sign a key trio of players
in Jacob Turner, Andy Oliver and Daniel Fields, as well as 30th-round
pick James Robbins (per the Detroit News) before the clock struck
midnight.
Although the cost was steep (nearly $8 million upfront) for the
services for the aforementioned trio, it gives the Tigers a
much-needed infusion of potential impact players. Turner gives the
Tigers another young arm that could give them a frighteningly powerful
rotation in time, and while Oliver has an outstanding fastball and
solid changeup, he needs to regain the feel for his curveball for him
to take the next step as a prospect. Fields gives the Tigers a
position prospect with a significant ceiling who could wind up at
third base or possibly centerfield in time, but there is no
questioning his tools.
He certainly won't get the ink that the others above got, but
landing Robbins is a terrific get for the Tigers. A top two-way
prospect who had significant draft interest as a left-handed pitcher,
Robbins opened the Babe Ruth World Series by firing a five-hitter, but
the Tigers liked him more as a hitter.
He has plenty of pop in his bat, and he enjoyed a solid summer
(.373 BA, 7 HR, 29 RBI) that piqued the interest of the Tigers enough
to fly him across the country to work out in Lakeland a few weeks ago.
Robbins was drafted as a first baseman, but with Miguel Cabrera
entrenched at that spot with the big league team, he could wind up on
an outfield corner spot where his arm strength would be more of a
factor than at first base.
Now that it's all said and done, I like what the Tigers have done.
Again, they went well over slot to secure some very talented players,
and the Tigers have also gotten some nice performances from a few
picks who signed back in June, so the potential is there for this to
be a very good draft. Obviously, it's way too early to place a grade,
but the Tigers added some players with high upsides, and that is
something the organization needed badly.
However, with the good comes the bad. I don't think there is any
question that you can argue that the Tigers were the team that left
the most talent from this year's draft unsigned. Of course that comes
with the high number of high school players drafted, and while there
was no way the Tigers were going to approach the number of signees
they've had in the past, I think you'll see many of the unsigned
players become significant factors in the 2012 draft.
If anyone has any questions, you can send them to me at Jason@TigsTown.com
Posted by: JA, 8/18
Corcino Signs
It's been awhile since I've posted anything here, but news on the
Tigers' picks has been painfully slow in coming in. However, with two
weeks left until the signing deadline, things are finally starting to
pick up, and that includes the signing of 26th-round selection Edgar
Corcino of Puerto Rico.
Corcino was one of four players to work out last week in Lakeland
(James Robbins, Tarran Senay and Danny Canela were the others), and
the Tigers were able to sign the last of their draftees from Puerto
Rico.
Corcino was originally drafted as a third baseman, but reportedly
will make the switch to catching, where he profiles best. He is one of
the youngest picks to sign, as he just turned 17, and he has the
chance to hit for some power in time.
Two Weeks Left
The Tigers have no shortage of players to mull over whom to make a
run at in the last two weeks. The Tigers obviously have definite
interest in the above trio that didn't sign after working out, as well
as their early unsigned players outside of top two picks Jacob Turner
and Andy Oliver, (Daniel Fields, Craig Fritsch, Matt Thomson and Mark
Appel), not to mention pitchers Tobin Mateychick (28), Andrew Walter
(31) and Parker Markel (32).
The Tigers are also getting final looks at a few of their other
players, and they could see two of them next week at the Connie Mack
World Series. Canela will be there with the Florida Legends, while
Jimmy Brennan (45) is slated to play there as well. Incidentally, for
those baseball buffs who enjoy watching movies on the game, you can
see Brennan get a cameo in Nick Nolte's film Off the Black.
Whose On The Outs?
There are several players that have made indications that they are
very likely headed to school. The highest pick that is seemingly
headed in that direction is Victor Roache (25). Roache certainly
doesn't lack tools, but with a firm commitment to Georgia Southern, he
has a good chance of being a premium-round pick in 2012 if everything
comes together for him.
Two players who were injured earlier this summer that have made
progress with their ailments, but aren't likely to sign are Derek
Kline (34) and Ben Crumpton (36). Some other names that are very good
bets to make it to school are Cody Keefer (33), Pat Biondi (35), Chad
Duling (39), Ben Bechtol (40), Larry Balkwill (41), Nick Avila (42),
Andrew Allen (43), Charlie Markson (45), Nate Goro (46), Kevin
Chambers (47), Jake Porcello (48), Cameron Giannini (49) and Nico
Rosthenhausler (50). I also want to point out that while these players
are likely headed to school, in several cases, the door hasn't been
completely closed on them not signing, although it would be a big
surprise if they did sign.
If anyone has any questions, you can send them to me at Jason@TigsTown.com
Posted by: JA, 8/3
Injuries Taking Toll On Picks
After right-hander Derek Kline (34) elected to rest after making
just two starts this summer, another draft pick has seen his summer
season come to a premature close.
Drafted in the 36th round out of Hot Springs (Ar.) Lakeside High
School, Ben Crumpton is out with patellar tendinitis in his knee, but
the Tigers were able to see him before he went down, and although he
has signed with Arkansas, the Tigers could still make a run at the
athletic shortstop.
One draft choice that is getting back into the swing of things
after missing time with groin injury is Dearborn Divine Child's Pat
Biondi. Selected just before Crumpton in the 35th round, the Michigan
recruit has been slowed by a groin injury, but was due to be back
playing this week.
Power Arms
The Tigers have always had a fetish for drafting pitchers with
potentially overpowering stuff, and three of them have been flashing
it this summer.
The Tigers have made Oklahoma one of their favorite haunts in the
draft, and in the 28th round, they tabbed Enid High School's Tobin
Mateychick. A Wichita State signee, Mateychick is very projectable at
6-foot-5 and 185 pounds, and he is very athletic for his size.
He has been topping out at 93-94 this summer, and in his last
start, he allowed just one hit in five innings to go with seven
strikeouts. Pitching for the Enid Majors, Mateychick has made the
adjustment of pitching in a pro-style rotation, and he also threw a
two-hit shutout with eight strikeouts earlier this summer.
Mountain Ridge (Ariz.) right-hander Parker Markel was selected in
the 31st round, and after ironing out some kinks in his delivery,
Markel's command of his considerable stuff has gotten better. His
fastball sits in the 88-92 range with outstanding sink, and his
changeup gives him a second solid pitch, but he has made very good
strides with his slider. Over his last eight innings of work, Markel
has racked up 20 strikeouts. He has signed with Yavapai (Ariz.) JC.
When your selected in the 49th round, the chances of signing are
pretty remote, but Hargrave Military Academy's (Va.) Cameron Giannini
is forcing the Tigers to give him a long look after topping out at 94.
A Liberty recruit, Giannini gets lots of ground balls with his heater,
and he also throws a slider and a changeup. He has fanned 36 batters
in 19 innings of work this summer.
Tidbits
I wanted to use this spot to post some quick hits on a few of the
Tigers' draftees. Despite being the draft choice under the most
scrutiny, U-D Jesuit's Daniel Fields (6) has been swinging a hot bat
of late, including a home run last Saturday, and the Tigers have been
very frequent spectators.
Monte Vista (Ca.) right-hander Mark Appel (15) went the distance
and allowed one run in his start last weekend, and the Tigers are
reportedly going to have a crosschecker in attendance for his outing
this weekend.
Whitefish Bay's (Wisc.) Charlie Markson (44) has seemed to recover
nicely from mononucleosis, as he is hitting .380 with 15 RBIs, and 10
of his 19 hits have gone for extra bases.
Shorecrest's (Wash.) James Robbins (30) ranks as one of the top
two-way prospects in the Northwest, and he has lived up to that
billing this summer. Although the Tigers drafted him as a position
player, and he has launched several home runs, he is also a
left-handed pitcher that has topped out at 92. If Robbins attends
Washington State, he will go both ways, but he may not make it to
college with his performance this summer.
If anyone has any questions, you can send them to me at Jason@TigsTown.com
Posted by: JA, 7/9
Summer Season Underway
After a brief hiatus to tend to the draft and its fallout, I wanted
to post some early info on a few of the Tigers college summer follows.
At this time last year, Baylor's Craig Fritsch was on his way to
being named one of the top prospects in the Cape Cod League with
Yarmouth-Dennis, but after a rocky sophomore year, Fritsch's hopes for
being a premium-round pick were dashed.
The Tigers selected the right-hander in the eighth round, and thus
far, Fritsch has fared well by posting a 3.18 ERA in his first three
appearances, including 3 2/3 scoreless innings in 10-9 win over
Brewster.
When Fritsch is on, his fastball can reach the mid-90s, and his
slider and changeup are both solid offerings. He also has a very
projectable frame, and if he regains the form he showed last summer,
you can bet the Tigers will make a serious at him, although he won't
come cheap being a sophomore-eligible with potentially overpowering
stuff.
Another sophomore-eligible arm the Tigers selected was Millersville
(Pa.) right-hander Derek Kline. Selected in the 34th round, Kline made
two starts with New Market in the Valley League, but after seeing his
velocity decrease significantly, Kline elected to head home and give
his arm some rest.
The move is strictly a precautionary measure for Kline, who pitched
for the first time this year while hitting .393 as Millersville's
first baseman. As a pitcher, Kline went 3-3 with a 2.87 ERA in 10
appearances (six starts) this spring.
With Kline out of action for the foreseeable future, the Tigers
will be limited in their opportunities to see him, and given his
sophomore status, Kline is a good bet to return to school.
One pitcher who should be making his debut soon in San Diego
right-hander Matt Thomson, who the Tigers drafted in the 12th round.
Like Fritsch, Thomson had a solid showing on the Cape last summer,
but a so-so junior year saw his stock fall. Thomson is slated to pitch
for the Santa Barbara Foresters, who are the reigning NBC World Series
champions.
A new trend has been for high school players to showcase themselves
against older players in the various college summer leagues, and one
of the Tigers' prep picks is doing that this summer.
Cody Keefer, the Tigers' 33rd-round pick out of Davis (Ca.) High
School, is off to a blistering-hot start with the Wenatchee Apple Sox
of the West Coast League by going 9-for-18 in his first five starts,
along with three RBIs and a stolen base.
A UCLA recruit, Keefer has a good understanding of the strike zone
and has a great approach at the plate. He has projectable power, runs
very well, and although his arm strength is playable for center field,
his future looks to be in left, which is where he has played thus far
this summer.
Like all of the high school players taken on the draft's final day,
Keefer will be a tough sign, but if the Tigers land him, they will
have an intriguing player with a very significant amount of upside.
If anyone has any questions, you can send them to me at Jason@TigsTown.com
Posted by: JA, 6/27
Clock Continues To Tick
With less than a week to go until the draft, the Tigers seem to
have narrowed their focus on high school pitching with the ninth pick,
although Scouting Director David Chadd was quoted in an MLB.com story
as saying there were a couple of wild cards among the group of players
they are considering.
Chadd's comment certainly opens up for interpretation what the
Tigers could do should their top targets go off the board before they
pick. I mentioned Donovan Tate and Grant Green last week, but given
their price tags and other question marks, I can't see the Tigers
going after either.
One name I didn't mention last week was Texas prep left-hander
Matthew Purke, and while he could be in the mix, he reportedly is
looking for a contract in the $3-5 million range, which could send him
tumbling down some draft boards. He also ranks a clear second behind
Tyler Matzek as the top prep left-hander in the draft, and some clubs
may prefer right-handers Jacob Turner, Shelby Miller and Zack Wheeler
to Purke both on overall ability and signability.
The Tigers have taken a close look at Yukon (Okla.) left-hander
Chad James, but he would be a reach considering some of the other arms
that should be available, and the same would be said of Kansas
prepster Garrett Gould, who would be a second-round target in the
unlikely event he slides that far.
With the draft being loaded with quality catching, one would think
the Tigers would be able to get one of their liking in a later round,
but that certainly isn't guaranteed, especially with the crop thinning
out a little with Luke Bailey (Ga.) and Wes Luquette (La.) having to
undergo Tommy John surgery.
With Bailey sidelined, Yuba City's (Ca.) Max Stassi has emerged as
the top prep catcher, and while he is considered a first-rounder, it
wouldn't surprise me if a team wanting a catcher grabbed him earlier
than expected to ensure that they get the player they want. Would the
Tigers select him with the ninth pick? I don't think they would, but
if they make a pick that no one is expecting, he may be the guy.
Other Names To Watch
As the draft creeps closer, the Tigers are closely watching players
they could select in the later rounds. The Michigan prep class is very
strong this year, and the Tigers are keeping close tabs on UD-Jesuit
shortstop Daniel Fields, Forest Hills Central shortstop Derek Dennis
and Ypsilanti Lincoln outfielder Victor Roache, with the latter two
having been asked to workout for the team.
In addition to Gould, the Tigers have also taken several looks
Temecula Valley (Ca.) right-hander Brooks Pounders, who has touched
the mid-90s and has signed with USC. If he is signable, he should go
in the first five rounds.
Owasso (Okla.) High School has been a favorite haunt for the
Tigers. Over the last few years, they have drafted pitchers Dallas
Trahern and Matt Hoffman, and the school has one of the faster risers
in Oklahoma recruit Austin Kirk. A left-hander, Kirk has touched 95
while sitting in the 88-92 range. He also throws a slider and a
changeup.
If anyone has any questions, you can send them to me at Jason@TigsTown.com
Posted by: JA, 6/3
Trying To Make Sense Of The Senseless
With under two weeks to go until draft day, very little has been
settled for the teams sitting after the first pick. North Carolina's
Dustin Ackley is the leader to be taken second overall to Seattle, but
after that, it anyone's guess as to who will go where.
Along with Ackley, USC shortstop Grant Green and Georgia prep
outfielder Donovan Tate were considered the top position players
available, but both have seen their stock tumble. Green had an
up-and-down year, while Tate has faced questions about his bat and has
a huge price tag. Both are being advised by Scott Boras, and while
there is the possibility both could still go in the first 10 picks,
that likely won't be the case.
As far as the Tigers go, the possibilities for them with the ninth
pick are seemingly endless. They could take either Green or Tate, but
they have extensively scouted the top prep pitchers in the draft.
California left-hander Tyler Matzek is a good bet to be gone before
the Tigers pick, but the Tigers will likely have their pick of
right-handers Zack Wheeler (Georgia), Shelby Miller (Texas) and Jacob
Turner (Missouri). The Tigers have scouted Wheeler and Miller heavily
all spring, and they have been in attendance in two of Wheeler's
postseason starts. Turner is reportedly seeking a contract similar to
what the Tigers gave Rick Porcello two years ago.
They could also have a shot at independent league pitchers Tanner
Scheppers and Aaron Crow, or college pitchers Kyle Gibson (Missouri)
and Alex White (North Carolina), although Crow and Gibson seem long
shots to be available when the Tigers pick. Like many of the top
college pitchers, White has been inconsistent and figures to go in the
early teen picks, and teams will need to clear Scheppers medically as
he recovers from the shoulder injury that caused him to slide last
year.
Having said all of that, I believe Turner, Wheeler and Miller are
the Tigers' top candidates as of now for the ninth pick, but with so
much uncertainty surrounding the teams ahead of them, that could
change dramatically on draft day.
If anyone has any questions, you can send them to me at Jason@TigsTown.com
Posted by: JA, 5/29
Late Risers
Several high school players across the country have gone from
obscurity to possible top-10 round selection thanks to their
outstanding seasons, and I wanted to highlight these guys, starting
with a sextet of pitchers.
Two Tennessee arms on opposite sides of the state have made a move
up draft boards. Sullivan South right-hander Tristan Archer has been
topping out in the low-90s and has a solid curveball and changeup to
round out his formidable arsenal of pitches. A Michigan native, Archer
is a very good athlete who also projects nicely, and is a good bet to
not make it to Tennessee Tech, where he is committed.
While Archer has become one of the top prospects on the Eastern
side of the state, Houston's Daniel Palo has joined Germantown's Jason
Thompson and Michael Faulkner as the top prep draft prospects from the
Memphis area.
A right-hander who has signed with Middle Tennessee State, Palo,
whom the Tigers have seen, sits in the 88-93 range and his curveball
and changeup have become very effective pitches. Improved mound
presence has also been a big reason for Palo's success.
After having a terrific group of high school players last year,
Kentucky has seen a significant drop-off in the talent available this
year, but one left-hander has moved to the head of the class.
Rockcastle County's Tanner Perkins is a three-sport athlete who has
just started to focus on baseball full time. The lefty has a very
muscular build and uses both a two and four-seam fastball as well as a
curveball and changeup.
Perkins consistently sits in the 88-90 range and tops out at 92.
One thing Perkins does not have an issue with is throwing strikes. For
the year, Perkins has walked only seven batters while striking out 101
in 50 innings. A Western Kentucky recruit, Perkins has a chance to go
in the first 10 rounds.
North Carolina has a deep crop of prep pitchers, and McMichael
right-hander Joseph Hughes has emerged to the forefront of those arms.
The East Carolina recruit had his best start of the year by striking
out 17 and not walking a batter in front of 25 scouts. Hughes has
slimmed his frame down, and he commands four pitches well. His
fastball has been up to 94 and he holds 90-plus velocity deep into
games. He also has a good changeup to go with a curveball and a
slider.
New Jersey's high school ranks have been a fertile ground for both
colleges and pro scouts in recent years, and 2009 is no different.
Newark Academy right-hander Andrew Del Colle has been known to
scouts after losing to Tigers rookie Rick Porcello as a sophomore in a
postseason game where Porcello threw a perfect game in a 1-0 victory.
After a a disappointing junior year, Del Colle has been sitting in
the 91-92 range and holding his velocity deep into games. He also
throws a curveball and changeup, and he has good command of all of his
pitches. A stiff shoulder has hindered Del Colle of late, so his draft
status may be up in the air if he's unable to throw for scouts in the
weeks leading up to the draft. A Boston College recruit, Del Colle was
making a push for the first five rounds until being sidelined.
The final pitcher I want to mention is someone who popped up early
in the season and has held his spot as one of the top arms in
talent-laden Texas. Left-hander Sam Selman (St. Andrews Episcopal)
profiles as one of the most projectable pitchers in the draft. At
6-foot-4, Selman could conceivably add 35 pounds to his frame as he
matures, but his present stuff is intriguing.
Selman has reached the mid-90s this spring while using a cutter,
big-breaking curveball and changeup to carve up opposing hitters.
There is no question that Selman is an arm scouts can dream on, but he
is also a Vanderbilt recruit, which clouds his signability.
A trio of position players have also moved up scouts' boards.
Mississippi's Darren Farmer (West Lauderdale) has swung a
blistering-hot bat by smashing 19 home runs in his first 31 games. A
6.6/60 runner with good arm strength, Farmer presently catches, but
could very well wind up moving to the outfield. Farmer has signed with
Meridian Community College.
Staying close to the Gulf Coast, Sam Houston (La.) shortstop Tyler
Theriot has 12 home runs to his credit. A solid athlete, Theriot is a
late bloomer who hasn't quite put everything together and is
developing and refining his tools. Like Farmer, Theriot has a junior
college commitment, as he has signed with LSU-Eunice.
Santa Margarita (Ca.) outfielder Trayce Thompson isn't the only
basketball player playing baseball that has shot up draft boards. Red
Oak (Okla.) outfielder Lane Adams was slated to continue his hoops
career at Missouri State, but that could change depending on how the
draft shakes out.
As you might expect, Adams is a terrific athlete who runs a 6.62/60
and has a 40-inch vertical leap. He has good arm strength and has
plus-power potential in his 6-foot-4 frame. Scouts were scared off
originally because of basketball, but his tools have made them take
notice.
If anyone has any questions, you can send them to me at Jason@TigsTown.com
Posted by: JA, 5/18
Pre-Draft Showcase
Perfect Game will be conducting it's annual Pre-Draft Showcase
today that allows scouts the opportunity to see some of the tougher
draft prospects before the draft.
Neuqua Valley (Ill.) left-hander Ian Krol hasn't pitched this
spring after being suspended for the season, and this will be a very
significant event to see if he can restore some of his luster.
Yukon (Okla.) left-hander Chad James, who has made his way into the
top two rounds, is another big name that will be in attendance, but
there are several other prospects to keep an eye on.
Whitefish Bay has two of the top prep players in Wisconsin in
outfielder Charlie Markson and left-hander Kevin James. Markson is a
Notre Dame recruit, while James has signed with Boston College. Since
Wisconsin's baseball season starts just before the draft, this will be
one of the few opportunities for scouts to see them.
L.J. Mazzilli and Josh Mooney are two names I've mentioned here
that will be at the showcase. Catalina Foothills (Ariz.) two
way-standout Breck Ashdown, an Oregon State recruit, and Tuscaloosa
County (Ala.) catcher Brett Booth, an Alabama recruit, are also
expected to attend.
As you might expect with Perfect Game's headquarters located in
Iowa, top prospects Matt Koch, Chad Christensen and Matt Carmody will
be there along with a few others from the Hawkeye State. Also
attending will be Cole Frenzel and Ryan Bollinger, who could become
rare high school drafts from North Dakota next month.
A few college players are expected to attend, including Wabash
Valley's (Ill.) Blake Drake, and Chattahoochee Valley's (Ala.) Johnny
Gunter, who are two of the top arms from the junior college ranks.
Drake has signed with Arizona, while Gunter is uncommitted.
A few of Iowa's collegians are slated to appear including Hawkeyes
reliever Steve Turnbull and leading home-run hitter Wes Freie, as well
as Northern Iowa outfielder Brett Douglas, who is the twin brother of
Tigers 2008 draft pick Brandon.
What does it all mean? Well, in some cases, it's an audition, as
some of these players haven't been seen by scouts in a competitive
environment during the spring. In other cases, it's a final chance for
scouts to see players that they wanted to get another look at before
the draft, and to also gage signability, particularly on the prep
players.
If anyone has any questions, you can send them to me at Jason@TigsTown.com
Posted by: JA, 5/18
Prospects in the Wolverine State
It's always nice to not have to travel very far to see top
prospects, and the Tigers have several to look at across Michigan this
spring.
While the college ranks are down, the high school crop is one of
the deepest in recent memory, although it's one that likely figures to
make more of an impact in 2012 than the present.
With the success Rich Maloney has had at rebuilding the Michigan
program, the Wolverines have been able to secure commitments from
several of the top prospects in the state, including UD-Jesuit
shortstop Daniel Fields, Forest Hills Central shortstop Derek Dennis,
Divine Child outfielder Pat Biondi, St. Joseph first baseman Cameron
Luther, and right-handers Tyler Higgins (Mount Pleasant) and Kyle
Clark (Portage Central).
The Wolverines should be able to keep most of their recruits,
although they will have to sweat it out with Fields, who is the son of
former Tigers outfielder and hitting coach Bruce, and a potential
premium-round selection if he is deemed signable.
Michigan State has commitments from toolsy outfielders Torsten Boss
(Lowell) and Jordan Keur (Hudsonville), as well as right-handers Andy
Waszak (Rochester Adams) and Andy Tinkey (Walled Lake North). The
Spartans have a football flavor to their class, as three of the four
players played on the gridiron in high school.
Western and Central Michigan also could get immediate contributions
from some members of their classes. Left-hander Kyle Strube
(Jefferson) and catcher Kory Bauswell, a teammate of Keur's at
Hudsonville, have signed with the Broncos, while the Chippewas have
left-hander Josh Cok (Grosse Point North) and Bullock Creek shortstop
Jordan Dean coming in.
Not all of the top prospects stayed in Michigan, as Ypsilanti
Lincoln outfielder Victor Roache signed with Georgia Southern, Detroit
Country Day right-hander Michael Theodore inked with Tennessee,
Brother Rice 1B/LHP Matt Conway is headed to Wake Forest and Divine
Child shortstop Stephen Claypool is bound for Ball State.
If these players wind up in school as expected, they could be a
special college crop in three years if everything comes together.
If anyone has any questions, you can send them to me at Jason@TigsTown.com
Posted by: JA, 5/8
In A New York State Of Mind
With the Yankees in town this week, I wanted to spend some time on
a pair of pitchers in New York that the Tigers have had crosschecked
recently.
At 6-foot-7 and 190 pounds, St. Dominic right-hander Kyle Hansen,
brother of Pirates reliever and former first-round pick Craig, exudes
projection.
So far this spring, Hansen has been lights out. It's not often you
can say a pitcher who has allowed two runs all year would have two
losses, but Hansen does having lost a pair of 1-0 games with one being
a nine-inning contest where he was matched up with Kellenberg's C.J.
Ferriggi, a Hofstra recruit. The other loss came when Chaminade's
Charlie Steinman, a Georgetown signee, threw a no-hitter to beat him.
Hansen's velocity has spiked upwards this spring. He was 90-91 in a
cold-weather outing, and has been clocked mostly in the 92-93 range
with a few 95s sprinkled in. Hansen has also made good strides with
his slider and changeup, and he has a perfect game to his credit.
Like Hansen, Ward Melville's Steven Matz is projectable, and has
seen a spike in his velocity this spring. A left-hander, Matz has
touched 94 several times this spring and has sat 90-92 deep into
games.
Through the weekend, Matz had allowed just three hits in his first
23 innings, and he delivered a scintillating performance against
Patchogue-Medford's Marcus Stroman, a Duke recruit who ranks as one of
the top prep players in the state along with Hansen and Matz.
Matz fired a one-hitter, walked four and fanned 12 to outduel
Stroman 1-0 with the lone run scoring in the seventh inning. Stroman
allowed three hits, walked none and had 14 strikeouts. According to
Newsday, both pitchers hit 93, and were still throwing 90-plus in the
seventh. Newsday also reported that representatives from every major
league team were in attendance.
With the chance to play both ways at Duke, Stroman, who would
likely be drafted as a shortstop due to his smallish (5-foot-9) frame,
figures to be a tough sign with a commitment to a top academic school.
Hansen could follow in brother's footsteps by attending St. John's,
and Matz has signed with Coastal Carolina, but if both keep pitching
as well as they have, there is a good chance that neither winds up in
school.
If anyone has any questions, you can send them to me at Jason@TigsTown.com
Posted by: JA, 4/29
Uncertainty After Strasburg
As we creep ever closer towards draft day, there is very little in
the way of having a definitive picture of how the top of the draft
will look after San Diego State right-hander Stephen Strasburg.
USC shortstop Grant Green got off to a slow start, but has
rebounded over the last few weeks and restored himself as a candidate
to be a top-five pick. North Carolina's Dustin Ackley is enjoying an
outstanding season with the bat, although scouts haven't had a chance
to see him play in center field as he recovers from Tommy John
surgery.
Among college pitchers, Missouri's Kyle Gibson has solidified
himself as a top-10 pick with a stellar season to date, but Oklahoma
State's Andy Oliver, North Carolina's Alex White and Vanderbilt's Mike
Minor have all had their ups and downs.
Of the trio, White has pitched better of late, and should still
profile as a top-10 pick, although he isn't the surefire selection he
was at the start of the year. Minor likely will be a mid first-rounder
thanks to his polish, and despite his ugly numbers, Oliver could still
be a factor if he can finish strong.
The high school players at the top of the draft also have their own
questions. Capistrano Valley (Ca.) left-hander Tyler Matzek has had to
deal with a blood blister on his pitching hand, and some scouts think
he has to improve his secondary stuff and pitchability.
Klein (Texas) left-hander Matt Purke has reached the mid-90s this
spring, but scouts have questioned his delivery. Cartersville (Ga.)
outfielder Donovan Tate ranks as the top position player from the prep
class, and despite his five-tool ability, he faces questions regarding
signability, as he is being advised by Scott Boras and is committed to
North Carolina to play both football and baseball.
All three have shots at being selected in the top 10, as does
Brownwood (Texas) right-hander Shelby Miller, who has been holding
high-90's heat late into starts.
So what does it all mean for the Tigers? With the ninth overall
pick and questions surrounding many of the draft's top prospects,
there is no shortage of candidates for the Tigers to look at, and with
several players such as Lipscomb left-hander Rex Brothers having
played their way into first-round consideration, the Tigers' forecast
becomes more cloudier. With seven weeks to go until draft day, more
questions than answers remain not just for the Tigers, but for many
other teams.
If anyone has any questions, you can send them to me at Jason@TigsTown.com
Posted by: JA, 4/22
Sleeper in Mississippi
Much of the focus this spring for scouts who have the Magnolia
State in their coverage besides the colleges has centered on South
Panola's top duo of David Renfroe and Ethan Bright.
Renfroe has been slowed somewhat by a strained oblique muscle, but
he has been back touching 93 in one outing, and Bright has also been
reaching the low-90s, but another pitcher has begun to attract the
attention of scouts.
At 6-foot-7 and 235 pounds, Ingomar's Josh Hodges is a tough player
to miss on the baseball diamond. A right-hander, Hodges began to see a
spike in his velocity late last summer, and that has continued into
the spring, where he has topped out at 94. In a start last week,
Hodges was sitting in the 89-92 range. He also has a curveball, slider
and circle changeup in his arsenal.
Hodges does have to work to do as far as cleaning up his delivery
and fine-tuning his breaking balls, but he definitely has some solid
tools to work with. A recruit of Northeast Mississippi Community
College, Hodges could be an intriguing name to watch for on draft day.
Murphy On The Rise
A few weeks back, I wrote about the incredible class of prep
catchers available. One name that I didn't mention was J.R. Murphy,
who attends the Pendleton School.
Murphy is a Miami recruit who could wind up playing in the outfield
should Lakewood Ranch's Mike Ohlman also make it to school, although
the those chances of both players becoming Hurricanes seems to be
getting remote with their stellar play.
Murphy in particular has made a mockery of opposing pitchers by
hitting .610 with nine home runs and 55 RBIs in aiding Pendleton to a
25-0 start. Murphy has also drawn 15 walks and has fanned just three
times in 82 at-bats. He is 12-for-13 in stolen bases.
Murphy profiles as a potential five-tool catcher who has been
primarily been listed as an outfielder because he spent time there
last year during summer baseball. However, with Yasmani Grandal, a top
catching prospect for the 2010 draft, as well as the possibility of
Ohlman, there isn't much room for Murphy behind the plate, but he will
be drafted as a catcher.
Presently, Murphy stands to be the first of three potential
draftees from Pendleton by factoring in the premium rounds. Blaze
Tart, one of the top two-way players in Florida with a great name to
boot, also has a chance to go in the first 10 rounds, while L.J.
Mazzilli, son of former major leaguer Lee, could also be drafted.
If anyone has any questions, you can send them to me at Jason@TigsTown.com
Posted by: JA, 4/15
Howard Still Perfect
With Opening Day upon us, hope reigns supreme across the country,
as fans of their respective teams hope their team will be a contender.
In the junior college ranks, one team has stood above the rest by
racing out to a 34-0 start. Howard (Texas) JC has battered opposing
pitching staffs by a hitting a resounding .427 so far this season, and
several players have a chance at being drafted.
Although he is new to catching, Miles Hamblin has done nothing but
hit at Howard, and this spring, the sophomore is hitting .450 with a
team-leading 10 homers and 42 RBIs. If the draft doesn't intervene,
Hamblin will attend Mississippi.
Howard also has a pair of toolsy outfielders in Runey Davis and
Joey Leftridge. Davis got one at-bat as a freshman at Texas before
transferring. The sophomore is presently hitting .377 with four home
runs and 24 RBIs. Leftridge, a former AFLAC All-American, has .405
average with two homers and 35 RBIs. With a whopping six players
sporting double figure totals in stolen bases, Howard obviously likes
to run, and Davis and Leftridge are at the head of the class with 18
stolen bases apiece. Davis is headed for Mississippi State if he
doesn't sign.
It's not all offense at Howard. Freshman Burch Smith is 3-0 with a
2.40 ERA and has 40 strikeouts in 30 innings thanks to a good
three-pitch mix, and although he's on the smallish side (5-foot-10,
205 pounds), left-hander Anthony Collazo has gone 6-0 with a 2.50 ERA.
The sophomore leads the team with 57 strikeouts in 36 innings.
Golden State Duo
A big reason why Mount St. Jacinto is off to a 15-3 start in the
Foothill Conference and is 24-7 overall is due to the stellar pitching
efforts of Drew Madrigal and B.J. Salsbury.
Madrigal gets heavy sink on his fastball that sits in the 88-91
range, but has topped out at 94. A former basketball player, Madrigal
is a good athlete who also has a hard slider and good changeup to
round out his arsenal.
A right-hander, Madrigal has been dominant by leading the state
with 14 strikeouts per nine innings pitched, and his 83 strikeouts
ranks him second in the state.
Salsbury is no stranger to the draft having been picked by the
Rangers in the 37th round back in 2007. Also a right-hander, Salsbury
threw the first no-hitter in school history.
While Madrigal has more of a power approach, Salsbury uses good
control and good secondary pitches to befuddle batters.
Salsbury works in the 88-91 range and he'll cut his fastball some.
He also throws a curveball that grades as above-average and a solid
changeup. Another factor that works in Salsbury's favor is his age. He
won't turn 20 until October.
As of now, both have not officially signed with a four-year school,
and both should hear their names called during the draft proceedings.
If anyone has any questions, you can send them to me at Jason@TigsTown.com
Posted by: JA, 4/6
Catching The Draft
It's been well-documented how good this year's crop of catchers is,
and depending on signability, there could be a record number of
catchers selected in the early rounds of the draft.
One catcher the Tigers have been keeping close tabs on is Troup
County's (Ga.) Luke Bailey. An AFLAC All-American, Bailey has the
total package of tools. An Auburn recruit, Bailey is extremely
athletic and has terrific arm strength, but he also runs exceptionally
well for a catcher and is one of the top hitters in his class
regardless of position.
Despite his team having played just nine games, the Tigers have
scouted Bailey extensively and have already had a crosschecker in to
take a look at him.
With pitching likely dominating the early selections, it will be
interesting to see if the Tigers buck that trend and take Bailey under
consideration for the ninth overall pick. If they don't select him at
that spot, there is a strong likelihood Bailey would be long gone by
the time the Tigers make their second-round pick.
However, with the plethora of catchers available, not to mention
signability, teams will likely have a wide variety of opinions on
where some of these catchers should go on their draft boards. Could
the sheer number of quality catchers being available possibly push
some down a round or two? It's possible, but with quality catching
being one of toughest commodities to find, most won't fall too far, if
at all.
Former Tigers Coaching Prospects
One would think that a modern major leaguer that makes plenty of
money would simply want to stay out of the limelight and live quietly,
but that's not the case for two former Tigers.
Former Tigers center fielder Chet Lemon coached at Eustis (Fla.)
High School before health problems forced him to step down and focus
on his travel team. Known as Chet Lemon's Juice, the club ranks
annually as one of the top travel teams in the country.
Another member of the Tigers' 1984 World Series team is also in the
coaching fraternity, and he also has a solid prospect for the 2009
draft. Randy O'Neal is presently the head coach at Olympia (Fla.) High
School and outfielder Jabari Henry, a Florida International recruit,
played on Detroit's entry at the East Coast Professional Showcase last
summer.
Henry has good athletic ability and has the arm strength and
hitting ability to profile as a right fielder as a pro.
If anyone has any questions, you can send them to me at Jason@TigsTown.com
Posted by: JA, 3/30
Strasburg Wants $50 Million?
According a report by Peter Gammons that was published at
mlbtraderumors.com, Scott Boras, who is advising the San Diego State
right-hander that projects as the No. 1 pick in the draft, could be
looking for upwards of $50 million. The report attributed that figure
to unidentified team officials from around baseball.
With the draft still a little over two months away, I chalk this up
to the usual hyperbole that comes around this time of year when
speculation for Boras' guys begins to make the rounds.
His top two guys from last year were Eric Hosmer and Pedro Alvarez,
and while both got hefty deals, they were below what Boras had
reportedly floated earlier in the spring. Hosmer signed for $6 million
with the Royals, which was down from the reported $7 million that
Boras wanted. Alvarez got a major league contract worth $6.35 million,
but Boras' supposed original number was close to the 9.5 million Mark
Teixeira got on his deal in 2001.
My point above being is that Boras likes to put out inflated
numbers to see which teams will either listen, or perhaps in
Strasburg's case, push him to a team with the right fit or financial
wherewithal (Red Sox, Yankees) to get the money he feels his client
deserves.
Now would anyone pay $50 million for a pitcher before he evens
makes his first pitch as a pro, I doubt it, but I do think you'll see
Strasburg get a deal that will blow both Teixeira and Mark Prior's out
of the water. I think when it's all said and done, he'll get a major
league deal in the $15-20 million range with perhaps as much as $8
million in bonus money up front from Washington as the first pick in
the draft.
Tigers Looking At Prep Arms
One area that the Tigers seem to be taking a close look at this
spring is high school pitching. The Tigers have seen several of the
top prep arms on multiple occasions early on in the season, so it will
be interesting to see if the Tigers continue to focus more on the prep
players or if they stay heavy on college players.
One name that tends to get lost in the shuffle as far as arms at
the very top of the draft goes is Brownwood (Texas) right-hander
Shelby Miller, but that will be changing.
Following in the long line of power pitchers the Lone Star State
has produced, Miller reportedly touched 98 in his start on Friday, and
was still sitting in the low-90s in the seventh inning. He had a
no-hitter through five innings and finished with 14 strikeouts.
Miller has electric stuff, and unless he has no desire to sign a
pro contract and fulfill his commitment to Texas A&M, he projects to
be a first-round pick with the Tigers being a candidate to take at
ninth overall.
The Tigers have been active in Louisiana in the past, and they have
been in to see two of the more projectable arms in the state several
times in Zachary's Zach Von Rosenberg and St. Thomas More's Brody
Colvin.
At 6-foot-5, 200 pounds, Von Rosenberg is one of the most
projectable pitchers in this year's class. Thus far, the right-hander
has reached 93 while sitting in the 88-89 range. An LSU recruit, Von
Rosenberg has a deep arsenal of pitches that could all be average or
better in time.
Colvin, also an LSU recruit, has run his fastball into the mid-90s
as he has become more of a pitcher than a thrower this spring. Also a
right-hander, Colvin has a curveball and a changeup, and he has also
been toying with a split-finger. If Colvin and Von Rosenberg are
signable, they have the chance to go in the premium rounds, but LSU
has usually hung on to their recruits under Paul Mainieri's watch.
One last pitcher I wanted to mention is Port Charlotte (Fla.)
left-hander David Holmberg, whom the Tigers were in see a little over
a week ago in a start against Manatee High School, per the Charlotte
Sun.
A Florida signee, Holmberg brings more of a finesse approach and
sits in the high-80's, but will touch 91 on occasion. He has good size
and a solid curveball that serves as his go-to pitch.
Holmberg may not be the hardest thrower, but he is one of the more
polished pitchers available in this year's draft, and the Tigers are
familiar with him as pitching coach Rick Knapp resides in Port
Charlotte and his son also plays on the team. The elder Knapp also
helps out with the team during the offseason. A lefty with Holmberg's
size, stuff and polish typically doesn't last very long on draft
boards, and that should be the case here if he's willing to sign.
If anyone has any questions, you can send them to me at Jason@TigsTown.com
Posted by: JA, 3/23
California Showdown
Two of the top pitchers in the Golden State squared off on Friday
in front of a huge throng of scouts, as Royal's Bryan Berglund and
Santa Monica's Tyler Skaggs hooked up.
Royal rallied from a 2-1 deficit with three runs in the sixth
inning to give Berglund a 4-2 win. The right-hander scattered eight
hits in six innings of work while walking one and fanning eight. A
Loyola Marymount recruit, Berglund has a projectable build, throws in
the low-90s and his slider ranks as one of the nastiest pitches in the
prep pitching class. If Berglund continues to make strides, he could
be a premium-round selection.
If there is one player who has early draft helium, it's Skaggs. The
left-hander turned in a solid outing by striking out 12 and allowing
just one hit in five innings of work. Skaggs is one of the most
projectable players in his class, and his fastball creeps into the
low-90s. His signature pitch is a slow curveball with big break. A Cal
State Fullerton recruit, Skaggs is making an early push for the top
three rounds.
Bucking The Opposition
In a state that is as talent-laden as Georgia, sometimes even
blue-chip prospects can get lost in the shuffle, particularly if they
don't hit the showcase circuit.
Such is the case for Rockdale County right-hander Buck Farmer. A
Georgia Tech recruit, Farmer is an imposing 6-foot-4, 220 pounds on
the mound, and he was 91-93 in his first start where he fanned eight
batters in a three-inning stint on a chilly evening.
Farmer took a tough loss on Friday night after allowing four hits
and racking up 16 strikeouts, and his velocity was down in the 86-89
range, but Farmer could one day be one of the hardest throwers in the
prep class.
The right-hander has one of the deeper arsenals one will see that
includes a good curveball and changeup, and he has also experimented
with a cutter and a split-finger.
With a quartet of AFLAC All-Americans (Donovan Tate, Zach Wheeler,
Drew Steckenrider and Luke Bailey), it's easy overlook Farmer when
evaluating Georgia's top prospects. If scouts deem Farmer signable, he
could go in the first five rounds of the draft, but Georgia Tech has a
tendency to hang on to their recruits, so signability will be a
factor.
If anyone has any questions, you can send them to me at Jason@TigsTown.com
Posted by: JA, 3/16
Picture Perfect
Grand Valley State's Danny Richard made a memorable return to the
mound after a stomach ailment forced him to take a medical redshirt
after making only three starts last year. The right-hander got 13
ground-ball outs on his way to throwing a perfect game against
Kentucky Wesleyan.
Richard had four fly-ball outs and four strikeouts to round out his outing.
Richard followed his perfect game by allowing just two hits and an
unearned run over six innings of work, as he beat Wheeling Jesuit. He
walked one and fanned two. As a redshirt sophomore who also doubles as
a defensive lineman on the football team, scouts will have to bear
down on his signability when the draft rolls around, but he is a
candidate to be the first college player from Michigan selected this
June.
Pigskin Impact
Richard is just one of a litany of college football players with
ties to baseball that could be drafted if the NFL doesn't intervene.
The most significant is Washington quarterback Jake Locker, who poses
as the draft's biggest wild card. A potential first-round pick as
either a pitcher or position player out of high school, Locker turned
down baseball to go to college.
After a two-year hiatus, Locker played in a handful of games in the
West Coast Collegiate League, where scouts took notice of his immense
ceiling. Locker missed a good chunk of the football season with a
broken thumb, and the Huskies have a new coach in Steve Sarkisian. As
a redshirt sophomore who has not played any kind of college baseball,
Locker seems set to take football as far as he can, and it will very
likely take mega bucks for Locker to even take notice of baseball
again, although by playing last summer, I don't think he has
completely closed the door on it.
While Locker may be out of reach for clubs, several football
players remain squarely in their crosshairs. Staying in the Pac-10,
Stanford's Toby Gerhart set the school record with 1,132 yards rushing
last year, and on the baseball diamond, he has a lot of power in his
bat and a full tool shed.
Florida could have a pair of football players selected in
outfielder Riley Cooper and right-hander Tate Casey. Cooper caught 18
passes last fall as a wide receiver, and so far this spring, he is
hitting .325, although his 17 strikeouts in 40 at-bats shows he has a
lot of rust to shake off after getting just 58 at-bats last spring.
Casey, a tight end, hasn't played baseball in several years, but
should next month's NFL draft not work out, he would make an
intriguing senior sign. One thing that does work against him is his
age. He'll be 24 on July 1.
Three gridiron standouts who are being closely watched are
Minnesota's Eric Decker, Florida State's D'Vontrey Richardson and
LSU's Jared Mitchell. Decker, a wide receiver, turned down the Brewers
last year after being eligible as a sophomore. He leads the Gophers
with a .439 average, and has a chance to be a premium-round pick if
scouts think he's signable.
Richardson hit .351 as a freshman before missing last year, and he
is off to a bit of a slow start by hitting .286 with two RBIs in 28
at-bats. Richardson, a quarterback, is also a redshirt sophomore, so
scouts will have to get a good read on his signability.
Mitchell is a former AFLAC All-American who turned down the Twins
as a 10th-round pick out of high school. A wide receiver, the junior
is off to a hot start by hitting .455 with two homers and 13 RBIs in
22 at-bats. With his upside, Mitchell could be selected in the first
three rounds if scouts think he's ready to give up football.
One football player who will get a shot at pro baseball is Marshall
native Evan Sharpley, who plays first base at Notre Dame. After
hitting a team-leading 13 homers last year, the senior is hitting just
.190 in the early going, but as evidenced by last year's numbers, he
has nice power potential, and should be a solid senior sign.
The football player who has been drafted the most by baseball teams
is very likely done for good with the game. West Virginia's Pat White
has been drafted three times, including as a fourth-round pick by the
Angels out of high school, but after a superb career at the
Mountaineers' quarterback, White should go high enough in the NFL
draft to make baseball a non-factor.
If anyone has any questions, you can send them to me at Jason@TigsTown.com
Posted by: JA, 3/9
March Madness
With the calendar now flipped to March, the sporting world casts
its eye on college basketball, and one player with a hoops background
has an opportunity to get a pro career started on the diamond this
summer.
Indiana outfielder Kipp Schutz played basketball in high school,
but after turning down the Orioles as a 26th-round selection in the
2006 draft, he was granted a medical redshirt after breaking his
collarbone while running into a wall.
Schutz returned last year to hit .317 with six homers and 48 RBIs,
and he hit four more home runs on the Cape last summer while finishing
with a .260 average and 11 RBIs.
As a redshirt sophomore, Schutz is eligible for the draft, but he
wound up on the basketball team after impressing coach Tom Crean in a
3-point shooting contest that involved other baseball players going up
against the basketball players. He played in six games, but the injury
bug has continued to persist. He suffered a minor injury in basketball
practice and he has missed Indiana's first five games of the season
while recovering from appendicitis. Schutz should make his return the
lineup very soon.
At 6-foot-4 and 195 pounds, Schutz has a solid set of tools. He is
a solid defender that gets good jumps and reads in the outfield. He
made strides with the bat, and has nice power potential. He also runs
well. If he can stay healthy and put together a solid year, he could
make his way into the early rounds of the draft.
Bedeviling Hitters
If you're looking for a player with early draft helium, Cardinal
Mooney's (Fla.) Michael Heller is your man. One of the top two-way
players in the country, Heller has come out of the gate hitting 97
while sitting in the 93-95 range.
He also has a curveball and changeup in his arsenal, but if he
honors his commitment to Florida, he'll very likely get a chance to
play as an infielder. Heller won't be pitching presently after
tweaking his knee on a slide into home plate, but should be back on
the mound soon.
What's interesting about Heller is that the Tigers may have an in
with him. Third-base coach Gene Lamont resides in Sarasota where the
school is located, and his son Wade, who is presently in the
organization, attended Cardinal Mooney.
The elder Lamont helps out the team before he heads to spring
training, and has kept tabs on Heller. The Tigers themselves have
looked at Heller, and for those wanting to look ahead to the 2010
draft, Cardinal Mooney also has right-hander Ryan Heuler, who has
bumped 93 in the early going, and profiles as a premium-round pick.
Prospecting In Utah
One normally doesn't associate Utah with being a baseball hotbed,
but the high school ranks have produced Tanner Robles and Garrett
Nash, both of whom were drafted and are now at Oregon State, as well
as Utah Valley's gigantic Kam Mickolio, who is with the Orioles.
Tigers reliever Brandon Lyon is also a Utah native.
The high school ranks could have another productive year with the
draft, as a trio of pitchers could make their way into the early
rounds in Canyon View's Michael Dedrick, American Fork's Josh Mooney
and Timpanogos' Rhett Nelson.
Dedrick is a potential premium-round pick thanks to a fastball that
reaches the low-90s, as well as a solid curveball and a changeup. He
has signed with San Diego. Nelson, who has signed with Santa Clara,
uses a hard-breaking slider along with his fastball to baffle hitters.
A draft choice potentially both as a pitcher and an outfielder,
Mooney has a live arm and has topped out at 91. He throws both a
two-seam and a four-seam heater that moves. He is developing a slider,
but his best pitch is a changeup.
As an outfielder, Mooney has the arm strength for right field, and
has very good athleticism. He runs very well and has power potential
in his 6-foot-4 inch, 220-pound frame. He has signed with Salt Lake
Community College, and the Tigers have shown some interest in Mooney.
The college ranks should also produce several draft picks.
Right-hander Jeremy Toole leads a deep brigade of Brigham Young
players that could be drafted in June, and Southern Utah has one of
the better senior signs in outfielder Nick Freitas, who has an
intriguing speed/power combination.
If anyone has any questions, you can send them to me at Jason@TigsTown.com
Posted by: JA, 3/2
Sooner State Shines
Oklahoma has been a popular spot for the Tigers to draft players
over the years, and I wanted to use this post to showcase the talent
the state has to offer. In 2008, the Tigers drafted Oklahoma State
reliever Robbie Weinhardt (10) and Oklahoma second baseman Mike Gosse
(23), but that number could go significantly upwards this year.
Oklahoma State left-hander Andy Oliver is a candidate for the
Tigers to take with the ninth overall pick thanks to fastball that
sits in the low-90s to go with a slider and changeup, and the Cowboys
have several other players that could factor in the early rounds
including toolsy outfielder Neil Medchill, who is a Michigan native.
Left-hander Tyler Lyons and right-hander Tyler Blandford are also
candidates for the early rounds. Lyons has a solid four-pitch mix and
runs his fastball into the low-90s, while Blandford can dial his
fastball into the high-90s.
The Sooners have right-handers Garrett Richards and Antwonie
Hubbard, as well as power-hitting first baseman Aaron Baker who could
factor early on, although Hubbard is eligible as a redshirt sophomore.
Like Blandford, Richards can run his fastball over 95, and Hubbard has
solid pitchability to go with a nasty three-pitch arsenal.
Should Oliver slide due to his bonus demands (he is being advised
by Scott Boras), Oral Roberts could have the first college player
taken from the state in right-hander Jerry Sullivan. A former AFLAC
All-American who would've been a potential premium-round draft pick
coming out of high school, he underwent Tommy John surgery and missed
his senior year. He hasn't shown the power stuff he had in high
school, but he has developed a good changeup and is tinkering with a
slider.
Oklahoma City has been a powerhouse in the NAIA ranks, and that is
no different in 2009, as the Stars have raced out to a 13-0 start.
Senior Brent Weaver has made a mockery of opposing pitching by hitting
.489 with 11 homers and 31 RBI in his first 47 at-bats, but the Stars'
best draft stands to be left-hander Ashur Tolliver, who transferred
after a coaching change at Arkansas-Little Rock, and can run his
fastball into the mid-90s.
Scouts always like to find solid bargains in college seniors, and
the state has several that should get their shot in pro ball. Oral
Roberts right-hander Andre Lamontagne can his his fastball into the
mid-90s, and Oklahoma should have several seniors get drafted
including catcher J.T. Wise and right-handers Trey Sperring and
Stephen Porlier. Oklahoma Baptist first baseman Josh Collazo could
also get a look. After hitting 22 homers and driving in 100 runs as a
junior, he has nine homers and 21 RBIs in his first 38 at-bats.
Oklahoma City should also have a few seniors get drafted with former
Tigers draft-and-follow Ryan Lindgren ranking among them.
The high school ranks have several pitchers that could make solid
drafts in three years if professional baseball doesn't come calling
this summer. The top prep prospect in the state is Yukon left-hander
Chad James, who has all the hallmarks of being a premium-round pick.
James, whose older brother Justin is in the Reds organization, was
92-93 in a three-inning stint in front of 50 scouts, and he followed
that by reportedly touching 94 in a second three-inning outing where
he didn't allow a hit.
In addition to having a curveball and changeup, James has also been
working on a slider to add to his arsenal. Long, lean and projectable,
James is an Oklahoma State recruit.
James isn't the only pitcher getting draft attention at Yukon. Ryan
Gibson, also a left-hander, got an in-home visit by the Tigers during
the offseason.
An Oklahoma recruit, Gibson lacks the projection James has, but has
good size at 6-foot-2, 215 pounds, and his stuff his solid. His
fastball was clocked at 92-93, and he gets good movement on the pitch.
He also has a sharp-breaking curveball to go with a good changeup, and
he will be one of the youngest players in the draft. He won't turn 18
until the end of July.
If anyone has any questions, you can send them to me at Jason@TigsTown.com
Posted by: JA, 2/23
Florida Southern Bouncing Back
After talking about the JUCO ranks exclusively for the last two
weeks, I wanted to talk more about those four-year schools that have
started their seasons.
Florida Southern entered the 2009 season ranked 16th in the
Division II poll, but the Moccasins started 1-3 before winning their
last five games. The Moccasins will be one of the more heavily scouted
Division II teams with shortstop Robbie Shields ranking as a potential
premium-round pick, but thus far, Shields is hitting just .258 with
seven RBIs. He has drawn nine walks and struck out eight times in his
first 31 at-bats.
Florida Southern also has three players that could be premium-round
picks in 2010 in right-hander Daniel Tillman, left-hander Max Russell
and infielder Wade Kirkland.
Spartans Hit Speed Bump
Tampa opened as the No. 2 team in the country, but moved up to the
top spot when defending national champion Mount Olive got off to a
sluggish start. The Spartans, who are seeking their third national
title in four years, were 5-0 before losing twice to Southern Arkansas
and splitting two games with West Alabama this weekend.
Despite losing three of four games this weekend, the Spartans will
be scouted heavily by having two of the top prospects in the Division
II ranks in left-hander Carmine Giardina and right-hander Alex
Koronis.
Giardina transferred after struggling in his first two years at
Central Florida, and those struggles have continued in Tampa. In his
first two appearances, he has allowed seven hits, six runs (all
earned) and six walks in five innings of work.
Koronis transferred from Miami and has had elbow surgery in his
past, but he has fared better than Giardina by going 1-0 with a save
in his first four appearances. He was unscored upon in his first three
appearances before this weekend, but he still has allowed just three
hits and three runs (one earned) in 7 2/3 innings. He has walked four
and fanned six.
Coyote Classic
After splitting four games at last week's Rahal-Miller JUCO
National Classic, the College of Southern Nevada ripped off four
straight wins over the weekend at home in the Coyote Classic. The
Coyotes, who will also be hosting the Coyote Baseball Slugout next
weekend, knocked off San Jacinto, St. Petersburg, Chipola and
Fullerton.
CCSN left-hander Egan Smith, who can reach the low-90s with his
fastball, scattered six hits and fanned seven over six innings of work
to get the win on Thursday, and the Coyote bats battered St.
Petersburg's Ryan Weber for 11 hits and seven runs in five innings of
work in Friday's 12-4 win.
CCSN then outlasted Chipola 9-8 in 11 innings on Saturday, and
Gentry Croft and Trevor Clausen combined on a three-hit shutout
against Fullerton on Sunday.
Scouts Flock To Givens
H.B. Plant (Fla.) star Mychal Givens made his first appearance on
the pitching mound last weekend in front of upwards of 75 scouts in
attendance.
A potential first-rounder as both a shortstop and pitcher, Givens
worked in the low-90s while topping at 93 in his three innings of
work. Coaches have worked on raising his hand angle to compensate for
a low arm slot, and the adjustment has taken some time to get used to.
As a pitcher, Givens offers arguably the most raw arm strength in
the country. He was up to 97 last summer, and as a shortstop, he
offers five-tool potential if the bat can continue to develop.
If anyone has any questions, you can send them to me at Jason@TigsTown.com
Posted by: JA, 2/16
Pitching Dominates
There is an old baseball adage that says pitching is usually ahead
of the hitting early in the season, and that was evident with some
scintillating performances turned in by some of junior college's top
arms.
Walters State's Trent Rothin and San Jacinto's Jake Cowan each were
winners in their opening starts with near identical pitching lines.
Both right-handers went six innings and yielded just three hits.
Rothlin allowed one run, walked three and fanned 10, while Cowan
was unscored upon, walked two and struck out nine. Northwest Florida
State's Daniel Webb, who ranks as the top prospect in the JUCO ranks,
allowed three hits and fanned four over four innings of work in his
season debut last weekend.
Chipola/Rahal-Miller National Classic
It's not often that the JUCO ranks serve as the center of
baseball's universe, but when you have five of the best teams in the
country, each of whom are chock full of draft prospects, you're going
to get a lot of attention in the scouting community.
Such will be the case at Chipola College in Florida at the
Chipola/Rahal-Miller National Classic that will feature Walters State,
San Jacinto, St. Petersburg, College of Southern Nevada and the hosts
from Chipola.
Chipola has outstanding pitching depth with Patrick Corbin and
Austin Wright ranking as two of the top lefties in JUCO baseball, as
well as right-handers Jason Townsend and David Buchanan. Corbin and
Wright both can reach the low-90s with their fastballs, while Townsend
and Buchanan both have reached 94.
In addition to Ryan Weber, St. Petersburg has a power arm in
Alabama transfer Connor Hoehn, and although Taylor Cole went on a
Mormon mission, CCSN has a pair of solid prospects in lefty Egan Smith
and right-hander Gabe Weidenaar.
Going to California
Two left-handers that will get plenty of attention hooked up last
weekend, as Palomar's Shawn Sanford and Bakersfield's Jarret Martin
faced off against one another.
Neither pitcher was particularly sharp, as Sanford allowed four
hits and walked three in just three innings of work. He allowed two
runs (one earned) and fanned five.
Martin walked six and fanned seven over five innings in taking the
loss. He allowed six runs (four earned) on four hits.
Sanford ooses projection with his 6-foot-5 frame and three-pitch
mix, while Martin continues to try and improve both his delivery and
command, although the latter could become a position player after
hitting 18 homers as a senior in high school.
If anyone has any questions, you can send them to me at Jason@TigsTown.com
Posted by: JA, 2/5
Seasons Beginnings
Although most of the country is presently locked in a deep freeze,
junior colleges in warm-weather states will get their seasons started
this weekend.
There will be a large contingent of scouts in Houston this weekend,
as the defending NJCAA champions from Grayson County will be taking on
traditional powerhouse San Jacinto, who will also be taking on
Navarro.
Two of the top arms in the JUCO ranks could be on display this
weekend with San Jacinto's Jake Cowan and Grayson County's Brett
Bruening possibly pitching against one another.
Cowan was drafted by the Red Sox in the 14th round out of high
school back in 2007, but he spent just one year at Virginia before
transferring. The right-hander has outstanding stuff that includes a
fastball that reaches the mid-90s. If he's deemed signable, he could
be a premium-round pick, but he has signed with Texas.
Bruening spurned the Cardinals last year as a 30th-round pick, and
the right-hander has surged upwards towards the top of the class,
thanks to some refinement to his delivery that has improved the
quality of all of his pitches. At 6-foot-6, Bruening runs his fastball
up to 96, and he is a part of a very talented and deep LSU recruiting
class.
San Jacinto also has a pair of talented freshmen in left-hander
David Rollins and right-hander Tommy Collier.
Rollins was drafted by the Dodgers in the 19th round and elected to
go the JUCO route rather than attend Missouri, while Collier was a
teammate of Pirates signee Robbie Grossman at Cy-Fair High School.
Both have the stuff to be taken in the early rounds of the draft if
they are open to signing.
Grayson County and Navarro also will be represented with
outfielders David Stewart and Jaron Shepherd.
Stewart transferred from Nebraska after getting limited playing
time as a freshman, and he offers huge power potential in his chiseled
frame. Shepherd also offers an immense ceiling with his speed/power
combo along with the ability to play in center field, and in a year
where pitching dominates the JUCO ranks, he stands as one of the top
position players available in June. Shepherd has signed with
Mississippi State.
Around The Country
Two prospects who turned down the opportunity to attend four-year
schools after electing not to sign rank as the top two prospects in
the 2009 class.
Daniel Webb, a 12th-round pick of the Diamondbacks, enrolled at
Northwest Florida State (formerly known as Okaloosa-Walton) after poor
grades wouldn't allow him to enroll at Kentucky. Webb has overpowering
stuff with a fastball that has touched 96 along with a nasty
curveball.
Ryan Weber is Webb's opposite in that he is a finesse pitcher and
isn't as physically imposing, but all Weber does is win. A member of
Team USA's pitching staffs when he was in high school, Weber has a
very polished three-pitch mix. A right-hander, Weber originally signed
with Florida before electing to attend St. Petersburg JC.
If anyone has any questions, you can send them to me at Jason@TigsTown.com
Posted by: JA, 1/29