OVERVIEW:
Connecticut hasn’t produced a first-round pick since 1989, which at the time
capped a five-year period in which the state produced four first-rounders. That
drought should end this year with the emergence of prep school third baseman
Anthony Hewitt as a legitimate first-round talent.
Led by Hewitt, this could be one
of Connecticut’s most productive drafts in years. There’s both quality, with
the possibility of two other high school players joining Hewitt in the top 3-4
rounds, and quantity, with a chance for 10-12 players in the top half of the
draft. What’s noteworthy is that the talent isn’t coming from conventional
sources.
Much of the draftable college
talent is in the state’s small-college programs, including at tiny Trinity
College, which captured the NCAA Division III World Series in spectacular
fashion this season by winning 40 straight games, losing its only game of the
year with the title hanging in the balance, then closing the deal a day later.
The bulk of the better high school talent played at Connecticut private
schools, including Hewitt and teammate Chris Dwyer, who played at the Salisbury
School, which ran the table against New England competition by winning 20
straight games.
STRENGTH:
High-end high school talent.
WEAKNESS:
Division I college players.
OVERALL RATING
(1-to-5 scale): 5.
Best Out-of-State Prospect,
Connecticut Connection:
Tom Davis, rhp, Fordham U. (Attended high school in Madison).
Top 2009 Prospect:
Daniel Mahoney, rhp, U. of Connecticut.
Top 2010 Prospect:
Mike Olt, ss, U. of Connecticut.
HIGHEST PICK, DRAFT HISTORY:
Bobby Valentine, ss, Rippowam HS, Stamford (1968, Dodgers/1st round,
5th pick).
HIGHEST PICK, 2006 DRAFT
Tim Norton, rhp, U. of
Connecticut (Yankees, 7th round).
Highest Pick, 2007 Draft:
Matt Harvey, rhp, Fitch HS,
Groton (Angels/3rd round).
Best
College Team:
Trinity.
Best
Junior College Team:Connecticut-Avery
Point.
Best High School Team: Stamford.
TOP PROSPECTS /
By Allan Simpson
GROUPS (College, Junior
College, High School)
1 Premium-round draft (Rounds 1-3)
2
High-round draft (Rounds 4-10)
3
Mid-round draft (Rounds 11-25)
| GROUP ONE |
| Rank |
Player |
Pos. |
Class |
B-T |
HT |
WT |
High School |
Hometown |
Commitment |
B’date |
| 1 |
Anthony Hewitt |
3B/SS |
Sr. |
R-R |
6-1 |
190 |
Salisbury School |
Brooklyn, N.Y. |
Vanderbilt |
4/27/1989 |
| SCOUTING REPORT (3/1): Many scouts believe that
Hewitt is not only the top player in the Northeast this year, but his national
ranking for the draft is significantly undervalued. He just hasn’t been seen
extensively enough for scouts to be firm on an opinion, though indications are
he was impressive on an early-season trip to Florida this spring. The 6-foot-1,
190-pound Hewitt has shown two plus tools—6.62-second speed in the 60 and
excellent power potential. He’s a three-sport athlete whose family lives in
Brooklyn, N.Y., while he attends a private school in Connecticut. Hewitt’s
teammate at the Salisbury School, lefthander Chris Dwyer, is a 90-mph southpaw
who will also get extensive scouting attention, something that should benefit
both of them.—DAVID RAWNSLEY |
| UPDATE (5/15): Hewitt may not have been seen
extensively by scouts prior to this season, but he got huge exposure this
spring. In the process, he elevated himself up draft boards by leaps and bounds
to a point where most scouts became convinced a month out from the draft that
he was a legit first-round talent. Between his outstanding speed, arm strength
and massive raw power, he flashed some of the best raw tools in the entire 2008
high school ranks. Not all scouts are convinced, however, that Hewitt is the
real deal. He remains very raw in his approach to the game and did much of his
damage at the plate against inferior private-school pitching, often facing
pitchers who couldn’t crack 75 mph. He hit fastballs a long way, both in games
and BP, but had a long swing and proved vulnerable, on occasion, to even
average high school breaking balls. The team that signs him will need to be
extremely patient with him initially as there is little doubt he will struggle
at the lower levels of pro ball—or as a freshman in college in the increasing
unlikelihood he will fulfill his scholarship obligation to Vanderbilt. Hewitt
is equally raw in the field, showing little aptitude, or the hands and actions,
to play shortstop.. But scouts have long accepted that he’ll end up at third
base or in the outfield at the next level. His raw speed and arm strength would
be most suited in the outfield.—ALLAN SIMPSON |
| |