Based
on the collective performances during their professional debuts of
the players that participated in the 2011 Perfect Game All-American
Classic presented by Rawlings, there was good reason that 16 of them
were selected in the first round of the 2012 draft. Three other
former All-Americans that participated in years prior to 2011 were
also selected in the first round.
Carlos
Correa, the No. 1 overall pick of the Houston Astros, didn't post
gaudy numbers, but held his own by hitting .258 with 14 doubles and
three home runs between his time spent with the Astros Gulf Coast
League and Appalachian League affiliates.
Albert
Almora, the sixth overall pick of the Chicago Cubs, hit
.321/.331/.464 with 14 extra-base hits in limited duty between the
team's two rookie teams.
Left
handed pitcher Max Fried didn't see much time on the mound, but was
successful when he did. In 10 Arizona League appearances he posted a
3.57 ERA, striking out 17 in just over 17 innings.
David
Dahl had the most impressive debut of all of the former
All-Americans. Dahl, the 10th overall pick of the
Colorado Rockies, was assigned to the team's Pioneer League affiliate
and eventually was crowned the league's MVP. He posted video game
type numbers with a slash line of .379/.423/.625 and hit an
astounding 41 extra base hits (22 doubles, 10 triples, nine home
runs).
Addison
Russell, the 11th overall pick of the Oakland A's, also
proved to be ready for the jump to professional ball, hitting
.369/.432/.594 across three levels, which included eight home runs
and 26 total extra base hits. Russell finished the summer with the
A's affiliate in the Midwest League.
Another
dynamic hitter than enjoyed a three level tour this summer was
Courtney Hawkins. He hit .284/.324/.480 with 26 extra-base hits,
including eight home runs, finishing the year with the White Sox
advanced A-ball affiliate in the Carolina League.
The
Dodgers used the 18th overall pick to select infielder
Corey Seager, who also enjoyed a very successful pro debut. Playing
for the team's Pioneer League affiliate, Seager hit .309/.383/.520
with 19 extra-base hits, including eight home runs of his own.
Lucas
Sims spent his summer between the Braves' Gulf Coast and Appalachian
League affiliates, posting a 3.71 ERA with 39 strikeouts in 34
innings, allowing only 28 hits and 13 walks.
Joey
Gallo posted the loudest numbers, thanks to 22 home runs, 18 of which
came in the Arizona League which established a league record prior to
being promoted to the Rangers' Northwest League affiliate.
The
Astros second of three 2011 PG All-American draftees, Lance
McCullers, also had his time on the mound limited, but like Sims saw
time between two levels. McCullers' 0-4 record is misleading, as he
recorded a 3.46 ERA in eight appearances, striking out 29 in his 26
innings.
Daniel
Robertson hit .241 with 19 extra-base hits in the lower levels of the
A's system. Keon Barnum hit .279 with three home runs in limited
time spent with the Chicago White Sox Appalachian League affiliate.
Jesse Winker hit .338/.443/.500 during his time in the Pioneer League
as a member of the Reds organization.
Walker
Weickel had a 4.50 ERA in nine games, Matt Smoral has yet to make his
pro debut due to a broken foot sustained last spring, and Lucas
Giolito was shut down after one appearance and underwent Tommy John
surgery in late August.
And
it wasn't just the first rounders that posted big numbers. Nick
Williams hit .313/.375/.448 with 17 extra base hits and 15 stolen
bases; Andrew Pullin hit .321/.403/.436; Nelson Rodriguez hit 14
extra-base hits, including four home runs, in the Arizona League.
Among
the 2011 PG All-American pitchers drafted after the first round, Ryan
McNeil stood out by posting a 1.35 ERA in eight appearances.,
striking out 18 in 20 innings.
And
it wasn't just the 2011 PG All-Americans that stood out during their
professional debuts. Golden Spikes Award winner Mike Zunino, the
third overall pick (Mariners) from last June hit .360/.447/.689 with
14 doubles and 13 home runs between two levels, finishing the year at
the AA level.
Kevin
Gausman, like most of the pitchers drafted, received limited playing
time after a heavy workload last spring for LSU, as he made only five
appearances. In that time he posted a 3.60 ERA with 13 strikeouts
and only one walk issued in 15 innings of work.
Richie
Shaffer powered the Rays' short season affiliate, the Hudson Valley
Renegades, to the New York-Penn League championship. Shaffer hit a
three-run home run in Game 2 of the championship series to force Game
3, and overall hit .308/.406/.487 with 11 extra base hits in his pro
debut.
Hunter
Morris, who participated in the 2006 Classic, like David Dahl also
received postseason honors. Morris was named the Southern League's
MVP after hitting .303 with 40 doubles, 28 home runs and 113 RBI as a
member of the Huntsville Stars, the AA affiliate of the Milwaukee
Brewers.
Numerous
former All-Americans enjoyed successful seasons in the minor leagues
as they continued their professional careers, including the 2011 No.
1 overall pick, Gerrit Cole. Fellow Pirates' pitching mate Jameson
Taillon continues to give Pittsburgh two very promising arms pushing
their way to the big leagues. Javier Baez, Archie Bradley, Dylan
Bundy, Matt Davidson, Jose Fernandez, Brian Goodwin, Austin Hedges,
Aaron Hicks, Alex Meyer, Henry Owens, Chris Parmelee, Jonathan Singleton and Zack Wheeler
are just a handful of other former PG All-Americans who also enjoyed
successful 2012 seasons.
Xavier
Avery, Jordan Danks, Christian Garcia, Yasmani Grandal, Bryce Harper,
Matt Harvey, Ryan Jackson, Steve Johnson and Josh Vitters all made
their Major League debuts during the 2012 season. The 19-year old
Bryce Harper of course received the most fanfare in the process, and
became the youngest positional player named to the All-Star Game.