WASHINGTON

2007 FOLLOW LIST  

OVERVIEW: Few states have had a shakeup in the priority list of top prospects from start to finish this year quite likeWashington . A number of projected early-rounders in January fell by the wayside, while a handful of sleepers jumped up to take their place. Injuries played a key role in players dropping; so did non-performance. Others became legitimate prospects with significant upgrades in velocity.

 

Washington State outfielder Jared Prince was the state’s top-ranked college prospect at the start of the year, but he played the season with a torn labrum and his performance fell off significantly. Hudson ’s Bay High righthander Greg Peavey was the No. 1 high school talent, but a loss of velocity sent his stock careening out of the first round. However, Washington lefthander Nick Hagadone and Gonzaga righthander Clay Mortensen stepped up in a big way to pick up the slack.

 

Besides Prince, major injuries hurt the chances of Eastlake High righthander Keaton Hayenga (torn labrum) and Jackson High catcher Kawika Emsley-Pai (back surgery), who missed the entire season. Both players were among the four or five best high school prospects in the state at one point or another during their senior years.

 

An interesting side note to the 2007 Washington draft class is the likelihood that the third University of Washington quarterback in two years will be drafted. John DuRocher, who played briefly for the Husky football team in the fall and for the Husky baseball team this spring, is a projected late-round draft. But unlike current Husky starter Jake Locker, an Angels draft in 2006, and former Husky starter Isaiah Stanback, an Orioles draft in 2006, there is strong chance that DuRocher will play professional baseball if he is drafted. Stanback elected not to and was drafted in the fourth round of this year’s NFL draft.

 

STRENGTH: Third basemen.

WEAKNESS: Middle infielders.

OVERALL RATING (1-to-5 scale): 3.

 

Best Out-of-State Prospect, Washington Connection: Mitch Canham, c, Oregon State U. (Attended high school in Lake Stevens ).

Top 2008 Prospect: David Buchanan, c, Auburn HS.

 

Highest Pick, Draft History: Mike Lentz, lhp, Juanita HS, Kirkland (1975, Padres/1^st round, 2^nd pick).

Highest Pick, 2006 Draft: Tim Lincecum, rhp, U. of Washington (Giants/1^st round, 10^th pick).

 

Best College Team: Gonzaga.
Best Junior College Team: Lower Columbia CC.
Best High School Team: Auburn HS.

 

TOP 30 PROSPECTS / By Allan Simpson

 

GROUPS (College, Junior College, High School)

      1   High-round draft (Rounds 1-3; projected first-round pick in boldface type)

      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

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

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

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.