California Lg. prospect reports

Official league website: www.calsummerball.com
2014 Summer Collegiate top prospect index
CaliforniaCollegiate League top prospect list

It was another exciting summer in the California Collegiate League, which continues to add impressive teams with the Pacific Union Financial Capitalists, which included some of the state's best incoming collegiate freshmen.

The prestigious Santa Barbara Foresters put together yet another strong summer, tallying an impressive 31-8 overall record, while also winning the annual NBC World Series in Kansas for the fifth time in organizational history.

Rice righthanded pitcher Jon Duplantier had a fantastic summer for the Foresters and earned the distinction as the league's elite prospect, while many others also made statements.


Year established: 1993
States represented: California
No. of teams: 11
Regular season champion (best overall record): Santa Barbara Foresters (31-8)
Postseason champion: Santa Barbara Foresters
No. 1 prospect, 2013: Riley Ferrell, rhp, Santa Barbara Foresters (Texas Christian)
First 2013 player selected, 2014 MLB draft: Corey Ray, rhp, San Luis Obispo (5th round, Royals)

Player of the Year: Granger Studdard, 1b, Santa Barbara Foresters
Pitcher of the Year: Jon Duplantier, rhp, Santa Barbara Foresters

BATTING LEADERS

Batting average: Jon Torres, of, Los Angeles Brewers (UNLV)
Home Runs: Nick Maguire, 1b, Los Angeles Brewers; Tristan Gray, of, PUF Capitalists (Rice) (6)
RBI: Granger Studdard, 1b, Santa Barbara Foresters
Stolen bases: Trevor DeMerritt, ss, Menlo Park Legends (Albany) -- (22)

PITCHING LEADERS

Wins: Vance Tatum, lhp, San Luis Obispo Blues (Mississippi State) (6)
ERA: Matt Esparza, rhp, Los Angeles Brewers (0.31)
Saves: Eddie Muhl, rhp, Santa Paula Halos (George Washington); Evan Rutter, rhp, Neptune Beach Pearl (Rice); Andrew Vinson, rhp, San Luis Obispo Blues (Texas A&M) (4)
Strikeouts: Jon Duplantier, rhp, Santa Barbara Foresters (52)

BEST TOOLS

Best athlete: Jaylin Davis, of, Santa Barbara Foresters
Best hitter: Dylan Moore, 2b/ss, Los Angeles Brewers
Best power: Jaylin Davis, of, Santa Barbara Foresters
Best speed: Alex Jefferson, of, Southern California Catch (Missouri State)
Best defender: Nathan Rodriguez, c, PUF Capitalists (Arkansas)
Best velocity: Alec Hansen, rhp, San Luis Obispo Blues
Best breaking stuff: Jon Duplantier, rhp, Santa Barbara Foresters
Best command: Trevor Belecik, lhp, Cornejo Oaks (Texas A&M-CC)


TOP 20 PROSPECTS

1. Jon Duplantier, rhp, Santa Barbara Foresters (Rice/SO in 2015)
Duplantier put together an impressive freshman campaign for the Owls, and continued his successful ways this summer in the California Collegiate League. Duplantier is an athletic 6-foot-4, 210-pounder, who tallied a 1.50 ERA in 54 innings of work. He also struck out 74 and walked 17. Duplantier showed a sizable velocity jump with his fastball, sitting 90-95 this summer with some sink, while also showcasing an above-average slider. Duplantier showed a good, easy delivery this past summer, while also working his fastball well on both sides of the plate, and also showed a swing-and-miss slider at times. Duplantier also showed good feel for his changeup, and should be a Friday or Saturday starter for the Owls in 2015.

2. Alec Hansen, rhp, San Luis Obispo Blues (Oklahoma/SO in 2015)
Hansen has the upside to become Oklahoma's next great pitcher and elite prospect. He has a big-time arm, and though he made a limited number of appearances with a 4.76 ERA last season, he showed plenty of upside. Hansen, a massive 6-foot-7, 235-pounder, tallied a 4.60 ERA in 31 1/3 innings of work, along with 52 strikeouts and 22 walks this past summer. Hansen sat in the mid-90s, getting up to 98 at times, and he has a good, hard slider that sits 86-87. While he continues to develop a changeup, Hansen should be a consistent, elite arm for the Sooners if he can throw three quality pitches in the spring.

3. Jaylin Davis, of, Santa Barbara Foresters (Appalachian State/JR in 2015)
Davis, an athletic outfielder, had a good, but not great spring for the Mountaineers, but he's ready to take the next step forward after a very impressive summer with the Foresters. Davis batted .341 with seven homers and 32 RBI this summer and he also tallied 10 stolen bases. Davis is a very athletic and strong player, displaying plus power throughout the summer. However, some coaches in the league said Davis tends to swing and miss a little too much. Davis has above average speed and good defensive actions in the outfield.