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2005 |
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1 |
C Ralph Henriquez |
Henriquez showed incredible power from both sides of the plate in both
batting practice and in the games. His father Ralph Henriquez is the
minor league catching coordinator for the Atlanta Braves and
Henriquez’s physical tools behind the plate measure up to the skills
he’s been taught. He might very well be the top catching prospect in
what promises to be an above average group of 2005 receivers. |
|
2 |
3B Chris Dominguez |
About the only thing that Dominguez didn’t show at the first two
showcases of the year was the big time power hat everyone has seen
before. He runs sub-7.00 at 6-5, 225, has one of the top arms in the
country and is an agile fielder. Dominguez’ ceiling is as high as any
high school player in the country. |
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3 |
3B Kent Matthes |
Matthes is a physically impressive 6-3, 195 lb right handed hitting
third baseman who is going to draw comparisons to 2002 1st round pick
Matt Whitney. Matthes has the edge defensively, especially with his
rocket arm, but his swing still needs a bit of shortening before
matching Whitney’s. |
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4 |
RHP Ryan Mitchell: |
Mitchell showed his usual low 90’s velocity in Ft. Myers and snapped
off a couple of good curveballs as well, something we’re always
looking for in this big right hander. We are a bit concerned that
Mitchell has been throwing too much for too many different teams and
might be putting too many innings on his young arm. |
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5 |
3B Mark Ortega: |
Ortega has big league tools and actions right now. His movements and
balance both at the plate and in the field are very smooth. Ortega is
going to be a plus hitter early in his career and is already a very
good defender. It looks like the game comes very easily to him. |
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6 |
OF David DiNatale: |
DiNatale is a regular at PG/WWBA events and is really swinging the bat
well and aggressively right now. He has some serious power potential
down the road. DiNatale is a good runner with one of the strongest
outfield arms in the country. |
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7 |
SS Ben Booker: |
Booker co-led the Showcase in base hits with 6 and may have led in
great defensive plays as well. He’s a plus runner who is only adding
some strength and power to his wiry 6-2 frame away from becoming a
5-tool player. |
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8 |
RHP Shaun Garceau |
Garceau was one of the hardest throwers at the event, hitting 90-91
mph frequently, even out of the stretch, and his curveball had
excellent depth and bite to it. He also impressed with his athletic
ability during batting practice and games. Garceau is very
projectable and should emerge as a top right handed pitching prospect
for 2005. |
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9 |
OF Chadd Hartman |
Hartman’s left handed bat stood out for both its power and
consistency. No one hit more balls hard at this event than this
Florida native, who reminds us of top 2004 prospect Steve Chapman.
Hartman’s speed and arm strength is very good, too. |
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10 |
C Cody Neer: |
Neer is one of the strongest prospects in the 2005 class. He gets
great torque from his hips and thighs and generates serious bat
speed. Neer’s arm is above average and he’s done a good job of
maintaining his lower body quickness and balance. |
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11 |
RHP Nathan Freiman: |
Like Jimmy Marshall above, Freiman lists himself as a catcher first
and could play high at that position. But at 6-7, 215, he will
outgrow that position as the game speeds up. On the mound, Freiman
throws 86-88 easily and there’s a lot more there. Also like
Marshall, his athletic ability will be a great benefit. |
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12 |
RHP Kurt Smith: |
This was our first look at Smith and we were very impressed. He’s a
physically mature workhorse type of pitcher with solid mechanics and
an easy high 80’s fastball and good curveball. Smith’s a good
athlete who can really hit, too, which adds to his projection. |
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13 |
RHP Daniel Bennett: |
Bennett has a pro style 6-3 body that has good present strength and
polished pitching mechanics. He pitched up to 88 mph on his fastball
and used it aggressively inside to hitters. Some improvement on his
secondary pitches would Bennett among the premium right handers in the
class. |
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14 |
OF-LHP Jeff Beliveau: |
Beliveau comes from the same Rhode Island high school as Devil Rays CF
Rocco Baldelli and top 2004 prospect Jay Rainville. He’s a
multi-tooled athlete who throws 86 mph from the left side, runs big
league average and swings a very good bat. |
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15 |
LHP Matt Clark: |
Not many left handed pitchers have emerged in the class of 2005 and
Clark has a chance to be among the best. He’s loose and athlete and
tops out in the 86-87 mph range with a nasty hammer of a curveball and
a very developed change up. |
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16 |
RHP-C Jimmy Marshall: |
Marshall still lists himself as a primary catcher and he has plenty of
potential at that position. But we think he will end up on the mound
eventually. His 85 mph throws during the catcher’s workouts dwarfed
the rest of a strong catcher’s group and it translates easily into a
90+ mph fastball. Marshall’s slider is first rate and his athleticism
will enable him to make easy adjustments at the higher levels. |
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17 |
OF/LHP Jake Shaffer: |
Two present big league average to above average tools always mark a
player as a potential pro prospect and Shaffer has those right now in
his speed and arm strength. He has the strength to hit with wood if
he can make some adjustments. |
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18 |
C Max Gonzalez: |
Gonzalez is the right handed brother of top 2004 prospect LHP Giovanni
Gonzalez and you can see the resemblance right away. Like Gio, Max is
a gamer with a live, quick actioned body and very good baseball
skills. He can hit and is going to be a top flight defensive catcher. |
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19 |
OF L.V. Ware: |
Ware was perhaps the top “tools” player in Fort Myers, registering the
top 60 time and throwing 87 mph from the outfield. His bat speed is
above average, although his approach is a bit raw and he’ll have to
work on recognizing breaking pitches better. |
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20 |
RHP Jared Leeds: |
Leeds looks like a young pitcher in the classic sinker/slider mold.
He’s an intense competitor who throws a consistent 87-88 mph fastball
with bat breaking boring action and sharp 80 mph slider. Leeds also
has a curveball and a change up but he can get quick outs with his two
lead pitches. |
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21 |
IF Jared Lansford: |
Jared is the latest in the celebrated Lansford clan from the San
Francisco Bay Area that has included a number of first round picks and
even an American League batting champion (Carney). Jared is an
athletic infielder with the same type of strong bat and good overall
skills. |
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22 |
OF Clinton Storr: |
This is one of the true sleepers of the 2005 class. He’s a plus
runner with good arm strength and we’ve seen him do some things with
the bat from the left side that are really impressive. Look for some
big things from this young man in the future. |
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23 |
IF Kurt Lipton: |
At 6-4, Lipton is a surprising good and agile athlete with big league
average running speed and arm strength. Lipton’s left handed bat is
his best tool. He wears out pitches low in the zone and is going to
hit with power in the future. |
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24 |
SS William Long: |
Switch-hitting middle infielders with some pop in their bats are
difficult to find but Long’s power keeps getting better every time we
see him. He has polished actions and good defensive tools, too. |
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25 |
SS Billy Block: |
Block looks like a skinny young middle infielder at first but that’s
deceiving. He has very good strength in his hands and arms and the
ball jumps off his bat with the power of a much bigger player. Block
is a smooth player defensively and even threw 86 mph off the mound. |
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26 |
C Andrew Giobbi: |
Giobbi is a power/power catcher from Maine who we’ve seen at a number
of events. He’s very strong in his hands and arms and generates some
serious bat speed and raw power. Giobbi has excellent arm strength.
He’s a hard nosed player who plays for keeps. |
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27 |
RHP-SS Tyler Herron: |
Herron came to the Showcase as an infield prospect and left as a
pitching prospect after throwing 87 mph with an easy arm action and
showing a good curveball/change up combination. The low 90’s are in
Herron’s near future. |
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28 |
RHP Aaron Everett: |
Everett is a very sound bet to add a good amount of velocity in the
next few years. He’s 84-86 mph now but has extra long limbs and
plenty of room to add strength. We also like that Everett is a very
good athlete who is a position prospect as well. |
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29 |
C Steven Stropp: |
Stropp was definitely one of the stronger players at the Showcase and
it translated to excellent bat speed. Stropp’s power projects off the
board. He’s a solid defensive catcher with a hard nosed attitude. |
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30 |
OF Jason Rago: |
It’s sometimes difficult for an outfielder to shine defensively at a
showcase but Rago did with his arm strength, speed and jumps. At 6-1,
190, he has plenty of strength to swing the bat with power, too. |
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31 |
RHP Anthony Perez: |
No pitcher at the Showcase is better suited to get hitters out right
now than Perez. He combines a high 80’s fastball with a sharp
curveball, precise command and a highly competitive attitude. He’s
not especially projectable but his present tools and skills are top
notch. |
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32 |
3B Edward Mendiola: |
Mendiola is very similar in all respects to fellow Florida 2005 third
baseman Mark Ortega. They have the same ease, balance and confidence
on the field, with Ortega having the slight edge in present tools and
physical projectability. Like Ortega, Mendiola is going to hit right
away at the next level. |
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33 |
C Michael Roberts: |
Roberts is a very good all around athlete with no dominant tool but a
collection of very solid skills and abilities. He’s very quick behind
the plate, has good arm strength and good gap to gap power. His
younger brother Sam is a top 2007 prospect, also. |
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34 |
Mario Duarte |
Duarte keeps getting better. He showed off an 88 mph OF arm and is
swinging the bat like an All American these days. |
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35 |
C Bryan Bennett: |
Bennett has an old school approach to the game that we really like but
it’s his tools and skills that make him a top prospect. He has very
good power potential and can really put a charge into the ball.
Bennett is a solid all around defensive player as well. |
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36 |
C-3B Brant McKown: |
McKown was the top game hitter at the Showcase, going 6-7 with 3
doubles against live pitching. This young man looks like a pure
hitter who has some power. If his catching skills keep improving,
that will make his bat play even better. |
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37 |
DePhillips Mason |
DePhillips is an outstanding athlete with impact speed and a package
of tools that will be attracting lots of D1 College attention |
|
38 |
Frank Compagnone |
Compagnone is a 2-way prospect that showed us the ability to strike
out the side on the hill, get in the batters box and drive in the
winning runs. He has all the tools for the next level. |
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39 |
LHP Lance McClain: |
McClain is a very polished southpaw who has no trouble cutting through
line ups at this level. He has excellent command of an 84 mph
fastball and sharp breaking curveball and great instincts on how to
use them. |
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40 |
RHP Josh Wall: |
Wall is tall and thin and throws with so little effort that when his
fastball comes in at 86 mph you wonder where it comes from. There’s a
lot more velocity there. Wall’s curveball and change up are very
advanced for his age. |
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41 |
RHP Mark Triolo: |
Triolo is a big 6-5 right hander who hasn’t started to get strong yet
at all. He maintained his velocity well on a hard sinking mid-80’s
fastball and showed good command of the strike zone. |
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42 |
OF Tyrone Anu: |
Anu is a top flight defensive centerfielder with above average speed
right now and very good arm strength. He has a slashing swing with
good bat speed and projects to get stronger. |
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43 |
Sean Baumann |
One of the most athletic catchers in the showcase, Baumann can catch
and throw with the best of them and still stretch a double into a
triple on the bases ! |
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44 |
LHP Gib Dannehower: |
Dannehower jumps out at you right away with his highly athletic 6-4,
200 lb frame. He threw in the mid-80’s with good spin on his breaking
pitches and projects well. |
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45 |
C Brett Basham: |
Basham looks like he’ll be one of the top defensive catchers in what
is looking like a vintage group of receivers. His game throwing
skills are excellent and he is quick behind the plate. Basham has
some power in his bat, too. |
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46 |
C Ryan Saldivar: |
Saldivar wasn’t one of the bigger catchers at the event but he swung
one of the biggest bats. He’s quick to the ball and has some loft in
his swing. Saldivar is also quick behind the plate and has enough arm
strength to throw in the mid-80’s off the mound. |
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47 |
3B Joaquin Valdes: |
Valdes is long and lean at 6-4, 180 lbs and uses his size to get some
serious whip and extension into his swing. The pro scouts are going
to like his power potential for the future. Valdes is quick and agile
at third base and throws well, too. |
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48 |
IF Jason Ogata: |
We don’t see many prospects from Oregon but Ogata is a 6-2 shortstop
that the pro scouts and college coaches definitely need to see. He
has some juice in his bat and present average big league speed and arm
strength. |
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49 |
C David Hum: |
Left handed hitting catchers with sweet, projectable swings are
difficult to find but Hum qualifies. In addition to his very nice
bat, Hum is a very good receiver who only needs to improve his arm
strength a notch to be a complete prospect. |
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50 |
Chris Craycraft |
Craycraft is a 2 way player that could have made this list either
way. Has nice fundamentals with the bat but really showed us too much
pitchability not to mention him on the mound. |
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51 |
Rauri O'Connor |
O'Connor has an advanced bat with power and we have seen hit some of
the best pitching in his class. He has an offensive mentality to his
game and will make any team that he plays on better. |
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52 |
RHP Sam Newton: |
Newton’s best pitch is a very sharp 78 mph slider that is going to
produce many strikeouts for him in the future. He throws in the
mid-80’s now with a loose, projectable body. |
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53 |
Steve Vitale |
One of the top athletes in the Northeast, Vitale showed nice range at
SS with a playable arm and attacker approach at the plate. We've even
seen him run much better on a firmer track in the fall. |
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54 |
SS Matthew Hall: |
Hall is a 6-2 shortstop with very nice actions and arm strength. He
showed us a slashing swing with good bat speed that sent some balls up
the gaps for extra base hits. |
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55 |
OF Jay Dantzler: |
Dantzler has the tools to be a top flight defensive centerfield at the
next level, no question. We did have questions about his bat after BP
but Dantzler answered them with a crushed triple off a 90 mph fastball
and a couple of other good hits. |
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56 |
Matt Williams |
Williams can hit but his arm strength and catching ability will allow
him to stick out among an elite group of backstops. He shined in Ft
Myers and it was an outstanding group of catchers. |
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57 |
Will Hebberger |
Hebberger has a good balance of defensive and offensive ability that
caught our attention. He might not be in the top 10 offensively or
defensively but he'd be in the top 5 production guys at the catcher
position. And he's got some nice power. |
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58 |
Kasey Ko |
This Hawaiian switch hitter can really punish the ball and he does it
from both sides of the plate. He showed us gap to gap hitting ability
and he does it with a different look from each side. |
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59 |
RHP Michael Lee: |
The only thing the 6-5 Lee lacks right now is velocity. He throws a
low 80’s fastball, a quality curveball and change up combination and
has very good mechanics that lead to above average command potential.
When the velocity kicks in, Lee is going to get very good very
quickly. |
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60 |
RHP A.J. Dunn: |
Dunn has a mature pitcher’s build and two quality pitches in a 86 mph
fastball and a hard breaking 72 mph curveball. His smooth pitching
mechanics ensure that he’s going to both improve and have strong
command of the strike zone. |
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61 |
Nolan Crawley |
Crawley is an all around catching prospect for the next level. His
athleticism allows him to hit good pitching, throw with the best of
them and being from the north we can easily see a taller than average
ceiling. |
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62 |
SS Michael Brady: |
Brady has significantly improved his bat speed and strength over the
past few months and now looks like he’s going to be a strong hitter.
He has natural shortstop actions, good arm strength and showed a
better ability to drive the ball. Brady also threw 85 mph off the
mound. |
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63 |
Robert Lawler |
Lawler is among the top caliber middle infielders and he hits like a
corner guy at the next level. We've sen him before and he never
surprises us with his quick bat and swift glove. |
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64 |
Eddie San Roman |
San Roman has shown us a steady improvement not as much in his tools
but in his ability and approach. He can do it all and most
importantly he can hit. His tools easily play better than they read
on paper and we love watching him swing the bat. |
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65 |
Matt McFolling |
McFolling is one of those players that we could have ranked higher
because even though he isn't big, his swing is one of the best we
saw. He threw 84 from the OF, ran well but this is one LH bat that we
have no problem bragging about ! |
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66 |
Rick Marlin |
Marlin is a power player who can turn on the ball and drive in runs.
He also showed one of the top OF arms but we still can't grade it
better than his bat ! |
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67 |
3B Pedro Alvarez: |
This New Yorker tore up the ball during batting practice with his bat
speed and raw power. He has the physical skills to play third base in
the future and just needs some more refinement and game experience
before he’s one of the top hitters in the 2005 class. |
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68 |
LHP John Phelps: |
Phelps is a strong, compact left hander with two good present pitches
that he uses very aggressively. His fastball is in the mid-80’s but
the pitch that’s his difference maker is a hard 73 mph curveball with
good late break to it. |
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69 |
RHP-3B Daniel Hudson: |
Hudson is a very good athlete who throws in the mid-80’s with an
excellent change up. He also took one of the best batting practices
at the showcase and showed above average power potential. Top level
college coaches need to watch him both ways. |
|
70 |
OF Dustin Warren: |
Warren was a very pleasant surprise; a multi-tooled outfielder from
Southern California who came all the way to Florida to play. He has a
professional body at 6-1, 195 and very good bat speed and hitting
mechanics. |
|
71 |
RHP Jimmy Saris: |
Saris is a very polished pitcher who is going to win quickly at the
next level. He throws in the mid-80’s with an easy delivery and has
good quality and command to his curveball and change up. |
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72 |
RHP Ross Fetterly: |
Fetterly wasn’t one of the hardest throwers at the event but the 6-3
right hander threw a 73 mph hammer of a curveball that was eye opening
and knee buckling. Both the curveball and his 84 mph fastball are
going to improve as Fetterly grows into his body. |
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73 |
SS Kyle Nickel: |
Nickel was one of the top defensive players at the Showcase and has
the physical tools and skills to be a top flight defensive middle
infielder. How he develops his strength and bat speed will determine
how good a prospect he will become. |
|
74 |
IF Rafael Vera: |
Vera is a very live bodied middle infielder who really turns up his
level of play in games. He has some serious juice in his bat and has
consistently lined balls between and over outfielders at showcases and
WWBA events. |
|
75 |
LHP Jeremy Bleich: |
Bleich does not fit the soft tossing southpaw mold yet despite
throwing 83-85 mph because he has a loose arm and is projectable. But
his curveball/changeup combination is excellent and he has great
command and confidence in both these pitches. |
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76 |
1B Trevor Pippen: |
Pippen’s left handed bat projects very well. He’s got a smooth, easy
stroke and is already beginning to show impressive bat speed and power
potential. Pippen’s going to get much stronger over the next few
years. He’s a very good runner with arm strength, so the outfield is
a definite option. |
|
77 |
C-RHP Robert Shaw: |
Shaw has a big league frame at 6-3, 205 lb. and is an aggressive
athlete who could play many positions on the field. He showed
impressive power potential at the plate and also hit 85 mph off the
mound. |
|
78 |
RHP Greg Marrone: |
Marrone is a polished right hander with a mid-80’s fastball and a good
curveball/change up combination. He looks like he’s in complete
command on the mound. |
|
79 |
IF Chris Lopez: |
Lopez is one of the more polished and skilled players in the country.
At 5-7, 150, he’ll have to prove himself at every level but he has the
ability and skills to do just that. Lopez can really pick it on
defense and has an ideal leadoff hitter’s approach to hitting. |
|
80 |
SS Matt Rogers: |
It’s always fun to watch shortstops who can play defense and Rogers
can pick it with the best of them. He has some flair to his game,
too. At the plate, Rogers has a short line drive swing and has
excellent speed and quickness on the bases. |
|
81 |
IF Nick Wenderoth: |
Wenderoth has been a base hit machine at every PG/WWBA event he’s been
at and will continue to hit for a high average at the next level.
Although he plays mostly second, Wenderoth definitely has the arm
strength and actions to play shortstop, too. |
|
82 |
LHP Shane Effertz: |
Effertz is a polished 3 pitch southpaw with a deceptive low ¾’s
release point. His best pitch is a sharp breaking curveball that
dominates left handed hitters and his mid-80’s fastball and change up
are also quality pitches that he can throw for strikes. |
|
83 |
RHP Daniel Houston: |
Houston has long arms and legs and very projectable athletic actions.
He touches 83-84 mph now with a nasty curveball and both are just
going to keep getting better. |
|
84 |
RHP Corey Bevis: |
Bevis had some of the smoothest pitching mechanics we saw in Fort
Myers and did an out standing job of throwing strikes with an 84 mph
fastball and top notch change up. Bevis is a very good athlete who is
a college level infield prospect as well. |
|
85 |
RHP Glenn Desposito: |
Desposito has three solid pitches in a mid-80’s fastball, curveball
and change up and he’s a strike machine with all of them. With a
strong, mature build and good athleticism, Desposito could be a
workhorse college starter almost right away. |
|
86 |
RHP-C Ryan Hayes: |
Hayes could be a strong Division I caliber player either on the
throwing or the receiving end of the pitches. He throws in the
mid-80’s with a big 74 mph slurve and uses his strength and athletic
ability well as a catching prospect. |
|
87 |
IF John Allan Conway: |
Conway put on a hitting show during games, knocking three extra base
hits and showing impressive bat speed. He’s a solidly built athlete
with good all around tools. |
|
88 |
Jonathan Kutcherousky |
You can see the competitor in Kutcherousky when he gets on the field.
He is an attacker at the plate, takes a healthy hack at the ball and
draws some big attention with his athleticism for a lean 200 pounder. |
|
89 |
Dominic Altobelli |
Altobelli is one of the more projectable player with power potential
that excites us. It's especially nice to see that with his ability to
drive the ball the other way with authority from a nice balanced
approach. |
|
90 |
Steven Giummo |
Giummo has a nice package on both sides of the ball with a projectable
bat and already strong arm. We really look forward to seeing him
swing the wood again soon because we think his loft power will end up
among the best in his class. |
|
91 |
Elbert Garcia |
As a quick and aggressive center-fielder we liked the way Garcia
plaeyd the game. He is a hard-nosed type that played for keeps. Has
the arm, speed and switch hitting ability that will be sought after by
D1 Colleges. |
|
92 |
Tom Hatcher |
Hatcher was one of the strongest catchers in the event with some wood
power and one of the top arms in the showcase posting a 1.90 pop to
pop ! |
|
93 |
Wes Dravis |
This right-hander threw 85 mph for us in January showing good leverage
from an over the top slot. At 165 pounds we expect lots more from him
this summer. |
|
94 |
Bradley McPeek |
McPeek can swing the wood and send the ball routinely to the wall. We
can only imagine how fast the ball jumps off his aluminum bat. If he
concentrates on hitting exclusively left-handed he might be the
toughest LH hitter to get out in TN. |
|
95 |
David Munoz |
Munoz is a strong right-hander who maintained his velocity, showed us
a killer curveball and most importantly threw lots of strikes ! |
|
96 |
Robert Warne |
A catcher from NY popping under 2.0, swinging a good wood bat and
running well for a backstop catches our attention. Not to mention we
like the way he projects for next year. |
|
97 |
IF Corey Ashner: |
Ashner is one of the more skilled middle infielders in the country,
with a polished bat and good physical tools. He’s improved his arm
strength a good deal in the last 6 months and we think he’s ready to
move over to shortstop from second base. |
|
98 |
Jordan Mills |
Mills was smaller than most but had no problem showing Shortstop
ability with good tools. He is a slick fielder, has a good swing and
we like his chances at the next level at least as a 2Bman. |
|
99 |
Jason Rook |
Rook can pitch, hit, play the OF and any way we looked at it he
belongs on this list. Watch out because he might separate himself and
creep into the top half of this list this summer at either P or OF. |
|
100 |
Greg Pustizzi |
Pustizzi has a bigtime body and made an impact with his defensive
ability alone showing a 1.87 pop time and he did it more than once.
It should illustrate just how talented of a Top 100 list this is ! |
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2006 |
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1 |
3B Chris Marrero: |
Marrero just might be the top 2006 prospect in the country. His arm
strength is unsurpassed in the high school ranks, he’s quick and lithe
on his feet at 6-3, 190, and he has no trouble turning around quality
pitches with power, as he showed in Fort Myers. Marrero is a special
player with a great approach to the game. |
|
2 |
RHP Brandon Holden: |
Holden is quickly emerging as the top power pitcher in the 2006
class. He touched 90 mph in Fort Myers with great leverage and
projectability to his pitches. Holden throws very easily and has
advanced skills at changing speeds and throwing strikes. |
|
3 |
RHP Chris Huseby: |
Huseby and Brandon Holden are similar athletically, physically and in
their projection. Huseby “only” topped out at 88 mph as opposed to
Holden’s 90 mph but Huseby’s curveball is a hammer with big league
strike out potential when he throws it hard. Huseby also has very
advanced command and pitching skills for his age. |
|
4 |
SS Adrian Cardenas: |
Cardenas is not your typical slender, quick Latin shortstop. He’s a
switch-hitter with a strong body and power from both sides of the
plate. Cardenas has slick and polished actions in the infield and
would be a top defender at second or third base as well. |
|
5 |
C Buddy Munroe: |
Munroe is establishing himself as the top defensive catcher in the
2006 class. He’s very quick and agile behind the plate and has a top
flight arm. Munroe’s bat definitely plays, too. |
|
6 |
OF David Christensen: |
Christensen is one of the best tools players of the sophomore class,
with excellent above average arm strength and good speed. He’s a lean
and projectable 6-2 and is going to keep getting stronger. |
|
7 |
SS Ryan Adams: |
Adams has the makings of a 5-tool shortstop and it would be difficult
to identify which is his weakest area right now. He hits every ball
right on the nose it seems, runs present big league average, fields
well at shortstop and throws 89 mph off the mound. Adams doesn’t
stand out physically at 5-10, but he tools certainly do. |
|
8 |
OF John Bivens: |
Bivens has only been playing baseball for 1 ½ years and Fort Myers was
his coming out party. He’s highly athletic at 6-1, 195, with
excellent bat speed and top notch athletic ability. Look for him to
move up the charts as he plays more. |
|
9 |
C Matt Redding: |
Redding plays with the maturity of a much older player. His defensive
tools are excellent and he plays the game with an energy that that his
future coaches are going to appreciate. |
|
10 |
LHP-OF Michael Heard: |
Heard is the cousin of former Rangers 1st round pick Scott Heard but
has the advantage of being left handed. He throws 86 mph now with a
very sharp breaking ball and reminds scouts of top 2004 prospect, and
Northwest Houston neighbor, Troy Patton. |
|
11 |
RHP-3B Todd Waller: |
Waller and Nathan Karns are similar 2-way prospects. Both throw in
the mid-80’s off the mound as sophomores and will show you plus raw
power potential and good athletic ability. Karns is a bit more
projectable, but Waller is awfully good, too. |
|
12 |
OF-RHP Addison Johnson: |
Johnson isn’t very big or strong but he has some serious tools,
combining excellent speed with surprisingly good arm strength. He can
hit, too, and will launch some balls out of the park. |
|
13 |
C Albert "Tito" Espinosa: |
Don’t even think of running on Espinosa. He’s Pudge-like quick behind
the plate and was 1.78 to 1.87 on his pop times. Espinosa has a
strong, aggressive bat as well that projects very good power and he
shows good leadership skills behind the plate. |
|
14 |
C Dustin Spruill: |
Spruill’s switch-hitting ability will carry him alone but his catching
and throwing skills keep improving, too. His pop times are
consistently in the low 1.90’s. |
|
15 |
RHP Aaron O’Connell: |
O’Connell is only 15 years old and 6-2, 175 lbs but can sit steadily
in the 83-85 mph range. His curveball also has good velocity at 73
mph and O’Connell is just starting to add strength to his frame. He
could be a very hard thrower in a couple of years. |
|
16 |
OF Harold Smith |
Smith has impact speed both in the field and on the bases and each
time we see him he drives the ball harder. |
|
17 |
RHP-OF Nathan Karns: |
Karns was the top prospect of the many 2-way sophomore prospects. He
touched 85 mph on his fastball with an effortless delivery and there’s
much more in his athletic 6-3 frame. Karns also displayed as much raw
power potential as any young hitter at the event. |
|
18 |
SS Jeff Ussery |
Ussery has switch hitting ability, nice SS actions and a good arm to
go with it. It's the whole package including a body that projects as
good as any in the entire event. |
|
19 |
SS Ryan Jackson: |
Jackson’s defensive skills and tools are highly advanced and would
play at any level right now. How he develops his slender 6’2, 150 lb
frame and his approach to the game will determine his future
potential. |
|
20 |
IF Matt Adams: |
Adams is a young lean infielder with lots of projection. He runs
fairly well and has a very strong arm. He has outstanding hitting
skills that should develop nicely as he gets older. He’s a good player
and just keeps getting better. |
|
21 |
RHP-SS Graham Stoneburner: |
Stoneburner’s brother is a D1 shortstop with a plus arm and younger
brother might be better. Stoneburner already hits 86-87 mph from the
mound and his arm action and delivery are silky smooth. He’s a pretty
good shortstop prospect, also. |
|
22 |
LHP-OF Thomas Hickman: |
Hickman isn’t the most physically imposing prospect at a slender 5-10
but he’s among the most skilled. He throws in the mid-80’s on the
mound with an excellent breaking ball and plenty of savvy and
command. Hickman can definitely hit at the next level, too. |
|
23 |
SS Alberto Gonzalez: |
The only physical tool Gonzalez doesn’t have is height. This 5-8
athlete hits the ball hard from the left side and shows some power
potential at the plate. He’s also a defensive wizard who will
probably end up at second base. |
|
24 |
3B Marcus Rodriguez: |
There are no shortage of mature power hitters in the sophomore class
and Rodriguez ranks among them. The ball explodes off his bat right
now. Rodriguez is an agile defender with very soft hands. |
|
25 |
SS Hunter Rome: |
Rome is a slender 155 lb. shortstop who is already fast and can pick
it with the best of them at shortstop. He swings the bat well, too,
and more strength is going to make him much better. |
|
26 |
RHP Joseph Castaldi: |
Castaldi already has the polish of a much older pitcher. We’ve seen
him at 86 mph in the past, although he only was 83 mph in Fort Myers,
and his curveball and change up are excellent pitches. Castaldi is a
good athlete and very projectable. |
|
27 |
RHP Jeff Lara |
Good young body who threw 84 mph and worked in a savvy knuckler as one
of his off-speed pitches. He is on his way to big things. |
|
28 |
3B Jared Anderson |
Anderson is a lean and projectable player with a high split body that
swung a good bat and showed some pitchability and armstrength on the
hill. He's a northern player with lots of upside. |
|
29 |
RHP James Allen |
Interesting pitcher that we really liked with a bat in his hands. He
can hit and hit with power and has the size and strength to get it
done both ways. |
|
30 |
SS William Gordon |
With a good infielders body and projectable actions Gordon makes for a
good prospect after seeing him hit the ball the other way off live
pitching. |
|
31 |
RHP Alex Hilliard |
Hilliard is a P/IF who we think could end up being a top Infielder
with good footspeed and a nice swing that projects off the charts. |
|
32 |
C Joel Wall |
Wall is a catcher that can hit with natural actions at the plate and
the ability to handle a wood bat already. And for a catcher he runs
very well. |
|
33 |
Aaron Lerma |
Hasn't played his Junior year in HS yet and showed us 1.87 to 1.95 pop
times. And he can swing the bat too ! |
|
34 |
RHP Sam Phippen: |
Phippen is a 6-7 right hander with a loose arm who threw 80-83 mph and
showed the ability to spin the ball well. He’s very athletic and
should continue to improve as he adds strength. |
|
35 |
C Jayson Hernandez: |
The sophomore class is full of catcher’s who can hit the ball.
Hernandez is very strong in his hands and arms right now and he can
really turn on the ball hard with some power. |
|
36 |
C Caleb Shofner: |
Shofner is one of the better and more polished hitters in the
sophomore class and he has plenty of room to add more strength and
power. The ball already jumps off his bat. His catching skills are
improving as well. |
|
37 |
SS David Cunningham: |
Cunningham is a mature player with an advanced bat and good power
potential. He’ll probably move to third base as he gets bigger and
stronger. |
|
38 |
SS-RHP Christian Bergman: |
Bergman’s bat keeps improving as he gets stronger but he also showed
us his pitching ability for the first time, throwing into the mid-80’s
with an easy, smooth arm action. |
|
39 |
RHP Scott Rembisz: |
Rembisz is a big, strong right hander from Connecticut who already
tops out in the 84-85 mph range. He attacked the hitters
aggressively, maintaining his stuff well and is going to keep getting
better. |
|
40 |
1B Manny Fernandez: |
Fernandez is a very projectable 6-0 hitter and has a sweet left handed
swing that’s going to account for a lot of home runs. Fernandez is a
good athlete and defender. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
2007/2008 |
|
|
1 |
RHP/Utl Michael Main: |
Main continues to impress everyone with his all around physical
skills, both on the mound and in the field. He throws 87-89 mph with
a quality curveball and change up, but also projects as one of the top
position prospects in his class both as a catcher and centerfielder.
There may not be a phrase like “8-Tool Player” in the scout’s
dictionary but it might have to be added to describe Main. |
|
2 |
SS/C John Tolisano: |
For pure smoothness and ease, few players of any age compare with
Tolisano’s silky left handed swing. He has consistently hit the ball
out of pro parks with wood and just projects to get stronger as he
matures. Tolisano projects as a catcher but his speed and arm
strength at shortstop, as well as his ability to make the difficult
play, improve every time out. |
|
3 |
SS Raiko Alfonso: "2008" |
Although Alfonso’s actually older than a couple of the 2007 prospects,
this 8th grader definitely belonged on the field with the older
players. Alfonso’s physical tools are impressive across the board and
he has that confidence and ease about him that the best athletes have
naturally. |
|
4 |
RHP Eric Hillenbrand: |
Hillenbrand has a well developed frame right now at 6-3, 190 and some
very good tools to go with it. He tops out at 84 mph on his fastball
and throws a good 71 mph curveball. With some mechanical changes, he
could gain more velocity right away. |
|
5 |
OF Evan Chambers: |
Chambers is more physically mature than most freshman, with especially
strong hips and thighs. He’s a very powerful runner who generates
good bat speed and projects a ton of power in the future. |
|
6 |
1B Jason Heyward: |
Heyward is the youngest prospect on the list by birthday but also one
of the best. He’s already physically strong at 6-0, 170 and his left
handed swing is quick and sweet. Wait until he starts to physically
mature! |
|
7 |
SS Christian Rodriguez: |
This Puerto Rican native has a very mature game for his age. He hits
well from both sides of the plate, even showing some pop with wood,
and has all the actions and tools to stay at shortstop at the higher
levels. |
|
8 |
3B-RHP Matt Sorrell: |
Sorrell has a big league body at 6-3, 180 and is looking at a whole
basket of big league tools as well. He showed power off high 80’s
pitching, ran very well and threw 83 off the mound with a nasty
curveball. Sorrell’s ceiling is very high. |
|
9 |
OF Andrew Cobb: |
Cobb has the makings of a “tools” prospect; his present arm strength
and running speed are getting close to Major League quality right now
and he has good body life. He has plenty of time to harness his
talents with the bat. |
|
10 |
RHP-SS Patrick Johnson: |
Johnson wasn’t 100% healthy in Fort Myers but he showed us enough to
think that he’s a top 2-way prospect. He touched 85 mph during 1
inning of work, swung the bat well and ran 4.20 down to first on a
ground ball. We’re very anxious to see him when he’s healthy and
stronger. |
|
11 |
SS Tyler Benzel: |
Benzel has all the tools and actions to be a top flight defensive
shortstop far into the future. His feet look like they were born to
play shortstop and he has very good arm strength. Benzel’s bat is
very advanced for his age as well. |
|
12 |
RHP-SS Weston Gilmer: |
Although he listed himself as a primary shortstop, Gilmer is a very
good pitching prospect. He threw 84-86 mph easily with 2 quality
secondary pitches and looked like he could do that all day. Gilmer is
a switch hitter with good power from the left side. |
|
13 |
OF A.J. Regoli: |
Regoli looks like a natural hitter even at 15 years old and 155 lbs.
He generates very good bat speed and stings the ball consistently.
Regoli also has big league arm strength that profiles him into right
field at the higher levels. |
|
14 |
IF Christopher Murphy: |
Murphy has a nice set of defensive tools for the infield and good
actions as well. His approach at the plate is sound and mature and he
projects well across the board. |
|
15 |
OF Sam Roberts: |
Roberts’ brother Michael is a top 2005 catching prospect but the 2
siblings are very different athletically. Sam has a powerful left
handed stroke that projects plus future home run potential and has a
classic right fielder’s build and tools. |
|
16 |
OF Kameon Gardner: |
Gardner is very young even for a freshman and has the type of body
that could be big and strong with normal development. He has
excellent natural loft to his swing and has some bat speed now with
wood. |
|
17 |
Inf Jace Brown: |
Brown is already 6-1, 165 as a freshman and his going to be big and
strong in a few years. His bat is already very advanced for his age
and he could develop into a power hitting third baseman down the road. |
|
18 |
Blake Newalu "2008" |
As one of just 2 players in the 2008 class Newalu was the smallest
player and possibly the most projectable of them all. He showed real
nice actions in the field and at the plate and look forward to seeing
him grow into those actions. |
|
19 |
Kyle Mayes |
Mayes is a projectable infielder with an aggressive approach that
projects well. He can already run and throw with the top prospects
and we liked the way he made routine contact. |
|
20 |
Nicholas Natale |
Natale is an athletic infielder that showed us very good speed and a
nice projectable build for the future. As just a freshman he has a
bright future. |
