DRAFT 2008 - STATE-BY-STATE PREVIEW
NEW YORK
2008
FOLLOW LIST
OVERVIEW:
Just like a year ago, New York’s draft crop is decidedly weighted towards
college players—primarily pitchers. Of the first nine players on the
accompanying list, eight are college arms, including four from St. John’s. Led
by St. John’s lefty Scott Barnes, as many as four of the pitchers could be
selected in the first 10 rounds.
Though it oddly has two catchers
as the prime draft targets this year, the New York high school ranks are
extremely thin. But the state isn’t getting due credit for third baseman
Anthony Hewitt, a potential first-rounder who attends a private school in
Connecticut. Hewitt actually resides in Brooklyn. A second New York-developed
third base prospect, Steve Proscia, attends high school in New Jersey and is a
key component of that state’s powerful and unbeaten Don Bosco Prep team that is
ranked third nationally and potentially could produce four players, Proscia
included, in the top 10-15 rounds. It also should be noted that yet another
third baseman with New York roots, Vanderbilt’s Pedro Alvarez, who attended
Horace Mann High in the Bronx, is the top-ranked talent in the entire draft.
The U.S. Military Academy could
impact the state’s pool of talent again, much like it did a year ago with
lefthander Nick Hill (Mariners, 7th round) and righthander Milan
Dinga (Angels, 10th round). Players from the nation’s service
academies had little or no role in the draft in the past, but a recent relaxing
of regulations that now permits players to play pro ball while serving their
post-graduation commitment in a reserve capacity, has enabled more players to
be drafted. Though full clarification on some of those regulations, as they
impact players in this year’s draft, has not been forthcoming and has kept the
draft status of a number of players from both Army and Navy somewhat in limbo,
third baseman Cole White and lefthander Drew Clothier of Army are candidates to
be drafted this year—though where is unclear.
STRENGTH:
College pitching.
WEAKNESS:
High-school talent.
OVERALL RATING
(1-to-5 scale): 3.
Best Out-of-State Prospect, New
York Connection:
Pedro Alvarez, 3b, Vanderbilt U. (Attended high school in New York).
Top 2009 Prospect:
Alibay Barkley, 1b-rhp, George Washington HS, Bronx.
Top 2010 Prospect:
Robert Aviles, rhp, Suffern HS.
Highest Pick, Draft History:
Shawon Dunston, ss, Thomas Jefferson HS, Brooklyn (1982, Cubs/1st round,
1st pick).
Highest Pick, 2006 Draft:
Glenn Gibson, lhp, Center
Moriches HS (Nationals/4th round).
Highest Pick, 2007 Draft:
Matt Rizzoti, 1b, Manhattan
College (Phillies/6th round).
Best
College Team: St.
John’s.
Best
Junior College Team:
Monroe.
Best
High School Team:
George Washington (Bronx).
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 |
Scott Barnes |
LHP |
Jr. |
L-L |
6-4 |
190 |
St. John’s |
Springfield, Mass. |
Nationals ’05 (43) |
9/5/1987 |
| 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 |
| |