DRAFT 2008
Top 10 Rounds

Round 2 (Picks 47-77)

TAMPA BAY
Rank Player Pos. Class B-T HT WT High School Hometown Commitment B’date
47 Kyle Lobstein LHP Sr. L-L 6-3 180 Coconino Flagstaff, Ariz. Arizona 8/12/1989
SCOUTING REPORT (3/1): Lobstein hadn’t pitched extensively in front of large groups of national scouts prior to this season and could soar up prospect lists when teams bear down on him this spring. The scouts who did see him last summer and fall regarded him as the nation’s best high school lefthander entering the 2008 season. He already has an excellent feel for pitching, with an ability to pound the strike zone, hit spots and move the ball in and out almost at will. As a high school junior, he went 7-2, 0.78 with 71 strikeouts in 46 innings. A solid two-way player, he also hit .576-5-38 as a first baseman. Lobstein is a very athletic, 6-foot-3, 180-pound southpaw with an extremely smooth and effortless delivery. He pitches in the upper 80s now but can touch 91-92 and there is plenty more there as he gets stronger. Lobstein also throws a curveball and changeup, and has plus command potential with all three pitches. If he comes out of the gate in the spring throwing in the low 90s, scouting directors and crosscheckers will be flocking to Flagstaff.—DAVID RAWNSLEY
UPDATE (5/1): Lobstein’s stuff did not blossom this spring, as predicted, and as a result he did not mow down hitters consistently in one of Arizona’s lower high school classifications like he did a year ago. He went 6-2, 1.32 this spring with 11 walks and 75 strikeouts in 42 innings. Poor spring weather and a late start coming out from basketball were partly to blame for Lobstein’s slow start, but he rarely touched even 90—and was consistently 2-5 mph short of the velocity scouts have seen from him in the past. His curveball showed a tight rotation and he had good feel for his changeup. Scouts say his stuff and command are still there—it just didn’t happen for him this spring. He didn’t come close to pitching to the level that lefthander Brian Matusz (a top prospect in this year’s draft from the University of San Diego) did when he was an Arizona high school senior three years ago. Lobstein is still expected to be an early-round pick because of the way he performed in 2007, but it may take a team with extra picks in the early rounds to take feel comfortable taking a run at him.—ALLAN SIMPSON
 
PITTSBURGH
Rank Player Pos. Class B-T HT WT College Hometown Prev. Drafted B’date
48 Tanner Scheppers RHP Jr. R-R 6-4 170 Fresno State Laguna Niguel, Calif. Orioles ’05 (29) 1/17/1987
SCOUTING REPORT (3/1): With a fastball that has been clocked at 97 mph, Scheppers may have the best raw arm strength on the West Coast. He flew largely under the radar until his junior year, however, as he enrolled at Fresno State as predominantly a middle infielder, worked in only 15 innings as a freshman and didn’t pitch anywhere last summer as Fresno State coaches discourage their pitchers from playing summer ball if they exceed 70 innings in the spring. Scheppers worked in 93 innings as a sophomore, making 15 starts after starting the season in the bullpen. He went 7-5, 4.74 with 32 walks and 94 strikeouts. He has barely scratched the surface of his ability, but intrigues scouts as he has a loose, clean, quick arm action, little effort in his delivery and the ball jumps out of his hand. He has good command of his fastball that has good downhill plane and heavy sink. He has also made significant strides on an 86-87 mph slider with cutter action and a hard-spinning, downer 82-84 mph curveball with bite that is an average pitch when he gets out front with it. His changeup, clocked at 81-83 mph, is still in the development stage. He needs to add bulk to his slender frame. A lot will depend on the results he puts up in 2008, but Scheppers could surge solidly into the first round with a productive spring.—ALLAN SIMPSON
UPDATE (5/1): As expected, Scheppers emerged as a premium college arm this spring and gave all indications of being selected in the first 10 picks. His stuff was solid and dependable, with his fastball in the 92-96 mph range in every start. It peaked at 99 mph in his lone relief appearance of the season in early May, when he was used to close out a game. He took his regular turn in the rotation for the finale of a Western Athletic Conference series two days later and threw 136 pitches over 6 2/3 innings, and soon there were rumblings of a sore arm in the scouting community when Scheppers didn’t make his scheduled start the following weekend. Sure enough, he was diagnosed with a stress fracture in his shoulder and was not expected to throw again for up to six weeks—significantly jeopardizing his place in the draft. In all probability, a team will have to get clearance from its medical staff for Scheppers to have any shot of going in the first round any longer. Scheppers threw his slider more consistently for strikes this year as he has assembled an 8-2, 2.93 record with 109 strikeouts in 71 innings. Though he walked 34, his command was not an issue and his average of a walk every two innings is acceptable for a high-velocity pitcher.—AS
 
KANSAS CITY
Rank Player Pos. Class B-T HT WT College Hometown Prev. Drafted B’date
49 Johnny Giavotella 2B Jr. R-R 5-8 185 New Orleans Hanrahan, La. Never drafted 7/10/1987
SCOUTING REPORT (3/1): Giavotella is a tough, scrappy, hard-nosed player who goes all-out on every play. He’s an above-average offensive player who topped the Privateers in hitting (.385), home runs (15) and RBIs (55) in 2007, and also stole 17 bases. He also had a strong freshman season for the Privateers, hitting .348-5-51. Giavotella used to come out of his shoes on almost every swing as a freshman, but has become a more refined, patient hitter. He burst out of the gates this season hitting .453-5-15 through his first 21 games with a sparkling 21-2 walk: strikeout ratio. He is limited to second base defensively—and even at that position his range is limited and his glove inconsistent. But he committed only seven errors as a sophomore and had made only one miscue this season.—ALLAN SIMPSON
UPDATE (5/1): Giavotella appears to have sold scouts that he’s a legitimate prospect with his sheer consistency and performance. He continued to hit for power and average this spring (.369-11-46 in the regular season) while showing some of the best strike-zone judgment in college baseball (48:18 walk-to-strikeout ratio) and stealing bases as needed (a team-high 18). His glove doesn’t get rave reviews but he is sure-handed (only 9 errors) and gets to plenty of balls. He’s even a young junior by draft standards, as he doesn’t turn 21 until July. Players like Giavotella garner lots of comparisons but the one that seems to fit best was by a scout who compared him to Chuck Knoblauch, “without the speed.”—DAVID RAWNSLEY
 
BALTIMORE
Rank Player Pos. Class B-T HT WT High School Hometown Commitment B’date
50 Xavier Avery OF Sr. L-L 6-0 185 Cedar Grove Stockbridge, Ga. Georgia (FB) 1/1/1990
SCOUTING REPORT (3/1): Avery has gained comparisons to Tampa Bay all-star outfielder Carl Crawford for his athletic ability and baseball skills. He is the fastest player in the 2008 draft class, having run a 6.18 over 60 yards at Perfect Game’s National Showcase in Cincinnati last June. A lefthanded hitter like Crawford, Avery has surprising power in his bat and should rack up impressive extra-base hit totals, especially triples, as his offensive game develops. He hit .667 with three homers and 49 stolen bases in 49 attempts as a high school junior. Avery is also an acclaimed football player, picking up more than 1,000 yards rushing and 500 yards receiving as a junior, although he was more highly recruited as a cornerback. He committed to Georgia for football, though baseball remains at the forefront of his future plans. Avery played for the East Cobb Astros last summer. Athleticism runs in the Avery family as his father played Division I basketball and his brother D-I football. He was a 2007 Aflac All-American.—DAVID RAWNSLEY
UPDATE (5/1): Avery hit .561-8-24 with 35 stolen bases this spring, but did not separate himself from two other very athletically-gifted Georgia high school outfielders, Zach Cone and Jay Austin, although in fairness Avery played at a low level of high school baseball and his evaluation should be based on what he’s shown in the summers, which is considerable. His commitment to Georgia for football rather than baseball further complicates matters, however. Avery will be a wild card on draft day.—DR
 
PHILADELPHIA (Choice from Giants/Aaron Rowand)
Rank Player Pos. Class B-T HT WT High School Hometown Commitment B’date
51 Anthony Gose LHP/OF Sr. L-L 6-0 170 Bellflower Bellflower, Calif. Arizona 8/10/1990
SCOUTING REPORT (3/1): Gose ranks right near the top of the 2008 class in raw tools. The 6-foot, 170-pound lefthander has a slender, live greyhound build and 6.5 speed in the 60—speed that he uses very aggressively on the bases. He’s a hard worker who loves to play. His “wow” tool is his arm strength, and Gose put an exclamation point on that by throwing five dominating innings at the World Wood Bat Association fall championship in Jupiter, Fla., in late October, sitting regularly at 94-95 mph. That single performance likely shifted the scouting community from thinking of Gose as primarily an outfielder to a lefthanded pitcher. The major question mark about Gose as an outfielder is his bat. He has a short, compact swing with a line-drive approach, but shows limited instincts for hitting and his bat speed, while good, isn’t nearly at the prospect level that the rest of his tools are.—DAVID RAWNSLEY
UPDATE (5/1): Gose caused quite a stir early in the season on the mound, throwing up to 97 mph and sitting easily at 95 mph, but didn’t throw again after March 10 because of tendonitis in his shoulder. He made it very clear, though, that he wants to play outfield—and not pitch—at the next level. A quote from an April 16 Los Angeles Times story: “If I didn’t have to do it (pitching) again, I wouldn’t even miss it.” While Gose hit well as a DH this spring (.439, 26 BB, 24 SB), scouts clearly feel his future is on the mound.—DR
 
FLORIDA
Rank Player Pos. Class B-T HT WT High School Hometown Commitment B’date
52 Brad Hand LHP/1B Sr. L-L 6-2 205 Chaska Chaska, Minn. Arizona State 3/20/1990
SCOUTING REPORT (3/1): Hand not only is a three-sport star in Minnesota, he’s a two-way prospect on the baseball field. That shouldn’t be a surprise as his father played both football and baseball during college at Iowa State—back when Iowa State played baseball. Hand’s other sports are hockey (22 goals in 27 games as a junior forward) and football (linebacker). Hand’s future on the baseball field is probably on the mound, where he shows surprising polish for a young prospect from the north. Hand’s fastball topped out at 93 mph last summer and he shows good feel for a 76-mph power curveball. His pitching ability is only marginally more advanced that his powerful lefthanded swing at the plate. He went 4-1, 1.69 with 71 strikeouts in 42 innings as a junior while hitting .419 with six home runs.—DAVID RAWNSLEY
UPDATE (5/1): Hand was the big prospect in the Upper Midwest over the last month of the season and was extensively cross-checked. He consistently showed two plus pitches; a fastball that was in the 91-94 mph range and a hard, downer curveball in the upper-70s. His curveball was especially impressive, garnering plenty of “wow”-type comments from national-level scouts, who rated it as one of the top high school breaking balls in the country. Hand’s delivery is not especially smooth and his arm is more powerful than loose, but there is no arguing with the raw stuff that comes out. The first round seems to be a bit high for Hand, but he should certainly be in the mix for teams looking to take a high school pitcher in the comp or second round. Hand went 6-1, 0.45 this spring with 80 K’s and added six home runs.—DR
 
MILWAUKEE (Choice from Reds/Francisco Cordero)
Rank Player Pos. Class B-T HT WT High School Hometown Commitment B’date
53 Seth Lintz RHP Sr. R-R 6-3 185 Marshall County Lewisburg, Tenn Kentucky 2/7/1990
SCOUTING REPORT: As a top-notch student, Lintz was seemingly a safe bet to attend college at Kentucky when the Volunteers recruited and signed him in the NCAA’s early-signing period last November. But that was all before Lintz grew into his frame and had a significant jump in his velocity over the course of the last year. He went from 84-88 mph in the summer, to 88-90 in the fall and all the way to 90-94 this spring, adding sink and run to his fastball in the process. His slider also became a knockout pitch with hard sweep and late break. His changeup is a solid third pitch that creates deception and late fading life. With a vastly-improved repertoire, Lintz went 9-0, 0.85 with 23 walks and 143 strikeouts in 66 innings this spring. The upshot has been a significant jump in his Lintz’ draft standing—from a projected mid-round, unsignable selection to a possible pick in the first two or three rounds.—ALLAN SIMPSON
 
MILWAUKEE (Choice from White Sox/Scott Linebrink)
Rank Player Pos. Class B-T HT WT High School Hometown Commitment B’date
54 Cutter Dykstra SS Sr. R-R 6-0 180 Westlake Thousand Oaks, Ca. UCLA 6/29/1989
SCOUTING REPORT (3/1): Dykstra’s bloodlines are obvious as his father, Lenny, was a 13-year big leaguer and three-time all-star who hit four home runs in the 1993 World Series and once stole 105 bases in a minor league season. His son has a similar, tightly-wound athleticism and high-energy, high-performance style of play. One thing Cutter didn’t inherit was his father’s left-handedness, which enables him to bring his speed and athletic ability to the middle infield. He likes to run, accelerates quickly and is aggressive on the bases. He has been clocked at 6.5 seconds in the 60. Dykstra is sure-handed in the field and plays shortstop now but projects as an offensive-minded second baseman at the next level as his arm may be a little short to play shortstop in the big leagues. He has a contact-oriented, inside-out approach to hitting and yet surprising power in his bat. It’s easy to see him as a huge doubles/triples-type hitter. His best big league comparison might not be his father; he’s more of a Craig Biggio-type athlete.—DAVID RAWNSLEY
UPDATE (5/1): Dykstra enjoyed a strong spring with the bat, and his bat speed and approach impressed scouts. He hit .467-5-18 with 21 walks. Questions still remain about his defense and future position, and he even played a fair amount of center field this spring. There seems to be a core of teams that really like Dykstra, and a similarly-sized group that will be content to have someone else draft him.—DR
 
WASHINGTON
Rank Player Pos. Class B-T HT WT High School Hometown Commitment B’date
55 Destin Hood SS/OF Sr. R-R 6-2 180 St. Paul’s Academy Mobile, Ala. Alabama (FB) 4/3/1990
SCOUTING REPORT (3/1): Hood made his mark at Perfect Game’s National Showcase in Cincinnati last June, then followed up with strong performances in World Wood Bat Association events in July and the Aflac All-American game in August to establish his baseball prospect credentials before returning to football. In Cincinnati, Hood hit a showcase-best six home runs in batting practice and made it look easy as the ball came off his bat differently than almost every other hitter. As one of the top wide receivers in Alabama and a recruiting target of a number of college football powers, his athletic skills are obvious, including 6.4 speed in the 60 and overall strength. But Hood showed baseball skills and actions that, although raw, were more advanced and natural than most two-sport/primary football athletes. As a high school shortstop, Hood hit .517-4-36 with 43 stolen bases as a junior but his best baseball position at the next level will be as a center fielder. Hood was a two-sport, all-state selection as a junior but after last summer it looks like his primary sport may be baseball, not football—though he signed a football scholarship with Alabama.—DAVID RAWNSLEY
UPDATE (5/1): Hood didn’t play all that impressively as a senior, either at the plate or in the field, but scouts were more interested in his tools and raw athletic ability. They stood out in workouts. His bat, in particular, remains one of the best in the entire draft. Balls explode off his bat and he has well above-average power potential. He spent the season at shortstop because of team need, but it’s a given that he will play either left field or center field down the road. The big issue remains signability. It could be an issue if he slides to the third or fourth round, but most observers believe he’ll be gone in the sandwich round, or second round at the latest.—ALLAN SIMPSON
 
HOUSTON
Rank Player Pos. Class B-T HT WT High School Hometown Commitment B’date
56 Jay Austin OF Sr. L-L 6-1 180 North Atlanta Atlanta So. California 8/10/1990
SCOUTING REPORT (3/1): Austin could be a big surprise this spring as scouts bear down on his swing and evaluate his bat speed and offensive potential. There are no questions about his speed, athletic ability and arm strength. Austin could be the fastest player in the 2008 class; he ran the 60 in 6.20 at Perfect Game’s National Showcase in Cincinnati last June and is lightning-quick on the bases. Austin has also been scouted extensively as a pitcher and regularly throws 90 mph off the mound, although he has limited high-level pitching experience. Austin’s swing looks much better during games; he attacks the ball better, swings hard and has a history of hitting quality pitching. Scouts who bear down on his batting practice sessions might end up overanalyzing his offensive game.—DAVID RAWNSLEY
UPDATE (5/1): Austin was excellent this spring, hitting .515-15-43 with 26 stolen bases, and probably has surpassed Xavier Avery as the top high school outfielder in Georgia, although the late emergence of Zach Cone may present a challenge in that regard. Austin is projectable in addition to his obvious speed/arm strength tools, and as long as he’s swinging the bat aggressively scouts can see his bat speed. He did that this spring.—DR
 
TEXAS
Rank Player Pos. Class B-T HT WT High School Hometown Commitment B’date
57 Robbie Ross LHP Sr. L-L 6-0 180 Lexington Christian Nicholasville, Ky. Kentucky 6/24/1989
SCOUTING REPORT (3/1): If the 6-foot, 180-pound Ross was 6-3, 200, scouts might be talking about him as the top lefthanded pitching prospect in the country. They still might before the spring is over. Ross is a very agile, quick-twitch type of athlete in the Mike Hampton-style. He pounds the strike zone with three pitches that show plus quality at times: a 90-92 mph fastball, an 83-mph slider and a low-80s changeup. Ross pretty much uses all three pitches interchangeably and he can work over good hitters pretty quickly. As a high school junior, he went 4-5, 2.95 with 67 strikeouts in 43 innings. The difference athletically between Ross and most prospect pitchers is evident is their choice of secondary sports; Ross is an all-league soccer player when he’s not playing baseball.—DAVID RAWNSLEY
UPDATE (5/1): Ross is the most polished of the Kentucky quartet of top prep prospects, and did the most this spring to live up his reputation. His fastball was in the 88-93 mph range, touching 94, as it has been for two years now, and his ability to pitch at that velocity, hold it deep into games and also command three secondary pitches--a curve, 82-83 mph slider and changeup—sets him apart. He gained the measure of lefthander Nick Maronde, his crosstown rival, in a heavily-scouted game earlier this year when he struck out 14, walked none and gave up an unearned run. On the season, he was 5-1, 1.07 with six walks and 73 strikeouts in 45 innings. The one knock on Ross continues to be his size, and it may knock him down a few pegs on draft boards and relegate him to a set-up role at the pro level.—ALLAN SIMPSON
 
OAKLAND
Rank Player Pos. Class B-T HT WT College Hometown Prev. Drafted B’date
58 Tyson Ross RHP Jr. R-R 6-6 230 California Oakland, Calif. Never drafted 4/22/1987
SCOUTING REPORT (3/1): Ross was Team USA’s most consistent and dependable starter last summer, compiling a 4-1, 0.82 record with a team-high 39 strikeouts and only seven walks in 44 innings. An excellent competitor with athleticism and a feel for pitching, he was as his best when the stakes were highest. He pitches to contact low in the zone and throws all three of his pitches for strikes: a 90-95 mph fastball with excellent sinking action, a late, tight 83-85 mph slider (his strikeout pitch) and an average changeup that is effective against lefthanded hitters. The ball comes out of his hand so easy that it is like he is playing catch, but he also gets good deception in his delivery because of a short arm action and hitters rarely get good swings off him. Ross has the size, stamina and stuff to remain in a starting role, but his delivery and mechanics have been an issue since he was in high school and may suggest a move to the bullpen. He has little extension either at the beginning or end of his arm action and he’s somewhat upright in his delivery and lands tall into a stiff front side. So far, his mechanics have not been a major issue as he did not miss a start in his first two years at Cal—though he did miss a couple of starts early this season with a muscle strain in his right scapular area. He followed up a solid 6-4, 3.19 freshman season for the Bears with an impressive sophomore campaign, when he went 6-6, 2.49 with 39 walks and 120 strikeouts in 116 innings. His summer with Team USA only served to confirm his immediate future is as a starter.—ALLAN SIMPSON
UPDATE (5/1): Ross didn’t consistently dominate this season as he did a year ago, going 7-2, 4.29 with 56 strikeouts in 65 innings, and his early-season injury, unconventional delivery and inconsistent command were hot topics among scouts. Some view him as a legit talent near the end of the first round, others are less certain. He generally pitched well, with the exception of a couple of rocky starts against Pac-10 rivals Southern Cal and Arizona State, when his command deserted him. For the most part, his stuff was consistent. His fastball continued to top out at 95, and the other four pitches in his repertoire—his slider, 85-88 mph cutter, 77-80 mph curve and 81-82 mph changeup—were all solid.—AS
 
ST. LOUIS
Rank Player Pos. Class B-T HT WT College Hometown Prev. Drafted B’date
59 Shane Peterson 1B/OF Jr. L-L 6-0 195 Long Beach State Temecula, Calif. Never drafted 2/11/1988
SCOUTING REPORT (3/1): Peterson was named the Cape Cod League’s all-star utility player last summer, even though he showcased only a portion of his all-around ability. He went 2-2, 4.85 as a regular starter in the Long Beach State rotation last spring, but did not pitch at all during the summer. He split his time between first base (27 games) and the outfield (18 games), while tying for third in the league in hitting at .338 and finishing first with 52 hits. He homered only once while driving in 19 runs, but his setup was geared more to contact and hitting for average than for power. He has a good, balanced approach at the plate and uses the whole field. Peterson is surprisingly strong and has power potential, yet shows considerably more power in BP than he does in games. He is a well-rounded talented. He runs above-average (6.5 in the 60 on Long Beach State’s scout day) and throws well enough to play in the outfield, but he will need to turn on balls more consistently to play any corner position. Though he profiles more for scouts as an outfielder than a first baseman, Peterson spent the 2008 season at first base for the Dirtbags. He was not scheduled to pitch this spring.—ALLAN SIMPSON
UPDATE (5/1): Peterson’s quick, compact, level swing is geared more to doubles and gap power, particularly to the opposite field, but he unleashed some of his raw power potential this spring by hitting seven homers—a significant feat considering Long Beach State plays in a graveyard for power hitters. He also led the 49ers with a .401 average (through mid-May) and showed a patient, disciplined approach to hitting, drawing 40 walks. He proved, beyond a doubt, that he can hit and it’s just a matter of time before his true power potential is unleashed. He’s plenty strong enough to be a power hitter. He has the speed (team-high 10 stolen bases), hands and athleticism to play either left field or first base at the next level.—AS
 
MINNESOTA
Rank Player Pos. Class B-T HT WT Junior College Hometown Prev. Drafted B’date
60 Tyler Ladendorf SS So. R-R 6-2 210 Howard Des Plaines, Ill. Giants ’07 (34) 3/7/1988
SCOUTING REPORT: Ladendorf’s No. 1 asset was always his phenomenal base-stealing ability. He stole a national-high 65 bases in 65 attempts as a freshman at Howard JC last year and was successful on a league-best 18 of 19 attempts last summer in the Texas Collegiate League. He continued to steal at a prolific clip this season, swiping 31 bags in his first 32 attempts but didn’t run as frequently because he didn’t need to. Ladendorf is fast, but doesn’t have game-changing speed. His 60-time is a modest 6.7 seconds. His speed, however, is most evident in the way he uses it to run the bases. He has excellent base-running instincts. He can keep defenses on their toes, as well, when swinging a bat, but his biggest change this year in what became a breakout season of almost historic proportions and could lead to his being selected in the first round of the draft came in his approach at the plate. Ladendorf showed little power in the past in his role as a leadoff hitter, but as a 3-hole hitter with 10-15 pounds of added strength he made adjustments in his swing and approach that enabled him to hit with considerably more power. He always had the size and pull-power ability to drive balls more consistently in the past, but rarely did in games until this season. Not only did he lead the nation in hitting with a gaudy .542 average as Howard advanced to post-season play, but he had 16 home runs (he had one in 2007) and had driven in 82 runs—fourth in the nation. He also had 29 doubles and five triples. His ability to drive the ball to all fields was his biggest improvement this season. He also became a better two-strike hitter and was more aggressive early in the count, but still needs better plate discipline as he rarely walks. Ladendorf is capable of playing almost anywhere in the infield and outfield defensively and did so last summer. He spent all this spring at shortstop and may have proved to doubters that he can play the position on an everyday basis but his soft hands, range, actions and arm strength may be best suited for second base, though his raw speed may profile best in center field. The Giants made a serious run at signing Ladendorf last year after drafting him in the 34th round, but he rejected a reported $180,000 offer. He committed to attend Oklahoma in the fall, but the likelihood of his ever playing at the Division I level is remote as he ranks as the top junior college talent in the country.—ALLAN SIMPSON
 
LOS ANGELES-NL
Rank Player Pos. Class B-T HT WT College Hometown Prev. Drafted B’date
61 Josh Lindblom RHP Jr. R-R 6-5 240 Purdue West Lafayette, Ind. Astros ’05 (3) 6/15/1987
SCOUTING REPORT (3/1): Lindblom was selected in the third round of the 2005 draft by the Houston Astros and is the highest pick from that draft who remains unsigned. He has been used in almost every role possible in his evolving career, but has not dominated as expected. He struggled as a starter in 2006 at Tennessee, went just 3-4, 4.13 with 51 strikeouts in 57 innings in a swing role as a sophomore in the spring after transferring to Purdue, and was just 4-1, 4.46 with two saves as a closer last summer for Cotuit in the Cape Cod League. In 38 innings for the Kettleers, he struck out 47 but walked 20. Lindblom has the stuff and makeup to be used in any role, but seemed to find his comfort zone with a game on the line. His strong, thick body also seems best suited for short bursts. He can throw strikes with a three-pitch mix which includes a fastball that is a consistent 92-94 mph and has exploding life as it approaches the plate. His slider shows promise, but is too inconsistent to be considered an out pitch. He uses a splitter as his changeup. Scouts say Lindblom could blossom as a first-rounder in 2008, but everything will need to come together for him for that to happen.—ALLAN SIMPSON
UPDATE (5/1): Lindblom did pretty much what he needed to do this spring to solidify his draft status. His fastball was consistently in the low- to mid-90s and topped out at 98 mph, while his split-finger change became a legitimate third weapon for him. Lindblom has no problem throwing strikes with any of his pitches and has a country-boy strong type of appearance that leads you to believe he could go out and throw every day and maintain his stuff. Most of the concern about Lindblom centers around how to get him focused as he tends to pitch his best when he’s either angry or challenged, and will often lose concentration and pitch in the middle of the plate. He went 1-2, 3.32 with 12 saves this season, with 44 strikeouts and nine walks in 40 innings. The glut of college relievers in this draft class won’t help Lindblom’s draft slot, but he still figures to be a comp-round/early second-round pick.—DAVID RAWNSLEY
 
MILWAUKEE
Rank Player Pos. Class B-T HT WT College Hometown Prev. Drafted B’date
62 Cody Adams RHP Jr. R-R 6-2 180 Southern Illinois Viola, Ill. Never drafted 11/26/1986
SCOUTING REPORT (3/1): Adams became the first Southern Illinois pitcher in 26 years to win in double digits last spring as he went 11-5, 3.01 with 89 strikeouts and only 22 walks in 108 innings. Even though his fastball was clocked up to 96 mph, Adams flew pretty much under the radar as he embarked on his junior year since he did not play summer ball. But scouts took an immediate liking to him in the fall as his velocity was steadily in the mid-90s and he delivered his fastball consistently for strikes with a loose arm and easy range of motion. He also showed command of an 83-84 mph slider and a changeup, both average pitches by pro standards, with an ability to repeat his three-pitch mix.—ALLAN SIMPSON
UPDATE (5/1): Adams had a three-part season, with a good start, a period in the middle of the spring when he had a dead arm and threw 86-88 mph for a few starts, then a solid finish when he re-established his arm strength and standing as a potential top 3-round prospect. At his best, Adams sits in the 92-94 mph range for an entire game and pitches aggressively with his fastball while mixing in a mid-70s slurve-type breaking ball—some scouts call it a curveball and others say it’s a fastball—plus an occasional changeup. Adams tends to pitch up with his fastball but can get away with it at thie college level, but he challenges hitters and throws strikes. He went 6-4, 3.75 in 96 innings with spring.—DAVID RAWNSLEY
 
TORONTO
Rank Player Pos. Class B-T HT WT High School Hometown Commitment B’date
63 Kenny Wilson OF Sr. R-R 6-1 175 Sickles Tampa Florida 1/30/1990
SCOUTING REPORT: Wilson was perhaps the biggest surprise in the Florida high school ranks this spring as he went from a largely under-recognized junior to a potential top 5 round pick with a scholarship to Florida waiting for him. Wilson’s game is all about speed. He runs the 60 in the 6.4 range, is consistently 3.9-4.0 to first base and has excellent outfield range and instincts. While he doesn’t project much power right now, Wilson has a good, crisp swing and can get the ball into the gaps. Some teams think he is too far away right now with the bat to take a chance on, but others feel that his speed and athletic ability will enable him to develop quickly.—DAVID RAWNSLEY
 
ATLANTA
Rank Player Pos. Class B-T HT WT High School Hometown Commitment B’date
64 Tyler Stovall LHP Sr. L-L 6-1 185 Hokes Bluff Hokes Bluff, Ala. Auburn 12/27/1989
SCOUTING REPORT (3/1): Stovall has one of the most impressive performance resumes of any player in the country. As a junior in 2007 at Hokes Bluff High, he set Alabama state records for wins and strikeouts by going 18-1, 0.45 with 227 strikeouts in 104 innings. Stovall also hit .529-13-63, for good measure. A 6-foot-1, 185-pound southpaw, he throws in the upper 80s and will touch 90 occasionally. The pitch has tailing action down in the strike zone. Stovall also has a good feel for a curveball, his out pitch, and a changeup with a screwball effect. He has a high-energy delivery that creates deception but doesn’t hamper his control. At this point in his development, he is considered a crafty lefthander but that could change as he picks up velocity with added strength.—DAVID RAWNSLEY
UPDATE (5/1): Stovall, who has worked with Hokes Bluff pitching coach and former big league righthander Steve Shields for the better part of a decade, wasn’t regarded as a potential first-round pick prior to this season, despite his record-setting resume. But he elevated his fastball to the 90-92 mph range this spring, touching 93, giving him a second plus pitch. When combined with his excellent feel for pitching and competitive zeal, it gave him all the ingredients necessary to be one of the first 50-75 picks in June. Scouts, however, question his arm action. He cuts himself off out front and lands stiff on his front side. It leads him to overthrow occasionally, causing his fastball to straighten out. Stovall went 13-1, 1.01 with 174 strikeouts as a senior to stretch his state record for wins to 53 and strikeouts to 669. He also batted .488-6-32 and his dominance both at the plate and on the mound were the contributing factor in Hokes Bluff winning a sixth straight 3-A state title. Stovall won’t be a slam dunk to sign, even if he is drafted in the early rounds, as he is a top student (he was his class valedictorian) and relishes the idea of playing both ways at the college.—ALLAN SIMPSON
 
CHICAGO-NL
Rank Player Pos. Class B-T HT WT College Hometown Prev. Drafted B’date
65 Aaron Shafer RHP Jr. L-R 6-5 205 Wichita State Moscow Mills, Mo. Indians ’05 (16) 12/2/1986
SCOUTING REPORT (3/1): All signs pointed to the 6-foot-5, 215-pound Shafer being the ace of Falmouth’s talented pitching staff last summer in the Cape Cod League after he went 8-2, 2.23 with 23 walks and 90 strikeouts in 85 innings during the spring at Wichita State. But Shafer missed several starts for the Shockers late in the spring with a tender elbow and he never found his groove with the Commodores. In 38 innings, he went 2-2, 4.26 and walked 19 while striking out just 30. Shafer’s fastball, a customary 88-92 mph with explosive life and heavy sink, was only in the 86-88 range and occasionally would touch 90. His pinpoint command also deserted him. Shafer is normally at his best with a lot at stake and still showed a capacity to pitch even without his best fastball and inability to locate consistently. He relied mostly on an outstanding changeup, his best pitch, and three-pitch mix to get key outs. Shafer lacks the raw stuff and mid-90s fastball like former Shocker first-round arms like Darren Dreifort and Braden Looper, but his arm works well. He also has excellent makeup and feel for pitching. A 16th-round selection out of a Missouri high school in 2005, he could easily shoot back up draft boards this spring—possibly into the first round.—ALLAN SIMPSON
UPDATE (5/1): Shafer had what has become his typical season for the Shockers: 10-3, 2.74 in 89 innings entering NCAA tournament play. He became more and more of a pitcher during his three years, and now will rarely show the low 90s fastball he regularly had on display as a freshman. Shafer has three solid-average pitches and a proven ability to use them, which gives him value in the top five rounds of the draft, but his lack of a plus pitch or plus velocity could push him down a bit from where teams once had him slotted. He threw much better late in the season, up to 88-91 mph. A good present comparison for Shafer would be former Shockers starter, Travis Banwart, a fourth-round selection in 2007.—DAVID RAWNSLEY
 
SEATTLE
Rank Player Pos. Class B-T HT WT College Hometown Prev. Drafted B’date
66 Dennis Raben OF/1B Jr. L-L 6-3 218 Miami Hollywood, Fla. Mariners ’05 (49) 7/31/1987
SCOUTING REPORT (3/1): With a balanced, coordinated approach at the plate; an easy, rhythmic swing; and excellent natural strength with wood, Raben had the best raw power in the Cape Cod League last summer. The ball sounded a little crisper coming off his bat than anyone else’s, and he hit the ball with authority to all fields. Though a lot of teams started to pitch around him as his reputation as a legitimate power hitter grew, Raben displayed good pitch recognition and was rarely fooled at the plate—though he did fan 44 times on the season. But he also hit .298-6-35, tying for the league lead in RBIs, and hit a three-run homer in the all-star game off the league’s premier lefthander, Falmouth’s Christian Friedrich. Raben also put on an impressive show in the league’s Home Run Derby earlier in the day—launching numerous tape-measure shots. As a sophomore at Miami, Raben hit a modest .280-12-48 with 57 strikeouts and most of his power was only to the pull side. He clearly elevated his stock with his breakout summer, but will need to step up his performance this spring in college to solidify his status as a first-round talent. He missed the early portion of the 2008 season with a minor back injury. With Yonder Alonso, another top hitting prospect and potential first-rounder firmly entrenched at first base at Miami, Raben has been forced to play the outfield for the Hurricanes and will continue to so in 2008. Though he may be better suited for first base because of his big, thick build, Raben is surprisingly athletic, runs well for his size and gets good jumps on balls, though his arm is just marginal. He may end up at first base in the long run, but he has enough juice in his bat to play anywhere. Raben has pitched on occasion at Miami, but will not do so in 2008 in order to concentrate on hitting only.—ALLAN SIMPSON
UPDATE (5/1): Raben missed a large amount of time early in the spring with back problems and showed only flashes of the power and hitting ability he displayed in the Cape last summer. Last summer’s showing had Raben firmly in the first round, though, and he shouldn’t slide too far from there. He was hitting .311-8-40 with 27 walks in 37 starts through games of May 15.—DAVID RAWNSLEY
 
DETROIT
Rank Player Pos. Class B-T HT WT College Hometown Prev. Drafted B’date
67 Cody Satterwhite RHP Jr. R-R 6-5 200 Mississippi Jackson, Miss. Indians ’05 (37) 1/27/1987
SCOUTING REPORT (3/1): Satterwhite was a hot commodity coming out of a Mississippi high school in 2005, but made it clear to scouts that he wanted to attend college and he became a draft afterthought. With an electric arm and a fastball that has been clocked as high as 99 mph, he again ranks as a potential first-round pick. Satterwhite has the temperament to close and spent his first two years at Ole Miss in relief (4-4, 3.31 with four saves in 2007) and was Team USA’s primary closer last summer (1-0, 2.55 with four saves). But he has always preferred to start and was being used as Ole Miss’ Saturday starter in 2008, combining with junior righthander Lance Lynn, another potential first-rounder, to give the Rebels a dominant 1-2 punch at the top of the rotation. Satterwhite has the best stuff on the Rebels staff with a fastball that comfortably sits at 94-97 mph and a hard 77-78 mph curveball. His biggest challenge will be carrying his stuff deep into games, commanding his breaking ball and refining a changeup. He also needs to repeat his delivery more consistently. He tends to rush his delivery and muscle up on his fastball, leaving balls up in the zone on the arm side and causing his fastball and breaking ball to flatten out. When he stays behind the ball consistently, he is more likely to keep the ball down in the zone, increasing his effectiveness. He has an excellent pitcher’s build with a clean, loose, quick arm and extension at both ends.—ALLAN SIMPSON
UPDATE (5/1): Satterwhite was inconsistent in his role as a starter this spring—and was even bumped to Sunday in the rotation when he struggled with his stuff and command early in the season. He generally showed first-round stuff as the season moved along with a 92-95 mph fastball and an improving slider and curve, but the results were not first-round quality as he went just 3-5, 5.01 with 32 walks and only 49 walks in 65 innings through the regular season. Though he was dominant at times as a starter with his live, quick arm, scouts were perplexed whether he projects as a starter down the road, or may be better suited in a relief role.—AS
 
NEW YORK-NL
Rank Player Pos. Class B-T HT WT High School Hometown Commitment B’date
68 Javier Rodriguez OF Sr. R-R 6-2 165 P.R. Baseball Academy Caguas, P.R.   4/4/1990
SCOUTING REPORT (3/1): Rodriguez has the type of well-proportioned, athletic, projectable frame that scouts want to see in a young outfielder. He is 6-foot-2 and 165 pounds, but has a wide frame that should fill out very well. Rodriguez' throwing arm, his best tool, and range are both very good. While he plays center field now, he might project better in right field as he fills out and gets stronger. His speed is a shade below average. Rodriguez is a line-drive hitter with gap-to-gap power and good bat speed that should just keep improving with strength. He has trouble with breaking stuff and lacks instincts. Rodriguez plays and attends school at the Puerto Rico Baseball Academy, the home of many of Puerto Rico's top young players.—DAVID RAWNSLEY
UPDATE (5/1): Rodriguez has been outstanding this spring and was the MVP of the Excellence Games in early May. His performance there, which included blasting two long home runs, running 6.8 in the 60 and 4.27 down the line, and showing a plus throwing arm, may have vaulted him above Antonio Jimenez and Daniel Ortiz as the top Puerto Rican prospect in the 2008 draft class. Also on Rodriguez’ side is that he’s still slender and projectable and will keep improving.--DR
 
SAN DIEGO
Rank Player Pos. Class B-T HT WT College Hometown Prev. Drafted B’date
69 James Darnell 3B/OF Jr. R-R 6-2 195 South Carolina Danville, Calif. Never drafted 1/19/1987
SCOUTING REPORT (3/1): Though not as highly publicized as his South Carolina teammates Justin Smoak and Reese Havens, Darnell gives the Gamecocks a third infielder who will be a high-round pick in the 2008 draft, possibly even a first-rounder. Darnell hit only .250 for Hyannis in his second season in the Cape Cod League last summer and may never hit for average as he has a long swing, but he drilled eight home runs (one off the league lead), and also went deep to the opposite field in the league all-star game. As a sophomore at South Carolina, he hit .331-19-63, tying Smoak for the team lead in homers. Darnell is a complete package, but power is understandably his best tool. He attacks balls when he gets a pitch he can drive, and hit balls that left the park as quickly as any player on the Cape last summer. He also took more balls out of Fenway Park than any Cape Leaguer when the Boston Red Sox honored the league all-stars and invited them to take BP prior to a Red Sox game. Darnell has above-average arm strength and adapted well to playing third base in 2007, both in college and summer ball, after spending the previous year in the outfield. He has good hands for the hot corner, but lacks the desired lateral quickness going to his left and right.—ALLAN SIMPSON
UPDATE (5/1): Darnell was essentially the same player this spring that he was a year ago, though he gained an extra year of experience playing third base. Scouts aren’t convinced yet that he will remain there long-term, but his hands and arm strength are adequate. His superior athleticism and willingness to learn and figure things out will enable him to play a variety of positions, possibly even catcher, if a team is inclined to move him off the hot corner. Darnell hit .315 with 18 homers (entering the SEC tournament), comparable numbers to 2007, and he led the Gamecocks and SEC with 77 RBIs. He developed a reputation as a streak hitter this spring, and had two three-home run games. One of the best power-hitting prospects in the entire draft, he has the potential to hit a lot of home runs down the road as he has excellent bat speed and gets good extension in his swing.—AS
 
ATLANTA (Compensation for Josh Fields, unsigned pick, 2007)
Rank Player Pos. Class B-T HT WT High School Hometown Commitment B’date
70 Zeke Spruill RHP Sr. R-R 6-4 190 Kell Marietta, Ga. Georgia 9/11/1989
SCOUTING REPORT (3/1): Spruill has been probably the most celebrated and most dominant 2008 pitcher in World Wood Bat Association events over the past few years, winning Most Valuable Pitcher honors in at least two national championship tournaments and generally proving unhittable for the East Cobb program. He is long and lean at 6-foot-4 and 190 pounds with an extended mid three-quarters release point and a fastball that is presently 89-91 mph, touches 93 and projectable. His out-pitch is usually a big Frisbee slider at 80 mph. What really stands out about Spruill is his ability to pound the strike zone at his age with power stuff. As a 16-year-old in the final game of the 2006 WWBA World Underclass Championship, Spruill threw 45 pitches in five shutout innings, 41 of which were strikes. In fact, he didn’t throw a ball until the third inning, some 22 pitches into the game. He pitched at Georgia’s Etowah High through his junior year but transferred to Kell High, which is adjacent to the East Cobb complex, for his senior year.—DAVID RAWNSLEY
UPDATE (5/1): Spruill had a solid spring (8-1, 2.63 with eight walks and 61 strikeouts in 48 innings) for nationally-ranked Kell High, bumping his fastball up to 95 mph and maintaining plus velocity consistently, with a corresponding bump in the power in his slider. If not for the unexpected development of his summer/fall teammate Ethan Martin as a pitcher, Spruill would be the top high school pitching prospect in this talent-rich state.—DR
 
PHILADELPHIA
Rank Player Pos. Class B-T HT WT High School Hometown Commitment B’date
71 Jason Knapp RHP Sr. R-R 6-5 235 North Hunterdon Annandale, N.J. North Carolina 8/31/1990
SCOUTING REPORT (3/1): Knapp has ridden the prospect roller coaster for the last two years and appears poised to potentially hit a high point again this spring. He emerged before his junior year as a big-framed, mature righthander who was throwing up to 93 mph with a live, quick, loose arm. Knapp gained a lot of weight as a junior, lost his feel for pitching and went a so-so 4-3, 1.89 with just 62 strikeouts in 53 innings, but has rededicated himself and looked very good at the World Wood Bat Association fall championship in Jupiter, Fla., in late October. He again was throwing 93 mph but with less effort and more feel, and his curveball and changeup looked like promising pitches. Improved command will be the key to his success going forward. Knapp’s three-pitch strikeout of top prospect Tim Beckham in Jupiter, with hundreds of scouts watching, was a loud statement: 81 changeup down, 93 fastball inside corner, 92 fastball two inches off the outside corner—all called strikes.—DAVID RAWNSLEY
UPDATE (5/1): Knapp still rides a bit of the roller coaster, as he didn’t bring his A-list stuff to every outing this spring, but he proved himself to scouts and could be the top draftee in the state after signability issues are factored in. Knapp touched 96 mph this spring and worked consistently in the 90-93 mph area. His arm works very smoothly and the velocity comes with little effort and is maintained from the stretch. Knapp needs more consistency with his breaking ball, which he tends to get under at times.—DR
 
COLORADO
Rank Player Pos. Class B-T HT WT College Hometown Prev. Drafted B’date
72 Charlie Blackmon OF/LHP Jr. L-L 6-4 200 Georgia Tech Suwanee, Ga. Red Sox ’05 (20) 7/1/1986
SCOUTING REPORT (3/1): A two-time draft pick as a pitcher capable of topping 90 mph before arriving at Georgia Tech as a junior-college transfer, Blackmon was bothered by a sore elbow and worked only one inning for the Yellow Jackets in 2007 as a junior. Blackmon is a well-rounded athlete and put his hitting skills to use last summer in the Texas Collegiate League, leading Colleyville with a .316 average, and returned to Georgia Tech for his red-shirt junior year as primarily a hitter—not just any hitter, but possibly the best pure hitter on the Georgia Tech roster. He has exceptionally strong wrists and his bat gets in and out of the hitting zone in a hurry. He also runs unusually well and has been clocked down the line in 4.0 seconds. If he hits as expected, he could surge into the top rounds of this year’s draft.—ALLAN SIMPSON
UPDATE (5/1): Blackmon was one of the pleasant surprises in college baseball this season as he overcame not hitting for three years to make a successful conversion to the outfield. Blackmon looks the part of a major leaguer in uniform with his lean strength and overall athletic ability. He has easy plus speed (21 steals this spring) and scouts say that his power and raw bat speed could make him a dual threat power/speed player at the upper levels. One of the most impressive things about Blackmon’s season (.382-8-39, 62 runs entering the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament) is his ability to control the bat head after not hitting for so long. He had only 21 strikeouts in 263 plate appearances.—DAVID RAWNSLEY
 
ARIZONA
Rank Player Pos. Class B-T HT WT College Hometown Prev. Drafted B’date
73 Bryan Shaw RHP Jr. R-R 6-1 210 Long Beach State Livermore, Calif. Never drafted 11/8/1987
SCOUTING REPORT (3/1): Shaw was dominant as a closer for Long Beach State as a sophomore, going 6-2, 2.39 with 11 saves, and continued to be effective in that role in the summer for Chatham of the Cape Cod League. He went 2-0, 3.15 with seven saves while striking out 34 and walking just seven in 20 innings, and limiting hitters to a .162 average. Scouts said he could have been even more effective if he had a better grasp of just how good he can be and was better prepared for his role. He can blow hitters away with a fastball in the 92-96 mph range but would often want to toy with a substandard split-finger, his third best pitch, or 80-84 mph slider. His slider has a tight, three-quarters plane and shows signs of being a dominant pitch. Shaw is generally around the plate with all his pitches.—ALLAN SIMPSON
UPDATE (5/1): Shaw walked just five in 27 innings this spring, while striking out 33 and going 2-1, 1.32 with six saves. Long Beach State has had its share of pitchers drafted in the early rounds in the last 10 years and Shaw has as much arm speed as any of them. He just needs to develop better command, be more consistent in throwing first-pitch strikes with his secondary stuff and learn to pitch inside more. The 2008 draft is especially deep in college closers, and Shaw ranks with almost any of them.—AS
 
LOS ANGELES-A
Rank Player Pos. Class B-T HT WT High School Hometown Commitment B’date
74 Tyler Chatwood RHP/OF Sr. R-R 6-0 175 Redlands East Valley Yucaipa, Calif. UCLA 12/16/1989
SCOUTING REPORT (3/1): Chatwood can pretty much lay claim to being the most versatile player in the country, now that he has started catching—and even pitching—on a regular basis. Before his conversion behind the plate, the conversation was whether the 6-foot, 175-pound Chatwood was an outfielder, an infielder or an undersized pitcher. He’s still all of those things but the UCLA signee could really shoot up draft lists in a shallow year for catchers if he can quickly adapt behind the plate, where he combines a quick release and deadly accuracy. His athletic ability and quickness, not to mention his speed, will be a huge asset as a catcher. Chatwood is a 6.6 runner in the 60 who is also capable of throwing in the mid-90s from the outfield. Offensively, Chatwood is a leadoff type who has a slashing alley-to-alley approach at the plate and plenty of bat speed. He is capable of turning on the best fastballs in the country. Interest in Chatwood as a pitcher is also on the rise, giving scouts another dimension to explore. His fastball was clocked at 94 mph in the fall and scouts caught him up to 97 early this season. Few players combine Chatwood’s playable tools and aptitude for the game.—DAVID RAWNSLEY
UPDATE (5/1): Chatwood is yet another player with the player/pitcher split in his evaluation. As an undersized righthander, scouts would normally shy away from him on the mound but his mid 90-s fastball and aggressive approach to pitching have been impressive. He went 8-0, 0.61 with 65 K’s in 34 innings on the mound this spring, while hitting .519-1-21 with 18 stolen bases. The question with Chatwood as a player is what position he fits best—center field, middle infield or catcher.—DR
 
NEW YORK-AL
Rank Player Pos. Class B-T HT WT College Hometown Prev. Drafted B’date
75 Scott Bittle RHP Jr. R-R 6-2 185 Mississippi Texarkana, Texas Yankees ’07 (48) 8/27/1986
SCOUTING REPORT: On performance alone, there wasn’t a pitcher in college baseball this season that dominated quite like Bittle. He went 5-1, 1.48 with seven saves for the Rebels, but his other numbers were off the charts. In 54 regular-season innings, he allowed just 21 hits—not only resulting in a meager .116 opponent batting average but a hits-to-nine innings ratio of 3.45, easily the best in Division I. His 99 strikeouts represented a nine-inning yield of 16.27, also the best in Division I by a considerable margin. His overall stuff has improved significantly from a year ago, when he was a late-round draft pick of the Yankees, but the pitch that area scouts referred to as “nasty” and “unhittable” was his cut fastball. The pitch was effective at 80-84 mph a year ago, when he went 2-5, 2.79 with seven saves and 59 strikeouts in 42 innings, but it became a significant weapon this season when it topped out at 87-88. Bittle’s other stuff also showed a marked improvement, with his four-seam fastball improving 3-4 mph to 90-91. The greatest improvement in his stuff might have come with his changeup, which he messed with in the bullpen a year ago but became an equalizer pitch this season, giving Bittle three legitimate pitches.—ALLAN SIMPSON
 
CLEVELAND
Rank Player Pos. YR B-T HT WT High School Hometown Commitment B’date
76 Trey Haley RHP Sr. R-R 6-4 185 Central Heights Nacogdoches, Texas Rice 6/21/1990
SCOUTING REPORT (3/1): Even as he transferred from San Augustine High to Central Heights High for his senior year, Haley hadn’t traveled much outside of southeast Texas to play baseball before last summer. He is pretty well known to local area scouts, however. The rest of the baseball scouting world found out about the long and loose, 6-foot-4, 185-pounder at Perfect Game’s National Showcase in Cincinnati in June, when Haley threw 91-95 mph with excellent life and downward plane on his fastball for that type of velocity. He has a loose, quick arm and the ball leaves Haley’s hand effortlessly. His curveball didn’t have the type of velocity you’d expect for his arm speed/strength, topping out at 74 mph, but it had a very sharp and tight break to it. The pitch has since been clocked at 76-78 mph. A 79-80 mph changeup with late, tumbling action is a deceptive pitch out of his hand. He can pound the strike zone with all three pitches. Haley doesn’t live the “top prospect” life style, as he plays outfield, is a quarterback in the fall for his football team and even took two weeks off during the middle of last summer to travel internationally. He is an excellent student who has committed to Rice.—DAVID RAWNSLEY
UPDATE (5/1): Haley was as expected this spring, pitching up to 95 mph on his fastball and throwing a higher-velocity curveball with the same tight spin and bite to it. He went 8-2, 1.55 this spring with 98 strikeouts in 50 innings. He is from the same part of Southeast Texas as Boston Red Sox sensation Clay Buchholz, and there are natural frequent comparisons between the two, as they are also physically very similar at the same age. Still, you don’t hear Haley’s name mentioned as often at the upper ends of the draft as you’d expect with someone with his ability, and it might be because of the whole package of his academics and the Rice scholarship.—DR
 
BOSTON
Rank Player Pos. Class B-T HT WT High School Hometown Commitment B’date
77 Derrik Gibson SS Sr. R-R 6-1 170 Seaford Seaford, Del. North Carolina 12/5/1989
SCOUTING REPORT (3/1): Gibson performed at a high level all of last summer but it wasn’t until the World Wood Bat Association fall championship in Jupiter, Fla., in late October that scouts truly appreciated his tools. He has always been considered a slick-fielding shortstop with range and plus instincts but his bat speed, running speed and offensive potential are now recognized due to the four doubles and two triples he hit for the Orioles Scout Team in a near-MVP performance. He is mainly a singles and doubles hitter, but will hit his share of triples as he has power to the alleys and can run. Gibson has never been timed in the 60 at a Perfect Game event but he was clocked at 6.61 seconds last summer at the East Coast Pro Showcase and has game-changing speed. He can absolutely fly going from first to third, has great base-running instincts and stolen-base potential. He is a fun player to watch. Gibson is related to former major league star Delino DeShields and you can see the athletic resemblance. He hit .491-1-19 with 15 stolen bases as a high school junior and was 7-1, 1.38 on the mound with 108 strikeouts in 56 innings as an upper-80s righthander. His present arm strength is just adequate by shortstop standards and may be better suited for second base, but it figures to improve through natural progression.—DAVID RAWNSLEY
UPDATE (5/1): All the gains that Gibson appeared to make towards becoming an elite prospect last summer and fall may have been squandered this spring as he did not perform to the level scouts expected—or even close. He had positioned himself as a possible second-rounder but only his speed, always his best tool, played to an acceptable level this spring. His bat was light as he did not drive balls consistently to the gaps, like he specialized in doing a year ago. He often got tied up by high-velocity fastballs and adopted more of a passive inside-out approach to hitting. His actions in the field were rough and inconstant, and his arm showed little life and below-average velocity. More than anything, he did not play the game with a bounce in his step. But his athleticism, raw tools and excellent speed all hold too much promise for scouts to walk away from.—ALLAN SIMPSON