|
1 |
Jesse Hahn |
RHP |
Chatham Anglers |
R-R |
6-5 |
190 |
Jr. |
Virginia Tech |
7/30/1989 |
| SCOUTING REPORT Hahn played on the same eastern Connecticut high-school team as righthander Matt Harvey. Though Hahn set a school record as a senior with a 0.18 ERA, he was clearly overshadowed at the time by Harvey, who set school career records for wins (21), ERA (1.08) and strikeouts (315), and would have been a near-certain first-round pick in 2007 had he not been so heavily committed to attending college at North Carolina. Harvey slipped to the third round of that year's draft, while Hahn flew under the radar and was passed over altogether, paving his way to attend Virginia Tech. Two years later, it's Hahn that has the greater shot of being drafted in the first round. Both pitchers were reunited last summer on the Cape at Chatham, and were the subject of much intrigue—Hahn for producing a 98-mph fastball, the best recorded velocity in the league; Harvey for his inconsistent mechanics, which may have clouded his prospects for the 2010 draft. While Hahn produced the best fastball on the Cape, he worked in only 15 innings, all in relief. He went 1-1, 5.28 with one save in nine appearances, a performance that was adversely impacted by one bad outing. He was relatively effective overall as he allowed just eight hits and six walks while striking out 17. But his curveball was inconsistent as he was plagued by minor injuries to his pitching hand (tendonitis on the tip of his finger initially, a blister later), affecting his feel for the pitch. And yet his performance wasn't overly different from his sophomore season at Virginia Tech, where he went 1-2, 6.00, with 47 base runners (34 hits, 13 walks) in 24 innings, mostly in a set-up role. During the summer, Hahn's fastball was overpowering as it sat consistently in the 96-98 mph range, topping at 99, and had good running action. He also flashed a lethal, though inconsistent 12-to-6 hammer curve at 75-77 mph, and though Hahn has a changeup, he rarely used it in his end-of-game role. The 6-foot-5, 195-pound righthander has room to fill out his lean, athletic frame, but already gets a powerful drive from his lower half. Hahn was expected to be used as a starter in his junior year at Virginia Tech, primarily to give him the much-needed innings to develop his raw stuff and consistency. If he can achieve that, and remain healthy, he has a solid chance of being picked in the top 10 picks in June. |
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|
2 |
Christopher Sale |
LHP |
Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox |
L-L |
6-5 |
175 |
Jr. |
Florida Gulf Coast |
3/30/1989 |
| SCOUTING REPORT Sale was the dominant pitcher in the Cape Cod League, finishing first in strikeouts (57, in 55 innings), tying for the league lead in wins (4) and placing third in ERA (1.55). He was selected the league's outstanding pitcher and also the Eastern Division MVP of the All-Star Game, where he threw just six pitches in one perfect inning. As a 6-foot-6 lefthander, Sale has obvious physical appeal as a professional prospect, but his projectable frame, deceptive delivery, advanced stuff and mature approach to pitching make him an elite talent. His fastball normally sits in the 91-93 mph range, but can reach 95-96 and has excellent sinking action as Sale comes from an unconventional, high three-quarters slot. He generates a lot of ground-ball outs with the pitch. Sale also has an excellent changeup, both for its deception and movement, and commands the pitch extremely well to both sides of the plate. His slider can be an effective third pitch at 77-78 mph, but is inconsistent. Sale's advanced sense of pitchability and level-headed demeanor on the mound put him a leg up on most college arms in the 2010 draft class, and his funky, herky-jerky delivery and long limbs often make it difficult for hitters to pick up his pitches. He should only continue to get better as he fills out his tall, very wiry frame. Sale went a solid 7-4, 2.72 with 104 strikeouts in 89 innings as a sophomore at Florida Gulf Coast, and will get the opportunity to pitch in post-season play for the first time in 2010 as a junior as his school has completed its transitional status to full Division I membership. |
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|
3 |
Brandon Workman |
RHP |
Wareham Gatemen |
R-R |
6-5 |
220 |
Jr. |
Texas |
8/13/1988 |
| SCOUTING REPORT Workman may have been the most-dominant pitcher in the Cape Cod League in 2008. He utilized a consistent hard fastball and superior breaking ball to top the league with 67 strikeouts in 55 innings, while walking just 14. His encore for Wareham wasn't nearly as impressive as he went 1-1, 5.06 with 11 walks and 24 strikeouts in 21 innings. Though more inconsistent than a year earlier, he did flash his dominant stuff. His fastball was mostly in the 92-93 mph range, though it did spike 3-4 mph in the Cape all-star game and generally showed good life. He projects to throw an easy 95-97 as he gains experience and refines his delivery to take better advantage of the power in his imposing frame. His out-pitch is a nasty, 12-to-6 power curve at 78-80 mph that he is able to throw in almost any count as he has excellent command of the pitch. He doesn't throw his changeup often, but it should be a solid third pitch with increased use. Workman, a third-round pick of the Philadelphia Phillies out of a Texas high school, has excellent poise and an advanced knowledge of pitching, and clearly understands the benefit of working inside to hitters. He just needs to trust his stuff more and develop better command low in the strike zone. But his biggest challenge continues to be streamlining his pitching mechanics. He throws from a high three-quarters to overhand release point with a long, extended arm action in back and some effort out front on release. Despite being one of the elite arms on a College World Series runner-up team last spring, he went just 3-5, 3.48 with 82 strikeouts in 75 innings. He made just five appearances (3 starts) during the summer as he arrived on the Cape with a tired arm. But his stuff remains first-rate, and he should be an elite first-round candidate in the 2010 draft. |
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|
4 |
Jack Armstrong |
RHP |
Wareham Gatemen |
R-R |
6-7 |
215 |
So. |
Vanderbilt |
12/14/1989 |
| SCOUTING REPORT Armstrong was one of the most promising pitching prospects in the prep class of 2008, but worked in just eight innings as a freshman at Vanderbilt in 2009, posting a 0-0, 12.91 record. So it was unclear what kind of success he might enjoy in summer-league competition for Wareham. But the 6-foot-7, 230-pound righthander excelled from the start of the Cape Cod League season and went on to assemble a tidy 4-1, 2.57 campaign for the Gatemen, striking out 31 in 35 innings without allowing a home run. He worked with a smooth, easy arm action and his athleticism on the mound was evident. His fastball normally sat at 93-94 mph, but peaked at 96-97. He also flashed an above-average curve and change, but needs to be more consistent with both going forward, particularly his 80-82 mph change. Armstrong threw strikes as a matter of routine in all but one outing, although he needs to refine his command and mound presence, which should come with experience. In addition to his big-league frame and superior stuff, Armstrong has the pedigree to match. His dad, Jack, is a 1990 American League all-star righthander and his uncle, Bob Davies, quarterbacked in the NFL for 10 seasons. Despite his Cape success, scouts will need to be patient with his development. In the end, though, Armstrong may have the highest ceiling of any pitcher on the Cape. He'll settle in as a starter for Vandy in 2010, and should emerge as an elite prospect by the 2011 draft. |
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|
5 |
Zach Cone |
OF |
Cotuit Kettleers |
R-R |
6-2 |
200 |
So. |
Georgia |
12/14/1989 |
| SCOUTING REPORT As an unsigned third-round pick of the Los Angeles Angels in the 2008 draft, Cone's upside is evident. His combination of athleticism and raw five-tool ability was unmatched in the Cape Cod League, and it's just a matter of time until he evolves into an elite, well-rounded talent. He mainly needs to get stronger, and refine his instincts and approach to hitting, which should come with experience. As a freshman at Georgia, Cone got just 93 at-bats, though hit .323-4-18. He can punish mistake pitches, but has little or no plate discipline as he has a tendency to take an aggressive hack at everything. In 147 plate appearances during the summer for Cotuit, he had five walks vs. a team-high 42 strikeouts while hitting .243-3-20 overall. He looked more comfortable with wood as the season progressed, particularly in his ability to turn on balls on the inner half. He also stole 10 bases in 12 attempts, and should be a base stealer of some note once he learns how to utilize his speed (6.45 in the 60) more effectively. His outfield defense is his most advanced tool at this point in his development. He has the speed and athleticism to play center field, and could find a home in right once he develops his arm into a more significant weapon. Cone's athletic ability comes naturally as his father Ronny, a former Georgia Tech football star, played for the NFL's New York Jets, and his older brother Kevin is a wide receiver at Georgia Tech. |
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|
6 |
*Zach Cox |
3B |
Cotuit Kettleers |
L-R |
6-0 |
215 |
So. |
Arkansas |
5/9/1989 |
| SCOUTING REPORT Cox hit .344 for Cotuit, and would have made a determined run at a Cape Cod League batting title had he not played in barely more than half his team's games. He arrived late from Arkansas' participation in the College World Series, and chose to leave the Cape prior to the end of the season. Cox left little doubt, though, that he was one of the league's most advanced hitters and actually seemed to thrive more with wood than aluminum. Though he failed to go deep in the Cape after slamming 13 homers as a freshman for the Razorbacks, he had the uncanny ability to drive balls with authority the other way, to left and center field, and stroked numerous balls over the left fielder's head. He even drove a ball to the base of the 415-foot wall in dead-center at Boston's Fenway Park in the Cape League all-star game. Eventually, Cox will have to show scouts that he can turn on balls more often with wood, especially mid-90s fastballs on his hands. Cox has exceptionally good balance at the plate and tremendous plate coverage, and routinely takes a quick, aggressive cut at the ball, though he rarely works the count. He may need another year to mould his approach to hitting, though may not have that liberty as he'll be draft-eligible in June as a 21-year-old sophomore. Cox also needs time to refine his defensive play. He has relatively smooth hands at the hot corner, but his feet and range are considered just adequate. He also has plenty of arm strength and will pitch on occasion in college, though he must learn to adapt more consistently to a four-seam grip when not pitching so his throws across the diamond are straight and true, and not prone to sink. He also needs to get lighter on his feet to become a faster and more effective base runner. One of Cox' strengths is his excellent aptitude for the game. He understands his strengths and weaknesses, and knows what he has to work on, and his fate in the draft may depend on his ability to turn on balls and drive them to the pull side more consistently. |
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|
7 |
Justin Grimm |
RHP |
Cotuit Kettleers |
R-R |
6-4 |
195 |
Jr. |
Georgia |
8/6/1988 |
| SCOUTING REPORT Grimm has teased scouts with his raw ability since being drafted in the 13th round by the Boston Red Sox out of a Virginia high school in 2007. But after an inconsequential freshman season at Georgia, and modest 4-4, 4.15 sophomore campaign for the Bulldogs, Grimm had a lot to prove when he arrived in the Cape Cod League. He didn't start off the summer overly well, standing at 0-4 and tying for the league lead in losses at one point as his stuff was generally flat and hitters teed off on it. But things suddenly fell into place for the 6-foot-4, 195-pound righthander and he was brilliant in his final four outings. The turnaround stemmed mostly from a mechanical adjustment that had him going more north to south in his delivery, rather than an east to west direction that resulted in his speeding up his arm and overthrowing. His stuff was suddenly electric, from an explosive fastball in the 92-95 mph range that occasionally reached 96-97, to a sharp 11-to-5 curveball, to an outstanding changeup, his most improved pitch on the summer. He mixed his pitches extremely well, keeping hitters off balance. With the improved stuff came improved command. The end result, a 1-4, 2.84 record, didn't reflect the way Grimm pitched down the stretch, though his 14 walks and 47 strikeouts in 44 innings was a good indicator. Grimm still needs work on developing his breaking ball as he tends to lose the sharp rotation on the pitch when used too much. While scouts are enthralled with Grimm's upside, they are also mindful of the stress fracture in his right elbow and the resulting surgery (in December 2005) that caused him to miss a large chunk of his high school career. |
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|
8 |
Todd Cunningham |
OF |
Falmouth Commodores |
B-R |
6-0 |
200 |
Jr. |
Jacksonville State |
3/20/1989 |
| SCOUTING REPORT In 2008, previously-unheralded Jacksonville State righthander Ben Tootle took Falmouth and the Cape Cod League by storm with a fastball that approached triple digits; this year, it was Cunningham, a second Gamecocks player who arrived with little fanfare, and yet went on to have a breakout season. Cunningham won the batting title with a .378 average, 36 points more than his nearest competitor. In the process, he became the third straight Falmouth player to top the league in hitting, following third baseman Conor Gillaspie (.345) in 2007 and second baseman Jimmy Cesario (.387) in 2008. Though Cunningham also led the Texas Collegiate League in batting the previous summer (at just .310, mind you) and had a solid sophomore year (.339-10-47) at JSU, he opened more eyes than any prospect in the Cape with his performance and wide range of tools—though his selection as the league's official No. 1 prospect was challenged by scouts. No matter, Cunningham was an offensive force at the top of the Falmouth lineup, topping the league in hits (59) and on-base average (.458), in addition to batting, and placing second in slugging (.500) and runs scored (31). Though he hit just three homers, Cunningham has the raw power in his athletic 6-foot-1, 205-pound frame to hit more, but he often preferred to sacrifice power for average, and got a lot of his hits by putting the ball on the ground or going the other way. He has a quick bat and compact stroke, and flashed occasional power, but had excellent strike-zone awareness and was more prone to just putting the ball into play. A switch-hitter, he made solid contact from both sides. He showed a mature, unselfish approach by taking what pitchers gave him, and often sacrificed his personal goals at the plate for the good of the team. He was capable of getting down the line in 3.86 seconds from the left side, and used that speed efficiently both on the bases and in center field. He was especially adept at running down balls hit directly over his head, somewhat surprising considering most of his career at Jacksonville State has been spent in left field. There seems little doubt he'll settle comfortably into center field down the road, even as his arm is considered just average. Though none of Cunningham's tools stood out, he received high marks for his physical and mental approach to the game, especially his instincts, and for knowing what his strengths (and weaknesses) are, and maximizing them. |
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|
9 |
Hunter Morris |
1B |
Falmouth Commodores |
L-R |
6-2 |
220 |
Jr. |
Auburn |
10/7/1988 |
| SCOUTING REPORT Raw power is the tool that immediately catches the eye of scouts, and no one in the Cape Cod League had more from the left side than the ultra-strong, powerfully-built Morris. Even though he missed the first 11 games of the season while attending summer school, his eight homers were second in the league. He routinely put on a massive display in BP and punished fastballs on the inner half of the plate in game situations, though his pull-oriented approach and big uppercut swing left him especially vulnerable to breaking balls and pitches on the outer half. He hit just .239 and fanned 32 times in 109 at-bats. But Morris also understands his swing very well and is capable of making adjustments, as necessary. An unsigned second-round pick of the Boston Red Sox in 2007 out of an Alabama high school, Morris was an immediate hit at the college level. He was selected the Southeastern Conference freshman of the year for hitting .351-11-49, and his performance earned him a place that summer with USA Baseball's college national team. His performance at Auburn leveled off as a sophomore, and he hit just .282-12-33. Moreover, he's just an average defender, even by first-base standards, though can make the routine play around the bag. He is athletic and agile enough, though, that he can play on an outfield corner and may actually spend the 2010 season in right field for Auburn. He also has the arm strength to possibly take a turn on the mound in the Auburn bullpen. But it all comes down to power, and Morris has it in plentiful supply. He can hit ‘erm as far and high as any player in the college game, and that will make him an attractive commodity in the 2010 draft. |
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|
10 |
Micah Gibbs |
C |
Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox |
B-R |
5-11 |
210 |
Jr. |
Louisiana State |
7/27/1988 |
| SCOUTING REPORT Gibbs played in just 17 games for Y-D after reporting late from LSU's successful run to a College World Series title. He ended up splitting the catching duties with Florida's Ben McMahan and never got in much of a rhythm at the plate, hitting just .212-3-15 for the Red Sox, a step down from his .294-6-52 college performance. Despite his subpar performance with the bat, Gibbs was easily the best all-around catching prospect on the Cape. A switch-hitter, he has power from both sides, but is a much more advanced hitter overall from the left side, where his swing is smooth and effortless, and he'll drive the ball more consistently. Gibbs is particularly advanced behind the plate. His leadership skills and ability to control a game were compared to those of Boston Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek, himself a Cape Cod standout during his college days. Gibbs excels at blocking balls and in the way he moves and shifts behind the plate. He also has superior arm strength and can neutralize a running game. It's readily evident that Gibbs has been well-coached. Speed is the one tool where Gibbs falls a bit short, but the rest of his game puts him at the top of the list among college catchers in the 2010 college draft class. |
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|
11 |
Gary Brown |
OF |
Orleans Firebirds |
R-R |
6-0 |
180 |
Jr. |
Cal State Fullerton |
9/28/1988 |
| SCOUTING REPORT Brown's best tool is his blazing speed, and it's a significant asset at the plate, on the bases and in center field. Though he has legitimate top-of-the-order potential and plays with boundless energy, Brown still needs to refine most aspects of his game to take full advantage of his speed, arguably the best on the Cape. He hit .340-3-40 as a sophomore at Cal State Fullerton and batted .310-2-14 in a return engagement to Orleans, but has yet to master the art of small ball, particularly bunting. His pesky approach, though, can often unnerve opponents. Brown can be overly aggressive, at times, and has a tendency to chase pitches, but has good hand-eye coordination and generally makes contact. He also has surprising power in his slight 6-foot, 180-pound frame, but his swing is geared too much to drive pitches, rather than simply put balls on the ground to utilize his big speed. He can create havoc on the bases, as well, but needs to learn better base-stealing technique as he was successful on just 10 of 17 stolen-base attempts. Brown is an accomplished center fielder, despite spending much of his first two years at Cal State Fullerton out of position at third base. He has excellent range in all directions, gets great reads and jumps, and his arm strength is above-average. His raw speed allows him to play shallower than most center fielders, enabling him to take away more his share of hits, while still being able to retreat on balls over his head. If he can correct some of his flaws at the plate and on the bases, Brown will be a legitimate first-round candidate in June. |
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|
12 |
Bryan Morgado |
LHP |
Bourne Braves |
L-L |
6-3 |
205 |
Jr. |
Tennessee |
12/8/1988 |
| SCOUTING REPORT Unlike most of the early-round picks in the 2009 draft who didn't sign initially, Morgado chose not to sit out of competition for the summer before striking a deal. He joined Bourne and had a productive season, going 2-1, 3.06 while striking out 47 and allowing just 17 hits in 32 innings. He worked primarily as a starter, and played a pivotal role in leading the Braves to their first Cape Cod League title. Unfortunately, it didn't pay off in the end for Morgado, a sophomore-eligible lefthander drafted in the third round by the Chicago White Sox. While most of the holdouts selected both ahead and behind him signed significant over-slot bonuses, Morgado was reduced to accepting a take-it-or-leave-it slot offer at the deadline from the White Sox—ostensibly because that club was forced to tighten its belt after coughing up nearly $120 million in big-league salaries to take on the contracts of established players Jake Peavy and Alexis Rios for the stretch run. Morgado passed on the Sox offer, electing instead to return to Tennessee for his junior year. The decision could pay off in the 2010 draft for Morgado, particularly if he can pitch close to the same level as he did for Bourne. Though he was plagued by the same inconsistent command and delivery issues that have characterized his career at Tennessee, Morgado also flashed the most electric arm in the league. His fastball ranged from 90-94 mph, and he was nearly untouchable when he commanded it to both sides of the plate and effectively mixed in a tight 78-80 mph slider and 78-81 mph changeup. In the spring at Tennessee, Morgado performed below expectations, producing just a 4-2, 6.36 record. In 52 innings, he walked 36 and struck out 75—numbers that point to both his dominant stuff and lack of control. Though he was slated to be the Friday starter for the Volunteers in 2009, Morgado started only five times as he had a tendency to run out of gas by the time he reached the fifth inning and/or 100 pitches, and was sent to the bullpen. The move was deemed to be in the best interests of the team, but in the end it may have been best for his career as he probably projects as a reliever anyway. Even as a starter at Bourne, he rarely went 100 pitches deep. Though Morgado has an explosive arm, his max-effort delivery and inconsistent release may make him better suited for a short role, and his fastball has topped at 97 mph when used as a closer. Morgado's failure to strike a deal in the 2009 draft wasn't his first disappointment with the draft. He might have been one of the first 100 players taken in 2006, but he did not pitch as well that spring at a Miami high school as he had the previous fall and summer, and the Boston Red Sox ended up taking a flier on him in the 34th round once his signability became an issue. His career unraveled further that fall, shortly after enrolling at Tennessee, when a sore elbow led to Tommy John surgery, causing him to miss his freshman season. Healthy again in 2008 as a red-shirt freshman, Morgado responded with a 5-5, 4.59 record, along with 104 strikeouts in 80 innings, becoming just the second freshman in UT history to scale the century mark in strikeouts. Morgado is physically strong at 6-foot-3 and 205 pounds, and yet has plenty of projection left in his loose, athletic frame. The key will be his ability to repeat his delivery more consistently and refine his command. |
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|
13 |
Cameron Rupp |
C |
Cotuit Kettleers |
R-R |
6-2 |
235 |
Jr. |
Texas |
9/28/1988 |
| SCOUTING REPORT Rupp cemented his reputation as an elite power hitter by winning the Home Run Derby in convincing fashion at the 2006 Aflac All-American Game, prior to his senior year at a Texas high school. Though he hasn't produced the massive power numbers since that scouts expected to see, he still topped Texas in homers as a sophomore while batting .292-11-46, and flashed his enormous raw power during the summer in the Cape Cod League, particularly in the league's Home Run Derby. At 6-foot-2 and 235 pounds, Rupp is exceptionally strong, and he always swings hard with a slight uppercut in his balanced, mature stroke. He also has the discipline at the plate to look for a pitch that he can driver. Rupp homered just four times for Cotuit, but went to bat only 60 times as he was late reporting after Texas played in the College World Series championship game. He also shared the Cotuit catching job with two other top prospects, Cody Stanley (UNC Wilmington) and Zach Maggard (Florida Southern). As the best overall hitter of the three—for average and plate discipline, in addition to his big raw power—Rupp frequently ended up in a DH role. But he also appeared tired from a long season behind the plate for Texas, notably the aftereffects of catching all 25 innings of the Longhorns' historic win over Boston College in regional play. Rupp possesses the raw arm strength to be an everyday catcher at the next level, but he's not overly athletic behind the dish and may have to refine his footwork and tighten his long release to become even an average defender. In particular, he needs to get his feet and arm in sync consistently. Rupp is a willing learner, however, and should continue to improve in all areas of his game defensively as a college junior to a point where he's expected to be one of the top 50-75 prospects in the 2010 draft. |
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|
14 |
Cecil Tanner |
RHP |
Falmouth Commodores |
R-R |
6-6 |
230 |
So. |
Georgia |
4/23/1990 |
| SCOUTING REPORT At 6-foot-6 and 235 pounds, Tanner is an imposing sight on the mound and scouts have already predicted his fastball will reach 100 mph one day. He's just scratched the surface of his natural ability, and his velocity has already touched 97-98. But he has had a difficult time throwing consistent strikes at that speed, and tends to scale back on his velocity in order to get the ball across the plate more routinely, though it adds more sink to his fastball in the process. Tanner struggled to throw strikes as a freshman at Georgia, walking 27 in 35 innings but also striking out 46 while going 3-1, 4.29 in 25 appearances. His summer-league performance for Falmouth was more of the same (0-2, 3.28, 25 IP/19 BB/28 SO). Tanner was used in a variety of roles for the Commodores (starter, middle relief, closer) and always seemed to run into trouble when he lost his confidence, generally after a walk or hit batter. In addition to his big fastball, Tanner throws a hard, sharp slurve with conviction, but struggles to command it as well. In time, it should evolve into a true slider and could become a solid-average out pitch. Though his imposing size will eventually be an asset, Tanner is a little stiff and awkward at this point in his development, and he'll need to grow into his body while also cleaning up his delivery. If he develops as projected, he should settle into a closer role and could be one of the premier end-of-game pitchers in the 2011 draft. |
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|
15 |
Kyle Blair |
RHP |
Brewsters Whitecaps |
R-R |
6-4 |
200 |
Jr. |
San Diego |
9/27/1988 |
| SCOUTING REPORT San Diego's dynamic sophomore trio of Blair, lefthander Sammy Solis and third baseman Victor Sanchez was supposed to lead the Toreros into unchartered waters in 2009, but all were felled by injuries and the team's hopes of a first-ever College World Series appearance were not only dashed, but squashed altogether as USD failed to even earn a regional bid. Blair was the healthiest of the three, but even he made just eight starts and went 3-2, 3.13, though struck out 62 in 55 innings. As a freshman, he won eight games and fanned 99. Blair was shut down for an extended stretch midway through his sophomore season with biceps tendinitis in his pitching arm. There was debate whether he was healthy enough to pitch during the summer, but he ended up making eight starts for Brewster and went a solid 3-1, 1.42 with 51 strikeouts in 44 innings, though walked a league-high 30 batters, stemming mostly from command issues with his fastball. His velocity was a steady 89-92 mph, but he often resorted to toning it down a bit to throw more strikes, with little success. Blair constantly worked out of trouble, but it seemed to click when he was paired with catcher Daniel Butler, a defensive specialist who was signed as a non-drafted free agent late in the Cape season. If Blair struggled with his fastball, his 76-78 mph power slider was a revelation and might have been the best breaking ball in the league. It had a late, tight break and was so unhittable at times that Blair topped the league in lowest opponent batting average (.171) and was second in strikeouts. He tended to fall in love with the pitch, though, and often resorted to working backwards, utilizing his slider in fastball counts. His changeup was an acceptable third pitch. Blair has always had high expectations since spurning a fifth-round offer from the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2007 out of a California high school. With his superior stuff and excellent feel for pitching, Blair has all the other credentials to become a first-round pick in 2010. Scouts like his durable frame, downhill angle on his pitches, short arm action and the deception he creates in his delivery. He just needs to re-establish his fastball. |
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|
16 |
Alex Wimmers |
RHP |
Bourne Braves |
L-R |
6-2 |
195 |
Jr. |
Ohio State |
11/1/1988 |
| SCOUTING REPORT As both the No. 2 strikeout pitcher in the nation's sophomore class and one of the most-polished arms in the 2010 college draft crop, Wimmers seemed made to order for Team USA's college national team last summer. But the 6-foot-2, 195-pound righthander failed to survive the final cut and ended up becoming a difference-maker for Bourne as it won its first Cape Cod League championship. Though he made just five starts for the Braves, including one in the playoffs, Wimmer quickly settled in as the staff ace and went 2-0, 1.04, while striking out 46 in 26 innings. That impressive ledger came on the heels of a 9-2, 3.27 spring campaign at Ohio State, where he struck out 136 in 105 innings, though walked 55. He also tossed in a no-hitter. Wimmers won't overpower hitters with a fastball in the 90-93 mph, but he combines it effectively with two other quality pitches, a hammer curve and lethal 76-78 mph changeup. His change is as good as it gets at the college level because it is difficult to pick up because he generates exactly the same arm speed and action as his fastball, and produces sharp, downward movement. Wimmers also sets himself apart from other college arms with his take-charge demeanor on the mound and supreme confidence in his ability. All that separates Wimmers, who went undrafted out a Cincinnati high school, from being scooped up in the first round is improving his pitch efficiency and adding a tick or two to his fastball. |
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|
17 |
Daniel Tillman |
RHP |
Cotuit Kettleers |
R-R |
6-1 |
195 |
Jr. |
Florida Southern |
3/14/1989 |
| SCOUTING REPORT Tillman was a hands-down choice as the Clark Griffith League's top prospect in 2008 after posting a 3-1, 3.28 record with 61 strikeouts and only 10 walks in 49 regular-season innings. He didn't skip a beat moving up a couple of notches in competition to the Cape Cod League this summer—even as he moved from a starting to closing role. He posted a perfect 0.00 ERA in 18 appearances for Cotuit, walking seven and striking out 31 in 22 innings while saving 10 games. He never had so much as a shaky outing. Tillman made the transition to the pen as a sophomore at Florida Southern, and went 4-2, 3.15 with 12 saves and 62 strikeouts in 64 innings. He quickly assumed the closer's job for Cotuit, succeeding righthander Drew Storen, the 10th overall pick in June who could be the first player from the 2009 draft class to reach the big leagues. Like Storen, Tillman has the mindset to close, and relishes the role. Though he didn't throw quite as hard as Storen did in 2008, Tillman had a tendency to miss more bats, even as he threw almost exclusively fastballs. The pitch sat in the 91-94 mph range and occasionally touched 96. His ability to spot his fastball with precision and get ahead in counts made it extremely effective, though the pitch isn't overly lively. Tillman has a mid-70s curve with sweeping, slurve-type action that is effective against righthanded hitters, and an effective low-80s changeup, but rarely used either as a closer. His delivery is sound and repeatable, adding to his command potential. As a closer for a Division II school, Tillman may not get the exposure other high-profile college pitchers will get in the spring, but should at least benefit from having two teammates, catcher Zach Maggard and lefthander Max Russell, receiving similar early-round attention. |
| |
|
18 |
Brett Eibner |
RHP/OF |
Wareham Gatemen |
R-R |
6-3 |
195 |
Jr. |
Arkansas |
12/2/1988 |
| SCOUTING REPORT There is plenty of debate among scouts over Eibner, about whether he profiles more as a pitcher or position player. He is one of the most physically-gifted prospects in the 2010 draft class, with substantial raw power in both his bat and right arm. Two years of going both ways at the college and summer-league levels has done nothing to settle the issue. The dilemma takes on an added twist as the lean, athletic Eibner has, for all his talent, never performed consistently to expectations, either at Arkansas or in two go-arounds in the Cape Cod League. Though he drilled 12 homers in 147 at-bats as a Razorbacks sophomore, he also hit just .231 and struck out an eye-popping 60 times. He took a regular turn in the Hogs rotation and amassed 67 strikeouts in 72 innings, yet walked 35 times and was a modest 5-5, 5.00. As an Arkansas freshman, he hit .298-8-48 and led the team in RBIs, but slumped badly in his first exposure to the Cape, and struck out at an alarming rate. He played sparingly in his return engagement to Wareham, arriving late from his team's participation in the College World Series and leaving early after tweaking his elbow. In both summers, he was one of the Cape's few five-tool athletes. Though Eibner has the raw talent to excel either way, it's entirely possible his career may not take off until he specializes in one area, at the expense of the other, and gets the reps he needs. It's unclear what direction that will be as Eibner was capable of smashing balls as far as anyone in the Cape League this summer while also running his fastball up to 94-95 mph and showing the makings of two solid secondary pitches. If he has shown improvement in any area as a position player, it's in a better approach at the plate. He stays more in the middle of the field now instead of trying to pull everything into the left-field corner. His speed (6.8 in the 60) is an asset, both on the bases and in center field, and he obviously has the arm strength for right field. As a pitcher, he just needs to develop more stamina to go deeper into games, but that should happen once he gives up his dual role. The debate on his optimum position has raged since Eibner was a 2007 fourth-round pick of the Houston Astros. It may have been settled at the time had the Astros not been so rigid in adhering to the wishes of Major League Baseball by paying out only slot bonuses in that year's draft. Eibner would almost certainly have signed with his hometown team—and not ended up in college. But the Astros failed to sign anyone in that draft before the fifth round. Eibner could make the Astros pay for their overly-conservative approach in the 2010 draft if he can come close to extracting the most out of his considerable talent this spring, whether as a position player or pitcher. |
| |
|
19 |
Jarrett Parker |
OF |
Brewsters Whitecaps |
L-L |
6-4 |
210 |
Jr. |
Virginia |
1/1/1989 |
| SCOUTING REPORT For a player who made a quantum leap forward as a prospect from his freshman year at Virginia to his sophomore year, improving from a .264 average with no homers to .355 with a team-leading 16 long balls, Parker was one of the biggest disappointments in the Cape Cod League. He hit just .188-1-13, and looked overmatched at times by striking out 37 times in just 96 at-bats. His swing looked long and slow, and pitchers busted fastballs past him with relative ease. It seemed apparent, though, that he was worn down after a long season at Virginia, and the decline in his performance actually started during the school's first-ever appearance in the College World Series before he reported to Brewster. He also had his wisdom teeth removed at the start of the summer, and lost weight (and strength) in the process. But Parker also didn't play in the summer following his freshman year at Virginia, so his summer on the Cape was his first extended exposure to wood and he broke a lot of bats early in the season. Nonetheless, Parker had a habit of opening his front side too soon and getting out front on pitches, a sign of being overanxious. That points to a flaw in his technique, more than just being tired, and Parker struck out a whopping 80 times at Virginia, nearly double his freshman total. So while he set school records for runs (76), hits (94) and total bases (176) last spring, and led the Atlantic Coast Conference in triples (7) and extra-base hits (42), there's a red flag in his approach to hitting. When Parker squared up a ball, though, it jumped off his bat and sounded different than most other hitters. He drove balls a long way to all fields. But he still needs to do a better job of looking for his pitch as he's a bit too much of a free swinger and wants to pull too many balls. The rest of Parker's package is first-round quality. He is very athletic in his projectable 6-foot-3, 190-pound frame, though needs to add strength to improve his stamina. He runs very well, is a proficient base stealer and excels at tracking balls in center field. His arm is also a weapon, though he has a tendency of dropping his arm slot, causing his throws to tail more than desired. More than anything, Parker just needs to improve his contact and mature as a ball player. He should warrant a long look in the first round in June. |
| |
|
20 |
Derek Dietrich |
SS |
Wareham Gatemen |
L-R |
6-1 |
195 |
Jr. |
Georgia Tech |
7/18/1989 |
| SCOUTING REPORT As an unsigned third-round pick of the Houston Astros in 2007, a member of USA Baseball's college national team in 2008 and grandson of a former big leaguer (Steve Demeter), Dietrich was one of the most-hyped prospects in the Cape Cod League in 2009. He struggled to live up to expectations as he hit just .211-3-10 and struck out a team-high 46 times. He also raised questions whether he has the goods to be an everyday shortstop at the next level. But Dietrich, who hit .311-10-54 as a Georgia Tech sophomore, did show flashes of all five tools, and played the game with passion and intelligence. And though he didn't pitch at all for Wareham, he has taken the mound in the past and shown easy arm strength with a fastball up to 94-95 mph, plus the feel and pitchability to warrant consideration as a genuine pitching prospect. But for now, Dietrich is a shortstop with offensive potential from the left side. When he got on a roll, he looked like one of the best offensive players on the Cape. He demonstrated quick hands and the ability to get the bat head through the zone easily, and drove the ball hard to all fields with plus power. In consecutive at-bats in one game, he homered to the opposite field and pulled a ball convincingly down the line. Dietrich's overall prowess at the plate, however, has made him an enigma to scouts since his high-school days in Ohio, and his weaknesses at the plate were often exposed on the Cape. It wasn't uncommon for him to lose his identity at the plate, as has happened repeatedly in the past, and struggle mightily for extended stretches. He remains prone to guessing at pitches, and often struggled to keep a balanced approach on good breaking balls, though his pitch selection seemed to improve later in the season. He'll have to make continued adjustments going forward. Dietrich's play in the field also draws mixed reviews. He has the hands and arm strength to play the position comfortably, but his range is limited and he may well end up at third base, or even the outfield, at the pro level. He committed just five errors in 35 games on the summer, a noteworthy accomplishment as Wareham did not have a natural first baseman and balls often played tricks on him coming out of the long infield grass on his home field. Most of his errors were on slow rollers. Dietrich isn't the lock to go in the first round as originally projected, but it remains apparent that he has grown up in a baseball environment and his ability to dazzle in any one game could win over an influential scout with organizational clout. |
| |
|
21 |
Leon Landry |
OF |
Harwich Mariners |
L-R |
5-11 |
195 |
Jr. |
Louisiana State |
9/20/1989 |
| SCOUTING REPORT Landry has shown flashes of brilliance on both sides of the ball in his combined college and summer-league career, yet has struggled to gain respect and appreciation for his accomplishments. He played sparingly as a freshman at LSU because of a then-suspect bat, but eventually was installed in center field for the Tigers and quickly gained much notoriety for his spectacular defense in leading LSU to an unexpected College World Series berth. Even as he showed significant improvement at the plate as a sophomore, hitting .300-12-47 (compared to .271-5-26 as a freshman), Landry lost his job down the stretch as the Tigers made a successful CWS run. His demotion spoke to the overflow of talent on the LSU roster, but also to Landry's difficulty in hitting lefthanded pitching. After he earned MVP honors at the 2008 All-American Amateur Baseball Association World Series for making highlight-reel catches, hitting a pair of grand slams and driving in 10 runs in one game, on his way to leading the Maryland Orioles to their sixth straight AAABA title, Landry moved on to the Cape Cod League in 2009. He hit a robust .364, and would have finished second in the Cape League batting race if he had enough plate appearances to officially qualify. He hit balls with authority to all fields, both for average and power, and there wasn't a hotter hitter on the Cape down the stretch. Despite his acknowledged skills as a defensive center fielder, Landry was shuffled off to left field at Harwich in deference to Trent Mummey, a top-notch defender in his own right. Mummey has a slightly better arm than Landry, but was given preference as the everyday center fielder because he was settled into the position when Landry arrived. Despite his checkered playing status, Landry is recognized by scouts as an outstanding athlete with high-ceiling baseball tools, and could nudge his way close to the first round in June with a big junior season at LSU. He still has a lot of development left, though, on the offensive side of his game. In particular, he needs a quieter approach with his hands at the plate, along with better plate discipline as he has a tendency to be impatient with many of his at-bats. He also has above-average speed, but is considered a below-average base runner. |
| |
|
22 |
Matt Barnes |
RHP |
Wareham Gatemen |
R-R |
6-4 |
185 |
So. |
Connecticut |
6/17/1990 |
| SCOUTING REPORT The 6-foot-5, 200-pound Barnes went an unimpressive 5-3, 5.43 with 55 strikeouts in 52 innings for Connecticut as a freshman, and was pretty much lost in the shuffle on a pitching staff that had five players drafted. Even as his performance improved marginally during the summer (1-3, 4.78, 26 IP/33 SO), there was no mistaking Barnes' natural talent any longer. The 6-foot-5 righthander topped out at 97 mph, and it was evident that his ceiling ranked with any arm on a talent-laden Wareham staff. Barnes just has a little further to go to reach it. He survived early in the season on mainly a 90-93 mph fastball with excellent moving action that he spotted well to both sides of the plate, but got progressively better over the summer as he added more velocity to his fastball, began working in a hard slider and fosh-like changeup, and became more serious about his craft. He had a loosy-goosy approach to pitching initially, but much more of a mean streak later on as his fastball consistently reached the mid-90s. Barnes, who went undrafted out of a Connecticut high school when he threw only in the mid- to high-80s, still needs to develop consistency, especially with his off-speed stuff and overall command. But he throws with a very smooth arm action, and easy, natural delivery, and he could blossom into an elite talent by the 2011 draft. |
| |
|
23 |
Jackie Bradley |
OF |
Hyannis Mets |
B-R |
5-11 |
180 |
So. |
South Carolina |
4/19/1990 |
| SCOUTING REPORT Bradley isn't overly physical in his 5-foot-10, 175-pound frame, but his raw tools played as big as almost any player in the Cape Cod League. His most obvious tool is his impressive right-field arm strength, which grades out near 80 on the standard 20-80 scouting scale. The only current tool he is lacking is power, but it may be only a matter of time until he drives his share of balls out of the park as he had one of the quickest swings in the league. Bradley struggled mightily against some of the better arms on the Cape early in the season as he had difficulty turning on balls, and was pounded inside continuously. But he made adjustments to using wood, and both his average and extra-base hit count improved significantly in the second half. Overall, he hit .275-0-14 with six doubles and four triples. He became a significant force from the left side, though many of his hits were still bloopers to the opposite field. If his power evolves, Bradley could become a five-tool threat. His speed plays effectively in the outfield and on the bases, but he is not a burner. He stole 10 bases in 13 attempts, and can cover plenty of ground in the outfield, whether in center or right, but he may need to refine his ball-tracking skills as he made routine plays look awkward, at times. Given time to polish his skills and develop his power potential, Bradley could emerge as a legit first-round candidate in 2011. |
| |
|
24 |
George Springer |
OF |
Wareham Gatemen |
R-R |
6-3 |
185 |
So. |
Connecticut |
9/18/1989 |
| SCOUTING REPORT Springer was part of the same vaunted 2008 Connecticut prep class that included the Salisbury School's Chris Dwyer (signed with Kansas City in 2009 for $1.4 million) and Anthony Hewitt (first-round pick of Philadelphia Phillies), and Amity Regional High shortstop Jason Esposito (Royals unsigned seventh-rounder, now at Vanderbilt). As a 48th-rounder that year, Springer was clearly overlooked at the time, but he'll have a chance to surpass the accomplishments of that high-profile trio when he becomes draft eligible again in 2011. Springer had a breakout freshman season for UConn, hitting .358-16-57, and there is every indication he'll evolve into a legit five-tool talent. He's almost there as he receives high marks for his speed, power, arm strength and defensive ability—not to mention his superior athleticism and projectable 6-foot-3, 185-pound frame. Though he batted a commendable .261-3-25 for Wareham, leading the team in RBIs, the area of Springer's game that needs to continue to evolve is his hitting—both his mechanics and approach. He swings with a lot of effort and tends to come off pitches too quickly, resulting in a long swing path that sophisticated pitchers can exploit. When he gets his bat head through the zone and is direct to the ball, though, he can hit pitches a long way. He can especially punish fastballs, but tends to get over-anxious against off-speed stuff, especially with two strikes. He has an exciting speed-power combination, though, and a prototypical right-field arm. If his hitting continues to improve, Springer could emerge as the best five-tool outfielder in the college ranks. |
| |
|
25 |
Tyler Wilson |
RHP |
Hyannis Mets |
R-R |
6-2 |
185 |
Jr. |
Virginia |
9/25/1989 |
| SCOUTING REPORT Wilson played an important swing role in 2009 on Virginia's first College World Series team, tying for the team lead in wins while going 9-3, 2.97 with 63 strikeouts in 67 innings. Though he has made just three starts in 41 career pitching appearances for the Cavaliers, it's apparent that Wilson profiles as a starter, and he has excelled in that role in two seasons at the summer-league level. He was a member of USA Baseball's junior-national team in 2007, leading to expectations that he would be a force on Virginia's pitching staff as a freshman. But he lost his confidence early in the 2008 season and worked in just 15 innings, walking nine and striking out 13 while going 0-0, 4.20. Given a chance to pitch in a regular rotation that summer in the Great Lakes League, he responded by winning league pitcher-of-the-year honors by posting a 1.82 ERA, walking 14, striking out 48 and not allowing a home run. His .167 opponent batting average was the best in the league. His record was just 2-2, but that mark was deceiving as his pitch count was closely monitored and he didn't work enough innings in several starts to qualify for a win. A year later, Wilson earned Cape Cod League all-star honors as a starter for Hyannis by posting a 3-1, 1.60 record with five walks and 28 strikeouts in 39 innings. He was particularly effective in the second half after missing the start of the season because of his participation in the College World Series. On both occasions in summer ball, he was in command throughout and impressed scouts and rival managers with his quick, live arm, solid feel for pitching and competitive, unflappable demeanor. Though he doesn't have overpowering stuff, the 6-foot-2, 185-pound Wilson dominated hitters with an 89-92 mph fastball that peaked at 94 and had good late life in the strike zone. He had excellent command of the pitch to both sides of the plate, and worked mainly off his fastball as his 81-83 mph, two-plane slider continues to be a work-in-progress. His changeup is a solid-average third pitch with its good sinking action. A chance to start on a regular basis at Virginia in 2010 could catapult Wilson close to the first round. |
| |
|
26 |
Harold Martinez |
3B/1B |
Brewsters Whitecaps |
R-R |
6-3 |
200 |
So. |
Miami (Fla.) |
5/3/1990 |
| SCOUTING REPORT Martinez had an inside track on becoming one of the top prospects in the 2008 draft class, but did not perform to expectations as a high-school senior and slipped to the 19th round. That made his decision to attend college at Miami a no-brainer. Given his high ceiling, there are still hopes that Martinez will return to the upper-echelon by the 2011 draft, but he didn't overly distinguish himself at the plate in 2009, either at Miami (.270-9-46) or in the Cape Cod League (.236-4-15). The former high-school shortstop also spent most of his time at both stops at a less-demanding position, third base, and even saw significant service at first. While he didn't always play like an elite prospect in college or summer ball, either at the plate or in the field, Martinez gained a lot of confidence in his ability and showed plenty of progress in all areas, and may be primed for a breakout in 2010. He generated good bat speed early in the Cape League season, but was often overly aggressive and chased a lot of pitches. Things began to click at the plate, however, when he developed better pitch recognition and soon began laying off tough breaking balls. He drove the ball with authority when he did connect, and his raw power should continue to evolve. At 6-foot-3 and 200 pounds, Martinez has the frame and strength of a prototypical power hitter and can turn around almost any fastball. Defensively, Martinez is well-suited for third as he has the hands, actions, quickness, balance and arm strength desired in a top-flight shortstop, just not the speed (his only below-average tool) to remain there in the long term. |
| |
|
27 |
Rob Rasmussen |
LHP |
Orleans Firebirds |
L-L |
5-11 |
170 |
Jr. |
UCLA |
4/2/1989 |
| SCOUTING REPORT For a 5-foot-10 pitcher with an underwhelming 4-4, 6.21 record overall in his first two years at UCLA, Rasmussen would hardly seem to qualify as an early-round candidate for the 2010 draft. But his performance in the Cape Cod League, not to mention his being lefthanded, told a different story. Rasmussen went an impressive 4-0, 1.80 with 11 walks and 46 strikeouts in 35 innings for Orleans. He was also the starting pitcher for the Eastern Division in the league's all-star game, and it was that one-inning stint that opened a lot of scouts' eyes. A fastball that was a customary 90-91 mph during the regular season suddenly spiked to 94, giving him a second above-average major-league pitch to go with his bread-and-butter offering, a curveball that is big-league quality all the way in terms of its rotation, velocity and depth, and his ability to throw it equally effectively for strikes or in the dirt. His changeup was an effective third pitch, and he'll occasionally drop in a hard slider. With his power stuff, Rasmussen is anything but a crafty lefty. He not only has a very fast arm but throws everything with an extremely easy delivery. Even with his impending status as an early-round pick, Rasmussen will rank as no better than the No. 3 starter on the UCLA pitching staff in the spring as probable 2011 first-rounders Gerrit Cole and Trevor Bauer have first dibs on the top two spots. |
| |
|
28 |
B.A. Vollmuth |
SS |
Falmouth Commodores |
R-R |
6-3 |
200 |
So. |
Southern Mississippi |
12/23/1989 |
| SCOUTING REPORT It was a whirlwind freshman year for Vollmuth, an unpretentious 32nd-round pick in the 2008 draft from a Mississippi high school. He played sparingly as a freshman for Southern Miss in the first half of the 2009 season, and yet had a pivotal role as that school made a surprise run to its first College World Series appearance. Even as he arrived late to Falmouth from his participation in the CWS, he improbably became the Cape Cod League's all-star shortstop. His performance at the plate in both cases was nearly identical, and somewhat deceiving in its impact. Though he hit just .237-8-28 at Southern Miss, he played a valuable role in picking up the pieces for injured senior shortstop Brian Dozier, arguably the team's most indispensable player. Vollmuth slammed six homers in 12 post-season games as Southern Miss, which barely qualified for the 64-team NCAA tournament, was a surprise entry in the CWS. For Falmouth, he batted a modest .230-5-18, yet became possibly the best shortstop prospect in the league. He impressed scouts most of all with his power potential, and flashed some of the best raw power among righthanded hitters. Balls jumped off his bat and it's possible he could become a significant force at the plate once he adds 25-30 pounds to his 6-foot-3 frame. He also should prop up his average against better pitching as he has a short, quick, compact swing. Most of all, he remains vulnerable to breaking balls. Vollmuth had his moments at shortstop, even as he was erratic in the field and made 13 errors in 27 games. He lacked consistency, especially when he got tired late in the season and appeared to lose his focus. He will need to be more fundamental in his approach, though most scouts believe it's just a matter of time before he ends up at third base, where his power and raw arm strength are ideally suited. |
| |
|
29 |
Taylor Hill |
RHP |
Chatham Anglers |
R-R |
6-3 |
200 |
Jr. |
Vanderbilt |
3/12/1989 |
| SCOUTING REPORT Without a set role in his career at Vanderbilt, Hill has consistently been overshadowed by some of the big-name starters and closers that have played at the school. He was used in every role possible as both a freshman (2-1, 5.05) and sophomore (5-2, 4.60), while making 13 starts in 33 appearances. It's unclear how Hill should be utilized to maximize his talent, but he enjoyed his greatest success pitching exclusively in relief, and almost always in a set-up role for Chatham, posting a 2-1, 1.44 record with 10 walks and 35 strikeouts in 31 innings. He chipped in with two saves. Hill has two plus pitches that he'll use in any role—a 91-94 mph fastball with excellent life, and a solid 80-82 mph slider—and will incorporate a 78-80 mph changeup with splitter action into his repertoire on the occasions he starts. Hill has a strong, athletic build at 6-foot-4 and 225 pounds that provides him the durability to start and power to close, and his role may ultimately be determined by his ability to clean up his mechanics. He throws with a lot of effort, which may work against him in the long run as a starter. |
| |
|
30 |
Trent Mummey |
OF |
Harwich Mariners |
L-L |
5-9 |
165 |
Jr. |
Auburn |
1/5/1989 |
| SCOUTING REPORT At 5-foot-10 and 175 pounds, Mummey doesn't have the physical profile of a typical early-round draft pick. But his hustling, scrappy approach enables him to get the most out of all his tools, and he's gradually won scouts over after going undrafted out of an Alabama high school despite hitting .453-9-45 with 37 steals as a senior. Mummey locked in as Auburn's leadoff hitter and center fielder from the start of his freshman year. He hit .305 in 2008 and .289 in 2009, while leading the team in stolen bases both seasons, with 18 as a freshman, 17 as a sophomore. Where Mummey showed vast improvement from one year to the next was in his power production. He hit four homers as a rookie, and jumped his total to 15 a year later. Though his batting average at Harwich tailed off to .250 after a hot start, he still topped the Mariners in homers (3) and stolen bases (22), and was second on the team in RBIs (14), even in his leadoff role. Despite his smallish frame, Mummey has very quick hands and can put a charge in a ball. He is aggressive in his approach at the plate and may need to become a little more selective as he advances, particularly since his timing was off late in the Cape season, leading to a prolonged slump. His aggressive style is evident in all phases of his game, most notably on the bases and in center field. His 4.1-second time down the line is reflective of his above-average speed and acceleration, but he has a tendency to run the bases a little recklessly at times. He missed the last week of the Cape Cod League season when he made a spectacular catch in center field, only to injure his wrist when he rolled over on it. Amazingly, he homered his next time up, and didn't realize he had damaged his wrist until he swung and miss in a subsequent at-bat. Mummey has a tendency to be injury-prone with his all-out style as he broke his wrist the previous fall at Auburn. He's one of the most-accomplished defensive center fielders in the college game and was acknowledged for his superior play with a Rawlings Gold Glove award as a sophomore. He remained in center field for Harwich, even after Louisiana State's Leon Landry, one of the foremost defenders in the college game, joined the team part way through the summer season. Mummey's speed and arm strength were deemed to be the superior of the two, and scouts will be wise not to overlook his tools—and intangibles. |
| |
|
31 |
Caleb Cotham |
RHP |
Brewsters Whitecaps |
R-R |
6-3 |
210 |
|
SIGNED/Yankees |
11/6/1987 |
| SCOUTING REPORT The New York Yankees drafted Cotham in the fifth round in June after he produced a 7-5, 4.10 record as a draft-eligible Vanderbilt sophomore. He elected not to sign initially after undergoing minor knee surgery and subsequently deciding to return to the Cape Cod League, where he had an impressive 5-1, 2.54 record and 51 strikeouts in 46 innings for Brewster in 2008. Cotham made just four appearances (two starts) in his return engagement with the Whitecaps, but was lights-out with a 1-0, 0.00 record and just one walk and 15 strikeouts in 13 innings. He had pinpoint control with his 91-93 mph fastball that peaked at 95, especially at the bottom of the strike zone. He augmented it with an 83-87 mph cutter with late, darting action that morphed into a slider when he stayed on top of it, and a quality 83-84 mph changeup. Of all the pitchers on a prospect-laden Brewster staff, Cotham was the one who looked most like a pro and was closest to the big leagues. He impressed scouts with his smooth mechanics and easy arm action. The Yankees had numerous picks from the 2009 draft who played (and excelled) on the Cape during the summer rather than jump to pro ball, but the 6-foot-3, 210-pound Cotham was clearly the one they targeted. They got their man, signing Cotham to an over-slot $675,000 bonus just before the deadline, while lefthanders Tyler Lyons (2-4, 1.77 at Chatham), a 10th-rounder from Oklahoma State, and Aaron Meade (3-1, 1.92 at Harwich), a 28th-rounder from Missouri State, went unsigned. Cotham worked in just eight innings after signing with the Yankees, but managed to strike out 13 between the team's Rookie-level Gulf Coast League club and short-season Class A Staten Island. |
| |
|
32 |
Cody Stanley |
C |
Cotuit Kettleers |
L-R |
5-10 |
190 |
Jr. |
UNC Wilmington |
12/21/1988 |
| SCOUTING REPORT A lefthanded hitter with average major-league power, along with surprising speed and athleticism for his position, Stanley is one of the more offensive-oriented catchers in the 2010 college draft class. He hit a solid .332-12-56 as a sophomore at UNC Wilmington, and has produced consecutive strong seasons with the bat at the summer-league level. He had the best offensive production of any catcher in the New England Collegiate League in 2008, hitting .352-5-24, and followed up with a solid .299-1-11 campaign in the Cape Cod League. He produces good bat speed with his quick hands, and makes hard, consistent contact with a balanced approach and level swing through the zone. His raw power is not always in evidence in games, but he'll showcase it in batting practice. His superior speed plays well on the bases and has enabled him to play center field, on occasion. Though he lacks the instincts to play there on more than just a fill-in basis, he is able to outrun some of his mistakes in judging fly balls. His versatility came in particularly handy this summer for Cotuit as the Kettleers had three top-notch catchers on their roster, though Stanley still ended up catching more games (27) than either Florida Southern's Zach Maggard (15) or Texas' Cameron Rupp (10). Stanley's receiving skills and arm strength are considered adequate, but an extremely quick release enables him to post pop times in the 1.8-1.9 range and throw out his share of base runners. Not only is the 5-foot-11, 200-pound Stanley unusually athletic for a catcher, but he's got the tough-minded makeup desired in a catcher and is not afraid to block the plate with his stocky build. |
| |
|
33 |
Logan Verrett |
RHP |
Chatham Anglers |
R-R |
6-2 |
170 |
So. |
Baylor |
9/19/1990 |
| SCOUTING REPORT Though Verrett wasn't heavily recruited or scouted out of Corpus Christi's Calallen High, it was evident as soon as he enrolled at Baylor that he had the complete package. A tall, lean, athletic righthander with a quick arm, Verrett topped Baylor in wins as a freshman, with seven, and struck out 64 in 54 innings. Though he didn't have a defined role on a talented, but underachieving Bears staff, starting five games and saving three others, while posting a suspect 5.13 ERA, Verrett nonetheless showcased a very quick arm, nearly flawless mechanics and excellent mound presence. He showed no hesitation in going right at hitters, no matter what his role. USA Baseball recognized his obvious upside and invited him to its college national team trials. Though he didn't make the final cut, he quickly made his mark in five appearances (four starts) in the Cape Cod League, going 2-0, 3.09 with 32 strikeouts in 23 innings for Chatham. His five-pitch repertoire includes a 90-92 mph four-seam fastball, a two-seamer (his best pitch), slider, curve and change. He has very good overall command, but can be a little too fine at times and prone to catch more of the strike zone than desired. Though Baylor planned to use him as a closer in 2010 to take advantage of an expected increase in velocity, possibly to the mid-90s, it's clear that Verrett has the stuff and mindset to start. No matter what role he is used in over the next two years, he has the potential to be solid first-rounder in 2011. |
| |
|
34 |
Kyle Winkler |
RHP |
Falmouth Commodores |
R-R |
5-11 |
190 |
So. |
Texas Christian |
6/18/1990 |
| SCOUTING REPORT Winkler is undersized for a top pitching prospect at a stocky 5-foot-11, but has such electric stuff, and has been so dominating and so consistent throughout his career that he might convince scouts to put aside their prejudices against smallish righthanders. He stepped right into a starting role at TCU as a freshman and tied for the team lead with seven wins. He also had little difficulty making the transition to the Cape Cod League, posting a 2-2, 3.62 record, while striking out 31 in 32 innings. Winkler has a sound, though somewhat herky-jerky delivery and gets great front-side extension, enabling him to spot up his sinking, running 92-95 mph fastball with excellent command to both sides of the plate. His 77-79 mph curveball is a second dominant pitch as it has good spin and bites well. He throws it with the feel of a veteran. Winkler can generate such excellent movement on his stuff that Falmouth catchers said he was the toughest pitcher on the Commodores staff to catch. Despite his size, durability should not be an issue as he has a thick, strong lower half. His relentless, tenacious approach to pitching could be an asset in an end-of-game role, but Winkler is expected to continue to start in the short term, though he may have to establish his slider and/or changeup to remain in that role at the pro level. He should be a top prospect in the 2011 draft. |
| |
|
35 |
Kevin Munson |
RHP |
Bourne Braves |
R-R |
6-2 |
200 |
Jr. |
James Madison |
|
| SCOUTING REPORT For a player who was mostly a catcher in high school and was expected to play the position in college, Munson has made huge strides as a pitching prospect—or more specifically as a closer—in two years at James Madison. In 45 appearances (all in relief) covering 79 innings, he is 5-3 with 13 saves and 101 strikeouts. He tied a school record with nine saves as a sophomore. Though he saved only three games in 16 regular-season appearances in the Cape Cod League, he was league champion Bourne's primary closer. On the summer, he went 0-1, 1.80 with 24 strikeouts in 15 innings, though walked 13. With a fastball that reaches 96-97 mph and an 80-83 mph slider that is a quality out-pitch, Munson has the stuff to be a dominant closer and can be nearly unhittable when his command is precise. He also has the intense, no-fear makeup desired with a game on the line. Munson needs to locate his fastball on both sides of the plate a little more consistently, and possibly develop a pitch—a two-seamer or maybe a changeup—to better combat lefthanded hitters. At a compact 6-foot-2 and 200 pounds, Munson throws with some effort and must work to simplify his delivery, but one of the best fastballs in the college game generally obscures those faults. |
| |
|
36 |
Taylor Wall |
LHP |
Falmouth Commodores |
L-L |
6-2 |
175 |
So. |
Rice |
1/8/1990 |
| SCOUTING REPORT Wall dominated the highest level of Texas high-school baseball as a senior, going 13-1, 0.74 with three saves and 116 strikeouts and only 16 walks in 73 innings. So it was hardly surprising that he stepped right into a starting job for Rice as a freshman, and led the Owls in innings (95) and strikeouts (77) while going an exemplary 7-6, 3.72. He made seven more starts for Falmouth, going 3-3, 2.62 with 26 strikeouts in 34 innings, even as he got noticeably tired down the stretch from his heavy spring workload. Wall is primarily a finesse pitcher. His fastball will top out at only around 87-88 mph, but he has three quality secondary pitches that he can throw at any time in the count. His changeup, in particular, is so advanced that it may have been the best pitch of its kind in the Cape Cod League. He creates such excellent deception and sinking action with it that it made his fastball seem faster. Wall relied heavily on the pitch to get hitters off balance, and actually got a number of his strikeouts with it. His curveball and slider are solid, but have room for improvement—especially when compared to his change. With a thin, though athletic frame, Wall may never throw a lot harder, but may not need to as his devastating change is his great equalizer. |
| |
|
37 |
*Tommy Kahnle |
RHP |
Orleans Firebirds |
R-R |
6-2 |
220 |
So. |
Lynn (Fla.) |
8/7/1989 |
| SCOUTING REPORT Kahnle made a habit of saving his best for last in 2009. In his final appearance of the season for Florida's Lynn University, the 6-foot-2, 225-pound Kahnle worked the last two innings of a 2-1 win over Kansas' Emporia State as the Fighting Saints captured their first NCAA Division II national title. Kahnle was the MVP of the event, saving two games in three appearances while working eight scoreless innings overall. In his final appearance of the summer for Orleans in the Cape Cod League playoffs, the power-armed righthander cranked up his fastball to a season-best 99 mph—equal to the best velocity any college pitcher recorded on the summer. Kahnle wasn't quite that impressive the rest of the time as he assembled a modest 7-4, 4.54 record overall as a red-shirt freshman for Lynn, working mostly in relief. He continued to work out of the bullpen for Orleans and went a satisfactory 2-2, 2.41 with one save in 15 appearances while walking 13 in 19 innings, though struck out 23 and allowed just nine hits. Kahnle's fastball sat consistently in the mid-90s for the Firebirds before he ratcheted it up a couple of notches his final time out. While he clearly has arm strength in his big, powerful frame, he throws with some effort in his delivery and has a tendency to overthow, leading to command issues with his fastball. He worked predominantly with the one pitch, though has the makings of a sharp 80-81 mph slider with good rotation. He just lacked the confidence to throw it for strikes. He also worked in a 73-75 mph curve and 83-84 mph change when he's had to stretch out his repertoire on the occasions he's been used as a starter. But scouts have profiled Kahnle for a short role, and his ability to go right at hitters and get tough in tight situations makes him ideally cast. Kahnle's challenge this spring will be to develop his fastball command and a more consistent breaking ball. He could edge close to the first round if he can master those goals. |
| |
|
38 |
Riccio Torres |
3B/1B |
Orleans Firebirds |
R-R |
6-0 |
195 |
So. |
Arizona State |
10/14/1989 |
| SCOUTING REPORT A physically-mature player whose advanced skills and instincts made him a dominant middle infielder in the Arizona high-school ranks for many years, Torrez has evolved into more of a corner infielder with greater offensive upside than originally envisioned. He has become very aggressive in his approach at the plate as he has filled out his 6-foot-frame, and yet uses the whole field effectively and makes steady, consistent contact. He has an acute ability to track breaking pitches and maintain balance throughout his swing path. Torrez hit .280-6-37 as a freshman at Arizona State, and followed up by batting .346-2-11 in 52 at-bats for Orleans in a summer season curtailed by ASU's overlapping participation in the College World Series. Torrez' power should continue to evolve, and will need to as he seems best-suited now to play third base. He spent more time at first base in the spring and summer, though, to accommodate a nagging arm issue that has plagued him since high school, and looked very much at home there. In the end, Torrez may profile best as a utility type, capable of playing all four infield positions. Though his tools alone don't stand out at any, he also has no visible weaknesses in his game defensively. Torrez played plenty of middle infield in high school, but no longer has the fluid, smooth actions that once were evident in his game. Instead, he's become a dependable blue-collar player who can still play second base, and even shortstop, in a pinch, but is most at home on a corner. His older brother Raoul, coincidentally, is another jack-of-all-trades player at ASU. |
| |
|
39 |
Chris Bisson |
SS/2B |
Cotuit Kettleers |
L-R |
5-11 |
185 |
Jr. |
Kentucky |
8/14/1989 |
| SCOUTING REPORT Under Gary Henderson, who moved from recruiting coordinator to head coach, Kentucky has tapped into some unconventional recruiting areas with impressive results. Canada has been a popular target for the Wildcats, and on the heels of lefthander James Paxton evolving from an undrafted high-school player from British Columbia to a supplemental first-round pick in 2009 after three years at Kentucky, Bisson is another Canadian who could make the same rags-to-riches leap. An Ontario native who primarily a softball player growing up, Bisson has improved by leaps and bounds since enrolling in college. He played sparingly as a freshman, hitting just .157-0-4 with three stolen bases, mainly as an injury replacement. But after a productive summer in the New York Collegiate League (.301-3-18, 17 SB), he was a vastly-improved player as a sophomore, playing all over the infield, hitting .360-2-52 with 13 steals, and topping the team in batting, runs (49) and RBIs. Another productive summer, at Cotuit of the Cape Cod League, has only elevated his game to another level, and Bisson will enter the 2010 college season as one of the nation's elite college middle infielders. His natural athleticism and innate ability to apply what he is taught made him one of the Cape League's most-improved players from start to finish, even as he hit an unspectacular .269-0-15, committed a league-high 16 errors and divided his time between second (9 games), third (17) and short (19). But he stole a league-high 36 bases and was a catalyst atop the Cotuit lineup. Moreover, he displayed some of the best athletic actions among infielders in the entire league, despite his high error total. If nothing else, Bisson helped to better define the kind of player he is. He excelled on charge plays at third and had the arm strength of a major-league shortstop, but his quick release and other subtle infield actions made him a natural fit at second. Similarly, he flashed the kind of raw power to warrant hitting lower in the order, but his slashing, line-drive/ground-ball, high-energy approach, along with his superior speed and advanced base-stealing technique made him an ideal fit at the top of a lineup. Bisson was coached at Cotuit by Mike Roberts, and Roberts was quick to compare Bisson's game to that of his own son, Brian, an all-star second baseman with the Baltimore Orioles and possibly the best base runner in the big leagues. While he now appears entrenched as a second baseman and leadoff hitter, Bisson still needs to refine all parts of his game to maximize his role. He often made the spectacular play at Cotuit, but botched the routine one. In particular, he needs to stop rushing everything, especially on defense, slow the game down and let it come to him easier. That should come with experience. |
| |
|
40 |
Mark Canha |
OF/1B |
Brewsters Whitecaps |
R-R |
6-1 |
180 |
Jr. |
California |
2/15/1989 |
| SCOUTING REPORT Even with a 2009 roster that included Brett Jackson (31st), Jeff Kobernus (50th) and Blake Smith (56th), three of the top 60 picks in last year's draft, it was Canha who topped California in all the triple-crown categories. He hit .366-12-43 and also led the Bears in runs, hits and doubles. Canha was less successful in a 22-game stint in the Cape Cod League, hitting just .257-3-11, but he started off hot before going into an extended slump and eventually leaving the league with an injury to the hamate bone in his left hand, which required surgery. When healthy, Canha has a short, powerful swing and utilizes the whole field. He also earns high marks for his plate discipline, and should add more power with added strength. Though he spent most of his sophomore season at California at first base, Canha transitioned easily to right field in the Cape and has both the speed and arm strength to be a prototypical right fielder. Though none of his tools are exceptional and his athleticism isn't immediately obvious, he does everything well, much along the lines of big leaguer Jason Bay, and could be in line for a big pay day of his own as an early-round pick in the 2010 draft. |
| |
|
41 |
Kevin Keyes |
OF |
Cotuit Kettleers |
R-R |
6-4 |
225 |
Jr. |
Texas |
3/15/1989 |
| SCOUTING REPORT Keyes and his Texas teammate, catcher Cameron Rupp, were the Nos. 1-2 prospects in the California Collegiate League in 2008, and they moved as a twosome to the Cape Cod League a year later. Though both had comparable sophomore seasons with the Longhorns (Keyes hit .305-9-46, Rupp .292-11-46) and played key roles in that school's run to a College World Series runner-up finish, tying for the team lead in RBIs, Keyes had trouble getting untracked at Cotuit, and hit just .185-2-7 in 85 at-bats. Though he has considerable upside as a hitter and obvious power potential in his strapping 6-foot-4, 225-pound frame, he struggled to center balls in the Cape. He had a tendency to open his front side too early by rotating out on the heel of his left foot and simply wasn't balanced enough at the point of contact to square up balls that he should normally drive. A free swinger, he constantly got hurt on balls up in the zone. None of the rest of Keyes' game showcased itself in a positive light, either. Speed is normally one of his better tools, but he looked slow on the base paths and in the outfield at Cotuit to a point where scouts questioned if he was in shape. His arm action from right field was unusually stiff, too, and it may lead to his moving to first base in the long run. With all the holes in his game, Keyes may have done more to hurt his chances of going in the early rounds of the 2010 draft than almost any position player in the Cape. But he could reverse the downslide if he can regain his power stroke and run like he did earlier in his career. His raw power potential is his biggest tool, but he'll need to learn to become more patient at the plate and improve his pitch recognition to fully tap into it. |
| |
|
42 |
Mickey Wiswall |
1B/3B |
Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox |
L-R |
6-0 |
195 |
Jr. |
Boston College |
11/25/1998 |
| SCOUTING REPORT As evidence of his ability to hit, Wiswall batted .320-14-63 as a sophomore for Boston College and followed up by hitting .302-5-30 during the summer for Yarmouth-Dennis. He topped BC in homers and RBIs while leading that school to its first NCAA tournament berth in 42 years. He also finished among league leaders in the Cape Cod League in all three triple-crown categories, and was a fixture in the middle of the order for the league's best offensive team. Though he's a bit of a free swinger and makes little effort to work counts in his favor, Wiswall is short to the ball, drives pitches with authority to all fields and has a good two-strike approach. He'll need to make adjustments, however, to figure out how to hit lefthanded pitching on a more consistent basis, or possibly be doomed to a platoon role at the professional level. The bigger issue is an optimum position for Wiswall. His only real options are the infield corners. With hard work, he has a chance to be a serviceable third baseman as he runs well enough and has average arm strength, but his actions and overall athleticism are geared more for first base. |
| |
|
43 |
Austin Wates |
OF |
Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox |
R-R |
6-1 |
175 |
Jr. |
Virginia Tech |
9/2/1988 |
| SCOUTING REPORT Though he hit .397-5-42 and stole a team-high 16 bases as a sophomore at Virginia Tech, Wates was a relative unknown in the scouting industry when he reported to the Cape Cod League. He quickly gained his share of notoriety, however, by leading the league in hitting in the early going. Though he cooled off at the end to finish at .312, Wates repeatedly barreled up balls with a loose, easy swing and drove line drives to all fields. He failed to go deep even once for Yarmouth-Dennis, but clearly has untapped power potential. In his time on the Cape, he had a knack for taking what pitchers gave him and finding holes in the infield or gaps in the outfield. A superior all-around athlete, Wates has the impact speed (6.4 in the 60) to be a significant base-stealing threat and an impact defender in center field. His arm is also an above-average tool. Oddly, he has rarely been utilized in center, either in college or summer ball, so has had little opportunity to hone his skills there. He has curiously spent an inordinate amount of time at first base in his career at Virginia Tech, mainly because he is the team's best option at that position, and was deployed on the outfield corners during the summer at Y-D. It seems to be just a matter of time before all of Wates' tools ooze to the surface. If it all starts to fall in place for him in his junior year at Virginia Tech, Wates could easily slip into the back end of the first round in the 2010 draft. |
| |
|
44 |
Kevin Patterson |
1B/3B |
Cotuit Kettleers |
L-R |
6-4 |
225 |
Jr. |
Auburn |
9/28/1988 |
| SCOUTING REPORT When Patterson and fellow Alabama first baseman Hunter Morris passed up chances to sign out of high school in 2007, there was considerable debate which of the two young sluggers would make the greater impact at Auburn, and ultimately in the 2010 draft. As an unsigned second-rounder, Morris was the leader in the clubhouse, but Patterson was taken in the 24th round and would have gone considerably higher had he been deemed more signable. Morris has not only been the more productive performer of the two at Auburn, but has claimed a bulk of the playing time at first base, forcing Patterson to shift to an outfield corner, or even a DH role, to secure playing time. In the process, Patterson has languished at the plate, batting just .231-6-18 for the Tigers as a sophomore—far short of expectations. There were high hopes initially that Patterson might develop into one of the most prolific power-hitting threats in the 2010 class. He already had the big-league body and was an intimidating presence in the batter's box, leading some scouts to compare him to a young Jim Thome—both for his approach to hitting and ability to launch long home runs from the left side of the plate. Though he projected as an impact home-run threat, Patterson struggled to drive balls out of the yard as a freshman—both in college, where he hit .255-5-26, and in summer ball for Cotuit, where he batted .296-4-27 and fanned 47 times in 152 at-bats. Though his power numbers were lacking in the Cape Cod League, Patterson showed considerable promise with wood and was selected the league's all-star DH. At the time, it was apparent to both scouts and coaches that he had one of the best, most pure home-run swings and it was only a matter of time before the power would come. He just lacked consistency in his approach at the plate. But for all the apparent improvement Patterson showed as a hitter in his first go-around at Cotuit, especially in his ability to stand his ground against tough lefthanders, he regressed in 2009. He hit just .244-4-11 and struck out 27 times in 90 at-bats (by contrast, Morris hit .239-8-19 for Falmouth). He finally seemed to hit his stride late in the season after his confidence was at a low point following his disappointing sophomore season at Auburn. Despite an impressive power-hitting display in BP, Patterson's in-game power was still agonizingly slow to evolve. His position was another issue to deal with in a confusing summer. Knowing he would not bump Morris from first base at Auburn in 2010 or settle in as an outfielder in pro ball, Patterson took it upon himself to give third base a shot. Though it was a completely new position for him, he embraced the experiment, by all accounts, showing surprising instincts while even initiating several double plays. But for Patterson's career to totally get back on track, for him to realize some or all of his potential, it will all depend on how he performs at the plate in the spring at Auburn. |
| |
|
45 |
Rob Segedin |
3B |
Bourne Braves |
R-R |
6-3 |
220 |
Jr. |
Tulane |
2/5/1989 |
| SCOUTING REPORT Segedin had a decorated career at a New Jersey high school and enjoyed considerable two-way success as a freshman at Tulane, yet his career has been overshadowed by a string of injuries, including shoulder and back issues that sidelined him for the 2009 college season after just five games. He was nonetheless selected to the USA Baseball college national team's preliminary roster, but didn't make the final cut and ended up in the Cape Cod League a couple of weeks into the season. Despite his late start, on top of missing the spring season, Segedin played a key role for Bourne, hitting .304-0-16 in 27 games, as the Braves won their first league title. Though he didn't go deep or even make a pitching appearance on the summer, Segedin at least showed he was healthy and should resume his career without skipping a beat. As a freshman for Tulane, Segedin hit .322-6-59 with 18 doubles, and also won five games and saved five more as a closer while striking out 21 in 19 innings. Though he'll resume his two-way role for the Green Wave as a red-shirt sophomore, he's expected to make playing third base a priority, with the goal of developing his mostly-untapped raw power. Though he stayed back, swung hard and squared up a lot of balls for Bourne, he drove most pitches the other way and may have been the best opposite-field hitter on the Cape. To date, he's been mostly a doubles hitter, but he still earns high marks for his sweet, balanced, in-control swing and ability to make steady, hard contact. His arm strength also grades out above-average, and he should settle in at the hot corner as his athletic actions around the bag are passable by pro standards, though it's possible he could end up at first base or in the outfield. Bourne manager Harvey Shapiro was quick to liken Segedin's overall game to former Braves player and current big leaguer Kevin Youkilis, though he doesn't play with the same fire and intensity that Youkilis does. |
| |
|
46 |
Dan Grovatt |
OF |
Harwich Mariners |
L-L |
6-1 |
185 |
Jr. |
Virginia |
10/29/1988 |
| SCOUTING REPORT A very advanced college hitter, Grovatt has good plate coverage and the patient approach to work counts, and uses the entire field efficiently. He topped the best team in Virginia history with a .356 average in 2009, while also drilling eight homers and driving in 51 runs. He followed up with a solid summer in the Cape Cod League, hitting .288-1-12. Though he is an accomplished line-drive, gap-to-gap hitter, Grovatt may need to add more power to his game to remain an everyday right fielder. He has the bat speed to go deep, and did begin to turn on balls more consistently late in the Cape season, but may have to compromise average to jack up his home-run count. Grovatt has the arm strength to settle into right field, but is not considered an accomplished defender as he does not get consistently good jumps on balls. His speed is average. Grovatt has been extremely well-coached and gets the most out of his ability, but may not have quite enough raw talent to emerge as a front-line player in pro ball. At times, he has made a greater impression with scouts on the mound, even as he has not pitched in two years at Virginia and has worked in only 12 innings of relief in summer ball—in the summer of 2008 in the New England Collegiate League, where he went 0-0, 2.31 with two saves and 12 strikeouts. Grovatt has an impressive pitching resume in his past, however, as he went 20-2 in his prep career at a New Jersey high school and set school records for career- and single-season wins. He led his team to the 2007 state title, earning tournament MVP honors for pitching a three-hitter with 13 strikeouts in the final. Though he has pitched only sparingly since, he has a loose arm action from the left side, a fastball up to 93 mph with plenty of movement and the makings of a hard slider. He also has shown an advanced feel for pitching, despite his relative inexperience. Though his tools in the field are more advanced and he'll undoubtedly be drafted as an outfielder, his upside may be higher on the mound. |
| |
|
47 |
Michael Olt |
3B |
Orleans Firebirds |
R-R |
6-2 |
190 |
Jr. |
Connecticut |
8/27/1988 |
| SCOUTING REPORT There were high hopes for Olt after he established his prospect worth with an impressive season as a freshman shortstop at Connecticut, and followed with a big summer in the New England Collegiate League. He hit .318 and topped the Huskies with 13 homers, 61 RBIs and a .577 slugging average, and also stole 18 bases in 20 attempts. In the NECBL, he hit .279-6-31 and made a favorable impression as a legit power threat by winning the league's Home Run Derby. But Olt didn't come close in 2009 to matching those numbers or living up to the hype, either at UConn (.301-8-40) or in the Cape Cod League (.218-3-14). Not only did he struggle at the plate, but in the field, as well, and was quickly moved off shortstop to third base. Olt's bat is still his best tool and when he was going good as a freshman, he had a mature approach to hitting with easy power, especially to the pull side. But he has always been prone to inconsistent contact, and struck out a combined 95 times (60 in college, 35 in summer) in 2008, and 91 times (45 in college, 46 in summer) in 270 at-bats overall as a sophomore. He is prone to getting fooled on breaking balls, leading to ugly, out-of-control swings. But he has lots of raw power and can hit balls a long way when he connects. Olt generally showed good actions and plenty of arm strength to play shortstop as a freshman, even as it was apparent at the time that his lack of raw foot speed and lateral movement would eventual necessitate a change to third base, or even the outfield. The change came sooner than later as Olt piled up an inordinate numbers of errors early in his sophomore year at UConn, and was moved to third at mid-season, swapping positions with freshman Nick Ahmed. By the time Olt arrived at Orleans, he had so settled in at third that he might have been the best defensive third sacker on the Cape. He committed just two errors in 34 games after racking up 21 during the spring, in just 38 games. Olt's hands and arm strength were significant assets at Orleans, and he particularly excelled with his exchange, getting balls in and out of his glove quickly. If Olt can build on his rapid defensive improvement, hit the long ball with regularity and curtail his strikeouts, he has an excellent chance to be the first college player drafted in June from New England. |
| |
|
48 |
Patrick Cooper |
RHP |
Falmouth Commodores |
R-R |
6-3 |
205 |
Jr. |
#Bradley |
|
| SCOUTING REPORT Cooper has travelled a long way and shown vast improvement from his days as a college freshman at Eastern Kentucky, where he went just 1-6, 7.71 with 70 base runners (51 hits, 19 walks) and only 26 strikeouts in 37 innings. His turnaround started in earnest that summer in the Jayhawk League, where he excelled in a starting role for Hays, going 8-3, 2.75 with 28 walks and 64 strikeouts in 75 innings. His fastball was a steady 92-93 mph, and he complemented it with a plus slider and a workable changeup. His selling points also included a strong, durable frame and competitive edge. Cooper would have stepped in as the No. 1 starter at Eastern Kentucky in 2009 with the departure of lefthander Christian Friedrich, a first-round pick in the 2008 draft, had he chosen to return there, but with a coaching change at EKU, Cooper chose to leave too, transferring to Des Moines Area (Iowa) CC, where he continued to build on his resume by going 8-1, 3.48 with a team-high 106 strikeouts in 72 innings on a star-studded pitching staff that produced a 55-11 record and led the team deep into the Junior College Division II World Series. Despite being drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 34th round in June, Cooper elected to play for Falmouth in the Cape Cod League and he continued to perform at a high level, pitching solely in relief, as both a set-up man and closer. He went 2-1, 0.66 with a save and 39 strikeouts in 27 innings for the Commodores. His fastball peaked at 94 mph, but the pitch most responsible for his high volume of strikeouts and impressive .158 opponent batting average was his sharp-breaking, 83-85 mph slider, which was nearly unhittable, at times. On the strength of his impressive performance on the Cape, Cooper chose to pass on a late offer from the Diamondbacks in favor of attending Bradley, his third school in three years. It was readily apparent that Cooper's impressive stuff and competitive spark might be better served in a short role, but he was expected to be restored to a starting role there as a junior. If he can continue to pitch at a high level and showcase his dominant stuff, though, it shouldn't matter how he is used and Cooper could emerge as a dominant factor in the 2010 draft. |
| |
|
49 |
Brian Dupra |
RHP |
Harwich Mariners |
R-R |
6-3 |
200 |
Jr. |
Notre Dame |
12/15/1988 |
| SCOUTING REPORT Highly-touted since his days at an upstate New York high school, Dupra has struggled to perform to a level consistent with his impressive raw stuff. In two years at Notre Dame, he is 9-8, 6.52 with equally unimpressive secondary numbers—176 hits allowed in 128 innings, along with just 76 strikeouts. He teased scouts with his showing in the Cape Cod League in 2008, going 2-1, 3.40 in 18 relief appearances, but tripped up as a sophomore, going 2-1, 5.48 with two saves in 13 relief appearances. He got off to a good start for Harwich, but seemed to lose his rhythm and ultimately his focus when the heavy rains that plagued the Cape League played havoc with the schedule, costing Dupra regular work. Dupra's fastball was primarily in the 91-93 mph range, yet topped out at 95 and had good running action on righthanded hitters. He also produced an 88-91 mph cutter that ran the opposite way, along with a tight-breaking, 79-81 mph slider and average change. With his lively athletic frame, a smooth, clean arm action and often impeccable control of his stuff, it's a mystery why Dupra hasn't been more successful or missed more many bats in his career. He seems to get hurt when he elevates his pitches and his stuff, especially his fastball velocity, isn't consistent. It appears Dupra just needs time. But if it all comes together in the spring, he could vault his way solidly into the first round. |
| |
|
50 |
Josh Mueller |
RHP |
Wareham Gatemen |
R-R |
6-4 |
215 |
Jr. |
Eastern Illinois |
1/18/1989 |
| SCOUTING REPORT Despite his physical presence and pending draft status, the 6-foot-4, 215-pound Mueller was overshadowed in 2009 on the pitching staffs at both Eastern Illinois and Wareham. He was the EIU ace and tied for the team lead in wins, and yet most of the attention went to lefthander Tyler Kehrer, a supplemental first-round pick of the Los Angeles Angels. Similarly at Wareham, he had a solid season in a starting role, going 2-0, 3.34 with 31 strikeouts in 32 innings, yet didn't garner the close scrutiny of some of the elite arms on the Gateman staff like Brandon Workman and Jack Armstrong. But Mueller should draw his fair share of attention in the spring leading up to the 2010 draft as he has three quality pitches of his own in a 90-94 mph fastball, an explosive slider and an improving change. He clearly has the size and stuff to warrant going in the top 3-4 rounds. For Mueller to approach the elite draft position of his former teammate Kehrer, however, he'll need to sharpen his command and consistency as he walked 18 at Wareham, after serving up 38 walks in 78 innings as a sophomore at EIU while assembling an 8-1, 4.85 record, along with 64 strikeouts. |
| |
|
51 |
Matt Harvey |
RHP |
Chatham Anglers |
R-R |
6-4 |
210 |
Jr. |
North Carolina |
3/27/1989 |
| SCOUTING REPORT Though Harvey gets praised for his character and makeup, he has nonetheless become one of the more controversial players in the 2010 draft class. He was targeted as a probable first-round pick throughout most of his career at a Connecticut high school, but concerns about his signability as the 2007 draft drew near sent him tumbling to the third round, where he was selected by the Los Angeles Angels. That pretty much sealed the deal that Harvey would honor his commitment to North Carolina, and he entered the 2008 college season as the nation's No. 1-ranked freshman. In two seasons with the Tar Heels, Harvey is a combined 14-4, 4.22 with 89 walks and 161 strikeouts in 143 innings, hardly dominating numbers, and scouts have openly questioned his arm action and delivery. Those concerns came to a head last summer in the Cape Cod League, when Harvey's mechanics were inconsistent throughout. He not only had a tendency to get out front too much on his delivery, but some scouts expressed the concern that his deliberate, one-piece arm action had not only caused him to regress, but might even be irreversible. His 0-2, 7.04 record in his three starts, and velocity that fluctuated from the mid-80s to the mid-90s, provided compelling evidence. Given that unflattering scouting report, Harvey was no longer considered a shoe-in to be drafted in the first round in 2010, much like he was when he set career records for wins (21), ERA (1.08) and strikeouts (315) at Fitch High, where his father Ed was the school's baseball coach and one of his teammates was righthander Jesse Hahn, now at Virginia Tech and a probable first-rounder himself next June. Harvey was practically born to pitch on the Cape for Chatham, whose long-time coach, John Schiffner, spends the school year as the baseball coach at Connecticut's Plainville High and has coached against Harvey's father for more than 30 years and vividly recalls the day that Matt was born. Harvey pitched against Schiffner's team several times when in high school. He has since grown into an impressive physical specimen at 6-foot-5 and 210 pounds, yet has always been exceptionally mature for his age. Though Harvey's current prospect status is somewhat up in the air on the eve of his junior season at UNC, big-league clubs will not make the mistake of overlooking the appeal he held earlier in his career and the possibility that he could work out the kinks and recapture it. As a freshman at North Carolina, Harvey was brought along slowly, working mainly as a Sunday starter, and went a commendable 7-2, 2.79 with 47 walks and 80 strikeouts in 68 innings. Harvey also worked in a secondary role that summer in his first stint at Chatham, pitching mostly in relief. In 22 innings, he went 1-1, 0.83 with 11 walks and 29 strikeouts in 22 innings. Even as his workload was curtailed by design, he flashed the best power stuff in the Cape with a fastball that was consistently in the 94-95 mph range and a hammer curve at 82-84. His changeup was a solid third pitch. Even though his stuff remained top-notch, scouts begin to see signs that Harvey no longer threw with the same smooth, easy arm action that he had in high school. He was stiffer with more effort in his delivery, but the one area of his game that he needed to improve most was his command. He tended to get behind in counts, enabling hitters to sit on his fastball. Those concerns became more paramount over the course of the next year, and it will be interesting to see if Harvey can reverse those issues with the 2010 draft approaching. |
| |
|
52 |
Jedd Gyorko |
3B |
Brewsters Whitecaps |
R-R |
5-10 |
185 |
Jr. |
West Virginia |
9/23/1988 |
| SCOUTING REPORT On the heels of pounding the ball at a .409-9-63 clip as a freshman and .421-8-58 (with a school-record 28 doubles) as a sophomore at West Virginia, Gyorko finished third in the Cape Cod League with a .323 average and five homers. He may have been the best pure hitter in the league with his superior bat speed and disciplined approach, and ability to use the whole field. He could turn around any fastball in the league, and yet excelled at recognizing pitches, protecting the plate with a sound two-strike approach and taking what pitchers gave him. If anything, he can be exploited by a quality slider. While there is little debate among scouts over Gyorko's ability to hit and to eventually hit with more power, where he'll eventually play in the field is open to question. He has played mostly shortstop in college, and divided his time with Brewster almost equally between second base and third. His thicker lower half, along with his lack of speed and range will undoubtedly preclude him from staying in the middle infield at the pro level, and it's not a certainty that he even has the desired tools to remain at third base, though his arm would play there. If anything, left field might be his logical future destination. No matter where he plays, Gyorko will earn praise for his approach to the game. It's also a given that he will hit and it's possible a team could take a run at him in the first round on that basis alone, but the rest of his physical package may preclude that from happening. |
| |
|
53 |
Cole Green |
RHP |
Wareham Gatemen |
R-R |
6-0 |
210 |
Jr. |
Texas |
5/4/1989 |
| SCOUTING REPORT There has been a tendency for the stockily-built Green to get lost in the shuffle on pitching-rich staffs at Texas and Wareham, especially with a high-profile righthander like Brandon Workman on both squads. But Green outpitched Workman at both stops in 2009 and his raw stuff, command and intense, competitive approach are comparable. The obvious difference between the two is that the 6-foot, 210-pound Green doesn't have the live, projectable body type that the 6-foot-5, 220-pound Workman possesses. Still, Green has an advanced feel for his craft and three solid-average pitches in his arsenal. He can command his 90-93 mph fastball to both sides of the plate, and his breaking ball is a dominant pitch. He does have a tendency, though, with his maximum-effort delivery of working just five or six strong innings per start, then quickly losing his stuff—a durability issue not uncommon in pitchers with shorter, thicker frames. It didn't impact his sophomore year at Texas, where he made 20 starts and went 5-3, 3.34 with 34 and 85 strikeouts in 110 innings. His late start at Wareham, stemming from Texas' runner-up finish in the College World Series, combined with his heavy spring workload, curtailed his mound time in the Cape Cod League, though he went an acceptable 1-1, 3.12 with eight walks and 33 strikeouts in his four starts, spanning 26 innings. No matter how well he pitches in the spring leading up to the draft, however, his lack of physical upside will be a limiting factor in where he is picked. |
| |
|
54 |
Jorge Reyes |
RHP |
Orleans Firebirds |
R-R |
6-3 |
195 |
|
SIGNED/Padres |
12/7/1987 |
| SCOUTING REPORT Reyes had a checkered college career at Oregon State, and it was somewhat appropriate that he signed with the San Diego Padres following the Cape Cod League season for a $200,000 bonus, even though he wasn't drafted until the 34th round in June. His low draft standing was reflective of an inconsistent 6-2, 4.20 junior season for the Beavers, but his bonus, equivalent to fourth-round money, was more in line with the strong summer campaign he enjoyed for Orleans. He went 1-2, 1.06 with 10 walks and 40 strikeouts in 34 innings for the Firebirds, and would have been second in the Cape League ERA race had he not fallen one inning shy of qualifying. His stuff, delivery, arm action and pitchability were all more in line with what was expected of Reyes when he was a revelation as a freshman at Oregon State. He progressed from a middle reliever at the start of the 2007 season to his selection as the College World Series Most Outstanding Player as the Beavers won the second of consecutive national titles. Reyes won both his starts in Omaha that year to push his record on the season to 7-3, 3.10, to go with 18 walks and 64 strikeouts in 81 innings. He showed an easy, effortless delivery and whip-like arm action that produced a fastball with late life in the low 90s, topping at 95-96 mph, to go with a sharp, hard-breaking slider and quality changeup. Just as impressive was his command to both sides of the plate and a mature presence on the mound for a young pitcher on a big stage. He also worked at an easy tempo, yet was a mentally-tough, very competitive kid who wouldn't hesitate to challenge hitters. All the ingredients were there for Reyes to step in as the Oregon State ace as a sophomore while positioning himself as a potential first-rounder for 2010. But he was a mere shadow of himself thereafter, going just 4-3, 7.08 with 32 walks and 57 strikeouts in 67 innings for the Beavers in 2008 and performing little better that summer on the Cape, assembling an unspectacular 3-2, 4.66 record with 16 walks and 29 strikeouts on 37 innings. One year later on the Cape, he finally returned to his stellar freshman form, and it have been due in no small part to his working at a fast tempo, befitting his aggressive approach, because he was allowed to call his own pitches. His stuff responded, as his fastball was routinely in the 90-93 mph range, topping at 94, and his slider was nearly unhittable. |
| |
|
55 |
Mario Hollands |
LHP |
Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox |
L-L |
6-5 |
220 |
Jr. |
UC Santa Barbara |
8/26/1988 |
| SCOUTING REPORT Scouts have long been intrigued with the upside in the 6-foot-5, 220-pound Hollands, yet skeptical of his funky arm action and inability to repeat his delivery. He appeared to finally hit his stride in his development as a pitching prospect last spring as a draft-eligible sophomore for UCSB with a strong start, but understandably slumped at mid-season when a line drive back at him fractured one of his testicles. One of Hollands' biggest strengths was normally his fearlessness in throwing inside to righthanded hitters, and while he pitched in pain for a week and was understandably a little gun-shy initially from his injury, he bounced back quickly and actually improved his breaking stuff and command towards the end of the 2009 season. He finished up at just 6-6, 4.74 with 37 walks and 49 strikeouts in 89 innings, however, and slipped to the 24th round of the draft. Though he regrouped nicely during the summer in the Cape Cod League, producing a solid 4-1, 2.12 record with 18 strikeouts and just eight walks in five starts/30 innings, and appeared to impress the Minnesota Twins in the process, he was never able to strike a deal and returns to college for his junior year with the hopes of significantly upgrading his draft worth. He at least found more of a comfort level in his second summer on the Cape, taking advantage of wood by simply throwing balls over the plate, putting them in play more often. Most impressive was the development of his changeup, both in his ability to create deception and throw it any count. He got hitters off stride consistently with the 12-14 mph differential he created on his change vs. his fastball—a greater differential than the 9-10 mph variance normally produced by teammate Chris Sale, who was acknowledged as the league's top lefthanded pitching prospect. Hollands' fastball was a consistent 88-90 mph, topping at 91, and he generated significant sink on the pitch while keeping hitters guessing with his four-pitch mix. That's a far cry from 2007, when Hollands was forced to red-shirt at UCSB because he wasn't ready at the time to pitch at the Division I level. Though his delivery has been likened all along to that of Detroit Tigers lefthander Dontrelle Willis, Hollands is very athletic and that quality has enabled him to make major strides over the last three years to a point where he is now a big southpaw with solid pitchability and command. Hollands has the size of a power pitcher and there's quickness in his arm, but his fastball velocity is only average, at best. Hollands still has work to do with his mechanics, but he has clearly made major strides in fine-tuning his delivery since enrolling in college. He had trouble repeating his release point at first as he would consistently fly open and let his arm drag in his delivery, allowing his alignment over the rubber to stray. But while his approach to pitching was extremely raw, his arm always worked well and most of his mechanical flaws have been fixed. As a red-shirt freshman at UCSB, Hollands went 7-3, 4.03 with 61 strikeouts in 83 innings, while walking only 26. As unconventional as his delivery is, the deception he creates is probably the best part of his package. He has a high leg kick and spins part way around in his motion, and even gets separation when he goes behind his back. But he is able to repeat his unusual delivery consistently, even with arms and legs moving in every direction, and hitters have a difficult time picking him up his release point. But he'll need to rely on more than just deception to improve his draft worth, and his ability to add velocity to his fastball and work more aggressively will be major determining factors. |
| |
|
56 |
Brian Fletcher |
OF |
Falmouth Commodores |
R-R |
6-0 |
190 |
Jr. |
Auburn |
10/26/1988 |
| SCOUTING REPORT Fletcher was a much-different player in his return engagement to the Cape Cod League. Disappointed at being cut by Team USA in 2008 after a .324-10-42 freshman season at Auburn, he got down on himself and went on to hit a sluggish .153-1-6 for Falmouth. But he showed a much more mature and focused approach this summer, and hit a much more representative .291-2-19. Physically stronger than a year earlier, Fletcher drove the ball hard to all fields when he made contact, though his 2-36 walk-to-strikeout ratio spoke loudly to his free-swinging, aggressive approach and need to cut down on his big swing and improve his plate discipline. He at least made strides in his ability to hit the ball the other way with two strikes after striking out 76 times as a sophomore at Auburn, while batting .301-17-46. He also felt much more comfortable playing left field after making the shaky transition to the position from shortstop as a freshman. Nothing comes easy for Fletcher, though. There's effort in almost everything he does, and it was evident that he didn't have the quickness and easy actions, or even the arm strength to play shortstop beyond the high-school level, unlike his father Scott, who put together a 15-year big league career on the strength of his defensive skills in the middle infield and ability to handle the bat head. Dad and son couldn't be more different players as Scott hit only 34 home runs in 5,258 career at-bats, while Brian's big tool is his power potential. He has plus bat speed with a power-oriented upper-cut swing that leaves nothing behind. A breakout season with the bat as a junior at Auburn should cement Fletcher's place as an early-round pick in the 2010 draft, though his lack of a complete package will probably keep him out of the first 2-3 rounds. |
| |
|
57 |
Dean Green |
1B |
Chatham Anglers |
L-R |
6-3 |
230 |
Jr. |
Oklahoma State |
6/30/1989 |
| SCOUTING REPORT Green has the size and short, compact, powerful swing to emerge as a legit home-run threat, but has been slow to realize his power potential. He led Chatham in homers (3) and RBIs (22) while batting an acceptable .275, but didn't make it a priority over the summer to turn on balls consistently to exploit his raw power. He seemed content to just put the ball into play, especially to the opposite field. That approach doomed him as a sophomore at Oklahoma State, where he hit a disappointing .242-5-24. Green was in line for a breakout campaign after he batted .319-5-24 in a part-time role as a freshman for the Cowboys, and showed all indications of becoming an impact hitter with above-average hitting mechanics and raw power to all fields. He took a direct path to the ball and stayed inside balls extremely well. His challenge was to get the barrel through the strike zone more efficiently and consistently as a sophomore, but he didn't make that adjustment. Green served only as a DH at Oklahoma State as a freshman and used that summer in the West Coast League to gain experience at first base in order to take over the position for the Cowboys in 2009. He took to the position well, showing good mobility around the bag, but Green's below-average speed will confine him to first base in the long run. To be a factor in the top 4-5 rounds of the 2010 draft, Green will need to unlock his power potential. |
| |
|
58 |
Jason Esposito |
3B |
Falmouth Commodores |
R-R |
6-3 |
190 |
So. |
Vanderbilt |
7/19/1990 |
| SCOUTING REPORT As an unsigned seventh-round pick of the Kansas City Royals in the 2008 draft and a central figure in a talented Vanderbilt recruiting class, Esposito had a lot to live up to as a college freshman. He pretty much kept his head above water by hitting .284-4-42, stealing a team-leading 20 stolen bases and starting all 64 games at third base for the Vanderbilt Commodores. But he met his match during the summer playing for the Falmouth Commodores, as many freshmen do in the Cape Cod League. With the added pressure of playing near his Connecticut home, Esposito hit just .198-0-8, had two extra-base hits in 111 at-bats and a 4-30 walk-to-strikeout ratio. He struggled adapting to a wood bat and pressed throughout the Cape season, never reaching a comfort level. His somewhat long swing was exposed and he had a difficult time with pitch recognition, especially on off-speed stuff. He will have no choice but to chalk up his struggles at the plate as a learning experience as all the ingredients are in place for Esposito to excel down the road. He has a big-league body with a well-balanced set of tools and skills. He has plenty of pop in his bat, and his power potential should surface with more repetitions. He should also be a proficient hitter with wood with minor adjustments in his mechanics and approach as his swing at Vanderbilt and in high school was fluid, level and fast. He already is a solid defender with smooth, athletic actions and soft, sure hands, and has an easy plus arm. He also runs well for a third baseman. With two years to groom his game before the 2011 draft, Esposito has a chance to become an accomplished all-around player. |
| |
|
59 |
Brett Weibley |
RHP |
Orleans Firebirds |
R-R |
6-3 |
215 |
Jr. |
Kent State |
1/3/1989 |
| SCOUTING REPORT With a powerfully-built 6-foot-3, 220-pound frame and a fastball that consistently reaches 94-96 mph, it was only a matter of time before Weibley assumed his rightful position in a short role on the mound. He enrolled at Kent State as a third baseman and played that position almost exclusively as a freshman, but four brief relief appearances set the wheels in motion for him to make the conversion to primary pitcher. As a sophomore, he worked in just 25 innings, all in relief, and struggled to post a 1-0, 7.56 record, while walking 20 and striking out 28. He also continued to play a part-time role at third, but it was readily apparent that pitching was in his future and he found his stride during the summer at Orleans, working almost exclusively in a set-up role. Weibley went 2-1, 1.23 with five walks and 26 strikeouts in 22 innings for the Firebirds. He threw almost all fastballs, though flashed an occasional plus changeup and developing slider. While his raw arm strength was readily apparent and he located his fastball with surprising precision, it was equally evident that Weibley needs to improve his mechanics and learn the finer points of pitching. He throws with a lot of effort, and will need to incorporate his lower half better into his delivery to ease the strain on his arm. Because of Tommy John surgery on Andrew Chafin (4-1, 1.26, 8 SV) that will prevent the sophomore lefthander from being utilized as Kent State's closer for most of 2010, Weibley will get his first extended opportunity to fulfill that role, which should do nothing but enhance his draft stock. He's also expected to see time in the field to get his bat in the lineup, but will most likely see most of his action at first base to protect his arm. |
| |
|
60 |
*Matthew Price |
RHP |
Harwich Mariners |
R-R |
6-2 |
190 |
So. |
Virginia Tech |
7/8/1989 |
| SCOUTING REPORT Even with his tall, gangly look, inconsistent delivery and less than impressive performance as a freshman at Virginia Tech, it was clear to scouts that Price had the arm strength and range of stuff to emerge as a top prospect—possibly as early as the 2010 draft, when he'll be an age-eligible sophomore. Price went just 3-4, 6.90 with 37 walks and 53 strikeouts in 59 innings for the Hokies, mostly as a starter, but still flashed a moving 91-94 mph fastball along with an average to plus slider with good life. His game began to come together during the summer, while pitching for Harwich, even as he was used in a variety of roles on the Mariners staff. He was employed initially as a closer, where he was able to air out his fastball in short bursts and topped out at 96, but ended up in a starting role, enabling him to use his full repertoire of pitches while also providing him with the innings needed to work on his mechanics. His fastball often sat at 94-95 mph deep into his starts, and he mixed in a quality changeup with good downward movement as his third pitch. Overall, he went 2-2, 2.97 in 12 appearances (3 starts) with 13 walks and 34 strikeouts in 36 innings. Though Price has a good loose arm action in his 6-foot-3, 165-pound frame, he throws across his body and frequently changes his release point. But he'll often drop down to give hitters a different look. Though he'll need to improve his command to warrant being an early-round pick in June, he also has a chance to throw harder as he both bulks up and refines his mechanics. Of all the arms on the 2009 Harwich staff, he may have the most upside. |
| |
|
61 |
Aaron Meade |
LHP |
Harwich Mariners |
B-L |
6-3 |
190 |
Jr. |
Missouri State |
5/2/1988 |
| SCOUTING REPORT As a 21-year-old sophomore, Meade was eligible for the 2009 draft. Though he wasn't selected until the 28th round by the New York Yankees, it spoke more to the extra leverage that a college sophomore has than it did about Meade's ability. After posting a solid 9-2, 3.39 record with 89 strikeouts in 90 innings in the spring for Missouri State, he validated his prospect status with a sound summer season in the Cape Cod League, posting a 3-1, 1.91 record with 18 walks and 47 strikeouts in 42 innings. By all accounts, Meade pitched like a second- or third-rounder in his final two or three outings for Harwich, especially in a dynamic 1-0 win over Chatham his final time out. And yet he couldn't get the Yankees to bite on a bonus commensurate with his perceived value at the signing deadline. His fastball velocity, a more pedestrian 86-87 mph early in the summer, suddenly jumped to 88-92, and gave him a third quality pitch to go with his 79-81 mph slider and 77-78 mph changeup, his best pitch. At 6-foot-3 and 185 pounds, Meade has an ideal pitcher's frame, and not only has the obvious advantage of being lefthanded, but has a quick, loose and smooth arm action. He also has an advanced knowledge of pitching and his ability to come inside on both sides of the plate is one of his strengths. By electing not to sign with the Yankees, Meade returns to Missouri State for his junior year and has every expectation of becoming an early-round pick in the 2010 draft. |
| |
|
62 |
Kevin Rhoderick |
RHP |
Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox |
R-R |
6-0 |
190 |
Jr. |
Oregon State |
8/18/1988 |
| SCOUTING REPORT As an undersized righthander, Rhoderick has struggled to gain respect from scouts. It's been doubly tough in another regard as he's been overshadowed at every step of his high school, college and summer-league careers by high-profile pitchers on his own staff. At Arizona's Horizon High, it was 6-foot-7 righthander Tim Alderson, a first-round pick of the San Francisco Giants in 2007; at Oregon State, it's been a whole host of arms with big upsides; at Yarmouth-Dennis this summer, it was 6-foot-6 Chris Sale, the Cape Cod League's premier lefthander. Rhoderick has managed to more than hold his own at every step, however. He went 8-1, 1.08 with 120 strikeouts in 59 innings as a high-school senior, leading to his selection in the 18th round of the '07 draft by the Detroit Tigers. In two years at Oregon State, working almost exclusively as a closer, he has piled up 21 saves while striking out 65 in 50 innings. He wasn't used in his customary end of game role on a regular basis for Y-D, but still tied for the team lead in appearances while striking out 30 and walking just six in 19 innings. With a fastball that peaked at 95 mph and a hard, dominating, bat-breaking slider, Rhoderick attacked the strike zone with a two-pitch arsenal that was at least the equal of any pitcher on the Cape. Along with his impressive stuff, he has sound mechanics, a solid feel for pitching and an intense, ultra-competitive approach. He thrives in an end-of-game role, whether used as a closer or set-up man, and should be one of the very elite short relievers in the 2010 draft. |
| |
|
63 |
Chad Bell |
LHP |
Cotuit Kettleers |
R-L |
6-3 |
205 |
|
SIGNED/Rangers |
2/28/1989 |
| SCOUTING REPORT Bell was drafted for the third time in June, in the 14th round by the Texas Rangers, and seemed like a good bet to pass up another offer to sign—especially with a chance to pitch in 2010 for the University of Tennessee, just down the road from where he grew up. But few pitchers in the Cape Cod League showed more improvement this summer, from start to finish, as Bell, and the Rangers rewarded him with a $450,000 bonus on the eve of the signing deadline. In 11 appearances (7 starts), he went 3-1, 1.77 with 46 strikeouts in 46 innings, while limiting opposing hitters to a .173 average. He also tossed the Cape League's only no-hitter, July 12 against Chatham. Bell's fastball was only in the 86-88 mph range at the start of the season, but he picked up 4-5 mph in velocity through the course of the summer—more befitting his 6-foot-4, 215-pound frame. Yet his best pitch was his changeup, which was so effective that it not only made his fastball look faster but he got away with throwing several times in succession. In one game against Falmouth slugger Brian Fletcher, Bell threw him nothing but changeups, 12 in all, and struck him out all three times up. He threw two different versions of the pitch—one a 78-79 mph straight change to get ahead in the count, the other with the sinking action of a splitter to finish off hitters—that were equally effective against lefthanded or righthanded hitters. Though he rarely used his breaking ball, the one pitch he'll need to improve as he progresses through the Rangers system, he still commanded it with the same efficiency as his fastball and change. Bell spent his first two college seasons at Tennessee's Walters State JC, which powered its way to a No. 1 national ranking entering the 2008 Junior College World Series and a No. 1 ranking to open the 2009 season—in large part because of a Murderer's Row lineup that produced 154 home runs in 61 games in Bell's freshman year and 99 in 57 contests last spring. But Bell was every bit as responsible for his team's lofty national rankings as he compiled a 12-1, 3.41 record with 100 strikeouts in 100 innings as a freshman, and followed up by going 8-1, 2.08 with 78 strikeouts in 65 innings as a sophomore. He didn't overpower hitters with his then below-average fastball, but carved them up with a superior sense of pitchability. Bell has come a long way from his days as a high-school junior at Knoxville's South Doyle High, when he threw just 78-82 mph, before blossoming with a 13-0 record as a senior when his velocity jumped 4-6 mph. He was drafted twice previously in a low round—by Milwaukee in 2007, by Cleveland in 2008—before finally hitting paydirt his third time around. |
| |
|
64 |
Kyle Roller |
1B |
Bourne Braves |
L-R |
6-2 |
240 |
Sr. |
East Carolina |
3/27/1988 |
| SCOUTING REPORT Roller was the unquestioned star in the Cape Cod League in 2009, and a slam-dunk choice as the league MVP. He was tops in homers (10) and RBIs (33), and missed a triple crown by winding up second in the batting race at .342. He also set the pace in runs scored (33), doubles (13) and slugging percentage (.644). Roller was named the playoff MVP, as well, as his hot play carried over to post-season play. He went 7-for-14 with a homer and eight RBIs as Bourne won four straight games to capture its first league title. Despite his hot summer with the bat, Roller was a mere 47th-round pick of the Oakland A's in the 2009 draft. And to add insult to injury, he never did sign with the A's, turning down a reported $100,000 offer at the signing deadline to return to East Carolina for his senior year. Though he hit just .275-2-22 in the summer of 2008 for Bourne, it may be difficult for Roller to show the same improvement from one year to the next in college as he already hit .336-16-75 as a junior at East Carolina. Though the powerfully-built Roller is viewed in the scouting community as mostly a one-dimensional talent, he was undeniably the most feared hitter on the Cape. He was the one player who wasn't phased by a wood bat, and consistently hit the ball hard, especially to the left-center field gap. He did strike out 41 times in 149 at-bats and was vulnerable to good breaking balls, but regularly torched fastballs. Compared to his 2008 season at Bourne, he was in much better shape this summer and simply got locked in at the plate. He didn't throw away at-bats nearly as often. The big knock on Roller is his defense and lack of speed. In the minds of some scouts, he profiles only as an American League-DH type. But he handled himself adequately at first base for Bourne, and displayed greater agility and better hands and a better arm at the position than the previous summer. Roller will undoubtedly be drafted much higher in 2010, but it's unlikely he'll improve on his 2009 performance. |
| |
|
65 |
Nick Tepesch |
RHP |
Falmouth Commodores |
R-R |
6-5 |
225 |
Jr. |
Missouri |
10/12/1988 |
| SCOUTING REPORT If Tepesch can perform to his capability in 2010, he could become the third straight Missouri pitcher who played for Falmouth to be drafted in the first round. He would follow in the footsteps of righthanders Aaron Crow (2008) and Kyle Gibson (2009), but the 6-foot-5, 220-pound Tepesch will have his work cut out for him as he did not perform nearly as well for the Commodores as Crow and Gibson before him, or even in two years at Missouri, for that matter. Though he enrolled in college as an unsigned Boston Red Sox draft pick and had much the same hype as his predecessors, he has gone just 7-8, 6.23 in his first two years with the Tigers, working mostly in relief as a freshman and as a starter as a sophomore. Working solely as a starter for Falmouth, he was 2-3, 5.44 this summer with 12 walks and 31 strikeouts in 32 innings. He struggled early, but made some mechanical adjustments at mid-season and picked up his pace in his last few outings, flashing a mid-90s fastball with sinking action, along with a biting 85-87 mph slider and low-80s changeup—and even a good curve, at times. While his stuff was impressive, he was most often undone by shaky command. He would get behind in the count, then catch too much of the plate. More than anything, he needs to gain confidence to be successful. While Crow was mostly a power arm and Gibson a slider/command pitcher, Tepesch is a blend of both, but he has struggled to gain his own identity. There's little question, though, that he has the big-league body, loose, easy arm, front-line stuff and work ethic to become an elite talent. |
| |
|
66 |
Ben McMahan |
C |
Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox |
R-R |
6-0 |
205 |
So. |
Florida |
10/14/1989 |
| SCOUTING REPORT McMahan was supposed to be the backup to Louisiana State catcher Micah Gibbs at Yarmouth-Dennis, yet ended up spending more time behind the plate than Gibbs, and even outplayed him much of the summer. Gibbs, a potential first-rounder in 2010, was late arriving from his team's appearance in the College World Series and never got fully untracked, hitting just .212 with three homers. McMahan batted .241-3-8 in 79 at-bats, but got progressively better over the course of the summer and legitimately challenged Gibbs for equal playing time. That was in contrast to McMahan's experience as a freshman at Florida, where he made just four starts and went 3-for-30 with a homer and two RBIs. He was naturally rusty to start the Cape Cod League season, and started off with his hands in too low a slot. But as he raised his hands and shortened his swing, he soon started driving balls better, especially breaking pitches. He has quick hands, adapted well to wood and, with experience, should only continue to refine his swing and hit with more power. McMahan has a durable, athletic frame with a big arm, but will need to refine his catching and blocking skills. That, too, may only come with regular playing time and experience, and to McMahan's misfortune may be hard to come by again in his sophomore year at Florida as the Gators highly-acclaimed recruiting class included two premium catching prospects, Austin Maddox and Mike Zunino, who will challenge McMahan for playing time in 2010. Out of an Orlando high school, McMahan had ambitions of being a third- to fifth-round pick in the 2008 draft, but slipped to the New York Yankees in the 30th round amid signability concerns. With his inability to get regular playing time at Florida as a freshman, and presumably as a sophomore and junior, it will be curious how McMahan's draft status will play out again in 2011. |
| |
|
67 |
Ryan LaMarre |
OF |
Wareham Gatemen |
R-L |
6-2 |
210 |
Jr. |
Michigan |
11/21/1988 |
| SCOUTING REPORT LaMarre was a significant football and hockey player in high school, and his baseball career was a little slower to evolve than most top college prospects in the 2010 draft class. He hit a modest .305-3-23 as a freshman at Michigan, but jump-started his prospect status as a sophomore by leading the Wolverines in batting (.344) and RBIs (62), and placing second in home runs (12). With his ability to flash all five tools, the strong-framed LaMarre appeared primed to be an impact player in the Cape Cod League this summer, but instead struggled at the plate and even had to learn to deal with failure as he hit just .236-0-14, while striking out 39 times in 140 at-bats for Wareham. It was hardly a lost season, however, as LaMarre showed a lot of positive signs in his approach to hitting. He continued to make adjustments to his quick-twitch swing, and learned to trust his hands more. He showed plenty of pop in batting practice, especially when he stayed through the baseball. But his raw power didn't show up consistently in game conditions as he had a tendency of getting off balance in his stride, impacting his pull-side power. His best power was generally to the middle of the field, and though he drove a number of balls to the center-field fence, none went over. His jumps and ability to track balls in center field were his most advanced skill. LaMarre's arm and speed were also solid tools. Between his sophomore season at Michigan and summer-league experience at Wareham, he stole 28 bases in 2009. With more reps at the plate, LaMarre could easily emerge as an offensive force as a junior at Michigan, and solidify his spot as a second- or third-round pick in the 2010 draft. |
| |
|
68 |
Josh Rutledge |
SS/OF |
Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox |
R-R |
6-1 |
190 |
Jr. |
Alabama |
4/21/1989 |
| SCOUTING REPORT Though he went undrafted out of an Alabama high school in 2007, Rutledge was an advanced talent and made an immediate splash in the Southeastern Conference as a freshman, hitting .369-0-31 and setting an SEC regular-season record with 91 hits. He also held his own that summer in the Cape Cod League, batting .294-1-10. His average dipped in his encore—to .305 at Alabama, to .250 at Y-D—but Rutledge made a more concerted effort to add power to his offensive package, and the tradeoff was predictable. He drilled five homers as a sophomore at Alabama, and though he didn't go deep in the Cape Cod League this summer, it was apparent that he was driving balls more consistently, especially to the opposite field. Normally, Rutledge has a good offensive approach with sound hitting mechanics and makes consistent, hard contact, but he also looked off-balance and uncomfortable at the plate at times this summer, and struggled to find his timing. Rutledge has held down shortstop for two years at Alabama and teamed with Ross Wilson, another elite talent for the 2010 draft, to give the Crimson Tide one of the nation's best double-play combinations. He has all the athleticism and basic skills, along with the feel and instincts to stay at short as he progresses with his career. He showed a wider base in his set-up to field ground balls this summer, but also took more questionable angles as he ranged to balls than in the past. Minor tinkering is all that Rutledge has left to refine his game. |
| |
|
69 |
Jaren Matthews |
1B |
Orleans Firebirds |
L-L |
6-2 |
210 |
Jr. |
Rutgers |
2/20/1989 |
| SCOUTING REPORT Strong and athletic with above-average power, speed and arm strength, Matthews has not maximized his considerable raw ability since being drafted in the 17th round out of a New Jersey high school in 2007. He hit a pedestrian .328-6-28 as a sophomore for Rutgers, only to follow with an uninspiring .211-2-18 season during the summer for Orleans. Moreover, his wide range of talent has been largely wasted for two years at first base. An imposing lefthanded hitter, Mathews can put on a show in batting practice with a fast, extended swing that shows plus power potential. Though his mechanics at the plate are generally sound and he'll turn around a good fastball, he often tries to get by on just his brute strength and will lose his focus. He'll struggle to keep his timing and balance, especially on breaking balls, and slumped badly late in the Cape Cod League season as he began to chase pitches with regularity, and often looked lost at the plate. His frustration is often evident when his approach goes askew. There is little more Matthews can do physically in terms of getting stronger and quicker, so it's more a matter of learning how to hit. He'll also enhance his value by moving to the outfield to take better advantage of his speed, range and powerful arm. He's played at first mostly because of need in college, and should quickly make the transition to right field once he moves on to the pro ranks. |
| |
|
70 |
Scott Woodward |
OF |
Bourne Braves |
L-R |
6-2 |
200 |
Jr. |
Coastal Carolina |
12/3/1988 |
| SCOUTING REPORT Woodward wasn't heavily scouted or recruited while attending an Indiana high school, yet enjoyed a huge freshman season at Coastal Carolina, hitting .364-7-45 with 42 stolen bases. His 58 walks and Big South Conference-record 30 hit-by-pitch total also contributed to a school record .540 on-base average. He was steady in the field at third base, too, committing just seven errors in 64 games. Woodward's surprise showing in all phases led to his participation with USA Baseball's college national team that summer, but his performance on the international stage cooled considerably as he hit .226-2-25 and stole just two bases. Having set the bar unrealistically high as a first-year player, he predictably struggled to match his success as a sophomore, both in college and summer ball, though he still helped two clubs to league championships. He hit just .284-1-19 in an injury-plagued season for the Chanticleers, but stole 30 bases in 33 attempts. For Bourne, the Cape Cod League champs, he batted .246-1-4, yet pilfered 28 bags. Woodward missed 20 games for Coastal in 2009 after breaking his thumb on a steal attempt, only to suffer an ankle injury shortly after returning to the lineup. Adversity is something that Woodward knows only too well as he is totally deaf in one ear and requires a hearing aid in the other, stemming from contracting bacterial meningitis as a 14-month old. If Woodward's hearing impairment is considered a liability, he more than makes up for the handicap with his athleticism, instincts, passion and superior leadoff skills. He excels at working counts, running the bases and playing defense. Curiously, Woodward's above-average speed as a freshman might have been his best tool, but it has tapered off as he bulked up his 6-foot-2 frame and now is considered just average. The rest of his tools don't profile especially well, either. His line-drive, opposite-field stroke from the left side is still very effective in his role as an offensive catalyst, but it's not an especially pretty swing. He continues to play mostly third base at Coastal Carolina, but his below-average power will almost certainly steer him away from the hot corner at the pro level, and he actually spent the summer at Bourne in center field and got high marks for his arm, and ability to cover ground and go back on balls. |
| |
|
71 |
Dallas Gallant |
RHP |
Hyannis Mets |
R-R |
6-2 |
185 |
Jr. |
Sam Houston State |
1/25/1989 |
| SCOUTING REPORT Gallant has had mixed success in two years at Sam Houston State, going 9-4, 4.98 as a freshman while regressing to a 4-4, 6.52 mark as a sophomore. In a combined 156 innings, he walked 60 and struck out 124. With 20 starts in 36 appearances, he worked in a variety of roles and never really hit his stride in any. But he looked right at home in exclusively a short relief role for Hyannis, working both as a set-up man and closer. In 14 appearances, he went 2-1, 1.95 with two saves. Most impressively, he struck out 43 in 28 innings, while allowing just 17 hits. The 6-foot-3, 195-pound Gallant has a quick, violent arm action and his sudden display of success and dominance was attributed to utilizing only his two best power pitches, a 91-94 mph fastball and a hard, knee-buckling slider that was nearly unhittable when he spotted it. His ability to air them out in short bursts appeared to make all the difference, and it was evident that his electric stuff is clearly suited for a late-reliever role. But he may have to continue to streamline his delivery, and trade off some of the movement he generates to improve his control. |
| |
|
72 |
Russell Brewer |
RHP |
Chatham Anglers |
R-R |
6-0 |
195 |
Jr. |
Vanderbilt |
2/25/1988 |
| SCOUTING REPORT The 6-foot, 190-pound Brewer lacks both the physical profile and raw stuff to warrant the close scrutiny of scouts, but has made huge strides in his development as a closer and saved 22 games over the last two years in the Cape Cod League—12 for Hyannis in 2008, 10 for Chatham this summer. He entered college as primarily an infielder, only to be red-shirted his first season, which facilitated his transition to the mound. His first extended foray into pitching came as a starter in the summer of 2007 in the Valley League, but he has concentrated on a late-game role since. He has gone 5-4, 3.31 and saved 12 games overall in two seasons at Vanderbilt, but his real success has come in his two summers on the Cape. He went 2-1, 1.90 with nine walks and 33 strikeouts in 24 innings this summer for Chatham, and was clearly the go-to man at the end of games for the Anglers, even with potential 2010 first-rounders Matt Harvey and Jesse Hahn to draw on. Brewer wasn't even drafted in June, when eligible, but his stuff, impeccable command and tough, fearless approach routinely neutralized the best hitters on the Cape, and he should get a long look in 2010 as a red-shirt junior. Though his fastball often topped out at 89 mph, he also reached 90-92 on occasion and mixed it effectively with a slider and changeup. Both his secondary pitches are just average offerings, but his ability to spot them with precision makes it tough to square them up, especially with wood. He was a master at getting ahead in the count, and making hitters hit his stuff. |
| |
|
73 |
Tyler Thornburg |
RHP/OF |
Brewsters Whitecaps |
R-R |
5-11 |
175 |
Jr. |
Charleston Southern |
9/29/1988 |
| SCOUTING REPORT Despite his undersized frame, Thornburg can generate some serious heat with a fastball that sits at 93-94 mph, and can reach 95-97. He utilized that pitch almost exclusively in some outings this summer as Brewster's primary closer, going 0-0, 2.60 with eight saves. He throws his fastball with a lot of effort, though, and there are questions if he'll ever develop command with his exaggerated mechanics, or whether his arm or body will hold up in the long haul. He also has struggled to develop consistency with the rest of his arsenal, which includes a curveball and developing changeup. Thornburg gets good extension in his over-the-top delivery and actually evokes comparisons to San Francisco Giants righthander Tim Lincecum with the hitch in his mechanics, not to mention the velocity he can generate in his small build. Thornburg is also a significant two-way talent, and had expectations of being used in the field this summer for Brewster, only to be disappointed when he got just two at-bats. But it enabled him to concentrate his efforts on pitching, where his future lies. Thornburg has played in right field on a regular basis in two seasons at Charleston Southern, in addition to his role as a pitcher, and started all 53 games of the 2009 season at the position, while hitting in the 3-hole. He hit .292-12-49, and topped Charleston Southern in homers and RBIs. He made all 18 relief appearances by coming in directly from right field, without warming up in a conventional manner, and posted a 4-4, 3.73 record with a save. In 31 innings, he walked 24 and struck out 35. As a freshman, Thornburg was used as a starting pitcher for the Buccaneers, and would play in the field only on the days he didn't pitch. But after going 2-5, 7.04 as a starter, it was quickly determined that he was better served by being used as a closer—both the purposes of his two-way role and his professional future. In his first true shot at a closing role, in the summer of 2008 in the Valley League, he was selected that league's No. 2-ranked prospect after going 1-1, 1.48 with 10 saves (second in the league) in 18 appearances, while striking out 38 in 24 innings. |
| |
|
74 |
Craig Fritsch |
RHP |
Cotuit Kettleers |
R-R |
6-4 |
180 |
Jr. |
Baylor |
12/29/1987 |
| SCOUTING REPORT Throughout his college career, Fritsch has been lost in the shuffle on a talent-laden Baylor team that was expected to make a profound impact in 2009, both on the field and in the draft, but did neither. Fritsch was symbolic of the underachieving 30-26 team as he did not pitch to expectations, and slipped from a potential first-rounder on the eve of the season to an eighth-rounder. A draft-eligible sophomore, Fritsch started the 2009 season in the Baylor rotation, but was soon banished to the bullpen and went just 4-5, 5.09 with 26 walks and 53 strikeouts in 50 innings. Hoping to improve his worth with a second summer season in the Cape Cod League, he elected not to sign with Detroit initially, but never did sign with the Tigers after going an unremarkable 0-1, 3.30 in nine games (4 starts) for Cotuit. He ended up back at Baylor, preferring to take a stab at re-establishing his diminished prospect worth in time for the 2010 draft with a fourth year at the college level. Fritsch was red-shirted by the Bears in 2007 as a freshman, for non-medical reasons, and was little factor a year later, going 3-4, 4.80 with three saves as a part-time starter, part-time closer. In 54 innings, he walked 21 and struck out 49. Playing for Yarmouth-Dennis in the Cape League in 2008, he was plagued by periods of inconsistency and went just 2-3, 3.43 in eight starts. But he also showed flashes of dominance when he threw his fastball, slider and changeup for strikes, and struck out 44 in 45 innings. His fastball would often peak at 94, and he generated good sinking action with his two-seamer. With his long, wiry-strong and very projectable frame, he showed all the signs of becoming an early-round selection in the 2009 draft. It never panned out that way, though, and Fritsch had his work cut out for him when he reported for another summer on the Cape, this time at Cotuit. His 92-95 mph fastball was the only reliable pitch in his arsenal initially as his slider was sloppy and his changeup flat. But he made adjustments to get his arm out front more consistently, and his slider became sharper and he started missing bats with the sink on his change. By the end of the summer, he had developed a much better rhythm. Now it's just a matter of carrying over everything to the 2010 college season more effectively than he did a year ago. |
| |
|
75 |
Glen Troyanowski |
RHP |
Harwich Mariners |
R-R |
6-0 |
165 |
Jr. |
Florida Atlantic |
6/8/1989 |
| SCOUTING REPORT With a tall, lean frame and a fast, loose arm, Troyanowski has the physical credentials to be an early-round pick in the 2010 draft. He should safely be a candidate in the first 10 rounds, but could emerge in the top two or three rounds if he can put it altogether. The trick will be to become more consistent with his 92-94 mph fastball and hard, tight slider, and also developing more of the hard-nosed, mentally-tough approach desired in a closer. Troyanowski flashed his electric stuff as the primary closer for Harwich in the Cape Cod League, while going 0-2, 2.51 with four saves and striking out 22 in 14 innings. That was an improvement from his sophomore year at Florida Atlantic, where he went 4-3, 5.75 with six saves, and made four starts in 21 appearances. In 41 innings, he walked 28 and struck out 50. |
| |
|
76 |
Tyler Lyons |
LHP |
Chatham Anglers |
B-L |
6-2 |
205 |
Sr. |
Oklahoma State |
2/21/1988 |
| SCOUTING REPORT Based on his breakthrough 2008 sophomore season at Oklahoma State, when he won 12 games, posted a 2.20 ERA and led the Cowboys with 96 strikeouts, Lyons had realistic expectations of becoming an early-round draft pick a year later. But he went just 7-6, 4.07 for the Cowboys and tumbled to the 10th round of the 2009 draft, where he was finally drafted by the New York Yankees. Scouts were emphatic over the reason: his stuff simply wasn't as good. Lyons pitched at 85-87 mph most of the spring and got by largely because of his advanced pitchability, and the command of his curve and change. There was a feeling in the scouting community that Lyons pitched through a sore elbow much of the spring, especially late in the season when he went almost exclusively to off-speed stuff to get hitters out. Lyons wasn't content to just sign with the Yankees for slot money, and chose instead to spend his summer pitching for Chatham in the Cape Cod League, hoping he could elevate his stock and convince the Yankees he warranted early-round money. He didn't come close, even though Lyons went 2-4, 1.77, walked eight and struck out 44 in 46 innings, and demonstrated an ability to throw four pitches for strikes, including improved an fastball that had 87-90 mph velocity and got good sinking action from a low three-quarters arm slot. Even more impressive were his backdoor slider to lefthanded hitters, and sweeping curve that neutralized righthanded hitters and might have been his best and most consistent pitch. The two breaking pitches had similar trajectories, but the curve had more depth. Lyons also produced a deceptive straight change with good downer movement. Generally, he had a sound delivery and created good deception with his lower arm angle. The challenge for Lyons will be to duplicate that stuff as a senior at Oklahoma State. |
| |
|
77 |
Brandon Cumpton |
RHP |
Cotuit Kettleers |
R-R |
6-2 |
195 |
Jr. |
Georgia Tech |
11/16/1988 |
| SCOUTING REPORT Cumpton hoped to use his summer season at Cotuit as an opportunity to showcase his true worth as a pitching prospect, but left the Cape Cod League after just three starts because of tendinitis in his shoulder. He was impressive in his short stint, going 1-0, 1.59 with three walks and seven strikeouts in 17 innings. He demonstrated smooth mechanics with a good arm action, and ran his fastball easily up to 93 mph, though was a more consistent 90-92. He also effectively worked in a mid-70s curve and low-80s change. Cumpton has limited physical upside in his 6-foot-1, 180-pound frame, but that is more than offset with his ability to get hitters off balance, and his command and demeanor. It's readily apparent that Cumpton has the raw stuff and other credentials to improve significantly on his 4-3, 4.76 record as a Georgia Tech sophomore and 2-1, 7.19 mark as a freshman, and a combined 140 hits allowed in 111 innings, whether he's used as a starter or reliever. |
| |
|
78 |
Seth Blair |
RHP |
Cotuit Kettleers |
R-R |
6-2 |
190 |
Jr. |
Arizona State |
3/3/1989 |
| SCOUTING REPORT Blair played a pivotal role in 2009 as a starting pitcher for an Arizona State team that finished third in the College World Series, and a Cotuit club that lost out in the Cape Cod League championship series. He went 7-2, 3.39 with 78 strikeouts in 77 innings for the Sun Devils, and 3-2, 2.75 with 30 strikeouts in 39 innings in summer ball. Despite his success, he never flashed eye-catching stuff at either stop, though he produced good movement with everything he threw. He succeeded more with his command, ability to mix his pitches and compete, and superior feel for pitching. Mostly a sinker-baller in his approach, especially against righthanded hitters, he still has room to refine his fastball to add even more sink. That should occur when he develops a lower arm slot and begins throwing the pitch a little slower. Blair's fastball was customarily in the low 90s, yet his breaking ball was often flat and his change often lacked life. It was not as effective a pitch as it was a year earlier at Cotuit, when he went 4-1, 1.55. With unsigned third-rounder Josh Spence returning to Arizona State for his senior year, Blair and Spence should be a solid 1-2 punch atop the Sun Devils starting rotation, with the 6-foot-2 Blair given an equal or slightly better chance of becoming the earlier draft of the two in 2010. |
| |
|
79 |
Logan Billbrough |
RHP |
Bourne Braves |
R-R |
6-5 |
215 |
Jr. |
William & Mary |
8/4/1989 |
| SCOUTING REPORT A top recruit from Miami's rich prep ranks, the 6-foot-4, 200-pound Billbrough has been slow to live up to expectations at William & Mary. But he may have turned a corner this summer in the Cape Cod League as he worked brilliantly for Bourne in a set-up role. He went 4-1, 1.30 in 15 appearances for the Braves, and struck out 38 in 28 innings while walking 10 and limiting hitters to a .149 average. He capped off his season with 2-2/3 scoreless innings in the deciding game of the playoffs as Bourne won its first-ever Cape League title. Billbrough's breakthrough stemmed mainly from his ability to throw all four pitches in his repertoire—fastball, curve, slider, change—for strikes. His slider was his most-dominating pitch, but his 86-89 mph fastball was extremely effective, too, because of his ability to command it with precision. It occasionally touched 90, and promises to pick up velocity as he matures. In two years at William & Mary, Billbrough is just 5-5, 6.81 with 41 walks and 59 strikeouts in 70 innings, making all but four of his appearances in relief. |
| |
|
80 |
Jake Buchanan |
RHP |
Cotuit Kettleers |
R-R |
6-0 |
220 |
Jr. |
North Carolina State |
9/24/1989 |
| SCOUTING REPORT Few players exacted a turnaround from spring to summer better than the 6-foot, 205-pound Buchanan, who went 2-6, 6.54 as a North Carolina State sophomore only to go 3-1, 0.84 for Cotuit and lead the Cape Cod League in ERA. His marginal stuff—an 87-90 mph fastball, average breaking ball and respectable changeup—wasn't much different, but his command and advanced sense of pitchability were. Buchanan ate up the outer half of the plate all summer (the preferred method of pitching against wood) and kept hitters off balance throughout by mixing his pitches efficiently. In 43 innings, he walked just six, allowed 33 hits and struck out 38. Though his fastball would occasionally reach 91, it appeared much faster and even became a strikeout pitch for him as hitters always seemed unsure of when it was coming. That stemmed mainly from the effectiveness of his change, which had good downward movement, and the tumbling action that came from his knuckling curve. There was little to differentiate the two off-speed pitches in their velocity and action, but hitters seemed to react differently. The competitive Buchanan is clearly a pitcher whose sum is better than the individual parts, and scouts will need to be mindful to view him that way. But the trick for Buchanan himself, in the spring leading up to the 2010 draft, will be to take a page from his Cape performance and make sure to stay off the inside half of the plate, at all costs. |
| |
|
81 |
*Jordan Cooper |
RHP |
Falmouth Commodores |
R-R |
6-3 |
200 |
So. |
Wichita State |
5/10/1989 |
| SCOUTING REPORT Cooper is the prototypical Wichita State pitcher. He has no exceptional pitch, but has excellent command of an average fastball, solid off-speed stuff and an advanced feel for his craft. A 17th-round pick of the Boston Red Sox in 2008 out of a Kansas high school, he stepped right in as the ace of the staff on a young and inexperienced Shockers team, and went 8-6, 2.78 with 91 strikeouts in 97 innings. His summer in the Cape Cod League was more of the same as he went 1-2, 2.09 in seven starts for Falmouth, striking out 29 in 39 innings. His fastball sat consistently in the 89-91 mph range and had fair movement, but is considered a solid pitch because of his ability to command it to both sides of the plate. He also has a good feel for a big, sharp-breaking, 80-mph slider and his changeup. But Cooper's real strengths are an acute ability to get ahead in the count, change speeds and get hitters off balance. Even as he tired late in the summer from a heavy 2009 workload, he was still able to compete at a high level because of his superior command and mature sense for pitching. Cooper has a strong, durable frame with limited physical projection, yet has solid mechanics, good overall athletic ability and a fairly loose, easy arm action. As a 21-year-old sophomore, he'll be eligible for the 2010 draft. |
| |
|
82 |
Austin Ross |
RHP |
Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox |
L-R |
6-2 |
185 |
Jr. |
Louisiana State |
8/12/1988 |
| SCOUTING REPORT Ross went 24-2 in his career at a Louisiana high school, yet has found winning hard to come by at the college and summer-league levels. Even as the No. 3 starter for Louisiana State's national-championship team in the spring, he went just 6-8, 5.18, and yet was entrusted with the start, a loss, in Game Two of the best-of-3 championship set against Texas in the College World Series. His late arrival from Omaha curtailed his workload in the Cape Cod League, and he went just 1-1, 1.93 with nine walks and 24 strikeouts in 23 innings for Yarmouth-Dennis, the league's best team in the regular season. Of note, he earned Y-D's only playoff win. A year earlier in the Central Illinois Collegiate League, Ross went 1-3, 3.44 for Danville, but his upside shone through and he was selected that league's best prospect. The 6-foot-2, 190-pound Ross has smooth mechanics and throws the ball with little effort, and yet gets good life on his pitches. He can carve up hitters with a solid, but unspectacular three-pitch mix, and is normally at his best when he commands an above-average, slurve-shaped slider that he can back-door on an unsuspecting lefthanded hitter. His fastball is customarily in the 89-91 mph range, but he can reach 92 almost at will when he needs a little extra. Though his fastball has just average velocity, it can look faster because of the effectiveness of his off-speed stuff. He continues to refine his changeup, often tinkering with the grip to give him a more reliable third pitch needed to remain a starter. Ross earns high marks for his professional approach to pitching, but more than anything will need to improve his pitchability to elevate his prospect worth, possibly to the fourth- to sixth-round range in the 2010 draft. |
| |
|
83 |
Jake Thompson |
RHP |
Chatham Anglers |
R-R |
6-3 |
205 |
Jr. |
Long Beach State |
8/8/1989 |
| SCOUTING REPORT Thompson is still in catch-up mode after skipping his senior year of high school to enroll in college a year early. He showed signs of his considerable upside in 2009 as both a sophomore at Long Beach State (4-7, 5.61, 85 IP/42 SO) and in a return engagement to Chatham in the Cape Cod League (1-2, 7.71, 14 IP/12 SO), but was plagued throughout by his youthful inconsistency. He ran his fastball into the 92-96 mph range on a regular basis, but struggled to locate it and ended up throwing too many pitches. He'll have three average or better pitches in his arsenal in the long run, but may need to scrap his curve or slider, both just OK pitches, to concentrate on developing one superior breaking ball, to go with his fastball and changeup. Thompson has marginally improved his delivery and stuff since high school, and could vault up draft boards in 2010 if he can show dramatic improvement as a junior at Long Beach State. |
| |
|
84 |
John Gast |
LHP |
Harwich Mariners |
L-L |
6-2 |
215 |
Jr. |
Florida State |
2/16/1989 |
| SCOUTING REPORT Gast was all set to become an early-round pick, possibly even a first-rounder, in the spring of 2007 as a senior at Florida's Lake Brantley High, when his season came to an abrupt end with an elbow injury, causing him to undergo Tommy John surgery. Gast had dominated hitters with a fastball that was consistently in the 90-93 mph range and a hard, downer slider in the low-80s, and had advanced control and feel for both pitches. Gast had designs on pro ball at the time, but when he slipped to the Texas Rangers in the fifth round and faced the prospects of not pitching again for at least a year, he ultimately chose to fulfill his college commitment to Florida State. Though he managed to make 14 relief appearances for the Seminoles late in the 2008 season and was clocked up to 93, Gast's rehab has gone much slower than anticipated. As a sophomore for Florida State, he still wasn't ready to resume a starting role and made just three token starts in 28 appearances, going 5-3, 5.12 with 24 strikeouts in 39 innings. His showing during the summer for Harwich (1-4, 4.37, 35 IP/14 BB/30 SO) was marginally better from a performance standpoint, but he was finally unleashed again in a starting role. He mixed in some positive outings, even with velocity that topped out at 92. It was clear there's more velocity in the tank, and it's just a case of when it comes. He also mixed in his curve effectively, and his emerging changeup was often unhittable. Gast showed positive signs in every phase of his game as his Cape Cod League summer moved along, raising the hope and even expectation that he will be ready to cut loose in the spring, leading up to the 2010 draft, and finally begin fulfilling his enormous potential. |
| |
|
85 |
Will Merrifield |
OF |
Chatham Anglers |
R-R |
6-0 |
175 |
Jr. |
South Carolina |
1/24/1989 |
| SCOUTING REPORT Merrifield is the kind of player who will draw mixed interest from talent evaluators as he has no superior tools, though no inferior ones either. Some scouts believe he's a legit prospect and a future big league; others see him as a fringe prospect and nothing more than a good senior sign. No matter, Merrifield has solid skills across the board and plays extremely hard, and as a result should always get the most out of his tools. He hit .340-11-49 as a sophomore at South Carolina, and scored 67 runs and stole 15 bases from the leadoff spot. With the exception of power, he posted similar numbers as a freshman for the Gamecocks. Even as his numbers tailed off in the Cape to .266-1-12, he still was Chatham's offensive catalyst this summer and led the team in runs (23), hits (38), doubles (7) and stolen bases (16). Merrifield is a multi-dimensional player on defense, too. He has spent almost all of his time at South Carolina and in summer ball efficiently patrolling center field or right field, but has filled in at second base in a pinch, and may end up at that position in pro ball. His speed is a solid tool, but his instincts are a greater factor in making him an accomplished base stealer. Merrifield comes by his baseball skills naturally as his father Bill was a former Atlantic Coast Conference player of the year while a shortstop at Wake Forest. |
| |
|
86 |
Blake Kelso |
2B |
Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox |
R-R |
5-10 |
170 |
Jr. |
Houston |
3/28/1989 |
| SCOUTING REPORT A little guy with fringy tools, Kelso overcomes his natural limitations with his passion for the game. His best assets are his makeup and intangibles. There's nothing flashy about his game; he has a scrappy approach and just finds a way to get the job done. Kelso has been an effective leadoff hitter at the college level for two years, hitting .288-3-35 with 19 stolen bases as a freshman at Houston, and .335-2-23 with 12 steals as a sophomore. For Yarmouth-Dennis, he struggled to make an impact with wood and hit .260-0-13, with just five extra-base hits. But he stole 18 bases and made things happen on the bases. As a pro, Kelso profiles as a 2-hole hitter with good strike-zone discipline and the ability to make consistent contact, bunt and move runners, but will have little or no power. A two-year regular at shortstop at Houston, Kelso has displayed the middle-infield actions to be a fit on either side of the bag, but his marginal arm and lack of physical strength will almost certainly relegate him to second base at the next level, and that's where he spent most of the Cape Cod League season. |
| |
|
87 |
Eric Jokisch |
LHP |
Harwich Mariners |
L-L |
6-3 |
175 |
Jr. |
Northwestern |
7/29/1989 |
| SCOUTING REPORT Jokisch was a 39th-round pick of the Cleveland Indians out of an Illinois high school in 2007, and made an immediate score at Northwestern by tying a Big Ten record for a freshman with seven wins in conference play. Overall, he went 8-2, 4.17, though walked 39 and struck out just 42 in 73 innings. He regressed as a sophomore, winning just four times but walking 32 and striking out 57 in 89 innings. Overall, he went 4-7, 5.48. Though he didn't arrive in the Cape Cod League with impeccable credentials or dominating stuff, he found throwing to wood bats more to his liking and he was able to pound the strike zone with three pitches and exploit more advanced hitters with his crafty approach. He showed good command of a tailing 88-92 mph fastball, along with a curve and changeup, and excelled at changing speeds and missing bat barrels. The result was a more representative 1-2, 1.36 record with just nine walks and 26 strikeouts in 33 innings. He also allowed just 22 hits. The 6-foot-2, 180-pound Jokisch throws with ease and has good, smooth arm action. He could throw harder down the road, but is smart enough to understand his limitations if he doesn't. |
| |
|
88 |
Levi Michael |
2B/SS |
Harwich Mariners |
B-R |
5-10 |
165 |
So. |
North Carolina |
2/9/1991 |
| SCOUTING REPORT If the 5-foot-10, 170-pound Michael seemed a little young and physically immature to be playing in the Cape Cod League this summer, he was. He just turned 18 in February, making him the youngest player in the league. Michael would have been a senior in high school in the spring had he not elected to enroll in college at North Carolina a semester early. He excelled as a freshman for the College World Series-bound Tar Heels, hitting .290-13-57, but struggled adjusting to the Cape. He hit just .247-1-6, yet showed surprising power and hitting ability for his size, and should feel much more at home with wood as he gets stronger. Michael has quick hands at the plate and made consistent solid contact. A switch-hitter, he has more power from the right side at this point in his development. Michael is a versatile, athletic, live-bodied player, and spent most of his freshman year at Carolina at third base. He divided his time during the summer between shortstop and second base, and though he was a little rusty at short initially, but had good range up the middle. His hands, feet and arm strength are suitable for any infield position at the college level, though he profiles more at second base in pro ball. He gets down the line in 4.2 seconds from the left side of the plate, and could be an impact player on the bases if he chooses to exploit that weapon. By the time the 2011 draft rolls around, Michael could be an elite, well-rounded talent with size his only limitation. |
| |
|
89 |
Mike Dennhardt |
RHP |
Chatham Anglers |
R-R |
6-1 |
200 |
So. |
Boston College |
6/1/1990 |
| SCOUTING REPORT Dennhardt doesn't have an above-average pitch, but is nonetheless a significant prospect because of the depth of pitches in his repertoire. He has four solid-average pitches, and his ability to mix them effectively and command them sets him apart. His fastball is generally in the 88-91 mph range, and he complements it with a slider, curve and changeup. He also generates unusually good tailing action to righthanded hitters with his two-seamer and can produce good cutting action on his fastball, effectively giving him a fifth and sixth pitch. After consecutive 9-0 seasons for New Jersey prep power Don Bosco Prep, Dennhardt cut his teeth at Boston College with a 5-2, 4.96 record and 44 strikeouts in 52 innings as a freshman, working in a swing role. He gave a better demonstration of the kind of pitcher he is during the summer in the Cape Cod League, working strictly as a starter for Chatham. He made eight starts and went 2-3, 2.76 with 14 walks and 22 strikeouts in 46 innings. Dennhardt doesn't have a lot of deception or leverage in his delivery, and looks like he has maxed out physically, but he has a quick arm and an advanced feel for pitching, and his present stuff measures up. |
| |
|
90 |
Devin Lohman |
SS |
Orleans Firebirds |
R-R |
6-1 |
185 |
Jr. |
Long Beach State |
4/14/1989 |
| SCOUTING REPORT The first thing about Lohman that catches a scout's attention is his exceptional raw arm strength—easily the best among shortstops in the Cape Cod League this summer. Interestingly, Lohman's arm isn't even considered the best among infielders on his own college team as that distinction goes to Kirk Singer, a rising sophomore. Besides his big arm, the lean, agile Lohman has sound defensive skills, and has become the next in line in an impressive list of shortstops at Long Beach State that includes major leaguers Bobby Crosby, Troy Tulowitzki and Evan Longoria. He has sound actions and instincts in the field, makes the tough play, plays with confidence and flair, and isn't afraid to get dirty. But Lohman's light bat may ultimately separate him from some of the shortstops that preceded him at Long Beach State. Though he hit a commendable.307-4-36 and frequently hit in the 3-hole for the Dirtbags as a sophomore, he struck out 48 times in 199 at-bats, and the holes in his swing were more acutely exposed using wood in the Cape. He succumbed 44 times in 128 at-bats for Orleans, while hitting a soft .219-2-11. It was evident he needs to get bigger and stronger to swing a more potent bat, but he also needs to play the short game better and utilize his speed more effectively to even survive as an offensive player at the next level. |
| |
|
91 |
Greg Peavey |
RHP |
Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox |
R-R |
6-3 |
195 |
Jr. |
Oregon State |
7/11/1988 |
| SCOUTING REPORT A decorated Vancouver, Wash., youth player, Peavey had a track record to match almost any high-school player in the 2007 draft, but ended up playing for defending College World Series champion Oregon State. Two years later, he was almost lost in the shuffle just among the talented sophomores on the OSU pitching staff. With the likes of righthanders Kevin Rhoderick, Taylor Starr and Tyler Waldron, along with lefthanders Josh Osich, Tanner Robles and Kraig Sitton (in addition to Peavey), the Beavers had a collection of arms, in the one class alone, that was the envy of any college program in the country. There was little to separate Peavey from the other arms on his own staff from strictly a talent standpoint, but he and Sitton were the ones singled out in the spring because they were eligible for the 2009 draft—Peavey because he turned 21 within 45 days of the draft. As a freshman for the Beavers, he worked in a swing role and posted an uninspiring 2-3, 4.96 record with 21 walks and 35 strikeouts in 49 innings. He did little to elevate his stock last summer in the Cape Cod League, underachieving with a similar 2-3 record but an elevated 6.83 ERA. As a starter this season for the Beavers, Peavey was given every opportunity to regain his lost form, but it didn't happen as his 5.74 ERA was the poorest on the OSU staff and he essentially lost his spot in the rotation late in the season. While posting a 4-3 record, he walked 27 while striking out just 42 in 63 innings. His stuff was mediocre most of the season, with his fastball at 88-89 mph, and he was consistently up in the zone. The Houston Astros took a stab at him in the 32nd round in June, but Peavey elected to spend a second summer on the Cape, hoping to impress the Astros enough to entice them to buy him away from his junior year at Oregon State. He came close, flashing overpowering stuff on occasion for Yarmouth-Dennis, but was plagued again by inconsistency. He was used as both a starter and reliever, and his 92-93 mph fastball got on hitters in a hurry and was a swing-and-miss when he had it working. He also threw a curve for strikes and a plus changeup, but his slider was just passable. The result was a respectable 3-2, 2.75 record with seven walks and 35 strikeouts in 36 innings. Though Peavey has failed to pitch like an early-round pick since he passed up a 24th-round offer from the New York Yankees in 2007, he has an impressive resume working in his favor and scouts remain hopeful that Peavey will one day turn the corner and return to his form, hopefully in 2010. |
| |
|
92 |
Alex Dickerson |
OF |
Wareham Gatemen |
L-L |
6-3 |
205 |
So. |
Indiana |
5/26/1990 |
| SCOUTING REPORT Catcher Josh Phegley (White Sox, supplemental first round), and pitchers Eric Arnett (Brewers, first round) and Matt Bashore (Twins, supplemental first round) were all among the first 50 players drafted in 2009. Understandably, they were instrumental in Indiana reaching NCAA regional play for the first time in 13 years, but Dickerson also played a critical role, even as a freshman. He hit .370-14-57, totals that were second on the team in each category. Though he was also second in RBIs and tied for second on the club in homers during the summer for Wareham, Dickerson didn't make the same impact at the plate in the Cape Cod League, hitting just .224-3-15 in 107 at-bats, while striking out 35 times. His raw power, especially to the opposite field, was the one tool that stood out, though his overall approach to hitting received a passing grade. With a powerful 6-foot-3 frame, his power should only continue to evolve. The area of Dickerson's game that showed the greatest improvement during the summer was his defense, though he was still considered below average in left field. He was used almost strictly as a DH in the spring at Indiana, so had a long way to catch up and actually made commendable strides in his jumps and angles. At best, he'll an average defender, in either left field or possibly at first base. |
| |
|
93 |
Mark Pope |
RHP |
Falmouth Commodores |
R-R |
6-2 |
195 |
So. |
Georgia Tech |
8/29/1989 |
| SCOUTING REPORT Pope was one of the top performance players in the Atlanta Metro area for years, and a standout in the East Cobb program during the summers. He was stereotyped as a 6-foot righthander with upper-80s stuff until his senior year at Marietta's Walton High, but that perception changed when Pope had a late growth spurt and suddenly became a noteworthy prospect for the 2008 draft. Though he was selected in the 17th round by the hometown Atlanta Braves, Pope had his heart set on attending Georgia Tech. He stepped in as the Yellow Jackets closer as a freshman, saving eight games, while going 5-1, 6.00. In 27 innings, he walked 16 and struck out 27. In anticipation of moving into the rotation for Georgia Tech as a sophomore, Pope began the transition during the summer at Falmouth, making four starts in 12 appearances, and significantly improved his performance, stuff and command in the process. He was effective in any role for the Commodores, and went 2-2, 2.10 while walking just seven and striking out 32 in 34 innings. He dominated with his two basic pitches, an 88-92 mph fastball that has reached 94 in the past, and his trademark hammer breaking ball. Pope is an aggressive, polished pitcher and will attack hitters from different arm angles, with his mid-70s curveball from a mid-three-quarters release point his best weapon. He is able to throw his curve in any count, and tended to fall in love with the pitch at Falmouth, at the expense of developing his changeup, a decent offering that he'll need in his role as a starter. |
| |
|
94 |
Nathan Baker |
LHP |
Brewsters Whitecaps |
L-L |
6-3 |
205 |
|
SIGNED/Pirates |
12/27/1987 |
| SCOUTING REPORT While some of the higher-profile arms on the Ole Miss staff—junior righthander Aaron Barrett (subpar performance), senior righthander Scott Bittle (injury), junior righthander Chris Corrigan (dismissed from team) and sophomore lefthander Drew Pomeranz (inconsistent performance)—went missing in action at times during the 2009 season, Baker proved to be a stabilizing factor for the Rebels. He filled a variety of roles (fourth starter and all relief assignments ranging from middle to set-up to closer), and enhanced his prospect value greatly in the process. In 18 appearances (6 starts), he went 4-1, 3.60 with 15 walks and 61 strikeouts in 60 innings. His stuff, mainly a 90-93 mph fastball that peaked at 94, and an 80-mph slider, was considerably better, but more than anything he learned to pitch inside more effectively and his breaking ball produced a better downer action to neutralize lefthanded hitters. Sufficiently impressed, the Pittsburgh Pirates made Baker their fifth-round pick in the draft. But he didn't sign right away, consistent with most other early-round selections of the Pirates, and ended up playing in the Cape Cod League for a second season to keep his arm warm. He made just three appearances (2 starts) for Brewster, going 0-1, 3.00, and worked mainly with a fastball at 88-90 mph. He laid off his breaking ball and went with his changeup as an off-speed pitch, and commanded effectively top both sides of the plate. Oddly, his weakest outing of the summer for Brewster came with Pittsburgh scouting director Greg Smith in attendance, but it was enough to convince the Pirates to sign him and the parties agreed to a $176,000 deal. Baker ended up making six appearances for the Pirates' short-season Class A team in State College, and was effective with a 1.69 ERA, and just two walks and 19 strikeouts in 16 innings. His combined record in 2009 was a marked improvement from 2008, when he went 3-6, 4.89 with 19 walks and 41 strikeouts in 53 innings for Ole Miss, mainly as a mid-week starter, and just 1-2, 5.18 in eight appearances during the summer in his first crack at the Cape, where he was plagued first by a bad hamstring and then by strep throat. He started pitching more effectively towards the end of the summer season, and he carried over that performance to the spring. |
| |
|
95 |
Cole Cook |
RHP |
Orleans Firebirds |
R-R |
6-6 |
210 |
Jr. |
Pepperdine |
10/18/1988 |
| SCOUTING REPORT Despite being a 36th-round pick of the Seattle Mariners in 2007 out of a California high school, Cook was still growing into his gangly, 6-foot-6 frame at the time and was red-shirted as a freshman at Pepperdine. He was clearly ready to assume a meaningful role in the Pepperdine rotation a year later, and ended up leading the Waves staff in wins, innings (83) and opponent batting average (.195), while tying for the lead with 79 strikeouts. Overall, he went 7-3, 3.69. Cook has a tall, thin, athletic build, but still needs to get bigger and stronger. He can run his fastball up to 94 mph—though requires a maximum-effort delivery to do so. More often, it was in the 88-91 mph range with good sinking action, and produced a lot of ground-ball outs. Cook concentrated on throwing sliders at Pepperdine, and while it is an effective pitch with a tight break at 77-78 mph, he was encouraged to develop his fastball more during the summer in the Cape Cod League. His changeup is an adequate third pitch, and considered more a work in progress. Working mostly as a starter for Orleans, he went 1-2, 4.72 with nine walks and 25 strikeouts in 34 innings. Cook still has some violence in his inconsistent, herky-jerky delivery, which impacts his command, but it helps his deception and the liveliness of his fastball. |
| |
|
96 |
Zach Wilson |
1B/3B |
Wareham Gatemen |
R-R |
6-1 |
200 |
So. |
Arizona State |
8/6/1990 |
| SCOUTING REPORT Wilson, appropriately, attended Woodrow Wilson High while growing up in Long Beach, Calif., and played an instrumental role in that school, which has produced numerous first-round draft picks through the years, winning a CIF sectional title, and ultimately a final No. 1 national ranking in 2007. A 26th-round pick of the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2008, Wilson's college career has evolved slowly. He got just 80 at-bats as a freshman for Arizona State, hit .275-0-9 and saw most of his playing time in a DH role. He had designs on moving in at third base, his position of choice, during the summer in the Cape Cod League, but ended up taking ground balls only in infield sessions for Wareham as he was bothered by a labrum strain in his shoulder. The injury relegated him again to mostly a DH role, though he spent 10 games at first base for the Gatemen. By all indications, Wilson appears to have the feet and hands to settle in at third base, but scouts are split which infield corner he profiles at best. Though he hit just .247-2-10 for Wareham, he has excellent swing mechanics and at least showed signs of evolving raw power. His average dipped during the season after he hurt his wrist. |
| |
|
97 |
Johnny Ruettiger |
OF |
Hyannis Mets |
L-L |
6-2 |
175 |
So. |
Arizona State |
9/21/1989 |
| SCOUTING REPORT Ruettiger may never gain the fame of his uncle Dan, who played football at Notre Dame in 1974-75 and was the inspiration for the popular 1993 movie, “Rudyâ€, but he made solid strides in 2009 in his development as a baseball prospect. As a freshman at Arizona State, Ruettiger hit .360-1-13 with 12 stolen bases while filling in at all three outfield positions. He hit a more-modest .255-0-6 with wood during the summer at Hyannis, but showed impressive offensive potential with his superior speed and leadoff skills. He topped the Mets with 14 stolen bases, and excelled at playing “small ball†with his aggressive approach, and by putting balls in play consistently, spraying them around and getting his share of leg hits. He also quickly reached a second gear on the bases. Though Ruettiger played a regular role in left field for Hyannis—and not center in deference to Trent Whitehead, who covered more ground—the lean, live-bodied Ruettiger shows all signs of eventually becoming an accomplished center fielder. In many ways, Ruettiger's game compares favorably to that of Boston Red Sox outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury, and there's a good chance his power could emerge much like Ellsbury's has. |
| |
|
98 |
Johnathan Jones |
OF |
Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox |
R-R |
5-11 |
185 |
Jr. |
Long Beach State |
8/2/1989 |
| SCOUTING REPORT A scrappy, pesky, line-drive hitter with a good sense of strike-zone discipline, Jones has been a solid, if unspectacular offensive contributor in two years at Long Beach State. He hit .343-0-18 as a freshman and .307-1-23 as a sophomore, and offset a drop in average in 2009 by stealing 15 bases and leading the team in runs scored (40). His numbers slipped to .273-0-12 during the summer at Yarmouth-Dennis, highlighting his need to be more consistent at the plate, but he still had quality at-bats and stung the ball repeatedly, often hitting in tough luck. Because of the presence of the faster Jordan Casas in the lineup at both Long Beach State and Y-D, Jones has spent most of his time in college and summer ball in left field, a traditional power position, but Jones has the speed, actions and refined defensive skills to move to center field in pro ball. As the nephew of former Heisman Trophy winner and NFL wide receiver Desmond Howard, Jones has superior athletic ability in his genes, and his overall game could suddenly blossom. |
| |
|
99 |
*Michael Goodnight |
RHP |
Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox |
R-R |
6-4 |
215 |
So. |
Houston |
6/10/1989 |
| SCOUTING REPORT The 6-foot-5, 225-pound Goodnight is eligible for the 2010 draft as an age-eligible sophomore. With his big, physical, athletic frame, live arm and impressive raw arm strength, he has a lot of things going for him to be a possible early-round selection. His fastball ranged from 90-93 mph in his freshman season at Houston, and again during the summer at Yarmouth-Dennis, and he complemented it with an excellent changeup and a much-improved slider. But for Goodnight to justify his pending draft status, he'll have to improve his pitchability and sharpen his command. He went 5-5, 4.43 with 58 strikeouts in 65 innings as a freshman starter at Houston, but also walked a staff-high 31. His control lagged again in the Cape Cod League as he walked 22 in 36 innings, though assembled an otherwise impressive record by going 2-0, 2.52 with 31 strikeouts, while allowing just 23 hits. When he was on his game, Goodnight threw his breaking ball consistently for strikes. He just needs to do that on a more regular basis, and there's every indication it could happen as Goodnight has a free and easy arm action, and the ball comes out of his hand easily. If it all comes together for him in the spring, he could blossom as a second- or third-rounder; if not, he may be better suited for a role as a middle or short reliever, depressing his draft stock in the process. |
| |
|
100 |
Cody Hawn |
1B |
Hyannis Mets |
L-R |
5-11 |
200 |
Jr. |
Tennessee |
9/1/1988 |
| SCOUTING REPORT Hawn has an impressive resume as a hitter, and his ability to swing the bat with authority and explosiveness may be unmatched by all but a handful of position players in the 2010 college draft class. He's very powerful in his compact 5-foot-11, 200-pound frame and can routinely barrel up balls, particularly those on the inner half of the plate. He hit a resounding .364-22-81 as a sophomore at Tennessee, and was on his way to a productive summer in the Cape Cod League, hitting .375-4-14 in 15 games, before turning his wrist on a slide into home, and was shut down when the injury lingered. Hawn has a long history of putting up big numbers at the plate. He hit a loud .564-14-43 as a high-school junior and would have been one of the top power hitters in the 2007 draft had he not blown out his knee playing pick-up basketball just prior to the season. He missed all of his senior year, prompting him to change gears as a college freshman and enroll at Tennessee's Walters State JC rather than fulfill a scholarship offer at Arkansas. He was still not at 100 percent at Walters State, even though he hit .402-20-67 for a team that entered the 2008 Junior College World Series as the nation's No. 1-ranked club. Hawn was drafted in the 23rd round out of high school and the 41st round out of junior college, despite not being fully healthy, and would undoubtedly have gone much higher in 2009 had he elected to play a second season in junior college. Instead he transferred to Tennessee, which enabled him to play his sophomore year in his hometown but made him ineligible for the 2009 draft. His performance on the Cape, however brief, positions him as a potential early-rounder in 2010, though there's a lack of consensus in the scouting community on his real worth as he is a one-dimensional talent. Even with a bit of a long swing, he has serious juice in his bat with power to all fields. He crushes mistake pitches. The remainder of Hawn's tools are below average. Speed has never been part of his game, but he oddly runs better now (7.15 in the 60) than he did before hurting his knee (7.4) in high school. The bigger question surrounding Hawn concerns a position. He was a third baseman early in his high-school career and again in junior college, but wasn't very mobile there and doesn't profile to play the position long term. First base is his only real option, and though he catches the ball adequately there, he is not very smooth around the bag. A more practical destination may be as a DH. No matter he plays, his powerful bat will earn him a spot in any lineup. |
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