DRAFT 2007
Complete with PG Scouting Reports

Top Three Rounds

FIRST ROUND

Rank  Player                                  Pos.       Yr     B-T      HT     WT     School                              Hometown                 Drafted/(Commit) B’date

     1.   David Price                          LHP      Jr.     L-L     6-6     215     Vanderbilt U.                    Murfreesboro, Tenn.        Dodgers '04 (19) 8-26-85

DRAFTED BY: Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

SCOUTING REPORT: Price has been a marked man almost from the day he set foot on the Vanderbilt campus three years ago. He gave a taste of what was in store when he struck out 92 in 69 innings as a freshman—even as he won only two games—and began to cement his standing as the No. 1 pick in this year’s draft when he led the Southeastern Conference with 155 strikeouts in 110 innings as a sophomore. His performance with Team USA last summer (5-1, 0.20 with 61 strikeouts in 44 innings) sealed the deal. All he has done this spring is put the finishing touches on his game—and his 11-0, 2.71 record with a national-best 175 strikeouts and just 29 walks in 123 innings, to go with a .201 opponent average, reflects how it has all come together for him. Scouts say he is close to being major league ready. The biggest difference in Price this year has been in his self-confidence—he knows now that he’s the best—and in his ability to locate all his pitches. He has two dominant offerings: a 93-96 mph fastball (touched 99) that he can sustain deep in to games, and a hard mid- to upper-80s slider. His changeup was for show only and is considered a work in progress. For the first time, he was able to throw any pitch in any count—and control the pace of a game. Price has been unfazed by all the attention he has received, and gets as high marks for his competitive makeup, yet humble nature, as he does for his pitching ability. His combination of athleticism, overpowering stuff and makeup makes him an easy choice as the best talent in the draft—and a near-lock to be the No. 1 pick.

--Allan Simpson
 

     2.   Mike Moustakas                  SS      Sr.     L-R     6-0     185     Chatsworth HS               Northridge, Calif.      (Southern California) 9-11-88

DRAFTED BY: Kansas City Royals.

SCOUTING REPORT: Moustakas is one of two projected first-round picks out of perennial state and national power Chatsworth High, but Moustakas is not the one most were projecting to be the first one drafted most of his senior year. But Moustakas simply overtook and passed teammate Matt Dominguez down the stretch with a superior display of hitting. He has shown power his entire high school career and not just potential power. He set a school record for home runs as a sophomore, and proceeded to break the mark as a junior and senior. He also set a state record for career homers. His stroke is pretty short and direct to the baseball, suggesting that he will not only hit for power but should also be able to hit for average. As for his defense, time will tell where Moustakas will play. He has the ability to play up the middle, at third base and behind the plate—not to mention showing mid-90s heat on the mound. At last year’s Area Code Games, he was seen primarily as a catching prospect. But he toned up his body significantly in the offseason, increasing his speed and mobility in the process, and now he is projected as an infielder. Regardless of where he plays, his powerful lefthanded bat is what interests scouts. His versatility is only a bonus.

--Blaine Clemmens

 

     3.   Josh Vitters                          3B      Sr.     R-R     6-3     190     Cypress HS                     Anaheim                      (Arizona State ) 8-27-89

DRAFTED BY: Chicago Cubs.

SCOUTING REPORT: Over the last year and a half, Vitters has been steadily gaining steam toward his current status as the top draft-eligible player in California . His raw ability with the bat alone makes him a first-round pick. His bat speed and strength combine to give him prodigious power that clearly profiles at the hot corner. However, Vitters has evolved from a raw talent into a very polished, young “professional hitter” that now is projected to be a top five pick overall in the first round—possibly even the first position player selected. His pitch recognition is very good; he knows what he wants to hit, and what he can and cannot hit. When Vitters’ brain says swing, his hands do it and it is a very impressive thing to see. He does need to improve on defense like most young players, but has the tools to be at least an average defensive third baseman, and may even be better than that.

--Blaine Clemmens

 

     4.   Daniel Moskos                   LHP      Jr.     R-L     6-2     205     Clemson U.                       Alta Loma, Calif.         Never drafted   4-28-86

DRAFTED BY: Pittsburgh Pirates.

SCOUTING REPORT: Moskos is the kingpin on a Clemson pitching staff that could yield four pitchers in the top three or four rounds. He began the year as a potential top 10 pick and almost certainly will be one of the first dozen players selected—even as he was bounced from a closer role to a starting job for the Tigers and didn’t have a particularly inspiring season. He went just 3-5, 3.07 with six saves. In 59 innings, he struck out 68 and walked 31. He settled in as Clemson’s closer a year ago (5-5, 2.52 and 10 saves) and was thoroughly dominant in that role last summer for Team USA, going 0-0, 0.96 with six saves, along with 31 strikeouts in 19 innings. He was expected to establish himself as the premier closer in the college game this season but never reached a comfort level in the role this season, constantly working deep into counts, and relished the opportunity to become a starter when Clemson shook up its pitching staff at midseason. Moskos has the max-effort delivery and fiery temperament inherent in a closer, but scouts have always whispered that his four-pitch stuff may play better as a starter. His best offerings are his running 94-96 mph fastball and hard, firm put-away slider with electric life—the pitches that made him so dominant as a closer—plus an average curve and change. It remains to be seen what role he will be used in pro ball, but he likely would move to the big leaguers quicker as a reliever. Scouts like to compare him top ex-big league closer Randy Myers in terms of his build, stuff, delivery and temperament. He is pretty much who he is, as there is little projection left in his small but powerful frame.

--Allan Simpson

 

     5.   Matt Wieters                           C      Jr.     B-R     6-4     225     Georgia Tech                  Goose Creek , S.C.    Never drafted   5-21-86

DRAFTED BY: Baltimore Orioles.

SCOUTING REPORT: Wieters entered the spring with almost unreachable expectations and scouts seemed disappointed early in the year when he wasn’t hitting home runs every game, batting .500 and leaping high buildings. That talk has calmed in the second half as Wieters has shown improvement in a couple of phases of the game. An appreciation has developed for just how easily Wieters plays the game and does otherwise difficult things, like catch and switch-hit with power. Two areas that Wieters has improved in are his hitting from the right side and his receiving skills. He’s more of a natural hitter than a power hitter, although he can put on a batting-practice power display with the best of them, especially from the left side. He was hitting .366-8-51 through the regular season—compared to .355-15-71 a year ago. Wieters’ defensive skills are increasingly smooth and polished, particularly for a tall and long-limbed catcher. One area Wieters has not excelled at this year is pitching (1-3, 7.43 with three saves in 13 innings); perhaps he wasn’t emotionally into it with the pressures of catching and the upcoming draft, but few scouts doubt that he could be a first-round type talent any longer if that was his sole concentration. Comparisons with Joe Mauer have become more commonplace; each plays the game with athletic ease and plus intangibles, and excel both offensively and defensively. Wieters is locked in as a top 5 pick, unless something should happen late with health or signability. He is being advised by agent Scott Boras.

--David Rawnsley

 

     6.   Ross Detwiler                     LHP      Jr.     R-L     6-4     180     Missouri State U.            Wentzville, Mo.           Never Drafted     3-6-86

DRAFTED BY: Washington Nationals.

SCOUTING REPORT: Detwiler has put himself in position to be among the top 10 players picked, besting his 2006 teammate Brett Sinkbeil, who went 19^th overall in the 2006 draft. Detwiler went 4-5, 2.22 with 110 strikeouts in 89 innings this spring, perhaps a disappointing year in terms of won-loss record for 23-34 Missouri State , but he did everything scouts wanted to see. Detwiler is a thin, loose 6-foot-4 and 180 pounds and was basically the same size as a junior in high school, so projecting him isn’t necessarily valid. His velocity has come on from the 87-90 mph he threw when he was 17, however.  Detwiler has a whippy arm action from a high three-quarters release point and throws a fastball in the 92-94 range and a very sharp upper 70s curveball with 12-6 type of break at times. His changeup is a promising pitch, too. Detwiler throws strikes with all his pitches, has a clean injury history and finished the season strong before leaving his last start with a broken finger nail. There’s nothing on his resume to keep clubs from taking him in the top half of the first round.

--David Rawnsley

 

     7.   Matt LaPorta                          1B      Sr.     R-R     6-2     215     U. of Florida                      Port Charlotte, Fla.     Red Sox ’06 (14)  1-8-85

DRAFTED BY: Milwaukee Brewers.

SCOUTING REPORT: LaPorta’s roller-coaster career at Florida is ending at a peak as he is enjoying a senior season even better than his Player of the Year caliber sophomore campaign, when he hit .328-26-79 and was considered the top power prospect in college baseball and a sure-fire first-round pick for the 2006 draft. That didn’t happen, as an oblique muscle injury helped lead to a .285-13-39 junior year. He was an afterthought 14^th-round selection of the Red Sox. Healthier, lighter and looser, LaPorta has improved in all areas in 2007. His 13 BB:39 K ratio has almost reversed itself as he has become a much more disciplined hitter. Overall, he was hitting .434 with 19 homers in 45 games. A catcher until he went to college, LaPorta’s improved agility and quickness, along with the extra experience, has turned him into a much better defender at first base. It looks likely that LaPorta will indeed be a first round draft pick—just a year later than he might have figured previously.

--David Rawnsley

 

     8.   Casey Weathers                RHP      Sr.     R-R     6-1     200     Vanderbilt U.                    Elk Grove, Calif.          Tigers ’06 (25)  6-10-85

DRAFTED BY: Colorado Rockies .

SCOUTING REPORT: A 25^th-round pick in last year’s draft, Weathers made a calculated gamble to return to school for his senior year and the decision will pay off in spades with his near-certain selection as a first-round pick. He became the dominant closer in the Southeastern Conference this spring with a 10-2, 2.21 record, seven saves and 59 strikeouts in 41 innings. Hitters struggled mightily to make consistent contact with the best fastball in the college ranks (a steady 97-98 mph, frequently touching 100) and a knockout 87-89 mph slider with sweep and depth, and batted just a collective .144 off him. He attacks the strike zone with both pitches. His evolution into a dominant closer is one of the least-likely success stories in this year’s draft as Weathers spent two years at a California junior college almost exclusively as a strong-armed outfielder. He began pitching almost as a matter of chance. Weathers pitched sparingly last year in his first season at Vanderbilt, especially at the start, but continued to gain steam towards the end of the season when he was given a chance to pitch more often, and in more critical roles. His raw, yet overpowering stuff intrigued scouts as the 2006 draft approached, but teams got cold feet on a raw pitcher with a limited track record—and he tumbled to the 25^th round. A strong summer season in Alaska solidified his stock as a legitimate closer—and Weathers took it all to another level this spring, showing much improved confidence and command. He should become one of the rare seniors in recent draft history who gets picked in the first round on merit, and his rise to the big leagues should be swift.

--Allan Simpson

 

     9.   Jarrod Parker                     RHP      Sr.     R-R     6-1     175        Norwell HS                  Bluffton, Ind.                   (Georgia Tech)   11-24-88

DRAFTED BY: Arizona Diamondbacks.

SCOUTING REPORT: Parker garnered plenty of attention last summer and was one of the final pitchers given Aflac All-American consideration before the final roster was set, but no one expected him to come on like he has this spring. He has taken his low 90s fastball into the mid 90s with consistency and touched 97-98 in most outings before increasingly large gatherings of scouts. Part of the surprise over Parker’s improvement is that he is a slender-framed, six-foot righthander and looks more like a shortstop prospect. But Parker throws with minimal effort and a quick-and-easy arm action and doesn’t stress his frame. His breaking ball is a low 80s slider that has sharp, tight spin most times and he shows a feel for a changeup. Parker is very aggressive pounding the strike zone early in counts and doesn’t have any command issues. Unlike another slender righthander in this draft with plus-plus velocity, Florida ’s Michael Main, Parker does everything easily and with some feel. He’s been talked about by teams in the top couple of draft slots and seems certain to be among the top high school pitchers drafted.

--David Rawnsley

       

   10.   Madison Bumgarner         LHP      Sr.     R-L     6-5     220     South Caldwell HS          Lenoir, N.C.                (North Carolina ) 8-1-89

DRAFTED BY: San Framcisco Giants.

SCOUTING REPORT: Bumgarner was slower to emerge as a top 2007 prospect like Blake Beavan, Matt Harvey, Michael Main and Rick Porcello, some of his high school pitching peers who attended national-level events and established themselves early as rising first-round prospects for this year’s draft. But the 6-foot-5 lefthander quickly moved among the elite at last year’s Perfect Game National Showcase, when his fastball was clocked at 95-96 mph. Bumgarner already looks the part of a big-time pitching prospect. He is a big, strong-bodied athlete with a large frame, and ranks with Georgia first baseman Jason Heyward and Alabama first baseman Kevin Patterson as the most impressive physical specimens in this year’s prep class. Like Heyward and Patterson, he has big-time power and launched nine home runs this spring, including several tape-measure blasts. All the focus this spring, though, has been on his performance on the mound. He has an unconventional low three-quarters arm slot, but an easy, effortless delivery. He is capable of moving his sinking fastball around the strike zone almost at will—and walked only nine hitters in 65 innings this spring, while striking out 110. Overall, he was 8-2, 0.75. Bumgarner’s 75-79 mph slider is a slurvy offering with little bite, and is a subject of debate in the scouting community as his arm action may prevent him from ever fully developing it. He lacks an established changeup because he hasn’t needed one in high school, but it’s been seen at 82 mph. Bumgarner’s high school teammate, righthander Justin Poovey, would have factored prominently on the list of top North Carolina prospects, but he was lost for the season with an elbow injury after a couple of starts and in all likelihood will end up in college at Clemson.

--Allan Simpson
 

   11.   Phillippe Aumont               RHP      Sr.     L-R     6-7     220     Ecole Du Versant HS      Gatineau , Quebec                                    1-7-89

DRAFTED BY: Seattle Mariners.

SCOUTING REPORT: Aumont may not become Canada ’s highest-ever draft pick (Adam Loewen, the fourth overall pick in 2002, holds that distinction), but he will come close. A number of teams with selections in the first 10 picks zeroed in on the big righthander this spring—particularly on trips to Florida with both Quebec’s Acadamie Baseball Canada (ABC) and Team Canada’s junior national team. A reported 77 scouts saw him top out at 98 mph in Cocoa, Fla. , and routinely touch 96. His comfort zone is 93-95. Aumont has a loose, quick arm from a three-quarters angle and the ball jumps out of his hand. His fastball has late, hard sinking and tailing action. His 80-82 mph slider, which was also seen up to 86-87, has considerable promise, but is inconsistent. Aumont is big and coordinated at 6-foot-7, but not overly athletic. Understandably, he is not as far along in his development as some of the other high school pitchers who project to go in the first round. He touched 98 again in late May on Team Canada ’s annual trip to the Dominican Republic , but it came amidst a series of poor outings when Aumont struggled with his command. He was used all spring in three- and four-inning outings with his club and national team, and scouts were unable to determine whether he can hold his velocity deep into games. Aumont has a different home life as he lives with a guardian. Before a revealing interview with Canada ’s SLAM! Sports website just before the draft, Aumont was reluctant to discuss his parents or other matters with his personal life with the media, but was forthcoming with teams.

--Allan Simpson

   12.   Matt Dominguez                   3B      Sr.     R-R     6-2     180     Chatsworth HS               Van Nuys , Calif.          (Cal State Fullerton ) 8-28-89

DRAFTED BY: Florida Marlins.

SCOUTING REPORT: The second of two projected first-round selections from Chatsworth High, Dominguez was the player most scouts believed would be selected highest, at least early on. He established himself as a primetime prospect when just a freshman, when he hit .461-8-65 and set a state record for RBIs. He hasn’t been quite as prolific with the bat since and seems to have slid down draft lists somewhat in recent weeks, but is still a good bet to go among the first 30 picks. Contrary to reports that his bat has long been considered an advanced tool, it is his glove work that has always been most noticeable. If any high school player in this draft can be projected as a future Gold Glove winner, he is the one. His instincts, soft hands, footwork, arm, release, and feel are all outstanding. Dominguez is also strong with the bat. He possesses above-average power that showed up on big stages last summer at the Tournament of Stars in Joplin , Mo. , and the Area Code Games in Long Beach . There are some concerns with his “cheating” approach to hitting. It may not be desirable from a scouting standpoint, but he has shown the ability to make it work for him.

--Blaine Clemmens

 

   13.   Beau Mills                         3B      Jr.     L-R     6-3     205     Lewis-Clark State U.           Visalia, Calif.               Red Sox '04 (44) 8-15-86

DRAFTED BY: Cleveland Indians.

SCOUTING REPORT: Mills enjoyed two productive seasons at the plate for Fresno State (.319-22-63 as a freshman; .355-14-58 as a sophomore) but ran into academic trouble late in his sophomore year and was on the sidelines as the Bulldogs advanced to NCAA regional play in 2006. It prompted Mills to seek out a transfer. With the aid of his father Brad, the bench coach for the Boston Red Sox, and his father’s association with then-Red Sox and former Lewis-Clark State righthander Keith Foulke, he ended up transferring to Lewis-Clark State—though not before he spent last summer in the Alaska League playing for long-time L-C State coach Ed Cheff, who doubles as the coach of the Alaska Goldpanners. Though the competition he has faced at the NAIA level is inferior to what he saw at Fresno State , Mills has had one of the best offensive seasons in recent college baseball history at .458 with 34 homers and 114 RBIs. With his team favored to win the NAIA World Series, he was within two homers of the NAIA single-season record set in 1992 by Mary Hardin-Baylor’s Mike Meggers. Mills has excellent hitting skills. His bat head stays in the zone for an extended time and he makes good adjustments at the plate. He’ll hit any kind of stuff in any location of the strike zone. In particular, he will punish mistakes pitchers make—especially when they try to run fastballs in on him on the inner half of the plate. He has exceptional bat speed and power to all fields. Mills walked 37 times this year, compared with 19 strikeouts, but his pitch selection needs work. Scouts are uncertain whether he’ll stay at third base, or may have to move across the diamond, in pro ball. His range is passable by third-base standards, but the larger issue is his arm—his only below-average tool. Mills has a funky, shot-put type arm action that may not be suitable for third base in the long run, but his throws are normally true and accurate. No matter where he plays, his bat will play. Few, if any, college position players in this draft possess his offensive profile.

--Allan Simpson
 

   14.   Jason Heyward                     OF      Sr.     L-L     6-5     220     Henry County HS             McDonough, Ga.         (UCLA)                 8-9-89

DRAFTED BY: Atlanta Braves.

SCOUTING REPORT: Few prospects have come along who look the part better than Heywood, whose tall frame, unnaturally-broad shoulders and leveraged strength can be intimidating to opposing players. Heyward’s power potential is unquestioned. It’s easy to see him hitting the ball like Ryan Howard or David Ortiz when he’s in his mid-20s, and present evaluations of his hitting and power need to be tempered by the fact that Heyward is actually a junior-age high school player and won’t turn 18 until late summer. What separates Heyward and potentially puts him in the first half of the first round is that, despite his size and strength, he’s an agile and mobile athlete. He’s one of the most aggressive base runners in the draft class, with plus instincts and 6.8 speed. When Heyward hits a ball in the gap, you automatically think triple because Heyward is full speed out of the box. Heyward was primarily a first baseman until his junior year but his speed and 90-mph arm strength were more playable in right field. He can still be tentative at times defensively but is capable of making very athletic plays, as well, and should improve with experience.  

--David Rawnsley

 

   15.   Devin Mesoraco                     C      Sr.     R-R     6-1     200     Punxsutawney Area HS          Punxsutawney , Pa. (Virginia )         6-19-88

DRAFTED BY: Cincinnati Reds.

SCOUTING REPORT: Mesoraco was just another good, solid high school catcher last fall, a potential 7^th- to 10^th-round pick, according to scouts. His improvement this spring came by leaps and bounds, to a point where he is now considered a lock to be drafted in the first round—maybe even in the top 12-20 picks. Area scouts compared him to Neil Walker, the 11^th overall pick in 2004 and the last Pennsylvania high school catcher to be drafted in the first round—and were emphatic that Mesoraco is superior. He’ll also become the second catcher drafted in the first round out of his high school; John Mizerock was the eighth overall pick in 1979 and went on to play four years in the big leagues and later briefly managed the Kansas City Royals. Mesoraco grades out as average or above in every tool, but his powerful throwing arm is his biggest asset. After undergoing Tommy John surgery in August 2005, Mesoraco was able to DH only as a high school junior. But his arm was 100 percent healthy again this season—and it was a rocket. He loved to show it off and made it a matter of habit to pick off straying base runners. His overall skills behind the plate, hitting ability and power potential also earn high praise. He has strength and lift in his swing to project above-average power. While everything came easy to him on the field this spring, Mesoraco also demonstrated superior leadership qualities and the ability to take charge of a team.

--Allan Simpson
       

   16.   Kevin Ahrens                        SS      Sr.     B-R     6-1     190     Memorial HS                    Houston                       (Texas A&M)     4-26-89

DRAFTED BY: Toronto Blue Jays.

SCOUTING REPORT: Ahrens has steadily improved his draft stock all spring and has become a popular prospect to talk about at the bottom of the first round. A shortstop now, Ahrens draws comparisons to the Braves’ Chipper Jones and is expected to move to third base in the near future, although he may be given a chance to play his way off shortstop in lower minor league ball. Ahrens’ only shortcomings are speed and range; he has fluid infield actions, good instincts and enough arm strength without having a cannon. But he’s a 7.3 runner and still projects to get bigger and stronger. Along with the instincts and athletic ability, the Jones comparison is based on Ahrens’ switch-hitting ability, which ranks near the top of the 2007 class. He has very quick and strong hands from both sides of the plate and his lefthanded swing has become shorter and more direct to the ball this spring. He can hit with present power from both sides of the plate, a rarity among young switch-hitters. Ahrens gets plus points for his make up and field presence; he’s all baseball player and knows how to play the game.

--David Rawnsley

 

   17.   Blake Beavan                      RHP      Sr.     R-R     6-7     210     Irving HS                           Irving , Texas               (Oklahoma )       1-17-89

DRAFTED BY: Texas Rangers.

SCOUTING REPORT: In a lesser year for righthanded high school pitching prospects, Beavan would be getting more acclaim for his rare combination of talent and skills. His raw stuff is obvious and Beavan has been very consistent from outing to outing over a two-year period. He was 8-2, 0.21 this season entering the state playoffs with 124 strikeouts in 63 innings. His best outing of the year was an 18-strikeout no-hitter on March 3 vs. Irving ’s McArthur High. He throws in the 92-96 mph range with very good life from a quick arm action and mid three-quarters release point. Beavan’s breaking ball is a big-breaking, low-80s slider that isn’t the sharpest around, but it’s size, relative velocity and Beavan’s ability to throw it for strikes makes it a plus pitch—and probably his best pitch. Beavan’s changeup is even a pretty good pitch considering how infrequently he needs to use it. Beavan is an excellent athlete who repeats his delivery and his ultra-aggressive personality means that he’s going to attack hitters in the strike zone. That approach gives Beavan an extra edge; he’s right at the border of being aggressive and being cocky, and it’s served him well thus far. It particularly served him well in a hostile environment at last summer’s World Junior Championship, when he blanked host and previously-undefeated Cuba 4-0, striking out 11 in a key quarter-final game that sprung Team USA into the championship game. The Blue Jays’ Roy Halladay is a great comparison for Beavan in terms of build, stuff and approach, and Beavan’s draft status, the top half of the first round, reflects that.

--David Rawnsley

 

   18.   Peter Kozma                         SS      Sr.     R-R     6-0     170     Owasso HS                      Owasso, Okla.            (Wichita State )  4-11-88

DRAFTED BY: St. Louis Cardinals.

SCOUTING REPORT: Measured strictly by tools, Kozma doesn’t warrant first-round consideration, but his ability to play the game raises him to that level for many scouts. He has an athletic presence and confidence to his style of play that works at the upper levels of the game. Kozma has excellent athletic balance and a very quick first step that plays better than his average speed underway. He is ultra-smooth at shortstop, and can make all the throws from all different angles with accuracy and strength. Offensively, Kozma is a line-drive, gap-to-gap hitter with surprising strength in his wrists and hands that gives him some extra juice in his bat. He hit at a .500-plus clip the last two years for Owasso High, and homered in the first inning of the Oklahoma 6-A championship game—and it stood up in a 1-0 win. Scouts have compared him to University of Mississippi shortstop Zack Cozart, particularly for his body type and defensive ability, but Kozma has more offensive potential at the same age. There are numerous high school shortstops who are being mentioned in the top 50 picks, and Kozma is among them.

--David Rawnsley

 

   19.   Joe Savery                          LHP      Jr.     L-L     6-3     215     Rice U.                                Bellaire, Texas            Dodgers ’04 (15)   11-4-85

DRAFTED BY: Philadelphia Phillies.

SCOUTING REPORT: Savery presents a dilemma for scouts. Healthy and throwing at peak 2006 form, he is a no-doubt first-round pick and has a very short path to a major league starting rotation. However, Savery has not regained his velocity, regularly 91-93 mph, after undergoing labrum surgery last summer, and has been pitching more in the 86-88, touching 90 mph area this spring. Not that it has effected his performance. Working as an Owls Sunday starter and on pitch limits, Savery has posted a 7-1, 2.38 record in 68 innings and made all 14 of his scheduled starts without allowing a home run. Savery’s changeup remains a plus-plus pitch, his curveball is close to that level and he has above-average command potential. Factoring into the mix is that Savery would be a potential high draft as a first baseman; he’s Rice’s leading hitter (.364-3-45) and an excellent all-around athlete. He compares very closely to Virginia ’s Sean Doolittle overall, but Savery’s pitching ceiling is the highest of his and Doolittle’s dual-prospect roles. Rice’s documented injury history that has stricken a number of former first-rounders doesn’t even really apply to Savery; his smooth mechanics, pitch selection and use history are not in question. He’s not a sure first-round pick anymore, but Savery won’t last much longer than that.

--David Rawnsley

 

   20.   Chris Withrow                    RHP      Sr.     R-R     6-3     185     Midland Christian HS     Odessa , Texas           (Baylor)                4-1-89

DRAFTED BY: Los Angeles Dodgers.

SCOUTING REPORT: In a year with fewer high school righthanders throwing well, Withrow’s name might have been mentioned more prominently as a solid first-round pick. In fact, it wouldn’t be a shock if a team picked Withrow ahead of some of the more-publicized young righthanders, as his stock has been climbing steadily all spring. Withrow doesn’t have the high octane fastball yet that others such as Rick Porcello, Jarrod Parker, Michael Main and Matt Harvey throw, but he pitches at 90-92 mph and touches 94, and does it so easily that scouts rarely doubt that he’ll throw harder when his slender and athletic 6-foot-3 frame fills out. Withrow’s 75 mph curveball and 80 mph changeup are polished pitches, and his smooth mechanics and easy arm give him plus command potential. WIthrow’s father, Mike, pitched at Texas and in the minors with the White Sox before his career was curtailed with arm problems. He has not only mentored Withrow on the finer points of pitching but also serves as the Midland Christian High pitching coach. The lessons have been well learned. Withrow has signed with Baylor, which raised some eyebrows given his father’s alma mater/background, but it would be a shock at this point if Withrow wasn’t a comp-round pick, if not a first-rounder. --David Rawnsley

       

   21.   J.P. Arencibia                          C      Jr.     R-R     6-1     195     U. of Tennessee              Miami, Fla.                   Mariners '04 (17) 1-5-86

DRAFTED BY: Toronto Blue Jays.

SCOUTING REPORT: Arencibia was the offensive star at the World University Games in Cuba last summer, hitting four homers and driving in 23 runs as Team USA ran off eight straight wins on its way to a gold medal. Overall, he led Team USA with eight homers. His big summer propelled Arencibia squarely into the first-round mix on draft boards entering the 2007 season, with a reputation as the best-hitting catcher in the college ranks. But he got out of the gates slowly as a nagging back injury caused him to miss several games, and even pushed him to first base off and on the rest of the season. He finished the year at .330 with only nine homers, as pitchers worked around him more than in the past and caused him to chase pitches. But he still showed legit power on occasion, especially in BP. He has a professional approach to hitting with good balance and easy pull power. He can crush fastballs over the heart of the plate, though can be vulnerable to breaking balls and pitches on the outer half. He rates just a tick above Mike Piazza as a defensive catcher as he struggles to receive and block balls. His arm is also just an average tool as a slow exchange negates above-average arm strength. But Arencibia does a good job handling a pitching staff, and pitchers like throwing to him because he is full of energy and calls a good game. He will go as far as his bat will take him, but his erratic season has in all probability pushed him out of the first round.

--Allan Simpson

 

   22.   Tim Alderson                     RHP      Sr.     R-R     6-7     208     Horizon HS                       Phoenix                        (Oregon State ) 11-3-88

DRAFTED BY: San Francisco Giants.

SCOUTING REPORT: Alderson has been a highly-visible arm since he was a sophomore, when he won the championship game as Horizon High captured the Arizona 5-A title. He duplicated the feat as a senior by beating Brophy Prep 9-6 in the final, as Horizon avenged a loss to its arch-rival in last year’s championship game and went on to win its second 5-A crown in three years. Alderson wasn’t at his best against Brophy in a game that matched the state’s best pitcher against the state’s best hitting team—and also two of the nation’s top five ranked teams. He allowed 13 hits, but he pushed his record on the year to 12-0, 0.77. But he struck out 12, to push his total on the season to 123 in 72 innings. Alderson is a tall righthander with an unorthodox, deceptive, max-effort delivery. He also pitches exclusively out of the stretch. But teams will be in no hurry to change his approach as he has outstanding stuff—notably a fastball that ranges from 92-94 mph and a hard, nasty slider. He is also athletic and coordinated on the mound, and repeats his delivery exceptionally well—rare for a pitcher his size. The upshot of it all is that Alderson is a strike-throwing machine. He has exceptional command of all his pitches, especially his slider, and walked only five batters on the year. Scouts also are quick to praise Alderson for his fiery, competitive nature on the mound.

--Allan Simpson

   23.   Nick Schmidt                       LHP      Jr.     L-L     6-5     220     U. of Arkansas            High Ridge, Mo.                 Never drafted  10-10-85

DRAFTED BY: San Diego Padres.

SCOUTING REPORT: Schmidt has been Arkansas ’ Friday starter since he was a freshman and has been durable and highly successful. He hit his peak in the first half of 2006, when he was pitching in the 92-93 mph range consistently and dominating hitters with stuff, but for the most part Schmidt is a fierce competitor with average stuff and plus pitchability. He pitches in the 88-91 mph range with his fastball, has a hard slurve-type breaking ball at 79-80 mph and a solid changeup. Schmidt doesn’t back down to hitters and the Arkansas coaches tell the story of their collective dread about going out to the mound to even potentially remove Schmidt from a game lest they feel his competitiveness. His lack of a plus pitch will likely keep him out of the first half of the first round, but he could easily be a 15-30 type of pick, especially considering the lack of high-level college righthanders. He went 10-3, 2.85 this season with 107 strikeouts in 117 innings.

--David Rawnsley

 

   24.   Michael Main                 RHP/OF      Sr.     R-R     6-2     180     Deland HS                         Deltona, Fla.                 (Florida State ) 12-14-88

DRAFTED BY: Texas Rangers.

SCOUTING REPORT: Main will be one of the real wild cards at the top of the draft with three possible scenarios: a high draft as a pitcher, a high draft as an outfielder or passed over altogether so scouts can watch him develop his skills both ways at Florida State . Main did not throw the 100 mph fastball that some had envisioned he might after he hit 98 mph last summer, but he did show some progress with his delivery and command during some starts. In other starts, scouts say he reverted back to his old style of pitching that leaves too many flat fastballs and hanging curveballs in the middle of the plate. Taken as a whole, Main had a good spring on the mound, usually pitching at 92-95 mph and finishing strong in the Florida high school playoffs, all the while remaining healthy. As hard as it is to imagine that a high school pitcher who can throw in the upper 90s might be a better outfield prospect, some teams won’t hesitate to pick Main as a Rocco Baldelli-type centerfielder. He is a 6.4 runner in the 60 and obviously has top-of-the-line arm strength from the outfield, along with a projectable bat. 

--David Rawnsley

 

     5.   Aaron Poreda                     LHP      Jr.     L-L     6-6     220     U. of San Francisco         Moraga, Calif.              Never drafted   10-1-86

DRAFTED BY: Chicago White Sox.

SCOUTING REPORT: This big, powerful lefthander seemingly came out of nowhere and actually entered USF as a lightly-recruited walk-on. Poreda gained notice as a freshman, but really started to earn legitimate attention as a sophomore, particularly after he beat Nebraska in the NCAA’s Omaha regional last year, knocking out the host Cornhuskers. This season, he has gone 7-6, 2.89 with 18 walks and 66 strikeouts 100 innings. He has a big, strong, lean body and a very strong arm, and sits in the mid-90s with ease. He flashed up to 97 mph in the fall and touched that velocity on occasion this spring. His physicality and arm strength alone make him a premium prospect, but Poreda also throws a ton of strikes. He doesn’t elicit many swing-and-misses yet, and his slider and changeup are both works in progress, though both are much improved. He did not pitch last summer, so his three college seasons basically constitute the only wear on Poreda’s arm. He not only has one of the strongest arms in the nation, but also one of the freshest college arms.

--Blaine Clemmens

 

   26.   James Simmons               RHP      Jr.     R-R     6-3     205     UC Riverside                   Murrieta, Calif.            Never drafted   9-29-86

DRAFTED BY: Oakland Athletics.

SCOUTING REPORT: It seems each year that there is an early-season matchup of premium college pitchers in California that draws a large gathering of scouts and draft decision-makers. In February, it was a showdown between Simmons and San Francisco lefthander Aaron Poreda. Simmons dominated that night as he struck out 15, walked one and gave up four hits in a complete-game win. From then on, he was the No. 1 college arm in California . With a week to go in the regular season, Simmons was 9-2, 2.11 with 12 walks and 102 strikeouts in 102 innings. He has plus command of an average 89-91 mph fastball and a quality three-pitch repertoire. His breaking ball has room for improvement but because of his fastball command, it plays at least as an average pitch. He also has an attractive pitcher’s frame. What really separates Simmons from other college pitchers in California —and for that matter across the country—is his ability to pitch off the fastball. With his ability to throws strikes almost at will, he is particularly attractive to teams that place high value on statistics and performance.

--Blaine Clemmens

 

   27.   Rick Porcello                       RHP      Sr.     R-R     6-5     190     Seton Hall Prep               Chester , N.J.              (North Carolina ) 12-27-88

DRAFTED BY: Detroit Tigers.

SCOUTING REPORT: Porcello has solidified his status as the top high school pitching prospect in the 2007 class all spring and could go as high as the No. 2 pick, to the Kansas City Royals. The best way to summarize Porcello is to compare him to the Tigers’ Justin Verlander, the No. 2 pick in the 2004 draft. The two compare well across the board, except Porcello has fewer delivery issues to work through as an amateur. While many pitchers can top out at impressive velocities but actually maintain significantly less speed on their fastballs, Porcello, like Verlander, maintains a mid-90s fastball from the first pitch to the last due to easy arm strength and consistent mechanics. Porcello throws both a slider and a curveball, and both show the potential to be plus pitches down the road. His changeup is pretty good for a young pitcher who doesn’t need one yet. Underappreciated is the fact that Porcello is a top-level athlete who plays shortstop for the high school team that has been ranked No. 1 in the country much of the spring. He’s agile and can swing the bat with power, and that athletic ability is a huge plus to his pitching skills. Porcello comes from a baseball family and is a ball player, not just a gifted pitcher. 

--David Rawnsley

       

   28.   Ben Revere                            OF      Sr.     L-R     5-9     165     Lexington Catholic HS   Richmond , Ky.             (Georgia )             5-3-88

DRAFTED BY: Minnesota Twins.

SCOUTING REPORT: If he was three or four inches taller, Revere would be in the first-round mix in this year’s draft. He has excellent athletic ability and his speed ranks with the swiftest players in the country. He has been clocked in the 60 in 6.3 seconds, has a very quick first step and his speed is a game-changing tool at the top of a lineup. He is adept at putting the ball in play and keeping a defense on its toes. But Revere is more than just a slash-and-dash hitter. He has a patient approach at the plate, makes solid contact to all fields and can even square up a ball. He hit 10 home runs this spring for his nationally-ranked Lexington Catholic High team. Revere ’s blazing speed is also a dynamic tool on the bases and in center field. Scouts have abandoned most talk of his possibly moving to second base and becoming a Joe Morgan-type player as he lacks the hands, arm and actions required to play in the middle infield. He moves like a football player—appropriate since he has football on his resume. He was a prominent defensive back and kick returner on Lexington Catholic’s 3-A state football championship team as a junior, his father is an assistant football coach at Eastern Kentucky and his brother J.R. was the starting quarterback on the Georgia Southern team that won the Division I-AA national title in 2000. Revere, who is solidly built in his small frame and bears a physical resemblance to Orioles outfielder Corey Patterson, has significant development ahead of him as he is still raw in most areas, but he has a chance to be a first-round quality talent down the road—so long as he plays within his physical limitations.

--Allan Simpson

   29.   Wendell Fairley                     OF      Sr.     L-R     6-2     175     George County HS          Lucedale, Miss.          (Southern Miss)  3-17-88

DRAFTED BY: San Francisco Giants.

SCOUTING REPORT: Fairley is the best high school talent in Mississippi , by a wide margin. He is extremely athletic in a lean and wiry but powerful body, and all his tools play—though he’s very unrefined and his bat is a long way off. His best tool is his raw speed—he’s run the 60 in 6.5 seconds—but his power potential and arm strength also grade above average. He’s been clocked up to 93 mph off the mound, though generally is in the 90-91 mph range. While some scouts think he will be a two-year Rookie-level player if he goes out because his overall hitting skills need a lot of work, he has very strong, quick hands and all the ingredients to become an above-average hitter one day. He also plays extremely hard. He projects as a Carl Crawford-type talent, if it all comes together for him. On ability, Fairley profiles as a sandwich pick or second-rounder, but he was involved in an alleged hazing incident earlier this spring and the legal ramifications of the charges have not been fully resolved. It was unclear whether the fallout from the incident might impact his draft standing.

--Allan Simpson
 

   30.   Andrew Brackman            RHP      Jr.     R-R   6-11     245     North Carolina State U.  Cincinnati, Ohio          Never drafted   12-4-85

DRAFTED BY: New York Yankees.

SCOUTING REPORT: The 7-foot Brackman had always divided his loyalties between baseball and basketball, but decided to devote himself solely to baseball this season—given his pending selection as a high first-round pick. Predictably, he had his ups and downs. He ranged from brilliant at times to merely ordinary. He made his best start of the year in February at Coastal Carolina before 50-some scouts, when his fastball was 98 mph early and still 94 in the seventh. He had command of all his pitches with nothing above the knees—unless by design. But scouts saw only flashes of his best stuff and pinpoint command the rest of the way as he went 6-4, 3.81 with 74 strikeouts in 78 innings. He walked 37, hit 10 batters and served up 12 wild pitches—all team highs by wide margins. Brackman’s velocity peaked at 99 mph. He has tremendous upside and may throw consistently in triple-digits one day, but he still has a long way to go to become a complete pitcher. He doesn’t throw strikes or repeat his delivery consistently, but he is very athletic—even for his size—and the ball comes easily out of his hand on a ridiculous downhill plane. Brackman still must simplify his repertoire as he has five pitches, including three breaking balls—a cutter, spike curve and conventional curve. His changeup was 82-84 mph, but there were stretches when he abandoned it. Of more importance, he must throw his breaking stuff for strikes consistently in order for hitters to offer at it. The team that drafts Brackman, likely in the first 10 picks, will realize he’s a work in progress and will need to preach patience as it will take time for it all to come together.

--Allan Simpson

FIRST ROUND SUPPLEMENTAL (31-64)

Rank  Player                                  Pos.       Yr     B-T      HT     WT     School                              Hometown                 Drafted/(Commit) B’date

   31.   Josh Smoker                      LHP      Sr.     L-L     6-2     190     Calhoun HS                      Sugar Valley, Ga.        (Clemson)       11-26-88

DRAFTED BY: Washington Nationals.

SCOUTING REPORT: No high school pitcher in draft history likely has a longer “track record” of pitching against high-caliber competition or pitching in front of scouts than does Smoker, who has been pitching in the semi-final or final games of most national summer/fall tournaments for the East Cobb Astros since before his sophomore year in his school. Between his junior and senior years, Smoker morphed from an 86-88 mph finesse pitcher who relied on command, his curveball and his trademark intensity, to a 91-94 mph power pitcher who could blow his fastball past hitters. Scouts, of course, like the hard-throwing Smoker better but both models have been equally successful. In addition to his fastball and power curveball, Smoker throws a deceptive straight change and keeps a split-finger change with sharp downer action in reserve most of the time, using it only once or twice a game against top hitters when he needs an out. Smoker’s approach on the mound is what sets him apart from virtually all teenage pitchers; he’s tenacious in making his pitch when he wants to and does not give in to hitters. He went 8-0, 0.80 with 100 strikeouts in 44 innings as a senior, while allowing only 12 hits. Virtually any team would love to have Smoker but it would fitting if one of the teams that heavily scouts summer elite high school action, like the hometown Braves, were to nab him.

--David Rawnsley

            

   32.   Nick Noonan                          SS      Sr.     L-R     6-1     175     Francis Parker HS          San Diego                    (Clemson)           5-4-89

DRAFTED BY: San Francisco Giants.

SCOUTING REPORT: Noonan is routinely compared to Phillies second baseman Chase Utley, which clearly makes him a premium talent. He is one of the reasons this class of Southern California high school position players is one of the strongest groups in years. Just like Utley, who started his college career at UCLA at shortstop before moving to second, there is some question whether Noonan can stay at shortstop in the long term. But there are plenty of teams who believe he can and are willing to give him that chance. He is not a flashy, actions-oriented shortstop and sometimes can appear disinterested on defense. But his defensive tools rate as solid average across the board. Just like Utley, there is little question about Noonan’s ability to hit. He has a very quiet, efficient approach and a controlled, compact stroke with some natural lift, which is where the strongest Utley comparisons come from. He was hitting .547-9-38 this spring with 33 stolen bases. He has been a consistent performer with the bat and plays with a calm demeanor that should play very well in college or pro ball.

--Blaine Clemmens

 

   33.   Jon Gilmore                           3B      Sr.     R-R     6-3     190     Iowa City HS                    Iowa City , Iowa           (Wichita State )  8-23-88

DRAFTED BY: Atlanta Braves.

SCOUTING REPORT: Gilmore was a standout on the summer circuit last year, earning Aflac All-American honors based on his performance at the Perfect Game National Showcase. He also excelled at the Area Code Games. Things were tougher this spring, as Gilmore struggled with a strained hamstring. He also had trouble getting games at all because of one of the wettest springs in Iowa history. Scouts may have the same time categorizing him, just as they did Jeff Clement and Ryan Sweeney, the top two Iowa high school position prospects of the last decade. Gilmore is a top-level overall athlete and only his running speed keeps him from being a true five-tool prospect. He has excellent bat speed and extension in his swing, and the ball jumps off his bat with authority to all fields. While Gilmore plays shortstop now, he is likely to be a third baseman the moment he puts on a uniform at the professional level. His plus arm strength and mobility will make him a defensive standout. Gilmore’s raw talent makes him a candidate to become the highest Iowa high schooler ever drafted, the previous high being righthander Zach Hammes, the 51^st overall pick in 2002.

--David Rawnsley

          

   34.   Todd Frazier                          SS      Jr.     R-R     6-4     220     Rutgers U.                         Toms River, N.J.        Rockies ’04 (37) 2-12-86

DRAFTED BY: Cincinnati Reds.

SCOUTING REPORT: Frazier has been on the national stage since leading his Toms River team to the Little League World Series crown in 1998 as a 12-year-old. He comes from a celebrated baseball family that has already sent two brothers (Jeff and Charlie) to the professional ranks. Todd is the best all-around player of the group and led Rutgers to an NCAA playoff berth with a .379-22-64 season that included 83 runs, 60 walks and 25 stolen bases. He hasn’t gotten the type of national player of the year talk that others such as Florida State ’s Tony Thomas, Texas ’ Kyle Russell or Arizona State ’s Brett Wallace have, but given the entirety of Frazier’s performance, which includes only 10 errors in 60 games at shortstop, he is certainly deserving. Frazier has unorthodox hitting mechanics and does strike out frequently (49 times this spring) but has strength and leverage in his swing, and is a polished hitter with a plan at the plate. Scouts focus on his likely immediate move off shortstop at the next level, but his overall athleticism and offensive upside should make him a solid defender at virtually any other position—most likely an outfield corner. Second base has even been mentioned, which would make his bat a big plus and would be a testament to his athletic ability. In a year that is lacking in college position prospects, one would think that Frazier would have seen his stock rising this spring, but scouts seem satisfied with his slot as a late round to compensation type of talent.

--David Rawnsley

 

   35.   Julio Borbon                          OF      Jr.     L-L     6-1     190     U. of Tennessee              Santo Domingo , D.R. Never drafted   2-20-86

DRAFTED BY: Texas Rangers.

SCOUTING REPORT: Borbon had a breakout season with Team USA last summer (.345-4-24, 14 SB) to position himself as the elite center fielder/leadoff hitter in a 2007 college draft class decidedly short on those qualities. But he broke his left ankle while sliding in a Jan. 17 pre-season practice, and his designs on becoming one of the first 8-12 players drafted this year were put on hold. He limped back into the Tennessee lineup after missing the first 18 games of the season, with the rust from his layoff apparent initially—especially at the plate. He went on to hit a team-high .345 with three homers, while stealing 10 bases—respectable numbers, but not the production scouts were expecting to see and his stock has slipped marginally. Borbon’s raw speed is a huge part of his game and he showed little or no lingering effects from his ankle injury upon his return. He has been timed in the 60 in 6.35 seconds, is a catalyst at the top of the lineup with excellent bat control and bunting ability, and can track balls in center field with the best. At 6-foot-1 and 190 pounds, he has a big league body and should grow into sufficient power with wood that he will be capable of driving balls out to all fields on occasion. He has excellent hand strength, centers balls well, gets good backspin—and balls jumps off his bat. His tools, physical profile overall approach to the game have drawn uncanny comparisons to Yankees center fielder Johnny Damon—right down to a below-average, but improving arm. Borbon gets high marks for his intangibles, especially his instincts and character.

--Allan Simpson

 

   36.   Clay Mortensen                 RHP      Sr.     R-R     6-4     180     Gonzaga U.                        Roseburg, Idaho        Devil Rays ’05 (25) 4-10-85

DRAFTED BY: St. Louis Cardinals.

SCOUTING REPORT: There may not be a college senior in the country who improved his draft stock this year more than Mortensen—projected first-rounders Matt LaPorta of Florida and Casey Weathers of Vanderbilt included. Mortensen wasn’t on radar at the start of the year after a lackluster junior season, when he went 6-8, 5.89 with 41 walks and only 54 strikeouts in 81 innings with a fastball that sat at 88-89 mph and flashed 91-92. But every aspect of his game grew this season as he matured both physically and mentally. He grew into his tall, lean frame, and his stuff became harder and sharper. His fastball was 90-94 mph with excellent sinking action over an entire game. His slider became tighter with increased arm speed, his changeup added depth and the bottom fell out of his palmball. Through it all, the command of all his pitches was significantly better. The payoff came in a substantially improved 9-2, 3.92 record with 122 strikeouts and 42 walks in 119 innings. Scouts say his stuff is the type that will play even better against wood bats, particularly his sinking fastball.

--Allan Simpson
 

   37.   Travis d’Arnaud                      C      Sr.     R-R     6-0     175     Lakewood HS                  Lakewood , Calif.        (Pepperdine)    2-10-89

DRAFTED BY: Philedelphia Phillies.

SCOUTING REPORT: The high school catching crop this year is deep and few offer the athleticism, defensive ability and upside of d’Arnaud. His two biggest strengths are his arm strength and a bat that will play, with power. Even if d’Arnaud was not a catcher, his bat would still be an asset. If for some reason he does not handle catching at the pro level, his arm and athleticism, along with the bat, will fit well in right field. However, catching should not be a problem. One National League scouting director feels that he is the top high school catcher in the draft. Another factor to consider when assessing d’Arnaud’s overall profile is the rapid development of his older brother Chase, a sophomore third baseman at Pepperdine, a potential early-round pick in 2008. Viewed originally as a talented player with a bat that was a few years away, Chase has gotten stronger in two years in college. He filled out as a freshman and showed an impact bat much sooner than most scouts thought. That bodes well for Travis, who also has committed to Pepperdine.

--Blaine Clemmens

 

   38.   Brett Cecil                           LHP      Jr.     R-L     6-3     225     U. of Maryland                  Dunkirk, Md.               Never drafted     7-2-86

DRAFTED BY: Toronto Blue Jays.

SCOUTING REPORT: Cecil saved a school record 13 games in 2006 at Maryland and went on to have a breakout summer in the Cape Cod League, saving 11 more and striking out 40 in 29 innings. His stuff was electric, as his fastball topped at 95 mph and his slider was a nasty mid-80s offering. When the big lefthander lost weight in the fall and toned up what had been a soft body, all the pieces fell into place for Cecil to become a first-round pick this year and a durable, front-line closer in the future. His stock continued to inch up early in the season as he showed excellent command of his pitches to both sides of the plate, and there was talk at the time he could be one of the first players from this draft to reach the big leagues. But his command began to waver and he lost some of the zip on his fastball, and his support as a possible mid first-rounder began to In late April, when Maryland was blown out of the first two games of an ACC series, preventing Cecil from closing in a meaningful situation, it was decided to start him in the final game of the series. It was also an opportunity to showcase the two other pitches in his arsenal, a curve and a split-finger changeup, that he rarely used as a closer. He made only two starts on the season, while going 5-6, 3.32 with eight saves and 62 strikeouts in 62 innings, but suddenly scouts began to look at Cecil in a different light—as a potential No. 3 starter in a big league rotation capable of logging a heavy workload.

--Allan Simpson
       

   39.   James Adkins                    LHP      Jr.     R-L     6-6     225     U. of Tennessee              Mt. Juliet, Tenn.         Phillies '04 (13)   11-26-85

DRAFTED BY: Los Angeles Dodgers.

SCOUTING REPORT: When he was a freshman in 2005, Adkins was so impressive towards the end of the season that he would be used ahead of Luke Hochevar (the No. 1 overall pick in the 2006 draft) in the Tennessee rotation. He dominated with a 15-strikeout game in the Southeastern Conference tournament on his way to a 10-5, 3.32 season with 135 strikeouts in 127 innings. Things didn’t go quite as well after that for Adkins as he sat out the fall of his sophomore year to have surgery on his shoulder to correct an impingement on an artery, and he struggled to command his fastball as a sophomore. But the 6-foot-6 lefthander had a solid 2007 season, leading Tennessee pitchers with a 2.80 ERA while striking out 133 in 122 innings. His 7-7 record is deceiving because he routinely was matched up against the premier arms in the SEC like Vanderbilt’s David Price and Arkansas’ Nick Schmidt—the tradeoff being that he got heavy exposure himself along the way. Adkins has excellent size for a pitcher and his arm works well, but he doesn’t blow hitters away with an 87-91 mph fastball that touched 92, and his lack of velocity will keep him out of the first round. He can, however, throw four pitches for strikes—and his combination of a fastball, curve, slider and changeup are nearly the equal of any college lefthander in the country. Both his breaking balls—a hard, firm 2-to-8 slider and 1-7 curve with depth—are above-average pitches that he can consistently command down in the strike zone. He projects as a third or fourth starter in the big leagues. In a worst-case scenario, he will be a situational lefthander capable of handcuffing lefthanded hitters.

--Allan Simpson

 

   40.   Kellen Kulbacki                     OF      Jr.     L-L   5-11     195     James Madison U.         Palmyra , Pa.                Never drafted 11-21-85

DRAFTED BY: San Diego Padres.

SCOUTING REPORT: Kulbacki didn’t duplicate his monster 2006 season, when he hit .464-24-75 and led the nation in home runs, but he solidified his stock in the draft as an almost certain sandwich pick. Scouts had always doubted his ability to hit front-line pitching, and gained ammunition after an uninspiring season with wood last summer in the Cape Cod League. But Kulbacki responded with a solid spring, hitting .398-19-49. He made hard contact against all kinds of pitching, even though he had little protection in the James Madison order and was pitched around extensively. He was walked 56 times. He normally has a patient approach at the plate, but he got frustrated and became overanxious on occasion this spring when he didn’t get pitched to and became prone to swinging at pitches out of the strike zone. But he showed scouts what they wanted to see: legitimate raw power to all fields in a little body. He routinely demonstrated ability to square up to balls. The remainder of Kulbacki’s tools are just average. In all probability, he will be a left fielder in pro ball as he lacks the speed to play center and the arm strength to remain in right field.

--Allan Simpson
 

   41.   Sean Doolittle                        1B      Jr.     L-L     6-3     185     U. of Virginia                     Tabernacle, N.J.         Braves '04 (39)  9-26-86

DRAFTED BY: Oakland Athletics.

SCOUTING REPORT: Scouts were split on Doolittle’s worth as a pitcher or position player as a New Jersey high school player, and they continued to debate the issue through his first two seasons at Virginia . But with the need to make a call this spring, they have sided with him as an everyday player. It’s not a clear-cut decision by any means, however, as Doolittle has shown limited power his last two years in college; he hit just seven home runs this spring. Teams are banking the power will come as he adds loft to his swing, gets stronger in the upper body and moves on from Virginia . Doolittle has never lifted weights and his body has room to grow. Virginia ’s spacious ballpark is also not conducive to power, nor is the hitting philosophy at the school which emphasizes contact over leverage. Doolittle makes good, consistent, hard contact from the left side and can really square up a ball. He should continue to hit for average in the future, even as he adds loft to his stroke. He makes excellent adjustments at the plate, and his 42-21 walk-to-strikeout ratio should have appeal to the Moneyball clubs that preach plate discipline. Doolittle is also a Gold Glove caliber first baseman—another factor in his favor as a position prospect. His speed is below average, but a non-factor for his position. Doolittle still has appeal as a pitcher after a 7-3, 2.57 season, but doesn’t have an out pitch for the next level.

--Allan Simpson
 

   42.   Eddie Kunz                          RHP      Jr.     R-R     6-5     250     Oregon State U.              Portland , Ore.             Never drafted     4-8-86

DRAFTED BY: New York Mets.

SCOUTING REPORT: Kunz was lost in the shuffle on a dominant pitching staff for the College World Series champion Beavers a year ago, but asserted himself with a breakout summer in the Cape Cod League and has played prominent role as OSU’s closer this season. He could overpower hitters in the past with essentially one pitch, a 95-96 mph fastball from a three-quarters angle with outstanding sink. He would jam hitters with it and produce a steady stream of ground-ball outs. But he has make significant strides with a second and third pitch this year: an 80-82 mph slider with a short, late break and a hard bite, and a changeup with diving action. That has enabled him to strike out more hitters this year—he was averaging a strikeout an inning, while going 2-0, 2.84 with 10 saves. But he remains primarily a ground-ball machine. Scouts questioned his toughness in the past, but he has shown poise this year with a game on the line.

--Allan Simpson

   43.   Jackson Williams                   C      Jr.     R-R   5-11     200     U. of Oklahoma                Broken Arrow, Okla.          Never drafted 5-14-86

DRAFTED BY: San Francisco Giants.

SCOUTING REPORT: Williams wins top marks from scouts for his combination of throwing ability and catching skills behind the plate, and some scouts consider him as plus big league-level potentially in both areas. He’s been the starter at Oklahoma since the beginning of his freshman year and caught at a high level on the summer/fall circuit prior to that, so he has a long track record defensively. Williams’ agility and one-spot quickness is probably his best defensive tool. His offense is more average at best; Williams has some bat-head skills and can make consistent contact, but his bat speed will limit his power with wood. He had only one extra-base hit in 100-plus at bats in the Cape Cod League last summer, but rebounded to hit .333-4-44 this spring.

--David Rawnsley

 

   44.   Neil Ramirez                        RHP      Sr.     R-R     6-3     190     Kempsville HS                 Virginia Beach , Va.     (Georgia Tech) 5-25-89

DRAFTED BY: Texas Rangers.

SCOUTING REPORT: Ramirez has been a premium prospect in Virginia since he was throwing 91 mph as a 15-year-old. He’s routinely dominated older competition since, particularly as a member of the Maryland Orioles summer club. He led the Orioles to another in a long line of All-American Amateur Baseball Association championships and was selected the No. 1 prospect in the Cal Ripken Sr. League last summer —despite playing alongside players that were three and four years older. Ramirez ranked with Rick Porcello, Matt Harvey and Michael Main in the elite group of high school pitchers entering the 2006 season. He had the same electric arm and ability to reach 92-94 mph easily, and even 96. He was loose and athletic with a low-effort delivery. But a series of uneven performances this spring sent his stock careening out of the first round to a probable sandwich pick. Most of his troubles stemmed from inconsistent mechanics but he also missed a start with back spasms. The velocity on his fastball ranged anywhere from 88 to 96 mph and his fastball often lacked movement; the result was he got hit and hit hard at times, even at 96. Ramirez’ conditioning came into question as he would often hit a wall midway through games where his velocity would suddenly drop 4-5 mph. While his fastball was inconsistent, his breaking ball showed marked improvement as he tightened the rotation on the pitch. He has a lightning arm, but scouts say his delivery is all arm as he hasn’t incorporated his lower half effectively into his delivery. While it hasn’t been the season that scouts expected from Ramirez, a team that appreciates his past performance or believes it can work out his mechanical flaws could sneak up and take him late in the first round.

--Allan Simpson

   45.   Justin Jackson                     SS      Sr.     R-R     6-2     175     T.C. Roberson HS           Asheville , N.C.           (Arizona State )   12-11-88

DRAFTED BY: Toronto Blue Jays.

SCOUTING REPORT: Scouts got their first glimpse of Jackson two years ago when they were in en masse to scout his high school teammate, Cameron Maybin, the 10^th pick in the 2005 draft. Jackson has been a high-profile prospect ever since at national showcases and tournaments—mostly as member of Cincinnati’s famed Midland Redskins, which spawned such players as Barry Larkin and Ken Griffey in its illustrious history. Jackson also has gained notoriety as the son of former big league outfielder Chuck Jackson—and he is routinely praised for his upbringing and makeup. He has excellent shortstop actions, with quick feet and sure hands, and the major league comparisons have included former first-rounders Royce Clayton and Adam Everett. He has above-average arm strength with good carry, and his throws are routinely on the bag. Jackson isn’t physically strong, and scouts openly questioned Jackson ’s bat, especially his long swing, early in the season as he was getting overmatched by high school pitchers. But his bat speed started to come on and the concerns subsided. On the season, he hit .520-12-39 with 15 stolen bases, and led North Carolina high school hitters with 53 runs scored. If a team is convinced his bat will play with wood at the next level, he could possibly slip into the back end of the first round, though he is a consensus solid sandwich pick.

--Allan Simpson

   46.   Drew Cumberland               SS      Sr.     L-R   5-10     165     Pace HS                            Pace, Fla.                      (Louisiana State ) 1-13-89

DRAFTED BY: San Diego Padres.

SCOUTING REPORT: Scouts describe Cumberland as the type of player you hate to play against. He’s a high-energy, high-effort athlete who seems to be in the middle of everything on the field. Cumberland ’s background as an all-Florida football player at both tailback and defensive back gives him a football-type mentality on the field. He has surprising pop in his bat from the left side of the plate. While it’s easy to say a small, speedy player should cut down his swing, Cumberland takes a full, aggressive hack and is looking to drive the ball. His 6.6-second speed and excellent first-step quickness, combined with aggressiveness, make him one of the best base runners in the 2007 high school class. Scouts are split on whether Cumberland can stay at shortstop at the next level. His arm strength is average at best and he has to make up for it with a quick release and speed coming to the ball. Second base is the obvious alternative, but teams often will hesitate to take a high school second baseman as high as they would a shortstop.

--David Rawnsley

 

   47.   Nathan Vineyard                 LHP      Sr.     L-L     6-3     200     Woodland HS                   Emerson, Ga.              (Chipola JC)      10-3-88

DRAFTED BY: New York Mets.

SCOUTING REPORT: Vineyard has likely been compared to Josh Smoker innumerable times in the last couple of months, as crosscheckers have routinely been in to Georgia to see the two summer teammates pitch on the same trip. Vineyard compares to Smoker physically and has less effort in his delivery, and their raw stuff is fairly similar. Vineyard pitches in the 88-91 mph range and will occasionally touch 92-93, although he throws so easily that scouts see it only as a matter of time before he has a plus fastball. Vineyard’s upper 70s slider lacks typical slider power but is sharp and big, and a potential plus pitch. His changeup is also very advanced for a high school pitcher. Vineyard doesn’t quite have the pitching savvy that Smoker has either, but few if any do. Vineyard’s signability is seen as a positive; he doesn’t have Division I options and has signed with Chipola (Fla. ) Junior College.

--David Rawnsley

 

   48.   Josh Donaldson                     C      Jr.     R-R     6-0     200     Auburn U.                          Mobile , Ala.                 Never drafted   12-8-85

DRAFTED BY: Chicago Cubs.

SCOUTING REPORT: Donaldson is a first-rate defender at third base, but his profile plays better behind the plate and he began a successful conversion to catching a year ago, successfully completing the transition this year. He ranks as one of the nation’s elite college catchers and there is an outside chance he could slip into the back end of the first round. He established more of a comfort zone at his new position this spring, while polishing his receiving skills. By most accounts, he has a solid-average arm with pop times consistently under 2.0 seconds, but some scouts say his arm strength is below average and he makes up the for the deficiency with quick feet. His athleticism, offensive upside, work ethic and take-charge ability are all considered the strengths of his game. He has impressive bat speed and either led Auburn or was second in every key offensive category this spring—hitting (.348), home runs (10), RBIs (50) and on-base percentage (.448). While his speed is a non-factor at his new position, he runs well for a catcher and stole 17 bases in 20 attempts. More than raw speed, he has good base-running instincts—an aptitude that serves the rest of his game well.

--Allan Simpson
       

   49.   Michael Burgess                  OF      Sr.     L-L   5-11     195     Hillsborough HS              Tampa                          Arizona State   10-20-88

DRAFTED BY: Washington Nationals.

SCOUTING REPORT: Burgess entered the spring as perhaps the most highly-regarded high school hitter in the country. He has struggled at times as opposing coaches have refused to pitch to him and Burgess has expanded his strike zone and started guessing at the plate. It hasn’t helped either that high school rival Nevin Griffith has gotten the best of Burgess in three highly-scouted meetings. Scouts still remember the superior bat speed and power the lefthander showed last summer and fall though, and he could remain in the first round come draft day, although a comp pick is now more likely. While Burgess is evaluated mostly on his bat, his other tools play well in right field. He is a fringy-average runner, at best, and doesn’t project to get any faster. But he has excellent instincts, both on the bases and in the outfield that maximize his speed. Plus, Burgess has one of the strongest throwing arms in the class, capable of throw 94 mph off the mound. He is one of many East Coast top prospects that has signed with Arizona State but is not considered a difficult sign.

--David Rawnsley

 

   50.   Wes Roemer                       RHP      Jr.     R-R     6-1     185     Cal State Fullerton          Glendora , Calif.           Never drafted   10-7-86

DRAFTED BY: Arizona Diamondbacks.

SCOUTING REPORT: Polished college pitchers with a strong track record of success while pitching for a premier program generally are a highly-sought commodity in the draft. Roemer, who went 13-2, 2.38 with 145 strikeouts and an astonishing seven walks in 155 innings a year ago, is one such pitcher. He is characterized by some as a ‘small’ righthander but has quality stuff and a history of throwing strikes. He has plus command of both his 88-92 mph sinking fastball and two-plane, low-80s slider. His BB:SO ratio of 18:115 this year isn’t as eye-catching as his 2006 totals, but is still impressive. But he also has gotten hit with more frequency this season and that has some scouts wondering if he is going to be effective enough to be anything more than just a reliever. Most scouts still see him as a starter because of his makeup, competitiveness and command. Roemer is also seen as a relatively safe pick and his track record should carry him. Statistical-oriented organizations value him highly. 

--Blaine Clemmens

 

   51.   Charlie Culberson               SS      Sr.     R-R   5-11     170     Calhoun HS                      Rome , Ga.                    (Kennesaw State ) 4-10-89

DRAFTED BY: San Francisco Giants.

SCOUTING REPORT: Culberson has benefited from playing shortstop behind potential first-round pick Josh Smoker this spring, but once the scouts are in the park he  has proved himself as a potential third- to fifth-round pick on his own merit. Culberson is a polished defensive player with quick actions and excellent arm strength, and he should nave no problem staying at shortstop through the upper levels of pro ball defensively. He has a simple line-drive approach at the plate that maximizes contact but has surprised scouts this spring by putting up impressive power totals and showing he could drive the ball with some authority. Most of all, Culberson has shown that he’s a gamer who will play above his tools. He comes from a baseball family; his father Charles (Giants, 1984, 16^th round) played minor league ball.

--David Rawnsley

 

   52.   Matt Mangini                          3B      Jr.     L-R     6-4     220     Oklahoma State U.          Holly Springs , N.C.    Never drafted 12-21-85

DRAFTED BY: Seattle Mariners.

SCOUTING REPORT: Scouts seem to be dividing camp more and more on Mangini as the spring has passed. Many see his size, lefthanded swing and overall athleticism, and project him to be an above-average hitter at the big league level, citing his batting title in the Cape Cod League last summer as supporting evidence. They also see the huge batting practice power displays he puts on and wonder why he hits from an extreme spread stance that takes away his leverage in games. Others see him as a slow-twitch athlete who can handle the bat well but who never has hit for power, despite his strong frame, and is unlikely to in the future. Mangini has been solid this spring (.341-9-46), but has essentially repeated his sophomore year at North Carolina State in an easier hitting environment. He’s struggled in the field, making 14 errors, and has scouts wondering about his future range at third base. Mangini gets plus marks for his makeup and approach to the game; he’s a baseball rat who works hard on every part of his game.

--David Rawnsley

       

   53.   Kyle Lotzkar                        RHP      Sr.     L-R     6-4     200     South Delta HS                Delta, B.C.                   (Gonzaga)        10-24-89

DRAFTED BY: Cincinnati Reds.

SCOUTING REPORT: While Phillippe Aumont, Canada ’s No. 1 prospect, was an established commodity entering 2007, Lotzkar’s arrival as a potential early-rounder was more sudden and dramatic. On a trip to Arizona this spring with his Langley, B.C.-based club team, Lotzkar’s fastball was clocked at 94-95 mph, and sat at 90-93—about four mph faster than a year ago. He duplicated the effort with Team Canada ’s junior national team in Florida . His performance was up and down throughout the spring as his fastball velocity and breaking-ball command fluctuated, but scouts said he generally showed more polish than Aumont—just not the same upside. Lotzkar has a clean delivery with an arm slot that generates arm-side run on his fastball. His breaking ball, which is something between a true slider and true curve, shows good depth and the potential to be a second above-average pitch. How well he can both harness and command his stuff, and develop his changeup will determine whether he’ll become a starter or closer. But Lotzkar won’t turn 18 until October—making him one of the youngest players in the draft—and should a dream for a player-development staff to work with over the next three or four years.

--Allan Simpson
          

   54.   Tommy Hunter                   RHP     So.     R-R     6-4     250     U. of Alabama                   Indianapolis, Ind.        Devil Rays ’05 (18)  7-3-86

DRAFTED BY: Texas Rangers.

SCOUTING REPORT: Hunter never got into a rhythm this year, much as he did as a 10-game winner as a freshman for the Crimson Tide, because he was used in a variety of roles. He was employed as a starter to begin the year, moved to a closer’s role and then returned to a starting job. He generally pitched better out of the bullpen with a heavy fastball that ranged from 90 to 94 mph, but his breaking ball (a slider) was inconsistent. Scouts say he’s destined for a bullpen role at the next level because he’s a battler, his third pitch (a changeup) is fringy and he’s extremely durable. His arm has good bounce-back ability. His big 6-foot-4, 250-pound frame might be a red flag to some organizations, but Hunter is more athletic than he is given credit for. He is a former judo champion. Though he’s not had the year scouts thought he would have, he still went 6-4, 3.65 with five saves and 84 strikeouts in 91 innings and is ready both mentally and physically to come out as a draft-eligible sophomore.

--Allan Simpson

   55.   Nick Hagadone                    LHP      Jr.     L-L     6-5     230     U. of Washington             Sumner, Wash.           Mariners ’04 (36) 1-1-86

DRAFTED BY: Boston Red Sox.

SCOUTING REPORT: Scouts still hold out hope for Hagadone as a starting pitcher because he has two above-average pitches and the makings of a third, but his game went to another level this spring when he moved back to a closer role. His fastball, just 86-87 mph in 2006, zoomed to 91-94; his slider became a dominant pitch with good bite and depth that gave lefthanded hitters fits. Not only did his stuff get much better, but the command of his pitches showed similar improvement. After working only four innings as a freshman and spending most of 2006 in relief, Hagadone was slated to replace 2006 first-rounder Tim Lincecum at the head of the Huskies rotation this year. But the plan lasted only two starts because of injuries on the Washington staff, and his impact in his return to his old role was both immediate and dramatic. Almost overnight he became a longshot to go in the first round. Hagadone went 6-1, 2.77 with 11 saves on the season, with 72 strikeouts and only 17 strikeouts in 68 innings. That was in stark contrast to 2006, when he also abandoned a starting role to go to the bullpen but went only 2-2, 4.24 with 25 walks and 36 strikeouts in 56 innings. Even though Hagadone established a comfort zone as a closer this year, there will be a temptation on the part of the team that drafts him to insert him as a starter because of his delivery and extra-large frame, and to maximize his three-pitch mix, which includes a changeup with good fading action. His repertoire also includes an effective split-finger.

--Allan Simpson

   56.   Trystan Magnuson            RHP      Sr.     L-R     6-7     195     U. of Louisville                 Louisville, Ky.             Never drafted     6-6-85

DRAFTED BY: Toronto Blue Jays.

SCOUTING REPORT: Magnuson is one of the rags-to-riches success stories in this year’s draft. A former walk-on, the 6-foot-7, 195-pound Canadian-born pitcher worked only three innings his first two years at Louisville and wasn’t on the radar even a year ago as a fourth-year junior. But his velocity got progressively faster this year through improved mechanics under the tutelage of new pitching coach Roger Williams, and his fastball went from a below-average 88-90 mph to an above-average 92-93, touching 95 with boring action. He learned a slider and that also became a plus pitch at 85 mph, with excellent bite. Almost overnight, the big, lean righthander with the lanky arms and two plus pitches began attracting attention from every layer of the scouting hierarchy. After being used in a variety of roles in the past, Magnuson settled in this year as a closer and did not allow a run in his first 23 innings. He was 3-1, 0.92 with eight saves and a meager .172 opponent batting average, to with 49 strikeouts and only eight walks in 49 innings, as Louisville entered NCAA regional play. Should the Cardinals be eliminated on the first weekend, a feeding frenzy will likely ensue as Magnuson, who graduated this spring at 21 with a mechanical-engineering degree, is a fifth-year senior and eligible to sign with the highest bidder. If he should go back into the draft, he would be a possible third- to fourth-rounder. He projects as a set-up man in pro ball, possibly even a closer. It’s an unlikely scenario for a player who received no scholarship offers out of a Louisville high school, and whose claim to fame was that he’s the great nephew of the late Keith Magnuson, who played 11 years in the NHL and later coached the Chicago Blackhawks. Magnuson, himself, was born in Vancouver , B.C., and moved to Kentucky when his father David, a former college hockey player, accepted a job as a professor at Louisville . Magnuson is a dual citizenship; he received his American citizenship a year ago.

--Allan Simpson

   57.   Mitch Canham                         C      Jr.     L-R     6-2     210     Oregon State U.              Lake Stevens, Wash.    Cardinals ’06 (41) 9-25-84

DRAFTED BY: San Diego Padres.

SCOUTING REPORT: Canham was draft-eligible in 2006 as an Oregon State sophomore, but became a 41^st-round afterthought when it was determined he was unsignable. His ability graded much higher and he will go out this year where he rightly deserves—as a sandwich pick, or possibly even late in the first round. He is an athletic, lefthanded-hitting catcher with raw power and the ability to hit for average against top-flight pitching. He led the defending national champion Beavers this spring with a .346 average, nine homers and 53 RBIs entering regional play. His plate discipline showed the greatest improvement from a year ago, and he walked (35) more times than he struck out (29). Canham continued to show marked improvement behind the plate after entering Oregon State as a first-time catcher. He added polish to his game and called all pitches without men on base. His arm remains erratic, but has solid average strength and is accurate when he gets his feet set. He’s a team leader and his makeup is one of his selling points.

--Allan Simpson

   58.   John Bachanov                   RHP      Sr.     R-R     6-4     200     University HS                   Orlando, Fla.                                            1-30-89

DRAFTED BY: Anaheim Angels.

SCOUTING REPORT: Bachanov as been dubbed “The Mad Hungarian” by scouts for his wild hair style and lively antics on the mound. He has also been dubbed a probable second-round pick due to his talents by the same scouts. Bachanov has been pitching steadily in the 93-94 mph area and touches 95 mph in most of his starts. His arm is long, quick and loose and the velocity comes pretty easily for him. Bachanov threw an 81-83 mph slider this spring that was frequently flat, which has held him back some. Last summer he threw more of a downer curveball in the 76-79 mph area; what’s being seen as a slider might be his trying to throw the curveball too hard and having it back up on him. The ability to spin the ball is there, though. He isn’t a finished product by any means, but Bachanov has a top-level arm and a clean background. He’s considered an easy sign with only junior college options for college.

--David Rawnsley

 

   59.   Corey Brown                         OF      Jr.     L-L     6-2     210     Oklahoma State U.          Tampa                          Never drafted 11-26-85

DRAFTED BY: Oakland Athletics.

SCOUTING REPORT: Brown’s last year has paralleled Texas outfielder Kyle Russell’s in many ways, and they both end up in the same general area of draft consideration—late first round to comp round—with Brown holding an upper hand because of his overall athleticism and potential five-tool ability. The good news:  Brown has had a great spring, showing power, speed, consistency and a great approach at the plate. He was hitting .356-19-64 with 20 stolen bases entering the Big 12 tournament, and had an impressive 56 walks (to go with 55 strikeouts). He’s poised to join the very rare college 20-20 crowd for home runs and steals, and can dominate a college game like few other players in the country. The bad news: Brown struggled just as badly with wood bats against top pitchers in the Cape Cod League last summer, hitting .192-2-16 with 57 strikeouts in 130 at bats. The same worries about a long, grooved swing worry scouts about Brown as they do Russell. The rest of Brown’s package is excellent; he’s a plus runner with well above-average natural strength and very good defensive tools. Brown also brings a football mentality to the game; he comes from a family of six athletic brothers who are very close (his younger brother Dylan, also an outfielder, is a top freshman prospect at OSU), and Brown was a noted football star in high school.

--David Rawnsley

 

   60.   Brandon Hamilton              RHP      Sr.     R-R     6-3     195     Stanhope Elmore HS      Deatsville, Ala.            (Troy)               12-25-88

DRAFTED BY: Detroit Tigers.

SCOUTING REPORT: Hamilton has a long, loose projectable pitcher’s build with two above-average pitches: a fastball that has ranged up to 96 mph and a hammer breaking ball—a true slider with excellent downward bite in the mid-80s. He has a solid two-pitch mix when everything is working. But his performance has been spotty this spring—he’s been either lights-out or just fair. His erratic showing has applied both to his mechanics and the inconsistency of his stuff as much as it has to do with his maturity and mound presence. He can appear polished and in control one day, and timid and unable to handle adversity the next. Hamilton has as much upside as many of the elite high school arms in the draft, but he’s a long ways off and there are questions whether he’ll realize his potential.

--Allan Simpson
       

   61.   Ed Easley                                  C      Jr.     R-R     6-1     185     Mississippi State U.       Olive Branch, Miss.   Never drafted 12-21-85

DRAFTED BY: Arizona Diamondbacks.

SCOUTING REPORT: Easley’s best tool is his bat. He has an advanced approach to hitting, both for power and average. He has a smooth, effortless swing and was productive in the 3-hole for Mississippi State this season, hitting .370-12-57. Easley’s bat has steadily improved in three college seasons, but scouts still question how much his success is a function of the aluminum bat. Most doubt he’ll hit with the same power at the next level. Easley has shown his greatest improvement this year behind the plate. He’s refined his receiving and blocking skills, while throwing the ball with more accuracy and a much quicker release because of better footwork. But scouts say his arm is still below average—not even as strong as it was in high school. His handling of pitchers has also become an asset. He still has a tendency to get lazy behind the plate, boxing balls on occasion. He’ll go out as a catcher, but there’s a possibility he could move to third base or left field, or possibly even second base, if his arm gets exposed at the next level.

--Allan Simpson
       

   62.   Ryan Dent                               SS      Sr.     R-R     6-0     185     Wilson HS                         Long Beach , Calif.      (UCLA)               3-15-89

DRAFTED BY: Boston Red Sox.

SCOUTING REPORT: If there was a “buzz guy” at the World Wood Bat Association fall championship last October in Jupiter, Fla. , Dent was the one. He excited scouts like few players in this draft class can. He showed game-changing speed and the type of natural athleticism that makes the game look almost too easy to him at times. He has plus bat speed and flashes the type of slashing line-drive swing and whole-field approach that gets scouting directors imagining Dent as a havoc-creating leadoff hitter. However, he can be maddeningly inconsistent with the bat and his approach. Some days he looks a long way from being an impact offensive player, except for his speed. And there are legitimate questions whether Dent can stay in the middle infield, but that concern applies to almost every high school shortstop—particularly with elite athleticism. He has a strong arm, good hands and quick feet, but his footwork and feel need to get better. On the season, he was hitting .463 with 25 stolen bases for the top-ranked team in California .

--Blaine Clemmens

 

   63.   Cory Luebke                       LHP      Jr.     R-L     6-3     195     Ohio State U.                    Maria Stein, Ohio        Rangers ’06 (22) 3-4-85

DRAFTED BY: San Diego Padres.

SCOUTING REPORT: Luebke has had an outstanding spring, solidifying Ohio State ’s starting rotation that saw nine other pitchers start games, while going 8-1, 1.84 in 15 starts and 107 innings. The Pirates out of high school and the Rangers last year, when Luebke was an age-eligible sophomore, have both tried to sign Luebke but his decision to keep pitching at Ohio State seems to have been a good one. He doesn’t have plus stuff with a fastball that is in the upper 80s and touches 91, and a sharp slider, but Luebke has excellent command and pitchability, and is an intense competitor.

--David Rawnsley

 

   64.   Danny Payne                          OF      Jr.     L-L   5-10     185     Georgia Tech                  Woodstock , Ga.          Never drafted     9-8-85

DRAFTED BY: San Diego Padres.

SCOUTING REPORT: Payne is a classic college performance player, and there are lots of teams with those draft tendencies picking late in the first round. Payne’s ability to play and put up numbers is well established, but it sometimes covers up his high-level tools. He is extremely patient at the plate and has no fear of hitting with two strikes, which has led to 54 walks and a .516 on-base percentage this year. Overall, he was hitting a team-high.382. Payne has surprising power for his size. He can drive the ball to the alleys with his compact build and short, quick swing, and he has 26 extra-base hits this spring. Payne also has plus speed and polished base-running instincts. If one thing more was needed for his skill/tool resume, Payne has stepped in as Georgia Tech’s closer at times this spring and throws in the 90-92 mph area with a solid college-slurve breaking ball. He was 0-2, 5.65 with three saves in that role. Payne’s size is one item of concern to scouts, as his lack of a track record with a wood bat. Payne separated his right shoulder diving for a ball late last spring and had surgery that kept him out of the Cape Cod League last summer. With his plus makeup, ideal leadoff profile, player-of-the-year level performance and under-rated tools, Payne has been growing on scouts all spring. They look at the college outfield crop and don’t see many attractive alternatives at the top of the draft.

--David Rawnsley

 

SECOND ROUND (65-94)

Rank  Player                                  Pos.       Yr     B-T      HT     WT     School                              Hometown                 Drafted/(Commit) B’date

   65.   Will Kline                              RHP      Jr.     R-R     6-2     215     U. of Mississippi             Belden, Miss.              Astros ’06 (39)  9-10-84

DRAFTED BY: Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

SCOUTING REPORT: Kline made huge strides as a pitcher in a bullpen role in the latter half of the 2006 season and had a conviction that he was much better than a 39^th-round draft pick, so he chose to return to Ole Miss as a fourth-year junior. His decision could pay off handsomely as he may well be one of the first 100 players drafted in June. Kline has proven his worth this season as a starter in big games. He went pitch-for-pitch with Vanderbilt’s ace lefthander David Price into the ninth inning of a game that No. 1-ranked Vandy tied with two outs in the ninth and eventually won in the 10^th. On the season, he’s gone 5-2, 3.92 with 113 strikeouts in 101 innings. Kline has command of three legitimate pitches, including an 88-92 mph fastball that touches 93 and an 80-82 mph slider. But his most effective pitch is an exceptional changeup that is a weapon against lefthanded hitters. Kline, who red-shirted his freshman season while recovering from Tommy John surgery and pitching sparingly for the next year and a half, is strong and durable, and an innings-eater. But scouts recognize he’s also a warrior on the mound and may be best suited to pitch in relief. He dialed up his fastball to 95 in that role a year ago.            

--Allan Simpson

   66.   Sam Runion                         RHP       Sr     R-R     6-4     220     A.C. Reynolds HS            Asheville , N.C.           (Tennessee )    11-9-88

DRAFTED BY: Kansas City Royals.

SCOUTING REPORT: Runion is a big-boned, durable righthander who can throw up to 95 mph, and consistently at 92-94, with little effort from a three-quarters release slot. But he gets hit harder than he should for someone with his size and arm strength. He got knocked around by lesser competition last summer and was averaging almost a hit an inning this spring through his first 59 innings. He gave up 58 hits—an almost unheard-of number for a high school pitcher projected to be among the top 100 picks—while walking 12 and striking out 85. Overall, his record was a suspect 5-2, 2.14. Runion’s fastball has some early sink, but it doesn’t overmatch hitters. His slider is customarily in the 79-83 mph range, but doesn’t have the power in it to make it effective. His change is developing. Runion is a consistent strike thrower with good downhill plane to his pitches, and has the potential to be an innings-eater with his big powerful frame. But he clearly needs work to develop his stuff into more dominant pitches.

--Allan Simpson
       

   67.   Jordan Zimmerman          RHP      Jr.     R-R     6-1     200     U. of Wis.-Stevens Point      Auburndale, Fla.       Never drafted   5-23-86

DRAFTED BY: Washington Nationals.

SCOUTING REPORT: This was a rough spring for Zimmerman, who entered the year as a scout’s darling: a Division III prospect who came out of nowhere to become a potential first-round pick. First came a batting practice incident that left Zimmerman with a broken jaw and cost him the opportunity to pitch in front of large groups of scouts on Wisconsin-Stevens Point’s March trip to Florida . Then came the removal of his wisdom teeth, further weakening him. Then the weather in Wisconsin was miserable and wet all spring. While Zimmerman was not up to duplicating the live 93-95 mph fastball he showed last summer in the Northwoods League, he got back up to the 88-92 mph range and began to get the snap back in his slider. Zimmerman also throws a curveball and a changeup. His development from a high school junior who threw 81-84 mph and walked on to a Division III team to a top-three round prospect is one of the more amazing stories in this year’s draft. His adversity this spring just added to the story. Zimmerman ended the season on a high note, winning MVP honors at the Division III World Series, throwing a one-hit shutout against Emory (Ga. ) College from the mound and going 8-for-13 with two home runs as a DH. His regular season numbers were 10-0, 2.08 in 78 innings.

--David Rawnsley

 

   68.   Duke Welker                       RHP      Jr.     R-R     6-7     215        U. of Arkansas            Puyallup, Wash.                  Mariners ’04 (34)    2-10-86

DRAFTED BY: Pittsburgh Pirates.

SCOUTING REPORT: The third of Arkansas ’ trio of starting pitchers, Welker most looks the part of a pro prospect with a rangy 6-foot-7 body, and a loose and easy arm action. His fastball can touch 96 mph and is consistently above average in velocity and movement. Welker has made huge strides in his consistency, command and secondary pitches this year, but is still not a finished product. His slider is still not an average pitch but it’s improving, and it’s effective when Welker stays back in his delivery and gets behind it. Welker had labrum surgery on his right shoulder as a freshman at Seminole State (Okla. ) JC, but endurance or arm strength hasn’t been an issue since. In 92 innings this year, he went 6-5, 3.83 with 73 strikeouts in 92 innings. He will likely be the third Arkansas starter picked, but that should be by the third round at the latest.

--David Rawnsley

       

   69.   Josh Fields                         RHP      Jr.     R-R     6-0     175     U. of Georgia                    Hull , Ga.                        Never drafted   8-19-85

DRAFTED BY: Atlanta Braves.

SCOUTING REPORT: Fields’ junior season hasn’t been what he wanted, either from himself or for his Georgia teammates who fell from a College World Series team in 2006 to the poorest record in the Southeastern Conference in 2007. Fields decline was steep: from 3-2, 1.85 with 15 saves in 2006 to 1-6, 4.75 with six saves in 2007. While Fields didn’t have quite the velocity he did in a year ago, when he would touch 98-99 mph, arm strength and health weren’t the problem as he regularly pitched in the 93-95 mph range this spring. Some scouts said that Fields appeared a bit stiffer, especially at the beginning of the season, after taking the fall off from throwing. Another reason for Fields’ struggles was the curious decision for him to switch from his nearly-unhittable upper 80s slider to a more conventional mid-70s curveball at the start of the spring—a decision that backfired and was reversed at mid-season. In addition, Fields throws from a high three-quarters angle to an over-the-top release point and struggled all spring getting his pitches down in the strike zone. Despite his poor spring, Fields has too much history in front of too many scouts to fall too far, even in this year of the college reliever. At his prime 2006 form, Fields is very close to the major leagues and some team will remember that, especially when picking in the comp round

--David Rawnsley

 

   70.   Jake Smolinski                     3B      Sr.     R-R     6-0     195     Boylan Catholic HS         Rockford , Ill.                (Clemson)           2-9-89

DRAFTED BY: Washington Nationals.

SCOUTING REPORT: Smolinski is a tweener-type of prospect who might fit the college profile better out of high school for some scouts, but has other scouts excited about him in the first five rounds. He’s a 6-foot infielder who has put on lots of strength over the past year. He now plays best as a third baseman at the professional level, although some scouts have looked at his build, makeup and plus arm strength and envision him as a catcher. His build and approach resemble Jeff Bagwell’s in some ways. Smolinski is an advanced hitter who has both the strength and skills to be a high-average hitter and hit with power in the future. He’s performed well this year, both in workouts for scouts and in game action, and his signability and desire to play immediately is considered a plus.

--David Rawnsley

 

   71.   David Kopp                          RHP      Jr.     R-R     6-3     195     Clemson U.                       Coral Springs , Fla.     Never drafted 10-22-85

DRAFTED BY: St. Louis Cardinals.

SCOUTING REPORT: Teammate Daniel Moskos grabbed all the attention earlier in the year, enabling Kopp to shoot up draft boards this spring in relative anonymity. He was a projected eighth- to 10^th-rounder at the outset, but as he kept throwing harder, kept getting more life on his pitches and kept adding confidence with every outing, he suddenly starting getting attention from scouts in the sandwich to second rounds. He has power stuff—possibly the best on the Clemson staff, Moskos included—with the making of three plus pitches: a comfortable 91-95 mph fastball, a steadily-improving slider with more tilt and angle, and an evolving changeup. Moreover, he cleaned up his mechanics, which has helped the command of all his pitches. He was a three-quarters slinger out of high school but now has a more conventional delivery. With constant tinkering, he’s no longer over-rotating and is staying taller, enabling him to get more downward angle on his pitches. He was 5-2, 3.86 with 66 strikeouts in 84 innings as Clemson headed into the ACC tournament—ordinary numbers for where he is projected to be drafted and comparable to his 6-2, 4.32 record a year ago, but his improvement over a year ago cannot be measured by numbers. Scouts say he is one of those players who will be more productive as a pro, pitching to wood bats, than he was in college.

--Allan Simpson

   72.   Brian Rike                              OF      Jr.     L-L     6-2     200     Louisiana Tech               Richmond, Texas       Never drafted 12-13-85

DRAFTED BY: Colorado Rockies .

SCOUTING REPORT: Rike has made enormous strides as a prospect since he walked-on as a freshman at Louisiana Tech. From eight homers in what was considered then as a breakthrough sophomore year, he hit 20 this season—a number that would have been even more impressive had he not gone cold in the final month of the season, hitting just a solo homer. Scouts say that Rike simply grew into his 6-foot-2 frame this year and his tools took off. Not only did his power surge, but he evolved into a more complete hitter. He made more consistent contact with an easy, fluid stroke. Rife plays in a launching pad at Louisiana Tech’s J.C. Love Field, with its 348-foot right-center alley, but he impressed scouts with his ability to hit line drives to all fields. His bat is his best tool but Rife also has above-average speed and arm strength. He made five pitching appearances this spring and was clocked at 89-90 mph. He also moved to center field after spending his first two years in right field, and handled the transition with ease although scouts say his range is better suited for right.

--Allan Simpson

   73.   Barry Enright                       RHP      Jr.     R-R     6-2     200     Pepperdine U.                  Stockton, Calif.           Never drafted   3-30-86

DRAFTED BY: Arizona Diamondbacks.

SCOUTING REPORT: If college pitchers with outstanding track records and quality stuff are valued commodities (and they are), then Enright has to be considered one of the top-available college arms. He won his 34^th career game in early May against Cal State Fullerton, which ran his career record to an astounding 34-5. On the year, he was 11-4, 1.78 with 12 walks and 77 strikeouts in 116 innings. His bulldog approach and unflappable demeanor are strong assets that complement his stuff. Enright pitches with an average 88-91 mph fastball, occasionally going a tick higher. He throws his slider for consistent quality strikes and also mixes in a good changeup. There are pitchers who have better stuff but few in this draft class have a mastery of their stuff like Enright does. He rarely makes a mistake to the big part of the plate and seemingly always executes the pitch the way he intends to with each offering. His track record, makeup and quality stuff should land Enright as high as the second round.

--Blaine Clemmens

 

   74.   Grant Desme                         OF      Jr.     R-R     6-1     195     Cal Poly                            Bakersfield , Calif.      Never drafted     4-4-86

DRAFTED BY: Oakland Athletics.

SCOUTING REPORT: Scouts that like Desme most covet his overall set of tools. There are some scouts that feel he is not only the top college position player in the state, but the one with the highest overall ceiling in California . It is not a deep crop of California position players this year, but Desme would rate well in any year. A tools breakdown reads this way: plus power, plus bat speed, plus right field arm, plus body, good speed. Desme has had a strong statistical season to match with a .405 average, 15 homers, 17 doubles, 53 RBIs and a.494 on-base average. He also had a team-best 12 stolen bases. Performing well as a position player in the Big West Conference is significant as it is normally is a pitcher-first conference. The knocks on Desme are a longish swing and a tendency to swing and miss quite a bit, particularly on breaking balls, though the flip side is that he hammers the fastball. Through 50 games, he had struck out 42 times.

--Blaine Clemmens

 

   75.   Denny Almonte                     OF      Sr.     S-R     6-2     190     Florida Christian HS       Miami                           (Arizona State ) 9-24-88

DRAFTED BY: Seattle Mariners.

SCOUTING REPORT: Scouts and teams who value tools the most have Almonte near the top of their national  lists for high school outfielders. Almonte has a big league body at a sculpted and lean 6-foot-2 and 190 pounds, and will flash above-average skills in all tools areas, including his power and bat speed from both sides of the plate. Almonte is also a 6.6 runner with a 90-plus type of arm from the outfield. He hasn’t always performed at a high or consistent level in the past with the bat, but enjoyed a strong spring that impressed scouts. He will sometimes struggle recognizing pitches and become a guess hitter. Don’t be surprised to see his stock continue to rise right up to the draft as the focus narrows to signability and tools for most high school prospects.

--David Rawnsley

 

   76.   Mike Stanton                         OF      Sr.     R-R     6-5     205     Notre Dame HS                Sherman Oaks, Calif.      (So. California ) 11-8-89

DRAFTED BY: Florida Marlins.

SCOUTING REPORT: Not every club has the same opinion on players, especially when it involves raw high school talent. Stanton has elicited more wide-ranging opinion that just about any player in California . Few players look as impressive physically in a uniform, so he passes the eye test for everyone, and he has excellent raw power, which he showed during BP at the Area Code Games last summer. He can also run and throw well, and he covers plenty of ground in the outfield. The questions about Stanton are not about his raw ability; they are about how soon that raw ability will become usable ability at the professional level and how much a team might be willing to invest in him. He is classic high-reward, high-risk talent. A three-sport star in high school, he is more athlete than baseball player. There are teams that have a history of drafting players like Stanton around the fifth round range and Stanton appears signable in that area.

--Blaine Clemmens

 

   77.   Scott Moviel                        RHP      Sr.     R-R     6-9     245     St. Edward HS                  Berea , Ohio             (North Carolina State ) 5-7-88

DRAFTED BY: New York Mets.

SCOUTING REPORT: The Moviel/Andrew Brackman comparisons are too obvious to repeat but two things stand out. One is that scouts feel that Moviel is more advanced at the same age than the North Carolina State righthander. The second is that Moviel has already given up basketball despite the fact that he was getting serious attention from mid-major Division I programs to play that sport and is not a full-time baseball player. Both of Moviel’s older brothers, Paul (Devil Rays) and Greg (Mariners) are minor league pitchers, which helps with his baseball background. On the mound, Moviel has been very consistent this spring, pitching in the 90-93 mph area virtually every time out and showing good command and feel for a mid 70s breaking ball that has good shape but could use more power and deception. He repeats his delivery very well for a pitch of any size, which is a big positive for the future. Aside from natural worries about extremely big pitchers, there is nothing that Moviel has done this spring to discourage scouts from keeping him moving up the draft ladder.

--David Rawnsley

 

   78.   Freddie Freeman            1B/OF      Sr.     L-R     6-5     210     El Modena HS                  Villa Park, Calif.          (Cal State Fullerton ) 9-12-89

DRAFTED BY: Atlanta Braves.

SCOUTING REPORT: There was a time during Freeman’s junior year of high school that scouts were saying he was a potential first- or second-round bat if he were eligible for the 2006 draft. The opinions on Freeman’s worth are not that high now. Freeman has shown legitimate power for a first baseman or corner outfielder in the past, but the evaluations of his power potential have dimmed this spring—though it is likely that there is another reason Freeman is dropping as a prospect and has nothing to do with his bat. He has shown that he can hit and hit good pitching with power, though it has come as doubles-power more often than not. Freeman has a big arm—he’s been 90-plus on the mound—and a big frame that will hold more size and strength. While his skill set and tools rate well, the biggest question scouts have about Freeman is his energy for the game. He can appear aloof and disinterested at times and that has hurt him.

--Blaine Clemmens

 

   79.   Zack Cozart                           SS      Jr.     R-R     6-1     180     U. of Mississippi             Collierville, Tenn.       Never drafted   8-12-85

DRAFTED BY: Cincinnati Reds.

SCOUTING REPORT: Cozart has game-changing shortstop skills. He is an exceptional defender, possibly the steadiest and best pure shortstop in college baseball. He’s fundamentally sound in all aspects of shortstop play with quick feet, easy actions and a strong, accurate arm. But his best tools are his hands. He catches everything hit his way and is masterful at reading hops of all kinds. He has above-average arm strength even as he unloads balls from a somewhat unorthodox three-quarters slot—yet his throws are almost always true with little tailing action. He committed eight errors in his first 55 games, but was nearly flawless in Southeastern Conference play. While Cozart’s defensive play is first-round quality, the rest of his tools are average, at best. He had raised his average to .307 after a rough start and was hitting .360 in SEC games, but he has limited upside with the bat and it may ultimately cast him into a utility role at the big league level. He’s predominantly a front-foot hitter who insides-out the ball. He also projects little power, even though he’s shown surprising pull pop this spring and taken five balls out of the yard and driven in 41 runs. He is a below-average runner for a middle infielder.

--Allan Simpson

   80.   Matt West                              SS      Sr.     R-R     6-0     185     Bellaire HS                       Houston                       (Arizona State )   11-21-88

DRAFTED BY: Texas Rangers.

SCOUTING REPORT: West has been one of the surprises of the spring in the national high school ranks after increased strength has resulted in some serious improvement in bat speed and power. He has always been considered a solid middle-infield prospect with soft hands and an above-average throwing arm but fell into the common quandary of being a step slow to play shortstop at the upper levels but not possessing enough power for third base. His surge in strength and power has solved that for scouts, although he will have to play his way off shortstop. The arm strength is definitely there as West took a short trip to the mound in front of about 300 scouts during last fall’s WWBA fall championship in Jupiter, Fla., and threw 92-93, touching 95 mph; his arm strength translates. West is considered an easy sign, his recent commitment to Arizona State not withstanding.

--David Rawnsley

 

   81.   Eric Sogard                            2B      Jr.     L-R     5-9     169     Arizona State U.              Phoenix                        Never drafted   5-22-86

DRAFTED BY: San Diego Padres.

SCOUTING REPORT: You would expect that the 5-foot-9, 169-pound Sogard would be lost in the shuffle at Arizona State on one of the nation’s most physical offensive teams, but the little second baseman has stood tall in his contributions to the team’s 42-12 record this spring. He was hitting .394-10-52 on the final weekend of the regular season, placing him second in average and third in homers. Few players get as much out of their ability. He’s been a solid, steady, dependable player who has been extremely consistent all year for the Sun Devils—and throughout his career at ASU. He has surprising power for his size, but also is a good all-around hitter—one of the best in the draft. He has excellent hands to hit and his swing stays through the ball better than any ASU player. He gives the Sun Devils a different dimension on offense as he can steal a bag (17 on the year), and drag or push a bunt. He maximizes his speed with excellent instincts on the bases. Scouts have taken to comparing Sogard to former ASU middle infielder Dustin Pedroia, another player of smaller stature who had a brilliant college career before being taken by the Red Sox in the second round of the 2004 draft. But the scouts say that Sogard will hit better than Pedroia, and he has more speed and power. Sogard and double-play partner Andrew Romine, who should be drafted a round or two after Sogard, work well together and are proficient at turning the double play. Overall, Sogard is a solid defender at second; his feet and range are viewed as adequate. His arm is a little short, but his throws are true and he has the ability to make the throw on the run.

--Allan Simpson

   82.   Jess Todd                           RHP      Jr.     R-R     6-0     210      U. of Arkansas            Kilgore, Texas                Never drafted       4-20-86

DRAFTED BY: St. Louis Cardinals.

SCOUTING REPORT: Todd has the best pure stuff on the Arkansas staff, and has been overmatching hitters during May as he has adjusted to a starter’s role. He throws both a 2-seam and 4-seam fastball, with the 4-seamer reaching the 93-94 mph area with some regularity and the 2-seamer showing plus-plus life at times. Todd’s mid-80s slider is a swing-and-miss pitch and he shows surprising aptitude for his changeup as well. Overall, he went 9-2, 2.49 with 124 strikeouts and only 25 walks in 90 innings. Of his 22 appearances, nine were as a starter. Todd has always been projected as a closer/reliever type because he has a high-effort, multi-part delivery, but as a starter this year he’s shown excellent command and the ability to maintain his stuff deep into pitch counts. The few scouts who do like him as a starter point to the fact that he’s a top athlete who was a shortstop prospect in high school, and that regardless of his delivery’s degree of difficulty, he repeats it well and his body absorbs the tension, not his arm. Todd’s competitiveness is a match for Schmidt’s, too. 

--David Rawnsley

 

   83.   Travis Mattair                        3B      Sr.     R-R     6-4     215     Southridge HS                 Kennewick , Wash.     (Oregon State )   12-21-88

DRAFTED BY: Philadelphia Phillies.

SCOUTING REPORT: Mattair began the year No. 3 on the list of top Washington high school prospects, but scouts developed a better appreciation of his athleticism, bigger and more powerful frame, makeup and impressive all-around ability. They believe now that he can be a solid, everyday third baseman—in the mould of Scott Rolen, both at the plate and in the field. He has excellent power potential and demonstrated it repeatedly for scouts in BP sessions with his ability to square up balls. He didn’t always carry his power into games, with the exception of a three-home run-game this spring, but for the most part he was pitched around almost at will. He may be one of those rare amateur players whose swing is better suited for wood. A shortstop in high school, Mattair doesn’t have the range or raw speed to play the position on an everyday basis, but he has all the actions to slide over to third and excel there. His soft hands and arm strength are well-suited for the hot corner. Third base is a well-stocked position at the high school level in this year’s draft, but only California ’s Josh Vitters may have as high a ceiling as Mattair, who has remarkably good athletic ability for a player his size.

--Allan Simpson

   84.   Hunter Morris                       OF      Sr.     L-R     6-4     200     Grissom HS                     Huntsville , Ala.            (Auburn)            10-7-88

DRAFTED BY: Boston Red Sox.

SCOUTING REPORT: Morris broke a bone in his hand in his final high school game of the season, which may impact his ability to work out for teams in advance of the draft but shouldn’t impact his standing with scouts. They have become almost immune to him as he has been one of the most heavily-exposed high school players in the 2007 class. He has competed at a high-level for a long, long time, particularly with the powerful East Cobb program in recent summers. Morris’ reputation as a feared hitter was largely responsible for his drawing a state-record 59 walks this spring as pitchers refused to throw him a fastball in the strike zone. When he did get an opportunity to swing the bat, he hit .476 with 13 homers. For all his success as a hitter, scouts said Morris’ swing was a little long this spring, particularly when he got pull-happy, and he changed his approach frequently. There have even been questions whether Morris might have peaked as a hitter, and most clubs now acknowledge that he has been passed on the priority list of top hitters by Oak Mountain High’s Kevin Patterson. Morris played shortstop for his high school team, but was out of position there as he is not overly athletic. He is just a 6.9 runner underway and has an average arm, for the left side of the infield. His greatest value probably is at third base, but there’s a resignation that he’ll end up at first base in the next stop in his baseball travels.

--Allan Simpson
 

   85.   John Tolisano                       SS      Sr.     S-R     6-0     190     Estero HS                         Sanibel Island, Fla.     (Florida )             10-7-88

DRAFTED BY: Toronto Blue Jays.

SCOUTING REPORT: Tolisano continued to prove this spring that he could do what everyone has seen him do since he was 14: hit the ball with authority from both sides of the plate. He has plus bat speed from both sides and drives the ball out of the park against both lefthanded and righthanded pitchers. Tolisano has gone through funks in the past where he will expand his strike zone and chase, especially lefthanded, but when he stays focused and patient he is a dominant hitter. The question that still remains unanswered is what position Tolisano projects best at. The team that drafts him may well let him play his way off shortstop but second base is the place most expect him to play. The comparison between Tolisano and veteran big leaguer Todd Walker, former first-round pick, gets plenty of play in the scouting community. While Tolisano appears to have slid to third- or fourth-round status, scouts believe he’s signable there as he has been home-schooled for four years and has geared his life around being a baseball player.

--David Rawnsley

 

   86.   Michael Watt                       LHP      Sr.     L-L     6-1     185     Capistrano Valley HS   San Juan Capo, Calif.     (Long Beach State ) 2-24-89

DRAFTED BY: Los Angeles Dodgers.

SCOUTING REPORT: Some players are draft wild cards--players that could just as easily go in the fourth round or go undrafted altogether. With Watt, who at one point this spring had the highest grade turned in by the Major League Scouting Bureau among California high school players, it will have more to do with his signability. It won’t be about ability as he is as athletic and talented as almost any high school lefthander projected to go in the early rounds. He has a great body, a beautiful arm action and a very fast arm. Those factors combined give him a very high ceiling. Watt is also very competitive on the mound. He has an upper-80s fastball and the rare ability to pitch above bats. A good downer curveball complements his high fastball. Watt can be wild and that hurts him a bit, but more than anything the question will focus on his price tag. He is reportedly heavily committed to Long Beach State . Few high school pitchers have his combination of stuff, athleticism, competitiveness, body, arm action and arm speed, and scouts say he would have a high chance to be a first-rounder in three years.

--Blaine Clemmens

 

   87.   Brad Chalk                             OF      Jr.     L-L     6-0     178     Clemson U.                       Greer, S.C.                  Never drafted   1-20-86

DRAFTED BY: San Diego Padres.

SCOUTING REPORT: Chalk has classic leadoff skills with a demonstrated history of hitting everywhere he’s played—high school, college, Team USA’s junior national team, Cape Cod League. He has a natural knack for getting hits and was batting .407-0-13 this season when he was sidelined for the final 15 regular-season games entering the ACC tournament with a back injury, which restricted his ability to hit and throw. It was unclear whether the injury would impact his draft standing, but he was projected to be a relatively safe second- to fourth-round pick when healthy. As skilled as he is as a hitter, his best tool is his speed. He can fly down the line and chase down balls in center field like few players in this draft. Speed and his style of hitting are key components in his role as a leadoff hitter, which he handles masterfully. He has no power, but manages to keep the barrel in the hitting zone for a long time.

--Allan Simpson

   88.   Eric Eiland                              OF      Sr.     L-L     6-1     190     Lamar HS                         Missouri City , Texas             (Texas A&M) 9-16-88

DRAFTED BY: Toronto Blue Jays.

SCOUTING REPORT: Eiland is a first-class athlete whose combination of power and speed also made him a potential Division I football recruit before he signed with Texas A&M for football. He made his baseball reputation at last year’s Area Code Games, where he was one of the top hitters at the event and consistently crushed the ball in addition to showing his run/throw tools. That hasn’t been the case this spring, as an early hamstring problem slowed Eiland out of the gate and his bat has rarely flashed the form it showed last summer; his swing has become longer and stiffer. He will have to be a crosschecker-draft based on the impressions he left last summer.

--David Rawnsley

 

   89.   Nevin Griffith                       RHP      Sr.     R-R     6-2     195     Middleton HS                   Brandon, Fla.          (Florida International) 3-23-89

DRAFTED BY: Chicago White Sox.

SCOUTING REPORT: Griffith has probably come further in the last year than any pitcher in the Florida prep ranks and could conceivably even be the first pitcher from Florida—college or high school—to be drafted. Smoothing out his pitching mechanics, along with natural maturation, has taken Griffith ’s fastball up to the 94-96 mph range with regularity and significantly improved his control. He dominated his level of high school competition in the Tampa area this spring, including three well-scouted wins over rival Hillsborough High and their slugging outfielder Michael Burgess. Griffith ’s long and loose arm action easily generates his mid-90s velocity, but it has also kept him from throwing a consistent breaking ball in some scout’s opinions. Griffith has thrown both a curve and slider at different times this spring, with the slider showing more consistency and quality late in the year.

--David Rawnsley

 

   90.   Josh Horton                          SS      Jr.     L-R     6-1     194     U. of North Carolina         Hillsborough, N.C.      Never drafted   2-19-86

DRAFTED BY: Oakland Athletics.

SCOUTING REPORT: There is a mixed camp on Horton’s worth. Those teams that see him as a solid sandwich pick respect his patient, confident professional plate approach. He makes good, consistent contact, has excellent bat control and sprays the ball to all fields. He has an excellent eye, and his 42-11 walk-strikeout ratio will be especially tempting to the Moneyball-oriented organizations. He hasn’t put up the numbers this year (.325-8-41) that he did a year ago (.395-7-59), and questions remain on his true power potential. He shows the balance in BP needed to hit with power, but reverts to a longer stride in games that is more conducive to singles and doubles—and that’s what scouts see, an aggressive lefthanded, line-drive stroke. The clubs that see Horton as more of a second- or third-rounder question his ability to play shortstop on an everyday basis at the next level. He has a tendency to make the spectacular play and botch the routine ones—at least he did early in the year—but he has arm strength, turns the double play well and excels coming in on balls. His lack of above-average speed limits his range but scouts say, if anything, he lacks confidence in his hands, that he tends to back up on balls to get an easier hop. But they also say he’s a better defender than Russ Adams, a first-round pick in 2002 who preceded Horton as UNC’s shortstop.

--Allan Simpson
 

   91.   Danny Worth                          SS      Jr.     R-R     6-1     165     Pepperdine U.                 Valencia , Calif.            Never drafted   8-30-85

DRAFTED BY: Detroit Tigers.

SCOUTING REPORT: Not every top college prospect begins his career as a known commodity. Some eventually perform at such a high level, however, that they cannot be ignored as prospects any longer. Worth is such a player. He was not scheduled to start at shortstop as a freshman for the Waves, but when Pepperdine needed a steadier player at the position, he was the player it turned to. He has continued to get better and better and was hitting .346-3-36 this season with a 25-19 walk-strikeout ratio. Worth is a gamer with ability. He is the player his team wants at the plate in a big moment and the player it wants the ball hit to with a game on the line. He hits hard line drives to all fields and is particularly good in the clutch. His swing is compact though a little stiff, but he has performed consistently and hits with extra-base power. Defensively, he has excellent hands, a strong arm, good range and instincts.

--Blaine Clemmens

 

   92.   Danny Rams                       C/1B      Sr.     R-R     6-2     220     Gulliver Prep                   Coral Gables , Fla.       (Arizona State )   12-19-88

DRAFTED BY: Minnesota Twins.

SCOUTING REPORT: Rams’ prodigious power has been well documented and consistently on display for the past two years. Only a small handful of high school players around the country can hit balls as far as Rams and he’s the type of hitter who will cause everyone in the ballpark to stop what they are doing and watch. He hits from an open stance with an aggressive pull-type swing. Like many power hitters, Rams can get long to the ball but has shown he can hit high-velocity pitching, such as when he drove a 94-mph Josh Smoker fastball out of the park at the East Coast Pro Showcase last summer. Where Rams plays is an open question. He’s a primary catcher but has played more first base, both in high school and in summer ball, and has even seen time in the outfield this spring. Rams is a good straight-ahead runner and has excellent arm strength, but has stiff hands and limited lateral mobility. Comparisons have been made between Rams now and what Florida ’s Matt LaPorta was coming out of high school. While scouts readily acknowledge Rams’ shortcomings, it’s a good bet that his power potential alone will make him a high pick.

--David Rawnsley

       

   93.   Brant Rustich                      RHP      Jr.     R-R     6-6     225     UCLA                                 El Cajon, Calif.             Indians ’06 (13) 1-23-85

DRAFTED BY: New York Mets.

SCOUTING REPORT: Talent is certainly not the issue with the 6-foot-6 Rustich. Figuring out why the talent does not match the results is another story. Rustich passes the eye test with flying colors, but he had pitched in 19 games by mid-May and thrown only 26 innings, primarily as a late-inning reliever and closer. He was 3-2, 6.49 with 19 walks and 23 strikeouts. He also had 10 wild pitches and had hit six batters. Rustich has struggled much of the year after being derailed last year by a finger injury that enabled him to gain a red-shirt season but pushed him out of the upper rounds. He was drafted in the 13^th round by Cleveland after being a potential first-round target at the start of the year. By all accounts, the injury is no longer an issue but finding a consistent rhythm and stable performance have been difficult for him. He has a plus-plus arm with a fastball in the 92-95 mph range and an 86-88 mph slider, giving him two power pitches. He has first-round stuff but has been very inconsistent—not only this season but in his entire UCLA career.

--Blaine Clemmens

 

   94.   Austin Romine                        C      Sr.     R-R     6-1     195     El Toro HS                        Lake Forest , Calif.     (Arizona State )   11-22-88

DRAFTED BY: New York Yankees.

SCOUTING REPORT: A late-season (early May) finger injury put Romine out for the remainder of the season, but it is not expected to compromise his draft status. Scouts have routinely compared him this spring to Travis d’Arnaud, the other top California high school catcher projected to be drafted highly. Scouts say Romine has the better body and greater offensive potential, with d’Arnaud regarded as the better defensive player. The difference will ultimately determine which catcher is drafted first. Generally, the ability to hit is valued more than defense but with catchers that is not always the case. Romine needs to refine his footwork behind the plate, but has a plus arm and possesses plus power. He was hitting .516 with three homers and had struck out just three times at the time of his injury. Romine comes from a significant baseball background. His older brother Andrew, a standout shortstop prospect at Arizona State , is also expected to be drafted in the top five rounds. His father Kevin, a second-rounder in 1982 out of Arizona State , played in the big leagues for seven years with the Red Sox.

--Blaine Clemmens

 

THIRD ROUND (95-124)

Rank  Player                                  Pos.       Yr     B-T      HT     WT     School                              Hometown                 Drafted/(Commit) B’date

   95.   Nick Barnese                      RHP      Sr.     R-R     6-2     175     Simi Valley HS                 Simi Valley , Calif.       (Cal State Fullerton ) 1-11-89

DRAFTED BY: Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

SCOUTING REPORT: Barnese is one of the rare pitchers that can win almost every time out with just a fastball. He pitches from a three-quarters slot and sort of slings the ball, but the movement he gets on his fastball from that angle is excellent. He works in the 88-91 mph range and the action on his fastball ranges from heavy sink to nasty bore, and he gets downward movement on both sides of the plate. Against wood bats, it is easy to imagine Barnese regularly breaking them in the future. What hinders Barnese from potentially going higher in the draft is his secondary stuff. His breaking ball does more spinning than breaking, which is common for pitchers with his lower slot. The flip side is that his slot is good for the changeup--and he has a good one. Barnese is long and lanky, and should continue to gain velocity as he fills out.

--Blaine Clemmens

 

   96.   Danny Duffy                         LHP      Sr.     L-L     6-3     190     Cabrillo HS                       Lompoc , Calif.            (Cal Poly)         12-21-88

DRAFTED BY: Kansas City Royals.

SCOUTING REPORT: In a deep class of high school lefthanded pitchers, Duffy rates as the top guy in California —and perhaps the entire West region. Early in the spring, he shot out of the gate with strong performances, drawing regular attention from crosscheckers as he put up 16- and 17-strikeout games almost as a matter of routine. He started his ascent up draft lists with a great outing at the Perfect Game California all-star games in January. Duffy has good stuff, good feel, a good delivery and a frame with room to fill out. He has a four-pitch repertoire, starting with an 88-91 mph fastball that touches 92-93. He also has a feel for two breaking balls—a low-70s biting curveball and an upper-70s late-breaking slider—and a quality changeup. He commands all four pitches and has the ability to pitch to both sides of the plate with all his stuff.

--Blaine Clemmens

 

       97.  Tony Thomas                     2B      Jr.     R-R    5-9    175         Florida State U.               Valrico, Fla.                  Never drafted   7-10-86

DRAFTED BY: Chicago Cubs.

SCOUTING REPORT: Thomas was not an unknown before the 2007 season; he’s been Florida State ’s starting second baseman since day 1 of his freshman year and has shown his tools and athletic ability frequently—but never consistently. But no one could have predicted Thomas’ breakout junior season that has cast him into National player of the year consideration. Thomas was hitting .448-9-40 with 28 doubles, 77 runs and 24 steals through May 12, after not hitting over .300 his first two seasons. The big difference can be seen in Thomas strikeouts, which have gone from 75 as a freshman to 66 as a sophomore to only 33 in 2007. Thomas credits swing adjustments for his surge and scouts say that he’s much shorter to the ball this year and more consistent in his approach. The extra-base power is real and should remain consistent at the professional level, too. The rest of Thomas’ athletic package is worthy of top round selection. He’s a 6.7 runner with athletic quickness and balance, which gives him plenty of range at second base.

--David Rawnsley

 

   98.   Brian Friday                           SS      Jr.     R-R   5-11     180     Rice U.                                Houston                       Never drafted 12-16-85

DRAFTED BY: Pittsburgh Pirates.

SCOUTING REPORT: Friday has been a steady and sometimes unheralded three-year starter for Rice but has some solid tools that verge into the plus range that could get him drafted in the top five rounds. He’s a quick-twitch athlete who will show plus running speed and above-average arm strength at times. Friday’s combination of quick feet and strong arm give him lots of range at shortstop and he can get to balls that many shortstops can’t. While Friday’s arm strength plays, he still needs to work on throwing accuracy. Offensively, Friday is a polished hitter with a good, slashing approach. He was hitting .332-2-23 in mid-May. He isn’t going to hit with much power but will collect enough doubles to drive in some runs and can steal a base (a team-high 12). Friday is considered a plus makeup player who is going to overachieve and play above his tools.

--David Rawnsley

 

   99.   Eric Niesen                          LHP      Jr.     L-L     6-0     195     Wake Forest U.               New Boston, Mich.     Never drafted     9-4-85

DRAFTED BY: New York Mets.

SCOUTING REPORT: A midseason move to the bullpen was a revelation for Niesen, a Michigan high school product. He achieved marginal results as a starter for two-plus years at Wake Forest with a fastball in the 88-91 mph range, but his velocity suddenly shot up to the mid-90s when he was used in one- or two-inning bursts as a set-up man for closer Josh Ellis. Not only did his velocity spike, but he developed better command and a much better overall feel for pitching. His slider showed more crispness at 83 mph than 78, though lacked consistency. With a low three-quarters arm angle, he dominated hitters—especially lefthanders—with his improved stuff and took an overall 5-5, 3.35 record with 77 strikeouts in 75 innings into post-season play. Niesen projects a bullpen role in pro ball and his bulldog-approach is well-suited.

--Allan Simpson
 

100.   Steven Souza                        3B      Sr.     R-R     6-3     190     Cascade HS                     Everett, Wash.            (Washington State )   4-24-89