| TAMPA BAY |
| Rank |
Player |
Pos. |
Class |
B-T |
HT |
WT |
College |
Hometown |
Prev. Drafted |
B’date |
| 233. |
Anthony Scelfo |
OF/SS |
Jr. |
L-R |
5-10 |
190 |
Tulane |
New Orleans |
Never drafted |
9-19-86 |
| SCOUTING REPORT: Scouts will first have to figure
out the football equation with Scelfo before determining his draft status, as
he was Tulane’s starting quarterback the last nine games of the 2007 season and
threw for 1,396 yards and six touchdowns. Football is in the family blood, as
his father, Frank, is the offensive coordinator at Louisiana Tech and Scelfo
was recruited to Tulane by his uncle, Chris, Tulane’s head coach from
1999-2006. But Scelfo has shown his desire for baseball by playing the last two
summers in the Clark Griffith League instead of preparing for the football
season. There also is the reality of his being a 5-foot-10 quarterback. Scelfo
played some shortstop this spring, in addition to the outfield and hit
.322-11-46 with 53 walks, but projects in the outfield professionally. He has
some juice in his bat, plus speed and can play all three outfield positions.—DAVID
RAWNSLEY |
| |
| PITTSBURGH |
| Rank |
Player |
Pos. |
Class |
B-T |
HT |
WT |
College |
Hometown |
Prev. Drafted |
B’date |
| 234. |
Jeremy Farrell |
1B/3B |
Jr. |
R-R |
6-3 |
210 |
Virginia |
Westlake, Ohio |
Rockies ’05 (41) |
11-11-86 |
| SCOUTING REPORT (3/1): If the Boston Red Sox show
an unusually keen interest in Farrell, it may be because his father John is the
team’s pitching coach. More than any club, the Red Sox have a history of
drafting players with a connection. In the recent past, they’ve drafted the
sons of Red Sox managers Terry Francona and Jimy Williams, and coaches Brad
Mills and Joe Kerrigan, not to mention Triple-A manager Ron Johnson. Farrell
has been banged up his first two seasons at Virginia and played in only 25
games last spring because of a nagging forearm injury; in 73 games, he has hit
a combined .340-4-48. In two summers in the Cape Cod League, he has mustered
together lackluster.180-4-12 and .191-2-23 seasons. Farrell has shown flashes
of run-producing ability and can drive balls to the gaps, but he pulled just
one home run in his first two seasons at Virginia. His chances of emerging as a
legitimate prospect, befitting his 6-foot-3, 210-pound frame, will depend
mostly on his aptitude to generate pull-side power, an area he worked on
extensively with positive results in fall practice. Farrell has divided his
time on the infield corners in spring and summer competition, and was scheduled
to play first base only for the Cavaliers in 2008. He is most advanced
defensively at that position. His athleticism, however, enables him to play
almost any position on the field and it’s possible he will end up at third base
or the outfield in pro ball. He has soft hands to play third, but his arm is
inconsistent at the position. As the son of a coach and former big leaguer,
Farrell has an extremely advanced sense of how to play the game.—ALLAN
SIMPSON |
| UPDATE (5/15): As his more heavily-scouted
teammates spun their wheels this spring, Farrell assembled the best season on
the Virginia roster. He not only settled in as a full-time first baseman but
finally hit for power befitting the position and a player his size. He led the
Cavaliers with 11 homers and 51 RBIs (entering NCAA tournament play), and was
hitting .320 though had 47 strikeouts in 200 at-bats. His swing mechanics were
much improved this season, enabling him to hit with more pull power, but there
is still some concern whether he has enough bat speed to hit for consistent
power down the road. It will be surprising if he is not drafted by the Red Sox,
any time after the fifth round.—AS |
| |
| KANSAS CITY |
| Rank |
Player |
Pos. |
Class |
B-T |
HT |
WT |
High School |
Hometown |
Commitment |
B’date |
| 235. |
Malcom Culver |
SS/RHP |
Sr. |
R-R |
6-2 |
185 |
Palmdale |
Palmdale, Calif. |
San Diego State |
2-9-90 |
| SCOUTING REPORT: Scouts ventured out to Palmdale
to see righthander Michael Tonkin, but often ended up just as excited about
Culver. He projects to fill out with 6-foot-2, 185-pound and likely will move
to a corner position in the future as he is a below-average runner. But his arm
strength and power projection support the move. Culver has sure hands and an
easy arm with carry, so third base is a definite possibility. He has a loose,
line-drive swing with present gap-to-gap power. He hit .513-6-29 this spring
with a solid 24:6 walk-to-strikeout ratio, and he also went 5-0, 1.63 on the
mound pitching behind Tonkin.—DAVID RAWNSLEY |
| |
| BALTIMORE |
| Rank |
Player |
Pos. |
Class |
B-T |
HT |
WT |
High School |
Hometown |
Commitment |
B’date |
| 236. |
Bobby Bundy |
RHP |
Sr. |
R-R |
6-2 |
215 |
Sperry |
Sperry, Okla. |
Arkansas |
1-13-90 |
| SCOUTING REPORT (3/1): Bundy is a wide-shouldered
and strong 6-foot-2, 215-pound power pitcher and power-hitting third baseman.
He threw up to 94 mph at Perfect Game’s National Showcase last summer from a
low-effort delivery and an easy arm action, and looks like the type who could
put up some very impressive velocity numbers down the road. In fact, the
velocity might come as soon as Bundy is at the next level. His bat is also a
significant weapon, but may play only at the college level. Also of concern
will be the wear on his arm. Bundy went 15-2 as a sophomore in leading Sperry
High to a state championship, throwing 14 innings over three games in the state
finals. He then came back last spring to go 16-1, 0.96 with 177 strikeouts. He
struck out 21 hitters in 12 innings in the state semifinal game. He also played
football and basketball in high school, so becoming a pitcher-only baseball
player on a regular workload might really make a difference. He gets impressive
sinking action on his fastball and his 75-76 mph curveball is a two-plane power
breaking ball that he can use as a second out-pitch. His changeup is a work in
progress. Bundy likes to hit and has a strong, aggressive, uppercut swing. He
has active actions at third with good technique and steady hands. His throws
across the diamond have on-line carry and velocity.—DAVID RAWNSLEY |
| UPDATE (5/15): Bundy suffered a torn ACL in
December playing basketball, but was incredibly able to return to baseball in
about half the normal recovery time for that injury, albeit with a large knee
brace that held him back at times. One benefit of the injury was that Bundy
didn’t get the extensive work load this spring that he’s been accustomed to. He
threw only 54 innings with his usual dominance (9-1, 0.80, 111 strikeouts) and
also hit .542-10-42 to lead Sperry High to its second 3-A state championship in
three years. As a two-way player (which he would likely continue doing at
Arkansas) and three-sport star, Bundy has never given his full efforts to
pitching and his knee injury has further complicated matters.--DR |
| |
| SAN FRANCISCO |
| Rank |
Player |
Pos. |
Class |
B-T |
HT |
WT |
College |
Hometown |
Prev. Drafted |
B’date |
| 237. |
Scott Barnes |
LHP |
Jr. |
L-L |
6-4 |
190 |
St. John’s |
Springfield, Mass. |
Nationals ’05 (43) |
9-5-87 |
| SCOUTING REPORT (3/1): Barnes has made a lot of
strides in his evolution as a pitcher since he was offered $200,000 to sign out
of a Massachusetts high school in 2005. He went 7-2, 2.93 with 99 strikeouts in
95 innings as a sophomore at St. John’s. He sought to continue his development
during the summer in the Cape Cod League but left in the middle of his second
start with tendonitis and was shut down for the season. Tall and lanky with a
loose, quick, power arm, Barnes’ fastball explodes at 90-93 mph with slight
tailing action to the first base side. He also has a slurve-like breaking ball
but still needs to refine his circle changeup. He maintains a good arm slot and
speed on the pitch, but it lacks fade or sinking action. Barnes’ three-quarters
delivery also needs cleaning up as he throws with a slinger-like arm action. He
has a focused, confident, high-energy approach to pitching with good
pitchability and projects as a starter in pro ball—providing his changeup
continues to develop.—ALLAN SIMPSON |
| UPDATE (5/15): Barnes’ velocity was up and down
most of this spring, ranging from 87-91 mph, but he started throwing his
fastball by hitters more consistently later in the year when it reached 92-93
mph. His command of the pitch was better, too, and he mixed in a near-average
slider and a fair change, which he didn’t throw very often. As the leader of
St. John’s deep pitching staff, he went 7-3, 3.69 with 45 walks and a team-high
90 strikeouts in 90 innings. Long-time area scouts compared his frame, stuff
and approach to pitching to former St. John’s lefthander and ex-big leaguer
C.J. Nitkowski, the ninth overall pick in the 1994 draft. While there were
questions early in the season whether Barnes justified his status as the
state’s top prospect, he solidified himself late in the season as a solid
second- or third rounder—possibly even a sandwich pick of his home-state Boston
Red Sox, if that club makes drafting a player with local ties a priority.—AS |
| |
| FLORIDA |
| Rank |
Player |
Pos. |
Class |
B-T |
HT |
WT |
High School |
Hometown |
Commitment |
B’date |
| 238. |
Isaac Galloway |
OF |
Sr. |
R-R |
6-3 |
190 |
Los Osos |
Rancho Cuca., Calif. |
San Diego State |
10-10-89 |
| SCOUTING REPORT (3/1): Galloway is what scouts
look for when they envision an outfield prospect; he’s 6-foot-3 and 190 pounds
with an agile, well-proportioned, athletic frame. He has excellent speed and
obvious power potential and athleticism. They will also have to project
Galloway more than many similar outfield prospects, as Galloway’s power has yet
to develop in games. He hit only .365 with two homers as a high school junior.
He has obvious raw bat speed and an aggressive approach to hitting a fastball,
but must learn to keep his weight back and use his lower half more to maximize
his power potential. He stole 14 bases as a high school junior. He has long
strides and accelerates well underway, but was hindered much of last summer by
an ankle sprain. Galloway’s father, Isaac Sr., played minor league baseball
before joining the Los Angeles Police Department. Galloway has good knowledge
of the game, inherited from his father.—DAVID RAWNSLEY |
| UPDATE (5/15): Galloway flashed all of his
considerable tools this spring, but didn’t seem to make many teams fall in love
with him as “solid third- to fourth-rounder” was what most scouts had to say
about him.—DR |
| |
| CINCINNATI |
| Rank |
Player |
Pos. |
Class |
B-T |
HT |
WT |
College |
Hometown |
Prev. Drafted |
B’date |
| 239. |
Cody Puckett |
SS |
Jr. |
R-R |
5-10 |
185 |
CS Dominguez Hills |
Apple Valley, Calif. |
Never drafted |
4-3-87 |
| SCOUTING REPORT: Puckett was the dominant
offensive player this season in the California Collegiate Athletic Association,
possibly the nation’s most competitive Division II conference. He topped the
circuit in home runs (17), stolen bases (26), runs (61), walks (42), on-base
average (.462) and slugging percentage (.644), while batting 337 and knocking
in 49 runs. It was a significant upgrade from 2007, when Puckett topped
Dominguez Hills in homers with 11 while batting .313 with 28 RBIs. Of most
significance, he walked only 11 times a year ago while stealing just six bases.
Puckett is a solid player across the board with no real strengths, but no
obvious weaknesses. His strength is his aggressive approach to the game, both
at the plate and on the bases. He has a quick, compact bat with good extension,
and surprisingly good pop for his size. Though he has quick, soft hands and an
average arm with good carry, he committed 33 errors this season and scouts
believe a switch to second base or third may be in the works at the pro level.—ALLAN
SIMPSON |
| |
| CHICAGO-AL |
| Rank |
Player |
Pos. |
Class |
B-T |
HT |
WT |
College |
Hometown |
Prev. Drafted |
B’date |
| 240. |
Kevin Dubler |
C |
Jr. |
L-R |
6-1 |
200 |
Illinois State |
Downers Grove, Ill. |
Never drafted |
2-18-87 |
| SCOUTING REPORT: There are three quality,
draft-eligible catchers in the Illinois collegiate ranks this spring and Dubler
generally gets the nod as the best pro prospect among the them. His best tool
is his bat. He has a quick, strong swing with a bit of lift in it and the ball
comes hard off his bat. His approach at the plate is pretty polished and he can
hit a variety of pitches and make solid contact to all fields. Dubler hit
.358-9-56 this spring with 44 walks. He has just enough speed to be a threat on
the bases and stole 16 bags. That speed and athletic ability may come into play
in the future on defense. Dubler is a willing receiver and blocker, but he has
fringy arm strength and has not mastered the finer points of catching technique
and mechanics. There is some speculation that he could be a valuable utility
type who could play all the corner positions, as well as catch, at the
professional level given that his bat is going to keep him in the lineup.
Dubler gets high marks from scouts for his leadership ability and approach to
the game.—DAVID RAWNSLEY |
| |
| WASHINGTON |
| Rank |
Player |
Pos. |
Class |
B-T |
HT |
WT |
College |
Hometown |
Prev. Drafted |
B’date |
| 241. |
Ricardo Pecina |
LHP |
Jr. |
L-L |
6-0 |
215 |
San Diego |
San Diego |
Never drafted |
7-1-87 |
| SCOUTING REPORT: On a pitching staff that
featured top junior lefthanders Brian Matusz and Josh Romanski, along with ace
freshman Kyle Blair, Pecina was squeezed out of regular weekend work for the
Toreros. But he settled nicely into a role as a mid-week starter and made
several impressive starts in a row for USD late in the season. He also worked
in relief on weekends and overall went 6-4, 3.29 with 21 walks and 78
strikeouts in 63 innings. Though scouts frequently saw a fastball in the 84-87
mph range with no separator pitch early in the season, he was at his best in
his mid-week role down the stretch and clocked at 87-89 mph, with an
outstanding cutter at 80-83. He also worked in a 77-78 mph slider and 71-73
curve. More than any other USD pitcher, Matusz included, Pecina did a better
job of taking away the inside half of the plate. He also dropped his arm angle
this season from a more overhand delivery to three-quarters, in order to get
better movement on his pitches. He projects a situational reliever in pro ball.—ALLAN
SIMPSON |
| |
| HOUSTON |
| Rank |
Player |
Pos. |
Class |
B-T |
HT |
WT |
High School |
Hometown |
Commitment |
B’date |
| 242. |
Brad Dydalewicz |
LHP |
Sr. |
L-L |
6-1 |
177 |
Lake Travis |
Austin, Texas |
Arizona |
3-24-90 |
| SCOUTING REPORT (3/1): Dydalewicz pitched in his
first Perfect Game event at the 2005 South Underclass Showcase after his
freshman year at Lake Travis High and his performance was so impressive that a
veteran Big 12 coach remarked then, “He could come pitch for me right now, I
don’t need to wait three more years to know that.” The 6-foot-1, 177-pound
southpaw has touched 93 mph with his fastball but pitches more frequently in
the upper 80s from a highly-deceptive, low three-quarters release point that
gives his fastball some of the best life in the 2008 class. He also throws a
big, slurvy mid-70s breaking ball from the same low, funky arm angle. He has a
circle change with sink that he uses sparingly. Scouts acknowledge his stuff
but say he is effectively wild. At this point, he is more thrower than pitcher
as he has mechanical issues to work through. Dydalewicz is a top-level football
player as a defensive back/punter and missed most of his 2007 junior baseball
season, pitching only eight innings, after undergoing knee surgery in December
2006.—DAVID RAWNSLEY |
| UPDATE (3/1): Dydalewicz had an outstanding
spring, pitching Lake Travis High (30-8) into the state semifinals. He went
13-0, 0.83 with 132 K’s, and struck out 25 hitters in 11 innings in two playoff
games.—DR |
| |
| TEXAS |
| Rank |
Player |
Pos. |
Class |
B-T |
HT |
WT |
College |
Hometown |
Prev. Drafted |
B’date |
| 243. |
Mike Bianucci |
OF |
Jr. |
R-R |
6-1 |
210 |
Auburn |
Annandale, Va. |
Angels ’07 (23) |
6-26-86 |
| SCOUTING REPORT (3/1): One of several
high-profile, draft-eligible college sophomores in the 2007 draft pool,
Bianucci hit .326-14-51 for Auburn but priced himself out of the early rounds,
wasn’t selected until the 23rd round by the Los Angeles Angels, went unsigned
and returned Auburn for his junior year. He may yet position himself as a top
prospect for 2008 with another year in school, however—if all his tools come
together and he can remain injury-free. To draft the powerful Bianucci in an
early round, teams will have to bet on his bat. He’s largely a one-dimensional
player but has serious raw power, puts on a big BP show with wood for scouts
and carries his power into games. He is capable of launching tape-measure home
runs. Bianucci is prone to injuries and missed nine games in 2007 with the flu
and a banged-up his shoulder when he ran into the outfield wall. He also went
home from the Cape Cod League last summer after just 57 at-bats with a hip
injury and was slow to return to 100 percent for fall practice. While the
powerfully-built Bianucci showed some of the best raw power in the Cape, he
needs to fine-tune his overall approach at the plate to maximize his power
potential in games. He tends to lunge at balls and needs to add more
flexibility to his swing as he is a little stiff from the waist down. Though he
is limited defensively to an outfield corner and maybe even first base down the
road, he has adequate arm strength and runs surprisingly well—especially once
he’s underway.—ALLAN SIMPSON |
| UPDATE (5/15): Bianucci didn’t have the big
offensive year some expected him to have, but he was pitched around in a
freshman-dominated Auburn lineup. He still topped the Tigers with 12 homers
while batting .320 with 42 RBIs and a team-leading 32 walks. Most important, he
played every game, quelling the notion that he is injury-prone. Bianucci’s
tools engender a lot of mixed opinions from scouts and there is no consensus
where he might be drafted. Those who think he will be gone no later than the
third round believe in his power bat and insist his speed and arm are playable
tools. Others say he is a one-tool talent without a defensive position.—AS |
| |
| OAKLAND |
| Rank |
Player |
Pos. |
Class |
B-T |
HT |
WT |
Junior College |
Hometown |
Prev. Drafted |
B’date |
| 244. |
Jeremy Barfield |
OF |
So. |
R-L |
6-5 |
230 |
San Jacinto |
Spring, Texas |
Mets ’06 (9) |
7-12-88 |
| SCOUTING REPORT: Barfield is the son of Jesse
Barfield and the brother of Josh Barfield. Although he bears little physical
resemblance to either of those former big leaguers, he looks the part of a big
leaguer in his own right. The one thing that Barfield has in common with his
father is his plus-plus power potential from the right side (Barfield is a rare
throw left/hit right player). He has both the strength and the leverage to
produce big power numbers and his power was more of a playable weapon this
season as he had 13 homers to go with a .379 average and 60 RBIs. The ball
jumped off his bat, yet scouts think there is more power to come as Barfield
has little loft in his flat swing. He also is deceptively fast in his big
frame. For all his tools, Barfield isn’t a slam dunk to go in even the middle
rounds of the draft as he lacks a true position and doesn’t always play the
game with intensity. He spent most of the 2008 season in right field. He has
sufficient arm strength to play there in the future, though his arm is not the
weapon it was for his father.—ALLAN SIMPSON |
| |
| ST. LOUIS |
| Rank |
Player |
Pos. |
Class |
B-T |
HT |
WT |
College |
Hometown |
Prev. Drafted |
B’date |
| 245. |
Ryan Kulik |
LHP |
Sr. |
L-L |
5-11 |
205 |
Rowan |
Marlton, N.J. |
Never drafted |
12-3-85 |
| SCOUTING REPORT: Kulik was a starter for Division
III Rowan since the start of his freshman year, when he went 9-3, 3.24, but has
risen quickly on the prospect charts this spring as his raw stuff has improved.
He came to Rowan as a mid-80s lefthander but added a mile or two each year on
his fastball and now pitches at 90 mph, and touched 93 this spring. Kulik’s
curveball is an outstanding second pitch. It has a big, hard bite and he’ll
sometimes shape it differently into more of a slider-type break. Command is not
an issue with Kulik as he learned to pitch as a finesse lefty and he’s averaged
about two walks per nine innings during his college career. Kulik pitched
briefly in the Cape Cod League last summer but has made his mark dominating
D-III hitters, so scouts don’t have a good measuring stick about on how he has
fared against top-level competition. He went 10-2, 1.72 with a Division-III
leading 144 strikeouts in 94 innings this spring.—DAVID RAWNSLEY |
| |
| MINNESOTA |
| Rank |
Player |
Pos. |
Class |
B-T |
HT |
WT |
College |
Hometown |
Prev. Drafted |
B’date |
| 246. |
Jeff Lanning |
C |
Jr. |
R-R |
6-2 |
210 |
New Orleans |
Ankeny, Iowa |
Never drafted |
1-1-87 |
| SCOUTING REPORT: Lanning, who is originally from
Iowa, played sparingly at Nebraska for two years before transferring to New
Orleans for the 2008 season. He made an immediate impact in the middle of the
UNO lineup and hit .409-13-50 during the regular season. He has a strong,
powerful swing and as an offensive-oriented catcher had scouts talking about
him as a potential top 5-round pick early in the spring. Lanning’s defensive
shortcomings, which were responsible for his not playing regularly at Nebraska,
became more evident as the spring wore on and Lanning wasn’t even used as UNO’s
full-time catcher, sharing that job with senior Joseph Vander Hey. Lanning
threw out only four of 31 base runners (13 percent) attempting to steal on him.
His bat and overall athletic ability still make him intriguing for scouts, but
not as high as originally thought.—DAVID RAWNSLEY |
| |
| LOS ANGELES-NL |
| Rank |
Player |
Pos. |
Class |
B-T |
HT |
WT |
College |
Hometown |
Prev. Drafted |
B’date |
| 247. |
Nick Buss |
OF |
Jr. |
L-R |
6-2 |
185 |
Southern California |
Clinton Twnsp., Mich. |
Dodgers ’06 (35) |
12-12-86 |
| SCOUTING REPORT (3/1): Buss won the Alaska League
batting title last summer at .369 and also topped the league with five triples
and 29 stolen bases. He used his speed (6.65 in the 60) to advantage on both
sides of the ball; he excelled at tracking balls in center field, though his
arm is just playable by center-field standards. He’s an alert fielder, has good
first-step quickness and covers the gaps well in the manner of ex-big leaguer
Steve Finley. He’s a selective hitter, makes solid contact with a short, quick,
compact stroke and sprays the ball to all fields. He has good hand-eye
coordination at the plate, walking 24 times last summer while striking out on
only 11 occasions. He continues to grow into his power and his aptitude to
develop legitimate power will be critical in his ability to become a more
complete player. His best power at this stage of his development is to the
opposite field; he played in a graveyard for power hitters in Kenai, home of
the Alaska League’s Peninsula Oilers, and had only two homers on the summer,
but one was a game-winning blast to the opposite field. Even as a sophomore at
USC, Buss homered only once while batting .290. A 35th-round pick of the
Dodgers in the 2006 draft, Buss is expected to improve his stock immensely in
this year’s draft—particularly if his power evolves.—ALLAN SIMPSON |
| UPDATE (5/15): USC was one of the more
underachieving college teams this season, and the same can probably be said for
Buss, who hit just .289 with seven homers (through mid-May). He remained a
puzzle to scouts, who question why he hits so well with wood while putting up
pedestrian numbers with aluminum. With a documented history of hitting with
wood, however, his 2008 season may not impact his draft standing significantly
and there is even a good chance that he’ll thrive in pro ball as he has a
short, quick, compact stroke and stays inside balls well. His speed (team-high
16 stolen bases) and solid defensive skills did not slump this spring.—AS |
| |
| MILWAUKEE |
| Rank |
Player |
Pos. |
Class |
B-T |
HT |
WT |
College |
Hometown |
Prev. Drafted |
B’date |
| 248. |
Erik Komatsu |
OF |
Jr. |
L-L |
5-10 |
190 |
Cal State Fullerton |
Camarillo, Calif. |
Yankees ’07 (38) |
10-1-87 |
| SCOUTING REPORT: Komatsu moved from NAIA Vanguard
University as a freshman, to Oxnard JC as a sophomore, to Cal State Fullerton
as a junior. His presence in the heart of a Division I lineup finally may have
convinced scouts that Komatsu is one of the very best all-around college
hitters in California. He led the Titans in hitting (.368), home runs (7) and
RBIs (46) with a week remaining in the regular season, but those numbers don’t
begin to do justice to Komatsu’s true ability at the plate. He has exceptional
bat speed in his little frame, and had no trouble turning on the elite college
arms in the state. He also has sound plate discipline with a 29:18
walk-to-strikeout ratio. All his other tools play. He has an acceptable
right-field arm and runs the bases with speed and awareness. But Komatsu’s
ability to become one of the first 100 players drafted in June all hinges on
his bat.—ALLAN SIMPSON |
| |
| TORONTO |
| Rank |
Player |
Pos. |
Class |
B-T |
HT |
WT |
College |
Hometown |
Prev. Drafted |
B’date |
| 249. |
Evan Crawford |
LHP |
Jr. |
R-L |
6-1 |
185 |
Auburn |
Prattville, Ala. |
Never drafted |
9-2-86 |
| SCOUTING REPORT (3/1): Crawford went 5-6, 5.91
with just 43 strikeouts in 67 innings in a starting role as a sophomore at
Auburn, but may have found his calling last summer in the Cape Cod League as a
closer for Harwich. He thrived in pressure situations with a game on the line.
He started the season in middle relief but soon started finishing games for the
Mariners, and went 1-0, 0.67 with five saves to go with 41 strikeouts in 27
innings. Opponents hit just .183 off him. Crawford’s electric stuff and makeup
appear better suited for an end-of-game role. He pounded the strike zone with
two pitches—an 86-90 mph fastball that peaked at 92-93, and a big-breaking,
73-76 mph curveball—and was able to junk his slider and changeup, which were
below-average pitches. Auburn coaches tried for two years to make Crawford a
starter but have come to the realization his comfort zone is in the bullpen and
used him in that role in 2008.—ALLAN SIMPSON |
| UPDATE (5/15): Crawford didn’t build off his
impressive Cape Cod League showing last summer. He was dominating early with a
fastball in the 92-93 mph range and a power breaking ball, but his velocity
backed up later in the spring to 86 mph at times and his command was
inconsistent from outing to outing. Though he led Auburn pitchers by a wide
margin with a 1.98 ERA while striking out 40 in 41 innings, he was rarely used
in a meaningful relief role. His best chance of going inside the first five
probably rounds rests with a team that saw him perform at his best last summer
on the Cape.—AS |
| |
| ATLANTA |
| Rank |
Player |
Pos. |
Class |
B-T |
HT |
WT |
Junior College |
Hometown |
Prev. Drafted |
B’date |
| 250. |
Brett Oberholtzer |
LHP |
Fr. |
L-L |
6-2 |
210 |
Seminole |
St. Georges, Del. |
Mariners ’07 (47) |
7-1-89 |
| SCOUTING REPORT: Oberholtzer, a big, strong
lefthander, would have been an ideal draft-and-follow under the old draft
system as he was a 47th-round pick of the Mariners out of a Delaware high
school last June. In fact, he almost certainly would have followed a similar
career path as taken by righthander Rob Bryson, a fellow Delaware prep product
who capitalized on a big freshman season at Seminole CC a year earlier and
cashed in on a significant seven-figure signing bonus with the Milwaukee
Brewers in the final year of the draft-and-follow program. Oberholtzer still
could be handsomely rewarded as he is in line to be drafted 42-43 rounds
earlier this year than in 2007 after coming off a strong freshman season in
junior college. He started slowly after breaking his pinky finger at the
Christmas break, but soon kicked it into high year. Among his early
accomplishments was a no-hitter against Daytona CC. He went 5-2, 3.56 with 69
strikeouts in 55 innings in the regular season, but finished on a low note by
allowing eight runs in three innings against defending national champion
Chipola JC in the opening round of the Florida junior college tournament as his
team was bounced out in two straight games. Oberholtzer pitches solidly at
88-92 mph and his fastball has good arm-side run. He also throws a hard, sharp
slider that is his primary strikeout pitch and has an advanced changeup that
he’ll drop on a hitter at any point in the count. His pitchability and present
stuff work well together.—DAVID RAWNSLEY/ALLAN SIMPSON |
| |
| CHICAGO-NL |
| Rank |
Player |
Pos. |
Class |
B-T |
HT |
WT |
College |
Hometown |
Prev. Drafted |
B’date |
| 251. |
James Leverton |
LHP |
Jr. |
R-L |
6-2 |
200 |
Texas Tech |
Rockwall, Texas |
Never drafted |
5-13-86 |
| SCOUTING REPORT: Leverton entered Texas Tech as a
first baseman/outfielder and started as a freshman, hitting .285-5-35. He and
his high school teammate, Roger Kieschnick, looked like they would key the Tech
lineup for three years. But when Leverton didn’t improve on his offense as a
sophomore, especially his power (.290-3-25, only 10 extra-base hits), the
decision was made to put his strong left arm on the mound, where he had dabbled
a bit out of the bullpen. Leverton was an immediate success this season as a
set-up man to teammate Zach Stewart, going 2-3 with a team-leading 3.70 ERA in
31 appearances. Scouts were frustrated following him because Leverton rarely
threw more than an inning on a staff that had a 6.34 ERA, and it was difficult
getting a good read on him, especially considering his lack of pitching
background. What they did see, though, was a loose-armed lefthander who would
pitch at 89-91 mph, touching 92, with an upper-70s slurve-type breaking ball.
He also had a pretty good idea how to throw strikes and get hitters out, too.
Leverton turned 22 in May and scouts feel that he needs to get out this year as
a junior and develop his pitching skills as a professional.—DAVID RAWNSLEY |
| |
| SEATTLE |
| Rank |
Player |
Pos. |
Class |
B-T |
HT |
WT |
College |
Hometown |
Prev. Drafted |
B’date |
| 252. |
Bobby LaFromboise |
LHP |
Sr. |
L-L |
6-4 |
185 |
New Mexico |
Downey, Calif. |
D’backs ’07 (14) |
6-25-86 |
| SCOUTING REPORT (3/1): The Diamondbacks would
have signed all their draft picks in the first 19 rounds last June had they
agreed to terms with LaFromboise, their 14th-round selection. He unexpectedly
chose not to sign after being drafted for a second time to return to New Mexico
for his senior year after going 7-3, 3.35 with 74 strikeouts in 89 innings as a
junior. He resumed his role as the ace of the Lobos rotation, but struggled to
perform to last year’s standard in the early going. He could upgrade his draft
status nonetheless as his fastball was clocked up to 93-94 mph in the fall—a
notable upgrade from last spring when he was consistently in the 88-90 mph
range. He also has two other average pitches, including a changeup that also
made strides last fall. Nothing the long, loose LaFromboise throws is straight
and he does an acceptable job of locating his pitches.—ALLAN SIMPSON |
| UPDATE (5/15): LaFromboise led the Lobos in wins
this spring while going 6-3, 3.98 with 30 walks and 63 strikeouts in 81
innings. The velocity on his fastball was mainly 89-91 mph but would often
fluctuate wildly, from a low of 83 mph to a high of 94, as LaFromboise
displayed an acute sense of adding and subtracting almost at will to keep
hitters off balance. His fastball also featured excellent arm-side run, on
occasion, and he mixed it nicely with a slider, curve and changeup though he
may need to drop his arm slot in the future to develop more consistent command.—AS |
| |
| DETROIT |
| Rank |
Player |
Pos. |
Class |
B-T |
HT |
WT |
College |
Hometown |
Prev. Drafted |
B’date |
| 253. |
Andy Dirks |
OF |
Sr. |
L-L |
6-0 |
200 |
Wichita State |
Burrton, Kan. |
Never drafted |
1-24-86 |
| SCOUTING REPORT: Dirks is a prototypical center
field/leadoff-type and could be one of the premier senior-signs for that draft
demographic. He has above-average speed that he uses well both in the outfield
and on the bases (26 SB). Dirks has a very patient approach at the plate. He
walked 42 times this spring and was hit with 12 pitches, while hitting
.394-9-53. He also led the Northwoods League last summer in both walks and
on-base percentage, and set a league record by reaching base in 52 consecutive
games.—DAVID RAWNSLEY |
| |
| NEW YORK-NL |
| Rank |
Player |
Pos. |
Class |
B-T |
HT |
WT |
College |
Hometown |
Prev. Drafted |
B’date |
| 254. |
Eric Campbell |
3B |
Jr. |
R-R |
6-3 |
205 |
Boston College |
Norwich, Conn. |
Never drafted |
4-9-87 |
| SCOUTING REPORT: Campbell, a three-year regular
at third base for Boston College, had a consistent 2008 season at the plate,
hitting .306-7-41, but never had a hot streak this spring like he did in 2007,
when he batted .350. He drove in 41 runs both seasons. Though he improved his
home-run total from four to six, he didn’t consistently show his raw power—an
essential tool for a corner player, and that may impact his draft status.
Campbell was steady at third base, committing just seven errors all season with
four coming in a five-game stretch when he filled in at third base. But scouts
question his arm action from the hot corner and predict he could end up at
first base at the pro level.—ALLAN SIMPSON |
| |
| SAN DIEGO |
| Rank |
Player |
Pos. |
YR |
B-T |
HT |
WT |
College |
Hometown |
Prev. Drafted |
B’date |
| 255. |
Beamer Weems |
SS |
Jr. |
B-R |
5-11 |
180 |
Baylor |
Virginia Beach, Va. |
Never drafted |
7-28-87 |
| SCOUTING REPORT (3/1): Even though his .257-0-11
season was marginally better than his 2006 Cape Cod League campaign, Weems
showed a lot more maturity in his game on both sides of the ball as well as in
his personal development in 2007. He was much better as a switch-hitter,
especially from the left side. He also got to a lot more balls in the field and
had one of the best range factors among league shortstops. But Weems still
continued to try to make major league highlight plays when he had little or no
chance of throwing out a runner, often at the expense of messing up some more
routine plays. He’s viewed by scouts as an above-average shortstop in all
phases, however. The key with Weems will be how far his bat takes him. He hit
.321-9-59 as a sophomore at Baylor and has shown power with aluminum (17 homers
in two years) that he has never shown with wood in summer ball (no homers in
two years). If he can pop 15 homers in 2008 and performs like he is capable, he
has a realistic chance of sneaking into the top three rounds.—ALLAN SIMPSON |
| UPDATE (5/15): Weems struggled as the leader of a
young Baylor team, perhaps putting too much pressure on himself to produce,
with the result being a an ordinary .270-7-30 regular season. Weems’ fielding
was solid throughout and he remains a savvy and polished gamer, but questions
about his bat and power will probably regulate him to the fifth- or
sixth-round—or beyond.—DAVID RAWNSLEY |
| |
| PHILADELPHIA |
| Rank |
Player |
Pos. |
Class |
B-T |
HT |
WT |
High School |
Hometown |
Commitment |
B’date |
| 256. |
Julio Rodriguez |
RHP |
Sr. |
R-R |
6-4 |
200 |
P.R. Baseball Academy |
Bayamon, P.R. |
|
8-29-90 |
| SCOUTING REPORT (3/1): Rodriguez could be the top
pitching prospect from Puerto Rico this spring. He has a pro-profile body at
6-foot-4 and 200 pounds, and looks to be still growing and getting stronger.
Rodriguez attends the Puerto Rico Baseball Academy, where many of the top
prospects from the island have trained and gone to school in recent years, so
scouts will have a good chance to fully evaluate him. Rodriguez has a long,
loose arm action and little effort to his delivery. His fastball has been up to
91 mph and his breaking ball gets good spin and depth but will need to be
speeded up from its current upper-60s velocity.—DAVID RAWNSLEY |
| UPDATE (5/15): Rodriguez has had persistent low
grade elbow soreness all spring and hasn’t been able to consistently throw or
show his previous velocity. His size and arm strength stand out, but there are
still many questions to be answered.—DR |
| |
| COLORADO |
| Rank |
Player |
Pos. |
Class |
B-T |
HT |
WT |
College |
Hometown |
Prev. Drafted |
B’date |
| 257. |
Kurt Yacko |
RHP |
Jr. |
R-R |
5-11 |
170 |
Chapman |
Costa Mesa, Calif. |
Never drafted |
8-22-87 |
| SCOUTING REPORT: The 2007 NCAA Division III
co-player of the year, Yacko is on pace to duplicate that feat this season. As
Chapman (39-3), the nation’s No. 1-ranked D-III team, was set to make its
fourth consecutive appearance in the D-III World Series, Yacko was hitting
.352-10-46 as the team’s starting shortstop and was 6-0, 0.66 with 14 saves as
the team’s closer. He and teammate Wayde Kitchens (8-0, 0.69) ranked 1-2 in ERA
among D-III pitchers, and Yacko was among the national leaders in both saves
and strikeout ratio (68 in 55 innings). Yacko’s pro appeal is on the mound.
Though his small frame is a drawback, he is exceptionally strong and athletic
for his size. He can pump his fastball consistently to 92 mph and has an
above-average curveball.—ALLAN SIMPSON |
| |
| ARIZONA |
| Rank |
Player |
Pos. |
Class |
B-T |
HT |
WT |
College |
Hometown |
Prev. Drafted |
B’date |
| 258. |
Pat McAnaney |
LHP |
Sr. |
R-L |
6-3 |
200 |
Virginia |
Syracuse, N.Y. |
Pirates ’07 (38) |
3-11-86 |
| SCOUTING REPORT: McAnaney’s 2007 season was
compromised from the start when he broke his hand in January, punching a wall,
and ended up working just 35 innings. He ended up becoming just a late-round
pick. As one of Virginia’s three regular starters this season, he was solid and
dependable every time out with excellent command of four pitches, including an
86-90 mph fastball with arm-side tail. His slider, which has hard bite in its
downward rotation, was his primary out-pitch as he assembled a deceptive 4-5,
3.67 record, but a fine 25-92 walk-to-strikeout ratio in 81 innings. More than
anything, he relies on command and pitchability for his success. He ranks as
one of the better senior signs in the draft and could be a solid 5th-10th round
selection.--ALLAN SIMPSON |
| |
| LOS ANGELES-AL |
| Rank |
Player |
Pos. |
Class |
B-T |
HT |
WT |
Junior College |
Hometown |
Prev. Drafted |
B’date |
| 259. |
Christian Scholl |
RHP |
So. |
R-R |
5-11 |
190 |
Green River |
Tacoma, Wash. |
Never drafted |
10-27-87 |
| SCOUTING REPORT: For a sub-six-foot righthander,
Scholl generates significant arm strength with his quick, compact arm action.
He works his fastball consistently into the 91-92 mph range and sustains his
velocity well. He touched 94 at one point in the 2007 season, but the raw,
winter-like spring weather that plagued the Pacific Northwest was a factor in
holding his velocity more in check. He also throws a knucklecurve with
three-quarters break and a splitter with tumbling action. Scholl commanded all
his pitches low in the strike zone better this year while going 5-3, 2.84 with
33 walks and 85 strikeouts in 70 innings. Though he is very athletic, Scholl
has little upside in his small frame.—ALLAN SIMPSON |
| |
| NEW YORK-AL |
| Rank |
Player |
Pos. |
Class |
B-T |
HT |
WT |
College |
Hometown |
Prev. Drafted |
B’date |
| 260. |
Dan Brewer |
3B/OF |
Jr. |
R-R |
6-0 |
180 |
Bradley |
Brookfield, Ill. |
Never drafted |
7-19-87 |
| SCOUTING REPORT (3/1): Brewer was one of the Cape
Cod League’s most potent offensive players last summer, hitting .297-7-30 for
Hyannis. That came on the heels of a productive .313-10-30 sophomore season at
Bradley. Brewer is athletic and most of his tools play to an acceptable level
as he has power, speed and arm strength. His bat is his best tool, though his
leadership skills and obvious passion for the game may be his best attributes.
He can drive balls on the inner half of the plate and punishes mistake pitches.
He is a fluid runner and uses his speed best going from first to third.
Brewer’s biggest drawback, from a scouting perspective, comes in identifying a
true position. Primarily a shortstop in his first two seasons at Bradley,
Brewer simply lacks the range and reactions to be an everyday player at that
position. He played five different positions last summer, spending most of his
time in right field. If he doesn’t settle in as a utility player, right field
would appear to be his home down the road as his arm works well there, though
his speed also plays in center field. He began the 2008 season for Bradley at
third base, but struggled there from the start and was eventually moved to
center field.—ALLAN SIMPSON |
| UPDATE (5/15): Scouts made it clear that when you
are drafting Brewer, you are drafting a bat with a high-energy approach to the
game and the position will have to figure itself out later. He is the most
polished hitter in Illinois and was actually more impressive with the bat
during the summer in the Cape that he really was at Bradley this spring
(.341-6-36, 19 SB). One scout made the comparison between Brewer and another
Missouri Valley standout, Northern Iowa shortstop Brandon Douglas, and the
comparison seems appropriate. Brewer tried most positions on the field this
year, but ended up in center field, where his speed and aggressiveness play
well at the college level. But he’s short, tools-wise professionally, for that
position. However, a team will find a place for him as long as he’s hitting.—DAVID
RAWNSLEY |
| |
| CLEVELAND |
| Rank |
Player |
Pos. |
Class |
B-T |
HT |
WT |
College |
Hometown |
Prev. Drafted |
B’date |
| 261. |
Eric Berger |
LHP |
Jr. |
B-L |
6-1 |
190 |
Arizona |
Roseville, Calif. |
Athletics ’07 (9) |
4-22-86 |
| SCOUTING REPORT (3/1): Berger hurt his arm
towards the end of the 2006 season, his sophomore year at Arizona, and
underwent Tommy John surgery on June 9 of that year. Though he did not pitch in
a live game situation in 2007, Berger was still drafted in the ninth round by
the Oakland A’s last year. The A’s couldn’t get a deal done amid reports the
lefthander’s asking price was $800,000. Berger completed his rehab, was
throwing bullpens for Arizona in fall practice and was close to 100 percent by
the start of the 2008 season. But he was brought back slowly to start the year.
Prior to his injury, Berger had projected as a solid second- or third-round
pick in the 2007 draft. His fastball was a steady 88-91 mph, topping at 92, and
he showed an ability to spin a breaking ball. The biggest challenge for Berger
in 2008 may to get sufficient innings on a talented Arizona pitching staff that
may be the nation’s deepest.—ALLAN SIMPSON |
| UPDATE (5/15): In his second year out from Tommy
John surgery, Berger was predictably inconsistent with his command and the
consistency of his breaking stuff. The velocity on his fastball was 90-92 mph
in his best outing of the year and peaked at 93. Generally, though, Berger
struggled to reach average velocity and he put up modest results with a 6-3,
4.42 record, along with 24 walks and 45 strikeouts in 53 innings. Scouts
praised his preparation and his professional approach to pitching.—AS |
| |
| BOSTON |
| Rank |
Player |
Pos. |
Class |
B-T |
HT |
WT |
College |
Hometown |
Prev. Drafted |
B’date |
| 262. |
Michael Lee |
RHP |
Jr. |
R-R |
6-6 |
190 |
Oklahoma City |
Bellevue, Wash. |
Yankees ’06 (27) |
11-18-86 |
| SCOUTING REPORT (3/1): Drafted by the Yankees in
the 22nd round out of high school and in the 27th round after his freshman year
at Bellevue (Wash.) CC, Lee finally rewarded that team’s faith in his ability
by compiling a 6-1, 1.53 record with 59 strikeouts in 53 innings last season.
He capped it all off by combining on a four-hit shutout in the championship
game as Bellevue won the Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges
championship with a 3-0 win, but reportedly out-priced himself and went
undrafted last June, assuring his transfer to Oklahoma City. Even after two
years in junior college, Lee still has a lot of projection in his 6-foot-6
frame—particularly in a fastball that has touched 90-91 mph and even 93, but is
more consistently 87-88. Lee’s best pitches are his curve and slider, and he
can throw four pitches for strikes.—ALLAN SIMPSON |
| UPDATE (5/15): Traditional NAIA powerhouse
Oklahoma City met with its usual success this year by advancing to the NAIA
World Series, and Lee did his part, going 10-2, 2.79 with 124 K’s in 94
innings. His stuff was top shelf, with his fastball touching 94-95 mph at times
and a mid-70s power breaking ball that is his strikeout pitch. Lee doesn’t have
a workable changeup yet and his mechanics still need some tinkering, but he has
high-ceiling talent in his lean 6-foot-6 frame. Scouts have been cautious
talking about Lee this spring, giving the sense that they’d like to get him in
the right spot but don’t want to over-hype him. He could be a surprise top
3-round pick.—DAVID RAWNSLEY |