COASTAL PLAIN LEAGUE
TOP 25 PROSPECTS, 2008

Compiled by Allan Simpson; Written by David Rawnsley
In Association with League Managers and Scouts

Official League Website: www.coastalplain.com

The Thomasville HiToms were clearly the top team in the Coastal Plain League in 2008, winning their third consecutive CPL championship and finishing among PG Crosschecker.com’s final ranking of the nation’s top summer league teams.

The HiToms started the season in less than stellar fashion and had only a 7-8 record at one point as they awaited the arrival of manager Matt McCay, who was late joining the team because of his obligations to the University of North Carolina and the Tar Heels’ annual run deep into the College World Series. Another critical factor in the team’s surge was that Thomasville was able to add several quality players through the season (OF Josh Liles, C Richard Jones, RHP Thomas Girdwood) to supplement its already strong roster.

The most important part of the Thomasville equation, though, was simply the depth of talent. Although they had only one player, part-time closer Chase Stewart, listed among the top six prospects in the league, the HiToms depth was apparent and contributed to 10 of the top 25 players listed below from the 14-team CPL. Scouts were unanimous in agreeing that the HiToms had the most quality arms of any pitching staff in the league by a wide margin and their outfield of C.J. Beatty, Josh Liles and Sonny Meade was unparalleled for both tools and production.

Righthander Deck McGuire (Georgia Tech) stood out as the top prospect in the league and has a chance to be a very high draft pick in 2010 if he continues to show the same type of performance and stuff that he did between Georgia Tech and the Peninsula Pilots (a combined record of 16-1). What stood out about the league as a whole was the number of high-velocity pitchers, many of whom threw in the low- to even mid-90s and were not even on the prospect list below. Many of these pitchers are from smaller schools or have not met with the success yet that’s necessary to pitch in a summer league such as the Cape Cod League, but their raw talent was noteworthy.

FAST FACTS
Year League Established: 1997.
States Represented in League: North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia.
Level of Competition (1-to-4 Scale): 2.
No. of Teams in League: 14.
Regular-Season Champion: Thomasville HiToms.
Post-Season Champion: Thomasville HiToms.
Teams, PG Crosschecker Summer 16/Final Ranking: No. 7 Thomasville HiToms, No. 27 Florence RedWolves.
No. 1 Prospect, 2007 (per PG Crosschecker): Chris Gloor, lhp, New Bern River Rats (Quinnipiac; played in Cape Cod League in 2008).
First 2007 Player Selected, 2008 Draft: Bobby Lanigan, rhp, Edenton Steamers (Adelphi; Twins, third round).

Most Valuable Player: Kevin Mahoney, 3b, Forest City Owls.
Most Outstanding Pitcher: Justin Sarratt, rhp, Thomasville HiToms.
Top Prospect (as selected by league): None selected.

BATTING LEADERS
Batting Average: Brett Nommensen, of, Edenton Steamers (.377).
Slugging Percentage: Kevin Mahoney, 3b, Forest City Owls (.593).
On-Base Average: Brett Nomensen, of, Edenton Steamers (.462).
Home Runs: Kevin Mahoney, rhp, Forest City Owls (13).
RBIs: Kevin Mahoney, 3b, Forest City Owls (46).
Stolen Bases: Eddie Van Es, of, Peninsula Pilots (32).

PITCHING LEADERS 
Wins: Tim Adleman, rhp, Wilson Tobs (8).
ERA: Kent Altman, rhp, Florence RedWolves (0.92).
Saves: Luke Demko, rhp, Edenton Steamers (15).
Strikeouts: Alex Fairweather, lhp, Asheboro Copperheads (79).
Opponent Batting Average: Matt Little, rhp, Peninsula Pilots (.168). (.149).

BEST TOOLS
Best Hitter: Brett Nommensen, of, Edenton Steamers.
Best Power: Kevin Mahoney, 3b, Forest City Owls.
Fastest Base Runner: Josh Liles, of, Thomasville HiToms.
Best Defensive Player: Barrett Kleinknecht, ss, Florence RedWolves.
Best Velocity: Chase Stewart, rhp, Thomasville HiToms.
Best Breaking Ball: Deck McGuire, rhp, Peninsula Pilots.

TOP 25 PROSPECTS

  PLAYER POS. TEAM B-T HT WT YR 2009 SCHOOL
1. Deck McGuire RHP Peninsula Pilots R-R 6-6 230 So. Georgia Tech
SCOUTING REPORT: McGuire was a no-brainer as the top Coastal Plain League prospect among both managers and scouts. The Virginia native could undoubtedly have pitched in the Cape Cod League this summer after being one of the top freshman pitchers in the country last spring at Georgia Tech (8-1, 3.46 in 70 innings) and probably warranted Team USA consideration. But spending the summer close to home proved to be a good decision. McGuire went 8-0, 1.28 in 11 starts and allowed only 35 hits in 56 innings while striking out 65. His control was imperfect as he walked 28, but managers complimented him on his mound presence and the command of his three-pitch mix. McGuire features a heavy 90-93 mph fastball that will consistently sink and run into righthanded hitters. He throws a hard, upper-70s slurve that some called a slider and some a curveball but all called a plus pitch. McGuire also isn’t afraid to mix in a changeup. He looks like a definite potential first-round pick for the 2010 draft.
 


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