Official League Website
League
Strength: **
MINK League top 15 prospects (list)
Nevada
outfielder Peter Barrows and righthander Josh Malin were the two
dominant performers in the MINK League in 2011, but the fact that
both went undrafted in June as college seniors speaks to the lack of
front-end talent in the league this summer.
Barrows,
who played collegiately at Division II Bridgeport (Conn.), led the
eight-team league in batting and RBIs, and tied for the lead in
homers before signing a contract with the Wichita Wingnuts of the
independent American Association just prior to post-season play.
Malin,
a Southern Illinois-Edwardsville product, topped the league in wins
and strikeouts, and ranked third in ERA, but found no takers for his
services, even after he won three games and was the dominant pitcher
at the National Baseball Congress World Series for the Griffons, who
finished a surprising third at that event, even without the
hard-hitting Barrows in the lineup.
Despite
the lack of interest shown towards them by major-league
organizations, Barrows and Malin were judged to be the third- and
fourth-best prospects, respectively, in the MINK League, which can be
attributed in equal parts to the impressive seasons both enjoyed and
the decided lack of projectable talent overall in the league.
Though
snubbed by scouts, Barrows and Malin showcased enough raw talent to
warrant more consideration than they received. The 6-foot-5 Barrows
had easily the best raw power in the MINK League, and his speed and
arm strength were more-than-adequate tools by pro standards. Malin
excelled with a fastball that peaked at 92 mph, and had command of
three pitches altogether.
While
the talent in the MINK League was not as plentiful as a year ago, it
was nowhere near as strong as 2009 when the Beatrice (Neb.) Bruins
ruled the league. That club routinely tapped into high-end talent
from major Midwest colleges, but disbanded following the 2009 season,
leaving a significant void.
The
St. Joseph Mustangs were the dominant team during the 2011 season,
but went a disappointing 1-2 at the NBC World Series and hardly
dominate the accompanying list of the league’s top prospects.
Sedalia
righthander Nick Petree, who followed up a strong freshman season at
Missouri State with an equally-strong, though-abbreviated summer
season for the Bombers, edged out Oklahoma State-bound righthander
Mark Robinette of St. Joseph to gain the nod as the league’s top
prospect.
Robinette
ranked No. 14 on this list a year ago and his jump to No. 2 is
somewhat symbolic of the lack of talent in the league this year,
though he also emerged as the league’s hardest-throwing pitcher. He
was clocked at 90-91 mph a year ago, but was clocked consistently at
92-94 mph this summer, and even touched 96.
FAST
FACTS
Year
League Established: 1995.
States
Represented in League: Iowa,
Missouri, Nebraska.
No.
of Teams in League: 8.
Regular-Season
Champions: NORTH--St. Joseph
Mustangs; SOUTH—Nevada Griffons.
Post-Season
Champion: St. Joseph Mustangs.
Clarinda, Nevada, Omaha and St. Joseph participated in National
Baseball Congress World Series, Wichita, Kan.
Teams,
PG CrossChecker Summer 50/Final Ranking:
No. 24 St. Joseph Mustangs, No. 43 Nevada Griffons.
No.
1 Prospect, 2010 (per PG CrossChecker): Johnny
Coy, 1b, St. Joseph Mustangs (Wichita State; played in Northwoods
League in 2011).
First
2010 Player Selected, 2011 Draft:
Jason King, 3b, Chillicothe Mudcats (Kansas State; drafted by
Tigers/4th
round).
Most
Valuable Player: None selected.
Most
Outstanding Pitcher: None selected.
Top
Prospect (as selected by league):
None selected.
BATTING
LEADERS (League games only)
Batting
Average: Peter Barrows, of, Nevada
Griffons (.404).
Slugging
Percentage: Peter Barrows, of,
Nevada Griffons (.674).
Home
Runs: Peter Barrows, of, Nevada
Griffons; Greg Partyka, 1b, Joplin Outlaws (8).
RBIs:
Peter Barrows, of, Nevada Griffons (44).
Stolen
Bases: Mike Pritchard, of, Sedalia
Bombers (23).
PITCHING
LEADERS (League games only)
Wins:
Josh Malin, rhp, Nevada Griffons (7).
ERA:
Steve Koligowski, lhp, Nevada Griffons (1.46).
Saves:
Doug Shields, rhp, St. Joseph Mustangs (9).
Strikeouts:
Josh Malin, rhp, Nevada Griffons (70).
BEST
TOOLS
Best
Athlete: Jeff Roy, of, St. Joseph
Mustangs.
Best
Hitter: Brent Seifert, 3b, St.
Joseph Mustangs.
Best
Power: Peter Barrows, of, Nevada
Griffons; Matt Skipper, 1b, Sedalia Bombers.
Fastest
Base Runner: Jeff Roy, of, St.
Joseph Mustangs.
Best
Defensive Player: T.J. Dailey, c,
St. Joseph Mustangs.
Best
Velocity: Mark Robinette, rhp, St.
Joseph Mustangs.
Best
Breaking Ball: Mark Robinette, rhp,
St. Joseph Mustangs.
Best
Command: Josh Malin, rhp, Nevada
Griffons.
TOP
15 PROSPECTS
1.
NICK PETREE, rhp, Sedalia Bombers (Missouri State/SO in 2012)
SCOUTING
PROFILE: Petree
played a key role for Missouri State as a red-shirt freshman in 2011
as it rallied from one of its poorest seasons in years, improving
from 21 wins to 33. He started the season in the bullpen for the
Bears, and earned two saves in five appearances, before being
installed as the team’s Friday night starter. Petree responded by
going 9-2, 2.81 with 27 walks and 81 strikeouts in 96 innings, and
not only led his team in wins and strikeouts, but earned Missouri
Valley Conference freshman-of-the-year honors and was a consensus
Freshman All-America. It was a significant coming-out party for the
6-foot righthander, who missed the 2010 season while recuperating
from Tommy John surgery. Petree was even more dominant this summer
for Sedalia, going 3-0, 0.27 with four walks and 33 strikeouts in 26
innings, though was on a 75-pitch count and limited to just five
starts because of his heavy workload in the spring. Though his
fastball was generally only in the 88-89 mph range, topping at 90, he
was successful at that velocity because the pitch had excellent
running action and he generally threw all four of his pitches for
strikes, though the command of his slider was spotty. Petree’s
savvy approach to pitching is a contributing factor in his success,
but he may be somewhat limited as he advances as he may never throw
much harder than 90 and he has that dreaded stigma of being a short
righthander.
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