Compiled by Allan Simpson / David Rawnsley / Anup Sinha / Jeff Simpson
June 10, 2009
The first three rounds of the 2009 first-year player draft were conducted Tuesday night, and PG Crosschecker has the most complete scouting reports on each player available anywhere—111 in all. We’ll continue to provide reports on players selected through the first 10 rounds, once the draft resumes Wednesday.
FIRST ROUND (32 Reports)
SUPPLEMENTAL FIRST ROUND (17 Reports)
SECOND ROUND (31 Reports)
THIRD ROUND / SUPPLEMENTAL THIRD ROUND (31 Reports)
FOURTH ROUND (30 Reports)
FIFTH ROUND (30 Reports)
SEVENTH ROUND (30 Reports)
EIGHTH ROUND (30 Reports)
NINTH ROUND (30 Reports)
TENTH ROUND (30 Reports)
ROUND SIX (Selections 172-201)
| 172. |
Michael Taylor |
SS |
Sr. |
R-R |
6-2 |
190 |
Westminster Acad. |
Fort Lauderdale, Fla. |
North Florida |
3/26/1991 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE: A year ago, Taylor did not rank with the elite high-schools shortstops in south Florida like Nova High’s Michael Broard, American Heritage’s Deven Marrero or Gulliver Prep’s Stephen Perez. But he made significant strides during the spring in catching up to that group, and with signability issues clouding the status of those three as the draft neared, the possibility surfaced on the eve of the draft that Taylor might even be selected ahead of the talented trio. Taylor has a commitment to North Florida, while Broad and Perez are set to attend Miami, and Marrero has his sights on Arizona State. From the standpoint of legitimate middle-infield actions, arm strength and slightly above-average speed, Taylor ranked with his peers all along, but his bat was much farther away. That changed this spring, however, as Taylor hit .446-7-29 and took measures to address his long swing and develop added strength to drive balls on a more consistent basis.--ALLAN SIMPSON |
| |
| 173. |
Shaver Hansen |
SS/3B |
Jr. |
B-R |
6-0 |
185 |
Baylor |
Grand Junction, Colo. |
Never drafted |
12/19/1987 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE: Hansen was lost in the shuffle on Baylor's attention-getting recruiting class three years ago, but emerged this spring as the Bears top offensive player and most-important defender. In the process, he outshined the likes of first baseman Dustin Dickerson, third baseman Raynor Campbell and outfielder Aaron Miller, not to mention righthanders Craig Fristch, Shawn Tolleson and Kendal Volz-all of whom were more prominent members of his incoming class. Hansen is the type of player who can play almost any position on the field, and is comfortable at any spot in the batting order. As a Baylor sophomore, he played third base and hit primarily out of the leadoff spot. His power blossomed as a junior, going from six home runs in 2008 to a team-leading 16 this spring. He hit .333-16-57 overall and became Baylor's primary middle-of-the-order threat. He also moved from third base to shortstop at mid-season when freshman Joey Hainsfurther was unable to handle the position defensively. Typical of many productive college infielders, Hansen doesn't have a plus tool in his package, but is a grinder and overachiever. His arm strength will definitely not allow him to play shortstop at the next level and it may be a stretch at third base, too, leaving second as his best option. Hansen is a switch-hitter with similar approaches and bat speed from both sides. He's primarily a mistake hitter who can turn on his pitch and hit it out of the park, but is prone to guessing and a lot of empty swings (a team-high 53 K's in 207 at-bats). He will not be as likely to hit with as much power with a wood bat, and homered just once in 143 at-bats last summer in the Cape Cod League. But he nonetheless played a pivotal role in leading Harwich to a league title, dividing his time between third base and shortstop.--DAVID RAWNSLEY |
| |
| 174. |
James Needy |
RHP |
Sr. |
R-R |
6-6 |
195 |
Santana |
Santee, Calif. |
San Diego |
3/30/1991 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE: Needy is a very athletic righthanded pitcher, alternately listed at 6-6, 195 when in a baseball uniform and 6-4, 200 when in a football uniform. He was ranked as the No. 137 prep quarterback in the country by Scouts Inc., but will play strictly baseball after high school. He was also a very talented basketball player at the high-school level. Needy has a tall delivery and a long, fast arm action. He tends to fall off hard to the first base side on his release, which affects the quality and consistency of his breaking balls, but that is a correctable fault. Needy has a power arm and will frequently touch 92-93 mph every game, although he tends to back off on his velocity at times and pitch in the mid-to-upper 80s. Although he isn't a finesse or command pitcher, Needy does throw a full complement of three secondary pitches in a mid-70s curve, an 84-mph slider and a developing changeup. The slider and curve are two distinct pitches with different breaks, but both could become solid pitches in the future when he gets his delivery more directional. Needy underwent minor surgery in December to repair the ulnar nerve in his right elbow. The injury was initially thought to more serious, but it wasn't a factor this spring.--DAVID RAWNSLEY |
| |
| 175. |
Zach Von Rosenberg |
RHP |
Sr. |
R-R |
6-5 |
205 |
Zachary |
Zachary, La. |
Louisiana State |
9/24/1990 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE (3/1): Performance and projection are what scouts like most about the 6-foot-5 Von Rosenberg. He has been the dominant pitcher in Louisiana the past three seasons, helping pitch two different schools to a combined three state championships (5-A Barbe High in 2006, 4-A Zachary High the past two seasons) while starting at shortstop when not on the mound. Von Rosenberg has also thrown shutouts in the past two state-championship games. His records since his freshman year are 10-1, 1.30; 9-4, 1.84 and 12-1, 0.49, all while batting over .400. As a junior, he walked just 12 while striking out 119 in 80 innings. He also hit .394 with two homers. Von Rosenberg is not an especially hard thrower, pitching mostly at 88 mph and touching 91 occasionally. He has excellent command of his fastball, though, and gets plenty of late life on the pitch. His best secondary pitch is a very deceptive changeup, and he throws a big, sweeping mid-70s slurve as his breaking pitch. Von Rosenberg's delivery is easy, repeatable and effortless, leading scouts to believe that there is plenty more velocity in his arm as he gets stronger and moves away from playing shortstop-and even the football field, where he was an all-state punter in high school.--DAVID RAWNSLEY |
| UPDATE (5/15): Von Rosenberg finished off an unprecedented four-year run with his fourth consecutive Louisiana state championship, leading appropriately-named Zachary High to the 4-A title. Von Rosenberg beat top-seeded Sam Houston High 5-2 in the clincher, striking out 11 and throwing a five-hitter. By going 11-1, 0.60 as a senior, he finished his high-school career with a combined 41-6 record-and the rare distinction of starting and winning all four championship games. He also struck out 141 in 93 innings this season, while walking just 18. For added measure, he hit .489-10-45. For a prospect who often pitches at 86-88 mph and rarely flashes a plus pitch, Von Rosenberg gets tremendous respect from the scouting community. His delivery is flawless, and he has command and feel with all three of his pitches. There is some concern that Von Rosenberg will have to improve his breaking ball in order to excel at the next level. He tends to get under the pitch from a lower release point, and relies on the pitch's location rather than its plane and bite-something that won't work as effectively at the next level.--DR |
| |
| 176. |
Justin Dalles |
C |
Jr. |
R-R |
6-2 |
205 |
South Carolina |
Lake Worth, Fla. |
Blue Jays '08 (26) |
12/30/1988 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE (3/1): A 15th-round draft pick of the New York Mets out of a Florida high school in 2006, Dalles elected not to sign and went on to hit a modest .314-6-33 as a freshman catcher at St. Petersburg JC. Scouts weren't impressed with his transition to college, and he tumbled to the 47th round of the 2007 draft. That snub appeared to light a fire under Dalles as he was red-hot to start the 2008 season, particularly at the plate. Through his first 18 games, he had already tied his home-run total from a year earlier and topped his RBI output while hitting well over .500. Though he cooled off over the second half of the season as the strain of catching every day took a toll on his offense, his 13 homers and 70 RBIs still ranked among the leaders in the powerful Florida junior-college ranks. Dalles used the whole field much better last season, had a greater command of the strike zone and tightened up a long swing. Moreover, his catching skills also improved. He's always had above-average arm strength with a quick release, but his shifting and receiving skills became considerably better. He knows the game well and has a hustling, take-charge approach that endears him to pitchers. He's a below-average runner. Projected as a fourth- to sixth-rounder in last year's draft, Dalles ended up lasting until the 28th round, where he was selected by the Toronto Blue Jays-the same organization that Dalles' junior-college coach, Dave Pano, serves as a rookie-league manager. His low draft position was attributed mostly to his strong college commitment to South Carolina. His age (he didn't turn 20 until December) weighed heavily into his decision to spend the 2009 season at an elite college program.--ALLAN SIMPSON |
| UPDATE (5/15): The loss of senior catcher Phil Disher, who hit 42 home runs over the course of his South Carolina career, necessitated the Gamecocks finding an experienced receiver to step behind the plate this season and contribute immediately. Dalles did just that, hitting .313-14-44. He showed the ability to turn around almost any pitch, though he can get himself in trouble when his swing gets a little long. He had solid catching ability to go with an above-average arm—though it wasn’t quite in Disher’s howitzer class. Dalles has an aggressive, up-tempo nature that plays well in his rapport with pitchers..—JEFF SIMPSON |
| |
| 177. |
Matthew Graham |
RHP |
Sr. |
R-R |
6-4 |
215 |
Oak Ridge |
Spring, Texas |
North Carolina |
5/1/1990 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE (3/1): Graham burst onto the national prospect scene early in his junior season at Oak Ridge High. After throwing up to 94 mph at Perfect Game's South Underclass Showcase in August 2007, the barrel-chested Graham joined the North Carolina-based Dirtbags travel team for the 2007 World Wood Bat Association underclass championship a month later, and was so dominant that he was named the event's Most Valuable Pitcher. He displayed top-level stuff to go with solid command and a bulldog approach on the mound. Graham was soon ranked No. 1 nationally in his class for a period of time, but his pitching mechanics came unraveled the following spring and it's been a long road back for Graham, who has appeared healthy the entire time. His velocity often fluctuated wildly, and he struggled to throw much more than 86-88 mph early last summer. He had little or no control of his pitches, as well, even when throwing 5-7 mph softer than he had previously. His once-compact arm action was now long and disjointed, and he had no balance or rhythm out front. He had little control of his breaking ball, and limited feel for his changeup. Effectively, he had become just a thrower with little apparent feel for pitching. Graham started to put things back together late last summer, touching 94 mph at the Aflac All-American Game and pitching consistently at 91-92 mph with a noticeably-calmer delivery in October at the WWBA fall championship in Jupiter, Fla. There's no question that Graham has one of the elite arms in the 2009 high-school class; it's just a matter of putting his arm strength with a set of pitching mechanics that works for him. Graham's multiple stints with the Dirtbags carried over to his college commitment, as he has signed with North Carolina.--DAVID RAWNSLEY |
| UPDATE (5/15): Graham steadied himself to a degree somewhat this spring, ironing out some of his delivery flaws and regaining much of his previous velocity. He topped out at 95 mph often during the early spring and showed some flashes with his upper-70s slurve. He is still a work-in-progress mechanically and may end up being a reliever down the road if he cannot learn to consistently repeat his delivery. His demeanor and stuff might be well-suited for that role.—DR |
| |
| 178. |
Ryan Woolley |
RHP |
Jr. |
R-R |
6-1 |
190 |
Alabama-Birmingham |
Montclair, Va. |
Never drafted |
2/11/1988 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE: Woolley spent his first two college seasons at Georgia, but chose to transfer to Alabama-Birmingham at the behest of former Bulldogs teammate Luke Stewart. But while Stewart was eligible to play immediately at UAB in 2008, Woolley was forced to sit out the spring season under the NCAA's new transfer rules that went into effect concurrent with the 2008-09 school year. Though he was eligible for this year's draft, Woolley was pretty much a forgotten man in the eyes of the scouting community until he worked out for two scouts-one from the Major League Scouting Bureau, one from the Atlanta Braves-in late March, and the momentum built from there. Working in side sessions, Woolley's fastball was mostly 90-91, topping at 92, and he showed promise with two other pitches-a 75-77 mph slider with a good 12-to-6 bite and a changeup at 82-83 mph with fading action. No longer was a summer in Alaska playing for AIA his immediate priority, but a chance to sign and move on to pro ball soon took precedence. Just last summer, Woolley may have experienced the low point of his college career when he was involved in a truck accident that left his Cape Cod League teammate, North Carolina righthander B.J. Dail, seriously injured. Woolley was sent home and this past April pleaded guilty to operating a vehicle under the influence, and received a six-month suspended sentence. His chance to work out for scouts this spring was his first opportunity to throw a baseball with a purpose in the better part of a year as he pitched in only three games as a sophomore at Georgia in 2008, after going 1-1, 3.14 in 19 appearances for the Bulldogs in 2007.--ALLAN SIMPSON |
| |
| 179. |
Mark Serrano |
RHP |
Sr. |
R-R |
6-1 |
195 |
Oral Roberts |
Downey, Calif. |
Royals '04 (47) |
9/14/1985 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE: It took Serrano until the advanced age of 23, as a fifth-year college senior, to finally hit his stride as a pitching prospect. The California product was a late-round draft pick of the Kansas City Royals in 2004, and spent his first two college seasons near home, at Cypress JC, only to succumb to right elbow surgery in 2006 after just nine innings that forced him to sit out the following season, as well. Serrano resurfaced at Oral Roberts a year ago, but his 4-1, 3.09 record with 23 walks and 52 strikeouts in 67 innings did little to convince scouts he was ready for pro ball. But this season was a different story as Serrano became ORU's ace pitcher and responded by going 9-1, 2.50 with 25 walks and 132 strikeouts (the second-highest total in ORU history) in 86 innings. Opponents hit just .196 against him. His best effort of the 2009 season came April 25 when he shut out North Dakota State on two hits, and struck out 16. Age will undoubtedly work against Serrano in the draft, but he nonertheless showed scouts an easy, clean, healthy arm from a loose three-quarters angle. His fastball was mainly in the 88-90 mph range, with sink, while his 79-82 mph slider had short, quick, strike-zone tilt and his changeup showed signs of becoming a quality pitch, though he rarely used it.--ALLAN SIMPSON |
| |
| 180. |
Daniel Fields |
SS |
Sr. |
L-R |
6-2 |
200 |
U. of Detroit/Jesuit |
Detroit |
Michigan |
1/23/1991 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE (3/1): Fields is a very athletic, lefthanded-hitting shortstop-understandable as he is the son of former Detroit Tigers outfielder Bruce Fields, a former Tigers hitting coach and currently a Cleveland Indians minor-league hitting coordinator. The younger Fields was often seen around Detroit's Comerica Park growing up, and it wasn't uncommon for him to take his father deep in batting practice-sessions-as a 12-year-old. Fields, whose older Aaron is a junior at Wright State, wasn't seen on the summer/fall showcase circuit as much as some other top 2009 high-school draft prospects, mainly because he spent most of last summer with Michigan's powerful A. Green travel club, but he could see his stock rise quickly when scouts bear down on him this spring. Fields has excellent speed and athletic ability for his size, and smooth actions at shortstop. One scout remarked after a World Wood Bat Association event "that he makes the field look small on defense." Not surprisingly, given his family background, Fields has excellent bat speed and an extended powerful swing that promises plenty of extra-base hits in the future. As a northern-based athlete, Fields could enjoy a similar rise up draft lists comparable to what Connecticut's Anthony Hewitt accomplished last year on his way to becoming a first-round choice. In part due to his long-time friendship with Adam Morgan, also a Detroit Jesuit High student and a Michigan basketball signee, Fields elected to sign with Michigan.--DAVID RAWNSLEY |
| UPDATE (5/15): Scouts played it cautious with Fields early this spring after he'd indicated a strong desire to go to Michigan. But as Fields began ratcheting up his game, scouts began showing up in increasing numbers and as many as 40 scouts, including scouting directors, were frequenting his games late in the season. Fields reportedly put out the word that he'd be signable only if drafted in the first couple of rounds, but scouts soon saw him in a grander light than that after he hit a robust .634-12-35 with 20 stolen bases in his first 21 games-impressive numbers considering he drew 28 walks and was pitched around extensively. He displayed the quick wrists needed to generate significant bat speed through the hitting zone, and the ball jumped off his bat. The speedy lefthanded hitter has an explosive first step and long, graceful strides, enabling him to turn in 60 times in the 6.6-second range. He has soft hands and is a reliable fielder for the most part, but scouts aren't enthralled with the way he reacts to ground balls and believe he might be better served with a move to third base, or even to center field when he enters pro ball. Not every team is high on his ability, but there are a handful who have indicated a willingness to grab him if he's available in the sandwich round.--ANUP SINHA |
| |
| 181. |
Chris Balcom-Miller |
RHP/3B |
So. |
R-R |
6-2 |
210 |
West Valley (Calif.) |
San Jose, Calif. |
Royals '08 (35) |
3/3/1989 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE: Balcom-Miller struggled as a junior-college freshman shortstop, hitting .214-0-23 for one of the top teams in the state, but showed promise on the hill with an 89-92 mph fastball and developing breaking ball. He was used sparingly, however, working only 14 innings while going 0-0, 4.08. By last fall, it had become graphically evident that Balcom-Miller had one of the better juco arms in northern California. With added maturity, an extra 15 pounds on his 6-foot-2 frame and a rapidly-improving pitch selection, he started pushing his fastball steadily into the 88-92 mph range. He also made strides with the bite and depth on his 81-83 mph slider, and the sink and deception on his 80-82 mph changeup. He added his changeup only last summer, and scouts say it is already a better pitch than his breaking ball. Balcom-Miller stepped immediately into a starting role for West Valley this spring, and went 7-5, 3.02 with 27 walks and 106 strikeouts in 83 innings. He also took an occasional turn at third base, hitting .259-0-9 in 58 at-bats. Understandably, he enjoys pitching more than swinging a bat and playing in the field, but there's a chance he would play both ways if he should end up at Idaho's Lewis-Clark State, his scheduled next stop at the college level in the increasingly unlikely event that he doesn't sign out of this year's draft.--ALLAN SIMPSON |
| |
| 182. |
Cole White |
RHP |
Jr. |
L-R |
6-2 |
200 |
New Mexico |
Blossom, Texas |
Cubs '08 (30) |
1/22/1988 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE (3/31): White was drafted as a pitcher by the Chicago Cubs in 2008 out of Paris (Texas) JC-an unlikely proposition for a player who did almost everything but pitch when he attended a Texas high school. He lettered in three sports, but most of his prowess on the baseball field at the time came as a shortstop. White also had the notoriety of being a song writer of some note, and one of the tunes he wrote, Fight A Storm, was nominated for a Grammy Award. The multi-talented White also sings and plays the drums, and has played in several bands. Pitching became a priority for White only after he enrolled in junior college. White was still understandably raw in his development on the mound when drafted by the Cubs a year ago, but he has always had plenty of raw arm strength and it was almost natural for him to become a pitcher. His fastball is a steady 88-92 mph, has topped out at 95 and gets good running action to both sides of the plate, resulting in a steady stream of ground balls. White has a quick, loose, compact arm action with good extension out front, and the ball comes out of his hand easily. He is primarily a fastball pitcher and likes to challenge hitters with that pitch, but his real challenge will be to develop better secondary pitches to complement his fastball. His slider has a hard, late break while his curve is a slow, rolling three-quarters breaker, but his command of both is inconsistent and he doesn't use them on a regular basis. Until he adds a changeup or refines his breaking stuff, he profiles only as a reliever. But he seems to thrive in end-of-game roles, and could end up singing his own song as a set-up man or even a closer.--ALLAN SIMPSON |
| UPDATE (5/15): While the Lobos blitzed opponents with a .363 club average and the team's pitching staff did its best to hold opponents in check with its collective 5.26 ERA, White provided a nice change of pace to all the action going on around him. In 27 appearances as New Mexico's closer, spanning 39 innings, he allowed just 19 hits. That's a .144 opponent average-impressive by any standard, but downright dominating considering the way the Lobos regularly engaged in high-scoring affairs. He went 3-2, 2.33 with 28 walks and 45 strikeouts. White had an extremely quick arm with a compact arm action, and he generated heavy run and sink on his fastball at 92-93 mph. But his velocity also routinely reached 95, and peaked occasionally at 97. He became more of a pitcher this spring as he developed significantly better command of his two-pitch mix and learned to work his fastball interchangeably with his improving slider. He also quieted his delivery, but still needs to incorporate his lower half better. He showed little or no feel for a changeup, but doesn't require a third pitch in a relief role-and he left little doubt this spring that is where his future lies.--AS |
| |
| 183. |
Ryan Ortiz |
C/OF |
Jr. |
R-R |
6-3 |
200 |
Oregon State |
San Diego, Calif. |
Never drafted |
9/10/1987 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE (3/1): Ortiz was a non-factor as a college freshman in 2007, going hitless in seven at-bats as an understudy to supplemental first-rounder Mitch Canham for College World Series champion Oregon State, and playing sparingly that summer. But he broke loose in a big way as a sophomore catcher for the Beavers, hitting .351-5-55 and topping the team in RBIs. He followed by hitting .274-1-18 during the summer in the Cape Cod League. Ortiz has significant power potential in his big frame, and just needs to get stronger and be more consistent at the plate to tap into it. His strength gains over the last year are already noticeable and he has a smooth, line-drive swing. He drives the ball where it is pitched, particularly to right field, and his ability to make adjustments at the plate impress scouts. Ortiz was considered the secondary catcher at Yarmouth-Dennis in the Cape, but his bat was too valuable to leave on the bench and his superior athletic ability enabled him to play a variety of positions last summer. He played 10 games at first, 12 in the outfield and 17 behind the plate. Ortiz is solid, but not outstanding at any position, and should be at least adequate behind the plate. His pop times are a steady 2.0 seconds, and his arm strength is the one area that stands out defensively. It was apparent, as well, that pitchers enjoy working with him.--ALLAN SIMPSON |
| UPDATE (5/15): Two expectations for the versatile Ortiz didn't come to fruition this spring. He was expected to play a variety of positions for the Beavers because he was bothered in the fall by a sore back and his athleticism enables him to play almost anywhere, but he ended up catching every game. His raw power also didn't blossom, as anticipated. The net effect is that he probably became a better overall defender, with improved technique and better arm accuracy, and his offense didn't really suffer as he still posted nearly identical numbers to 2008, topping the Beavers with a .352 average, tying for the club lead with five homers and driving in 45 runs. He also finished first with 55 runs scored, second with 17 doubles and had more walks (39) than strikeouts (34). In other words, he was a stalwart for the Beavers on both sides of ball. Scouts might have questioned whether his bat, or more specifically his power, might have played at a corner position, but it is not an issue now that he has firmly established himself behind the plate. It will be interesting to see if the San Diego Padres make a run at Ortiz in the third to fifth rounds as Ortiz has been dating Padres manager Bud Black's daughter for years.--AS |
| |
| 184. |
Ruben Sierra Jr. |
OF/LHP |
Sr. |
L-L |
6-2 |
180 |
Programa Alcance |
Isla Verde, P.R. |
|
3/10/1991 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE (3/1): Sierra's father is a 20-year major league veteran who made his debut at the young age of 20, and eventually played in four All-Star Games. The family tools are obvious in Ruben Jr., who is a lean and projectable lefthanded hitter with 6.38 speed in the 60 and plus arm strength from the outfield. The biggest question with Sierra is his hitting ability. He's generally very inconsistent at the plate, although most of his flaws (when they are exposed) appear to be mechanical. He stands way off the plate and tends to pull off the ball on his swing, which leaves the entire outside half of the plate uncovered. Sierra's bat speed and quick-twitch wrists give him a definite chance to hit, though, but he's considered a long way away right now from being an accomplished hitter. Before the watchful eyes of a number of major league scouting directors in a showcase in Puerto Rico in early February, though, Sierra put on a tremendous all-around show, especially in BP. He sprayed line drives all over the field, hitting a few over the right-field fence when he chose to pull. He showed a clean, easy and effortless swing, with increasing power. Sierra also showed an improved approach to hitting in the game that followed. While he only had one hit, he had good at-bats, taking pitches that were not to his liking, and not biting on balls on the outside corner, which had been a problem in the past. Off that performance, he edged closer to outfielder Reymond Fuentes as Puerto Rico's most draftable player in 2009. Sierra has moved back and forth between Miami and his native Puerto Rico throughout high school, but is currently living in Puerto Rico and will enter the draft as part of the island's draft class.--DAVID RAWNSLEY |
| UPDATE (5/15): Like Fuentes, Sierra has been outstanding in workouts, and is worthy of becoming a top-3 round pick based on his tools alone. Unlike Fuentes, Sierra has trouble taking his tools, especially his hitting tools, onto the field during games. He still has not corrected his flaw of standing too far off the plate and pulling off balls, which leaves him completely helpless against pitchers who can spot the ball away, something that virtually every pitcher at the next level can do. Since coaches and scouts have undoubtedly worked with Sierra on this, it raises questions about whether he is either too stubborn to make adjustments or whether he has a fear of the ball. Sierra has been working on switch-hitting this spring but is still too far away from the right side for that to be a factor. He has also attracted interest this spring as a lefthanded pitcher, where his fastball will top 90 mph occasionally, but the emphasis is clearly on his athletic ability as an outfield prospect for now.—DR |
| |
| 185. |
Ben Carlson |
1B |
Jr. |
L-L |
6-3 |
230 |
Missouri State |
Topeka, Kan. |
Never drafted |
10/8/1987 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE (3/1): Like his brother Chris, who finished among the top 10 nationally with 79 RBIs as both a sophomore and junior at New Mexico, Ben is a powerful, run-producing first baseman. He hit .379-17-67 as a sophomore at Missouri State and ranks as one of the top sluggers in the 2009 draft class. Though he has strong hands, a slight uppercut swing and power is his most visible tool, Carlson has a sound all-around approach to hitting. He has a balanced, compact stroke and a disciplined, patient approach-even when he is pitched around extensively. He uses his hands well in hitting balls where they are pitched. Carlson lacks speed and is pretty much limited to first base defensively. He has decent actions around the bag and makes all the routine plays, but lost ground in his bid to improve that part of his game as a sophomore as an elbow injury relegated him to strictly a DH role. He underwent Tommy John surgery during the summer and was expected to play first base for Missouri State in 2009, even in just a part-time role. He has a solid aptitude for the game, and scouts say it should be only a matter of time before his defense becomes an acceptable part of his overall package. While his brother Chris was a 29th-round pick of the Detroit Tigers in the 2006 draft and is mired in that system, Ben is expected to go off the board in June much quicker.--ALLAN SIMPSON |
| UPDATE (5/15): Carlson enjoyed a solid spring by most standards, hitting .301-16-51 with 29 walks, but he was hit by pitches an alarming 22 times. More offensive production was expected of the big slugger, who one scout referred to as “the Babe Ruth guy” for his big, stocky build and huge batting-practice home runs. Carlson has good bat-head skills for a big power hitter, and his ability to make contact is sometimes his undoing as he was consistently pitched around (or pitched at) in the MSU lineup, leading to many empty at-bats where a few swings-and-misses might have bought him more pitches and opportunities. Carlson was able to play first base on a part-time basis this spring, after undergoing his TJ surgery last summer. That was at least a plus for scouts after he had been a DH only all of the previous season.—DAVID RAWNSLEY |
| |
| 186. |
Bradin Hagens |
RHP |
So. |
R-R |
6-1 |
180 |
Merced (Calif.) JC |
Denair, Calif. |
Royals '08 (37) |
5/12/1989 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE (3/1): Hagens didn't cause much of a stir among Northern California scouts as a high-school senior or junior-college freshman, even as he was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in 2008. His Merced JC career got off on the wrong foot when he had knee surgery in August 2007 and missed all of fall practice, and he got by the following spring with little more than just a fastball. In a swing role, he went 4-2, 2.73 with 20 walks and 50 strikeouts in 69 innings. Hagens' prospect status took a quantum leap last fall, however, when he improved the velocity on his fastball from 88-90 mph to an eye-catching 93-94, and a low three-quarters slot enabled him to get good sink and run on the pitch. Almost overnight, he emerged as the No. 1 JC pitching prospect in the northern half of the state and a legitimate early-round prospect for the 2009 draft. He steps in as the No. 1 starter on the Merced staff in 2009, and the challenge for Hagens this spring will be to improve his secondary pitches to become a more complete pitcher.--ALLAN SIMPSON |
| UPDATE (5/15): With a 9-1, 3.77 record, Hagens did his part in leading a 36-10 Merced team to a school record for wins, though its bid to move on to the state final four was thwarted in regional play. Hagens reaffirmed his place as the top juco prospect in northern California by improving the command on his fastball and developing a slider. In 88 innings, he walked 23 and struck out 87.--AS |
| |
| 187. |
Yan Vazquez |
C |
Sr. |
B-R |
5-10 |
160 |
PR Baseball Acad. |
Gurabo, P.R. |
|
4/29/1991 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE: If you were building a team from Puerto Rico to win games today, Vazquez might be the second player drafted after Reymond Fuentes. Vazquez is a former middle infielder with above-average athleticism for a catcher and, most importantly, has a very mature and polished approach to the game. He was named the Most Valuable Player at the Excellence Games in early May for his all-around play and leadership on the field. Vazquez is a switch-hitter with better present bat speed and power potential from the left side of the plate, although he is also competitive from the right side. He’s a 6.7-runner in the 60 and a threat to steal on the bases, and his quickness and agility behind the plate are a plus because of his superior speed at the position. Vazquez is an aggressive catcher with a solid-average professional throwing arm that he likes using to throw behind unsuspecting base runners.—DAVID RAWNSLEY |
| |
| 188. |
Dustin Dickerson |
1B |
Jr. |
L-R |
6-4 |
205 |
Baylor |
Waco, Texas |
Nationals '06 (15) |
9/30/1987 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE (3/1): As an unsigned 15th-round draft pick of the Washington Nationals in 2006 out of a Texas high school, Dickerson was one of the key pieces in a Baylor recruiting class that was proclaimed far and wide as the nation's best. Though he is a big-bodied player with a clean lefthanded swing, Dickerson's college career hasn't panned out quite as expected-from a power standpoint, at least. The former Aflac All-American hit just three home runs for the Bears as a freshman and four more as a sophomore, while batting .313-4-43 overall. His tendency has been to hit balls more to the middle of the field and even the opposite way, and his approach produced 17 doubles as a sophomore. Scouts continue to believe he'll add to his power totals in the future because he has a solid foundation to hit. One manager even called Dickerson "by far the best hitter in the league," when he spent part of last summer in the Texas Collegiate League. Summer-school classes forced Dickerson to turn down a return engagement to the Cape Cod League, and his only option was to play on weekends in the TCL. He played in only 12 games and hit .314-1-8, but he earned praise for his mature approach at the plate and strike-zone discipline, along with his raw bat speed and power potential. His defense at first base is also one of his strengths, and he has arm strength and accuracy. He also runs surprisingly well for a player his size. The big issue regarding Dickerson will be producing more consistent power in games-a must for a corner infielder. If he finally performs to expectations this spring, he could easily go as high as the second round in June.--DAVID RAWNSLEY / ALLAN SIMPSON |
| UPDATE (5/15): Dickerson began his 2009 season at the prospect-filled Minute Maid Tournament in Houston, showcasing the same swing and approach he’d carried forward since his freshman year. But sometime over the next month, the light clicked on and he made significant adjustments to a point that scouts said they hardly recognized him. While the rest of the Baylor team floundered, Dickerson consistently drove the ball hard to the pull side with a revamped swing and much better timing. He hit .381-10-40, and led the Bears in batting average, runs (48), doubles (16) and on-base average (.437) as they embarked on NCAA play. His 10 home runs easily surpassed his combined total of the previous two seasons (7). Dickerson’s speed and defensive ability at first base are very playable, and the lack of good college-level bats at the corner positions should further help his draft stock.—DR |
| |
| 189. |
Virgil Hill |
OF |
So. |
R-R |
6-0 |
185 |
Los Angeles Mission |
Valencia, Calif. |
Athletics '08 (35) |
9/9/1989 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE: Hill may have the most athletic bloodlines of any player in the 2009 draft pool as both his father and mother are former Olympians. His father, Virgil Sr., won a silver medal in boxing at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, and later went on to hold World Boxing Association titles in both the light-heavyweight and cruiserweight divisions. His mother, Denean Howard-Hill, was a member of the U.S. silver-medal winning 4-by-400 relay team at the 1988 Seoul Olympics. Hill is still raw in his development as a baseball player as he took a year off in high school to focus on football and track, but his natural ability and considerable upside have always been evident to area scouts. One of the fastest players in this year's draft pool, with a reported clocking in the 60 of a lightning-fast 6.1 seconds, it is apparent he has inherited his mother's speed,. His raw power is still evolving, but undoubtedly comes from his father's gene pool. Hill hit .460-11-49 this spring as a sophomore at Los Angeles Mission JC, while stealing 29 bases. His combination of raw speed and power will almost certainly tempt a team to make an early run at him in this year's draft, but most clubs recognize his hitting skills are still evolving and have been cautious in their pursuit of him. To date, Hill has resisted the temptation to sign before he is ready as he was drafted in the 28th round by the Florida Marlins in 2007, and in the 35th round by the Oakland A's a year ago. He now has a baseball scholarship awaiting him at Southern California, so teams will have to be mindful of that option as he has already proven his willingness to sign is not a sure thing.--ALLAN SIMPSON |
| |
| 190. |
K.C. Hobson |
1B/LHP |
Sr. |
L-L |
6-3 |
210 |
Stockdale |
Bakersfield, Calif. |
Texas A&M |
8/22/1990 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE (3/1): Hobson has some of the most-immediate name recognition in this year's draft as he is the son of former Boston Red Sox manager (1992-94) and third baseman (1975-80) Butch Hobson. His left-handedness makes him a different type of player than his father, but he has the same strong, physically-mature build at 6-foot-3 and 210 pounds. Some scouts see Hobson as a better power-hitting prospect, while others see him with a higher ceiling on the mound. He was a solid performer both ways as a high-school junior, hitting .505-7-57 at the plate, while going 10-0, 3.03 on the mound. He had the game-winning hit as Stockdale High captured the central section CIF championship. As a pitcher, Hobson throws strikes with a two-pitch mix. He has regularly been clocked up to 92 mph from a fast-paced delivery, with a short, compact arm action that enables him to hide the ball well. His breaking ball is a mid-70s curveball that he throws from a somewhat lower release point than his fastball. Hobson's command is still evolving, meaning he's primarily an intimidating, velocity-based pitcher now. Offensively, Hobson has an aggressive approach with plus raw power from a spread, pull-type approach. He has good bat speed and natural loft in his swing. He feasts on inside pitches, but his approach leaves him vulnerable to being worked on the outside half of the plate. Most of his power to date has been to the gaps, and he just needs to improve his power frequency during games to emerge as a legit prospect as a position player. He's an adequate defender at first base. Hobson lived in New Hampshire until after his freshman season, then moved to Bakersfield, where his mother grew up. Hobson has signed with Texas A&M, a school that frequently utilizes two-way players.--DAVID RAWNSLEY |
| UPDATE (5/15): Hobson’s power potential shone through this spring on a 23-5 Stockdale High team. He hit .488-13-47 and performed well in a number of marquee match-ups that attracted large groups of scouts. There is still concern about Hobson’s ability to hit for a high average at the next level as he continues to feast on any pitch he can pull and doesn’t adjust well to the outside half of the plate. Hobson’s pitching has taken a back seat for now, although he went 6-1, 1.91 and his fastball regularly hit the low 90s.—DR |
| |
| 191. |
Enrique Hernandez |
2B/SS |
Sr. |
R-R |
5-11 |
170 |
American Military |
Guaynabo, P.R. |
|
8/24/1991 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE: Hernandez’ best tool is his bat. He has a short, crisp swing from the right side of the plate that produces consistent hard, line-drive contact to all fields. He has been impressive at all the major Puerto Rican events, showing that he can hit against the best pitchers on the island. His primary position at present is shortstop and while he is very dependable at the position on routine plays, his relative lack of speed and lateral quickness make it likely he will end up at second base, perhaps immediately after he signs. Hernandez’ arm strength will be a plus on the right side of the bag and his hands play at any position. His maturity and approach to the game get high marks. If Hernandez was in a similar situation in the United States, scouts would almost certainly be projecting him as a top-level offensive second baseman at most major Division 1 schools for the next three years and a solid draft as a college junior.—DAVID RAWNSLEY |
| |
| 192. |
Chris Herrmann |
3B |
Jr. |
L-R |
6-0 |
182 |
Miami |
Tomball, Texas |
Orioles '08 (10) |
11/24/1987 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE (3/1): An unpretentious .286-4-21 hitter as a freshman in 2007 at McLennan (Texas) JC, Herrmann was significantly behind three Division I-bound Alvin sophomore righthanders-Guillermo Cienfuegos (Lamar), Jeremy Toole (Brigham Young) and Taylor Wulf (Miami)-at the start of the 2008 season. But the lefthanded-hitting Herrmann became the key player-and simultaneously significantly improved his prospect worth-as Alvin gained its first-ever trip to the Junior College World Series, beating Texas power San Jacinto to reach the tournament, and knocking off No. 1 Walters State (Tenn.) and No. 2 Chipola (Fla.) once they got there. Herrmann contributed a .442 average, 14 home runs and 25 stolen bases, earning both All-America honors and all-tournament honors. His bat and power potential became legitimate tools, and he settled in defensively at third base after spending most of the early season behind the plate. The Baltimore Orioles were sufficiently impressed with his whole package to spend a 10th-round pick on him in last year's draft, but Herrmann had an option to attend the University of Miami and chose college over pro ball.--ALLAN SIMPSON |
| UPDATE (5/15): One of three junior-college transfers from Texas to end up at Miami after the Hurricanes were ravaged in the 2008 draft, Herrmann showed a strong lefthanded bat and used a late-season surge to top the team with a .341 average. He also contributed nine homers and 44 RBIs, while topping the Canes with 59 runs scored. It was anticipated that Herrmann would play mostly third base for Miami after being drafted at that position in 2008, and his solid-average speed and other tools appeared ideally-suited for the hot corner. But he struggled defensively there for the Hurricanes, compiling a sub-.900 fielding average, and saw time at first base and in the outfield though never caught. While his versatility is perceived as one of his strengths, his bat is clearly his best tool.—ANUP SINHA / AS |
| |
| 193. |
Justin Collop |
RHP |
Jr. |
R-R |
6-1 |
175 |
Toledo |
Wayne, Mich. |
Never drafted |
5/30/1988 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE: Collop initially went to Toledo as a non-scholarship player out of a Detroit-area high school. With an unspectacular 4-7, 6.51 record three years later as a college junior, it didn't appear that he had made much headway in his career on the heels of his humble beginnings. But scouts looked beyond the results this spring, and saw much more. Collop showed them the makings of three solid pitches in a 90-92 mph fastball that peaked at 94, a solid slider and a changeup that was particularly effective against lefthanded hitters. Collop doesn't have the physical profile or the exciting power stuff of Kent State's two more-established righthanders, Brad Stillings and Kyle Smith, but some scouts liked him more because he has a much better feel for pitching, and may be a safer pick. In 76 innings this spring, he walked 19 and struck out 63. Scouts are often turned off by pitchers who throw across their body, but it seems to work for Collop, whose tilting, often nasty slider benefits from the awkward delivery. Collop also scores points for his mound presence, and his ability to work out of jams. There is some concern that Collop got tired down the stretch as he didn't throw as well in his later outings. His durability may improve, however, as he physically matures and gets stronger. Regardless, he's come a long way in college for a pitcher who was throwing mostly in the mid-80s as a freshman and didn't really emerge as a prospect until his sophomore season.--ANUP SINHA |
| |
| 194. |
David Buchanan |
RHP |
So. |
R-R |
6-3 |
200 |
Chipola (Fla.) |
Fayetteville, Ga. |
Never drafted |
5/11/1989 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE: Buchanan could easily be taken in the first 10 rounds solely on the basis of his raw arm strength. He pitched mostly at 92-94 mph in relief this spring, topped at 96 and scouts say he could reach 97-98 one day because of his loose, easy actions. But Buchanan may not be polished enough at this point to justify becoming an early-round candidate as he lacks movement on his fastball and has trouble commanding his breaking ball, although he made strides in that area this spring. Though Chipola, the 2007 Junior College World Series, advanced to the championship game at the Florida state tournament for the third year in a row, Buchanan was little factor in his team’s success as he went just 4-2, 7.75 with 24 walks and 43 strikeouts in 38 innings.--ALLAN SIMPSON |
| |
| 195. |
Rob Lyerly |
1B/3B |
Jr. |
L-R |
6-2 |
200 |
Charlotte |
Indian Trail, N.C. |
Never drafted |
7/23/1987 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE (3/1): Lyerly may not be the most toolsy of players, but he competes, has a great baseball IQ and knows how to hit. He was the most consistent hitter last summer in the Northwoods League, and his ability to make in-game adjustments played a significant role in his winning the batting title at .342. Lyerly also was second in doubles (19) and RBIs (48), and was the one player who made an impression on every manager in the league, though scouts were more hesitant to share praise for a player that isn’t particularly athletic. Lyerly still looked good in the batter’s box, though he is limited to a corner position, on both the infield and outfield, and most of his power is only to the gaps. However, he has a disciplined eye, knows how to get on base and rarely gets fooled at the plate. After batting just .178-1-9 as a freshman at Campbell in 2007, Lyerly transferred to Charlotte for his sophomore year and hit a resounding .364-15-76 with 26 doubles.—PATRICK EBERT |
| UPDATE (5/15): Lyerly continued to post big numbers this spring, leading Charlotte with a .401 average, 18 doubles, a .725 slugging percentage and .493 on-base average. He also hit 12 homers and drove in 49 runs, despite missing 12 games with an injury. His bat was his one and only obvious plus tool, and few scouts worry about it carrying over to the next level. Finding a set position is another issue. Lyerly played mostly first base this season because of arm problems, but in the past has shown the arm strength to play third. His speed is below average, and he did not even attempt a stolen base this season..—JEFF SIMPSON |
| |
| 196. |
Hiram Burgos |
RHP |
Sr. |
R-R |
6-0 |
215 |
Bethune-Cookman |
Cayey, P.R. |
Never drafted |
8/4/1987 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE: Bethune-Cookman won the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference title for the fourth straight year in Burgos’ tenure on the roster, and the team’s rich pipeline to Puerto Rican talent has played no small role in the team’s success. A year after fellow Puerto Rican Joseph Gautier was drafted in the 18th round by the Arizona Diamondbacks and Burgos was passed over (despite being the MEAC pitcher of the year), Burgos has a chance to surpass Gautier’s accomplishments in the draft. He went 6-3, 3.74 this spring while striking out 94 in 79 innings, and again earned MEAC pitcher-of-the-year honors. Among his accomplishments this season, and the one that particularly caught the eye of scouts, was the six shutout innings he pitched against mighty Miami on May 8, in a game Bethune-Cookman won 1-0 on a solo home run in the ninth inning. Burgos had three solid pitches this spring with a fastball that topped out at 92. Over his four-year career at B-C, he won 21 games.--ALLAN SIMPSON |
| |
| 197. |
Steven Inch |
RHP |
Sr. |
L-R |
6-1 |
195 |
Vauxhall Academy |
Edmonton, Alberta |
Kentucky |
2/1/1991 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE: Inch was a virtual unknown in scouting circles prior to 2009, but he has rocketed up draft boards this spring to a point that only the much-more established Jake Eliopoulos may be drafted ahead of him among Canadians. He could easily find his way into the fifth or sixth rounds. Over the past year, Inch has grown three inches (no pun intended) and filled out his long, lanky frame. As he got stronger, his fastball improved from 84-86 mph to a more acceptable 87-91, and he is so projectable in his new 6-foot-4, 210-pound frame that scouts easily see him adding another 2-3 mph. He still lacks optimum strength, but his delivery is clean and nearly flawless. Inch also has good poise on the mound, and a surprisingly good aptitude for pitching-considering his new-found status and his Canadian upbringing. He flashes three average pitches with a feel for and ability to command them all. His curve is a mid-70s pitch with excellent break and depth, and he has good feel for his changeup. While the Vauxhall Academy, tucked away in rural Alberta, has been an emerging baseball force in the development of high-school players in Canada, Inch received his most significant exposure this spring in Florida as a member of Canada's junior-national team. He could further enhance his standing in the draft with another solid showing with Team Canada on its annual trek to the Dominican Republic in late May. Despite just signing with Kentucky in the spring signing period, he may be a difficult sign-especially if not taken before where he is projected to go. Should he end up in college in Kentucky, he would be just the latest Canadian in the pipeline to that school. Kentucky junior lefthander James Paxton, a British Columbia native, blossomed as a possible first-rounder there this spring, while Eliopoulos, the one Canadian ranked higher than Inch for this year's draft, also committed to that school.--ALLAN SIMPSON |
| |
| 198. |
Branden Kline |
RHP |
Sr. |
R-R |
6-3 |
185 |
Gov. Thos. Johnson |
Frederick, Md. |
Virginia |
9/29/1991 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE: Though he was rarely seen on the showcase circuit last summer and fall, Kline entered the 2009 season as the top prospect in Maryland. Scouts gave him an outside chance of cracking the top 10 rounds, but acknowledged his signability may play a key role in where he would ultimately be drafted as Kline appeared heavily committed to the University of Virginia. He worked mainly in the 88-93 mph range to start the season, and complemented his fastball with the makings of a curve, slider and circle-change. More often that not, he was unable to sustain the velocity on his fastball much beyond the third inning, and his curve and slider became too similar in speed and shape. But an April start against a high-school team from Hedgesville, W.Va., may have been a difference-maker for Kline as he pumped his velocity up to 95 and his curve became sharper-and soon he was viewed in a little different light. Kline continued to pitch with superior stuff and was very effective in compiling a 6-1, 0.66 record, while allowing just 16 hits and striking out 79 in 41 innings.--ALLAN SIMPSON |
| |
| 199. |
Devin Fuller |
RHP |
So. |
R-R |
6-2 |
220 |
Chandler-Gilbert (Az.) |
Gilbert, Ariz. |
Dodgers '07 (14) |
12/15/1988 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE: Fuller has been a puzzle to Arizona-based scouts pretty much since 2007, when he burst on the scene as a little-known high-school senior, was drafted in the 14th round by the Los Angeles Dodgers and ended up accepting a late scholarship offer to Arizona State-even though his chances of remaining eligible in college were considered sketchy. He subsequently sat out his freshman year at ASU for academic reasons. When his chances of missing a second season at ASU became a possibility at the semester break, he chose to regroup at that point and ended up transferring to Chandler-Gilbert JC for the 2009 season. He responded with a solid 3-2, 2.36 record, along with 21 walks and 72 strikeouts in 53 innings. His fastball, a steady 91-93 mph, topping at 95 as a high-school senior, ranged from 88-92, occasionally stretched out to 94 and showed good run and sink. His sharp, power curve had good depth and late, biting action at 77-80 mph and became a solid second pitch. He also had feel for his changeup, though had a tendency to slow down his arm action to gain the desired separation in velocity from his fastball.--ALLAN SIMPSON |
| |
| 200. |
Brooks Raley |
LHP/OF |
So. |
L-L |
6-2 |
185 |
Texas A&M |
Uvalde, Texas |
Never drafted |
6/29/1988 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE (3/1): Texas A&M was almost universally regarded as one of the nation's top three college teams entering the 2008 season, and no player was more responsible for the lofty ranking than Raley. Not only was he the team's projected ace, but he was also scheduled to hold down a regular job in the outfield when not pitching, all the while being a catalyst at the top of the Aggies batting order. As a prospect for the 2009 draft, Raley has more than his share of supporters as both a pitcher and everyday player, and it's apparent that he could be an early-round selection in either role. It may all come down to a preference for the team that drafts him. As a pitcher, Raley has a quick, live arm with a sneaky-fast 87-91 mph fastball with run and sink, and a sharp, big-breaking 80-84 mph slider as his primary pitches. He also throws a curve and change. But his pitchability is his greatest strength. He has a savvy, confident approach and is around the plate with all his pitches. Raley has played mostly on an outfield corner at Texas A&M to preserve his pitching arm, but he profiles as a speedy, slap-hitting center fielder in the mold of former Texas A&M standout Jason Tyner, a first-round pick of the New York Mets in 1998. Raley is eligible for the 2009 draft as a sophomore because he will be 21 on June 29. He was a year older than most students in his high-school class. Though he went undrafted out of a Texas high school in 2007, he was a dominant two-way player in the Texas prep ranks, and also excelled in football. His college career evolved more quickly on the mound as he moved in as Texas A&M's Friday starter by the beginning of Big 12 Conference play a year ago. He finished the season with a 7-2, 4.76 record, along with 27 walks and 68 strikeouts in a team-high 92 innings. He got just 58 at-bats as an outfielder, hitting .259-0-9 with four stolen bases, but his offensive potential was apparent. Raley comes from a baseball family as his father Terry, a shortstop in college at St. Mary's (Texas), was a 24th-round pick of the Toronto Blue Jays in 1981 and had a pro career that peaked in Class A. Russell Raley, Brooks' older brother, was a middle infielder at Oklahoma from 2003-06 and a 21st-round pick of the New York Yankees in 2006. His two-year career also peaked in Class A, and he is now a volunteer assistant at Oklahoma.--ALLAN SIMPSON |
| UPDATE (5/15): It may well go down to the evening of June 9 to determine whether Raley starts his professional career as a lefthanded pitcher or outfielder, depending on which team picks the multi-talented, draft-eligible sophomore. Raley's fastball/slider combination and outstanding command have enabled him to dominate on the mound this spring (7-2, 3.09, 90 IP/92 SO), but scouts have also seen an "80" runner (on the 20-80 scouting scale) with plus arm strength and projectable power as an outfielder (.311-1-20, 17 2B, 24 SB). He followed a season-long pattern of starting on the mound Fridays and playing in the field on Saturdays and Sundays, with an occasional turn in the DH spot. The dual duty has taken a toll on Raley, leaving him without his best stuff. He was roughed up in two early May starts, including a showdown against rival Texas. His offensive production slowly ebbed through the second half of the season, as well. By focusing on one part of the game, along with adding strength to his broad-shouldered but slender build, it will bring a positive impact at either position at the next level.--DAVID RAWNSLEY |
| |
| 201. |
Danny Reynolds |
RHP |
Sr. |
R-R |
5-11 |
180 |
Durango |
Las Vegas, Nev. |
Dixie State |
5/2/1991 |
| SCOUTING PROFILE (3/1): Though cross-city rival Bishop Gorman has grabbed most of the headlines in Las Vegas for its impressive accomplishments at the state and nationals levels, and could make an impact in this year’s draft, Reynolds has quietly been making inroads as a prospect to a point where he could emerge as a third- to fifth-round talent. Though Reynolds is just a slender 5-foot-11 righthander, he is an athletic pitcher with a very live arm from a three-quarters slot. His fastball is regularly in the low-90s and has topped out at 95 mph, and he gets late sink down and riding life high in the strike zone. Reynolds throws from a fast-paced, high-energy delivery, and not only throws consistent strikes but is able to hold his velocity. Reynolds’ secondary stuff is still developing. He throws an upper-70s/low-80s slider that he often uses as his out-pitch, while he uses a rolling, 71-73 mph curve to get ahead in counts. He’ll also mix in an occasional changeup.—DAVID RAWNSLEY / ALLAN SIMPSON |
| UPDATE (5/15): Reynolds’ lack of dominance at the high-school level this spring (56 hits in 64 innings, and a 4-6, 2.79 record on a losing team) amplifies his lack of quality secondary stuff. His breaking pitch was a cross between a slider and curve, but he at least increased the velocity on it significantly from start to finish, improving from 76 to 84 mph. He did not use his change. Buck there was no doubting Reynolds’ fastball—and a solid 18-88 walk-to-strikeout ratio was a reflection of its dominance. He was a steady 94-95 mph all spring, and learned to pitch and compete at that velocity. As a little righthander with a live arm, Reynolds was compared through the spring to established big-leaguers Tim Lincecum and Roy Oswalt—and the wrap in back in his delivery, and explosive spin to the plate even resembled Lincecum’s unique delivery.—AS |
|