Day I - 2007 Aflac All American Classic
Staff Report
Actually, things got started Tuesday night with the welcoming dinner for the
players. As in the past, Perfect Game gave out several awards to Aflac players
who had attended the PG National in June.
All award winners were present with the exception of Eric Hosmer.
Hosmer is in Farmington New Mexico playing for the Midland (OH) Redskins in the
Connie Mack World Series. If Midland should get to the championship game,
Hosmer will miss most all of the activities other than the actual Aflac Game.
BTW, for those who might not know, the Aflac Classic will be televised “live”
by Fox Sports. Game time is 3:05 EST/12:05 on the west coast.
The award winners:
| Fastest Man |
Top Overall Prospect |
Top Pitching Prospect |
Top Defensive Player |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Top 2 Way Player |
Top Tools |
Top Hitter |
Top Power Hitter |
 |
 |
 |
 |
BTW, these were very difficult choices. There were 127 total pitchers who threw
in the PG National at Cincinnati, OH. 102 of them topped out at 90 or better.
It was Michael Pallazzone’s 12-6 curveball that is already MLB
ready that won him the award. Of course, the many times we’ve seen him up as
high as 95 mph didn’t hurt either. Michael was ranked number 1
in his class two years ago (by us), but he was slowed with a minor injury his
sophomore year. He has always played in the powerhouse East Cobb program and
he’s obviously returned to the top of the list.
We’ve been following Tim Melville since he was 14 years old.
He’s played with the Richmond Braves where he lived growing up, he still plays
for them despite the fact he now lives in the St Louis area. He’s always been
among the very best in his class. Just like Pallazzone, he was slowed by injury
a bit as a sophomore, but has come back to the top of anyone’s list of top
prospects.
There were several players to consider for the top overall tools. Tim
Beckham was very deserving, as were several others including Wes
Freeman, Ethan Martin, even big Kyle Long.
But, it’s hard to give this award to anyone other than Aaron Hicks.
Hicks is a slim OF/RHP with a plus plus arm, plus running speed, outstanding
defensive skills, he switch hits and shows big time bat speed, and he projects
to hit with serious power. It should be noted though… Beckham who played the
last couple years with the Atlanta Blue Jays is a silky smooth type athlete who
might just end up being the top player in this class.
As expected there were some outstanding defensive players at the PG National
and Aflac, but no one stood out more than Harold Martinez in
Cincinnati. In just one game he put on a fielding display as good as we have
ever seen from a high school player and he did it at 3 different positions.
Martinez is another player we have been watching for several years with the All
American Prospects and he is one of the nation’s top overall prospects as well.
We had many highest level 2-way prospects in Cincinnati. More than any other
event we’ve ever held, in fact. Kyle Long 1B/LHP topped out at
96 mph on the mound and never threw a fastball under 94 mph. He also showed
upper deck raw power, good running speed and great agility. He’s also 6’7”/280.
Ryan O’Sullivan RHP/SS is hard to beat as a two way guy. He can
hit, play D and he can really pitch. Jack Armstrong RHP/1B we
only considered as a pitcher until we watched him crush the ball all summer.
Ricky Oropesa 3B/RHP is one of the countries premier power
prospects both at the plate and with the arm. There were several others, but we
decided on the talented Chris Amezquita SS/RHP. Chris was just
lights out in Cincinnati. He squared up on the ball each and every at bat,
showed big potential power, played great defense and showed a great arm in the
low 90s on the mound.
As one could imagine, put most of the top players in the country at one place
and you will see many outstanding hitters with big power. The PG National was
no exception and picking the top hitter was nearly impossible. However there
were a few guys that simply stood out. Destin Hood put on an
unbelievable power show during BP. We really liked the way Andy Burns
swung the bat in Cincinnati. Amezquita’s overall bat was
mentioned above and so was Long and Oropesa’s power. We settled on giving the
top hitter award to Kyle Skipworth, who was the events top
defensive catcher as well. The top power hitter, who many believe is the best
high school hitter in years went to Eric Hosmer.
Finally, we come to the fastest man, the top runner. There were many plus
runners in Cincinnati. Brent Warren ran two 6.4s and there
were several others who ran even better including the talented Tim Beckham
and big Wes Freeman who ran in the 6.3s on a fast track timed by laser. Some of
the past winners of this award from PG National Showcases include Justin
Upton, RJ Anderson, Derrick Robinson,
and Carl Crawford. In other words, some of the fastest players
in professional baseball. This year a new all time Perfect Game record was set
by Xavier Avery when he smoked the turf field 60 yards in an
amazing 6.17 time. Due to NCAA rules, we won’t run the 60 in San Diego this
week, but we already know who would run the fastest time here.
This afternoon the Aflac All Americans visited the Children’s Hospital here in
San Diego. It should be noted that this is one of the very best groups of Aflac
All Americans to date. These players would all grade out well in makeup and
character. Of course, we knew that coming in because we have been following
most of them closely for a few years now. These kids are true examples of what
the future of baseball has in store. All will be excellent role models and the
timing couldn’t be any better for baseball.
Before visiting the Children’s Hospital the players had a short workout at the
University of San Diego this morning. No real surprises to report. Always fun
to watch guys like Aaron Hicks throw from the outfield or Ethan
Martin’s hose across the infield from third base and of course the
slick fielding shortstops like Martinez, Beckham
and the others.
Top prospect Isaac Galloway worked out on a gimpy ankle that
we are trying to get healthy for the game Saturday. Jordan Swagerty
arrived late last night after pitching 7 innings in a winning effort for the
Dallas Tigers in Farmington.
BP was interesting to say the least. Kyle Long was unable to
make it here, but Ricky Oropesa was peppering the big building
behind the right field wall. Destin Hood hit some long ones,
no surprise there. Skipworth looked good and nearly every player here shows
home run ability. It was nice to see that Clark Murphy is back
in the groove. He absolutely mashed today showing great bat speed. A small
surprise, to me anyway, was the pretty swing of LHP Scott Silverstein.
He hit very well in the WWBA tournaments in July, but I don’t recall him having
as nice of a swing as he showed today.
Even the coaching staff’s of the two teams stand out this year. Mike
Sheppard Jr. is this year’s head coach of the East. Sheppard
coaches Seton Hall Prep, a national power from New Jersey. Manny Hermosillo
is the head coach of the West. Hermosillo (a native of Mexico) is a legendary
high school coach at Montgomery high school in San Diego. The East Assistants
are Kevin Maris (Roger’s son) coach at Oak Hall HS in Florida,
who was last year’s East head coach and Billy Nicholson, coach
at Centennial HS in Georgia, who is coaching in his third Aflac Classic. The
West assistants have both coached in the Aflac Classic every year since the
first game in Ft Myers, Florida. Cecil Espy is a former major
league player and Omar Washington was an early draft pick
years ago.
Lots of camera people from Fox and officials from Aflac at today’s practice. We
expect even more at tomorrow’s scrimmage. Tomorrow afternoon the PG Showcase
featuring a few other top 08 talents and several of the countries top 09
prospects will begin.
Look for the next report on tomorrow’s activities.