TEXAS

2007 FOLLOW LIST  

OVERVIEW: For Texans used to seeing the first round populated with their native sons, 2007 won’t be a big year. Five players from Texas were among the first 30 picks in both the 2004 and 2005 drafts, and four were chosen in that area in 2006. But if the Angels are successful in signing Grayson County College draft-and-follow righthander Jordan Walden before the draft, Texas has only one sure-fire top 30 pick on the board, Irving High School righthander Blake Beavan.

It’s not that the Lone Star State has a lack of talent this year; it’s just that most of that talent hasn’t stepped up quite enough to warrant serious first-round consideration in this deep draft pool. The compensation round, running a record 34 (or potentially 35) picks this year, might be regarded as the “Texas Round” after the draft given the number of players slotted there. A number of those players, notably Midland Christian High righthander Chris Withrow, Houston Memorial High shortstop Kevin Ahrens, Rice University lefthander Joe Savery and Texas Christian righthander Sam Demel, could slide into the end of the first round.

Savery highlights the group of upper-level Texas players, those who have dropped out of first-round status for most teams. Savery’s Rice teammate, lefthander Cole St. Clair, has battled shoulder problems and TCU’s Jake Arrietta, a solid first-round pick before the spring, lost his curveball. 

Then there is the case of Texas outfielder Kyle Russell, a draft-eligible sophomore who has put up Player of the Year numbers for the Longhorns, including a school-record 26 home runs as of mid-May, but whose swing, track record of contact problems and signability make him a true draft wild card. Texas has two other talented draft-eligible sophomores, third baseman Bradley Suttle and catcher Preston Clark, whose two remaining years could complicate teams’ decisions.

Led by Walden, who reports have throwing 100 mph in his final junior college start, the Texas junior college ranks have their accustomed depth of talent, although no single player has emerged behind Walden as a definite No. 2 prospect. Teams will be busy signing Texas draft-and-follows prior to the draft in this final year of that process.

STRENGTH: Depth of Talent, especially college.
WEAKNESS: Premium prospects, particularly high school.
OVERALL RATING (1-to-5 scale): 4.

Best Out-of-State Prospect, Texas Connection: Jess Todd, rhp, U. of Arkansas (Attended high school in Kilgore, junior college at Navarro JC).
Top 2008 Prospect: Jordan Danks, of, U. of Texas.

Highest Pick, Draft History: David Clyde, lhp, Westchester HS, Houston (1973, Rangers/1^st round, 1^st pick); Matt Anderson, rhp, Rice U. (1997, Tigers/1^st round, 1^st pick).
Highest Pick, 2006 Draft: Brad Lincoln, rhp, U. of Houston (Pirates/1^st round, 4^th pick).

Best College Team: Rice.
Best Junior College Team: San Jacinto JC.
Best High School Team: Katy HS.

TOP 110 PROSPECTS / By David Rawnsley

Groups (College, Junior College, High School)
1.  High-round draft (Rounds 1-3)
2.  Mid-round draft (Rounds 4-10)
3.  Late-round draft (Rounds 11-25)
4.  Chance draft/Player to follow

* Draft and Follow; eligible to sign before 2007 draft.

GROUP ONE