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NFL Draft Prospect Russell Wilson MLB Draft Retrospective

2 Apr 2012 12:28 AM / Leave a comment

From NC State QB (above) to Rockies 2B to Wisconsin QB to NFL Draft Pick
Source: Track 'Em Tigers

I was trading emails with an old pal this past weekend about one of my favorite non-MLB Draft topics: the NFL Draft. We were discussing potential project backup quarterbacks for our favorite team when Wisconsin QB Russell Wilson came up. I’d personally be thrilled to take a chance on him in the middle rounds — fifth ideally, fourth most likely, third only if there’s a run on second tier QBs earlier than I think will happen — in much the same way I would have been happy to have my favorite baseball team take a chance on him in the MLB Draft’s middle rounds (my idea of our draft’s “middle rounds” are anything from round 10 onward). Here’s why I was high on him as a baseball prospect back in the day…

Betting on Wilson is betting on upside, a worthy risk to take when you are considering which mid-round college hitter to gamble on. See, the sad little truth about lists like this are that the players, while undeniably impressive and accomplished and talented, are more than likely never going to play in the big leagues. Heck, many of them won’t see AA. Once you get past the top two or three names on any of these college lists, it’s all a big guessing game. Educated guessing, to be sure, but guessing all the same. To make a long intro slightly less long, if you’re are going to bet on a mid-round college player, go for the rare guy with untapped potential. That’s Wilson. Here’s why…

I tend to overuse this word when writing about draft prospects, but it applies to Wilson so well here that I can’t help myself. Wilson is an interesting prospect. More than one team affiliated employee I spoke to used that word to describe Wilson in some way – “interesting upside,” “interesting bat,” and “interesting future.” Watch him for just a couple of innings and you’ll see evidence of all five tools right away. His bat is, well, interesting, and his power, while mostly to the gaps at this point, could top out with homer totals in the teens professionally. As a former quarterback unafraid to take off with the ball when needed, it comes as no surprise that his speed rates as an easy 60, with startlingly quick acceleration. Defensively he may have the speed, instincts, and athleticism to play up the middle (2B or CF), but his presence on this particular list is a bet on his plus arm playing best at third base over the long run. Wilson’s numbers this year were solid across the board, but his performance must be judged with his lack of college ball experiences prior to 2010 in mind. He needs more reps on the diamond, but if a team is patient with him they could be rewarded with a player who closely mirrors the Melvin Mora developmental path, something that will no doubt interest a big league club or two come draft day.

Wilson was a surprise fourth round pick by Colorado in 2010. He wound up only playing parts of two baseball seasons before “retiring,” transferring from NC State to Wisconsin, and having the crazy 2011 college season that will get him drafted next month. As a 22-year old in the South Atlantic League (Low-A) he hit .228/.366/.342 in 193 at bats with 15 steals in 17 attempts. Obviously not great numbers, but not terrible for his first full pro season. When you factor in his potential defensive value as a 2B, you see that maybe the Rockies were on to something with their widely panned “overdraft” of Wilson. For better or worse, we’ll never know what could have been for Wilson on the diamond; selfishly, I’ll admit that this kind of unknown isn’t a lot of fun for somebody as fascinated with the MLB Draft as I am, but it is never a bad thing when we get the chance to watch a talented athlete follow his dream in a sport he loves.

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First Impressions: 2010 MLB Draft Round 2

9 Jun 2010 6:06 AM / Leave a comment

The opinions below are all extremely preliminary and completely off the cuff, but, hey, isn’t that what the days directly following a draft are all about? I’m not sure how many rounds I’ll be able to get to because these take way longer than I had initially hoped, but I’m happy to keep them up if well received. Figuring out interesting post-draft content completely vexes me, so any and all ideas for draft recap stuff are welcomed. Me, I’d rather get started on the 2011 MLB Draft than anything else, but I realize how silly it is now to work all year towards covering every draft angle only to drop it the minute after draft day. There’s no closure that way. Help me help you get some closure!

Round 2

Five (5) Favorite Value Picks (all rankings are in order of selection; personal ranking for each category listed in parentheses)

2.51 Washington Nationals – San Diego LHP Sammy Solis (2)
2.54 Kansas City Royals – Arkansas OF/RHP Brett Eibner (3…4 if he plays the outfield instead of pitches)
2.57 Boston Red Sox – Texas RHP Brandon Workman (1)
2.76 Colorado Rockies – Texas Tech RHP Chad Bettis (5)
2.82 New York Yankees – Torrance HS (CA) OF Angelo Gumbs (4…3 if Eibner’s definitely playing the OF)

I feel like I’ve spent much of the past few weeks writing about college pitching, so I’ll leave the first four names on the list alone for now. Gumbs makes the list because he’s a toolsy prep position player who can, hang on to your hats, actually hit. Amazing how often something so seemingly inconsequential like making consistent hard contact with the bat can be. I also like Gumbs for his advanced plate discipline for a high school prospect and, as mentioned, five average at worst tools. If you didn’t like the Cito Culver first round pick for the Yankees, I’m here to say that Gumbs in the second more than makes up for it. Quality player.

Four (4) Questionable Picks

2.55 Cleveland Indians – Chipola JC (FL) CF LeVon Washington (4)
2.56 Arizona Diamondbacks – Nitro HS (WV) RHP JR Bradley (2)
2.64 Milwaukee Brewers – Alabama JR RHP Jimmy Nelson (1)
2.70 Atlanta Braves – Western Oklahoma State FR SS Andrelton Simmons (3)

Washington isn’t here because he’s a bad player by any means, but simply because he’s an overdraft at the early part of the second round. Bradley’s arm strength and plus control should help him through the low minors, but his secondary stuff needs a complete overhaul. Nelson’s upside isn’t on par with many of the prospects drafted around him. Simmons remains a big glove, little bat player who would be best served making the inevitable switch to the mound sooner rather than later. In other words, he’s Mychal Givens 2.0.

Three (3) Closest to the Show Picks

Sammy Solis
2.68 Detroit Tigers – Arkansas SO LHP Drew Smyly (2)
2.81 Los Angeles Angels – Florida Southern JR RHP Daniel Tillman (1)

RHPs Jacob Petricka, Bettis, Jordan Swagerty, and Perci Garner all should be quick movers as relief prospects often tend to speed through the minors, but, and I acknowledge the possibility I’m going overboard here, each pitcher has shown just enough of a third pitch in college to at least warrant a crack at starting out in the rotation. Their new teams may not agree with that assessment, but I’m stubborn enough that I’m going to believe in each guy as a potential big league starter despite mounting against my case. Other candidates for first to the big leagues include potential fourth outfielders Ryan LaMarre and Todd Cunningham, as well as 2B Jedd Gyorko. Gyorko’s advanced bat could help him speed through the low minors, but, anecdotal evidence alert, many of the players he has been compared to (Dan Uggla is the first that pops into my head) were slow to develop, one level at a time prospects. If you don’t buy that, then perhaps Gyorko’s iffy glove, or more specifically the numerous minor league ground balls he’ll have to take to get his glove ready for the majors, will be what keeps him down in the minors longer than expected.

Solis has the stuff and pitchability to advance in a hurry, but Washington may want to allow him some extra time to make up for college innings lost to injury. I went with Smyly over the more highly rated lefthanded pitching prospect Rob Rasmussen because of Detroit’s tendency to push young pitching. Call it an educated hunch. Tillman is the only college reliever taken in the round without any shot at starting professionally. The very quick pre-draft scouting report on Daniel Tillman, my 39th highest rated college righthanded pitching prospect:

Florida Southern JR RHP Daniel Tillman: 91-94 sinking FB, peaking 95-96; hard plus SL; 6-1, 185 pounds; dominant K numbers out of bullpen (56 K’s in 39.2 IP) ***

Two (2) High Risk Signability Picks

2.58 Houston Astros – Garey HS (CA) RHP Vincent Velasquez (2)
2.80 Toronto Blue Jays – University HS (FL) LHP Justin Nicolino (1)

The earlier the round, the more difficult it is to find players who aren’t likely to sign. Velasquez has a moderately strong commitment to Cal State Fullerton while Nicolino’s scholarship to Virginia ought to take a legitimately overslot deal to get his name on the dotted line. Both should sign without much of a problem, but that’s coming from a guy who thinks all of the names taken in round two will get deals done before too long.

One (1) Player You’d Bet Your Internet Reputation On Pick

2.57 Boston Red Sox – Texas RHP Brandon Workman

Workman over Solis by a fairly slim margin. Both profile as above-average, middle of the rotation or better big league starters. Excellent value for a second round pick, I think. Brandon Workman’s quick scouting report:

Texas JR RHP Brandon Workman: low-90s FB with serious sink, peak 95-97; plus high-70s CB; sinking CU with legit promise; usable low-80s SL; two biggest issues out of high school (mechanics and poor control) both ironed out after three years in Austin; 6-5, 225 pounds (4.30 FIP; 9.43 K/9; 1.89 BB/9)

That last part is what makes me happiest. Well, not the last last part (his park/schedule adjusted stats) or even the one before that (his size), but the one before that. How can you not root for a player who legitimately improved after three years of college? Look, I love college baseball. Countless interesting names to watch per major college team, heated rivalries, and the ultimate marriage of meaningful regular season play and dramatic postseason format all with the beautiful soundtrack of ping after ping in the background. How can you beat that? I love college baseball, but I can still admit that I hate the way certain college coaches worry more about winning one game than the long-term health and well being of their players. I know college athletics is big business, but I’m still of the belief the main purpose of college is to best prepare the youth of the country for life after college. If that’s the goal, then maybe having your prized starter throw 140+ pitches or start twice in a four day span or come out of the bullpen 48 hours after pitching a complete game or any number of the countless questionable decision isn’t the best way to prepare said prized starter for a successful career after graduation. Nothing frustrates me more to see a young arm abused before even getting the chance to play professional baseball. HOWEVER, it’s very rare that college coaching staffs receive any credit for player development. The perfect example of this was on the MLB Network telecast of the first round two nights ago. The talking heads couldn’t get over how many college players had gone undrafted out of high school. They credited big league scouting staffs for finding such players later rather than sooner. Right. How about giving some credit to the college coaching staffs that helped bring along these diamonds in the rough? Workman was an excellent prospect coming out of high school. He’s a better prospect now. Some of that should be attributed to his natural developmental growth curve, some should be given to the hard work and smarts of the player itself, and some is totally unknown, if we’re really being honest. But to only highlight college coaches when something bad happens and not acknowledge the many ways they help certain players grow is just plain silly. Workman improved for a lot of reasons; for me, there’s no doubt the Texas coaching staff has certainly been a major contributing factor in his improvement.

2010 MLB Draft: Initial Round Two Thoughts and Shadow Draft

8 Jun 2010 9:40 PM / 2 Comments on 2010 MLB Draft: Initial Round Two Thoughts and Shadow Draft

Just a few very quick notes on a select number of interesting round two choices. More to come later…

Washington Nationals – San Diego LHP Sammy Solis

First, the quick Sammy Solis (#3 on my list of ’10 lefthanded pitchers) scouting report…

90-92 FB pre-injury, now sitting more regularly 87-89, but pitch maintains serious late life through zone; plus 77-78 CU; excellent 71-75 CB when on; 76-78 mystery pitch that has been identified as either a harder CB with bite or the beginnings of a SL; coming back from ruptured disc in back; 6-5, 228 pounds; (4.07 FIP; 9.88 K/9; 2.09 BB/9)

Absolute home run of a selection, I think. Good enough FB, plus CU, and CB that flashes well above-average at times all packed into a durable frame with relatively low college mileage on his arm. Easy to start dreaming about a Nationals rotation of Stephen Strasburg, Jordan Zimmermann, and Sammy Solis at the top and a lineup featuring Bryce Harper, Ryan Zimmerman, Derek Norris, with Ian Desmond and Danny Espinosa consistently catching the ball up the middle…

Pittsburgh Pirates – St. Edward HS (OH) RHP Stetson Allie

I suppose the question as to whether or not the Pirates were going to play it safe or keep gambling on mid- to late-round prep pitching has been answered for now. I ignored too many red flags with Allie (iffy secondary stuff and poor control) in my final draft ranking and if I could do it all over again I would have had him slotted much lower. As it stands, he’s not a bad gamble here in the top of the second.

Tampa Bay Rays – Georgia Tech 3B Derek Dietrich

Boston Red Sox – Texas RHP Brandon Workman

I know I’m jumping ahead a bit, but this excites me. Tampa and Boston continue to just absolute kill it through the first two rounds. Derek Dietrich and Brandon Workman are two of my favorite college prospects. I like Dietrich’s relatively low floor as a potential starting big league third baseman and I love Workman’s front of the rotation stuff, as outlined in this handy dandy scouting report:

Texas JR RHP Brandon Workman: low-90s FB with serious sink, peak 95-97; plus high-70s CB; sinking CU with legit promise; usable low-80s SL; two biggest issues out of high school (mechanics and poor control) both ironed out after three years in Austin; 6-5, 225 pounds (4.30 FIP; 9.43 K/9; 1.89 BB/9)

Workman was #2 on my list of ’10 righthanded pitchers, for what it’s worth. I wonder if Tampa thinks a) Dietrich can stick at short next to Longoria b) handle second base professionally, or c) they were in a position to draft a quality bat and figured it never hurts to stockpile assets, position be damned. I lean towards that last option, but who knows…

I missed terribly on Andrelton Simmons, it appears. Never in a million years would I have slapped a second round grade or higher grade on him, but Atlanta clearly valued his defense highly enough to roll the dice he’ll bat will wake up someday.

I’m skipping ahead to do my annual Phillies shadow draft. Here’s what I would have done if given their allotment of picks…

Philadelphia Phillies Shadow Draft

1.27 – Harvard Westlake HS (CA) OF Austin Wilson
2.77 – Oviedo HS (FL) RHP AJ Cole
3.108 – San Diego JR RHP Kyle Blair
4.141 – Florida State JR OF Tyler Holt
5.171 –  Tattnall Square HS (GA) RHP DeAndre Smelter
6.201 – San Diego JR 3B Victor Sanchez
7.231 – Barbe HS (LA) 3B Garin Cecchini
8.261 – Archbishop Mitty HS (CA) SS James Roberts
9.291 – Vanderbilt JR C Curt Casali
10. 321 – Louisville SO OF Stewart Ijames

Wilson and Cole at the time are meant to act as insurance for one another. In a perfect world, both would be signed and in uniform within a few weeks, but, knowing full well both are major signability concerns, I’d live with getting one to sign on the dotted line. I know I’m way higher on both than just about anybody else, but I think landing either gives you a legitimate top half of the first round talent with your first pick. I’m sure there is more to say about this and much more, but it’s time to go watch Mike Stanton play baseball.

2010 MLB Draft – Day One Quick Recap

8 Jun 2010 5:36 AM / Leave a comment

FAVORITE DAY ONE DRAFTS (Multiple Picks)

Toronto Blue Jays

  • RHP Deck McGuire | RHP Aaron Sanchez | RHP Noah Syndergaard | RHP Asher Wojciechowski

Tampa Bay Rays

  • OF Josh Sale | C Justin O’Conner | OF Drew Vettleson

Boston Red Sox

  • 2B Kolbrin Vitek | OF Bryce Brentz | RHP Anthony Ranaudo

Detroit Tigers

  • 3B Nick Castellanos | RHP Chance Ruffin

Colorado Rockies

  • OF Kyle Parker | RHP Peter Tago

I know it’s probably a mistake to assume each player will have a successful big league career, but I have a hard time looking at Toronto’s quartet of righthanders and not seeing at least two above-average starting pitchers and one dominant reliever. A success rate like that would have the brains behind the Blue Jays thrilled. Tampa and Boston went in totally different directions, but achieved similarly fantastic results. The Rays added three plus prep bats (Sale and O’Conner were both at the top of their respective positions within the prep class) while the Red Sox took two advanced college hitters and a potential top of the rotation collegiate starting pitcher. I’ve noted the similarities between Vitek and Brentz in this space on more than one occasion, so it’s funny to see the two of them wind up with the same big league franchise. Now the question will be whether or not the two ever share the same outfield at Fenway or if Boston gives Vitek an honest shot at sticking in the infield. I don’t love the Ruffin pick by the Tigers (spending a top 50 pick on a college reliever without a dominant pitch?), but the upside of Castellanos more than makes up for it. Will he sign? What are his demands? Is it really possible for the Tigers to get this late in the draft without drafting a fireballing righthanded pitcher? So many questions, precious few answers. Actually, to go back to Ruffin for a minute, armed with the knowledge that fast tracking him in the bullpen would always be there as a safety net, I’d seriously consider giving him a shot in the rotation first. Colorado went for some serious upside with their first two selections. Parker in the Coors Field outfield is a scary thought, but it’s possible he was drafted with the idea he’d follow in Todd Helton’s footsteps at first after his contract is up. I’ve got a really strong intuitive feeling with Parker, but I’ve been wrong before so who knows. Tago had a first round grade from me, so picking him up earns the Rockies big points in my book.

FAVORITE DAY ONE 2010 MLB DRAFTS (One and Done)

Pittsburgh Pirates

  • RHP Jameson Taillon

San Diego Padres

  • RHP Karsten Whitson

Minnesota Twins

  • RHP Alex Wimmers

Chicago White Sox

  • LHP Chris Sale

Cincinnati Reds

  • C Yasmani Grandal

Milwaukee Brewers

  • RHP Dylan Covey

I wouldn’t normally give a team credit for taking the second best player in the draft with the second overall pick, but Pittsburgh did the absolute right thing by taking Taillon over Machado or the mystery college pitcher they were considering. Every other pick listed above represents the best value for the spot in the round that each team could have conceivably imagined heading into draft day. I’d argue the biggest winner of the group is Chicago taking Sale at 13. That’s some serious value.

LEAST FAVORITE DAY ONE 2010 MLB DRAFTS (Multiple Picks)

Los Angeles Angels

  • 3B Kaleb Cowart | RHP Cameron Bedrosian | OF Chevy Clarke | SS Taylor Lindsey | OF Ryan Bolden

Texas Rangers

  • OF Jake Skole | C Kellin Deglan | RHP Luke Jackson | 3B Mike Olt

Houston Astros

  • 2B Delino DeShields | RHP Mike Foltynewicz | C Michael Kvasnicka

I’m a big Bedrosian supporter, but the other four players drafted by the Angels all have big enough question marks to give me pause. I should probably give them the benefit of the doubt after snagging Mike Trout (a player I was not very high on) with their first pick last year, but their choices just didn’t seem to follow any kind of logical pattern to me. Texas did what they had to do because of their tight finances, but that’s a relatively weak haul on paper. The Astros continue to confound me with their draft day choices. They followed through on their desire to build up the middle defensively with the addition of DeShields, but I’ve got a hunch this pick will be remembered in much the same way Buffalo’s selection of Donte Whitner is held up as an unnecessary overdraft. That may not be the best example, but it’s the first that came to mind. Sorry, Bills fans. Anyway, the comparison may not even be fair because you have to believe the Astros had some kind of insider knowledge that another team was hot on DeShields in the middle of the first. Or not. You’re call. Either way, weird pick. Kvasnicka, too. A great deal of his value is tied up in his becoming a regular catcher, something that Houston probably hopes never happens on their watch with Jason Castro in the pipeline.

LEAST FAVORITE DAY ONE 2010 MLB DRAFTS (One and Done)

New York Yankees

  • SS Cito Culver

Arizona Diamondbacks

  • RHP Barret Loux

Chicago Cubs

  • RHP Hayden Simpson

Florida Marlins

  • 1B/OF Christian Yelich

San Francisco Giants

  • OF Gary Brown

None of the above picks are “bad” per se, they are just some of my least favorites. That’s a tiny disctinction to some, but it means a lot to me. Culver and Simpson will both go down as examples of extreme overdrafts and rightfully so; a potential defensive-first utility player and an above-average big league reliever should not be targeted in the first round of the draft. Loux will forever be compared with similarly talented (and, presumably, priced) righthanded college pitching prospects like Jesse Hahn, Addison Reed, and Asher Wojchiechowski.  I need a plus bat out of a prep 1B/corner OF, and Christian Yelich just doesn’t have it. Brown started the year as one of my favorite semi-sleeper prospects (I thought for a long time he might go within spitting distance of his more publicized teammate, Christian Colon), but somehow managed to turn me off while hitting .438. Go figure. It’s just so darn hard finding any amateur prospect with a walk rate as low as Brown’s having any kind of sustained big league success. He could be a major outlier as the rare no patience/little power player to succeed professionally, but that’s not something I’m willing to bet a first round pick on finding out.

Complete listing of supplemental first round selections after the jump…

(more…)

2010 MLB Draft Day Two Big Board

8 Jun 2010 3:51 AM / 2 Comments on 2010 MLB Draft Day Two Big Board

  1. Oviedo HS (FL) RHP AJ Cole
  2. Harvard Westlake HS (CA) OF Austin Wilson
  3. St. Edward HS (OH) RHP Stetson Allie
  4. Texas JR RHP Brandon Workman
  5. San Diego JR RHP Kyle Blair
  6. LHP James Paxton
  7. San Diego SO LHP Sammy Solis
  8. Arkansas JR RHP/OF Brett Eibner
  9. Aliso Niguel HS (CA) C Stefan Sabol
  10. Torrance HS (CA) OF Angelo Gumbs
  11. Barbe HS (LA) 3B Garin Cecchini
  12. Tattnall Square HS (GA) RHP DeAndre Smelter
  13. Tulane JR 3B Rob Segedin
  14. Florida State JR OF Tyler Holt
  15. Bonanza HS (NV) 3B Kris Bryant
  16. Pineview HS (UT) 3B Marcus Littlewood
  17. Martin HS (TX) OF Brian Ragira
  18. Georgia Tech JR 3B Derek Dietrich
  19. Virginia Tech JR OF Austin Wates
  20. Wabash Valley JC FR OF Mel Rojas
  21. Lakeland HS (FL) 3B Yordy Cabrera
  22. Fullerton Union HS (CA) 3B Dominic Ficociello
  23. San Diego State JR RHP Addison Reed
  24. Auburn JR OF Trent Mummey
  25. Louisville SO OF Stewart Ijames
  26. UCLA JR LHP Rob Rasmussen
  27. Community College of Southern Nevada RHP Donnie Roach
  28. Virginia Tech JR RHP Jesse Hahn
  29. Indiana State JR RHP Jake Petricka
  30. Rafael Lopez Landron HS (PR) OF Eddie Rosario
  31. Rancho Buena Vista HS (CA) 2B Tony Wolters
  32. Spanish Fork HS (UT) RHP Adam Duke
  33. Redwood Christian HS (CA) RHP AJ Vanegas
  34. Sierra Vista HS (NV) RHP Nick Kingham
  35. Upland HS (CA) RHP Scott Frazier
  36. Ohio JR OF Gauntlett Eldemire
  37. West Virginia JR 2B Jedd Gyorko
  38. Portland JR RHP Zach Varce
  39. Texas Tech JR RHP Chad Bettis
  40. Heritage HS (GA) C Tyler Austin
  41. Charlotte Christian HS (NC) Ty Linton
  42. Fullerton Union HS (CA) OF Michael Lorenzen
  43. Germantown Academy (PA) 2B Sean Coyle
  44. Wando HS (SC) RHP Drew Cisco
  45. Arizona State SO RHP/C Jordan Swagerty
  46. Oregon State JR LHP Josh Osich
  47. Grants Pass HS (OR) 3B Brandon Drury
  48. La Porte HS (TX) OF Kendrick Perkins
  49. Mater Dei HS (CA) OF Cory Hahn
  50. Wetumpka HS (AL) OF Reggie Golden
  51. St. Edward HS (OH) C Alex Lavisky
  52. La Costa Canyon HS (CA) C Will Swanner
  53. Cloverdale HS (CA) RHP Robby Rowland
  54. Hanahan HS (SC) RHP Bryce Hines
  55. Glendora HS (CA) RHP Adam Plutko
  56. Capistrano Valley HS (CA) RHP Brandon Brennan
  57. St. Paul HS (CA) RHP Gabriel Encinas
  58. Don Bosco Prep (NJ) RHP Eric Stevens
  59. Royal HS (CA) RHP Cody Buckel
  60. Heritage HS (TX) RHP Austin Kubitza
  61. Kansas State JR SS Carter Jurica
  62. Arkansas JR 1B Andy Wilkins
  63. Louisiana State JR C Micah Gibbs
  64. UCLA SO RHP Dan Klein
  65. Charleston Southern JR RHP/OF Tyler Thornburg
  66. Villanova SO C Matt Szczur
  67. West Oklahoma State JC SO OF Randolph Oduber
  68. South Carolina JR RHP Sam Dyson
  69. Chipola JC FR 2B LeVon Washington
  70. UC Riverside SO C Rob Brantly
  71. Auburn JR 1B Hunter Morris
  72. Pittsburgh JR 3B Joe Leonard
  73. Marina HS (CA) 3B Chad Lewis
  74. South Forsythe HS (GA) 2B Zach Alvord
  75. Virginia JR OF Jarrett Parker
  76. Louisiana State JR OF Leon Landry
  77. Jacksonville State JR OF Todd Cunningham
  78. St. Petersburg CC SO RHP Austin Wood
  79. Howard JC RHP Burch Smith
  80. Georgia JR RHP Justin Grimm
  81. Lakeland HS (FL) 1B Eric Arce
  82. Pepperdine SO RHP Cole Cook
  83. West Orange HS (FL) SS Mason Williams
  84. Archbishop Mitty HS (CA) SS James Roberts
  85. Richton HS (MS) SS Jacoby Jones
  86. Perpetuo Socorro HS (PR) SS Dickie Thon
  87. Oklahoma City JR 3B Matt Presley
  88. Stanford JR 2B Colin Walsh
  89. Duke JR SS Jake Lemmerman
  90. Flower Mound HS (TX) LHP Zak Adams
  91. Ashland HS (OR) RHP Ian Kendall
  92. Roswell HS (GA) RHP Andrew Smith
  93. Louisville SO 3B Phil Wunderlich
  94. UNC Wilmington JR C Cody Stanley
  95. Arkansas SO LHP Drew Smyly
  96. Louisville SR 1B Andrew Clark
  97. Texas JR C Cameron Rupp
  98. Kansas JR 3B Tony Thompson
  99. San Diego JR 3B Victor Sanchez
  100. Vanderbilt JR C Curt Casali
  101. Tennessee JR C Blake Forsythe
  102. Long Beach State JR SS Devin Lohman
  103. Felix Varela HS (FL) RHP John Barbato
  104. Bishop O’Dowd HS (CA) RHP Eric Jaffe
  105. Bullard HS (TX) RHP Nick Rumbelow
  106. Brazoswood HS (TX) RHP Tyler Green
  107. College Park HS (TX) RHP John Simms
  108. Blue Valley HS (KS) RHP Ryne Stanek
  109. Nitro HS (WV) RHP JR Bradley
  110. West Springfield HS (VA) RHP Bobby Wahl
  111. Suffern HS (NY) RHP Robbie Aviles
  112. Garey HS (CA) Vincent Velasquez
  113. Jefferson HS (IA) 2B Kellen Sweeney
  114. Wake Forest JR OF Steven Brooks
  115. Carl Albert HS (OK) C JT Realmuto
  116. Louisville SR 2B Adam Duvall
  117. Virginia JR 2B Phil Gosselin
  118. Barron Collier HS (FL) C Tyler Ross
  119. San Jacinton JC FR LHP Miguel Pena
  120. Bishop Eustace HS (NJ) C Greg Brodzinski
  121. Oregon State JR 3B Stefen Romero
  122. Fresno City College FR 3B David Rohm
  123. Coastal Carolina JR OF Rico Noel
  124. University HS (LA) 1B Austin Southall
  125. Elk Grove HS (CA) C Jake Rodriguez
  126. St. Mary’s Prep (MI) OF Korey Hall
  127. Carmel HS (IN) OF Conrad Gregor
  128. Michigan JR OF Ryan LaMarre
  129. Carroll HS (IN) OF Justin Glass
  130. Key West HS (FL) OF Michael Arencibia
  131. Los Osos HS (CA) C Jake Hernandez
  132. Miami JR LHP Chris Hernandez
  133. Florida JR LHP Kevin Chapman
  134. Alabama JR 2B Ross Wilson
  135. Alabama JR SS Josh Rutledge
  136. Mississippi State SR 1B Connor Powers
  137. Virginia Tech JR SS Tim Smalling
  138. Wichita State FR 3B Johnny Coy
  139. Texas State JR 3B Jason Martinson
  140. North Carolina State JR 3B Russell Wilson
  141. James Madison JR RHP Kevin Munson
  142. Oregon State JR OF Adalberto Santos
  143. Coastal Carolina JR 3B Scott Woodward
  144. Rice JR SS Rick Hague
  145. Tennessee JR LHP Bryan Morgado
  146. San Clemente HS (CA) C Aaron Jones
  147. Monterey HS (TX) C Tyler Pearson
  148. Bishop Moore HS (FL) LHP Jimmy Hodgskin
  149. Chandler HS (OK) RHP Jonathan Gray
  150. Bartlett HS (TN) RHP Taylor Morton
  151. Northwood HS (CA) RHP Zach Weiss
  152. Blue Valley Northwest HS (KS) RHP Jason Adam
  153. Pequannock Township HS (NJ) RHP Jordan Tabakman
  154. Jesuit HS (CA) RHP Dan Child
  155. TC Robertson HS (NC) SS Joel McKeithan
  156. Tennessee Tech JR 1B AJ Kirby-Jones
  157. Santana HS (CA) RHP Kyle Hayes
  158. Covington HS (LA) RHP Randy LeBlanc
  159. Grandview HS (CO) RHP Kevin Gausman
  160. Clearwater HS (FL) SS Sean O’Brien
  161. Cerritos CC SO 2B Joe Terry
  162. Brentwood HS (TN) LHP Robbie Ray
  163. Defiance HS (OH) RHP Dace Kime
  164. Centennial HS (NV) RHP Michael Wagner
  165. Northwood HS (NC) RHP Austin Brice
  166. Germantown Academy (PA) RHP Keenan Kish
  167. Catawba SR OF Wade Moore
  168. Catawba SR OF Craige Lyerly
  169. Yavapai JC SO DeMarcus Tidwell
  170. Granite City (IN) C Jake Depew
  171. Tampa Catholic HS (FL) C Shane Rowland
  172. Orangefield HS (TX) C Jacob Felts
  173. James Madison JR SS David Herbek
  174. Riverdale HS (FL) OF Kyle Waldrop
  175. San Jacinto SO OF Randall Thorpe
  176. Miami-Dade SO OF Jabari Blash
  177. Virginia JR OF Dan Grovatt
  178. Martin Luther King HS (GA) OF Trey Griffin
  179. Fayette County HS (GA) Niko Goodrum
  180. North Gwinnett HS (GA) OF Chris Hawkins
  181. Union Grove HS (GA) OF Jordan Akins
  182. Northside HS (GA) OF Kevin Jordan
  183. Oregon State JR LHP Tanner Robles
  184. North Carolina State JR RHP Jake Buchanan
  185. Virginia SR SS Tyler Cannon
  186. Azusa Pacific SR 3B Ryan Delgado
  187. Florida Southern JR 2B Wade Kirkland
  188. California JR 2B BJ Guinn
  189. Georgia Tech JR RHP Kevin Jacob
  190. Ball State SO RHP Perci Garner
  191. Northeast Texas CC SO RHP Zach Cates
  192. SUNY Oneonta JR RHP Dave Filak
  193. The Lakes HS (IN) LHP DJ Snelten
  194. Farragut HS (TN) RHP Nick Williams
  195. Dowling Catholic HS (IA) RHP Jonathan Musser
  196. Legacy HS (CO) RHP Kevin Walter
  197. Effingham HS (IN) RHP Chad Green
  198. Linden HS (CA) RHP Aaron Judge
  199. Poway HS (CA) RHP Evan Thomas
  200. Terry HS (MS) OF Deshun Dixon
  201. University HS (FL) LHP Justin Nicolino
  202. South Harrison HS (MO) LHP Jordan Shipers
  203. South Doyle HS (TN) 3B Matt Kirkland
  204. Pope HS (GA) 2B Steve Wilkerson
  205. Whitewaster HS (GA) 2B D’Monte Grissom
  206. Brooks-DeBartolo HS (FL) 2B JD Williams
  207. Great Oak HS (CA) 2B Brad Salgado
  208. Burbank HS (CA) 2B Lonnie Kauppila
  209. Floyd Central HS (IN) RHP Jeff Thompson
  210. Mount Zion HS (IN) RHP Ryan Hartman
  211. Weathernford HS (OK) LHP Dillon Overton
  212. Tampa Jesuit HS (FL) LHP Daniel Gibson
  213. Redlands East Valley HS (CA) LHP Griffin Murphy
  214. Amherst Regional HS (MA) LHP Kevin Ziomek
  215. South City North HS (IA) 3B Damek Tomscha
  216. Lower Columbia FR RHP Jeff Ames
  217. Michigan JR RHP Tyler Burgoon
  218. Coastal Carolina SR C Jose Iglesias
  219. Santa Clara SR C Tommy Medica
  220. Kent Denver HS (CO) C Paul Donahue
  221. Scripps Ranch HS (CA) C Wynston Sawyer
  222. Lassiter HS (GA) C Brandon Stephens
  223. Chaparral HS (AZ) SS James McDonald
  224. Severna Park HS (MD) SS Kyle Convissar
  225. Wayne County HS (MS) SS DeMarcus Henderson
  226. Wheeler HS (GA) OF DK Carey
  227. Mahwah HS (NJ) OF Anthony D’Alessandro
  228. Silverado HS (NV) OF Drew Robinson
  229. Boonville HS (MO) OF Chuckie Jones
  230. Portsmouth HS (NH) 1B Mike Montville
  231. East Carolina SR 1B Kyle Roller
  232. Gahr HS (CA) OF Brenton Allen
  233. Copiah Academy (MS) C Hunter Renfroe
  234. Joliet Township HS (IN) C Mike Hollenbeck
  235. Eastside Catholic HS (WA) RHP Sam Lindquist
  236. Kempner HS (TX) RHP Trevor Teykl
  237. Hopkinsville HS (KY) RHP Justin Hageman
  238. Mill Creek HS (GA) RHP Matt Grimes
  239. Xavier HS (IA) RHP Jon Keller
  240. Hueneme HS (CA) RHP Jesus Valdez
  241. Oxnard FR OF Harper White
  242. Rutgers JR 2B Brandon Boykin
  243. Tennessee JR 3B Matt Duffy
  244. Kansas SR 2B Robby Price
  245. Kentucky JR 2B Chris Bisson
  246. Texas Tech JR RHP Bobby Doran
  247. Houston SO RHP Michael Goodnight
  248. Virginia Tech SO RHP Mathew Price
  249. Texas Christian SR C Bryan Holaday
  250. Clemson JR OF Jeff Schaus
  251. Bowling Green JR RHP Brennan Smith
  252. Wichita State SO RHP Jordan Cooper
  253. Georgia State JR RHP David Buchanan
  254. Eloisa Pascual HS (PR) C Roberto Pena
  255. George Washington HS (NY) SS Mike Antonio
  256. North Hunterdon HS (NJ) OF Tom Zengel
  257. Eldorado HS (NM) OF Sam Wilson
  258. Galena HS (NV) OF Brian Pointer
  259. Red Bank Regional HS (NJ) OF Jake Kalish
  260. Highline HS (UT) OF Ryan Brett
  261. Graham HS (NC) C Matt Roberts
  262. Nebraska City HS (NE) LHP Logan Ehlers
  263. Santa Margarita HS (CA) LHP Kyle Richter
  264. Rancho Cucamonga HS (CA) RHP Austin Reed
  265. Rocky Mountain HS (CO) Marco Gonzales
  266. Pennsauken HS (NJ) LHP Rolando Gautier
  267. Oak Hills HS (OH) LHP Joel Bender
  268. Sinclair HS (Ontario) LHP Evan Grills
  269. Hillcrest HS (AL) C Case Nixon
  270. Rutgers JR OF Pat Biserta
  271. California JR OF Mark Canha
  272. Florida Southern JR RHP Daniel Tillman
  273. Texas Christian SR 1B Matt Curry
  274. Georgia Tech SR 1B Tony Plagman
  275. Louisiana State SR 1B Blake Dean
  276. Charlotte Christian HS (NC) 3B Jake Watson
  277. Pinnacle HS (AZ) 1B TC Mark
  278. Poquoson HS (VA) SS Chad Pinder
  279. Clemson JR RHP Josh Thrailkill
  280. Alabama SR 1B Clay Jones
  281. Washington JR 1B Troy Scott
  282. Clemson SO 3B John Hinson
  283. Missouri SR OF Aaron Senne
  284. Arizona State SO SS Drew Maggi
  285. Southern JR 2B Curtis Wilson
  286. Turner Ashley HS (VA) 2B Ty McFarland
  287. East Carolina JR OF Devin Harris
  288. Texas JR OF Kevin Keyes
  289. Auburn JR OF Kevin Patterson
  290. Pacific JR OF Nick Longmire
  291. Murrieta Valley HS (CA) RHP Sebastian Santos
  292. Sahuaro HS (AZ) RHP Jake Cole
  293. Florida State JR LHP John Gast
  294. Rutgers JR OF Jaren Matthews
  295. Auburn JR OF Brian Fletcher
  296. Ohio JR OF Robert Maddox
  297. Forrest City HS (AR) RHP Barrett Astin
  298. Nebraska JR RHP Michael Mariot
  299. Sam Houston State JR RHP Dallas Gallant
  300. Texas-Arlington JR RHP Rett Varner

2010 MLB Draft Day One Big Board

7 Jun 2010 10:02 PM / 2 Comments on 2010 MLB Draft Day One Big Board

So excited! I thought about breaking out the gigantic version of the big board, but instead will stick with our first day only board for now. Tonight 50 players are going to get picked. I don’t think they will be the 50 guys listed below, of course, but that doesn’t stop me from thinking they are the best 50 players in this year’s draft. My personal 2010 MLB Draft Day One Big Board…
  1. Community College of Southern Nevada FR C Bryce Harper
  2. The Woodlands HS (TX) RHP Jameson Taillon
  3. Oviedo HS (FL) RHP AJ Cole
  4. Chipley HS RHP Karsten Whitson
  5. Harvard Westlake HS (CA) OF Austin Wilson
  6. Archbishop McCarthy HS (FL) 3B Nick Castellanos
  7. St. Edward HS (OH) RHP Stetson Allie
  8. North Carolina JR RHP Matt Harvey
  9. Florida Gulf Coast LHP Chris Sale
  10. Texas JR RHP Brandon Workman
  11. Georgia Tech JR RHP Deck McGuire
  12. Cowan HS (IN) C Justin O’Conner
  13. Brito Private HS (FL) SS Manny Machado
  14. Bishop Blanchet HS (WA) OF Josh Sale
  15. San Diego JR RHP Kyle Blair
  16. LHP James Paxton
  17. Ohio State JR RHP Alex Wimmers
  18. San Diego SO LHP Sammy Solis
  19. Mississippi JR LHP Drew Pomeranz
  20. Maranatha HS (CA) RHP Dylan Covey
  21. Texas Arlington JR OF Michael Choice
  22. Arkansas JR RHP/OF Brett Eibner
  23. Louisiana State JR RHP Anthony Ranaudo
  24. Ball State JR 2B Kolbrin Vitek
  25. Miami JR C Yasmani Grandal
  26. The Citadel JR RHP Asher Wojchiechowski
  27. Cook County HS (GA) 3B Kaleb Cowart
  28. Aliso Niguel HS (CA) C Stefan Sabol
  29. Torrance HS (CA) OF Angelo Gumbs
  30. Barbe HS (LA) 3B Garin Cecchini
  31. East Coweta HS (GA) RHP Cameron Bedrosian
  32. Dana Hills HS (CA) RHP Peter Tago
  33. Tattnall Square HS (GA) RHP DeAndre Smelter
  34. Germantown Friends HS (PA) LHP Jesse Biddle
  35. Henderson HS (TX) RHP Tyrell Jenkins
  36. Tulane JR 3B Rob Segedin
  37. Arkansas SO 3B Zack Cox
  38. Florida State JR OF Tyler Holt
  39. Bonanza HS (NV) 3B Kris Bryant
  40. Pineview HS (UT) 3B Marcus Littlewood
  41. Marietta HS (GA) OF Chevez Clarke
  42. Martin HS (TX) OF Brian Ragira
  43. Westlake HS (CA) 1B Christian Yelich
  44. Georgia Tech JR 3B Derek Dietrich
  45. Virginia Tech JR OF Austin Wates
  46. Cal State Fullerton JR SS Christian Colon
  47. Wabash Valley JC FR OF Mel Rojas
  48. Lakeland HS (FL) 3B Yordy Cabrera
  49. Fullerton Union HS (CA) 3B Dominic Ficociello
  50. Yucaipa HS (CA) RHP Taijuan Walker
  51. McKinney HS (TX) RHP Zach Lee

2010 MLB Draft: Top 201 College Prospects

7 Jun 2010 10:20 AM / 1 Comment on 2010 MLB Draft: Top 201 College Prospects

I have no idea how I decided to stop at 200, but I figured at some point lists like this get unwieldy. Check the post right below for the matching list for prep players and be sure to read later on to see the complete board…

  1. Community College of Southern Nevada FR C Bryce Harper
  2. North Carolina JR RHP Matt Harvey
  3. Texas JR RHP Brandon Workman
  4. Georgia Tech JR RHP Deck McGuire
  5. San Diego JR RHP Kyle Blair
  6. LHP James Paxton
  7. Ohio State JR RHP Alex Wimmers
  8. San Diego SO LHP Sammy Solis
  9. Mississippi JR LHP Drew Pomeranz
  10. Texas Arlington JR OF Michael Choice
  11. Arkansas JR RHP/OF Brett Eibner
  12. Louisiana State JR RHP Anthony Ranaudo
  13. Ball State JR 2B Kolbrin Vitek
  14. Miami JR C Yasmani Grandal
  15. The Citadel JR RHP Asher Wojchiechowski
  16. Tulane JR 3B Rob Segedin
  17. Arkansas SO 3B Zack Cox
  18. Florida State JR OF Tyler Holt
  19. Georgia Tech JR 3B Derek Dietrich
  20. Virginia Tech JR OF Austin Wates
  21. Cal State Fullerton JR SS Christian Colon
  22. Wabash Valley JC FR OF Mel Rojas
  23. San Diego State JR RHP Addison Reed
  24. Auburn JR OF Trent Mummey
  25. Louisville SO OF Stewart Ijames
  26. Middle Tennessee State JR OF Bryce Brentz
  27. UCLA JR LHP Rob Rasmussen
  28. Community College of Southern Nevada RHP Donnie Roach
  29. Virginia Tech JR RHP Jesse Hahn
  30. Indiana State JR RHP Jake Petricka
  31. Texas A&M JR RHP Barret Loux
  32. Ohio JR OF Gauntlett Eldemire
  33. West Virginia JR 2B Jedd Gyorko
  34. Portland JR RHP Zach Varce
  35. Texas Tech JR RHP Chad Bettis
  36. Clemson JR OF Kyle Parker
  37. Minnesota JR C Mike Kvasnicka
  38. Arizona State SO RHP/C Jordan Swagerty
  39. Oregon State JR LHP Josh Osich
  40. Kansas State JR SS Carter Jurica
  41. Arkansas JR 1B Andy Wilkins
  42. Louisiana State JR C Micah Gibbs
  43. UCLA SO RHP Dan Klein
  44. Charleston Southern JR RHP/OF Tyler Thornburg
  45. Villanova SO C Matt Szczur
  46. West Oklahoma State JC SO OF Randolph Oduber
  47. South Carolina JR RHP Sam Dyson
  48. Chipola JC FR 2B LeVon Washington
  49. UC Riverside SO C Rob Brantly
  50. Auburn JR 1B Hunter Morris
  51. Pittsburgh JR 3B Joe Leonard
  52. Virginia JR OF Jarrett Parker
  53. Louisiana State JR OF Leon Landry
  54. Jacksonville State JR OF Todd Cunningham
  55. St. Petersburg CC SO RHP Austin Wood
  56. Howard JC RHP Burch Smith
  57. Georgia JR RHP Justin Grimm
  58. Arizona State JR RHP Seth Blair
  59. Pepperdine SO RHP Cole Cook
  60. Oklahoma City JR 3B Matt Presley
  61. Stanford JR 2B Colin Walsh
  62. Duke JR SS Jake Lemmerman
  63. Louisville SO 3B Phil Wunderlich
  64. UNC Wilmington JR C Cody Stanley
  65. Arkansas SO LHP Drew Smyly
  66. Louisville SR 1B Andrew Clark
  67. Texas JR C Cameron Rupp
  68. Kansas JR 3B Tony Thompson
  69. San Diego JR 3B Victor Sanchez
  70. Connecticut JR 3B Mike Olt
  71. Vanderbilt JR C Curt Casali
  72. Tennessee JR C Blake Forsythe
  73. Long Beach State JR SS Devin Lohman
  74. Wake Forest JR OF Steven Brooks
  75. Louisville SR 2B Adam Duvall
  76. Virginia JR 2B Phil Gosselin
  77. San Jacinton JC FR LHP Miguel Pena
  78. Oregon State JR 3B Stefen Romero
  79. Fresno City College FR 3B David Rohm
  80. Coastal Carolina JR OF Rico Noel
  81. Cal State Fullerton JR OF Gary Brown
  82. Michigan JR OF Ryan LaMarre
  83. Miami JR LHP Chris Hernandez
  84. Florida JR LHP Kevin Chapman
  85. Alabama JR 2B Ross Wilson
  86. Alabama JR SS Josh Rutledge
  87. Mississippi State SR 1B Connor Powers
  88. Virginia Tech JR SS Tim Smalling
  89. Wichita State FR 3B Johnny Coy
  90. Texas State JR 3B Jason Martinson
  91. North Carolina State JR 3B Russell Wilson
  92. James Madison JR RHP Kevin Munson
  93. Oregon State JR OF Adalberto Santos
  94. Coastal Carolina JR 3B Scott Woodward
  95. Rice JR SS Rick Hague
  96. Tennessee JR LHP Bryan Morgado
  97. Tennessee Tech JR 1B AJ Kirby-Jones
  98. Cerritos CC SO 2B Joe Terry
  99. Catawba SR OF Wade Moore
  100. Catawba SR OF Craige Lyerly
  101. Yavapai JC SO DeMarcus Tidwell
  102. James Madison JR SS David Herbek
  103. San Jacinto SO OF Randall Thorpe
  104. Miami-Dade SO OF Jabari Blash
  105. Virginia JR OF Dan Grovatt
  106. Oregon State JR LHP Tanner Robles
  107. North Carolina State JR RHP Jake Buchanan
  108. Virginia SR SS Tyler Cannon
  109. Azusa Pacific SR 3B Ryan Delgado
  110. Florida Southern JR 2B Wade Kirkland
  111. California JR 2B BJ Guinn
  112. Georgia Tech JR RHP Kevin Jacob
  113. Ball State SO RHP Perci Garner
  114. Northeast Texas CC SO RHP Zach Cates
  115. SUNY Oneonta JR RHP Dave Filak
  116. Lower Columbia FR RHP Jeff Ames
  117. Michigan JR RHP Tyler Burgoon
  118. Coastal Carolina SR C Jose Iglesias
  119. Santa Clara SR C Tommy Medica
  120. East Carolina SR 1B Kyle Roller
  121. Oxnard FR OF Harper White
  122. Rutgers JR 2B Brandon Boykin
  123. Tennessee JR 3B Matt Duffy
  124. Kansas SR 2B Robby Price
  125. Kentucky JR 2B Chris Bisson
  126. Texas Tech JR RHP Bobby Doran
  127. Houston SO RHP Michael Goodnight
  128. Virginia Tech SO RHP Mathew Price
  129. Texas Christian SR C Bryan Holaday
  130. Clemson JR OF Jeff Schaus
  131. Bowling Green JR RHP Brennan Smith
  132. Wichita State SO RHP Jordan Cooper
  133. Georgia State JR RHP David Buchanan
  134. Rutgers JR OF Pat Biserta
  135. California JR OF Mark Canha
  136. Florida Southern JR RHP Daniel Tillman
  137. Texas Christian SR 1B Matt Curry
  138. Georgia Tech SR 1B Tony Plagman
  139. Louisiana State SR 1B Blake Dean
  140. Clemson JR RHP Josh Thrailkill
  141. Alabama SR 1B Clay Jones
  142. Washington JR 1B Troy Scott
  143. Clemson SO 3B John Hinson
  144. Missouri SR OF Aaron Senne
  145. Arizona State SO SS Drew Maggi
  146. Southern JR 2B Curtis Wilson
  147. East Carolina JR OF Devin Harris
  148. Texas JR OF Kevin Keyes
  149. Auburn JR OF Kevin Patterson
  150. Pacific JR OF Nick Longmire
  151. Florida State JR LHP John Gast
  152. Rutgers JR OF Jaren Matthews
  153. Auburn JR OF Brian Fletcher
  154. Ohio JR OF Robert Maddox
  155. Nebraska JR RHP Michael Mariot
  156. Sam Houston State JR RHP Dallas Gallant
  157. Texas-Arlington JR RHP Rett Varner
  158. San Jacinto JC RHP Clay Schrader
  159. Virginia JR RHP Tyler Wilson
  160. Louisville JR RHP Thomas Royse
  161. South Florida JR RHP Randy Fontanez
  162. Fresno State JR SS Danny Muno
  163. Cal State Fullerton JR 2B Corey Jones
  164. North Carolina JR C Jesse Wierzbicki
  165. Boston College JR 1B Mickey Wiswall
  166. Canisius JR 2B Steve McQuail
  167. Clemson SR 2B Mike Freeman
  168. Miami SR 2B Scott Lawson
  169. Mt. Hood CC SO 1B Taylor Ard
  170. Tampa JR OF Jared Simon
  171. Sonoma State JR OF Kyle Jones
  172. Florida Southern SR OF Trae Gore
  173. North Carolina JR RHP Colin Bates
  174. Eastern Illinois JR RHP Josh Mueller
  175. Minnesota JR RHP Seth Rosin
  176. East Carolina JR SS Dustin Harrington
  177. Alabama SR 3B Jake Smith
  178. Georgia Southern SR 2B AJ Wirnsberger
  179. College of Charleston SR 2B Joey Bergman
  180. Florida JR 2B Josh Adams
  181. San Diego SR RHP AJ Griffin
  182. Mississippi SR RHP Aaron Barrett
  183. Vanderbilt JR RHP Taylor Hill
  184. Oregon SR RHP Justin LaTempa
  185. Oregon State JR RHP Greg Peavey
  186. Georgia SO RHP Michael Palazzone
  187. Central Florida SR OF Chris Duffy
  188. Furman JR 3B Brian Harrison
  189. San Francisco JR 3B Stephen Yarrow
  190. James Madison JR RHP Turner Phelps
  191. Missouri JR RHP Nick Tepesch
  192. Long Beach State JR RHP Jake Thompson
  193. Loyola Marymount SO RHP Martin Viramontes
  194. California SO RHP Dixon Anderson
  195. Boston College JR LHP Pat Dean
  196. Bucknell SR OF Andrew Brouse
  197. North Carolina State JR C Chris Schaeffer
  198. Nebraska-Omaha JR OF Ryan Hook
  199. Oklahoma SO 3B Garrett Buechele
  200. Lewis-Clark State JR C Kawika Emsley-Pai
  201. Community College of Southern Nevada SO RHP Tyler Hanks

2010 MLB Draft: Top 200 High School Prospects

7 Jun 2010 10:10 AM / 9 Comments on 2010 MLB Draft: Top 200 High School Prospects

No explanations or mini-scouting reports for the prep guys due to the lack of time between now and 6 PM, but I do have enough stuff written up on each guy currently in the vault to share if anybody wants to either know more about a prospect or get a clarification over why Player X is ahead of Player Y. The last thing that’ll probably go up between now and the moment Washington takes Bryce Harper will be the 2010 MLB Draft Top 350 (give or take) Big Board.
  1. The Woodlands HS (TX) RHP Jameson Taillon
  2. Oviedo HS (FL) RHP AJ Cole
  3. Chipley HS RHP Karsten Whitson
  4. Harvard Westlake HS (CA) OF Austin Wilson
  5. Archbishop McCarthy HS (FL) 3B Nick Castellanos
  6. St. Edward HS (OH) RHP Stetson Allie
  7. Cowan HS (IN) C Justin O’Conner
  8. Brito Private HS (FL) SS Manny Machado
  9. Bishop Blanchet HS (WA) OF Josh Sale
  10. Maranatha HS (CA) RHP Dylan Covey
  11. Cook County HS (GA) 3B Kaleb Cowart
  12. Aliso Niguel HS (CA) C Stefan Sabol
  13. Torrance HS (CA) OF Angelo Gumbs
  14. Barbe HS (LA) 3B Garin Cecchini
  15. East Coweta HS (GA) RHP Cameron Bedrosian
  16. Dana Hills HS (CA) RHP Peter Tago
  17. Tattnall Square HS (GA) RHP DeAndre Smelter
  18. Germantown Friends HS (PA) LHP Jesse Biddle
  19. Henderson HS (TX) RHP Tyrell Jenkins
  20. Bonanza HS (NV) 3B Kris Bryant
  21. Pineview HS (UT) 3B Marcus Littlewood
  22. Marietta HS (GA) OF Chevez Clarke
  23. Martin HS (TX) OF Brian Ragira
  24. Westlake HS (CA) Christian Yelich
  25. Lakeland HS (FL) 3B Yordy Cabrera
  26. Fullerton Union HS (CA) 3B Dominic Ficociello
  27. Yucaipa HS (CA) RHP Taijuan Walker
  28. McKinney HS (TX) RHP Zach Lee
  29. Palo Alto HS (CA) OF Joc Pederson
  30. Rafael Lopez Landron HS (PR) OF Eddie Rosario
  31. Rancho Buena Vista HS (CA) 2B Tony Wolters
  32. Calvary Christian HS (FL) RHP Luke Jackson
  33. Spanish Fork HS (UT) RHP Adam Duke
  34. Barstow HS (CA) RHP Aaron Sanchez
  35. Redwood Christian HS (CA) RHP AJ Vanegas
  36. Sierra Vista HS (NV) RHP Nick Kingham
  37. Upland HS (CA) RHP Scott Frazier
  38. Heritage HS (GA) C Tyler Austin
  39. Charlotte Christian HS (NC) Ty Linton
  40. Fullerton Union HS (CA) OF Michael Lorenzen
  41. Germantown Academy (PA) 2B Sean Coyle
  42. Wando HS (SC) RHP Drew Cisco
  43. Grants Pass HS (OR) 3B Brandon Drury
  44. Langley, British Columbia C Kellin Deglan
  45. La Porte HS (TX) OF Kendrick Perkins
  46. Woodward Academy (GA) 2B Delino DeShields
  47. Mater Dei HS (CA) OF Cory Hahn
  48. Wetumpka HS (AL) OF Reggie Golden
  49. St. Edward HS (OH) C Alex Lavisky
  50. La Costa Canyon HS (CA) C Will Swanner
  51. Cloverdale HS (CA) RHP Robby Rowland
  52. Hanahan HS (SC) RHP Bryce Hines
  53. Glendora HS (CA) RHP Adam Plutko
  54. Minooka Community HS (IL) RHP Mike Foltynewicz
  55. Capistrano Valley HS (CA) RHP Brandon Brennan
  56. St. Paul HS (CA) RHP Gabriel Encinas
  57. Don Bosco Prep (NJ) RHP Eric Stevens
  58. Royal HS (CA) RHP Cody Buckel
  59. Heritage HS (TX) RHP Austin Kubitza
  60. Marina HS (CA) 3B Chad Lewis
  61. South Forsythe HS (GA) 2B Zach Alvord
  62. McKinney HS (TX) 2B Matt Lipka
  63. Lakeland HS (FL) 1B Eric Arce
  64. West Orange HS (FL) SS Mason Williams
  65. Archbishop Mitty HS (CA) SS James Roberts
  66. Richton HS (MS) SS Jacoby Jones
  67. Perpetuo Socorro HS (PR) SS Dickie Thon
  68. Flower Mound HS (TX) LHP Zak Adams
  69. Ashland HS (OR) RHP Ian Kendall
  70. Roswell HS (GA) RHP Andrew Smith
  71. Felix Varela HS (FL) RHP John Barbato
  72. Bishop O’Dowd HS (CA) RHP Eric Jaffe
  73. Bullard HS (TX) RHP Nick Rumbelow
  74. Brazoswood HS (TX) RHP Tyler Green
  75. College Park HS (TX) RHP John Simms
  76. Blue Valley HS (KS) RHP Ryne Stanek
  77. Nitro HS (WV) RHP JR Bradley
  78. West Springfield HS (VA) RHP Bobby Wahl
  79. Suffern HS (NY) RHP Robbie Aviles
  80. Garey HS (CA) Vincent Velasquez
  81. Jefferson HS (IA) 2B Kellen Sweeney
  82. Carl Albert HS (OK) C JT Realmuto
  83. Barron Collier HS (FL) C Tyler Ross
  84. Bishop Eustace HS (NJ) C Greg Brodzinski
  85. University HS (LA) 1B Austin Southall
  86. Elk Grove HS (CA) C Jake Rodriguez
  87. St. Mary’s Prep (MI) OF Korey Hall
  88. Carmel HS (IN) OF Conrad Gregor
  89. Carroll HS (IN) OF Justin Glass
  90. Key West HS (FL) OF Michael Arencibia
  91. Los Osos HS (CA) C Jake Hernandez
  92. San Clemente HS (CA) C Aaron Jones
  93. Monterey HS (TX) C Tyler Pearson
  94. Bishop Moore HS (FL) LHP Jimmy Hodgskin
  95. Chandler HS (OK) RHP Jonathan Gray
  96. Bartlett HS (TN) RHP Taylor Morton
  97. Northwood HS (CA) RHP Zach Weiss
  98. Blue Valley Northwest HS (KS) RHP Jason Adam
  99. Pequannock Township HS (NJ) RHP Jordan Tabakman
  100. Jesuit HS (CA) RHP Dan Child
  101. TC Robertson HS (NC) SS Joel McKeithan
  102. Santana HS (CA) RHP Kyle Hayes
  103. Covington HS (LA) RHP Randy LeBlanc
  104. Grandview HS (CO) RHP Kevin Gausman
  105. Clearwater HS (FL) SS Sean O’Brien
  106. Brentwood HS (TN) LHP Robbie Ray
  107. Defiance HS (OH) RHP Dace Kime
  108. Centennial HS (NV) RHP Michael Wagner
  109. Northwood HS (NC) RHP Austin Brice
  110. Germantown Academy (PA) RHP Keenan Kish
  111. Granite City (IN) C Jake Depew
  112. Tampa Catholic HS (FL) C Shane Rowland
  113. Orangefield HS (TX) C Jacob Felts
  114. Riverdale HS (FL) OF Kyle Waldrop
  115. Martin Luther King HS (GA) OF Trey Griffin
  116. Fayette County HS (GA) Niko Goodrum
  117. North Gwinnett HS (GA) OF Chris Hawkins
  118. Madison Central HS (MS) OF Ryan Bolden
  119. Blessed Trinity HS (GA) OF Jake Skole
  120. Union Grove HS (GA) OF Jordan Akins
  121. Northside HS (GA) OF Kevin Jordan
  122. The Lakes HS (IN) LHP DJ Snelten
  123. Farragut HS (TN) RHP Nick Williams
  124. Dowling Catholic HS (IA) RHP Jonathan Musser
  125. Legacy HS (CO) RHP Kevin Walter
  126. Effingham HS (IN) RHP Chad Green
  127. Linden HS (CA) RHP Aaron Judge
  128. Poway HS (CA) RHP Evan Thomas
  129. Terry HS (MS) OF Deshun Dixon
  130. University HS (FL) LHP Justin Nicolino
  131. South Harrison HS (MO) LHP Jordan Shipers
  132. South Doyle HS (TN) 3B Matt Kirkland
  133. Pope HS (GA) 2B Steve Wilkerson
  134. Whitewaster HS (GA) 2B D’Monte Grissom
  135. Brooks-DeBartolo HS (FL) 2B JD Williams
  136. Great Oak HS (CA) 2B Brad Salgado
  137. Burbank HS (CA) 2B Lonnie Kauppila
  138. Floyd Central HS (IN) RHP Jeff Thompson
  139. Mount Zion HS (IN) RHP Ryan Hartman
  140. Weathernford HS (OK) LHP Dillon Overton
  141. Tampa Jesuit HS (FL) LHP Daniel Gibson
  142. Redlands East Valley HS (CA) LHP Griffin Murphy
  143. Amherst Regional HS (MA) LHP Kevin Ziomek
  144. South City North HS (IA) 3B Damek Tomscha
  145. Kent Denver HS (CO) C Paul Donahue
  146. Scripps Ranch HS (CA) C Wynston Sawyer
  147. Lassiter HS (GA) C Brandon Stephens
  148. Chaparral HS (AZ) SS James McDonald
  149. Severna Park HS (MD) SS Kyle Convissar
  150. Wayne County HS (MS) SS DeMarcus Henderson
  151. Wheeler HS (GA) 2B DK Carey
  152. Desert Mountain HS (AZ) OF Taylor Lindsey
  153. Mahwah HS (NJ) OF Anthony D’Alessandro
  154. Silverado HS (NV) OF Drew Robinson
  155. Boonville HS (MO) OF Chuckie Jones
  156. West Irondequoit HS (NY) SS Cito Culver
  157. Portsmouth HS (NH) 1B Mike Montville
  158. Gahr HS (CA) OF Brenton Allen
  159. Copiah Academy (MS) C Hunter Renfroe
  160. Joliet Township HS (IN) C Mike Hollenbeck
  161. Eastside Catholic HS (WA) RHP Sam Lindquist
  162. Kempner HS (TX) RHP Trevor Teykl
  163. Hopkinsville HS (KY) RHP Justin Hageman
  164. Mill Creek HS (GA) RHP Matt Grimes
  165. Xavier HS (IA) RHP Jon Keller
  166. Hueneme HS (CA) RHP Jesus Valdez
  167. Eloisa Pascual HS (PR) C Roberto Pena
  168. George Washington HS (NY) SS Mike Antonio
  169. North Hunterdon HS (NJ) OF Tom Zengel
  170. Eldorado HS (NM) OF Sam Wilson
  171. Galena HS (NV) OF Brian Pointer
  172. Red Bank Regional HS (NJ) OF Jake Kalish
  173. Highline HS (UT) OF Ryan Brett
  174. Graham HS (NC) C Matt Roberts
  175. Nebraska City HS (NE) LHP Logan Ehlers
  176. Santa Margarita HS (CA) LHP Kyle Richter
  177. Rancho Cucamonga HS (CA) RHP Austin Reed
  178. Rocky Mountain HS (CO) Marco Gonzales
  179. Pennsauken HS (NJ) LHP Rolando Gautier
  180. Oak Hills HS (OH) LHP Joel Bender
  181. Sinclair HS (Ontario) LHP Evan Grills
  182. Hillcrest HS (AL) C Case Nixon
  183. Charlotte Christian HS (NC) 3B Jake Watson
  184. Pinnacle HS (AZ) 1B TC Mark
  185. Poquoson HS (VA) SS Chad Pinder
  186. Turner Ashley HS (VA) 2B Ty McFarland
  187. Murrieta Valley HS (CA) RHP Sebastian Santos
  188. Sahuaro HS (AZ) RHP Jake Cole
  189. Forrest City HS (AR) RHP Barrett Astin
  190. Will C. Wood HS (CA) LHP Jordan Haseltine
  191. Osseo HS (MN) LHP Thomas Windle
  192. Jay HS (OK) LHP Cayle Shambaugh
  193. Harpeth HS (TN) LHP Nate Foriest
  194. Gilbert HS (AZ) 3B DJ Peterson
  195. Brooks County HS (GA) OF Aaron Shipman
  196. Fairhope HS (AL) RHP Daryl Norris
  197. Van Buren HS (AR) RHP Brandon Moore
  198. St. Joseph’s HS (Ontario) LHP Evan Rutckyj
  199. St. Mary’s Catholic HS (Ontario) LHP Brian Smith
  200. Bryant HS (AR) RHP Ben Wells

2010 MLB Draft: Top 250 College Righthanded Pitching Prospects

7 Jun 2010 3:08 AM / 8 Comments on 2010 MLB Draft: Top 250 College Righthanded Pitching Prospects

1. North Carolina JR RHP Matt Harvey: 92-96, peak FB 98; low-90s two-seamer with crazy sink; 83-85 SL that flashes plus; sinking 79-83 CU with promise; teams might be willing to bet that plus high-70s CB from high school could come back; 6-5, 225 pounds (3.65 FIP; 10.10 K/9; 3.00 BB/9)

2. Texas JR RHP Brandon Workman: low-90s FB with serious sink, peak 95-97; plus high-70s CB; sinking CU with legit promise; usable low-80s SL; two biggest issues out of high school (mechanics and poor control) both ironed out after three years in Austin; 6-5, 225 pounds (4.30 FIP; 9.43 K/9; 1.89 BB/9)

3. Georgia Tech JR RHP Deck McGuire: heavy 89-92 FB, peaking 93-94; 82-86 SL with plus potential; low-70s CB with plus potential; average low-80s CU; pinpoint command on just about everything (4.18 FIP; 10.06 K/9; 2.58 BB/9)

4. San Diego JR RHP Kyle Blair: great command of 90-93 FB; two-seamer 86-87; outstanding mid-70s CB that is a plus pitch; interesting 81-83 CU that will be average big league pitch at worst; usable SL that could be average or better in time; 6-3, 200 pounds; (2.91 FIP; 12.45 K/9; 2.59 BB/9)

5. Ohio State JR RHP Alex Wimmers: 88-92 FB; has touched 94; plus-plus potential with mid-70s CB, but pitch should be above-average professionally at minimum; good to plus upper-70s CU with sink; can nibble too much at times, but great command allows him to get away with it;  6-2, 195 pounds (2.66 FIP; 10.73 K/9; 2.84 BB/9)

6. Arkansas JR RHP/OF Brett Eibner: easy 92-94 FB with sink; has hit up to 96 in relief; hard 85-88 SL flashes plus, should be consistently solid offering at worst; average low-80s CU made significant progress in 2010; has thrown slow CB and cutter in past; desire to play outfield rather than pitch obviously complicates things; untapped potential on mound; 6-3, 205 pounds; (2.69 FIP; 9.28 K/9; 1.33 BB/9)

7. Louisiana State JR RHP Anthony Ranaudo: 90-93 FB, peak 94-95; has hit 97 in past; flashes plus 78-83 KCB that should be at worst above-average professionally; average at worst 80-82 CU with really good arm action; good command of all three pitches; reminds me of current minor leaguer Trevor May in many ways; (5.12 FIP; 9.26 K/9; 4.34 BB/9)

8. The Citadel JR RHP Asher Wojchiechowski: 90-94 FB, peaking at 96; good, hard upper-70s SL with curve-like break that flashes plus; developing CU, but hasn’t had to use it often to date (3.67 FIP; 11.12 K/9; 2.27 BB/9)

9. San Diego State JR RHP Addison Reed: 89-93 starting FB; holds velocity deep into games as a starter; up to 95-96 out of bullpen; plus low-80s SL; average to slightly above-average low-80s CU, thanks to Eric Valenzuela (3.77 FIP; 10.55 K/9; 1.82 BB/9)

10. CC of Southern Nevada RHP Donnie Roach: 90-94 FB, touching 96; plus 74-77 CB that has really come on since high school; good cutter; above-average but sparingly used 82 MPH splitter that works as CU (roughly 11.5 K/9 in 2010)

11. Virginia Tech JR RHP Jesse Hahn: 91-94 FB, peak 95-96 as starter; 96-99 FB out of bullpen; average 83-84 CU with above-average upside; decent mid- to upper-70s CB; has thrown SL and cutter in past, but hasn’t gone back to either in 2010; 6-5, 195 pounds (3.95 FIP; 10.03 K/9; 2.44 BB/9)

12. Indiana State JR RHP Jake Petricka: 92-94 FB, peaking 97-98; above-average CB; CU with promise; 6-4, 180 pounds (3.13 FIP; 9.66 K/9; 4.38 BB/9)

13. Texas A&M JR RHP Barret Loux: 90-92 FB, peak at 93-94 while starting; has hit peak of 98 coming out of bullpen; good command of above-average 83-86 CU; SL with some promise; KCB with above-average potential if he can ever learn to consistently command it; 6-5, 220 (3.07 FIP; 12.75 K/9; 2.81 BB/9)

14. Portland JR RHP Zach Varce: 88-91 FB, peak of 93-95; plus 76-78 SL that moves like a cutter; very good CB; usable low-80s splitter; superior command; 6-0, 190 pounds (3.16 FIP; 10.55 K/9; 2.42 BB/9)

15. Texas Tech JR RHP Chad Bettis: mid- to upper-90s FB, peaking at 97-98; power mid-80s SL that shows plus at times; needs refining on CU, but pitch has become effective over time (3.49 FIP; 11.77 K/9; 3.15 BB/9) ***

16. Arizona State SO RHP/C Jordan Swagerty: 88-92 FB, peak at 93-94; plus potential with upper-70s CB; solid CU that has been underused coming out of pen (3.11 FIP; 12.44 K/9; 2.73 BB/9) ***

17. UCLA SO RHP Dan Klein: coming off of shoulder surgery; low-90s FB, peaking at 94 with plus command; near plus mid-80s SL; average CB; workable CU (3.69 FIP; 11.06 K/9; 1.49 BB/9) ***

18. Charleston Southern JR RHP/OF Tyler Thornburg: 91-93 FB, peak 94-95 in relief; above-average 78-82 CU; average high-70s CB; very athletic; Tim Lincecum style throwing motion; 5-11, 190 pounds (3.21 FIP; 10.57 K/9; 3.79 BB/9)

19. South Carolina JR RHP Sam Dyson: sits 93-95 with FB, peaks 96-97; holds velocity deep into starts; 78-82 potential plus hammer CB; 80-82 CU work in progress, but coming along quickly in 2010; first round arm, fifth round medicals (3.63 FIP; 9.69 K/9; 1.74 BB/9)

20. St. Petersburg CC SO RHP Austin Wood: sits low-90s, 97 peak FB; SL with promise; decent CU; 6-4, 220 pounds

21. Howard JC (TX) RHP Burch Smith: low-90s FB, peak 95; low-80s SL that flashes plus; consistently solid CU that should be slightly above-average big league pitch; 6-4, 195 pounds

22. Georgia JR RHP Justin Grimm: 92-93 FB; peaked at 96; mid-80s cutter; potential plus upper-70s CB; good low- to mid-70s CU with good arm action; questionable mechanics; 6-4, 195 pounds (4.50 FIP; 9.35 K/9; 3.74 BB/9)

23. Arizona State JR RHP Seth Blair: low-90s FB with late life and serious sink; plus CU; solid CB; SL needs polish; good arm action; 6-2, 190 pounds (4.43 FIP; 9.50 K/9; 2.10 BB/9)

24. Pepperdine SO RHP Cole Cook: 90-93, peak 94 FB with late life; plus 83-84 CU with drop; hard 77-78 SL/CB that could be plus pitch; command needs work, especially with breaking ball; loses velocity as game drags on; pro body; 6-6, 215 (3.55 FIP; 7.76 K/9; 1.98 BB/9)

25. James Madison JR RHP Kevin Munson: 93-94 FB; has peaked at 96-97; solid to plus 80-83 SL; 6-2, 200 pounds (3.32 FIP; 11.78 K/9; 3.76 BB/9) ***

26. North Carolina State JR RHP Jake Buchanan: 87-90 FB; 74-77 near plus CB; nice 76-80 SL; very good 76-79 CU; impressive showing on Cape; 6-0, 205 pounds (4.21 FIP; 8.55 K/9; 2.32 BB/9)

27. Georgia Tech JR RHP Kevin Jacob: 96-97; topping out at 98-99; power upper-80s SL; good command, but inconsistent at times; very funky mechanics; 6-6, 225 (3.72 FIP; 12.19 K/9; 5.23 BB/9) ***

28. Ball State SO RHP Perci Garner: easy 96-97 peak FB; sits 92-95; near plus mid-80s CB; usable SL and splitter that works as CU; 6-2, 225 pounds (3.29 FIP; 10.46 K/9; 4.38 BB/9)

29. Northeast Texas CC SO RHP Zach Cates: very easy low-90s FB, peak 97; plus CU; raw breaking ball

30. SUNY Oneonta JR RHP Dave Filak: has really come on with the FB, from sitting 90-92 with a peak of 93 over the summer to sitting mid-90s (94ish) now; solid hard CB that would be a plus pitch with better command; 6-5, 220 pounds

31. Lower Columbia FR RHP Jeff Ames: low-90s FB, 96 peak; above-average SL; good CU; will slow the slow upper-60s CB on occasion; 6-5, 210 pounds

32. Michigan JR RHP Tyler Burgoon: sits low-90s with FB, but can run it up to 96; 83-87 plus SL; 5-10, 160 pounds (3.50 FIP; 10.56 K/9; 2.72 BB/9) ***

33. Texas Tech JR RHP Bobby Doran: hits 93-94 FB in relief; plus SL; solid CU; command needs work, very inconsistent game to game; clean mechanics; 6-6, 225 pounds (4.10 FIP; 9.00 K/9; 2.12 BB/9)

34. Houston SO RHP Michael Goodnight: 90-93 FB; plus CU; solid SL; plus athlete (4.57 FIP; 10.30 K/9; 5.25 BB/9)

35. Virginia Tech SO RHP Mathew Price: 91-94; potential plus 78-79 SL; 81-82 CU, iffy control, projectable (4.19 FIP; 9.28 K/9; 2.56 BB/9)

36. Bowling Green JR RHP Brennan Smith: 88-92 FB, 94 peak; above-average to plus splitter; good CB and solid CU; FAVORITE (5.03 FIP; 8.15 K/9; 5.47 BB/9)

37. Wichita State SO RHP Jordan Cooper: 88-92 FB; also throws two-seamer; above-average SL; well above-average CU; plus command (4.17 FIP; 8.13 K/9; 1.68 BB/9)

38. Georgia State JR RHP David Buchanan: sits low-90s, 96 peak FB; potential plus CB; quickly emerging CU; iffy command (4.36 FIP; 8.30 K/9; 4.23 BB/9)

39. Florida Southern JR RHP Daniel Tillman: 91-94 sinking FB; hard SL; 6-1, 185 pounds; dominant K numbers out of bullpen (56 K’s in 39.2 IP) ***

40. Clemson JR RHP Josh Thrailkill: mid-90s peak FB; solid CB; decent CU (3.97 FIP; 10.24 K/9; 0.93 BB/9) ***

41. Nebraska JR RHP Michael Mariot: 91-92 FB; very good CB; average at best CU; good FB command; 6-0, 175 pounds (4.83 FIP; 8.37 K/9; 2.63 BB/9)

42. Sam Houston State JR RHP Dallas Gallant: strong performance on the Cape; 91-94 FB; 12-6 CB that flashes plus; 6-3, 195 (4.46 FIP; 8.79 K/9; 4.07 BB/9)

43. Texas-Arlington JR RHP Rett Varner: low-90s FB with good command; sharp slurve; above-average CU; clean delivery; 6-4, 190 pounds (4.18 FIP; 8.59 K/9; 2.00 BB/9)

44. San Jacinto JC (TX) RHP Clay Schrader: 92-94 FB; plus SL; average CB; very highly thought of by area scouts; 6-0, 190 pounds ***

45. Virginia JR RHP Tyler Wilson: 89-92 FB; quality 81-82 SL; good 78 CU; easy arm action; good athlete; plus command; 6-2, 185 pounds (4.19 FIP; 10.57 K/9; 3.58 BB/9) ***

46. Louisville JR RHP Thomas Royse: 90-93 FB with plus life; plus FB command; 6-5 (4.36 FIP; 9.00 K/9; 2.18 BB/9)

47. South Florida JR RHP Randy Fontanez: 88-91 sinking FB; quality CB and SL; splitter (3.82 FIP; 9.05 K/9; 2.12 BB/9)

48. North Carolina JR RHP Colin Bates: sinking 90-92 FB; average 78 CB; good SL; good command (4.28 FIP; 9.49 K/9; 3.21 BB/9) ***

49. Eastern Illinois JR RHP Josh Mueller: 90-93 FB; good CB; solid CU; 6-4, 215 (4.15 FIP; 10.40 K/9; 3.95 BB/9)

50. Minnesota JR RHP Seth Rosin: 88-92 FB, peak 94; solid mid-70s CB; emerging low-80s CU; good command; 6-6, 245 (5.21 FIP; 8.53 K/9; 1.14 BB/9)

51. San Diego SR RHP AJ Griffin: 86-90 FB with plus command; can get it up to the 92-93 on occasion; good mid-70s SL; well above-average 78-79 CU; improving slow 66-68 CB; 6-5, 215 pounds (4.10 FIP; 10.95 K/9; 2.40 BB/9)

52. Mississippi SR RHP Aaron Barrett: 89-93 FB, peaking at 94; good CU; very good at times 82-85 SL; 6-4, 205 pounds (4.15 FIP; 10.35 K/9; 4.47 BB/9)\

53. Vanderbilt JR RHP Taylor Hill: 88-93 FB with sink; 80-82 plus SL; very good 78-79 sinking CU; mechanics need smoothing out; 6-4, 225 pounds (4.86 FIP; 6.73 K/9; 1.94 BB/9)

54. Oregon SR RHP Justin LaTempa: sat 92-94 FB, touched 95-96; developing CU; flashes plus SL; shoulder injury shelved him in 2009 (4.77 FIP; 7.62 K/9; 1.85 BB/9)

55. Oregon State JR RHP Greg Peavey: 94 peak FB; flashes plus SL; CU needs work; command comes and goes (3.76 FIP; 6.90 K/9; 2.62 BB/9)

56. Georgia SO RHP Michael Palazzone: 92 peak FB; plus CU; solid CB (4.75 FIP; 7.92 K/9; 3.38 BB/9)

57. James Madison JR RHP Turner Phelps: 89-91 FB; good CU; solid CB (4.73 FIP; 8.13 K/9; 5.88 BB/9)

58. Long Beach State JR RHP Jake Thompson: 91-93 FB; 95 FB peak; holds velocity very well; good FB command; above-average potential with CU that is now a near-plus pitch; doesn’t use the CU enough at present; inconsistent SL/CB at 77 that needs a lot of work (3.97 FIP; 7.54 K/9; 2.18 BB/9)

59. Missouri JR RHP Nick Tepesch: 91-94 FB, peak at 96; flashes above-average SL (3.17 FIP; 7.21 K/9; 2.37 BB/9)

60. Loyola Marymount SO RHP Martin Viramontes: 96 peak FB; sits 90-94; power CB that flashes plus; flashes plus CU; 6-4, 210 (4.60 FIP; 7.53 K/9; 4.65 BB/9)

61. California SO RHP Dixon Anderson: 92-94 FB; 96 FB peak; very good low-80s SL; splitter; 6-5, 225 pounds (4.89 FIP; 5.68 K/9; 3.55 BB/9)

62. Lynn (FL) SO RHP Tommy Kahnle: sits low-90s, can get it up to 95-96 with some regularity; ultimate high end peak FB of 98-99; solid low-80s SL; CU needs work, but has average big league upside; 6-0, 225 pounds ***

63. CC of Southern Nevada SO RHP Tyler Hanks: 92-94 FB, peak 97; plus 81-84 SL; 6-2, 195 pounds ***

64. Elon JR RHP Thomas Girdwood: low- to mid-90s FB (92-95); plus 82-84 SL (5.74 FIP; 8.67 K/9; 3.67 BB/9) ***

65. Lee (TN) SR RHP Scott Swinson: upper-80s FB while at Maryland, but reports are his FB is now sitting low-90s, peaking at 94; solid CU; quickly emerging 12-6 CB; uses SL sparingly; plus command; 6-2, 185 pounds

66. CC of Southern Nevada SO RHP Joe Robinson: 89-92 FB, peak 95; compact delivery; flashed a nice SL and CU

67. Navarro JC SO RHP Chris Marlowe: big FB; plus CB; huge K numbers; 6-1, 175 pounds ***

68. Cornell JR RHP Corey Pappel: upper-80s FB, 91-92 peak; good cut fastball; above-average SL; 6-6, 205 pounds (3.28 FIP; 9.18 K/9; 4.24 BB/9)

69. Arkansas SR RHP Mike Bolsinger: sits 88-90, hits 92-93 with FB; good to plus low-80s SL; decent CU; 6-2, 210 pounds (2.82 FIP; 9.04 K/9; 2.02 BB/9)

70. College of Charleston JR RHP Heath Hembree: 95-97 FB; good SL (4.18 FIP; 13.50 K/9; 6.07 BB/9) ***

71. Rhode Island SR RHP Tim Boyce: 88-92 FB; good slow CB; hard SL; moving CU; plus command; 6-2, 190 pounds (4.24 FIP; 7.90 K/9; 1.87 BB/9)

72. Alabama Birmingham JR RHP Ryan Woolley: 90-91, topping at 92 with FB; has been up to 93-96 with FB; good 12-6 75-77 SL; power 82-83 CU; 6-1, 195 pounds (4.87 FIP; 6.75 K/9; 4.64 BB/9)

73. Toledo JR RHP Matt Suschak: 92-95; high-70s slurve; still trying to harness his stuff; 6-3, 205 pounds (3.93 FIP; 8.70 K/9; 3.25 BB/9) ***

74. Texas Christian JR RHP Steven Maxwell: Tommy John surgery survivor; 88-94 FB; above-average power 78-82 CB (4.61 FIP; 7.89 K/9; 2.93 BB/9)

75. LSU-Eunice SO RHP Tony Dischler: big jump in FB velocity in last year; sits low-90s comfortably, peaks at 96; secondary stuff still extremely raw; 6-4, 200 pounds

76. Oregon State SO RHP Taylor Starr: recovering from complications stemming from earlier Tommy John surgery; 94-95 FB, peak 97

77. Oral Roberts SO RHP Drew Bowen: 88-91 FB; good cutter; plus SL; 6-3, 180 (6.09 FIP; 7.50 K/9; 4.88 BB/9)

78. Rice SR RHP Mike Ojala: when healthy has been able to sit in the low-90s FB, peaking at 93; sitting in the upper-80s now, but plus command of pitch remains; plus CB; coming back from June 2009 Tommy John surgery (4.44 FIP; 10.08 K/9; 3.42 BB)

79. Florida SO RHP Tommy Toledo: coming back from arm injury last season and a line drive off the face in 2010; 88-91 FB before, back sitting 91-93 as he rounds back into shape; above-average SL; CU with promise (4.02 FIP; 9.85 K/9; 2.55 BB/9)

80. Louisiana State JR RHP Austin Ross: decent sinker (4.17 FIP; 10.91 K/9; 1.98 BB/9)

81. Chandler-Gilbert JC SO RHP Devyn Rivera: 92-93 FB, 94 peak; plus SL; iffy mechanics; 6-2, 180 pounds

82. Gulf Coast CC SO RHP Andrew Morris: 88-92 FB; plus SF; CB; easy mechanics; 6-3, 180 pounds (11.92 K/9; 4.66 BB/9)

83. Alabama JR RHP Jimmy Nelson: 88-92; 80-82 above-average big league SL; CU; 6-6, 235 pounds (4.83 FIP; 8.94 K/9; 2.21 BB/9)

84. CC of Southern Nevada SO RHP Aaron Kurcz: very easy 91-94 FB, peak 97; solid 76-77 slurve ***

85. Baylor JR RHP Shawn Tolleson: upper-80s FB; decent SL; CU needs work; still on mend from Tommy John surgery, so return of above-average stuff from his prep days is still possible (3.82 FIP; 10.85 K/9; 3.21 BB/9)

86. William & Mary JR RHP Logan Billbrough: 89-90 FB; plus slider; projectable (3.66 FIP; 8.95 K/9; 5.34 BB/9

87. Virginia JR RHP Kevin Arico: lacks big fastball of traditional closer, but plus 80-84 SL will be serious weapon professionally (2.42 FIP; 13.34 K/9; 1.95 BB/9) ***

88. Oklahoma State SO RHP/SS Randy McCurry: 94-95 FB; SL, CB, CU; plus arm strength

89. Western Carolina SR RHP Jason Sullivan: 88-91 sinking FB; good SL; 6-1, 205 pounds (4.45 FIP; 10.35 K/9; 4.06 BB/9)

90. Western Kentucky SR RHP Matt Ridings: 91 peak FB; average CB; good CU; recent TJ surgery (3.99 FIP; 9.13 K/9; 1.55 BB/9)

91. Eastern Illinois JR RHP Mike Recchia: 90 FB peak; plus mid-70s CB (3.93 FIP; 9.21 K/9; 4.08 BB/9)

92. Western Oklahoma State FR SS/RHP Andrelton Simmons: plus defender at SS, but his best tool is his plus-plus arm; many prefer him as a position player, but his mid-90s FB and weak bat make him this year’s version of Mychal Givens for me; 6-1, 165 pounds

93. Chipola JC FR RHP Rodney Quintero: 88-93 FB; 77-78 SL; low-70s CB; 6-2, 200 pounds

94. Southern Arkansas JR RHP Hayden Simpson: 88-94 FB, peaking at 96; nice CB; 6-0, 175 pounds

95. South Carolina Upstate SR RHP Matt Branham: 92-94 FB; above-average SL; CU; 6-6, 210 pounds (4.59 FIP; 9.47 K/9; 2.47 BB/9)

96. Notre Dame JR RHP Evan Danieli: out for 2010 with arm injury; mid-90s peak FB; hard SL that should be plus pitch with more reps; 6-7, 230

97. Tennessee Tech JR RHP Stephen Pryor: low-90s FB (3.13 FIP; 16.02 K/9; 5.05 BB/9) ***

98. Texas JR RHP Chance Ruffin: 87-89, breaking ball, CU; good control (2.48 FIP; 14.50 K/9; 2.62 BB/9) ***

99. Lipscomb SR RHP Josh Smith: high-80s FB, touches 92; SL, CB, CU; 6-3, 210 pounds (3.69 FIP; 11.13 K/9; 3.28 BB/9)

100. Valparaiso JR RHP Bryce Shafer: low-90s FB (3.84 FIP; 9.83 K/9; 4.61 BB/9)

101. George Washington JR RHP Eric Cantrell: 88-90 FB; good command (4.62 FIP; 9.66 K/9; 2.59 BB/9)

102. Southern Illinois Edwardsville SR RHP Spencer Patton: 89-91, 92 peak FB; strike thrower; above-average SL; solid CU; 6-1, 175 pounds (2.68 FIP; 8.62 K/9; 6.32 BB/9)

103. Hawaii JR RHP Josh Slaats: 88-92 FB, peak 94-95; plus 80-82 SL; CU (3.20 FIP; 9.41 K/9; 3.84 BB/9)

104. Virginia JR RHP Robert Morey: 88-92; peak 94-94; quality low-80s SL; below-average 75-78 CB (4.25 FIP; 7.90 K/9; 3.40 BB/9)

105. Michigan JR RHP Matt Miller: low-90s FB, peak 94; good low-80s SL; command needs work; 6-6, 215 pounds (4.16 FIP; 7.52 K/9; 3.25 BB/9)

106. Texas JR RHP Cole Green: plus slider; solid fastball (4.96 FIP; 6.36 K/9; 2.00 BB/9)

107. Virginia Commonwealth JR RHP/3B Joe Van Meter: plus arm; 90-92 FB; 95-97 at one point in past; near-plus low-80s CB; 6-3, 200 pounds (5.79 FIP; 5.01 K/9; 4.24 BB/9) ***

108. Houston JR RHP Jared Ray: 93-95 peak FB; above-average SL, flashes plus; decent CU; shoulder injury keeps stock way down

109. Kansas JR RHP Brett Bochy: 91-93 sitting FB; 94 peak FB; really good SL; Bruce’s son; Tommy John surgery mid-season 2010 (1.89 FIP; 14.48 K/9; 2.74 BB/9) ***

110. Minnesota JR RHP Scott Matyas: 94 peak FB; good breaking ball; good command (3.47 FIP; 14.07 K/9; 3.73 BB/9) ***

111. Florida Atlantic JR RHP Mike Gipson: excellent FB command; big, looping breaking ball; 6-1, 190 pounds (4.43 FIP; 8.15 K/9; 3.23 BB/9)

112. Washington State JR RHP Chad Arnold: 88-91 FB with great sink; plus 80-81 SL; iffy CB; CU; command needs work; 6-4, 205 pounds (3.93 FIP; 6.84 K/9; 3.92 BB/9)

113. Georgia SR RHP Jeff Walters: power sinker; good SL; good athlete (4.39 FIP; 7.90 K/9; 4.87 BB/9)

114. Kansas State SO RHP Justin Lindsey: 88-90 two-seam FB with great sink; 92 peak FB; solid SL; CU needs polish; 6-3, 170 pounds (6.55 FIP; 6.41 K/9; 3.13 BB/9)

115. Indiana SR RHP Chris Squires: 91-94 FB; command needs work; really nice arm action on high-70s CU; splitter looks good; KCB work in progress; 6-2, 185 pounds (3.70 FIP; 11.18 K/9; 4.15 BB/9) ***

116. Maine SO RHP Kyle Benoit: 93-95 FB; plus breaking ball; solid CU; coming back from Tommy John surgery very slowly

117. Notre Dame JR RHP Brian Dupra: straight 91-95 FB; 88-91 cutter; good 79-81 SL; CU; 6-3, 205 pounds (5.41 FIP; 5.88 K/9; 2.40 BB/9)

118. Baylor JR RHP Craig Fritsch: 90-92 FB, peak 94; average at worst SL; decent CU (4.20 FIP; 8.39 K/9; 2.94 BB/9)

119. UNC-Wilmington JR RHP Justin Bradley: 88-91 FB; average SL; average CU; good command; 6-3, 195 pounds (4.28 FIP; 9.16 K/9; 4.76 BB/9)

120. Western Kentucky SO RHP Rye Davis: 93-94 FB; good SL; 6-5, 250 pounds (2.23 FIP; 11.96 K/9; 3.44 BB/9) ***

121. Tennessee SR RHP Stephen McCray: 88-91, touched 93-94 with FB; SL, CB, CU; good command; good athlete; 6-3, 230 pounds (5.34 FIP; 6.68 K/9; 2.75 BB/9)

122. Northern Iowa JR RHP Lucas O’Rear: 88-91 FB with loads of sink; quality basketball player for UNI squad that knocked off Kansas this year; intriguing potential with SL; one year left of basketball eligibility and UNI dropping baseball both cloud his future, but raw talent is undeniable; 6-7, 250

123. St. John’s SO RHP Dan Burawa: 93-95 FB; average 75-78 slurve; developing CU, but pitch is currently very green; 6-3, 215 pounds (2.87 FIP; 11.91 K/9; 4.76 BB/9) ***

124. Cal Poly JR RHP Steven Fischback: hoped to return in 2010 after surgery to repair labrum damage, but hasn’t gotten clean bill of health; 90-94 FB; potential plus 81-84 SL; emerging CU

125. Texas Christian JR RHP Greg Holle: sat 90-91 with FB; 94 FB peak; potential plus CB; great athlete; repeats mechanics very well; 6-8, 210 pounds (4.70 FIP; 9.79 K/9; 2.03 BB/9) ***

126. Oregon State JR RHP Tyler Waldron: low-90s FB; good command; four-pitch mix (4.61 FIP; 9.20 K/9; 1.84 BB/9) ***

127. St. Mary’s JR RHP Alex Schmarzo: low-90s FB, topping out at 95; plus SL; 6-3, 185 pounds (2.47 FIP; 9.56 K/9; 2.81 BB/9) ***

128. Oregon JR RHP Drew Gagnier: 90-95, potential plus 83 SL (3.51 FIP; 9.74 K/9; 4.87 BB/9) ***

129. Oregon State JR RHP Kevin Rhoderick: 89-94 FB; good SL that he uses often (3.91 FIP; 10.86 K/9; 4.11 BB/9) ***

130. Coastal Carolina SR RHP Austin Fleet: 88-92 FB 94 peak; flashes good to plus mid-80s SL (3.29 FIP; 9.17 K/9; 2.67 BB/9) ***Nova Southeastern JR RHP Sean Albury: 89-93 FB; big mid-70s CB; 5-11, 185 pounds ***

131. Weatherford JC (TX) SO RHP Zach Nuding: 90-94 FB, peak 95-96 out of bullpen; hard SL with above-average potential; good splitter; iffy command; 6-4, 250 pounds ***

132. Northwestern State JR RHP Chad Sheppard: 92-95 FB; also throws a nasty two-seamer; good SL; 6-4, 210 pounds ***

133. South Carolina JR RHP/DH Parker Bangs: 88-92 FB; quality SL; power potential with bat (3.93 FIP; 14.49 K/9; 5.93 BB/9) ***

134. Wichita State JR RHP/OF Mitch Caster: peak FB 92; flashed plus SL; above-average athlete; very little power; plus arm; 6-2, 175 pounds

135. Cincinnati JR RHP Dan Jensen: 90 FB peak, but has hit 92 in the past; promising SL; command needs work; 6-7, 225 pounds (4.78 FIP; 7.21 K/9; 3.02 BB/9)

136. UC Irvine SR RHP Christian Bergman: sinking 89-91 FB; above-average SL; CU; 6-1, 180 pounds (4.29 FIP; 7.08 K/9; 1.40 BB/9)

137. St. John’s SR RHP Bruce Kern: upper-80s FB; very good CB (5.16 FIP; 7.70 K/9; 3.57 BB/9)

138. Illinois JR RHP Lee Zerrusen: 91-93 FB, 95 peak; quality CF and CU; good command; 6-3, 190 pounds (6.06 FIP; 4.65 K/9; 5.10 BB/9)

139. Charleston Southern JR RHP Anthony Markham: generates lots of weak contact with 2-seam 88-90 FB; peak velocity of FB is 92; good sinking CU; above-average SL; good control; 6-3, 180 pounds (5.91 FIP; 5.65 K/9; 3.68 BB/9)

140. Bloomsburg SR RHP Grant Kernaghan: 90-92 FB; average SL; average CU; 6-3, 200 pounds

141. Furman JR RHP Brian Dudzinski: 88-90 FB, but straight; potential plus SL; promising circle CU; 6-5, 210 pounds (6.75 FIP; 7.15 K/9; 3.97 BB/9)

142. Marshall JR RHP Ian Kadish: 88-91 FB; solid 81-82 SL; sinking CU; good command; 6-1, 210 pounds (5.59 FIP; 6.39 K/9; 5.68 BB/9)

143. Central Michigan JR RHP Jake Sabol: 90 FB with good sink; good SL; improving CU; good command; 6-5, 220 pounds (6.20 FIP; 5.02 K/9; 2.21 BB/9)

144. Virginia Commonwealth SR RHP Robbie Andrews: 89-91 FB; strike thrower; plus SL; 6-3, 170 pounds (3.62 FIP; 6.88 K/9; 3.71 BB/9) ***

145. UNC-Greensboro JR RHP Blake Hassebrock: 90-93 FB, touching 96; CB and CU both need work; 6-5, 185 pounds (5.06 FIP; 7.40 K/9; 5.55 BB/9)

146. San Diego SR RHP Matt Thomson: 93 FB peak (2.81 FIP; 12.73 K/9; 2.41 BB/9) ***

147. South Florida JR RHP Kevin Quackenbush: big FB; trouble commanding CB at times (3.46 FIP; 13.90 K/9; 4.81 BB/9) ***

148. Youngstown State JR RHP Phil Klein: 86-89 FB; very good FB command; SL with real potential; good athlete; 6-7, 205 pounds (5.13 FIP; 7.62 K/9; 3.74 BB/9)

149. Wright State JR RHP Max Friedman: 88-93 FB with sink; good CU; quality SL (6.45 FIP; 5.68 K/9; 4.62 BB/9)

150. Bradley JR RHP Patrick Cooper: low-90s FB; good 84 SL (3.73 FIP; 7.84 K/9; 3.34 BB/9)

151. Florida International JR RHP Danny DeSimone: 88-92 FB; good SL (4.83 FIP; 7.90 K/9; 3.30 BB/9) ***

152. Wichita State JR RHP Tim Kelley: 86-88 FB; average to good CU; strike thrower; plus command; 6-6, 215 pounds (3.94 FIP; 7.69 K/9; 2.34 BB/9)

153. CC of Southern Nevada SO RHP Kenny McDowall: 90-92 FB with good sink; solid SL

154. Notre Dame SO RHP Ryan Sharpley: 94 peak FB; good SL; great athlete; coming off of shoulder surgery (4.59 FIP; 9.39 K/9; 7.63 BB/9)

155. Michigan SR RHP/OF Alan Oaks: low- to mid-90s FB (90-94); very raw pitching prospect; 6-3, 230 pounds (4.88 FIP; 6.95 K/9; 4.11 BB/9)

156. West Virginia JR RHP Jarryd Summers: 92 peak FB; 6-5 (4.70 FIP; 6.93 K/9; 5.15 BB/9)

157. Notre Dame JR RHP Cole Johnson: 88-92 FB; good SL (4.69 FIP; 5.46 K/9; 3.16 BB/9)

158. Wofford JR RHP John Cornley: peak FB 93-95; hard 83-84 SL that shows plus promise; 6-1, 180 pounds (4.69 FIP; 8.91 K/9; 5.95 BB/9)

159. Southern Mississippi JR RHP Todd McInnis: 88-92 FB; very good 12-6 CB; hard SL; decent CU; slight frame (4.18 FIP; 8.40 K/9; 3.05 BB/9)

160. Dayton SO RHP Burny Mitchem: missed 2009 season after ACL tear; 88-92 FB, peak 94; 6-6, 260 (4.07 FIP; 8.89 K/9; 2.82 BB/9)

161. Baylor SR RHP Willie Kempf: upper-80s heavy FB; good sinker; good SL (3.66 FIP; 9.20 K/9; 3.11 BB/9)

162. North Carolina JR RHP Patrick Johnson: 90-92 FB; good SL; CU; 5-11, 170 (4.63 FIP; 8.22 K/9; 3.31 BB/9)

163. Wright State SR RHP Alex Kaminsky: very good CU; great command; signature outing against UVA (5.12 FIP; 8.19 K/9; 1.46 BB/9)

164. Maryland JR RHP Brett Harman: 88-90 FB; good command; SL; CU (4.25 FIP; 10.26 K/9; 2.41 BB/9)

165. Kansas JR RHP TJ Walz: 91-94 FB; CU; CB (3.96 FIP; 9.06 K/9; 2.31 BB/9)

166. New Mexico SR RHP Willy Kesler: 94 peak FB; solid breaking ball (3.92 FIP; 8.87 K/9; 2.17 BB/9)

167. Cal State Fullerton JR RHP Daniel Renken: 87-90 FB with plus command; quality upper-70s CU; splitter; iffy SL (4.17 FIP; 8.29 K/9; 3.09 BB/9)

168. Oklahoma JR RHP Zach Neal: 87-90 sinking FB, can run it up to 91-93 after some adjustments to mechanics; plus control; 6-2, 205 (4.59 FIP; 8.21 K/9; 1.95 BB/9)

169. Gonzaga JR RHP Cody Martin: 88-90 FB; decent slurve (4.87 FIP; 9.31 K/9; 3.68 BB/9)

170. Tulane SO RHP Robby Broach: returning from elbow injury; 88-92 FB (4.25 FIP; 8.92 K/9; 3.05 BB/9)

171. West Virginia SR RHP Chris Enourato: solid SL; good athlete (4.48 FIP; 8.59 K/9; 1.99 BB/9)

172. UCLA SR RHP Garrett Claypool: 89-91 FB (4.60 FIP; 8.77 K/9; 2.05 BB/9)

173. UNC-Wilmington JR RHP Daniel Cropper: two years off of Tommy John surgery, stuff slowly coming back (4.31 FIP; 7.11 K/9; 1.56 BB/9)

174. East Carolina JR RHP Seth Maness: plus CU (4.66 FIP; 8.35 K/9; 1.33 BB/9)

175. South Carolina SR RHP Blake Cooper: good command (4.52 FIP; 7.96 K/9; 2.42 BB/9)

176. Nyack (NY) JR RHP Phil Messerian: 90 peak FB; CB; CU; SF; max-effort delivery; 6-2, 190 pounds

177. Denison (OH) SR RHP Aiden Lucas: low-90s FB; forkball; SL; CU; 6-2, 220 pounds

178. UNC-Wilmington SR RHP Seth Frankoff: 88-91 FB; plus breaking ball; 6-5, 210 (4.95 FIP; 11.18 K/9; 4.15 BB/9) ***

179. Texas Christian SR RHP Eric Marshall: 90 sinking FB, very impressive CB (3.80 FIP; 11.12 K/9; 5.56 BB/9) ***

180. Arkansas SR RHP Jeremy Heatley: 92 peak FB; good SL (2.51 FIP; 11.08 K/9; 2.54 BB/9) ***

181. UCLA SO RHP Erik Goeddel: 90-92 sinking FB; good CB (3.66 FIP; 11.66 K/9; 3.89 BB/9) ***

182. Southern JR RHP Cody Hall: 95 FB peak; (2.96 FIP; 11.51 K/9; 7.94 BB/9) ***

183. Jacksonville State SR RHP Alex Jones: mid-80s FB; 90-91 FB pre-surgery; coming back from TJ surgery; plus-plus SL; 6-6, 190 pounds (2.25 FIP; 10.80 K/9; 6.66 BB/9) ***

184. Oklahoma JR RHP Ryan Duke: plus SL; plus command (4.06 FIP; 10.50 K/9; 3.30 BB/9) ***

185. Southeastern Louisiana SR RHP Chris Franklin: 95 peak FB; plus SL (4.28 FIP; 8.35 K/9; 3.06 BB/9) ***

186. Michigan JR RHP Kolby Wood: 88-93 FB with late movement; nasty SL; very good mid-80s SF; good command; 6-6, 210 pounds (4.46 FIP; 8.20 K/9; 0.96 BB/9) ***

187. Alabama SO RHP Tyler White: 90-92, touches 93 with sink; above-average big league CB; 6-2, 210 pounds (4.04 FIP; 10.74 K/9; 3.99 BB/9) ***

188. Ohio State JR RHP Drew Rucinski: 87-88, CU (4.15 FIP; 7.23 K/9; 3.55 BB/9)

189. Embry-Riddle (FL) SR RHP Jonathan Kountis: 92-93 FB; inconsistent, but potential plus SL; poor command; 6-3, 225 pounds

190. Michigan State JR RHP AJ Achter: 88-91 FB; CB; SL; good CU; 6-5, 205 pounds (4.14 FIP; 6.57 K/9; 3.38 BB/9)

191. Virginia JR RHP Cody Winiarski: 88-92 FB; power SL; 6-4, 200 (5.86 FIP; 5.72 K/9; 2.79 BB/9)

192. New Mexico State SR RHP/OF Steven Anderson: plus athlete; intriguing raw tools; more potential as pitcher (5.59 FIP; 7.50 K/9; 4.50 BB/9) ***

193. Winthrop JR RHP Robert Lake: 89-91 FB with good command; 6-2, 185 pounds (5.11 FIP; 7.18 K/9; 2.11 BB/9)

194. Missouri State SR RHP Pat Doyle: low-90s FB; good cutter (4.77 FIP; 7.04 K/9; 3.04 BB/9)

195. Duquesne JR RHP/3B Andrew Heck: 88-89 sinking FB; good SL; great command of strike zone; great athlete; 6-2, 205 pounds (5.56 FIP; 5.88 K/9; 1.34 BB/9)

196. Southeastern Louisiana JR RHP Brandon Efferson: sits high-80s, 92 peak FB; good cutter; CB; CU (4.86 FIP; 5.00 K/9; 2.40 BB/9)

197. Nicholls State SR RHP Tyler Minto: 87-89 FB, topping at 91; good command; smooth mechanics; SL; CU; 6-1, 195 pounds (4.72 FIP; 6.41 K/9; 2.14 BB/9)

198. San Francisco SR RHP Doug Murray: 86-88 power sinker; solid SL (4.10 FIP; 6.09 K/9; 1.11 BB/9)

199. Richmond SR RHP Ian Marshall: 92-93, touching 94 with FB; inconsistent command of CB; 6-3, 210 pounds (4.23 FIP; 6.69 K/9; 1.96 BB/9) ***

200. Utah SR RHP Jordan Whatcott: 89-92 FB; average SL; missed two years on Mormon mission (4.94 FIP; 6.81 K/9; 3.74 BB/9)

201. Southern JR RHP Kyle Wahl: three average pitches (4.69 FIP; 5.37 K/9; 3.58 BB/9)

202. Furman SR RHP Nick Karow: 93 FB peak; above-average 83-84 SL; 6-2, 200 pounds (9.13 FIP; 6.94 K/9; 3.86 BB/9) ***

203. Miami SR RHP Jason Santana: good CU (4.17 FIP; 8.63 K/9; 3.50 BB/9)

204. Southern California SO RHP Andrew Triggs: 94-95 peak FB (3.67 FIP; 8.53 K/9; 2.42 BB/9)

205. Vanderbilt SR RHP Drew Hayes: 95 peak FB (5.18 FIP; 9.41 K/9; 3.48 BB/9) ***

206. Miami SR RHP Taylor Wulf: coming back from Tommy John surgery; 90 FB, above average CB (3.74 FIP; 12.33 K/9; 4.11 BB/9) ***

207. Gonzaga SR RHP Jake Hiatt: 89-92 FB; sharp SL; 6-1, 180 pounds (5.76 FIP; 10.57 K/9; 5.87 BB/9) ***

208. Kent State JR RHP/3B Brett Weibley: 92-95 FB; 96 FB peak; average SL; occasional promising CU; 6-3, 220 pounds (4.04 FIP; 8.59 K/9; 5.65 BB/9) ***

209. Texas JR RHP Kendal Carrillo: very athletic; smooth mechanics; good command; 88-92 FB; advanced CU; 6-0, 190 pounds (5.53 FIP; 8.50 K/9; 1.00 BB/9) ***

210. Boston College JR RHP Kevin Moran: 94-96 peak FB (3.89 FIP; 5.58 K/9; 6.84 BB/9) ***

211. San Diego SR RHP Matt Hauser: 88-92 FB with plus movement; promising 80-82 SL; 81-83 SFCU; 79-80 SL; 6-3, 190 pounds (3.44 FIP; 8.56 K/9; 1.76 BB/9) ***

212. Washington State SR RHP Seth Harvey: heavy sink on 90-94 FB; solid SL; improving command; violent delivery; 6-1, 210 pounds (5.00 FIP; 8.67 K/9; 3.00 BB/9) ***

213. Nebraska SO RHP Sean Yost: 95 peak FB; 6-7, 190 pounds (5.49 FIP; 6.75 K/9; 4.32 BB/9) ***

214. Texas A&M SR RHP Shane Minks: 85-88 FB with sink; above-average SL; occasional CU; 6-3, 205 pounds (3.70 FIP; 7.75 K/9; 4.28 BB/9) ***

215. San Diego State SR RHP Drew Leary: 89-91 FB, touching 93-94; FB has good sink; inconsistent SL; 6-4, 225 pounds (3.46 FIP; 8.89 K/9; 4.13 BB/9) ***

216. Maryland SR RHP Ian Schwalenberg: 88-92 FB; solid SL; good command; 6-3, 210 pounds (5.31 FIP; 8.37 K/9; 2.56 BB/9) ***

217. Louisville JR RHP Gabriel Shaw: 92 peak FB; good SL; good athlete (4.72 FIP; 8.47 K/9; 1.58 BB/9) ***

218. Tulane JR RHP Nick Pepitone: low- to mid-90s sinking FB; 6-7 (3.85 FIP; 8.72 K/9; 4.36 BB/9) ***

219. Florida State JR RHP Geoff Parker: 94-95 peak FB (4.62 FIP; 8.37 K/9; 4.56 BB/9) ***

220. Mississippi JR RHP Trent Rothlin: 88-92 FB with sink, has hit 94; 77-80 above-average SL; CU; 6-3, 195 pounds (4.59 FIP; 7.05 K/9; 3.22 BB/9) ***

221. Iowa JR RHP Zach Kenyon: low-90s FB; erratic CB; solid CU; 6-6, 220 (4.91 FIP; 6.27 K/9; 4.02 BB/9) ***

222. North Carolina State JR RHP Rey Cotilla: 95-96 with FB in relief; drafted last three years; 6-4, 195 (5.06 FIP; 5.91 K/9; 1.69 BB/9) ***

223. North Carolina JR RHP Nate Striz: 95 peak FB; good but inconsistent SL (2.43 FIP; 9.72 K/9; 6.48 BB/9) ***

224. Purdue SR RHP Matt Bischoff: low on projection, high on pitchability (4.45 FIP; 8.62 K/9; 1.42 BB/9)

225. Rhode Island JR RHP Gardner Leaver: 86-89 FB, topping at 90; solid CU; good SL; 6-2, 190 pounds (5.05 FIP; 9.09 K/9; 3.63 BB/9) ***

226. UNC-Wilmington JR RHP Stephen Harrold: 90-93 FB, has hit 96; average at best SL (3.60 FIP; 10.98 K/9; 2.97 BB/9) ***

227. Texas State SR RHP Garret Carruth: 87-89, 90 FB peak; has been at 90-93 in past; two impressive CBs, one slower and one sharper; SL; average at best CU; 6-4, 220 pounds (3.43 FIP; 9.76 K/9; 3.18 BB/9) ***

228. Miami SR RHP David Gutierrez: 87-89 with sink; 73-74 more slurve than CB, inconsistent but good low-80s CU; skinny but long legs (3.67 FIP; 9.00 K/9; 3.57 BB/9) ***

229. New Mexico SR RHP Eddie Carl: 89-91 FB; decent CU; up and down CB; 6-0, 200 pounds (3.92 FIP; 10.07 K/9; 4.71 BB/9) ***

230. Texas A&M JR RHP/OF Nick Fleece: sat low-90s (88-92 with great sink), 96 peak FB; hard SL; max-effort delivery; 6-2, 200 pounds (4.71 FIP; 5.45 K/9; 1.91 BB/9) ***

231. Stanford JR RHP Alex Pracher: high-80s FB; touches low-90s; solid SL and CU; 6-3, 175 pounds (4.09 FIP; 5.91 K/9; 3.74 BB/9) ***

232. Baylor SO RHP/OF Brooks Pinckard: 95 peak FB; plus speed; strong arm; 6-1, 175 pounds (4.79 FIP; 5.22 K/9; 4.60 BB/9) ***

233. Arizona State JR RHP Kyle Brule: 92-93 FB; hard SL; 6-2, 205 pounds

234. Texas A&M JR RHP/OF Joaquin Hinojosa: heavy sinker at 89-92; good 85 SL; 5-11, 195 pounds

235. Rice SR RHP Jared Rogers: 87-89 with sink (5.26 FIP; 5.70 K/9; 1.25 BB/9)

236. Ohio State JR RHP Dean Wolosiansky: high-80s; 86-88, slider, good command (4.40 FIP; 6.42 K/9; 3.02 BB/9)

237. Ashland (OH) SR RHP AJ Meyer: 89-91 FB from multiple angles; average CU; plus command; 6-7, 180 pounds

238. SW Oklahoma State SR RHP Jason Stover: low-90s FB, peak 93; solid SL; 6-3, 200 pounds

239. Millersville JR RHP/1B Derek Kline: 90-92 FB, peaking at 94; plus SL

240. Pittsburgh-Johnstown JR RHP Kaleb Fleck: 90-92 FB with life, peaking at 96

241. Albright SR RHP Casey Lawrence: 90 FB peak; above-average SL; average at best CU; good command; 6-2, 170 pounds

242. Shenandoah (VA) JR RHP Greg Van Sickler: 88-90 FB; good CU; plus command; 6-1, 190 pounds

243. North Park (IL) SR RHP Mike Giovenco: 89-91 FB, 94-95 peak; poor command; straight with FB; good low-80s SL with good command; nice CU; 6-6, 235 pounds

244. St. Louis SR RHP Bryant Cotton: 89-91 FB; clean delivery; 6-2, 185 pounds (4.13 FIP; 6.86 K/9; 2.29 BB/9)

245. Nebraska JR RHP Mike Nesseth: mid-90s FB with sink, peak velocity at 96-97; SL is wild; 6-5, 220 (4.59 FIP; 7.07 K/9; 3.86 BB/9) ***

246. Southern Mississippi SR RHP Collin Cargill: 82-85 FB; sidearm makes his stuff play up (3.45 FIP; 6.52 K/9; 2.33 BB/9) ***

247. Louisiana State JR RHP Daniel Bradshaw: decent sinker (6.07 FIP; 5.98 K/9; 2.12 BB/9) ***

248. Louisiana State JR RHP Mitch Mormann: power arsenal (4.45 FIP; 5.97 K/9; 4.71 BB/9) ***

249. East Carolina JR RHP Mike Anderson: 91 peak FB; CB with potential; 6-4, 230 pounds (6.69 FIP; 6.30 K/9; 7.20 BB/9) ***

250. Southern Mississippi JR RHP Seth Hester: 90-93 FB; nasty SFCU; occasional SL; 6-3, 200 pounds (7.21 FIP; 4.71 K/9; 6.00 BB/9) ***

2010 MLB Draft: Top 250 College Position Player Prospects

4 Jun 2010 4:26 AM / 15 Comments on 2010 MLB Draft: Top 250 College Position Player Prospects

The list doesn’t follow exactly along with earlier position-by-position rankings (check the links on the left side of the page for more info) because I’ve done some tweaking over the past few weeks. College RHPs (I think I’m going 250 deep on that list…) and combined college pitcher rankings should be up either later today or tomorrow. High school rankings will be pumped out pretty consistently over the course of the weekend, so check back over the next 48 hours for that. In the meantime, here are some college guys. Oh yeah, one last thing – the recommendations on guys I missed left in the comments section or via email were all excellent. I’ve always been slow to make decisions, so give me another day or two to mull everything over before I’m ready to begin inserting a few of the players into the position-by-position rankings and, in the case of a few players, into the list below…

6/5/2010 EDIT: With apologies to Southern Mississippi SR C Travis Graves (bumped from the list) and previously jilted Rutgers fans (I kid) alike, Pat Biserta cracks the list at number 85. Thanks to all who left comments alerting me to his omission. This may sound really corny, but I’m sort of proud to know there are so many knowledgeable readers willing to go to bat for their guy out there. I’m lucky that instead of having one person who edits my stuff for me, I have any number of the X amount of viewers who stop by here on a daily basis who do the job for free. Thanks, again.

  1. Community College of Southern Nevada FR C Bryce Harper
  2. Texas Arlington JR OF Michael Choice
  3. Ball State JR 2B Kolbrin Vitek
  4. Miami JR C Yasmani Grandal
  5. Tulane JR 3B Rob Segedin
  6. Arkansas SO 3B Zack Cox
  7. Florida State JR OF Tyler Holt
  8. Georgia Tech JR 3B Derek Dietrich
  9. Virginia Tech JR OF Austin Wates
  10. Cal State Fullerton JR SS Christian Colon
  11. Wabash Valley JC FR OF Mel Rojas
  12. Auburn JR OF Trent Mummey
  13. Louisville SO OF Stewart Ijames
  14. Middle Tennessee State JR OF Bryce Brentz
  15. Ohio JR OF Gauntlett Eldemire
  16. West Virginia JR 2B Jedd Gyorko
  17. Clemson JR OF Kyle Parker
  18. Minnesota JR C Mike Kvasnicka
  19. Kansas State JR SS Carter Jurica
  20. Arkansas JR 1B Andy Wilkins
  21. Louisiana State JR C Micah Gibbs
  22. Villanova SO C Matt Szczur
  23. West Oklahoma State JC SO OF Randolph Oduber
  24. Chipola JC FR 2B LeVon Washington
  25. UC Riverside SO C Rob Brantly
  26. Auburn JR 1B Hunter Morris
  27. Pittsburgh JR 3B Joe Leonard
  28. Virginia JR OF Jarrett Parker
  29. Louisiana State JR OF Leon Landry
  30. Jacksonville State JR OF Todd Cunningham
  31. Oklahoma City JR 3B Matt Presley
  32. Stanford JR 2B Colin Walsh
  33. Duke JR SS Jake Lemmerman
  34. Louisville SO 3B Phil Wunderlich
  35. UNC Wilmington JR C Cody Stanley
  36. Louisville SR 1B Andrew Clark
  37. Texas JR C Cameron Rupp
  38. Kansas JR 3B Tony Thompson
  39. San Diego JR 3B Victor Sanchez
  40. Connecticut JR 3B Mike Olt
  41. Vanderbilt JR C Curt Casali
  42. Tennessee JR C Blake Forsythe
  43. Long Beach State JR SS Devin Lohman
  44. Wake Forest JR OF Steven Brooks
  45. Louisville SR 2B Adam Duvall
  46. Virginia JR 2B Phil Gosselin
  47. Oregon State JR 3B Stefen Romero
  48. Fresno City College FR 3B David Rohm
  49. Coastal Carolina JR OF Rico Noel
  50. Cal State Fullerton JR OF Gary Brown
  51. Michigan JR OF Ryan LaMarre
  52. Alabama JR 2B Ross Wilson
  53. Alabama JR SS Josh Rutledge
  54. Mississippi State SR 1B Connor Powers
  55. Virginia Tech JR SS Tim Smalling
  56. Wichita State FR 3B Johnny Coy
  57. Texas State JR 3B Jason Martinson
  58. North Carolina State JR 3B Russell Wilson
  59. Oregon State JR OF Adalberto Santos
  60. Coastal Carolina JR 3B Scott Woodward
  61. Rice JR SS Rick Hague
  62. Tennessee Tech JR 1B AJ Kirby-Jones
  63. Cerritos CC SO 2B Joe Terry
  64. Catawba SR OF Wade Moore
  65. Catawba SR OF Craige Lyerly
  66. Yavapai JC SO DeMarcus Tidwell
  67. James Madison JR SS David Herbek
  68. San Jacinto SO OF Randall Thorpe
  69. Miami-Dade SO OF Jabari Blash
  70. Virginia JR OF Dan Grovatt
  71. Virginia SR SS Tyler Cannon
  72. Azusa Pacific SR 3B Ryan Delgado
  73. Florida Southern JR 2B Wade Kirkland
  74. California JR 2B BJ Guinn
  75. Coastal Carolina SR C Jose Iglesias
  76. Santa Clara SR C Tommy Medica
  77. East Carolina SR 1B Kyle Roller
  78. Oxnard FR OF Harper White
  79. Rutgers JR 2B Brandon Boykin
  80. Tennessee JR 3B Matt Duffy
  81. Kansas SR 2B Robby Price
  82. Kentucky JR 2B Chris Bisson
  83. Texas Christian SR C Bryan Holaday
  84. Clemson JR OF Jeff Schaus
  85. Rutgers JR OF Pat Biserta
  86. California JR OF Mark Canha
  87. Texas Christian SR 1B Matt Curry
  88. Georgia Tech SR 1B Tony Plagman
  89. Louisiana State SR 1B Blake Dean
  90. Alabama SR 1B Clay Jones
  91. Washington JR 1B Troy Scott
  92. Clemson SO 3B John Hinson
  93. Missouri SR OF Aaron Senne
  94. Arizona State SO SS Drew Maggi
  95. Southern JR 2B Curtis Wilson
  96. East Carolina JR OF Devin Harris
  97. Texas JR OF Kevin Keyes
  98. Auburn JR OF Kevin Patterson
  99. Pacific JR OF Nick Longmire
  100. Rutgers JR OF Jaren Matthews
  101. Auburn JR OF Brian Fletcher
  102. Ohio JR OF Robert Maddox
  103. Fresno State JR SS Danny Muno
  104. Cal State Fullerton JR 2B Corey Jones
  105. North Carolina JR C Jesse Wierzbicki
  106. Boston College JR 1B Mickey Wiswall
  107. Canisius JR 2B Steve McQuail
  108. Clemson SR 2B Mike Freeman
  109. Miami SR 2B Scott Lawson
  110. Mt. Hood CC SO 1B Taylor Ard
  111. Tampa JR OF Jared Simon
  112. Sonoma State JR OF Kyle Jones
  113. Florida Southern SR OF Trae Gore
  114. East Carolina JR SS Dustin Harrington
  115. Alabama SR 3B Jake Smith
  116. Georgia Southern SR 2B AJ Wirnsberger
  117. College of Charleston SR 2B Joey Bergman
  118. Florida JR 2B Josh Adams
  119. Central Florida SR OF Chris Duffy
  120. Furman JR 3B Brian Harrison
  121. San Francisco JR 3B Stephen Yarrow
  122. Bucknell SR OF Andrew Brouse
  123. North Carolina State JR C Chris Schaeffer
  124. Nebraska-Omaha JR OF Ryan Hook
  125. Oklahoma SO 3B Garrett Buechele
  126. Lewis-Clark State JR C Kawika Emsley-Pai
  127. Rutgers JR OF Michael Lang
  128. Dallas Baptist SR OF Ryan Enos
  129. Old Dominion SR SS Jake McAloose
  130. Lake Sumter CC FR 1B Bryan Hill
  131. Arizona State JR C Xorge Carrillo
  132. Missouri JR C Brett Nicholas
  133. Virginia JR C Kenny Swab
  134. Georgia Tech JR C Cole Leonida
  135. Truett-McConnell SO OF Terrell Jones
  136. Gonzaga SR OF Drew Heid
  137. Murray State SR OF Wes Cunningham
  138. Vanderbilt JR OF Aaron Westlake
  139. Eastern Kentucky JR 3B Jayson Langfels
  140. Hawaii SR 1B Kevin Macdonald
  141. Cal State Northridge JR 1B Dominic D’Anna
  142. Central Arizona FR SS Sam Lind
  143. Holy Cross SR 3B Matt Perry
  144. South Carolina JR OF Whit Merrifield
  145. Central Florida JR 2B Derek Luciano
  146. St. John’s JR 2B Greg Hopkins
  147. Francis Marion SR SS Barrett Kleinknecht
  148. Virginia Military Institute JR SS Sam Roberts
  149. CC of Southern Nevada SO OF Trevor Kirk
  150. UC Irvine JR 3B Brian Hernandez
  151. Florida JR 3B Bryson Smith
  152. Fort Hays State JR OF Jordan Payne
  153. Chipola JC SO OF Joey Rapp
  154. Iowa JR OF Kurtis Muller
  155. Georgia Tech SR OF Jay Dantzler
  156. Carson-Newman SR 1B Jeff Lockwood
  157. Arizona JR 2B Rafael Valenzuela
  158. Western Kentucky JR C Matt Rice
  159. Southern Illinois SR C Tyler Bullock
  160. Embry-Riddle SR C Austin Goolsby
  161. Oklahoma State JR C Kevin David
  162. Rice SR C Diego Seastrunk
  163. Ohio State JR C Dan Burkhart
  164. Chipola JC SO 1B Cody Martin
  165. Tennessee JR 1B Cody Hawn
  166. Central Florida SR OF Shane Brown
  167. Michigan State SR OF Eli Boike
  168. Texas Tech JR C Jeremy Mayo
  169. New Mexico JR C Rafael Neda
  170. Louisville SR C Jeff Arnold
  171. Mississippi JR 1B Matt Smith
  172. Pittsburgh JR OF John Schultz
  173. North Carolina SR 2B Dallas Poulk
  174. South Carolina SR 1B Nick Ebert
  175. Oklahoma State JR 1B Dean Green
  176. Connecticut JR 2B Pierre LePage
  177. Pittsburgh JR C Kevan Smith
  178. Manhattan JR OF Mike McCann
  179. James Madison SR OF Matt Browning
  180. Florida State JR OF Mike McGee
  181. Florida State JR 3B Stuart Tapley
  182. San Francisco SR Derek Poppert
  183. Middle Tennessee State SR 1B Blake McDade
  184. Kent State JR 2B Jared Humphreys
  185. Nebraska SR OF Adam Bailey
  186. Texas SR OF Russell Moldenhauer
  187. Creighton JR SS Elliot Soto
  188. North Carolina State SR OF Kyle Wilson
  189. Florida SR OF Matt Den Dekker
  190. Louisville JR OF Josh Richmond
  191. Washington SO OF Caleb Brown
  192. Indiana State SR OF Ryan Strausborger
  193. San Diego State JR OF Cory Vaughn
  194. Bowling Green SR 3B Derek Spencer
  195. Arizona State SR 1B Kole Calhoun
  196. Sam Houston State JR 2B Braden Riley
  197. Pacific JR 2B JB Brown
  198. Howard JC SO 2B Marcellous Biggins
  199. Georgia State SO OF Joey Wood
  200. Stanford JR OF Kellen Kiilsgaard
  201. Sonoma State JR OF Tillman Pugh
  202. Samford SR OF David Schulze
  203. Dallas Baptist JR OF Jason Krizan
  204. Cal Poly SR OF Luke Yoder
  205. Georgia Tech JR OF Chase Burnette
  206. Texas JR OF Tant Shepherd
  207. Wright State SR OF Casey McGrew
  208. Virginia Tech SR OF Steve Domecus
  209. Texas A&M SR OF Brodie Greene
  210. Ohio State SR OF Zach Hurley
  211. Sam Houston State JR OF Mark Hudson
  212. Rice SR 1B Jimmy Comerota
  213. Long Beach State SO 1B Joey Terdoslavich
  214. Auburn SR C Ryan Jenkins
  215. Mississippi JR C Miles Hamblin
  216. Western Michigan SR OF Chris Lewis
  217. Georgia Tech JR OF Jeff Rowland
  218. Rice JR OF Michael Fuda
  219. Virginia JR OF John Barr
  220. Florida Gulf Coast JR OF Josh Chester
  221. Richmond SR 3B Cameron Brown
  222. Mississippi State JR C Wes Thigpen
  223. Chipola FR 3B Michael Revell
  224. East Carolina JR OF Trent Whitehead
  225. UCLA JR OF Brett Krill
  226. Clemson JR OF Addison Johnson
  227. Clemson SR OF Wilson Boyd
  228. Siena SR OF Anthony Giansanti
  229. Auburn JR OF Justin Fradejas
  230. Kentucky SO OF Navarro Hall
  231. Xavier JR OF John McCambridge
  232. Mississippi JR OF Tim Ferguson
  233. Louisiana Lafayette SR OF Kyle Olasin
  234. Rice JR OF Chad Mozingo
  235. San Diego JR OF Kevin Muno
  236. Boston College JR OF Robbie Anston
  237. Ohio State SR OF Michael Stephens
  238. Kennesaw State SR SS Tyler Stubblefield
  239. Central Florida JR 1B Jonathan Griffin
  240. New Orleans JR OF Michael Petello
  241. Rutgers SR C Jayson Hernandez
  242. Minnesota SR C Kyle Knudson
  243. Florida Atlantic JR SS Nick DelGuidice
  244. Delaware SR 1B Ryan Cuneo
  245. Community College of Southern Nevada SO 1B Trent Cook
  246. Houston SR C Chris Wallace
  247. Fresno Pacific SR C Wes Dorrell
  248. North Carolina SR SS Ryan Graepel
  249. Cal State Fullerton SR C Billy Marcoe
  250. Vanderbilt SR C Andrew Giobbi

2010 MLB Draft: Top 30 College Third Base Prospects (Complete List)

3 Jun 2010 5:32 AM / 1 Comment on 2010 MLB Draft: Top 30 College Third Base Prospects (Complete List)

Somebody emailed and asked, everybody receives. See how easy that is? The complete list of the top 30 draft-eligible college third basemen, previously broken up into three separate chunks, now all in one handy, easily searchable post. Can you feel the excitement? Next up, hopefully later today, the complete college position player big board and, with luck, the start of the high school position lists. The college righthanded pitching list is a whopper of a post, so I’m trying to be sure I’m 100% happy with it before letting it see the right of day. Right now, I’m only about 95%. Soon, though, soon…

30. Bowling Green SR 3B Derek Spencer

Spencer won’t wow you with his tools or outstanding collegiate production, but his skills are good enough when taken in altogether to get himself on a professional roster. He’s the classic well-rounded, hard working, good enough senior sign who doesn’t do any one thing exceptionally well, but does everything so wonderfully competently that he profiles as an organizational player with backup upside. Three of his tools have average upside or better (power, speed, glove), so it’s no stretch to see him sneak him onto a big league bench someday.

29. Florida JR 3B Bryson Smith

Smith has a big league body, intriguing pop, useful positional versatility, but has been held back by injuries in 2010. Injury induced subpar seasons for mid- to late-round underclassman prospects are normally a recipe for a senior season return engagement, but Smith may be a victim of his own college team’s success. Playing time in 2011 looks to be very hard to come by on a young, stacked Florida starting nine, so Smith may try his luck professionally if a team is willing to bet that a return to health will bring him closer to the player he was at junior college than he was as a Gator.

28. UC Irvine JR Brian Hernandez

Hernandez has a similar scouting profile as Derek Spencer, but gets the edge because of better plate discipline and more balanced swing mechanics. Like Spencer, he’s your typical “whole is greater than the sum of his parts” kind of prospect, with the upside of a big league bench bat if everything breaks right.

27. Chipola FR 3B Michael Revell

Revell has really impressive tools across the board, but his production in 2010 didn’t reflect his true talent level. His plus bat speed, strong arm, good athleticism, and 20 homer lefthanded power upside will keep him on many follow lists despite his struggles. The down year will probably keep him at Chipola for a sophomore season; disappointing, sure, but perhaps a good thing for his long-term draft stock. Revell has the tools to succeed, but is raw enough that the extra relatively low pressure junior college at bats could help turn his substantial promise into production. It’s rare to see a player capable of starting in the big leagues so low on a prospect list like this, but it’s an acknowledgement of the wide gap between what Revell could be versus what he currently is. He makes the list as more of a token 2011 name to watch than a realistic 2010 draft target.

26. Holy Cross SR 3B Matt Perry

Is it sad that one of the first things I thought about when looking at my notes on Perry was “gee, I bet Bill Simmons would get a kick out of having a fellow Holy Cross guy show up on some anonymous internet nobody’s top 30 college third base prospect list…”? Perry is one of my favorite 2010 senior signs because of his advanced strike zone knowledge, good defensive tools, and renowned drive to succeed. It’s a rare college senior who plays in the big leagues, so sometimes it’s alright to dig deep to find a small something extra about a player that you think sets him apart. Perry’s steady four year progression, strong performance under pressure as a legacy at Holy Cross, and success with wood in the summer makes me think he’s a guy worth gambling on.

25. Eastern Kentucky JR 3B Jayson Langfels

Langfels came into the season with a reputation as a total hacker at the plate, but curbed his swinging and missing ways just enough to finally unlock his good raw power in game situations. I’ve gotten mixed reports on his defense this year, but his hands in the past have gotten him into some trouble at third. It ranges anywhere from somewhat possible to very likely that he’ll wind up as more of a power hitting four-corners utility type than a starting third base candidate; either way, there’s value enough in the bat.

24. Toledo JR 3B Jared Hoying

Hoying’s an interesting scouting, coaching, and prospect development test case. His swing is ugly, but his bat speed is exceptional. Knowing that, do you a) let Hoying be Hoying and go with what works, b) attempt to make slight alterations while preserving the integrity of the swing, or c) work to maintain Hoying’s great bat speed while simultaneously trying to reinvent his swing mechanics? More to the point, how exactly do you go about coaching the kid up? What coaches in the organization do you assign to help him? How much time and energy should be spent working with a mid-round draft prospect? Hoying’s swing isn’t the only intriguing, but raw part of his game. He’s an obviously raw defender, but the tools, most notably a plus arm and athleticism equally suited up the middle, are there for him to succeed anywhere in the infield in a pinch. His high strikeout rate is absolutely a concern, but the aforementioned bat speed, plus arm, and above-average base running give him the look of a potential above-average utility infielder in the mold of former Ranger, Indian, Cub, Brave, Brewer, Rockie, Cub again, Pirate, Dodger, Indian again, Pirate again, and Phillie Jose Hernandez.

23. Oklahoma SO 3B Garrett Buechele

And so begins a stretch of players with starting caliber upside, but high bust potential. Buechele has one of the stronger pure hit tools of this college third base class, and his quickly emerging power make him one to watch. His defense is plenty good enough to stick at third, so the only thing that realistically stands in the way of Buechele succeeding professionally (you know, besides all of the other things that can get in the way for any player drafted) will be high strikeout totals. He’s not as talented as Zack cox, so don’t take this as a direct comparison, but it seems that Buechele would be best served returning to school to work on honing his pitch recognition skills like the top player on this list managed to do in his sophomore season.

22. San Francisco JR 3B Stephen Yarrow

Yarrow’s basic story is very similar to Garrett Buechele’s in that both prospects have legit plus power potential and a strong overall hit tool. Going against Yarrow is his tendency to pull darn near everything, below-average tools outside of the batter’s box, and a long-term future as a four-corners type of player, not an everyday third baseman.

21. Furman JR 3B Brian Harrison

Harrison is a good, good player. Case in point, Harrison has a good arm, is a good defender, and has a good hit tool, with good power potential. He’s a really good athlete, perhaps too good to be “wasted” at third if there’s really a team out there willing to try him in centerfield as rumored. I wish he would have gotten more at bats on the Cape this past summer, but, as too often the case with Harrison, injuries limited his playing time. Get him healthy, get him a regular defensive home, and get a good, good player with starter upside past round ten. Good bargain. The relatively low ranking is more about the players ahead of him than the above-average (or, in other words, “good”) overall talent package that Harrison brings to the table.

20. Alabama SR 3B Jake Smith

Players coming off of more accomplished collegiate seasons precede Smith on this list, so take this aggressive ranking as a show of good faith that the Alabama senior’s tools will trump his up-and-down college career when it comes to his success or failure in the pros. Hey, speaking of aggressive, one of Smith’s biggest current issues is a tendency to get too aggressive at the plate, jumping out at pitches before they reach his happy zone. He’s gotten away with it to some extent in college, but hacking at anything 16 inches (give or take) off, up, or away from the plate is no way to advance up the minor league ladder in the enlightened age of baseball we’re lucky to be living in. Smith’s tremendous raw power and excellent defensive tools play in any era of baseball, but he’s been slow to recover from a serious ankle injury. I get the feeling based on all of the above that we’re talking about another four-corners backup type here. Fun fact: Replace “serious ankle injury” with “labrum injury” and you’ve got a very similar situation to what the number eight overall prospect on this list is dealing with. Any guesses about the identify of our mystery prospect?

19. Clemson SO 3B John Hinson

John Hinson was a tough player to rank because of his status as a redshirt and thus draft-eligible sophomore and his positional versatility across the infield. He was an easy guy to rank this high because of the really nice things that anybody who has seen him play this year had to say about him. Hinson was a highly touted prospect out of high school who was considered advanced enough after his freshman year to be asked to play for Hyannis in the Cape Cod League. Back surgery cost him all of his 2009 season, but the fully recovered version of Hinson put up a  2010 statistical line that reads a lot like Pittsburgh’s Joe Leonard’s work this season. A plus hit tool combined with above-average speed and power will get you far professionally, but people smarter than myself that I talked with told me some teams question his ability to play any one particular spot in the infield with the consistency needed of a regular. Based on the limited looks of Hinson that I’ve seen, I can’t say that I necessarily agree with that assessment, but his defensive skillset (good athlete, iffy arm) may make him better suited for second base than third. At either spot, he’s got the bat to make him a potential regular with a couple breaks along the way.

18. Tarleton State JR 3B Chris Casazza

Like Jayson Langfels and Jake Smith before, and Jason Martinson and Mike Olt after, Chris Casazza’s biggest deficiency is a long swing with holes in it that winds up waving and missing at the ball far too often. Like Martinson a few spots ahead of him, Casazza’s good batting eye and sneaky power upside should keep his secondary statistics afloat even when the K’s are trying to drag his prospect stock below the surface. In many ways he’s quite simply the better version of Alabama’s Jake Smith, especially at the plate – more power, more patience, less strikeouts, and better all-around bat. Definite sleeper to watch.

17. Tennessee JR 3B Matt Duffy

Duffy was a deep sleeper top five rounds candidate of mine heading into the season, so you know his underwhelming, but still solid, junior season won’t downgrade his stock too much for me. The Vermont transfer has all of the defensive tools to play a decent shortstop professionally, but profiles better as a potential plus defender at the hot corner. For Duffy, a Jack Hannahan (with more raw power) or Andy LaRoche (with less raw power) type of career is possible.

16. Azusa Pacific SR 3B Ryan Delgado

Delgado earned his way on the list because of his ridiculous power numbers over the years, but it certainly doesn’t hurt that Azusa Pacific has one of the most fun college names to say out loud. Try it, you won’t be disappointed. Besides the cool college name and plus power potential, Delgado has a true plus arm and a well above-average overall hit tool. His defense at third isn’t currently at the level where you could project him as above-average professionally, but the tools are there for him at least wind up a decent defensive player at least through his twenties. If it doesn’t work at third, however, there’s a backup plan that I know for a fact is actually Plan A for some teams. Delgado’s future for some teams might be donning the tools of ignorance behind the plate every day. It’s a stretch and it’s based largely on the 3B/C future that could be in store, but I can’t shake the Jake Fox comp for Delgado that I heard way back when.

15. Coastal Carolina JR 3B Scott Woodward

It’s very easy to envision Scott Woodward playing in the big leagues someday. He’s got an outstanding approach to hitting, a discerning batting eye, and a really good idea of his fundamental strengths and weaknesses at the plate. Woodward ably uses his plus-plus speed to leg out infield hits, turn balls driven to the gaps into triples, and steal bases at a tremendous success rate (46 steals in 52 tries). Home runs will likely never be a big part of his game, but his is a game based more on speed and plate discipline anyway. He could have the type of career many once projected for former Dodgers prospect Joe Thurston. Another comp that I like a lot is Phillies minor leaguer Tyson Gillies, a comparison made more interesting due to the fact both players are hearing impaired, but one not at all dependent on that fact as the basis of the comp. When I first thought of it a few weeks ago the connection didn’t even occur to me, but the two players share enough distinct offensive similarities to make it work.

14. North Carolina State JR 3B Russell Wilson

Betting on Wilson is betting on upside, a worthy risk to take when you are considering which mid-round college hitter to gamble on. See, the sad little truth about lists like this are that the players, while undeniably impressive and accomplished and talented, are more than likely never going to play in the big leagues. Heck, many of them won’t see AA. Once you get past the top two or three names on any of these college lists, it’s all a big guessing game. Educated guessing, to be sure, but guessing all the same. To make a long intro slightly less long, if you’re are going to bet on a mid-round college player, go for the rare guy with untapped potential. That’s Wilson. Here’s why…

I tend to overuse this word when writing about draft prospects, but it applies to Wilson so well here that I can’t help myself. Wilson is an interesting prospect. More than one team affiliated employee I spoke to used that word to describe Wilson in some way – “interesting upside,” “interesting bat,” and “interesting future.” Watch him for just a couple of innings and you’ll see evidence of all five tools right away. His bat is, well, interesting, and his power, while mostly to the gaps at this point, could top out with homer totals in the teens professionally. As a former quarterback unafraid to take off with the ball when needed, it comes as no surprise that his speed rates as an easy 60, with startlingly quick acceleration. Defensively he may have the speed, instincts, and athleticism to play up the middle (2B or CF), but his presence on this particular list is a bet on his plus arm playing best at third base over the long run. Wilson’s numbers this year were solid across the board, but his performance must be judged with his lack of college ball experiences prior to 2010 in mind. He needs more reps on the diamond, but if a team is patient with him they could be rewarded with a player who closely mirrors the Melvin Mora developmental path, something that will no doubt interest a big league club or two come draft day.

13. Texas State JR 3B Jason Martinson

The more I do this, the more I begin to gain an appreciation for the way certain college programs recruit and develop talent. The job Ty Harrington has done in San Marcos is nothing short of spectacular. I relate it to a college football team with very specific offensive and defensive schemes recruiting not based on consensus overall talent levels, but rather best fits for the program. You’d think these less talented players would succeed mainly due to the system in college, but then, lo and behold, draft day comes and teams start taking these supposed system talents left and right. Turns out that players overlooked in high school can turn out to be pretty valuable prospects after three years of quality college coaching. I suppose that’s really just my long way of saying that even though it’s common the best high school players sign out of high school, and even though it’s common the best unsigned high school players go to the big name schools in Texas, it’s still possible to have some really talented players wind up at non-traditional baseball schools. Schools like that often have coaching staffs more familiar with coaching guys up than allowing them to coast by on natural abilities they may or may not have.

Martinson is a plus athlete with very good defensive tools who, similar to Tennessee’s Matt Duffy, may be good enough with the leather to stick up the middle (either shortstop or second base) in some organizations. For me, however, his hands, range, and arm all play best at third, a position where he could eventually be a decidedly above-average defender. Offensively the rap on Martinson coming into the year was that he swung and miss too often to ever hit for an acceptable average professionally. That may or may not be true going forward — his 2010 performance has been very similar to his 2009 — but his quick wrists and above-average plate discipline should help keep his on-base percentage up even when he is striking out more often than you’d like. Teams will worry less about the low contact rate if Martinson can begin to tap into some of the long awaited above-average raw power that hasn’t really showed up through three seasons of college ball. If he can begin to apply some of his brute physical strength into homerun power professionally, he’s got a chance to be a starter. If not, his best chance of earning the big bucks will be in the good defender/patient pinch hitter role.

12. Wichita State FR 3B Johnny Coy

Coy has taken a long, strange trip to get to this point, but the eventual payoff could very well make it all worth it. Coy’s story began as a two-sport high school star, regarded by many as a better basketball prospect than baseball. After getting drafted by the Phillies in the 7th round, protracted and sometimes testy (allegedly) negotiations between player and team led to the two sides opting to go their separate ways. Coy’s older brother was reportedly heavily involved with negotiations, strongly pushing his bro to either a) get every last penny from the Phillies as possible (making him a greedy villain to many) or b) go to school and get a quality education (a far more admirable position, some might say). Coy wound up enrolling at Arizona State, but never made it to baseball season. He left the Sun Devils to move closer to home after his father suffered a stroke in late 2008. That led him to Wichita State. As a Shocker, Coy has been able to focus on honing his considerable baseball skills. All of his raw tools grade out as average or better – 55 speed, 60 arm, 65-70 raw power, average hit tool, and, perhaps most controversially, above-average upside with the glove at third. I remember not believing for a second that he’d ever stick at third after seeing video of him in high school, but all of the noise regarding his defensive progress coming out of Wichita has been positive. I’m a big believer in the big (6-8, 210 pound) righthanded freshman. As mentioned, Coy was a 7th round pick by the Phillies back in 2008. The questions concerning his signability will probably keep him from hitting that mark here in 2010, but his true talent level makes him a top ten round candidate worth pursuing if he even begins to hint that he’ll consider signing.

11. Fresno City College FR 3B David Rohm

Rohm hits and hits and hits. He can also steal a bag when left unattended (great instincts on the bases), smack a ball the other way (very mature hitting style), and crank it out of the ballpark when the mood strikes (above-average present power). Mostly though, he hits. His defense ranks in the bottom third of players here in the top 30, but he still has a better than 50/50 shot to stick at the position through his first six years of big league control. Ah, the defense update is appreciated,  you’re thinking, but, wait, can the guy hit? Excellent question; yes, David Rohm can hit.

10. Oregon State JR 3B Stefen Romero

Romero is arguably the best present defender on the top ten list. He makes all the plays on balls hit at him, and has proven more than capable of ranging to both his left and right when needed. What really makes his draft stock pop in comparison to some other names on the list is his performance with wood last summer on the Cape. The raw numbers don’t jump right out at you, but all of the reports from the summer were positive. Romero kept the momentum going this spring by displaying a steady dose of good defense, above-average power, and decent athleticism. A few area scouts that have seen him play way more than I have seem to like him a lot more than I do, so take his placement on the list as a rare example of me trusting people smarter than myself. Rare not because I’m trusting them, but because there are people out there actually smarter than I am. Hard to believe, I know. Romero’s upside is a good four-corners bench bat for me, something true of the majority of the players on this list no matter how rosy a picture I try to paint of their ultimate super duper best case scenario big league ceilings.

9. Connecticut JR 3B Mike Olt

I’ve toyed with the idea of standardizing these quick scouting capsules, but always wind up just doing the rambling paragraph or two synopses you see up and down the page. Seems like all of those standardized reports have some sort of strengths/weaknesses attached somewhere, so let’s try it out with a personal favorite, Mike Olt:

Strengths: three above-average or better tools (65 raw power, 55 speed, and 65 arm), plus athleticism, and a big league ready frame

Weaknesses:  present tool most need in work is his bat, due in large part to a largely unrefined approach and inconsistent swing mechanics

So, will Olt make enough consistent hard contact to put his other tools to use professionally? I think any one of the guys on one of the deepest top ten college position lists I can remember in the long, storied history of this site has the upside of an every day player if the circumstances allow it. That comes out as a cop-out, but it’s true; this is a really, really deep year for college third basemen.

8. San Diego JR 3B Victor Sanchez

My support of Victor Sanchez goes back to his prep days, so it’s hard for me to be completely objective when trying to evaluate his current draft stock. The memory of the potential plus defender with equally exciting power potential and a mature beyond his years approach to every single at bat may be just that, a memory. Sanchez’s slow recovery from labrum surgery has knocked his prospect stock way down, but I’m enthused by the perhaps misguided hope that his depressed draft standing will give him the chip on his shoulder (not literally) needed to prove all the teams that passed on him wrong. Talent doesn’t disappear, but it can get lost in the fog of injuries. Teams willing to take the chance that Sanchez will someday recovery 100% from his shoulder injury are betting that the fog will soon lift.

7. Kansas JR 3B Tony Thompson

If he sticks at third, you’ve got a real player on your hands. If he’s a first baseman long-term, the bat will need to go up a level or two before you could realistically consider him a potential regular at the spot. For now, I think he’s got nimble enough feet to stick at third through his mid-twenties. Thompson’s successful return to health after an early season injury has allowed him time to showcase the plus arm and plus power that should get him drafted in the first five rounds no matter what teams think about his defense.

6. Louisville SO 3B Phil Wunderlich

Makeup is one of the easiest scouting terms to throw around as a positive or a negative for any given prospect because anonymous internet sources (like mine!) are never asked to truly qualify what the word means. Here’s what I mean when I say Wunderlich’s makeup is off the charts: In an completely fictional, but totally possible survey of college coaches and players, Wunderlich would win the “most likely to manage” poll going away. He’s that kind of player.  Intangibles aside, Wunderlich is an underrated athlete with legit plus power and amazing patience at the plate. He may not be a natural defender at third, but he’s also not the type of player you’d bet against working his tail off until he is at least a decent big league defensive player.

5. Oklahoma City JR 3B Matt Presley

A trio of haikus, one offensive, one defensive, and one summing it all up, to describe draft sleeper Matt Presley…

Strikeouts are scary
But bat gives pitchers nightmares
Power is special

Not Schmidt with leather
Still, strong arm and high effort
Might fit best in right

Star in Sooner state
Not quite on Durant’s level
Better nickname, though

In summary: Easy to fall in love with his bat, but hard to realistically see him ever being average or better at third. Also, I suck at haikus.

4. Pittsburgh JR 3B Joe Leonard

Leonard has gotten a ton of positive press over the past few weeks, all of it well earned. He came into the season as one of the best college hitting prospects and one of the few collegiate position players projected to be productive enough both at the plate and in the field to start every day in the big leagues. The one question that scouts had about his game was his power upside. Leonard has answered the bell by hitting for over 30 extra base hits and slugging well over .600. He’s a good athlete with a plus arm and great big league size for a third baseman. Defensively he’s presently skilled enough to be considered big league average at the position, and continued development ought to get him up above-average during his best defensive seasons.

Neither his offense nor his defense will ever quite approach the level of peak years Scott Rolen (a really underrated player by many, I think), but if you squint really hard you can begin to see Leonard as perhaps developing into that type of player – exciting defenders, strong physiques, and often mischaracterized as power hitters first and foremost. In fact, after looking at the numbers some, I’d compare Leonard’s upside as a hitter to something around what Rolen did his rookie season (.283/.377/.469) with the Phillies. That kind of upside is substantial, clearly, so it may very well be that Leonard’s placement on this list is a mistake that I’ll have to rectify before June 7th hits.

3. Georgia Tech JR 3B Derek Dietrich

I’m part of the small but vocal minority that seems to think Dietrich could play a decent shortstop professionally if given the chance, but, seeing as its highly unlikely he’ll ever get that opportunity, we’ll judge him here on the basis of his potential well above-average glove and plus arm at third. There’s very little mystery as to what kind of player a team will get if they take Dietrich early on; he’ll hit with both above-average contact and home run numbers (consistent 20 homer upside, I think), play solid to plus defense (as mentioned), and consistently work hard to improve his overall game. I’m no fan of writers/analysts/scouts/Larry Browns who fall back on the tired cliché “he plays the game the right way,” but, hypocrite that I am, Derek Dietrich simply plays the game the way it was meant to be played. He won’t be a sexy pick, but he’s as good a bet as any player on this list to contribute in some capacity in the big leagues.

2. Arkansas SO 3B Zack Cox

Easily confused fellow that I am, I don’t quite understand the negativity surrounding Cox’s power potential that has come to the surface this season. It seems to me that he can’t really win with some people. Last year people oohed and aahed as he flashed prodigious raw power, but disappointed in the plate discipline department. This year he’s taken a much more patient, contact-oriented approach, but is getting heat for not hitting for the same power as he did his freshman year. I realize slugging .600+ and socking 20 extra base hits in college (like Cox has done so far in 2010) isn’t quite the feat it appears to be at first blush, but it’s still a decent indicator that the guy hasn’t been reduced to a singles only hitter this year. Now imagine the possibility that good professional coaching can help Cox unlock the secret of maintaining his gains in plate discipline and a high contact rate while simultaneously helping him rediscover the big power stroke of his first collegiate season. Sounds pretty good, right?

As arguably the draft’s top position player prospect, much has already been written about Cox’s toolset. The cliff notes version is this: potential plus bat, above-average present power but plus projection, 45/50 runner, plus arm, good defender. His worst tool is probably his speed, and, as you can see, even that project to be around average. I think Cox’s ceiling is below that of your typical top half of the first round college bat, but he’s still a relatively safe pick to be an above-average regular third baseman for a first division club.

1. Tulane JR 3B Rob Segedin

I had Segedin as the 47th best draft-eligible player in the nation heading into the year, so it’s nice to see him succeed in 2010 for totally selfish reasons alone. Sure, it’s also nice to see a hard working young man work his way back from a season lost to injury to put himself in a position for a well earned big paycheck and chance at chasing his dream of professional baseball, but, really, it’s all about me, me, me! Anyway, Segedin has a gorgeous righthanded stroke that’s so pretty to look at it’s almost a surprise when he makes contact and the ball doesn’t fly to an unattended gap somewhere. Defensively, he’ll stick at third at least in the short-term (steady hands, limited range), but could become a rightfielder with average range and a cannon arm if needed. It’ll be the bat that makes him the big bucks, and it’s got all the makings of a special one. At the plate, Segedin is a professional player trapped in the college game. Rare plate discipline, gap power that’s finally beginning to round into over-the-fence pop, and impressive bat control make him a hitter with a big future going forward. When your floor is a lefty mashing four-corners utility guy, then you’d better believe the ceiling is much, much higher.

2010 MLB Draft: Top 101 College Outfielders

2 Jun 2010 6:45 AM / 17 Comments on 2010 MLB Draft: Top 101 College Outfielders

A few quick thoughts before we get to the ranking of the 2010 MLB Draft’s Top 100 College Outfield Prospects™. I may add to this throughout the week as random thoughts pop into my head, but we’ll start off with some quick justifications for players at the top of the list, an explanation about the relatively low rankings of two much ballyhooed prospects, and a general overview of how I pieced together the list. I may also tweak this list here and there in the next week, both near the top (3-11 are all really, really close for me) and closer to the bottom (a few pop-up guys I heretofore haven’t paid enough attention to deserve one last look), but those changes will probably be reflected when the college position player big board is revealed tomorrow.

Michael Choice has five solid or better tools (solid: speed, defense, bat; better: arm and power) and the potential to hit 30+ homers or more playing every day in the big leagues. Tyler Holt’s fantastic approach, stellar base running, and plus defense should help keep him employed as an everyday leadoff hitting centerfielder (at best) or a reserve outfielder (at worst) for a long, long time. Wates has no glaring weakness to his game and profiles as an above-average regular who should move quickly through the minors after signing. Mummey came into the year as a prospect who relied on plus speed, plus defense, and enough pop to keep pitchers honest. Well, one 2010 slugging percentage north of .800 and the highest of praise for his defense later, it seems like he’s taken what he’s done well and amplified it.

Gary Brown and Ryan LaMarre were both initially lower than even their current modest standing (tying up so much value in batting average terrifies me), but, after running the rough copy of this by a few people way smarter than I am, I moved each guy up five spots or so. Then, realizing that just because I always lump the two players together in my head, I took a step back and only left one player up in the rankings. Brown stayed up high because, if nothing else, he has the floor as one the league’s best fly catchers in center and a true base stealing threat off the bench.  LaMarre’s skill set is nothing to sneeze at, don’t get me wrong, but the lack of a premium tool to fall back on lumps him back in with other well-rounded potential outfield tweener types like Todd Cunningham, Parker, and Santos.

At the top, big bats with below-average corner outfield defense were penalized. In the middle, my old love of hitting won out because, and this is more of a personal draft philosophy quirk than anything, at a certain point in the draft you have to start taking players you acknowledge do not have starting upside and instead focus on players with one or two definite big league tools. Whether it’s the power to contribute off the bench in a pinch (e.g. Patterson, Wes Cunningham, Bailey) or the defense/speed to hang on for a long time as a fifth outfielder (Den Dekker is the most obvious example of this), the player needs to show a clearly defined big league tool to make his mark. I think the former has more traditional value in the game (perhaps deservedly so), but the latter is a) easier to project, b) very much en vogue these days, and c) pretty darn important in its own right. I tried to weigh all of these factors into the list accordingly.

One last important note before we go on – the scouting reports, so much as they can be called scouting reports, are wholly incomplete for a handful of reasons I’ll hopefully be able to announce at a later date. If you’ve got something to add, something to ask, something that needs clarification…leave a comment or drop me an email. I’m more than happy to go into more detail about any player. Alright, time for the list…

1. Texas Arlington JR OF Michael Choice (good speed; good arm; solid in center, but best in right; strong hit tool; serious power potential)

2. Florida State JR OF Tyler Holt (fantastic approach; above-average runner; great baserunner; legitimately great defender; big hit tool)

3. Virginia Tech JR OF Austin Wates (gap power; good athlete; good to plus speed (70); capable defender in CF; may be tried at 2B; good turn on Cape; 6-1, 174 pounds

4. Auburn JR OF Trent Mummey (plus speed; legendary defender; solid pop; 5-10, 176 pounds)

5. Wabash Valley JC FR OF Mel Rojas (tons of projection; plus speed; plus power potential from both sides of plate; good defender in CF; weak arm may relegate him to LF; 6-3, 195 pounds)

6. Louisville SO OF Stewart Ijames (great bat speed; big power potential; good approach; decent speed; should be average or better defender in corner spot, likely right; good arm; 6-1, 205 pounds)

7. Middle Tennessee State JR OF Bryce Brentz (plus bat speed; easy 65 power; above-average runner; plus arm; legit five-tool talent; great athlete; 89-92 FB off of mound)

8. Ohio JR OF Gauntlett Eldemire (above-average to almost plus speed (70); plus power potential; very good defender)

9. Clemson JR OF Kyle Parker (plus raw power; plus arm strength, but lacks accuracy; knocked for stiff movements and only being able to hit mistake pitches)

10. West Oklahoma State JC SO OF Randolph Oduber (good raw power; above-average to plus speed; good athlete; little to no plate discipline, but improving in this area; very raw; below-average arm; 6-2, 200 pounds)

11. Cal State Fullerton JR OF Gary Brown (plus speed (70); good bat control; plus defender in CF; average arm; puts ball in play at very high rate, but inability to take a walk makes his overall offensive value very much dependent on batting average; 6-0, 180 pounds)

12. Jacksonville State JR OF Todd Cunningham (quick bat; good approach at plate; little present power, but flashes raw plus power during batting practice; could just be gap power as professional; good defender; average arm; good speed; performed well with wood on Cape; danger of being labeled a tweener; 6-1, 205 pounds)

13. Virginia JR OF Jarrett Parker (plus power potential; very good defender; above-average arm; plus speed; all five tools are there; struggled with wood on Cape; Lastings Milledge comp; 6-3, 190 pounds)

14. Louisiana State JR OF Leon Landry (plus speed; plus athlete; raw in all phases; big power potential; legit defensive tools, but extremely inconsistent tracking balls in the air; 5-11, 195 pounds)

15. Wake Forest JR OF Steven Brooks (evidence of all five tools present; plus raw speed, solid defensively in center; raw power potential is there, but inconsistent with in-game power)

16. Coastal Carolina JR OF Rico Noel (above-average speed, but plus runner because of great base stealing instincts; plus defender in center)

17. Oregon State JR OF Adalberto Santos (above-average to plus speed; good plate discipline; versatile defender; gap power)

18. Michigan JR OF Ryan LaMarre (good knowledge of strike zone despite hacktastic 2010; plus power potential; good to plus (60) speed)

19. Catawba SR OF Wade Moore (very good defender in CF; plus speed; some gap power; leadoff man profile; 6-0, 200 pounds)

20. Catawba SR OF Craige Lyerle (leadoff man profile; very good arm; excellent speed; some pop; utility player future; can also play 3B; 6-0, 180 pounds)

21. Yavapai JC SO DeMarcus Tidwell (plus speed; plus athlete; above-average with all tools except power; 6-1, 190 pounds)

22. San Jacinto SO OF Randall Thorpe (plus speed; plus range in CF; average power potential; average arm strength; 6-1, 175 pounds)

23. Miami-Dade SO OF Jabari Blash (plus runner; solid-average arm; huge raw power potential, but has never been able to consistently show it in game situations; not a good defender; 6-5, 220 pounds)

24. Oxnard FR OF Harper White (present gap power with homerun potential with tweaks to swing; above-average runner; 6-6, 200 pounds)

25. Virginia JR OF Dan Grovatt (patient approach; gap power; average fielder; above-average to plus arm strength, good enough for RF; average speed; 6-1, 175 pounds)

26. Meridian SO OF Corey Dickerson (above-average bat; above-average raw power; average speed; above-average arm; good size; nice swing)

27. Weatherford SO OF Bryson Myles (plus speed; good bat; power a definite question)

28. Clemson JR OF Jeff Schaus (pretty swing; good natural hitter; average power; average speed; stuck in LF)

29. Rutgers JR OF Pat Biserta (iffy defender in left field who may profile best at first or DH, but his numbers have been so strong in 2010 — park and schedule adjusted line of .440/.502/.812; 28 BB/28 K; 43 extra base hits; 5/6 SB — that you’re at least getting a guy with big league bench bat potential)

30. California JR OF Mark Canha (poor defender in the outfield who may have to play first base professionally; above-average to plus arm; interesting hit tool; 6-2, 195 pounds)

31. Missouri SR OF Aaron Senne (advanced idea of strike zone; good power)

32. East Carolina JR OF Devin Harris (60 power, 65 arm, 60 speed; great athlete, but really inconsistent college career)

33. Texas JR OF Kevin Keyes (plus power potential; slow; average arm)

34. Auburn JR OF Kevin Patterson (big raw power, but too many swings and misses)

35. Pacific JR OF Nick Longmire (above-average athlete; good range in outfield; added strength in 2010; 6-2, 210 pounds)

36. Rutgers JR OF Jaren Matthews (unrefined approach prior to 2010, but concerted effort to take better at bats impressed; plus defensive possibilities at first base (natural position), but a good enough athlete to be average or better in the outfield; to that end, good enough speed and instincts for outfield make the conversion likely to happen; 6-2, 215 pounds)

37. Auburn JR OF Brian Fletcher (aggressive at plate, in both a good and bad way; good athlete; good defender; strong arm; plus power; 6-4, 195 pounds)

38. Tampa JR OF Jared Simon (very pretty swing; too aggressive at plate; 1B or LF professionally, so defense is certainly an issue; will have to hope bat carries him; 6-1, 210 pounds)

39. Sonoma State JR OF Kyle Jones (above-average speed; good arm; likely limited to LF as a pro because of iffy instincts; 6-0, 195 pounds)

40. Florida Southern SR OF Trae Gore (decent arm; average at best speed; good base runner; some power potential; LF professionally; 6-0, 215 pounds)

41. Central Florida SR OF Chris Duffy (plus hit tool; average raw power; above-average arm strength; good athlete and underrated speed)

42. Bucknell SR OF Andrew Brouse (good athlete; above-average speed; good arm; above-average defender; 6-2, 205 pounds)

43. Nebraska-Omaha JR OF Ryan Hook (peak 95 FB off of mound; nice approach; good pop; above-average speed; good range in CF and RF; plus arm; 6-2, 190 pounds)

44. Ohio JR OF Robert Maddox (good strength; good runner; quick enough bat; can hold down any of the three outfield spots)

45. Rutgers JR OF Michael Lang (intriguing power/speed combo; above-average speed; should stick as average CF as pro; strong arm; good athlete; no plus tool, but well-rounded; 5-11, 180 pounds)

46. Dallas Baptist SR OF Ryan Enos (plus speed; good range; good athlete)

47. Truett-McConnell SO OF Terrell Jones (gap power; good approach)

48. Gonzaga SR OF Drew Heid (great track record with wood; slightly above-average speed; decent range in CF; playable arm; only plus tool is bat; 5-9, 175 pounds)

49. Murray State SR OF Wes Cunningham (plus speed; poor defender stuck in corner; good arm)

50. Vanderbilt JR OF Aaron Westlake (smooth swing; capable of playing average at best defense behind plate if called upon; four-corners potential; 6-4, 230 pounds)

51. South Carolina JR OF Whit Merrifield (near-plus runner; great instincts on bases; solid tools; mature approach)

52. CC of Southern Nevada SO OF Trevor Kirk (good approach; leadoff hitter profile; good speed)

53. Fort Hays State JR OF Jordan Payne (plus speed; plus CF range; no current power, little projected)

54. Chipola JC SO OF Joey Rapp (powerful swing; bat will make or break him going forward)

55. Iowa JR OF Kurtis Muller (plus speed; little power; good base runner; 5-10, 165 pounds)

56. Georgia Tech SR OF Jay Dantzler (very good athlete)

57. Central Florida SR OF Shane Brown (good bat speed; versatile defender capable of playing 3B)

58. Michigan State SR OF Eli Boike (patient approach; good defender, can play CF; decent power; 6-1, 180 pounds)

59. Pittsburgh JR OF John Schultz (five average tools at best; limited power; good approach; 5-11, 190 pounds)

60. Manhattan JR OF Mike McCann (good strike zone judgment; average speed; average arm; 5-10, 175 pounds)

61. James Madison SR OF Matt Browning (gap power; has played some 3B in past)

62. Florida State JR OF Mike McGee (great approach; average speed; could be tried on mound)

63. Nebraska SR OF Adam Bailey (undisciplined bat; plus arm; big power; 6-0, 190 pounds)

64. Texas SR OF Russell Moldenhauer (poor runner; good power; professional bat)

65. North Carolina State SR OF Kyle Wilson (plus athlete; versatile defender; can play center; above-average speed; questions about bat translating to wood)

66. Florida SR OF Matt Den Dekker (plus speed; great base stealer; outstanding defender)

67. Louisville JR OF Josh Richmond (good power; average speed; good range; good arm)

68. Washington SO OF Caleb Brown (extremely raw; too many empty swings; legit speed, arm, and defense in CF; many believe in his bat, but needs results; 6-2, 220 pounds)

69. Indiana State SR OF Ryan Strausborger (plus speed; good range in CF; decent arm; leadoff hitter profile, patient with pop; smart base runner; has experience up the middle in the infield; 6-0, 180 pounds)

70. San Diego State JR OF Cory Vaughn (plus raw power; arm and speed limit him to LF; terrible plate discipline; poor swing mechanics; fastball hitter only)

71. Georgia State SO OF Joey Wood (plus hit tool)

72. Stanford JR OF Kellen Kiilsgaard (plus athlete; plus power potential; plus speed; should be above-average defender; questionable arm; weird 2010 season; 6-2, 225 pounds)

73. Sonoma State JR OF Tillman Pugh (plus speed; plus defender in CF; huge tools, but very raw; 6-0, 190 pounds)

74. Samford SR OF David Schulze (average speed; weak arm; LF professionally; 6-2, 210 pounds)

75. Dallas Baptist JR OF Jason Krizan (gap power)

76. Cal Poly SR OF Luke Yoder (good speed; leadoff hitter profile; some power developing; solid tools across board)

77. Georgia Tech JR OF Chase Burnette (good power)

78. Texas JR OF Tant Shepherd (average runner)

79. Wright State SR OF Casey McGrew (played well for Team USA)

80. Virginia Tech SR OF Steve Domecus (good arm, decent defender, good athlete, power potential; strong hit tool; can play behind plate when needed)

81. Texas A&M SR OF Brodie Greene (great athlete; versatile defender with experience all over the diamond; good speed; some power)

82. Ohio State SR OF Zach Hurley (solid speed; good defense; good arm; good baserunner)

83. Sam Houston State JR OF Mark Hudson (pretty swing; plus bat speed; legit power potential; solid-average speed; strong CF arm; 6-2, 200 pounds)

84. Western Michigan SR OF Chris Lewis (good plate discipline; big hit tool; poor body and no other above-average tools; 6-1, 205 pounds)

85. Georgia Tech JR OF Jeff Rowland (some pop; plus speed; good defender)

86. Rice JR OF Michael Fuda (good gap power; plus speed; good defender; versatile defender; strong arm; great athlete; 6-0, 190 pounds)

87. Virginia JR OF John Barr (plus speed; plus range in corner, but not suited for CF)

88. Florida Gulf Coast JR OF Josh Chester (solid arm; interesting power)

89. East Carolina JR OF Trent Whitehead (good pop; above-average speed; plus range)

90. UCLA JR OF Brett Krill (power potential, but underwhelmed in three college seasons)

91. Clemson JR OF Addison Johnson (good speed)

92. Clemson SR OF Wilson Boyd (average power; average speed)

93. Siena SR OF Anthony Giansanti (nice swing; intriguing hit tool; average speed; strong arm; good athlete; 5-10, 195 pounds)

94. Auburn JR OF Justin Fradejas (plus speed; plus arm; above-average bat speed; 6-0, 190 pounds)

95. Kentucky SO OF Navarro Hall (leadoff profile; patient approach; plus speed; plus range; weak arm; infrequent at bats in 2010; 6-1, 180 pounds)

96. Xavier JR OF John McCambridge (above-average speed; little power; great athlete; leadoff man profile; good defense in CF; 6-2, 205 pounds)

97. Mississippi JR OF Tim Ferguson (good hit tool; some pop; above-average speed; good range)

98. Louisiana Lafayette SR OF Kyle Olasin (plus runner; plus range in CF; above-average tools except power; 5-10, 175 pounds)

99. Rice JR OF Chad Mozingo (good power; good range; doesn’t have a cannon for an arm, but unusually accurate)

100. San Diego JR OF Kevin Muno (plus runner; good range)

101.  Boston College JR OF Robbie Anston (plus speed; very good defender; leadoff hitter profile)

2010 MLB Draft: Top 75 College Lefthanded Pitching Prospects

1 Jun 2010 4:05 AM / 19 Comments on 2010 MLB Draft: Top 75 College Lefthanded Pitching Prospects

Three things before we get to the rankings of the top 75 (!) college lefthanded pitching prospects…

(1) It is absolutely my intent, time permitting, to explain some of these choices in greater depth, but my time management skills have bitten me in the butt again and now I’m trying to focus first and foremost on just getting all of the rankings out there before draft day. Love the rankings, hate the rankings…it’s all good, and I’m happy to debate on any particular placement, but, for now, hopefully they can serve as a handy resource if nothing else.

(2) If you’ve made a comment on or emailed me about any of the previous college player rankings, thank you. Seriously, thanks. I love comments and I’m being 100% truthful when I say I’ve yet to get an uninformed one since starting this site a little over a year ago. I apologize for not giving responses in a timely manner, but I’ve got a quick feature based on a few of the comments/emails that I think will at least partially make up for it.

(3) The rankings of top college outfielders should be published on Wednesday, followed by the complete 2010 MLB Draft college position player big board. Thursday should bring the top 100 (give or take) college righthanded pitching prospect list, followed by the complete 2010 MLB Draft college pitching big board. Then it’ll be a flurry of high school lists before culminating in the last pre-draft big board and, maybe, a final stab at a mock. This is going to be a fun week.

Alright, enough of that. Apologies for the ugly formatting, but I couldn’t figure out a way to lay everything out so that it was any easy to read than this. Enjoy.

1. Florida Gulf Coast JR LHP Chris Sale

89-92 with plus sink on FB,95-96 peak; very good to plus 77-80 CU; average 77-78 SL that works a bit slurvy; gets big edge over Pomeranz in FB command; big ground ball pitcher (65+% in 2010); Andrew Miller body comp; 6-6, 185 pounds; signature win (8 IP 4 H 2 ER 2 BB 10 K) against Clemson (2.98 FIP; 13.02 K/9; 1.22 BB/9)

2. Kentucky/Grand Prairie AirHogs SR LHP James Paxton

90-94 FB, peaks at 97; plus CB; CU needs work, but enough there to believe it’ll be average with work; 6-4, 215 pounds

3. San Diego SO LHP Sammy Solis

90-92 FB pre-injury, now sitting more regularly 87-89, but pitch maintains serious late life through zone; plus 77-78 CU; excellent 71-75 CB when on; 76-78 mystery pitch that has been identified as either a harder CB with bite or the beginnings of a SL; coming back from ruptured disc in back; 6-5, 228 pounds; (4.07 FIP; 9.88 K/9; 2.09 BB/9)

4. Mississippi JR LHP Drew Pomeranz

90-92 FB, can get it up to 94-95; good to plus KCB at 79-81; improving 80-83 CU that is now considered potential average big league offering; 6-5, 235 pounds (2.85 FIP; 13.45 K/9; 4.23 BB/9)

5. UCLA JR LHP Rob Rasmussen

89-92 FB; touched 93-94 on Cape; low-70s CB that can be plus pitch, but should be above-average at worst; 82-85 SL has potential; 81-82 CU needs more reps; easy mechanics, but can get out of whack at times; interesting JP Howell comp; 5-11, 170 pounds (3.56 FIP; 11.77 K/9; 2.65 BB/9)

6. Oregon State JR LHP Josh Osich

missed 2010 season after having Tommy John surgery; 93-96 FB, peak 98; plus CB; CU with plus potential; gambling on him past round 5 seems like it’s worth a shot, but that’s without any inside information on whether he’d even consider signing or how his rehab is going

7. Arkansas SO LHP Drew Smyly

88-92 FB with sink; has hit 93-94 in past; good low-80s SL; CB; CU; 6-3, 190 pounds (2.55 FIP; 10.65 K/9; 2.69 BB/9)

8. San Jacinto JC FR LHP Miguel Pena

87-90 FB, peak 92; hard thrower with right hand as well; really good CU; plus control; lots of positive word of mouth has me sold, but admittedly little is still known about Pena relative to other names on list

9. Miami JR LHP Chris Hernandez

86-89 FB; plus mid-80s cutter; good CU; usable SL (3.78 FIP; 10.78 K/9; 2.83 BB/9)

10. Florida JR LHP Kevin Chapman

92-95 FB; plus SL; emerging CU that has been underutilized; 6-4, 215 pounds (3.85 FIP; 9.84 K/9; 1.37 BB/9) ***

11. Tennessee JR LHP Bryan Morgado

90-92, peak 94 FB; up to 96 in relief; 78-80 average SL; average 78-81 CU; nasty CB that was rarely seen this spring; 6-3, 205 pounds (4.40 FIP; 10.27 K/9; 4.48 BB/9)

12. Oregon State JR LHP Tanner Robles

88-92 FB with really good sink, but has peaked at 94-95 FB in past; 73-75 CB that could be plus pitch in time; CU is the question; very good athlete; 6-4, 205 (3.97 FIP; 9.71 K/9; 3.08 BB/9)

13. Florida State JR LHP John Gast

low-90s FB; high-70s CB; extremely up and down with stuff; (4.30 FIP; 8.33 K/9; 3.55 BB/9)

14. Boston College JR LHP Pat Dean

87-90 FB, peak 93; plus FB command; above-average CU; average CB and SL; plus control; overuse a concern (3.06 FIP; 7.76 K/9; 1.51 BB/9)

15. Iowa SR LHP Zach Robertson

mid-to-upper 80s FB, peaking at 87-88; very  good CU with great deception; 55ish CB; smooth, clean, easily repeatable delivery; 6-1, 195 pounds (4.21 FIP; 10.15 K/9; 3.78 BB/9)

16. Auburn JR LHP Cole Nelson

91-93 FB; really good SL; good athlete; 6-7, 230 pounds (4.06 FIP; 9.29 K/9; 3.48 BB/9)

17. Chipola JC LHP Austin Wright

89-93 FB; SL and CB with real potential; CU; poor FB command has held him back; control an ongoing issue; big raw talent, but still waiting to put it all together

18. Florida Southern JR LHP Max Russell

upper-80s FB; good CB

19. UC Santa Barbara JR LHP Kevin Gelinas

90-94 FB; improving command; CB; CU; 6-5, 230 pounds

20. Tampa SR LHP Carmine Giardina

87-89 FB, peaking 91-92; has sat a tick or two higher in 2010; above-average 79-82 SL; good slow low-70s CB; decent upper-70s CU; clean mechanics; 6-3, 215 pounds

21. Coastal Carolina JR LHP Cody Wheeler

87-92 FB, peak 94; sharp 77-82 SL; good 81-83 CU; loses velocity as game goes on; (3.63 FIP; 10.05 K/9; 2.96 BB/9)

22. Missouri State SO LHP Mike Kickham

89-92 FB; 94 peak; good SL; decent CU; CB (4.48 FIP; 10.03 K/9; 2.72 BB/9)

23. Georgia SR LHP Alex McRee

89-92 with above average movement; up to mid-90s out of bullpen; 81-83 average SL; CU and CB should be average; similar delivery to BJ Ryan; 6-6, 230 pounds (3.38 FIP; 16.93 K/9; 11.69 BB/9)

24. Rice JR LHP Matt Evers

89-91 FB with plus movement, peaking at 92-93; plus cutter; 81-83 above-average SL; 82-83 above-average CU; command is improving, but still an issue; 6-3, 220 pounds ***

25. Hawaii JR LHP Sam Spangler

88-91, topping at 93-94 with FB; good hard CB; plus CU; LOOGY floor; 6-1, 190 pounds (3.12 FIP; 8.02 K/9; 3.88 BB/9)

26. Miami JR LHP Eric Erickson

coming back from Tommy John surgery; below-average FB; average CB; plus control (4.24 FIP; 8.55 K/9; 1.01 BB/9)

27. Elon JR LHP Jimmy Reyes

88-91 FB; above-average SL and CU, but both pitches are hurt by inconsistent command; 5-10, 194 pounds (3.85 FIP; 9.25 K/9; 1.89 BB/9)

28. UC Santa Barbara JR LHP Mario Hollands

heavy upper-80s FB, peaking at 92-93 on occasion; 84-85 SL; CU (4.35 FIP; 7.22 K/9; 2.57 BB/9)

29. Missouri State JR LHP Aaron Meade

upper-80s FB, peaking at 91-92 on his best day; very good to plus CU; good to plus command; (3.45 FIP; 8.96 K/9; 4.54 BB/9)

30. UC Irvine SR LHP Daniel Bibona

86-88 FB; plus CU; good cutter; SL; plus command; Randy Flores comp seems like a really strong one; similar to Manno, but better control gives him boost; 6-0, 170 (3.36 FIP; 10.30 K/9; 1.50 BB/9)

31. Duke SR LHP Chris Manno

more at 85-89 now with FB now, but has touched 90-91 in the past; quality mid-70s SL that has been inconsistent of late; plus CU; great command of FB; 6-2, 160 pounds (2.23 FIP; 11.19 K/9; 4.63 BB/9)

32. Old Dominion JR LHP Kyle Hald

85-87 FB, peak 88; plus-plus SFCU; sharp SL; CB; great fielder, great pickoff move; clean mechanics; 5-11, 175 pounds (4.26 FIP; 8.37 K/9; 2.70 BB/9)

33. San Jacinto JC SO LHP David Rollins

upper-80s FB, peak 92; solid CB; solid CU; smooth delivery; recovering from injury to non-throwing shoulder; 6-2, 185 pounds

34. Dayton SO LHP Cameron Hobson

87-91 FB with movement; good SL; solid CB; developing CU with potential; plus makeup; 6-1, 205 pounds (4.45 FIP; 7.28 K/9; 3.81 BB/9)

35. Clemson JR LHP Casey Harman

86-88 FB with good sink; plus high-70s CU; high-70s SL needs work; 6-2, 200 pounds (4.74 FIP; 8.28 K/9; 2.76 BB/9)

36. Kentucky JR LHP Logan Darnell

88-92, peak 93-94 FB; almost a sidearm delivery; good CB; 6-2, 205 pounds (4.60 FIP; 7.33 K/9; 3.18 BB/9)

37. Concordia LHP Ben Whitmore

93 peak FB; plus command

38. Sonoma State JR LHP Scott Alexander

plus FB velocity; good CB; average CU; 6-3, 210 pounds

39. North Carolina State JR LHP Grant Sasser

83-87 FB; plus SL; above-average CU; 6-0, 210 pounds (4.41 FIP; 9 K/9; 3.2 BB/9)

40. Oklahoma SR LHP JR Robinson

93 peak FB (3.88 FIP; 10.29 K/9; 3.67 BB/9)

41. Kansas State JR LHP Thomas Rooke

mid-80s FB; very good CU; CB; 5-11, 190 pounds (3.97 FIP; 12.34 K/9; 3.09 BB/9) ***

42. Oklahoma State SR LHP Tyler Lyons

88-90 FB with sink; plus command; good CB; CU (4.31 FIP; 8.93 K/9; 1.81 BB/9)

43. Oklahoma State JR LHP Thomas Keeling

90-93 FB, 95-96 peak; good 78-82 CB; often relies almost exclusively on FB; 6-3, 184 pounds (4.20 FIP; 13.43 K/9; 5.60 BB/9)

44. Pepperdine JR LHP Matt Bywater

88-89 FB with plus movement; really good slow low-70s SL; high-70s sinking CU; (3.68 FIP; 7.87 K/9; 2.59 BB/9)

45. Gonzaga JR LHP Reedy Berg

88-89 FB with good movement; plus FB command; plus CU; solid CB; 6-2, 205 pounds (4.20 FIP; 5.23 K/9; 3.05 BB/9)

46. Indiana SO LHP Blake Monar

mid- to upper-80s FB, peak at 87-88; plus CB; SL; injury set back progress in 2010; 6-2, 185 pounds

47. College of Southern Nevada LHP Bryan Harper

88-92 FB; solid 76-78 CB; emerging CU; 6-5, 190 pounds

48. Maryland JR LHP Adam Kolarek

upper-80s with FB, peak of 93-94; above-average 83-84 SL; clean delivery; 6-2, 215 pounds (4.06 FIP; 9.34 K/9; 4.79 BB/9)

49. Virginia Tech JR LHP Justin Wright

buddy who loves Virginia Tech baseball told me all I had to write here was the following: “he may be a Hokie, but he’s nothing short of a bulldog out on the mound” (4.27 FIP; 9.04 K/9; 3.01 BB/9)

50. Oklahoma State JR LHP Mike Strong

91-92 FB; holds velocity late; good hammer CB; 6-0, 170 pounds (4.42 FIP; 9.65 K/9; 4.76 BB/9)

51. UCLA JR LHP Mitch Beacom

85-87 FB; could be a LOOGY long-term; 6-8, 240 pounds (3.97 FIP; 11.72 K/9; 1.53 BB/9) ***

52. Oregon State JR LHP Kraig Sitton

93 peak FB; good SL (3.19 FIP; 8.04 K/9; 3.16 BB/9) ***

53. UCLA JR LHP Matt Grace

87-90 FB, peak 92; 78-81 CU (3.86 FIP; 7.30 K/9; 2.55 BB/9) ***

54. Louisiana Tech SO LHP Mike Jefferson

88-93 FB with plus movement; slurve that has flashed plus when closer to true SL; upper-70s CB; great move to first; 6-4, 185 pounds (5.41 FIP; 8.36 K/9; 7.26 BB/9)

55. Manatee JC SO LHP Alex Burgos

89-92 FB; good cutter

56. Arkansas Little Rock SR LHP Adam Champion

87-92 FB with tons of sink; FB sometimes dips to hittable mid-80s; plus SL; CU; 6-7, 220 pounds (4.01 FIP; 6.77 K/9; 3.02 BB/9)

57. Northwestern JR LHP Eric Jokisch

87-89 FB, peak 92; very good CB; solid CU (4.29 FIP; 6.14 K/9; 3.61 BB/9)

58. Texas Tech JR LHP Jay Johnson

89-93 FB; peak 95; FB has good movement, but iffy command; potential plus 78-80 SL; 6-2, 200 pounds (4.28 FIP; 8.46 K/9; 6.83 BB/9) ***

59. Tennessee Tech SR LHP Adam Liberatore

coming off of Tommy John surgery; 94 peak FB; very good CU (4.33 FIP; 8.61 K/9; 3.00 BB/9)

60. Kutztown SR LHP Nate Reed

83-89 FB; has been at 89-92 before; solid CB; good circle CU; control still a major issue; feels like this is the 12th year that Reed’s been draft-eligible; 6-3, 190 pounds

61. Arizona State SR LHP Josh Spence

mid-80s FB, topping at 86; above-average CU, very good CB; variety of arm angles; great command; lost 2010 due to injury

62. Tennessee SO LHP Steven Gruver

89-91 FB with more there; plus command; breaking ball and CU need work; 6-2, 205 pounds (4.90 FIP; 7.45 K/9; 2.33 BB/9)

63. Murray State SR LHP Chris Craycraft

mid- to high-80s FB with sink; good SL; good command; 6-2, 200 pounds (5.00 FIP; 6.72 K/9; 3.57 BB/9)

64. Washington State SO LHP Rusty Shellhorn

88-90 FB; average at best breaking ball and CU; excellent command; 5-10, 180 pounds (5.92 FIP; 8.16 K/9; 3.14 BB/9)

65. Central Florida JR LHP Nick Cicio

mid-80s FB; above-average CU; slurve; below-average control; 5-11, 155 pounds (4.88 FIP; 8.69 K/9; 4.73 BB/9)

66. Kansas JR LHP Walter Marciel

86-87 FB, 88-91 before TJ surgery in early 2008; solid CB; CU; very good command; 6-0, 230 pounds (4.49 FIP; 8.21 K/9; 5.18 BB/9) ***

67. Army SR LHP Matt Fouch

87-91 FB with good command; good CB; emerging CU (5.28 FIP; 5.64 K/9; 2.82 BB/9)

68. Cal Poly JR LHP Matt Leonard

88-90 FB; plus CU with great arm action; CB; improved control; 6-0, 185 pounds (5.07 FIP; 4.91 K/9; 1.84 BB/9)

69. Tulane SR LHP Matt Petiton

mid- to upper-80s FB; good CB; solid CU (5.13 FIP; 5.27 K/9; 3.16 BB/9)

70. Louisville JR LHP Bob Revesz

90 FB; usable SL (3.94 FIP; 6.51 K/9; 3.25 BB/9) ***

71. Illinois Chicago SR LHP Chris Kovacevich

86-88 FB with life; plus CU; 6-5, 220 pounds (5.34 FIP; 5.06 K/9; 3.86 BB/9)

72. Georgia Southern SR LHP Dexter Bobo

90-92 FB; shaky command; poor secondary stuff (4.94 FIP; 6.75 K/9; 3.60 BB/9)

73. Northwestern SR LHP Dave Jensen

mid-80s FB; 6-6, 190 pounds (6.11 FIP; 5.32 K/9; 3.27 BB/9) ***

74. Rice JR LHP Tony Cingrani

88-90 FB; plus CU; above-average at times CB; 6-4, 190 pounds (4.91 FIP; 5.73 K/9; 6.14 BB/9)

75. Wisconsin-Oshkosh SR LHP Ryan Demmin

mid-to-upper 80s FB; plus SL; 6-1, 210 pounds

2010 MLB Draft: Top 30 College Third Base Prospects (10-1)

28 May 2010 3:50 AM / Leave a comment

10. Oregon State JR 3B Stefen Romero

Romero is arguably the best present defender on the top ten list. He makes all the plays on balls hit at him, and has proven more than capable of ranging to both his left and right when needed. What really makes his draft stock pop in comparison to some other names on the list is his performance with wood last summer on the Cape. The raw numbers don’t jump right out at you, but all of the reports from the summer were positive. Romero kept the momentum going this spring by displaying a steady dose of good defense, above-average power, and decent athleticism. A few area scouts that have seen him play way more than I have seem to like him a lot more than I do, so take his placement on the list as a rare example of me trusting people smarter than myself. Rare not because I’m trusting them, but because there are people out there actually smarter than I am. Hard to believe, I know. Romero’s upside is a good four-corners bench bat for me, something true of the majority of the players on this list no matter how rosy a picture I try to paint of their ultimate super duper best case scenario big league ceilings.

9. Connecticut JR 3B Mike Olt

I’ve toyed with the idea of standardizing these quick scouting capsules, but always wind up just doing the rambling paragraph or two synopses you see up and down the page. Seems like all of those standardized reports have some sort of strengths/weaknesses attached somewhere, so let’s try it out with a personal favorite, Mike Olt:

Strengths: three above-average or better tools (65 raw power, 55 speed, and 65 arm), plus athleticism, and a big league ready frame

Weaknesses:  present tool most need in work is his bat, due in large part to a largely unrefined approach and inconsistent swing mechanics

So, will Olt make enough consistent hard contact to put his other tools to use professionally? I think any one of the guys on one of the deepest top ten college position lists I can remember in the long, storied history of this site has the upside of an every day player if the circumstances allow it. That comes out as a cop-out, but it’s true; this is a really, really deep year for college third basemen.

8. San Diego JR 3B Victor Sanchez

My support of Victor Sanchez goes back to his prep days, so it’s hard for me to be completely objective when trying to evaluate his current draft stock. The memory of the potential plus defender with equally exciting power potential and a mature beyond his years approach to every single at bat may be just that, a memory. Sanchez’s slow recovery from labrum surgery has knocked his prospect stock way down, but I’m enthused by the perhaps misguided hope that his depressed draft standing will give him the chip on his shoulder (not literally) needed to prove all the teams that passed on him wrong. Talent doesn’t disappear, but it can get lost in the fog of injuries. Teams willing to take the chance that Sanchez will someday recovery 100% from his shoulder injury are betting that the fog will soon lift.

7. Kansas JR 3B Tony Thompson

If he sticks at third, you’ve got a real player on your hands. If he’s a first baseman long-term, the bat will need to go up a level or two before you could realistically consider him a potential regular at the spot. For now, I think he’s got nimble enough feet to stick at third through his mid-twenties. Thompson’s successful return to health after an early season injury has allowed him time to showcase the plus arm and plus power that should get him drafted in the first five rounds no matter what teams think about his defense.

6. Louisville SO 3B Phil Wunderlich

Makeup is one of the easiest scouting terms to throw around as a positive or a negative for any given prospect because anonymous internet sources (like mine!) are never asked to truly qualify what the word means. Here’s what I mean when I say Wunderlich’s makeup is off the charts: In an completely fictional, but totally possible survey of college coaches and players, Wunderlich would win the “most likely to manage” poll going away. He’s that kind of player.  Intangibles aside, Wunderlich is an underrated athlete with legit plus power and amazing patience at the plate. He may not be a natural defender at third, but he’s also not the type of player you’d bet against working his tail off until he is at least a decent big league defensive player.

5. Oklahoma City JR 3B Matt Presley

A trio of haikus, one offensive, one defensive, and one summing it all up, to describe draft sleeper Matt Presley…

Strikeouts are scary
But bat gives pitchers nightmares
Power is special

Not Schmidt with leather
Still, strong arm and high effort
Might fit best in right

Star in Sooner state
Not quite on Durant’s level
Better nickname, though

In summary: Easy to fall in love with his bat, but hard to realistically see him ever being average or better at third. Also, I suck at haikus.

4. Pittsburgh JR 3B Joe Leonard

Leonard has gotten a ton of positive press over the past few weeks, all of it well earned. He came into the season as one of the best college hitting prospects and one of the few collegiate position players projected to be productive enough both at the plate and in the field to start every day in the big leagues. The one question that scouts had about his game was his power upside. Leonard has answered the bell by hitting for over 30 extra base hits and slugging well over .600. He’s a good athlete with a plus arm and great big league size for a third baseman. Defensively he’s presently skilled enough to be considered big league average at the position, and continued development ought to get him up above-average during his best defensive seasons.

Neither his offense nor his defense will ever quite approach the level of peak years Scott Rolen (a really underrated player by many, I think), but if you squint really hard you can begin to see Leonard as perhaps developing into that type of player – exciting defenders, strong physiques, and often mischaracterized as power hitters first and foremost. In fact, after looking at the numbers some, I’d compare Leonard’s upside as a hitter to something around what Rolen did his rookie season (.283/.377/.469) with the Phillies. That kind of upside is substantial, clearly, so it may very well be that Leonard’s placement on this list is a mistake that I’ll have to rectify before June 7th hits.

3. Georgia Tech JR 3B Derek Dietrich

I’m part of the small but vocal minority that seems to think Dietrich could play a decent shortstop professionally if given the chance, but, seeing as its highly unlikely he’ll ever get that opportunity, we’ll judge him here on the basis of his potential well above-average glove and plus arm at third. There’s very little mystery as to what kind of player a team will get if they take Dietrich early on; he’ll hit with both above-average contact and home run numbers (consistent 20 homer upside, I think), play solid to plus defense (as mentioned), and consistently work hard to improve his overall game. I’m no fan of writers/analysts/scouts/Larry Browns who fall back on the tired cliché “he plays the game the right way,” but, hypocrite that I am, Derek Dietrich simply plays the game the way it was meant to be played. He won’t be a sexy pick, but he’s as good a bet as any player on this list to contribute in some capacity in the big leagues.

2. Arkansas SO 3B Zack Cox

Easily confused fellow that I am, I don’t quite understand the negativity surrounding Cox’s power potential that has come to the surface this season. It seems to me that he can’t really win with some people. Last year people oohed and aahed as he flashed prodigious raw power, but disappointed in the plate discipline department. This year he’s taken a much more patient, contact-oriented approach, but is getting heat for not hitting for the same power as he did his freshman year. I realize slugging .600+ and socking 20 extra base hits in college (like Cox has done so far in 2010) isn’t quite the feat it appears to be at first blush, but it’s still a decent indicator that the guy hasn’t been reduced to a singles only hitter this year. Now imagine the possibility that good professional coaching can help Cox unlock the secret of maintaining his gains in plate discipline and a high contact rate while simultaneously helping him rediscover the big power stroke of his first collegiate season. Sounds pretty good, right?

As arguably the draft’s top position player prospect, much has already been written about Cox’s toolset. The cliff notes version is this: potential plus bat, above-average present power but plus projection, 45/50 runner, plus arm, good defender. His worst tool is probably his speed, and, as you can see, even that project to be around average. I think Cox’s ceiling is below that of your typical top half of the first round college bat, but he’s still a relatively safe pick to be an above-average regular third baseman for a first division club.

1. Tulane JR 3B Rob Segedin

I had Segedin as the 47th best draft-eligible player in the nation heading into the year, so it’s nice to see him succeed in 2010 for totally selfish reasons alone. Sure, it’s also nice to see a hard working young man work his way back from a season lost to injury to put himself in a position for a well earned big paycheck and chance at chasing his dream of professional baseball, but, really, it’s all about me, me, me! Anyway, Segedin has a gorgeous righthanded stroke that’s so pretty to look at it’s almost a surprise when he makes contact and the ball doesn’t fly to an unattended gap somewhere. Defensively, he’ll stick at third at least in the short-term (steady hands, limited range), but could become a rightfielder with average range and a cannon arm if needed. It’ll be the bat that makes him the big bucks, and it’s got all the makings of a special one. At the plate, Segedin is a professional player trapped in the college game. Rare plate discipline, gap power that’s finally beginning to round into over-the-fence pop, and impressive bat control make him a hitter with a big future going forward. When your floor is a lefty mashing four-corners utility guy, then you’d better believe the ceiling is much, much higher.

2010 MLB Draft: Top 30 College Third Base Prospects (20-11)

27 May 2010 5:09 AM / Leave a comment

20. Alabama SR 3B Jake Smith

Players coming off of more accomplished collegiate seasons precede Smith on this list, so take this aggressive ranking as a show of good faith that the Alabama senior’s tools will trump his up-and-down college career when it comes to his success or failure in the pros. Hey, speaking of aggressive, one of Smith’s biggest current issues is a tendency to get too aggressive at the plate, jumping out at pitches before they reach his happy zone. He’s gotten away with it to some extent in college, but hacking at anything 16 inches (give or take) off, up, or away from the plate is no way to advance up the minor league ladder in the enlightened age of baseball we’re lucky to be living in. Smith’s tremendous raw power and excellent defensive tools play in any era of baseball, but he’s been slow to recover from a serious ankle injury. I get the feeling based on all of the above that we’re talking about another four-corners backup type here. Fun fact: Replace “serious ankle injury” with “labrum injury” and you’ve got a very similar situation to what the number eight overall prospect on this list is dealing with. Any guesses about the identify of our mystery prospect?

19. Clemson SO 3B John Hinson

John Hinson was a tough player to rank because of his status as a redshirt and thus draft-eligible sophomore and his positional versatility across the infield. He was an easy guy to rank this high because of the really nice things that anybody who has seen him play this year had to say about him. Hinson was a highly touted prospect out of high school who was considered advanced enough after his freshman year to be asked to play for Hyannis in the Cape Cod League. Back surgery cost him all of his 2009 season, but the fully recovered version of Hinson put up a  2010 statistical line that reads a lot like Pittsburgh’s Joe Leonard’s work this season. A plus hit tool combined with above-average speed and power will get you far professionally, but people smarter than myself that I talked with told me some teams question his ability to play any one particular spot in the infield with the consistency needed of a regular. Based on the limited looks of Hinson that I’ve seen, I can’t say that I necessarily agree with that assessment, but his defensive skillset (good athlete, iffy arm) may make him better suited for second base than third. At either spot, he’s got the bat to make him a potential regular with a couple breaks along the way.

18. Tarleton State JR 3B Chris Casazza

Like Jayson Langfels and Jake Smith before, and Jason Martinson and Mike Olt after, Chris Casazza’s biggest deficiency is a long swing with holes in it that winds up waving and missing at the ball far too often. Like Martinson a few spots ahead of him, Casazza’s good batting eye and sneaky power upside should keep his secondary statistics afloat even when the K’s are trying to drag his prospect stock below the surface. In many ways he’s quite simply the better version of Alabama’s Jake Smith, especially at the plate – more power, more patience, less strikeouts, and better all-around bat. Definite sleeper to watch.

17. Tennessee JR 3B Matt Duffy

Duffy was a deep sleeper top five rounds candidate of mine heading into the season, so you know his underwhelming, but still solid, junior season won’t downgrade his stock too much for me. The Vermont transfer has all of the defensive tools to play a decent shortstop professionally, but profiles better as a potential plus defender at the hot corner. For Duffy, a Jack Hannahan (with more raw power) or Andy LaRoche (with less raw power) type of career is possible.

16. Azusa Pacific SR 3B Ryan Delgado

Delgado earned his way on the list because of his ridiculous power numbers over the years, but it certainly doesn’t hurt that Azusa Pacific has one of the most fun college names to say out loud. Try it, you won’t be disappointed. Besides the cool college name and plus power potential, Delgado has a true plus arm and a well above-average overall hit tool. His defense at third isn’t currently at the level where you could project him as above-average professionally, but the tools are there for him at least wind up a decent defensive player at least through his twenties. If it doesn’t work at third, however, there’s a backup plan that I know for a fact is actually Plan A for some teams. Delgado’s future for some teams might be donning the tools of ignorance behind the plate every day. It’s a stretch and it’s based largely on the 3B/C future that could be in store, but I can’t shake the Jake Fox comp for Delgado that I heard way back when.

15. Coastal Carolina JR 3B Scott Woodward

It’s very easy to envision Scott Woodward playing in the big leagues someday. He’s got an outstanding approach to hitting, a discerning batting eye, and a really good idea of his fundamental strengths and weaknesses at the plate. Woodward ably uses his plus-plus speed to leg out infield hits, turn balls driven to the gaps into triples, and steal bases at a tremendous success rate (46 steals in 52 tries). Home runs will likely never be a big part of his game, but his is a game based more on speed and plate discipline anyway. He could have the type of career many once projected for former Dodgers prospect Joe Thurston. Another comp that I like a lot is Phillies minor leaguer Tyson Gillies, a comparison made more interesting due to the fact both players are hearing impaired, but one not at all dependent on that fact as the basis of the comp. When I first thought of it a few weeks ago the connection didn’t even occur to me, but the two players share enough distinct offensive similarities to make it work.

14. North Carolina State JR 3B Russell Wilson

Betting on Wilson is betting on upside, a worthy risk to take when you are considering which mid-round college hitter to gamble on. See, the sad little truth about lists like this are that the players, while undeniably impressive and accomplished and talented, are more than likely never going to play in the big leagues. Heck, many of them won’t see AA. Once you get past the top two or three names on any of these college lists, it’s all a big guessing game. Educated guessing, to be sure, but guessing all the same. To make a long intro slightly less long, if you’re are going to bet on a mid-round college player, go for the rare guy with untapped potential. That’s Wilson. Here’s why…

I tend to overuse this word when writing about draft prospects, but it applies to Wilson so well here that I can’t help myself. Wilson is an interesting prospect. More than one team affiliated employee I spoke to used that word to describe Wilson in some way – “interesting upside,” “interesting bat,” and “interesting future.” Watch him for just a couple of innings and you’ll see evidence of all five tools right away. His bat is, well, interesting, and his power, while mostly to the gaps at this point, could top out with homer totals in the teens professionally. As a former quarterback unafraid to take off with the ball when needed, it comes as no surprise that his speed rates as an easy 60, with startlingly quick acceleration. Defensively he may have the speed, instincts, and athleticism to play up the middle (2B or CF), but his presence on this particular list is a bet on his plus arm playing best at third base over the long run. Wilson’s numbers this year were solid across the board, but his performance must be judged with his lack of college ball experiences prior to 2010 in mind. He needs more reps on the diamond, but if a team is patient with him they could be rewarded with a player who closely mirrors the Melvin Mora developmental path, something that will no doubt interest a big league club or two come draft day.

13. Texas State JR 3B Jason Martinson

The more I do this, the more I begin to gain an appreciation for the way certain college programs recruit and develop talent. The job Ty Harrington has done in San Marcos is nothing short of spectacular. I relate it to a college football team with very specific offensive and defensive schemes recruiting not based on consensus overall talent levels, but rather best fits for the program. You’d think these less talented players would succeed mainly due to the system in college, but then, lo and behold, draft day comes and teams start taking these supposed system talents left and right. Turns out that players overlooked in high school can turn out to be pretty valuable prospects after three years of quality college coaching. I suppose that’s really just my long way of saying that even though it’s common the best high school players sign out of high school, and even though it’s common the best unsigned high school players go to the big name schools in Texas, it’s still possible to have some really talented players wind up at non-traditional baseball schools. Schools like that often have coaching staffs more familiar with coaching guys up than allowing them to coast by on natural abilities they may or may not have.

Martinson is a plus athlete with very good defensive tools who, similar to Tennessee’s Matt Duffy, may be good enough with the leather to stick up the middle (either shortstop or second base) in some organizations. For me, however, his hands, range, and arm all play best at third, a position where he could eventually be a decidedly above-average defender. Offensively the rap on Martinson coming into the year was that he swung and miss too often to ever hit for an acceptable average professionally. That may or may not be true going forward — his 2010 performance has been very similar to his 2009 — but his quick wrists and above-average plate discipline should help keep his on-base percentage up even when he is striking out more often than you’d like. Teams will worry less about the low contact rate if Martinson can begin to tap into some of the long awaited above-average raw power that hasn’t really showed up through three seasons of college ball. If he can begin to apply some of his brute physical strength into homerun power professionally, he’s got a chance to be a starter. If not, his best chance of earning the big bucks will be in the good defender/patient pinch hitter role.

12. Wichita State FR 3B Johnny Coy

Coy has taken a long, strange trip to get to this point, but the eventual payoff could very well make it all worth it. Coy’s story began as a two-sport high school star, regarded by many as a better basketball prospect than baseball. After getting drafted by the Phillies in the 7th round, protracted and sometimes testy (allegedly) negotiations between player and team led to the two sides opting to go their separate ways. Coy’s older brother was reportedly heavily involved with negotiations, strongly pushing his bro to either a) get every last penny from the Phillies as possible (making him a greedy villain to many) or b) go to school and get a quality education (a far more admirable position, some might say). Coy wound up enrolling at Arizona State, but never made it to baseball season. He left the Sun Devils to move closer to home after his father suffered a stroke in late 2008. That led him to Wichita State. As a Shocker, Coy has been able to focus on honing his considerable baseball skills. All of his raw tools grade out as average or better – 55 speed, 60 arm, 65-70 raw power, average hit tool, and, perhaps most controversially, above-average upside with the glove at third. I remember not believing for a second that he’d ever stick at third after seeing video of him in high school, but all of the noise regarding his defensive progress coming out of Wichita has been positive. I’m a big believer in the big (6-8, 210 pound) righthanded freshman. As mentioned, Coy was a 7th round pick by the Phillies back in 2008. The questions concerning his signability will probably keep him from hitting that mark here in 2010, but his true talent level makes him a top ten round candidate worth pursuing if he even begins to hint that he’ll consider signing.

11. Fresno City College FR 3B David Rohm

Rohm hits and hits and hits. He can also steal a bag when left unattended (great instincts on the bases), smack a ball the other way (very mature hitting style), and crank it out of the ballpark when the mood strikes (above-average present power). Mostly though, he hits. His defense ranks in the bottom third of players here in the top 30, but he still has a better than 50/50 shot to stick at the position through his first six years of big league control. Ah, the defense update is appreciated,  you’re thinking, but, wait, can the guy hit? Excellent question; yes, David Rohm can hit.

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