OVERVIEW:
Considering how few players the state of Michigan has had drafted in the top 10
rounds during the past two drafts (a total of two), the 2008 draft shapes up as
a banner year for the state.
The University of Michigan is the
source of much of that talent, although certainly not all of it. The Wolverines
didn’t duplicate their 2007 success, when they reached the super-regional level
of NCAA play and almost upset eventual College World Series champion Oregon
State, but they did post a 46-14 record and dominated the Big 10 this year
before losing in regional play. Righthander Zach Putnam looks like a solid
second-round selection and shortstop Jason Christian won’t be far behind. The
Wolverines could have as many as nine players drafted altogether.
Western Michigan righthander Ethan
Hollingsworth leads a solid group of pitchers from the state’s other Division I
programs, and could be a top 3-round selection as well. The state is also
well-represented on the mound at the small-college level in Wayne State
righthander Anthony Bass, a Tim Lincecum-clone with not quite the same stuff,
and junior-college southpaw Brandon Ritchie.
The Michigan high school ranks
were easily the thinnest part of this year’s crop, and it is possible that no
players from the state will be drafted in a signable position.
STRENGTH:
College pitching, depth of college talent.
WEAKNESS:
High school talent.
OVERALL RATING
(1-to-5 scale): 4.
Best Out-of-State Prospect,
Michigan Connection:
Chris Rusin, lhp, U. of Kentucky (Attended high school in Canton).
Top 2009 Prospect:
Michael Theodore, rhp, Detroit Country Day HS, Bloomfield Hills.
Top 2010 Prospect:
Andrew Thomas, of, Central Michigan U.
Highest Pick, Draft History:
Mark Mulder, lhp, Michigan State U. (1998, Athletics/1st round, 2nd
pick).
Highest Pick, 2006 Draft:
Dan O’Brien, lhp, Western
Michigan U. (Blue Jays/8th round).
Highest Pick, 2007 Draft:
Jeff Fischer, rhp, Eastern
Michigan U. (Rockies/10th round).
Best
College Team: Michigan.
Best
Junior College Team:
Grand Rapids.
Best High School Team:
Brother Rice (Bloomfield Hills).
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 |
College |
Hometown |
Prev. Drafted |
B’date |
| 1 |
Zach Putnam |
RHP/3B |
Jr. |
R-R |
6-2 |
215 |
Michigan |
Ann Arbor |
Tigers ’05 (38) |
7/3/1987 |
| SCOUTING REPORT (3/1): One the best two-way
talents in college baseball, Putnam has first-round potential as a pitcher—and
maybe even as a hitter. He made only four appearances on the mound last summer
in the Cape Cod League, going 2-0, 0.75 with 16 strikeouts in 12 innings,
curtailing his workload after a busy spring at Michigan. His fastball was an
impressive 94-95 mph with tailing action when up in the zone, occasional
arm-side sink and boring action when down in the zone. He complemented it with
an excellent split-finger/forkball along with a good curveball and occasional
hard slider. He showed an advanced feel for pitching and command of all his
pitches, but scouts are curious just how much better he can become as a pitcher
as he is near physical maturity. He has a solid, square frame with broad
shoulders and thick legs. Putnam went 8-5, 3.87 with 87 strikeouts in 102
innings as a sophomore at Michigan, ending his season on an impressive but
heartbreaking note when he had a no-hitter for 8-2/3 innings in NCAA
super-regional play against eventual champion Oregon State, only to lose the
game 1-0 on the only hit he allowed. He also hit .330-8-59 for the Wolverines
and concentrated more on hitting than pitching last summer—though he was
reluctant to play a position. He hit .256-4-13 almost exclusively as a DH, and
showed raw power to all fields. Putnam worked out at third base in the fall and
showed promise there, especially with an arm that was clocked at 94 mph across
the infield, but his workload in the spring will likely prevent him from
developing his talent at that position. He is being used as the Wolverines DH
and Friday-night starter.—ALLAN SIMPSON |
| UPDATE (5/15): Putnam solidified his status as a
probable top 2-round pick this year, going 9-0, 2.58 with 78 K’s in 76 innings,
despite missing two weeks with strep throat late in the season. His fastball
was regularly 92-95 mph and his hard split-finger continued to be one of the
best secondary pitches in college baseball. Putnam’s slider and curveball will
have to improve at the professional level, but a contributing reason is that he
doesn’t use them frequently enough now to have consistent feel for them. There
are still perhaps a half-dozen teams that like Putnam better as a third-base
prospect, where his strength and build seem to profile better. He has a strong
swing with very good bat speed, and hit .307-11-51 as a DH with Michigan this
year.—DAVID RAWNSLEY |
| |